Ji Na’s lips halted just as they were about to speak, and Jin Woo opened the door with a disappointed smile.
“Ah, I’m sorry for the sudden interruption.”
It was the landlord.
“Hello. Is there something you need?”
Ji Na asked, to which the landlord, looking somewhat troubled and rudely peering inside the room, responded.
“Did you do any construction?”
“No construction… just installed blinds.”
Hearing Ji Na’s reply, the landlord craned his neck to inspect the window.
“It shouldn’t be a problem on this side since the sun doesn’t shine directly here…”
His displeased expression reminded Ji Na of online posts about landlords who forbid tenants from making any alterations. Feeling somewhat absurd but remembering her status as a tenant, she forced a smile.
“Yes. But at night, the inside is too visible.”
While the landlord continued looking bothered, Jin Woo finally spoke up.
“Was there a clause in the contract prohibiting the installation of curtains or blinds?”
His question was sharp. The landlord, rubbing his forehead, looked at Jin Woo.
“Ah, young people who don’t pay rent might not understand, but you can’t just drill holes for blinds, what about the next tenants?”
The landlord sounded somewhat wronged.
“If it had been clearly stated in the contract, we wouldn’t have moved in.”
“Well, obviously, you’re supposed to report and get permission for every nail you hammer. Who writes such trivial things in a contract?”
It was unclear who was being trivial. Jin Woo continued to look calmly at the landlord, his tone as professional as if he were handling business at work.
“Yes, you should. Failing to do so and then complaining is a violation of the contract.”
The landlord, at a loss for words, merely coughed awkwardly. Glancing at Jin Woo, he muttered,
“Seems you know a bit about the law…”
“If you wish to proceed legally, we will comply.”
The landlord, fidgeting around his neck, seemed to have nothing more to say.
“So, it’s just the lady living here, right?”
The landlord’s gaze on Ji Na was probing. Wondering if he was asking because of Jin Woo’s presence, Ji Na was about to nod when Jin Woo spoke first.
“We’re planning to get married soon. I come and go here.”
“Uh, uh?”
Surprised by his statement, the landlord’s eyebrows shot up.
“I didn’t hear about this when signing the contract… Um, um…”
“Is that a problem?”
Jin Woo’s sharp gaze made the landlord shake his head in confusion.
“No, no, it’s not a problem. Alright then. Young people these days… I’ll be off now.”
After the landlord left, Jin Woo closed the door.
“Ah, I’ll also change the front door lock today.”
He spoke as if it had just occurred to him, but he was already pulling out a new digital lock from a bag that also contained blinds. Skilfully replacing the lock, Jin Woo straightened up and said,
“Noona can set the password.”
At the door, about to program the new lock, Ji Na said to Jin Woo,
“0925.”
“Tool… five…”
As he pressed the numbers, Jin Woo suddenly looked at Ji Na.
The password he was entering was Seo Jin Woo’s birthday.
“We’re about to get married anyway,” Ji Na said, shrugging her shoulders and playfully mimicking what Jin Woo had earlier told the landlord, making Jin Woo chuckle.
Under the darkened sky, thousands of lights twinkled behind Jin Woo. Among them, he was the brightest, undoubtedly the one who would give everything for Ji Na.
“Come in after you finish. I’ll cook some ramen.”
Ji Na quickly turned around.
“I’ll specially catch you a raccoon tonight,” she said, referring humorously to a popular brand of instant noodles.
Beep—
The door closing sound was heard. As Ji Na filled a pot with water on the gas stove, Jin Woo’s hands suddenly wrapped around her waist. His warm breath settled on her shoulder. His firm embrace was comforting.
“Hungry? I’ll cook quickly. Just sit over there.”
“I need to recharge after today,” Jin Woo murmured, burying his face in the nape of Ji Na’s neck.
That action sent tingles throughout her body, but Ji Na maintained her composure as she opened the ramen packet.
“Big brother, I’m really tired today…”
Jin Woo’s whining was adorable. He always seemed so mature, but now he was cute like a child.
“Okay. I’ll add two special eggs for you.”
Ji Na said half-braggingly, opening the fridge to take out eggs.
“Can I stay over again tonight?”
As Jin Woo finished speaking, an egg slipped from her fingers and hit the floor.
The sudden loss of strength in her fingers caused it.
The egg shattered on impact with a crisp sound.
Flustered, Ji Na grabbed a tissue to clean it up. She had stayed over the night before, but she sensed his intention wasn’t just to sleep. His voice lingered in her ears, sticky like egg white.
“Don’t say things like that carelessly.”
Hoping her inner turmoil wasn’t showing on her face, she scolded Jin Woo lightly.
The pot on the stove began to boil, bubbling sounds filling the air along with steam. Perhaps because of that, the sticky summer air seemed to grow hotter.
“Is it a bit hot…?”
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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