Brother, You're Mistaken (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
March 31st.
The shop was filled with warm air. Outside, the lingering chill of early spring had frosted every windowpane with a hazy film of condensation.
It was the perfect weather for warming up a small cup of soju to thaw out your cold body. In this magical season, if you felt even slightly buzzed, stepping outside for ten deep breaths would instantly sober you up.
The ideal night to drink with your closest friends.
“To Bongbong Research—no, to DataS Korea!”
Cheon Da Hee—Hye Ju’s university classmate and colleague who’d joined the company at the same time.
“Why talk about work on a Friday night? From Friday evening to Sunday night, I’m not an office worker.”
Kang Seung Won—Hye Ju’s high school classmate and a friend who worked with her on the same development team.
The three of them, whose relationship spanned ten years even counting only the time they’d spent apart, clinked their glasses together. Seung Won, who’d just downed his shot of soju in one gulp, turned to Hye Ju with a solemn expression.
“Oh Hye Ju. Don’t lay down the linoleum.”
“You only get those eagle eyes when you’re drinking.”
Hye Ju gave a soft laugh and looked at the two of them.
Twenty-seven this year, brimming with energy, wallets comfortably full—and, most of all, all three of them single.
That was exactly why they never missed their weekly Friday drinks. For nearly a year now, their routine had been: dinner near the office for round one, skewers near Seung Won’s officetel for round two, and wrapping up the night at Seung Won’s place.
“Seung Won, you’re really lucky now. With your older brother becoming the company’s CEO, your path’s going to be paved with roses.”
Da Hee grinned widely, her face practically blooming. Petite, delicate enough to fit snugly in someone’s arms, and looking so young she sometimes got asked for her ID.
“Paved with roses, my ass. You just don’t know my brother yet. You’ll think it’s a flower path, step on it carelessly—and go splat.”
“Why?”
“You always have to be careful with flower paths…”
Da Hee instantly understood his seemingly random drunken rambling.
“Is CEO Kang Joo Won really that scary?”
“He’s a good older brother.”
“So he’s not actually scary?”
“He’s a kind person…”
“He must be terrifying, then.”
Da Hee’s eyebrows drooped.
Recently, their company, Bongbong Research, had been merged into DataS. The U.S.-based global data analytics giant DataS had acquired 100% of Bongbong Research’s shares.
In other words, the company’s entire executive team was being replaced. It was common knowledge among employees that the new CEO was Seung Won’s older brother, Kang Joo Won.
“Come to think of it, don’t you need to move out now? Our hideout was originally your brother’s place, right?”
At Hye Ju’s question, Seung Won sighed as if the ground might swallow him whole.
“Yeah, I guess so. I’m already dying of annoyance just thinking about it.”
“It’ll probably take you three full days and nights just to pack up your place.”
“Right?! The thought of packing already makes me want to throw up.”
“Then we should start clearing out our stuff from the hideout first.”
“What stuff? We basically only keep workout clothes there, right?”
“I left my face cream and lip balm. Last time I saw, one of Da Hee’s underwear was rolling around too. When’s CEO Kang Joo Won supposed to move in?”
Hye Ju’s mind had been fixated on the “hideout” the whole time they’d been sitting there.
Kang Seung Won, Cheon Da Hee, Oh Hye Ju—the trio treated this hideout like their second home.
It was Seung Won’s officetel. Because it was a high-end residential officetel with an excellent fitness center, they’d started borrowing his membership—and before they knew it, they were coming and going as if it were their own home.
For over a year now, they’d gathered every Friday night at the hideout for their so-called “Pig Camp,” staying over for a full day of eating and drinking. But Hye Ju’s concern about the hideout wasn’t just about missing it.
“He’s supposed to start work the week after next, so he’ll probably move in by next week at the latest. We’re not exactly the type to have chit-chats about details anyway.”
“I see. Ah, I’ll be right back—bathroom break.”
Hye Ju excused herself and got up.
The skewer restaurant’s restroom was outside. Pulling her coat tight, she hurried into the restroom and quickly fixed her makeup. She reapplied her nearly vanished lipstick and spritzed some dull perfume onto her neck.
“…It’s judgment day.”
She steeled her resolve as she looked into the mirror.
She’d decided to confess to Seung Won today. They’d first met as desk partners in their first year of high school—the first person she’d ever liked. So many years had slipped by like a river, all because she’d never managed to say those three simple words.
When she’d met her sweet first love again at work, she’d thought it was fate.
So today, she had to say it: that she liked him, that she’d liked him for a long, long time.
“I like you, Seung Won.”
She cleared her throat and repeated the words. She’d practiced them dozens of times, afraid that when she was finally alone with him, her lips would freeze shut.
Was there any riskier gamble than confessing to an old friend? Today was the day she’d finally chosen after worrying endlessly that the moment she opened her heart, she might lose her dearest friend forever.
“It’ll be April Fools’ in just one more hour.”
Her trembling eyes reflected the hands of her wristwatch.
That morning, after visiting the fitness center, she’d briefly stopped by Seung Won’s room. After neatly folding the haphazardly tossed bedsheet, she’d left her prepared gift behind—her heart pounding as if she were filming a spy thriller.
Her plan was perfect. At the stroke of midnight, a Gundam figure would pop out of the gift box on his bed. Then, a confession song would play from the audio device installed in the Gundam’s chest. As the song ended, she’d magically appear and confess.
“I like you, Seung Won.”
Those words she’d practiced dozens of times.
What expression would Seung Won make? He’d probably be shocked. Most likely, he’d think it was absurd or tease her, saying, “You’ve had too much to drink—stop talking nonsense.”
She’d left “April Fools’” as her escape route in the worst-case scenario, but she really hoped it wouldn’t come to that. She’d put so much effort into this—building a model kit despite having zero interest in it, and even installing an audio device as a non-tech person—that she just wanted him to consider it seriously, even just once.
“This is my only chance. Oh Hye Ju, come on, you’ve got this!”
Checking her wristwatch, which read 11:05, Hye Ju left the restroom.
“When are you going to tell Hye Ju?”
Da Hee’s voice reached her just as she reached the top of the stairs. For some reason, Hye Ju’s heart clenched tightly. Normally, she would’ve burst in teasing, “You two are secretly plotting something behind my back!” But for some reason, her feet wouldn’t move.
It was an ominous premonition.
“I think I should tell her as soon as possible—about us dating.”
…What’s this? April Fools’ hasn’t even started yet.
“Well… Maybe we should wait a bit. It’d seem out of nowhere if you suddenly said we’re dating.”
She’d thought that until she heard Seung Won’s low voice reply from across Da Hee.
“Lately, it seems like Hye Ju might have someone she likes too. She asked me a few times about picking out a gift for a guy. How about we just come clean about us and do a double date? Why not just tell her?”
“Let’s wait a few days and see.”
“But I don’t want to keep secrets from Hye Ju.”
…Ah.
Peeking out from around the corner, she saw Da Hee leaning against Seung Won’s arm.
Her round eyes sparkled with affection, and her neat lips shimmered with happiness. Seung Won’s gaze, looking down at her, was so tender that Hye Ju didn’t need to ask if it was real to know for sure.
“You two… like each other. You’ve been looking at each other with those eyes this whole time… and I didn’t even know.”
A piece of her pounding heart crumbled inside.
The two friends she loved most in the world loved each other.
“Haah… haah…”
She didn’t even know how she’d run all the way back to the hideout. It usually took ten minutes to walk from the skewer place to the hideout—but she’d sprinted the whole distance.
She didn’t notice the blood from her blistered heels in her heels or the tears streaming down her cheeks. The first thing that popped into her mind after hearing their conversation was the gift she’d left on Seung Won’s bed.
“I have to get the gift back first.”
It was a gift filled with years of hidden feelings. “[To Seung Won, from Hye Ju.]” The carefully affixed sticky note on the box, and the confession song set to play precisely at midnight.
If they found it, she’d look utterly ridiculous.
Her two best friends were dating—and she’d been the only one in the dark.
Da Hee… I didn’t even know you were dating Seung Won. I even asked you for advice about my crush. How lucky that I never told you it was him.
Tears welled up again, but she had no time to wipe them. Hye Ju entered Seung Won’s officetel with the familiar password. The gift she’d left that morning was still sitting on the bed, untouched.
As lonely and pitiful as her own situation.
“Whew… at least it hasn’t been discovered yet.”
Her long, unspoken crush—now safely undiscovered—left her feeling strangely desolate.
“At least… I found out before confessing. That’s something to be thankful for.”
She forced herself to find comfort as she gathered the gift. As she hopped over the messy floor—left uncleaned since last night’s empty bottles—heading toward the front door, a sudden sense of unease prickled her skin.
“Come to think of it… did I turn the lights on when I came in? Or were they already on…?”
Too flustered to remember, she assumed she must’ve absentmindedly switched them on and took another step forward.
Click. The bathroom door opened.
“M-Mom!”
Hye Ju jumped in fright, her legs instantly going weak. Her heart hammered so loudly it felt like it was thumping outside her chest.
“What… what is this?”
The footsteps approaching her stopped just inches away.
“Hey there, little thief-cat.”
“!”
A fresh body wash scent rolled in with a wave of steam. Through half-lidded eyes, she saw damp bare feet. Taut calves rising from firm ankles, and above the knees, a pure-white bathrobe clinging precariously.
And… an unmistakably bare, towering silhouette.
“What are you doing?”
A low, slightly raspy voice.
His unmistakable, unforgettable tone froze her in place.
“Kang Joo Won… sir?”
“Cut the ‘sir’ nonsense. Didn’t expect the first face I’d see after coming back to Korea to be yours.”
In this moment, she sincerely wished he were a complete stranger—it would’ve been far less awkward.
“Oh Hye Ji? Long time no see.”
He was so confidently casual that she forgot he’d even gotten her name wrong. In front of this towering man wearing nothing but a bathrobe, she didn’t know where to look—and she had absolutely no idea why he was even here.
“What are you doing here?”
Her stammering question was met with a cold, mocking laugh.
“That’s what I should be asking you. What brings you to my house?”
She’d momentarily forgotten—this was Kang Joo Won’s place.
Joo Won had given the place to Seung Won when he’d left for studies in the U.S. After spending hours earlier discussing how they needed to vacate the hideout, she’d walked right into the owner’s home and acted as if she owned the place. Hye Ju scrambled for an excuse.
“Oh—it’s just that I left something behind. It’s… complicated to explain everything right now. Maybe you could ask Seung Won? Also… you’re just… way too undressed right now.”
As she bent down to pick up the gift she’d dropped in her panic, she fumbled blindly on the floor. Once she’d grabbed it, she quickly hid it behind her back, terrified it might be seen.
“Well, I’ve got what I came for, so I’ll be going now.”
She bowed quickly and turned to leave.
“Freeze.”
The voice of a grim reaper echoed in her ears. Her shoulders trembled.
Thud… thud…
With each of his approaching footsteps, she felt her life draining away like a dying battery.
“Fine. I don’t care how many times you came into my house while I was away, or that you entered without being the actual owner by typing in the password.”
If you don’t care, then just let me go.
“But if what you’re holding in your hand happens to be my underwear—then that’s a different story.”
“Underwear? What…?”
Instinctively, she clenched her fist—and felt a soft piece of fabric layered over the gift wrapping.
“Worn underwear, specifically.”
“!”
No wonder the wrapping had felt unusually soft.
She’d just opened the gates to the afterlife herself.
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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