Sori got into a taxi and couldn’t decide where to go for a while.
After much contemplation, she eventually arrived at Suhyeong’s apartment.
She felt like she should talk to her mom first, but what should she say and how?
Should she tell her mom to stop bothering their professor? Should she say she’ll protect Mom?
“Mom, I’m here.”
Entering through the front door, Sori found Suhyeong lying on the sofa with cucumber slices on her face.
“Why are you here again?”
“Why did you come home when your daughter just came home after a long time?”
Suhyeong got up from the sofa. A few cucumber slices fell.
“Hey, we were together until this morning.”
“What did you come to my room for?”
“Then, just say that. You’re scaring people like this.”
Holding a mirror, Suhyeong put cucumber slices back on her face.
“Go wash your hands and face. Let’s do a facial together.”
“Who does cucumber masks these days?”
“We’re using the leftover salad for a facial. Taking care of your skin is essential. If you don’t like it, wash your hands and put it on yourself.”
After washing her hands in the bathroom, Sori came out and sat near Suhyeong’s head. Suhyeong laid down, placing Sori’s legs on her back.
As Sori started placing thinly sliced cucumbers on Suhyeong’s forehead one by one, Suhyeong, with her eyes tightly closed, asked,
“By the way, did you eat dinner?”
“Why are you asking so quickly? What time is it? Yes, I ate.”
“What did you eat?”
“I had a traditional meal. What did I eat… I’m a bit out of it, so I can’t remember.”
“With whom did you eat that you’re so distracted?”
“Oh, by the way, Mom, do you know Director Han Sungjae?”
“Wh…o?”
Suhyeong opened her eyes and stared at Sori’s face.
“Who did you just say?”
“Han Sungjae, the film director.”
About ten years ago, he directed a blockbuster that surpassed ten million viewers, and since then, he hasn’t been very active. Recently, there were occasional reports about his son becoming famous, but Suhyeong had never paid any attention to him.
“He said Mom knows him well and sent regards.”
“Really? But… how do you know him?”
Sori leaned against the back of the sofa and said,
“To make a long story short, I accidentally met a certain celebrity who took on the role of a doctor. They asked for medical advice, so I provided it. But suddenly, the director suggested having a meal together. I couldn’t help it.”
“What… did you talk about?”
“He seemed curious about hospital stories. It turns out the backdrop for the film he’s shooting after a long time is a hospital. It was more like an impromptu interview.”
“I see.”
Suhyeong, who had been quite serious, loosened up and smiled.
“Mom, you don’t mind if I meet people related to that field, right? You seem so surprised, unlike someone else.”
“It’s not a big deal. I’m just worried that you might get involved in unnecessary matters. Focus on your work and such.”
“It’s not like that. It was purely for medical journalism purposes.”
As Sori casually replied, she remembered Han Sungjae’s curious face about her father.
People who know Mom, are they all curious about that? Sori wondered.
“Anyway, always be careful. You know better.”
Sori nodded her head.
“Are you suddenly worried that those articles might come out about Mom again?”
“I’m fine. It’s more about you getting hurt. Especially now that Professor Seo is involved.”
“I’m fine too. If Mom is okay, it’s okay. It doesn’t bother me that Dad isn’t here. But…”
Sori, trailing off, observed Suhyeong’s complexion. Then she raised her hand over Suhyeong’s hand, which was resting on her stomach.
“It might be good to have it even if it’s late now. For Mom’s sake.”
“Out of the blue. Since we did a wedding photoshoot and all, it feels like the reality of marriage is sinking in.”
A smile appeared on Suhyeong’s face at the thought of her daughter’s marriage, making her look content.
However, Sori couldn’t say anything about marriage.
“When the photos come out, send them all to Mom. Pick one and put it in a big frame.”
“Okay, got it.”
Until when should she pretend not to know? Sori came here to speak, but seeing her mom’s face, she couldn’t make up her mind.
“By the way, usually the bride’s side decides on the date. Will Mom get the date?”
“No, don’t do that.”
“Why? There’s no reason to delay it now. If we wait for both of them to adjust their schedules, I might pass away. Ask for Hyunwoo’s birth date. No, I’ll ask.”
Suhyeong would surely push again as forcefully as ever. Sori, who now knew her mom’s true feelings, firmly said,
“Mom, please don’t do that. Wait a bit. You’ve been doing things too much our way until now.”
“What did we do our way?”
“When you directly contacted Professor Seo.”
“When did I do that?”
“I know everything.”
“What?”
Sori and Suhyeong locked eyes.
“You bother Professor Seo, Mom.”
“Oh dear. Now telling your own husband not to be a bother.”
“That’s right. That’s what I’m saying. Don’t bother Professor Seo, Mom.”
“Such audacity. Okay, okay.”
What she needed to say now was about her mom’s health, not her own marriage…
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.
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