After some time, the effects of alcohol turned her cheeks rosy and her mood slightly tipsy. It was then that Haeyeon realized it was time to confess her visit to Daechi-dong.
“Ah, I went to Daechi-dong this afternoon.”
Trying to sound casual, Haeyeon quickly added an apology upon seeing Do-ha’s stiffened expression.
“I’m sorry, I know you wanted me to tell you in advance, but I went alone.”
“Why didn’t you say?”
Do-ha’s expression, once soft, turned grave. Haeyeon forced a smile.
“You were busy, and I thought they would oppose it even if we went together.”
Do-ha sighed softly.
“You could’ve taken your time to tell me.”
Do-ha’s tone was gentle, and Haeyeon felt a pang. But she was determined not to be swayed by her in-laws anymore.
“They would have opposed it anyway. Mother actually gave her permission.”
“Mother did?”
Do-ha’s frown deepened in disbelief. Haeyeon softly whispered back.
“Don’t worry too much. They’ve always been displeased with me doing nothing. They must be happy that I’m working.”
Do-ha remained silent, seemingly unsatisfied with the answer. The mood grew tense, but Haeyeon quickly changed the subject.
“How can it be so delicious? Where did you get it?”
“Our favorite place from college.”
Despite the obviously forced change in topic, Do-ha, seeing Haeyeon’s playful expression, finally gave in.
“Really? They’re still open?”
“Surprisingly, yes. I went there myself. It’s a gift for your new job.”
Laughter came naturally. Haeyeon, who dared to step into the Cha family, was an inconsequential being. Despite her academic prowess and attractiveness, Cha Do-ha, who had never dated, marrying her was a shock, but the woman he brought was even more so.
An obscure woman from an unknown family. Haeyeon didn’t even have a decent family background. Her life was like a melodrama, moving from one relative’s house to another since childhood.
Her graduation from a reputable university and excellent grades were the only redeemable aspects, but that was it. It was a relief for Yoonseo.
Cha Do-ha is no ordinary man. He is the son of Gilmyeong Group’s chairman Yoon Myeong-gil, the apple of her eye. When Do-ha brought an unknown ‘nobody’ like Haeyeon, Yoonseo saw a chance even for her incompetent husband, the eldest son. He was the firstborn, after all. But to the chairman, only the youngest son mattered. Her husband was merely a puppet to his wife’s words.
‘Isn’t this what they call a stroke of luck?’
Yoonseo chuckled, snapping back to attention as Chairman Yoon spoke.
“You’ve heard about Lee Soo-rin’s return, haven’t you?”
“Yes, Mother.”
Yoonseo was always alert about Soo-rin, once a strong contender to be Do-ha’s partner. Although Haeyeon took that place, Soo-rin’s status and deep ties with their family kept Yoonseo informed of her whereabouts.
But why? Why would Chairman Yoon bring up Soo-rin now? Curious yet uneasy, Yoonseo glanced at her drink. The light reflected on the transparent glass.
“I’ve never missed even the smallest opportunity, and that’s how I got to where I am today.”
The segue seemed unrelated. Knowing Chairman Yoon’s way of speaking, Yoonseo listened silently. The chairman continued, pushing around the sea urchin roe with her chopsticks, an action uncharacteristic of her usual elegant demeanor.
“So.”
Crush.
Suddenly, the chairman crushed the sea urchin roe with her chopsticks and sharply looked up. Yoonseo instinctively wanted a drink but remained still, knowing it was best not to react.
“Sometimes, people don’t know their place and interfere. What do you think I did then?”
Yoonseo felt a sting despite not having touched the alcohol. Chairman Yoon, apparently not expecting a response, proceeded.
“Being misaligned means they were once perfectly fit. Like clockwork, right?”
Implying she would rectify the situation, Yoonseo took a deep breath and replied.
“…Yes.”
Answering, Yoonseo realized why she was summoned today. Some things become clearer in darkness, like a movie screen in a dim cinema. She lowered her head, slightly flustered.
“I won’t ask you to help, but don’t be foolish and topple over by being greedy. Just stay put.”
Yoonseo’s complexion faded. The chairman was warning her not to disrupt her plans of replacing Haeyeon with Soo-rin and not to push her husband as the successor.
Moreover, Yoonseo knew well why the chairman was being so explicitly warning. As expected, the chairman’s gaze turned icy.
“I won’t overlook it a second time.”
With a flat tone, the chairman downed her drink.
“…Understood.”
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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