“Yeah, it should be about this much.”

“Yep. It’s going to end at this time from now on.”

“It’s already past 1 am, but I’m happy because I experienced 2 am yesterday.”

Inside the car going home after all the shooting ended. Bong Gi pressed the radio button with a satisfied expression. The calm midnight radio. The melody without major ups and downs helped to relax the tension, erase many thoughts, and also to untangle longheld thoughts.

Ji Ho, who had been exchanging words with Bong Gi, briefly held his phone. He saw a new message and subtly smiled. A photo of a splendidly written English certificate and a trophy. And excited characters.

[Ji Ho oppa! I won first place in the concours I attended this time! I wanted to tell you… You’re busy with work, aren’t you? Take care not to catch a cold. (8:05 PM)]

It was a message from his younger sister, Saebom. Looking at the date on the certificate, it was last week. She probably hesitated whether to send it or not while wandering around the piano for a week. Although it was quite late, he felt like he would wait and moved his hand.

[Congratulations, Saebom. You worked hard. Take care of your health too. (1:20 AM)]

The sent message filled the screen. When he scrolled down the screen with his finger, it was the 6th message exchanged this year. Saebom’s messages, each with a neat tone. Every time she sent a sentence, it seemed like she had thought about it several times.

‘Ji Ho, you’re listening to aunt’s words, right? Get better quickly so I can pick you up. You know dad loves you a lot, right?’

Why did he only nod his head that day? Indeed, who breathes by saying they will breathe. So, it seems like he didn’t tell dad. That he loved him a lot. Because it was too obvious.

If he knew that was the last, he would have screamed. But he was sure. Even though he didn’t say it, he was sure his dad knew. He would have felt my love with his whole body. Because I did, too.

“Oh dear, my child who used to shiver… must have closed his eyes comfortably.”

The funeral hall was filled with middleaged men with coppercolored skin. They were the men who had been on the boat with dad.

Their rough, toughlooking hands wiped the tears flowing between the deeply set wrinkles around their eyes. But no matter how much they tried to wipe them away, their eyes would easily get wet again when they saw me.

I think I blankly watched their tears. Those tears were as salty as the sea, weren’t they? No? Did their tears make the sea? Our dad’s tears must have made some sea too, right? The twelveyearold me had such quirky thoughts.

I had to have such thoughts to cry a little less.

“Ji Ho, Ji Ho, your mom gave birth to your sibling. But it seems difficult to take care of both of you because the baby is still so small. So, let’s go to middle school while living with your aunts.”

I think I nodded calmly. It wasn’t disappointing because I thought I hadn’t lost something, but it had never been there. Even though I was really fine, I heard that they sent living expenses without fail every month, probably feeling uncomfortable for not being able to take me right away.

“Let’s spend a year at your smaller aunt’s place next year. Is that okay?”

So, I lived in the houses of my big aunt and small aunt, moving back and forth each year. That’s why I transferred schools every year during middle school, and I guess this part played a role in why my life before high school was not disclosed.

A child who sat quietly in the back of the class, preparing for the next transfer. A middle school in a corner of Mokpo, with not many students. There’s hardly anyone who knows me from then.

And the year I turned 17, a call came. From mom.

“Ji Ho, you’ve grown so well. I’m sorry for not being able to fetch you sooner.”

“It’s okay. Thank you.”

The conversation between mother and son was stiff, but she must have felt it clearly. That my words of thanks were sincere. Because I felt that her words of apology were sincere.

And next to her stood a man with a refined face. Neatly groomed hair, under which was a pale face. He was tall, and above all, his hands looked delicate. A small figure was fidgeting behind his legs, peeking out and exploring me.

“He looks… just like a prince,” the little figure said.

I looked at the child who hid in embarrassment. I later heard that it was thanks to this child that I became a part of the family. My big aunt said that she wanted to take me in once this child was old enough to understand and accept the whole situation, probably when he entered elementary school.

Thankfully, the child seemed pleased. He was excited about having a big brother.

That was my new sister, Saebit, who I got as soon as I arrived in Seoul.

“How about changing your surname to ‘Yu’? I want you to do what’s comfortable for you.”

“It’s okay. I like living as An Ji Ho.”

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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