Chapter 3: Adoption

I was leaving the dining hall after eating when I made eye contact with the leader of the bully group. They seemed flustered and quickly passed me by.

‘…It feels kind of anticlimactic, like they’ve given up without a fight.’

I didn’t do anything in particular, but their attitude changed noticeably. Did someone inside the orphanage tell on them?

‘If it was that simple, I would have said something a long time ago.’

I don’t understand. Still, it’s a good thing for me, so I decided to let it go.

“Maru.”

The vice-principal called me. She looked somewhat tense.

“Have you seen Alice?”

“She went to the bathroom after leaving the dining hall.”

“Ah, then could you tell her to come to the principal’s office right away?”

“Yes.”

After saying what she needed to say, she walked towards the principal’s office. She probably had something important to discuss with the principal.

‘What kind of event is this? I can’t predict it because the past events weren’t revealed in the webtoon.’

I waited in front of the women’s restroom for Alice. Soon, I saw Alice coming out of the restroom, shaking her hands.

“Alice.”

“?”

She looked at me strangely because I was waiting right in front of the restroom. I had never come to her first and waited before.

“The vice-principal wants you to go to the principal’s office. Right now.”

Alice listened to me and walked towards the principal’s office. She was still silent, not opening her mouth. The only times she opens her mouth are when she eats or brushes her teeth?

‘It’s really hard to adjust because she’s so different from the original.’

As I headed to the library, two people in suits walked towards me from afar. They were both women, and when they passed me, I saw the paper documents one of the women was holding.

‘…Adoption.’

They passed me, turned the corner towards the principal’s office, and disappeared from my sight.

‘Is it Alice?’

In the original, Alex becomes the adopted son of Lee Jaeyeon, the executive director of Sungkwang Electronics. In this world, Sungkwang Electronics is a leading conglomerate in Korea, so it’s a life-changing event for Alex.

But Alex didn’t think of it as a life-changing event at all.

A loveless, merely showy adoption.

Lee Jaeyeon knew very well that the combination of Alex’s outstanding appearance and Lee Jaeyeon’s wealth was a popular topic in the media.

‘It was an opportunity for Lee Jaeyeon to enhance the company’s image.’

There have been several corruption scandals recently, so she needed a turning point. And since she had no intention of getting married, she needed an adopted child to appoint a successor.

Then, will Alice here also become Lee Jaeyeon’s adopted daughter?

What does Alice think about it?

Honestly, I don’t know. Just because the original Alex was reluctant to be adopted doesn’t mean Alice will be too.

Rather, Alice might want to get out of this cramped orphanage.

If that’s her intention, it’s right for her to go to Lee Jaeyeon.

Yes, that’s right…

‘Why am I frustrated?’

Is it because Lee Jaeyeon is not a purely good person? Or is the cause me?

“You’re here, Alice. Sit here.”

When Alice entered the principal’s office, she saw the principal sitting on the sofa and the vice-principal standing next to her.

The vice-principal always had a smiling face, so she was wearing a subtle smile this time too.

The principal looked at Alice, who had just entered, with a cold expression that did not reveal her emotions.

There was no particular change from the first impressions Alice had of the two. The vice-principal seemed friendly, and the principal seemed cool-headed.

“Come to think of it, it’s Alice’s birthday soon. Is there a present you want?”

“Don’t hesitate to tell us.”

When the principal added a word, Alice was embarrassed. She had never received a present in her life, so she didn’t know how to answer.

“Then maybe this opportunity will be your birthday present.”

The principal added, handing Alice a piece of paper. The paper had a picture of a woman who looked somewhat familiar.

“That person is Lee Jaeyeon, and she applied for adoption at our orphanage. But she seems to like you.”

“……”

“She specifically pointed you out during the consultation. Of course, the most important thing is Alice’s will. We will consider you as much as possible.”

The vice-principal’s gentle words pierced Alice’s ears.

Adoption.

Honestly, Alice didn’t even expect it.

The experience she had as soon as she was born was being abandoned, so it was impossible to imagine being accepted by someone.

That wasn’t the only surprising thing.

Lee Jaeyeon.

The intelligent Alice accurately remembered her impression and name, which were frequently mentioned in the media.

The most amazing chairman in Korea. Very rich. A person who does a lot of volunteer work.

That was Alice’s image of Lee Jaeyeon.

“Probably two people will come to see Alice soon, is that okay with you?”

When the vice-principal asked, Alice nodded.

Knock, knock.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. At the principal’s words to come in, two women in suits entered.

“Hello, Principal, Vice-Principal. I’m Lee Yujeong, the lawyer you contacted.”

Lee Yujeong was a graceful woman with long, straight hair.

“And this is Kim Hyerim, Chairman Lee Jaeyeon’s personal assistant.”

“Nice to meet you, I’m Kim Hyerim, the personal assistant.”

Kim Hyerim was a sharp-eyed woman with her hair tied in a ponytail.

“Welcome, please sit there.”

The principal had the two women sit across from Alice. The two women’s gazes naturally fell on Alice.

“Wow, this is… She’s much prettier in person. She’ll break a lot of hearts when she grows up?”

Lawyer Lee Yujeong tried to relieve Alice’s tension by making a light joke, but there was no particular change in Alice.

The embarrassed lawyer cleared her throat and shifted her gaze to the documents. The vice-principal cautioned Alice.

“Alice, you have to say hello at times like this.”

“……”

Alice quietly bowed her head.

“You don’t have to be nervous. We’re not here to evaluate you, just act as you normally do.”

Personal assistant Kim Hyerim mistook Alice for being scared of meeting strangers.

However, the vice-principal, who knows Alice relatively well, kept her mouth shut. She didn’t want to say anything that could have a negative impact on Alice.

“Today, we’re going to have a light conversation with the chairman. She’s so busy that instead, we’ll have a video call… Ah, you can think of it as a video call.”

Lawyer Lee Yujeong explained as much as possible at Alice’s eye level. In the meantime, Kim Hyerim opened her laptop and ran a video conferencing program.

After a while, Lee Jaeyeon’s face appeared on the screen.

Alice felt that Lee Jaeyeon’s atmosphere was different from what she saw in the media.

Children are sometimes good at noticing the hidden side of adults. Alice didn’t feel sincerity in Lee Jaeyeon’s eyes.

She didn’t feel the fluffy warmth that she felt when the vice-principal or Kim Maru looked at her.

Still, Lee Jaeyeon maintained a faint smile on the surface.

“Hello, you’re Alice.”

Afraid of being scolded by the vice-principal again, Alice bowed her head.

“I’m Lee Jaeyeon. I’m the person who wants to become your family.”

“Haha, Chairman. There are still many procedures left, aren’t you being too hasty?”

“Really? Was I too hasty?”

Everyone’s atmosphere except Alice was lively. It was natural for the vice-principal and the principal to be happy that there was a possibility that the child would be adopted.

Only Alice had a dark expression because of an unknown discomfort. Alice only expressed her intentions by shaking her head to yes/no questions and did not open her mouth.

“I heard you’re very good at studying? You always finish the orphanage studies first or second.”

“……”

“Is there anything you like? Soccer? Games?”

“……”

Lawyer Lee Yujeong thought Alice hadn’t opened her heart yet, so she carefully spared her words.

She couldn’t just blurt out, ‘Can’t you speak?’

“Th, that, Alice seems nervous. She’s not responding well to the chairman’s words.”

Lawyer Lee Yujeong tried to protect Alice.

“We can gradually reduce the distance. It’s almost time for the meeting, so shall we end here today?”

When Lee Jaeyeon tried to leave, everyone prepared to end today’s meeting.

“Then shall we end here for today? Alice, you did a great job. Here’s some chocolate.”

The vice-principal gave Alice a piece of chocolate in her slender fingers. Alice quietly accepted it.

Then, Lee Jaeyeon threw a curveball.

“Do you want to be my family?”

At that, everyone’s eyes focused on Alice.

Alice quietly stared at Lee Jaeyeon’s gaze, which was looking straight at her.

According to the adults’ words, the moment Alice becomes Lee Jaeyeon’s family, Alice’s life will change completely.

She will no longer have to sleep in a cramped room with many other girls, and she will not have to wait when she goes to the bathroom.

But Alice was not seduced by that.

Because ‘that boy’ will not be in Lee Jaeyeon’s family.

“…Me.”

“Huh?”

“Will I be adopted alone?”

The vice-principal and the principal’s eyes widened at the first sound of Alice’s voice. Kim Hyerim and Lee Yujeong were also surprised by her clear voice, which was unlike a child’s.

“…Do you dislike being separated from a close friend?”

Alice did not answer the vice-principal’s question. She just silently stared at Lee Jaeyeon.

Lee Jaeyeon stroked her lips and thought for a moment before giving an answer.

“I’m sorry, but the only person I want to be family with is you, Alice.”

Hearing that, Alice gently closed her eyes.

The meeting ended with that conversation. The personal assistant and the lawyer had a stiff expression, perhaps thinking that the meeting, which ended awkwardly, was not good.

After sending Alice back, only the adults remained.

“Principal, if I adopt a child from this orphanage, I will have a lot of attachment to this area. I plan to provide various kinds of assistance.”

At Lee Jaeyeon’s words, the principal quietly nodded.

“But the child’s will is the top priority. I understand that the chairman is interested in Alice because she is an extraordinary child, but there’s nothing I can do.”

At the principal’s firm words, lawyer Lee Yujeong narrowed her eyes. And she said a word to the principal.

“Given the nature of orphanages in underdeveloped areas, the situation will gradually become more difficult, so I would like you to more actively promote adoption. Wasn’t the principal’s expression the brightest when I mentioned assistance?”

She was a graceful lawyer who had a friendly expression in front of Alice, but now she was glaring at the principal so that that appearance could not be found.

“Of course, as the principal of an orphanage, I can’t dislike assistance. But as the principal of an orphanage, I can’t ignore the child’s will, so I have no choice but to take a passive attitude.”

“I also agree with the principal’s opinion. There is absolutely no adoption that the child does not want. Even if the orphanage’s situation becomes difficult.”

When the vice-principal added to the principal’s words, personal assistant Kim Hyerim sighed deeply. She thought that Chairman Lee Jaeyeon’s mood would be uncomfortable because things were not going as expected.

As expected, Lee Jaeyeon unilaterally ended the video call after giving only the minimum courtesy of a farewell greeting.

The lawyer and the personal assistant also soon left the principal’s office.

As the tense atmosphere relaxed slightly, the vice-principal slumped in her seat.

“…Principal, our situation is getting worse. Like the accounting department I sent you last month.”

“I know.”

“I heard that the nearby site has also been nominated as a candidate for redevelopment…”

“Sigh…”

The orphanage’s situation is getting worse day by day.

‘But what orphanage isn’t?’

The principal recalled Alice’s face, which was looking at Lee Jaeyeon with a cold gaze.

‘Adoption will be difficult.’

“This is the place that has been designated as a candidate for development, right?”

Lawyer Lee Yujeong opened her mouth in the car returning to Chairman Lee Jaeyeon.

“Yes. There is no strong opposition, and they say that they will give priority to the right to move in, so there is no legal problem.”

“Legally…”

Conversely, it meant that there were many difficulties in areas other than the law. Probably most of the residents will be negative about redevelopment.

“Some people will be harmed, but I think it’s a place that should be redeveloped.”

At personal assistant Kim Hyerim’s strong assertion, the lawyer tilted her head.

“Really? Do you know this area well?”

“Before Chairman Lee Jaeyeon hired Ms. Lee Yujeong for adoption, I often came here for preliminary exploration.”

“Ah, right… You need to know the situation around the orphanage well.”

“I looked around until late at night and found out that the security here is quite bad.”

“Of course, it’s like that compared to the downtown area, but it’s still Korea.”

“Even the nearest police station takes a long time to get to this shantytown…”

The personal assistant paused for a moment and caught her breath. Because she still hadn’t forgotten the tension of that night.

“The hometown of the arsonist who recently finished his prison sentence is here.”

“……”

“I also investigated the nearby criminal history during the preliminary investigation, and that night, a person with a similar impression to the criminal I saw in the documents passed me by.”

“Is there a possibility that you were mistaken?”

“…I hope I was mistaken.”