Chapter 135

The daycare hallway was painfully quiet.

Too quiet.

Jennie Kim sat beside Lisa with their tiny four-year-old daughter between them on the waiting bench outside the principal’s office.

Ruby sat there with crossed arms, pouty cheeks, and one tiny scratch on her forehead like she had just survived war.

Meanwhile Lisa was trying so hard not to laugh.

“Baby…” Lisa whispered, hiding her smile behind her hand. “Did you really square up with another kid?”

Ruby gasped dramatically. “Mama! He insulted me!”

Jennie pinched the bridge of her nose already knowing this was going to be ridiculous.

The daycare teacher finally walked out looking both exhausted and confused.

“She’s… very passionate,” the teacher said carefully.

“That’s one word for it,” Jennie muttered.

Inside the office, Ruby climbed onto Jennie’s lap while Lisa sat across from the principal who looked like he needed a vacation after today.

“So,” he began. “The incident started during snack time.”

Ruby instantly huffed.

“That boy said I look like fluffy mandu,” she complained.

Lisa blinked.

Jennie blinked.

The principal continued, “And Ruby apparently stood on her chair and yelled—”

Ruby pointed angrily. “ONLY MAMA AND MOMMY IS ALLOWED TO CALL ME THAT!!”

Lisa immediately choked on air.

Jennie slapped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

The teacher nodded seriously. “Then she threw her juice box at him.”

Ruby defended herself instantly.

“It was apple juice! Not heavy!”

Jennie finally lost it, laughing into Ruby’s hair while Lisa wheezed beside them.

“Oh my god,” Lisa cried. “That’s literally my child.”

Ruby frowned up at them. “Why are you laughing? I protected my title.”

“Your title?” Jennie asked between giggles.

“Yes.” Ruby crossed her arms again. “I’m your fluffy mandu baby.”

Lisa melted immediately.

“Oh no,” Lisa whispered dramatically. “She weaponized the cuteness.”

The principal sighed deeply. “We understand she was upset, but physical aggression is not acceptable.”

Ruby’s ears drooped.

Jennie gently held her cheeks. “Baby, you can use your words instead of throwing juice.”

“But he kept saying it,” Ruby mumbled sadly. “And he laughed.”

Lisa’s expression softened instantly.

“Aww…” Lisa kissed her forehead. “Did it hurt your feelings?”

Ruby nodded dramatically before burying her face into Jennie’s chest.

“Cause fluffy mandu is special,” she whispered.

Jennie’s heart completely shattered.

Lisa looked one second away from crying too.

The teacher looked confused. “You… call her that at home?”

“All the time,” Lisa answered proudly.

“She literally answers to Mandu more than Ruby,” Jennie admitted.

Ruby lifted her head proudly. “Cause I am fluffy.”

Lisa snorted loudly.

The principal stared at the family in silence before finally giving up.

“Well… perhaps everyone just needs to apologize.”

Ruby turned toward the other little boy sitting quietly in the corner with his mother.

The boy mumbled, “Sorry for calling you fluffy mandu.”

Ruby narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“…You can call me Captain Mandu instead.”

Jennie almost fell out of her chair laughing.

Lisa looked ready to adopt ten more kids immediately.

The little boy blinked. “Okay.”

“AND,” Ruby added seriously, “you cannot laugh when saying it.”

“…Okay.”

Satisfied, Ruby nodded proudly before climbing back into Lisa’s arms like nothing happened.

As the family walked out of daycare later, Lisa carried Ruby on her hip while Jennie held her tiny backpack.

“You know,” Lisa teased, poking Ruby’s squishy cheek, “you really do look like fluffy mandu.”

Ruby gasped loudly.

“Mama!”

“But I’m allowed,” Lisa grinned.

Ruby thought about it for a second before nodding.

“…Okay. You’re premium member.”

Jennie burst into laughter while Lisa kissed Ruby’s cheek repeatedly.

“Our baby really started daycare fight over being called a dumpling.”

Ruby puffed her cheeks proudly.

“A cute dumpling.”