Constrained to Start (8 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 14
Ra Jin couldn’t hold it in any longer—she suddenly gagged violently. Even though she quickly clamped her mouth shut, her whole body trembled uncontrollably from the queasiness in her stomach, just like someone truly ill.
“What’s wrong, Ra Jin?”
Without saying a word, Ra Jin answered with her expression alone.
“Does something hurt?”
The moment his hand reached out to check on her, a heavy fragrance wafted over from beyond his luxury watch.
She absolutely couldn’t endure it. Ra Jin covered her mouth and nose with both hands and dashed toward the first-floor restroom, promptly vomiting up the water she’d just drunk.
Kim Yu Jun had already quietly approached and now gently patted Ra Jin’s back as she clung to the toilet.
“Since when has it been this bad?”
How lucky that claiming to be unwell provided the perfect excuse, sparing her from answering every question. Ra Jin slumped over like a deflated balloon.
“That jerk Oh Jong Hyuk doesn’t even realize his kid is sick.”
Yu Jun clicked his tongue in annoyance and swiftly scooped Ra Jin up into his arms.
She pretended to be utterly consumed by a dreadful fever—she had to commit fully to this act of illness so Kim Yu Jun would leave the house quickly.
As she gasped for breath, his footsteps quickened. He opened door after door, then carried her into the largest room on the first floor—the one with a bed.
Since he’d never entered the house before, he probably assumed this was her mother’s bedroom, prepared just for her. Ra Jin didn’t care either way—she squeezed her eyes tightly shut.
“Exactly where and how does it hurt?”
Yu Jun asked as he gently laid Ra Jin down on the bed.
“Hah…”
Ra Jin covered her eyes with the back of her hand and swallowed hard.
“It’s just a fever. I just want to sleep for a bit.”
“Why endure it if you’re in pain?”
She sensed him reaching for his phone. Ra Jin immediately stretched out her hand to grab his arm.
“I’ll just rest like this.”
Leaning against him like a spoiled child, she heard a soft chuckle escape his lips.
Even though she was faking illness—and even though he couldn’t possibly know it—she couldn’t understand why he was laughing. Was he pleased that she’d clung to him pretending to be sick? Or was he gloating because she finally obeyed after initially resisting? He was utterly incomprehensible.
“Ra Jin.”
His long fingers gently stroked her tangled hair.
“What would you have done if I hadn’t come?”
“…”
“You’re going to rely on me like this anyway.”
If enduring this minor delusion meant calming Kim Yu Jun—who’d chased her all the way home in a fit of caprice—then so be it.
“I’ll call Dr. Jung. Just hold on a little longer.”
If he summoned the famous personal physician of the Myeong Jin Group for a mere feigned illness, the truth would be exposed immediately.
“It’s okay because you’re here with me, Oppa.”
“Then at least take some medicine. I’ll call Oh Jong Hyuk.”
Kim Yu Jun was barely containing himself—and now he wanted to call Oh Jong Hyuk here? Ra Jin hastily grabbed Yu Jun’s arm as he reached for his phone.
“Why?”
“I don’t want him called here.”
“Who, Oh Jong Hyuk?”
Ra Jin slowly nodded.
“To be honest… he’s not even my real older brother.”
Yu Jun’s eyes widened as if this thought had never occurred to him.
“I haven’t said anything, but… honestly, I’d prefer it if even the manager didn’t come inside the house.”
“He came inside? Late at night?”
When she nodded again, a spark of anger flared in Kim Yu Jun’s eyes.
Though it was Oh Jong Hyuk who’d assigned Manager Hyung Sik to keep watch over Ra Jin, Kim Yu Jun couldn’t possibly be unaware of his past. After all, the three of them were essentially in cahoots.
“When my stepfather was still alive, CEO Oh and I even had to be careful about wearing short clothes in summer. But now I’m living alone without my mom…”
She casually dropped that remark—as if one could never predict what might happen in life—and hid her face behind her hair.
Oh Jong Hyuk, who shared no blood relation with her, and Tae Hyung Shik, who until recently lived at rock bottom—
Reminding Kim Yu Jun that both men were just like him might spur his naturally suspicious nature into action. At times like this, his unusual sensitivity came in handy.
“Ra Jin.”
His voice came softly.
“You’re thoughtful enough to think of things like this.”
“It never hurts to be cautious.”
“Right. One man around you—me—is more than enough.”
She wanted nothing more than to swat away his hand stroking her head, but Ra Jin endured solely through sheer willpower. If she just played along and pretended to fall asleep gently, this ordeal would soon be over.
“I should ask Director Hyun to bring something over. You haven’t even eaten, right?”
Unable to refuse any further, Ra Jin nodded.
“How about abalone porridge?”
Surely he wouldn’t use nursing her as an excuse to stay long—Director Hyun would need at least an hour to bring over the porridge and medicine. Ra Jin’s mind raced, searching for a way to get him to leave together with Director Hyun.
“I love abalone porridge. But could you call my youngest stylist, please?”
“Stylist?”
“She’s a new female stylist who joined this year. I’d like her to stay with me.”
“Do you need me to stay with you instead?”
Where on earth did that dreadful suggestion come from?
Even while she was clearly ill, his relentless probing wouldn’t stop. But that only meant she had to stay calmer. This was her own method, honed from observing Kim Yu Jun for so long.
“You’re already so busy—what if you catch my cold?”
“That’s why you shouldn’t make people worry. Managing your condition is part of your competence too.”
His talk about “competence” made her sick to her stomach. Was that really what you said to someone who was unwell—even if they were faking it?
“Just stay until the stylist arrives. I think I’ll feel better then.”
“Honestly, I can never win against you.”
With apparent reluctance, Yu Jun called Oh Jong Hyuk, instructing him to send only the stylist. Only after hearing the call’s content did Ra Jin finally let out a sigh of relief.
“You keep skipping meals—that’s why you got sick. Come to the main house next week and eat some nourishing food.”
“Yes, Oppa.”
The moment she answered with a gentle smile, his previously warm expression instantly hardened. Ra Jin’s heart sank—something had clearly upset him, and the sudden shift in atmosphere terrified her.
Why again!
Desperate not to let him see her rising fear, Ra Jin forced a fragile smile onto her lips.
“You can be so obedient like this…”
“…”
“Then why did you run away at the hotel, hmm?”
Kim Yu Jun leaned closer, pressing her as if demanding an answer.
“Don’t tell me it was because of Seon Woo Jin?”
She’d only sent a text to her manager saying she’d ride in actor Seon Woo Jin’s car—had Kim Yu Jun heard something? Unless he’d ordered his secretary to tail her, the manager must have been the one who reported it.
‘Could he really have chased me all the way here just because I got into Seon Woo Jin’s car?’
It was utterly absurd—an engaged man, of all people, and in the morning too! A wave of indescribable outrage crashed over her.
But arguing about right or wrong with Kim Yu Jun was pointless. Her immediate priority was getting this shameless man out of her house.
“It’s just—”
“Why don’t you explain it to me, step by step?”
After everything she’d experienced with Kim Yu Jun, how could she have been naïve enough to think he’d let it go easily? No matter how composed she tried to appear, the corner of her eye trembled uncontrollably.
“I hate to say this to someone who’s sick…”
His voice tickled her ear, his hand gently stroking her hair, his sharp gaze determined to uncover even the tiniest lie. Ra Jin felt completely devoured.
“Don’t you feel… dirty?”
“I’m sorry for making you worry.”
“Hmm. Apologies can wait.”
He shook his head slightly and lowered his face toward hers. His breath, accompanied by a faint chuckle, felt colder than ice.
“It’s not enough that you ran from the hotel—you even ditched your manager and got into that guy’s car. There must be a reason. Let’s start from there.”
Apparently, her feigned illness had been a stroke of genius—because taking Seon Woo Jin’s car seemed to be the final straw. She’d clearly been preparing for this, yet that act now appeared decisive.
Though chilled to the bone by his soft voice and stroking hand, Ra Jin held her breath.
“At least show me a minimum of sincerity, Ra Jin.”
He was always like this.
Whenever something bothered him, he’d interrogate her relentlessly. And if that wasn’t enough, he’d keep shouting “again” until he was satisfied.
Small, insignificant things snowballed into glaring mistakes and serious faults. He’d pressure her until her mind was completely exhausted—never accepting early or repeated apologies.
He demanded his own perfect timing and sincerity.
If she failed to meet those standards, he’d dismiss her explanations as obvious excuses and nag endlessly.
“Do you need more time to think?”
“It’s just that…”
“Hah. I can practically hear your brain working from here.”
“It’s not like that!”
“Then why can’t you just say it? Did you fall for Seon Woo Jin while filming? Is that why you rejected me?”
Kim Yu Jun already had the answer he wanted.
All she needed to do was say it in pieces—but her lips simply wouldn’t move. Though the command was clear in her mind, it was as if her words had frozen due to some glitch.
‘Stop being so frustrating—just speak clearly. Don’t put Seon Woo Jin in an awkward position.’
“Seon Woo Jin has a girlfriend. They’re secretly dating, so he can’t reveal it—that’s all.”
“Who is she?”
“Well…”
“Do you think I’m the type to go around gossiping?”
Though she hesitated to betray a colleague’s secret, Seon Woo Jin’s future mattered more—being blacklisted by Kim Yu Jun would bring him nothing good.
“She’s a supporting actress in this drama. It’d be awkward to say her name.”
Yu Jun’s gaze remained skeptical and intense. Then she had no choice but to play her final card.
“Actually, I already knew the event venue had changed to Hotel HS just before departure.”
She let out a hot, frustrated sigh.
“I was annoyed because the manager didn’t do anything, even though he knew about the awkward situation with Director Jin Jae Yi.”
She added that she simply didn’t want to ride in the manager’s car. In situations like this, raw honesty worked better than ten crafted excuses.
“It was tough when Director Jin Jae Yi called me into her room and said strange things right in front of that gossipy director.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she was holding back. And that things would get interesting once her patience ran out.”
For a split second, Yu Jun’s eyes twisted in anger.
‘I hope I’m not accidentally provoking a fight.’
Ra Jin was, more than anyone, rooting for Kim Yu Jun and Jin Jae Yi’s marriage—only a solid relationship between them would give her an escape route.
To hide her acting, she covered her eyes with the back of her hand—and right on cue, tears streamed down through her fingers. If a camera had been rolling, the director would’ve shouted “Cut!” at that perfectly timed moment.
“It hurts so much to be treated like this.”
Chin trembling, she rambled on, reciting lines she’d memorized long ago without care.
This time, Kim Yu Jun neither stroked her hair nor said another word.
He was so silent it was as if he’d vanished entirely. Even after Ra Jin finished speaking, long moments passed. Then, with a faint exhale like a soft breeze, his voice finally came.
“There’s not much time left.”
Yu Jun’s gentle hand pulled away the one she’d used to cover her face.
“I’ll settle everything before the year ends.”
Settle what?
“Both Jin Jae Yi, who’s arrogant relying solely on Haesung, and my father, who completely disregards me—I’ll deal with them all.”
Ra Jin nearly blurted out “Don’t!”—but stopped herself. Gently stroking her damp eyes, he continued, his voice unbearably tender.
“Once I wrap everything up perfectly, the first thing I’ll do is announce our engagement.”
His fingers, which had been hovering near her eyes, traced softly along her cheek. Then he gathered a strand of her long hair, coiled it gently, and tugged it lightly. As he spoke his promise, he brought his lips to the end of that strand.
The instant his lips touched her hair, Ra Jin’s breath caught in her throat.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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