“Ethan? Why are you here…”

Vernon asked awkwardly, and Noah mumbled to himself.

“That kid is…”

Amy recognized him too. He was the boy they had encountered when leaving the baron’s manor. Ethan spoke with determination.

“I’ve always been heartbroken to see my talented uncle give up his dreams to farm.”

Surprisingly, the boy was Vernon’s nephew. Vernon looked troubled.

“It’s not because of you that I…”

“You said it was because of the injury, but I know everything. Such opportunities are rare. Please go, Uncle. I’m begging you.”

As Ethan pleaded, Jack and Bradley exchanged silent glances. Dwain clenched his fist, supporting Ethan. But…

“I can’t go.”

Vernon bluntly cut off his nephew’s earnest wish. Dwain openly showed his disappointment.

“Wow, still so stubborn…!”

With a thwack, Jack’s fist hit Dwain’s head again. Unperturbed, Dwain rubbed his head.

“…”

A silence fell over them. Amy was bewildered by Vernon’s stubbornness.

‘Is it really worth refusing like this?’

It was a rare opportunity, especially for a farmer. Then it struck her; there must be another reason for Vernon’s refusal.

“Anyway, I have spoken my mind. I wish you a safe journey, Your Highness.”

Vernon bowed politely and quickly turned away. Dwain, Jack, and Bradley sighed and huddled together, whispering.

Amy quietly approached Ethan, who stood to one side.

“So, you’re Vernon’s nephew?”

“Yes…”

Ethan nodded meekly, then looked up at Amy and asked clearly.

“My uncle was the royal guard commander. Will he be treated fairly in the Grand Duchy?”

Amy’s eyebrow raised. Smart kid, with a touch of cunning. But she didn’t dislike those who knew their worth and demanded it.

“He will be treated according to his abilities. His Highness is not stingy with talent.”

“Yes…”

Ethan sighed in relief. Then Noah stepped closer and said.

“You should come too.”

“Eh?”

Ethan was startled, pointing at himself. Noah looked at him intently.

“If Vernon’s reason for not going is you, then coming along seems logical.”

“Ah…”

Ethan faltered. Then Noah picked up his hand, examining it closely, and commented.

“These are hands used to training.”

Ethan’s face flushed red, and he stammered.

“Dw, Dwain sometimes helps me…”

Noah nodded nonchalantly.

“Those three are more than just farmers.”

Amy was surprised and asked.

“How did you know, Your Highness?”

“When they greeted me, they snapped their heels together. That’s how royal guards salute.”

“Ah…”

That explained their disciplined behavior. They were likely knights who had followed Vernon into exile. Amy’s determination reignited.

“Then we must take them with us.”

Noah glanced at her.

“I thought you said it was Vernon’s choice to come or not?”

“Oh, Your Highness. It’s just talk. If he keeps refusing, I’d even consider kidnapping.”

Amy smiled brightly, and Ethan looked horrified. Was this something to say in front of the potential kidnap victim’s nephew? But what came next was even more shocking.

“If that’s what Amy thinks, then so be it.”

“Eh?”

Ethan gasped in alarm, but Noah remained unfazed. Amy leaned in, speaking softly to Ethan.

“Try to convince your uncle. It’s not an opportunity to be missed, as you said.”

“Ah…”
“In the Grand Duchy, you won’t need to do farm work anymore. You’ll be leading the guard.”

Noah chimed in, adding a word.

“And if you want, I can recommend you as a squire to the nobles of the North.”

A squire, or ‘squire,’ referred to a boy serving and learning from a knight before becoming an apprentice knight. Typically, it was a significant opportunity for a commoner, as usually, children of noble families become squires to lords or grand dukes.

“A squire? Me?”

Ethan’s eyes sparkled with excitement. Amy pursed her lips in surprise and looked at Noah with admiration. When did he come up with such an idea?

“Um, I think I might have a way.”

Ethan hesitated, then spoke up. Amy and Noah looked hopeful as he swallowed hard and quickly poured out his words.

“Could I, perhaps, become Your Highness’s squire?”

Noah raised an eyebrow in surprise, and Amy prodded him quickly.

“You think there’s a way? Are you sure?”

“Yes, maybe.”

“If it’s not certain, it won’t do.”

Amy was firm, but Ethan nodded after a moment of thought.

“I’ll make sure it works.”

Amy glanced at Noah, signaling him. Noah, looking puzzled, was met with her stern gaze as if to say, ‘Give your permission already.’ Reluctantly, he spoke.

“I’m not a knight yet… but, well, okay.”

Ethan’s face lit up with joy. He bowed repeatedly, thanking them enthusiastically.

“Thank you so much. I’ll work hard!”

“So, what’s your plan?”

Amy folded her arms and looked up at the sky. Time was running out for her plan to take Vernon with them today.

“Just a moment, please.”

Ethan peered down a path leading to the woods and seemed to spot something, his face brightening. He ran off, waving his hand. Curious, Amy watched as Ethan shouted.

“Weaver Lady!”

What? Amy’s eyes widened. Who?

Weaver Lady and Ethan stood by the road, having a friendly conversation. Their calm and lively voices drifted over. Amy observed Weaver Lady carefully.

‘She seems to be about Vernon’s age.’

The lady, with neatly tied back gray-streaked blonde hair, was dressed simply but neatly. She took something like cookies from a reed basket and offered them to Ethan, who accepted them with a big smile.

‘Tall, upright posture, and not hasty.’

She seemed quite decent. After her past experiences, Amy had become much more selective about people, trying not to jump to conclusions. But then…

The trio of knights approached Weaver Lady stealthily. The lady nodded at their greeting. Dwain cheekily tried to sneak something from her basket.

“Dwain!”

Before Jack could say anything, the lady’s hand swiftly smacked Dwain’s away. Smack!

“One more time, and I’ll tell Vernon.”

Her stern warning was clear. Dwain pouted, while Jack, Bradley, and Ethan looked at him as if he were a hopeless fool.

Amy pondered deeply.

‘She doesn’t have the local dialect, speaks perfect standard language. Maybe she has an impressive background.’

A family that enforces standard language among their servants is likely a prestigious one. And above all, her upright gaze was appealing. Despite threats from her previous employer, she refused to participate in illegal activities.

‘Just as Viola told me.’
Finally, Amy made up her mind. Weaver Lady was the perfect person to be the housekeeper of the Grand Duchy.

‘But… if he’s going to convince Vernon, why is he chatting with Weaver Lady?’

Amy narrowed her eyes. Ethan was whispering earnestly into Weaver Lady’s ear. Dwain circled around, eyeing the basket eagerly. When Ethan casually stuffed a cookie into Dwain’s mouth, Dwain chewed it happily with a grin.

‘Huh?’

Jack and Bradley looked on with earnest expressions at Ethan and Weaver Lady. They seemed to be as keen as Amy for Vernon to go north…

‘Could Weaver Lady have a way?’

Their conversation ended quickly. Weaver Lady said her goodbyes to the knights and Ethan and then disappeared back down the path.

Amy rubbed her chin as she watched Weaver Lady’s upright figure leave. Though she might not have known Noah was the Grand Duke, she certainly knew he was of noble birth, yet she made no attempt to impress.

Ethan came running back with a bright face and said to them, “That was Weaver Lady, our neighbor.”

“I see.”

Amy already knew who she was but pretended not to, keeping in step with the conversation. Ethan looked off in the direction where Weaver Lady had disappeared and continued, “Uncle Vernon doesn’t want to leave here because of me, but rather because of Weaver Lady.”

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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