Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 4

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: Adjusting the Yakuza Male Lead's Intensity

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It was no wonder the kid was terrified, locked away in a pitch-black, sealed room.

Yi-hae Baek let out a sigh as she looked at the child's chubby, dumpling-like cheeks streaked with tears.

He looked like an upper elementary schooler, yet here he was, bursting into tears over something like this.

Yi-hae Baek pulled the smaller boy into her arms and patted his back.

"Sorry. I didn't realize the lights went out, and I took the prank too far."

"Waaah! I hate you! I want my big brother!"

"No, your brother scares me a little. Could you stop crying just a bit? I'll buy you something tasty."

"No way, you beggar!"

No, how heartbreaking would it be to call an actual beggar a beggar?

Yi-hae Baek barely held back the sob threatening to escape her own throat. She almost wished he'd called her a pumpkin instead.

"Your big sis really is a beggar, so that hurts my feelings."

She spoke gently, stating the facts, while patting his small back at steady intervals. Then she exited the dressing room and headed to the bedroom.

She sat the child on the oversized bed—too big for one person—and wiped away his streaming tears. He seemed calmer now; only sniffles remained.

"Feeling better now, little brother Do-gyeom Seo?"

"My name is Yeol! Not that name!"

Maybe this was why the old man and Do-gyeom Seo hated noise.

His screams were ear-piercing enough to draw blood, nearly making her sigh, but she held it in.

She forced the most harmless smile she could muster.

"Yeol."

"Stupid beggar! My name is Yeol! Don't you even know what a single-character name means?"

Wow. This kid was making it really hard to be nice from start to finish.

'I definitely hit him with the rubber band, so why did his sanity snap like that?'

They were the same string, but... maybe it wasn't sanity that snapped—it was his common sense. She seriously pondered it.

Yi-hae Baek continued with her smile still in place.

"The lowest-ranked Yeol."

Before he could spout more nonsense, she gently covered his mouth. Yeol's small mouth was easily covered by her petite hand.

"If you keep charging at scary adults when you're this weak, something bad might happen, right?"

"Mmph!"

"What? You think something bad will happen?"

Even Yi-hae Baek, whose personality couldn't be called good even as flattery, scolded him with a smiling face.

She was annoyed by Yeol's snide remarks, and she was warning him because there were rough guys outside—it could be dangerous if he acted like this.

That was when it happened.

"Who's the scary adult?"

Damn, you startled me.

Do-gyeom Seo had appeared silently behind her, arms crossed, glaring down at Yi-hae Baek on her knees.

He glanced at Yeol's tear-streaked face, then tilted his head sideways and asked,

"Did you make him cry?"

Yi-hae Baek's face drained of color.

'Why do these brothers barge into a girl's room without permission?'

Of course, she didn't have the guts to say that aloud.

It hadn't even been a full day since she'd resolved to keep things amicable.

Now Yi-hae Baek was in danger of being "handled" by Do-gyeom Seo.

"No."

If she sensed a threat to her life, she'd lie her way out to survive!

That was Yi-hae Baek's creed.

"Mmph!"

Yeol wriggled furiously, his muffled protests betraying her blatant lie with his whole body.

But the inscrutable Do-gyeom Seo just stood there, arms crossed, looking down at her.

'No way he's buying this, is he?'

She was impressed by her own acting skills, figuring he had a naive side after all.

'Fibbery?'

Yi-hae Baek's eyes turned icy cold. Not only did the Status Window pop up right on cue, but it might even be reading her mind.

"Whatever. Just don't tease him so much that he bites you. Come down for dinner."

Do-gyeom Seo reached out to Yeol, who immediately grabbed his hand and stood up, as if he'd been waiting.

Judging by how naturally Yeol followed, he usually took good care of his little brother.

No, wait—dinner?

"You mean I have to eat with you? With your family? With those burly yakuza old men?"

"No one else. Just our family and you."

Fuck no.

She struggled to smooth her crumpling expression and forced her lips upward when Yeol yelled with a face full of disgust.

"I don't wanna! I don't wanna eat with that beggar pumpkin!"

For once, they agreed.

Yi-hae Baek silently cheered for Yeol's protest to land, but Do-gyeom Seo called his name soothingly.

"Yeol."

The unexpectedly tender tone made her flinch unconsciously.

"Why do I have to eat with the beggar mooching off our house? She's the one who should be grateful for porridge!"

Technically true.

It was the kind of spot-on remark from a kid that made her want to smack him right in the philtrum even more.

"I... I...! I don't wanna be that pumpkin's fiancée for my brother!"

"Huh? Fiancée?"

Yi-hae Baek, who'd been rooting for Yeol inwardly, looked up at Do-gyeom Seo with wide eyes.

It was a demand for an explanation, but he ignored her completely, focusing only on soothing Yeol, who looked ready to burst into tears again.

"Just because we're engaged doesn't mean we have to get married."

"But I hate even the engagement! You're my brother only! Waaah!"

"No, wait a sec. What are you talking about? I have zero intention of stealing your brother, you know?"

Outraged, she lightly grabbed Do-gyeom Seo's sleeve. Only then did his gaze meet hers. His emotionless black eyes were chilling, making her let go involuntarily.

"Ask Dad for the details. Come down. He's waiting downstairs."

Telling her to ask the old man who'd advised her to watch for cues. How thoughtful.

In the end, Yi-hae Baek couldn't even rest properly and had to head downstairs in her school uniform.

'Why send me upstairs just to call me back down? Could've just waited and said let's eat.'

Grumbling inwardly, Yi-hae Baek took the elevator down casually, annoyed at being summoned around.

'An elevator in a mere three-story house. They really are loaded. Hope it's not drug money.'

She quietly followed Do-gyeom Seo and Yeol. She blew a raspberry at Yeol, who glared at her menacingly.

Soon they arrived at a large table where I-heum Seo sat at the head.

Yi-hae Baek's mouth watered at the feast on the table as she sneaked a peek at Do-gyeom Seo and Yeol taking seats next to the head.

'Where do I sit? I'm the youngest by rank, but guests are kings, so next to the old man should be fine, right?'

It definitely wasn't because all the tasty-looking food was nearby.

She hummed a tune and walked to the opposite side from Do-gyeom Seo—right next to I-heum Seo.

As soon as she sat, she scanned the dishes quickly, then felt eyes on her and turned.

'What? Why are they staring like that?'

The father and sons, eerily identical due to their genes, were all staring at her.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face? My beauty?"

No reaction even to her joke. No one said to dig in first, making it awkward to start. Her stomach growled, begging for food.

'Why doesn't anyone eat without noticing? If that handsome old man starts, then I can too.'

As a proper Korean from the land of Eastern etiquette, the elder must eat first!

'If you're not gonna eat, I'll stuff it in for you.'

Overcome by hunger, Yi-hae Baek lost a bit of reason and picked up her chopsticks. She heard Yeol click his tongue but ignored it.

She grabbed some mouthwatering braised short ribs from right in front and held them to I-heum Seo's mouth.

Suddenly, Yeol and the burly men standing by behind them all sharply inhaled.

"Old man, ahh~."

"...What the hell is this?"

Only I-heum Seo and Do-gyeom Seo kept straight faces.

Do-gyeom Seo's gaze was intrigued, while I-heum Seo before her faintly furrowed his brow, his expression questioning what nonsense this was.

"You weren't eating, so I can't eat either. That's why I'm kindly feeding you."

She knew how gross and burdensome this was. But that was the point.

'If the fiancée thing is real, he'll hate this and call it off. Then he'll let us eat quick, and bonus—if the rib bone gets stuck in his throat, I might get my house back.'

Three birds, one stone.

Yi-hae Baek smiled prettily, but her eyes gleamed menacingly.

Killing intent?! This was just a honey trap!