“I’m glad you became her friend, little lady Neris. You’ll be able to take care of Diane just right.”
“I’m not a baby, you know?”
Diane finally raised her voice. She had tried to hold back, thinking it was enough to see her cousin arguing yesterday, but she couldn’t help herself. Joyce kissed the back of Diane’s hand for no reason and said,
“You’ll always be a baby to us. …Are you having fun? Want to dance with your brothers?”
Diane’s face wavered. Neris accepted it calmly.
“We’re fine. Diane, you said you’d show the steps you learned.”
“Who to,” was left out, but Diane understood. Seeing that cute face suddenly ablaze with enthusiasm, Neris asked Nuallan,
“Who dances better?”
“Why?”
“I’ll give the opportunity to dance with Diane to the one who dances better. Diane dances so well that the partner must be good to keep up.”
“Really?”
Nuallan grinned a refreshing smile. The look of anticipation was truly trustworthy. According to Diane, he was already working in the upper ranks almost equally with his father.
“What to do? If I say I dance better, I can’t dance with Neris, and if Joyce dances better, I can’t dance with Diane. Both young ladies are so wonderful that it’s a shame to choose either.”
“Then, Brother Nuallan, dance with Diane. I think you’ll dance better.”
Indeed, Nuallan often danced at parties due to his sociable nature, but Joyce made excuses to spend time with the men. Knowing that fact, Diane admired Neris’s insight.
Joyce’s brows narrowed but he didn’t deny it.
The four headed to the dance floor set up outside. Whatever Nuallan said made Diane burst into laughter, but Joyce’s act of taking Neris’s hand was only stiff. He bent down and said,
“Step on my feet.”
“Okay.”
Neris obediently stepped on Joyce’s feet.
The band began to play a lively tune. Zzuzzing! Joyce slowly moved his feet and led the dance cautiously. Despite the height difference, his slow movements and footboard made no strain on Neris’s arms or waist.
About halfway around the floor, Joyce spoke.
“Are you not uncomfortable living here?”
“Thanks to your consideration.”
It was time to step into a spinning step, so Neris paused for a beat. Then, gracefully and briskly turning a full circle, she looked directly into Joyce’s face and continued her reply.
“I’m very comfortable.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Having seen Joyce up close, she always wore a stern expression, but she was quite handsome. The way her dark brown eyebrows cast long shadows was particularly impressive.
It seemed like there would be many people who liked him since he was wealthy and handsome, but Neris had no memory of hearing any rumors about him in social circles. Furthermore, the Count and Countess Mackinnon were not the people Neris remembered.
A decade is fairly long. It was a period in which people became accustomed to the changed family head, and even had time to spare. Neris seemed to have a rough idea of the situation but was still observing, as she didn’t have sufficient evidence.
“Were you out and on your way home yesterday? Or did you come out to meet your sister?”
“I was on my way back from a nearby town where I had some business.”
“Oh my.”
At the light reply, Neris chuckled softly.
“I thought it would be the latter.”
“No.”
Joyce said, cutting off more than necessary.
“You’re the type to lose out. Even though you knew the carriages carrying guests kept arriving, you ran from afar in case it was your sister’s carriage, I know.”
Her words were true. Joyce was at a loss for words and stared at Neris in silence, a white cloud reflecting in her laughterfilled purple eyes.
Despite being the same age as her brother, this peculiar little lady seemed as composed as Joyce himself.
Was it because she grew up independently since she didn’t have attendants? However, her dancing posture was skilled, and her graceful attitude towards the party was more outstanding than any other lady present.
Joyce didn’t know how to accept this peculiar friend. Neris, noticing his silence, softly opened her mouth again.
“You are quite similar to Diane. Especially in the way you think that doing anything for the ones you love is not a big deal. But I think you should be more suspicious of those around you.”
“What do you mean?”
Suspicion flickered in Joyce’s eyes. Neris explained with a calm and sharp gaze.
“The nasty things Muriel says to Diane definitely have no special meaning. She just spouts them according to her mood. But that doesn’t mean it won’t hurt the listener, right?”
“Lady Neris.”
Responding, Joyce had a face full of doubt.
“You’re right about that. But why use the expression ‘suspicion’? Everyone knows that Muriel often quarrels with Diane, so there’s no room for doubt.”
Just then.
“Ah!”
Diane let out a short scream. It wasn’t loud, but Joyce turned pale in an instant. Neris let go of Joyce’s hand and went down to Diane.
The eyes of the dancing people were directed at Diane, who had fallen to the floor. Nualan, looking terribly sorry, quickly helped Diane up. Joyce growled at Nualan.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault.”
Nualan quickly explained with a defeated face.
“When we turned, I couldn’t hold Diane properly, and she fell.”
“No, I fell.”
Looking embarrassed, Diane brushed off her skirt and spoke as if nothing happened. Betty quickly rushed over and brushed Diane’s skirt clean again.
“Diane, didn’t I tell you not to dance like this?”
It wasn’t a big fuss, but Muriel, who had seen the situation from somewhere, approached and spoke with a feigned worried tone.
Diane closed her mouth with a wounded look. In reality, she felt the same way. Joyce got angry at Muriel.
“It’s Nualan’s fault for letting her fall, why are you blaming Di? If you’d held her hand properly, this wouldn’t have happened.”
“Yeah, it’s my fault. Joyce is right.”
Muriel looked like she wanted to argue when her brother was blamed, but Nualan stepped forward first. Heather spoke in a worried voice.
“Miss, the dance music is too fast. How about sitting down for a while and dancing when a slower song comes on?”
The suggestion sounded reasonable. Neris took Diane’s arm and spoke.
“다이앤, come over there and sit with me for a while.”
Neris’s eyes sparkled for a moment. Heather smiled innocently and joined in.
“Then I’ll sit with you too. I want to hear about the academy since I haven’t seen Miss Diane for a long time.”
Diane agreed, although she looked reluctant.
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.]
