Ensnared by the Trap (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
It felt like my breath had stopped.
His deep blue eyes, like an endlessly profound ocean, held Se Hee captive with an intense, almost magnetic pull.
Se Hee, her gaze completely stolen, froze in place as if turned into a statue.
Kyle’s eyebrow twitched as he watched Se Hee remain perfectly still.
Only then did Se Hee’s entranced mind slowly begin to clear, as if released from his spell.
What on earth was I just doing?
Se Hee’s entire body seemed to flush red with embarrassment in an instant.
The way her cheeks turned bright red was blatantly obvious even to Kyle.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
Kyle stood up from his seat.
“N-no, I’m fine. P-please don’t come any closer.”
Se Hee instinctively raised her hand to stop him.
At her reaction, Kyle’s expression clearly darkened with displeasure.
“That attitude… I don’t like it.”
His voice dropped, cold and low.
“It seems one hour won’t be enough after all. I’ll take all the time needed and actively look into ways to take full responsibility.”
Flustered, Se Hee stood up abruptly and spoke in a stiff, formal tone, as if reporting to a superior.
“Ha. That posture makes it seem like you’re about to bring a PPT presentation.”
Kyle’s brow furrowed deeply.
“N-no, that’s not it. I think I need a lot more time to think. And I feel like I’m constantly disturbing your work. I’ll get going now. Thank you so much for the meal today. I keep receiving help from you.”
Se Hee’s words came out faster and faster.
With just a few meetings, Kyle had already figured out Se Hee’s habits.
Even when they were trapped in the hatch together, Se Hee had babbled nonstop about nonsense to hide her fear.
“It seems you’re hiding something.”
Kyle sharply caught the exact same state Se Hee had been in back then.
“Huh?”
In that instant, Se Hee’s expression turned serious.
She involuntarily swallowed hard.
Did he notice something?
Was it because I stared at him too blankly and got caught?
Is he telling me to confess that I was momentarily bewitched by some lewd demon in front of Kyle?
“I-I’m not hiding anything. I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
Afraid she might be held back, Se Hee bolted out of the private room like she was fleeing.
After Se Hee suddenly left, Kyle, now alone, felt bewildered.
“What the hell was that?”
Kyle stared at the laptop and pile of documents in front of him, letting out a hollow, incredulous laugh.
* * *
Se Hee returned to her cabin in a frantic rush and fell deep into thought.
No matter how hard she wracked her brain, she couldn’t remember anything from last night.
Could a person really forget something so cleanly?
Fortunately, she had asked for more time, and Kyle’s reaction hadn’t been negative.
Or perhaps it was because she had left without even hearing his answer.
That sensitive man’s attitude felt extremely ambiguous, leaving Se Hee frustrated.
If I sleep well tonight, will some memories come back?
Only if I remember can I come up with any plan to take responsibility.
To help jog her memory, Se Hee decided to go to bed early and lay down.
She closed her eyes, hoping the memories might naturally resurface with time, but all that came out was a sigh.
While Se Hee lay in bed, unable to sleep all night, the Decora Ho sailed without rest and arrived at Crete, Greece, at dawn.
The bright Mediterranean sunlight faithfully streamed into Se Hee’s bedroom.
Woken by the brilliant rays, Se Hee groggily crawled out of bed.
Exhausted from barely falling asleep at dawn, fatigue had piled up, leaving her constantly tired.
Today’s port of call, Crete, was one of the places she had really wanted to visit.
Since tomorrow would begin another full day at sea, she was determined to do a port tour today no matter what.
With effort, she got dressed and tried to cover her haggard face with makeup.
But no matter how heavily she applied it, it was useless.
“Sigh… my skin tone just won’t even out.”
To block the intense sunlight as well, Se Hee pulled on a baseball cap.
Planning to head straight to the port after breakfast, she carefully packed her camera, phone, and bag before leaving the cabin.
“Se Hee.”
Sung Jae approached, as if he had been waiting outside her door for who knows how long.
“Sung Jae?”
“Yesterday… were you okay?”
Sung Jae asked cautiously, his face full of worry.
“Yes. I was fine.”
“Still, you could have at least contacted me. I was waiting the whole time yesterday.”
Sung Jae said with a meaningful, slightly disappointed expression.
“…Nothing happened.”
Se Hee replied awkwardly.
“I’m glad nothing happened, then. Jung Yeon is at the buffet. Let’s go together.”
As he spoke, Sung Jae naturally took Se Hee’s bag.
“It’s okay. It’s not that heavy.”
Feeling burdened, Se Hee tried to stop him.
“I know. I just want to carry it for you.”
Sung Jae smiled softly and walked ahead.
“You didn’t get to see Athens properly yesterday when we were docked, so we absolutely have to tour Crete today, right? I’ve made a perfect plan. Just follow me.”
Sung Jae slowed his pace until he was walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Se Hee.
“Thank you for the offer, but I was planning to tour the port alone.”
“Alone? That’s dangerous. Especially now that you look like this. Why go alone? No way.”
Sung Jae said firmly.
Then, as if realizing something, he let out a sigh.
“Ah… this is dad mode again, isn’t it? I know you hate when I’m like a dad.”
Se Hee couldn’t help but let out a small laugh as they walked together.
After meeting Jung Yeon at the buffet and finishing a simple meal, Se Hee headed to Crete with the two of them.
The island where Zeus, king of the gods, was hidden, and the labyrinth palace of the half-man, half-bull Minotaur.
Crete, brimming with Greek mythology, was one of Greece’s most popular resort destinations.
Sung Jae, who had stubbornly insisted she couldn’t go alone, only let her go after securing a promise to attend the evening event party together.
Se Hee’s first destination was the Palace of Knossos.
Famous for the legend of the Minotaur and Theseus, the Athenian prince who defeated him, Se Hee eagerly photographed the Palace of Knossos.
In that myth, Se Hee had always been drawn not to the hero Theseus, but to Princess Ariadne, who helped him.
Infuriated by the sacrifice of Athenian youths to the Minotaur, Prince Theseus volunteered himself as an offering and entered the labyrinth palace where the monster was imprisoned.
Thanks to the ball of thread given to him by Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete, Theseus safely escaped the labyrinth after slaying the Minotaur.
Ariadne had helped him on the condition that he marry her.
Yet after successfully escaping, Theseus abandoned Ariadne without even marrying her.
There were various endings to Ariadne’s story afterward.
But the one Se Hee liked best was the version where the abandoned princess found new love.
New love.
Could something like that happen to me too?
Suddenly, a certain person clearly flashed through Se Hee’s mind.
That man with mysterious blue eyes and strikingly pale skin.
And those sexy, prominent veins?
What am I even thinking.
Se Hee shook her head sharply, as if trying to shake off the lewd thoughts creeping in.
Then she quickly moved on to her next destination.
* * *
After enthusiastically touring the port, Se Hee barely made it back to the ship just in time.
There had been more to see than expected, so it took quite a while.
Her legs ached from all the walking.
But she felt happy.
She had been able to fully relax and spend her time freely.
How many times in her life had she experienced something like this?
Back in her cabin, Se Hee took a shower, basking in pleasant drowsiness.
There was still a little time before the event party she had promised Sung Jae she would attend.
Se Hee picked up the neatly folded schedule the cabin attendant had left after cleaning.
She had agreed to the party without even checking what it was, just to get it over with.
“So… today’s event is?”
Oh my god.
Tonight’s event party was a pool party.
A swimming pool party.
The location was the outdoor pool at the stern with shallow water, and the dress code was, of course, swimsuits.
She didn’t even have a proper dress to wear, so maybe she should be grateful it was swimwear?
Se Hee looked at the swimsuits she had ambitiously packed and let out a deep sigh.
Her ambition had been a bit too much.
She could have worn them boldly in front of strangers, but these designs felt a little too much in front of Sung Jae and Jung Yeon, whom she already knew.
But she had resolved to attend all the cruise’s highlight event parties from now on, and she had to keep her promise to Sung Jae.
Se Hee chose the swimsuit with the least exposure among them.
After checking herself in the mirror one more time, she put on a beach cover-up and left the cabin.
As she approached the pool at the stern where the event was being held, flashy music mixed with the noisy voices of people shouting and laughing reached her ears.
The sound of water cannons blasting away was waking up the quiet night sea.
The moment she arrived at the entrance, she could feel the heated atmosphere rushing toward her.
Water streaming from the soaring water cannons even splashed onto Se Hee’s cover-up.
A staff member approached her as she stood at the entrance.
“Guest, from here on, only swimwear is allowed. If you tell us your cabin number, we’ll store your other clothing for you.”
“Ah… okay.”
Se Hee awkwardly removed her beach cover-up, and another crew member guarding the gate kindly took it from her.
Finally, Se Hee stepped into the chaotic frenzy.
The floor was already completely soaked.
In this crowded madness, would she even be able to find Sung Jae and Jung Yeon?
But that worry turned out to be unnecessary.
Sung Jae’s tall frame, broad shoulders, and healthily tanned skin stood out immediately.
She hadn’t noticed when he was next to Kyle, but Sung Jae’s physique and looks were in no way inferior.
In fact, compared to most foreign men, his build was outstanding.
Sung Jae spotted Se Hee right away too.
He swam through the water and came straight to her side.
As he emerged from the pool, all eyes turned to the healthy, radiant energy he exuded.
Women lying on sunbeds were openly admiring his well-defined abs, their exclamations reaching even Se Hee’s ears.
“You look amazing today.”
Yet Sung Jae paid no attention to anyone else and only looked at Se Hee.
“Thanks. This isn’t really my usual style. But on a trip, you know…”
“It suits you really well.”
Sung Jae placed a hand on Se Hee’s nervous shoulder and pulled her closer into his space.
The moment Se Hee startled at his natural touch.
“Water cannon!”
At someone’s shout, Sung Jae quickly pulled Se Hee into his arms.
There wasn’t even time to scream.
A solid splash of water hit Sung Jae’s back as he held her.
The water pressure was so strong that even Sung Jae’s large frame was pushed back slightly.
After a few seconds, the direction of the water cannon shifted the other way.
Screams and laughter erupted again from the other side now being blasted.
“Are you okay?”
Only then did Sung Jae release his arms and gently wipe the water streaming down Se Hee’s cheeks.
Feeling burdened by his touch, Se Hee took a step back.
“Uh… yes… I’m fine. Thank you.”
“You’re supposed to get hit by the water cannons—it’s part of the fun—but you don’t seem ready for it yet. I went into dad mode again without realizing. Sorry.”
Noticing Se Hee’s discomfort, Sung Jae emphasized that he had only been trying to protect her.
“Jung Yeon is over there. Let’s go.”
Se Hee started walking in the direction Sung Jae pointed.
Sung Jae, following behind, suddenly stopped and looked toward the entrance.
That intense gaze that had been uncomfortably fixed on him even before the water cannon.
The owner of that gaze, Kyle, stood outside the entrance in a black suit, staring coldly at Sung Jae.
“If you’re so confident, why don’t you come in?”
Sung Jae muttered under his breath toward him, made a cocky gesture, and turned away.
Sung Jae’s provocation was childish.
Yet Kyle’s fist clenched involuntarily as he glared piercingly at the backs of the two walking away.
“E-excuse me, sir, but the event hall requires proper attire, s-so only swimwear is allowed inside…”
The event hall staff member, who had been nervously watching the unmoving Kyle, finally managed to speak.
The person who had set that very rule was none other than Kyle himself.
Only after the two disappeared from sight did Kyle turn away.
“Dave.”
The low voice calling his name made Dave extremely anxious.
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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