Three months passed without Jinwoo.
“Wow, it’s already December.”
When the first snow fell, Jinwoo had been too busy to contact.
“Looks like I’ll be stuck at home again this Christmas.”
Jihye, stirring her coffee in a paper cup, said in a gloomy voice.
“You seemed to be actively going on blind dates, though.”
When Jina asked subtly, Jihye let out a deep sigh.
“There weren’t any proper people. I think I set my standards too high because of our vice president.”
Jina chuckled at Jihye’s nonchalant tone.
“But you still can’t drink coffee?”
Surprised by Jihye’s question, Jina hesitated.
“Huh? Oh. I still have a bit of an upset stomach.”
“Don’t you need to go to the hospital?”
“I went, and they said it’s okay.”
Jina quickly brushed it off. Her pregnancy had become an unintended secret, and she decided to keep it that way, fearing it might tarnish Jinwoo’s reputation during his absence. Fortunately, the morning sickness wasn’t severe, and her slowly growing belly didn’t attract much attention.
“Yeah. Many people our age get serious illnesses. It’s all because of stress.”
As soon as Jihye finished speaking, the door to the break room opened.
“Would you like some coffee?”
Yoonju, elegantly dressed, entered. Since the reconciliation with Yoonju, they had maintained a polite distance.
“Yes.”
Jina replied with a bright smile.
“I received some Rooibos tea as a gift, but I’m not a big fan of tea. If Director wants it, please have it.”
Yoonju cynically remarked and placed a small box next to the tea set.
Whenever did she notice that Jina preferred tea over coffee? Jina felt grateful once again for Yoonju’s consideration. A while ago, during lunch with Yoonju, Jina sensed that she wasn’t such a bad person.
“Thank you.”
As Yoonju received the coffee in response to Jina’s greeting, she nodded politely and left the break room.
“Looks like quite a mess. After office romance, now it’s office divorce. Even though the employees don’t say anything, they must feel so uncomfortable. Look at her, pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.”
As soon as Yoonju left, Jihye shook her head, expressing her disapproval.
“Do your best. Look at her, a representative of women. Director.”
When Jina spoke gently, Jihye widened her eyes.
“What? Did she switch to Rooibos tea?”
“Yeah. I’m someone who’s weak against gifts.”
Jina responded playfully, and Jihye, with her forehead in her hand, said,
“She, she would follow someone giving out flyers.”
“Fliers are not gifts.”
“Fliers sometimes have wet wipes or candies attached.”
“Oh, no.”
The short chat continued with laughter.
“How about we have some fun during Christmas? Since neither of us can meet our boyfriends anyway.”
“Really?”
“My friend recommended a club last time, and they’re having an event that day. Let’s go.”
“A club?”
Jina’s eyes slightly widened.
“Clubs are a bit…”
Memories of Yoonju going to a club after getting pregnant came to mind.
“Oh, President will understand. I heard you need to make a reservation there, but I’ll try to pull some strings.”
Observing Jihye, who was extremely excited, Jina couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
“I should be in better condition by then…”
Jina, who urgently threw her luck, received a stern look from Jihye.
“Of course! Sister Biseon is going to buy expensive drinks, so let’s have a great time! Don’t worry; I won’t report separately to Vice President.”
Watching Jihye whispering discreetly, revealing the secret, Jina awkwardly smiled. Even in that brief moment, Jina pondered a thousand times whether to reveal her pregnancy.
“I’ll know when it’s time.”
The reason for continually postponing it was ultimately because of Jinwoo. If she announced her pregnancy at the office, she might not be able to work overtime separately, potentially having to relinquish the project manager position she held for the project.
But more importantly, Jinwoo could be seen as an irresponsible person. She didn’t want to be sold out like Kim Dojin.
So, Jina planned to endure quietly until she could bear it alone.
“Got it.”
Jina replied quietly, looking at the Rooibos tea left by Yoonju.
A high-rise building in Manhattan, New York. Jinwoo, standing in front of the window overlooking downtown, turned around at the knock.
“I got a message from SunTech about the contract meeting date.”
Chloe, wearing a black dress that accentuated her sensual figure, entered with a thin pad. Jinwoo let out a small sigh of relief at the awaited news.
“Okay. You’ve worked hard.”
Chloe, who tied her light brown hair high, did not leave but stood there. When Jinwoo turned his head back with a puzzled face, Chloe smiled teasingly.
“Would you like to have a drink to celebrate?”
For most men, this was an offer that they would accept without hesitation. However, it was an unimaginable proposition for Jinwoo. Looking at Chloe with a cold gaze, Jinwoo declined.
“No, thank you.”
Chloe, who was flatly rejected, shrugged her shoulders.
“Okay. I’ll drink on my own then.”
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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