My Arranged Marriage Partner and I Are a Perfect Match
I never thought I’d end up liking the woman my father had arbitrarily decided would be my marriage partner. I didn’t even know her name, her face, or her personality. There was no way I’d fall for her.
“You’re L.J., right?”
“I’ve read every single one of your books a hundred times. From your debut novel you wrote as a teenager all the way to your most recent release. Every last one.”
“I’m your number one fan!”
…At least, that’s what I believed until the moment I actually met her.
The day of the arranged meeting arrived faster than I expected.
My father, who usually only cared about business and money, had suddenly become obsessed with this particular marriage arrangement. He kept pestering me about it every single day until I finally caved and agreed to the meeting just to shut him up.
Honestly, I had zero expectations. I figured I’d show up, exchange a few awkward words, and that would be the end of it. But the moment I stepped into the reserved room at the hotel, I froze in place.
The woman sitting across from me looked strangely familiar.
She had long, straight black hair that fell neatly past her shoulders, clear and bright eyes, and a small face that made her look younger than her actual age. Even though she was dressed modestly in a neat blouse and skirt, her natural beauty stood out immediately.
But it wasn’t just her appearance that caught me off guard.
I knew her.
No, more than that—I was certain I’d seen her somewhere before.
While I stood there stunned, she slowly rose from her seat, her eyes sparkling with unmistakable recognition.
“L.J. You’re L.J., aren’t you?”
The name that came out of her mouth was my secret pen name—the one I used as a bestselling author to hide my identity from the public and avoid being dismissed as some privileged writer.
My real name was Kang Ijun. L.J. was the alias I’d been using for years.
How did she know?
Before I could even process my shock, she continued speaking, her voice full of pure, unfiltered excitement.
“I’ve read every single one of your works a hundred times. From your debut novel you wrote as a teenager all the way to your most recent release. Every last one.”
She clasped her hands together tightly in front of her chest, her cheeks flushed with genuine emotion.
“I’m your number one fan!”
Her bright, sparkling eyes looked exactly like those of the fans who sometimes waited for me at book signings.
Only then did the pieces click into place.
The woman standing in front of me was the very same person who used to leave passionate comments on every single one of my novels under the username “NumberOneLJFan.”
She was the reader who had been following my writing for over ten years.
And now, she was the woman my father had chosen as my future wife.
This had to be some kind of joke.
I stood there speechless for a long moment before finally managing to speak.
“…You’re my arranged marriage partner?”
She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes still shining with that same fan-like adoration.
“Yes! My name is Seo Yeonwoo. It’s so nice to finally meet you in person, Author-nim!”
Her voice was bright and cheerful, completely at odds with the stiff, formal atmosphere that usually accompanied these kinds of arranged meetings.
I had imagined all sorts of scenarios before coming here—maybe she’d be cold and calculating, or perhaps overly polite and distant. But I never expected my arranged marriage partner to turn out to be my biggest fan.
Life really does have a twisted sense of humor.
I sat down across from her, still trying to wrap my head around the situation. She, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease as she smiled at me warmly.
“I was really surprised when my father first told me about this arrangement. I never imagined my favorite author would turn out to be my future husband.”
She let out a small, delighted laugh, as if she still couldn’t believe it herself.
I stared at her, feeling strangely unsettled.
She was pretty. There was no denying that. But more than her looks, it was the way she looked at me—with pure, unfiltered admiration—that made my heart beat just a little faster.
I’d never been particularly interested in romance or marriage. My life had always revolved around writing. The only thing that ever made my heart race was the moment a new story idea struck me or when I finished a manuscript I was truly proud of.
But right now, sitting across from Seo Yeonwoo, I felt something I had never experienced before.
It was… uncomfortable.
Not in a bad way. Just… new.
“So… you really read all my books?” I asked, trying to regain some semblance of control over the conversation.
She nodded vigorously.
“Of course! I’ve been a fan since your debut. I even went to all your signings whenever I could. Though I never imagined I’d meet you like this.”
She smiled shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
I suddenly remembered the mountain of comments she had left on my novels over the years. Passionate, detailed, sometimes even giving me constructive criticism that actually helped me improve.
She really had been my number one reader all this time.
“This is… quite the coincidence,” I muttered.
“It really is! I was so shocked when I saw your photo. I thought it must be fate.”
Fate.
The word felt both ridiculous and strangely fitting.
I had always believed that marriage was just a contract between two families. Love had nothing to do with it. That’s why I had been so indifferent about this whole arrangement.
But now, sitting across from my biggest fan, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
Seo Yeonwoo looked at me with those bright, expectant eyes, clearly waiting for me to say something.
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
“Well… since we’re here, should we at least have a proper conversation?”
Her face lit up instantly.
“Yes! I’d love that. There are so many things I want to ask you about your books. Especially the ending of your third novel—I still have so many questions about that plot twist!”
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Even in an arranged marriage meeting, she was still acting like a dedicated fan.
As we started talking, I realized something unexpected.
The conversation flowed naturally. More naturally than I had ever experienced with anyone else.
We talked about my novels, about the stories I wanted to write in the future, about the things she had felt while reading them. She understood my writing better than anyone I had ever met.
And strangely enough, I found myself wanting to know more about her, too.
What kind of life had she lived? What made her fall in love with my stories? What did she do when she wasn’t reading?
Before I knew it, two hours had passed.
When the meeting finally ended and we stepped out of the hotel, the sun was already beginning to set.
Seo Yeonwoo turned to me with a bright smile.
“Thank you for today. I had a wonderful time.”
I looked at her for a moment, then found myself saying something I never thought I would.
“Would you… like to meet again sometime? Not as an arranged meeting. Just… as two people who enjoy the same books.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, then sparkled with pure joy.
“Yes! I’d love that!”
As I watched her wave goodbye and walk away, I felt a strange warmth spreading through my chest.
Maybe my father’s decision hadn’t been so arbitrary after all.
Maybe this arranged marriage… was the beginning of something I had never expected.
I shook my head with a small smile.
Who would have thought that my perfect match would turn out to be my number one fan?
Life really does work in mysterious ways.