“Is this a new assassination technique?”
The Duke asked with his usual nonchalant expression. I was so flustered that I quickly got up, but in doing so, I accidentally pressed hard on the Duke’s thigh with my hand.
His brow furrowed slightly.
“This too?”
“I’m so sorry. Really sorry.”
I couldn’t raise my head. I was too stunned.
“What’s going on?”
Arcadia’s voice came from outside.
“It’s nothing, just my new servant almost tripped over the table.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. Relax a bit, Arcadia, or you’ll get indigestion.”
Arcadia fell silent.
After a while, I suddenly heard a soft chuckle. It was the Duke.
“Are you okay?”
In response to my anxious question, he said, “I’m fine. This heat is nothing to worry about.”
He nonchalantly dusted off his soup-stained shirt. Light crimson stains had set into the white fabric.
“I’m really sorry.”
“Okay. Shall we continue then?”
“Pardon?”
“Finish our meal. Mobius will be curious if I enjoyed the meal or not.”
“…Yes.”
“The soup is ruined, but how about sharing a little bit of the steak?”
“I’ll do it.”
It seemed impossible to refuse the Duke’s insistence. As a servant, it was right for me to take action.
I carefully cut a very small piece of the steak.
“Sit down.”
At the Duke’s command, I pulled out a chair and sat down, but I ended up sitting to his right.
I felt his gaze on me.
I had inadvertently sat on the side of my disfigured face.
I felt uncomfortable.
To eat, I needed to remove my mask. Just as I was about to do so, he said, “If it’s not uncomfortable for you, would you sit to my left?”
“…Thank you.”
I moved to the left side of the Duke, who was seated at the head of the table.
I removed my mask and ate. The steak was so tender it melted in my mouth. It was the most delicious food I had ever tasted.
Contrary to what he had told Arcadia, the Duke didn’t ask me any particular questions. But I was tense.
I occasionally felt his gaze on me.
Once, while eating dessert, our eyes met. His eyes were deep and inscrutable.
I quickly turned my eyes back to the food.
When the meal was over and I began to clear the plates, I remembered Mobius’ request for the Duke to hand over any laundry.
“Do you have any laundry to give me, Your Grace?”
He looked at his soup-stained shirt.
He went to the bed, took out a fresh shirt, and then turned his back to me and began to take off his shirt.
I remembered the statue-like figure I had seen in a temple, wide-shouldered with moderately sun-tanned and well-defined muscles, showing how he had wielded his sword in battle.
Embarrassed, I quickly turned away.
The Duke handed me his shirt.
“Just this, please.”
“Yes.”
I took the shirt and hurried out of the tent.
Arcadia stood outside in the moonlight, his pale skin and platinum hair glowing, his green eyes staring at me.
“Remember that you are always being watched.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
I bowed to him and turned away.
The Duke’s shirt in my hand carried a scent I had once smelled in a forest on a rainy dawn.
I wondered, ‘Is this the scent of the northern wind, or just the Duke’s scent?’
It was a warm and nostalgic smell.
The next morning, after staying up late doing laundry I had never done before, I was awakened by a commotion outside.
“What? The patient from the South?”
I could hear people running.
The patient from the South?
I suddenly snapped to attention, hurriedly dressed, grabbed my mask, and ran outside.
Almost at the medical tent, a beast-like roar reached my ears.
“You, who are you! Get away!”
It was the Yellow Caterpillar. He had woken up!
I hurried inside the tent.
‘No, this can’t be happening!’
I froze at the sight before me.
In the middle of the tent, the Caterpillar, standing on two legs, was swinging a sword, threatening anyone who tried to approach him. Two knights and a few soldiers, armed with swords, were pressing him.
“I don’t want to die!”
“What’s he saying?!”
“His tongue’s been cut in half!”
“Ugh… Aaah!”
The Caterpillar raised his sword. Then, someone rushed past me.
Arcadia.
He drew his sword towards the Caterpillar.
“No! Caterpillar!”
I quickly ran and stood between Arcadia and the Caterpillar, arms outstretched to block Arcadia’s advance.
Arcadia’s sword stopped right in front of my face. The Caterpillar’s sword struck down on my shoulder.
‘Thank goodness.’
It was the flat side of the sword; the Caterpillar was in a state of panic. I staggered slightly but quickly regained my composure.
“What are you doing!”
Arcadia shouted.
“You can’t kill him, he’s my friend.”
Arcadia looked at me incredulously.
“Move aside, he threatened our injured soldiers.”
“I can’t.”
“What?”
“Please give me a moment. Just a bit of time to explain the situation to him. I beg of you.”
Arcadia sheathed his sword, as the Caterpillar had dropped his.
“White… Caterpillar?”
“Yes, Caterpillar. It’s me.”
I turned to face the Yellow Caterpillar and gently held his trembling shoulder.
“Here… Where is this?”
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.]
