Thrilled by Madness (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
Seo Jun had the car stop in front of the park.
“Why aren’t you going straight into the office…?”
“What if someone recognizes who you are and a whole crowd comes rushing at you?”
Manager Bong and Park Sung Ho, glancing back at the rear seat, each chimed in with a flustered remark.
It was already unprecedented that he’d been coming to CN without missing a single day over the past few days—but today, adding even more unpredictability by insisting on taking a walk through a crowded park and explicitly telling them not to follow, naturally left them baffled.
“The weather’s lovely, isn’t it? I’m not a child; I’ll just walk a bit and head to the office afterward. Please stop worrying about me.”
After finishing his sentence, Seo Jun stepped out of the car dressed casually, having shed his formal suit. Wearing lightweight loafers and a crisp white shirt over distressed jeans, he still radiated an unmistakable, classic elegance despite his relaxed attire.
Slipping on the white corduroy jacket he’d been holding as though unfurling wings behind his back, Seo Jun smoothed his lapels and strode briskly away from the car.
Manager Bong and Park Sung Ho, utterly at a loss, eventually drove off toward CN Entertainment’s main building.
Seo Jun turned onto a quiet park path and began walking at a leisurely pace.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, greeting him with a refreshingly crisp scent of trees.
Born with everything already in both hands—a life endowed with even those things unattainable through the most grueling effort—Tae Seo Jun had been extraordinary since birth and thoroughly accustomed to perfection. And his future would undoubtedly remain just as flawless.
Yet perhaps that very certainty had grown too dull. Unlike his brothers, who thought only of inheriting the family business, Seo Jun had chosen an entirely different path—and now walked it brilliantly, without a trace of regret.
‘Isn’t it about time you got married?’
The day he returned from the Middle East to Korea, Seo Jun had stopped by his family home in Gahoe-dong, simply smiling quietly at his mother’s gentle prodding.
He wasn’t against marriage per se, but one experience of being deceived—or deceiving others, or playing along with deception—was more than enough. Moreover, he had absolutely no intention of placing something as messy as marriage, which so often ended in a mudslinging brawl, at the center of his life.
‘If you hate marriage so much, then at least bring back a child before you die—whether one or two, either would be fine.’
His father, who rarely dropped his solemn demeanor, had scolded him in such an oddly playful tone that Seo Jun couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Never before had his father spoken such absurdities—it must have pained him deeply to even consider putting such pressure on his own child.
But why had she suddenly popped into his mind at that very moment? And how could he have possibly anticipated running into Eom So Yeon again so soon after his discharge, practically right under his nose?
And what about that dinner a few days ago? She’d pretended to be so shy and reserved, yet when had she secretly started treating his hand—and his heart—as if they belonged to her?
‘Ms. Eom So Yeon, do you still have feelings for me?’
‘Oh dear, what are you talking about? It was just—the alcohol! Whenever I drink, I tend to grab anyone’s hand like that.’
‘Anyone?’
‘Ah—no, not exactly anyone…’
‘So you’ve done this with Jo In Ha too?’
‘That was just drunken nonsense! I’ve never acted like this with anyone except you, Director! It was a mistake because I hadn’t had a drink in so long—can’t you cut me some slack?’
‘What if I don’t want to?’
‘Are you really going to be petty like this? I never took you for that kind of man, Director!’
‘What kind of man did you take me for?’
‘Well… handsome, dashing, gentle, sexy—hmph! What am I even saying right now…?’
Her panicked, rambling words and the stubborn pout that followed made her lips unbearably tempting. Everything about her looked beautiful—so much so that he’d wanted nothing more than to pull her close and kiss her senseless.
Thinking back now, it amazed even himself how he’d managed to endure such overwhelming attraction to Eom So Yeon. He must possess patience far beyond the ordinary.
Anyway, it seemed Eom So Yeon didn’t dislike him either… wait, what? She doesn’t dislike me? Was I, Tae Seo Jun, actually feeling relieved over such an uncertain assumption? And all because of that one petite woman?
Frustrated by how increasingly unlike himself he’d been acting, Seo Jun decided to observe Eom So Yeon just a little longer—only until this obsessive fixation faded, even slightly. After all, the more time he spent with her, the more intriguing she became.
“…….”
A soft chuckle escaped between his lips. It had been quite some time since he’d felt this genuinely content. Seo Jun halted even his slow steps and tilted his head back, gazing absentmindedly upward.
At the canopy formed by the long branches stretching out from the trees.
At the brilliant azure sky glimpsed through the gaps.
His already striking eyes narrowed faintly in the dazzling light.
The early spring sun shone exceptionally bright, made even more radiant by the clear weather.
[This is the timeline separator]Three days ago, there had been a drama production meeting.
The gathering—attended by the director, screenwriter, and cast—had generally proceeded smoothly.
The atmosphere, filled with encouraging smiles and a palpable sense of camaraderie, was perfectly pleasant.
If there had been any flaw, it was probably Eom So Yeon’s mistake during the script reading—stumbling over her lines twice.
But it hadn’t been due to any lack of skill on So Yeon’s part. Unbeknownst to everyone else, the real culprit was Tae Seo Jun, who’d mischievously tapped her leg under the table.
Tae Seo Jun, whose very being was clad in dignity and propriety like armor—So Yeon had been especially flustered precisely because she’d never expected such behavior from him.
Aside from that, the entire meeting flowed as naturally as water.
But trouble arose the following day.
Though no one knew exactly who started it, unverified criticisms of Eom So Yeon’s acting resurfaced as controversy surrounding this new project. Moreover, even her minor slip-up during the reading became gossip fodder, circulating unfavorably among people.
So Yeon, who’d often found herself unfairly scrutinized before starting work, usually responded with only a bitter, resigned smile.
This time, however, was different. Though she’d let out a helpless laugh at the absurdity, she hadn’t lost confidence. She simply focused diligently on preparing, making every day count.
Because she wasn’t the type to obsess over luck or crumble easily.
Compared to those times in the past when she’d been utterly stuck, unable to move forward even a single step, this was merely a light trial—something she could easily endure.
After spending the entire morning strengthening her stamina at CN’s exclusive fitness center, So Yeon was, as usual, practicing pronunciation in the actor’s rehearsal room.
“So Yeon, let’s grab lunch.”
Do Soon peeked her head through the slightly opened glass door and grinned cheerfully.
“When did you get here? You said you weren’t coming into the office today!”
“I heard from the styling team that your outfits turned out really pretty, so I dropped by—couldn’t wait any longer!”
“So? Did you see them?”
“Yeah! Seriously—they look just like princess gowns.”
Do Soon entered the rehearsal room and perched herself on the edge of a desk.
“Has Oh Min Jung shown up? I was worried she’d be harassing you again.”
“Oh-ho! Were you really that worried about me, Do Soon?”
“Worried? That’s the least of it! If she bothers you again, I’ll either yank her hair out or bite her or flatten her nose!”
“That’s so very Yeo Do Soon of you.”
So Yeon, seated and arms crossed, looked up at Do Soon—her face bare except for pink lipstick.
“Ms. Oh Min Jung’s in hell right now.”
“She certainly doesn’t deserve heaven, but please tell me she’s not actually dead?”
Though lead and supporting roles differed vastly, in “Master of the Sun,” the most impactful role actually belonged to So Yeon’s portrayal of the young So Yeo Hwa from the past.
Though her screen time was relatively brief, the emotional weight of Eom So Yeon’s scenes was undeniably heavier than even the lead’s.
Resentful of this, Oh Min Jung apparently needed to act out her pettiness—but So Yeon, long hardened against others’ jealousy and envy, paid it little mind.
“She’s not dead, but it’s pretty much the same. She’s started intensive combat training. She’ll be swamped filming action sequences starting tomorrow—meaning we won’t cross paths again until the Spain shoot.”
Hearing this, Do Soon—who’d been perched on the desk—leapt down with the biggest grin.
“Oh, really? That’s fantastic!”
“Exactly! So let’s just eat comfortably. I’m actually starving too.”
With a bright smile, So Yeon led Do Soon toward the cafeteria.
[This is the timeline separator]The company cafeteria was quiet on a weekday afternoon.
Coincidentally, So Yeon and Do Soon ended up sharing a table already occupied by three men. Gu Won Hoo had casually called them over just as the two women were about to sit elsewhere with their trays.
Seo Jun, seemingly uninterested in food, hadn’t even touched his spoon. His eyes remained fixed on Eom So Yeon, seated quietly opposite him, focused solely on eating. On her small lips, absorbed only in chewing.
Cough!
So Yeon choked and coughed. It felt as though the food she’d forced herself to eat had settled poorly—and just as she reached for water to clear her throat, Seo Jun tapped her foot under the table, just as he had during the meeting.
“……!”
Mr. Tae Seo Jun, why do you keep putting me in awkward situations like this?!
She nearly snapped at him, but held back—secretly guilt-ridden. Her precious child had been her life’s fuel, giving her the strength to endure until now. And thanks to that strength, she’d made it this far. Yet she knew full well that it was also a grave sin she’d committed herself.
Lowering her lifted eyes once more, So Yeon stared at Seo Jun for a long while. He met her gaze with an amused smirk tugging at his lips.
She then quickly glanced around at the others, wondering if anyone had noticed their brief, intense eye-lock.
There was something So Yeon couldn’t understand.
All last week, he’d summoned her to the director’s office and personally applied ointment to the wound she’d gotten in the break room. Though it was the kind of injury that healed cleanly within a week, he’d faithfully kept his word to check on it until it was fully recovered—and she’d obediently hurried over every time he called.
Back then, she’d thought him genuinely kind. But the very next day—once his care was no longer “needed”—he’d suddenly turned cold and ignored her completely. And yet, during the meeting and again just now with that foot-tapping, his behavior kept shifting unpredictably. Which version of him was real?
Was this side of Tae Seo Jun known only to her?
The more she thought about it, the more infuriating he became.
Finding So Yeon’s conflicted reaction apparently quite entertaining, Seo Jun calmly cleared away his untouched tray and returned to sit at the table again.
Just then, Won Hoo, having finished his meal, turned toward So Yeon and spoke.
“I have a proposal for you, Ms. Eom So Yeon.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes. I’m not pressuring you, but Jo In Ha here mentioned wanting to help you out. How about the two of you practice together and see how your chemistry feels?”
Representative Gu was suggesting one-on-one training.
Though So Yeon did desperately need that kind of support, Jo In Ha was precisely who she couldn’t accept help from. Ever since learning about his feelings, she’d deliberately avoided unnecessary contact with him, maintaining a careful distance. Being alone together still felt uncomfortable, to say the least.
“Well, I…”
But she couldn’t give an immediate answer.
In the ruthless entertainment industry, Jo In Ha was one of the very few acquaintances with whom she could still exchange simple greetings and updates. She didn’t want to ruin their carefully maintained, amicable relationship overnight.
At that moment, Do Soon—who understood her friend’s dilemma better than anyone—boldly stepped in.
“That won’t work! You’re not even in the same project, and So Yeon finds excessive kindness from anyone incredibly burdensome. By the same token, even though Senior Jo In Ha is close to her, she definitely wouldn’t want to owe him an unnecessary favor. Right, So Yeon?”
So Yeon gave a cautious nod—but Jo In Ha wasn’t about to back down that easily.
“I’ve heard plenty of people are out to tear you down. I know you’re trying even harder because of that, but practicing alone against a wall isn’t going to solve everything, is it?”
As In Ha pressed forward with such overt goodwill, So Yeon responded calmly.
“If I’d truly needed help, I would’ve asked one of CN Academy’s instructors long ago. Of course I appreciate your kind intentions, Senior—but I’ll just take your goodwill to heart. I can’t possibly take up your valuable time. I’ll handle my own matters.”
Though her tone was gentle, Eom So Yeon—now more than ever—had built an even higher wall between them. In Ha, who’d long pretended not to notice, finally decided this was the moment to tear it down.
But after being outright rejected again, his composure cracked, and his next words came out harshly.
“Acting thrives on interaction between actors, yet Eom So Yeon, you’re naturally terrible at that. That’s exactly why no one ever takes your side! In this industry, where people only attack you more if you stay silent—how much longer do you think you can survive all alone?”
“Senior…”
Humiliation hardened So Yeon’s expression.
Yet In Ha pressed on aggressively.
“And that’s not all! Your inability to appropriately give and receive what you need is why you keep struggling. Everything you do seems to go wrong, and unpleasant incidents never stop happening. In your current situation, with that personality—what more can you possibly achieve? Don’t you think it’s high time you realized the biggest problem in your life is your own rigid way of thinking?”
“…….”
It hurt more coming from someone close.
And worse—Tae Seo Jun was right there, watching.
Feeling as if her pitiful true self had just been laid bare before him, So Yeon could only let her trembling fingertips betray how close she was to breaking down.
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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Chapter Comments (4)
Inline Comments (1)
Though his gesture had been instinctive, So Yeon accepted it without resistance.
I wonder if Korean women really cry that easily. Wow, that’s exhausting.
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Finally…some communication. Love triangle at this point is surprising and yup it’s gonna be awkward 😑.
Why do I get the feeling that she’s not going to tell him? Haah
I know the revelation is not gonna happen😀, but the ml is just..🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️