Eunjae arrived at the academy and got out of the car.
After opening the umbrella and greeting the driver, Eunjae, instead of going up to the classroom, stood in the entrance corner, checking the car’s position through a narrow gap.
The car, which had stopped for a moment, concealed its traces. Holding his breath, Eunjae returned to the back of the academy building and hailed a taxi.
The rain was annoyingly persistent.
Thinking about that, I habitually leaned my head against the car window.
Throughout the journey to the real estate, the events from yesterday kept coming to mind, making my heart heavy. When I heard his words telling me not to go, my heart felt like it was pounding down to my toes.
I really shouldn’t delay any longer now. I seemed to have had that thought simultaneously.
If I hear him telling me not to go again, I might hesitate. I didn’t have the confidence to push away his hand that held me. Neither when he first reached out to me nor now.
Arriving at the real estate, I looked around the house.
One room, one bathroom, and a small living room attached. I thought of giving the room to Mom, and I could stay in the living room. Absorbing the sunlight filtering through the curtains, I felt it in my hands.
The lighting was sufficient, and the deposit and monthly rent fit perfectly into the budget. There was no reason to hesitate anymore about signing the contract.
After finishing the Day shift (working hours 7:00~3:00), when Na-rim stood in front of the main gate, she absentmindedly looked outside where the rain was falling. Reading the text message that had just arrived, she sighed deeply.
“Na-rim, I’ll be waiting at the cafe we talked about.”
It was Hoseok’s message. Reading it continuously, he seemed like a decent person, and his efforts to show his face frequently moved Na-rim a bit.
No, it’s because Mom said he’s a good man. And she said to meet him more and decide. That’s what moved my heart.
So, for now, I decided to meet him. People are forgotten by people, they say.
It seemed like the time had come to put a dot on the unrequited love that lasted for over 20 years. There was no regret. Whatever the result, I had fully conveyed my feelings.
When Na-rim let out her second sigh.
“I’m dead.”
Turning my head abruptly at the familiar voice, Taekyu, wearing a gown, stood crookedly with one hand in his pocket.
You were like that.
You said I’m everywhere, that wherever you look, there I am, that every brown-haired woman looks like me.
In another sense, I feel the same way.
Even when I try not to care, I keep caring. Everywhere I look, there you are, and every passing brown-haired man looks like Yoon Taekyu.
But even that, I like it. It’s good that you care about me. You, who didn’t like brown hair, who didn’t like women following you, who said you hated women sticking to you without pride.
Na-rim turned her head without saying anything.
“Take this with you.”
A navy blue umbrella unfolded over Narim’s head.
“You didn’t have an umbrella, so you kept standing there, right?”
Why. You always appear like this and put an umbrella over me whenever I feel down.
“It’s the rainy season, don’t let your guard down just because the rain stopped.”
Why do you always appear and shake me at times like this?
“When Teacher Yoon does this to me, I get shaken.”
“Hey.”
“I have someone to meet. Now that I’ve sorted things out…”
Cutting off Taekyu’s words decisively, Narim rummaged through her bag and unfolded the umbrella she pulled out.
“So, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t shake it.”
After saying that, she walked away without looking back.
Afraid that my carefully closed heart might open easily with just one word from you, or that I might want to run into your arms at a slow pace.
Looking at the rain outside, Narim let out a deep sigh.
“Narim, try this. It’s the signature menu of this place.”
“Thank you.”
Narim suddenly came to her senses at Hoseok’s words. She picked up the lemon éclair that had been pushed forward and stared at it for a moment before picking up the fork.
“Eat and feel better.”
“What?”
“Something happened at the hospital, right? Your expression hasn’t been good since earlier. It seems like you’re thinking about something else continuously.”
“Oh, did it look that way? I’m sorry…”
It all showed on my face, so suddenly feeling sorry, Narim bowed her head deeply.
“Working at the hospital must be tough, right? I have a friend who’s a doctor, but they say being a nurse is a really extreme job.”
“No, I enjoy it because it’s something I like to do.”
“There’s a nice walking path when it rains. Do you want to go?”
“Yes, I’d like that.”
While Hoseok was paying, Narim, who came out in front of the store, looked at the rainy scenery and recalled the moment when she had met Taekyu in front of the hospital a while ago.
What did you think when you saw my back at that time? Maybe you thought it was refreshing that I, who had been annoyingly clinging to you, finally fell away.
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.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
