Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 15

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: Hospital Stay and Hidden Jealousy

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Yi-hae Baek came to after the emergency treatment was finished.

‘Is this... a hospital?’

She blinked groggily. She vaguely remembered someone carrying her noisily on their back, but everything around her now was quiet.

‘Hospital gown. And my back doesn’t hurt as much anymore.’

Best of all, it was a private room.

Even emergency patients didn’t usually get a private room right away.

She wondered if they’d bought their way in with money or strong-armed it with yakuza clout.

Yi-hae Baek carefully sat up, then turned her head as something caught on her hand.

“Do-gyeom?”

She’d thought no one was there.

Do-gyeom Seo had his head resting on the edge of the bed, slumped over asleep. He must have been sleeping in that uncomfortable position.

He could’ve just gone home and slept comfortably.

‘Was he keeping watch by my side?’

His gesture of staying by her wasn’t entirely unwelcome.

Her eyes fell on his hand, still marked with her bite. Feeling guilty over the deep, lingering teeth marks, she reached out to rub it.

Suddenly, someone snatched her wrist. The culprit was Do-gyeom, just now lifting his upper body.

“You okay?”

“Weren’t you sleeping?”

“I woke up.”

She hadn’t made that much noise, but he’d woken anyway.

Last time, he wouldn’t budge even after she’d tried hard to wake him for breakfast. What an absurd guy.

“Did you bring me to the hospital?”

“No. Dad put you in the car and brought you. He’s consulting with the doctor right now.”

“I see.”

“...They treated it, but it might leave a scar.”

He’d hesitated uncharacteristically. That must’ve been what he was waiting to say.

Yi-hae Baek reached out in disbelief to feel her back, but winced in pain. Do-gyeom grabbed her hand.

“Don’t touch it.”

“Sorry. Wait, it’s my body—why am I apologizing? Anyway, I hope no scar, but if it happens, it happens.”

As long as Yeol hadn’t been hurt. What was done was done, and blaming anyone wouldn’t change it.

Yi-hae Baek decided to take it coolly. At least it wasn’t on a visible spot like her face, so that eased her worries.

“You okay?”

Instead, Do-gyeom looked concerned at her nonchalant reaction. As Yi-hae Baek nodded, she paused.

Then she rubbed her chin.

“Hm, one potential issue.”

“What?”

“What if I get a boyfriend later and he sees my body and thinks it’s gross?”

She mumbled that she’d feel a bit hurt, and Do-gyeom’s face hardened menacingly.

“Don’t date anyone who thinks that. I’d object.”

“Idiot, how would I know if he’d think that?”

“I’d know.”

Do-gyeom was so earnest that Yi-hae Baek burst out laughing.

“So, I’d need your permission to date?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re not my dad. But you do feel like a big brother. Reliable, looking out for me and all.”

Do-gyeom stared at her laughing until tears welled up, then faintly smiled.

‘Huh? Since when has she been calling me by name instead of side character?’

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it started.

Yi-hae Baek must’ve switched naturally as they got closer, he assumed.

Dismissing it as nothing special.

“Stay hospitalized for a while. I’ll visit often.”

“What about the beach tomorrow?!”

“What beach in that condition.”

Was Do-gyeom always this bluntly firm?

Yi-hae Baek pouted in dissatisfaction. Do-gyeom reached out and pinched her lip.

“...?!”

“No duck face. Listen. I’m saying this because I’m worried.”

“Hng.”

“No weird noises.”

It wasn’t weird; it was her being cute.

His hand left with a warning laced with concern. Her killer aegyo having failed, Yi-hae Baek cleared her throat.

“The guys outside are reliable, so no safety worries. Nothing like with I-ryeong Cha will happen.”

She nodded entranced at his confident words.

Soon, I-heum Seo arrived after his consultation. He also recommended staying hospitalized for the time being.

The emergency treatment had gone well, but given the severity of the burns, he wanted follow-up care in the hospital.

Yi-hae Baek nodded obediently.

‘Not like it’s costing me anyway.’

No school either—she grinned widely at the upside. Seeing this, I-heum sighed and patted her head.

“Do-gyeom filled me in. No more reckless stunts.”

“Got it. Thanks for worrying, sir.”

First Do-gyeom, now I-heum worrying over her.

Being on the receiving end of concern didn’t feel bad at all; she smiled with her eyes.

Then someone gently tugged her arm, pulling her from I-heum’s touch.

The culprit was Do-gyeom.

“...What’s that about?”

I-heum frowned at Do-gyeom’s unexpected move. Undeterred, Do-gyeom said flatly,

“You said keep a tight leash, right?”

No, he was spouting nonsense.

‘Leash out of nowhere... Oh, that from before.’

Yi-hae Baek eyed him with a why-now? look, but he was busy glaring at I-heum.

Seeing the two silently locking eyes, Yi-hae Baek pouted again.

‘They’ve got their own inside jokes, excluding me. Not fair.’

She didn’t realize Do-gyeom’s action stemmed from his budding possessiveness and jealousy.

Of course, Do-gyeom himself was oblivious to it too.

Hospital life was incredibly comfortable.

‘Delicious! Leisurely! Quiet! Peaceful!’

Private room meant no need to mind others, and the organization members guarding outside brought whatever she needed on their visits.

Food, manga, even game consoles!

Plus, the meals in a private room were surprisingly gourmet.

Yi-hae Baek hummed a tune, harboring the cheeky thought of living here forever.

“Ah, but maybe too much lying around and eating? I think I’ve gained a bit.”

Sitting on the bed, she spotted her slightly folding belly and let out a dry laugh.

‘Only benefit since possessing this body is the looks. Gotta maintain it!’

So she resolved to at least walk a lap in the hospital rooftop garden for exercise.

Someone might nitpick if that counted as exercise, but to Yi-hae Baek, anything beyond breathing was.

“Guys, I’ll just take a light walk. Okay? It’s embarrassing if we all go together and everyone stares.”

The hitch was the organization members posing as bodyguards.

They’d assigned the less scary-looking ones, but...

‘Anyone can tell they’re not ordinary. They look like debt collectors.’

Heading up with them would scare everyone off.

They looked troubled at her request but couldn’t outright refuse, so she beamed.

“I won’t tell sir! Just wait near the rooftop entrance. You can monitor anyone coming and going.”

“Well...”

“Please? I just want some alone time to stroll and think. I won’t go beyond the hospital.”

“Hmm, alright. But just a little.”

“Thank you!”

Having finally gotten permission, Yi-hae Baek slipped on her slippers and hurried to the elevator.

Waiting at the entrance nagged a bit, but not being tailed constantly was something.

Feeling a touch of freedom, she marveled at the rooftop garden.

‘Wind! Outdoors! Sunlight! Feels amazing!’

She’d thought as a homebody indoor life suited her, but humans needed sun after all.

She strolled the quiet rooftop garden, humming.

It was morning now, so Do-gyeom and Yeol should be at school.

“Should tell Do-gyeom to bring donuts when he comes later.”

He visited daily, hands full of gifts for her. Mostly desserts, but since she reacted best to those, he stuck to them.

‘He’s subtly thoughtful. Like with I-ryeong Cha, and this incident.’

She recalled his gentle hand stroking her hair. Knowing he’d belong to another woman, why did those moments keep surfacing?

Yi-hae Baek shook her head quickly.

‘He’s not mine.’

They could be friends, but never lovers or family.

Yi-hae Baek smiled, consciously pushing him beyond her boundaries.

She had to push away to avoid abandonment. That was the way she’d survived until now.