Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 12

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 12

Chapter Title: For Adjusting the Yakuza Male Lead's Intensity

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"More importantly, why were you really here? Do you have any idea how startled I was? If Uncle got hurt, you should be by his side."

Even after Yeol Seo left, Yi-hae Baek and Do-gyeom Seo were left alone together. Yi-hae Baek turned to him as if she had been waiting for this moment and asked.

Her small mouth moved so quickly. Do-gyeom Seo, who had been looking at her with a gaze of wonder, answered without any change in emotion, as usual.

"You."

"Yeah?"

"You're scared of being alone."

What was this supposed to mean?

Yes, it was true that she had been following Do-gyeom Seo around like a shadow out of fear for her life all this time.

But she hadn't imagined he would stand guard outside while she locked the door and slept.

With a 'no way' in her heart, Yi-hae Baek cautiously asked.

"Wait, have you been doing this every day?"

"No. I slept too."

Because I'm human, he replied expressionlessly.

'I almost mistook you for some devoted pushover.'

Feeling awkward, Yi-hae Baek pursed her lips. Just as she embarrassedly grabbed the doorknob to head back to her room.

"Sometimes. Today, I thought I-ryeong Cha—who scared you—might come after you while fleeing."

She needed to ask why I-ryeong Cha was running away, but she couldn't bring herself to.

She could only meet his serious gaze as if entranced.

Maybe it was because so many confusing things had happened.

Do-gyeom Seo, who blended so well with the dawn, was unknowingly opening the door to Yi-hae Baek's heart.

The next morning, Yi-hae Baek rubbed her eyes as she left her room. A yawn came as a bonus.

"Yawn. Huh?"

She had come out a bit early, but she naturally assumed Do-gyeom Seo would be waiting in front of the door.

She scratched her belly. Unlike her tousled hair, her pajamas were the princess-style dress she had bought with Do-gyeom Seo at the department store last time.

Wearing a light sky-blue dress with frills, she hesitated not a moment as she trotted toward Do-gyeom Seo's room.

The hem of the dress fluttered like waves.

"Do-gyeom Seo, you up? We should go eat breakfast."

No answer even when calling from outside.

I-heum Seo, a Yakuza boss who was somewhat family-oriented in his own way, insisted that the family eat breakfast and dinner together without fail.

If there was an appointment, it couldn't be helped, but showing up late to meals just from oversleeping would earn a scolding.

Yi-hae Baek crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side. Her tousled hair flowed along with the tilt.

'I'm a little curious what Uncle looks like when he's mad, but I don't want to see Do-gyeom Seo get scolded.'

After a brief moment of hesitation, Yi-hae Baek let out a deep sigh.

'As the big sister figure, I should take care of him. Ugh.'

It was a cheeky remark that would have made Do-gyeom Seo chuckle in disbelief if he heard it.

"Hey, Do-gyeom Seo. I'm coming in?"

Unlike her, Do-gyeom Seo hadn't locked his door. It was only natural, since there were no bold organization members in this house who would dare harm him.

Opening the door revealed a room as spacious as hers. She looked around the similar layout in admiration.

'Talk about stark. Is this what they call the minimalist life you hear about?'

Her own ordinary room suddenly felt like a maximalist paradise.

"Hey, Do-gyeom Seo."

Feeling awkwardly embarrassed for no reason, she strode into the bedroom.

Some might scold her for brazenly entering a man's room without fear, but to Yi-hae Baek, Do-gyeom Seo wasn't that kind of person.

The only one whose status window was visible. Do-gyeom Seo, the definitive male lead in this romance simulation game.

He wasn't an object of romantic interest to her.

'Even if I act this casually around him, there's no reason he'd see me that way. Once the original female lead transfers in, she'll definitely fall for him.'

Still, she felt a sense of closeness, so her hope was to get along with Do-gyeom Seo like family or friends.

Seeing how he took good care of Yeol Seo and didn't bully her, he didn't seem like such a heartless guy.

At least for now. She had no idea how he'd change after meeting the female protagonist.

'From the start, it seems like he only got twisted after Uncle gets murdered... So maybe there's no reason for him to go off the rails now?'

Maybe he'd even have a normal romance with the female protagonist!

Yi-hae Baek felt a swell of pride all on her own before quickly changing her mind.

'I'll keep things casual, and if I like the decent sub-male lead from the original story, maybe I'll snag him midway.'

She didn't remember exactly, but he seemed like a pretty good catch.

Come to think of it, he had some hidden identity or something, but her mind was foggy like it was filled with mist—she couldn't recall clearly.

'Is my memory just bad, or is the status window messing with me?'

Either way, her being here probably wouldn't change much.

"......"

Do-gyeom Seo lay sideways on the bed, sleeping soundly. Though he hadn't shown it, staying up until dawn guarding Yi-hae Baek's door must have exhausted him.

'The protagonists are set in stone anyway. What's the point of me possessing the side character Yi-hae Baek's body?'

She approached Do-gyeom Seo. Kneeling in front of his closed-eyed face, she stared intently.

Through his disheveled hair, she could see his fine skin and long eyelashes. For a Yakuza male lead, he had an astonishingly delicate appearance.

"You're disgustingly handsome. Too bad you're Yakuza."

Muttering softly, she reached out and poked the tip of his nose. He didn't stir in the slightest.

He might have a surprisingly heavy sleep. Watching him slumber so peacefully made sleepiness creep up on Yi-hae Baek too, like it was contagious.

With a small yawn, mouth agape, she blinked slowly and thought.

'Can't just let him get scolded alone; that'd be too heartless.'

With that absurd excuse, Yi-hae Baek stealthily climbed onto the wide bed.

She stole Do-gyeom Seo's blanket, curled up into a ball, and closed her eyes.

Her steady breathing proved she had fallen asleep.

Right after, Do-gyeom Seo opened his eyes and looked at the sleeping her.

"......"

This time, Do-gyeom Seo reached out. The gesture brushing aside the hair covering Yi-hae Baek's sleeping face seemed indifferent yet meticulous.

"You've been sleeping until now? ...In Do-gyeom Seo's room, no less?"

When Do-gyeom Seo and Yi-hae Baek didn't show up at the dining room, I-heum Seo had sent O Seo-bang upstairs. Hearing the report, he let out a disbelieving chuckle.

Yeol Seo, who had come down to the dining room early to avoid Yi-hae Baek, was equally shocked.

"The young master and young lady were sleeping so soundly that I left them be. Should I wake them?"

"No need. They must have been startled from yesterday's incident and barely slept."

To O Seo-bang's question, I-heum Seo shook his head, as if letting it slide just this once.

Yeol Seo cried out in surprise at his reaction.

"Father! You're just going to leave it like that? She's clearly seducing Brother to stick around here forever! She's doing it so slyly because she's relying on her looks, the beggar!"

"Hm."

He teased her as a pumpkin every time, but even to young Yeol Seo, Yi-hae Baek was undeniably pretty.

Even without makeup, she had a delicate, fragile aura that drew the eye. She'd probably become even more beautiful as an adult.

Of course, he'd never let on that he thought so in front of Yi-hae Baek.

"If Yi-hae wants to stay, it's fine. We were planning to betroth her to Do-gyeom Seo anyway—marriage might even be better."

"Father!"

"Your voice is too loud, Yeol Seo."

Caught off guard by the unexpected response, Yeol Seo hurriedly called out to him but only received a cold rebuke.

Yeol Seo clamped his mouth shut and ground his teeth in dissatisfaction.

'Yi-hae? Did he just call her by name? Damn it, why are both Dad and Brother so soft on that girl? What the hell is so special about Yi-hae Baek!'

Not only was he annoyed that she had barged into their home out of nowhere, but he hated how his family paid more attention to her than to him.

The only one who should dote on him pretending to be Do-gyeom Seo was his little brother Yeol Seo, and I-heum Seo's affection belonged to no one else—especially not Yi-hae Baek!

'It's just a coincidence. They must think they survived I-ryeong Cha's attack yesterday thanks to Yi-hae Baek... Though yeah, she was right that I-ryeong Cha is the bad guy!'

Even admitting that soured his mood, so he ate aggressively, full of fight.

I-heum Seo glanced at Yeol Seo with a peculiar look and said to O Seo-bang.

"Is he going through puberty these days?"

"He's right at that age, but times like this call for watching with warm eyes."

"Hm. I see. Anyway, instruct Do-gyeom Seo to get some sex education refreshers. Even if Yi-hae is innocent, what's he thinking acting the same way?"

Yeol Seo seemed not to hear I-heum Seo's tsk and words.

'His fondness for the young lady has gone up since yesterday's incident. He's worrying about her instead of the young master.'

Only O Seo-bang, who overheard the mutter, gave an awkward smile at Yi-hae Baek's growing presence.

The betrayal by I-ryeong Cha, whom they had raised since she was young, left the organization members looking gloomy or lost in thought.

Yet the mood didn't stay entirely somber, thanks to Yi-hae Baek.

'What a lucky charm of a young lady.'

O Seo-bang, who had been down from the shock of the betrayal, smiled.

It was because the angelic sight of Do-gyeom Seo and Yi-hae Baek he had glimpsed earlier came to mind.