“There’s no need to apologize. I’m feeling much better than yesterday. No nausea.”
Da Hyun had grown accustomed to the housekeeper’s inquiries about her health. It would have felt odd not to be asked.
“That’s good to hear. Then, I’ll leave you to it.”
“Yes, I’ll be downstairs shortly.”
After the housekeeper left, Da Hyun applied some colorless lip balm and combed her hair to ensure it wasn’t messy. She got up to check her reflection in the mirror. Wearing a dress after so long felt strange. The long black dress with frills accentuated her waist and made her upper body more prominent.
Usually, her attire was more casual and comfortable, especially after her pregnancy. Seeing herself with earrings and a necklace felt somewhat alien.
Da Hyun wondered if she had become too casual, even if it was comfortable. She pondered how Min Hyuk must have seen her.
Had she become too complacent in her comfort?
Da Hyun felt self-conscious about not dressing up much since her pregnancy, wondering if Min Hyuk cared.
Ji Yeon always preferred flashy attire and was well-dressed, unlike Da Hyun, who favored a more subdued style. Could their vastly different tastes be why they never got closer? Da Hyun had felt bitterness toward Ji Yeon since childhood. Despite being family, they were less than strangers to each other.
“Even now she can’t leave me alone, I doubt our relationship will ever improve,” Da Hyun thought, sighing with resignation.
No matter what Ji Yeon said, Da Hyun wasn’t going to just sit and listen like before. If Ji Yeon badmouthed Min Hyuk, Da Hyun was ready to retaliate.
Firmly resolved, Da Hyun opened her room door and stepped out.
The housekeeper had meticulously eliminated all odors, anticipating that Da Hyun might feel nauseous.
Sitting in the dining room, Da Hyun sipped her tea, observing Ji Yeon across from her. Ji Yeon was surprisingly punctual this time, unlike her usual self who never kept to appointment times, even during dinner with Min Hyuk.
Ji Yeon entered, uncharacteristically polite and relaxed, maintaining a gentle demeanor as she walked into the dining room.
Normally, Ji Yeon would have spewed unmentionable words the moment she entered the house, but today, she quietly sat down even as the housekeeper placed the tea cup in front of her.
“I told them to bring tea instead of food since we’re not exactly the type to share a meal together.”
“That’s fine by me. Do whatever you’re comfortable with. After all, it’s your house. I’m not in a position to say anything.”
Da Hyun raised an eyebrow.
Why is she acting so differently?
Ji Yeon’s sudden change of behavior, acting all nice, caught Da Hyun off guard, making her feel uneasy.
“What do you want to say? You’ve been so eager to contact me daily; it must be something interesting. How could you resist telling me?”
“I thought you’d know by now since you weren’t answering my calls.”
Ji Yeon’s playful tone irked Da Hyun, who just wanted to finish the conversation and send her away.
“I wanted to see your reaction when I told you, but if you already know, it’s no fun. I’ve wasted so much time on you. Luckily, I’m getting compensated for my efforts.”
Da Hyun felt sickened just by looking at Ji Yeon covering her mouth and laughing pretentiously.
“Since when did you start calling me ‘sister’ so diligently? Are you being watched? Why are you suddenly acting?”
Da Hyun put down her tea cup and crossed her arms. Ji Yeon’s smile vanished instantly, her lips twisting into a sneer.
“So much for treating you like a sister.”
Ji Yeon’s usual demeanor returned with her swear words.
“Yes, this is the real Han Ji Yeon, isn’t it?”
Da Hyun coldly sneered, continuing to stare at Ji Yeon.
“I invited you here because of your annoying calls. If I listen to what you have to say, maybe you’ll leave me alone afterward. So, go ahead and say it, and then leave.”
Ji Yeon was confident that Da Hyun wouldn’t be shaken, no matter what she said. After all, Ji Yeon could spin lies as if they were the truth.
“Alright, I’ll tell you straight away,” Ji Yeon muttered, fiddling with the handle of her teacup.
“Han Da Hyun,” Ji Yeon called out Da Hyun’s name, shedding her pretentious act and giggling.
“You don’t know, do you? If you did, you wouldn’t be here. I’d be too humiliated to stay if I were you.”
“What are you talking about?” Da Hyun’s brow furrowed in confusion at Ji Yeon’s cryptic words.
“But you have nowhere else to go, so you might stay despite the shame.”
“Speak clearly, Han Ji Yeon.”
“You’ve been deceived.”
“What?”
“Completely and perfectly.”
Da Hyun, still baffled, cocked her head at Ji Yeon’s rapid response.
Completely deceived?
“Stop beating around the bush, Han Ji Yeon. What are you trying to say?”
Da Hyun had vowed not to be shaken by Ji Yeon’s words, but she found herself unsettled. She steadied her wavering heart.
Ji Yeon sat upright, scrutinizing Da Hyun’s face, wrinkling her brow briefly before bursting into laughter and leaning forward.
You thought you had beaten me? No, you’re a loser. A perfectly defeated loser.
The thought of crushing Da Hyun’s pride sent a wave of exhilaration through Ji Yeon.
“Your brother-in-law has a child.”
“…….”
Ji Yeon lowered her voice slightly, locking eyes with Da Hyun, and continued.
“A woman named Kim Yoon Hee had a child without your brother-in-law knowing. How’s that for shocking news?”
Before Da Hyun could respond, Ji Yeon quickly added more.
Ji Yeon watched Da Hyun’s eyes, which were shaking wildly, without blinking.
“I told you you’d regret it if you didn’t listen to me.”
Ji Yeon’s maniacal laughter filled the dining room.
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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