“W-What did you say?”
Yu Ra doubted her ears for a moment. Her brows furrowed involuntarily at the words she heard but couldn’t comprehend. Unlike Yu Ra, Hyun’s face was calmer and more composed than ever. That scratched Yu Ra’s insides even more.
Hyun, who appeared unexpectedly, brought Yu Ra to his villa. She refused, as they weren’t close enough to visit each other’s homes, and there was no reason to follow him. However, at his insistence that he had something important to say, she reluctantly sat across from him in the living room.
His sudden appearance alone was bewildering, but what he just said was several times more absurd.
“Marriage contract.”
“With whom? Me? Why?”
“We’d make a good combination.”
“No, wait. What’s lacking that you’d choose me, elder brother?”
“Hmm, you’re the one who’s lacking.”
Yu Ra chuckled at his brazen response. As much as everyone praised his looks, he was the arrogant Baek Hyun without a shred of humility. Yu Ra twisted her lips and refuted his confidence.
“I’m not lacking anything.”
Hyun, who looked sensual even in the simple act of crossing his long legs, tilted his head with a languid gaze.
“That bastard, are you okay leaving it like this?”
Seeing him use the expression ‘that bastard’ as if revealing hostility, Yu Ra remembered that she had no proper countermeasure, but there was no need for one in their relationship, and she avoided his uncomfortable gaze.
“It’s over anyway. And what right do you have to call him ‘that bastard,’ elder brother?”
“It’s over, but you’re still being dragged along, unable to do anything about it.”
“That’s…”
“Can you quit Songlim?”
Yu Ra’s attempt at a rebuttal was cut short by Hyun’s following question.
Songlim Art Center. The company Yu Ra currently belonged to, where she had climbed to her current position through four years of blood, sweat, and tears. She took great pride in it, and the goal she desired was within reach.
The thought of leaving Songlim was something she had never considered. She should have answered no immediately, but perhaps due to the recent events that had brought some sense of disillusionment, she couldn’t easily open her mouth.
“Would Argon be any different?”
Hyun’s low voice mentioned Argon, which was at the top of the industry, as if he knew all the inside story. Argon, which had risen to the highest position among performance planning companies, was a mountain Songlim had to overcome, and personally, a competitor Yu Ra wanted to surpass.
Hyun’s words seemed to confirm that regardless of whether it was at the top of the industry or not, Yu Ra’s position in this world would not change. Yu Ra knew well that if she couldn’t raise her voice at Songlim, it wouldn’t be different at Argon.
Hyun pinpointed that aspect accurately.
“As long as you don’t quit this job, such things can happen anytime.”
His statement, seeming to know this world better than her, was irritating. As she frowned in displeasure, he threw out a boastful remark.
“And you can’t quit this job.”
“Why do you act like you know everything?”
“You want to surpass Jin Yu Geon, don’t you?”
Yu Geon and Yu Ra were siblings with a two-year age gap, bickering like any other family. That relationship had become even more distant when Yu Ra’s relationship with her father soured. He probably had that in mind when he spoke.
“Our sibling relationship isn’t as hostile as you think, elder brother.”
“Ah, then is your goal to gain your father’s approval?”
At this question, which was more of a confident assertion than a simple inquiry, Yu Ra shot a cold glare at Hyun. Unmoved by her sharpened gaze, Hyun shrugged indifferently. Yu Ra didn’t want to ask how he knew, as it felt like exposing her true self, nor did she want to lie and say it wasn’t true.
“Ha, okay, let’s say that’s true. But it’s not you, elder brother.”
“What isn’t?”
“You’re surrounded by women, aren’t you?”
“Not really.”
“Are you going to keep playing word games?”
It was unpleasant how he kept bringing up trivial matters after so nonchalantly mentioning ‘marriage’. Although she might be the one in need, as he said, the problem was that he clearly made this proposal.
Baek Hyun was at the pinnacle in every aspect – looks, background, ability. She had heard that numerous families had lined up to arrange marriages for their daughters to be by his side. So it was hard to understand why he had reached out to her, of all people, instead of those prestigious families’ daughters.
“You must be under pressure to marry because of your age. But is that really all there is to it for the great Baek Hyun?”
“I’m flattered by your high evaluation.”
“Tsk.”
Yu Ra clicked her tongue softly at his behavior of never giving a straight answer. No matter how positively she tried to view him, he was a man she couldn’t warm up to, even just from his dry tone.
“As you said, my parents’ pressure to marry is annoying.”
Yu Ra shook her head at Hyun’s expression of ‘annoying’ rather than ‘disliking’ or ‘burdensome’.
“And I don’t like living with a woman I don’t know.”
“Then, date someone.”
“That’s a waste of time.”
Which man and woman know each other from the start? Everyone gets to know each other as they date, but he seemed to think little of this whole process. Yu Ra didn’t want to argue with his logic anymore. How could one give directions to someone trying to reach the destination without a starting point?
“So that’s your reason?”
“If I have to find a reason, it’s that we’re very similar.”
Yu Ra’s face instantly contorted as if she had bitten into a bug. It was the most unpleasant and offensive thing said in their conversation today.
His large eyes, making even his light double eyelids seem attractive, his high nose bridge, and his sharp jawline as if it could cut, along with his rather pale complexion, made his cold atmosphere even more chilling. His tall physique, gifted by nature and enhanced by constant care, reached its peak with broad shoulders, embodying flawless perfection.
That’s why the praise never ceased, and he, knowing this all too well, was all the more arrogant and brazen. But even that was backed up by his background and abilities.
It was extremely unpleasant to be grouped under the same standard as him, despite being completely different from herself, who competed solely on skill.
“I’m not as unpleasant as you, elder brother.”
He let out a small chuckle. Wondering if he could actually laugh like that, Yu Ra narrowed her eyes as if examining him.
“No need to think too hard. It’s a very light contract.”
Yu Ra found it absurd how a contract named ‘marriage’ could be light. She leaned back on the sofa, crossed her arms over her chest, and raised her chin as if telling him to continue.
“First, we’ll have a grand wedding ceremony.”
She thought it was only natural that her father, Jin Kang Su, would hold a grand ceremony, if only for the sake of appearances, given that it was a marriage between corporations.
“Second, we’ll maintain the appearance of a happy couple like any other.”
Being officially married, they couldn’t be indifferent like strangers, and if they appeared to be enemies, it would only invite unnecessary gossip. So a show-window couple was an unavoidable choice.
“Third, we’ll divorce after two years.”
Like Hyun said, even if Yu Ra agreed to this marriage, she had no intention of continuing it forever. She was more skeptical about marriage than anyone, and moreover, she had no intention of spending her life with this cynical and cold man. Of course, she had in mind that there would be an end, but the two-year time frame was curious.
“Why two years?”
“It’s the most appropriate time, isn’t it?”
“Ah, the time when couples grow apart.”
“You’re smart.”
“Hmph.”
At his words that seemed to mock her, Yu Ra snorted and turned her head away. According to her married friends, if the expiration date of love is three years, the expiration date of the honeymoon period is between one and two years. From that perspective, divorcing after two years was, as he said, the most appropriate time.
“Lastly, fourth, no staying out overnight.”
At the word ‘lastly’, Yu Ra’s eyes, which had been turning away, suddenly widened. Even if it wasn’t a marriage born out of mad love, once married, there are lines that should be respected. Yu Ra, staring intently at Hyun, had a look as if she didn’t understand why staying out overnight would be necessary.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“There are many people in this world who can’t keep even the obvious things.”
Hyun knew that Yu Ra wasn’t that type of person. However, his true intentions were different.
He wanted to share the same bed with her after finishing a tiring day’s work.
Just like any married couple would.
But he couldn’t reveal his true feelings to Yu Ra, who was shocked by the sudden proposal.
Since childhood, Hyun had been watching Yu Ra as his match. The Yu Ra he saw wasn’t someone caught up in petty emotions playing unnecessary emotional games. This was the part where he was similar to Yu Ra. That’s why Hyun thought Yu Ra would be perfect if he were to marry.
Not as the object of passionate love, but as a flawless marriage partner. He didn’t want to fit into the framework of a political marriage, so he had been waiting for the right time, when suddenly Yu Ra started dating. Of course, it was fortunate that it didn’t end in a happy ending.
But now that bastard had come back.
Yu Ra mulled over the clauses Hyun had mentioned. In a way, it was an enticing proposal. Could there be a better way to escape from Oh Se Jin?
However, the situation was too sudden to be readily agreeable. Yu Ra hid her troubled thoughts and rose, contemplating what to say to Hyun.
As his gaze followed her movement, she noticed an envelope on the table. The marriage proposal he had presented.
“Do you really want to marry me?”
“Yes. Of course, you.”
“You really want to… with me?”
“There’s no reason not to.”
“I’ve never thought about it even once.”
Who was Baek Hyun? They had known each other since childhood due to their families’ close relationship, but more than that, he was her brother’s friend.
This felt like doing something wrong with her own brother, making Yu Ra’s stomach churn.
“Why?”
“You’re my brother’s friend. This is like…!”
Just as she was about to blurt out what was in her mind, Hyun quickly rose and leaned his upper body towards Yu Ra. He pressed his knee on the sofa next to Yu Ra’s thigh, and one hand gripped the backrest heavily. She was trapped by him.
Yu Ra carefully raised her head, and her eyes were filled entirely with him. His light brown eyes evoked a strange mystique. Looking into them felt as if she might fall into a trance, which frightened her.
“Before being your brother’s friend, I’m a man and you’re a woman.”
“M-Move away.”
At the distance close enough to feel his breath, Yu Ra unwittingly swallowed her trembling breath and twisted her lips.
Yu Ra’s large eyes wavered like a fierce wind sweeping through, unable to even think of pushing him away in this sudden situation.
Yu Ra felt as if her face and earlobes were burning. In stark contrast, his calm and composed face pricked her pride.
“The possibility is sufficient.”
“Move.”
As Hyun stepped back, Yu Ra quickly rose. She glared at the envelope on the table for a moment, then snatched it up and turned around.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t drag it out too long.”
Hyun leaned back on the sofa and spoke leisurely. Yu Ra glared at him fiercely before turning away. A satisfied smile spread across Hyun’s face.
The Male Lead’s Obsessive (Female-dominant)
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.
Synopsis:
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Summary:
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