I Received The First Time Of My Extraordinary Superior (9 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 8
The dining room had an overall cozy and tidy atmosphere. Brown carpet covered the floor, and the walls were adorned with yellow wallpaper bearing floral patterns and white-painted wooden moldings.
Through the latticed window framed by white wood, Ernest was smoking a cigar on the terrace.
Sydney, thinking it best to speak while he was absent, opened her mouth.
“I have a favor to ask of Vicky and Sarah. Please don’t tell anyone—not Ernest, not anyone—that I was Marien. No matter what happens.”
“That… what kind of ‘no matter what’ are you talking about?”
Victoria, wearing a sky-blue dress, tilted her head in puzzlement.
Sydney intended to make Marien vanish as if she’d never existed. But as long as Victoria Orwello remained a link between Marien and Sydney, that was practically impossible.
Though it would never happen—
If, by some one-in-a-million chance, Logan Redford ever decided to search for Marien, he would surely uncover that Sydney was Marien.
Because that’s the kind of man he was.
He wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary to get what he wanted—whether through threats, intimidation, persuasion, or bribery.
Of course, with Victoria, daughter of Duke Orwello, he’d likely opt for persuasion or reasoning. Enough to convince her that revealing Marien’s identity would help Marien herself.
Sydney looked alternately at Victoria and Sarah and firmly emphasized,
“No matter how much you think it’s for my own good… don’t do it.”
“Understood. But… even if it truly is for your own good, I shouldn’t say anything?”
As soon as Victoria finished speaking, Sydney slowly shook her head.
“No. If you do, I’ll never see Victoria or Sarah again.”
“I’ll never, ever tell anyone. I swear on it.”
“Me too.”
Sydney raised a finger to her lips and adjusted her posture, for Ernest had disappeared from the terrace.
Leaning toward Sydney, Victoria whispered,
“You’ll tell me your reason later, right?”
“After Lord Holden leaves.”
Just as Sydney finished speaking, Ernest entered with his hands in his pockets. Victoria, turning toward him, snapped with feigned indifference,
“Making everyone wait for you to smoke cigars during mealtime? Ernest, have some manners.”
“Not coming from someone who eavesdrops on other people’s conversations.”
Ernest sneered as he sat down opposite Victoria. She closed her mouth, about to argue but thinking better of it, and waited until Sarah had finished serving all the food. She looked like a racehorse awaiting the starting signal.
“I didn’t eavesdrop on purpose. It just so happened I missed my chance to leave.”
“The result is what matters.”
“Exactly. In conclusion, Sydney and I waited for you, Ernest.”
Ernest shrugged once and asked indifferently,
“You never yield an inch, do you? By the way, why did my older brother want to meet you yesterday?”
“How would you know about that?”
“He sent me, so of course I know.”
Sydney, who had been quietly eating her stew through their sibling bickering, raised her head.
She had just realized why Ernest Holden and Logan Redford had shown up at Armand Hotel.
“Just as I thought. Older brother Steve really is thoughtful.”
“That’s strange. It was me who came all the way to the hotel to find you during my busiest time, who carried you home after you passed out drunk, and who personally checked on you out of worry—and somehow the conclusion is ‘Steve’s so thoughtful’?”
Steve? Sydney had never heard the name Steve Holden before. More surprisingly, she hadn’t even known Ernest had an older brother.
He must be a cousin, she thought dismissively, and resumed stirring her spoon.
“But Steve’s always so busy.”
“Victoria, the busiest place around year-end and New Year’s is the newspaper office. And I happen to be the owner of the largest newspaper in the Arsenal Empire.”
“So what?”
“Just saying. What do I even expect from you?”
With that grumble, the sibling quarrel came to a temporary end.
Afterward, they exchanged a few more petty arguments that even children wouldn’t stoop to—but still managed to finish their meal without serious incident.
After sending Ernest off, Victoria and Sarah led Sydney to the drawing room.
“Sydney, you promised to tell us your reason. I’ve been thinking about it… about what Ernest said earlier—about ‘taking responsibility.'”
“So?”
“No matter how I think about it, you have nothing to take responsibility for with me. So… did something happen last night?”
“…”
Both siblings were brutally straightforward. Sydney lowered her eyes, pondering how to answer. Even with close friends, some things couldn’t be shared.
But Victoria wouldn’t wait for her to find the words.
“Why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t tell me! You spent the night with a man?”
“Cough! You… you…”
Sydney covered her mouth with a fist and coughed repeatedly. Seeing Sydney’s flushed face and stuttering speech, Victoria pressed further.
“Ah-ha! You’re avoiding my eyes? I’m starting to feel hurt.”
When Victoria even made a pouting, teary face, Sydney rubbed her forehead and mumbled reluctantly,
“Well… I didn’t mean for it to happen… but it did.”
Sydney Warden—hesitant and flustered?
She had always been confident and decisive.
If even Sydney was saying it “just happened” like that… Realizing this, Victoria slammed her hand on the table with a loud thud and shot up.
“Who! Which bastard was it! Sydney, you can’t just sleep with any man like that!”
Victoria huffed and shouted at Sydney. Sydney, listening, pursed her lips.
“The guy who knew about it even gave me the penthouse key!”
In a way, that key had been the root of all trouble. Had Logan not asked about it, Sydney would have simply left without a word.
Victoria, sensing her own guilt, stammered and trailed off.
“No… I only gave it because I hoped you’d get along well with our cousin. Not so you’d sleep with some random man…”
“Weren’t you the one who said meeting a new man in an unfamiliar place sounded exciting?”
“That’s just… theoretical. Even I know novels and reality are different. Anyway, just tell me who the man is.”
Seeing words wouldn’t work, Victoria swiftly changed the subject—to the man Sydney had spent the night with.
How could Sydney possibly handle her? Folding her arms, Sydney spoke.
“Vicky, do you happen to know Logan Redford?”
“Of course I do. He’s friends with Ernest, so I’ve seen him a few times…”
“…”
Victoria’s eyes widened as she continued speaking, and she let out a peculiar gasp in shock.
“Gasp! You and Logan Red-… did that…? Good heavens.”
“Is that really so shocking?”
“No, it’s just… completely unexpected. Between us… there’s been a rumor that Lord Redford has zero interest in women. Guess rumors really can’t be trusted.”
After rambling for a while, Victoria stared intently at Sydney again. Seeing her friend’s pleading look—begging her to deny it—Sydney sighed.
“…The rumor’s true. He truly doesn’t care about anyone else.”
“Right. And yet a man like that showed interest in you.”
Victoria sidled closer to Sydney and gave her a sly, almost sinister smile.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“‘Marchioness Redford’—it doesn’t mean a thing.”
“…”
“You’re done with hardship now. The Redford marquessate is incredibly wealthy, so… now Emilia’s medical expenses—”
“Victoria Orwello.”
Victoria instantly fell silent. Sydney’s expression had hardened—not just coolly, but chillingly, enough to raise goosebumps.
It wasn’t Victoria’s fault to apologize. In noble society, that kind of calculation was perfectly normal.
But Sydney refused to shift the burdens she carried onto someone else like that.
Even if it meant nothing to Logan—or even if he’d been the first to suggest marriage—
She herself had to remain different.
Only then could she resent her father and older brother for dumping all their burdens onto her.
Only then could she hate them freely… just enough to breathe again.
Therefore, going forward, Sydney had to earn money herself.
She firmly grasped Victoria’s hand, who looked utterly at a loss.
“Vicky, if you feel bad, then keep my secret. Make sure no one ever finds out that Marien was me.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
“But Sydney, I’m really curious about this… Was Lord Redford’s… uh… performance… unsatisfactory?”
Victoria asked with genuine concern. In that moment, Sydney instinctively knew exactly how to convince her friend.
“It was the worst. He… was really terrible.”
“Oh, my goodness…”
Sydney added one more blow for good measure—something that would ensure Logan Redford could never persuade Victoria, no matter what he said.
“Besides… he’s that bastard.”
“Huh?”
“My boss.”
“Good heavens, that bastard is… Logan Redford?”
“Yes.”
Watching Victoria turn pale, Sydney offered a gentle smile, certain her friend had now made up her mind exactly as intended.
“He’s got a bad personality and his bedroom skills are… I’m against this marriage.”
“I’m opposed too. If he’s inadequate, it absolutely won’t do.”
Following Victoria’s lead, Sarah also flared up and pledged her absolute cooperation.
Though Sydney felt a twinge of guilt for painting Logan Redford as inadequate, there was no surer way to secure Victoria’s unwavering support.
“In any case, I can’t wear dresses anymore. It’s unlikely, but if anyone asks about Marien… send them to me.”
Still unable to shake her unease, Sydney repeated the request several more times as she left the apartment.
“This is the timeline separator”
“27 Dustin Avenue.”
Sydney murmured the address in front of a shabby apartment building. Behind her, children were running about, throwing packed snowballs.
Her eyes briefly lingered on the broken doorbell before settling on the half-open entrance door.
Dustin Avenue was located in District 6, where impoverished nobles and commoners lived intermixed.
Out of habit, Sydney checked the mailbox and began climbing the stairs.
Though unwell, there was obviously no elevator in a building like this. The only small mercy was that she lived on the third floor.
By the time she reached the second floor, her legs trembled so badly she could barely stand. Leaning against the railing, Sydney muttered to herself,
“My body’s the real worst.”
For the past month, she’d been pulling constant overtime and handling all those miscellaneous reports for Logan—clearly, she’d overexerted herself.
And last night, drinking until dawn…
“Damn it.”
Leaning heavily on the railing, Sydney dragged her legs all the way to her front door.
Apartment 302.
She murmured the number marking her own home under her breath.
Just then, the door opened, and a woman Sydney knew well stepped out. She was the hired help who looked after Sydney’s household about twice a week.
“Miss Sydney, I thought you’d gone to work since you weren’t here.”
“Was today cleaning day…?”
“Not exactly… I have theater rehearsal tomorrow, so I came by today instead. Did I forget to mention it?”
Sydney felt Betty’s voice grow distant, then loud again.
Ever since earlier, her body had been shivering, and now sweat poured from her like rain. She decided she needed to get into bed immediately and took a step forward.
Suddenly, her vision spun, and it felt as if the ground dropped out beneath her feet.
“…Miss Sydney?”
Just as she was about to collapse, Betty caught her and cried out,
“Miss Sydney! Are you alright? Good heavens… you’re drenched in sweat—and you’re burning up!”
She tried to say she was fine—but the words only circled in her mouth, refusing to come out.
Her ears buzzed, her stomach churned, and no matter how hard she tried, her eyelids wouldn’t lift.
Finally, the world sank into darkness and silence.
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.]
Ahhhh the “I have a friend” line. How did she keep her gender hidden this long smh lol
Could it be he was the one who designed the dresses Victoria gifted her?