He was not pleased.
After Daehan’s quick response followed by Lee Han’s rebuttal article, it was wrapped up as a misunderstanding for now, but Tae Un was not satisfied. Was this really the best approach?
Would people even believe these articles that were clearly just covering things up?
‘Family? That kind of vibe can’t come from family.’
‘Of course Lee Han wouldn’t do that.’
As soon as the rebuttal article was released, the whole online community was in an uproar again. People who believed the article and those who didn’t began to coexist.
“Hah……”
Returning to his office, Tae Un tossed the tablet on his desk with a sigh.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed.
Tae Un was disappointed by Ba Ha’s stubbornness. He could see right through what she was thinking with that little head of hers, but was there really a need to take the difficult path? When someone was reaching out a hand, why not take it? The image of Ba Ha shaking her head in refusal lingered in his mind.
Knock knock knock.
“Come in.”
As Woo Joon approached Tae Un, who was sitting there emanating coldness, he rolled his eyes around. He was trying hard to find the right timing to bring up what he needed to say.
“Vice Chairman, Lee Han’s side has also released a rebuttal article. It looks like this will soon be wrapped up as a misunderstanding.”
“I’ve confirmed that. You may leave now.”
Tae Un rubbed his temples with his eyes tightly shut, furrowing his brow as if he had a splitting headache. Despite Tae Un telling him to leave, Woo Joon remained standing there.
“Director Jang, do you have something else to say?”
“May I ask just one thing?”
“Hah…… What is it? As you can see, I’m a bit on edge right now. It might be better to avoid me.”
Woo Joon swallowed dryly at Tae Un’s words. His low voice giving an indirect warning sent chills down Woo Joon’s spine.
Though Woo Joon had long been accustomed to the pressure from those dark, intense eyes, his heart still raced.
“Was your opposition to Lee Han’s advertisement last time because of this?”
“Hah…… What are you talking about? No. It’s because I’m anti-Lee Han. I’m his anti-fan.”
Tae Un jokingly tossed out that remark with a smirk at the frozen Woo Joon, but it had the opposite effect of chilling Woo Joon to the bone. The puzzle pieces finally clicked in his head as to why this perfectionist in work matters had deliberately ignored the best option.
With the puzzle solved, Woo Joon wanted to smack himself for his earlier flippant remark about being an anti-fan.
“I apologize. I was too insensitive.”
“It’s fine if you understand now. But you’re still being a bit insensitive right now.”
Woo Joon bowed his head with a wry smile. Though he always spoke like that, he was someone who didn’t hold grudges. His words could be taken at face value without the need to dwell on them afterwards.
“Yes. I’ll take my leave now.”
After Woo Joon left, Tae Un kept tapping his fingers on the desk.
“What should I do with you, Cha Hi Ra?”
[This is the timeline separator] [ Come to the store right now. ]Without seeing or hearing it, she could tell. Upon receiving Roo Mi’s message, Ba Ha could guess what she wanted to say.
“Hah…… She must have seen it.”
Ba Ha muttered while pacing in front of the cafe door, unable to open it.
What would it feel like to have a family?
Having never experienced a true family, whenever Ba Ha imagined family, Roo Mi was always there. In her imaginary family, Roo Mi was sometimes gentle like a mother, and sometimes stern like a father.
A sternness filled with affection.
Today she would probably be the scary father.
“I’m… here.”
Ba Ha stood nervously in front of Roo Mi, watching her expression. As soon as their eyes met, Roo Mi’s face crumpled.
“Why are you hanging your head? Why are you being so cautious? Did you do something wrong?”
Roo Mi didn’t like seeing Ba Ha with her head bowed. Ba Ha had always been a spirited woman. She hated losing more than anyone, was more confident than anyone, yet always crumbled in the face of affection and love.
Seeing her like this each time made Roo Mi’s heart ache.
“No! Really, no.”
“Then lift your head.”
Despite her stern tone, Roo Mi’s face showed concern as she pushed a sweet drink towards Ba Ha.
“I called you here to have this and cheer up a bit.”
“As expected. No one compares to Manager Kang.”
Ba Ha smiled brightly, feeling at ease.
The gentle coffee aroma wafting through the store, Roo Mi in front of her, this sweet coffee – everything felt comfortable. Being in this comfortable place with a comfortable person made Ba Ha feel like her chaotic day was coming to a calm end.
“I saw the article. It seems better than expected?”
“Huh…? Yeah. I’m fine.”
Roo Mi deliberately spoke as if it was nothing, trying to gauge Ba Ha’s feelings, while Ba Ha, knowing this intention, thought she couldn’t add to Roo Mi’s worries by telling her about what happened at the company.
So she kept her mouth shut.
“Then that’s good. Let’s just think of it as being bitten by a mad dog.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
This is right.
Let’s stop causing unnecessary worry.
Ba Ha nodded with a faint smile at Roo Mi’s words.
“So, how did the blind date go?”
“It went well. That person actually proposed marriage.”
“What? So what did you say?”
“What could I say? I said okay.”
Roo Mi was so taken aback by Ba Ha’s sudden statement that she could only stare at her with wide eyes, unable to think of any reaction.
“Don’t look at me like that. That person knows everything. What kind of relationship I had with oppa. What kind of relationship I have with Tae San.”
“Is that why you’re suddenly agreeing to this marriage?”
Roo Mi asked, staring intently into Ba Ha’s eyes, angered by her seemingly resigned words.
“Didn’t I tell you? It’s just talk. Just talk. The chairman kept asking me to move in, so I just made up an excuse to get out of it.”
Ba Ha said with a mischievous smile at Roo Mi. She told Roo Mi about all the situations that had been constantly coming up, things she hadn’t even wanted to mention out loud. She spoke about Tae Un, things she hadn’t been able to say before. Where she met him, where they reunited. What kind of relationship they have now.
“Are you going to tell me properly or not?”
“Don’t you know you have to listen to the end when someone’s speaking Korean?”
“Hah…… What about the person? What kind of person are they? More importantly, what do you want?”
“I told you. They’re a good person. Someone too good for me. They say they’ll stay by my side even knowing everything, but… You know. For now…”
“Ba Ha.”
Roo Mi gently held Ba Ha’s hand as she smiled bitterly, meeting her eyes for a long moment.
She wished Ba Ha wouldn’t be lonely anymore.
She hoped that someday that bitter smile would bloom into a bright, radiant one. She wished Ba Ha’s life would no longer be dark and cloudy, but clear with white clouds floating in the sky.
“You know, I always say this. I want you to stop crying and just be happy.”
Roo Mi spoke each word softly.
She continued speaking, hoping that these sincere words would reach Ba Ha’s ears and heart without a single one being lost.
“For that to happen, I think you need to have courage too. If that courage is still difficult, at least don’t push everything away. Try accepting other people too.”
“……”
“Stop seeing that person now. He’s someone who can no longer be responsible for your happiness.”
She choked up.
It felt like Roo Mi’s words were piercing straight into her heart. Someone who can no longer be responsible for her happiness. His name is no longer part of her happiness. Ba Ha gave Roo Mi a teary smile.
“I’m trying to become happier. So let’s think of it as putting aside the current happiness to see an even greater happiness. Okay?”
[This is the timeline separator]I want to be happy too.
Ba Ha couldn’t get Roo Mi’s words out of her head. Would greater happiness really come? Just when she thought she was a little happy, that happiness would crumble immediately. It was the same with Lee Han. As if the heavens were jealous, they had taken Lee Han away from her again this time.
‘Just don’t push it away, talk to him!’
‘Don’t push it away.’
Unlike the cold wind blowing in Ba Ha’s mind, outside it was a bright, sunny weekend. Her heart felt needlessly complicated, and she didn’t want to spend this dazzling weekend alone. Ba Ha lay on her bed fiddling with her phone, her mind in turmoil.
[ What are you doing today? ]Zing-!
As soon as Ba Ha sent the message, her phone rang loudly. It was Tae Un. As if even the time to reply to Ba Ha’s message was too precious, he called her instead.
– Why do you ask? It seems like what I’ll do depends on what Han Ba Ha says.
“I was thinking of giving you the time I couldn’t give you before… today.”
It was excitement.
She gripped the phone pressed to her ear tightly, waiting for Tae Un’s answer. For Ba Ha, this moment was a long-awaited thrill. Her heart fluttered the entire time she waited for Tae Un’s response.
– Decided. I’ll go to your place.
The Male Lead’s Obsessive (Female-dominant)
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.
Synopsis:
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Summary:
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