The Season of Prettiest You (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
It was an unusually dark night.
A crisp script was held tightly in Yeoreum’s hands. It carried a faint smell of ink. The weight of each page pressed down on her like a heavy sense of responsibility. The die had been cast; whether she liked it or not, the drama would soon be released into the world. Though this was the moment she’d been eagerly waiting for, she felt calmer than expected.
‘Finally, my drama is…’
As filming drew nearer, a writer’s inner turmoil always deepened. Yeoreum thought about casting, ratings, PPL deals, production budgets, pacing, and coherence. She deliberately tried focusing only on these practical concerns.
“How about revising this part like this?”
But inevitably, her thoughts drifted once again toward him.
“Yeoreum, the supporting characters’ storyline is too long. Let’s trim it down a bit.”
He suddenly appeared beside her, drawing a line under a passage in the script. His fingers gripping the pen looked firm. His eyes, filled with trust and affection, shimmered so brightly they stung. Unable to bear looking any longer, Yeoreum set the script down and turned her gaze out the window.
A long summer night stretched before her. The pitch-black sky seemed to go on forever.
No—nothing lasts forever. In just six hours, the sun would rise without fail, and in two months, autumn would inevitably arrive. The way of the world was astonishingly simple: everything eventually passed. Even the way he came to mind at this moment was no exception.
She was moving on from him. The transition had taken longer than expected, but she was almost through it. It had been a full two years—this was merely one of those days when he happened to cross her mind once more.
In a few minutes, it would be her birthday, and soon production on her drama would begin… Just another unusually restless day.
Yeoreum tore her eyes away from the black night sky, picked up the script again, and turned to the first page.
The lives of the protagonists she’d created with him were about to begin.
The car carrying Taeseok arrived at the club entrance. It had been two years since he last visited such a lively place. The pounding bass made him narrow his brows slightly.
He wasn’t thrilled about it, but he had nowhere else to go.
He needed to get out today—anywhere would do. Staying home alone might send him spiraling further into ruin. It was her birthday—the unforgettable one. He didn’t want to sink back into that quagmire, flailing helplessly. This time, he wanted to reclaim his life.
‘It’s high time I pulled myself together. I’ve spent two whole years in darkness.’
Darkness.
Taeseok gave a self-mocking smile. How melodramatic—over just a breakup. It should’ve been as fleeting as a harmless flirtation, something easily forgotten. Yet sometimes, out of nowhere, her laughter would leap into his mind and leave a fresh scar near his heart.
Whenever his thoughts drifted back to her like this, tension tightened around his eyes. He desperately wanted to chop off these tiresome thoughts at the root. If it meant cutting her out of his mind entirely, even this noisy club was fine. Honestly, wasn’t it quite a perfect place to escape? Few places could drain a person’s spirit as thoroughly as a club.
“I’m going in. Don’t wait.”
After a brief farewell to his manager, he gestured to a waiter. Taeseok had his own VIP entrance. Like a star being sucked into a black hole, he vanished into the dark, pulsing void.
“Do you think Taeseok will come?”
There were five men inside the private room.
Known as the “Six Mafia,” this group consisted of six actors who’d met on a film set five years ago.
“He’ll definitely come today. I must’ve called him a million times. You know I’m Seo Taeseok’s stalker.”
Yoo Gangyeol, Taeseok’s only same-age friend in the group, joked playfully. A few chuckled at the absurd remark, but no one actually believed Taeseok would show up.
And for good reason—Seo Taeseok hadn’t attended their gatherings for two full years now. It wasn’t just this group; Taeseok had vanished as if he desperately wished to disappear from the face of the earth, using every means possible to erase his presence.
“My manager said Taeseok hasn’t watched TV at all for two years.”
“Is that even possible?”
“He doesn’t go online either. Ignores calls from directors. Hangs up the second any producer so much as mentions the letter ‘j’ of ‘project.’”
“And I heard Taeseok-hyung’s been seeing a psychiatrist.”
Wonwoo cut in sharply.
“That’s enough. Even if rumors won’t leak from here, let’s still be careful among ourselves.”
A murmur of agreement followed.
Seo Taeseok had broken down.
After two years, they had no choice but to accept it: top Hallyu star Seo Taeseok disappeared not for modest self-reflection, but simply because he’d collapsed.
The official reason given was tax evasion. An anonymous tip had accused him of intentional tax fraud, leading to an intensive investigation by the tax authorities. Following the probe, Taeseok publicly announced a self-imposed hiatus.
“He also broke up with that ordinary girl he was dating back then…”
But the actors suspected the real reason wasn’t tax evasion at all—it was the breakup with the woman he cherished like his own life.
They guessed the tax investigation was just a cover-up.
Public opinion had actually been on Seo Taeseok’s side—there’d been no real need for him to step back, especially since the investigation ultimately cleared him of all charges. The public had even condemned the anonymous informant for maliciously filing a false report.
Seo Taeseok was irreplaceable—an intelligent yet sexy actor whose raw, refined presence couldn’t be replicated. His background as a former medical student only added to his flawless image. As soon as his innocence was confirmed, industry insiders immediately reached out—with offers for films, dramas, and ads.
Yet Taeseok rejected them all.
He used to enjoy writing his own scripts as a hobby, but since then hadn’t touched a single one. He shut his eyes and ears to the world and truly did nothing at all.
Rumors even began circulating that he might have left Korea altogether.
Still, they waited. Surely it’d only be a few months. Maybe half a year. Definitely not more than a year.
And yet, two years had passed.
Knock knock.
The one who entered after a knock was, surprisingly, Taeseok himself. He removed his sunglasses and cap, ruffling his flattened hair.
“My god. Seo Taeseok.”
“It’s too loud in this club. Let’s meet somewhere quieter next time.”
He still stood at 188 cm tall, with broad shoulders, a sharp jawline, and a straight nose. His body remained densely packed with disciplined muscle. Only his gaze seemed slightly colder, a bit unfamiliar—but otherwise, he was virtually unchanged from two years ago. Seo Taeseok—the undisputed number-one actor in Korea, whose mere presence overwhelmed everyone in the room.
“Long time no see, everyone.”
“Hyung, you actually came!”
Soo Hyeok warmly offered his hand for a handshake. Wonwoo and Seokjin also jumped up happily.
“Yoo Gangyeol kept calling me nonstop, so I came.”
Taeseok shot him a quick glare, then turned away as if annoyed. Gangyeol immediately stood up and pulled him into a bear hug, then proudly declared out of nowhere,
“See? If you hit a tree ten times, it’ll fall! Pretty amazing, huh?”
“Hey! Ten times? How many calls did you even make for it to be ‘ten times’?”
Taeseok scolded him in his usual tone as he sat down, lightening the mood slightly.
“How have you been all this time?”
A casual drink held all the unspoken greetings of the past. At last, their gathering felt complete.
Brief updates on each other’s lives were exchanged.
“Look at Seo Taeseok’s physique! What kind of workout have you been doing lately?”
“Dunno. Same old stuff.”
Yoo Gangyeol ran his hands over Taeseok’s biceps and shoulders. When Gangyeol grumbled that actors should ease off during slow seasons, Soo Hyeok and Eunho laughed. Everything felt just as it had two years ago.
Meeting good friends, catching up, sharing drinks—this was how he should’ve been living all along.
‘I can’t hide away forever.’
Seeing Taeseok finally relax, Wonwoo spoke gently,
“Taeseok, you should get back to acting.”
He’d taken a long break.
“Hyung, are you okay? I heard someone say you’ve been seeing a psychiatrist lately…”
Gangyeol’s pupils instantly widened. He quickly grabbed a chunk of pineapple and shoved it into Seokjin’s mouth.
“This guy still has zero tact! Just eat some fruit.”
He stuffed in another slice of apple.
“Taeseok, just pretend he doesn’t exist.”
Taeseok finally let out a soft chuckle.
He understood—they were worried. These were the very people who knew better than anyone how broken he’d been after parting with the woman he’d guarded so fiercely he wouldn’t even let others see her. He answered honestly,
“I stopped taking anti-anxiety meds—I don’t need them anymore.”
“…”
“And I don’t have any plans to return to work yet.”
Everyone nodded.
“Still, you should start looking around soon. There are plenty of hot projects lately. Director Lee Hongseok is casting right now too.”
‘Who’s Lee Hongseok again?’
Taeseok tried to recall who that was.
‘Ah, right—the young drama director.’
Having shut himself off from the world, even names felt hazy. He didn’t know what dramas were currently airing, what movies had just opened, or what songs and fashion trends were popular.
Trying not to think of her, he’d blocked out the entire world—and bit by bit, turned his back on everything. She’d always burst into his thoughts unannounced, tearing his life apart. He hated that. He’d grown to despise her, and eventually, to loathe himself for crumbling because of her.
That’s why he didn’t care at all whether Lee Hongseok—the so-called hot director—was working on something new, what scriptwriter Jeon Yeongmi had written lately, or which lead role Jin Sihu had just landed.
“I actually met about that drama last week! Director Lee Hongseok’s project.”
Gangyeol chimed in brightly. Everyone who knew him knew he’d been coveting Lee Hongseok’s new drama for a long time—even Taeseok knew.
He’d come out just to live like a normal person, yet inevitably, the conversation turned back to work. It was an incurable occupational habit. Although Taeseok couldn’t care less about drama casting, he halfheartedly nodded along.
“The writer’s super pretty, by the way. I met her myself.”
“I heard the same.”
She was a young, rising screenwriter—her scripts broke conventional drama molds with trendy writing and vividly animated characters. The actors held her in high regard.
She was only a one-year rookie, a university junior to Director Lee Hongseok, and apparently so confident that the project was being fully pre-produced with 100% certainty.
All this uninteresting information neatly piled up in Taeseok’s ears.
“So you’re getting the male lead?”
“Nope. Got rejected on the spot, hyung.”
Someone snorted with laughter.
“What good does it do if the writer’s pretty? You won’t see her again anyway.”
Teasingly, Seokjin provoked Gangyeol, who immediately jumped up in protest. Playful banter and light scolding flew back and forth.
Living life was made up of moments like these—casual, lighthearted exchanges. Taeseok sank into a lazy, reflective mood.
“You don’t think that director’s eyeing Seo Taeseok, do you?”
“I won’t accept any casting offers.”
Taeseok said it indifferently.
“Cheon Ji Hyeok’s taking it.”
“That kid’s really growing up fast.”
Cheon Ji Hyeok.
That brat was already landing lead roles. While Taeseok had merely been breathing, the kid had grown into an adult. Time truly flew.
‘I wonder if he’s still as shamelessly bold as ever.’
Quiet Eunho suddenly spoke up,
“I’m going to audition for screenwriter Choi Yeoreum’s next project too.”
Taeseok, who’d been wearing a relaxed smile, instantly froze. A blade-like flash slashed straight through his heart.
Wait—what did he just say?
Choi Yeoreum?
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
_____
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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