Therefore, those two jars of tea had become proof that the Grand Duke thought of Elise as special.
‘That’s what it was…….’
The fact that Aelfrie, who was in such a lowly state, received a more remarkable gift, had mercilessly shattered Elise’s pride.
It felt as if what she had been taking pride in had become worthless in an instant, to the extent that she even felt humiliated.
Of course, that was Elise’s emotion alone. The Count and Countess were merely rolling their eyeballs at the sudden precious item, busy guessing how much the tea in that single box might cost.
At the same time, the Count and Countess’ thoughts were directed towards other boxes still piled up like a mountain.
This one is so tremendous, what about the other boxes!
They were more eager than Jenna to untie the remaining boxes and became curious. What on earth did my daughter do to receive such an enormous reception?
Then the bell rang from afar in the square, signaling the deep night. Now it was time for the guests to go home unless it was a banquet.
Calon knew now it was time to end today’s play.
At least until my gift is valued, the Count and Countess won’t be able to treat Aelfrie too harshly.
‘But that’s it.’
It was quite an enjoyable day.
Almost had the documents stolen, but retrieved them with the help of another.
The one who helped was more thirsty for a few pieces of knowledge flowing from my mouth than the precious things, so I spent the whole day, but it wasn’t regretful.
Calon’s one day is worth more than his employees’ one year. The decisions made by the head of the continent’s largest trading company are worth just that much.
If they knew I spent it on an economics lecture, the headquarters’ employees in the Empire would have lost their minds. Of course, I don’t intend to tell.
Calon turned around, thinking I had done enough, and approached Aelfrie. Then he bent his waist and reached out his hand.
With elegant and dignified movements, Aelfrie extended her hand as if enchanted.
Calon kissed her rough back of the hand, unbelievable for a noblewoman, and greeted her.
“Thank you for the courage you showed today, Miss Lida.”
This side must be the real name. Thinking so, Calon called out the name he had heard.
At that moment, Aelfrie’s face clouded. She licked her lips and then spat out laboriously, as if resolved.
“……Please call me Aelfrie.”
“…….”
Ordinarily, he might have mixed in a little joke or something, but Aelfrie’s expression looked very painful to do so.
As if being called Lida was an enormous insult.
“Understood, Miss Aelfrie.”
So Calon called her by the corrected name and greeted her again.
Only then did Aelfrie return to the expression he had seen all day. She bowed slightly to him, as if thankful, in response.
The carriage returned to its place, and Calon greeted those standing before climbing aboard. Soon the carriage departed, and Calon and Aelfrie grew more distant.
Inside the carriage, Calon thought with his chin cupped.
There will be no more to see now.
(This is a time separator.)
“Who on earth is that gentleman? I’ve never seen such an elegant person in my life!”
Jenna excitedly placed a box she carried, filled to the brim, on the kitchen’s worktable.
“What on earth did you do to receive such a gift?”
“Just helped catch a thief.”
“Ha. They give you a gift like this for that? It would be hard to receive this even if you saved a life. Did you see Elise’s face and the others when they saw the tea in the box? Their faces twisted, how refreshing it was…!”
Jenna then clenched her fist and shivered as if recalling that moment.
Seeing Jenna more excited than anyone, Aelfrie let out a chuckle.
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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