After meeting Ji Young, Min Jung canceled all her afternoon appointments and returned home, lying in bed with a wet towel on her forehead, groaning in discomfort.
She felt betrayed by Ji Young, whom she had trusted. The idea that Ji Young was planning to divorce Ha Joon and marry someone else was shocking enough, but Min Jung was also infuriated by the apparent disregard for Min Jun.
Even though she disliked Seo Ah, she was still the daughter-in-law of Taesung Group, and it bothered Min Jung that others might disrespect Seo Ah because of her own attitude.
Then, there was a knock on her door. It opened without waiting for a response, undoubtedly Min Jun entering.
“Mom, you said you were sick.”
Seeing Min Jun, Min Jung’s barely calmed anger flared up again, and she threw the towel on her forehead at him with all her might.
“Do you know the humiliation I suffered today because of you?!”
“Why are you upset again~?”
Min Jun, accustomed to this, caught the towel before it fell and placed it back on Min Jung’s forehead.
“When are you going to dye that hair? I’ve told you several times to tidy up and stop going to clubs!”
“Just bear with me for a bit longer. When else will I enjoy my twenties? Ouch! That’s hot!”
Min Jun provoked another scolding. Min Jung, who had calmed down momentarily, sat up and started smacking him on the back.
“You should learn at least a fraction from your brother! Do you think he’s doing all that because he doesn’t want to have fun?!”
“Let’s get the facts straight. Brother does what he wants. Who else would do something he dislikes? I bet he’s happier than anyone else I know right now.”
Min Jung felt it too. She read daily articles about Ha Joon and Seo Ah, and every new facet of her reserved eldest son sent shivers down her spine.
“I’ll try to live like Brother, doing what I want, ahh!!”
Min Jun faced another beating.
Finally, having had enough, Min Jun stood up, pressed Min Jung back down onto the bed, and placed the towel back on her forehead, saying,
“I don’t know what you’ve heard, but accepting the truth as it is will ease your mind. Mother, stop wasting your energy on useless things and get some rest. Make sure to eat well tonight!”
“Are you going to a club again?”
As Min Jung tried to sit up again, Min Jun firmly pressed her shoulder down and didn’t let go.
“Don’t worry, I’m going out for some wholesome fun today~!”
Leaving the house, Min Jun headed straight to Seo Ah’s school.
Ha Joon had asked him to look after Seo Ah if he had time.
Min Jun found it odd that Ha Joon, who used to be jealous of his closeness with Seo Ah and guarded against him until recently, was now entrusting her to him. Was this his way of saying she was now his woman?
Before Min Jun could ask, Ha Joon had already explained the situation.
“Ha Joon and I are facing opposing forces. Right now, we can’t trust anyone, so Secretary Kim and I have been driving Seo Ah ourselves. But neither of us will be available today.”
“What about Seo Ah’s original driver? Aren’t they like family?”
“I’ve told you, we can’t trust anyone right now. Only you, me, and Secretary Kim know this, so please be careful.”
Min Jun was shocked. Although he knew Ha Joon was cautious, the idea that Seo Ah’s closest allies might be the ones to watch was unexpected.
“Do you trust me?”
“…At least I know you wouldn’t harm Seo Ah.”
[Star Icon]Seo Ah’s school was as noisy as the day Ha Joon appeared. Though Min Jun didn’t get out of the car, its open top drew attention.
“Who’s that?”
“Don’t you know? That’s Kang Min Jun, Kang Ha Joon’s younger brother from Taesung Group.”
“Wow, they have the same face but opposite styles. Impressive genes. Is he married?”
“Ha Joon is only 27. Do you think his younger brother would be married?”
“I should have dressed up today.”
“Dressing up wouldn’t have made a difference…”
While most looked on like they were seeing a celebrity, a group envious of Ha Joon and Seo Ah scornfully commented.
“What’s this, her husband yesterday and now his brother?”
“Our words must have influenced this. Too perfect a coincidence.”
“Did you see yesterday’s article? Pretending to date because it’s embarrassing just to go in. They should have waited a few days to make it more believable.”
One clueless friend blurted out, “Oh my! He just made eye contact with me!”
“No, he was looking behind you.”
Behind her, Seo Ah appeared. Min Jun got out of the car, smiling warmly at Seo Ah, drawing everyone’s attention.
Seo Ah’s face flushed with embarrassment, especially with Min Jun’s open car. As she approached hesitantly, Min Jun opened the car door for her.
“Been doing well? Nice to see you at school.”
“Yes, you too, sir.”
“Of course!”
As Min Jun closed the door and fastened her seatbelt, the onlookers’ eyes dripped with envy.
“Wow, such manners… I’m jealous…”
Embarrassed by the open car, Seo Ah urged Min Jun to leave quickly.
[Star Icon]They went to a high-end restaurant overlooking Seoul’s nightscape, chosen by Ha Joon for safety reasons.
“You resolved your misunderstanding with your brother?”
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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