Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 10

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 10

Chapter Title: Hold the Leash Tight

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"Hyung, you're really gonna believe what that noona said?"

While Yi-hae Baek had gone to her room to grab her bag, Yeol Seo asked him in a quiet voice.

No one could overhear their conversation in the elevator, but the words Yi-hae Baek had spat out were completely unexpected.

I-ryeong Cha, who had been at I-heum Seo's side assisting him even before Yeol Seo was born.

It was a warning that she was a dangerous person.

"Who knows."

"Hyung, you're an idiot."

Do-gyeom Seo looked down at Yeol Seo with a puzzled expression. But Yeol Seo just sighed without responding.

'The very fact that he listened without dismissing it is something unimaginable for the usual hyung.'

It was regrettable that only he among the three knew about it.

Meanwhile, Yi-hae Baek hurried out with her bag, opening the door with a much lighter heart than before.

There, she saw the Seo brothers waiting silently.

'I couldn't explain why, but I told them Cha I-ryeong seems dangerous, and that I'd probably get killed if left alone with her—absurd words, but they listened.'

Honestly, she'd expected them to ignore her or get angry, telling her not to badmouth a family-like employee.

She hadn't even hoped for more since, to them, she was just an outsider.

So when Do-gyeom Seo listened quietly and then nodded with an "I see," she felt an impulse to run over and hug him.

"Let's go."

Do-gyeom Seo, still with his usual brusque face, said they should head to school. Yeol Seo turned away with his hands cockily in his pockets, but he didn't leave alone.

Seeing the two waiting for her, Yi-hae Baek grinned foolishly.

"Yeah!"

Surprised that Do-gyeom Seo was actually waiting for her, Yi-hae Baek blinked up at him.

His hidden face, permitted only to those who drew close, felt especially dazzling today.

'He's not even a yakuza yet, and he doesn't show emotions much, but maybe he's actually a pretty decent guy?'

Not boyfriend material, of course, but if she had a real older brother, would he feel this reliable?

Yi-hae Baek, who had been an orphan even before possessing this body, had always envied people with parents and siblings.

She didn't know how envious and heartwarming it was to see young friends walking hand-in-hand with their siblings.

"...!"

Yi-hae Baek glanced slyly around before timidly grabbing just the tip of Do-gyeom Seo's finger.

Not even his whole hand—just the fingertip!

It was such a cautious action that Do-gyeom Seo wouldn't even have time to react.

"...Is this no good? I don't mean anything weird by it. You just feel like an oppa, so it makes me feel supported, and I did it without thinking. Ah, sorry. If it bothers you...!"

Misinterpreting Do-gyeom Seo's gaze, Yi-hae Baek made excuses in a fluster, her face crumpling.

Yet she didn't let go of his finger, fidgeting awkwardly, which made Yeol Seo, walking ahead, turn back with wide eyes.

His eyeballs looked ready to pop out and roll away.

"Hey! Are you flirting with our hyung right now?! Ha, this is hilarious! Trying a honey trap, are ya?!"

No, you called me a pumpkin earlier.

As Yi-hae Baek opened her mouth, wondering if her actions had caused a misunderstanding,

"Enough. We're late. Let's head out."

Do-gyeom Seo walked ahead before their conversation could drag on. Without shaking off Yi-hae Baek's hand, just as she held it.

The surprised Yi-hae Baek trotted after him and asked,

"Is it okay if I keep holding on?"

"Do whatever."

"Whoa, you're secretly nice, huh? I seriously have no ulterior motives! So don't worry!"

'This jerk. I thought he was a good guy, but he's thinking crap like that inside. 'Pathetic and stirs protective instincts'? What the hell?!'

But she couldn't help feeling reassured holding the hand of the one somewhat trustworthy guy in this unsettling house.

His inner thoughts exposed by the status window were infuriating, but Yi-hae Baek decided to forgive him with her generous heart.

Of course, walking to school like that drew sidelong glances from students in the same school uniforms, staring oddly—but whatever.

It was possible only for Yi-hae Baek, who didn't care since it wasn't her real body, and Do-gyeom Seo, who never minded others' gazes anyway.

Yeol Seo, who accompanied them partway, had fled in embarrassment.

'More than that, I didn't know Yeol Seo was in middle school. He's so short, I naturally assumed elementary.'

I-heum Seo and Do-gyeom Seo were tall, the poor kid.

Yi-hae Baek secretly pitied Yeol Seo. As the classroom neared, she let go of his hand. Do-gyeom Seo's gaze followed.

"The class kids might misunderstand if they see, so I'll let go from here."

"Do whatever."

He nodded indifferently and headed to his seat first. Following him, Yi-hae Baek smiled, her lingering anxiety eased a bit.

'Guess I've been more stressed than I thought. Well, dying out of nowhere would be frustrating.'

They said skinship positively affected anxious feelings, and it seemed true.

Yi-hae Baek resolved to restrain herself in class but grab Do-gyeom Seo's hand now and then, humming as she went.

But she didn't know.

'Are they dating?'

'100% dating.'

'Yi-hae's pretty and smart, so why with that gloomy guy...?'

That to her classmates, the two were already officially imprinted as a couple.

A few days passed since then.

Fearing I-ryeong Cha might show up again, Yi-hae Baek stuck to Do-gyeom Seo's side like someone with OCD, except when sleeping.

Even during his breaks, she'd barge into his room uninvited, flop on the bed, and nap; whenever he moved, she tailed him.

Bonus: ever since getting permission, she grabbed his hand whenever she felt like it.

"Gasp...!"

The gang members who witnessed it always gaped in shock, which was amusing every time.

'But Do-gyeom Seo seems totally indifferent to it? He's just so apathetic about everything.'

Yeol Seo was still dissatisfied but kept quiet since Do-gyeom Seo had allowed it.

Looking closely, for all his cheekiness, he obeyed I-heum Seo and Do-gyeom Seo like a loyal dog.

There was another person shocked by the pair's big change.

"...You've gotten quite close, the two of you."

As Do-gyeom Seo headed to the kitchen for water and she tagged along holding his finger,

I-heum Seo, passing by in the hallway, spotted them and made an odd expression.

She'd secretly worried he'd scold her for ruining the heir's image.

But he turned away as if business was done, and she unwittingly sighed in relief.

'Ah, right! Constant vigilance mode!'

Realizing she hadn't ambushed his head lately, she hurriedly let go of Do-gyeom Seo's hand.

Unaware of Do-gyeom Seo's gaze on her, she tiptoed quietly toward I-heum Seo!

Only to crash face-first into I-heum Seo's chest as he turned like he'd been waiting!

I-heum Seo glanced down at Yi-hae Baek, who yelped "Ow!" and rubbed her nose, then called Do-gyeom Seo in a low voice.

"Do-gyeom Seo."

"Yes."

"Hold the leash properly."

I-heum Seo's gaze was precisely on Yi-hae Baek.

It was only natural that Yi-hae Baek, rubbing her nose with teary eyes, widened hers in shock.

"Leash? Mister, I'm not a fierce dog, you know?!"

"...Who would compare something like you to a fierce dog?"

His genuinely baffled expression was followed by the status window eagerly transmitting a message, as if waiting.

Yi-hae Baek scowled, but I-heum Seo no longer seemed inclined to play along with her antics.

As he walked away after that, Yi-hae Baek sighed deeply.

'...He'll be fine, right?'

She hadn't fully warmed to him yet, but she didn't want her handsome, rich benefactor dying.

She could only hope her strategy worked.

And that dawn.

Yi-hae Baek, snoring in her sleep, jolted awake at the deafening status window chime in her head.

A barrage of status windows appeared before her half-awake eyes, as if on cue.

'What does this mean? Does it mean the mister almost died just now?'

It was 2:44 AM. Thinking I-heum Seo had nearly died while she slept made Yi-hae Baek tremble all over.

Her sleepiness vanished instantly.

Before she could gather her thoughts, the next status window appeared. Additional rewards, too.

Among them, Do-gyeom Seo's noticeably increased favorability stood out, stingy as he was.

"...Still, that's a relief. The mister didn't die."

As she sighed in relief and tried to go back to sleep,

The golden reward window faded, replaced by a status window with stark red letters.

Before Yi-hae Baek could savor the additional rewards, bomb-like warnings poured down.