To Become Family with the Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
A brief silence fell between Yurick and me.
‘Ah, did I give it to him too suddenly?’
Embarrassed, I tried to pull my outstretched hand back. Just then, Yurick took my gift. His lips were slightly parted in surprise—he clearly hadn’t expected it. He still looked dazed.
But he seemed happy. His eyes, fixed intently on the gift box, were brimming with anticipation. His expression was exactly like that of a little child receiving a present from Santa.
“…Can I open it?”
“Huh? Of course.”
Yurick began unwrapping the paper.
‘Why am I trembling?’
My fingertips shook, and without realizing it, I hid my hands behind my back. Even though I knew what was inside the box, I worried about how the item would turn out. What if it got scratched or a gemstone had fallen off?
“…”
The wrapping paper came off completely, revealing a small box. Yurick hesitated briefly before opening it, and out came a rabbit-shaped charm, glittering more brightly than before.
Contrary to my worries, the charm sparkled even more brilliantly and looked more splendid than it had in the jewelry shop. Flawless and radiant, the rabbit charm seemed to glow more vividly than when I’d first seen it—perhaps because of the sunset light.
Among its features, the delicate, innocent expression that had instantly captured my heart stood out again. Though I’d chosen it myself, I felt certain I’d made the right decision.
The real question was Yurick Fenton. Would he truly like it?
“…There was only one left. It’s meant for children, but… we’re still young.”
I stammered as I watched his expression. Yurick stared blankly at the charm for a moment, then finally took it out of the box.
After examining the item in his palm several times, a faint smile slowly appeared on his face.
Yes!
“Is it okay? Do you like it?”
Seeing his smile, I asked confidently.
“…How did you buy this?”
“How did I buy it? I went into the shop and picked it out.”
“No, I mean—it looks expensive.”
Yurick peered into the box and suddenly noticed the logo printed inside. He flinched.
It was the “Mermaid’s Tears” logo.
He quickly placed the charm back into the box and handed it to me. All traces of his earlier smile vanished from his face.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this.”
“What? Don’t tell me you don’t like it?”
“‘Mermaid’s Tears’? How can I possibly accept this?”
The price was the issue. As Yurick said, “Mermaid’s Tears” was far too luxurious a brand for a ten-year-old to gift. Naturally, he felt burdened.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t buy it myself—though I did choose it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I happened to meet Madame Fenton at the jewelry shop. She asked me to deliver this to you. She said you’d only be receiving unwanted gifts because of your grandfather staying at the mansion.”
“…Mother did?”
He stared blankly at the box again. Upon hearing it was his mother’s gift, he withdrew the hand he’d extended toward me.
His hesitation over whether to accept it annoyed me. His behavior felt a bit frustrating.
“But I’ve already received a gift from Mother…”
“What?”
“I already got a book set.”
“But that’s not the gift you wanted, is it?”
“…”
“Ugh. Give it here!”
Watching Yurick lost in thought over the gift, I snatched the box from him.
“Don’t you have anything on you?”
“Anything?”
“Anything at all! Hurry!”
At my urging, he rummaged through his pockets and pulled out an item—a keychain.
Perfect. I attached the rabbit charm to his keychain and showed it to him. Every time the keys moved, the rabbit—studded densely with gems—caught the light. Perhaps because of that shimmer, the rabbit’s expression seemed almost alive.
“How’s this?”
“…It’s cute.”
“Use it like this. You can hang it on your keychain, just like now, or attach it to something precious to you. Got it?”
He looked up at the keychain I’d just given him.
“It’s really pretty.”
A bright smile spread across Yurick’s lips. Seeing how genuinely delighted he was, I found myself smiling too—as if I’d received a gift myself.
“Really? Truly pretty?”
“It’s cute. Did you really pick this out yourself?”
Yurick sounded slightly excited. I nodded eagerly several times.
“The moment I saw it, I thought of you. I figured you’d like it.”
“What?”
“You do like it, right? Characters shaped like this—I actually do too.”
Yurick’s cheeks flushed slightly. He was embarrassed.
“Thank you… really.”
He said it shyly, but his sincerity touched me so deeply I wanted to give him more gifts right then and there.
“I’ll say it again—it wasn’t me who bought it, so thank Madame.”
“Still, thank you. I… even said some nasty things to you before.”
He was still holding onto what had happened in the park.
“I usually forget things like that quickly.”
“…When’s your birthday?”
Yurick asked abruptly.
“Me? My birthday?”
“Yeah.”
“…”
My mouth shut tight.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, it’s still far off. It’s in September.”
“Really?”
Yurick looked disappointed.
“I’ll remember it for sure, though.”
“Hmm.”
“Seriously.”
“Alright, I’ll believe you.”
When I smiled, Yurick smiled too.
‘My birthday.’
I’d blurted out my birthday without thinking, but I didn’t actually know the day I was born. The woman who gave birth to me never even told me my birthday—she just dumped me at the Marceau mansion.
So, until I turned five, I lived without a birthday. In all my memories, I’d never once had a birthday party. Then, when I turned six, Isabelle came to me and gave me a date: September 26th.
“That’s the day you first came to our mansion. Since you don’t know your real birthday, let’s use that day. We already registered your birth on that date anyway.”
“…”
“That way, we won’t have any trouble arranging your coming-of-age ceremony later.”
After saying that, Isabelle never spoke another word about my birthday.
Since then, September 26th had come around several times, yet life at the mansion flowed as monotonously as ever. No one ever offered me birthday greetings.
I’d thought the date September 26th would eventually fade from my memory…
“Lise.”
“…Hmm?”
“What do you like?”
Yurick asked me all sorts of questions—about my hobbies, talents, things I wanted to do, things I liked. In return, he also told me what he liked.
Yurick was more thoughtful and gentler than I’d read about in books. He also seemed to carry many secrets.
“You’re really talented. Do you play chess too? I know a little—we should have a match sometime.”
“Yeah, I’d like that.”
He, too, took time to get to know me. Before we knew it, we’d forgotten the divide between the Fenton and Marceau families and were chatting like ordinary friends.
Though Yurick was two years older, he treated me comfortably—and so did I.
Yurick and I talked until dusk fell and lights appeared below the hill. Having lost track of time in our conversation, I finally stood up.
“I should go now.”
“Already?”
“You should head back quickly too—Madame will worry.”
“…Alright.”
“Let’s talk again next time we meet!”
Yurick stood up, unable to hide his disappointment. As I headed toward the Marceau mansion, I watched his retreating back as he trudged slowly into the distance.
“Yurick!”
I called out to him far away, and he turned his head. I waved with all my might.
“Happy birthday again!”
I sincerely mean it—happy birthday, Yurick.
[This is the timeline separator]I saw Yurick again three days later.
I’d come down to the market with Isabelle to buy a new violin.
Swell and Silke had also come along, since we were buying instruments for them too. The twins chattered nonstop, while I silently trailed behind Isabelle.
‘Huh? It’s Yurick.’
As we passed through the street, Yurick was sitting in the square, holding a book—likely just back from the library. I wanted to go over and talk, but I was wary of Isabelle and the twins noticing.
“…!”
Just then, our eyes met. Unlike Yurick, who rose with a slight smile, I grew flustered.
As if sensing my predicament, he sat back down and pulled the keychain from his pocket, giving it a little shake.
The rabbit-shaped charm was clearly visible. Playfully struck by inspiration, I mimicked the rabbit’s innocent expression exactly. Yurick couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
“Lise, what are you doing? You’ll get lost like that.”
Swell called out to me as I stood there motionless. Before turning around, I mouthed loudly to Yurick,
‘See you again later!’
I turned to head toward Isabelle, who was far off in the distance.
“!”
Someone grabbed my hand tightly. Startled, I turned my head to see Yurick, who must have run over—he was breathing heavily as he pressed something firmly into my palm.
Then, mouthing “See you later,” he quickly vanished from sight.
Dazed, I stood still and opened my hand. Inside were strawberry- and lemon-flavored candies. On the wrappers was a cute little rabbit drawing, smiling brightly like a child—probably sketched by Yurick himself.
‘Can I… really eat these?’
They’re too precious to eat.
“Lise!”
This time, it was Isabelle calling my name. I hurriedly slipped the candies into my pocket and ran toward her.
[This is the timeline separator]As always, the Hosa village market was bustling with noise. On the crowded street, a man wearing a hat pulled low over his head and a cloth covering half his face scanned his surroundings. Spotting a group of people playing chess in a corner of the market, he immediately headed that way.
“Ex-excuse me, just let me pass through for a moment!”
As onlookers gathered and the crowd thickened, the man pushed his hat down even further. Squeezing through the throng, he frowned slightly upon seeing the well-dressed young men seated before the chessboard. They weren’t the ones he was looking for.
Would he fail to find them again today? The man let out a quiet sigh.
“Hey! Who do you think you are, shoving people like that?”
A voice behind the hat-wearing man spoke irritably.
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Move aside. That spot up front is mine.”
The man shoved him aside and blocked his path. Flustered and hesitant, the hat-wearing man gently tapped the other man’s back. The chess spectator, who’d been watching the game for a while, glared fiercely at him for interrupting his amusement.
“…Um, may I ask just one question?”
“What?”
“Has a little girl come by here? She has red hair and is about this tall. Her clothes are…”
“What? A little girl?”
Seeing a reaction, the man stepped forward to explain.
“Yes! A pretty girl who looks like nobility…”
“What? I don’t know! Just get out of here—quickly!”
At the angry shout, the hat-wearing man slipped back into the crowd.
‘I need to find her quickly… that child…’
Worried his hat might fall off, he lowered his head slightly and slipped out of the marketplace.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (63)
Oh my God, our dear Liz is so famous, but what’s wrong with this duke? Our dear Liz didn’t do anything wrong. What did the children do to deserve their parents’ actions? How narrow-minded!- Oh my God, our dear Liz is a genius! Sharkey Liz, you must leave this family!
- Hahaha, they’re arguing over our Liz! She’s amazing! I hope Liz beats the Duke!
Inline Comments (26)
Duke Fenton stared at his son as if seeing a stranger. Then, finally, Madame Fen
Hahaha, Duke’s situation is so funny! Everyone is in love with our little Liz.
Only a vague sense of emptiness lingered in my chest.
Poor baby. She has not a proper family. When I think about the other novels. Her family looks better than them. But it’s doesn’t mean they are good. They are abusing in a different way
When she asked, I shook my head.
This is so sad. I hope Liz has a family who loves her too. Why was she born again without a family? I hope Liz finds happiness.😭💔
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Miioo