“Now you’re really putting me to work?”
Stella grumbled playfully as she climbed out of the hammock and teased Cuckoos.
Standing at the boundary between the kitchen and the deck, Cuckoos smirked mischievously, holding a potato sprouting eyes and waved it triumphantly.
As Stella walked across the deck, sailors working around greeted her with nods and cheerful waves.
“Princess, we caught a big one in the net. Give it to Cuckoos to cook!”
“Wow! Thanks. I’ll enjoy it.”
Stella’s genuinely happy response made Scutt, who was handling the net, stretch his thick lips in a wide smile.
His diagonal scar across one cheek distorted his smile, but he was no longer as intimidating as at first. His red hair, peeking through the bandana covering his bald head, fluttered in the wind.
He gave Stella a loose grin and then refocused on the net. The sight of decent-sized fish caught in the net indicated fish for dinner.
Despite the warm weather, the waves were quite rough, making Stella’s walk a bit wobbly.
The sailors watched her proudly, then quickly returned to their tasks as she moved out of sight.
Stella attracted their caring glances wherever she went.
A month ago, King Philip, begrudging the cost of sending a hostage, had Stella, along with two knights, loaded onto a merchant ship bound for Credion Empire like cargo.
It wasn’t difficult for the ship to take three more people since they were already on the way, but the passenger was a princess of a nation.
Captain Puka initially refused, saying it was an unthinkable task, but the King promised a reward and a year’s tax exemption.
For the King, it might not have been much, but for Puka, it was a crucial matter involving a year’s business.
Moreover, Stella, the princess, was said to be a despised illegitimate daughter in Amalun.
After careful consideration, Puka accepted the King’s generous reward and readily agreed to take the princess aboard. Little did he know how this decision would completely change his life.
As soon as Stella entered the kitchen, she positioned herself and started peeling potatoes skillfully.
“Using a princess like this, I should charge you with disrespecting royalty.”
Despite the harsh warning, Cuckoos seemed to enjoy his place in the kitchen.
Peels flew off Stella’s hands in all directions. Although still thick, considering she used to cut off half the potato when she first started, it was considerable progress.
“Yeah, yeah! But first, please take care of those potato peels.”
Cuckoos, watching Stella peel potatoes with growing skill, smirked in response. His shirt was soaked with sweat as he stirred a large pot with a spoon nearly the size of a shovel.
Now over forty, Cuckoos was the sole cook on the Giant ship. His muscles rippled like a living creature whenever he stirred the pot with his sleeveless arms.
Cuckoos was remarkably strong, having never lost an arm-wrestling match to any sailor aboard, except Captain Puka.
Stella still couldn’t understand why such a strong man became a cook.
Above all, Cuckoos had no talent for cooking.
“Cuckoos! Don’t put too much salt, just the right amount!”
Stella, pausing from peeling potatoes, anxiously looked up. Cuckoos, about to pour a whole bag of salt into the pot, sheepishly set it down.
“When have I ever done that? Besides, food should be a bit salty to taste good. You wouldn’t understand.”
Cuckoos grumbled and plunged the big ladle into the salt bag. Seeing Stella’s wide-eyed stare, he sheepishly shook the ladle, removing the excess.
The sailors on the deck didn’t care if their food was salty or bland as long as their stomachs were full, but Stella was different.
Even though she mingled with them without any pretense, she was still a royal, and their statuses were worlds apart.
“We’ll arrive in Credion Empire in three days.”
Cuckoos’ remark slowed the pace of Stella’s potato peeling and soup stirring by half.
“Yes, time does fly.”
Stella’s response lacked energy.
Cuckoos’ potato stew was reasonably tasty. Despite being startled by the occasional fish head popping out, it was quite edible compared to his other culinary creations.
Stella passed the fish heads she picked out of her bowl to Scutt, who happily crunched on them.
Only Stella’s plate had a big, beautifully boiled crab. Scutt, having promised to give it to Cuckoos but worried he wouldn’t, had boiled it himself and set it aside for her.
Stella broke off a thick crab leg and handed it to Scutt, saying, “Thank you.”
Scutt, bashful, awkwardly smiled, looking down.
“I’ll boil you another one next time.”
Observing their interaction, several people began to place various items before Stella.
A slightly browned apple, sugar-coated lemon, and even broad hardtack.
Stella’s eyes welled up with tears as she smiled at the food piled in front of her.
She remembered Rudyina’s tearful, swollen face, clinging to her until the last moment.
“May she have escaped the port safely and forget about an unworthy master like me to live a happier life.”
Caw, caw.
The seagull’s cries from the sky sounded just like Rudyina’s sobs.
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.]
