Pale-faced, the man hurled the lamp at the police.
Crash! The oil lamp shattered on the table, igniting the tablecloth in fierce flames. The quiet house was instantly thrown into chaos.
The man dashed towards the stairs, shouting.
“Run!”
But Diane was already gone.
Frozen in shock, she had kicked the chair and started running towards the front door at the moment of the loud crash.
I can’t get caught here.
Her throat tightened. Everything was falling apart.
Holding the bag of jewels, Diane fumbled to unlock the door as the man’s cries to escape echoed behind her. The double, triple-locked door stubbornly resisted.
Please!
Her breath quickened, sweat rolling down her back.
Please, open quickly.
She barely managed to unlock the last latch, threw open the door, and burst outside.
The fierce wind hit her like a whirlwind. Instinctively, she shut her eyes. When she blinked open, Diane’s heart sank.
“No!”
Impossible.
Under the black night sky, red flames were visible. A man leaning loosely against the carriage deeply inhaled his cigar. The smoke dispersing into the air seemed like a dream.
Why.
Why are you here…
Diane felt chills. A clattering sound came from her trembling jaw.
She wished this man’s presence was a nightmare. It had to be. But it wasn’t.
Johan Leopold.
Incredibly, the man was there before her.
Diane’s legs gave out, and she collapsed right there. The man’s long coat fluttered in the wild wind. Stepping away from the carriage, he approached with a languid stride.
Get a grip, Diane. It’s not over yet.
“Lo… Lord Duke.”
Even in this desperate situation, she strategized for survival. It was instinct.
Suddenly, Diane’s consciousness sharply returned, jolted by a cold sensation. She had been slapped across the face during interrogation and had lost consciousness.
How long had she been here?
In the darkness, a small light flickered on the table. As Diane’s vision gradually cleared, her fear became more palpable.
It wasn’t a dream.
She still sat handcuffed to the chair, droplets of water dripping from her drenched hair. Despair clouded her mind.
The only change was that Johan, the man, had come.
Johan pulled a chair across from Diane and sat down. Cross-legged, he put a cigar in his mouth. Between his black gloves, the cigar’s end glowed red. He was impeccable as always.
In contrast, Diane was a mess.
Wet hair clung unattractively to her forehead and cheeks, her eyelids blackened by running mascara. Swollen cheeks from being slapped and lips burst from being hit. She looked worse than a drowned rat.
Diane felt ashamed but did not avert her gaze. Her head pounded painfully, yet she focused. She knew this was her last chance.
“Lo… Lord Duke…”
Her lips, possibly torn, hurt with every word. Diane made a painful and pitiable expression, her eyes brimming with tears.
Despite Diane’s call, Johan’s gaze remained unemotional.
“I’m not… the one. Actually… uh.”
Pain shot through her swollen cheek. Her mouth, parched and cracked from dehydration, was sore.
“Du…”
Her emotions running high, she gasped for air.
“To the Duchess.”
With each labored breath, the scent of cigars and the damp, musty smell of the interrogation room mixed in her nostrils.
“I was being blackmailed.”
She let the tears she had been holding back flow. They streamed ceaselessly down her handcuffed hands.
“I’m sorry, Lord Duke.”
Diane bowed her head, trembling weakly.
The pungent smell of the cigar approached. Curious about Johan’s expression, Diane slowly raised her head. Their eyes met, and she felt a chill at his gaze. A cold mockery flowed in his deep grey eyes.
Johan stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray. With neat motions, he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his top button.
“Do you want to get out of here alive?”
His soft murmur echoed in the interrogation room. Diane grimaced, her eyes contorting.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
