Read Marriage Agreement Novel Translation Chapter 6

(결혼합의)

Author: 문스톤 (Moonstone) | Translator: Genie

#josei #drama #romance #contract-marriage #mature #modern #slice-of-life

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Jinhyuk contacted her again the very next day. That morning, Eunsu was not in the best of moods, having barely slept due to the turmoil of meeting him the day before. She had replayed their conversation over and over in her head, analyzing every word, every expression, and every pause. Each replay only left her more confused and restless.

As the new day began, the conversation she’d had with him the previous day felt even more surreal. Woo Jinhyuk, of all people, proposing marriage to her—it was something no one would believe, least of all her. It felt like she was stuck in a dream, one she couldn’t quite wake up from. Her rational mind screamed at her to dismiss it as a bizarre joke or misunderstanding, but her heart… her heart had other ideas.

“If word spreads among the alumni, it’ll cause an uproar for sure,” Eunsu muttered cynically, stretching. The thought alone sent a wave of unease coursing through her. She could already picture the reactions: the shock, the whispers, the judgmental stares. Just the fact that she’d received a marriage proposal from Jinhyuk would be enough to turn her life upside down. Her unmarried peers and seniors—even the married ones—would come after her with metaphorical pitchforks. Ever since rumours spread that Jinhyuk had started going on arranged dates after returning to Korea, everyone had been desperate to secure a place by his side.

Surely, no one could have imagined that Jinhyuk would propose to Seo Eunsu. That much, at least, was satisfying. If she did end up marrying him, she could finally shut up those who had treated her like a bug and dismissed her as irrelevant. She couldn’t deny the appeal of that thought.

To be honest, there were a few people she’d love to show up with Jinhyuk at an alumni gathering, mocking them right to their faces. Eunsu chuckled to herself at the thought of their shocked expressions, imagining the satisfaction of seeing their jaws drop. But just as quickly, she shook her head, trying to banish the fantasy. There was no point in indulging such thoughts.

But such a thing would never happen. Yesterday, Jinhyuk had left as soon as he heard about her circumstances. It was a bit disappointing that the person who initiated both the meeting and the proposal had left so quickly, but she could understand his position. He had no reason to stick around after hearing about her connection to Jinsoo and his father.

Jinhyuk must know what kind of person Park, Jinsoo’s father, was. He wouldn’t want to get tangled up in something so uncomfortable. Still, the fact that he had reached out first and even proposed marriage was enough to keep her thoughts spinning in a chaotic loop. Eunsu smiled bitterly, her heart heavy with mixed emotions.

Her life had effectively ended the moment Park decided to use her as a scapegoat after Jinsoo’s death. From then on, she had resolved to live quietly, avoiding attention as much as possible without provoking Park. She had become a shadow of her former self, her dreams and aspirations buried under layers of fear and caution. That’s how she intended to continue, maintaining her low profile and staying out of trouble.

But then—

Just as she resolved to let go of her expectations, her phone rang. The sudden sound made her jump, and when she saw Jinhyuk’s name on the screen, she froze in shock, staring blankly at the display. For a moment, her mind went completely blank, unable to process what was happening.

The ringtone stopped while she was still in a daze. Startled, she didn’t know what to do, but then Jinhyuk called again. This time, she managed to answer, her hands trembling as she brought the phone to her ear.

“Busy?” he asked as soon as she picked up. His voice was as calm and steady as ever, completely unfazed.

“No,” she replied, though her hands were trembling with surprise and nervousness. Her voice sounded small, almost fragile, even to her own ears.

“If you’re free, let’s have lunch together.”

The moment he said that, her mind, which had just started to settle, became a mess again. Lunch? What did he want to talk about now? Was he planning to take back his proposal? Or… was he going to explain his reasons?

“Oh, um…”

“Do you have other plans?” he asked, his tone neutral but firm.

“No.”

“Then come out. We need to finish the conversation we didn’t complete yesterday.”

*Didn’t we finish talking yesterday?* Eunsu thought, confused. She couldn’t understand what he meant, and as she hesitated, his voice came again, this time with a hint of impatience.

“Is it uncomfortable for you to meet?”

“N-no, it’s not,” she stammered. It wasn’t discomfort but confusion that left her flustered, though she didn’t say that to him. In truth, if it meant getting out of the house even an hour earlier, she would have run to Busan if he had asked her to meet there.

After agreeing on a time and place, she ended the call, her heart pounding as if she had just sprinted 500 metres. Her chest felt tight, her mind racing with possibilities.

*Maybe he’s still thinking about marrying me. Maybe, after hearing my circumstances, he gave it some thought and decided to go through with it anyway. Maybe I will marry Woo Jinhyuk…*

“No.”

The next moment, she shook her head firmly, trying to clear her thoughts.

“Don’t get your hopes up, Seo Eunsu. You don’t even know what sunbae wants to say yet.”

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