Not for the First Time (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
5 a.m. at dawn.
The flight from Los Angeles, USA, had just landed at Incheon Airport.
Unlike the others who looked exhausted from the long flight, Sung Hyuk walked out of the arrival gate with a neat appearance and stopped in place, taking a deep breath in and letting it out.
The cool early-morning air rushed deep into his lungs.
Was it just his imagination that Korean air felt different from American air?
He had always thought patriotism was something that belonged to other people, but stepping onto Korean soil after so long made his chest feel a little tight. Three years away had been more than enough time to stir up homesickness.
Yet the tender feelings didn’t last long. It was because the face of a woman he had tried so hard not to think about completely took over his mind.
His brow narrowed as he swallowed the surge of curses rising in his throat.
The target of those curses wasn’t the woman—it was himself. For being such a fool who couldn’t forget one mere woman and kept clinging to lingering attachments.
“Idiot bastard.”
The moment the curse he couldn’t fully swallow slipped out of his mouth, a calm, even voice reached his ears.
“You must be tired from the long trip, Department Head Cha Sung Hyuk.”
When he turned his head, a middle-aged man wearing a black suit was approaching.
One of Chairman Cha Hyun Woong’s personal secretaries from the SL Group.
“Manager Nam.”
Sung Hyuk had learned that he would be taking over the position of Head of Management Planning that his older brother currently held.
Chairman Cha Hyun Woong was not the type to ask for anyone’s opinion. He only gave orders. Not even his own son was an exception.
“The Chairman told me to drive you all the way home.”
“I can go by myself; there was no need to trouble you, Manager Nam.”
Manager Nam took the cart himself and changed the subject.
“The Chairman and his wife left the country yesterday afternoon to attend the Boao Forum.”
“I know.”
The Boao Forum was an annual economic forum for the Asian region held in China.
Sung Hyuk was well aware that his father attending in person this year—instead of his brother who had gone the past two years—was by no means a good sign for his brother.
He could clearly picture his brother panicking, terrified of losing the successor position.
“Let’s go.”
Sung Hyuk nodded and leisurely followed Manager Nam, who walked ahead pushing the cart.
[This is the timeline separator]The car that left Incheon Airport sped along the empty roads and arrived at a luxury villa complex in Cheongdam-dong.
The building reminiscent of a temple was shrouded in the dim light of dawn.
While Sung Hyuk lowered the window and enjoyed the soft breeze brushing his face, the car reached the underground parking garage.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Sung Hyuk sent Manager Nam away—who offered to carry the suitcase all the way up—and rode the elevator alone.
The floor he got off on was the third-floor penthouse.
The moment he opened the front door, a chilly emptiness hit him hard. The white marble walls and floor looked especially cold today.
Leaving the suitcase in the entryway, he walked down the hallway to the living room; the space that no one had entered in the meantime was filled with a hollow feeling.
It almost felt as though time had stopped only in this place.
Stopping in the middle of the living room, Sung Hyuk cast his gaze beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. The sky outside had already turned red with the approaching sunrise.
Suddenly, the image of a woman—who used to rub sleepy eyes, get up saying she wanted to watch the sunrise, and stand on the veranda—overlapped with the view.
He vividly remembered the moment he draped a blanket over her fragile body that seemed like it would break if he held too tightly and hugged her from behind.
They had only dated for about half a year, yet why were there so many traces left everywhere?
“I should look for a new place.”
Was the mere minute or so feeling more exhausting than the thirteen-hour flight because of the weight of useless lingering feelings?
Leaning back on the sofa, he closed his eyes with a face that had suddenly turned extremely weary.
[This is the timeline separator]The following evening.
Sung Hyuk took a can of beer from the fridge, sat at the dining table while drinking it, and called the licensed real estate agent he had worked with when buying the villa.
“This is Cha Sung Hyuk.”
He cut off the agent who was excitedly asking if everything had been okay and got straight to the point.
“I’m thinking of selling this place and moving somewhere new. As soon as possible.”
Having already learned from their previous deal that Sung Hyuk was a big-spending client who wasn’t picky, the agent repeatedly assured him it would be no problem.
Some people called him picky, while others said he wasn’t.
The reason was simple—he showed the height of indifference toward things that didn’t interest him. A house was simply outside his area of interest.
The things he did care about were extremely rare. But when he did fall into something, he was the type to see it through to the end.
“I’ll wait for your call.”
After the short call, Sung Hyuk finished the remaining beer.
The instant the last sip passed down his throat, the phone on the table vibrated.
The caller was his friend Beom Jun.
The moment he saw the name “Chae Beom Jun,” Sung Hyuk’s face crumpled.
It was because the woman’s face—which he had barely managed to shake off, or rather was desperately trying to shake off—became even clearer.
After hesitating whether to answer, he pressed the call button with an unwilling expression.
—Hey, you bastard! I heard you’re back in Korea! When did you get here!
At the thunderous shout pouring out, he put the phone he was bringing to his ear back down on the table. The voice was so loud that speakerphone wasn’t necessary.
“Yesterday.”
—Why didn’t you say anything! You should’ve told us you were coming!
“Even without saying anything, you already know, so what’s the point.”
The excited voice and the utterly bored tones were in stark contrast.
—Where are you right now?
“Home.”
—Come out. Let’s have a drink.
“I’m tired.”
—Should I come to your place then?
“No.”
—Why do you never let me come to your house? Is there something I’m not supposed to see?
“There’s nothing like that.”
There wasn’t now, but there used to be. That’s why he hadn’t let him come.
Because it would’ve been troublesome if Beom Jun found out about that woman.
It was what she—not he—had wanted.
—Then come out. I’ll call the guys.
Sung Hyuk found it annoying to argue with the stubborn Beom Jun, and since he’d have to meet them eventually anyway, he decided it wouldn’t be bad to get it over with tonight.
“Send me the address.”
In truth, the biggest reason was that he wanted to drink something strong, not beer that didn’t even give him a buzz.
—Okay.
After hanging up and standing, he crushed the beer can, tossed it into the sink, and headed to the dressing room.
[This is the timeline separator]About thirty minutes later.
A taxi that cut through the darkness stopped in front of a majestic three-story dark-brown building.
Sung Hyuk got out of the taxi and was guided inside the club by the general manager who had been waiting at the entrance.
The first-floor stage was boiling over with heart-thumping beats, dazzling psychedelic lights, and a crowd so dense there was barely room to step.
“They’re on the third floor.”
Following the general manager up the stairs, Sung Hyuk entered the VIP room. Familiar faces were already drinking heavily.
Beom Jun, the first to spot him, raised his voice.
“Sung Hyuk is here!”
Following Beom Jun, everyone greeted him in unison.
Sung Hyuk didn’t particularly like the people gathered here—including his high school classmate Beom Jun. It would be more accurate to say their personalities didn’t match.
They were simply the sons of families it wouldn’t hurt to stay on good terms with, so he maintained an appropriate level of acquaintance.
And thus began the completely unwanted “Cha Sung Hyuk Return-to-Korea Welcome Party.”
[This is the timeline separator]Young In received an unwelcome call while riding home.
The moment she saw the four letters “Beom Jun Oppa” on her phone screen, neat forehead creased.
It had been an exhausting day cleaning up after a rookie actor who disappeared without notice during filming, so she felt even less welcoming than usual.
She could already guess why her brother was calling near midnight.
—I drank. Come pick me up.
She almost blurted out, “Why do we even have a taxi for?” but held it in. If she said that, she’d have to listen to days of being called ungrateful.
She was sick and tired of hearing the saying about not abandoning black-haired beasts.
“Where are you?”
—The New Palace.
It was a place she knew, having picked him up there a few times. Of course she also knew very well that her brother was a VIP at that club.
“It’ll take about twenty minutes. I’ll call when I arrive.”
Resigned, Young In turned the car around and, as promised, arrived in front of the club about twenty minutes later.
She parked on the shoulder and called, but the very person who told her to come didn’t answer. After ten attempts, she concluded that calling any more was pointless.
“Hoo…”
Young In calmed her rising irritation with a deep breath, got out of the car, and walked toward the club building.
Two guards wearing black suits stood at the first-floor entrance.
Both were tall and easily looked over 100 kilograms, with fierce expressions.
Anyone would feel intimidated, but not even a flicker of unease showed in Young In’s eyes. She just wanted to finish this annoying task quickly.
“I came to pick up my brother, but he’s not answering his phone. Can I go in for a moment and come right back out?”
One of the guards smirked and asked back.
“What’s your brother’s name?”
Young In hid her displeasure and answered calmly.
“Chae Beom Jun.”
“Ah, Brother Beom Jun.”
As expected of a club regular.
The man’s immediate reaction made her want to scoff.
Lowering his chin slightly, the man spoke into the microphone attached to his jacket collar.
“Brother Beom Jun, which room is he in?”
After confirming the regular’s location, he grinned at Young In.
“Room 7, he says?”
The corners of her mouth drew a pretty arc as well.
“Thanks. But don’t speak informally when it’s our first meeting.”
Leaving behind the man whose mouth opened and closed in surprise, Young In walked into the club.
Catching a passing staff member and asking where Room 7 was, she struggled up to the third floor, only to witness something she really didn’t want to see on the way to Room 7 at the end of the corridor.
Having barely pushed through the frenzy of people, she passed a man and woman leaning against the hallway wall sharing an intense kiss.
‘They’re not even animals—do that somewhere people can’t see, you idiots.’
Passing the oblivious couple, she entered Room 7 and quickly scanned the interior.
It was arranged with long bench-style sofas on both sides of the head seat.
Among the seven or eight young men, she recognized about half the faces. And one of them instantly caught her eye.
The man who most suited the head seat.
The one that even the spoiled sons of wealthy families instinctively crawled to.
The top predator who reigned over everyone—Cha Sung Hyuk.
The moment their eyes met, the gazes of the two people reuniting after three years became entangled at a single point.
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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he can not get over his ex so started this drama instead of telling her he missed her
he still hang up with his ex,i smell trouble for them