★Chapter 02 : Life Becomes Amazing After Marriage★
“Haaaam…”
I couldn’t suppress a long yawn. My intention was to write a decent portion and then get some sleep, but an unexpected surge of ideas kept me awake throughout the night.
And the outcome was an impressive three episodes.
On a typical day, filling the 5,000 characters, which constitutes a single episode, would have taken me the entire day. But today, the words flowed effortlessly, making me wonder if I had been touched by divine inspiration.
“…Could it be because my mind is at ease?”
There’s a common saying among web novel writers that advises aspiring authors to secure a stable income before diving into writing. Without the support of a reliable livelihood, the pressure can hinder the creative process.
I couldn’t fully grasp the significance of those words when I read similar posts in the online community. However, now that I’ve experienced it firsthand, I can truly relate.
“I’ve scheduled the upload.”
Usually, I would proofread my work after waking up, but today, feeling exceptionally satisfied, I only made a few minor corrections to fix typos.
Well, monetization is already an unattainable goal. As long as I wrap up this episode neatly, there shouldn’t be any major obstacles.
“It’s about time I start preparing and head out.”
As I rose from my seat, I absentmindedly ran my fingers through my disheveled hair. First, I cleared the cluttered candles from the desk and took my shower.
I’m slightly fatigued from staying up all night. However, I possess enough stamina to endure the day without complaining, so I moved my body without hesitation.
“Now, concerning attire…”
There was no need to deliberate.
I have specific clothes designated for each season. Since I won’t be wearing a suit today, I simply opted for a plain black t-shirt and jeans.
*Zip, clink-!*
I got dressed and opened the door, greeted by the protesting creak of the worn-out door as I pushed my way through.
“Is it time to say goodbye to this place?”
Before stepping out, I took a moment to survey the room—a shabby 10-square-meter studio apartment. It exuded a stark and desolate atmosphere, devoid of any adornments or the means to make it more inviting.
Perhaps that’s why, even after living here for over three years, it held no sentimental value for me. With silence, I closed the door behind me.
-The next stop is Apgujeong Rodeo, Apgujeong Rodeo Station. The doors will open on the left.
After double-checking that the name on the navigation matched the station, I hurriedly got off the subway.
People poured out in front and behind me, the space filled to the brim, leaving no room to maneuver. It was only once I managed to escape the station that I could finally catch my breath.
‘…It’s already so crowded.’
Students wearing uniforms.
Elderly individuals donning hiking attire.
Office workers in suits, heading to work.
A diverse mix of people congregated here, creating an overwhelmingly suffocating atmosphere for someone like me—an introvert. Where could all these people be headed?
‘Hmm, this could be a suitable intro for a novel.’
What if I selected one person from this crowd and created a story around them? Who would stand out the most in this gathering?
‘Probably that grandpa, right?’
His attire, reminiscent of a traffic light with its vibrant colors, captured everyone’s attention—starting from his hat and extending to his shoes, a mismatched and free-spirited ensemble.
I activated the memo app on my phone and quickly jotted down a few distinctive features of the old man. He possessed such a unique character that incorporating him into a story would prove challenging.
‘What if I put him into an Apocalypse?’
Most likely, he would instill fear in others.
After all, his attire could easily be classified as that of a “geek.”
Because of its resemblance to the attire commonly associated with a “geek.”
If an old man were to dress like that and appear in a post-apocalyptic setting, he would undoubtedly make an eccentric character.
Introducing the setting of a curmudgeon(1) would also provide an easy explanation for the complex world. With these thoughts in mind, he truly is an exceptional character.
“Hmm, and also…”
Feeling content, I filled up my memo app and then, as I glanced around once more, a particular woman caught my attention.
She had a tall and well-proportioned figure.
Her clothes displayed a consistent color and texture, with simple accessories adding a touch of elegance.
Although she wore sunglasses, obscuring her eyes, they couldn’t mask her radiant appearance.
“Wow, could she be an actress?”
“All of her clothes are high-end designer brands.”
“Is she waiting for her boyfriend? I don’t know who he is, but I’m jealous.”
It wasn’t just my perception; I could hear murmurs from the people around me. Even those who passed by couldn’t resist stealing glances at her.
She resembled the heroine of a novel.
As I observed her, I found myself momentarily lost in thought. Describing someone like her in a novel is actually quite challenging.
Simply stating “she’s beautiful” would be insufficient, and claiming that she’s “perfect” would come across as insincere. There are no words that can fully capture her essence.
“······?”
At that moment, she abruptly turned her head. Since I had been observing her all along, our eyes met directly. In response, she tilted her head in confusion.
Just because I like the name~♬
Suddenly, my phone rang. The name displayed on the screen was ‘River-Sea.’ (It’s the same in raw) It was my precious client, whom I had agreed to meet here today.
“What are you doing over there?”
Huh?
As I raised my head once more, she waved her hand towards me. Surprisingly, it was only at that moment that I recognized her as the person I had been observing all along.
‘I suppose she isn’t much of a drama watcher.’
Well, it’s understandable that someone with her lifestyle wouldn’t be interested in fantasy. As the heroine of a drama, does she really need to seek satisfaction in being a substitute?
‘Could I be swept away as a supporting character in the protagonist’s story?’
The future looks bleak.
The protagonist always encounters hardships on their journey. It is by overcoming challenges and achieving victory that they truly become the genuine protagonist.
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Read from the original site [ https://moonlightnovel.com/ ]
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Of course, the protagonist doesn’t die in the process. It’s the numerous supporting characters around them who fade away. The problem is that one of those supporting characters happens to be “me.”
“What? It doesn’t suit me at all.”
“Surely, she’s not waiting for her boyfriend, right?”
“Ugh, no way. Maybe just a bodyguard?”
Raising my hand lightly, I approached her. As I did, the gazes around me naturally shifted towards me. There was a distinct change in the atmosphere.
Well, receiving this kind of reaction is only natural.
I anticipated it to some extent, and I’m the type who doesn’t really care about others’ opinions in the first place.
“…The issue lies with the Ba-da’s family.”
Well, since it’s merely passing judgment from people I don’t even know, it doesn’t matter. However, if things continue like this, there’s a high possibility that her family will oppose our marriage.
In order to satisfy them and secure a monthly income of 5 million won, I need to be well-prepared; otherwise, it could be risky.
“Honey, what’s going on in your mind?”
As I contemplated our future direction, Kang Ba-da approached me unexpectedly, crossing her arms. The surrounding crowd was taken aback by her sudden appearance.
“…What did you just say?”
“Am I hearing things?”
“The hell with this… Did the guy hit the jackpot with bitcoin?”
Earlier, there were murmurs among them, but now it seemed like they couldn’t hide their thoughts anymore. I could clearly overhear various conversations taking place.
However, I couldn’t focus on those discussions. The collision with Kang Ba-da’s body had left an awkward sensation in my arms, making it difficult to concentrate.
“Um…”
“There are many eyes watching us.”
kang Ka-da whispered softly, just enough for me to hear. As whispers spread throughout the surroundings, chaos erupted again, but I managed to regain my composure.
“Yes, this is an urgent matter.”
When Kang Ka-da mentioned the “eyes,” it wasn’t limited to the people present here. It likely included the servants who were influenced by the family’s power.
It was only natural for Kang Ba-da to possess knowledge about my personal information and the surrounding situation. I wondered who could have informed her about such things.
“You have to work for what you get.”
Our married life hadn’t officially begun yet. From her perspective, it wouldn’t be difficult to replace someone like me.
If that were to happen, money wouldn’t be the primary concern. The challenge would be how she would handle someone who knew her secret.
‘You can never truly know what lies within a person.’
While conducting research for my novel on Chaebols (wealthy business families) I eventually became convinced that a flawlessly pristine chaebol could never exist.
kang Ba-da, too, had a natural smile on her face, but you never know when she might order someone to stab a knife in my back, I had to do everything in my power to survive.
“Uh!? Wh-What are you doing?”
“I told you to do it properly.”
I casually uncrossed my arms and shook hands with Kang Ba-da, creating a convincing appearance when our fingers intertwined.
“Wouldn’t crossing our arms be better?”
“…It feels a bit excessive.”
There was a clearer reason for it, but I lacked the courage to explain.
“…Is that so?”
“Yes, well, did you intentionally not bring the car?”
“Huh? Oh, well, that’s right.”
Kang Ba-da’s reaction seemed somewhat ambiguous, but it was probably due to nervousness. Frankly, I felt a bit intimidated since my life was at stake.
How long did we walk in that state? We finally reached the beauty salon we had been aiming for.
“Oh, Ba-da, you’re here?”
“Hello, Director.”
“Mhm. I haven’t seen this person before. I’m Ryu Yeon-hwa, the director of this place. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Kim Ha-neul.”
The director’s gaze fell upon me, swiftly scanning me from head to toe. However, it didn’t make me uncomfortable.
It was different from the people I encountered on the street. In those eyes, there was pure curiosity. No, it was evident that there was a genuine sense of goodwill.
‘What’s this about?’
I couldn’t immediately grasp the reason, but it was evident that Ryu Yeon-hwa and Kang Ba-da shared a closer relationship than mere customers.
“You can follow Ha-neul-ssi here. Our designers will take care of you. Ba-da, come this way.”
“Yes, thank you.”
I nodded and followed the designer, taking the opportunity to observe the interior structure as we walked. The overall design exuded remarkable sophistication.
“So, is this the salon that rich people go to?”
The building was spacious, and there was a notable presence of staff members. However, the number of customers seemed relatively small.
“May I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Is this like this usually?”
Since I couldn’t directly inquire about the absence of other customers, I tried to approach the question indirectly. The designer understood my intention and responded with a subtle smile.
“This is your first time here, right?”
“Yes, I came along with my girlfriend today…”
“We operate on a 100% reservation basis and always strive to provide a pleasant atmosphere for our customers. The usual ambiance is similar.”
“Do celebrities often visit this place?”
“Well… no. Membership registration is strictly by recommendation, so not just anyone can come.”
I see.
So it was a place accessible only to those referred to as “anyone,” such as celebrities. That explained why I couldn’t find any price tags, no matter how much I searched.
“Feel free to ask any questions you have.”
“Oh, it’s fine.”
My mouth kept itching, but if I ask more, I might end up giving Ba-da-ssi a bad image because of me.
I tried to act naturally, allowing the surroundings to captivate my attention.
“I should incorporate this experience into my future novel.”
If this marriage succeeds, I could make a living without relying on web novels entirely, but I wasn’t ready to abandon my pen completely.
After all, I didn’t know when this way of life would come to an end. Depending solely on Kang Ba-da was a risky choice in various ways.
“Then let’s proceed with your hair.”
Following the instructions, I took a seat in the chair, and a gentle sensation embraced my entire body. The comfort that emanated from the salon chair was beyond belief.
“Would you like a volume perm(Korean hair style)?”
“Pardon?”
“It was mentioned in the reservation. Just in case you changed your mind…”
“Oh, it’s alright. I do want a volume perm.”
It seemed that Kang Ba-da had already mentioned it beforehand. Since she seemed to have a good sense of fashion, it was wise to follow the expert’s recommendation.
“Please wait for a moment.”
The stylist briefly left the chair, and I completely relaxed into it. It felt as if someone was tenderly embracing me from behind. Honestly, it seemed more luxurious than the bed we had at home.
The overwhelming comfort caused the fatigue from staying up all night to surge like a tidal wave. I desperately fought to keep my eyelids from closing.
‘I mustn’t fall asleep…’
But before I could even finish that thought, I drifted off in an instant.
* * *
Snap, snap, snap…
Ryu Yeon-hwa skillfully styled Kang Ba-da’s hair. There wasn’t much to be done since they had already come this morning, but it served as a way to facilitate a natural conversation.
“Is he your boyfriend, by any chance?”
“Well, for now…”
“For now?”
“We’re planning to get married soon.”
“……!?”
Ryu Yeon-hwa’s hand came to a halt. Despite having been responsible for Kang Ba-da for years, she had never heard her mention anything about men, so the sudden news of her impending marriage took her by surprise.
“Well, this is quite unexpected. You’ve never shown any interest in men before.”
“I still don’t. I simply want to focus on my research.”
“But then why get married?”
“Wouldn’t wearing a wedding ring quiet them down a bit?”
Kang Ba-da wore a bitter smile. Sensing her struggle, Ryu Yeon-hwa gently caressed her hair.
“Well, based on my experience, it doesn’t always work that way, but…”
“What!?”
“But I believe it’ll be different for you, Ba-da.”
Who would dare to approach the granddaughter of Daehan Group and make advances? Even if they were tolerant enough to overlook her current lifestyle, it would be a different story once she was married.
Unless they were driven by lust.
Or had peculiar preferences.
As long as they weren’t mentally unstable, they wouldn’t dare approach Kang Ba-ada recklessly.
“So, what is it about him that you like? I hope marrying just for the sake of having a man by your side isn’t the reason.”
“Well, that’s…”
“Director, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have something to tell you briefly.”
Ryu Yeon-hwa’s brow twitched slightly. It was against the rules to interrupt conversations with guests unless absolutely necessary. However, precisely because of that, she had no choice but to listen.
“What’s the matter?”
“The person who came with her has fallen asleep…”
“Huh?”
“What?”
Kang Ba-da, who had been listening to the conversation, widened her eyes. She briefly had a blank expression before bursting into laughter.
“Seriously… I can’t believe it.”
“Oh dear, did he do this often?”
“That’s not true, I pushed him a little too hard yesterday and today. He looked tired, so I guess he stayed up all night working.”
A gentle smile graced Kang Ba-da’s face. Ryu Yeon-hwa, who had been observing her, couldn’t resist a slight upward twitch of her lips.
“These are all individual compartments, right? Unni, I’m sorry…”
“Oh, come on. You only call me ‘unni’ in times like this.”
“Sorry, can I ask you for a favor?”
Kang Ba-da smiled gracefully.
Ryu Yeon-hwa shrugged her shoulders while looking at her.
“In return, can you promise to be honest with me later?”
“Huh?”
“About Park Sam 박샘. If you leave them like that, the guests will have sore necks. Be careful and provide some support under their head. Also, let’s reschedule and prioritize the available guests by contacting them.”
“Yes, understood.”
“I’ll adjust the schedule and be back soon, so please wait.”
“Thank you, unni.”
Ryu Yeon-hwa left the room.
Left alone, Kang Ba-da picked up her phone. Out of habit, she opened an app to check her favorite novels.
“Well, anyway…”
She smirked.
Kang Ba-da let out a light laugh as she realized her predictions were correct. Among her favorite novels, there was an updated one.
[(New!) Life Becomes Amazing After Marriage / Bookworm]
Bookworm was the pen name of Kim Ha-neul.
Having identified the cause of the current situation, Kang Ba-da nodded and clicked on the novel. From that moment until Ryu Yeon-hwa returned, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the story.
(1)A bad-tempered person, especially an old one.
