Love is Madness (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 7
Early morning.
Seo Rin felt the scenery outside the moving car looked strangely unfamiliar.
It was the same road she often passed on her way to work—so why did it feel so foreign today? Perhaps because her life was standing at a crucial turning point.
Everything in the world seemed unfamiliar—the clear sky, the transparent air, even the wind brushing past.
Even her own reflection in the half-raised car window felt like someone else’s.
Was I… really this person?
“We’ve arrived, Executive Managing Director.”
Only upon hearing Director Park’s voice did Seo Rin return from that strange world to reality. Before her stood a grand traditional Korean house—an unusual sight, even in Seoul’s affluent neighborhoods, let alone outside a hanok village.
As she stepped out of the car, the gate opened as if it had been waiting for her.
“Madam has been expecting you.”
A middle-aged woman in a modernized hanbok, her hair neatly tied back, bowed gently and led her inside. Passing through a garden clearly tended by skilled hands, they walked down a long stone-paved path until a small pond appeared, revealing a secluded paradise that felt like another world entirely.
There sat an elderly woman, her silver hair cut in a short, faded style that contrasted vividly with her pristine white hanbok. She was feeding golden carp roaming freely in the pond—an impressively serene figure.
Despite the deep wrinkles etched by time, her expression carried not a trace of worldly worry.
This was Madam Son Mi Joo, a prominent figure in the private lending industry.
“You’ve come.”
Madam Son finally turned and met Seo Rin’s eyes. They’d only briefly crossed paths once, years ago. Back then, she thought that fleeting encounter would be the end of it—but now their fates were intertwined once more.
Only now did Seo Rin properly bow in greeting.
“I’m sorry for coming so late.”
“It’s fine. Where else can you find someone as busy as you these days? Aren’t you exhausted?”
That simple, gentle remark made Seo Rin’s nose sting.
She’d been holding herself together as strongly as she could, but that didn’t mean the immense stress had vanished.
She was simply absorbing the shock like a sponge, just to get through this moment.
That’s why she couldn’t help but feel weary.
That’s why she couldn’t help but feel drained.
“I can’t hold onto a busy person for long, so I’ve prepared the documents in advance.”
Madam Son received an envelope from the woman beside her and handed it over.
“It’s a power of attorney allowing you to act in my place at the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.”
“Thank you.”
“What do you have to thank me for? Thank your late father.”
Madam Son’s eyes grew distant, recalling memories of the late Chairman Baek.
In truth, no one yet knew the extraordinary bond between Madam Son and Chairman Baek—nor why she, a major figure in private lending, had purchased and held onto 3% of Sungwon Group’s shares all these years.
But now, it seemed she had to ask. She could no longer overlook Madam Son, who had become such a steadfast pillar for her in these precarious times.
“May I ask… what kind of connection you had with my father?”
Her voice carried caution, afraid the question might be impolite.
Yet Madam Son smiled faintly, as if the question didn’t trouble her at all, and spoke plainly.
“Your father… saved my life a very long time ago.”
“What?”
Taken completely by surprise, Seo Rin’s mouth fell open.
“So consider what’s in that envelope payment for my life.”
“…”
“It was a very long time ago. But even now, in my old age, that day remains vividly clear.”
As if revisiting that memory, Madam Son clasped her hands behind her back and began walking slowly. Seo Rin followed quietly.
“It’s been over thirty years. Back when Sungwon was just getting off the ground, Baek Hyung Joon—now President Baek—came to me seeking emergency funds. But your father heard about it and chased after me. You know your father’s character: even if he rose from the dead, he’d never borrow money from someone like me, a loan shark.”
It was easy to imagine the scene. Her rigidly principled father had always clashed with President Baek, who never hesitated to bend the rules for profit—even over minor matters.
“But that day, a thug sent by someone who held a grudge against me showed up and started swinging a knife—claiming he wouldn’t repay the loan. Your father and President Baek happened to be there.”
“…”
“And it was your father who stepped in to stop it. The wounds weren’t serious, but from that day on, I owed him my life. I’m a person who believes in clear give-and-take—after all, lending money and getting repaid is my profession.”
“I had no idea… that something like this ever happened.”
“Of course you didn’t. Naturally not. Your father, Chairman Baek, was never the type to go around boasting about such things. He simply said he did what needed doing—because anyone would’ve intervened seeing a madman brandishing a knife.”
“…”
“After that, I tried my hardest to repay your father for saving my life. But he insisted, even if resurrected from the dead, he’d never touch my money. Then one day, he suddenly came to me with a request: to repay that debt—to his daughter instead.”
“…”
“And that’s exactly what those shares are.”
For a moment, Seo Rin sharply inhaled. She didn’t know what to say. Despite holding back, her eyes began to redden.
“What puzzled me was… why exactly 3%? I asked him that. He insisted—neither more nor less—on precisely 3%. I could’ve easily given more. And in truly dangerous situations, 3% wouldn’t be enough to change anything. But your father just said: ‘She’s clever. She’ll know what to do.’ Back then, you were just twenty—an utterly inexperienced girl. I’d never met anyone with such absolute faith in their child.”
Hearing those words, Seo Rin had to bite her lip hard to hold back her tears—because she understood better than anyone why Chairman Baek had insisted on that specific percentage.
3% was an ambiguous figure—large enough to claim meaningful voting rights, yet too small to exert real influence; significant enough not to be ignored, yet unobtrusive enough to remain hidden.
Because of that, Madam Son’s stake had stayed unnoticed until Chairman Baek’s final days—allowing it to escape President Baek’s notice for so long.
But now, after Chairman Baek’s death, that same 3% held decisive power in the battle to appoint the new top executive.
She’d been twenty—that meant this had all been set in motion eleven years ago.
Just how far into the future had Chairman Baek seen?
Had he foreseen even his own death?
“But now I finally understand… why he always said he didn’t envy those with ten sons—he had a daughter like you.”
Seo Rin raised her damp eyes and looked at Madam Son.
The kind old woman gazed at her as if she were her own child—proud and deeply affectionate. That look felt as if it came straight from Chairman Baek himself, filling Seo Rin’s chest with a heavy, aching warmth.
Her father had never given praise, no matter how well she did.
He’d been a harsh man—choosing the company over his young daughter time and again.
What she’d needed wasn’t something grand or extraordinary.
She’d longed for her father’s embrace in place of her lost mother’s; she’d needed him—just him—to attend parent-teacher meetings and share simple evening greetings, instead of that stepmother.
Yet he never did.
Why were you so strict with me alone while you were alive?
And now, do you think offering me this mere 3% stake is enough to earn my forgiveness?
She’d loved her father—but she hadn’t forgiven him.
Yet…
“So walk only on paths of flowers, my child.”
“…”
“For your father’s sake, too.”
The tears she’d been holding back finally spilled over, tracing silent paths down her cheeks.
Though she refused to admit it—
-Seo Rin, don’t worry at all. My precious daughter… just walk the flowered path.
…It was a plea filled with desperate love.
* * *
7 a.m., boxing gym.
Though the early hour suggested the gym would be empty, rough breathing and vigorous movement filled the space.
Fierce, relentless punches—sharp and brutal enough to split the heavy bag—slammed into it without pause. The bag, though lifeless, now seemed pitiful as it swung wildly under the violent onslaught.
So Dam watched with a frown for a moment.
Even though she’d seen this sight before, she still couldn’t get used to it. With gloves on, Tae Joon was utterly different from the refined, impeccably dressed gentleman in a tailored suit.
Despite his delicate features, he possessed a beast-like physique—usually hidden beneath designer suits.
But the moment he stripped off that suit and slipped on those gloves, a raw, overwhelming intensity radiated from him, dominating everything around.
The way his well-toned muscles moved in perfect coordination was almost awe-inspiring. And his emotionless eyes fixed on the heavy bag mirrored the piercing gaze of a wild predator.
Whenever he wore gloves, everything around him grew cautious—
Even dust motes floated soundlessly through the morning sunbeams, as if afraid to disturb the air.
How could God grant such a beast that face?
Of course, even the finest suits couldn’t hide his innate aura—few dared challenge him. Still, even she, who’d known him long enough to understand his true nature, sometimes found herself confused by that face.
There were moments—especially when he refused to listen—when she just wanted to punch him once, square in the jaw… all because of that face.
It was practically fraud.
That’s what So Dam thought.
God must be the greatest con artist of all.
“You’re here? Make some noise next time.”
Tae Joon, having noticed So Dam’s presence, stopped pounding the bag and turned around.
At that sight, So Dam narrowed her eyes.
Backlit by the morning sun, his silhouette still bristled with the raw energy of boxing.
His dark eyes, still burning with unspent adrenaline, and his chiseled, flawless upper body—every sinew perfectly aligned—looked like a masterpiece of art.
And the sweat trickling down those muscles made onlookers swallow hard.
She saw this often, yet every time, she never knew where to look.
This man was seriously bad luck.
“I made noise earlier—I even coughed. You were too busy hammering that bag to notice.”
He began removing his gloves and wiping his damp body with a dry towel.
Each movement of his arms made his muscles shift hypnotically before her eyes. But despite the visual pleasure, she firmly opposed this violent exercise.
As Tae Joon’s closest secretary, she knew that his already superior physique, combined with honed combat skills, meant any trouble he caused would land squarely on her shoulders to clean up.
“You’ve been quiet lately—why put the gloves back on again? Can’t live without this now?”
“Why do you care what hobbies I have?”
“There are plenty of cultured, elegant hobbies out there! Given your current social standing, wouldn’t you consider switching to something refined—instead of this barbaric stuff?”
“Boring.”
He replied flatly.
Right—this was exactly when she wished she could just punch him once. That’d fulfill her greatest wish.
“And you know… boxing is special to me. Back when I was a young kid—no parents, barely able to speak—it was the only way I could protect myself in that unfamiliar land. Ever since I learned it, nobody dared lay a hand on me.”
“…”
“So cut me some slack on this, okay?”
Knowing boxing had been young Tae Joon’s sole means of survival, So Dam couldn’t bring herself to say another word.
“But! You only hit the heavy bag. If you ever throw that fist at a person, I’ll quit on the spot!”
“I know. That’s why I’m training alone, with no sparring partner.”
In the end, all she could do was give him a sharp, reproachful look.
“Oh, by the way—why did you suddenly ask me to prepare a marriage registration form?”
So Dam handed him the yellow envelope containing the form. No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand why Tae Joon had instructed her to prepare such a document.
Tae Joon took the envelope and checked the marriage form. Was it her imagination, or did the corner of his mouth lift slightly?
“And here’s the Cheongshimhwan.”
She also handed him the herbal pills he’d asked her to bring.
His sudden boxing session and that faint smile upon seeing the marriage form made her deeply uneasy—like the eerie calm before a storm.
That’s why she quickly offered the Cheongshimhwan, hoping it might calm him and lessen whatever storm was coming.
But Tae Joon glanced at it and said something unexpected.
“Yeah. That’s for you.”
Huh? Did she hear wrong?
“Not for me—for you to take.”
She hadn’t misheard. His voice rang clearly in her ears.
“Here, water.”
And now he was even offering her water—excessive kindness indeed.
Her heart began to race. Whenever he was unusually considerate, it usually meant she’d soon be thrown alone into battle, fighting a hundred enemies by herself.
Her instincts screamed: Eat the pill now! Swallow it fast—your life depends on it!
In a flash, she tore open the Cheongshimhwan, tossed it into her mouth, gulped it down, snatched the water from his hand, and chugged it desperately.
But before it could even go down—
“I’m getting married.”
“Pfft—ack!”
Water exploded from So Dam’s mouth like a fountain.
Cruel man! Couldn’t you have given me time to swallow!
She shot him a betrayed glare, but he turned away indifferently and began unwrapping the bandages from his hands.
His eyes, fixed on the slowly unwinding bandages, held a storm of unspoken emotions. The boxing session hadn’t been enough to release all that pent-up tension.
-But that marriage registration… let’s do it after the extraordinary shareholders’ meeting.
Seo Rin’s final response to his marriage proposal kept echoing in his mind.
True to form—she’d said she’d only marry him if, after securing his shares, he helped prevent President Baek from becoming top executive at the shareholders’ meeting.
In other words, their fate now hinged entirely on the outcome of that meeting.
Eight years ago, he hadn’t been able to stop her from leaving.
Or rather—he simply hadn’t had the strength to hold her back. But now, he’d grown powerful enough to protect his woman without hesitation.
Now that he’d become this formidable, how far would he go to shield her?
He wasn’t even sure himself. So he planned to find out—slowly, from this moment on.
Just how far could he go?
He would protect her—every last inch of her—as completely as possible.
So that President Baek—or anyone else—would never again threaten her life.
So that no one would ever dare lay claim to her.
“Secretary Shin, contact President Baek’s office.”
“Ye—yes?”
No matter who it is—
“I’d like to see his face.”
Touch her, and you die.
My Arch-enemy Sealed My Memory and Said That He is My Husband
This is an incredibly captivating story that you absolutely shouldn’t miss! I’ll give a brief introduction here, and below you’ll find a detailed synopsis of the plot.
The female lead is a fierce and powerful demon king. The male lead is a once-in-a-millennium celestial lord, admired by the entire cultivation world.
They are equally matched, legendary rivals who have battled for centuries.
In the final duel, the female lead is gravely injured. The male lead saves her, seals her memories, and hides her true identity. He tells her that he is her fiancé. His entire life has been flawless—except for the one thing he never expected, never controlled, and never wanted to control: falling for his greatest enemy. She is his inner demon, his obsession.
When the female lead regains her memories, she is furious at his deception.
She makes his life a living hell.
And somehow, the male lead—possibly a total masochist—doesn’t mind at all. In fact, he’s happy she’s paying attention to him.
Yep, we’re back to my favorite trope: male lead suffering. If you love this kind of story, jump into the pit with me now!!!
Intro
Dong Xia lost her memory.
Her handsome and extremely powerful fiancé Li Qing comforted her: “It’s okay if you can’t remember. I’ll always be with you.”
Everyone thought Dong Xia’s ancestors must have burned incense to get such a perfect fiancé. He was the number one person in the immortal realm, yet he remained chaste and only loved her.
…
The day before marrying her fiancé, Dong Xia finally remembered everything.
She wasn’t suffering from memory loss at all.
Her arch-enemy had made her fake her death, destroyed her cultivation, replaced her memories, and pretended to be her deeply in love fiancé.
No wonder he said, “It’s okay if you can’t remember”!
Dong Xia laughed coldly as she pulled out her long knife: Li Qing, prepare to die 🙂
*
Li Qing, as the supreme being of the immortal realm, was the people’s shining beacon.
The only unknown stain in his life was his affection for Dong Xia, the ruler of the demon realm.
In the final battle of the war between immortals and demons, the sky collapsed and the earth shattered. The ruler of the demon realm was finally slain under the sword of the supreme being of the immortal realm, and everyone in the immortal realm applauded.
The cultivation world lost a ruler of the demon realm.
And in the back mountain of Li Qing’s cave dwelling, he secretly hid away a fiancée.
Notes:
1. The female lead is white on the outside, black on the inside, and the queen of flattery; the male lead repeatedly tests the edge of darkness, a VIP guest at the crematorium.
2. Fantasy cultivation world setting.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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