People began to treat Aidan with fear again. Not only that, but when Brody and Aidan were together, people watched them closely.
‘That the issues between the two are not just their own problems, agreed.’
River’s concerns were understood, and Brody was also contemplating the situation.
Brody, who was absentmindedly stroking her curly hair, sighed and leaned against the door as she tried to leave.
River silently observed Brody with a clenched fist under his chin.
“Well, it’s not that we fought. So…”
As Brody pondered how to explain, River sighed.
“I think I can roughly understand. His Excellency, the Grand Duke, is being stubborn, isn’t he?”
“Uh, yes?”
“I’ve experienced it for a day or two. I don’t know the exact reason, but probably it’s because he’s being stubborn to annoy the Grand Duchess. It must be frustrating.”
What is this, a crab? A prophet? Although they had been matching each other for a long time, it seemed like they knew each other well.
Brody couldn’t nod. However, River took it as a positive response to his words.
“You must have a good relationship as a couple. That’s what proves your legitimacy. I believe you’ll understand what I’m saying.”
‘The legitimacy of the two.’ Aidan, brought here by leaving Daeho without permission, had neither status nor background to consider.
Therefore, the legitimacy that the Northern people would recognize in their relationship was only ‘love.’ River packaged it as a beautiful tale.
“Your relationship also affects the morale of the North. People in this town are already paying attention, aren’t they?”
“Got it, River.”
Seeing Brody extending her hands, indicating she understood, River smirked.
“I’ll be expecting it.”
Brody sighed and grabbed the door handle.
“I’ll do my best somehow. I can’t guarantee it, so please keep your expectations in check.”
“Oh, yes. Just moderately, right?”
Seeing River sarcastically emphasizing ‘moderately,’ it seemed that he was in a good mood after the meeting.
However, Brody felt a greater burden than the meeting just now.
The conference room was in a small room next to the large hall on the first floor, connected to the women’s dormitory.
As she stepped outside, Brody was welcomed by the clear sunlight and the crisp air.
Since her lodging was only a 5-minute walk away, she quickly increased her pace, wearing her winter clothes.
‘Ugh, it’s cold.’
A long exhale scattered in the opposite direction of where she was heading.
Her mind was filled with worries about how to resolve the situation with Aidan in the future.
“Brody.”
So, Brody didn’t hear the voice calling her properly.
So when Aidan, catching up with her quick steps, grabbed her arm, Brody was a bit surprised.
“Uh, Your Excellency?”
Aidan looked at the surprised Brody with a stern expression.
“…….”
Perhaps because she was just thinking about it, Brody felt a strange discomfort in her heart, as if she had committed a crime.
Since they had to reconcile(?) anyway…, Brody smiled gently, hoping to ease the situation.
But then Aidan’s expression became even darker.
‘Why on earth…?’
Aidan said to the bewildered Brody, “Let’s talk for a moment.”
“Uh… yes? Ah, yes, yes.”
Since Brody hadn’t expected Aidan to prepare a place first, she awkwardly replied. She assumed that he wanted to suggest moving to a quiet place, away from the curious eyes of the villagers.
However, Brody didn’t like that idea.
She pulled Aidan’s hem as he walked ahead.
“The potato field is a bit… by the way.”
“…….,”
It was a place where they had caused a commotion after drinking not long ago. If the two of them stood there again, they would undoubtedly attract the attention of the villagers.
Even Aidan, who had not thought about why Brody was uncomfortable, soon realized the reason.
He came out with Kaius from the stable.
Brody thought Aidan’s choice wasn’t bad.
Since there was no way to avoid people’s attention in this small village anyway…
Aidan grabbed her waist and lifted her onto Kaius. Brody could hear small sighs from the women around as they admired her adult-like appearance.
Aidan, although he must have heard, seemed unconcerned or simply ignored it, lifting Kaius calmly.
With a salute from the guards, the two of them left the village with such a lovely appearance.
“Shall we run a bit?”
“Okay.”
It was their first outing in a long time. Aidan occasionally went outside with the villagers due to work, but Brody had been almost confined to her lodging, taking care of Aidan.
Of course, it wasn’t just nursing; there was also the awkwardness between Aidan and her since the day they drank.
As they hadn’t thought about running since it had been a long time since they last moved, the idea popped up in their minds.
The cold wind or perhaps the movement after a long time made Brody’s face flush quickly.
However… she couldn’t feel the cold at all due to the unfamiliar yet familiar warmth behind her.
It was truly a sense of relief that she hadn’t felt in a long time.
‘To have my heart pounding like this and feeling so relieved. It’s a strange feeling.’
Although she felt tense about what he was going to talk about, it was nice that he came forward to start the conversation.
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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