I am that male friend in the harem story - Chapter 60: Treasure

Ethan Blackwood wasn’t used to being defied. As the CEO of a global empire, he crushed obstacles with a single glance. But when Lily Anderson stood before him, her chin lifted in quiet defiance, and something in him snapped. “Sign the contract,” he said, his voice like ice. “30 days. You’ll obey every command. After that, you’re free.”She hesitated, her fingers trembling as she gripped the pen. “And if I refuse?”His smirk was cold, but his eyes burned. “Then you’ll spend the rest of your life paying off your father’s debts. Your choice.”Trapped, Lily signed. But she vowed one thing: she wouldn’t let him break her.From the first day, their clash was electric. He demanded perfection; she gave him rebellion. “You think you can control me?” she spat, after he criticized her for being late.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “I don’t just control you. Lily, I own you.”But as the days passed, the lines between them blurred. Late nights in his penthouse turned into whispered conversations. His cold demeanor cracked, revealing glimpses of a man haunted by his past. One night, after a heated argument, he pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her ear. “Why do you fight me so much?”Her voice trembled. “Because I’m afraid if I stop, I’ll lose myself to you.”Their connection deepened, but danger loomed. Secrets from Ethan’s past resurfaced, threatening to destroy everything. When Lily discovered the truth behind his obsession with her, she confronted him. “Was I just a pawn in your game? A way to settle an old score?”His eyes darkened with pain. “You were never just a game, Lily. You’re the only thing that’s ever felt real.”As the final days of their contract approached, their bond was tested like never before. Enemies closed in, and trust hung by a thread. Could they overcome the shadows of their pasts, or would their love crumble under the weight of secrets and pride?

Even if he was utterly ignorant about baking, Yu Yi, as the CEO of a Restaurant Chain Corporation, had an even pickier palate than a top-class Michelin Chef.

And Tang Mi, nicknamed Sweetheart, was the most delicious dessert he had ever eaten.

This is a novel about the growth of the male and female lead’s warm affections, trust the author.

- Description from Novelupdates

For the sake of his family, Ren embarked on the popular VRMMORPG, COVENANT, that used real-time in-game currency. But being a mediocre player who only knows how to gather information, he was put in a supporting role.

As the game explodes in popularity and every multibillion-dollar company invested in the game, things have turned for the worse for Ren. Due to the amount of information he gathered, the cheats, secrets, quests, and bugs he discovered, he was silent in fear of selling the information to the other guilds.

But given a second chance, he went back in time when his father was still alive and COVENANT was just in its starting phase.

This time . . . he wouldn’t be that guy on the side who gathered information from day in and day out for ten years.

Equipped with the games knowledge he accumulated, he will become . . . an Alchemist!

Chrono Mage? Djin Master? Summoner? Necromancer?
Chaos Lord?

What good are those?

Sure they’re powerful and rare classes and sought after by guilds, but it’s the alchemist who forged artifacts and concocts rare items and potions that gets the most coins at the end of the day!

It was better than being a blacksmith or a crafter! Plus, he could use all sorts of magic without limit to race and class!

It was the ultimate class! And no one even knows it!

Lin Da, a former professional player, arrived in the game “Mystic Continent” and aimed to team up with a few “Young Ladies” from Another World to conquer fifty levels of Mystic Realm and become the strongest adventurer squad.However, ever since the team had risen to fame, they had changed somewhat.“Why is your healing so slow? I almost got killed by the Magical Creatures.”“The reason your level is so low is that you don’t train diligently, always have crooked thoughts about us. This 23-year-old guy is so disgusting.”“Better leave the team and become my servant instead; my pet dog just needs a playmate.”The attitude of the three Young Ladies chilled Lin Da’s heart, and he opted out of this team that he had been with for three years and had grown deeply fond of.Only then did they realize who the core of the team really was.When they regretted their actions too late and tried to apologize to Lin Da, seeking to join his team, Lin Da glanced at the team composed of prettier and hotter beautiful girls behind him and said helplessly:“Sorry, my team is full.”