“Shall I drive you there?”
Usually, he wouldn’t have refused, but since the meeting place was Lajin’s house, he felt cautious. Especially with Hojin’s unusual interest, he couldn’t bring up going to her house. A storm of questions would surely follow.
“Don’t bother, what for?”
“I just want to get some air.”
Hojin was ready to grab the car keys right away, as if he were eager to breathe in the air filled with the scent of flowers.
If he was going to Lajin’s house, he should bring something. Maybe he should ask his junior for advice? Jiho briefly pondered whether to speak to Hojin.
“Hojin, do you know any place?”
“What kind of place? A restaurant?”
“A flower… shop.”
“Why would someone suddenly need flowers to meet the goddess…”
“She asked me to come over to her house for a bit. Do you know? Don’t you?”
He asked if flowers would be the most appropriate gift, but Hojin’s eyes curved like crescent moons. Hojin barely held back his laughter and quickly sent a link.
“There’s a famous macaron shop next to this flower shop. It’s known for authentic macarons made by a French-trained chef.”
“I’m going for work. What do I need macarons for?”
While Hojin chuckled unnecessarily, he mumbled to himself.
“Why are flowers okay but not macarons?”
Jiho pretended not to hear and fiddled with the papers.
“Eating something sweet can make serious conversations more pleasant. It might even foster some affection. Something like that.”
“I’m going there for work. Why would affection come into it?”
“Working together naturally leads to affection, don’t you know about office romances?”
“I don’t.”
“Anyway, you’re a team now. Office romance is possible for a team!”
Unable to get more entangled in Hojin’s advice, Jiho waved his hands dismissively. Hojin approached him, chuckling.
“Ah, well. No matter how hard you work, the government only gives you a piece of paper as a commendation.”
Hojin grumbled that dating was self-service, and Jiho didn’t respond at all.
Responding here, or showing disapproval, both felt somewhat embarrassing.
Emotions on the edge of a cliff. Ridiculous, Jiho thought, shaking his head slightly.
“Doing an investigation and even dating the goddess. How nice, eh?”
“…….”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but just buying flowers might look like a confession, you know.”
Regardless of Hojin’s obvious amusement, Jiho finished organizing the documents. However, time flew so quickly that he almost missed his appointment with her.
Jiho shook off his tail first.
15 minutes before the appointed time, he started walking slowly from a distance far from Lajin’s house, vigilantly checking around for any suspicious movements. Then he looked down at what he held in his hands.
“Huh, what is this.”
He had definitely been roped into Hojin’s scheme.
Otherwise, why would he be holding a bouquet in his right hand and a pink shopping bag containing rainbow-colored macarons in his left? Jiho kept sighing like a battery-drained device before meeting her.
‘Well, it’s not appropriate to visit someone’s house empty-handed. Let’s not attribute any special meaning to basic courtesy.’
Suppressing his awkward feelings, Jiho hastened his steps. It seemed pointless to loiter around Lajin’s neighborhood.
Ding-dong―.
As soon as Jiho rang the doorbell at Lajin’s house, the door opened as if she had been waiting. She leaned against the wall and waved for him to come in.
As the door shut with a thud, Lajin smiled brighter than the flowers.
“You’re punctual. Exactly 5 PM.”
“Is it?”
Lajin pointing to the clock made Jiho feel an inexplicable urge to cough.
“Actually, I’ve been waiting outside since 10 minutes ago.”
“Is that so?”
He had words of gratitude for the invitation and sympathies for her hard day in his mind, but what came out of Jiho’s mouth were just pointless interjections.
Maybe it was an involuntary reaction to stand helplessly in front of a woman who smelled as sweet as the roses he held.
Feeling embarrassed for doing something out of character, Jiho quickly offered her the flowers.
“I thought it wouldn’t be polite to come empty-handed.”
“You went through the trouble despite being busy. You bought all this?”
Despite her words, Lajin’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she opened her arms wide.
The pink roses seemed to find their rightful place in her embrace. Precisely, it was she who held the roses that shined brightly.
“I thought you might like flowers.”
“I do. Very much.”
Is this why people give flowers to women? How can she smile so much just because of flowers?
It was hard to tell who was the flower and who was the person. Objectively speaking, both the living beings were equally fresh and vibrant.
Even as he walked through her neatly maintained garden, Jiho couldn’t take his eyes off Lajin. Then, feeling too obvious, he reluctantly turned his head.
“There are a lot of flowers in the garden.”
“I have a sensitive nose.”
“?”
“Actually, it’s me who has to do the dog’s part. I have a good sense of smell.”
Startled, Jiho stepped back two steps, and she stepped forward, asking,
“Do you like the natural scent? I planted these flowers myself… Why, what’s wrong?”
As she took another step closer, Jiho retreated three steps.
“I sweated a bit while walking here.”
“Are you afraid I’ll sniff you?”
Instead of answering, Jiho stepped back further. Lajin closed the gap again, smiling broadly.
“I can tell it’s you by the scent alone. You have a citrus scent.”
Lajin seemed genuinely delighted to be able to distinguish people by their scents.
Her eyes, twinkling like stars, melted softly. There should be a limit to how much one can smile. What to do if one laughs so much that they can’t maintain composure?
Jiho was helplessly overwhelmed by Lajin’s barrage of smiles.
‘Have I always been someone who laughs this easily?’
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.]
