“If you build a department store in Arteum territory, the probability of substantial losses is high.”
“If the department store succeeds, nobles from other countries might visit too. Underground stables may seem strange at first, but everyone will feel the convenience, and it will undoubtedly be successful.”
Taking her experience in Korea into account, Rose strongly argued.
“One thing, Rose. There’s an important issue. If you build stables underground, there won’t be proper ventilation, and the air will be stuffy. Foul odors are bound to linger. It’s questionable whether high-ranking nobles would want to place carriages underground, experiencing stuffy air.”
“Even though they won’t spend much time in the underground stable, there’s a clear solution to that problem. Just install ventilation.”
“Ventilation?”
“Yes. I’m going to install a central ventilation system vertically in the underground parking lot.”
Rose even drew a long circular ventilation opening on the blueprint.
“And I’ll install auxiliary ventilation openings connected to the central one to ensure air circulation underground. About thirty ventilation openings at least?”
Gwayne couldn’t help but be amazed at Rose’s fluent explanation.
“…Where did you get such information?”
Rose’s words were quite astonishing.
A groundbreaking idea that no one had attempted before—all of this coming from Rose’s mind.
In response to Gwayne’s words, Rose smiled meaningfully.
“I’ve gained this information from watching a mysterious TV show every Sunday morning.”
In fact, she had seen content about an underground city.
A massive underground city capable of accommodating numerous people. The underground city, shaped like an ant nest, had everything from schools to stables, bakeries, schools, and even churches.
“It was so fascinating that it stuck in my mind, and now I’m putting it to good use.”
Rose gestured broadly towards Gwayne, who was gaping at her with his jaw dropped.
“By chance, I happened to read ancient documents, and that’s where I saw it.”
Gwayne only nodded at Rose’s words.
“Gwayne, you said it wouldn’t work, but would you accompany me to tour Arteum territory?”
While Rose had the grand plan, Gwayne could provide accurate insights into the details. He was experienced enough to do that.
Upon Rose’s request, Gwayne slowly opened his mouth.
“If that’s what Lady Rose thinks, I shall follow.”
With those words, Gwayne stood up from his seat and looked at Rose.
“Shall we go right away?”
“Of course.”
In response to Gwayne’s suggestion, Rose revealed her white teeth and smiled brightly.
Rose and Gwayne, together, toured the land of 25,000 square meters.
The sun was setting slowly, but they hadn’t found the perfect site yet.
Both the real estate agent and Rose were visibly exhausted.
“Hahaha. There’s only one property left now.”
After wiping the sweat on his forehead with a handkerchief, the real estate agent looked at Rose with tired eyes.
Rose, also in a weary state, nodded without much expectation.
“Gwayne, it seems challenging to finalize the contract today.”
“I agree. It’s better to wrap things up reasonably today and anticipate the future.”
Following the real estate agent with little expectation, Rose and Gwayne had their eyes widen when they saw the last remaining property.
The spacious and flat land was not only close to the capital but also had a narrow entrance road that could be expanded through construction.
“Haha. There’s not much around here because it’s a bit remote, but it’s quiet and nice.”
It was better that there were no old residential complexes nearby, as they would only hinder road expansion.
Rose tapped Gwayne next to her and spoke.
“Gwayne, doesn’t this place seem nice?”
“It seems fine. However, I wouldn’t recommend deciding on the property in just one day. Regrettable things might happen.”
“No, it’s fine. I really want it here.”
The moment Rose set foot here, an inexplicable thrill ran through her.
In her eyes, a completed department store appeared vividly, shimmering in the distance.
This was the first place where the department store she dreamed of was so distinctly portrayed.
An unknown certainty gradually rose.
When Rose looked at Gwayne with sparkling eyes, he sighed and smiled.
“The property itself isn’t bad. If you want, you can purchase it today.”
Rose contracted the department store property for one-tenth of the price of acquiring the capital’s land.
After writing the contract and coming out, it was already a dark night. Rose said goodbye to Gwayne and returned to the Arteum mansion.
Gwayne walked under the pitch-black night sky, treading on the ground without a single light.
Since it was quite late, all the shops had closed. There was a station where he could take a carriage a little further. While walking slowly, Gwayne saw a peddler.
Whether he was finishing his business and going home, his cart was full of odds and ends.
“Wait. If those flowers haven’t been sold yet, I want to buy them.”
Curious, Gwayne called out to the peddler while looking at the cart. Pointing to a rich bouquet on his cart, the peddler spoke.
“This one?”
“Yes.”
The tired peddler, who had been heading home with heavy steps, quickly changed his expression, revealing a capitalist smile. Then he handed the flowers to Gwayne.
“Originally 4,000 res, but I’ll give it to you cheap. Just 3,500 res.”
The peddler subtly added 500 more and flashed a bright smile. Gwayne, who handed over the money, smelled the fragrance of the bouquet and smiled faintly.
“Your wife will like it.”
Thinking of his wife who would appreciate the bouquet, he hurriedly thought of returning to the capital.
Unfortunately, Gwayne couldn’t deliver the bouquet to his wife.
“Ugh!”
Someone who appeared in the darkness blocked Gwayne’s mouth and dragged him somewhere.
“Ugh!”
He struggled, but it was in vain.
He couldn’t escape from the man holding him and, gradually, his eyes closed because a handkerchief soaked in anesthetic was forced into Gwayne’s respiratory system.
‘No…’
The questionable man quickly left the place after putting Gwayne on a luxurious carriage. Until the moment he was dragged away, Gwayne thought of his wife.
The place where a commotion had just occurred was incredibly quiet as if nothing had happened from the beginning.
In that place where not even a single ant could be found, there was only a bouquet of flowers for the wife, sitting there all alone.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
