Thrilled by Madness - Chapter 73

Min Jung’s hand descended towards So Yeon’s feet.

The movement, unable to resist the pressure from the two women to buy coffee, was neither slow nor fast.

It was the moment when her slender fingertips touched the card.

“Ah……!”

Jung Hwa stepped on So Yeon’s hand with the front heel of her red enamel shoes.

Jung Hwa’s foot stomping on So Yeon’s hand was laced with malicious intent to repay several times over for the accumulated resentment towards Eom So Yeon and the incident of falling backwards in shock at the Part 1 recording studio.

However, conscious of the people around, Jung Hwa quickly removed her foot and apologized, pretending it was a mistake.

“Oh, I’m sorry. My foot slipped.”

It was an obvious show, but people went along with it, and a short sigh escaped So Yeon’s lips, which made no sound afterwards.

Far from getting angry, So Yeon’s expression remained calm, not even protesting why this was happening. It was her firm belief that enduring was the only way to win that made So Yeon that way.

Do you find it so amusing to deliberately drop things and step on people’s hands? I can pick it up and let you step on me a hundred or a thousand times! Isn’t it more ridiculous that you attach such meaning to the act of picking up a single card?

Seeing So Yeon’s expression slightly raising her lips, Jung Hwa exhaled deeply and chuckled.

“Huh……”

Look at her? What’s with this smile?

She had expected a vulgar display of struggling in anger. She wanted to show everyone the true face of the pretentious, fake Eom So Yeon. She wanted to teach her what humiliation and shame felt like.

However, somehow, it was Jung Hwa who ended up feeling that instead.

Jung Hwa’s mocking smile with her bright red lips was withdrawn due to the sudden appearance of Director Yoon. He personally brought snacks and drinks and placed them on the center table of the stage.

“Everyone’s working hard, let’s have some of these and start.”

The cast members were delighted by Director Yoon’s surprise appearance and took turns selecting drinks to their liking from the table before returning to their positions.

So Yeon also sat down.

At that moment, a fellow actor who had spoken the least during the Part 1 recording quietly approached So Yeon, handing her a wet wipe with a wink.

It was a comforting gesture, suggesting that just as dirt can be wiped away, bad things should be quickly forgotten.

After wiping her hands with the wet wipe, So Yeon was about to turn off her phone before the upcoming filming when she checked a message from Do Soon.

[The CEO said you contacted him. Anyway, thanks to you, I came to the hospital with the CEO. So, don’t worry about me and do well in the recording. Okay? Our So Yeon, fighting!]

It was a message that made her smile involuntarily.

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The focus of Part 2 of the variety show was on the overall story development of the currently airing “The Sun’s Owner” and the personal changes of the cast members.

“Ms. Eom So Yeon, you’ve become an overnight star since the airing of ‘The Sun’s Owner’. How does it feel to receive so much support and love from many viewers?”

Her palms were damp from enduring Jung Hwa’s continuous lies and interference, but only she knew that. However, So Yeon clenched her fists and spoke in a relaxed voice.

“I’m just grateful for receiving such undeserved love when I still have so much to learn from a humble position. I’m still a bit dazed, but I’m an actor who strives…”

It was at some point while So Yeon was continuing her answer.

“Oh! I heard Oh Min Jung has been wanting to say something.”

Jung Hwa abruptly cut off So Yeon’s words and turned her gaze towards Min Jung. However, Min Jung herself was startled and stared at Jung Hwa with wide eyes.

“…?”

Me, me?

“……”

Yes, you!

When Min Jung asked with a puzzled look, Jung Hwa urged her to say something quickly with a strong gaze.

Min Jung had absolutely nothing to say, but she had no choice but to do as told and opened her mouth.

“Ah… well…”

But she soon trailed off.

Everyone tilted their heads slightly towards Oh Min Jung. They were curious as to why Oh Min Jung, known for her good speaking skills to the point of being called tactless, was at a loss for words and looking uncomfortable.

As Min Jung shook her head as if she really had nothing to say, the host’s attention shifted to Jung Hwa.

“Tae Seo Jun has never appeared on any variety show, including ours and other broadcasting stations. Since you said you’re close, is there any chance he could appear on our show with you sometime?”

“Well, he’s someone who only acts, you know.”

Although it was an excessive request, Jung Hwa spoke without hesitation.

“But if it’s me asking, he might agree to that much, don’t you think?”

“Oh, you must be really close indeed.”

“If you keep pushing in that direction, I’ll run out of things to say. Ho ho ho…”

So Yeon felt dizzy at Jung Hwa’s voice boasting about her friendship with Tae Seo Jun. As the laughter from those bright red lips filled her ears, her facial muscles stiffened. For Eom So Yeon, nothing could be calm when it came to Tae Seo Jun.

Director Yoon glanced at So Yeon and stretched the corners of his lips.

About two months ago. Calling Eom So Yeon to the video editing room was necessary because some parts of the audio recording from the Spain shoot were incomplete and needed dubbing. But So Yeon wasn’t alone.

A small child stuck to her leg like chewing gum.

At that time, Director Yoon couldn’t help but smile as soon as he saw Hyun Woo. He finally understood clearly why Tae Seo Jun had insisted on keeping Eom So Yeon until the end, even when she wanted to leave voluntarily.

There was no need to pry into So Yeon’s affairs, if only because of the child who was the spitting image of his father.

Director Yoon’s excellent intuition wasn’t limited to people. Paying special attention to every two-shot of Tae Seo Jun and Eom So Yeon in the drama was a master stroke.

Soon, something would turn the world upside down, and it was clear that the popularity of Eom So Yeon’s debut work would continue for at least 10 years because of it.

The sun was already beginning to hide behind the mountain ridges.

As the Part 2 recording entered its middle stage, the host asked Director Yoon.

“‘The Sun’s Owner’ is an incredibly charming drama from the protagonist’s narrative. Let me ask you this. What was your intention in dividing the character of So Yeo Hwa into two, played by Oh Min Jung and Eom So Yeon, creating a love triangle?”

“Would Gi Cheon Yul, who was a demon king, still be a demon king a thousand years later? No. The present-day Gi Cheon Yul, who has transcended that vast expanse of time, would probably be a god, or even more. That’s why I used the two So Yeo Hwas to clearly distinguish between the black and white aspects of Gi Cheon Yul’s life.”

Director Yoon’s wit, mixed with his unique eloquence, was extraordinary. Even a simple gesture like fiddling with his gold-rimmed glasses added interest to the drama, befitting a genius director.

“There were suggestions to have two male leads as well, but as you know, Tae Seo Jun is an irreplaceable actor, isn’t he? He perfectly embodied two different colors on his own, living up to expectations.”

“Aha! So that was the behind-the-scenes story!”

The host slapped his knee and quickly scanned Eom So Yeon and Oh Min Jung, then voiced his curiosity.

“Oh Min Jung and Eom So Yeon, who play So Yeo Hwa, have very different personalities in the work, don’t they? Then, which So Yeo Hwa does Gi Cheon Yul truly love? Director, please tell us candidly.”

Director Yoon’s first drama was so successful that viewers were arguing over whether Oh Min Jung or Eom So Yeon was more suitable for Tae Seo Jun.

Especially as the fan base enthusiastic about Eom So Yeon’s pure image grew day by day, Oh Min Jung inevitably lost her presence, and that’s why she hated Eom So Yeon to death.

But the host, well aware of the charm of variety shows, boldly set fire between the two actresses with conflicting opinions, despite the risk of being rude.

“Well, with both actresses here, it’s a bit awkward for me to answer…”

Seemingly troubled, Director Yoon lightly stroked his chin with his finger, taking on a contemplative gesture, and looked at the filming team and cameras behind. Then, as if the time had come, he smiled and continued speaking.

“Wouldn’t Gi Cheon Yul know better than me? Why don’t you ask him directly?”

“What? What do you mean by that…!”

While thinking ‘surely not’, the host turned his gaze to where Director Yoon was looking and blinked as if seeing an illusion.

A man, wrapped in strong charisma from head to toe, pushing through the filming staff and climbing onto the stage.

It was clearly Tae Seo Jun.

The one who doesn’t even cast a shadow on variety shows.

The host spoke with an expression as puzzled as he was surprised.

“Ah, how, what is this about?”

Others also murmured with round eyes. So Yeon, who had not heard anything about him coming here, could only stare at Seo Jun with wide eyes.

Seo Jun, with an enchanting smile on his lips, lowered his tall frame into the very last seat without hesitation. It was right next to Eom So Yeon.

“Ms. Jung Hwa, who doesn’t even know my phone number. When did we ever meet?”

Tae Seo Jun’s first words were directed at Jung Hwa.

“!”

Jung Hwa’s expression froze instantly, feeling more than just a sting, her back of the head burning hot.

“I have no memory of meeting the ‘me’ that Jung Hwa claims to have met often. What could it be? Did you meet a ghost?”

“!”

As Seo Jun spoke once more, Jung Hwa’s face went beyond pale, with arrows of frantic embarrassment piercing every feature.

“What’s this, what’s this?”

“What did Tae Seo Jun just say?”

“What else? He’s saying Jung Hwa has been lying all this time.”

“Wow! This is getting really interesting, isn’t it?”

Everyone’s whispering gazes quickly darted back and forth between Jung Hwa and Tae Seo Jun. Meanwhile, the PD rushed to Seo Jun, briefly halting the filming.

Tae Seo Jun’s unexpected appearance was spectacular.

To the PD’s question of whether they could continue filming like this, Seo Jun walked with him to one side of the stage.

While the two men discussed something in hushed tones, Jung Hwa, donning a mask of shamelessness, tried to maintain a calm expression as if nothing was wrong.

The people on set had to admit.

Jung Hwa’s mental fortitude was top-notch, even if incomprehensible.

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About 10 minutes later, filming resumed.

The PD, who had returned behind the camera, whispered to the editing staff.

“Complete edit of Jung Hwa’s part. Don’t worry about the lack of broadcast time. Tae Seo Jun has agreed to do a separate individual interview.”

“Isn’t a 1:1 interview with Tae Seo Jun a first for our broadcasting station? Isn’t this a windfall?”

“That’s enough.”

“By the way, is Tae Seo Jun angry because Jung Hwa spoke falsehoods?”

“It seems so. He said he watched everything from the Part 1 recording. Anyway, we agreed to pretend we don’t know about today’s incident, so make sure the staff keeps their mouths shut.”

The PD’s eyes curved long, satisfied with everything just because of Tae Seo Jun alone.

On stage, the host, like the veteran broadcaster he was, smoothly continued the conversation from right after Tae Seo Jun’s appearance. The cast members also created a natural atmosphere to match.

“I just asked Director Yoon, but could Tae Seo Jun answer directly?”

Starting with a chuckle, Seo Jun’s story was concise and clear.

“The cold-blooded Gi Cheon Yul fell in love because of So Yeo Hwa from a thousand years ago. I don’t know about Gi Cheon Yul in the work, but I acted as a man who couldn’t let go of his first love from long ago, and when I thought that way and approached the filming, the emotions came naturally.”

In other words, it meant that although it was difficult to grasp emotions because the person was different, when he acted while constantly thinking only of Eom So Yeon, he was able to immerse himself better.

“…!”

What, what, what! How can you say such things when I’m here? Tae Seo Jun, if you say that, what does that make me! Huh, this is ridiculous!

Min Jung, who didn’t receive Seo Jun’s pick, dug her nails deep into her palm.

Jung Hwa, too, was forcibly swallowing a bitter smile. She knew how people would think of her for speaking so excitedly without knowing Tae Seo Jun would appear.

Having said what he needed to say, Seo Jun casually placed his interlocked hands on top of his long crossed legs.

Eom So Yeon, who willingly endured insult and implicit derision. The new realization from her stubbornness, which showed a calm smile even after such treatment, was that sometimes abandoning pride can be a way of maintaining it.

It was true that her steadfast endurance seemed foolish. But it was very Eom So Yeon, wasn’t it? That’s exactly who Eom So Yeon is, and now he couldn’t do anything without her. What could he do?

Seo Jun, who had moved here a day early to return to Seoul with Eom So Yeon after the filming ended tomorrow, waited in the car for So Yeon’s filming to end.

Although he didn’t enter the filming site, he watched everything from Part 1 through real-time videos sent by Park Sung Ho from the scene.

Then, just before the Part 2 filming began, he couldn’t contain the anger rising to his solar plexus at Jung Hwa and Oh Min Jung’s nasty behavior and came out of the car. It was because he could at least see Eom So Yeon directly from afar since it was an outdoor stage.

At that time, he encountered Director Yoon, who called Tae Seo Jun onto the stage during the recording, and Seo Jun had no reason to refuse.

That’s how he elegantly trampled those two nasty women.

However, it was far short of retribution compared to the humiliation Eom So Yeon had endured. Seo Jun’s dark eyes, permeated with that unfinished regret, remained fixed on So Yeon.

As if gently caressing her wounded soul.