The next day, the two had afternoon tea. The proper etiquette was to empty the first cup in silence, exchanging greetings and well-wishes.
She waited until each other’s cups were empty for basic courtesy, then casually broke the silence.
“Liam, the fact that you responded positively to my letter implies some level of interest, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, as I mentioned to the Lady, I am looking for new products.”
He replied while pouring a new cup.
“In that case, could you take a look at mine once?”
She wanted him to judge whether Cloé’s item was useful and, furthermore, had commercial value.
Liam readily agreed.
“I made it.”
“Ah, it’s quite lightweight.”
Liam, holding the food storage ‘jar’ that Cloé made, admired it briefly. Calis’s storage jar was heavy and inconvenient to carry, but hers seemed easy for the knights to handle.
“It seems spacious enough for various items…”
Liam, looking around, nodded lightly. His face moving up and down signaled a friendly signal.
“Is the sealing complete?”
“I couldn’t observe it for more than a day due to the urgency of the first one. It was intact at that time.”
“Just a day…”
He seemed disappointed.
Judging it only for a day was insufficient, and the food not spoiling could be a coincidence.
“The one I just handed you contains food left untouched for two days. To be more precise, it’s been two and a half days.”
“Can I check it now?”
“I thought it would be better for you to see it directly, so I delivered it. It couldn’t go wrong.”
Liam took out a dagger and carefully scraped around the lid. When the heavy iron lid sank in, he cautiously lifted it.
Inside was baked fish. Fish was a food prone to spoilage, but it looked clean with no signs of contamination.
Cloé, observing the scene, was frozen.
Her tightly closed lips and straight gaze. Seeing her showing such a serious side for the first time, it seemed cute.
“Very well.”
“…!”
“If the baked fish has not spoiled for two and a half days, it is sufficient.”
She blushed at the sudden relief.
“Then, do you have any intention to contract with me, Liam?”
Then, she immediately changed her tone. She approached the contract with a gaze that had become unexpectedly serious.
“Hmm.”
Liam stared at her storage jar thoughtfully. Even after removing personal feelings and calculating, it certainly seemed better than the Duke of Arhen’s.
“But there’s one catch.”
Nevertheless, Liam was not eager to make a contract with her. Firstly, it was due to the compromise with reality, and secondly, a mischievous whim had been triggered.
Liam wanted to see her tense posture from a little while ago once again.
“The contract with Duke Arhen still has time left. The penalty is not significant, but we need to ask, and we also need to deal with all the remaining items on our side.”
“…”
“While the invention of this jar by the Lady is innovative, people will continue to purchase Duke Arhen’s jars if it doesn’t circulate. Do you think it has enough significance to endure the loss?”
There was no answer from Cloé to the sharp question. She just stared quietly at Liam.
Will Cloé move as he wishes?
“Yes. I do.”
The answer was the opposite.
“Duke Arhen’s jars cost a lot in terms of materials, but the one I made, made of iron, belongs to a much cheaper category. In the factory where thousands or tens of thousands need to be made, it would be quite profitable. Since the Duke has already measured the values, there is no need to lower the price much.”
She had a glint in her eyes. Her beautiful irises, reminiscent of the blue sea, were filled with pride.
“As it is lightweight and easy to carry, knights can also purchase it personally. It is not limited to selling to a specific group anymore; individual demand will increase.”
Her dignified voice listed the advantages of the product she created.
“The Duke seemed willing to change to a new product, but… If you have no intention of collaborating, it would be regrettable. However, even if you are not the Duke, there will be many who will accept this product.”
“…”
“There is no way this jar won’t circulate, meaning Duke Arhen’s storage jars will not monopolize the market.”
Unnoticed, the form of address for Liam had become noticeably harsh. As he turned away, Cloé also transformed without hesitation.
‘I get it now.’
In his disappointment, Liam smirked.
‘This woman only sees me as her prey.’
Cloé sees him only as a ‘future business partner.’
Building friendship with him, responding several times to their encounters, and even giving a letter willingly, everything was for today.
“Why are you smiling?”
As Liam laughed again, Cloé asked a question. It was as if she was asking what kind of attitude it was to laugh unexpectedly in a serious situation.
“Just.”
Even asking for something so bluntly was characteristic of Cloé. She seemed like a woman who could distinguish between work and personal matters.
“I thought that you and Duke Arhen really don’t go well together.”
Certainly, compared to the stupid and dull Duke Arhen, she seemed more suited to be by the Emperor’s side.
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.
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