“Here is the mid-year financial restructuring plan you requested. I’ve attached the list of collaborating entities and the credit reports in the second file.”
The thick shoulders, wrapped in a shirt, were bathed in golden sunlight. Above the head of the man, buried in a pile of documents, tiny dust particles floated slowly.
With the dazzling Seoul skyline behind him and basking in the sunlight, the man was Ki Tae-han, president of Taeseong Biologics.
He was the second grandson of the chairman of Taeseong Group, representing South Korea, and a likely future successor.
“Additionally, this morning at 10 AM, Soem Corporation requested more suppliers. Considering the plan to produce 4 million tons of green hydrogen annually, we need to explore more…”
He always felt like a mountain.
The sharply cut nape of his neck highlighted his masculinity, and his neatly combed black hair revealed his meticulous nature.
With deep, distinct facial features and a powerful aura emanating from his entire body, Tae-han exuded an overwhelming presence, enough to turn heads regardless of his position as a corporate head.
Unable to look at him directly, Yeon-woo fixed her gaze on the nameplate while continuing her report. Suddenly, the sound of fingers snapping broke the silence.
Snap!
As she lifted her head, Tae-han, still with his head down in the documents, held up a hand in the air. Yeon-woo swiftly placed the approval panel where he pointed.
Silence ensued. Only the sharp sound of the pen scratching on paper filled the office.
“Who is currently at the Vietnam site?”
“Team Leader Park Hyeong-sik from the Production Management Team.”
“Tell Team Leader Park to report on the research performance. Leaving it to him has turned everything into a mess, from items to raw material costs. Check for gaps in the middle management companies, and have the collaborating enterprises report their quarterly performance.”
“Understood.”
“And the supplier sources?”
“They are being organized. It should be finalized by next week.”
“I’ll attend this quarter’s research meeting, so make sure all department heads attend without exception. Send out notices to the heads of collaborating companies and get the list by tomorrow. Also, prepare a report on the hub construction and submit it by tomorrow.”
Despite the consecutive instructions, Yeon-woo did not show any signs of panic and quickly noted everything on her tablet.
Taeseong Biologics was planning the world’s largest renewable energy hub for future projects, converting wind, natural gas, and solar energy into eco-friendly biofuels. The target was to build a mega-capacity hub within the next 10 years.
The investment amounted to a staggering 95 trillion won, with the site located in Illinois, USA. Tae-han had a trip scheduled to the US that day.
After issuing a few more directives, Tae-han finally pushed aside the documents he was reviewing and opened the approval panel Yeon-woo had placed.
Yeon-woo, more nervous than usual, watched Tae-han review the documents.
Though he had not lifted his head since she entered, she still stood upright as if he was watching her.
Not leaving as usual, she remained standing. Tae-han, who was signing documents, asked indifferently.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Yes.”
Still, his head did not lift.
After what felt like a long time, Tae-han closed the approval panel and shifted his gaze to the monitor, permitting her to speak.
“Go ahead.”
Yeon-woo nervously bit her dry lips and pulled out a long envelope tucked into her tablet cover.
She carefully placed the neatly folded envelope on the desk, and his gaze, fixed on the monitor, finally shifted.
Her neat fingertips, painted with pale nail polish, pushed the envelope further in and then retracted.
“What’s this?”
For the first time, his face lifted.
It had been so long since their last eye contact that Yeon-woo couldn’t even remember when it last happened.
Feeling almost suffocated under his intense gaze, as if frozen in time, Yeon-woo finally spoke.
“It’s my resignation letter.”
“You’re resigning?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
His voice was tight, as if genuinely inquiring.
Yeon-woo’s heart swelled and then sank with the seriousness in his tone.
It was surprising.
Yeon-woo, thanks to his acknowledgment, was receiving the highest treatment in her field. There had been no incidents or reasons for her to feel resentful towards the company.
Hesitant to answer, Yeon-woo faltered. She had prepared a standard response anticipating this question, but strangely, she found herself unable to speak.
Tae-han gave her the opportunity to respond.
But after checking the time, he put on his wristwatch and stood up, ready to leave for a business trip.
“Secretary Seo.”
Even as he put on his blazer, his gaze never fell on her.
His voice was even, not perturbed or angry.
“I thought you knew me better than anyone, but I guess I was mistaken.”
Having walked around the desk, he stood in front of her.
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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