Kim Tae-jun’s tenth birthday was filled with white and black.
In the photo surrounded by white chrysanthemums, his parents were smiling, yet no one else was.
“What a pity, to leave such a young son behind and close their eyes to the world…”
Instead of birthday wishes, people offered their condolences to Tae-jun.
On the eve of Tae-jun’s birthday, returning from an annual event, his parents were killed in a car accident. His mother was pregnant, so in essence, three lives were lost.
The driver had crossed the center line, unable to avoid an oncoming truck. In a desperate swerve, the driver saved himself, but Tae-jun’s parents in the backseat died instantly. It was a catastrophe caused by drowsy driving.
The tragic death of Kim Seok-woo, president of K Electronics and eldest son of K Group chairman Kim Jae-pil, and his wife, former beauty queen and broadcaster Seol Jin-hee, became a national issue. Reporters swarmed the funeral, and some even filmed inside.
Despite the chaos, their only son, Tae-jun, conducted the funeral with composure. Initially in disbelief and wailing, he became solemn amidst the busy proceedings. His mature demeanor at such a young age astounded everyone.
However, Tae-jun’s emotions were still trapped inside.
“Grandfather, what about the man who killed mom and dad?”
In the car back home after the funeral, Tae-jun asked chairman Kim Jae-pil.
“Is he going to be executed? Or spend his life in jail?”
Taken aback, Jae-pil answered after a moment.
“It’s uncertain, but he won’t be executed or get life imprisonment. Probably 1 or 2 years.”
“Why? Our mom and dad are gone.”
Tae-jun’s eyes were filled with anger. It was the first time he perceived his powerful grandfather, who built a corporate empire, as so powerless.
“Don’t you pity mom and dad? That man should spend his life in jail, dad was the president, what about his company? He should pay a hundred billion in compensation!”
“We are such people, Tae-jun.”
Jae-pil gently explained. The truth of their world as the ruling class, their unseen struggles.
“Having much, we sometimes face injustice. Nobody understands our grievances. As much as we hate the driver, we can’t persecute him. Even if we want to avenge them, we must forgive. That’s what our social status entails.”
“….”
“You’ll understand someday.”
“No, then I’ll renounce my social status.”
Tae-jun clenched his fists, biting his lip.
“I’ll just curse that man forever.”
Upon reaching their mansion, Tae-jun dashed out of the car.
“Tae-jun!”
“Leave him.”
His aunt Seok-hwa quickly called out, but Jae-pil held her back.
Tae-jun ran through the mansion’s vast garden, his only form of rebellion.
He knew he had more than others, but nothing he owned could replace his parents.
Now he was destined to be alone.
Breathless, he reached the staff quarters, where a little girl of about seven, holding a lollipop in one hand and the mansion cook’s hand in the other, stood tearfully. He recognized her from the mansion’s garden.
Han So-eun, the daughter of the driver who caused the accident.
“Auntie, when will dad come? Why hasn’t he come yet?”
The child asked innocently, her lollipop shining like her eyes, her white face and cute, short braids unmistakable.
The child who sparkled was unforgivable.
Kim Seok-hwa, the president of K Electronics’ Home Appliances Division, waited for her only nephew at a restaurant.
A few minutes after securing a table, her nephew Tae-jun appeared.
Now thirty years old.
Recognizing Tae-jun from a distance, Seok-hwa’s eyes brimmed with fondness.
Before greeting his aunt, Tae-jun first showed courtesy to the waiter.
“Thank you.”
His polite demeanor, the soft resonance of his calm and low voice.
With a kindly impression, yet broad shoulders and a tall stature, he had a dependable air.
Taking his seat, Tae-jun greeted his aunt.
“Sorry, have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just arrived.”
Seok-hwa couldn’t help but smile continuously at the growth of her thirty-year-old nephew, now devoid of any boyish traces.
“You look better every time I see you. Very handsome.”
Aunt’s natural reaction to her nephew’s appearance, something Tae-jun seemed used to, as he just stretched his lips into a smile.
Soon, the appetizers were served.
Even with his only aunt in front of him after a year, Tae-jun was not ostentatious. His strict upbringing was evident in his dining etiquette. No sound of chewing or clinking cutlery, Seok-hwa’s gaze returned to her nephew amidst the quiet meal.
With a handsome appearance inherited from his parents, now refined with dignity, Tae-jun was the epitome of a perfect young man.
“Who will take this guy away? Do you have a girlfriend?”
“Would I have returned to Korea if I did?”
“No girls following you?”
“No way.”
“Why not?”
“I guess my personality isn’t great?”
“Right? There can be no other reason.”
Aunt’s joke elicited a chuckle from Tae-jun.
“It’s time for our Tae-jun to marry.”
“I plan to live like you, unmarried.”
“Me? I’m not unmarried by choice, but by circumstance.”
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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