Desperate for a Catch (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
The man’s name was Kim Min Joon.
He was two years younger than Tae Kyung, and the youngest son of Kim Sun Hyuk, chairman of Hwedoong Construction.
He had two older brothers and no fewer than three older sisters. In the succession dynamics, his second-eldest brother Kim Min Ho had spent years stirring up the company, so naturally, he had been pushed into the background.
It was obvious what kind of life Kim Min Joon must have lived.
Unlike his perpetually competitive older siblings in their strict and authoritarian household, as the youngest, he must have learned how to live on his own.
His past during his long years abroad confirmed this, as he had never taken any formal business training.
There was a photo of Kim Min Joon from his time in England, where he’d become deeply immersed in fencing and participated in a club.
He was the kind of man who could debut in an idol group right now and be perfectly suited—possessing the face of a beautiful youth.
He was kind and gentle, or put another way, had a weak and delicate smile. Tae Kyung found that smile intensely irritating—the kind of smile he himself had never once possessed in his life.
“A sweet and innocent guy is her type….”
It didn’t quite match Yoon Woo Yeon’s eyes, which seemed hungrier than expected, and a bitter smile slipped out.
Tae Kyung’s hand, which had been touching his chin, leisurely turned the page.
Hwedoong’s business performance over the past two years hadn’t been good. Problems had sprung up like weeds, and the brand’s image had plummeted rapidly.
A foolish father, a stupid second-eldest brother, and sisters overflowing with greed.
“Wherever you look, it’s a spectacle—the incompetent always making such a racket.”
Just then, he wondered whether things might have turned out differently if they’d entrusted the company to Kim Min Joon from the very beginning.
Skimming through the report submitted by Team Leader Han, Tae Kyung reached the last page and chuckled aloud.
At the end of the report was a photo of the woman Kim Min Joon was about to marry.
The name felt familiar. He’d never met her, but he’d seen that name dozens of times before.
Her face looked strikingly different from when she was younger, so he placed his pen over the photo.
“The woman he’s marrying is Jo In Young?”
Seeing Tae Kyung’s distorted expression, Team Leader Han added a brief explanation.
“Yes. They’ve already completed a formal meeting between families, and the marriage discussion was finalized long ago. They’ve even set a date for the engagement ceremony, but Managing Director Kim Min Joon keeps rejecting Chairman Kim’s approval. It seems Ms. Yoon Woo Yeon doesn’t know yet—and neither do her acquaintances. In fact, they appear unaware the two broke up three months ago. Ms. Yoon Woo Yeon is famously discreet and tends to keep her personal life very private.”
Tae Kyung pressed his forehead. His body, restless all night, felt exhausted and unwell.
As he considered going out for a workout, he quickly looked up at Team Leader Han.
“If even her close friends don’t know, how did you find out the two broke up?”
“Looking at Managing Director Kim Min Joon’s recent behavior, it always follows the same pattern.”
Tae Kyung figured out the rest without needing further explanation. He could clearly picture how Kim Min Joon, drunk and reminiscing over his past relationship, must have collapsed.
So this kind man was made to cry too.
Tae Kyung smirked faintly, recalling just how sharp and cutting Yoon Woo Yeon could be when pushing someone away.
He asked Team Leader Han again.
“If the marriage has progressed this far, his resistance must mean he still has strong feelings, right?”
“Yes. Apparently, it was Managing Director Kim who pursued Ms. Yoon Woo Yeon relentlessly for an entire year before they started dating. Given that their relationship began around the time Ms. Yoon Woo Yeon’s grandmother passed away—two winters ago—it seems she leaned on him emotionally to some degree.”
Tae Kyung pictured both their faces in his mind, then picked up his pen and rolled it across the desk.
“What was the reason they broke up?”
“As for that…”
“Yoon Woo Yeon must’ve pushed him away instantly—with cold, brittle eyes.”
“…”
But why did Kim Min Joon let her go so easily?
Even someone as indifferent to women as himself had been completely captivated by her—Kim Min Joon must’ve been even more so.
Team Leader Han adjusted his slipping glasses and glanced at Tae Kyung. Sensing he hadn’t said everything yet, he hurried to add more.
“Earlier this year, Hwedoong Construction faced an illegal funding scandal that nearly toppled the company. Chairman Jo reportedly stepped in aggressively to help. Rumor has it Chairman Jo had already marked Kim Min Joon as his future son-in-law. Since then, the entire Hwedoong family has been pushing hard for Managing Director Kim’s marriage. Most likely, this wedding will definitely go through.”
Before Tae Kyung could even marvel at Chairman Jo’s shrewd eye for spotting someone as easily manipulated as Kim Min Joon, he picked up the pen he’d rolled earlier and placed it back neatly.
“When will this information reach the news division?”
“I’d say one or two days should be enough.”
“An engagement with an ex-boyfriend… I’m curious what expression Yoon Woo Yeon will make.”
Tae Kyung stared intently at Jo In Young’s photo. Strangely enough, her face gave him the illusion that she looked quite a bit like Yoon Woo Yeon.
Kim Min Joon and Jo In Young—it seemed like a fitting match.
It also meant Kim Min Joon wouldn’t be able to completely push Jo In Young away.
Hwedoong Construction intended to join hands with Jang Kyung Group, and Jang Kyung, in turn, planned to use Hwedoong as a springboard to enter the construction business.
Having finished his thoughts, Tae Kyung closed the report.
“Jo In Young is a painter, right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then please steadily buy her paintings under my name—preferably at very high prices.”
“Understood.”
Tae Kyung watched Team Leader Han’s retreating back as he left the office.
Suddenly, he laughed, remembering Yoon Woo Yeon—who’d allowed a kiss but insisted they couldn’t date.
The delicate white column of her neck in his hand, the soft curve of her waist wrapping gently around him, those crimson lips that drove a man mad.
Not a single thing about her wasn’t desirable. Yoon Woo Yeon was simply too perfect.
That heat from back then had tormented him for a long while.
After reading the planning report written by Woo Yeon over the past two days, Director Song Hyun Dong immediately shouted, “Approved!”
“Yoon Woo Yeon, as expected. Do well on this one too.”
Though upper management seemed slightly worried about her all-or-nothing intensity, the director actually liked this quality of hers.
He believed a main anchor should be exactly like that. In auditions for the main anchor position, rival networks mostly favored journalist-turned-anchors.
Announcers usually took sub-anchor roles, but Woo Yeon had shattered that norm completely.
Despite limited field experience, her ability to read news copy was exceptional.
She instantly filtered out facts from ambiguous, possibly false information, and even when reporters submitted disorganized scripts due to tight deadlines, she could swiftly rewrite them into her own polished format.
Especially her tenacious personality—once she set her mind on something, she wouldn’t rest until she exposed it—clearly set her apart from the previous Kang Da Hee.
If Kang Da Hee had been UBC’s dazzling flower, Yoon Woo Yeon was more like an iron pine tree.
Though the anchor seat could be swept away at any moment, the director trusted Woo Yeon.
“You’ve got lunch with the Head of Division in two hours. Come eat together.”
“Oh, Director, I…”
Director Song firmly cut off Woo Yeon’s words.
“It’s good you look after yourself, but being overly cautious becomes poison. You’re in high demand.”
His sigh deepened.
The flood of requests from all over asking just to get Yoon Woo Yeon invited was no joke.
Though it was already problematic for a journalist to routinely mingle and drink with politicians, the bigger issue was Woo Yeon’s background.
She herself sparkled brilliantly—but Yoon Woo Yeon had nothing, making her vulnerable to being crushed instantly by anyone at any time.
If only she had strong backing like Kang Da Hee… maybe then I wouldn’t feel like I’ve gone too far.
The director swept his unruly bangs up over his forehead.
“Yoon Woo Yeon.”
“Yes?”
“It’s just lunch.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. Do you think I can’t protect even you?”
“I’d say protecting just me is already enough.”
“That’s exactly why you keep getting scolded.”
Knowing Director Song’s upright character, Woo Yeon smiled gently in reply.
“I’ll see you in two hours.”
Back in the anchor room, Woo Yeon pressed her reddened eyes—bloodshot from a sleepless night. On weekends, senior anchor Hwang Woon Young would briefly take over her news slot.
But assuming that meant she could truly rest over the weekend would be a mistake. Preparing special features for this week’s broadcast and crafting her own scripts had left her utterly drained.
She took out a pill bottle from her drawer and swallowed a tablet. Woo Sik in the seat ahead watched her with concern.
“Are you still taking these?”
Woo Yeon gulped down the water in her cup and nodded slowly.
“Yeah, sometimes. Why?”
“Why? Because I was worried. It just gives me hope—seeing even someone as flawless as you shows this tiny thread of humanity.”
Woo Yeon’s eyes widened.
“Do I seem flawless?”
“Wow, you ask such an obvious question so elegantly.”
“Good. I’m glad that’s how I appear.”
She kept to herself the truth: I’m actually a complete mess right now.
That she hadn’t slept all night because of her kiss with Cha Tae Kyung.
That after coldly rejecting his proposal to date, she’d spent the last two days replaying his expression over and over in her mind.
All of it remained a secret from Woo Sik.
Woo Sik shook his head.
“Hah!”
“Wake me up in an hour.”
“Will an hour really be enough? Sleep more. Your eyes are red, hyung.”
“I can’t. I have to eat lunch—the Head of Division summoned me.”
Woo Yeon always carefully added “-nim” when addressing the director, but never called the Head of Division “Head of Division-nim”—she always just said “Head of Division.”
Woo Sik was the same.
At the sound of “Head of Division” from her lips, he immediately buried his face in his hands.
“Who’s he dragging in front of us this time?”
“That’s what I’m wondering. Maybe I should just sue the Head of Division while I’m at it.”
“What grounds would you sue him on?”
“Right… What should I sue him for? Got any good ideas?”
“If I did, I’d have done it already.”
Woo Yeon changed her expression and teased him in an exaggerated tone.
“Really? Can I actually trust only Anchor Jin Woo Sik with this?”
At that, Woo Sik curled himself smaller and smaller into his chair, giving her a look full of goosebumps.
“Why do you make such deadly jokes?”
Woo Yeon laughed.
“I’m off to sleep. Good work!”
She headed straight to the familiar on-call room inside the broadcast station.
She didn’t know which man the Head of Division would shove in front of her this time—but she’d deal with it when she woke.
She planned only a short nap—about an hour. Back when she first joined, she’d stayed up for days without issue, but now, approaching thirty, she could clearly feel her stamina dropping.
She probably needed to increase her exercise.
As soon as Woo Yeon lay down on the narrow bunk bed, she instantly fell fast asleep.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
So she is missing him so hoping what happens next!