Acts We Shouldn't Do (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
With a loud splash, the previously buzzing art center fell silent. All eyes turned to where Jae In was standing.
“You, just who do you think you are… Who do you think you are!”
Yuri, trembling with humiliation, glared fiercely at Jae In.
Jae In, who had been slapped so hard her head turned, remained surprisingly calm. Leaving her bright red cheek as it was, she slowly straightened her head toward Yuri.
She had no intention of just taking it quietly. She was glaring at Yuri, wondering how to return the favor.
“Just who do you think you are to do this to me? Who do you think you are, you little—! Someone like you dares to…
Yuri’s mouth, who had been pouring out disgust-filled rage, mouth snapped shut. Falling from above her head, dyeing her pure white off-shoulder dress crimson and dripping down to her toes, was a dark red wine that looked like blood.
Only then did Jae In notice the man standing behind Yuri. Tae Seo tilted the bottle with elegant poise, as skillfully as if he were decanting wine.
A thin velvet stream of wine silently cascaded over Yuri’s head.
“I’d feel even warm beer is wasted on you. Unfortunately, this was what I happened to be holding.”
It was a top-class vintage Romanée-Conti, of which only two bottles remained in the country. In an instant, its deep and rich aroma spread to every corner of the art center.
“Who’s the one making a scene without knowing their place? A mere Jo Yuri dares to hit someone. How bold.”
Tae Seo leisurely poured out the very last drop and whispered into Yuri’s ear. Then he handed the empty bottle to a nearby staff member who was standing there dumbfounded.
The murderous glint in his eyes from moments ago instantly softened. The hand he extended went past the elbow of Yuri, who had turned deathly pale as if she might stop breathing.
“Come here.”
Yuri glared at the man’s outstretched hand as if she wanted to kill him.
And Jae In also looked at that large, graceful hand extended toward her.
His fingers moved slightly, as if urging her.
Jae In’s gaze traveled from the tips of his well-manicured fingers up his long, sturdy arm, past the arm to his strong-looking shoulders, and finally met the warm eyes of this impeccably handsome man.
“Come. To me.”
Unable to tear her eyes away from Tae Seo, Jae In took his hand as though enchanted. In an instant, she was led by him across the grand hall.
“Ah…
Only when something cold touched her cheek did she come to her senses.
It was a space inside the gallery that seemed to be an office. Tae Seo sat Jae In on the wide desk and gently pressed a damp handkerchief to her cheek.
“Why did you just stand there and take it? That’s not like you.”
“I was about to hit her back, but Kang Tae Seo beat me to it.”
“I’m sorry. Actually… I was hoping you wouldn’t hit her.”
“Why? You can pour wine all over your fiancée, but you can’t bear to see her get hit?”
Jae In pouted and looked down. Because of that, she missed the way the corner of Tae Seo’s mouth twitched.
“As if that would ever happen.”
The man laughed as if the very idea were absurd and brushed the hair stuck to Jae In’s cheek behind her ear.
His careful touch and thorough, examining gaze carried a hint of heartache.
“Your palm would hurt if you hit trash like that, Yoon Jae In.”
“…”
“Just wait. I’ll make Jo Yuri come to you herself, slap her own cheeks, and beg for forgiveness.”
“Why would you…”
The words that spilled from Jae In’s lips scattered like a sigh. Tae Seo merely looked at her cheek with pity in his eyes.
“You’re… being kind to me?”
“Don’t you like it? Too bad, I can’t help it.”
Tae Seo couldn’t not be kind to her.
Ever since the day they ran into each other at the café, he had been waiting for Jae In to approach him. When he couldn’t wait any longer, he set the stage so she would appear.
He had even considered the possibility that she might refuse. Yet she took the risk and showed herself before him. On top of that, she personally took the hand he offered.
That fact alone made Tae Seo unbearably happy.
Finally noticing how red and swollen her cheek had become, he frowned.
“…Stay here for a moment.”
Jae In barely caught the curse he let out with a click of his tongue. Anger had returned to the voice that had been so gentle just moments ago.
“Where are you going?”
“I didn’t realize it was this swollen earlier. This won’t do. I’m going to—”
“I have something to say.”
Jae In barely stopped the man who seemed ready to go tear Jo Yuri in half.
Tae Seo looked down at the small, pale hand clutching the end of his shirt sleeve, then turned back to her.
“Speak.”
“…Kang Tae Seo, you’re a capable man, aren’t you?”
“What do you think?”
A somewhat arrogant smile spread across his confident face. Setting aside his enormous wealth and outstanding professional skills, Kang Tae Seo was an overwhelmingly attractive man.
“No matter who I turn out to be, can you promise that the interest you’re showing me right now won’t fade?”
“Even if I heard you’d committed murder right now, I’d probably think there must have been a good reason.”
“I’m not joking.”
“What’s the problem? A lot of debt? Being chased? Blackmailed? I can solve all of those.”
“Hyun Yang Construction’s Chairman Jo Dae Hoon—that man is my biological father.”
Tae Seo’s eyes narrowed at the sudden confession.
“I’m the half-sister of your fiancée, Jo Yuri. Me.”
He already knew everything about Jae In, down to her shoe size.
The corner of Tae Seo’s mouth curved strangely. From the December day he met her again until now—this was the moment he had been waiting for all this time.
“This makes me uncomfortable.”
“What do you mean by uncomfortable?”
Jae In’s tone was cautious but utterly firm—a cold, sharp rejection like the early December wind rattling the café windows.
Caught completely off guard by the rejection, Seok Dong’s already narrow brow furrowed even more.
He had been certain that after today, the woman in front of him would become his. This was the moment he had dreamed of day and night, and now that expectation had shattered spectacularly.
Two weeks ago, Seok Dong had seen the new yoga instructor who moved into the third floor of the building. That was when he finally understood what it meant for someone’s eyes to nearly pop out from beauty.
“I’m sorry the remodeling work on our yoga studio took so long and caused you inconvenience. The construction is completely finished today, so it won’t be noisy anymore.”
When Jae In personally delivered a set of macarons with an apology on behalf of the director, he fell in love at first sight.
The woman wearing almost no makeup was elegant and noble overall. Her flawless, smooth skin glowed milky white, and her large eyes were like a deer’s. Her supple figure brought to mind delicate cosmos flowers.
In some ways, she could be considered strikingly gorgeous. Because of her distinct, large features, when expressionless she gave off a sassy and haughty impression.
Yet the moment Jae In smiled brightly, Seok Dong clearly saw rose petals fluttering around her. When she smiled, she was a fully bloomed rose herself.
When Jae In slightly bowed her head in greeting, her long hair flowed in waves. Her glossy hair was exceptionally jet-black, like silk satin.
She was truly a woman beautiful enough to make anyone fall for her.
“Is the construction really finished? I hope you didn’t rush it because of me. I was fine.”
“No, really, I’m sorry. The director should have come personally, but she’s in the hospital right now, so I came as the instructor instead. Please understand.”
The remodeling for the yoga studio’s opening had taken longer than planned. Seok Dong, who ran a dental clinic on the floor directly below, had been annoyed by the noise.
That was why he had gone up to the site several times and raised his voice. Each time, the yoga studio director had bowed apologetically.
Seok Dong had glared with irritation at the woman who was much taller than him.
Then, as soon as the construction ended, it seemed she had sent an instructor with an apology gift.
“What happened that the director ended up in the hospital…?”
“She felt so sorry about the delay that she offered to help with cleaning and ended up injuring her foot.”
“Oh no… She must be really upset right before the opening.”
Seok Dong put on a regretful expression and accepted the macarons Jae In offered.
Normally he wouldn’t have even glanced at macarons—he would have scoffed, asking why anyone would bring something like this and mocking the lack of taste in gifts—but this time was different.
“How did you know I like macarons?”
“I’m glad. I was worried, but I heard there’s a famous place nearby, so I bought these. I hope they suit your taste.”
“I’ll enjoy them. Wow, the macarons are as pretty as you are, instructor.”
“Ah… thank you.”
The moment he saw Jae In give a shy smile, Seok Dong envisioned three children who looked exactly like them and even five grandchildren.
“Then will the yoga studio be closed for a while? I was looking forward to it…”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been feeling a bit stiff lately and was thinking of taking classes after work. I was waiting to sign up since a yoga studio was opening right upstairs.”
Seok Dong had zero interest in yoga or any kind of exercise. As his scrawny, muscleless body proved, he had lived thirty-six years without ever working out.
When he occasionally felt stiff, he would just get a Thai massage with his mother and call it a day. But Seok Dong was quick at calculating.
His mother, Nam Gwang Soon, owned the entire second floor of Nam Gwang Villa building that housed his dental clinic. Thanks to that, he roughly knew the size of the yoga studio moving into the vacant third floor.
A studio half the size of his clinic that had just opened wouldn’t have many instructors. That meant if he signed up, he would have plenty of chances to see Jae In.
“I’ll be running it by myself for the time being. I’d be grateful if you trust me and come.”
At Jae In’s words, Seok Dong cheered inwardly. Because of that, he only half-listened as she explained the general class details.
He was already lost in the fantasy of attending a class reunion with his pretty, fit girlfriend on his arm and handing out wedding invitations.
Starting the very next day, Seok Dong began attending the yoga studio. Exchanging phone numbers on the first day of registration felt completely natural.
“What should I save our instructor’s name as?”
“It’s Yoon Jae In.”
“I’m Oh Seok Dong. You know, right? From the dental clinic sign. Ah, please call me Director.”
Seok Dong smiled proudly, thinking of the huge sign in the middle of the building that read . But the reply he got was refreshing.
“So it was named after the director. I saw ‘Gangnam Oh Seok Dong Dental Clinic’ and thought it was the Gangnam branch of an Oh Seok Dong chain.”
“It’s the only dental clinic in the country that bears my name. I wrote Gangnam because this is my hometown.”
“Ah…”
When people talked about their hometown being Seoul, they didn’t usually specify Gangnam. Jae In thought it was odd and gave an awkward smile.
Regardless, Seok Dong praised the Gangnam he loved so dearly. While doing so, he subtly showed off the watch on his wrist to Jae In, who was listening attentively.
The R-brand watch he had bought for the price of a mid-size domestic car was his pride. His mother had bought it for him as an opening gift, saying a director running a clinic in Gangnam needed at least this level of watch.
Luxury brands are luxury for a reason.
Seok Dong decided he would soon look into couple watches. He planned to get the same brand even if it was a stretch. He didn’t think money spent on a pretty, young girlfriend was ever wasted.
He believed raising the class of the woman on his arm was both a privilege and a matter of manners for a successful man.
“By the way, Jae In, you’re really impressive. You look like you’re still in your twenties, but you already have an international yoga certification…”
“Even people younger than me get it. And I’m in my thirties.”
“…Pardon?”
It felt like he’d been hit in the back of the head.
Anyone would think she exuded the fresh energy of someone in their twenties, yet she was thirty years old.
Seok Dong stared at her in disbelief. He was so shocked that he couldn’t even hide his face growing even uglier from the panic.
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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