Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 23

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 23

Chapter Title: Second Year, Yi-hae Baek

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During the changing seasons, quite a few changes had taken place.

The biggest one was that Yi-hae Baek had regained her memories of the original story. After all, it gave her guidelines on how to handle the developments ahead.

"Human memory has its limits, so some things inevitably fade away over time."

She skimmed through the notebook packed full of notes. It was all the original story information she'd jotted down as it came to her.

Plot progression, episodes, character personalities, traits—they were all listed out.

"For now, the uncle's death episode from our first year passed without a hitch."

Thanks to that, Do-gyeom Seo and Yeol Seo had been able to keep up with school without any major derailments.

She spun a ballpoint pen over her finger.

Grabbing the twirling pen, Yi-hae Baek put on a serious expression and wrote down the details of the next episode.

"Already second year. The day the female lead shows up."

In a way, it was the original story's biggest event—the true start of the tale.

"She had that super flashy look because she was mixed-race. Her appearance screamed tough, but her personality was ridiculously timid. Total reversal charm."

Seeing her in person might feel like spotting a celebrity. Yi-hae Baek was a little excited, honestly.

Anyway, once the female lead appeared, there'd be a ton of episodes tying her to the male lead, Do-gyeom Seo.

"His bangs are way too long right now—he looks all gloomy. But getting involved with the female lead should reveal that handsome face of his."

That might be a bit of a shame.

It felt like sharing a hidden gem restaurant—one you'd kept all to yourself. A little disconcerting. Yi-hae Baek scratched her head.

She'd gotten close to Do-gyeom Seo, sure, but she had no business feeling possessive. His partner was already set in stone.

"The big second-year events were... the midterms and the female lead bullying incident, right?"

Do-gyeom Seo doesn't take any interest in the female lead at first. If he were the type to go for looks, he'd have shown some favor to Yi-hae Baek from the get-go.

Yi-hae Baek touched her own pretty face and snorted.

"She was top of the whole school, right? Do-gyeom Seo was all surprised by her studious side, and then the teacher had her tutor him. That's how they got tangled up."

A guy who's terrible at schoolwork and a girl who's a total brainiac.

Pure青春 snapshot. Yi-hae Baek was smiling to herself about it when she sensed a presence behind her and turned.

"You're picking up on presences like this now."

It was Do-gyeom Seo, slipping into the room without a sound. They were at the point where they wandered in and out of each other's rooms without knocking, so she had no reason to get mad.

Yi-hae Baek let out a hollow laugh.

"Learning self-defense and all that from you—I'm picking up all sorts of random tricks."

"Not bad."

Changes. Yeah, there was one more thing that had shifted: Yi-hae Baek had started training in fitness and self-defense with Do-gyeom Seo.

It was partly at I-heum Seo's urging, but mostly her own request after the kidnapping incident.

I-heum Seo had wanted to teach her himself, but for some reason, Do-gyeom Seo had stepped up instead. Weird, but whatever.

"You finish all the homework I gave you?"

"All done."

Just as she was learning self-defense from him, he was learning academics from her.

She'd felt bad mooching off him nonstop, and Yi-hae Baek's brain turned out sharper than expected. It was her way of paying back the favor.

Do-gyeom Seo griped about it, Yeol Seo bolted early, but I-heum Seo seemed pretty pleased with the setup.

"A yakuza can't solve everything with a strong body. Knowledge is power."

It kinda felt like she'd hijacked the female lead's role, but so what?

Yi-hae Baek stood under Do-gyeom Seo's unwavering stare. Today was their first day back at school as second-years.

As they left the room, Yeol Seo—who'd been waiting, glued to his phone—looked up.

"Why'd you take so long, sis? Were you pooping or something?"

"Such a way with words."

Yeol Seo scampered over, hooked his arm through hers, and grinned mischievously.

His playful antics weren't half bad, so she grabbed his lips and shook. He giggled like it was all a game.

Then Yi-hae Baek took a fresh look at their slightly changed eye level and marveled.

"I was worried you'd end up the runt of the family, but you're shooting up by the day. You won't tower over Do-gyeom or your uncle someday, will you?"

Nah, no way—still shorter than her, and cute as ever. She ruffled his hair.

Like a wary cat finally relaxing, he squinted happily into her touch. Adorable.

"Yi-hae Baek."

Do-gyeom Seo snatched her hand away.

She looked up, startled.

"Speaking of which, you've gotten taller too."

She stayed the same height, but these brothers just kept sprouting up. Unfair.

Not thrilled about it, Yi-hae Baek blinked innocently anyway.

"What?"

But after calling her name, Do-gyeom Seo said nothing—just laced their fingers together and tugged her along.

Yeol Seo, suddenly ditched, barked a disbelieving laugh and chased after them, yelling.

"Ah, come on, bro! Not even gonna yield to your little brother?!"

Yield? Where'd that come from?

Looks like they had some possessive streak when it came to their "sister." Yi-hae Baek rubbed her nose, embarrassed by all that overflowing family affection.

Embarrassing and awkward, but... not a bad feeling.

Yi-hae Baek's fluffy mood evaporated the moment they reached the classroom and she laid eyes on the transfer student the teacher introduced.

"...It's exactly the female lead's intro scene."

The name scrawled on the blackboard. The teacher mentioning mixed-race heritage. Up to here, it matched the game's female lead transfer scene perfectly.

Yi-hae Baek stared at the lectern. A crisp white shirt—stiff and obviously brand-new—caught her eye. And the guy was tall enough that she had to crane her neck to see his face.

Maybe it was only natural. The transfer student was a guy!

"No way—the female lead's a dude? Did the genre swap out from under me?!?"

Do-gyeom Seo propped his chin on his hand, watching her silent meltdown with curiosity. He hadn't spared the transfer student a single glance. Zero interest.

Even so... that was supposed to be the female lead. No, her fated counterpart, robbed of its identity.

"You seriously have zero interest in the transfer student?"

Yi-hae Baek whispered. As she leaned in, Do-gyeom Seo matched her, bringing their faces close. She flinched without meaning to.

His tilted head let his bangs fall, locking their eyes dead-on.

"None."

His steady gaze held only Yi-hae Baek. Reading that as interest solely in her—rather than the new guy—had to be her ego talking.

Her face heated up anyway. She fanned herself, and he blinked.

"Hot?"

Then he started fanning her with his much bigger hand.

Do-gyeom Seo was a bad guy. The kind who was sweet even to girls he had no intention of pursuing.

"Then, Eun-seol, why don't you take the seat behind Yi-hae? Yi-hae, hand up?"

Yi-hae Baek had been staring only at Do-gyeom Seo's face. The sudden callout jolted her upright.

Every eye in the room snapped to her. Do-gyeom Seo's from the next seat over. The transfer student's too.

"No need to stand, but I like the enthusiasm. Eun-seol, grab the empty spot behind her."

"Yes, got it."

The transfer student's gaze brushed Yi-hae Baek, then flicked away. He bowed to the teacher next.

With each step, he drew closer. Yi-hae Baek stared blankly—until Do-gyeom Seo lightly tugged her wrist.

"Sit."

"Ah."

She blinked, realizing she was still standing like an idiot. Scrambling to sit, she found the transfer student right in front of her, looking her way again.

Flashy blond hair. Eyes pitch-black, but with a bright, captivating beauty.

"The mixed-race thing?"

He had a different allure from Yi-hae Baek. She was all petite and cute; he was the flashy type who seized attention in a heartbeat.

Their eyes met through his long, calmly lowered lashes. He flashed a slight smile.

Eun-seol Yeo.

"To get back to my original world, I need that happy ending."

The name of the protagonist doomed to become Do-gyeom Seo's obsession.

"My friend's gay."

Homo? What the hell is this?!