The Male Lead’s Substitute Wife

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When Su Yaya awakened, she found herself in a novel world as the CEO’s Substitute Wife–-a mere cannon fodder. Knowing that divorce and a tragic ending was awaiting her once her look-alike, the President’s first love returns, Su Yaya only trusted one thing: Money.

She curried favor with her husband each day, saved up resources, and served him as a faithful wife. It was better to leave a good impression on him before separation so she could avoid her death flags.

The overbearing President was very satisfied with her and personally gave her his platinum card: “Take it and buy anything you’d like!” Su Yaya happily accepted. Of course, she would take advantage of his pampering before the female protagonist appears!

As the CEO unexpectedly falls deeper despite this transactional relationship, he never imagined that his wife would one day disappear from his side

Associated Names
One entry per line
Xuyên thành cô vợ thế thân của tổng tài
穿成总裁的替身妻
Related Series
N/A
Recommendations
Avoid the Protagonist! (7)
The Male Lead’s Villainess Stepmother (7)
The CEO’s Villainess Childhood Friend (7)
The Widow “Misses” Her Villainous Late Husband (6)
Apollo’s Heart (6)
Transmigration: Raising the Child of the Male Lead Boss (4)
Recommendation Lists
  1. Probably read when im bored (some of it)
  2. Read & Loved (BG)
  3. romance for gloomy day
  4. Modern novels I have Read
  5. Completed but kinda meh...?#2

Latest Release

Date Group Release
02/29/24 Shanghai Fantasy c17 part3
02/28/24 Shanghai Fantasy c17 part2
02/27/24 Shanghai Fantasy c17 part1
02/20/24 Shanghai Fantasy c16 part4
02/15/24 Shanghai Fantasy c16 part3
02/13/24 Shanghai Fantasy c16 part2
02/12/24 Shanghai Fantasy c16 part1
01/30/24 Shanghai Fantasy c15 part3
01/25/24 Shanghai Fantasy c15 part2
01/24/24 Shanghai Fantasy c15 part1
01/23/24 Shanghai Fantasy c14 part4
01/18/24 Shanghai Fantasy c14 part3
01/17/24 Shanghai Fantasy c14 part2
01/16/24 Shanghai Fantasy c14 part1
01/11/24 Shanghai Fantasy c13 part3
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83 Reviews sorted by


Leesonghwa
Leesonghwa rated it
June 12, 2022
Status: Completed
It’s not good. The female character isn’t likeable, the ML isn’t likeable, no one is likeable in this novel. The male lead’s actions later on in the story disgust me and the female lead is brainless.

Can’t stand to read stories like this, don’t waste your time.
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sansukini0923
sansukini0923 rated it
February 21, 2022
Status: Completed
I think this novel deserves a higher score. The ML is not a scum like what the reviews here implies. He really loves the MC sincerely. Although their relationship started as a contract marriage, he sincerely loves and protects her... more>>
Spoiler

I think the low scores were because the s3x scenes are sometimes excessive. And the r@pe scene when she tried to leave him. No excuse for that. But he regretted it. The separation gave just enough angst to the story. Here we see how he really loves her, compared to the first gf, where he waited 6 months before he decided to follow her abroad. I agree with the reviewer above who mentioned the part where he got scalded. That hurts. And also, this is the only Chinese novel ML that kept crying because MC left him. So he's not entirely domineering. As we saw after they got back together. Their status changed. She talks and he listens. They communicate. She didn't have to use aegyo to tell him things anymore. That is character progression. I do admit that this novel is a little shallow. But it's a good read. We can't always have the perfect ML. In the first place, they started as a contract marriage to help him inherit the family business and their individual responsibilities are clear and he fulfilled it and developed affections for her. Even though she was faking it, she also fell for him. I wouldn't call her a gold digger. He got to her first. She didn't approach him. Even the original fell for him. The reason why she's stuck on making money is that she knows the original ending and expects that she'll go broke once they divorce according to the original plot. She only clung to him. I don't see anything wrong with her asking him for resources. She's his wife and if he can give it to others, why not give it to her. She does her best to do her job anyway.

The ending is good. It's not rushed. There's also a lot of fanwai and it included what happened to the original Su Yaya. They basically swapped bodies and the og Su Yaya also got her own happy ending.

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Anyway, this is a good read. The leads are a little hypocritical but they are a good couple and they both became sincere to each other at the end. The antogonists are not very smart. Plus we have little buns. <<less
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akiraa
akiraa rated it
November 16, 2020
Status: c174
how to say, reading this novel makes me feel like I'm watching a super long anime series. It's cute, it's entertaining but there's just too much fillers to the point that the story isn't really moving forward at all.

the white moonlight has only been mentioned several times so far and have not yet appeared, and naturally the FL is still acting as the perfect cute wife of ML and that's it that's the plot.

no interesting events whatsoever and I am thinking of dropping this.

... more>> 3/5 only because I feel attached lol

edit: I read the recent updates (c230ish) and I have to say, it's 0/5. ML r*ped FL when she tried to leave him. Gross. <<less
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ike_00000
ike_00000 rated it
April 22, 2020
Status: c82
I was going to rate it three stars, and I might still change it to three, because thinking about this relationship makes me feel uncomfortable. The ML is in every sense an overbearing ML whose mood changes at the drop of a hat and the MC spends her time flattering and catering to the ML to pacify him. The MC herself is pretty entertaining though, since her pampering is basically all an act.

However, I have hopes that maybe the author wrote like this on purpose in order to satirize tyrant... more>> CEO stories and they'll introduce some important character development later. Transitioning is kinda slow though, so maybe it won't happen. Tbh even now it's okay because they're both pretty flawed people; ML is prideful and quite chauvinist while MC fully acknowledges her position as a sugar baby. As long as they're happy and other people aren't hurt right? Lol <<less
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SoShy
SoShy rated it
April 20, 2020
Status: --
I'm giving this a one star because this website settings doesn't allow me to give zero star. First chapters are there just to deceive you in to thinking it's something new, something different than the rest but sadly it's also one of tr*sh among the pile. There are no redeeming qualities in this novel. Cliché plot, No character development, Common misogyny in Chinese culture, Bland leading characters with little to no personality of their own, One dimensional villains that exists just for the sake of uselessly lengthening the story and... more>> hmm what else? <<less
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KichiX
KichiX
April 15, 2020
Status: c78
Given that the chapters are split in translation, I haven't read that far, but honestly? This novel kind of disgusts me?

The ML falls in love with the FL. But the FL is putting on an act and focuses only on pleasing him, disregarding her own emotions (ie she doesn't show if she is annoyed, angry, irritated etc) because she wants to be able to live after the novel's FL comes back. I don't have any issue with how the FL acts.I do have an issue with the ML falling for... more>> the act that the FL puts on and that being the romance of the story.

I wouldn't mind if the FL stopped acting, the ML realised she was different, and then there was a period of time where he "re-met" the FL as her true self and fell in love again. But I highly doubt that this is the kind of novel that can pull of that kind of subtlety and nuance. I can see it being swept under the carpet while "fluff" is used as the distraction.

And can we just talk about the ML for a sec?

Spoiler

Okay, he and the FL are in a give-and-take relationship from the very beginning, but him thinking that he can dictate all of her actions without letting her show any dissatisfaction? He can be unhappy, irritated and annoyed, but she must always he happy in front of him? In one instance, he knows she has to get up early to work, but keeps her up half the night, then wakes her up even earlier than she needs to to make him breakfast? Talk about being inconsiderate. And this is the man who professes to care for the FL?

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... in short, this novel is set upon a veeeeeeeeeeeeeery questionable premise. <<less
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sweetguan
sweetguan rated it
October 24, 2019
Status: Completed
Pretty enjoyable reading.

Mostly fluffy without much of twist. The problem with antagonists solved pretty quick, so there's no frustrated storyline.

MC is an ordinary girl who transmigrated into a novel. Original MC is a canon fodder with a miserable ending and MC trying her best to avoided that kind of ending by carrying a favours with ML.

... more>> ML is overbearing CEO who loves MC dearly. I love eventho his past lovers kept coming back to him, he still devoted to MC.

Read this if you love a sweet, fluffy, without much thinking story. It's worth it. <<less
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straystar rated it
September 16, 2023
Status: --
I read this some time ago when I didn't have an account yet, so I couldn't review it, but I had to come back to let people know that this novel is a NIGHTMARE.

If I could rate this zero, I would do so happily💞
Actually I didn't even want to rate this (didn't wanna waste my time and energy), but the fact that some people (a whole heap of 116) actually voted this 5 star genuinely shocked me???? I suspect its cuz they didnt reach the triggering parts of the... more>> story yet, but still. So I wanted to bring the rating down cuz this book doesn't deserve this.

If I ever see the author irl, I'm going to ask them to never write again, because none of the viewers deserved to have their eyes tortured like this.

I don't even care that 'beauty" is FL's only trait, as the other reviews mention- it's uncomfortable and belittling, yea, but it's the ML that is definitely a failed abortion that should've tripped on his own ego and fell face-flat on dogsh1t. And the author for writing this.

And, NO, giving materialistic items to FL, DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT THE ML DID.

This is exactly what happened, like, half the goddamned book!
"oh no you r@ped me, went against my boundaries, didn't stop even when I begged you to, and continued r@ping me to the point I fainted! But it's 'okay' cause you gave me gold or some crap later on! Tehehehehehehehe~🥰🥰🥰" ...😐

No cuz im not even mad abt her letting him f*ck her for money. Cuz she knew what she was getting into and was willing to f*ck him. What made me mad was the way ML thoughts abt her, and the ML forcing himself onto her, AFTER SHE REFUSED TO f*ck HIS SORRY LITTLE DICK.

I'm glad that other readers also noticed this and added the actual tags for this. Like, 'r@pe' and 'pregnancy'. I can't even begin with how absolutely frustrating reading this was. I was hoping that this story would be something that would make these horrific things come to light and show how it was wrong- but the only thing this book's done is CRAP.

... Unfortunately, this was actually realistic. Because this is what happens to a lot of victims. They fall in love with the abuse, mistaking and being manipulated into believing it's love.

It would've been good if this story was to spread awareness about stuff like this---which actually happens in real life. If the author portrayed what was happening in a negative way and showed the readers that it was wrong. But noooooo, of course that didn't happen😐.

Also, everytime ML's pov about or related to FL came on, I physically cringe. Like, stop. Just stop, cuz you're embarrassing your ancestors and everyone who's even made contact with you. Like I feel bad for everyone who's even had the misfortune of knowing you, cuz if this man isn't SO F*CKING FRUSTRATING

Edit: also the ending written by Charlottefairy is 100x more satisfying😒 <<less
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Biubiubiu
Biubiubiu rated it
March 28, 2022
Status: Completed
Heyy. This is good.

I have read more tr*shy and boring plots. But this one is not one of them. Its actually well written. And complete in my opinion. The transmigrating of both Su Yayas. They exchanged worlds. And they both have their own HE. The ending is very satisfying.

Actually I have been pushing this off my reading list because of the reviews. Im glad I looked back And read this. And about the r*pe thing. Again. Ugh. I have read many reviews of different novels saying theres r*pe. Then when... more>> I read it. I dont know where they have read it. 😅 Maybe because of "crying and begged no more. Because they are tired? " Well. If thats r*pe. You dont know couple play 😆 you can cry even if you like it. Well its hard to elaborate. Some people might get it 🤷🏻‍♀️ if you get it. Congrats. 😂 And I read another review saying. He r*ped her when she asked for divorce. Uhhh su yaya said. " Forget it. Let him be. It's the last time anyway" she liked it too. More like break up s*x. 😆 Shen xiuqi is one of the male leads I like. Well sure at first he's a jackass. Thats what his setting in the novel. So yeah. He is actually doting. Even to the ori su yaya. And very coaxing 😅 the type that if su yaya is a bad woman. He would be bankrupt. 😆 <<less
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jiral
jiral rated it
December 14, 2021
Status: --
This novel degrades women way too much. The r*pe scene was unnerving. I get that the author has his/her own liberty to write whatever he/she wants, but this was too out of line. What bothers me though was instead of the FL getting angry, in the end she thought like a prostitute.
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Yizhan angel
Yizhan angel rated it
August 13, 2021
Status: Completed
This is so cute... it's sweet sweet sweet... just go read and rot your teeth.. perfect for reading a fluffy book.. with little angst and comedy with romance and lots of papapa (not descriptive) ☺️😳
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Straysheepy
Straysheepy rated it
March 31, 2021
Status: c233
The FL is a shameless gold digger and the ML is misogynistic AF. Not really any character development up to this point, they are still just a gold digger and a misogynist and the plot is quite slow too. So at chapter 200 something, finally seems to maybe happen to change things up? That being said, its translated well and there are some nice moments so 3 stars.
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FuwaFuwa
FuwaFuwa rated it
July 20, 2020
Status: --
I know that some people are talking about how 'oh it's not realistic and delivering a message of toxic masculinity' or something like that, so I'm giving this a four star rating to spite those people because it's quite fun. I admit that this novel ain't the best but hey, I enjoyed reading it and that's all that matters to me. I'm on this website for novels to pass time and have fun while doing so and for me, this novel does the job. Some novels are meant to be... more>> informative, while others are just simply for enjoyment, and I believe this novels belongs to the latter. I admit that I might be quite biased here, but nothing is truly free of bias so if this ain't your cup of tea, then so be it, everyone has their own standards of what makes a good novel and for me, this fits the standards. <<less
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uavgas
uavgas rated it
June 8, 2020
Status: c120
The MC is a very practical person. She is using everything that is at her disposal to get the things she wants without going out of her way to hurt others. Also, she is married to the ML, so why shouldn't she use him to better her own situation? She is beautiful and has a rich and powerful husband, so it only makes sense that she uses those things to get what she wants. The MC knows her situation and is willing to get everything she can while she is... more>> able. The story is fairly realistic in that sense.

This is only meant to be a simple and cute story with no huge bouts of drama, and it succeeds wonderfully in being that. Whenever the ML realizes that he is developing real and deep feeling for the MC and she realizes his feelings in the future, the tone may change, but I do not think there is going to be anything less than gratuitous dog food between the MC and the ML. That is what the story promises and I expect it to keep delivering until the story ends. <<less
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Arrange
Arrange rated it
June 2, 2020
Status: c100
Sometimes I crave for some shallow novels, but when shallow turns muddy, that's a no go for me.

In the beginning, I thought ML was just a little bit tsundere, but then I realized that he was a genuine prick with a toxic masculinity case. He really behaved like one of those arrogant and self-centered ancient nobles, just without the polygamy.

The FL... Let's just say that the only thing making this whole ordeal kinda acceptable is that she doesn't genuinely like ML and just regards him as a living ATM machine.... more>> I thought I could wait till the other woman come back and then let the ML chase and please FL after she leaves him.

This is one of the few types of novel tropes I despise the most.

  1. Unkillable white-lotus antagonist
  2. rapist ML easily accepted and forgiven
  3. toxic masculinity and self-centered prick
  4. ...
Third on my list. <<less
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tytrack127u
tytrack127u rated it
June 1, 2020
Status: c50
This is the worst web novel I've ever read. You know what?! The whole story is just talking about how the MC encounter problem and then in order solve her problem, the MC only relying on the Male Lead Character and trying to persuade him by having s*x. And that's how the whole story goes! THIS NOVEL IS REALLY SUCK!
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Chronos5884
Chronos5884 rated it
May 18, 2020
Status: c96
So, I'm actually done with this novel. I've read it already through google translate.

Some of the reviews here irritate me, for instance, a review that mentions that it hasn't even read yet before giving it a low rating based upon reading other reviews.

Things aren't quite as clear as they seem and the little white moonlight is most certainly not a white lotus. He might have fond memories of her, but uh... man, he's the sort of guy who is like a puppy you can kick and he'll come back if... more>> things had flowed the same way as the original story before the MC arrived.

Spoilers about Little White Moonlight and ML's relationship:

(Some details may need to be slightly amended as I've read it a while ago and I will be rereading to confirm)

Spoiler

ML was in love with LWM but she decided to study abroad and dumped him. If I recall, she either dumped him by making out with someone else in front of him and then saying we're over, or they were over and then she intentionally made out with someone else right in front of him. If I remember right, she also only comes back because she's messed with the wrong people and done some not great things and needs some strong backing to save her butt, so she decided to hook herself onto the ML again using his past promises to always care for her.

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As for the MC, she's woken up in a stranger's body, married to an attractive stranger who she knows of through writing. He's rich and generous. And as long as she doesn't cross his boundaries she should be okay. Based upon how he was written, as she knows it, he still tolerated the original canon fodder until she went waaaay too far for anyone with morals to be okay with.

From what I can tell, she views their relationship in a mercenary/practical sort of way.

He's the boss/customer, and she's there to kiss customer ass for maybe a couple years and then she gets to make a clean break and have enough money and to retire and live comfortably for the rest of her life. The perks that come with the job involve making good connections with influential people, living expenses, luxurious clothes, bourgie accessories, cosmetics, good food, comprehensive healthcare and all that other stuff is covered, and she gets to live lavishly for maybe 2-3 years of her life in exchange for acting sweet to him and going to bed with him (kind of like a paid escort or hostess I suppose).

Why not go for it?

As long as both parties understand what they're getting into, I don't see anything wrong with acting cute to get what you want and going to bed with a good looking successful person regularly for at most a couple years of your life in exchange for a massive divorce settlement and the money to live out the rest of your days well. If I was single, had that opportunity, and had it laid out so clear for me, I think I would have to at least consider that opportunity seriously. If she's fine with it, thought it through and consents to it, that's her choice, and I think that's fine.

MC knows what she wants and so she's just doing what she views as necessary to reach her end goals.

Also, the ML is actually the very loyal sort. Certainly, he gets jealous and all, but I do think it's understandable, especially considering how things ended previously with the Little White Moonlight.

ML's feelings towards MC:

Spoiler

He actually really likes her. He originally started pursuing the original canon fodder for two reasons. One was because she looked 60-70% like his ex girlfriend who he was still hung up over and who broke his heart. The second was because if he wanted to get his inheritance, he needed to get married, and he needed to do it within 3 years. He actually never would have cheated or ended things with the original canon fodder if she hadn't gone waaay too far.

He ended up falling in love with the MC and was mostly over the Little White Moonlight already before she showed up again. He wanted to do a proper wedding and proposal to make sure the whole world knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. In fact, he intentionally bought the wedding ring in front of LWM to make it clear that he was over her. (MC naturally misunderstood and so began a misunderstanding arc).

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Milady7e
Milady7e rated it
May 18, 2020
Status: c95
Regardless at how the MC and ML is...i'd prefer and enjoy the interaction of them as a couple which is playful and ridiculous but also hilarious at the same time;;^^ and I was relieved, when the ML was conflicted at how bothered he is when someone is trying to harm the MC. He might insisted that he was doing the protection cause MC is simply his woman and his Wife, but IMO, to be appreciate that much is much better than some tr*shy ML I have read before.

The story development... more>> is a bit subtle, but consider how the story is revolved around the daily life of MC and ML, Which is very light and easier to read, it's not really that much of a problem.

And the drama (or conflict) within this novel is not as exaggerated as the other novel that have the similiarity in story... that might be another reason why this novel is better. And kudos for translator!! They did a really good job.

tbh I'm seriously didn't expect I would finish reading it till the latest chapter in less than a day>< Oh welp. I really looking forward to the update~ <<less
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Rin.Rin
Rin.Rin rated it
May 15, 2020
Status: c22
It's alright...

The ML can get super yandere. Like one moment he happy and then get upset and ruthless over the smallest thing. He seems a little bit too much entitled/egotistic. As if he is doing a favor for the MC and that he deserves the best/be adored/be served.

BUT

The MC is so hopelessly s*upidly simple and straightforward she doesn't take it to mind. All she has in mind is to please the ML and live. She does not care about being shameless. She just focuses on licking ML's boot/hug his thigh.... more>> So in another way, they kind of suit each other weird personas. I mean both of them are happy in the end. No one is hurt.

She is literally trying to please the ML for her own purpose. She wants the benefits from the divorce. So naturally it has to be her doing all the pleasing. She doesn't want to get on his bad side. So I mean what did yall expect?

I'm more lenient with the review only because I like this kind of setting with the whole 'landed in a cannon fodder body/villainess' and just reading for the romance. <<less
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Beccablue
Beccablue rated it
March 28, 2020
Status: c72
I am really enjoying this story. The MC is funny and realistic. Since she thinks she knows how things will end, she wants to live well and is planning for the future. I think that is reasonable.

The ML is the standard cold and brilliant businessman that softens with the MC. However, he does have a charm that draws me to him. His little comments about how he likes her food so much he will have to go to the gym more and the way he gets her to pamper him... more>> is funny.

Their interactions don't feel forced and when the are intimate, it isn't like he is forcing or or she is prostitution herself. They are both adults enjoying themselves. Which is very refreshing and uncommon.

She isn't really superficial. I am sure that if I woke up with a face and body that I imagined in my wildest dreams, I would be excited and want to wear nice things and spend time using all the best skin care I could get. Anyone that has had a low paying job where they have to stretch every dollar can imagine that once you have enough money to not have to worry, you would want to be prepared for the worst. Especially when you know how the story is supposed to end. Why not pay attention and try to get some savings?

They have a contract marriage, but the ML is still nice to her and doesn't treat her with disrespect. He might have married her because she looks good and was willing to make a deal, but he isn't cold or rude or any of the usual character traits that are common in contract relationships before the ML falls in love. Its refreshing that the guy isn't a selfish jerk before love blooms.

I find this story a charming, quick read. I read the first 72 chapters in 1 go and will read the future chapters. <<less
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