A bakery cafe with a view of the town square clock tower. This was the place Idel had agreed to meet with Ena, who worked at the dye factory.
Seated on the cafe’s terrace, Idel ordered an afternoon tea set and some bread for Ena. She arranged with the owner for the tab to be on the Duke and for Ena to pick up the bread whenever she wanted, under her name.
As Idel, Reinyan, and Vien sat drinking tea, the clock tower chimed five o’clock. Shortly after, a small silhouette approached them.
“Um… hello.”
It was Ena. Clutching a small bottle tightly in her hands, she greeted them nervously. Seeing her again, she seemed as awkward as before.
“Come, I’ve been waiting.”
Looking at Ena’s tense face, Idel responded with a soft voice, trying to put her at ease.
“We were just taking a break. Would you like to join us for some refreshments?”
Pointing to the empty seat beside her, Idel invited Ena, who began to move. Just then, she seemed about to join Idel, passing by Reinyan and Vien.
“Ah…!”
Ena tripped and fell, spilling an unknown liquid from the bottle onto Reinyan and Vien’s legs.
“Ah!”
“…!”
Vien let out a scream, jumping up from her seat. Reinyan also widened his eyes in surprise.
“I’m so, so sorry… Really sorry!”
Quickly picking herself up, Ena repeatedly bowed her head while still holding the empty bottle.
“What is this liquid?”
“It’s dye produced at the factory… the factory manager told me to deliver this sample to a client…”
Looking at the liquid staining the hem of her dress, Vien asked and Ena answered, her voice breaking. Idel intervened.
“Are both of you alright? And Ena, are you okay from the fall?”
“I’m fine. My dress is a bit damp, but that’s all.”
“I’m also fine; just the hem of my trousers got wet.”
While Reinyan and Vien nodded as if they were okay, Ena added, her voice shaky and tearyeyed.
“Uh… You should wash the stained clothes quickly to prevent permanent stains…”
Unsure of what to do as she worried about the expensivelooking dresses and suits, Ena seemed anxious.
“Please forgive Ena’s unintended mistake, Vien and Reinyan. We should hurry and clean up the dye as she suggested.”
Idel consoled the tearyeyed Ena and advised Reinyan and Vien.
“I’ll go to the restroom for a bit. Idel, will you be alright alone?”
“There are many people around, so don’t worry. Go ahead, Vien. You too, Reinyan.”
“Understood. I will also return shortly.”
Reinyan and Vien seemed concerned about leaving Idel alone but were reassured by the busy atmosphere of the cafe on the square’s terrace.
After they left, Idel, who was still sitting alone, gently stroked the trembling shoulders of the stillnervous Ena.
“It’s okay, Ena. It’s a small mistake. Don’t worry too much. If you’re worried about the laundry bills, I’ll cover it since I invited you and this happened.”
“Tha…thank you… And I’m s…sorry…”
“Don’t cry. It’s okay.”
Tears flowed from Ena’s eyes. Idel took out a handkerchief from her bag and wiped away Ena’s tears.
Still, Ena’s reddened eyes continued to tremble.
“Um… I have another concern…”
“Go ahead and tell me.”
“If I fail to properly deliver the sample to the client, the factory manager will scold me severely… What should I do…?”
Still a child, Ena found the factory manager to be truly intimidating. Clutching the empty bottle in hand, not only did the child’s hand tremble, but the small body shook as if chilled to the bone.
“I will explain on your behalf. This happened due to my mistake, not yours.”
“Is, is that true…?”
“Absolutely.”
When Ena hesitated, asking as if in disbelief, Idel assured her by nodding her head. Ena then cautiously asked Idel with a hesitant voice.
“Then… could you go with me now?”
“Now?”
“Yes… Before coming here, the factory manager told me to finish the errand quickly and return. He must be waiting.”
“Ah… I see.”
Noticing Ena’s urgency, Idel slightly furrowed her brows. Neither Reynion nor Bien had returned yet, making it difficult to leave her current spot.
Moreover, she wanted to naturally meet Ena without revealing her ducal identity, and she hadn’t summoned any other attendants yet. They would be waiting at the entrance to the city center.
“If it’s difficult for you to accompany me, I should go alone.”
As Ena began to move, tears dropping, Idel grabbed her hand. She couldn’t send the child off alone.
“Hold on. Let’s go together.”
Idel had planned to briefly explain the situation to the factory manager and offer compensation if needed.
Although she hesitated to go with Ena alone, leaving her companions, the factory area wasn’t far from here. It would be best to resolve the urgent matter and return. After making up her mind, Idel asked a passing waiter to relay a message to her companions, then left the café holding Ena’s hand.
Ena fidgeted as they walked, seemingly uncomfortable holding hands. Idel thought the child’s tense expression was due to the unfamiliar physical contact.
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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