Desperate for a Catch (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
“Come here.”
The man’s voice was gentle. Woo Yeon trembled as if she were an aspen leaf. She had hoped he would never find out about her hidden shame.
Yet to him, her wounds seemed utterly insignificant.
“Were you trying to hide this from me?”
“……”
“What are you so afraid of?”
“……”
“Yoon Woo Yeon, aren’t you going to answer me?”
He had already stepped right in front of her and seized her wrist. Tae Kyung quietly stared down at her thin arm, small enough to fit within one of his hands.
When she squirmed, trying to pull away, he held her wrist more firmly and pressed it against the center of his cheek.
“Do you feel disgusted?”
“……”
“Do you really hate it that much—me looking at your wounds?”
Her ankles, which had been stubbornly holding her upright, finally went weak. Woo Yeon held back tears.
“Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted no one to ever know! I didn’t want anyone to know what kind of life I’ve lived—how I managed to endure, what thoughts drove me here. I never wanted anyone to find out that deep down, I’m just a person coiled tightly with anger and hatred.”
At that, Tae Kyung let out a soft chuckle. His wet hair, still damp from the shower, half-covered his forehead.
Yet his dark eyes had no trouble staring straight into Woo Yeon’s.
He deliberately provoked her.
“Then how do you see me?”
“……”
“Do you think I’m also a man left with nothing but rage and hatred?”
With his large palm, Tae Kyung gently stroked the nape of her neck. Ever since the moment he decided he would have Yoon Woo Yeon, not a single second spent with her in front of him had ever been calm.
No matter what memories Yoon Woo Yeon carried from her past, or whose family she had once belonged to,
it wouldn’t change the weight of what he felt—not even slightly.
He looked straight into Woo Yeon’s eyes and said,
“So, you’re really going to break up with me?”
“It was decided from the very beginning.”
“No. Nothing was decided from the start.”
“You were just imitating, weren’t you?”
“Ms. Yoon Woo Yeon, don’t obscure the truth. We both threw away that pretense long ago.”
“This meeting—it isn’t right.”
“Why not?”
Woo Yeon hesitated, unable to find any more words to say.
Step by step, truthfully, they should have drifted apart much earlier. If they had, it wouldn’t hurt this much now.
Undoubtedly, it was his strikingly beautiful appearance that kept endlessly unsettling her cool, sinking gaze.
That face, which she had initially been drawn to only by instinct, had now become something of such immense value it could circle the globe and still have more to give.
But even so, she didn’t love this man.
Woo Yeon’s eyes finally reddened. Though she knew the tears sliding down her cheeks looked like the most pitiful form of weakness in the world, she stubbornly held her ground.
“Mr. Cha Tae Kyung, let’s just break up already.”
Tae Kyung barely suppressed his anger.
“Say that again.”
“Let’s go back to where we started. Both you and I.”
His dark eyes, which had been wavering, soon closed gently, as if submerged in a deep blue sea.
“Haaah.”
He still looked like he was holding back his anger. Woo Yeon didn’t want to be consumed by this moment.
She still desired and longed for many things—but among them, love was utterly excluded.
She’d already said it.
I don’t love you.
“Thank you for everything so far.”
“Yoon Woo Yeon!”
She didn’t even see what he threw, but the mirror shattered with a crash.
The reflection of Tae Kyung fragmented like a memory torn to pieces, piercing straight into Woo Yeon’s heart. Yet even in this moment, she had to move.
She stretched her body to run away, but was instantly captured in his arms.
The heat of Tae Kyung, which once felt so intense it might melt her, remained unchanged—just as it was on the very first day they’d spent together. Would this man always burn this fiercely?
Who knows.
Does anything in this world truly last forever?
Pressing his lips against her increasingly heavy face, Tae Kyung murmured,
“Keep your promise to me.”
Woo Yeon shook her head.
“No. That promise is over now.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes.”
“Can you handle it?”
“……”
Tae Kyung led Woo Yeon into the bedroom. Soon, she would cry—but at the same time, she would realize something.
That Yoon Woo Yeon could never, ever leave Cha Tae Kyung.
***
One year ago, it was the day Woo Yeon took over as anchor of “News Sider,” the flagship news program at the broadcasting station.
Though she’d only been anchoring solo for about three months, she appeared flawless in every way. Even her closing remarks flowed effortlessly, without needing to glance at the script.
“Spring has arrived. Though the sunshine and breeze don’t quite feel warm yet, it’s unmistakably spring. This concludes today’s UBC News Sider. Thank you.”
At PD Park’s signal from the control room signaling, “Good job,” Woo Yeon bowed her head. She naturally removed her earphones and began organizing the news script she’d just delivered.
“Anchor Yoon Woo Yeon.”
“……”
“Over here! You still take to the camera so well, don’t you?”
Turning toward the familiar voice, Woo Yeon saw her fellow rookie hire, Seo Ji Woo, standing there.
Ji Woo had abruptly left her announcer position last year after marrying into a chaebol family, and now her face looked far healthier than before.
Genuine delight spread across Woo Yeon’s face. In this place—where everyone, seniors and peers alike, had fiercely competed to become the top anchor—Ji Woo was the only person with whom Woo Yeon could truly let her guard down.
“What brings you here? No warning, no call?”
Ji Woo widened her eyes and gave Woo Yeon a quick, playful glare.
“Oh, how hurtful! Since when did we become the kind who need to schedule meetups?”
“I’m just saying—why else would you show up here at this hour? Do you have business here?”
“Not really. Just wanted a change of mood after so long. Wanted to see Director Song, catch up with seniors and fellow rookies. Everyone was talking only about you, by the way.”
“Of course they were.”
“Ugh, you cold-hearted woman! If someone says they talked behind your back, you should at least pretend to be shocked.”
“Why would I be shocked? It’s not like it’s the first or second time.”
“Exactly! That’s how you managed to overtake the great Kang Da Hee and already land the main news slot.”
“……”
“Are you busy? Let’s grab dinner. I’ve got lots to tell you.”
“You haven’t eaten yet?”
“Yeah! I haven’t. I was waiting to eat with you!”
Woo Yeon nodded.
“Fine. You’re paying.”
“Obviously!”
After getting into her sedan in the underground parking lot of the broadcasting station, Ji Woo settled into the passenger seat and carefully placed her designer handbag—worth tens of millions of won—neatly on her lap.
Woo Yeon had recognized the bag immediately, yet Ji Woo still puffed up her shoulders and announced proudly,
“My husband bought this for me last week.”
“……”
“I really wanted it. You have no idea the theatrical performance I put on just to get it.”
A smile tugged at the corner of Woo Yeon’s lips.
If anyone else had done that, it would’ve annoyed her—but with Ji Woo, it was different.
Her honest, slightly clumsy charm wasn’t quite suited for an announcer—but it seemed more than enough to make men adore her.
Turning the ignition on, Woo Yeon asked Ji Woo,
“So, Madam, where to?”
“What do you think? Of course Hansan Hotel! Step on it!”
She pressed the accelerator.
The lounge bar on the top floor of Hansan Hotel had clearly changed in ambiance following its recent renovation.
As soon as they entered, staff recognized Ji Woo and bowed in unison.
With an elegant, practiced gesture—lowering her hand slightly—Ji Woo signaled she was merely there for a casual meal with a friend and they shouldn’t fuss over her.
Watching this, Woo Yeon had to suppress a laugh internally—
“Oh my! Oh my!”
“……”
“Over there—that man—isn’t that CEO Cha Tae Kyung?”
Ji Woo had suddenly gasped, pointing toward a man seated by the window in the distance.
Woo Yeon also turned her gaze his way. His profile felt oddly familiar somehow—but she dismissed it as mere imagination.
She quickly looked away.
Even after taking their seats, Ji Woo couldn’t hide her excitement. She gulped down water as if parched, her expression transformed into that of a lovestruck schoolgirl.
Exasperated, Woo Yeon scolded her,
“Hey, Madam! You’re still newlyweds—you can’t be like this already.”
“Hold on! Is he on a date? I was sure he was single. Who’s that woman? I’ve never seen her before.”
“……”
Since Woo Yeon didn’t bother replying, Ji Woo turned to face her directly.
She offered an awkward smile.
“Hehe… Sorry, I got carried away without realizing.”
Woo Yeon took a sip of water.
“Who is he, anyway, that you’re this excited?”
“The next CEO of Brighton Airlines.”
“What?”
Brighton was Korea’s largest airline, rapidly expanding its scale through aggressive investments not only in aviation but also in hotels, cargo, and wedding-related ventures.
For decades, it had competed fiercely against Yuhan Airlines, Korea’s first airline—but in recent years, Brighton’s brand image had risen significantly higher, thanks to its active investments in foreign carriers.
As someone whose job kept her constantly informed about political and business circles, Woo Yeon had heard rumors the CEO of Brighton Airlines would soon change—but she never expected to run into him like this.
The previous CEO had stepped down voluntarily amid consecutive scandals involving corruption and tax evasion.
She’d already heard the parent company, Myeong San Group, was preparing to appoint a new representative.
Leaning forward with interest, Woo Yeon asked Ji Woo,
“Are you sure about that?”
Ji Woo furrowed her brow.
“Whoa, no way. Don’t you go breaking this story yet. I only heard it from my husband, so I don’t know the exact details. You’ll do your fact-checking anyway—but since Myeong San’s involved, this is bigger than you think.”
“Got it. But how do you know that guy’s the Brighton CEO?”
“Oh, I attended a gathering a month ago with my husband. Saw him there.”
Ji Woo’s eyes glazed over slightly as she recalled the memory.
Woo Yeon chuckled softly.
“Fell for him right then, huh?”
“Yeah—let’s just say I’d never met a man who carried such a fantastical aura in my entire life.”
“……”
“The moment I saw him, I couldn’t breathe—wow! If I hadn’t already been married, I swear I would’ve gone straight up to him! But my husband said Cha Tae Kyung’s an incredibly dry person. Apparently not well known in Korea, but quite famous overseas.”
“In what way?”
“They say his arrogance reaches the heavens or something like that.”
“……”
“It’s true! My husband also went to NYU. According to his alumni, Cha Tae Kyung was a famous outsider back in college—but stood out instantly thanks to his exceptional looks, athletic talent, and all-around brilliance. So what do you think happened? Everyone kept trying to talk to him, everywhere he went.”
Woo Yeon already guessed what Ji Woo would say next.
He must have wanted to walk his own path—but his innate talent and striking presence made it impossible to escape people’s attention.
He’d always been in the spotlight, receiving longing, tempting looks—and likely spent his days showing sharp thorns in response.
To others, that probably came across as emotional dryness—or sheer arrogance.
Brighton. Myeong San. And Cha Tae Kyung.
Unconsciously, Woo Yeon turned to look behind her. At that very instant, as if by fate, their eyes met.
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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MANGA DISCUSSION
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Chapter Comments (1)
So she is missing him so hoping what happens next!
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Clash
This is something new but again the time we again in the past from a unresolved future part