AILGML 4

It was only natural for a child to be frightened after being locked up in a dark, enclosed space.

Letting out a sigh, Baek I-hae gazed at the dumpling-like cheeks streaked with fat, sorrowful tears.

Still… The kid looked old enough to be in the upper grades of elementary school. Who would’ve thought he’d burst into tears over something like this?

Baek I-hae cradled the smaller child in her arms and gently patted his back.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize the lights went out—it was a bit much, huh?”

“Huuuuh… I hate you! I wanna see my big brother!”

“Uhm, about that… your brother’s a little scary for me. Can’t you stop crying now? I’ll buy you something yummy.”

“No! You beggar!”

Ugh. Being called a beggar by a literal child? That hit deep.

Baek I-hae forced back the lump rising in her throat. She would’ve preferred being called a pumpkin over a beggar any day.

“It really hurts when someone calls me that… because I actually am a beggar,” she said softly, patting the little back in a steady rhythm.

Leaving the dressing room, she walked into the bedroom.

She sat the child down on a bed far too large for one person and wiped away the tears trailing down his cheeks. The sobbing had quieted, replaced by the occasional sniffle—he seemed to be calming down.

“Feeling better now, Seo Do-gyeom’s little brother?”

“My name’s Yeol! Not whatever that is!”

Maybe this little brat was the reason Seo Do-gyeom and his uncle hated loud noises.

Baek I-hae nearly sighed aloud at the way the boy shrieked like he was trying to rupture someone’s eardrums—but she held it in.

She mustered the most harmless smile she could manage.

“Seo Yeol-ah.”

“You stupid beggar! I said it’s just Yeol! Don’t you even know what a one-syllable name is?!”

Wow. From start to finish, being nice to this kid was one hell of a challenge.

I’m sure I hit the right elastic string—so why does it feel like his mental tether snapped instead?

It was a string, sure… but maybe not the mind. Perhaps his common sense had bounced away instead.

Still wearing that fixed smile, Baek I-hae spoke again.

“Yeol, who ranks lowest in the pecking order.”

Before he could spew more nonsense, she lightly cupped her hand over his mouth. His mouth was small enough that her small palm was more than enough to cover it.

“You keep picking fights with scary grown-ups even though you’ve got no strength. Don’t you think that’s gonna get you into big trouble?”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

“What’s that? You do think it’ll end badly?”

Baek Ihae, who no one in their right mind would describe as having a good temperament, gave him a smile that barely masked her irritation.

Sure, part of it was just her being annoyed by Yeol’s constant mockery—but a bigger part was concern. Acting like this around the wrong people could be dangerous. She needed to teach him that.

And that’s when it happened.

“Who’s the scary grown-up, exactly?”

[Baby Gangster Seo Do-gyeom expresses innocent curiosity.]

Crap, that scared her.

Seo Do-gyeom had appeared out of nowhere, standing silently behind her with his arms crossed, glaring down at her kneeling form.

Then, giving Yeol’s tear-streaked face a quick glance, he tilted his head and asked coldly:

“Did you make him cry?”

[Baby Gangster Seo Do-gyeom is evaluating how to deal with the supporting character, based on her answer.]

Baek Ihae’s face turned pale as a ghost.

Why do these brothers just waltz into a woman’s room without knocking?!

Of course, she didn’t dare say that out loud.

It hadn’t even been a full day since she’d resolved to keep things peaceful between them. And now? She was on the verge of being dealt with—by Seo Do-gyeom himself.

“No, I didn’t.”

When your life’s on the line, you lie—even if it means selling your soul.

That was Baek Ihae’s personal creed.

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

Yeol squirmed against her hand, furious that she was spreading blatant lies while muffling his mouth. His entire body seemed to scream the truth.

But Seo Do-gyeom, arms still crossed, simply stared down at her. His thoughts unreadable.

Wait… does he actually believe me?

She found herself oddly impressed with her own acting, marveling at just how naïve he seemed.

[Baby Gangster Seo Do-gyeom detects the supporting character’s fib.]

A fib?

[Correction: Seo Do-gyeom detects a lie.]

Baek Ihae’s gaze turned icy cold. The fact that this so-called status window popped up as if it had been waiting—it made her wonder if he could actually read minds.

“Well. Just don’t tease him so much that he bites back. Come down for dinner.”

Seo Do-gyeom reached out his hand to Seo Yeol. As if he’d been waiting for it, Yeol took it immediately and stood up.

Seeing how naturally Yeol followed him, it seemed Seo Do-gyeom usually took good care of his little brother.

Wait—dinner?

“Don’t tell me I’m eating with you guys. With your whole family? Including those burly gangster-looking uncles?”

“It’s just our family and you.”

Oh hell no.

She forced her crumpling expression into something more presentable, dragging her lips upward into a smile—only for Yeol to screech in horror.

“I don’t want to! I don’t wanna eat with that beggar pumpkin!”

Well, finally—something they could agree on.

Baek I-hae silently rooted for the child’s rebellion, hoping his protest would stick. But Seo Do-gyeom gently called out his name, as if to soothe him.

“Yeol-ah.”

The surprising tenderness in his tone made even Baek I-hae flinch involuntarily.

“Why do I have to eat with the beggar who clings to our house? She should be grateful for even pig slop!”

To be fair, he wasn’t wrong.

And for such a little runt, he sure knew how to land verbal punches. It made her want to smack him right in the philtrum.

“I… I just don’t want her to be my brother’s fiancée!”

“…Huh? Fiancée?”

The woman who had just been silently cheering Yeol on—Baek Ihae—snapped her head toward Seo Do-gyeom, eyes wide with disbelief.

The look said, explain yourself, now.

But the man didn’t even glance her way. All his focus was on calming his little brother, who looked ready to burst into tears again.

“Just because you’re engaged doesn’t mean you have to get married.”

“But I hate even the engagement part! Hyung is supposed to be my hyung! Mine! Huaaang!”

“Hold on, wait a second. What are you even talking about? I’ve got zero interest in stealing your brother, okay?!”

Completely flustered, she reached out and lightly tugged Seo Do-gyeom’s sleeve. Only then did he finally look at her—and those black, emotionless eyes were chilling enough to make her recoil instinctively.

“If you want details, ask my father. He’s waiting downstairs. Come.”

Ask the uncle who told me to be careful around him? How thoughtful.

So in the end, Baek I-hae had no choice but to head downstairs in her school uniform, without having rested at all.

What was even the point of sending me upstairs in the first place? If you wanted to eat together, you could’ve just said so!

Grumbling internally, she stepped into the elevator—because of course, she wasn’t about to take the stairs.

An elevator in a three-story house? They must be rolling in money. They’re not running a drug cartel, are they?

She followed Seo Do-gyeom, who was walking ahead with Seo Yeol. As Yeol shot her a murderous glare, she blew a dismissive puff of air through her nose.

They arrived at a grand dining room, dominated by a long table. Seated at the head was Seo I-heum.

Baek Ihae’s mouth watered at the sight of the lavish spread. She discreetly watched Seo Do-gyeom and Seo Yeol take their seats to his right.

Where should I sit? Technically I’m the lowest in the household pecking order… but I am the guest. That means I should be allowed to sit next to the head of the table, right?

Of course, it had nothing to do with the fact that the best-looking dishes were near that seat.

Humming softly to herself, she strolled over to the seat directly opposite Seo Do-gyeom—placing herself right next to Seo I-heum.

As soon as she sat, she began scanning the dishes like a hawk. But then she felt it—three pairs of eyes staring holes into her.

What now? Why are they looking at me like that?

The uncanny resemblance between the father and sons made it even more unnerving. They were all staring straight at her.

“Why are you all looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face? Beauty, perhaps?”

…Not even a chuckle. Tough crowd.

And no one said “Help yourself,” either. It felt rude to start eating first. Her stomach, however, growled in protest.

Why won’t anyone start eating? What’s wrong with you people? If that handsome uncle starts, I’ll follow—until then, my hands are tied.

In Korean culture, it’s customary to wait for the eldest to begin eating. The etiquette was killing her.

If you won’t eat, I’ll make you.

Driven to desperation by hunger, Baek I-hae lost her grip on propriety and reached for her chopsticks. She heard Yeol click his tongue—but ignored it.

She picked up a particularly appetizing piece of braised short rib and held it up to Seo I-heum’s mouth.

A sharp intake of breath rippled through the room—from Yeol and the huge bodyguards standing behind them.

“Uncle, say ahh.”

“…What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Only two faces remained stoic: Seo I-heum himself and Seo Do-gyeom.

Seo Do-gyeom looked… entertained.

Seo I-heum, meanwhile, furrowed his brows ever so slightly—as if silently asking, what in God’s name is this girl doing?

“You won’t eat, so I figured I’d help. Feeding you is the least I could do.”

She knew how creepy and uncomfortable it must’ve looked. That was the whole point.

If that engagement stuff is real, he’ll be so disgusted he’ll cancel it on the spot. He’ll either tell me to just eat already, or choke on a rib bone and send me home.

Triple win.

Baek I-hae smiled sweetly—though her eyes glinted with something sharp and dangerous.

[Baby Gangster Seo Do-gyeom is impressed by the supporting character’s aura of murderous intent.]

Murderous intent? Please. That was pure seduction just now!

 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───

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