Arriving at a remote corner of the square, Baron Kito sat on an empty bench. Several times he spoke tender words to ease my tightly coiled vigilance.
“I’m not a suspicious person. Don’t worry.”
Honestly, I had not thought that he would kidnap or threaten me. The reason was not that I trusted Baron Kito, but because Duke Fenton was next to me. In other words, the existence of Duke Fenton was a significant reason for me to follow him.
I was uneasy that Duke Fenton might disappear somewhere far away. If he held his ground, I was thinking of pulling out one of my prepared excuses and fleeing back to the mansion.
“……Even if he’s foolish, he’s not someone who would harm you.”
Duke Fenton spoke as if noticing my worry. But when I didn’t easily believe him, the Duke tightly stood by my side instead of leaving his place.
“Just wait a moment. I knew this would happen, so I always carry this with me!”
What? Baron Kito said with a smile.
“This. Of all places, it’s in the very bottom corner!”
Baron Kito sat down in front of me and rummaged through his bag. It was a leather bag that doctors might carry. The bottom was all worn out, and holes were scattered here and there, making it not look very appealing.
I was worried that the bag might burst every time he fumbled with it.
Baron Kito’s face brightened as he dug deep into his creaking bag. He quickly pulled his hand out of the bag as if to not drop the object. Then, a folding chessboard appeared.
‘A chessboard?’
Baron Kito unfolded the chessboard and took out the pieces.
“What on earth are you thinking, Kito?”
“Stand still! You are too hasty; it’s a fault.”
At Baron Kito’s scolding, Duke Fenton bowed his head. I stared blankly at the two of them.
‘Baron Kito and Duke Fenton seem quite close.’
Despite their significant difference in character, they called each other by their first names without reservation.
Duke Fenton neither lost his temper nor threatened the reckless Baron Kito. Instead, he seemed to only suppress his nature, as if familiar with the situation.
“I must correct myself. That fool is wasting your precious time.”
Duke Fenton uttered a soft snicker.
“What a bitter remark, Aymar! I am now discovering a prospect. It’s a grand thing!”
Baron Kito looked at me sharply after setting up the pieces on the chessboard. Could he be thinking of playing chess with me?
“You’re excited on your own, without even asking this child’s opinion.”
“Your thoughts will change once you see this child play chess.”
“Are you truly a strong candidate for the next champion?”
Duke Fenton spoke discontentedly, but Baron Kito didn’t budge. The Baron, who even prepared a chess clock, seemed itching to move the pieces with his own hands.
“……Come on, Lise.”
Looking at the Baron’s expectant eyes, it seemed right to move the chess pieces. But my hand didn’t move easily. It was sudden, and I still hadn’t fully grasped why I should play chess with Baron Kito.
“Lise?”
“……Um, I’m sorry, but my mother is waiting, so…….”
“Hmm, how about this? If you beat me, I’ll give you 50 gold coins.”
50 gold coins? My mouth naturally opened.
“Tsk tsk, now you’re tempting with money.”
“Aymar. Keep your mouth shut.”
50 gold coins were an amount that could buy everything I wanted and still have some left over.
“Can you really give it to me?”
“Of course.”
I looked at the chessboard hesitantly. Fortunately, I liked chess.
After I was born here, chess was what relieved my boredom. It started when I brought the chessboard from the corner of the Swell room and began to play alone. As for the rules, I had once overheard a friend learning about ice chess.
“Have you been playing chess since when?”
“……I think I started when I was about five.”
“And there was no one to teach you?”
“I learned on my own.”
Baron Kito asked consecutively.
“On your own? Really?”
“Yes. I found the textbook on my own.”
“So, who have you played chess with until now?”
“……Alone.”
Baron Kito wore a disbelieving expression, but I was not lying. Once I had coaxed my brothers into playing chess, but they quickly lost interest after a swift defeat. Since then, I have always been my own opponent.
I have even played with my eyes closed. I have followed each game record and played that way. I practiced strategy alone and reviewed it. Finally, when I applied this to real battle and called checkmate for the first time, I was thrilled with joy.
“But lately, I haven’t been able to play chess much.”
“What? Why?”
At Baron Kito’s question, I stared at him sharply. If he asked for the reason, it was because of the letter this person in front of me had sent. Whether he knew it or not, the excited Baron Kito waited for me to open my mouth.
But I met Baron Kito again. If Isabelle were to find out about this…
“I’m sorry, but… even if you bet 50 gold coins, it seems difficult to play chess.”
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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