Chick 323
by Cristae323
That evening, on On Suhyeong’s Instagram.
(A photo of Groo at the ballpark, laughing with Gidan and Sergey)
(A photo of Groo in a uniform, cheering enthusiastically)
＠grandpa_osh Groo’s favorite team
GrandpaWillDoEverything #Children’sDayGift #GrooLove
The next day, Choi Chunho read the main news with an incredulous expression.
[Doan Group Pursues Purchase of Domestic Pro Baseball Team… Is It Because of the Chairman’s Granddaughter’s Love for Baseball?]
“…What’s really catching the attention is the theory that the chairman’s granddaughter is exceptionally passionate about baseball. Hah!”
Choi Chunho snorted as he read along.
No matter how cute the kid is, buy a whole team?
Perhaps mindful of backlash from existing fans, the group had even commented they’d spare no investment into the club.
On the article’s comment section, sports fans clamored with wishes for Groo to visit games supporting their respective teams.
[Comments]
- Groo, don’t you like volleyball? ㅠㅠㅠ
- Let’s find out how fun basketball is, Groo!
- Groo Groo… I’ll wait for you at the soccer stadium…
Choi Chunho twisted his lips in derision as he read the Groo-centric comments.
‘It’s all just a showy one-off.’
Not that he seemed the type, but maybe, at his age, he could act on such impulse.
Or perhaps it was an indirect way of showing, through the team acquisition, that he was healthy and would not be shaken by rumors.
At any rate, he figured the commotion over the granddaughter would soon subside, and he planned to visit On Suhyeong again then.
But days passed, and Choi Chunho found he could not return to see On Suhyeong.
Because On Suhyeong’s eccentricities didn’t stop there.
(A photo with Groo in front of a busy building under construction)
(A photo of Groo, wearing a safety helmet and making a peace sign)
＠grandpa_osh In front of the newly remodeled [Groo Building>
GrooBuilding #ThirdOne #TheWholeIntersection #FillingItWithGroo #Children’sDayGift #GrooLove
Choi Chunho was at a loss.
Just how many Children’s Day gifts do you plan to give?
(A photo of Groo riding a pony)
(A photo of Groo feeding a carrot to a horse)
(A photo of Groo smiling in front of the “Groo Ranch” sign)
(A photo of an enormous ranch)
＠grandpa_osh Our Groo, a natural at horseback riding
She’s so smart, she can master anything if you teach her!
JejuIsland #GrooRanch #HowManyOfGroo’sHorses #GrooLove
(A photo of a private jet on the business air center’s runway)
(A photo of Groo pointing at a Tinyping decal wrapped on the jet)
＠grandpa_osh You need at least one private jet to go back and forth to Jeju, right?
UsesMagicStones #EcoFriendly #GrooPrivateJet #GrooLove
‘Utter madness?’
Checking On Suhyeong’s Instagram, Choi Chunho gaped.
Using magic stones would cost several times more than a standard private jet.
How far is he planning to flaunt his love for his granddaughter?
Recently, On Suhyeong had become a sensation by creating an Instagram account and showing off his affection for his granddaughter in the form of extravagant gifts.
Everyone’s eyes were on what kind of “money madness” or eccentric display On Suhyeong would show next.
As a result, Doan’s falling stock price halted and began rebounding.
The moment Choi Chunho saw that, he paused.
‘Surely, all that eccentricity was aimed at this?’
By playing the overly doting grandfather, he’d restored the stock price without ever revealing On Ijo to the public, resolving the crisis.
A true heavyweight, indeed.
‘It may not be so easy for me from here on out.’
Choi Chunho repeatedly instructed his aides not to fall out of favor with the On family.
Doan Group’s acquisition of the baseball team was quickly finalized by On Suhyeong’s bold decision.
While the league office was busy reviewing the terms of purchase and management plans,
On Suhyeong and On Groo made a personal appearance at the stadium. Accompanying them were others sporting baseball caps and scarves of the team.
Seated in the VIP section as well, Jang Donghyeok glanced sideways at Groo.
The small, adorable child was beaming and waving a flag emblazoned with the team logo.
‘What’s got her so worked up?’
Does she even understand the rules of the game?
As the thought crossed his mind, Jang Donghyeok took a selfie to upload to Instagram, making sure Groo was in the background.
He got dozens of times more likes than usual.
He’d posted the photo including the child on purpose, yet felt oddly annoyed by it.
[Comments]
ajdklf_29: I see Groo in the back, lol
dong__hk: Didn’t even notice, haha
minjji05829: How is anyone this cute??
2young_u: Wow, met Groo for real? Is he really buying the team?
dong__hk: Who knows, lol. Does he really have the money for it?
When he dismissed it with a sneer in the comments, someone replied, “Of course he does, it’s Doan, lol.”
Right, of course. It’s Doan.
If the precious little darling of the Doan family wants it, of course Chairman On will buy the team.
Some of us are scrambling to win favor with an old man losing his mind, just for a bigger share of the inheritance.
He eyed the child again, munching noisily on a popcorn bucket nearly as big as she was.
“……”
Annoyance boiled up.
On Suhyeong had gone somewhere, leaving his seat, while the child was wholly engrossed in the game with her companions.
“Tsk.”
A charmed life. I was born the youngest of three sons and one daughter—my whole life a bloodbath over management succession.
And that little brat, just by being cute, swallows the whole Doan family fortune? It curdles my stomach.
Having had a few drinks, and emboldened by On Suhyeong’s absence, he gestured to the child.
“Hey, kid. Come here.”
“Yes?”
“That popcorn looks good.”
“Should I give you some?”
“Yeah. Let big bro have a taste.”
“Here you go.”
Groo scooped up a small handful of popcorn in her tiny fist and held it out.
Jang Donghyeok gave a thin smile.
Then—smack! He struck the child’s hand.
Clatter.
The popcorn spilled to the floor.
“……”
“Hey, you really think you should be eating this?”
“……”
“So damn filthy, really.”
Jang Donghyeok took out his handkerchief and began wiping his hand as if she’d smeared something dirty on it.
Groo blinked, face shriveling in distress. Jang Donghyeok loomed over her, speaking menacingly.
“How does Doan teach its children? Don’t you have any sense of hygiene at all? Guess that’s what happens when you come from nothing, huh?”
Seeing the child freeze and not know what to do, a base satisfaction tickled him inside.
“Hey, Jang Donghyeok. What are you doing?”
“Hey, cut it out. Knock it off.”
His companions’ voices tried to stop him, but he ignored them.
“Yeah, well, they picked you off the streets—”
Thwack!
Suddenly, Jang Donghyeok’s head snapped to the side.
A man, his face hidden by a cap and scarf, stood in front of him.
“What the…”
Shielding Groo behind him so she couldn’t see, the man raised his hand again.
Thwack!
Jang Donghyeok tried to strike back, but the man easily deflected his blow and smacked him across the face again.
“Do you know who I am?!”
“Do you know who I am?”
Thwack!!
“And who the hell are you!”
“This child’s father.”