Chapter 26
***
When they arrived home, Old Man Oh, who happened to be passing near the entrance, greeted them with a bright smile.
“Miss, Young Master. Did you have a good day at school?”
At first, she’d suspected he might be a spy, but that doubt now felt utterly misplaced—Old Man Oh was a kind and diligent man through and through.
She hadn’t judged him solely by his appearance, but since he was essentially Seo I-heum’s right-hand man, she’d assumed he must be someone intimidating.
‘After all, in typical setups, leaders don’t handle the dirty work themselves; they leave it to their closest aides.’
In reality, however, Old Man Oh was like the mother of the household. He’d scold Seo I-heum, Seo Do-gyeom, or the Seo-yeol brothers whenever they stepped out of line, but the affection underlying his nagging was plain to see.
Moreover, for some reason, from a certain point onward, he’d begun looking at Baek I-hae with a fond gaze, as if she were his own daughter.
Whether it was due to Seo I-heum’s approval or the fact that she’d saved Seo I-heum and Seo-yeol, she couldn’t say.
“Yes! And you’ve been keeping the house safe and sound, Mr. Oh?”
Since he treated her so well, Baek I-hae reciprocated in kind—even going so far as to tease him like this.
He’d been flustered at first, but now he was quite accustomed to it and simply smiled it off.
“I told you not to call me that.”
Instead, it was the family members, including Seo Do-gyeom, who would stiffen their expressions every time they heard it.
Just like now.
Seo Do-gyeom grabbed the back of Baek I-hae’s neck as she smiled at Old Man Oh, pulling her away to create some distance. Not content with that, he dragged her straight inside, leaving her blinking in bewilderment.
For whatever reason, Old Man Oh watched the scene with evident contentment.
“Hey, I can walk on my own! And since his name is Oh-seobang, calling him Mr. Oh is perfectly fine!”
“If you’re going to call him something like that, you might as well just curse.”
Goodness, what a little delinquent.
Wondering if the seeds of a gangster were already taking root in him, Baek I-hae pondered the matter seriously.
When she abruptly halted her steps, Seo Do-gyeom’s puzzled gaze landed on her.
“Seo Do-gyeom.”
“Yeah.”
“Mr. Oh is.”
“Old Man Oh.”
“……Right, Old Man Oh is.”
It was just a single syllable’s difference—why was he so insistent about it?
Still, when she obediently followed his lead, she could see his slightly furrowed brow smooth out in satisfaction.
“He’s someone who treats you and Yeol so kindly. You shouldn’t say things like that, even as a joke—got it? Telling someone to curse! That’s really bad, you know?”
Seo Do-gyeom’s eyes darted around restlessly. All around them were intimidating men in black suits.
He was probably wondering why she’d nitpick over something so trivial in a household like this.
“Hurry up and answer! Are you not going to listen to your sister?”
“Sister? You said I seem like an older brother to you, someone you can rely on.”
His tone was laced with disbelief. Feeling a slight pang of guilt, she hesitated—and then the status window appeared before her eyes once more.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom finds Baek I-hae’s scheming intriguing.]
‘He’s the one pulling even more schemes! Enjoying it on the inside while pretending to be annoyed!’
She’d nearly felt guilty enough to back down into a submissive stance. As her slumped shoulders straightened firmly once again, Seo Do-gyeom finally wore an expression of genuine interest.
“I can’t tell if you’re perceptive or just oblivious.”
“What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?”
“I’m not one to show my emotions openly, but sometimes you act like you’ve peered right into my thoughts. Just now, you were reading the room, realized I wasn’t being sincere, and shifted your attitude accordingly.”
Baek I-hae flinched at the sight of Seo Do-gyeom speaking at unusual length. She replied that it was simply her keen perception, but he didn’t seem convinced in the least.
‘What a sharp kid. I’ll have to be more careful from now on.’
Even if she confessed that she could see people’s inner thoughts through a status window, he probably wouldn’t believe her anyway.
Baek I-hae was irked that he hadn’t agreed to her words outright. When she pursed her lips in a pout, Seo Do-gyeom offered a small smile.
It was a rare smile, one he showed only occasionally in front of Baek I-hae.
“Alright. I won’t tell you to curse.”
“No, that’s a given—and don’t you do it either. I hate hearing you curse.”
“Then don’t call him Mr. Oh; I hate hearing that too.”
Was he averse to cutesy behavior, or did he just find Baek I-hae’s overly saccharine words grating?
Either way, it wasn’t a tall order, so Baek I-hae beamed brightly and nodded without hesitation. If something this simple could help set Seo Do-gyeom’s character on the right path, she’d gladly do it any time.
“Okay! If you don’t like it, I won’t do it.”
At her words, Seo Do-gyeom stared at her intently. Wondering why he was gazing at her so fixedly, she tilted her head—and then he reached out.
Soon enough, his hand settled familiarly on the crown of her head, gently stroking her hair.
“Good girl.”
“…….”
Seo Do-gyeom was a truly strange guy.
Really—how had a kid like this ended up loving the female protagonist in such an oppressive way, treating those around him with outright cruelty?
It would only end up wounding the female protagonist, the people nearby, and Seo Do-gyeom himself.
“Why that face again?”
“Seo Do-gyeom.”
“Yeah.”
“I like the way you are right now. So please, never become someone scary.”
Gangsters were inherently frightening figures—objects of terror for others, embodiments of violence.
That was the perception Baek I-hae held, and even though Seo I-heum and the others here treated her kindly, it wasn’t easy for her views to shift.
“I can’t tell you not to become a gangster, but…….”
Under Seo Do-gyeom’s lingering gaze, Baek I-hae forced a smile. She disliked the heavy atmosphere that had settled in.
Even though they’d grown closer, she hadn’t become someone significant enough to alter the course of Seo Do-gyeom’s life. She knew full well that this was nothing more than meaningless whining on her part.
“Come on, let’s hurry and go greet Uncle! I promised to play games with Yeol today, so we need to get moving.”
She tugged Seo Do-gyeom by the arm toward Seo I-heum’s study. All the while, he remained silent.
His lack of affirmation or denial left Baek I-hae feeling just a tiny bit wounded.
***
“They’ve grown far too close.”
Greeting Seo I-heum upon returning home from school had become a daily routine. Seo I-heum, who placed subtle importance on family time, emphasized the value of meals and hellos.
Baek I-hae secretly enjoyed this policy of his—it made everything feel so genuinely familial.
Of course, there were times when he’d spot the two of them entering hand in hand and furrow his brow in clear displeasure, just as he was doing now.
“I-hae, I’ve told you time and again: you shouldn’t go grabbing a stranger’s hand so carelessly.”
At Seo I-heum’s beckoning gesture, Baek I-hae released Seo Do-gyeom’s hand and scampered over. As she drew near, a hand larger than Seo Do-gyeom’s came to rest on her head, stroking it gently.
The men in this house certainly seemed fond of patting Baek I-hae’s head. Or maybe her small head just invited it.
From her perspective, it felt like being doted on, which wasn’t bad at all.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom is thinking: You’re a stranger yourself—why are you stroking Baek I-hae’s head?]
Like father, like son.
Unlike her, those two were bound by blood, yet they were so harsh with each other. It was amusing to watch, in a way.
“But Seo Do-gyeom is practically family to me!”
Still, this time she made a point to take Seo Do-gyeom’s side. Seo I-heum smiled as if resigned to it.
Even with his glasses on, his cool demeanor remained unchanged, and his handsome features shone through.
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom feels displeased. He’s a bit flustered, unsure exactly what part is bothering him.]
‘Geez, he’s unhappy even when I side with him.’
She’d thought they were getting closer, but he remained an enigma.
After arranging to meet Seo I-heum again at dinner, she headed upstairs to change out of her uniform.
“Baek I-hae.”
This time, it was Seo Do-gyeom calling her. Baek I-hae, who had been busily climbing the stairs while greeting the adults around her, turned her head.
“What?”
“You and I aren’t family.”
Baek I-hae’s steps came to a halt. The adults nearby blinked in surprise before holding their breath and hastily clearing out.
After maintaining a brief silence, Baek I-hae furrowed her brow—an uncommon expression for her. She didn’t know what intent lay behind Seo Do-gyeom’s words, but he had to be aware.
He’d witnessed firsthand how overjoyed she’d been when Seo I-heum acknowledged her as family, and he must have grasped, at least vaguely, how dearly she held that meaning.
Yet here he was, abruptly denying it.
She opened her mouth to ask why, only to clamp it shut again. A surge of sulkiness rose within her.
“Then fine—I’ll just be family with Uncle and Yeol, leaving you out.”
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom is flustered by Baek I-hae’s tearful voice.]
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom is genuinely flustered—it was something that slipped out without him realizing.]
Fortunately, it hadn’t been said with malice. Still, her feelings were already hurt.
Moreover, she’d tried to play it cool, but apparently her voice had come out sounding on the verge of tears.
Feeling oddly embarrassed, Baek I-hae hurried away from the spot as if fleeing. In case he decided to follow, she shouted a warning back at Seo Do-gyeom.
“If you follow me, we’re through!”
[Baby Gangster, Seo Do-gyeom stumbles as he starts to pursue her.]
Even so, he was a guy who listened obediently. Obedient—and utterly naughty!
