The Credentials of a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 176
“The wind is chilly. Shall I close the window now?”
“…….”
Meriel, startled as though caught in a mischievous prank, fidgeted her small lips. I couldn’t tell whether it was because she’d grown accustomed to me or if she had other intentions, but lately, the child had been watching me intently from behind more often.
“Want a snack?”
Not wanting to startle Meriel, I pretended not to notice her obvious reaction and brought up another topic. Like most children her age, Meriel absolutely adored snack time.
“Ah!”
Enchanted by the word “snack,” the wary look vanished from her eyes. Seeing her innocent expression stirred an inexplicable sense of regret in me.
If I was going to give her a treat anyway, I wished I could give her her absolute favorite.
Meriel smiled happily just with dried fruit, but as a parent wanting to give her something better, I couldn’t feel purely joyful. Unlike the child, who knew nothing, I was aware that the world held far tastier snacks than dried fruit.
I watched the child gnawing on dried apricots like a squirrel with puffed cheeks. A specialty from Pierne—apricot flesh preserved in honey and then dried—had recently become Meriel’s favorite snack.
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, even having lost her memory, Meriel’s tastes hadn’t changed much. Judging from what I’d observed so far, she’d probably still adore strawberry shortcake as much as she used to.
But unfortunately, there was no bakery specializing in cakes in the Pierne territory. There simply weren’t enough wealthy patrons here to support such luxurious desserts.
The territory of Pierne was characterized by mountains on three sides and treacherous reefs along its front coastline. While this geography made it a strategic stronghold, it also rendered the region highly isolated. Even cultural elements common in the capital were rarely seen here.
Moreover, the territory had changed hands before.
Just a few years ago, House Pierne had been stripped of its name and title. Consequently, they lost ownership over all their lands, and their namesake territory was no exception.
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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