A Light Contract - Chapter 36
Slap!
With a piercing friction sound, Yu Ra’s body staggered. Before she could comprehend what was happening, a sharp voice rang like tinnitus. Yu Gun stepped in front of Yu Ra and shouted.
“Father!”
“What kind of girl are you to appear in such an article! How can I face my in-laws like this!”
Yu Ra cupped her stinging cheek with the back of her hand. She never knew being slapped by someone could be so humiliating.
Since joining Songrim, she had met countless peculiar people, but none as violent as Kang Su. She couldn’t believe how someone of high social status who always preached about civility could resort to such violence.
Yu Ra felt deeply ashamed that this person was her father. She was suddenly glad that Baek Yi Hyun wasn’t here.
Yu Ra stepped aside from Yu Gun, who was blocking her, and coldly retorted.
“It’s a false report.”
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!”
That one sentence from her father was more shocking than the slap. It seemed Yu Gun felt the same, as he raised his voice at their father again.
“Father, you’re going too far.”
“How can you say that when your sister’s article is out there for all to see?”
Yet Kang Su remained unchanged. Should she have known from the moment he raised his hand?
Yu Ra couldn’t understand how a father could accept his daughter’s scandal as fact and label her as an adulterous woman. It was beyond her comprehension.
Shouldn’t parents believe in their child’s innocence, no matter the situation? If not, they should at least verify the facts.
However, her father showed no faith or consideration. He simply believed the words of journalists he had never even met.
Yu Ra briefly reflected on her past. What had she done so wrong? Was it wrong not to have received proper bridal training? Was it because she had insisted on having a career?
Perhaps it was because she had defied her father’s wishes and lived life on her own terms. Maybe that’s why her father believed others’ words over his daughter’s.
Yu Ra had never felt her life to be so miserable and heartbreaking before. Being rejected by one’s parents was like burying one’s self-esteem in a deep quagmire.
It felt like being sucked into a deep, inescapable abyss. The more she struggled to escape, the deeper she was pulled in, like a swamp. She couldn’t bear her own helplessness.
As humiliation, misery, and plummeting self-esteem intertwined, Yu Ra spat out words she knew she shouldn’t, without hesitation.
“If that’s how you feel, then disown me. You said you would, so why haven’t you done it yet?”
“Yu Ra, how dare you speak to your father like that.”
Young Eun, her mother who had been silent until now, grabbed Yu Ra’s arm and scolded her. This, too, was equally miserable. Even as a woman, her mother’s view of her daughter was no different from her father’s, offering no comfort.
“Let go.”
Yu Ra coldly shook off Young Eun’s hand.
“Don’t come looking for me even if you hear news of my death. I’m no longer your daughter.”
At this final ultimatum rejecting family ties, her father’s anger flared even more.
“Jin Yu Ra! How dare you!”
This time, Yu Ra didn’t hold back either. There was no reason to endure anymore.
“How dare I what? How can you expect filial piety when I’ve never been treated like a daughter? I won’t see you even in death. So don’t look for me anymore. I won’t set foot in this house again.”
After pouring out all the resentment she had been suppressing, Yu Ra turned and left the house.
“Jin Yu Ra, stop right there!”
As Kang Su was about to go after Yu Ra, Yu Gun blocked him.
“Father! Please stop. It’s a false report. If parents don’t believe their child, who will?”
“You, you brats!”
Leaving Kang Su fuming with anger, Yu Gun hurriedly followed Yu Ra.
“Yu Gun, Yu Gun!”
He heard his mother calling out anxiously, but Yu Gun was only worried about Yu Ra.
He feared she might get into another accident if she drove in that state. She had been lucky last time, but that luck might not strike twice. With that thought, Yu Gun quickened his pace.
Just as he entered the garage, sure enough, Yu Ra was in the driver’s seat, starting the engine. Without a moment’s hesitation, Yu Gun blocked the garage door.
Yu Ra’s car jerked to a stop. Through the windshield, Yu Gun could see Yu Ra holding back tears with bloodshot eyes.
Yu Gun sighed in relief and approached the driver’s side.
“Get out.”
Yu Gun opened the car door and urged her to get out, but Yu Ra remained motionless, gripping the steering wheel with trembling hands.
“Jin Yu Ra, get out. I can’t let you drive in this state.”
Finally, clenching her quivering hands, Yu Ra got out of the car and moved her trembling lips with difficulty.
“I… I…”
“I know. You did nothing wrong.”
“Hoo.”
Yu Ra took a deep breath, as if trying to compose her surging emotions.
Yu Gun felt his heart breaking at the sight. He had always felt sorry for Yu Ra in the face of their parents’ severe favoritism. It wasn’t the Joseon era anymore, yet Yu Ra was never given a chance simply because she was a daughter.
Yu Gun knew well that if Yu Ra, with her strong sense of responsibility and progressive nature, were to take charge of the company, she would grow it several times more than he could.
He had said this to their parents whenever he had the chance, but it was like preaching to deaf ears. That’s why Yu Ra was always someone Yu Gun felt sorry for, someone he needed to protect, someone he felt deeply attached to.
As a child, Yu Ra used to cry a lot. Her strong pride prevented her from crying in front of others, but she would often cry and express her frustrations when alone with her brother.
But at some point, Yu Ra stopped showing her tears. Yu Gun was always worried that the emotions she swallowed might make her ill.
Seeing her biting her lips to hold back tears, Yu Gun gently said,
“Please, if you want to cry, just cry.”
“I won’t cry over something like this. I already know what Father thinks of me.”
Even Yu Ra’s matter-of-fact tone, as if this was nothing new, worried Yu Gun that it might poison her. As Yu Gun silently patted her shoulder and was about to get into the driver’s seat in Yu Ra’s place, the chauffeur approached them.
“Vice President.”
As Yu Gun turned his gaze, Mr. Noh hesitated before carefully informing them of the situation.
“Well… reporters have gathered outside.”
They had expected this, but not so quickly. Yu Gun loosened his tie in frustration and looked at Yu Ra, who was glancing nervously outside the garage. Only then did he notice her cheek, red and swollen from their father’s slap.
“Mr. Noh, please bring an ice pack first.”
“Yes, sir.”
Yu Ra looked at Yu Gun with a puzzled expression, as if wondering why he suddenly asked for an ice pack. Yu Gun reached out and gently touched his sister’s cheek.
“Your face, it doesn’t look good.”
As if she had forgotten about the pain in the rush of emotions, Yu Ra winced belatedly at the sensation.
“Ask Mr. Noh to take care of your car, and you ride with me.”
To Yu Gun, who was adamant about not letting her drive, Yu Ra spoke in a calmer voice.
“I’m fine. I’ll drive my car to the company.”
Her brother’s small act of comfort had somewhat soothed Yu Ra’s turbulent emotions. In this state, it seemed she wouldn’t have much trouble driving.
“Yi Hyun called. He wants me to take you to his family home.”
At Yu Gun’s words, Yu Ra felt a surge of indignation again.
“I didn’t do anything wrong. I don’t want to hide like this.”
They say silence means consent. If Yu Ra disappeared like this, it would be tantamount to admitting the truth of that article.
She swore she had never done anything shameful, so she felt confident she could endure whatever was said or whatever looks she received.
Yu Ra didn’t think she was weak enough to cower over something like this. Although her father’s words had sent her mental state into a whirlwind, she was confident that others’ reactions couldn’t leave a scratch on her.
“You need to think about your in-laws too. The elders are worried.”
At the mention of in-laws, Yu Ra hesitated for a moment. If they were going to worry either way, it might be better not to show her face. More than that, she was afraid of how her parents-in-law would view her.
“They’ll worry more if they see me.”
“They asked to bring you home from the main house.”
Yu Ra’s eyes widened at these unexpected words. At that moment, Mr. Noh returned with an ice pack.
“Vice President, here you go.”
“Thank you. And Mr. Noh, please take Yu Ra’s car to her newlywed home.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Let’s go.”
Yu Gun left the garage with Yu Ra and headed towards the annex. Yu Gun’s other car was parked there separately.
[This is the timeline separator]Throughout the journey to her in-laws’ house, Yu Ra’s anxiety deepened. If her own parents didn’t believe in their daughter’s innocence, how could she be sure what these virtual strangers would believe?
How many people would treat a daughter-in-law of less than a month as family? She remembered what Manager Jung had said when they had a casual drink together before.
‘I misunderstood when they said they treated me like a daughter. It’s not treating me as a daughter, but like a daughter. There’s a clear difference between being a daughter and being like a daughter. I overlooked that. In-laws are just strangers. Strangers who gave birth to and raised another stranger.’
As an unmarried woman at the time, Yu Ra couldn’t understand Manager Jung’s words. Both those who claimed to treat her like a daughter and Manager Jung who believed it seemed strange to her.
If her own parents didn’t treat her like a daughter, how could someone she’d only met a few times do so? She was surprised how anyone could believe such an absurd claim.
So she was at a loss as to how the CH Group’s owners and Baek Yi Hyun’s parents would think of her, and how she should face them.
“I don’t know how to face them.”
“It’s okay. Your in-laws are good people. You know that.”
“I know, but still…”
Yu Ra knew that Baek Yi Hyun’s parents were good people. Mi Hee’s behavior when choosing the wedding dress was a bit different from the parents she had known.
Even then, Yu Ra had treated Mi Hee as the management president she always dealt with. That was Yu Ra’s way of maintaining formality.
But that was just a glimpse. They hadn’t had long conversations, nor did they share any memories of daily life together.
Except for having dinner together after returning from their honeymoon, they hadn’t met separately.
According to Baek Yi Hyun, the elders didn’t arrange meetings to avoid seeming like they were imposing on the newlyweds. He also said they didn’t want to bother Yu Ra, who was a working woman.
At the time, she had brushed off those words, but now she hoped they were sincere and not just lip service. But Yu Ra knew well that this was just her own selfish wish.
Lost in these complicated thoughts, Yu Ra heard a name she didn’t want to hear.
“Oh Se Jin’s interview was published too, it seems.”
“Interview?”
“He said you two had been lovers for a long time, that you got married during a brief estrangement, but you still love each other. Crazy.”
Yu Ra could only laugh bitterly, it was so absurd. Everything was a lie except for the fact that they had been lovers.
Their relationship hadn’t just become estranged, it had ended with Se Jin’s disappearance, and the talk of love existed only in his delusions, not hers.
Oh Se Jin seemed unable to distinguish between his delusions and reality.
“Crazy! Where does he get off spouting such nonsense.”
Yu Ra was so angry she felt heat rising to her head. Throughout the journey to her in-laws’ house, Yu Ra racked her brains about how to deal with this nonsense, but couldn’t come up with any good solutions.
Had Baek Yi Hyun seen that article? What would he think? Yu Ra was anxious about how he might view her because of this scandal.
Before she knew it, they had arrived at Yi Hyun’s family home. A security guard checked their identities and opened the large iron gate. After driving down a long path and stopping the car in front of the mansion, Yu Gun urged her to go in.
“Go in.”
“Thanks, brother.”
“Don’t mention it. Hurry and go in.”
Even after Yu Gun’s car had passed through the iron gate and disappeared, Yu Ra lingered, unable to enter the house.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]