After Divorcing My Sharp-Tongued Boss [Insectoid]

On the very first day Eli is transported into an insectoid novel, he marries the story's biggest villain.

His male spouse, Xifeier Lanchester, is the military's chief commander, so cold and cutting that even his breathing seems calculated.

For three years, Eli tries to play the part of a capable subordinate and a gentle spouse:

He gets up early to make his spouse a packed lunch, only for it to be thrown in the trash.

He helps his spouse organize documents for a meeting, only to be mocked: "Nothing but low-level tasks."

He even kindly helps ease his spouse through his heat, only to hear the bone-deep disgust in the words: "Get out!"

After enduring the story's mutual torment to the end, Eli finally hands over a divorce agreement.

Xifeier signs it without a hint of expression, faster than he would approve an official document.

After the divorce, Eli moves out of their apartment and suddenly becomes an online sensation:

A recipe he uploads on a whim is hailed as an "ancient god's secret recipe."

A no-contact relief guide he tinkers with out of boredom is certified by the academic community as a "groundbreaking therapeutic technique."

Even a clip of him comforting a youngling becomes the model of the "male spouse everyone wants to marry."

Soon, everyone wants to be matched with him.

Then, on a rainy night just before the matching results are announced, someone rings Eli's doorbell.

The commander, always immaculate in his uniform and coldly sharp, stands outside, drenched from head to toe. Clutching his wedding ring, worn pale from handling, he looks like an abandoned puppy, his eyes red-rimmed as he asks:

"My dear, why won't you come home?"

Eli narrows his eyes.

But the next morning...

The insect who wakes up immediately draws a line between them and searches for his belongings before leaving.

Looking at Xifeier, clingy and whimpering just the night before, now doing his best to maintain his cool, Eli smiles. "Looking for this, Your Excellency?"

He pulls out the notebook Xifeier has kept hidden for three years. As the pages flutter, lines and lines of feelings spill out:

- Don't smile at him. He'll see how much I love him.

- Hold back on physical contact. Don't make him hate me.

- Pretend to be unhappy, so he won't be targeted by the opposing faction.

- I have to divorce him. I can't let myself fall any deeper.

Seeing his former spouse's face turn deathly pale, Eli raises an eyebrow. "Was playing the villain fun?"

"Was deliberately picking on me fun, too? Hmm?" He catches the ankle of the man trying to run away and bites down on his trembling, flushed back. "Xifeier, get on your knees. Now it's my turn to teach you..."

"What real bullying feels like."

Couple: Easygoing, universally adored subordinate top x aloof, cutting superior bottom

In truth: gentle, oblivious sadist x repressed, awkward, insecure man

#You don't love me, but you pretend to dote on me#

Reading guide:

1. The bottom pursues the top. The bottom may get a groveling arc. There are many misunderstandings, but the bottom isn't actually unkind to the top.

2. A little angst is good for the soul. The bottom is reborn [highlight]. The top is indifferent at first and only falls in love later.

3. As always, this may not appeal to fans of any particular character type. Just follow the story.

Theme: Love can soothe a wounded heart.