“You don’t understand the question. Isn’t there any progress between you two?”
“What progress can there be between friends?”
The monthly visit to Ilsan. Dinner together, the same questions, the same answers.
“It’s been over 10 years. How unattractive must you be to still be just friends?”
On the brink of snapping, Sa Jun’s voice echoed in my head.
‘Wait for me quietly.’
Suddenly, the bouquet in the vase caught my eye.
The one Seontae gave Hyeseok, who had smelled it repeatedly with a happy expression, its petals overly bloomed to the point of wilting, its stems limply bent.
“Taehui, Sa Jun goes to the club every weekend.”
My eyes opened slowly, recalling the scene from a few hours ago.
Seontae’s house, as seen after my call with Sa Jun.
The wide-open folding doors of the dining room, revealing Seontae’s wife Okhee and sister Yeonseo.
The wrapping paper and bouquet thrown carelessly on the floor, now neatly packaged by Okhee.
The same paper and flowers were now before me.
“You act so cheap, that’s why Sa Jun doesn’t see you as a woman. You should make an effort.”
Couldn’t you even spare the money to buy a bouquet for my mother, instead giving her the trash discarded by that woman?
With Hyeseok present, I couldn’t say the words that desperately wanted to escape. Instead, my lips moved on their own.
“What kind of effort do you want me to make? Should I seduce Sa Jun first? Get pregnant to tie him down?”
Seontae’s eyes widened in shock. Feeling a faint thrill from provoking him properly, Taehui continued sharply.
“But Dad, do you think Sa Jun, who’s destined to be the heir of Seomun Group, would marry me just because of a pregnancy? Even if we’re both illegitimate, we’re in different leagues. Just like the difference between a father who doesn’t even act like one, exploiting his daughter, and Chairman Kang, who ensures even his illegitimate child is treated with respect.”
Ignoring Hyeseok’s pleading eyes, trembling as if begging, Taehui coldly looked away. Even a worm will turn when trampled upon, why should I always endure?
“It’s not such a big crime to leave a woman you impregnated before the wedding. You know that very well, don’t you?”
“Can’t you shut that insolent mouth?”
Seontae warned menacingly. I knew I should stop, but my pent-up emotions burst forth like a runaway train. I wanted to do this at least once.
“I’m lucky to have inherited your looks, so maybe I have a chance as a second wife. Shall I try that?”
Seontae suddenly stood up, his hand swinging in the air.
Whack, whack!
The blow was so forceful that my cheek tingled and a bitter taste of blood came from my lips.
But such pain was nothing.
Wiping the blood from my burst lip with the back of my hand, Taehui looked at Seontae and smirked.
“Your anger confirms it. This cheap look is from you, which is why Sa Jun hasn’t seen me as a woman for over ten years.”
Anyone but a fool would understand what I meant.
As Seontae raised his hand again, Hyeseok clung to him, crying and pleading.
“It’s all my fault! I’ll discipline Taehui, please just…”
“He doesn’t work and stays cooped up at home, and you call this raising a child? How can I have any affection for this place! Let go!”
Taehui sharply yelled back as Seontae tried to lay hands on Hyeseok.
“Don’t you dare touch Mom!”
Rushing around the table, Taehui shielded Hyeseok, glaring fiercely at Seontae.
“Why do I have to pretend to die for you? Then don’t touch the hostage.”
Seontae, twitching his eyebrows in anger, swept all the dishes off the table in a fit of rage.
“Like you said, Sa Jun would never seriously consider someone cheap like you. Thanks for making me realize that.”
The tense atmosphere filled the room as hostile glances were exchanged between father and daughter.
“You’re the last type of woman any family would want. I’ll find you someone. Just get ready for a match, or try being a second wife.”
With those words, Seontae left the house. Hyeseok, unlike Taehui who was tearless, broke down crying. Hyeseok’s fingers trembled as she gently touched her daughter’s bruised cheek and lips.
“Mom, can’t we just abandon him? You love me more than him.”
Or else, I might have to abandon you. Your love for him makes it too hard and burdensome for me.
Hyeseok sobbed.
“Taehui, you’re everything to me. But I have to get something from him. Once you’re married and I receive it from him… then I’ll really leave him. So, please, marry soon…”
That damn marriage, I’m sick of it.
Exhausted, Taehui spoke dryly.
“I’m tired, I’m going up.”
Ignoring her mother’s words, Taehui gently removed her hand stroking her face.
As soon as Taehui climbed up to her second-floor room, she sat on the bed and let out the breaths she had been holding back. She tried to breathe long and slow several times, but the pain pressing on her chest didn’t fade.
This hellish house, it’s awful, suffocating. I can’t breathe.
Holding her aching chest, Taehui looked out at the unlit house next door.
“Kang Sa Jun, come quickly.”
I miss you so much.
Sa Jun’s car turned into a street lined with upscale townhouses in Ilsan.
He had planned to arrive late to keep her waiting, but checking the time, it was just past 7 pm.
So much for pride.
Driven by that one sentence to come quickly, he had rushed over like a well-trained pet, abandoning everything else.
Glancing at the passenger seat, there were three pretty shopping bags in pastel tones. They were the macarons Min Taehui loved so much.
After parking his car in the underground bunker and closing the overhead door, Sa Jun looked at the house next door. The lights were off in the second-floor room that was closely aligned with his balcony.
The macaron ghost wouldn’t have slept without eating these.
Entering his house, Sa Jun didn’t bother to turn on the lights and headed straight upstairs.
Crossing each other’s houses was more familiar and comfortable through the terrace than the front door.
Stopping in his tracks as he headed towards the terrace, Sa Jun noticed a figure huddled there. After observing for a moment, he opened the glass door and said,
“Why the long face when the door isn’t even locked?”
“Someone threatened me about unauthorized entry into an unoccupied house.”
Dusting off her behind, Taehui brushed past Sa Jun into the room. She looked around, spotted the shopping bags, and reached out, but failed. Sa Jun, who had walked in quickly, grabbed the bags first.
“Isn’t that macaron mine?”
Taehui asked irritably, to which Sa Jun gazed down at her.
Something was off.
Why wasn’t she exploding with her usual chatter as soon as she entered? Why wasn’t she sitting on the bed, eating macarons and scattering crumbs? Why was her usually casually tied hair messily undone like a ghost’s? Why was she avoiding eye contact today?
As Sa Jun turned to switch on the lights, Taehui spoke urgently.
“Don’t turn on the lights.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t wash up; I look terrible. Just hand me the macarons and go over… Hey!”
The bedroom lit up. Sa Jun, with his long legs, had reached Taehui and lifted her slender chin with his fingertips.
She tried to resist, but it was futile. As her chin lifted, her long eyelashes fluttered, avoiding his gaze.
Sa Jun’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and curses slipped through his clenched teeth.
“F**k, why is your face like this?”
Her cheek was swollen, and her lips were scratched.
The translation is complete.
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.]
