When the appointment to meet the external grandmother was made, the chairman said not to be intimidated. He emphasized that Autumn was not going to beg for help but to negotiate.
The chairman also mentioned that in a negotiation, having an equal position with the other party is crucial. For a moment, Autumn regretted underestimating the chairman, thinking, “He’s not just a ‘chairman’.”
“We heard that you want to take us with you.”
One of the chairman’s pieces of advice was to take the initiative. The idea was that the opponent wouldn’t expect Autumn to attack. If they struck at that moment, they could secure a favorable position. Autumn followed this advice faithfully.
However, an unexpectedly pleased expression appeared on Madam Jang Ji-hong’s face. She believed she held the power over Autumn and Winter, assuming they would eventually yield and come in.
“You must miss the warmth of your blood relatives. Or is it that you suddenly need us?”
Taking advantage of Madam Jang’s lapse in concentration, Autumn struck a nerve. Madam Jang thought she held the trump card of life and death over Autumn and Winter, and this complacency was her downfall.
“You’re quite bold.”
“There’s no reason not to be bold. What you think you can give us, something we can’t live without, that kind of thing, we don’t have it. If it were when my mother was hospitalized, or right after my father passed away, you might have had a chance with the hand you extended. But not now.”
Seemingly eager to show that he’s not one to be left out of audacity, Winter interjected from the side.
“Moreover, I have no intention of becoming the successor to the Pyeong-an Group. I’m going to be a doctor. With my grades, I can get a full scholarship and even receive an allowance to attend college. If I go to college, I can earn money through tutoring. I heard medical students get quite a bit for tutoring.”
The line between confidence and arrogance was thin. Watching Madam Jang’s expression change rapidly, Autumn felt a sense of triumph. “Respect, Chairman,” Autumn silently exclaimed in her heart.
“Don’t misunderstand. There’s a line of people wanting to become the successor to the Pyeong-an Group. You’re not indispensable. We haven’t decided to give you an opportunity. Do you even know if you have the value we’re looking for?”
“Then there’s no reason for us to stay here anymore. We know our worth. Still, thank you for calling us today. I wanted to see where my mom lived.”
Autumn rose abruptly. The chairman had warned against negotiations breaking down.
In a negotiation, the side that needs to conclude the negotiation should be the one accommodating the other’s demands. Autumn faithfully followed the chairman’s advice.
“Sit down! Where do you think you are, pestering us like this? We’ve said everything we have to say. You stand up even before the adults finish talking.”
“I apologize.”
Autumn sat down obediently. Madam Jang Ji-hong was right. I made a mistake. I was too hasty, thinking only of my own disappointment.
“Even if you didn’t learn manners, that’s true. I’m reconsidering the decision to bring you here.”
Madam Jang Ji-hong should have stopped at the first verse. If she had, Autumn might have reflected on her own rudeness.
However, like most people, Madam Jang was lenient about her own faults, while relentlessly prying into others’ mistakes, no matter how trivial, to satisfy her conscience. The second verse of Madam Jang began.
“Growing up without parents seems to have left you uncultured, and such an attitude is not acceptable in our household.”
“I apologize. I behaved rudely. But in our neighborhood, not a single adult has used the phrase ‘growing up without parents’ towards me or Winter. It seems everyone knew not to use such words towards parentless children.”
“You’re really audacious, trying not to say a word in your defense. You think you resemble whom? Your mother wasn’t like that.”
“But you ignored it. Even when Mom was seriously ill, you pretended not to notice.”
Winter exploded.
“So after all that… summoning us now, talking about our value, is that it?”
Winter couldn’t continue speaking. Winter’s chest surged violently.
“I didn’t pretend not to notice. Were you resentful because of that? When your mother was in the hospital, I went there too. Your mother made contact. She said she would help, but it was your mother who refused.”
“She probably offered financial help. At that time, when my father’s business was thriving, we didn’t need financial assistance. Did Mom contact her because she needed help? Mom probably contacted her when Mom needed something.”
Madam Jang raised her voice, but Autumn remained calm. This was a pointless visit. She regretted coming to her external grandmother’s house for the first time.
She didn’t intend to deal with someone like Madam Jang. It wouldn’t be a deal with someone who always remembers only what she gives. Autumn quietly rose from her seat.
“Thank you for raising and nurturing our mother. Because of that, we came here once. We won’t come just because you call us now. Winter, let’s go.”
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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