Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: I Became a Married Woman at 18 [01]
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My name is Sung Yu-na.
I was born into an ordinary family, blessed by my parents. I didn't have any special talents, but this second life was happy in itself.
Maybe ordinariness was the greatest blessing of all.
Around the age of five, I finally realized it.
This world was no different from the Earth of my previous life. There were no monsters threatening humanity, no superpowered individuals wielding magic.
Cars speeding down the streets, convenience stores lit up all night, bustling internet communities. Everything felt familiar. Comfortable and close to home.
The only difference was the dazzlingly advanced life sciences technology.
Humanity had completely conquered the human body, making it possible to maintain a youthful appearance indefinitely if desired.
Even same-sex couples could have children without issue. Step out onto the street, and you'd see them everywhere.
Women walking hand in hand, two moms cradling a baby and smiling. Every time I saw scenes like that, my heart would flutter.
Would I one day love someone like that?
Could I walk alongside that person, laughing together?
Curiosity and anticipation swirled inside me.
Even I was my parents' first child, after they'd waited 200 years.
As their long-awaited only daughter, I soaked up all the love in the household.
It was a warmth I could never have dreamed of in my previous life.
I loved my parents' gentle touches so much that I'd hover around them whenever I could.
Every time Mom stroked my hair or gave me a bright smile, happiness filled my chest to the brim. So this is what it feels like to be loved.
Ordinary but happy days. A truly blessed life.
People would see me decked out head to toe in pink and call me a little princess.
Maybe because of memories from my past life as a man, my face would heat up every time I heard it.
I got into the habit of hiding behind Mom whenever I felt shy. My heart would race if a stranger spoke to me.
My face would turn beet red, and I couldn't even look them in the eye. I'd want to answer inside, but no words would come out.
Like a scaredy-cat, my lips would just tremble.
Time marched on relentlessly.
Before I knew it, I was starting elementary school.
The awkward girl's body gradually became familiar.
The girl in the mirror no longer felt strange.
Memories of my past life faded bit by bit.
Sometimes vague scenes would surface in my dreams.
But they'd scatter like mist the moment I woke up.
I wonder what friends are waiting for me.
Clutching my red schoolbag with excitement, I opened the classroom door.
That's when I noticed one girl.
Sleek black hair neatly combed back.
Skin so white it was almost transparent. Eyes like obsidian, intelligent yet coolly detached.
She looked like a painting come to life. I could tell instinctively that she'd grow into a stunning beauty.
A person who would one day shake the world.
The girl lifted her head, as if sensing my gaze.
Without hesitation, she strode over and grabbed my hand. What if she thinks I'm weird?
Tension gripped me, and I swallowed hard.
Sweat started beading on my palms.
Huh? That's weird.
The girl was staring right at me with a smile.
Is there something on my face...?
Flustered, I looked around for a mirror, but she gripped both my hands even tighter.
The soft, warm sensation froze me in place.
My heart pounded wildly. So loudly I thought she could hear it.
"Hi. I'm Han Seo-rin. Who are you?"
Her voice was clear and bright.
Curiosity sparkled in those eyes that had seemed so cold.
"...Sung Yu-na."
I barely managed to answer in a trembling voice.
Seo-rin beamed at me.
From that day on, we were friends.
We'd walk to school hand in hand every morning.
We spent every break together.
In the cafeteria, on the playground, on the way home—we were always together. Before long, we couldn't imagine life without each other.
One month, one year, five years, ten...
When did it start...?
I couldn't even fathom a life without Seo-rin by my side.
Cherry blossoms blanketed the streets once more, and the season filled with warm sunlight returned.
Just like that, I turned eighteen.
Time had changed my body a lot.
My breasts had grown. My waist had slimmed.
The monthly cramps were familiar now, too.
Today, I sat in front of the mirror, finishing my makeup with practiced hands. I patted on foundation, drew my eyebrows, and applied a light pink lip gloss.
I ran a comb through my pink bob, letting it down slowly. My hair sparkled in the morning sunlight.
This cotton-candy pink was one of my few points of pride. I checked the mirror.
Ordinary eyes, ordinary nose, ordinary mouth. Nothing standout about my looks, but this hair color definitely caught the eye.
Things that used to embarrass or feel awkward were now just everyday routine.
The man from my past life felt like a distant dream.
I was living more and more fully as a woman.
The reflection in the mirror felt natural now.
Comfortable, even.
"Yu-na! Seo-rin's waiting in the living room."
"Okay! Be right out!"
I quickly shed my pajamas.
I pulled my uniform from the closet and spread it on the bed.
First, the white blouse with its pink ribbon. I buttoned it up deftly, one by one. Then the checkered skirt fitted to my waist, black stockings, and finally the navy blazer.
I checked the mirror to make sure the ribbon was straight.
Perfect. Total cutie.
A smile tugged at my lips at the thought of seeing Seo-rin today.
Time to go meet her.
My childhood friend, Han Seo-rin.
If I'm an extra, she's definitely the protagonist. She excelled at everything perfectly.
Like she could see the future, she succeeded in every investment.
Her athletic and academic skills were world-class. And she was the granddaughter of the top biotech conglomerate.
Honestly, a plain girl like me didn't deserve such a friend.
But for some reason, Seo-rin always sought me out.
She brushed off other kids no matter how much they approached.
But with me, she'd smile so brightly.
That made me happy.
It felt like I was special.
Like I had her all to myself.
"Take care today."
"Yeah...! Good morning, Seo-rin!"
I opened the living room door, and Seo-rin greeted me warmly.
Mom brought out tea and snacks with a bright smile.
But something felt off. Unlike usual, Seo-rin kept avoiding my eyes.
Fidgeting and glancing away—it was suspicious. Was something wrong?
Anxiety crept up on me.
"Are you feeling sick...?"
Worried, I leaned in close.
I touched her forehead with my hand. She did feel warm. To check more precisely, I brought my face closer.
Foreheads touching.
Her hot body heat transferred over.
Our breaths mingled, so close.
A faint, sweet scent wafted from her.
Seo-rin's perfume. Different from usual. Was it a special day?
I glanced down, and her face was flushed bright red.
Her breathing seemed quicker, too.
"...Yu-na, too close. Move back a bit."
Seo-rin murmured softly, flustered.
Seo-rin's hitting puberty, huh.
We used to stick this close as kids without a care... Time is cruel. A pang tugged at my heart.
While I sulked for a moment, Seo-rin set a document envelope and a heavy bag on the table.
Thud! The table shook with the heavy sound.
"Whoa! Kids, what's going on?"
Mom jumped at the noise, pausing her work and rushing over.
I couldn't hold back my curiosity either.
"Seo-rin, what's all this? You didn't run away from home, did you?"
In that instant, Seo-rin's eyes turned deadly serious. A sense of something huge about to happen washed over me.
My nerves stood on end, cold sweat trickling down.
From the envelope came documents labeled [Marriage Registration]. Then she unzipped the bag, revealing stacks of bills crammed inside.
Cash.
An enormous amount.
I stood there blankly, unable to grasp the situation. My mind went white. What is this? It didn't feel real.
Seo-rin gripped my shoulders tightly and slowly spoke. Her hands trembled with strength.
"Yu-na."
"Yeah...?"
"I like you. A lot. Really a lot."
My heart started racing like mad.
My ears rang.
I couldn't breathe properly.
"Will you marry me? And Mom, please accept these 50 billion won as dowry."
The marriage papers and 50 billion won.
Too much to refuse.
No. No. No. That's not it!
It wasn't about the money.
Seo-rin's earnest gaze captivated me.
Desperation shone in her eyes.
Fear, too. She was trembling at the thought I might say no.
"S-Seo-rin... what is all this..."
"It's real. I want to spend my life with you. You're the most precious person in the world to me."
Mom looked back and forth between us in shock, then smiled quietly and nodded.
"Yu-na, what do you think?"
"I... I..."
My throat tightened. My eyes burned.
Something welled up inside me.
Was it happiness? Panic? I couldn't tell.
Emotions swirled in a storm.
Fear. Excitement. Joy.
All crashing in at once.
I steadied my breath, placed a hand on my chest, and looked straight at Seo-rin.
Say it. Don't run away. Tell her my true feelings.
"I'm not worthy, but please take care of me."
At eighteen, on a bright spring day with cherry blossoms dancing in the sky, I became a chaebol daughter-in-law.
But is it really okay to be a married woman at this age? Cherry blossom petals fluttered past the window.
As if blessing our new beginning.