Thrilled by Madness (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
Tae Seo Jun had originally enrolled in medical school and was steadily progressing through the path to becoming a doctor.
He had envisioned a meaningful life and future as a surgeon, dealing with human lives.
However, during his internship, when he reluctantly followed his professor’s order to remove the ventilator from a brain-dead patient, what Seo Jun felt was this: Who has the right to decide between life and death for another person?
Does a doctor truly possess that authority?
No, they don’t.
That domain belongs to God—bestowed by humans upon themselves—and for humans to place their arrogance above the dignity of life is nothing short of sacrilege.
After spiraling into profound anguish, Seo Jun ultimately took off his white coat and turned his back on the university hospital, stepping onto a new path as an actor.
From his very first debut role, his possessed-level acting swept every award and grabbed public attention, and with his striking physique capturing women’s hearts, he now firmly stands as Korea’s undisputed top actor.
Tae Seo Jun had a lover.
No, he used to.
Back when he was virtually unknown and preparing for his debut film, he first met her at a movie screening—she was already one of the more prominent actresses at the time.
Masking her possessiveness and greed to claim the most visually stunning man under the guise of innocence, she approached Seo Jun first, and thus their relationship gradually deepened without any profound emotion.
For the two years they dated, they kept their relationship secret solely because she proposed hiding it, considering both of their careers in the entertainment industry.
Whenever rumors circulated linking him to a chaebol heir, Seo Jun never even questioned her.
Perhaps it was out of respect for the person he had chosen. He wanted to believe her true self remained as pure as her first impression—until just a month ago, when he saw her cheating with his own eyes.
Seo Jun confronted his own stubbornness on the day filming was postponed by a day due to bad weather.
His expression froze cold the moment he stepped into the entrance and saw clothes scattered untidily all over the floor, and when he spotted underwear belonging to both a man and a woman tossed right in front of the bedroom door, he was so incredulous he couldn’t even muster a bitter laugh.
The heavy groans and sharp cries echoing from inside the bedroom weren’t even shocking compared to the horrifying, filthy scene he witnessed through the slightly ajar door.
Her behavior as his girlfriend had always seemed trustworthy enough, so Seo Jun had dismissed the rumors, brushing them off as lies spread by envious rivals.
But the instant he saw her true self with his own eyes, he didn’t even feel disappointment—partly because it felt like a sudden, heavy blow to the back of his head, but mostly because the deeper his trust had been, the greater the disillusionment.
She was no longer his woman.
In seeing her real self, he even felt a strange sense of liberation, as if the chains binding his ankles had finally snapped—he’d been stuck with her for two years, unable to spit her out or swallow her down.
That day, Seo Jun bid her a final farewell with indifferent eyes, and decisively erased her from his life. Yet, simultaneously, a heavy, suffocating weight settled in his chest.
Regardless of emotional depth, she had been special to him—after all, she was the first meaningful connection he made on the new path he chose when he gave up being a doctor.
But even that fragile relationship, barely hanging on, was now truly over.
If it wasn’t right the first time, it would never be right at all.
Yet today, exactly one month after their breakup, she showed up at his hotel.
The El Stella Luxury Hotel, where modern elegance coexisted with dignified sophistication, belonged to Tae Seo Jun’s father, Chairman Tae, and was managed overall by Seo Jun’s two older brothers across Korea and overseas. However, Seo Jun had never once mentioned his family background to anyone.
There were many reasons for this, but above all, he simply hated the idea of his free life being boxed into the label of “chaebol second-generation.”
Therefore, she knew nothing about his family either.
Ever since their breakup, Seo Jun had been staying at the El Stella Hotel.
Back when they were dating, their dates mostly took place at his place, and he was the type who stayed home whenever he wasn’t working, so it was hard for her to guess where he might be. She ended up going straight to the CEO of CN Entertainment, his agency.
But Representative Gu Won Hoo was famously tight-lipped, yielding her nothing. Instead, by sheer luck, she ran into Seo Jun’s road manager right at the company’s front gate and, through relentless threats and pressure, finally extracted his location.
Thus, she managed to meet Tae Seo Jun in the VIP floor lobby of El Stella Hotel. But he tried to walk right past her as if she were a stranger, so she stubbornly grabbed his arm and desperately tried to explain what happened that day.
“I must’ve been out of my mind for a moment. But everyone deserves a second chance! We’re just flesh and blood—we’ll turn to dust someday. Does it really make sense to break up over one tiny mistake?”
That “tiny mistake.”
Of all her pathetic excuses, this phrase bothered him the most. Seo Jun spoke clearly, his voice icy with a trace of bitter amusement.
“A mistake? Sure, anyone can make one. But if the same mistake happens repeatedly, then that’s just who you are. Did you think I didn’t know you were lying and just let it slide?”
“L-Lying? You… let it slide?”
“Han Seung Jae, Managing Director of Lian Motors, famous for his partying. Were you really only playing around with him?”
“He’s just a business contact! Every day, hungry newcomers claw their way up, eyeing my spot. You know as well as I do, Seo Jun—that’s just how you survive as an actress in this industry!”
If trusting her had been his mistake, so be it—but now, Seo Jun didn’t want to leave even the slightest room for repeating that mistake. He wanted to sever every last thread of feeling, down to the tiniest fiber.
“You, who pulled another man into our bed the moment my warmth hadn’t even faded, as if expecting me to disappear for him. You, who repeated that degrading scene as if you enjoyed it. You, who, even after being caught, still call it a ‘mistake’ and expect me to believe you again. If you still think you have anything to say to me after all that, you’re clearly not sane.”
“Seo Jun, I swear I won’t do anything like that again! I mean it! Just… just this once… please…”
Her belated excuse was as dull as a rusty, chipped knife. No—in fact, the trustworthiness of a woman whose every word except her breath was a lie had already hit rock bottom.
“Enough. If you’re bored, go find another man. I have an appointment, so I can’t keep playing with you.”
As Seo Jun brushed her hand off his arm, she immediately lashed out in anger.
“You don’t mean… you’ve already found someone else, do you? Stop talking nonsense like that and just give me one more chance! You always believed in me no matter what others said—that’s love, isn’t it?”
A broken relationship can’t be mended no matter what you do, yet she was desperately clutching the shattered porcelain pieces like a fool, insisting on sticking them back together.
Would he have to shatter it further for her to finally understand it was over?
Seo Jun spoke coldly.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m just tired of you. Yes, I have a girlfriend now—someone I really like. So stop clinging to me and go your own way.”
“That’s a lie! Tae Seo Jun? Finding another woman in just one month? That’s impossible!”
Of course, it wasn’t true. But if necessary, he could say things far worse than that.
Because some ties must be severed—even if it draws blood.
Leaving her behind, Seo Jun headed straight for the cocktail bar. After all, there were plenty of women here willing to pretend to be his lover. But oddly enough, the entire hall was unusually empty today—and that, if anything, was the variable.
His reason for approaching Eom So Yeon was simple.
She was alone.
With a cocktail in front of her, gazing out the window, she didn’t look like she was waiting for anyone.
There were a few other women like her, yet for reasons he couldn’t explain, only Eom So Yeon caught his eye—and he found himself walking confidently toward her.
Calling a stranger “pretty” was an objective fact that slipped out before he even realized it. But her vibe didn’t quite fit his purpose—he needed someone with a stronger presence, yet up close, she had large, gentle eyes and a delicate face.
But so what?
As long as he made it absolutely clear to that woman from his past that their relationship was not just over but already ancient history, that was all that mattered.
That was all it ever was.
[This is the timeline separator]“You must be mistaking me for someone else…”
“What if I’m not?”
“W-Who are you…?”
“Me? You should know.”
Y-Yes, of course she knew! It was none other than Tae Seo Jun! Anyone in Korea—or, for that matter, anyone connected to modern civilization—would recognize him instantly! He was the doctor-turned-actor, undeniably a top-tier celebrity at the peak of his fame!
But… why would such a legendary actor approach her? Why would someone like him, who didn’t even know her, act this way? Was he… out of his mind?
Yet it seemed her own heart was the one losing its sanity.
The man she’d only ever seen onscreen now stood right before her, staring directly at her with eyes dripping honey.
So Yeon’s heart pounded so violently it nearly stopped altogether. With wide, fearful—no, almost tearful—eyes, she looked up at his stunning features, yet no matter how hard she stared, this moment felt utterly unreal.
“Help me out a bit.”
Seo Jun leaned close, his lips nearly touching her ear, and whispered softly.
“I’ve got a bit of a nuisance to deal with.”
The intoxicating scent of the man brushing against her nose instantly overwhelmed her reason, and his velvety breath grazing her earlobe seeped into her brain like poison, paralyzing her entire body. Above all, Tae Seo Jun’s overwhelming presence in real life was simply impossible to ignore.
Seo Jun briefly explained his situation, and So Yeon felt dizzy throughout his entire explanation.
“…”
Ah, she had no idea what was even happening or what he was saying.
Peeking through the gap under his armpit, So Yeon spotted a woman standing a few steps away, staring right at them.
Given the direction of her gaze, that must be the woman—but with a mask and sunglasses hiding her face, So Yeon couldn’t tell who she was, though her aura clearly screamed “celebrity.”
So… that woman was the nuisance he wanted to get rid of?
Why did she suddenly feel curious about someone else’s love drama? It wasn’t hard to figure out, even without overthinking it.
Tae Seo Jun—the box office guarantee who easily surpassed the 10-million viewer mark—had a tall, solid frame perfect for action roles, and his rugged build contrasted beautifully with his flawless, ethereal looks, making him the most beautiful actor regardless of gender.
The heartthrob. How many people could possibly resist him?
For any actress regularly appearing onscreen, even once sharing the camera with Tae Seo Jun must be a dream. So Yeon felt the same—but someone like her, who could at best hope for minor supporting roles as a background character, could never realistically aim for a man like him.
That’s why.
Though he was the one in a hurry, she was the one racing against time.
Within a single minute, So Yeon struck a difficult bargain with herself. Opportunities like this would never come again—and even just sharing a moment of acting chemistry with him in real life? That was pure luck. No, it was definite fortune.
So Yeon asked, pouring generous personal interest into her offer.
“If I help you…?”
Her large, gentle eyes looked earnestly up at him. Perhaps it was the faint scent of baby powder tickling his senses—but Seo Jun’s full lips curved into the faintest, softest smile as he looked down at her lovely, delicate face.
“I’ll grant you one wish. Anything.”
As his lips moved gently, So Yeon let out a tense breath through her nose.
Anything…? How would he know what I’d wish for!
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure you won’t regret it?”
“I made an unreasonable request, after all.”
Whether it was because Tae Seo Jun truly could do anything, or because getting rid of that woman was that urgent—or perhaps both—she’d never understand his predicament, even if she wracked her brain dry. But So Yeon accepted without hesitation.
She took the deal—the request wrapped in temptation. She accepted Tae Seo Jun’s lure, not knowing if it would bring fortune or ruin.
“Alright. I’ll help! What do I need to do?”
Leaning even closer toward her, Seo Jun spoke in a voice sweeter than chocolate.
“Be my lover. Just for today.”
Was she enchanted? Or had she lost her mind?
The consequences would be borne solely by whoever made the choice.
Accepting even that, So Yeon boldly pressed her lips to his cheek—and with a soft “mwah,” her small, plump lips parted from him.
“…Is this good enough?”
Her eyes, opening a door she’d never dared to before, sparkled brilliantly.
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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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..🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️