Chapter 7: Private Meeting at the Villa – The Foolish Male Protagonist

Yue Guanyi saw Qiu Shuzhi’s surprised expression.

His muddled, stuffy mind suddenly felt as if doused by a bucket of ice water. The hazy delusions receded like the tide, replaced by a bone-chilling clarity. Only then did he realize what foolish words he had just uttered, so carelessly speaking such jealous-sounding phrases.

Yue Guanyi felt utterly stupid, wishing he could tear out that vile tongue in his mouth and chop it to bits.

She must find him disgusting now.

He felt as if plunged into a winter ice cave, his whole body cold. He lowered his head, not daring to meet Qiu Shuzhi’s gaze. His hands were clenched tightly, the bandaged ones slowly seeping a striking trace of fresh blood.

“Your Highness, your hand-” Qiu Shuzhi saw the crimson blood oozing from Yue Guanyi’s palm, like a streak of blood staining a piece of fine white jade.

Chang’an quickly dismounted and unwrapped the bandage on Yue Guanyi’s hand. The wound that had just scabbed over burst open again, revealing the bright red soft flesh inside – a shocking sight.

“Your Highness, your wound has reopened. Let Chang’an rebandage it for you.”

Yue Guanyi was still immersed in the nightmare of being despised by Qiu Shuzhi, oblivious to Chang’an’s words, his face even paler.

Looking at the bloody wound continuously seeping fresh blood, trickling from his palm down his fingers, then dripping to form a pool on the ground, attracting sidelong glances from passersby.

Many recognized his identity. To avoid drawing attention, Qiu Shuzhi whispered in his ear: “This official has offended you.”

With that, she directly pulled him into the carriage. The heavy curtains fell, blocking all outside views.

Chang’an immediately understood and drove the carriage away from the bustling market.

The carriage swayed back and forth, burning high-quality ambergris incense. White smoke curled within the enclosed space. His snow-white clothes and long hair falling over his shoulders, his downcast eyes were desolate.

Qiu Shuzhi picked up the gauze from the low table and silently began bandaging his wound.

Yue Guanyi’s eyelashes trembled as he suddenly withdrew his hand, saying anxiously: “I can do it myself, it’s too much trouble for Official Qiu.”

Qiu Shuzhi sighed, watching the blood spatter on his snow-white clothes like a red plum blooming in a vast snowy field.

“How can you bandage it yourself? Let this official do it. Does Your Highness disdain this official?”

“How could I-” Yue Guanyi shook his head vigorously.

How could he disdain her?

He would be overjoyed that Qiu Shuzhi was willing to touch him. He only feared that someone as lowly as himself would dirty her hands.

He wanted to keep far away from Qiu Shuzhi, a man’s dirty blood should not be in a noble woman’s sight.

Yet he shamelessly harbored a bold delusion – he also longed for Qiu Shuzhi’s pity!

“Give me your hand,” she said.

Yue Guanyi obediently extended his hand, his trembling eyes carefully watching her.

For a moment, Qiu Shuzhi felt as if she were training a large dog. Despite its fierce and intimidating appearance that frightened everyone, it was docile and submissive before its master, eyes fixed only on the master.

She brushed aside those random thoughts and took up the gauze to carefully bandage the wound, admonishing as she worked: “Your Highness, your wound is very deep and difficult to heal. Remember not to repeatedly tear it open, understand?”

Yue Guanyi nodded, extremely obedient.

In the quiet space there were only the two of them. Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes and mind were filled only with him. This feeling of being the center of attention made him feel as if in the clouds, his anxious heart also filled with happiness.

After bandaging the wound, Qiu Shuzhi’s hands were also stained with some of his blood.

He instantly felt extremely remorseful. His dirty blood had soiled the noble one’s hands. Those delicate, pure white hands now bore a stain. He wished he could kneel before her and lick away every speck of filth with his tongue, yet he feared his wild self would startle her.

The closer he got to her, the deeper that bone-deep sense of inferiority grew, as if carved into his very being. Qiu Shuzhi was the moon in the sky, while he was just a lowly insect. As he suppressed his wild fantasies under the moonlight, that pure moonlight grew ever more distant from him.

“My lady, please clean your hands!” Yue Guanyi took out a damp cloth from the side and respectfully handed it to her, his gestures and tone more like a humble servant than a prince.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Qiu Shuzhi took the cloth and gently wiped her hands.

“I- I once learned to dance, but I’m not good at it,” he explained, trying to justify his earlier foolish, fawning words.

But some things become more muddled the more one tries to explain. Words could only make his expression more feeble.

His voice grew softer and more uneasy, to the point where he wanted to pull his own hair in regret, hating himself for his stupidity.

“How can the graceful posture of dancing girls compare to Your Highness’s golden branch and jade leaf status?” Qiu Shuzhi smiled faintly, her gentle voice dispelling all his anxiety.

Yue Guanyi’s face turned red, his ears flushed almost to the point of bleeding, like ripe red berries, so soft it made her want to pinch them.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the villa,” Chang’an’s voice came from outside as the carriage stopped.

Clarity instantly returned to Qiu Shuzhi’s eyes, dispelling all her thoughts. No matter how soft and vulnerable the person before her appeared, he was still the current Crown Prince, Commander of the Imperial Guard, wielding great power – a living King of Hell.

If she dared to touch him, her head would likely be hanging high on the city gate tomorrow.

Qiu Shuzhi lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage.

Before her eyes was an elegant and imposing villa. Located right by the imperial city, tall walls surrounded a large courtyard with green bamboo partially visible, their cool shadows extending beyond the wall to form a bamboo screen.

Yue Guanyi followed behind her, about to descend from the carriage when Qiu Shuzhi naturally extended her hand to support him.

Yue Guanyi’s eyes trembled, nearly stumbling and falling from the carriage again as he had that night. He tightly gripped his fingers, avoiding her hand as he got down.

Supporting someone from a carriage was typically a servant’s job. How could he let Qiu Shuzhi do such a thing? She was the eternally cool and pure moonlight in his heart. Even if dust fell at her feet, he would kneel before her to brush away every speck. She was the bodhisattva in his heart, and he was willing to be the mount beneath her.

“Now that Your Highness has arrived at your residence, this official shall take his leave. Farewell!” Qiu Shuzhi cupped her hands and prepared to leave.

“Official Qiu, please stay. Since you’ve already come to my residence, why not come in for a while?” Yue Guanyi called out to detain her, his slender fingers clenched into a fist.

***

My Husband Asks for a Divorce Every Day (Female-Dominant)

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]

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