Liam’s gentle brown eyes captured her bitter smile.
The types of crimes varied, ranging from violence, theft, robbery, to murder. Sometimes they were cruel enough to make her frown, sometimes they were pitiful enough to make her feel compassion.
But Marianne enjoyed organizing crime reports far more than the elegant tea parties with the ladies. Time spent gossiping about uninteresting topics and trends was a real hardship.
“Look at Mrs. Schneider. She can’t even hold a cup properly, as if she’s not from a commoner background.”
“She must not have received strict home education, that’s why.”
“Did you hear her make a noise while drinking tea? My goodness, even our maid isn’t that rude.”
“We should understand her. She is a lady of the Schneider family after all.”
Marianne hadn’t realized that so many manners were needed even to drink a cup of tea.
She learned for the first time that there was a designated direction for stirring tea, and that the position of the teaspoon was different before and after stirring.
Mrs. Schneider’s wisdom was of no help to Marianne Clozier. She was like a newborn child. She had to learn everything from scratch.
It took a very long time to get used to their ridicule. When, as a result of a strenuous effort, there was no longer anything to find fault with, and nobody could look down on her, Marianne was finally able to converse with them.
Even then, she was not at ease. She was not particularly close to them. She just did her best because it was her role.
Every time, her branches were cut off one by one, with a creaking noise. Sometimes she wondered, would a tree with all its branches cut off still be the same tree? Is Marianne still Marianne?
The one who elegantly drinks tea and engages in refined conversation, is she still Marianne Clozier? If not, who am I indeed?
“Your hand has stopped. Are you slacking off already, our new recruit? Is this how all the graduates of the Royal University behave?”
Then, a nagging voice interrupted her thoughts. Marianne slowly lifted her head in lieu of an answer. Maksim was looking at her with unpleasant eyes.
Perhaps in the past, she would have responded in kind. But she was Marianne, hardened by the invisible malice of the ladies.
Compared to them, Maksim’s bickering felt adorable. At least he was the kind of person whose thoughts were transparent.
Maxim regarded her as an invader in his territory. He was on guard, fearing that what he had built up so far would crumble because of her.
Perhaps he would have treated anyone other than Marianne the same way. If it was a parachutist who graduated from the Royal University, he would have treated anyone the same, being brash and difficult to deal with.
Marianne smiled at him, pulling up the corner of her mouth.
“I just finished tidying up.”
“!”
Maxim’s face was shocked, whether it was because of the quick work or the bold courage, he couldn’t tell, but the important thing was that he didn’t have the slightest intention of praising Marianne.
Maxim faintly furrowed his brows and looked around the office entrance.
“But who is that person?”
At his question, Marianne’s mouth twisted in an awkward light. She knew who was sitting there without having to turn her head.
Christoph Schneider.
The whole first floor of the office was crowded with detectives, uniformed officers, and citizens who had come to handle business.
And Christoph was sitting in a chair at the office entrance, staring at her. He didn’t take his eyes off Marianne for a moment, with his legs crossed and his arms folded in an intimidating posture.
He should have been kicked out if he was unrelated to the work, but no one could easily approach him because of his commanding presence.
His sharply tailored business suit and ascot tie, his shiny shoes, and black hair combed over with pomade.
He looked extraordinary to anyone. There was no one here so tactless as to probe his identity. The price of his differently colored suit alone hinted at his status.
“Officer Franke… Huff, huff.”
It was then. A uniformed officer, panting, rushed over and whispered something in Maxim’s ear. Slowly Maxim, who had been frowning, shouted harshly.
“It’s a death. Yan…”
He paused for a moment and looked around the empty office. Yan had gone to a shopping street where a petty thief was with Florian. Nicolas was having a private talk with the chief.
He clicked his tongue uncomfortably as he looked around the empty office. Fieldwork was supposed to be done in pairs.
“Do we have to wait until the chief arrives? In a death case, we have to respond before the scene is tampered with.”
At his grumbled words, Marianne, who had been discreetly looking around, stood up from her seat.
“Shall I go with you? I’ve just finished sorting out the paperwork. The chief seems to be in a lengthy conversation.”
“You don’t need to…”
Maxim, who had been speaking, closed his mouth, and the next moment he grinned with a full face of mischief. Marianne seemed to know what he was thinking, but she didn’t show it.
“Alright. Follow me.”
Maxim gestured with a showy puff of his chest and shook his head. Marianne hastily put on her hat and followed him.
(This is a time separator.)
“So who is that person, really?”
Maxim looked back, repeating the same question as before. Marianne again could only pull up the corner of her mouth awkwardly without any reply.
Christoph was following them about six paces back. Standing straight up without a hint of disarray, very leisurely.
Why on earth?
Marianne couldn’t understand what he was thinking at all. “Give me 3 minutes, short and concise.” Christoph, who always said that, was one of the busiest people in the capital.
His time was gold, and astronomical sums were involved in a single argument of his.
It was surprising that such Christoph was staying in Blauberg, but even more surprising was that he was following her around without doing anything.
Although she didn’t know, by now, his assistant Oliver would be in chaos trying to handle the situation. He would surely be running around with a sad face.
I offer you my dull sympathy, Oliver.
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.]
