March 31st.
The store was filled with a warm atmosphere. The outside air was quite chilly due to the lingering frost on the windows.
It was a perfect day to warm up the cold body with a heated drink. When the alcohol was slightly raised, going outside for a deep breath and coming back in made the alcohol magically stronger—a season of wonders.
It was a wonderful day to drink with close friends.
“For Bong Bong Research, no, for Data’s Korea!”
Cheon Da Hee, a college friend and colleague of Hye Ju.
“Why are we talking about work on a Friday? From Friday night to Sunday night, I’m not an office worker.”
Kang Seung Won, a high school friend of Hye Ju and a friend who works in the same company’s development team.
Three people who had maintained a 10year relationship despite being apart came together and clinked their glasses. Seung Won, who had playfully tapped his head with an empty soju glass, suddenly put on a serious expression as he looked at Hye Ju.
“Oh Hye Ju, don’t spread the mat.”
“I’m only strict when it comes to drinking.”
Hye Ju smiled mischievously as she looked at the two.
Twentyseven years old this year, full of energy, and with a thick wallet. Above all, all three were single.
That’s why they could meet every Friday without fail and raise their glasses. They would have the first round near the office, the second round at a cozy place near Seung Won’s officetel, and then finish the drinking session at Seung Won’s place. This course had been going on for almost a year.
“Seung Won, you’re really lucky. Now that your brother has become the CEO of the company, your path will be paved with flowers.”
Da Hee laughed lightly, resting her face on her hand. She had a petite figure and a youthful appearance that made her look like she needed to show her ID occasionally.
“Flowers, my foot. You don’t know our brother yet. If you think the path is covered in flowers and step on it carelessly, you might trip and fall flat on your face.”
“Why?”
“The path of flowers always requires caution…”
Without any context, Da Hee understood perfectly.
“Is CEO Kang Ju Won really that scary?”
“He’s a good brother.”
“So he’s not a scary person?”
“People can be kind…”
“He’s actually a very intimidating person.”
Da Hee’s eyebrows furrowed.
Recently, the company where the three of them worked, Bong Bong Research, had merged with Data’s. The largescale data analysis platform, Data’s, based in the United States, had acquired 100% of Bong Bong Research’s shares.
In other words, it meant a complete reshuffling of the company’s executives. The fact that the CEO of that company was Seung Won’s brother, Kang Ju Won, was known to the majority of the employees.
“Oh, speaking of which, aren’t you supposed to move now? Our hideout was originally your brother’s place.”
At Hye Ju’s question, Seung Won let out a sigh as if the ground was about to swallow him.
“Yeah, I have to. It’s such a hassle.”
“If you want to organize your place, three days and nights won’t be enough.”
“That’s what I’m saying! Just thinking about packing makes me want to puke.”
“Then we should start by organizing our stuff at the hideout.”
“What stuff? We only have workout clothes anyway.”
“I left my face mask and lip balm there. I saw Da Hee’s underwear rolling around last time. When did CEO Kang Ju Won come in?”
Throughout their time sitting there, Hye Ju’s attention was solely focused on the “hideout.”
Kang Seung Won, Cheon Da Hee, Oh Hye Ju. The place where the three of them gathered like having a meal, the hideout.
It was Seung Won’s officetel. As it was a highend residential officetel, there was a wellequipped fitness center, and they had borrowed membership cards, eventually becoming regular visitors as if it were their own place.
Every Friday night, they gathered at the hideout for a twoday pig camp, where they ate and drank to their heart’s content. It had been over a year since they started this socalled pig camp. However, Hye Ju’s concern for the “hideout” wasn’t just because she felt regretful.
“Since we’ll be going to work starting next week, won’t we be able to come here at least by next week? It’s not like I have chatty conversations with your brother normally.”
“Oh, I see. Uh, excuse me for a moment. I need to use the restroom.”
Hye Ju asked for their permission and stood up.
The small restroom was located outdoors. After adjusting her coat, she arrived at the restroom and began fixing her makeup. She reapplied the almost faded lipstick and sprayed a subtle perfume on her neck.
“…It’s the day of reckoning.”
Hye Ju looked at herself in the mirror, firming her resolve.
She had decided to confess her feelings to Seung Won today. When they were in their first year of high school, they became each other’s partners and she had harbored feelings for him for the first time. Confessing had been so difficult that she couldn’t even utter those three words she wanted to say and let time flow away like a river.
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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