The guest room Yeonsu prepared for Sumin was outstanding, comparable to a luxury hotel.
Originally intended for guests, Yeonsu took extra care this time, changing the bedding and curtains.
A large wall-mounted TV faced the spacious bed, accompanied by a mini-fridge, a two-seater sofa, and a tea table.
Sumin roughly finished organizing her luggage and went to the living room.
“Sumin, come and sit here.”
Yeonsu, who had prepared a simple snack and tea in front of the sofa table, was waiting.
“What was the talk you mentioned earlier?”
“Oh, that’s about Jiho’s girlfriend. You also met her earlier.”
Sumin sat down next to Yeonsu on the sofa.
As if hesitating to bring up a difficult topic, Yeonsu took a moment before speaking.
“It’s about Isu. She is actually… our husband’s ex-wife’s daughter. Well, legally she’s my daughter now.”
“What?”
Yeonsu’s surprised mouth weakly opened.
She couldn’t easily continue the conversation due to the unexpected and unplanned connection.
“Isu went to the same school as Jiho, and when I asked if they knew each other, she said they were in the same club. So, at first, I thought they were just friends…”
Yeonsu didn’t ask for more details earlier due to the awkward atmosphere.
Although she didn’t pay much attention, she vaguely remembered some things Sumin had said about Isu.
She had mentioned how it was challenging to approach her, as she seemed mature for her age and hard to read, like a child but not quite like one.
“Oh, if only you had told me earlier. You don’t know how surprised I was when I saw her earlier.”
“Well, I was going to tell you, but Jiho didn’t say anything, and I felt like I had to say it first.”
In fact, they had hoped that Jiho and Isu would part without Yeonsu knowing until the end.
“Ugh, this kid. What does it matter between us?”
Seeing Sumin’s expression, Yeonsu, who had been worried, finally relaxed.
It was surprising, but now that she thought about it, it might be good to hear Sumin’s story about Isu, whom she had observed from nearby.
‘Come to think of it, she mentioned earlier that her mom is in London, and she came to meet her mom.’
She thought about how difficult it must have been for Sumin, going through her parents’ divorce and remarriage during such a sensitive time.
‘Although I don’t see any shadows on her face…’
“Because my husband didn’t tell me, I didn’t know Isu was coming with him today. I don’t know how surprised Yumi and I were at the airport. It turns out the surprise wasn’t Jiho; it was us who got surprised.”
Sumin laughed again, finding it amazing even now.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Yeonsu also laughed, recalling the situation.
“Oh, and Yeonsu, since it’s late today, just stay here and tomorrow, let’s find a place and go out with Yumi. What do you think?”
Sumin put down her black tea after taking a sip and said.
“What are you talking about? I invited you, where would I go out? I’m not going anywhere.”
As expected, Yeonsu opposed, jumping up.
“Well… if we don’t go out, Jiho might go out.”
“That… We can’t let him go just because we don’t.”
“That’s… I thought he might go out if we didn’t.”
“What? No, what on earth are you talking about? Jiho going out? Where would he go?”
Yeonsu looked at Sumin with a face that couldn’t comprehend at all.
“I guess somehow Isu might have told Jiho to do that. The thing is…”
Sumin sighed deeply with a troubled expression.
Yeonsu stared at Sumin, urging her to speak with intensity in her eyes.
“Oh, it’s so awkward to bring it up, but Yumi has liked Jiho more than just a brother for a long time.”
“Oh, really?”
Yeonsu looked at Sumin with astonished eyes upon hearing the story for the first time.
“Yeah, Yumi was so excited about going to the same university as Jiho. She said she wanted to go to the same school because they were in the same club. She was planning to confess to him this year when she went to college.”
Sumin sighed deeply with a regretful expression.
“Isu knew that Yumi liked Jiho so much. But, really…”
Looking at Yeonsu, Sumin said, “Isu knew all about it. But, what a world…”
Sumin raised her head and looked at Yeonsu.
“Knowing all that, Isu still met Jiho. One day, she brought Jiho to the house as if showing Yumi, introducing him to my husband as her boyfriend. Ah… It felt like my heart was tearing apart when I saw Yumi. Jiho might not know anything, but Isu…”
The sighing Sumin continued her story.
“Even though we haven’t mixed a drop of blood between us, even if it’s like that, how can she do that knowing that her younger sister likes the same guy? It’s really amazing. I’ve treated Isu with genuine care, not expecting anything in return, but it’s so heartbreaking. Ah… My energy has completely drained.”
Yeonsu, shocked, covered her open mouth with her hand and just listened.
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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