Constrained to Start (8 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 3
Crazy. Completely insane.
Ra Jin muttered the harshest words she could think of.
Her heart trembled, but she stared calmly at Yu Jun—this was surely bait to see how she’d react.
“If I keep waiting for you, it’ll bother you, right?”
“Not at all.”
“Things are already loud at the company lately. I don’t want to cause you any trouble because of me.”
He gave a slight nod, signaling her to go on.
“We’ve known each other for eight years already, Oppa.”
He seemed pleased with that “eight years,” lifting the corner of his lips into a faint smile.
“All this time, have you only been thinking about me?”
Fragments of memories, drifting somewhere in Ra Jin’s mind, all surfaced at once.
What if she hadn’t gone to Myeong Jin’s main house with her stepfather that day?
Then she wouldn’t have accidentally overheard Kim Yu Jun’s secrets. She wouldn’t have cried her eyes out, trying to comfort him by bringing up her parents’ divorce. If only that had really happened… maybe she’d just be an ordinary person with no connection to him at all.
That meaningless hypothetical left a dull ache in a corner of Ra Jin’s heart.
But she spoke her next line as if reading from a script—it was already something she’d trained herself to do so often it felt routine.
“I know, Oppa. I know how you feel.”
As if confirming she’d given the right answer, Yu Jun grinned brightly.
“Mr. Deputy Director.”
His secretary approached, fiddling with his watch.
“We really can’t afford any more delays.”
“Have the car ready.”
The moment he said “the car” instead of the suite, her tension instantly drained away. Was it finally over? Ra Jin curled her lips into a smile as she clasped her chilled fingertips.
“I have to see Ra Jin off.”
At Kim Yu Jun’s offhand declaration, Ra Jin picked up her bag neither too quickly nor too slowly—showing any sign of rushing would ruin everything. Yet her feet, trapped in stilettos, kept twitching with the urge to bolt straight out the door.
“Come here.”
At Yu Jun’s gesture, Ra Jin took small, measured steps toward him.
Close enough to feel his breath.
A rich, heavy scent rose from his solid frame brushing against her shoulder—the perfume specially crafted for him by a French perfumer. Though intoxicating enough to make one turn back, it strangely made her stomach churn.
Holding her breath, Ra Jin subtly lengthened her stride to widen the gap without making it obvious.
“Come a bit closer, this way.”
Inside the elevator, shielded by bodyguards forming a human screen, his right hand settled against her back.
The firm pressure, the warmth, his breath grazing her temple—
Every point of contact with him sparked discomfort. Ra Jin quickly smoothed her hair and patted her tweed jacket, putting deliberate distance between herself and Kim Yu Jun.
Just as she silently exhaled in relief, his forehead suddenly dropped onto the nape of her neck. She flinched as if scalded by hot water.
“Why so startled?”
He gave a soft chuckle and inhaled deeply. Goosebumps surged through her entire body, making her vision spin.
“What are you planning to do once you get home?”
“Do some Pilates… and just rest a bit.”
Ra Jin offered a gentle smile as she glanced at the elevator floor indicator, still crawling downward.
Ding.
To Ra Jin, that crisp chime signaling arrival sounded like a pardon.
Eagerly, she stepped back a pace from Kim Yu Jun. He let out a quiet scoff, but she didn’t care.
Myeong Jin was already dominating headlines daily because of the shady funds—Yu Jun wouldn’t want to become gossip fodder either. Keeping her distance, Ra Jin walked straight ahead, eyes fixed forward.
“Director Hyun.”
Yu Jun came to an abrupt halt.
“Dismiss the bodyguards.”
At the secretary’s signal, the men surrounding them instantly scattered.
They were barely twenty meters from the exit—what new whim was this? Ra Jin looked up at him, struggling to hide her impatience.
“No matter how I think about it, I’ve been careless.”
“…?”
“You said it yourself—it’s our eighth anniversary. Letting it pass like this is ridiculous. For both you and me.”
His unpredictable words set warning lights flashing in Ra Jin’s head.
“I want to spend today with you.”
“!”
“Hm? Ra Jin-ah.”
In that sweet, coaxing tone—as if asking permission—please, just don’t call me that. Ra Jin wanted to clap her hands over her ears and scream. But she suppressed her emotions and summoned the one forbidden phrase she knew Kim Yu Jun despised.
“…You know that already.”
Lowering her gaze, Ra Jin’s eyelashes trembled faintly.
“I don’t want people saying I stole someone else’s fiancé.”
“It’s purely business. Once this succession plan wraps up, I’ll cut things off with Jin Jae Yi.”
He stepped closer, his signature woody scent clinging thickly to the air.
“It’s already been eight whole years. How much longer must I wait for you?”
His words of hardship were bearable—but his scent wasn’t. It sank deep, leaving stubborn traces on her clothes and hair.
“Doing this right here in the middle of the lobby, where everyone’s staring…”
Ra Jin turned her head away to escape his fragrance.
“Could you at least consider me? My face is well-known, after all.”
“You really…”
“I don’t like other people’s men.”
She barely swallowed the rest—“I wouldn’t like you even if you weren’t”—knowing full well that further honesty here could trigger consequences she couldn’t predict.
“I don’t want to live as someone hidden away, either.”
“…”
“That’s why we can’t spend the night together.”
She’d said it—but her legs kept trembling uncontrollably. If just sharing a meal with him felt this awful, how could she possibly spend the night? His suggestion was unthinkable—and should never happen.
“You can call me prideful all you want. I can’t help it.”
Even in this pathetic moment of offering a half-excuse to Kim Yu Jun, she remained hyper-aware of drawing attention.
When a few passersby in the lobby turned their heads and even pulled out phones, Ra Jin quickly stepped two paces farther away.
“My mom’s greatest wish is for me to get married and build a happy family.”
“I’ll handle it soon—so just—”
“I’m sorry. I…”
Ra Jin began inching backward.
“Park Ra Jin, come stand beside me.”
His tone suggested he might grab her by the neck any second. Cold sweat broke out on her skin. She couldn’t handle the fallout later—but for now… Ra Jin spun around on the spot.
“I’ll head out first.”
“You!”
A low growl rumbled behind her, followed sharply by Yu Jun calling out, “Director Hyun!”
Hearing hurried footsteps chasing after her, Ra Jin sprinted forward, squeezing through the narrowing gap of the closing revolving door and bursting out like a shot.
The cool air enveloped her entire body.
“Hah… hah.”
Ra Jin gasped in the breath she’d been holding and charged toward a regular taxi like she was diving into safety.
[This is the timeline separator]Ji Ho stood behind a large statue, phone pressed to his ear.
He couldn’t possibly hear Park Ra Jin and Kim Yu Jun’s conversation, but he didn’t take his eyes off them. A person’s expression and gestures could reveal so much.
‘Who is that woman?’
Every time Kim Yu Jun spoke, Park Ra Jin lowered her eyes or trembled slightly at the shoulders—like a stray cat that had lost its home. Yet glimpses of her gaze held something else entirely.
Disgust and anger… resignation and sorrow.
Was she not Kim Yu Jun’s girlfriend after all?
Her eyes looked too unsettled for them to truly be lovers.
‘I… don’t… like it…?’
Her lips clearly formed a rejection—but before he could decipher more, she turned away. Immediately, the bodyguards who’d scattered moments ago began trailing her one after another. It wasn’t even rabbit hunting—what on earth were they doing?
Ji Ho stared hard at Kim Yu Jun, who’d clenched his fists, then quickly slipped away. Having just received a briefing on Chairman Kim Gi Tae of Myeong Jin’s arrest situation, he couldn’t risk being recognized.
Hiding near the staircase, Ji Ho texted Ho Jin again.
Treating it like a covert operation, Ji Ho gave Ho Jin a few more instructions.
Just then, a deep voice approached.
“Director Hyun.”
“Yes, Deputy Director.”
“Call Oh Jong Hyuk right away.”
Though Ji Ho couldn’t see his face, the voice unmistakably belonged to Kim Yu Jun—though oddly muffled, as if his teeth were clenched tight.
“I’ll have him check whether the actress has arrived.”
“Also tell him to figure out how to make Ra Jin listen properly.”
Setting aside how familiar they must be if he used her first name, telling a grown adult to “listen properly” sounded absurd.
Was he even in his right mind?
It felt strange if they were lovers—and even stranger if they weren’t. Aside from being a chaebol heir, Kim Yu Jun seemed no different from a low-grade criminal harassing a woman. Surely he wasn’t stalking her?
To hear better, Ji Ho shifted closer to a nearby pillar.
“Tell him to use any means necessary—fast and effective.”
With that, Kim Yu Jun’s voice faded into the distance.
Glancing briefly toward the staircase, Ji Ho shook his head slowly.
“Freak.”
He stared down at the phone in his hand—then, as if possessed, opened the search bar.
—Park Ra Jin.
The moment he typed her name, countless articles, photos, and ads featuring her flooded the screen. Ji Ho combed through Park Ra Jin’s personal life as if reviewing a case file.
Was mystique her whole concept?
Contrary to expectations, her life seemed surprisingly simple—no scandals, not even the usual dating rumors. What exactly was her connection to Kim Yu Jun? Ji Ho’s mind buzzed with questions.
She was a complete stranger—even a celebrity he’d only just met today—so why did she keep nagging at him? It made no sense.
Before Ji Ho could pinpoint a clear reason, his phone rang.
“Oh.”
He’d been so absorbed in watching that he’d forgotten his actual task. After checking that no one was nearby, he pressed the call button.
“Yes, Team Leader. I was just about to call you myself. Is this a good time to talk?”
The call delivered news that the recently fugitive suspect had been apprehended.
At that moment, Ra Jin—fleeing like she was escaping—flashed through his mind.
Like an uninvited guest, she’d taken over his thoughts. Shaking his head to clear the distraction, he heard Kim Yu Jun’s voice echo in his ears.
—Also tell him to figure out how to make Ra Jin listen properly.
Even mid-call with the investigator, the earlier scene kept replaying in his head. Had he been over-focusing on Myeong Jin?
“Go ahead and start the suspect interrogation. I’ll be there soon.”
Mechanically issuing his next order, Ji Ho quickly ended the call.
“Were you here this whole time?”
Ho Jin had quietly approached and now leaned against the pillar beside him.
“Where’s Kim Yu Jun?”
“He went to meet the Deputy Chief.”
“Let’s save the details for the office.”
“Ugh. I couldn’t even eat properly, worrying about being noticed. If I’d known, I would’ve grabbed two servings of sashimi.”
Ho Jin mimed eating with his fingers, and Ji Ho let out a quiet chuckle. Honestly, Ho Jin’s lighthearted comment did help untangle the knots in his mind.
“I’ll treat you tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Now let’s pull out of here.”
If even the Deputy Chief Prosecutor recognized him, there was no point in drawing more attention.
The two quickly slipped out of the hotel.
Inside the taxi headed back to the office, the only sound was the song playing softly on the radio.
“Special prosecutor… handover… Kim Yu Jun… and top star Park Ra Jin.”
So much had happened in such a short time.
Ji Ho’s mind felt overloaded, thoughts tangling endlessly. Overwhelmed, he cracked the window slightly—damp grass and the briny river breeze rushed in.
“Phew.”
Just as he tried pushing his distracting thoughts out the window—
—Hello. I’m actress Park Ra Jin, ambassador for the Ministry of Justice.
The woman he’d crossed paths with twice now appeared again—in a public service announcement on the radio, of all places. Her voice, smooth and velvety, wrapped around his ears, and Ji Ho muttered under his breath:
“Annoying.”
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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