“Romance….”
Despite knowing that all this was untrue, Hye Yoon’s heart pounded. It had been exactly three days since she met him.
Click Click
The sound of the camera shutter never ceased, almost like an exclamation of admiration.
“Wow! Good job!”
Everyone else remained silent except for the photographer. Although it was an atmosphere where one should not chatter, in truth, they were left speechless.
“Wow, Ji Ho, your expression just now was great, wasn’t it? Let’s try to maintain that feeling a bit longer.”
Ji Ho gave the director a sly smile and nodded, then he stared back at the camera. As soon as the brief direction ended, a decadent charm oozed from his gaze.
The reason why he had always been at the top since his debut wasn’t solely due to his dazzling looks. It was times like this when it was apparent. He was a professional who perfectly sculpted the ambiguous image the director wanted, whether it was acting or a photo shoot like today.
As numerous as the scattered lights, dozens of hot gazes felt like hands, touching him everywhere. How often could they get a chance to see top star An Ji Ho this close? Moreover, with the plausible disguise of professional dedication, all the staff were busy enjoying this luxury.
“Isn’t it all too unreal?”
“What, An Ji Ho?”
“Yes. It’s not just that he’s handsome… it’s just… it’s just unbelievable, that face.”
“Even as a guy, I’m excited. Can’t imagine how you feel.”
During their conversation, neither of them took their eyes off Ji Ho.
Ji Ho’s black hair rippled, moving along with him. When he relaxed and slightly lifted his chin, his dark eyes were half hidden under the thin double eyelid line. His intense gaze made women unconsciously lick their dry lips.
Suddenly, Ji Ho pulled his upper body towards the camera and lifted one corner of his mouth. As if entranced by that smile, a staff member unconsciously stepped closer and then hastily retreated. Among them were men, so it was certain that the women felt an even stronger impulse.
For instance, the desire to see that beautiful person up close. If possible, to sit on his firm thighs.
“You should be thankful that this is a winter photoshoot.”
“Why?”
“An Ji Ho’s physique is a piece of art, but if he took off his top, I would be speechless. If you remember the photoshoot we did in Hawaii… Wow, look at this. Can you see the goosebumps on me? His body was just…”
He pushed forward his own arm, revealed under the rolledup sleeve of his tshirt. Seeing the goosebumps, he seemed to recall the emotions from that time and slightly shivered.
“Insane. But why should I be thankful? I regret it.”
“No, really, you should be thankful. When you see his body, it’s hard to live normally for a while. It keeps coming to mind, you know? That’s why I thought I was gay at that time. Really.”
“Hah… An Ji Ho is really human, right?”
He chuckled, pulling his gaze away from Ji Ho. He looked around and realized something. There was no need to prove An Ji Ho’s charm by showing the goosebumps on his own arm.
Everyone was mesmerized, like children watching fireworks at an amusement park at night. Eyes intoxicated by the surreal, delightful atmosphere. There was a palpable sense of regret, as if they wished to be eternally trapped in this moment that was about to end.
“That’s a wrap for today’s shoot! Thanks to Ji Ho, we’ve finished an hour earlier. You’ve worked hard!”
“It’s because you’ve taken good shots. The staff also worked hard.”
As the applause and the shoot ended, Ji Ho bent his tall stature slightly, his characteristic polite smile on his face. Many tried to strike up a conversation with him under the pretense of greetings, but he was impeccable and courteous, showing no sign of annoyance.
However, that was it.
Everyone was eager to get closer to him, but Ji Ho was a hard person to befriend. He gave a comforting smile, but he was someone you could never be comfortable with. People were intoxicated by his looks, his body, his voice, and everything indescribable about him, but those few steps towards him were all they could manage.
It seemed like Ji Ho was smiling with an elegant expression from behind an invisible wall. He had an overwhelming presence that entranced everyone but never allowed anyone to come close to him. Hence, the An Ji Ho known to people who had worked with him was no different from the An Ji Ho known to the public.
The most popular actor in South Korea. A handsome actor who acts well, and is polite. A man that the entire nation knows, but knows nothing about.
A perfectly mysterious person.
“You’ve worked hard. There are no schedules this week, so rest well.”
“What do you mean, hard work?”
“Are you going straight home?”
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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