Episode 3
Wait a second…
How am I supposed to react to all this? My shoulders were slouched because Grandpa’s scary face made me nervous!
“I’m not scared…”
“Then why are your shoulders hunched like that?”
“T-That’s because…”
It was just my office worker mode activating by reflex!
I’ve never worked at a company big enough to have a chairman, but still… when you face your boss, you naturally
become polite.
So I unconsciously used my survival skill: lower your head and make your body look as small as possible!
That way, you become invisible and your boss forgets to give you more work!
That’s how Kim Haena used to survive at work.
“Isn’t this teacher too strict? Hey, Secretary Kim. Call the kindergarten.”
“Yes, Chairman. I’ll contact them right away.”
With just one word from Chairman Hong, Secretary Kim pulled out his phone, ready to make the call.
Haena panicked. What the heck?! This is just the first day!
Is this what people mean when they talk about how dramatic rich families are?
“W-Wait!”
“?”
Haena quickly raised her hand to stop Chairman Hong. If she didn’t, the poor teacher might get in trouble!
No way! That teacher is just another Korean office worker trying to survive… Don’t ruin their life!
“I’m not scared because of the teacher!”
“Then what is it?”
“I’m scared of you, Grandpa!”
She closed her eyes and just blurted it out. Actually, his face was so intimidating she couldn’t help closing her eyes
when she looked at him.
But then everything went strangely quiet, so Haena slowly opened her eyes.
Seeing both men staring at her with disbelief made her want to shut them again.
Chairman Hong and Secretary Kim both stayed silent.
“Ahem.”
“C-Chairman… maybe Haena’s too young to handle your charisma…”
“Be quiet! I get it!”
“Yes, sir.”
“I thought she’d matured, but nope…”
Chairman Hong turned his red face away in frustration.
Haena scratched her head awkwardly. She had tried to sound more like a kid… but maybe it was too much?
Still, acting like a child was probably safer, right?
But what do 7-year-olds even talk about these days? Dolls?
She had no idea—she’d never raised a kid.
So Haena decided to play it safe.
“Th-The food was yummy… Can I have some more?”
Wait, what?
Why do they both look like I just said something life-changing?
Saying the food was good isn’t some big deal, is it?
“Haena… isn’t complaining about food…?”
“T-The young miss is eating well?! I did think something was strange when she ate that spinach earlier…”
“Call the chef. Ask what he put in the food. Did he spike it or something?”
Please no.
Haena was sweating from Grandpa’s overreaction.
“It’s not that big a deal…”
“What are you saying, Miss? The best kind of daughter or son is one who eats well, sleeps on time, and stays healthy.”
For the first time, Secretary Kim spoke seriously.
“You haven’t eaten more than two bites for the past seven years…”
Wait, what?!
As someone who’s never eaten less than a full bowl of rice in her life, that was shocking.
But now she understood.
‘Yeah… I guess from the family’s point of view, a kid not eating would be super worrying. That’s not good for their health either.’
It made sense they were so moved. Nothing worries parents more than a kid who won’t eat.
‘My mom also used to say she was grateful that I never gave her trouble about food or sleep when I was little…’
Parents are all the same. Even this cold, rich grandpa is no different.
Raising kids must be really tough.
Haena decided to be a little more understanding of this weird family.
Secretary Kim and the gentle lady (probably her nanny) even wiped their tears with handkerchiefs.
“You’re finally eating well! The 31 chefs we went through… our efforts weren’t wasted!”
Honestly, it just sounded like a horrible company.
You can’t just fire people like that…
“Thank you… Miss! I’m so happy you’re eating well!”
32-year-old office worker Kim Haena…
Getting praised for eating.
Being 7 was seriously hard to get used to.
After finishing what felt like a company dinner with the boss, Haena dragged herself back to her room and collapsed.
If this is what a rich person’s life is like, it’s not fun at all…
This isn’t the rich life I imagined!
It feels like I’m constantly attending to a boss—24/7!
Worst work-life balance ever!
Even though I’m “home,” it feels like I’m still working.
Please… someone let me quit.
Despite being reincarnated, she didn’t feel happy at all.
Haena finally looked around the room.
‘Wow, this room looks like a palace.’
The luxury furniture she once only saw in department stores was now all around her.
Back then, she’d wondered what kind of person would actually buy that stuff. Apparently, someone this rich.
‘They always said people who buy home items—not bags—are the real VIPs.’
But that wasn’t all.
The room was so big, she could probably play soccer in it.
She got off the bed and opened a door in the corner of the room.
‘Is this a bathroom? Do chaebol homes have bathrooms in every room?’
A logical guess.
But it wasn’t a bathroom.
It was another room.
Filled with toys, books, and learning materials!
‘…Wait. This is also my room?’
A separate playroom and bedroom. Total culture shock.
‘No, Kim Haena. Don’t be surprised. If you’re rich, having two rooms is no big deal. Totally normal.’
Don’t panic. Don’t shrink.
She straightened her shoulders and explored the playroom.
But then she saw something strange—another door.
‘That’s not the door I came through. What is it?’
She opened it without thinking.
It was a walk-in closet full of little girl dresses.
Why does a 7-year-old need a walk-in closet?
At this age, you grow so fast! You can’t even wear clothes for more than a year!
These clothes probably get thrown out after one wear…
Haena went pale at the thought.
Then she saw a dress with the price tag still on it—and she nearly fainted.
‘…4.8 million won for one dress?!’
It’s a kid’s dress!
You wear it for one year and throw it out!
Wow. What a waste of money—and resources.
‘My monthly paycheck after taxes was 1.87 million won… This dress costs more than double that!’
She was losing it.
Haena carefully put the dress back like it was made of glass.
If she wrinkled it, she might have to pay for it…
“Miss Haena?”
The pretty nanny came in again.
“Oh, you’re in the dressing room. I was wondering where you went.”
“Ah, yes…”
“A new catalog is arriving soon. Let’s pick some clothes together, okay? You’ve grown, so it’s time for new outfits.”
Are you serious? With all these clothes, you’re still buying more?!
Sorry, planet Earth.
Haena gave up on thinking any further.
“Since you ate all your food, the Chairman said you can choose any dessert you want today.”
The nanny smiled warmly and carried Haena back to the main room, setting her down on the sofa.
“Of course, only if you brush your teeth well afterward.”
“Oh, okay.”
Dessert?
No big deal.
Haena nodded casually. She liked sweets, but how fancy could kids’ dessert be? Chocolate? Ice cream?
That’s what she thought—until…
A never-ending line of dessert carts rolled into her room, stacked like a mountain.
Wait. Is this a dessert buffet?! In my room?!
“W-What is all this…?”
“These are all from your favorite—Seoul Royal Palace Hotel. We ordered them specially for you, Miss.”
Mom… Dad…
I did want to experience rich-people luxury, but…
Not like this! How am I supposed to eat all this alone?!
Haena was about to shake her head, feeling guilty for contributing to global waste, when—
“Please wait just a little. Your friends will be here soon. You can enjoy the desserts together.”
Ohhh. That clears things up.
“F-Friends?”
“Yes, Miss. The children from the Cheongyoung Group will be here in about an hour.
The Chairman said to share the desserts with them and have a nice chat.”
…Wait a minute.
Cheongyoung Group? Isn’t that… the male lead’s family?!
