Whispers of Autumn Wind (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
Even Han Ga Eul, of all people, couldn’t help but wilt a little once it was discovered she’d secretly slipped out of the hospital. Seeing this, Dae Woon seized the opportunity to press his advantage.
“Well then, care to explain yourself? Han Ga Eul, the ever-rational and discerning woman who never hesitates to lecture and criticize even the President—this is perfect. Let’s use this chance to teach Young Min’s Father a real lesson. Let’s get proper revenge. If it wasn’t to deliberately worsen your injuries out of spite, then why did you ignore the doctor’s orders and leave the hospital?”
“President.”
Ga Eul summoned every last shred of remaining dignity she had, trying to speak with gravitas. After all, even Han Ga Eul possessed human dignity—
The dignity of keeping one’s private matters hidden, of eating when hungry—that right to preserve such basic human dignity still belonged to her too, though the President seemed to have forgotten it.
As a result, Ga Eul proved that even with a growling stomach and a voice reduced to a faint croak, she could still deliver a sharp rebuke.
“My affairs are mine to handle. Even if I did leave the hospital intending to retaliate against Young Min’s Father, that’s strictly between him and me. It’s none of your business, President.”
Her words acted as a trigger for Se Hyun—a laughter trigger. To suppress his erupting laughter, Se Hyun clenched his teeth and tensed his lips.
So there *did* exist someone on Earth bold enough to stand up to Gi Dae Woong so defiantly. Was it sheer ignorance—like a puppy unaware of the tiger’s might? Either way, watching Gi Dae Woong get flustered was genuinely enjoyable.
Yet Gi Dae Woong was no pushover either.
“Now that I look closely, Han Ga Eul, you really are shameless. *Your* affair? Is this truly just your problem alone? The incident took place in *my* office. The moment you dragged Young Min’s Father into my office, it ceased to be solely your matter.”
Dae Woon spoke, struggling to lift his gaze away from Ga Eul’s chest—a futile effort that would’ve left him utterly defenseless even if Se Hyun called him a “besotted fool.”
Ga Eul couldn’t immediately retort. She hadn’t anticipated the President would resort to such blatant stubbornness.
“If you hadn’t initially snooped into my stock investment account and urged Young Min’s Mother to blindly imitate me, would Young Min’s Father have ever barged into my office?”
Ga Eul subtly shook her head. This wasn’t baseless accusation.
“Snooping into my stock account without my permission—isn’t that a crime?”
“A crime?”
Ga Eul’s lips trembled.
“Yes, a crime. You didn’t even grasp the concept of criminality, did you? That’s precisely why you boldly mimicked my investments—dragging Young Min’s Mother into it too. Surely you didn’t even operate a nominee account using Young Min’s Mother’s name?”
Dae Woon pressed aggressively. Ga Eul shook her head again. But with hunger already making her dizzy, the motion sent her head spinning. The President’s voice faded into the background. Only one thought remained clear:
*A crime?* A sudden wave of fear struck her. She’d only meant to help Young Min’s Mother—even if, admittedly, she’d also hoped to earn some money along the way.
Lost in these thoughts, Ga Eul slowly slumped sideways.
“Ga Eul! Han Ga Eul!”
Dae Woon cried out as he caught her collapsing body. Strangely, to Ga Eul, his voice sounded genuinely alarmed. *Then act better while I’m conscious, you bastard,* she thought, her vision already fading to black.
* * *
When Ga Eul opened her eyes again, morning had come. Her Grandmother sat beside the hospital bed, watching her with evident concern.
“Grandmother.”
“You’re awake. How do you feel? Any pain? Should I call the nurse?”
“No, I’m fine. No pain at all. I think I could even be discharged now. I didn’t even need to be hospitalized—the President just overreacted.”
Trying to prove she was perfectly fine, Ga Eul got out of bed and sat at the table.
“Don’t talk like that. I heard you collapsed last night too—I nearly had a heart attack when I heard. I shouldn’t have gone home yesterday. I should have stayed with you.”
Ga Eul’s efforts to relieve her Grandmother’s worries proved futile. Her Grandmother’s anxiety remained undiminished.
“You must eat something. You skipped dinner last night, didn’t you? You didn’t even touch your lunchbox. Was it because it was plain rice? I must’ve lost my mind—why on earth did I pack rice? Today I made some porridge instead. You can eat porridge, right?”
Muttering apologetically, Grandmother pulled a thermal lunchbox from her shopping bag.
“Also, Young Min’s Mother asked me to pass on her apologies. She said your President forbade anyone around you from approaching, so she couldn’t even visit the hospital. Your President—now *that’s* a formidable person. You really misjudged him. Judging only from your complaints, I assumed he was just a lazy rich kid born to good parents.”
*Formidable?* Is she really talking about *our* President? Did Grandmother confuse him with someone else? Ga Eul wondered, steadily spooning porridge into her mouth.
“She said he caught Young Min’s Father yesterday as if trapping a rat—threatened to press charges for assault. Young Min’s Father, though generally a decent man, has a quick temper and drinks heavily. Yet in front of your President, he behaved like a meek young girl. He even agreed to cover all your medical expenses without protest—your President demanded full compensation for treatment and all other damages.”
So the President had meddled pointlessly again. Ga Eul frowned. Who *didn’t* know the medical costs should fall on Young Min’s Father? She simply lacked the shamelessness to demand payment from Young Min’s parents, who’d helped her every time she was in need.
Hearing that Young Min’s Father—who was already liable to pay the settlement for Young Min’s traffic accident—had agreed to cover the hospital bill left Ga Eul uneasy. Yet she also had no realistic alternative to pay it herself.
So she changed the subject.
“You didn’t tell Gyeo Wool I collapsed, right?”
“You told me not to, so I didn’t. I said you stayed overnight at a friend’s place.”
Grandmother paused after speaking, lips twitching hesitantly—as if more remained unsaid.
“Anything unusual at home?”
Ga Eul asked, trying to make it easier for Grandmother to broach the topic.
“No, nothing unusual. What could possibly happen in one night?”
Her phrasing felt awkward, unfinished. Grandmother’s face clearly bore the unspoken “something unusual.” Ga Eul decided to probe carefully.
“I dreamed of Mother last night. Strange, isn’t it? Did she somehow know I was hurt? Even though I’ve longed to see her so desperately, she never once appeared—yet last night, when I hadn’t even been thinking of her, she came to me in a dream. In my old room.”
Grandmother’s hand, reaching to hand Ga Eul a spoon, froze mid-air. Her granddaughter’s mother had appeared in her dream. To Grandmother Yoon Jung Yeon, this carried profound weight—it truly *was* strange, as Ga Eul said.
Had she appeared at such an uncannily precise moment, as if urging her mother-in-law to finally reveal the secret? Compelled as if entranced, Yoon Jung Yeon began to speak.
“Well… actually… yesterday afternoon, someone came from your maternal relatives.”
“Maternal relatives? I even *have* maternal relatives?”
Ga Eul had none. She’d never met anyone from her mother’s side. She’d heard her mother had been disowned by her family upon marrying Ga Eul’s father.
When her mother passed away, not a single person from that side attended the funeral. So for someone from her maternal family to suddenly contact them now—not even visit in person—was baffling.
“But why would *that* family send someone? What could they possibly want with us?”
“Well…”
Grandmother hesitated for a long while before continuing.
“They said they want to take you and Gyeo Wool with them.”
“Me and Gyeo Wool? Why? Why *now*?”
Though a nonexistent maternal family had suddenly materialized—and offered to take her and Gyeo Wool—Ga Eul felt nothing. Perhaps her emotions had simply dried up.
“Maybe blood ties are pulling at them. People often yearn for kin as they age.”
“That’s not it.”
Ga Eul stated flatly. Still, she wondered—if her mother appearing in the dream was connected to this.
“They’re not the type to take us in out of some sentimental blood bond. If they truly cared, they’d have visited when Mother fell ill. They completely ignored us when she died.”
To believe those who disowned their daughter solely for marrying against their wishes now longed for familial ties? She’d sooner believe in fairies.
“What did you tell them, Grandmother? Will you let us go?”
Grandmother avoided Ga Eul’s gaze, bowing her head and stirring her porridge in circles.
“Well… your own wishes matter most. If you decide to go, I couldn’t possibly stop you.”
“But you don’t *want* to let us go, do you?”
Grandmother let out a long sigh.
“When I consider your futures, sending you might actually be the right thing… right?”
“I can’t just selfishly hold you back… Seeing how much you struggle, part of me feels I *should* let you go…”
“Grandmother, I want to go.”
Ga Eul declared instantly, without hesitation.
“A way out of this miserable poverty lies right before us—why ignore it? Call me materialistic if you will—I don’t care. I’m going. I’ll ask them outright: will they repay our debts? If they want to take us now after treating us as nonentities all this time, the least they owe us is that much.”
Grandmother looked visibly shocked by Ga Eul’s words. Tears welled in her eyes.
“If you truly wish to go, I must let you. How could I possibly stop you? I already feel guilty for burdening you, so young, with such heavy responsibility. To think you’ve endured so much hardship all this time…”
The unspoken words Grandmother couldn’t finish were surely: *How much hardship must you have endured to consider leaving us so readily?* Ga Eul realized she’d made a mistake.
“Don’t worry, Grandmother. Even if I go, we won’t leave you behind. I’ll take you with us. Do you really think I’d abandon you?”
Grandmother clicked her tongue softly—a mixture of sorrow for her granddaughter’s unnerving coldness upon learning of her newfound relatives, and relief that this same granddaughter vowed never to leave her behind.
“Just hearing you say that warms my heart. But will *they* agree to it?”
“We’ll make them agree. If they refuse, we simply won’t go.”
“Don’t worry about me—go if you want to. Just the two of you. Seeing how much you’ve suffered…”
Grandmother couldn’t finish, dabbing her tears with her sleeve.
“Truly—I can just live with Myeong Ho. Don’t worry about me.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean. Why would you go live with Uncle Myeong Ho? I’ll handle everything. There’s absolutely no way I’ll let you move into his house.”
Ga Eul spoke with sharp conviction.
“They’re not taking us out of some sudden blood-tie sentiment—we both know they’re not that kind of people. They must need Gyeo Wool and me for something. Which means we hold enough value to them to warrant this. So we’ll negotiate.”
Grandmother stared at Ga Eul, bewildered. She couldn’t fathom what confidence fueled her granddaughter’s bold words. Though this granddaughter was undeniably sharp and self-reliant, the *other side* was an entirely different caliber.
“Your maternal family is a hugely influential one. Those people—they’re utterly unlike anyone you’ve encountered before. So don’t be too hurt if things don’t go exactly as you hope.”
Concerned her granddaughter might get deeply wounded, Yoon Jung Yeon spoke cautiously. Yet Ga Eul reassured *her* instead.
“Grandmother, however grand they may be, they’re still just people like us. Do you think they won’t feel pain when struck? And what could possibly get *worse* than now? After Father passed, the three of us endured that hardest time by sticking together tightly. If we go and dislike it, we’ll simply regroup and live on our own terms again.”
Yoon Jung Yeon wiped away her tears. Her granddaughter had grown so resolute, so strong. At her age, even pride brought tears to her eyes.
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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