Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 32

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 32

Chapter Title: Adjusting the Yakuza Male Lead's Intensity

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"W-When did I ever dodge?"

She brazenly replied, unable to even hide her trembling voice. Yi-hae Baek forced a smile as she tried to pry Do-gyeom Seo's arm off her.

But his hand didn't budge an inch. Her jaw didn't hurt, so he probably wasn't gripping that hard, but why wouldn't it move at all?

"N-No, I didn't?"

"......"

No matter how much she denied it, Do-gyeom Seo showed no sign of letting her go easily. Yi-hae Baek anxiously rolled her eyes toward the approaching female students.

Perhaps sensing their subtle atmosphere, the girls' footsteps had halted.

A strange silence hung over the hallway.

"Yi-hae's neck must hurt, Do-gyeom."

The one who came to her rescue was none other than Eun-seol Yeo. He smiled softly as he grabbed Do-gyeom Seo's wrist.

It was the arm that hadn't budged under Yi-hae Baek's strength, but since he was a guy of similar build, it came loose right away.

Or maybe he let go willingly upon hearing that Yi-hae Baek was uncomfortable.

"Don't you guys need to take uniforms inside? There are still some who haven't changed. I'll go tell them to hurry up."

Eun-seol Yeo smiled at the female students before lightly knocking on the classroom's back door and explaining the situation.

At that moment, the girl who had spoken to Yi-hae Baek in the bathroom earlier approached. More precisely, she squeezed between Yi-hae Baek and Do-gyeom Seo.

"Yi-hae, why'd you go ahead? You should've waited a bit and gone to the classroom with us."

When did we get that close?

But Yi-hae Baek just gave an awkward smile. It wasn't like she was picking a fight, so there was no need to react sensitively.

Her real target from the start was getting close to Do-gyeom Seo, after all.

She's talking to me, but her eyes keep drifting to Do-gyeom. He must notice, but he's blatantly ignoring it.

Girls this age were clumsy at hiding their crushes and curiosity, which could seem endearing to the opposite sex.

But Do-gyeom Seo ignored her with cold indifference. He just stared intently at Yi-hae Baek. And since Yi-hae Baek was pretending not to notice his gaze, she had no room to complain.

"The boys will be out soon. I'll head off with Do-gyeom first, so take your time."

Eun-seol Yeo didn't stop there; he dragged Do-gyeom Seo away, breaking the awkward tension. From the brief glance that passed between them, he seemed to have picked up on their weird vibe.

Men usually weren't great at reading atmospheres, but was he naturally perceptive? Either way, thanks to Eun-seol Yeo, Yi-hae Baek could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Yi-hae."

"Yeah?"

The girl who had called Yi-hae Baek earlier spoke up again. Yi-hae Baek looked at her.

It would be nice if they just passed by without further interaction, but the girl had no such intention.

Yi-hae Baek's gaze shifted to the name tag on the girl's blouse. It read 'Jang Seul-gi'.

"We're not dating."

It was a name she'd never heard before. But the fact that she could influence the plot this much felt unsettling.

Moreover, bringing up Do-gyeom Seo...

Wasn't the bullying incident the original Female Lead had to go through something like this?

Of course, back then, Do-gyeom Seo's looks hadn't been revealed yet, and it was jealousy over the Female Lead's appearance.

Jealousy, huh.

It looked like jealousy over Yi-hae Baek's relationship with Do-gyeom Seo to anyone watching. Yi-hae Baek smiled faintly.

Now it was openly labeled 'Side Character antagonist'—she couldn't help but laugh.

Jang Seul-gi furrowed her brow at the smile, but Yi-hae Baek couldn't easily drop it.

She has no intention of yielding the Female Lead spot, yet she wants me to go through trials like this?

She genuinely wondered what the Player wanted. And how far she had to play along.

"Like I said before, we're just friends."

Yi-hae Baek continued flatly. Jang Seul-gi's expression softened a bit, but she didn't stop there.

"Though I'm not sure if Do-gyeom sees it that way."

Yi-hae Baek and Jang Seul-gi's eyes met. Countless gazes from the girls behind Jang Seul-gi stabbed painfully at her.

"That sounds like Do-gyeom likes you."

Jang Seul-gi smiled with her eyes, as if she'd never scowled.

"You two look good together. Well, maybe he's grateful to you for treating him without prejudice, so he developed feelings."

Jang Seul-gi had a bob haircut and a fairly cute face. If anything, her first impression leaned toward kind.

"But Yi-hae hasn't said a word to us to dispel our prejudices about Do-gyeom. Well, that's on us too."

Yi-hae Baek just smiled silently. She knew those 'prejudices' were warnings to keep distance from the gloomy Do-gyeom.

But lumping her personal opinion into 'us' like it was collective responsibility felt off.

These types are the worst when they scheme behind your back.

Yi-hae Baek shrugged lightly. It was her way of saying she didn't care.

I was careful to avoid getting tangled in this mess...

Soon, the back door opened, and the male students who had changed came out. Confirming this, Yi-hae Baek entered the classroom and placed her uniform on her desk.

Jang Seul-gi followed, but didn't speak. So Yi-hae Baek perched on her own desk and stared intently at Jang Seul-gi's back.

"......Why are you staring like that, Yi-hae?"

Jang Seul-gi, who had been conscious of her, turned and asked. She was smiling, but it felt like she was asking what the ulterior motive was—Yi-hae Baek nearly burst out laughing.

"Waiting to go together."

"No way, with me?"

"Yeah. Looked like you wanted me to wait earlier."

"......"

Jang Seul-gi's gaze fixed on her. Her friends, still unsure how to act, quietly observed.

Yi-hae Baek turned back to Jang Seul-gi. She seemed to be the leader of the pack, fitting the Side Character antagonist role.

"Let's go together, Seul-gi."

Yi-hae Baek hopped off the desk and lightly stepped over. Her destination was Jang Seul-gi's side.

Then, as if they'd always been close friends, she linked arms with her. Jang Seul-gi was smiling, but Yi-hae Baek caught the slight stiffening of her lips.

She set the bait, thinking I'd stupidly fall for it?

Urging Jang Seul-gi along, she began to walk slowly. The group of girls heading to the gym looked like perfectly ordinary friends.

Yes, that had to be it. That was what Yi-hae Baek was aiming for.

They might badmouth her behind her back and ostracize her someday, but she'd deal with that later. For now, they'd probe her, so she'd bought some time.

She never expected it to be that easy anyway.

Just like I'm giving Jang Seul-gi time to scout me out, I've bought myself time too.

You had to know your opponent to decide how to handle them. Yi-hae Baek had no intention of getting together with Do-gyeom anyway, so it was best if Jang Seul-gi realized that and rethought things.

Though she doubted it'd be that straightforward.

No, what even are the criteria for fame increases? Like with White Blossom last time.

And that 'first impression evolved' bit too.

Yi-hae Baek snorted at the absurdity of the status window's message.

At that, Jang Seul-gi's shoulders twitched faintly.

They said you couldn't even snort in front of the kids.

Somehow, Yi-hae Baek felt a little wronged.