“Ms. Ji Na, a moment please.”
Do Jin’s voice echoed from the other end of the office.
“Yes, Team Manager.”
Ji Na promptly stood up from her seat without hesitation.
Do Jin, the Team Manager of the Marketing Planning Team 1 where Ji Na worked, was a tall, wellbuilt man with a neat appearance, popular among the female staff members. Completing every task perfectly, he was recognized for his abilities and was the first among his peers to be promoted. The word “Team Manager,” freshly engraved on the silver nameplate on his monochrome desk, glimmered.
More than anything, what made Ji Na’s heart flutter was the warm look in Do Jin’s cold eyes. A warmth that nobody else knew was directed only towards her.
And thus, five years.
It had already been five years since they had begun their secret office romance that no one knew about.
‘Let’s get married once I become the Team Manager, Ji Na.’
Ji Na was waiting for the sweet words of Do Jin. She was waiting for the day he would propose.
Since today marked the completion of those five years, her expectations for some special promise were high.
As Ji Na approached with a fluttering heart, Do Jin, who had been checking his monitor, stretched out his long arm and handed her a file. His face remained directed towards the monitor.
What he handed over was the “[Generation MZ Fashion Marketing]” plan that Ji Na had submitted some time ago.
“The brand portfolio is weak.”
“What?”
Ji Na’s eyes widened even more at the unexpected comment. It was because Do Jin was the one who had confirmed the plan at the previous meeting.
Caught off guard by the sudden change, Ji Na stood with a dumbfounded expression, not knowing how to interpret Do Jin’s words.
Feeling the usually cold office air unusually chilly, Ji Na hunched her shoulders slightly and clutched the unfortunate file in her hands.
A moment later, Do Jin lifted his gaze from the monitor. He looked at Ji Na with an irritated expression, rather than the warm gaze she had been expecting.
“Ms. Ji Na, our target is the twenties and thirties demographic. Let’s think more flexibly.”
The fashion brand they were launching was aimed at younger customers. Do Jin, who had just been promoted, seemed ambitious to make his first project as a manager a success, acting more exacting with his subordinates than before. Although it was hurtful to be treated the same as the other employees, Ji Na didn’t show it.
“Even if I approve this here and send it to upper management, it’s going to come back down. Our team is on the radar of the higherups right now. Let’s avoid doing things twice, Ms. Ji Na.”
Do Jin flashed a businesslike smile. It was a professional expression, but the softness in his eyes seemed directed only at her, so Ji Na nodded.
“Yes, I’ll prepare it again.”
In truth, Ji Na had played a large part in Do Jin’s rise to his managerial role. The numerous proposals that had been meticulously built up had all come from Ji Na’s hand a secret known only to the two of them. After all, it wasn’t the first or second time she had done this.
“But, Ms. Ji Na, are you very cold?”
Ji Na was taken aback by Do Jin’s question, unrelated to work.
Contrary to the sweltering heat outside, the office where Ji Na worked was as cold as early winter. Being sensitive to cold, Ji Na had no choice but to wear a thin cardigan that reached her wrists even in the middle of summer.
Just as she was about to answer shyly, wondering if he might be showing concern for her, he said,
“Wearing a cardigan in the middle of summer… We are a fashionoriented company, not some other company. Let’s be more mindful.”
Words entirely different from what she had expected came out. Ji Na involuntarily hunched her shoulders and cast her gaze downward, her sleeve covering up to the back of her hands. Instead of feeling shy, her face was flushed with embarrassment.
“Manager Kim.”
Just as she was about to say something, Heo Yoon Ju, who had recently joined the company, approached with a lively smile. A strong scent wafted from her swaying black hair, which reached her waist. Her floral blouse and tight miniskirt had made her the talk of the office for her fashion style, which rivaled that of a model, right from the beginning of her tenure.
“I don’t understand this, oh, Ms. Ji Na.”
It seemed as if Yoon Ju, who had been rushing over, hadn’t noticed Ji Na standing there, and she abruptly halted.
“It’s alright.”
As Do Jin said this with a smile, Yoon Ju lightly bowed to Ji Na and stood near Do Jin’s desk. As their attention was focused on the documents Yoon Ju had brought, Ji Na quietly returned to her seat.
Having flopped down onto her chair, Ji Na pulled out a small mirror. Her faint makeup, almost faded, was overshadowed by dark circles under her eyes, perhaps due to the frequent overtime work. She remembered the time when Do Jin had jokingly called her a Go piece because she always wore similar designs, like a uniform, 365 days a year.
A black skirt, a white blouse, and a black cardigan over it.
She was unmistakably a Go piece.
‘Sigh…’
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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