The Cold and Ruthless Supporting Male Lead

Lin Xiaomu had no idea she had spent 2 days in the pigsty and had completely adjusted to the smell there.

Hai Ku felt this woman was incredibly courageous. Initially, he thought she was utterly useless, but now he had 100% respect for her. Her bravery was truly admirable.

She was probably the only woman who used her spatial ability to store pig manure. She was indeed born to be a queen; so pure and genuine!

For some time, he didn’t dare think about the protagonist’s golden finger anymore. Just imagining Lin Xiaomu’s ability made him feel like he could smell pig manure.

Lin Xiaomu, as if possessed by some strange whim, didn’t just clean the manure in her assigned area but even ran over to the male lead’s section.

To avoid being kicked out of the farm, Zhang Daniu was diligent about cleaning the pigsty. He felt like a prince enduring hardship, preparing for his rebirth. Once he finished this month of manure cleaning, it would be his time to rise from the ashes.

“Daniu, aren’t you done yet?” Lin Xiaomu walked over to taunt Zhang Daniu. Seeing his feet covered in pig manure made her heart brim with satisfaction.

She wanted to see for herself who would tolerate him, reeking as he did, other than her.

Zhang Daniu had no idea Lin Xiaomu had been reborn. Seeing a woman approach, he instinctively put on a pitiful expression.

“The boss is really too much. How could he make someone as beautiful as Xiaomu clean pig manure? Xiaomu should be a girl cherished in the palm of one’s hand,” he said, feigning concern. In reality, he just wanted an excuse to rest.

Lin Xiaomu listened with glee, her heart surging with delight. Even though she still loved him. After all, she had given her body to him first, she couldn’t help but hate him for how he treated her after they got together.

Seeing Zhang Daniu’s pathetic state, Lin Xiaomu felt a wave of satisfaction. She couldn’t resist flaunting, “I’ve already finished cleaning my area. Take your time here, I’m heading out.”

Once outside, Lin Xiaomu finally felt as though she stood on equal footing with Zhang Daniu.

In the past, he had been an untouchable Crown Prince. She could only look up to him, even when they were together. She had served him cautiously, treating herself like a servant girl.

But now, she understood. Only by becoming strong enough to reverse their roles, making the Crown Prince rely on her, could she truly keep a man.

Convinced her reasoning was sound, Lin Xiaomu’s heart swelled with joy.

Still, she hadn’t forgotten that the Crown Prince had his sights set on owning this ranch. Having wasted several days, Lin Xiaomu felt she needed to speed up her progress.

When she was reborn, it had been at the point of his confession. Yet, Lin Xiaomu couldn’t figure out why the boss’s words had changed later.

But then again, considering she had been reborn twice, some differences were probably normal.

After returning, she took a comfortable bath and cleaned herself up thoroughly. Lin Xiaomu was brimming with confidence.

The boss had loved her before, and now she had the means to make him fall for her again.

As the saying goes, the willow grows when least expected. In the past, she had no interest in the boss, so her attitude had been natural. That was likely what he had fallen for.

With her plan set, Lin Xiaomu decided to have an “accidental” encounter with Hai Ku.

Her deeply ingrained mindset hadn’t entirely changed, even after 2 years in this world.

Most of the time, she worked on the ranch wearing long-sleeved clothes. This time, when Lin Xiaomu put on a white dress, she felt her shame reach its peak.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Lin Xiaomu saw a delicate, tearful beauty. The white dress made her appear pitifully fragile, with her slender, graceful waist and stunning elegance. Even the Crown Princess might not compare to her!

Lin Xiaomu felt confident she could attract the boss’s attention.

***

Hai Ku wasn’t idle either. After receiving information about this world, he had to manage the business himself. While the ranch was running smoothly, some matters were still best handled in person.

Just as he was about to leave, he saw Lin Xiaomu lingering near the ranch gate. Ever since learning that she had stored all the pig manure in her spiritual spring space, Hai Ku couldn’t help but feel that she carried a certain “odor.”

A wave of goosebumps crept over him. Hai Ku couldn’t quite find the words to describe her.

She was supposed to be a tragic character, abandoned by the male lead and then reborn. Yet, she seemed utterly unaware of her intended role, stubbornly clinging to the male lead despite everything.

“Boss, where are you going?” Lin Xiaomu, who had never left the ranch, was somewhat afraid of cars. Still, she summoned her courage and stepped forward.

Hai Ku had been about to say something but thought better of it. Instead, he said, “I’m going to buy some fertilizer from a new supplier. Xiaomu, why don’t you come with me?”

Lin Xiaomu felt nervous. She had been accustomed to staying in the back garden, forming bonds with flowers and plants. Since being reborn into this world, she had continued working with vegetation. Now, being asked to leave the ranch unsettled her.

She hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, “I-Is that really okay?”

“Why not? You’re a young woman cooped up on the ranch all day. It’s good for you to see the outside world,” Hai Ku replied nonchalantly.

At first, he had thought the male lead was utterly worthless. But over the past 2 days, he had carefully studied the plot.

After rereading the book, Hai Ku realized that the seemingly harmless and innocent male lead was actually a manipulative “white lotus” hiding a darker side.

(T/N: White lotus = an internet term used to describe someone who appears sweet and innocent but is actually manipulative and scheming; it’s usually used to describe women.)

Though he appeared annoying on the surface, much of what he said and the subtle hints he dropped had guided the female lead to act according to his wishes.

Whether it was managing the farm later on or Lin Xiaomu gradually stepping out into the world from her timid shell, all of it had been encouraged and orchestrated by the male lead.

In Lin Xiaomu’s world, however, everything revolved around love. After getting together with the male lead, she believed she was in control, but in reality, she was entirely under his influence. Every decision she made was to seek his opinion or to please him.

As the “Queen of the Ranch,” she never wore revealing or pretty clothes, always opting for conservative, practical attire.

Initially, Hai Ku hadn’t thought much of it. But upon closer analysis, it became clear that this was a manifestation of the male lead’s possessiveness; he didn’t want his woman to be seen by anyone else.

Perhaps because the female lead of their previous world had been so easy to manipulate, combined with her growing “golden finger,” the male lead was moved by her unwavering devotion. Together, they had reached the pinnacle of success on the ranch.

But now that Hai Ku had entered this world and veered away from the original plot, Zhang Daniu saw Lin Xiaomu as a useless woman. In such circumstances, of course, he would seek out another target.

Thinking about it made Hai Ku conclude that Zhang Daniu was truly despicable. Even as a man, Hai Ku found him to be the epitome of a scumbag.

While Lin Xiaomu might be a bit foolish, her efforts in cleaning pig manure with her spiritual spring space had earned her some goodwill. Hai Ku didn’t mind giving her a nudge in the right direction. Whatever blessings she found after that would depend on her.

***

Carefully settling into the back seat of the car, Lin Xiaomu was visibly nervous.

It was her first time riding in a car. When it started moving, she instinctively closed her eyes.

Hai Ku smirked. In the past, before adapting to this world, Lin Xiaomu, the “Queen of the Ranch,” had only interacted with Zhang Daniu and Wang Haiku. After giving her heart and soul to Zhang Daniu, she had finally acclimated to this world.

But even after stepping out, despite the many quality men she could have met, her heart remained tied to Zhang Daniu, leaving no room for anyone else.

Convinced that Zhang Daniu didn’t deserve any woman, Hai Ku decided to send Lin Xiaomu into the wider world ahead of time.

The farm was located in a remote area, so it took 2 hours by car to reach the town.

The vibrant sights outside the car window were things Lin Xiaomu had never experienced. Everything was so new and fascinating to her.

Hai Ku couldn’t help but think that Lin Xiaomu’s constant troubles were due to a lack of entertainment. He didn’t consider himself a bad person, and as long as she didn’t threaten his interests, he had no intention of seeking revenge against her.

After parking at their destination, Hai Ku led Lin Xiaomu inside.

He had done some research beforehand. This fertilizer factory was newly opened, but in the future, it would become the only factory the female lead recognized as reliable.

This was something Hai Ku had noted down when he was flipping through the material earlier. He had been looking for a new partner, and now, coming here was just perfect timing.

There was another reason for coming here; the son of the fertilizer factory owner, who later became a love rival to Zhang Daniu in the story.

It seemed the author wanted to showcase Zhang Daniu’s masculinity, so they created a handsome character just to make Zhang Daniu’s possessiveness completely evident.

How was this expressed?

It was shown in a certain night, where the male lead’s dominant qualities were fully revealed.

Hai Ku had actually thought about this before. He had wondered if, in the early stages before the main couple had started their relationship, it would be possible for the female lead to encounter a supporting male character who could rival the male lead in the later parts of the story. He was curious whether it would result in a different outcome.

After all, it was an experiment. Hai Ku, keeping the mindset of an experimenter, felt some guilt toward Lin Xiaomu and decided not to dwell on her past foolish actions.

At least she had cleaned the pigsty so thoroughly, right?