“If you say so, then here.”
Still feeling awkward, Eric, putting rudeness aside, saw Alicia out and sat back in his place.
‘You’ll get a big one someday.’
Suddenly, he remembered Allen’s words and looked at the clock. He gave a hollow laugh.
15 minutes. The meeting ended exactly after 15 minutes.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]“Was I a bit rude?”
Inside the returning carriage, Alicia sighed.
It would have been better if he had been rude first. Then she would feel less guilty.
Unlike the men who had approached Alicia so far, even though he showed signs of rejection, he behaved politely until the end.
He even tried to see her off politely and didn’t hang around awkwardly at her uncomfortable expression, and neatly stepped back.
Compared to that rude man at the salon last time, much. Hmm? Huh?
“Ah. That security guard then.”
It finally came to her.
“I thought his face was familiar. Did he recognize me too?”
Now that she thought about it, it seemed that Eric had hesitated when their eyes met at the beginning.
“Did he pretend not to know?”
She had kicked out the man who had helped her in a difficult moment without showing his feelings, just after 15 minutes. Coolly.
“Ah, what do I do?”
She had to apologize for almost hitting him with the door and thank him for his help, but she had kicked out that opportunity as well. Very coolly.
Feeling embarrassed about what she had done, heat rose in Alicia’s face, and she covered her face.
[Star Icon][Star Icon][Star Icon]When Eric, who had been sitting alone in the reception room, stood up and left, the Duke and Duchess were waiting outside.
“She’s gone already.”
“Yes. Then I will take my leave as well.”
He was about to pass by, but his parents’ gaze bothered him.
As if saying, ‘You deserve it. Finally, you get it.’ Their gaze seemed to imply that.
He tried to ignore it and move on, but the Duchess of Gloster opened her mouth.
“Didn’t your record get broken?”
“Last time, the record was about 15 minutes, right?”
“Ah, then it did get broken. It ended a bit under 15 minutes.”
“……”
“I knew you would do something like this. Honestly, I thought she was too good.”
“That’s right. Even to me, it seemed a bit too much.”
“Lines are always like that. If I like it, the other person doesn’t, and if I don’t, the other person likes it.”
“So that’s why they say there are matches for everyone.”
“I don’t know if there’s such a thing as a match for you.”
The Duke of Gloster patted Eric’s back.
It didn’t feel like comfort, but Eric kept his mouth shut.
“All selfinflicted, huh. Well done. This was the last time, now you’ll live alone for the rest of your life. Just as you wish.”
The Duchess’s words were sharp.
When the Duke told the Duchess to stop, the Duchess rolled her eyes, wondering why.
“Why? Did I say anything wrong?”
“Duchess. Even if he’s an insensitive, damned son, if you say it so blatantly, he might get hurt. Perhaps.”
“What hurt. Will he feel that?”
Actually, he didn’t look okay.
Although they tried hard to hide it, their parents seemed quite flustered, which was somewhat refreshing.
To be more honest, it was a total disaster.
“Alright. Let’s hear your story. What don’t you like?”
“Lady. You’re being too direct again.”
“Can you just stay quiet for a moment? Aren’t there reasons like the ones you’ve always given? What did she say?”
“Well, if we really have to talk about it, there are areas where we have the same thoughts.”
Not wanting to get married, hating wasting time, trying to end tiresome events quickly.
“What? Agreement? Then it’s not a refusal?”
The duchess abruptly cut him off.
“Huh?”
“Aren’t you mistaken, lady? Our thoughts matched.”
“No, father. That’s not it.”
“Then you should have said so sooner. We were needlessly disappointed. Is it your calling to upset your parents, even in happy situations?”
“Calm down, lady. If the result is good, that’s all that matters. Why are you nagging so much?”
“That is true?”
“Just a moment, let me talk.”
“Oh, stop it, son. With that face, what more do you want to say?”
“Look at him, embarrassed. I can’t believe I’m seeing this side of you.”
‘If you see my expression like that, it’s not embarrassment but exasperation. I can’t believe it.’
“It would have been nice if she had stayed a little longer, lady. I couldn’t exchange many words.”
“She must have been in a hurry. She said she was busy with work, and she hastily arranged this meeting. She must have had something she couldn’t postpone.”
“That must be it? She was very polite when I saw her earlier, and seeing her leave like that, there must be a reason, of course.”
In the end, Eric kept his mouth shut.
He was already overwhelmed, and once he got this far, whatever he said, his parents wouldn’t listen.
He started planning his escape, thinking he would have to clear up the misunderstanding later.
“So when will you meet again?”
“Meet again? Why?”
“What do you mean? You should continue to meet so that affection can grow.”
“No, why do you have to”
“What are you saying now that you’re here?”
“Why? Are you embarrassed? Well, it’s your first time, so it’s understandable.”
‘So, what part of me looks embarrassed? Doesn’t it seem more like I’m taken aback and stunned?’
He muttered to himself, but of course, the duke and duchess didn’t care about their son’s darkening complexion.
“Still, if we were to get involved, you’d seem too dependent on your parents, so it would be nice if you could handle it yourself?”
“I’m really worried. You’ve been around just men, full of officers and knights at the military academy, I see.”
‘Should I kill the past me who ran his mouth?’
He had to admit it. This was absolutely his own fault.
Being momentarily flustered and forgetting his parents’ pattern, mindlessly speaking out was his mistake.
‘You’ll suffer greatly someday.’
‘Yes, Allen. It seems today is really that day.’
He came back to his senses when he heard the voice of the Duchess of Gloster.
“Aren’t you going?”
“Huh?”
“Before, you would leave even when we asked you to stay. Why are you still here? Go. We’re busy preparing a lot.”
“……I’m leaving.”
His parents’ words of farewell would usually have been welcome, but not this time.
In the end, Eric was forcibly pushed into the carriage by the duke and duchess, left to blankly stare at his cheerfully waving and smiling parents.
It was only after he had left the duke’s residence for a while that he remembered his parents’ last words.
“Huh? Wait a moment. Preparation? What preparation?”
And the nature of that preparation once again plunged Eric into panic.
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.]