As Helena stepped outside the store, the midday sun poured down. The streets, refreshed by the recent rain, were bustling with more energy.
Walking along the neat cobblestone path, Helena counted on her fingers.
“So, your name is Carmel, and you run a small trading company while living a nomadic life, have a younger sister, and when you were young…”
“About 13 years, 3 months, and 17 days ago, to be exact.”
Ian interrupted her abruptly, causing Helena to narrow her eyes.
“……So you came to repay a favor you owe me from that time?”
“The truth is, even if you didn’t remember, you were the one who asked me to find you first. So please, at least for this poor man who kept his promise—”
“I don’t want to see you.”
“Then just feel that I’m here, beside you.”
“Everything is easy for you, isn’t it?”
“If something looks easy, it means you’re good at it. Seems like I’m doing well in approaching you.”
His flawless responses came one after another. Helena let out an annoyed sigh.
“Then you’ve already found me, and with the meal we just had, you’ve repaid your favor. I’d like to think there’s no reason for us to be involved any further.”
“That’s not possible. The lowest point of my life made me cherish you. So now, at my peak, you’re definitely worthy of receiving me, Helena.”
Ian kicked a stone on the path out of the way as he walked.
His smiling face wasn’t looking at her, but Helena still watched him with a doubtful gaze.
“You don’t think I’ll believe everything you say, do you? How much truth is there in your words? It’s too disadvantageous for me to allow a stalker based on a few uncertain words.”
“Well, the sooner you recover your memory, the better for you then.”
“Whether I remember or not, would you want to accompany someone who’s shown you their worst?”
“…….”
The conversation suddenly stopped. Ian’s gaze, looking out towards the shops, wavered for a moment.
Helena thought this odd and tried to see what he was looking at, but nothing stood out.
“What are you looking at…….”
Just as Helena tried to follow his gaze, Ian grabbed her hand first.
He moved in front of her as if to block her view, pulling her with his large frame.
They soon found themselves in an alleyway between empty shops. Ian briskly walked into the deepest part of the alley and pushed Helena against the wall, leaning forward.
“If the reason you can’t allow me to be close is because of that, then should I show you my worst?”
His breath was slightly labored from the quick walk. Ian’s shadow fell over Helena’s face. Despite being midday, the secluded alley was dark. The shadow made his clean silver hair look almost grey.
The moisture still held by the stones and dirt from yesterday’s rain made the air thick. His words seemed to cling to her ears more intensely because of that.
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to do.”
Helena looked up with a cold gaze. Ian didn’t mind and tilted his head slightly, leaning in as if about to kiss her.
So close. Too close.
His long eyelashes cast shadows just beneath his eyes. To any passerby, it might have looked like an intense display of affection.
“May I?”
Ian asked, slowly meeting her gaze.
His tone was incongruent with the situation, dry like the wind brushing through dry grass, contrary to their damp breaths.
The incongruity brought a faint anger to Helena’s face.
“……Hypocrite. You said the only thing you wanted was for me to live.”
“I didn’t say it was the only thing. That’s why I’m showing you my worst now.”
“What worst, your patience?”
Ian showed a faint sign of surprise, as if someone had seen through the false mask he was hiding behind.
But soon, he exhaled lightly through his nose and admitted it.
“You really know how to read people.”
It was unclear whether he was laughing or being self-deprecating. Helena’s annoyance deepened. His words always seemed to convey multiple meanings in a single sentence.
It was frustrating because she couldn’t read him, even though he could read her so easily.
Helena turned her head away, as if his existence vanished from her sight.
“You should be glad you’re not an actor. If you’re going to act, at least make it believable.”
“I’ll try harder next time.”
“……So what is it, then?”
“It’s nothing much. Just some unsavory ruffians passing by.”
Helena shifted her gaze and looked beyond Ian’s shoulder towards the alley’s entrance.
A man who looked exhausted and a few knights with swords were moving away.
They were all big enough to fit a stereotype, but not the kind to be called ruffians without reason.
Would any ruffian apologize to a passerby they bumped into while walking?
At first glance, they didn’t seem like the ‘unsavory’ type Ian described.
Helena turned her head back to Ian with a skeptical look.
“Then what about the person in front of me right now?”
He straightened up his body, which had been leaning forward.
“Let’s go with a ‘quality ruffian,’ shall we?”
“Don’t even bother joking.”
Helena moved away from the wall, intending to leave the alley, but Ian’s words stopped her.
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.]
