“…….”
“And on windy days like now, it’s not good to leave the windows wide open as you did earlier.”
Whirling.
The wind blew, and Lamein’s golden hair fluttered in the air.
“The curtains on the window were pretty, but if you’re not going to wash and hang them every day, it would be good to remove them.”
Duke Haribo stared at her with stunned eyes, not even breathing as she spoke without stopping.
“Also, please remove the flower pots in the room and place plants that can increase humidity. You’ll know better than me what kind of plants there are.”
Duke Haribo’s straight eyes narrowed slightly.
“And it would be good to remove the dolls on the desk and bed if Lady Haribo is okay with it. If you touch them a little, dust will puff.”
When on earth did she examine all these things in such a short time?
A loose smile spread on the unwittingly stretched lips of Duke Haribo.
“Ah. I spoke too hastily.”
Lamein finally realized that she had spoken without even breathing.
“How do you know about all this, ma’am? Your actions at the birthday party too. I’m curious.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I’ve experienced it, and I once had a servant who had symptoms like Lady Haribo. That’s how I found out.”
She summoned the imaginary servant she had mentioned to Cedric before.
A strange light flickered over the red eyes that touched her without a flinch.
‘He probably doesn’t believe my words.’
Thinking that he was giving her that look because he didn’t trust her words, just then,
“May I ask one thing?”
Duke Haribo’s deeply resonant voice flowed.
“Yes. Speak.”
The moment Lamein answered, Duke Haribo’s face came close to her ear in an instant.
Without giving her a chance to flinch, he slowly opened his mouth, lips touching her ear.
“Am I a person you should not be interested in?”
He slowly lifted his leaning body, having charmed her with a deep, bewildering voice.
Looking at the red eyes meeting hers again, she couldn’t read the man’s thoughts.
‘What the heck is he talking about? What would he do with interest in a married woman?’
She glared at the man suddenly suggesting an adulterous drama.
‘Is this man aware of something? Or is he just a flirt? Is Cedric just picking on me because he dislikes me?’
Lamein, who had sent many thoughts flying, struggled to compose her expression.
“Unnecessary interest is not good for anyone. Same goes for me.”
She subtly conveyed that she would refuse anything that would get her slapped by her motherinlaw.
“What if I’m still interested?”
Lamein, now glaring perfectly, looked around.
Fortunately, Jane and the groom, who were having a conversation, seemed not to have heard the conversation between the two.
Meeting his eyes directly, Lamein flashed a faint smile.
“Then isn’t it enough if I don’t show interest in you?”
It takes two to make a sound, doesn’t it?
“And to be clear, the only man in my life is my husband.”
So even if divorced, she wouldn’t let any other man into her life.
The man before her conveyed a message with a meaning unknown.
The man who was looking closely suddenly raised his eyelids.
“It seems you have misunderstood my words.”
Lamein quickly blinked instead of replying.
“I was referring to my interest in you as a business partner, as you have extensive knowledge about herbs and medicine. Perhaps you misunderstood.”
That’s what he meant?
Lamein’s eyes twisted at the slightly incomprehensible explanation.
“Business?”
“Yes. I meant to propose doing business together.”
“Ah. Business. Yes. Well……”
Caught off guard by an unexpected proposal, she stammered.
“You don’t have to answer right away. You must be lacking time to spend with the only man in your life, your husband.”
“……”
“I enjoyed our fruitful conversation today.”
His slightly raised lips seemed as if he were mocking her.
She felt a sudden rush of embarrassment, as if her face would turn red.
“Then, I will leave now.”
He decided to leave quickly.
“Please go safely.”
With those soft, lingering words from the man, Lamein quickly turned and climbed into the carriage.
Lamein, in the carriage, disappeared from view.
‘So if I don’t show interest, that’s all right, isn’t it?’
A subtle change of emotion passed over the Duke of Haribo’s eyes, reflecting on her words.
“She’s an interesting woman, no matter how I think about it.”
He keeps finding himself inexplicably drawn to her.
“No, there’s a reason.”
A mysterious smile spread across the Duke of Haribo’s lips as he recalled the day he first met her.
(This is a time separator.)
Cedric was sitting at his desk, lost in thought.
“The young lady has arrived.”
Roberto’s words made him rise and head to the window.
He saw her getting out of the carriage, wearing a lavender dress.
Following her movements, Cedric’s calm eyes shifted, and he soon left the room.
‘And if you happen to see them, tell me right away.’
‘Then not only you but also you might receive a dukedom from the king.’
He walked slowly down the hallway, recalling Raymond’s words.
Cedric, softly muttering between tightly drawn lips, lifted his gaze from the floor.
He saw his wife and Jane heading toward their room in the distance.
“Prepare a bath. I need to wash.”
“Yes, ma’am. Wait in the room, and I will come to escort you as soon as the bath is ready.”
Jane left, and now the lady was alone.
Cedric moved his steps quietly and slowly.
Taptap. Swishswish.
Only the sound of her footsteps and the rustle of her dress echoed in the quiet space filled with chilly air.
She stopped at the door and opened it to enter the room.
Cedric’s blue eyes, seemingly concealed and darkened, flashed like lightning.
Just as he was about to increase his slow pace.
“Lamein!”
Elina’s voice resounded loudly through the silent corridor.
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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