I found out sooner than expected that rumors had spread about me being Moon Ji Seo Joon’s girlfriend.
A few days after that incident. On my difficult morning commute. I’ve been working for quite some time, but judging by how I still haven’t adapted, I thought I was definitely not a morning person. And that thought occurred to me every time I went to work.
Today was no different. As soon as I entered the office, I felt a slightly different mood.
What did it feel like? Although I was clearly a 29-year-old Moon Da Yul who had just arrived at work, I suddenly felt like I had time-slipped back to being 18-year-old Moon Da Yul.
“Is it her?”
“Why?”
“She looks so ordinary. I thought…”
“Doesn’t that mean there’s something wrong with Ji Seo Joon’s eyes?”
Glares that scrutinized and judged me after the rumor went around clawed at me as they passed. Some were quite deep and cruel, still remaining as scars in a corner of my heart.
Yet those gazes that evoked that feeling were sensed the moment I entered the company lobby.
As I looked around, most people who met my eyes seemed to hastily look away. Of course, there were also people who stared openly like they were watching a monkey.
When I stood in line waiting for the elevator, ignoring them, I saw Ms. Baek In Ha approaching, talking with people from other departments.
“Good morning, Ms. In Ha.”
As I greeted her, she discovered me and widened her eyes as she returned the greeting.
“Assistant Manager. Go, good morning.”
She greeted her commuting colleagues and stood next to me.
“Assistant Manager, are you okay?”
“Hm?”
Just as she was about to speak, the elevator arrived on the first floor and we squeezed in among the people.
The elevator stopped at the floor where our office was located, and Ms. Baek In Ha and I got out.
“Ms. In Ha. What were you talking about earlier?”
As soon as I stepped out, I asked her. Ms. Baek In Ha looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then opened her mouth.
“It was a few days ago at the company cafeteria.”
“Yes.”
“While I was standing in line, Researcher Jeong Chan Hyung came and started talking when suddenly Researcher Ji Seo Joon approached…”
“Ah, that day?”
“That day there were rumors that both of them fought over you, Assistant Manager Moon Da Yul.”
“What?”
“Apparently, the two most popular men at S.T fought over Travel Coordinator Moon Da Yul.”
“Wh, who? Ms. In Ha, you saw it too. There was no such atmosphere.”
“Yes? Ah. Well… the atmosphere was a bit strange.”
My thoughts seemed to freeze at her response. Ms. Baek In Ha had watched from right next to me; if even she thought that way…
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Yes. I tell people who ask me that as well, but provocative rumors spread faster.”
I felt a sudden headache coming on.
So that’s why people were looking at me like that. I finally understood the strange atmosphere I felt in the morning.
“Assistant Manager Moon. Are you okay?”
I opened my tightly shut eyes to see Ms. In Ha looking at me with a worried expression.
“No, I’m not okay.”
I left her and trudged into my office. The eyes of those who had already arrived at work turned toward me.
I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘Good morning’ in my usual cool tone.
Ms. Baek In Ha, who had been following me, asked.
“Assistant Manager, would you like a cup of coffee?”
Why did Ms. In Ha, who wasn’t the subject of the rumor, look more disheartened than me? I did my best to smile at her.
“I would appreciate it if you could.”
“Yes!”
She cheerfully responded and disappeared into the pantry. Watching her retreating figure, I let out a deep sigh and absentmindedly stared at my dark monitor screen, recalling the events of that day.
Ji Seo Joon, known for his jealousy, had been in a bad mood. He had even gotten sulky, asking why I hadn’t told him about my meeting with Researcher Jung Chan Hyung and my mother.
But the typically irritable Ji Seo Joon was not so bothered that he couldn’t let it go.
And then, Researcher Jung Chan Hyung.
He had always dealt politely with Ji Seo Joon’s prickly words, smiling all the while. I couldn’t believe they had fought—over me, no less!
What had happened to the perception of people at this company?
I clutched my throbbing head again.
“Would you like some painkillers, Manager?”
Baek In Ha, holding out a paper cup of coffee to me, asked the question.
“No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”
“Yes, Manager.”
She returned to her seat with a slightly sulky expression.
The message on the paper cup she gave me read: [Hang in there, Manager Moon Da Yul!]
Hadn’t I endured even during high school? No point in overthinking things.
This too shall pass.
I thought so.
[Star Icon][Star Icon]“Why does it feel like this?”
A message from Ji Seo Joon came asking to have lunch together.
“Why?”
“It feels different from usual. What’s going on?”
I suggested we eat in the company cafeteria, hoping that if Ji Seo Joon and I casually dined there, the rumors might die down.
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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