Constrained to Start (8 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 39
Ji Ho was swamped, trying to pin down the documents needed for the search and seizure. He couldn’t leave to meet Ra Jin—whom he’d only spoken to by phone the past few days—until he finished this task first.
Just then, as he stared intently at his monitor, a knock came, and the door opened.
“Senior, Oh Jong Hyuk is undergoing interrogation.”
“What about his lawyer?”
“His regular lawyer is on vacation, so it seems a junior lawyer rushed over.”
They’d even stopped Kim Yu Jun from contacting anyone—was this a secret from Myeong Jin too?
Oh Jong Hyuk, who’d been shouting at Ra Jin, must be trembling with fear amid this sudden, ominous turn of events. This was all karmic retribution for how he’d tormented her.
“What about tomorrow’s raid on the agency?”
“It’s at 9 a.m.”
“You’ve already leaked the office layout and the list of evidence we’ll seize, right?”
“Yes. I passed it along properly to the officer heading the raid. I’ll keep tracking it and report back.”
A satisfied chuckle escaped him.
“You did well, Ho Jin.”
“Did I? What time are you heading to Ra Jin’s place?”
“9:40.”
Ho Jin clapped her hands gleefully, beaming with a wide, spinning grin.
“What? Why?”
“I didn’t say anything!”
“Stop just moving your lips and spit it out if you’ve got something to say, then go.”
He was already getting teased subtly these days about what happened at Ho Jin’s place—how Ra Jin had come downstairs blushing, how late love could be terrifying. Ho Jin was being especially annoying.
“Have a nice date! Fighting!”
Ji Ho let out a long sigh, watching Ho Jin clench both fists like a cheerleader.
“I’m just going to check on Ra Jin’s safety. It’s not a date.”
“Oh, right! Not a date—just secretly checking on our Ra Jin’s safety.”
“You’re teasing me again.”
“It’s fine if you’re embarrassed in front of me, but you really need to give Ra Jin a clear signal.”
A clear signal? Was she seriously telling him to ask Ra Jin to be his girlfriend?
He couldn’t possibly act like kids declaring “Day 1 starts today.” He’d been on arranged meetings before but never actually dated anyone, so he had no idea how romantic relationships even began.
“You don’t need to overthink it.”
“What?”
“Just make sure you clearly tell her you like her.”
Express it, huh…
It wouldn’t be so bad to say it out loud, like in a drama preview. Ji Ho stared blankly at Ho Jin, who was acting exactly like a real younger sister.
“Thanks for your help. I’ll keep it in mind.”
“If things work out between you and Ra Jin, maybe you could hook me up with a male celebrity, too?”
He chuckled softly at Ho Jin’s claim that she’d finally date properly once the special investigation ended. Of course she would. He waved his hand dismissively at her silly joke about double dating.
“Get back to work.”
After sending Ho Jin off, Ji Ho returned to his headache-inducing world. He needed to wrap this up quickly—only then could he decide whether or not to confess his true feelings to Ra Jin.
“It’s already this late?”
Though he’d hurried, time had flown by. Ji Ho finally got up from his seat just before 10 p.m.
His eyes were bloodshot from constant overtime, but his condition wasn’t bad.
Shaking off exhaustion, he quickly freshened up, changed into a clean shirt he’d left beforehand, ran his fingers through his hair, redirected surveillance elsewhere, and finally drove out of the parking lot.
10:15 p.m.
Thinking of her waiting at home, he dialed her number. Even with her building in sight, Ra Jin didn’t pick up.
“Did she fall asleep?”
As Ji Ho tilted his head in confusion and took a left turn on the green signal, the long, endless ringtone suddenly cut off.
“Did something happen?”
Just as Ji Ho waited in an alley near Ra Jin’s apartment, his phone rang.
“Oh, Ho Jin.”
[Senior! Abort! Quickly pull back from in front of Ra Jin’s place!]
Ra Jin held her breath, focusing hard on the conversation behind her.
Kim Yu Jun remained silent for a while after receiving the report from Director Hyun. When even the whispering behind her ceased, Ra Jin couldn’t take it anymore and slowly turned her head.
“Oppa?”
“Ra Jin. Did you see everything?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, I could relax.”
Now she just needed to hear what trouble Oh Jong Hyuk had gotten into and then head home. With that in mind, Ra Jin’s lips curled into a wide smile—soon, it would be time to meet Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho.
“Director Hyun.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
“Send the orchid painting to Ra Jin’s place.”
Who’d even asked for a painting she didn’t want? Frustrated, Ra Jin quickly waved her hands.
“No, really. I don’t even have space to hang it.”
“Then should I keep it for now? We can hang it in our bedroom later.”
It wasn’t really about the painting for the bedroom. Kim Yu Jun hadn’t said anything about Oh Jong Hyuk, leaving Ra Jin stuck in uncomfortable silence.
“If a painting I like even more shows up later, I’ll take that one. Today, just seeing it is enough.”
“Are you refusing it right now?”
A chill flashed in Kim Yu Jun’s eyes, as if warning her not to argue. If Kim Yu Jun had already made up his mind, arguing would only exhaust her.
“Can I choose something other than the orchid?”
“Whatever you want.”
Kim Yu Jun, who had quietly moved beside her, gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
Even though he called it a gift, she absolutely didn’t want that painting. If it was just going into Kim Yu Jun’s private storage anyway, she might as well pick the most expensive one for the sake of petty satisfaction.
“I’ll go with the garden painting.”
“I knew you’d pick that the moment you laid eyes on it. Right, Director Hyun?”
At Kim Yu Jun’s gesture, Director Hyun hesitated—an uncharacteristic pause.
“What is it?”
“Vice President, what should we do about CEO Oh?”
“CEO Oh? What about Hyung Oppa?”
Seeing her chance, Ra Jin quickly feigned familiarity.
“Ra Jin.”
Kim Yu Jun smiled faintly, pressing a finger gently against her cheek.
“I think I’ll help Oh Jong Hyuk fix some of his bad habits.”
“What do you mean…?”
“If he lies even once more, he might just end up dead—enough to jolt him back to his senses.”
Clearly, something major had happened to Oh Jong Hyuk.
Yet Kim Yu Jun wasn’t going to help him? Why were supposed allies turning on each other? Ra Jin’s head throbbed in confusion.
Her plan had been to part ways with Kim Yu Jun after he went off to rescue Oh Jong Hyuk, then meet Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho with a happy heart. But Kim Yu Jun, as ever, was once again derailing her expectations.
‘Ji Ho said he’d pick me up at home. What if they run into each other?’
If she stayed quiet, her whole plan would fall apart. Ra Jin quickly shifted gears, adopting the persona of a worried younger sister.
“Did Hyung Oppa do something wrong?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just think about me today.”
“But if you could at least tell me what happened… Can’t you?”
If she had to survive this situation, a few tears wouldn’t hurt. Ra Jin’s eyes welled up—half acting, half genuine.
“Was Oh Jong Hyuk really that important to you?”
Kim Yu Jun let out a disbelieving chuckle.
“Actually, just a few days ago, Oppa called asking me to send him money.”
“He asked you? How much?”
“Two hundred million. I tried to transfer it, but the bank said something was wrong with the account.”
His emotions exploded like a crashing wave.
She spilled everything—how Oh Jong Hyuk had pressured her over the phone from the U.S. for money, how her manager had blocked her calls. Twisting the facts slightly, she exaggerated Oh Jong Hyuk and Tae Hyung Shik’s wrongdoings without outright lying.
“If my manager hadn’t stopped me, I would’ve consulted you already.”
“Ra Jin.”
Kim Yu Jun cradled her face in both hands and gently wiped away her tears with his fingers.
“Why are you crying?”
“…”
“What’s so special about that useless Oh Jong Hyuk?”
Kim Yu Jun’s unpredictable remark made Ra Jin feel like her head was about to burst.
“Your tears belong to me alone.”
With those words of regret, Kim Yu Jun thoroughly erased every trace of tears from her face.
“You’ll do that, won’t you, Ra Jin?”
When Ra Jin reluctantly nodded, Kim Yu Jun gently stroked the back of her head.
“Director Hyun. Let Oh Jong Hyuk suffer a bit longer in detention.”
“But still, Vice President…”
“He’ll get out after paying a fine. Don’t interfere unnecessarily.”
Kim Yu Jun pulled Ra Jin close, taking a deep breath. His warmth made her vision whiten, and his deep, woody scent overwhelmed her senses like a bucket of ice water, making her shiver uncontrollably.
“Order the painting Ra Jin wants, and report only unusual matters.”
“Yes, Vice President.”
Director Hyun immediately withdrew without another word—clearly aware that, as Kim Yu Jun’s loyal subordinate, speaking further here would change nothing.
Kim Yu Jun firmly pressed Ra Jin’s back and whispered softly,
“Ra Jin, let’s go eat something delicious.”
Kim Yu Jun mentioned he’d reserved a fancy place earlier and seemed quite pleased with himself.
His flawless face, with delicate double eyelids, curved into a gentle smile.
No one would guess how utterly unhinged the heir to Myeong Jin Group was beneath that perfectly normal face. Ra Jin wanted to step backward right then and there. Her malfunctioning mind kept chanting only one name: Ji Ho.
“Shall we go now?”
As Kim Yu Jun turned, Ra Jin’s body followed like a paper doll. Amid her blurred vision, the busy silhouettes of bodyguards came into view.
Even after getting in the car, even while heading to a location she didn’t recognize, Ra Jin only gave model answers to Kim Yu Jun’s questions. It had become an old habit.
Sitting beside Kim Yu Jun, Ra Jin watched the illuminated signs of passing high-rises blur by.
—Just act like usual. Saturday night, after parting with Kim Yu Jun… I’ll see you that day. Us.
Tonight—Saturday night, after parting with Kim Yu Jun—Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho was waiting for her.
How she acted now would determine how quickly she could get to meet him.
The storm clouds in Ra Jin’s mind slowly cleared.
‘I have to be extra careful.’
Even if it took much longer than expected, getting through today safely was her top priority.
“How is it?”
Fine dining with a view overlooking City Hall Square.
He must have rented out the entire place—the restaurant staff had been reduced to a bare minimum. Moreover, partitions surrounded Ra Jin’s seat, ensuring complete privacy.
Was this another display of Myeong Jin’s influence?
Though astonished, she had no energy left to dwell on it. She needed to eat quickly, leave fast, and prevent any chance encounter with Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho.
Ra Jin ate each bite-sized dish and forced down the food Kim Yu Jun kept serving her.
“I’m glad you’re eating well.”
“I guess I got really hungry from all that at the gallery.”
Kim Yu Jun chuckled and offered her his dessert.
A plate decorated like a gift—vanilla ice cream shaped like a teddy bear, square yakgwa, and fresh fruit. Ra Jin quickly pulled out her phone from her bag.
“Can I post this on SNS?”
Yu Jun reached out, gently stroking her cheek, and nodded.
‘At this rate, Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho and Kim Yu Jun might run into each other right in front of my house.’
Prosecutor Kang Ji Ho had promised to pick her up at home, and Kim Yu Jun would surely insist on driving her all the way. To avoid an unplanned meeting between the two men, she had to send a signal to someone.
Ra Jin snapped a quick photo and posted the meal on social media.
—A day like a gift! Nonstop surprises! Heading home soon! #CityHallView #FineDining #JinJin.
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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