Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 30

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 30

Chapter Title: Sibling Bonds and Jealous Glances

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"I'll be going to the same school as you and my brother soon!"

Yeol Seo said as they walked to school. Yi-hae Baek, who had still been thinking about Do-gyeom Seo, blinked in surprise.

"Huh?"

"Why are you so shocked? I'm already sixteen. Once my sister starts her senior year of high school, I'll be entering as a freshman in the same school."

Yeol Seo explained kindly. Sometimes he explained things in excessive detail, as if he thought she was an idiot.

"No, I get that, but it just hit me how little our age difference really is. You still seem so childish."

"We're only two years apart!"

Getting excited over something like that was proof of how young he was.

'But if I say that, he'll definitely get upset.'

Yi-hae Baek nodded casually. Reading her expression, Yeol Seo grabbed her wrist with a dissatisfied look.

As she had thought before, he was shorter than her but had unusually large hands for his size.

"Sister, did you know?"

"Huh?"

"That getting engaged to you doesn't have to be with my brother."

Yeol Seo's eyes, now very close, perfectly reflected Yi-hae Baek's startled face.

For a brief moment, she blinked in confusion, wondering what he meant. Before she could react, Yeol Seo's face turned bright red, and he quickly let go of her hand and stepped back.

Covering his mouth and flustering about, he looked as if Yi-hae Baek had been the one teasing him.

"I just meant that! It's not some weird implication!"

"Oh, yeah. I didn't think it was weird."

"It's not weird, but at least pretend to take it seriously!"

What was she supposed to do?

In short, their parents' dying wish for her to get engaged to one of them didn't have to mean Do-gyeom specifically.

Any one of the brothers would do, but I-heum Seo had only had his same-age son Do-gyeom in mind.

It meant the fate could change anytime if Yi-hae Baek or Yeol Seo wished for it.

'Was there an fiancée for Yeol Seo in the original story? I don't remember, since he wasn't the type to fall for the female lead.'

There had been a few mentions of a younger brother character who acted like an action captain beside Do-gyeom.

Usually, a male lead's brother would end up involved with the female lead, but that never happened in the game.

So she hadn't paid much attention, but surely he wasn't meant to be Yi-hae Baek's partner.

"Why should I take it seriously? You're family to me."

That was probably why.

Yi-hae Baek smiled while slightly averting her gaze. She wasn't sure what Yeol Seo's expression was, but he would know she was subtly drawing a line.

Whether joke or serious, she didn't want to get involved with anyone else after Do-gyeom.

'I'll just aim for the happy ending and leave.'

Even if there was no one waiting for her, it would still be her own life. A free life without that damn status window or forced entanglements with characters.

"I know. Who said I don't like it? ...So don't make that face. I won't say anything weird anymore."

Yeol Seo came closer and took her hand. He rubbed his head against her shoulder like a cat acting cute for its owner.

She didn't know what her own face had looked like. But he was probably just afraid that the people she had come to see as family might drift away over feelings that would never come true.

If it wasn't going to happen anyway, it was better to stay family forever. Even if it was just playing house.

That went for Yeol Seo and Do-gyeom too.

Arriving at the classroom alone, Yi-hae Baek frowned slightly at the still-empty seat beside her.

'What on earth is he doing? It's not like he's exercising or anything.'

She considered texting him but decided against it. He wasn't a kid; he'd come in on his own.

"Yi-hae, hi."

As she stood by the back door lost in thought, a voice came from behind. Startled, she whipped around, only to find the other person's face closer than expected.

"...Hi."

It was Eun-seol Yeo.

His striking appearance was as dazzling as ever, and he smiled softly with his eyes. Kids his age might find it appealing, but to her, it felt a bit off-putting.

'No bad intentions, but it seems like a practiced social smile.'

Like the smiles office workers use to hide their true feelings and project a good image.

Eun-seol Yeo greeted the surrounding students in a friendly manner too. It was the confidence of someone who knew his looks drew people in.

"Looks like you didn't come with Do-gyeom today."

As she sat at her desk, Eun-seol Yeo naturally followed to the seat behind hers and asked.

There was no way the transfer student from yesterday would know they commuted together, so how did he know?

Giving him a suspicious look, he waved his hand with an innocent smile.

"I saw you leaving together yesterday, and the class kids told me. They said you two are close and commute together."

"They sure are interested in us."

"Misunderstanding."

Eun-seol Yeo leaned forward from his seat, coming close to Yi-hae Baek, and whispered.

"To be precise, they're interested in you."

"..."

As expected, he was the unsettling guy who kept reminding her of Yeong Baek.

At least Yeong Baek had been good at acting genuine enough to fool her. Eun-seol Yeo here wasn't even trying that hard.

'Ah, maybe he's interested in Do-gyeom and wary of me because we seem close?!'

Yi-hae Baek, who had been blindly suspicious, suddenly hit on an idea and opened her mouth wide. It might even be close to the truth.

In the original story, the female lead had been attracted to Do-gyeom's looks too!

'Just different gender, but the story flows similarly? He's definitely wary of me.'

Yi-hae Baek decided to drop her prejudices. The status window had confirmed Eun-seol Yeo as the original female lead, so no more denying it.

"Eun-seol, don't worry."

"...About what?"

His eyes, looking anxious just like when she'd called him a eunuch yesterday, turned to her.

"I'm not really anything to Do-gyeom, and I have no prejudices. If you're into him, I'll actively push you two together, so just trust me...!"

Eun-seol Yeo's large hand clamped over Yi-hae Baek's mouth. It was so big it covered her nose too, making it hard to breathe.

"Wait, wait. You were like this yesterday too—what the hell are you talking about? Why would I be interested in him?"

Ah, this must be Eun-seol Yeo's true face.

Not his usual relaxed smile, but a genuinely flustered frown as he whispered.

Maybe his real personality was a bit prickly. Thinking that, Yi-hae Baek tilted her head as calmly as she could.

"Love at first sight with Do-gyeom?"

With her mouth covered, her hot breath was fully felt. It was the same for him, but apparently that wasn't important.

She could see his face crumpling pathetically.

"Crazy."

And the small curse he muttered was low and rough, unlike his usual gentle way of calling her Yi-hae.

His voice had been an act too, it seemed. Yi-hae Baek found Eun-seol Yeo peeling back layers like an onion a bit intriguing.

"You... no, Yi-hae. I don't know why you're having this gross misunderstanding, but I'm not interested in Do-gyeom at all."

"Really?"

"As I said earlier, the one I'm interested in is..."

Eun-seol Yeo's hand fell away. It felt like her blocked breath was suddenly freed.

It wasn't by his choice or hers forcing it off.

An outsider's hand had intervened between them. Yi-hae Baek followed the arm that had forcibly pulled away Eun-seol Yeo's hand.

Somewhere, she faintly heard someone inhale sharply.

"This is a problem."

It was Do-gyeom Seo.

He had cut his gloomy bangs that used to cover his eyes and now showed his face fully.

This was a development different from the original. She could feel the class holding their breath in shock as they stared at him.

If Eun-seol Yeo was a flashy beauty who captured attention with his looks, Do-gyeom was a cold, static beauty.

And he gave off a slightly more dangerous charm. To girls his age, that was a thrilling danger.

"Yi-hae Baek is already too much for me to handle on my own."

That dangerous thrill came to Yi-hae Baek without warning too.

Her face flushed bright red.