Thrilled by Madness (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 5
One night with Tae Seo Jun.
A month had passed since that incident.
Though it was just a succession of ordinary days with nothing special, So Yeon often suffered from strange symptoms she’d never experienced before.
Of course, when she was busy, she had no time to dwell on it—but whenever she had even a bit of free time or was alone, she’d invariably zone out, lost in thought.
Sometimes, a hollow feeling akin to depression kept washing over her, as if a hole had opened in her chest, letting in a cold, biting wind.
That wasn’t all. Lately, she’d barely been able to eat due to inexplicable pains that left her constantly unwell.
Yet So Yeon remained unaware that all these symptoms were merely the beginning of an intense longing—the inevitable backlash and heavy price of stepping into unfamiliar emotional territory.
That said, Eom So Yeon wasn’t the type to waste time idly. Though winter break loomed right before her senior year, she—secretly tenacious by nature—was spending her days as a diligent student, busy preparing a short film with classmates for their graduation showcase.
And today, they had poster photoshoots scheduled as the final step for their submission.
Jo In Ha, the film’s lead actor and So Yeon’s co-star, arrived late to the set, causing some delay in the shoot.
Yet his classmates, who already admired him for his early fame in broadcast and entertainment, were understanding of his packed schedule.
Eventually, around evening, So Yeon and her peers wrapped up the photoshoot and headed to a nearby pork belly restaurant to combine their wrap party with dinner.
Delicious-looking meat sizzled golden-brown on the grill, and the group of roughly twenty people clinked soju and beer glasses along their long table, sparking lively travel conversations.
“Our department’s graduation trip destination is Long Island, right?”
“Why, are you already excited even though we’re not going until next fall?”
“Of course! I’ll finally get to see New York—the dream city where towering skyscrapers and beaches coexist.”
“Ah, money is the enemy! I’m ashamed I still have to ask my parents for spending money even though I’m an adult.”
“That’s why we need to succeed soon.”
Not every university was like this, but So Yeon’s acting department had a tradition of taking overseas graduation trips every year. As they discussed it, the class representative—sitting beside In Ha—clinked soju glasses with her and asked,
“Oh right, Jo In Ha, you won’t be able to join the trip because you’re busy with work, right?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know if I’ll have time.”
In Ha finished his sentence and swallowed the bitter soju with a grimace. Handsome even when frowning, he stood tall—fitting for someone who worked as both actor and model.
As he set his empty glass down, a female classmate grilling meat across the table placed the best-cooked piece onto In Ha’s plate.
He picked it up with his chopsticks—but instead of smiling back at the underclassman who’d served him with a bright grin, his eyes fixed on someone beside her: So Yeon’s face, pale almost to the point of unnatural paleness lately.
“What a damn jerk! Just got a bit famous and already acts like he’s too good? So you’re definitely not going, then?”
“I’m still thinking about it—but if Eom So Yeon goes, I’ll go too.”
Caught off guard by this unexpected remark, everyone around followed In Ha’s gaze toward So Yeon.
“What’s this? You two had such great on-screen chemistry during filming—were you secretly dating all along? Since when?”
The class rep doubled down, playfully weaving In Ha and So Yeon together as if they really were a couple—merely playing along with In Ha’s teasing.
“That kind of joking isn’t funny, sunbae.”
Though she usually enjoyed pork belly and quite liked it, today its smell turned her stomach. So Yeon—who’d been barely holding back her nausea—cut through the awkward comment with a single blunt sentence.
Jo In Ha and the class representative were two years senior to So Yeon, having already completed military service. So Yeon, who maintained an appropriate sunbae-hoobae relationship with them, took the chance to clarify directly with the rep,
“I won’t be able to join the graduation trip. I might even take a leave of absence.”
“A leave of absence? Why?”
“Personal reasons.”
“What do you mean, ‘personal reasons’? Just tell us properly—is it because of tuition?”
“It’s complicated. Several things are happening at once.”
Though the class representative pressed persistently, So Yeon refused to elaborate on her situation.
“…….”
Truly the impenetrable girl they all knew……
In Ha, who’d been listening quietly, let out a soft snort and emptied his soju glass in one swift gulp.
Jo In Ha, who normally showed zero interest in school matters, had postponed important schedules just to appear in this trivial short film—all for Eom So Yeon. And his desire to join the trip was for the same reason.
“Then I guess I won’t go either.”
“Damn, is this guy seriously interested in Eom So Yeon?”
“It’s more than just interest.”
“What?”
As the class representative widened his eyes, glancing between the two, In Ha bluntly revealed his true feelings.
“Eom So Yeon. Let’s eat together—just the two of us. A date would be fine too.”
“……!”
So Yeon hadn’t touched her food or drink—only sipping water. Now, this sudden confession made her stomach churn even more violently. She forced down the bitter taste rising in her throat and drew a clear boundary with composed grace.
“Sunbae In Ha, everyone will think it’s real. Besides, I already like someone.”
“No way.”
In Ha scratched his brow with his index finger and gave a short laugh. He’d been watching her closely, yet never once noticed any signs of that. Moreover, he couldn’t take at face value what So Yeon said—she was the type who built walls with every man she met.
“I should go first. I’m feeling feverish—must be catching a cold.”
As So Yeon stood up, slinging her backpack over her shoulder, In Ha rose too, grabbing his coat from the back of his chair.
“I’ll go with you. I’ll drive you.”
“No, thank you. I have my car.”
“Take my car.”
“Excuse me, but you’ve been drinking. You can’t drive under the influence.”
So Yeon spoke firmly and left without even glancing back.
[This is the timeline separator]“Wait, talk for a sec!”
So Yeon was stopped right in front of her car. In Ha—frustrated by being ignored—had followed her all the way to the empty parking lot.
“You have a boyfriend? Why lie about that?”
So Yeon looked up at him resignedly.
“It’s true.”
“Fine, let’s say it is. If you and that guy break up, would you give me a chance?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Why are you suddenly acting like this, sunbae?”
It wasn’t sudden at all.
Though her smile resembled warm spring sunshine, Eom So Yeon was like a woman sealed within an unbreakable shell—impossible to approach closely. Countless seniors and juniors in her department had quietly pined for her without ever uttering a word.
In Ha was no different. On his first day back after re-enrollment two years ago, he’d been utterly captivated by Eom So Yeon’s enigmatic presence. It wasn’t cowardice that delayed his move—just that he’d been waiting for an opportunity like today.
But now she claimed to have someone she liked?
Perhaps it was the alcohol talking—or maybe he was simply lashing out after being clearly rejected. In Ha grabbed So Yeon’s wrist tightly and yanked her toward him.
“What are you doing?”
Unable to resist his grip, So Yeon narrowed her eyes in displeasure.
“Answer my question first!”
His words came out rough, matching the strength in his grasp.
“Absolutely not. I have no intention of seeing anyone else.”
Why did that sound like she’d already broken up with that guy? Softening his grip based on that hunch, In Ha lowered his voice.
“You broke up?”
“Your excessive interest is burdensome.”
“So you did break up.”
“Whatever my situation is, it’s none of your concern.”
Though she’d accidentally given him that impression, So Yeon didn’t bother correcting it. Her heart—already full of one man—had compelled her to leave it that way.
“If you got hurt in a relationship, I can wait until you’re ready.”
“Ha…….”
So Yeon’s long sigh carried many meanings.
Repeated rejections were exhausting, and not being able to give a positive answer was agony in itself. Moreover, this parking lot—lit by only two streetlamps—felt eerily deserted. With no passersby on this cold winter night, if anyone happened to witness this argument and misinterpreted it, not only would she be in trouble—but Jo In Ha would be in an even more awkward position.
“Sunbae, you always have reporters following you. What if they see us like this? Let’s just pretend today never happened—and please stop.”
“Don’t just push me away. Think carefully—men like me don’t come around often!”
So Yeon spoke calmly, and In Ha—who didn’t even seem that drunk—simply repeated his earlier words.
“But it’s not me you want. How will you see me later if you act like this now?”
“Aren’t I doing this precisely because I want to see you again!”
“If you really feel that way, call me after you’ve sobered up.”
Just as So Yeon turned toward her car and reached for the driver’s door—
“Ah!”
In Ha forcefully pinned her against the car body.
“If I were going to back off easily, I wouldn’t have done this!”
“I already said no! Let go! Let me go!”
“Stay still!”
Startled by his rudeness, So Yeon shouted and struggled fiercely—but the more she resisted, the tighter In Ha gripped both her wrists, as if ready to snap them.
At that moment—
Whack!
“Huh?!”
A swift kick landed squarely between Jo In Ha’s legs from out of nowhere.
“You damn crazy bastard! She said no!”
[This is the timeline separator]Tae Seo Jun appeared at the headquarters of Kihazel.
Had any employees heard the news, they would’ve been shocked—but it was late, long past everyone’s departure. Seo Jun slipped into the executive elevator like a shadow alongside Manager Bong and, upon reaching the upper floor, opened the CEO’s office door without hesitation.
“Welcome, Representative Tae.”
A man roughly Seo Jun’s age—who’d clearly been waiting eagerly—lightly shifted to offer the best spot on the sofa.
“Just sit normally. Why bother?”
“Even if we’re friends, there’s still hierarchy in a company.”
“Well, if you insist.”
As Seo Jun sat with his long legs crossed, Representative Chae took the seat facing Manager Bong.
Kihazel, which had recently surged to prominence by dominating capital markets, was a global M&A specialist firm with two co-representatives—one being Tae Seo Jun.
Back when Seo Jun was a struggling rookie actor with uncertain prospects, he’d invested in his friend’s business under the guise of a “safety net,” eventually becoming a partner. Now, that company had grown into a substantial enterprise.
Seo Jun had deliberately positioned his friend at the forefront, remaining a hidden owner who only made critical decisions behind the scenes.
Unaware of the true controlling shareholder, external businesspeople naturally regarded Representative Chae as Kihazel’s sole leader.
“Enlisting all of a sudden?”
“That’s how it turned out.”
It was exactly as stated. Due to his medical school studies as a student and subsequent acting career, Seo Jun’s conscription had been delayed longer than average. Now, with everything paused, he’d come to headquarters to wrap up his affairs.
After signing the last document, Seo Jun relaxed his lips into a faint smile.
“I trust you’ll manage well without me, Representative Chae.”
“If trust alone could fix things, do you think I’d be this anxious, Representative Tae?”
“You’re being overly dramatic. Do you think I partnered with you for no reason? Prove now that my judgment wasn’t wrong.”
The two men—friends turned business partners—switched their tone instantly. This shift reflected their ingrained CEO mindset: serious and focused whenever business was at hand.
Assessing corporate growth limits, minimizing investment costs, and generating profits through acquisitions and divestitures—of all the talents Chae had observed, Tae Seo Jun’s intuitive grasp and execution in these areas were unmatched.
Though still very young, Seo Jun embodied the truth that in a field demanding sharp instincts and intellect, age was just a number.
Yet the sudden prospect of Seo Jun leaving the company entirely left Representative Chae feeling an immense weight of pressure and responsibility.
“I’m not confident, but I’ll hold things together until you return.”
“If you get this discouraged before even trying, I might never come back at all.”
“Now you’ve fired me up. I’ll do my absolute best, Representative Tae.”
“Good. Now you sound like Representative Chae.”
After finalizing business matters, Representative Chae shook hands with Seo Jun at the office door and asked, as a friend,
“So… no contact at all while you’re gone?”
“You know better than to ask that.”
Seo Jun glanced briefly at Manager Bong and playfully wrinkled his nose—meaning that if anything urgent came up, they’d go through him.
Having settled company affairs, Tae Seo Jun and Manager Bong got into the car, where Park Sung Ho—waiting in the driver’s seat—turned to ask,
“Shall I take you to Nonhyeon-dong?”
“I should at least see my parents.”
Seo Jun hadn’t faced Tae Seok Ho and Cha Yeo Jin in a while.
Though partly due to his naturally reclusive disposition, his parents’ relentless pressure to marry whenever they saw their youngest son made such meetings anything but pleasant—especially since Seo Jun had zero interest in marriage.
Yet he knew his time was limited to today, and as a son, he owed them this minimum courtesy.
“Then I’ll take you to Gahoe-dong.”
“Alright.”
At the command, the luxury sedan sped directly toward Seo Jun’s family home.
At the tail end of his twenties—
Having failed as a doctor yet succeeded as both entrepreneur and actor, all while not neglecting his private life—it was precisely that personal aspect that drained him the most.
Having raced unceasingly across hills and valleys, flat roads and twists alike, it was no wonder he felt breathless. Seo Jun had chosen enlistment as a turning point—a chance to catch his breath. And as of today, he’d perfectly finalized all preparations to leave.
Yet… what was this nagging unease?
It felt as if he’d forgotten something vitally important—but what?
His deep, thoughtful eyes narrowed slightly as the car crossed an intersection near Gahoe-dong. Seo Jun let out a wry, hollow chuckle.
She was someone I wanted—but could never have.
And yet… I still want her.
But such feelings are merely fleeting desire, bound to fade with time.
Seo Jun quietly buried his unresolved emotions deep within his chest as if they meant nothing, and cast his calm gaze out the car window.
When scheming men desperately battle for her favor in the male harem
This one’s also on my reread list! The rivalry, scheming between the men in the imperial harem are just as intense and thrilling as in classic palace drama novels, where concubines fight to the death. Give it a read, girls! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Synopsis:
“I am not worthy of her… but I still want to be by her side, even if only as a loyal dog…”
Those were the painful whispers of Yue Guanyi – the proud Crown Prince of the Great Qi, who was torn between deep love and a guilty conscience. Despite holding the supreme power of the Imperial Guard, he still could not forget the dark past when he was sold into a brothel.
Fate played a cruel twist when Qiu Shuzhi – a young female official who had just passed the imperial examinations with top honors – stepped into his life. She did not know that she was the one who had saved him from a tragic fate many years ago. And now, her heart was the target of pursuit for both Yue Guanyi and the powerful Empress Dowager Qin Qing.
While Yue Guanyi only dared to silently care for and protect the one he loved from afar, the Empress Dowager Qin Qing openly expressed his feelings and did not hesitate to take advantage of his power to approach Qiu Shuzhi. The covert struggle between the two most powerful forces in the imperial court began…
Trigger warning: All men in this novel are yandere style.
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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..🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️