Chapter 13
No one told her the specifics of where Cha I-ryeong had disappeared to or how exactly Seo I-heum had gotten hurt.
Even when she casually asked Seo Do-gyeom, wondering if he might let her know, he remained stubbornly silent. It seemed like the people involved had made some kind of pact among themselves not to tell Baek I-hae.
‘Isn’t it possible that Uncle issued a gag order or something? Seo Do-gyeom is one thing, but unlike his outward appearance, the tender Uncle Seo-yeol also seems troubled and just keeps the secret.’
It was a reasonable suspicion, but with no one willing to tell her, there was no point in stewing over it alone.
With that in mind, Baek I-hae decided to just stop paying attention to it. After all, she was simply glad that the person who had threatened her life was gone.
After Cha I-ryeong disappeared like that, peaceful everyday life resumed its routine.
It was about a month later.
“It’s getting pretty hot now.”
With nowhere particular to go on the weekend, Baek I-hae was sprawled out long on the sofa in Seo I-heum’s study.
To her in that state, Seo I-heum—who was familiarly wearing his glasses and working—asked,
“Should I turn the air conditioner up stronger for you?”
“No, it’s fine. It’s comfortable in here. I was talking about the weather outside. I hate summer, you know.”
“Why do you hate it?”
“When I was little….”
Baek I-hae paused for a moment, staring up at the ceiling as she rolled her eyes around thoughtfully. Then, figuring it didn’t matter anyway, she continued.
“When I was little, I was kidnapped once, and the culprit hid me in a wardrobe. It was the height of summer.”
Though it wasn’t Baek I-hae’s own memory, but rather one from the original body.
Since it was a story from the past, there was no way Seo I-heum could figure it out. Unaware that he had lifted his head and was gazing at the back of her head, Baek I-hae blinked her eyes.
As she recalled the memory from the past, her expression naturally twisted into a frown.
“It was so stifling, hot, and humid. Whether it was the heat or the space itself, my breath kept catching in my throat, and I was terrified that I might just die like that.”
“……That must have been frightening.”
Such a sensitive, comforting remark coming from a gangster’s mouth.
Baek I-hae let out a deflated chuckle.
“It was incredibly scary. That’s why I still hate being alone in a sealed room. I hate dark places, and I hate the heat too. I’m quite the handful, aren’t I?”
Still lying down, she wiggled the tips of her toes. It was just something she did out of sudden embarrassment.
“But what can you do about it? You’ve already taken me in, so no refunds until I become an adult. Got it, Uncle?”
“That won’t be an issue. Was that bastard handled properly back then? If not, I can look into it right now and bury him in the ground immediately….”
“He was caught by the police at the time!”
In truth, she’d fainted after that and only woke up once she was rescued, so she didn’t know much about what happened afterward, but the adults had probably taken care of it all just fine.
In any case, it was a different world from this one. A culprit that Seo I-heum couldn’t track down no matter how much money he threw at it.
Even so, seeing him show concern for her in a way he hadn’t before, Baek I-hae sat up.
“Thank you. It makes me really happy that you’re getting angry on my behalf.”
“……You’ve got a weird personality.”
“It’s not weird to like being worried about. I’m glad your wound has healed up nicely too, Uncle. I was concerned because you said you wouldn’t go to the hospital.”
“Things like this will heal on their own if you just leave them be.”
As if that were true.
He said that even though he knew how worried Oh had been back then, his face all crumpled up in concern.
Baek I-hae let out a scoffing laugh and flopped back down onto the sofa. Then, in a whiny tone, she said,
“Uncle, don’t you ever do stuff like going to the water park?”
Seo I-heum stared at Baek I-hae without a word. His gaze seemed to ask if she was seriously asking that, and Baek I-hae grumbled in response.
“Why? Even if you’re a gangster, you’re still human—you can have fun too! A swimming pool might be too much, but it’d be nice to at least go to the beach.”
Now that she’d said it out loud, she wanted to go even more.
She pictured herself in a cute swimsuit, slipping on beach sandals, strolling along the sandy shore and pressing her footprints firmly into the sand.
Building a sandcastle and watching it get swept away by the waves seemed like it would be so much fun.
Had he picked up on her wistful longing?
Seo I-heum pondered for a moment before saying,
“A trip to the beach should be doable.”
“……Whoa! Are we really going to the beach? You’ll take me with you?”
“Yeah.”
“When? I want to buy a swimsuit—will you get it for me?”
Seo I-heum nodded coolly. He’d always been like that, but after the spy incident, he’d become even more generous with his spending when it came to Baek I-hae.
Baek I-hae grinned broadly, and Seo I-heum lifted the corner of his mouth in a small smile as he said,
“You can pick the date whenever you want.”
“Then let’s go tomorrow!”
“……?”
He still hadn’t quite gotten used to Baek I-hae’s straightforwardness, it seemed.
“Tomorrow’s Sunday, so we can head out early in the morning! I’ll pack a lunch! How about some inari sushi?”
“Are you seriously suggesting we go tomorrow?”
“Yes. You’re not just messing with me, are you?”
You told me to pick the date.
With that innocent expression, she blinked her eyes at him, and Seo I-heum furrowed his brow deeply.
Then he rubbed between his eyebrows, let out a deep sigh, and pressed the call button on the table.
-Yes, boss! Did you call for me?
“Oh.”
-Yes?
“Find a spot for me and the kids to go to the beach tomorrow and set everything up.”
-Yes, understood…… Wait, what? The beach? Boss, the beach? Are you going to fight someone there or something?
“Shut up and do as you’re told. And assign security to I-hae so she can buy a swimsuit.”
-Wait, hold on. Boss……!
The call ended just like that.
With Seo I-heum’s single command, tomorrow’s plans were set, and Baek I-hae rose from the sofa with a beaming smile.
She didn’t have time to laze around like this.
“Thanks, Uncle! I love you! I’ll go shopping for groceries and pick up a swimsuit too!”
As an extra touch, she drew a huge heart above her head.
Once Baek I-hae left, the study fell silent in an instant, and Seo I-heum let out a hollow chuckle.
“That pronunciation is something else. Maybe I should get her an English tutor.”
Even as he said it, he picked up his pen, a faint smile lingering on his face.
She had just returned from a pleasant outing, accompanied by the bodyguard assigned by Mr. Oh, with Seo I-heum’s permission.
“Where have you been?”
Seo Do-gyeom asked, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, as if he’d been waiting for her.
“Huh? You said we’re going to the beach tomorrow, so I bought a swimsuit! Oh, do you not have one? Maybe I should’ve gone with you.”
She’d gone alone, figuring he must have a swimsuit already, but that had been a mistake.
When Baek I-hae glanced at him with an apologetic look, Seo Do-gyeom furrowed his brow in clear displeasure.
It was a subtle reaction, but they were close enough now that she could pick up on it.
“Looks like you’re not scared of anything anymore. Seeing you wander around on your own like that.”
Ah, so that’s why he’s sulking.
When Cha I-ryeong had been in the house, Baek I-hae had trailed after Seo Do-gyeom constantly, anxious and clinging.
But after Cha I-ryeong fled, she’d started comfortably going out alone or visiting Seo I-heum’s study, which naturally meant less time spent with Seo Do-gyeom.
‘In my mind, I was being considerate, thinking I’d been a bother to him all this time!’
But it was kind of cute. He was acting that way because he felt neglected.
The organization members who’d been carrying Baek I-hae’s bags noticed the tension and quietly slipped away.
To their eyes, Seo Do-gyeom must have looked angry, and it scared them.
“Aw, no, that’s not it. I’m still scared, but I didn’t want to tire you out. I’ve been wearing you down nonstop, focusing only on you.”
She approached and took his hand like before, and she could feel Seo Do-gyeom staring at her intently. His gaze lingered on their joined hands for a moment, then shifted to Baek I-hae’s face.
For some reason, her cheeks felt like they were heating up. Baek I-hae hurriedly changed the subject.
“I’m going to practice making onigiri tomorrow since I promised to pack some. Want to have some for dinner too?”
“But we have the housekeeper.”
“I rely on her every day, so I want to do at least this much myself. And your dad already gave the okay.”
“……You’ve gotten pretty close with Father.”
Had she?
Baek I-hae tilted her head in thought, then nodded, realizing it did seem that way compared to the beginning.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom gets sulky over the supporting character’s reaction.]
What, is he jealous because I stole his dad or something?
‘It’s not like he’s Seo-yeol—how childish. But I’m generous, so I won’t make a fuss about it!’
Pretending not to notice, she grabbed Seo Do-gyeom’s hand and led him to the kitchen.
“If you’ve got nothing to do, come watch me cook. You can taste-test too!”
A passing organization member glanced at the two of them.
It was a look of wonder at how Baek I-hae could interact so casually with the notoriously stone-faced Seo Do-gyeom, as if it were no big deal.
‘Seeing reactions like that always gives me a thrill. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something special.’
Baek I-hae shrugged her shoulders and hummed a little tune.
Even as he gave her that odd look, Seo Do-gyeom quietly sat down in a chair, propped his chin on his hand, and watched her.
He wasn’t even aware that he was guarding her with his gaze, but his eyes refused to stray from her for long.
