“It’s too expensive for five thousand won.”
“Just look at this young man. It’s homemade, dried this spring, and it’s all domestic! How can this be expensive?”
“It’s just a handful.”
“Oh my, just try soaking it in water. It’s enough for two to eat for a while.”
“Just a bit more, please.”
As the shopkeeper and Jae-ho haggled, she glanced at Dajeong standing behind and chuckled about the tiring man she had met. Dajeong, having finished her call with Kyungjoon, turned off her phone and smiled at the shopkeeper, then looked down at Jae-ho. He seemed more shameless and mischievous than she expected, but it was a side of him only she knew and didn’t mind.
“Jae-ho, we should go.”
“Lady, is he your boyfriend, or husband? This man is quite picky.”
Dajeong hesitated on how to answer when Jae-ho spoke first.
“He’s not a boyfriend or husband yet. Ma’am, do you know what ‘some’ is? Some.”
As Jae-ho chose the biggest basket of bracken and handed it to the lady, he answered smoothly. The lady opened a black plastic bag and asked back.
“What’s ‘some’?”
“Not ‘island’, ‘some’.”
“What’s that?”
While Jae-ho looked around for more to buy, he picked up a bunch of onions and muttered.
“It’s like walking at the pace of someone slow.”
After paying, he added, “That’s ‘some’.”
“You should just wait for her, young man,” the lady scolded. Jae-ho was about to say something more when Dajeong grabbed his sleeve and repeated.
“Jae-ho, we really should go.”
Suddenly, the driving skills of the man known for his smooth handling deteriorated. Dajeong noticed the tension in his arms, gripping the steering wheel as if to break it, especially when he braked harshly at a speed bump.
“My friend’s coming over.”
The man, whom she had thought of as a big Retriever, quickly regained the fierceness of a black panther. Dajeong, feeling uncomfortable, elaborated unnecessarily.
“Yes, we’ve grown up together since birth. From the same maternity ward, living in the same neighborhood, very close, almost like family.”
“He’s a guy?”
“Yes, but to me, he’s just a friend…”
As Jae-ho naturally switched hands on the steering wheel and grabbed Dajeong’s hand, he seemed like a male marking his territory.
“Is he staying over?”
Dajeong’s voice shrank at the prickly question.
“…He said he would.”
“Are you going to let him stay?”
“Ah.”
Realizing what Jae-ho was upset about, Dajeong reassured him with a gentle smile.
“Don’t worry. He’s just a friend! He’s always worried about me being alone. Since the lodging has two rooms, we’ll obviously sleep separately.”
Unsatisfied with her answer, Jae-ho’s frown didn’t ease.
“Don’t worry too much. I’ve never thought of Kyungjoon as a man.”
Jae-ho let out a scoff.
“It’s not about what you think.”
“Then?”
“He might not see you as just a friend.”
“Of course, we’re just friends!”
Dajeong smiled brightly with almost closed eyes.
“We’re really, really just friends.”
At her innocent look, Jae-ho was at a loss for words.
“He said he’s been worried about me traveling alone, so he’s been coming over every weekend. He took a leave this week to come earlier.”
Innocent or clueless?
At her age, she should know that all men are wolves. Jae-ho included himself in that category. His head was filled with thoughts of holding her hand, wrapping his arms around her, and wanting to kiss her. It seemed silly to consider himself the only rational person.
“Is he sleeping over?”
Dajeong hesitated before answering.
“…He said he would.”
Jae-ho quietly drove on, his thoughts a mix of irritation and concern, reflecting the complexity of emotions within.
“A wolf like me is enough by Dajeong’s side.”
Kyungjoon’s gaze was always dangerous, consistent and persistent. He had been like this in the past too, always showing reluctance in his steps after dropping Dajeong off. He unnecessarily carried her bag, accompanied her to school, and even spent time in the library with her. Under the guise of friendship, he had always acted more like a suitor than anyone else.
And it’s still the same now.
“There’s no such thing as friendship between men and women.”
“There is!”
“Don’t let him sleep over.”
“Then where should he sleep…”
“He’ll figure it out.”
Tension filled Jae-ho’s fingers as they gripped Dajeong’s hand. It was a soft hand that felt like it could be crushed like soft tofu. A strange sensation flowed through his palm, stirring his blood. He wished everything about her was entirely his.
“What kind of man lets the woman he likes sleep with another man?”
Despite trying to sound gentle, his voice carried a chill.
“Listen well. Before being a friend, he’s a man. Even if you’ve been like family, in the end, he’s not family.”
Jae-ho pointed out each fallacy.
“Keep your distance. Okay? Your ‘some’ man is not very patient.”
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
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Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
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