‘Why is the director acting like this?’
Following the events of yesterday, Autumn headed to the gallery again today. In contrast to yesterday, her steps were cautious and slow.
After parting ways like that, Autumn had been very upset.
So, she didn’t visit the studio and just went straight to the annex to sleep.
But… when she woke up, there was another message from him.
[Come to the gallery.]There was no explanation, and after parting awkwardly yesterday, she felt unable to ask directly.
When Autumn arrived, the secretary stood up.
Unlike yesterday, when there was no knock, Autumn looked at her questioningly, waiting. The secretary smiled and informed her,
“The director said to come in as soon as you arrive, Miss Yoon.”
“……Ah, thank you.”
Knocking as a formality, Autumn swallowed and slowly opened the door to enter the office. She stiffened as she stepped inside.
Ki Tae, who usually just glanced at his files and asked her to wait for a while before discussing matters, was looking at her as soon as she entered.
He sat arrogantly with his legs crossed on his tidy office desk, staring intently at Autumn as she entered.
The intensity of his gaze made Autumn swallow her breath.
The air felt tense, as if they had fought, filled with an awkwardness lingering from yesterday’s incident.
Although the atmosphere was still awkward and cold from yesterday’s events, his words were of a completely different nature.
“Have any prior engagements today too?”
“…….”
Autumn briefly closed her mouth.
Realizing that his tone and look clearly indicated he knew her lie, she had no choice but to shake her head.
He then put on his jacket as he did yesterday and gestured towards the door with a nod of his head.
“Then, let’s go.”
“……Yes.”
The atmosphere was tense for an invitation to dinner.
But maybe, if they had dinner together, this awkwardness would dissolve…? Having dinner today might make him reconsider yesterday’s lie as the truth.
Autumn, having taken a deep breath, quickened her steps to catch up with Ki Tae. She thought perhaps she could clear up yesterday’s misunderstanding with some effort.
Ki Tae glanced at Autumn beside him, and his lips slightly relaxed.
He turned to face her and stopped.
“……About yesterday.”
Autumn looked at him curiously as he turned to her suddenly, wondering what he was about to say. She met his gaze, tense with anticipation.
Just then, in Autumn’s view beyond Ki Tae, another familiar figure appeared.
As Autumn’s gaze shifted from him to something behind him, Ki Tae’s frown deepened and he too looked back.
“Ki Tae!”
The voice of Hye Soo, who had visited the gallery again following yesterday, echoed from afar. Ki Tae’s expression crumpled instantly.
‘Why does she always show up unannounced like this, expecting me to avoid her?’ Both Ki Tae and Autumn looked displeased.
As Autumn sighed, wondering what excuse she might have to come up with this time, Ki Tae intercepted her thoughts.
“Why? Got another prior engagement?”
“……What?”
“What excuse are you going to make this time?”
“…….”
Autumn, lost for words, closed her mouth tightly. Hye Soo arrived while Autumn struggled to respond. She stood in front of Ki Tae in a glamorous outfit different from yesterday, her large earrings swinging beautifully with her hair. But Ki Tae’s gaze did not wander in her direction.
“Um… Ki Tae?”
Ignoring Hye Soo calling him, Ki Tae whispered to Autumn.
“I don’t understand why you keep avoiding me.”
Their close gaze was sharp.
“……You’re not even smiling now.”
Autumn trembled slightly at his words.
“It’s not like that.”
“If you’re going to make up another excuse about a prior engagement, just go.”
“……I’m sorry.”
Autumn’s face turned pale. She bowed her head without looking up and hurried away.
Ki Tae watched her retreating back until she was out of sight, then abruptly turned to look down at Hye Soo.
He was satisfied that Autumn had seemingly made way for him willingly.
Hye Soo, facing the handsome man before her, gave a bright smile, a coquettish charm in her expression.
Ki Tae’s face twisted in displeasure.
Hye Soo, who had been looking at him, widened her eyes in surprise as he sighed heavily and subtly rebuked her.
“Cha Hye Soo, showing up without an appointment is quite rude.”
“……What?”
Hye Soo was taken aback by his somewhat cold tone, but he continued with a warning.
“I’m being polite considering your father, Miss Cha. Next time, arrange a schedule through my secretary.”
“……Okay, I’m sorry, Ki Tae.”
Although Hye Soo was startled and frozen, Ki Tae passed by her indifferently and got into a newly arrived sedan.
The car didn’t hesitate and drove off, leaving her standing in front of the gallery.
Two days before the exhibition, Autumn was called to the gallery. It was a visit she couldn’t avoid, as Director Park had summoned her.
During this time, Autumn carefully chose a time to visit, hoping to avoid encountering Ki Tae.
Upon entering the gallery, she saw that the paintings for the upcoming exhibition had already filled the interior.
She cautiously approached Director Park, who was busily moving around.
“Sir, Director…”
For the first time, Director Park reprimanded her.
“Why haven’t you sent the last painting you promised?”
Realizing her oversight, Autumn gasped. She had been preoccupied and had forgotten about the painting.
“When I contacted you asking when you would send the painting, you hardly responded.”
“Ah…….”
“Of course, it’s fortunate we have a replacement painting, but you should have kept your promise.”
“I’m sorry.”
The emotional strain Autumn had been experiencing was her own affair. Without any excuses, she repeatedly apologized to the director.
“I’m really sorry, Director.”
“……Alright. Just don’t let this happen again.”
After reprimanding her, the director seemed to feel sorry and sighed, returning to his usual friendly demeanor.
“Still, that painting might be used in the next exhibition, so once it’s finished, send it over.”
Autumn, feeling even more apologetic, smiled awkwardly at Director Park.
“Yes, I will. …I’m truly sorry.”
Her mind had been preoccupied, leading to this significant oversight. She had been so absorbed with the awkwardness with him that she had neglected this separate matter.
‘Time to pull myself together.’
“That’s what I wanted to talk about. You can go now. …I don’t know what’s going on, but hang in there.”
“Thank you… for your concern.”
Although the conversation had briefly turned stern regarding work, Director Park had returned to his usual kind self. After a bit more conversation and promising to do better in the next exhibition, Autumn left the gallery.
As she pushed open the glass door, she unexpectedly came face to face with a woman she seemed to keep running into.
‘…Cha Hye Soo.’
Obviously, she was here to see the director.
Autumn didn’t want to bother with her anymore.
She tried to ignore her and walk past, but Hye Soo blocked her way.
“Thanks for making way for me.”
It was the same kind smile as the first time Autumn met her, but Autumn’s brow furrowed in response, knowing what lay behind that smile.
How could she be so shameless…?
Suddenly recalling the recent troubles with him, Autumn felt her anger rising. Unaware of Autumn’s feelings, Hye Soo kept talking.
“But why was the director in such a bad mood that day…”
“I didn’t step aside for your sake, Cha Hye Soo.”
Autumn, finding Hye Soo’s behavior despicable, cut her off and snapped back harshly.
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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