A morning without Jaeho dawned.
Dasom went outside to feed Pinky, who was scratching at the door. Looking around, she was surrounded by autumn foliage, which seemed even redder today.
She picked up a few clean-looking maple leaves, recalling the man who told her to twirl them around herself. She was completely entwined with him, like being caught in a storm with no escape.
Or maybe that was just an excuse. Perhaps, more than anyone, she wished for it to be that way.
Her resolve to end things with him hadn’t changed, but her heart was starting to look for excuses. Maybe it didn’t have to be right away. Maybe she could see him a bit more in Seoul.
She wondered if Jaeho’s feelings would change someday. Maybe sooner than she thought, in a month or two. So, until then…
She hoped he wouldn’t find out about the hospital bills and the debts she had left. Ideally, she wanted to continue their relationship for a few more months without revealing her personal life, but she wasn’t sure if that was realistic. In her own way, she was finding more excuses to stay by his side.
Walking around the pension’s yard, she smiled faintly. Even though her thoughts were somewhat abject, she felt unashamedly happy.
“Finished eating?”
Approaching the cat, who was washing up, it meowed as if asking for more food.
“No. I know you get fed at other houses too.”
Meow. Meow.
“You’re getting fat. You’ve completely ballooned in just a few weeks.”
Meow. Meow.
“No, absolutely not.”
Dasom was firm.
Meow…
She watched Pinky quietly.
“Wait… No way. You’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
Meow.
Dasom was startled as she noticed Pinky’s unusually swollen belly and chest. She wondered if she should take her to a vet. But the cat was elusive.
Reaching out her hand, Pinky backed away just enough.
“When are you going to have your kittens? Can you do it alone? I wish you’d do it while I’m here.”
Meow.
“Stop ignoring me. I’m an expert, you know.”
Regardless, Pinky finished grooming herself and walked off towards the beach, looking very dignified.
“Come back! I’ll feed you more next time.”
A long day was expected.
Though they had said enough goodbyes last night and even this morning after visiting his sleeping figure, she already missed him. Jaeho, leaning back, closed his eyes.
It had been three weeks since meeting Dasom. Time was so short he hated to sleep, preferring to stay awake. But whenever he held her, he would fall asleep too easily.
Luckily, Dasom also seemed to sleep well. The days of her suffering nightmares were gradually decreasing.
“President! It’s Byunghun. Yes, I’m taking Hyung to his interview. No, you don’t need to do that. Hyung said he just wants to get it over with. He’s not eating. Yes.”
How had he lived without Yoon Dasom? He ridiculed himself for rushing around like a dog with its tail on fire.
Wearing a suit for the first time in a while felt somewhat unfamiliar. Jaeho fiddled with his tie and cuffs, thinking of Dasom’s comments in the fan club.
Every time he did a formalwear photoshoot, Dasom would get excited. He contracted with several more men’s brands just to see her reactions again. She probably had no idea.
And he hoped she would never find out. He wished for a fairytale ending: meeting Jaeho by fate, falling in love, getting married, and living happily ever after without any complications.
Sometime in the future, when Dasom shyly confesses that she had actually been a fan of his, Jaeho wonders how he should respond. Whether to laugh out loud, tease her slyly, or sternly kiss her first, he hasn’t yet decided. Any reaction would make her shy, so maybe doing all three would be okay. Thinking this way, he longs to see her again.
“Byunghun, how much longer?”
“We haven’t even been an hour on the road, Hyung.”
Jaeho laughed softly.
“Right, sorry.”
This journey was laden with a significant resolve.
Jaeho, who seldom visited his uncle’s family due to discomfort, readily agreed this time because there was something he desperately wanted from his grandfather.
Though what his grandfather wanted to give and what Jaeho desired might greatly differ, he was resolved to get it. He was willing to make many sacrifices, even pausing his acting career if needed.
All he asked for in return was approval for his marriage. He was willing to do much more than that.
[What are you doing?]After texting Dasom, a reply came instantly.
[Wow! Pinky seems pregnant.] [And I talked to Kyungjun.]Jaeho’s brows furrowed. The name Lee Kyungjun always made him frown.
[Why are you dealing with Lee Kyungjun?]Jaeho was about to reply, but Dasom beat him to it.
[He said he’s coming this weekend, so I called to dissuade him. He agreed not to come.]Jaeho erased the message he was writing.
[Good job.]A reply came from Dasom.
[Take care on your trip. I’ll make some nutritious food for Pinky.]After a brief moment of contemplation, another message arrived.
From their first meeting, he and that guy were complete enemies.
“Hyung, you’re Woojeong’s friend, right?”
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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