Ian vanished without a sound just as I sensed someone approaching.
Where had he disappeared to so suddenly?
I was about to look up, wondering if he’d climbed a tree, when I shrank back.
“What on earth…”
The voice was now familiar to my ears. Turning my head toward the sound, I saw Rinat standing there.
“Vice Commander.”
“Isn’t this a werebear’s corpse? Did you kill this werebear by yourself?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected question, my mind stuttered. I had forgotten about the werebear corpse that Ian had taken care of right in front of me.
Should I say I killed it?
“Ah, yes. It just happened…”
Rinat, placing a hand on his forehead, let out a long sigh.
“Why do you take such reckless actions?”
I closed my mouth without responding. There was no room for excuses. What I had done to meet Ian was more reckless.
Even when a magical beast appeared, not drawing my sword was beyond recklessness—it was dangerous.
Why had I been so desperate to meet Ian?
I couldn’t clearly understand the reason myself, but seeing Ian’s face seemed to make it clear.
I just wanted to see you again.
‘I won’t run away anymore.’
With that thought, the weight that seemed to have been placed on one corner of my heart gradually lifted. That was enough for now.
“I apologize.”
“I’m curious who’s ahead of the extermination team in killing magical beasts. Not just me, but everyone in the team will be curious. Instead, why don’t you officially request a search team from the commander…”
“Some may want to give up sleep to search like me. But surely there are knights who want to rest properly when not on night watch.”
“The search team operating at night can be volunteer-based.”
I shook my head firmly.
“If we organize a separate search team for the night, then those not on the search team would have to stand on night watch. Then the frequency of standing on night watch would increase.”
I had no intention of bringing anyone else from the start. And now that I knew Ian was in the ‘Abandoned Mountain,’ I had to avoid coming with others.
I should ask Ian first. Whether it’s okay to reveal his presence before the extermination team or if he plans to hide his identity to the end.
“So you’ll continue to go out alone?”
“As long as you pretend not to know, Vice Commander…”
I trailed off, catching a glimpse of Rinat’s expression from the corner of my eye. Feeling embarrassed for having said that, I touched the tip of my nose, and Rinat sighed again.
“It’s dangerous. Don’t go out alone.”
“But organizing a search team would…”
“I will accompany you. It’s better than going alone.”
Wait, why did the conversation take this turn?
I have plans to meet Ian tomorrow night.
“Um, Vice Commander.”
“Speak.”
“I don’t want to burden you further. So from tomorrow, I’ll be more cautious.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I answered briefly and pointed to the extermination team’s camp. Recognizing my intent to leave, Rinat hesitated for a moment but finally turned away.
I resolved to be even more careful so as not to get caught by Rinat, and stepped forward.
“Vice Commander, it seems like those bushes over there have been shaking.”
“Really? Let’s go and check it out.”
“I will follow you.”
Today was the day the Paladin Knights were on night watch. Tuning in to their conversation, I looked outside the tent.
Rinat, who seemed to have been focusing his patrols around my tent, was now heading away with two Paladin Knights.
Now was my chance. I seized the brief moment when the remaining knights were in disarray, and slipped out of the camp quietly.
‘I’ll wait near the camp tomorrow night.’
Recalling Ian’s words that he would wait nearby, I lingered a short distance from the camp.
It’s a bit later than yesterday, but he wouldn’t have left already, would he?
“Klein?”
I called out in a soft voice, wary of anyone overhearing. Footsteps sounded from behind me. When I turned, I saw Ian standing beneath a large tree.
“Why that expression?”
What expression am I making?
I hastily touched my cheek, noticing a faint smile flickering at the corners of Ian’s eyes. Feeling awkward, I chuckled and responded.
“I called out on a whim. Didn’t expect you to appear so quickly.”
“I was nearby, Senior.”
I looked up at Ian, who had closed the distance in a single breath. His eyes today were not like the raging waves of yesterday; they were calm and warm, like a gentle sea.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“As you can see, I’m fine.”
I had so many questions, but the words wouldn’t come.
“It’s been a while since we’ve talked like this. Though we did meet yesterday…”
“I apologize for being late.”
“For what?”
“About the square incident.”
The square incident.
Although not much time had passed since then, it felt like a distant memory, perhaps because I had left for the extermination mission.
“If it’s about that, I’ve already forgotten. Actually, I feel grateful to you now…”
“To me?”
“You led the extermination force and selectively eliminated the troublesome monsters, didn’t you?”
“That is…”
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.]
