Holding two cups of coffee, Haegin noticed a familiar car approaching. It hadn’t even been 12 hours since she last saw him.
The driver’s window rolled down, and a long arm reached out. Instinctively, she handed him one of the coffees.
“Coffee for a hangover cure?”
He said, sounding like someone who had finished his business, and rolled up the window.
“Wait, wait a minute.”
Barely through the slightly opened door, she caught a glimpse of his sharp gaze. She had to ask. Even though it was a weekend workday, wasn’t she supposed to drive?
“Just get in. Wouldn’t it be better to think about what we have to do at the office in this time?”
Haegin finally got into the passenger seat. As she buckled up, the car started moving again.
Sipping the coffee Haegin had bought, Taehong casually commented.
“This neighborhood’s coffee is good.”
“Good to hear that.”
She had something to say, left unsaid yesterday. The compliment on the coffee gave her a bit more courage. She didn’t want to betray the opportunity and trust he had given her.
On a holiday morning, there weren’t many cars heading towards the office area.
“Team Leader.”
She called him cautiously. Although he seemed focused on driving, she knew he was paying attention to her words.
“About what you said yesterday.”
“The brand launch?”
Ah, that too. She paused for a moment, ready to speak again when her phone vibrated.
Glancing at the message, her words got stuck upon reading it.
[Deputy Jeong, it’s Chairman Moon. Let’s meet when you have time.]The message was unmistakably from Juntae. She read it several times, but it was definitely him.
“Deputy Jeong, you don’t want to do it?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Why did he contact her, and what for? The message gave no clues.
“If given the chance, I’ll work hard.”
First, show Taehong her strong desire to work. That was the priority.
“Alright.”
In the office, only Taehong and Haegin were present. From the lobby to the 28th-floor office, Haegin saw only a handful of employees.
Upon arriving, Taehong immediately went into his room. Haegin stared blankly at his closed door before sitting at her desk.
Piles of documents updated by Yeongjeong were there, but she couldn’t focus.
Why did he contact her? Could it be, as Taehong said, to report back?
Her mind was in turmoil. She needed to respond to the message. Glancing briefly at Taehong’s office, she got up and headed to the pantry.
The office was eerily silent, with even Taehong in his room. She cautiously dialed the number from the message. After several rings, Juntae answered.
“Hello, this is Jeong Haegin.”
Even alone in the pantry, her voice involuntarily softened.
Well, Deputy Jeong. Now that you’re a Yeonchang employee, it’s natural to call you deputy.
“Yes, that’s fine.”
Are you available today? I’d like to meet.
“Today?”
She first thought of Taehong’s schedule. There were no separate appointments for him in the afternoon, so late afternoon seemed okay.
“I’m currently at the office, so how about in the afternoon?”
Ha, our Taehong, working hard, I see.
Was this also a report? Mentally biting her lower lip, she inadvertently revealed his location.
Then I’ll send a car to your place.
“Excuse me? If you tell me the location, I will come myself.”
How about just doing as you’re told, Deputy Jeong?
Upon being told to do as instructed, Haegin had no choice but to agree with a “Yes.” Holding the disconnected phone, she lingered in the pantry, unable to leave.
What could be the reason for the meeting? Before she could ponder, Chairman Moon, leveraging his position as a Yeonchang employee, had already made her bow her head in acquiescence.
In such a state, if they met, surely she would have to follow whatever directives he gave. Could she really not disobey any order?
She didn’t know what the order would be, but considering his words, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t be what Taehong suspected.
Frustrated, she thought, “Where has the Haegin who just hours ago was holding coffee gone?”
She returned to her seat, shoulders slumped. Soon after, Taehong emerged.
“Deputy Jeong.”
“Yes?”
Her startled response made Taehong stop in his tracks.
“Did you do something wrong?”
Oh, she might actually be about to commit a crime. Haegin kept her words to herself.
“Is there something you need?”
“Let’s have lunch and then head home.”
Ah, it was already that late. Time had flown by while she was lost in her thoughts, without even properly looking at the documents.
“Yes, understood.”
They had a quick lunch nearby. Eating mechanically, she hardly tasted anything, unsure whether she was eating or inhaling her food.
As she was about to drive Taehong’s car to his house, he suddenly decided to drop her off at hers.
“Why?”
“Be more alert in the morning.”
His words revealed her distracted state. From her fidgeting to her unfocused gaze, it was clear she wasn’t in her usual professional demeanor, which made her feel embarrassed.
“If you drive like that, you won’t be able to handle the repair costs.”
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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