The main lights turned on, and the once dim dining room brightened.
“We should start with the meal.”
Kang Woo took Se Ah’s hand and led her to her seat. The scent of their shared shampoo emanated from him as he straightened his bent upper body.
The front of his robe was slightly opened. There was nothing exposed because he, who couldn’t stand the messy look, tightly tied the robe string. Only a bit of his thick neck and firm muscular chest was visible.
Yet, she felt flustered, perhaps she had become too accustomed to his neat suit attire.
“…Go change your clothes.”
When Se Ah said this while looking away, he looked down at his attire. His expression suggested he just realized what she was talking about.
“That’s a bit sudden.”
There was a hint of playfulness in his usual tone. Se Ah maintained a calm expression in front of Kang Woo, who was smirking.
“I haven’t seen you in detail before. It was dark, and these days, I’ve only seen you in a shirt, so it feels even more unfamiliar.”
His lips loosened again as if she said something amusing. Instead of questioning why he kept laughing, Se Ah’s round eyes narrowed.
“It’s better since you asked.”
He had planned to just leave it if she found it bothersome or refused. What could he do about it? But Kang Woo, leaving a strange smile behind, took steps towards the dressing room.
Lately, it seemed like he laughed more often. His gaze and tone had become much softer. Of course, it’s only softer than before; he was still Kang Woo.
A moment later, Kang Woo returned, dressed in a loose fit white Tshirt and training pants.
It was rare for him to be home on weekends, so this comfortable attire felt unfamiliar.
Without any hesitation, Kang Woo rolled up his sleeves. Se Ah’s eyes inadvertently landed on his arm, where blue veins popped. At the same time, their eyes met.
“Did I pass?”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
“About the outfit. Tell me if it didn’t. I can change until you’re satisfied.”
She lost her words, not knowing what to reply. She looked up at him with slightly parted lips.
“Now you look like Se Ah. With puppylike eyes.”
“Puppy?”
“You might not know. You resemble a puppy.”
To avoid being swept up by him, Se Ah shut her lips. She sat here to hear his sincerity, not to be swayed by his unfamiliar charm.
Standing in front of the induction stove, Kang Woo heated the oiled pan. The sizzling sound of the eggs frying in the pan was appetizing.
The house was designed with high ceilings, cooking counters, and interior decorations. It seemed too high and troublesome for the helpers, but for the tall Kang Woo, it seemed just right.
Looking at his relaxed back movements, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Although it was not as lenient as now, there were times in the past when Kang Woo let loose a little. He would throw out jokes with a straight face, making her flustered, thinking they were serious.
After their marriage, even that disappeared, and only the businessman Kang Woo remained.
His cold gaze would occasionally soften, but he only freely expressed his emotions in bed. Though uncharacteristically disheveled and persistent, it made her think he did perceive her as a woman.
No, maybe even that was obligatory. There were few nights she slept with him, so she could count them on her hands.
A thud. Her thoughts were interrupted by the scrambled eggs placed on the table. Once thoughts about Kang Woo started, she didn’t know when they would end.
“Try it.”
“I’ll enjoy the meal.”
“Should I make something else? Something that could serve as a side dish.”
“No, this is enough.”
Kang Woo sat down in front of Se Ah, who was about to take a spoonful. It was uncomfortable for him to eat alone.
“Aren’t you eating, Kang Woo?”
“I’m good.”
She ended up eating the food he prepared. She had lived long enough to see this day.
Her mind was in disarray, having seen his reversal throughout just half a day. She couldn’t even tell if the food was seasoned well or not.
On top of that, why was he staring at her so intensely? She felt like she would choke on her food.
In fact, a glass of milk would have been enough, but she couldn’t refuse out of curiosity about what he would say.
And… she was also moved. It was a heartwarming moment to see him, who was far from cooking, trying his best for her.
This was the first time she felt all these emotions, so it felt overwhelming.
“You said you had something to say. Say it.”
Though she appeared calm on the outside, she was not inside. She was worried that he might forget what he was about to say.
“It’s about the contract we drafted earlier.”
My heart pounded.
Why would he want to play a couple in a showcase? The more I thought about it, the less I could accept it. What if I firmly state my dissent?
If that happens, my hardwon decision seemed likely to waver easily.
“I said I wanted to find a job.”
But a totally unexpected response came out.
“What do you mean?”
“Where do you plan to work?”
“I’m still considering.”
“Will you utilize your major?”
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
_____
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.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
