The Price of Impulse (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
Turning over in bed, the dry blanket rustled softly. Se Kyung reached up and turned on the bedside lamp.
Between movie promotions, a drama cameo shoot, and Yoo Na’s wedding over the weekend—had she been so busy these past few days that she suddenly felt completely drained?
“I should get up…”
Se Kyung checked the time on her phone and muttered dryly. Though she said that, her body remained stuck to the bed as if fused with it.
She searched for news articles on her phone, then stared blankly at the ceiling—before she knew it, thirty minutes had already slipped away.
Slowly, Se Kyung sat up. As she rotated her stiff neck and rubbed the back of it, she felt a faint warmth.
“Could I be coming down with a cold?”
Her throat tickled slightly. Se Kyung cleared it with a small cough and put water on in the electric kettle.
After steeping a tea bag in the boiling water, she walked to the window and drew the curtains.
Ah, she’d expected to see a clear sky.
Apparently, the weather was partly to blame for her lethargy. The overcast sky held humid air, making everything appear hazy and foggy.
Se Kyung sat on the sofa and gently blew on her hot tea. Raindrops gathered in round beads on the windowpane, then slowly trickled down.
“So quiet.”
Resting her chin in her hand, Se Kyung mumbled. Maybe it was the rain, but the world felt unusually calm—
as if last week’s incident, which had stirred her so deeply, had never even happened.
They’d said that if your memories black out, you might or might not recall anything afterward.
Given that Tae Jo hadn’t contacted her once in an entire week, it seemed he’d completely incinerated those fragmented memories.
Thanks to that, her restless heart had found peace again—but every now and then, a sense of injustice still welled up inside her, unavoidable.
“Guess I’m the only one stuck remembering everything.”
A breathy laugh escaped Se Kyung’s lips. Just then, her phone, lying on the blanket, vibrated faintly.
“Oh, Je Hoon.”
Hey, Nuna, are you awake? I’ll leave home in a bit. It’ll probably take around 40 minutes to get to the hotel.
Ah, now that she thought about it, she had a photoshoot scheduled for this afternoon.
Se Kyung glanced subtly at the clock. Because she’d lazed around, it was already nearly 11 a.m.
“Got it. I’ll leave on time.”
After hanging up, Se Kyung tossed her phone onto the bed and headed into the bathroom.
Once she’d finished showering and changed clothes, she picked up a clear glass bottle displayed on one side of the sink.
“There’s not much left.”
Se Kyung gave the perfume bottle a light shake. She’d made it herself at a workshop during a trip to Namhae, just to relax.
She spritzed some on both wrists and her neck, then pulled a small box from her bag.
“Oh, this…”
Inside the box were accessories she often wore.
She picked up a single earring, missing its pair.
It had been a gift from a jewelry designer who claimed to be her fan—
they’d said they designed it themselves. She’d liked it a lot and worn it frequently, but at some point, one earring had gone missing.
“I hope I find it…”
Se Kyung sighed dejectedly. Since it was a gift from a fan, losing it weighed heavier on her mind.
She’d searched everywhere—stores, green rooms at the broadcasting station—but the earring was nowhere to be found.
She’d even thoroughly checked under her bed and across the floor, just in case it had fallen out while she slept, but to no avail.
“Could I have dropped it in the hallway?”
Retracing her steps, Se Kyung tilted her head in thought. She grabbed her bag and room key, then left the room.
When she went down to the lounge and approached the front desk, a hotel staff member who recognized her greeted her warmly.
“Hello! Is there something I can help you with?”
“Actually, I was wondering—has anyone turned in an earring like this?”
Se Kyung showed the staffer the earring she still had. The employee typed a few keys, then shook their head.
“Hmm… nothing like that has come in on our end. Could it still be in your room?”
“I’m not entirely sure.”
“Well, I’ll let the housekeeping team know to check thoroughly under the bed and in any crevices during cleaning. If anyone reports finding it, I’ll contact you right away.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Se Kyung bowed slightly and turned to leave. As she stepped out through the hotel’s main entrance, a van pulled up right in front of her, right on schedule.
“Hi, Nuna. Have you eaten yet?”
“No. I overslept a bit today.”
Je Hoon glanced at Se Kyung through the rearview mirror.
“You look really tired, Nuna. I’ll pick up something to eat once we get to the studio. Oh—and do you mind if we swing by the office briefly before heading to the shoot?”
“The office? Why?”
“I forgot my planner on my desk. All my schedules are written in it.”
Their eyes met, and Je Hoon gave her an awkward, apologetic smile.
“Alright, let’s stop by on the way.”
“Great, then I’ll get going.”
Je Hoon answered briskly and started the car. After leaving the hotel, they drove for twenty minutes and arrived at a spacious parking lot.
“Nuna, would you like to wait in the car?”
“No, I’ll come up with you.”
Se Kyung opened her umbrella and entered the building. While her manager went to retrieve his things from the office, she idly glanced around the quiet hallway.
“Would it seem weird if I suddenly went to say hello?”
She glanced toward the CEO’s office, then walked over to the break room, separated only by transparent glass.
What should I drink?
As Se Kyung hovered near the fridge stocked with beverages, lost in thought—
click.
She turned at the sound of the door opening—and her eyes widened as she saw who was approaching.
“What are you doing in the office?”
“Oh… my manager said he left something behind, so I came along.”
Tae Jo strode over and stood beside her.
He quickly scanned the fridge, then pulled out a bottle and handed it to her.
“…”
Well, he’d already offered it, so she took it…
But Se Kyung couldn’t understand why he’d chosen this specific drink for her.
Of all the beverages available, why this one?
“I didn’t drink alcohol, though.”
Holding the bottle of hangover tea in both hands, Se Kyung tilted her head in confusion.
Tae Jo’s expression as he rubbed his temples looked anything but calm.
He pretended to read documents, but his eyes weren’t really focused on the words. His gaze drifted past the paper, fixed blankly on the floor, lost in thought.
What’s up with him now?
Woo Hyun, who’d just arrived for a meeting, frowned. Ever since last week, Tae Jo had been slightly off, and work wasn’t progressing properly.
Not only did he zone out mid-meeting, but he’d also frequently scowl for no apparent reason.
“Something going on with you?”
At this rate, there’d be no meeting at all.
Woo Hyun dropped a thick stack of documents onto the table.
“Or do you have a headache? Want me to get you some medicine?”
“It’s not that.”
Tae Jo tapped his fingers against his thigh and looked up at Woo Hyun. Worried he might be about to confess something serious, Woo Hyun tensed and perked up his ears.
“I’ve been wondering lately… am I sexually frustrated or something?”
What the hell was this nonsense?
Woo Hyun narrowed his eyes as if he’d just heard the weirdest thing imaginable.
“Oh, right—sexually frustrated.”
Woo Hyun pressed firmly on his furrowed brow. Well, it made sense—he hadn’t been with a woman in over nine years.
“That’s understandable. You haven’t dated anyone in ages. Hell, if you stay single another year, I might just start calling you ‘Buddha.’”
“…”
Normally, a sharp retort should’ve shot back by now—but even after that teasing jab, Tae Jo stayed quiet.
“…Is it serious? Should I introduce you to someone?”
“Forget it. Who said I want to meet someone?”
Honestly, women probably approached him constantly without him even trying—no need for introductions.
“Then what is it?”
“There’s… something. Let’s take a short break. I’ll go clear my head.”
Tae Jo tossed the documents aside and left the office. As he walked down the hallway, he gave curt nods to employees who greeted him.
Lately, he’d been having the same dream roughly every other day.
At first, he couldn’t even remember it—but now, the dream played vividly in his mind even when he was wide awake.
It resembled the dream he’d had at the hotel after getting drunk.
Entwined legs, bodies pressing close together. Delicate arms wrapped around his neck as he buried himself into the woman like a beast, biting gently into her soft skin.
Because of that, every morning he had to take a cold shower just to calm his aroused body.
“And yet, I never see the woman’s face in that dream.”
Tae Jo pulled a cigarette from his pocket and let out a short laugh.
What frustrated him most was that the woman who stirred such intense desire remained faceless.
Worse, lately those dreams had started spilling into his waking hours—brief fragments flashing through his mind whenever he dozed off during the day.
Images like the skin he’d sucked until it turned red, slightly parted lips, and the tiny tongue within.
“…Seriously, I’m going crazy.”
He had to stop thinking about it. What was this—was he really getting turned on again just from recalling a fleeting image?
“I’m not some hormonal teenager.”
Muttering to himself, Tae Jo turned toward the rooftop exit. At that exact moment, his eyes drifted unintentionally—and landed on Se Kyung.
“What are you doing here?”
Had Director Song called her?
Seeing Se Kyung standing in front of the fridge, trying to decide what to drink, Tae Jo changed direction. As he entered the break room, her already wide eyes grew even rounder.
“What are you doing in the office?”
Tae Jo asked as he walked toward the fridge. He pulled out a bottle of hangover tea and handed it to her.
“…”
Clutching the plastic bottle in both hands, Se Kyung looked up at him with clear, questioning eyes.
“I didn’t drink alcohol, though.”
Who said I gave it to you because you drank?
Frowning slightly, Tae Jo leaned casually against the fridge.
“Don’t you like this drink?”
“Me?”
Se Kyung blinked in surprise. Her bewildered expression made it seem as though she was asking, “Who even likes this enough to carry it around?”
“No? Then why’d you give this to me last time? I thought you kept it in your bag because you liked it.”
“Oh, that was…”
Unable to answer immediately, Se Kyung fell silent, and Tae Jo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Wait—so she didn’t carry it around for herself?
“Or… did you buy it for me? Did you know I’d be there?”
“No. I didn’t buy it for the CEO… I just thought there might be drinks that evening, so I bought it in advance.”
“Is that so? I thought you liked it, so I even had them restock it specially.”
Then there’s no need to force yourself to drink something you don’t even like.
Tae Jo reached to take back the drink he’d given her, and Se Kyung’s face fell slightly with disappointment.
“Just keep it. I’ll drink it.”
“But you don’t even like it.”
“Still… it tasted fine when I tried it last time.”
Just as Tae Jo was about to put it back in the fridge, Se Kyung quickly snatched the bottle from his hand.
As she bent her head to place the drink into her bag, a faint mark, previously hidden by a bandage, caught Tae Jo’s eye.
She’d mentioned she’d just scratched it lightly last time…
Though the mark had faded with time, what peeked slightly above her clothes looked less like a scratch—and more like a bite.
Tae Jo leaned in slightly to get a better look at the mark.
Startled by their sudden proximity, Se Kyung swiftly turned her head—and at that exact moment, a familiar scent rushed into his nose.
Ah, this…
Tae Jo’s brows furrowed slightly.
His gaze traveled from her parted lips up to her warm brown eyes.
Meeting Se Kyung’s eyes, he slowly spoke.
“Se Kyung, did you wear perfume?”
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.]
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