Young-in hung up the phone after agreeing to meet face-to-face. Turning towards the source of the piercing gaze, she saw a face clearly displeased.
Thinking, ‘You tell me to take the call and then show such obvious displeasure, what am I supposed to do?’
In fact, she was regretting taking the call. It wasn’t a matter of urgent importance, that was clear. But she couldn’t keep someone who came to see her waiting for too long.
“If you have nothing more to say, I will take my leave now.”
Seong-hyuk’s lips, tightly sealed, slowly opened.
“Seems like someone came to see you.”
“Yes.”
“Seo Jin-gyo?”
“Yes.”
“What for?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Isn’t it working hours now?”
Seong-hyuk was aware that he was acting pettily. He knew it, yet he nitpicked because he didn’t want to let her go easily. Especially because it was Seo Jin-gyo.
“I’ll know once I go down, but it’s probably not completely unrelated to work.”
“Why do you think so?”
“Actor Seo Jin-gyo wouldn’t come to the company during working hours for personal reasons. He’s not that thoughtless.”
Young-in’s response seemed to make him more uncomfortable.
“You seem to know a lot about Seo Jin-gyo.”
“I know that much.”
“Does Chae Young-in know more about me, or about Seo Jin-gyo?”
“…….”
As Young-in remained silent, Seong-hyuk changed his question.
“Does Seo Jin-gyo know as much about Chae Young-in as I do?”
“Yes.”
Seo Jin-gyo knew things about Chae Young-in that even Cha Seong-hyuk didn’t.
For instance, how much Chae Young-in liked Cha Seong-hyuk.
“Go ahead. Actor Seo Jin-gyo must be waiting.”
After bowing silently to his teasing, Young-in left the CEO’s office, paused for a moment to take a deep breath, and then headed for the elevator.
Upon reaching the ground floor, she saw Jin-gyo standing with his arms crossed in front of a large LED screen, watching trailers of actors from SL Entertainment.
“Senior.”
Jin-gyo’s lips curved into a smile upon seeing Young-in’s face.
“Did I pick a busy time to come?”
“Yes, exactly the right time.”
“Sorry, I was clueless.”
Jin-gyo responded playfully, thinking it was a joke, but for Young-in, it was partly serious.
She regretted not arriving 10 minutes earlier or later, so she wouldn’t have had to see Seong-hyuk’s frown.
She belatedly realized that he was alone.
“Where’s your manager?”
“I gave him a day off.”
“Why did you come alone?”
“Not something to discuss standing up. Shall we have a cup of tea?”
“There’s a café over there.”
The two entered a café near the building entrance and sat facing each other by the window.
Young-in, now the center of attention along with the top star who was fully exposing his face without a hat or mask, wasn’t overly bothered by the familiar situation.
“So, tell me. What brings you here?”
“I came to sign a contract.”
“A contract? What kind of contract?”
“An exclusive contract.”
Young-in’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The company you said you were going to sign with was SL?”
“Yeah.”
“I wondered why you were keeping me in suspense.”
Young-in burst into laughter.
“Did you come to sign the contract? I wonder which team will be in charge of you.”
The oldest Team 1? The highest-earning Team 2?
“Which team did you say you were in?”
“Team 5.”
“Then, naturally, I’ll be in Team 5.”
Jin-gyo leaned forward on the table, smiling broadly.
“I’m considering signing with SL because of you.”
“Because of me?”
“You take care of me.”
“…….”
Young-in finally realized what was happening. As she pondered what to say, Jin-gyo spoke first.
“It’s been over two years since we’ve known each other. Why have you never suggested we work together? If it was because of the remaining contract period, you could’ve invited me to Hye-seong after it ended.”
He had always been curious about the reason. Specifically, he wondered if his guess was right.
“Hye-seong was too small a scale to take on a great actor like you, Senior. I didn’t want to burden you, knowing there were better options for you. Plus, there were discussions of selling it a few months ago, so I couldn’t do anything.”
“What about after deciding to sell to SL? I subtly hinted to you that I still hadn’t made up my mind then.”
“If SL Entertainment seemed like a decent enough company to offer you an exclusive contract, and if you still hadn’t signed with another company by then, maybe I would have.”
Jin-gyo exaggeratedly scrunched up his nose.
“When was that?”
Young-in shrugged her shoulders as if to reply.
“Who knows.”
“Anyone waiting for your proposal would have died of impatience by now.”
“I had to be careful. I could leave whenever I wanted, but you, Senior, would be tied down for the duration of the contract. What would you do if I drew you in and then ran away?”
Jin-gyo’s lips curled up in satisfaction, his guess confirmed.
“That’s why I like you.”
He felt Young-in hesitate slightly and added naturally,
“We’re close, but don’t act like it.”
Seeing Young-in’s expression relax, he felt a bit deflated.
“We are close, right?”
“Don’t tell me I’ve been deluding myself into thinking we’re close all this time?”
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.]
