“Honestly, there’s nothing likable about him except his face.”
Baek Ihae shot Seo Dogyeom a sideways glare, feeling sorry for whatever future heroine would end up with a guy like him. She thought she had hidden it well enough, so why on earth had their eyes met?
Startled, she quickly looked away again. But when she did, those same emotionless eyes were still fixed on her.
Of course, she hadn’t actually expected Seo Ihum to accept food from her chopsticks. He was the highest-ranking person here. Surely he wouldn’t do something like that in front of everyone, if only for the sake of appearances.
‘Even if he smacks the chopsticks away, just hurry up and eat already! The food’s getting cold!’
She stared intently at Seo Ihum’s lips.
Finally, they parted, and he slowly accepted the braised short rib into his mouth.
…Wait.
‘Why are you eating food that was supposed to go into my mouth? Look at everyone. Their jaws are practically falling off.’
Even Baek Ihae couldn’t hide her shock at the unexpected turn of events, but the people around them looked even more stunned.
The gang members sat there with their mouths hanging open, while Seo Yeol’s eyes had gone completely round.
Even Seo Dogyeom flinched slightly, as though the sight had surprised him too. That alone showed just how unfamiliar this behavior was to all of them.
“Now eat.”
After shocking everyone, Seo Ihum spoke as calmly as ever.
Regardless of the process, she had gotten the result she wanted.
Unable to hide her delight, Baek Ihae broke into a bright smile.
“Yes! You should enjoy your meal too, mister!”
For a brief moment, it almost looked as though Seo Dogyeom stared blankly at her smile.
But who cared? He was probably just looking because she seemed ridiculous.
Unlike Seo Ihum, who chewed the boneless short rib with elegant composure, Baek Ihae immediately attacked the table with her chopsticks.
Her family stared openly at the sight of the tiny, scrawny girl eating with astonishing enthusiasm.
“...She really is like a beggar.”
Seo Yeol muttered with a tired expression as he finally picked up his utensils. Watching Baek Ihae eat somehow made him hungry too.
Was this the power of mukbang?
Seo Yeol began eating while spectating the live broadcast happening right in front of him.
‘The food here is insanely good! A rich family like this must have hired housekeepers, right? Housekeeper auntie, you’re amazing!’
Instead of eating rice, Baek Ihae stuffed side dishes into her mouth nonstop until her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s.
At the foolishly adorable sight, Seo Ihum let out a sigh and pushed a glass of water toward her.
“Eat slowly.”
“Okayyy, mishter.”
Her pronunciation came out slurred from all the food in her mouth. After gulping everything down and drinking water, Baek Ihae let out a deeply satisfied breath.
Now that she had food in her stomach, she finally felt alive again.
“Mister, you’re kinder than you look!”
The sound of people sucking in shocked breaths echoed around the room again. It was like having a live audience.
“And what exactly do I look like?”
Ignoring everyone else’s reactions, Seo Ihum asked the question expressionlessly. Even by generous standards, he didn’t have a gentle face. Nor did he look like someone who smiled often.
He probably knew that himself.
But there was something more important.
“You’re handsome! Your face pleases my eyes, and that makes you kind!”
She wasn’t trying to flatter him. She was simply stating facts.
Though admittedly, the delicious food had added a little extra enthusiasm to the compliment.
Baek Ihae had expected him to dismiss her nonsense outright, but unexpectedly, Seo Ihum curled one corner of his lips upward.
It was clearly a smile of disbelief.
Yet even that was dazzling enough to blind someone.
‘The atmosphere’s not actually that bad, huh? Maybe I should ask about that fiancée thing from earlier.’
It didn’t seem like he was in a bad mood, so Baek Ihae put on an innocent expression and spoke carefully.
“Mister, I heard something strange earlier, so can I ask you something?”
“Did some bastard bother you?”
Though the question was directed at Baek Ihae, Seo Ihum’s cold gaze shifted toward one of the gang members standing by the wall.
The man immediately shook his head frantically in denial.
“Oh, no, it’s not that! Cute little Yeol over there said I’m Seo Dogyeom’s fiancée. He just got it wrong, right?”
At the word “cute,” Seo Yeol choked violently, and Seo Dogyeom slowly patted him on the back.
Seo Ihum’s gaze returned to Baek Ihae.
“He’s right. I plan to formally engage the two of you soon. The engagement itself will be simple, and when you come of age, we’ll reserve a hotel for the wedding—”
“No, wait a second!”
Baek Ihae hurriedly cut him off as he calmly rattled off complete insanity with a straight face.
She shot to her feet in panic, yet somehow, it still felt as though he were looking down on her.
The pressure he gave off was on an entirely different level from Seo Dogyeom.
“Who decided that? I met him for the first time today! You didn’t even ask me!”
“It was decided before either of you were born.”
“You mean my parents made some kind of promise? Or was it in their will?”
He didn’t answer.
Which probably meant yes.
Oh my God.
‘This house is so modern, so why are their brains so old-fashioned? Who even arranges engagements nowadays? And who marries off their kids because of promises between parents?’
Absolutely not.
‘Besides, the original game never mentioned Seo Dogyeom having a fiancée. Was this just some minor setting that never appeared in-game?’
Even if Seo Dogyeom would eventually end up with the heroine anyway, Baek Ihae had zero interest in carrying the title of “former fiancée.”
After all, Seo Dogyeom was destined to inherit Seo Ihum’s position and lead this gangster family someday!
What if rival gangs mistook her for his weakness and kidnapped her later?
“I refuse!”
“And why not? You’d only need to bring yourself.”
Well… that part was a little tempting.
Baek Ihae faltered for a second before violently shaking her head and pointing at Seo Dogyeom.
“I may care a lot about looks, but personality matters too!”
No way was she becoming a mob wife.
At her desperate rejection, Seo Ihum blinked slowly.
His face didn’t change, but somehow, he seemed slightly taken aback.
“Hey! Who do you think you are, rejecting my brother?!”
Ironically, the one getting angry wasn’t Seo Ihum or Seo Dogyeom.
It was Seo Yeol.
He climbed onto his chair without a shred of manners and shouted furiously while pointing at her.
“I have standards too!”
“My brother’s face is universally attractive!”
“Well, yeah, that part’s true, but…!”
At Seo Yeol’s words, Baek Ihae found herself staring at Seo Dogyeom again.
His long bangs partially covered his features, but even then, his sharp jawline and flawless skin alone screamed devastatingly handsome.
Damn it, the kid was making valid points.
“You said earlier that you hated being my brother’s fiancée!”
“I do! But I hate the idea of a pumpkin like you rejecting him even more! You should be calling it the honor of your family!”
“You tiny-brained brat, what do you know about family honor?!”
“Quiet.”
The two shouted at each other from opposite ends of the table while the gang members fidgeted helplessly, too afraid to intervene.
One was the young master of the house.
The other was a girl personally acknowledged by Seo Ihum as an honored guest.
The one who finally stopped them was Seo Ihum himself.
Pressing a hand lightly to his forehead as if he had a headache, he gestured for them to sit.
“Both of you, sit down first.”
“Dad!”
“Seo Yeol. Who taught you to climb onto chairs during a meal?”
The coldness in his gaze was harsh even for a child.
Seo Yeol flinched and sat back down with watery eyes, and seeing him like that made Baek Ihae feel strangely guilty.
‘I should sit before I get scolded too.’
She quietly returned to her seat, and silence instantly fell over the dining room.
Only Baek Ihae and Seo Yeol kept sneaking nervous glances at Seo Ihum.
Meanwhile, Seo Dogyeom calmly continued cutting his steak as though none of this concerned him.
“If neither of you wants it, I won’t force the marriage. However, since it was your parents’ dying wish, the engagement ceremony will still proceed.”
“Mister!”
“In the end, it’s nothing more than a formal event with no legal record. After that, the two of you can decide for yourselves.”
“The two of you” clearly referred to Baek Ihae and Seo Dogyeom.
Since Seo Dogyeom would never actually marry her anyway, she felt slightly reassured.
‘Well… if it’s only a formal engagement.’
And since he had brought up her parents’ dying wish, continuing to object felt awkward.
When she finally nodded in reluctant understanding, the matter was settled.
Silence returned to the table once more.
‘Earlier I was too busy eating to notice, but wow, they really eat quietly.’
Seo Dogyeom being quiet was expected, but even talkative little Seo Yeol had gone silent.
His eyes were still glossy with unshed tears from getting scolded, and his forehead looked even redder than before, as if a bump had formed there.
Only then did Baek Ihae realize her mistake.
Carefully, she spoke up.
“Um… there’s something I should apologize for.”
“What is it?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose, but Yeol got hurt because of me. He got hit with a rubber band, so I think he’ll be okay soon, but…”
Surely they weren’t going to quietly dispose of her for injuring their precious youngest son, right?
As she explained, her voice gradually shrank smaller and smaller.
Only then did Seo Ihum finally look toward Seo Yeol.
Seo Yeol gripped his fork tightly, his face tense.
Seo Ihum glanced at him briefly before looking away again and speaking in the same indifferent tone as always.
“It’s fine.”
It’s fine?
That’s it?
Baek Ihae blinked blankly.
For a moment, she wondered if he was only saying that so she wouldn’t feel guilty, but she still couldn’t understand it.
‘Why isn’t he even asking Yeol if he’s okay?’
She noticed Seo Yeol biting his lip tightly.
And yet no one else seemed to care, as though only Baek Ihae could see it.
‘Ah… damn it.’
This was the first time she had truly felt sorry for Seo Yeol.
