She couldn’t say it while Wonjin was listening, but Sumin couldn’t hide her discomfort.
“Don’t worry too much. What could possibly happen?”
Lee Soo whispered into Sumin’s ear.
The clinic door closed, and Sumin walked away with a heavy heart.
((()))((()))
Wonjin moved to a traditional Japanese restaurant that Lee Soo liked.
In the wide tatami room, Wonjin and Lee Soo sat facing each other with a table in between.
Thanks to the reservation, as soon as they sat down, dozens of large and small plates were densely placed on the table.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a meal together.”
“Yes.”
Wonjin picked up a wet towel on the table, examining Lee Soo’s face.
Seeing Lee Soo in an unusual outfit and a somewhat tense face, he spoke with concern.
“You stayed at a friend’s house yesterday? You never spent the night out before.”
“…I had some things to do.”
Thinking about Wonjin who couldn’t have a proper lunch due to the surgery, Lee Soo decided to have a meal first.
“Let’s eat first and then talk. Dad is hungry too.”
“Sounds good. Let’s enjoy the meal.”
Wonjin began to eat with his chopsticks.
Lee Soo had a lot of things to tell Wonjin after the meal, her mind was filled with thoughts, but she tried to calm herself down.
Due to the hair falling on her face, the wound on her left cheek was still hidden.
Lee Soo neatly tucked only her right hair behind her ear and chewed on various types of sashimi.
When the food on the plate was almost gone, Wonjin put down his chopsticks first.
Lee Soo also put down her chopsticks as if she had been waiting, and took a sip of water.
“Aren’t you going to eat more?”
“No. I’m full.”
Wonjin leaned back in his chair as if preparing to hear Lee Soo’s story.
“Dad, I want to be independent.”
Lee Soo got straight to the point.
She thought it would be better to say it this way rather than going around in circles.
Wonjin straightened up in his chair.
“What’s this all about?”
“I want to leave home. I was supposed to leave when mom came to Seoul this year.”
“That’s for when mom comes.”
“I want to leave even if I’m alone.”
Lee Soo looked at Wonjin with a determined expression.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for the past five years. It would be great to live with mom, but even if I can’t, I want to leave home. I need your help, dad.”
“…What happened at home?”
Wonjin’s face hardened.
This was the first time Lee Soo brought up such a matter.
She never complained about being tired or uncomfortable, so he guessed there must be a reason for her to say this.
He had believed they were getting along well and was at ease, but he felt a sinking feeling in his heart.
“I’ve been uncomfortable from the beginning. Always.”
Lee Soo took a breath. She wanted to speak as calmly as possible.
She didn’t want to give the impression that she was throwing a tantrum.
“But I had no other way because I was young, so I thought I could endure it until I lived with mom. I didn’t want to worry you as much as you trusted me.”
Wonjin listened to Lee Soo without saying a word.
“But, it seems I wasn’t the only one enduring it.”
As she brushed the hair covering her left cheek behind her ear to reveal the wound, she turned her head slightly to show Wonjin.
“What’s that on your face?”
Wonjin’s voice rose sharply, furrowing his brow.
His eyes filled with disbelief, becoming fearsome.
“I was hurt last night.”
“Who on earth…”
Won Jin harshly brushed his face with his hand.
“Yumi came into my room drunk and caused a ruckus. Then Yumi’s mom followed her in and did this.”
It was rare for him to use an honorific with Soo Min, but when he did, he referred to her as a stepmother.
But Lee Soo called Soo Min “Yumi’s mom”.
Won Jin pressed his temples hard with his index finger and let out a deep sigh.
“She must have come to stop me earlier. Thinking I’d seek out dad.”
“……I’m sorry.”
“Why would dad…”
“I never imagined something like this would happen. I believed she always treated you well.”
“She did in front of dad.”
Won Jin’s face darkened, thinking there was something else he didn’t know.
He felt pained at the thought of how much Lee Soo must have struggled to say this much.
“What can dad do?”
“Let me live alone. Dad can do that.”
“Is there no other way?”
Won Jin asked with a reluctant expression.
If Lee Soo’s mother were to come to Korea, that might be a different story. But he had never thought of sending Lee Soo out on her own.
“If we live together, this could happen again someday. She apologized saying it was a mistake, maybe Yumi’s mom exploded with something she was holding back.”
“I had no idea she was like that. How dare she lay a hand on you……”
Won Jin took a deep, ragged breath to suppress his rising anger.
“I hate seeing you two fight because of me. Nothing would change even if you did.”
“You should have told dad earlier. To think you were suffering alone…”
“Dad wouldn’t do that. It’s all in the past. I don’t blame dad.”
Lee Soo cut him off, not wanting to hear his selfreproach.
She didn’t want to blame the irreversible past.
“I hope we can both live comfortably from now on. Yumi’s mom must have been startled when I came back home 5 years ago. She must have thought her exhusband’s daughter, who was supposed to live with her mom, suddenly broke into the house. That’s how I see it.”
“I’ll think about the independence issue.”
“Don’t ponder, just decide. I want to get out as soon as possible.”
Lee Soo made it clear that there was no room for hesitation.
He might need time to think as a father because it’s a sudden event, but Lee Soo had no intention of going back on her word.
“Just somewhere not far from school, I don’t need a good house. Just enough for me to live alone.”
Won Jin took a big gulp of water out of frustration and looked at Lee Soo with thoughtful eyes.
Lee Soo looked at Won Jin with eyes filled with determination not to back down.
If he couldn’t convince him today, things might just fizzle out.
As long as she could be independent, she thought getting slapped in the face yesterday was nothing.
It was like a blessing in disguise.
“Let’s go back to the hospital first. We need to treat your face.”
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.]
