Dry fallen leaves rolled all over the street. Nevertheless, there was always a sensation of a strong chrysanthemum fragrance vibrating from somewhere.
After finishing the morning hospital appointment, she headed to a large cafe in downtown Seoul.
It has been just over a month since she started working here.
Her learning speed was much slower than others, so the manager almost always stayed by her side during working hours. However, she had definitely improved compared to the beginning.
“Sunshine Gugu, have you had your meal?”
At the manager’s words, she nodded. Sunshine Gugu was the nickname she used during her time working here.
Interestingly, in this cafe, they called each other by nicknames instead of names.
Even the name tag attached to the dark brown uniform accurately read ‘Sunshine Gugu.’
She chose to stop drawing, a decision that was not difficult to make.
Accepting the advice of a doctor not to depend on Jo In-young’s life, she boldly gave up drawing.
In retrospect, it seemed like a good decision. After all, Jo In-young was good at drawing from the beginning.
It was a talentless and uninteresting job, and it was a relief to quit it now, even though it was a bit regrettable.
“I’ll have an iced vanilla latte, please.”
In response to the order from the man wearing black sunglasses, she began to say, “Yes,” but stopped when she saw the manager’s gesture.
“Excuse me, sir. What size would you like?”
“Large, please.”
“……Yes.”
She made the coffee as she learned and handed it to the customer.
The customer came again the next day, and the day after that.
For a while, she was so focused on work that she didn’t recognize his face, but thanks to a colleague’s comment, she finally realized that the man came every day at the same time, drinking the same drink.
“Look, he’s here again.”
“……. ”
“Isn’t he interested in you, Unnie?”
“Well, that’s not possible.”
“Look. Even now, you’re only looking at Unnie.”
She looked up and glanced at the man sitting at the front seat by the window, but by then, her gaze had already shifted elsewhere.
“……No way.”
“Hey, I must be right, right? Check again in a little while.”
“Yeah.”
Since then, whenever she had time, she wanted to check on the man, but she was too busy doing her job.
She looked at the manual with numbers 1 to 10 several times, repeated cleaning the windows and wiping empty tables.
By the time she found some free time, the man had already disappeared from the cafe.
A lot has changed over time.
She became a divorced woman and, penniless, was driven out of Janggyeong to become a wanderer without a single penny.
Life is indeed a cruel fairy tale.
After finishing her part-time job, she headed to a quiet cemetery.
Every time she came here, she couldn’t help but feel that the past time felt like a dream.
She hated too much, resented to the point of death, and so, the vacant space left by her mother, who used to pour out irritation every time, felt lonely and empty.
“So, it would have been better if I had run away when I suggested it.”
Thinking of her mother, whose heart stopped at Chairman Jo’s pointed gun, she couldn’t leave that place for a while.
When Chairman Jo took the position of the leader, she also received punishment for her involvement in his fraudulent activities.
Although her status as a minor and the fact that she had been threatened by Chairman Jo for a long time were taken into account, she did not escape the sentence. She was sentenced to 200 hours of community service.
Taekyung was the one who appeared to help her start a new life, but she knew very well that the one who silently moved behind him was a coincidence.
Occasionally, she dreamed of going back to coincidence and her family, but that was not what she wanted.
Now. Just for now. She thought they both needed more time for each other.
She didn’t want to be caught by coincidence, revealing her world that had become too gruesome over the years.
Her lingering resentment towards coincidence was also the reason. The inferiority complex toward her brother seemed like something that would never disappear until she died.
“Mom. I’m leaving now. Next time, I’ll come much later than now. I still hate you. My feelings are still the same. That’s why I won’t show you my face much.”
Looking at the photo with no response, she didn’t smile, and only her mouth formed a thick smile. Her short hair had turned into long hair again.
Tying the flowing hair into a rough bundle, she smiled again this time.
“Does saying this make you feel bad? But Mom, it’s not good for me. If I talk about feeling bad, I won’t have enough nights to stay up. So, this time, Mom, understand and accept it. I told you that every time. Just accept it. I hated that word so much.”
I really hated it.
Putting the brought harmony next to the photo and leaving with heavier steps, she left the place.
The way back home was long and boring.
She peeked into the lives of people taking the last train inside the rattling subway.
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.]
