An upscale exclusive restaurant.
At a glance, three harmonious families were joyfully engaged in conversation. It was a meeting that took place after almost a month. Amidst the lively conversation, employees entered with a knock, and the atmosphere turned formal as they began to set the table with precision.
The serene complexion of Aesuk, who had been unable to divert her gaze from her son after meeting him after almost a month, suddenly clouded over with the mention of side dishes that Seoyeon liked.
“Our Seoyeon would love these side dishes.”
The atmosphere, which had been warm at her words, froze abruptly. However, Aesuk didn’t show any signs of her husband and son’s expressions stiffening.
“On a day like today, how wonderful it would have been if Seoyeon were with us.”
Her mind was already filled with thoughts of her youngest daughter who was not present. With Aesuk’s muttered words, Junghyuk’s face changed markedly, looking serious.
“Seoyeon, your mother still hasn’t heard from you?”
Aesuk responded to Junghyuk’s question with a sigh.
“It’s been a few months since I last saw her.”
“Really?”
Junghyuk’s eyes widened in surprise. He muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.
“I didn’t know our youngest had such a cold side.”
“That’s right.”
Nodding as if in agreement with Aesuk, she had been disappointed and exhausted every day by her daughter, who neither answered her calls nor replied to messages.
A daughter raised with care, dressing her in only the best and feeding her only the finest. How could she turn out so coldly…?
“I won’t see you until you apologize to your husband.”
As parents and an older brother, they had a daughter who was once overflowing with love and kindness. The transformation of their youngest daughter began after Junghyuk conducted a public investigation into the entire Hansung Group for political funding violations and bribery.
Over twenty Hansung employees underwent investigation, and just the suspicion alone seemed to amplify, engulfing the entire Hansung Group in a crisis.
Even though two years had passed, Hansung had successfully overcome the crisis and was once again exerting significant influence as a global company in Korea and worldwide. However, the disgrace from that time had yet to be erased, and the Hansung Group corruption scandal continued to be a symbol of a significant event where a young prosecutor sacrificed himself to sever the ties of corruption.
At first, their daughter, who used to come every day with a desperate face, pleading for her older brother to intervene, now threatened that if the investigation led to the owner’s family, she would sever ties with her family unless things were set right.
Even now, thinking about that time made Aesuk’s heart tremble.
“Seoyeon said such things to her mother? This is really surprising.”
As Junghyuk questioned with a tilted body and muttered as if he couldn’t believe it.
“But on the other hand, I can understand why Seoyeon would come off so cold. Where are ordinary Hansung people typically emotionally? How uncomfortable would it be in that house? You went too far.”
Junghyuk’s eyes sharpened. Maintaining a smile on his lips, he spoke with a firm voice.
“Mother, I’m doing this to create a better world. If you’ve committed a crime, you should face the consequences.”
Aesuk added with a lowered voice.
“Seoyeon believes she committed a crime in your absence.”
Upon hearing this, Junghyuk responded with a faint smile as if it didn’t bother him.
“She probably wants to believe in her husband’s family. After marriage, when there’s no contact, one worries if she’s adapting well. But saying that, it seems like she’s already become part of the Hansung family. Now there’s nothing to worry about.”
“…”
As if hesitating with a lot to say, Aesuk, after gazing at Junghyuk, reluctantly spoke after a moment.
“…By any chance, is what Seoyeon said true?”
Junghyuk smiled subtly, lifting a teacup. After sipping the tea and maintaining silence for a moment, Junghyuk suddenly brightened with a smile and nodded.
“No way.”
At that moment, Daeyoung, who had been silently observing the conversation, spoke for the first time.
“Stop it. Making a big deal out of someone causing trouble won’t make you feel better, will it?”
Junghyuk intervened gently with a soft voice at Daeyoung’s sarcasm.
“It’s okay, Father. If Mother was so concerned about the youngest, she must be feeling that way.”
Then, as if his thoughts were organized, he stared at Aesuk and added comforting words.
“I’ll talk to Seoyeon.”
Aesuk, looking reflective, asked cautiously.
“Really?”
Junghyuk nodded.
“I’ve been too busy to pay much attention to the youngest. I’ll take this opportunity to see her face, and I’ll explain it to her so she can understand.”
“Good idea!”
Delighted by Junghyuk’s response, Aesuk called a staff member.
“Please pack two of the same dishes we’re eating now.”
“Are you sending it to Seoyeon?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Responding in this way, Aesuk smiled brightly.
Late afternoon.
With a knock, a helper entered Seoyeon’s bedroom.
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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