Thrilled by Madness - Chapter 17

It was a crazy development.

“Kill it.”

Only Tae Seo Jun could express such madness-filled cruelty with a soft yet disciplined voice. His pure expression was as cold as the blue uniform he wore.

This elegant and solid dignity was as familiar to Seo Jun as breathing, as he moved between reality and the virtual world.

The sturdy horse with its magnificent mane looked fine at first glance, but its left front hoof could not fully touch the ground, raising pale dust. It was clearly a fatal joint injury.

The veterinarian, looking pitifully at the injured horse, bowed his head and pleaded.

“It’s serious, but not an incurable wound. If the master would give me a chance, I would do my best to treat it.”

“Regrettably, what use is a horse that has lost its leg on the hunting grounds?”

A calm smile that seemed to hold no regret was drawn on his red lips. It was a sneer that contrasted sharply with his slender jawline and clean skin.

“As it’s a horse the master cherished, and as it would be too pitiful to take away even the chance to live from a creature bitten by a rabid dog…”

“I don’t repeat myself. Take care of it. And that mad hunting dog too.”

Seo Jun, who flatly rejected the continued plea, took off the hat he had been wearing neatly. His black hair collided with the bright sunlight, reflecting a dazzling light.

The veterinarian had a troubled expression at his lord’s resolute and consistent attitude.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

His upright black eyes swept over the servants following him at a glance. Soon after, as Seo Jun and the nobles’ procession turned their horses to leave the hunting grounds.

Bang!

And a second gunshot, heard by a hair’s breadth, tore through the dense forest and vast fields with sharpness.

With this, the lord’s command was perfectly executed.

Clap clap clap clap clap……

As the one-shot filming ended, staff positioned throughout the outdoor location raised their arms high to applaud.

“Wow, really! It ended in one take without a single NG? I thought we’d have to cut a few times even though the director insisted on a one-take.”

“That’s the kind of person Tae Seo Jun is. An actor who perfectly understands and accurately performs his role.”

“Indeed. It’s not for nothing that major directors list Tae Seo Jun as their number one casting choice.”

“Huh, it’s good that you’ve realized that, even if it’s just now.”

After exchanging a few words with the assistant director, Director Yoon Ji Wan signaled to the people on set that it was time to wrap up.

Some time later.

Seo Jun, having finished today’s filming, was heading to his car parked in the foothill parking lot when he suddenly stopped and looked at one spot.

Among the parked vehicles, one particularly luxurious car caught his eye.

Changing his direction, Seo Jun approached that car and swiftly got into the back seat, quickly closing the door as if not wanting anyone to see. As if they couldn’t let others know about a secret relationship they had been maintaining.

Fitting for such a suspicious meeting, a beautiful woman with deep eyes was sitting inside the car. She opened the conversation with a somewhat aloof expression, as if she had been waiting for Seo Jun for a while.

“The role you took on really suits you. Your cold atmosphere hasn’t changed before or after enlisting. How will you ever date like this?”

At the end of her low and dignified voice was a warm smile full of affection.

“You’re saying strange things. I told you not to come because I was afraid you’d do this again.”

“You kept making excuses about being busy, so I had no choice but to move. Thanks to you, I got to see the spring flowers and come to this place with good air.”

As the woman’s soft voice continued, a somewhat prickly gaze landed on the front rearview mirror. Seo Jun, making eye contact with the chauffeur in the driver’s seat, lightly scolded him with a joking tone.

“Didn’t I tell you not to contact me separately? When Madam Cha insists on coming this way, you should try to stop her.”

“I’m sorry. But you know well that I have no way to resist Madam’s orders.”

As the chauffeur squirmed, Madam Cha pinched Seo Jun’s arm, not too painfully.

“This kid, why are you scolding such a loyal person? If only you would listen to me, I’d have no regrets.”

“Are you talking about blind dates again?”

“Even if it’s difficult right now, I want to get a promise from you here. You’ve done everything your way until now, so when you finish the current project, come work at the hotel like your brothers. You’re at the age to think about marriage now.”

Tae Seo Jun, lacking in human warmth. Knowing well her son’s personality of rarely revealing his inner thoughts, Madam Cha slightly lowered her eyelashes. It meant to think carefully while she was speaking nicely.

“Well…”

Seo Jun, who couldn’t help but notice the quite strong pressure in her polite tone, furrowed his brows to indicate he had no intention of doing so at all.

“But this kid!”

“If you feel that upset, think of it as having married and divorced once. I’m not interested in things like marriage.”

Dating, which ends when one side turns away. Marriage, which has no guarantee of lasting even if you do it. It meant that anything imperfect had no value to him.

“It’s the same with getting involved in father’s business. If I take up a position, do you think my brothers would be happy? You know well that the more people have in their hands, the more inhumane they become in front of vast wealth. I too would be no different if competition flared up, so I should avoid such things as much as possible.”

He was saying that although they don’t openly growl at each other now, in the end, there’s no compromise when it comes to protecting one’s own bowl. Even between the closest of siblings.

“Hmm……”

Yeo Jin was at a loss for words at Seo Jun’s clear-cut answer.

However, she couldn’t help but like her son’s cold judgment deep down.

[This is the timeline separator]

So Yeon boarded the bus carrying a lunch bag filled with fruits and light snacks.

Coinciding with office workers’ rush hour, So Yeon found an unexpected empty seat and sat down.

[Let’s meet at 8 PM.]

It was a text Tae Seo Jun had sent from the set two hours ago, busy filming the drama . After checking it again, So Yeon turned her gaze to the window while listening to music flowing from her Bluetooth earphones.

Since volunteering to be Eom So Yeon’s training partner, Seo Jun had called So Yeon to the company almost every day. Because of that, So Yeon had been moving to Samseong-dong according to his schedule day and night for the past fortnight, using public transportation instead of her own car.

It was after several arguments with Seo Jun, who insisted on driving her home every time after finishing late-night practice, that So Yeon finally gave in and accepted his intention.

How could it be easy for someone so busy with daily filming schedules to dedicate one or two hours every day?

Moreover, she felt even more grateful and sorry for him because despite spewing all sorts of harsh words at her lacking acting skills, he never forgot to share positive synergy.

Wanting to express those feelings but afraid of revealing the feelings hidden deep inside, all So Yeon could do was silently follow Tae Seo Jun’s will.

That way, she could cherish even one more beautiful memory to recall when she missed him.

So Yeon, who had been blankly staring at the quickly passing scenery, looked at her suddenly vibrating phone.

[Do you have time next week? I’d like to treat you to a meal before drama filming starts.]

It was a message from Jo In Ha.

[What are you saying? I should be the one treating you to meals as I’m always indebted. But I’ll be busy for a while for various reasons. Let’s have a meal after you return from filming in Spain.] [It’s a shame, but it can’t be helped. In return, treat me to somewhere nice, not something trivial.] [Of course, senior.]

A debt of heart that couldn’t be considered mere kindness. So Yeon, who had many things to feel sorry about to Jo In Ha as well, carefully sent a reply and sighed deeply as she turned her gaze back to the window.

First kiss, first man, first love……

The one person inevitably tied to these firsts.

She wouldn’t be able to part with him until her body turned to dust.

So Yeon knew.

A one-eyed person who could only look at one man. A fool who only knew how to tightly embrace even when that person became a thorn scratching and piercing her body inside and out, far from letting go.

That she was a one-eyed fool who couldn’t even let out a small groan while holding onto that pain.

The bus, which had now entered Samseong-dong, slowed down right in front of the building.

A deep sunset light touched the small, oval face as she got off at the bus stop.

So Yeon briefly looked at the sun setting behind the bleak city, putting strength into her eyes.

The sun that burns all of itself and disappears in brilliant colors, only to rise again as a dazzling dawn.

Can I live a life like that sun?

The corners of her mouth that had slightly lifted at the end of her thoughts admonished herself. If you’re worried about an uncertain future, focus more on what you need to do today.

So Yeon, who had washed away all her previous thoughts with a beautiful smile, hurried her steps.

As she got closer to the company, her heartbeat gradually quickened.

At the thought of meeting him soon.

[This is the timeline separator]

“On that shining blade, my blood…”

So Yeon couldn’t finish reciting So Yeo Hwa’s lines about loving Ki Cheon Yul. It was because she couldn’t bring herself to touch her co-star’s face, which was part of the scene.

“From the beginning again.”

So Yeon, feeling his attitude particularly prickly today, tensed up and recited the lines again.

“Tell me quickly. That you’re not trying to kill me. Surely, on your shining blade, my blood…”

So Yeon, who seemed to buffer like a computer, let out a murky breath as her words got stuck again.

“Ha…… I can’t do it.”

“Why can’t you do it?”

“……!”

Her body was easily lifted up without a chance to resist and placed on the desk. Seo Jun put his lips close to So Yeon’s ear and spoke.

“Even if you think of me as Eom So Yeon’s, it won’t be enough. Aren’t you the one who was fiddling with my hand? You were speaking informally well too, where did that boldness go?”

It was because of the low voice that dug deep and licked her eardrum. So Yeon, who had hunched her shoulders, suddenly turned her head towards Seo Jun’s face.

“What are you doing now…”

“I thought I should at least do this.”

Seo Jun’s hand, which had gently traveled down from the crown of her head, rolled up the ends of her long hair.

Although it was quite a large hand befitting a man, his long and straight fingers were more delicate and prettier than a woman’s. As if they would hold only beautiful things for a lifetime.

When that hand grasped her chin, So Yeon took a sharp breath. Her head was so dizzy that she couldn’t tell whether the heat scorching her skin was hers or his.

Seo Jun had been waiting all this time.

For her to explain on her own why she disappeared without a word that day long ago. If he were to be a bit more greedy, for her to say that she hadn’t forgotten him all this time.

But she, to the very end…….

“Why do you pretend not to know?”

Even when it wasn’t the appointed time, Seo Jun had sometimes dropped by the company and paced the corridors. Hoping to meet Eom So Yeon by chance, pretending it was a coincidence.

But such a thing never happened.

Even during practice, she was busy avoiding eye contact at every moment. As if, thoroughly hiding something and trying not to get caught.

“Am I funny to you?”

“……”

So Yeon, wondering what he was suddenly talking about, gently shook her head.

“Ah, ignoring people was Eom So Yeon’s specialty, wasn’t it?”

Seo Jun applied force to the delicate fingers cupping her small chin.

“Then, is the Director’s specialty making people flustered?”

A trembling breath could be felt in the fragile voice that shot back so well. And what about those guarded eyes? It’s no different from a frightened kitten. Making him want to bite her.

Instead of expressing his not-so-good mood, Seo Jun curved the end of his clear lips upward.

“It’s not my specialty, but I wonder why I did it.”

I, who have never hit on someone who said they didn’t like me. I, who have never been attached to small touches. I, who never look back on things once they’re over. I, who have always been like that, why do I keep wanting to act the opposite in front of Eom So Yeon?

And one more thing.

Why do I want Eom So Yeon to only look at me, only think of me?

Not just that, but madly so.

As the face with its high nose bridge tilted proudly towards her, So Yeon fluttered her abundant eyelashes.

Having experienced Tae Seo Jun’s intense desire once before, she seemed to know what he was trying to do.

However, So Yeon, momentarily swept up in an atmosphere where she felt she had to helplessly offer her lips, soon closed her eyes. It was what her instinct, telling her not to avoid it, that it was okay, had made her do.

Their breaths mingled. Seo Jun’s lips were about to land on the small lips that were slightly parted in a daze.

“……!”

Seo Jun quickly raised his face that had been lowered.

His sensitive sense had quickly detected a gaze secretly peeking.

“……?”

At that moment when the last narrow gap was about to disappear, So Yeon, who looked towards the practice room door following Seo Jun’s gaze a beat late, felt a chill down her spine for some reason.

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.