As he opened the book, the bookmark was indeed in place, just as she had said. It seemed to be a flower she had dried and made herself, and it didn’t look old.
Cedric, who was now captivated by the faint scent, found himself unable to move as if he were frozen. When Maiana looked at him with a puzzled expression, he turned his gaze as if he had just been hit on the back of his neck.
As the book unfolded, Cedric began to read it in a soft voice, as if waking from a daze.
“Ingrid didn’t want to scold the giant frog blocking her way. Instead, Ingrid suggested a long-jump bet to the frog. If the frog won, Ingrid would give up crossing the forest, but if Ingrid won, the frog had to carry Ingrid on its back and cross the forest.”
“The Dragon and Ingrid of Damsel Castle” is a story about Ingrid, a little girl who embarks on an adventure to protect Damsel Castle from a terrifying dragon.
When the frog that won the bet eventually carried Ingrid, hopping and jumping outside the forest, Cedric stopped reading the book around the time Ariante’s evenly grumbling breaths became audible.
Ariante was peacefully closing her eyes. The two cheeks, slightly tilted on the pillow, looked as pale and comfortable as apples, appearing to have sunk into a deep sleep without even a hint of a dream. Cedric quietly closed and set aside the book, then turned to Maiana. She was still engrossed in sewing.
“What are you making?”
Cedric asked, and Maiana lifted her gaze briefly but smiled lightly while looking back at the sewing material.
“It’s doll clothes.”
“Are you going to give it to Ariante?”
“Yes. I’ve already made several, but she keeps wanting more.”
Maiana, with lightning-fast movements of the needle, did not pause her fingertips for a moment. Cedric, gazing at the small leather thimble fitted on her fingertip, shifted his focus with the finger holding the needle.
Maiana was working on the sleeves of the doll’s dress. She swiftly sewed the small sleeves, so tiny that even Cedric’s finger couldn’t fit, puffing them up by catching and sewing each wrinkle quickly and skillfully.
Watching her fingers move smoothly, as if it were magic, Cedric suddenly felt a strange impulse pounding in his chest.
As if his heart sank, he suddenly felt a sensation akin to nausea. However, the strange feeling disappeared as soon as he took a breath.
Instead, he wanted to stop her fingers, the relentless fingers holding the needle and sewing the sleeves of the small doll’s dress.
What nonsense is this? Cedric thought.
The back of his neck stiffened suddenly.
Always engrossed in work, he had never been swayed by anyone, never felt moved by any beautiful woman. However, he, too, was human and also a man. He couldn’t be unaware of the identity of this lightning-like impulse.
Looking at Maiana’s profile as she continued to sew with her eyes lowered, Cedric suddenly got up from his seat. Due to the wind, the small stool tipped over, and the sleeping Ariante stirred slightly.
Maiana looked up at him with her eyes wide open. Then, after glancing at Ariante and whispering, she said, “Milady might wake up.”
At that moment, Cedric felt an immediate desire to take Maiana and go to a place where no one was present. What might happen there is an unknown thing. No, it’s not unknown!
Cedric took a step back from her. Maiana noticed something strange by looking at Cedric’s now completely darkened face. Putting down the sewing material carefully, Maiana stood up and approached Cedric.
“Lord, why are you like this? Are you feeling unwell?”
As she came closer, the subtle fragrance of sage and flowers wafted again. Now, Maiana’s hair, almost free of moisture due to the earlier removal of the headband by Ariante, flowed slightly down next to her ear.
Because Ariante had pulled off the headband before, Cedric could now see Maiana’s hair, which was gathered into a loose knot.
Due to the mix of lamp light and darkness, her hair appeared to be a deep obsidian color, then turned into a color resembling tree bark, or at times, even seemed to become a bright golden hue.
Cedric clenched his fist tightly. He gripped it so hard that the short nails almost dug into his palm. Then, lifting his head, he took a step back. The faint fragrance continued to follow him even as he distanced himself and gradually disappeared at some point.
“No, it’s nothing.”
He replied. However, Maiana quickly realized that his voice felt unexpectedly cold.
“Are you sure? Your complexion…”
“It’s nothing. I should leave. You should get some rest too.”
Maiana smiled innocently, showing no intention whatsoever.
“Alright. I’ll just finish attaching the sleeves. Please sleep peacefully. As for seeing you off…”
“It’s unnecessary. I’m not a child.”
While it wasn’t a problem for a noble to be followed by a servant wherever they went, that was the only excuse that came to Cedric’s mind at that moment. Maiana nodded nonchalantly. There had never been such a convenient instance of her indifference.
Cedric hastily exited to the corridor, walking towards the western side of the mansion as if fleeing. Suddenly, he stopped. The heat that had boiled in his stomach for a moment didn’t seem to settle easily. Unknowingly, a slow sigh escaped as he felt the tightly closed teeth.
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.]
