Valerie’s cries grew louder. In such situations, there’s nothing to do. I was about to put down the fork but decided to quickly pop the already-cut piece into my mouth.
“I’m coming, hold on.”
I rushed over to Valerie while chewing, picking her up. She quieted as if she hadn’t been crying, and I patted her back while busily moving my jaw.
One bite, two bites. Each chew released the bursting flavor of the fruit, filling my mouth with a delightful aroma.
“This is insanely delicious.”
I had momentarily forgotten. Since becoming Celeste in this world, my favorite and only joy was a delicious dessert with fragrant tea.
Eating something delicious lifted my mood. Feeling good made the adorable child in my arms even more endearing. I tickled the giggling child’s cheeks, causing Valerie to laugh and nuzzle against my chest.
“Papa, Mama.”
She was truly adorable. Is this what maternal love feels like? It’s funny to think about maternal love when I’ve never even had a boyfriend, but I couldn’t help but kiss Valerie’s chubby, peach-colored cheeks.
Smack.
Lost in the moment of delivering a deep kiss to her squishy cheek, a smoky, dark blue light began to rise from the pie left on the table.
“Your Highness, your meal is ready.”
I was checking the pile of documents that had accumulated during my absence from the Imperial Palace. Several hours had passed since the train’s departure. Carl, who had been buried in documents, slowly raised his head.
“Is it already time for the meal?”
“What would you like to drink? Water or wine?”
The attendant who appeared with the dining cart was a train crew member. Neatly dressed, the crew member set the table with composure.
“Prepare water for His Highness.”
Clovis answered for Carl. Carl doesn’t drink alcohol due to personal reasons, known to only a few.
“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”
The attendant removed the wine from the cart and replaced it with a water pitcher, her movements meticulous. She was indeed a crew member of the highest class train.
“……Has the Count eaten?”
Carl thought of Celeste as he watched the meal being prepared in front of him.
“The Count said he would take care of his meal and refused to have it served.”
The image of Celeste, her cheeks flushed as she walked away with a bunch of sweet treats, came to mind… A deflated balloon sound escaped Carl’s lips.
“It seems you’ve bought quite a lot.”
“Pardon? What did you say?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Once the setting was finished and the crew member left, Carl moved to sit at the table. He wasn’t particularly fond of eating, but when he had to use his brain extensively, he made sure to consume meat and vegetables for the necessary nutrients.
“Please join me.”
“I am fine, Your Highness.”
Dining with a superior? That wouldn’t be appropriate. Clovis stepped back, intending to wait quietly until Carl finished his meal.
“…What’s for dessert?”
“Pardon?”
Carl usually didn’t talk during meals. Clovis, expecting the meal to end in the usual silence, was surprised by the question.
“The dessert… Are you asking about that?”
Carl nodded. It was unusual. He usually didn’t indulge in sweets. Clovis gestured towards the window, and the crew member opened the door and entered.
“What’s the next course after the main dish?”
“Are you referring to the course after the main dish, Your Highness? We didn’t bring any dessert as we were informed you don’t eat them. Shall I prepare something?”
As the crew member spoke, Clovis was about to nod, but Carl suddenly interjected.
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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