On a day when the harassment from Yu Ri towards me spread even to her, she transferred to a regular high school. She was inexplicably removed from the list of special support recipients for arts and physical education by the Hyun Yang Foundation.
“With all the practice you have to do, you’re really lucky, aren’t you?”
“…”
“Mom, she must be on vacation in Korea. Leaving her sick mother alone in the US, does she feel like chit-chatting?”
I lost my only friend amidst the mockery and criticism poured out by Seung Hee and Yu Ri. For the seven years that followed in Korea, I never opened my heart to anyone else. I didn’t want to see someone get hurt because of me anymore.
Tae Seo would not be harmed by them. But there was absolutely no benefit to Sang Hwa attracting their attention. I didn’t want to lose Sang Hwa. Living in Sang Hwa’s house was an entirely different matter from maintaining a relationship like we were merely colleagues at work.
“Is it because of my mother? Hey, don’t you know Madam Bae? Mom would be happy if you came. Just come to our house.”
“Sang Hwa, I know what you’re worried about. But I think I’ll be fine by his side.”
“He persuaded you to live with him? What is he thinking to suggest living together! What are you even saying?”
Jae In could fully understand Sang Hwa’s anger. She knew it came from a place of concern for her. That’s why, after much contemplation, she decided to lay everything out.
“The truth is, Sang Hwa. The reason I came to Korea… it was for revenge.”
“Revenge? On whom?”
“…The person who’s trying to hide the fact that I’m his daughter.”
With just those words, Jae In noticed Sang Hwa’s eyes brimming with tears and managed a faint smile.
“I did as you said. Check the contract.”
“Good work.”
“But what are you thinking? Using your own money for this?”
Amber scowled as she gulped down her iced tea. Even in the dead of winter, she insisted on her peach iced tea with heaps of ice – not the fancy kind, but the powdered type from L company. It was typical of her, who grew up in a large loving family, never wanting for anything. Standing at 178 cm with a slender figure, red hair, fair skin with freckles – she was the quintessential Southern American belle.
Contrary to her elegant and intellectual appearance, only a few knew of her down-to-earth personality. She was known for her rough drinking talk that started and ended with expletives.
“Yeah, it’s my money that’s being spent, so the company won’t go under. Don’t worry about it.”
“They think I don’t understand Korean, whispering about my hair color, and women this and that, right? Their business manners are complete shxx…”
“Has your Korean improved a lot? Is it more comfortable for you now?”
Amber, about to curse, gave a petulant look and then a slight smile at Tae Seo’s compliment about her improved Korean.
“Not exactly. I try to use it whenever I meet Korean people. It’s all thanks to you.”
Amber narrowed her eyes with a nasal tone. Her smile was charming enough to captivate anyone, but Tae Seo shook his head slightly, displeased.
“Time to go now.”
“What?”
“I’ve seen everything I needed to; now go back to where you live.”
“Hey! I came to Korea this dawn! And it was to do you a favor!”
“Go on. It’s a waste to leave that expensive house empty. Go.”
Amber rolled her eyes at his blunt dismissal. Pouting her lips, she pulled out her phone and thrust the screen in front of Tae Seo.
“…”
“I need to buy these.”
The list on the phone screen was a shopping list. It included everything from mask packs to chicken galbi seasoning, seaweed, fried red pepper paste, and ssamjang.
“They sell all that at the Korean market.”
“It tastes different, the taste. The ones in America are saltier! Sweeter! Less spicy! And greasier!”
“…What will you do with it after buying?”
“Obviously, I have to cook for you.”
“Your ‘you’ wouldn’t want you to cook for him. You can’t cook.”
Amber’s eyes, which had been sparkling just moments before, sharpened. But Tae Seo, the recipient of that look, remained completely unconcerned.
Instead of engaging further, he seemed annoyed and pulled out his phone, scrolling through something. Then, with the world’s most ticklish smile playing on his lips, he squinted his eyes.
The smile was different from the one he wore when the investments paid off. Even Amber, who had known Tae Seo for over a decade, saw a heart-fluttering smile she had never seen before.
“I admit it. I admit that Tae Seo is handsome.”
“Just go. I’m busy.”
“But what are you smiling at? Let’s see it together.”
Amber craned her neck to see, but Tae Seo covered his phone screen, indicating he had no intention of showing her. It seemed he had no patience left for Amber, who wouldn’t leave even when he tried to dismiss her, as he stood up.
“Buy whatever you need and go. Back to your ‘dear’ waiting in New York.”
“I came with my ‘dear,’ you know?”
“Why sleep outside when you have a house. Go home.”
“I haven’t even gotten over the jet lag yet!”
“Sleep on the flight back. Just go. Go home and rest.”
Unlike Tae Seo, Amber, who was meddlesome, fit right in with Korean sentimentality. Moreover, her naturally large facial features and her exaggerated reactions, accompanied by a voice that wasn’t exactly soft, always made her the center of attention.
However, Tae Seo found her exhausting to be around. It wasn’t that he disliked her. It just felt like a chatty radio was on all the time. That’s why Tae Seo preferred seeing Amber only once a year.
As Tae Seo was pushing her out of the office, Amber suddenly grasped the door, realization dawning on her face. Outside the office, Manager Jang and a secretary stood up, their eyes wide as they watched her.
“Stop!”
“What now. Why again.”
“It’s a girl, a girl.”
“…….”
“Oh my god… Tae Seo has a girl!”
“Go.”
“A girl for Tae Seo! All this time I thought you were impotent!”
“Where did you learn such talk? Enough with the nonsense and leave. Manager Jang, the guest is leaving.”
After escorting Amber out of the office, Tae Seo closed the door without looking back. The clicking sound confirmed it was locked.
Standing in front of the firmly closed door with a blank expression, Amber turned around. She caught sight of the two women standing straight and her own secretaries waiting for her, yet all she could do was blink for a long time before finally speaking.
“Holy shxx…….”
“…….”
“Do you see? I’ve got goosebumps.”
As Amber rolled up the sleeves of her suit jacket to show her arm, everyone was at a loss for words.
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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