태경 approached a familiar face sitting in a corner of the restaurant.
The long hair tied down resembled 윤우연’s dark, deep color. The woman, sitting hunched over, turned cautiously at the sound of footsteps.
조인영, dressed in a perfectly fitting dress, quickly stood and bowed.
“Hello, I’m 조인영. Nice to meet you, Chairman.”
Two days ago, 한 실장 had finally contacted her.
After buying her expensive paintings, 조인영 herself called to express her desire to treat him to a meal, as per 한 실장.
Even though he knew she had a management team, 한 실장 deliberately contacted 조인영 directly.
He probably didn’t spare any compliments about how much 태경 liked 조인영’s paintings.
“태경 here.”
He offered a handshake while closely observing 조인영.
He had been curious about the real face of 조인영, who had lived reclusively away from people’s eyes.
At the engagement ceremony, only one photo was released in the articles, which was not even a clear side profile.
“Belated congratulations on your engagement.”
“Thank you. But I don’t recall meeting you that day.”
조 회장 wouldn’t have sent an invitation to 태경. Naturally, 태경 couldn’t attend the engagement ceremony.
Unaware of this, 조인영 must have been genuinely puzzled. 태경 ordered tea while sitting down.
“I’ll have it black.”
“Oh? Yes, sure.”
조인영 looked around, slightly disconcerted.
It felt like 태경 was deliberately ignoring 조인영’s internal grumbling that a man should handle such things. He wanted to test how socially adept she was, given her lack of public exposure.
“….Ah.”
Fundamentally, it seemed difficult for her even to call a waiter in a restaurant. After staring at the menu for a while, she mustered up the courage to tentatively raise her hand.
A waiter approached, and 조인영, fearing he might recognize her, bowed her head and spoke in a voice as tiny as a mosquito’s.
“Th-this gentleman will have bl-black, and I’ll have…a vanilla latte.”
“Would you like both drinks hot?”
조인영 looked to 태경 for help. He quietly told the waiter, “I’ll have mine cold, please.”
“Alright. Understood.”
조인영 indicated to the waiter that she preferred her drink hot. Once he left their sight, she took a deep breath.
She clearly seemed uncomfortable in such situations.
“I wanted to treat you to a meal, but I heard you were very busy.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“I’m sorry for unilaterally deciding the time and place. This place is relatively quiet in Seoul, especially at this hour.”
“It’s fine. You must have had your reasons.”
“Th-thank you for understanding. Actually, it’s been a while since I’ve been out. It’s a bit hard to adapt.”
“……”
“Ah. Never mind. Please don’t mind my words. But, do you always like art?”
“Yes.”
In their conversation, 태경 quietly observed 조인영.
She stuttered her words now and then, though not severely.
It seemed a stretch to think of her as a particularly bright and smart child in her youth.
So, were the rumors true?
The rumor that the woman before him wasn’t actually 조 회장’s biological daughter had been secretly circulating among a few people.
Unraveling the 장경그룹, 태경 discovered another fact: even the deceased biological daughter wasn’t 조 회장’s real child.
Before marriage, 조 회장’s wife was already pregnant.
Who the father was remained unclear, and 김 회장, now deceased, had hastily arranged his daughter’s marriage.
Then, what was the real identity of the woman before him?
태경 found it difficult to ascertain the truth about 조인영 and her aunt, who had reportedly been by her side since childhood.
Despite extensive searching and investigation, 조세훈 had covered up everything so well that not even her real name was known.
태경 scratched his forehead.
But why do I get more eager to uncover things as 조세훈 tries to hide them?
“U-um, Mr. Chairman.”
“Yes?”
“You look several times more handsome than on the screen.”
조인영 seemed delighted. Whether she was excited because she arranged the meeting secretly from her management, or because the man in front of her was her type, 태경 was not curious.
After finishing half his coffee, 태경 looked at her with cool eyes.
“When is the wedding?”
“Oh? Uh, June 24th.”
“So soon. The engagement was just recently.”
Her voice sank again, betraying her emotional instability.
조인영 bit her lip.
“…..Yeah, my father is quite impatient. He must want to hurry.”
“I see.”
“Will you come?”
“No.”
“……”
“I’m busy.”
“Ah. Okay.”
Disappointment was evident on 조인영’s face, and for a moment, 태경 thought he saw 윤우연’s expression in her.
Do they resemble each other?
As 태경 thought about the odd resemblance between the two women, he let out a wry smile.
No matter where he went or which woman he was with, he frequently found himself thinking of 윤우연.
Her prominent forehead, white teeth, neatly trimmed fingernails, slender shoulders, and red lips.
Even the fragrance of that night, soaked with her toughness, softness, and tearful yearning, seemed to resemble her.
Everything reminded him of her.
When would a day come when he didn’t think of 윤우연?
Even at this moment, 태경 was recalling the captivating eyes of 윤우연, gazing up at him with an enchanting smile.
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.]
