“It’s touching, isn’t it? The epic of Harsept… If you’re a desert dweller, you can’t help but like it. But where did you hear the behind-the-scenes story?”
Rashid finally smiled faintly and wiped the sticky maple syrup from his face with his hand.
“It’s Latifa! Latifa told us everything! She said she would visit us soon since she’s going to have her initiation!”
“Latifa… General Hades’s Fraulein, right?”
“Yes! Latifa knew the behind-the-scenes story. Thanks to her, we could make good friends! Of course, I don’t know if that’s the real ending of the novel.”
Rashid smiled warmly for a while, then, while tickling Asti’s chubby cheek, he said,
“Little candy. Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter. What’s important is that people believe it.”
Asti twisted her body in ticklishness and giggled.
“Yeah. Shall I tell you a secret that no one else knows about the hero Harsept? Latifa might not know about it either.”
“Yes!”
Rashid hugged Asti tightly and dipped a piece of cheese pastry, adorned with an intricately engraved golden butterfly, into the sweet syrup.
“Harsept was originally not the son of a wealthy family but just a wandering thief. He was so quick with his hands that there was nothing he couldn’t steal in this desert.”
“A thief?! That can’t be true. Harsept is a rich young master. That’s why he couldn’t continue his relationship with the talented dancer Suriya.”
“That’s why I said it’s a secret that no one knows. Believe it or not, it’s your choice.”
Rashid chuckled, then took a big bite of the cheese pastry, drenched in sweet syrup.
The taste of the dessert, where the sweet syrup flows stickily and the bread has a crispy texture, seemed satisfying to Sumtan, and he closed his eyes as if content.
“Now, little candy. Will you continue telling me the backstory of those two? I don’t have much time left before I go back to work.”
Rashid enjoyed the remaining break time, looking pleased as he watched Asti’s face, who was trivializing the plot afterward. However, he couldn’t stop tears from occasionally streaming down.
The morning of the next day was exceptionally busy.
The previous day, the dark hours were only a few hours long due to the extended daylight, and Latifa couldn’t get a proper night’s sleep because Hades kept talking without turning off the fire.
Merkahtus this year will be more splendid as they have achieved victory. Now, wake up.
A man spewing fire and women swallowing swords will perform tricks. Latifa, open your eyes.
What are you doing during the day to be sleeping like a sick chicken like this? Didn’t you ask me to talk about Merkahtus first?
It was a mistake to ask Hades about the festival before going to bed, intrigued by the festival information she heard from Caleb’s maids. Hades spoke about it like an excited child, and Latifa didn’t expect it to last this long. Moreover, her insomnia had worsened lately.
“Auuu.”
“Lack of dignity.”
When Latifa let out a big yawn, Hades complained softly.
“It’s the day when Ignis’s grace is most abundant, so it’s natural for Calandre to be tired.”
To the witty reply, Hades laughed heartily and tousled Latifa’s hair.
“Do you know what you’re talking about?”
“Because of you, I couldn’t sleep properly at night. Because you kept bothering me to talk… Huaam.”
As Latifa complained while sitting on the balustrade in front of the bedroom, two passing maid girls stopped their steps lightly, eavesdropping on their conversation.
“He kept bothering her last night.”
“Oh my, I didn’t know!”
At the sound of the giggling girls, Hades shouted loudly toward them.
“The Grand Bazaar’s morning sun has risen long ago. What are you doing lingering around here? My Fraulein can’t even go into her room, and you’re waiting here for your preparations to be done!”
“Uh, sorry, Lord Hades!”
“If you insult Caleb’s honor like that again, I’ll send you straight to the livestock market’s livestock management. Behave yourselves!”
Hades, already scared, spoke harshly towards the quickly retreating two tiny dots, then sighed heavily towards Latifa.
“Ugh. You spoiled those girls.”
“Me?! I didn’t do anything!”
Latifa, sitting on the quite high marble railing, looked down at Hades discontentedly.
“It’s wrong not to do anything. Didn’t they say it’s human nature to look at the place where you’ll lie down and stretch your legs? You have too many openings. Even the impudent maids from the former empire did that to you.”
“I just don’t want to cause trouble to your servants.”
In response to Latifa’s words, Hades tilted his head sideways with a blunt expression.
“You tend to suppress your instincts as much as possible while living, huh?”
“Hades. If you’re human, you have to live suppressing your instincts. Not everyone lives like an unbridled colt like you.”
“No, you suppress it too much. You avoid saying unpleasant things to those below you and try not to offend everyone you meet. Even to the shameless Shady women. Even when you’re in the position of the Moon Goddess in Calandre, you try not to rise any higher.”
“Well, I’ve been living like that.”
‘Indeed, I’ve been living like that for a long time.’
She, who had lived like that without even thinking about changing, couldn’t easily fix that in one morning.
“Don’t live like that.”
Hades met Latifa’s gaze with a serious expression on his face, playfully removing the mischief from his face.
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.]
