Rebirth: King to Superstar

"Zen Quin? Is that you?"

These words carried a lot of hope and meaning for Joon-won, who regretted not having a happy life with his wife. Even though Zen Quin married him without consulting him, even though he never really loved her, even though he hated her for destroying his love for acting. She was still his wife. Joon-won saw how she battled armies and conquered lands for her kingdom. He saw the brutal injuries she would often come back with. Only after she had passed away did he understand how important she was and regretted not loving her with all his heart and staying by her side when she went to long battles.

Ever since he heard from the system about how Zen Quin had sacrificed her chance to reincarnate and live a normal happy life, but she gave up all that only to give him a system that could help him continue striving towards his goal. He has been keeping hold of a thin strand of hope that she would reincarnate in this world. Finally, he saw her; he saw a woman who looked exactly like his wife. 

[Hey, Idiot. Don't stand there at the entrance of the shop. Everyone is looking at you and you are creating a scene here. Quickly pick up your phone, order something and take a seat. You can continue looking at her like a creep after you do that.] The system's rude remarks woke him up from the trance he went into. He quickly took the phone and heard two worried voices.

[Joon-won. Joon-won. What's happening? Why is your face so pale? Did something happen? Tell…]

He cut Min-Seok's worried question and said, "Dad, I'll talk to both of you in a while. I'm hungry and am going to have some lunch. I'll call you later. Ok bye." And just cut the call before he kept the phone back inside. Throughout the entire thing, he didn't take his eyes off the lady in front of him. He was worried she would disappear the moment he took his eyes off her.

He gulped a mouthful of saliva and stepped forward towards the counter.

"I would like to have today's specialty, thanks. I'll be sitting there." He quickly ordered his food and just walked away like a robot. He was completely panicking and didn't even know what he ordered. Joon-won just ordered the first thing he saw on the menu. He wasn't ready to talk to her at all. 

Joon-won ignored all the stares from the customers and the people working there as he took a seat at a corner which still gave him a view of the counter. 

[Congratulations, you looked like a completely creepy bastard. What a way to get a first impression. You broke down the moment you saw her. Clean those tears stains you got on your face first. You look like a complete idiot in front of everyone here.] The system came back with sarcasm and rude remarks once again.

Joon-won cursed the system under his breath and said to it, "It's all your fault. You should have at least given me a heads-up or even a small clue on why you were rushing me to come to the top. You have no idea how dumbfounded I was when I saw her. Is she Zen Quin? Or someone who just coincidentally looks like her? Come on, tell me." 

[She is Zen Quin, but at the same time not. Like I said before, she gave up her chance to reincarnate normally and live a happy life and even get a few extra wishes to live that happy life because of all the deeds in her previous life. She was one of god's favorite people to watch too. But she gave up that golden opportunity and instead she asked for him to give you a chance so that you can continue acting. Do you think it's a complete coincidence that a guy who loved acting just managed to get into a body of a kid who also seemed to have died at the same time and who also went to acting school? It was all because of her wish.]

Joon-won eyes teared up as he heard the system. He saw all her struggles in his previous life and had gained a chance to live a peaceful and happy life, but she gave everything up for him. He just wanted to jump off the mountain at that very moment. He hated himself for hating her. She might have not been a perfect wife but she was someone who loved him and he wasn't either for her. He wasn't a good husband or gave her love when she was alive.

[So when I say she is the same person but is also not, I mean she has no memories of her previous life. None of them. But her behavior and her likes and dislikes might be the same. But I don't know if that's true. After all, I don't know what that madman is doing from above. But he must surely be enjoying all this.]

Joon-won just continued to listen to the system in silence. His mind was in complete chaos. But all that vanished away when he heard a bowl being kept on his table. He looked up and saw it was her. She was the one who is serving his food. He just continued to stare at the same face he was dying to see like an idiot once again.

"Hey! Are you deaf? Your order is here. God damn it. Why is there an idiot of a customer on my last day here? Hey! Complete your food and get out. Don't make me beat your ass up." And walked away. 

Joon-won looked at her back and murmured, "Even her voice is the same as I remember. Even her manner of speaking is the same as ever. Very straightforward and dominant. It has to be Zen Quin." He completely ignored the lady's warning and just went into a trance after hearing her recognizable voice once again. 

But even though he was in a trance, he caught one small thing about how it was the last day here. He wanted to stand up and go ask her what she meant by that and as he was about to do that; the system interrupted him.

[Are you a complete idiot? Do you want to go ask her about her things? She doesn't even know you and that girl just simply looks and sounds like your wife. Don't make a bigger fool of yourself. I am deeply regretting my decision to even tell you about this. I should have just let you be there at the hotel and completely missed meeting her. Now quickly eat your food and walk out quietly. Don't make things any more awkward than what they already are.] It sounded very regretful seeing how he was acting.

Joon-won ignored the system, but he did start to slowly eat the noodles. The noodles very extremely tasty and he loved the feeling of the hot broth slowly entering his stomach. The outside cold atmosphere was the perfect place to eat the hot noodles. But even with how much of a maniac he is with food, his eyes never left the woman as she returned to the counter. He continued to look at her as he completed the noodles and just continued to stare at her.

After a few more minutes another guy came up to his table, took the bowl, and said, "It's 300 Kros." Joon-won just took out his purse and absent-mindedly handed him a 500 note. The guy came back with the remaining amount and said.

"Mister, it's better if you leave now. That young miss would beat you up if you continue to look at her like that. It won't look good if you get beaten up in front of everybody here."

Joon-won nodded, and he complied with the guy's suggestion. So he slowly stood up and just walked towards the door, but his eyes never left her. When he got near, he noticed her slowly turning and so he just looked down and continued. 

After he went outside the shop and walked a few steps, he continued to look at her through the door. The counter was exactly opposite the door and he could see her. Through the mirror on the door. 

Time passed by and after over 10 minutes of staring at her, he finally noticed her move. She stood up and walked away from the counter. He tried to look at where she went but didn't see anything. After a few seconds, she walked out of the door and, by the looks of it and was walking right towards him with an angry expression.

Joon-won once again panicked and turned around to look at the scenery, hoping she wouldn't come towards him. But she did, and he heard her footsteps stop right behind him, along with her voice.

"Hey, creepy bastard. What are you up to? Did you think I didn't notice you staring at me from here for the past ten minutes? The reason better be good or you'll get beaten up here in front of all these people." She sounded completely pissed off.