With so much affection directed toward him, that painting could only be a particularly special one for him.
Gaeul asked casually, even though she liked it.
“Then, have you been looking at that painting every day while I wasn’t around?”
In response to Gaeul’s question, he nodded his head.
At the time I painted the picture, my skills were not good enough to induce such things intentionally. Although it wasn’t my intention, the fact that the representative must have glimpsed my picture while passing through the office crossed my mind, making him suddenly seem cute.
Gaeul burst into laughter, finding him adorable.
During my absence, he must have had breakfast and spent time with my painting, even in the space without me after work.
“Why.”
He looked at Gaeul with a puzzled expression as she suddenly laughed. Gaeul turned her body, wrapped his face with her hands, and brought her face close to mine.
Why Gaeul laughed, or why she suddenly wrapped her face, I didn’t know, but he was charming, waiting for my lips to come closer.
Gaeul pressed her lips against his and whispered with a voice mixed with laughter, “Subtle…”
“…?”
“Cute.”
With a strange word that returned with the expected kiss, he opened his eyes again, bewildered.
“…Me?”
“Yes. Representative.”
“Where did you see that?”
As if wondering what nonsense he just heard.
A few days later, on a weekday, there was a clear smile on Kitae’s face compared to the past two weeks. Yesterday and today were the same.
Since it had been like that for the past few days, people around him looked at him with curiosity. However, he did not give any answers to relieve their curiosity.
Still drawing the line of lips on his face, he turned his gaze out the window.
Despite the usual same commute, all the landscapes that had been unremarkable suddenly seemed new.
Everything was all because of Gaeul.
After I suggested painting on the canvas, she had already colored my entire world. Now, I couldn’t postpone it any longer.
“Should we go to Venice for our honeymoon? Yoon Gaeul said she wants to see the canal.”
While Gaeul was preparing for the exhibition, Kitae was preparing for a proposal.
Yesterday, pretending to hide a bit of tension, he subtly asked if she had a place she wanted to visit, and she said she wanted to go to Venice.
Then, the decision for the honeymoon was made for Italy.
He received news that he would soon be able to get the proposal ring.
The exhibition was right around the corner. After finishing the exhibition and when Gaeul was enjoying the joy of the exhibition, it seemed like a good time to propose.
He wanted to leave an especially good memory for Gaeul. So, he prepared thoroughly, but he was nervous without even realizing it.
“I’m nervous… I can’t believe it.”
Kitae let out a chuckle.
What if she rejects it now? What if she doesn’t like the proposal? Various worries filled me. Me, who never hesitated to undertake any project.
On the day of the exhibition, carrying the TS Gallery on her back, Gaeul, who is currently promoting her name, is in full swing. The exhibition was held at the perfect time.
For Gaeul, it was officially her third exhibition. Since promotion had been underway on the gallery website for a long time, most of the people eagerly waiting for her exhibition had already made their way.
The fact that Gaeul is Yoon Daeho’s daughter had spread so publicly in the art world that almost no one was unaware of it.
Along with the title of a genius painter, rumors circulated secretly that CEOs of major companies were lining up to get one of her paintings. More people than usual gathered at the TS Gallery to verify the truth.
Some people thought that the rumor was clever marketing by TS Gallery, or that it was an exaggerated rumor.
However, the truth was revealed when Chairman Han Baekho and Chairman Shin Mincheol, who had visited the gallery in person along with the secretary who had inquired about Gaeul’s painting, confirmed it.
Gaeul was extremely busy with this exhibition.
It was because it was held at the peak of her popularity.
Gaeul went to Chairman Baekho, who had visited her exhibition first, and greeted him.
“Chairman, you came?”
“Yeah. I heard a lot of praise for your paintings lately, Gaeul. I have to take a look before they’re sold.”
Gaeul subtly expressed her gratitude, recalling all the support he had given her.
“It’s all thanks to you, Chairman. I was able to draw the paintings I liked.”
It was true that it had been tough to live while watching him and adjusting to his mood at the mansion.
But it was also true that he had supported me wholeheartedly, protecting me and my mom in a safe fence until I became an adult. That’s why I could focus on my paintings.
“Thank you, Chairman.”
“…”
Although Baekho didn’t express much in response to Gaeul’s words, she could tell that he wasn’t in a bad mood.
Gaeul greeted Chairman Shin, who was with Baekho.
“Chairman Shin is here too. Hello.”
“Yes, Gaeul.”
He smiled warmly as he looked at Gaeul’s paintings and answered, “One chairman invited me to see the paintings, so I think I did well to come. Gaeul, your paintings don’t disappoint me as much as Chairman Han’s daughter.”
“Ah…! Thank you.”
Although she thought she was still far from comparing to her father…
Embarrassed by the incomparable praise, Gaeul bowed her head.
After that, Gaeul had to spend a busy time with numerous collector requests for guidance.
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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