Adjusting the Gangster Male Lead’s Intensity [Novel] Chapter 40

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 40

Chapter Title: Realizing First Love

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“So, in conclusion, I was trying to set you up with Do-gyeom Seo, and you were trying to set me up with Do-gyeom Seo?”

Yi-hae Baek pressed her forehead.

Both had the same goal. To foist Do-gyeom Seo off on someone else.

‘No, Do-gyeom Seo isn’t some landmine. Sure, he’s too dangerous for me to keep around.’

She let out a deep sigh. At the earth-shattering exhale, Eun-seol Yeo spoke cautiously.

-Sorry, but I have no plans to back down. Do-gyeom Seo’s already showing interest in you.

“No, no, I’m just the first love position, right? True love starts when you’re adults!”

-Pure love begins in childhood. It’s fine. He won’t treat you roughly.

Eun-seol Yeo spoke gently and persuasively, claiming it was the first time she’d seen such a kind side to Do-gyeom Seo.

Her ulterior motives were plain as day, making Yi-hae Baek grit her teeth. This damn thug!

“He was your match from the start, so you take him. This time, I’ll handle his personality education from the sidelines so I can snag a happy ending.”

-Even if you handed him over, I wouldn’t take a guy like that. And for starters, I’m a guy? Gender’s already a no-go.

“Love doesn’t care about gender!”

-Get some prejudice already!

Bad guy. Just like Do-gyeom Seo.

Yi-hae Baek let out a wail and flopped face-first onto her desk. The phone, steaming hot from the long call, warmed her cheek.

“I wanna go home too!”

-Hey, just live here. Honestly, with looks like yours and good grades? Start a new life.

“What? Has our Eun-seol lost her mind? Easy for you to say when it’s not your problem.”

-Your mouth sure is foul. Meanwhile, getting tangled up with Do-gyeom Seo like this could get me killed? You’re better than death.

That was true, but!

Yi-hae Baek gritted her teeth without voicing the rest. The more they talked, the more it felt like she was being cornered.

Sensing it, Eun-seol Yeo whispered in an amused tone.

-Then let’s do this. We leave the decision to Do-gyeom Seo. Whoever he picks, we cheer them on for real. Sound good?

It sounded reasonable. Entrusting it to fate, after all.

But Yi-hae Baek saw through Eun-seol Yeo’s wicked scheme and shot up from her seat. Slamming her fist on the desk was par for the course.

“He’s already into me—what’s there to decide! Anyone can see he’s dying for me!”

“……Ah.”

Huh?

An exclamation that shouldn’t have been audible came from behind. Yi-hae Baek turned slowly, face stiff, and promptly froze.

There stood Do-gyeom Seo, peeking through the slightly open door. His face wore an uncharacteristically flustered expression.

“Why are you in my room……?”

“……No, you suddenly cursed, so I thought something was wrong.”

Do-gyeom Seo answered in a flat tone. Yet his eyes never met hers.

If he’d been in another room and rushed over at her curse, there was no way he hadn’t heard what came before.

So the question was.

Who was dying of embarrassment here—Yi-hae Baek, or Do-gyeom Seo?

“Did I seem like I like you?”

“No, Do-gyeom-ah. Hear me out for a sec?”

No, please.

Take that realization back. Please, I beg you!

-Bravo.

Eun-seol Yeo, grasping the situation, let out a small exclamation and hung up.

Her ear-to-ear grin was obvious even unseen. Son of a bitch!

“So that’s it. I like you. Enough for you to notice.”

Do-gyeom Seo covered his mouth. His large hand shrouded his face, but his ears burned bright red, unhidden.

A reaction she’d never seen before—one anyone could read at a glance.

‘Oh, God.’

No taking it back now.

The first love position she’d joked about had become reality.

For now, Yi-hae Baek dragged Do-gyeom Seo into the room. She didn’t want any more commotion leaking out.

At least I-heum Seo and Yeol Seo were downstairs on the first floor, so they probably hadn’t heard—thank goodness.

“What’s wrong?”

Do-gyeom Seo let Yi-hae Baek lead him in meekly. She sat him on the bed and took a seat beside him.

Yi-hae Baek stood and sat in the chair across from the desk. For a kid who claimed to be a man, he was suddenly conscious of her.

Her face flushed at the status window’s racket, contrasting his blank expression. Fanning herself to cool off, she spoke.

“Do-gyeom Seo.”

“Do-gyeom-ie.”

“……Right, Do-gyeom-ie. That was a misunderstanding. When I said you like me, I meant as family.”

“As family?”

Do-gyeom Seo tilted his head. Then his brow furrowed faintly.

No, please, not this.

Yi-hae Baek cursed her usual shorts, straightened her posture, and plopped a cushion on her lap for good measure.

“It feels different.”

Do-gyeom Seo said gravely. Comparing to I-heum Seo and Yeol Seo, Yi-hae Baek stirred different feelings—that was his conclusion.

Yeah, dark-skinned male family versus a pretty same-age girl would feel different.

Do-gyeom Seo seemed hopelessly dumb at times, yet sharp like this.

“Little sister! Dads and little brothers are different from little sisters! It’s that protective, I wanna keep you safe feeling, right?”

Of course, Yi-hae Baek wasn’t one to give up easily. She’d heard about bad endings from Eun-seol Yeo—how could she joyfully embrace Do-gyeom Seo’s affection?

Going home aside, if she ended up with him—happy or not, normal bliss seemed unlikely.

“……Is that so.”

Do-gyeom Seo tilted his head again.

Seeing such innocence made her feel guilty for recalling his game self and rejecting it.

‘Taking this affection without a plan feels overwhelming. I don’t even like Do-gyeom Seo seriously.’

Sure, her heart had fluttered a few times. She’d been aware of him.

But wasn’t that natural with a handsome guy like Do-gyeom Seo around?

Yi-hae Baek convinced herself of that. Until she sorted her thoughts and decided on a path, she resolved to keep distance from Do-gyeom Seo.

Staring at her intently, Do-gyeom Seo asked quietly.

“……Do normal big brothers feel embarrassed seeing their little sister’s thighs?”

“That’d make them perverts and trash.”

“Am I trash?”

Do-gyeom Seo asked seriously. Yi-hae Baek paused, then shook her head.

Not yet. Not yet.

Of course, this stayed secret from Do-gyeom Seo.

“Of course not.”

“Then do you think I’m a pervert?”

“That’s…… no too, right?”

The ever-rational Do-gyeom Seo was I-heum Seo’s spitting image. No way he’d act perverted.

Yi-hae Baek denied it, and Do-gyeom Seo slowly nodded.

“Then you’re not a little sister.”

Did he know what that meant?

“…….”

Yi-hae Baek’s face heated up naturally. Her cheeks had no chance to cool.