Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 24

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 24

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

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I have no prejudices. I was even planning to cheer on Do-gyeom Seo's pure love. It was just that the thought of having to take up that love myself made my head ache.

She was confused. Still, when her eyes met Eun-seol Yeo's, she smiled politely in return, only for her body to suddenly drop downward.

It wasn't voluntary. Do-gyeom Seo had simply yanked her down, forcing her into the chair.

"That hurts."

"The teacher's watching."

Do-gyeom Seo offered a plausible excuse, but his voice carried a strangely dissatisfied tone.

He must have thought she looked like a total idiot standing there all spaced out. Yi-hae Baek just nodded, figuring that was probably it.

The sound of Eun-seol Yeo taking a seat in the empty spot behind her reached her ears. She even exchanged a small, smiling greeting with the classmate right beside her.

'At least her warm personality matches the original female lead's. Is he really a guy now? So what am I supposed to do next?'

Turning Do-gyeom Seo gay? No, that wasn't even the important part, really.

Yi-hae Baek whipped her head around to look at Do-gyeom Seo's face. His bangs covered his eyes, but his handsome features were still visible.

"Why?"

She recalled Eun-seol Yeo's appearance from moments ago, when he'd smiled at her.

Soon after, Yi-hae Baek made an ugly grimace, and Do-gyeom Seo blinked slowly.

'Yeah, unlike my ugly self, you two handsome ones would be a national waste if you paired up!'

Having to give up not one, but two perfect sets of genes!

Yi-hae Baek slumped weakly over her desk. Do-gyeom Seo and Eun-seol Yeo's gazes naturally fell on her, but she was oblivious, merely groaning in distress.

Even amid the confusion, time marched on steadily. Earlier, she'd noted Do-gyeom Seo's indifference to the transfer student, and sure enough, he showed zero interest in Eun-seol Yeo.

Plus, with no friends of his own, he always hung around with Yi-hae Baek. They ate lunch together and moved between classes as a pair.

"Hey, Yi-hae. Are you dating that guy or something?"

"Huh?"

Maybe that's why.

After returning from the bathroom, she could only blink dumbly at her classmate's cautious question.

She knew exactly who they meant without asking, but out of politeness, she smiled awkwardly and inquired,

"Who do you mean?"

"Do-gyeom Seo! That creepy kid with bangs so long they cover his eyes!"

"Hey, you can't say that—he's close to Yi-hae."

The friend beside her spoke up, and the kid realized their mistake, quickly clamping their mouth shut.

Well, with bangs that long, obscuring his face, the "creepy" label was somewhat deserved.

Yi-hae Baek couldn't understand why he dressed like that either.

"We got close when we were seatmates in first year, but we're not dating."

"But last time, you two were holding hands on the way to school!"

Ah, so that's what this was about.

She recalled a innocent past when she'd leaned on Do-gyeom Seo amid the stress from I-ryeong Cha.

The two involved thought nothing of it, but to hormonal teens their age, it would've screamed romance.

"We're close, but he treats me like a little sister, and I rely on him like a big brother. No romantic feelings at all."

"What even is that...? Even real siblings don't act like that."

They stared in disbelief, yet Yi-hae Baek spoke so plainly without a hint of embarrassment that their expression turned dubious.

If she said they weren't dating, why probe like an interrogation?

A flicker of annoyance rose, but she hid it. Showing irritation might earn her a "bitchy" reputation, which would be a headache.

Like Do-gyeom Seo, Yi-hae Baek had no friends either.

'My reputation seems fine, but I've been so focused on Do-gyeom that I missed chances to befriend others. Plus, not wanting to get close in this game world didn't help.'

But to reach the happy ending, she'd probably have to spend her school days here. Managing her image now couldn't hurt, she thought, forcing the biggest smile she could.

Hoping it didn't look too fake.

"But really, we're not dating."

"Well, that's a relief, but... he seems kinda weird. Ignores you when you talk to him, doesn't even look your way. Kinda scary, you know? Anyway, doesn't seem like someone you should hang with."

Oh, this kid has good instincts.

Yi-hae Baek nodded inwardly in agreement. It was basically gossiping about Do-gyeom Seo behind his back, but denying it would be pointless—he wasn't normal.

Relieved they weren't dating, the advice not to get too close continued. She nodded along appropriately and left the bathroom.

Do-gyeom Seo wouldn't care even if he overheard, so no guilt there.

Heading back to class, she bumped right into someone exiting through the back door. It was Eun-seol Yeo.

"Ah, Yi-hae."

"...?"

She meant to just pass by, but hearing her name called out of the blue made her blink.

Eun-seol Yeo smiled warmly and said,

"Your name's pretty, so it stuck with me."

For some reason, he reminded her of Yeong Baek in a bad way...

With her bad experiences, excitement gave way to wary suspicion. Though, objectively, her name was pretty.

She nodded half-heartedly and tried to head inside, but Eun-seol Yeo didn't step aside.

This big guy blocking the back door made it hard to pass, so Yi-hae Baek frowned up at him. Their eyes met—his smiling, hers not.

"Mind moving?"

"Teacher said to come to the staff room after class, but I don't know the way. Could you show me?"

"It's on the first floor."

"I'm directionally challenged."

Ridiculous. Do directionally challenged people these days lose up-down sense too?

It screamed ulterior motives, but since he was the transfer student, Yi-hae Baek sighed inwardly and nodded.

"Fine, I'll take you."

Break time had a bit left anyway. Drop him off and hurry back.

She walked ahead, and Eun-seol Yeo fell into step beside her with his long strides. He kept staring at her face, uncomfortably intense.

Unable to ignore the blatant gaze, Yi-hae Baek finally scowled and asked,

"Why do you keep staring?"

"'Cause you're cute."

Definite playboy move, and he's younger too.

"I know. Better to admire faces in the mirror anyway—eyes front."

"So you're saying my face is handsome?"

He knew he was hot; why fish for confirmation?

Guys like this might enjoy flustered reactions. Yi-hae Baek nodded matter-of-factly.

'The game world's heroine was purer, kinder—like a fantasy saint. Why's this one such a flirt?'

Same name and hair color, but tons of differences.

She'd ask the status window at home. Fortunately, Eun-seol Yeo shut up after that.

At the staff room, they ran into the teacher coming out.

"Ah, Eun-seol. I called you about textbooks—good thing you brought a friend. Take them back together."

Ah, unpaid labor? Pass.

Yi-hae Baek pouted behind the teacher's back, and Eun-seol Yeo, watching, stifled a laugh.

'That jerk? Can't even say thanks to his pack mule.'

Not a likable guy. They split the textbooks the teacher handed over, and the weight was no joke.

Eun-seol Yeo, carrying more, looked fine. Why her though?

"Right, Yi-hae. I saw Do-gyeom's quiz scores improved. You tutoring him?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah."

Caught off-guard by the sudden question, Yi-hae Baek nodded.

Despite grumbling, Do-gyeom diligently did her homework and was picking up study habits. Quiz scores from rote memorization would naturally rise.

The teacher's face lit up at her answer—why did that feel ominous?

"Great! He seemed totally uninterested in English, so I was worried. Help him with midterms too?"

"Huh?"

"Your grades are good, so it'd be perfect! You can study while teaching!"

Why are you deciding that?

Yi-hae Baek gaped. She couldn't say that role belonged to Do-gyeom's future seatmate.

Just like that, she'd unwittingly stolen the protagonists' bonding episode, leaving her utterly deflated.