As it turns out, even though I kept lurking near the room to call for dinner, we were too engrossed, so we didn’t notice Namgung Ryeo’s presence(?).
Throughout my way to the dining table, amidst Namgung Ryeo’s grumbling, I bowed my head.
“Sorry. I really didn’t hear.”
“No need for Yeoni to apologize. Yeoni is naturally a bit slow.”
Was I slow? As I scratched my cheek with my fingers, Namgung Ryeo glanced at Danmokbi and teased.
“I didn’t know you had a talent for ignoring. You must have clearly felt my presence.”
Danmokbi replied with a sneer.
“I didn’t know you were oblivious.”
Namgung Ryeo seemed on the verge of tears but had nothing to say, so he kept quiet.
As we walked silently towards the dining table, I could see busy servants bringing and removing dishes. It felt like a feast rather than a funeral. I said with a puzzled expression.
“It’s strange to have a dinner at a funeral.”
“As I mentioned before, there are many sons, and it hasn’t been decided which son will be the next head of the family.”
Namgung Ryeo spoke with a refreshing tone but conveyed a rather grim message.
“To have a peaceful meal, you need witnesses, right?”
“…Are you deliberately having dinner with many people to avoid being poisoned?”
“It wouldn’t be strange for poisoning to happen. Father’s cause of death is poison.”
“I see.”
And it meant that family members were suspecting each other as the culprit.
‘Although I thought he might not have died like in the original work.’
Now I had to admit it. Since I entered, this world wasn’t a novel I wrote but an independently flowing world.
‘I might have lived longer by describing that I, who had lived by doing garbage things, died earlier.’
Either way, it was a self-made situation where the family came under suspicion. I sighed through my nose.
“I don’t want to talk about the deceased and give advice, but it would have been better if you had lived while looking around even a little.”
“It’s precisely the advice I needed.”
Namgung Ryeo vigorously nodded in agreement with my words. And with a cool face, he added.
“Besides, I think the atmosphere for the next head of the family will only improve if more people provide support. Even if the dinner hour is a bit hectic, I hope you understand.”
Since people who wanted to be the next head of the family would sit at the same table, the atmosphere was undoubtedly tense. I patted Namgung Ryeo’s shoulder and said.
“Why would I understand? I’m worried you might get hurt.”
“Ahaha, thanks. But you don’t have to worry. I won’t get hurt by these people.”
In an uncharacteristic manner, Namgung Ryeo added with a cold tone.
“You have to expect some harm.”
“…?”
The depth of her hatred towards the family was evident in her words. I raised my head.
‘If she hates it that much, wouldn’t it have been better not to come back?’
If Namgung Ryeo had decided not to return, whether it was Danmokse or Jegalse, they would have made a place for her.
‘Although she says that, could it be that she secretly longs for her family?’
Namgung Ryeo didn’t speak any further.
Contrary to Namgung Ryeo’s words, the dining atmosphere was very quiet. While quietly moving the utensils without making a sound, I glanced at the faces of the people sitting.
‘There are more people than I expected. Of course, since Namgung Ryeo mentioned having many direct descendants, most of them could be Namgung Ryeo’s people.’
The meal was elegant and delicious, but the atmosphere was so silent that it felt suffocating to eat carefully. Even Namgung Ryeo, who always enjoyed the food, didn’t lift a spoon today.
The change occurred shortly after the meal started. The atmosphere was disrupted by Namgung Bumin, who couldn’t hide her anxiety and suddenly stood up from her seat.
“I-I can’t sit here anymore!”
At her sudden outburst, everyone at the table turned to look at her.
“Is this ridiculous scene going on for days now? Making me unable to eat by watching me like this! Are you trying to dry me up and kill me?”
Even her complaints, somewhat neurotic while flipping her hair, seemed to be out of her mind. I clenched my teeth and stiffened when the peculiar atmosphere persisted. A small voice murmured among the people.
“A lot of talk about poisoned subjects.”
“Who said that just now?!”
Of course, no one stepped forward to claim they said it. Everyone remained silent, and Namgung Bumin’s gaze roamed around.
‘At this rate, someone will be accused.’
It seemed like someone would grab anyone and say, “You said it!” I unknowingly tensed up and lowered my head.
One of the guests stood up and tried to calm her down.
“It seems like you’re feeling overwhelmed, Lady Namgung. How about going inside to rest?”
“Please help me!”
Though it was a gentle dissuasion, there was clearly a strong sense of not wanting to get involved in the feeling. Yet, Namgung Bumin, already out of her mind, clung to him as if he were a rope descending from the sky.
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
_____
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.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
