Leah couldn’t forget the look in Terrun’s eyes, always desiring her.
He sometimes seemed like a child longing for love, and at other times, a beast starved for passion.
“Pauline, I have something to ask.”
Before going to bed, while Pauline was brushing her hair, Leah inquired.
“What is it, miss?”
“Um, what if a man is sexually incapable?”
“Who?”
Pauline’s reflection in the mirror showed a comical expression. Leah hadn’t expected such an exaggerated reaction.
“No, it’s about a novel plot. I was reading… and had some doubts.”
“Oh! I thought it was something else.”
“Is it medically logical for a man who’s sexually impotent to still kiss and hold hands with a woman, showing possessiveness?”
“That’s…”
Pauline pondered, rolling her eyes in thought. If only she knew someone like that to give an accurate answer.
“But even if the body is like that, the mental desires don’t disappear.”
“Is that so?”
“Ask Dr. Wilson when he comes.”
“I will.”
After all, emotional love is important. Women wouldn’t want to hold hands or kiss a man they are not fond of.
But men, they said, could enjoy a night with a woman without necessarily loving her. Is it because of different physical structures?
‘Terrun’s look.’
His eyes when taking the photo were undoubtedly those of a normal man.
‘Wait a minute…’
Leah’s face suddenly stiffened.
Had she ever seen such a look from Allen during their long relationship? He would casually say he loved her, but never showed such hungry desire as Terrun did.
Always smiling, saying she was beautiful, kind, the only one for him.
‘But it was different at the funeral.’
When she met Allen as Grace, not Leah, he had a look she had never seen before. A look of strong affection he couldn’t hide.
‘Why didn’t I notice before?’
If she had known how to read men’s expressions back when she was Leah Hamilton, she wouldn’t have been manipulated by Allen. Suddenly, she felt angry with herself.
‘Leah, you were so naive.’
It was unfair that she couldn’t reciprocate Terrun’s love due to trash like Allen.
She might not have the confidence to love Terrun, but she was willing to marry him. A woman without a husband had a hard life.
But she feared falling in love with him, losing herself again, forgetting her goals.
‘Ah, I don’t know anymore.’
She was confused about what was right or how to act.
The most contradictory feeling was that she didn’t dislike Terrun’s bold approaches.
‘Am I being hypocritical? I hate falling in love but also hate the idea of him drifting away.’
How she became such a resentful woman, she didn’t know.
Leah spent days diligently preparing the advertisements.
First, she had to take them to the newspaper office to see if they could be published as is, but she was quite satisfied with the outcome.
“Cherney, don’t wander off when we go outside.”
Pauline was almost hypnotizing Cherney as she helped her into her coat.
“Okay, I’ll only hold sister’s hand.”
“Right, if you let go of sister’s hand, we might never meet again.”
It was almost a threat, but Pauline’s concern was understandable, considering Lapa’s advice… Cherney’s face turned pale.
“Enough, let’s go. Pauline.”
“Yes, miss.”
The three of them were headed to the largest newspaper office in the Lubeck Empire. Leah felt as nervous as a soldier heading into battle.
“Cherney, it’s very dangerous outside. If you stay with us, I’ll buy you a delicious cake.”
“Really? Sister Grace is the best!”
Leah comforted Cherney and carefully placed the photos and advertising leaflets into a large envelope.
The three of them took a carriage to the city. Leah felt uneasy for not informing Terrun about her outing, but after their argument, their relationship had become tense.
‘I did inform James, though.’
Today, Leah decided not to worry about Terrun. Just the thought of visiting the newspaper office was stressful enough.
When they arrived at the Lubeck newspaper office, its building stood out, being the city’s largest. This newspaper was not only distributed in Lubeck but across the continent.
“Pauline, stay in the lobby with Cherney. I’ll meet with the advertising manager and come back.”
“Are you sure you can manage alone, Miss? It might seem odd for a lady to come here without a maid.”
Leah looked around, realizing Pauline’s point. Many women visited the newspaper office, but none were alone. Most were accompanied by men and maids.
“It’s fine.”
Cherney might behave in the unfamiliar environment, but any strange remarks might make the newspaper staff suspicious.
Leah braced herself and entered the office. Inside, it was much busier and more chaotic than she had imagined. The air was thick with cigarette smoke from the staff, making it hard to breathe.
After some inquiry, Leah finally met with the advertising manager.
A thin man with neatly pomaded hair and thick glasses, his eyes looked very meticulous.
“I’d like to place an advertisement.”
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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