Simultaneously placing the piece, I realized the mistake. Oh, no.
I messed up.
I placed it on the wrong diagonal position I wanted. Fortunately, the game hadn’t progressed much, and if it had, other pieces would have been in danger due to this bishop.
“This must be a mistake, Reize.”
The Duke looked at my mistake with interest. Making such a mistake, even as an amateur. Since the Duke couldn’t invalidate this move, it was a loss for me.
I glanced at Yune to ask about the situation. She awkwardly smiled and avoided my gaze.
“I-I’m sure I saw you leave two hours ago… Was it a d-dream?”
“It wasn’t a dream, Yune. I saw it too. Yuric. When did you come?”
The Duke temporarily paused the game and asked.
“I’m sorry for interrupting. I had forgotten something and stopped by for a moment, thanks to Reize being here.”
Yuric apologized and looked at me. Before our eyes met, I turned my head forward. What mattered to me now was not Yuric but how to recover from this mistake.
“I didn’t expect you to come here so early, Reize.”
“We made a promise. I said let’s play chess together today.”
The Duke answered on my behalf.
“So, you didn’t go to the company. But why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“I couldn’t disturb your training.”
“It’s different when it comes to matters related to Reize. Then you must have gone to training late.”
Yuric said with a subtly affectionate gaze. His voice sounded as if he had forgotten the awkward incidents that happened at the training grounds yesterday.
Even if he didn’t speak to me as he joined our conversation, his attention was on the misplaced bishop.
Knowing that the Duke had recognized my mistake, he stopped moving his hand. The Duke’s moved piece threatened not only my bishop but also the queen.
Should I sacrifice the bishop and protect the queen? Or should I protect both?
‘Concentrate, concentrate.’
Yuric didn’t speak to me, but he didn’t leave his seat either.
Wasn’t he busy?
Sweat began to form in the hand that tightly held the hem of my dress.
Bishop. Damn bishop.
I looked as if I could pierce the bishop that bothered me by drinking water and making my nerves irritating. Still, I didn’t place it in an easily capturable position.
Should I change the strategy and sacrifice the bishop to capture the king quickly? Although there was no knight on f6, the Duke was not an easy opponent.
Or should I lure the queen and let the bishop escape?
“……”
I needed to focus on chess, but I heard Yuric’s quiet breathing from the side.
His face concentrating on the chessboard was close to my body. When he said to go away because he could smell the sweat, I never thought his arm would touch mine.
Yuric didn’t have the smell of sweat. Although he had clearly come in the middle of training, there was a fresh scent along with a slight earthy smell. It was the distinctive scent that usually came from Yuric.
“You sacrificed the bishop, Reize.”
“…I don’t think I can undo it no matter how I move.”
The fallen bishop moved next to the Duke. It was a significant loss, but the sacrifice of the bishop was not worthless. It just guided the atmosphere I wanted to the other side.
Like someone suddenly appearing and disrupting my concentration.
As soon as I promoted the pawn to a queen and moved it, the Duke declared resignation. Perhaps losing one bishop early in the game made the victory more valuable.
While organizing the pieces, the Duke smiled, and unlike before, he expressed regret about easily losing in the game. Yune, who had been sitting to watch the game, comforted the Duke.
After playing one more round and securing the victory, we spent some time. It was lunchtime.
Pushed by Yune, we had lunch at the Penthion.
“Yune, do you want to go to the dessert shop nearby?”
“No. Instead, I’d like you to do me a favor.”
“…A favor?”
Yune extended a basket to me. In it were neatly sliced fruits, a sandwich, and chocolate. Yune forced the basket into my hand, muttering.
“Tell him for me.”
Yuric went back to the training grounds?
“Yeah, he’ll probably be hungry after having just a glass of juice. But he’ll probably skip lunch again because of training.”
“Then his body won’t be able to endure it.”
“Do you think so too, sis? My brother is really reckless! He knows how important nutrients are, yet why does he pretend not to know? Moreover, you need some fat to build muscles!”
“Well… that’s true, but if I go, it might be a hindrance, so it’s better to ask other maids to…”
“Ssh.”
Yune blocked my mouth with her finger.
“The maids are busy. I’m busy too. But aren’t you free, sis?”
Yune subtly mocked me.
“Yune. I’m busy too. I have a lot to do.”
“But please tell him. Isn’t it pitiful that our brother, who trains without properly eating anything, is suffering?”
“It is regrettable, but…”
When I didn’t easily agree to her request, Yune’s face became serious.
“Sis. I helped you in the social circle, right? You know how difficult it was for me back then, don’t you?”
“That didn’t help me; it helped Leslie. Besides, Leslie said he would send you the gift you wanted.”
“Really? For real?”
Yune immediately brightened up but then went, “Oops.”
“…But still, you went with me to the social circle, right? So please, pretty please? It’s not a difficult request. Sister Reize.”
“Yune.”
“I really love you a lot, sis.”
“I’ll have to repay this debt later.”
“Of course! When you truly become my sister, I’ll take great care of you!”
What is just a sister, and what is a real sister?
Yune gently pushed me out to the garden. The noise disappeared as the front door closed, and the clear sound of birds singing could be heard.
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.]
