Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 37

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 37

Chapter Title: Benefactors and Beach Promises

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"...Then they aren't benefactors, right?"

Yi-hae Baek rolled her eyes before asking cautiously. It was the moment suspicion crept in that the engagement might just be an excuse, and he was keeping her close for revenge.

Perhaps sensing Yi-hae Baek's impure gaze, I-heum Seo shook his head as if telling her to drop the nonsense.

"That guy was my close friend and a member of a rival faction. Once we learned each other's true identities and cut ties, I figured we'd never cross paths again. We knew about each other's families or lovers but never brought it up."

They were people who knew each other's weaknesses. They had realized they couldn't keep associating, but with no ill will between them, they let it lie.

Yi-hae Baek listened quietly to the explanation.

"Then, by chance, that organization found out about my wife. But she was under protection, so approaching her wouldn't have been easy."

In that situation, Yi-hae Baek's father had been labeled a traitor.

She cautiously voiced her guess.

"Did Dad approach first? Even if they knew each other's faces, getting close wouldn't have been simple."

"Yeah. And my wife caught on that the guy was being blackmailed, so she followed him alone. They were using your mother's life as leverage."

"Even though it was the organization Dad was part of? Weren't they on the same side?"

She hadn't expected yakuza to treat their members kindly. Still, she figured they'd show some loyalty to their own, like O Seo-bang did.

That was probably why he hadn't noticed I-ryeong Cha's betrayal until it hit him directly.

"Those guys squeeze every last drop of use out of people."

It couldn't be the White Blossom Gang, could it?

Yi-hae Baek nearly asked but let it go. True or not, it was an organization that had nothing to do with her anymore.

Besides, she had no fond memories of Yeong Baek and didn't care to dwell on it.

"I don't resent my wife for going along obediently despite the danger. Nor your father. If the roles were reversed, I'd have wrestled with it too."

"But... no matter how you look at it, that was the wrong move. Honestly, I don't get why you call my parents benefactors. If it were me, I'd hold a grudge forever."

Maybe because she lacked memories of her past life as Yi-hae Baek. Even thinking of them as parents, they just felt like strangers, so her words came out sharp.

She pretended not to notice O Seo-bang's startled glance.

"Sure, resentment makes sense. But the one who died protecting the kidnapped Do-gyeom was your mother."

"That's..."

Wasn't that a bit ambiguous to call them benefactors? Yi-hae Baek kept the thought to herself.

She was simply shocked that Do-gyeom Seo had gone through something like that as a kid. Maybe too young to remember. If he did recall it, there's no way he'd like her.

She clenched and unclenched her hands in sudden anxiety. Do-gyeom resenting her? Unthinkable.

...She didn't even want to imagine it.

"Well, there are other reasons, but they're not happy stories to share with you. Just remember I bear no grudge against your parents. It's all water under the bridge."

"What happened to that organization? Did you get revenge?"

"We did. Couldn't risk them pulling something on the kids again. Only regret is not pinning down who planned the kidnapping."

"Sounds like that's not how they usually operate."

I-heum Seo nodded quietly.

"Wiped out the executives, and things stayed quiet after. Should be fine... But with the White Blossom Gang business, you be careful too."

"Don't worry. I'm still training in self-defense, and I go to and from school with Do-gyeom."

I-heum nodded, looking relieved. She never did learn when the engagement promise had been made, but since they were childhood acquaintances, she chalked it up to a passing joke.

Not important anyway, so he must've skipped it. Yi-hae Baek brushed it off.

"Yi-hae noona, you here?"

Yeol Seo's voice came from outside. O Seo-bang opened the door, and in walked Yeol, still in his school uniform, apparently just getting home.

He spotted Yi-hae Baek right away, broke into a huge grin, and rushed over for a hug. I-heum's face soured at the sight.

"Yeol."

"I'm home! Hands are washed!"

Yeol hurried to preempt what came after I-heum's call. At first, he'd craved his father's affection but stayed wary out of fear.

After the burn incident, though, he stuck to her like glue. As Yi-hae Baek stroked his head, I-heum let out an especially heavy sigh.

"Yi-hae, don't spoil him too much."

I-heum was a man with a stern face and a nagging streak. Knowing it was reserved for family made it endearing rather than annoying.

"It's fine. He's just cute."

He'd grown since last year but was still shorter than her. It felt like having a little brother, and Yi-hae Baek smiled softly.

Then, as if remembering something, she spoke up.

"Oh, right, Uncle. You have to keep that promise you broke last year this time, okay?"

"Promise?"

"The beach trip! We have to go this summer."

She grumbled about the swimsuit she'd bought last time still being unused, making Yeol flinch.

"Yeah, we'll go this time. But no swimsuits that show too much skin."

"What? Swimsuits are supposed to show skin. What kind of nonsense is that?"

"They have rash guards these days. O Seo-bang told me."

Yi-hae Baek tsked at the irrelevant trivia and shot O Seo-bang a glare. He'd carelessly repeated something from I-ryeong Cha way back and now averted his eyes.

Inwardly whining that Yi-hae Baek's stares had gotten scary too.

"Well, I'll think about it when the time comes."

"Yi-hae Baek."

"La la la, can't hear you. Can't hear!"

Yi-hae Baek plugged her ears to dodge the call, and O Seo-bang clapped a hand over his mouth.

His eyes shone with pure admiration, like how does she get away with that? Of course, I-heum caught the look and glared, sending him scurrying out.

"Noona."

"Yeah?"

It was Yeol calling her this time. He hesitated a moment before asking carefully.

"Can't we skip the beach?"

"Why? Scared of the ocean?"

"No... If you wear a swimsuit, your back scars will show... and all."

Ah.

Yi-hae Baek scratched her head, grasping what he meant. She no longer cared about the burns one way or the other.

Maybe because they were out of sight. Unlike her nonchalance, Yeol had clearly agonized before speaking up.

It couldn't be that he hated seeing the scars. More likely, he dreaded the stares and whispers from people around.

"I'm fine with it. Would it embarrass you?"

"No way! Those scars are from saving me!"

"Then we're good. I'm really okay, so don't worry about other people's looks. I don't regret what happened."

She hadn't expected any reward in the first place. Put back in that moment, she'd do it the same way.

Yi-hae Baek curved her lips into a gentle smile, and Yeol stared, mesmerized.

If I-heum hadn't cleared his throat, Yeol might have kept gazing.

"Rash guard it is, burns or no burns. The world's a rough place these days."

Yi-hae Baek pressed her lips tight at I-heum's mock-stern tone. Coming from an active yakuza, it rang pretty hollow.

Still, thrilled about the beach promise, she agreed to consider it—a bold, cheeky response.

That was so Yi-hae Baek that I-heum could only smile helplessly.

"Then I'll head up to review and keep an eye on Do-gyeom."

I-heum nodded. As Yi-hae Baek stepped away, Yeol naturally trailed after—only for I-heum to snag him by the nape.

Suddenly separated, Yeol blinked up at him with round eyes.

"Let's talk for a sec."

Yi-hae Baek tilted her head, wondering what that was about.

Still, seeing I-heum show interest in Yeol warmed her a bit.

She whistled cheerfully on her way out, tactfully telling O Seo-bang to head in later.

All without imagining I-heum might be asking Yeol if he was interested in the engagement.