Seo Taeseok was an irreplaceable actor. Intellectual yet sexy, with a raw and neat image, there was no one else who could replace him. His background as a former medical student also contributed to his perfect image. Once he was confirmed innocent, industry insiders immediately sought him out for movies, dramas, advertisements.
But Taeseok rejected all offers.
Even though he had a hobby of writing scripts, he hadn’t touched a single script since then. He shut his eyes and ears to the world, literally doing nothing.
Rumors even started that he might not be in Korea anymore.
Still, they waited. Just a few months, they thought. Half a year, maybe. Surely it wouldn’t surpass a year.
And now, it had been two years.
[Knock Knock]The person who entered with the knock, surprisingly, was Taeseok. He took off his sunglasses and hat, shaking out his flattened hair.
“Wow, Seo Taeseok.”
“The club’s too noisy. Let’s meet somewhere quieter next time.”
At 188 cm tall, with broad shoulders, a sleek jawline, and a nose bridge, Taeseok still had the same presence. His muscular physique remained as imposing as ever. His slightly cold gaze was a bit unfamiliar, but otherwise, he seemed unchanged from two years ago. Seo Taeseok. Just his presence alone dominated the room, the undisputed top actor in South Korea.
“Long time no see, everyone.”
“Taeseok hyung really came.”
Suhyuk warmly extended a handshake. Wonwoo and Seokjin also stood up in delight.
“I came because Yu Gangyeol kept calling me.”
Taeseok glared at him, then turned his head away as if bored. Gangyeol quickly stood up and hugged him. Suddenly boasting:
“See? There’s no tree that won’t fall after ten strikes. Impressive, right?”
“Hey, ten times? How many calls did you actually make to say ten?”
Taeseok sat down, teasing with the same tone as before, lightening the mood.
“What have you been up to all this time?”
They shared recent updates over light drinks. Finally, the gathering felt complete.
“Look at Seo Taeseok, still in great shape. What workout are you doing these days?”
“Who knows? The usual stuff.”
Yu Gangyeol felt Taeseok’s forearm and shoulder, joking about him losing some muscle during the off-season, making Suhyuk and Eunho laugh. It was just like two years ago.
It was right to meet good people, ask about each other, drink. He should have been living like this all along.
“It’s about time to come out of the darkness. It’s been two years.”
“‘You can’t hide forever.'”
As the tension on Taeseok’s face eased, Wonwoo spoke gently.
“Taeseok should start working again.”
He had taken quite a long break.
“Hyung, are you okay? I heard someone say you’ve been seeing a psychiatrist…”
Gangyeol’s pupils dilated suddenly. He hurriedly grabbed a piece of pineapple and shoved it into Seokjin’s mouth.
“This guy is still clueless! Just eat your fruit.”
He pushed another piece of apple into Seokjin’s mouth.
“Taeseok, just ignore him.”
Finally, Taeseok cracked a smile.
He knew. They were worried. Those who knew better than anyone how low he had sunk after hiding the woman he cherished, after breaking up with her. He spoke honestly.
“I used to take sedatives, but I don’t anymore.”
“……”
“I don’t have any plans to return to work yet.”
Everyone nodded understandingly.
“Come on, start looking. There are a lot of hot projects nowadays. Director Lee Hongsuk is casting too.”
‘Lee Hongsuk? Who is that?’
Taeseok tried to remember.
‘Ah, the young drama director.’
He had been so busy blocking out the world to avoid thinking about her that he barely remembered who was who. What dramas were airing, which movies were being released, what music or styles were trending.
He had turned his back on everything, one by one, as he tried not to think about her. She always burst into his thoughts, disrupting his life. Taeseok hated that. He hated himself for eventually breaking down, hating her.
That’s why he had no interest in what Director Lee Hongsuk was doing, what writer Jeon Yeongmi was writing, or what lead role Jin Siho had snagged.
“I met with the drama team last week! For Director Lee Hongsuk’s project.”
Gangyeol chimed in brightly. Everyone knew he had been eyeing Lee Hongsuk’s new project for a long time, even Taeseok knew.
Out to live like a human again, and still, it all comes back to work. It’s an occupational hazard. Taeseok had no interest in drama casting but politely nodded along.
“The writer I met was really pretty.”
“There were rumors about that.”
A young and rising writer, they said. Breaking the mold of traditional dramas with trendy scripts and vibrant characters. The actors held the writer in high regard.
A rookie writer for just a year, a college senior to Director Lee Hongsuk, and audaciously planning 100% pre-production.
Unwanted information piled up in his ears.
“Is Gangyeol taking the lead role?”
“No. I got rejected on the spot, hyung.”
Someone chuckled.
“What’s the use of the writer being pretty if you won’t see her again?”
As Seokjin teased, Gangyeol jumped up. Playful banter and teasing continued.
Life is a collection of such moderately light moments. Taeseok indulged in a languid sentiment.
“Is Director Lee eyeing Seo Taeseok?”
“I’m not taking any casting calls.”
Taeseok spoke indifferently.
“Cheon Ji-hyeok is doing it.”
“That kid is growing up fast.”
Cheon Ji-hyeok.
That kid was already taking lead roles. While Taeseok was merely breathing, the kid had grown up. Time felt surprisingly fast.
‘Is he still as brash and impertinent as ever?’
Eunho, who had been quiet, suddenly said,
“I’m going to try for writer Choi Yeoreum’s next project too.”
Taeseok froze with a smile that had been comfortably on his lips. A blade of lightning seemed to slice through his heart.
What did they just say?
Choi Yeoreum?
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
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