“I shot a million won as a special bonus!”
The famous Hanwoo restaurant was filled with joyful cheers.
The staff of a women’s clothing shopping mall, shining with an annual turnover of 70 billion, were having a company dinner to celebrate the launch of their second brand.
At the very center stood the CEO of Hani Black, Han Seo Yeon.
She had radiant skin, plentiful long hair, and striking features with light brown eyes.
She spoke confidently, her tall, modellike stature impeccably suited in a black twobutton trouser suit.
“With the feeling of having borne you in my stomach, I hope you will nurture it. Let’s toast to that!”
The employees, thrilled by the unexpected special bonus, responded enthusiastically to Seo Yeon’s toast.
As the waves of happiness subsided, employees began to gather around Seo Yeon. Despite countless rounds, she was still in good spirits.
“But, CEO, may I ask something…”
As Seo Yeon nodded approvingly, the youngest employee, her face blushing, drew nearer and asked.
“What is your ideal type? I’ve always been curious.”
Seo Yeon laughed as if she were a student curious about her teacher’s first love story, then looked down at the youngest employee’s glass of alcohol.
She seemed to have come for refuge, feeling uncomfortable next to her senior, the main drinker. Seo Yeon decided to protect the rabbitlike youngest for a while.
“Hmm. My ideal type is simple.”
A few who were curious about the CEO’s ideal type moved closer and sat down.
“Someone competent.”
“Competent?”
Seo Yeon added with a playful smile,
“A man’s financial power isn’t very important when he’s in a situation where he’s earning more than he can handle.”
She added that the standard of appearance is highly subjective, so it doesn’t matter how handsome others say he is if she doesn’t like him.
“Character is the most important thing, because you can’t buy or acquire it through effort.”
Seo Yeon dispensed words of wisdom, like a necessary tonic for life, with the poise of an older sister.
While someone might criticize her as a grumpy old person, she emphasized again that falling into a cesspool of life is just a matter of time if one turns a blind eye to trashlike character despite a handsome appearance.
It seemed to be a vivid review based on Seo Yeon’s experience.
All the boyfriends Seo Yeon had met so far were sons of wealthy families with handsome appearances.
A discerning character that can distinguish people who can be treated lightly and those who can’t, like a ghost.
And without fail, if they think they’ve gotten a little closer, they start obsessing and interfering shamelessly.
She was fed up with men who, though different individuals, behaved just like massproduced goods from a factory.
“But they need to have charm that makes my heart flutter. Until I meet such a man, dating is… halted for now.”
When Seo Yeon offered a sheepish smile, the youngest employee mumbled as if they had gained a great revelation.
“So, you’re looking for a charmer with excellent character. Ah, even our CEO… where would you find such a unicornlike man?”
Everyone seemed to agree with the youngest employee’s conclusion, leading Seo Yeon to reconsider whether her standards were too high.
What does it matter? If such a person exists somewhere, the day will come when we meet.
Seo Yeon no longer wished to experience trials and errors in her love life, or waste her emotions needlessly.
“If they don’t exist, so be it.”
Seo Yeon shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly and glanced at the electronic clock hanging on the wall of the barbecue restaurant.
‘It’s about time, isn’t it? Let’s wrap things up.’
Seo Yeon picked up the glass of alcohol in front of her and abruptly stood up from her seat.
“Dear all.”
At Seo Yeon’s sudden call, everyone looked up at her as if praising her.
“I will step back after this glass. And…”
Voices could be heard here and there, pleading for her to join them for the second round.
“I’ll leave this corporate card to Manager Kim.”
With her charismatic hand gesture, Seo Yeon calmed down the boisterous employees and spoke in a serious tone.
“As you know, the second round is optional. Only those who wish to go should chant our company’s slogan.”
At her words, all the employees clenched their fists with serious expressions.
“We’re not dogs! We walk home on our own two feet! Inappropriate behavior is a shortcut to resignation! Cheers!”
As Seo Yeon emptied her glass, all the employees moved in perfect unison as if riding a massive wave.
Thump.
After putting down her glass, Seo Yeon refused the employees’ farewell and left the barbecue restaurant.
Being completely alone, she felt empty, as if her soul had been sucked out of the bustling reality.
Pouring her bitter feelings into the void, she sent a message to Ho Jin, her best friend since middle school.
Seo Yeon hastily hailed a taxi with its red light flickering.
“S Hotel, please.”
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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