After enjoying a lively children’s musical, the family headed to a French restaurant by the riverside.
Seated by the window with a view of the Han River, Junghyeok, holding his son on his lap, asked earnestly.
“What would you like to eat?”
“Um….”
Siwoo quickly scanned the extensive menu, then raised his large eyes.
“By the way, today’s recommended main dish is French-style escargot with fresh parsley and Charlotte. How about that?”
“Um….”
Siwoo pursed his lips, tilting his head playfully.
“How about organic grilled eggplant wrapped in vintage cheese and fresh oyster dishes?”
“Um, well….”
“Is that not good either?”
Junghyeok, with a slightly distorted expression, breathed a light sigh. At that moment, a tapping sound was heard from across the table.
Looking up, Junghyeok found Dajeong, who had closed the menu, staring at him intently. Junghyeok shrugged.
“She’s picky. Seems like she takes after me.”
Dajeong swallowed a sigh. What was this about escargot and vintage cheese to a five-year-old?
“Mr. Chae Junghyeok, Siwoo might find the main course too much. The Kids’ Meal set might be suitable.”
“Kids’ Meal….”
Was there such a thing? Junghyeok, who had been mumbling, nodded lightly in agreement.
“Then how about Yudajeong?”
“Just order something reasonable for me.”
After Dajeong spoke, Junghyeok asked the waiter.
“What’s good in seafood today?”
“Today, the Dokdo shrimp is fresh. The dinner A set includes Dokdo shrimp pasta, and for the main course, there is a dish with abalone and cod.”
“Let’s go with that. And….”
As Dajeong continued with her concise order, she looked at Junghyeok and got lost in thought.
Thinking that he had learned all about her taste, Junghyeok had not even considered asking her what kind of food she liked. In the midst of these thoughts, Junghyeok finished placing the order. When he was about to turn, Dajeong grabbed the waiter’s attention again.
While she might not know his taste, she knew one thing.
“Oh, by the way, this guest has a peanut allergy, so please be careful.”
“Understood. Sir.”
The waiter replied politely and left. When their eyes met, Junghyeok raised his eyebrows. His face seemed somewhat moved.
While feeding Siwoo a piece of pre-dinner bread, Junghyeok suddenly asked.
“How about work?”
Dajeong smiled contentedly.
“The client liked it right away.”
There happened to be a meeting with President Hong today. She had sent the initial design for the requested house and briefed him on the detailed plans.
“Now, we can get into the actual design work.”
“It’s not urgent, so take it easy.”
Dajeong, after a moment of making a somewhat awkward expression, burst into laughter. She found it amusing that he, who was not a client, told her to take it easy.
“It would be great if all clients were like Mr. Chae Junghyeok. Just tell them to take it easy, and how nice would it be if they paid accordingly?”
“How about not doing that? Your wrists hurt all the time.”
“Wrist pain is a chronic condition.”
Dajeong smiled helplessly, scrunching her nose.
At that moment, Siwoo, who was munching on bread, suddenly shouted towards the entrance.
“Oh! It’s Uncle Representative! Samchoon On!”
It was a truly unexpected encounter.
Upon hearing Siwoo’s voice, the attention of a woman and Dojun, who were standing side by side near the entrance, turned towards their table.
A tense silence flowed over the dining table where they unexpectedly gathered.
As Dajeong had anticipated that it might be awkward between Junghyeok and Dojun, surprisingly, it was not Dojun but Sookyung who ignited sparks with glances in the air.
Their fierce growling at each other, as if deeply passionate, made the awkwardness between Dojun and Dajeong pale in comparison.
If it was going to be like this, Junghyeok couldn’t understand why he had suggested joining the tables.
It was Sookyung’s suggestion, Junghyeok agreed, and no one objected. Siwoo was simply delighted.
Junghyeok shot a discomforted glance full of resentment from his furrowed brows.
Isukyung and Kwon Dojun. He had only imagined this mismatched combination once.
It was the day when he purchased several expensive paintings at the Chongmyeong Art Gallery, probably.
At that time, Junghyeok needed bait to throw at Noh Hyeongsuk, and he was considering someone with conditions tempting enough for her to be greedy.
Thinking of Isukyung at that time, he had briefly imagined a painting alongside Kwon Dojun. However, he never imagined that the two of them would end up facing each other in reality.
So, if we define their relationship, the two were alumni from Y University and had majored in political science and diplomacy.
Junghyeok completed his master’s degree in business administration at HaX University and entered Y University the following year, so they had known each other for roughly over seven to eight years.
It wasn’t just academic connections; somewhat forcibly, there was also a relationship on Dajeong’s side. Sookyung’s uncle, who was the chief physician at Han River Hospital, was Park Chairman’s personal physician.
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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