A Marriage with an Expiry (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 1
It was unmistakably a spring day.
The air felt so refreshingly crisp after the light spring rain that it almost seemed sweet enough to drink.
The ground was damp, and even each breath she took carried a hint of moisture.
She didn’t mind her feet, clad in danhwa shoes, splashing through puddles—her steps felt light and cheerful.
She was unusually excited today.
“Accepted as a resident at Imperial Hospital!”
Memories of her intern year at Seo Han Hospital flashed through her mind like a lantern slide show.
She couldn’t even recall how many days she’d walked this route to the bus stop with her mind fully present—
she’d usually half-slept through her commute to work or staggered home in a daze.
Yet she’d never once regretted choosing to become a doctor.
So Ri absentmindedly traced three letters—his name—with her foot onto the pavement of the bus stop.
He had been the special person who awakened her dream of becoming a doctor during her aimless days as a student.
Even amid crushing exhaustion that made her head spin, just imagining herself someday wearing a white coat alongside him at the hospital filled her with happiness.
And that dream was now closer than ever to coming true.
How could she not be overjoyed?
On her way to meet her childhood friend Ji Woo after a long time, a soft smile spread across her face like watercolor paint.
Just then, Ji Woo called.
“Hey, Ji Woo! I’m at the bus stop. I’ll be there soon once I get on the bus—about 30 minutes?”
As she glanced toward the approaching bus entering the boarding area and lifted her bowed head, her vision suddenly went pitch black.
Why is this happening?
She squinted up at the sky, now startlingly clear, with suspicion.
The sky, stripped of storm clouds, looked so beautiful it seemed ready to produce a rainbow—surely not the sort of day to blame for dizziness.
She shook off her lightheadedness lightly. After sleeping all day, she figured her dizziness must be from hunger.
She boarded the bus that had just pulled in.
The afternoon bus had plenty of empty seats.
Accumulated fatigue gently weighed down her excited mood, and yawns kept slipping out.
“I slept so much already… and yet I’m sleepy again…”
Bathed in the drowsy sunlight, her eyelids quickly grew heavy.
A luxury house in Hannam-dong.
Ji Woo, who’d been eagerly waiting for So Ri, dashed barefoot all the way to the front door.
“Yoo So Ri!”
Ji Woo threw her arms around So Ri, enveloping her in a rich rose fragrance—flashy and bold, just like Ji Woo herself.
“Why are you so thin now? People might mistake you for a patient instead of a doctor.”
Ji Woo’s greeting after such a long time was a bit intense.
“But why are you wearing sunglasses inside the house?”
“Weren’t there reporters waiting outside the gate?”
“No, I didn’t see any.”
Ji Woo plopped So Ri onto the living room sofa and removed her sunglasses, revealing deep yellowish-green bruises around her eyes.
Caught completely off guard, So Ri’s eyes widened in shock.
“What on earth happened to your face?”
“A few days ago, I got caught up in a scandal with Daimonster Jay—remember?”
“Yeah. You called me crying about it.”
Seo Ji Woo, who debuted as an ice cream model at age five, had long enjoyed nationwide adoration.
Her career had been rather illustrious:
Hailed as the nation’s little sister, she thrived effortlessly as both a model and an actress, then suddenly debuted in a girl group, enjoying a long second golden era.
Recently, she’d starred in a film by the acclaimed Director Hwang, earning invitations to international film festivals and consistently raising her market value each year.
Who would dare treat someone like Seo Ji Woo this way?
“Some of their sasaeng fans hid at the drama set the day before yesterday and threw eggs at me!”
“Teenagers did that to you?”
Daimonster was the currently reigning top male idol group, composed of five members.
Any female celebrity even tangentially linked to them famously suffered severe backlash from obsessive fans.
“My manager hyung had just stepped away for a moment to reschedule a conflicting appointment when they suddenly showed up.”
“You just let them do that?”
“I’d have dragged them to the police station if I’d been in any state to think clearly.”
“Wow… that must’ve been scary.”
“Now I get scared just seeing kids in school uniforms. But did you know getting hit in the face with a raw egg really hurts?”
Given the vivid bruises now marring Ji Woo’s fair skin, it must’ve truly hurt.
“Let me take a closer look—are your eyes okay?”
“My eyes are fine, but I thought my cheekbones and forehead were going to shatter.”
“That sounds really painful.”
So Ri examined Ji Woo’s face with a pitying gaze.
“Oh, by the way—congratulations, my friend! You got accepted as a resident at Imperial Hospital!”
Ji Woo, who’d been playfully whining just moments before, suddenly clapped her hands and beamed brightly.
“Oh, that? Why the sudden congratulations?”
“Of course it’s worth celebrating! It’s a little disappointing it’s not at my dad’s hospital, though.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“What are you sorry for? I was just joking.”
It would’ve been more natural to continue as a resident at the same hospital where she interned, but she’d had no choice—she’d chosen this path for the sake of her dream:
to become a professor at Imperial Hospital, the leading institution in neurosurgery in Korea.
Just like the person who’d planted that dream in her heart.
“So, Yoo So Ri—you’re officially our oppa’s student now?”
“I guess so. That’s how it turned out.”
At the mention of his name by Ji Woo, So Ri gave an awkward smile.
Seo Hyun Woo.
Ji Woo’s older brother was So Ri’s faded first love and long-held object of admiration.
He’d always walked the elite path, standing firmly at the very peak of every pyramid.
In every way, he was utterly unique—no one could compare.
He was so flawless, she’d never dared speak to him casually.
Hearing about his fame at Imperial Hospital didn’t surprise So Ri at all.
She’d always just assumed such success was only natural for someone like Seo Hyun Woo.
Though she pretended calmness in front of Ji Woo, being accepted as a resident at Imperial Hospital held far deeper meaning for So Ri.
She desperately wanted him to see the aimless student he once knew grow into a real doctor.
“Do you think our oppa already knows? Should I call him?”
“No! Please don’t.”
So Ri waved her hands in panic, clearly uncomfortable.
Just hearing Hyun Woo’s name made her cheeks burn.
Her heart fluttered wildly at the mere mention of him—it almost felt abnormal.
She wasn’t a teenage girl anymore; how could she still feel shy recalling a childhood crush?
She felt slightly flustered.
“But will our oppa be okay to work with? Isn’t he at least better than a complete stranger?”
Ji Woo asked, feigning concern.
“What about Hyun Woo oppa?”
“Don’t you know him after all these years? He’s kind of… unusual.”
“Really…?”
So Ri fumbled, trying to recall what exactly made him “unusual.”
But all she could think of were reasons why he was admirable—nothing problematic came to mind.
“He’s a germaphobe, a perfectionist, and constantly drops brutally honest comments. Even girls who openly like him end up crying and running away. That pretty much says it all.”
Ji Woo gathered her long hair into a ponytail and shook her head slowly.
Only now did So Ri realize what aspect of him Ji Woo was referring to.
She, too, couldn’t remember ever seeing him look disheveled.
Recalling Hyun Woo’s usual cool expression, So Ri pursed her lips thoughtfully.
“He’s gone completely mad over hospital work these days. Imagine having to face that lunatic every day—what a nightmare for his colleagues.”
Ji Woo wrinkled her delicate nose in genuine disgust.
“Our oppa’s talent is scolding people with just his eyes—that look like he knows everything already. Ugh.”
So Ri chuckled softly at Ji Woo’s words.
When she was very young, visiting Ji Woo’s house, she’d been terrified of him—tall, expressionless, and intimidating—so much so that she’d tiptoed around trying to avoid him.
She never made eye contact and even avoided going to the bathroom for fear of bumping into him.
Thinking back on it now, she found it rather silly.
Her fear of him had only transformed into pleasant fluttering about eight years ago.
But listening to Ji Woo now, he seemed even more distant and unapproachable—grown farther away with time.
And now, he wasn’t just her friend’s older brother—he was her professor.
It would probably be just as hard to speak to him in the future as it had always been.
“I’m suddenly worried. About me.”
“You don’t need to worry. He wouldn’t pick on you—he knows exactly what kind of friend you are to me.”
Actually… wouldn’t he treat me even more strictly?
She suspected Hyun Woo would draw a firm line between personal relationships and professional duty.
She’d have to be extra careful not to overstep simply because of their private connection.
Though, given how impossible it felt to cross any line with him anyway, maybe her worry was unfounded.
Either way, it was clear he’d become an especially challenging professor for her—more than for anyone else…
“Anyway, Yoo So Ri—you brought stuff to stay over tonight, right?”
“Is there really no one else home?”
“Yep. Dad left yesterday for a seminar in San Francisco.”
“Then Hyun Woo oppa doesn’t even come home anymore?”
“You know our oppa doesn’t get along with Dad. He moved out to an apartment near the hospital ages ago.”
“Oh, right.”
Why had she expected anything different? She felt oddly disappointed in herself for it.
“Aren’t you hungry? Should we eat first? What do you feel like?”
“I don’t mind—anything’s fine.”
“I sent the housekeeper home early because I wanted some cozy time just for us two.”
“Oh, that explains why no one’s around.”
“She left a bunch of things prepared, but honestly, I’m craving your signature vongole pasta, Yoo So Ri!”
“Fine, I’ll show off my skills a bit after so long.”
So Ri rolled up her sleeves.
Ji Woo, thrilled, immediately latched onto So Ri’s arm, clinging tightly to her side.
“I’ll sneak into Dad’s wine cellar and bring us back something special.”
“Don’t ‘sneak’ anything—just one glass each, okay?”
“I can drink a whole bottle by myself, you know?”
“That’s not something to brag about. Anyway, if you get drunk, I’m just leaving you here—so behave.”
Ji Woo pouted, sticking out her lips in mock disappointment, and shot So Ri a narrow-eyed glare.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Don’t leave me and go home! Yoo So Ri! So Ri, you’re all I have! Pleaseee!”
Delivering her line like a dramatic actress, Ji Woo wrapped her arms tightly around So Ri from behind.
Why must you unleash that terrible affection on me?
“Seo Ji Woo, let go. It tickles.”
“Nope.”
They’d first met in the waiting room of a drama set—
twenty whole years ago.
So Ri had come along with her actress mother, Soo Hyang, and Ji Woo was playing Soo Hyang’s daughter in the drama.
Naturally cheerful and affectionate, Ji Woo always disarmed everyone around her with her cute charm—
and So Ri was no exception.
“Since we haven’t seen each other in so long, we absolutely have to sleep cuddled up in my bed. Stop trying to run off somewhere, okay?”
Ji Woo squeezed So Ri’s waist tighter and shook her playfully.
“Alright, alright, I get it.”
“Then I’ll go get the wine!”
Watching Ji Woo dash off excitedly toward the wine cellar, So Ri smiled faintly. She really was just a grown-up child.
“Honestly, she’s hopeless.”
So Ri naturally headed toward the dining room.
Though she hadn’t visited often recently, she’d been coming in and out of this house for nearly twenty years—she had a rough idea of where everything was in the kitchen.
Rummaging through the fridge and freezer, she found most of what she needed: clams, garlic, shrimp…
“Should I start by purging the sand from the clams?”
Though a bit clumsy after cooking so infrequently, she hummed happily as she worked.
She soaked the clams in cold water to purge them, then placed a few peeled garlic cloves on the cutting board.
Scritch-scritch.
The knife was so sharp it sliced the small cloves into paper-thin pieces.
“Oh! Ah…”
In an instant, a slippery clove shot from her fingers—and her index finger slid straight into the blade.
Bright red blood began dripping steadily.
She looked helplessly around near the sink for something to wipe it with, but found nothing.
Just then, she sensed someone behind her—Ji Woo must have returned.
“Ji Woo, can you grab me some tissue?”
She stared dazedly at the round drops of blood pooling on the sink counter, but suddenly a large hand reached out and gently took hold of her small hand.
“…?!”
A wave of cottony fragrance washed over her from above, and she felt the warmth of another person against her shoulder.
“What happened.”
His low voice hit her like a thud—
her heart, which had been sitting securely in place, plummeted to the floor.
“Be more careful.”
A single sentence, half-scolding, half-worried, laced with a sigh, pierced straight into So Ri’s ears.
She froze completely, unable to utter a single word.
Her lips dried instantly, and her already round eyes widened even further.
Too afraid to turn her head, she simply blinked slowly, over and over.
“Looks like it’s a deep cut.”
A soft navy handkerchief wrapped around her bleeding finger.
Swish-swish. Every slight movement he made caused his tailored jacket to rustle audibly—
and for that, So Ri was deeply grateful.
Otherwise, he might have heard her heart pounding loudly enough to burst.
“Hold it up high like this.”
Hyun Woo, frowning as if he himself were injured, gently lifted So Ri’s hand above her head.
His touch was firm yet gentle.
“Stay just like that. I’ll go get some ointment.”
“…Okay.”
So Ri, stiff as ice, managed a faint reply, forcing her throat to work.
Thump-thump.
Soon, she felt the warmth that had pressed so closely against her back begin to fade.
Still dazed, she turned her head just enough to glance behind without being noticed.
She saw the tall figure of a man walking away from the dining room.
Could she have imagined it? She wanted to rub her eyes to be sure—but couldn’t, with her injured hand.
She took a deep breath—and the lingering scent he’d left behind tickled her nose.
That fragrance, like soap bubbles floating through a forest—
it unmistakably belonged to her first love: Seo Hyun Woo.
When male lead is the homewrecker
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
I’ve read the novel below twice already. Girls, I’m highly recommending it to you!
The female lead? Not a good person.
The second male lead? Not a good person.
The male lead? Willingly plays the third party, breaking up the female and second male lead’s relationship despite all the warnings from his friends—so yeah, he’s definitely not a good person either.
Basically, nobody in this novel is simple-minded or without scheming.
The female lead starts off as the male lead’s secretary, but don’t worry—later on, she takes over the company while the male lead steps back to support her. He won’t steal her spotlight, overshadow her, or dull her shine.
I love novels where men are out here snatching wigs, tearing each other down, and going to war just to win the female lead’s affection. And this is exactly that kind of novel. Most of Hai Dai Ran’s works have this dynamic. You’ll see the male characters’ emotions being pushed to the absolute extreme.
There’s even a scene where the second male lead exposes the male lead online for being a homewrecker. The brotherhood immediately gangs up on him, dragging him through the mud. I find it compelling —it completely flips reality on its head, where usually, women are the ones fighting over a man and getting torn apart by the sisterhood.
For me, female leads in the novels I read should only struggle in their careers, not in love. But if the brainless romantics in the story are all men? I have zero complaints.
I’ve pretty much read all of Hai Dai Ran’s novels and even translated all of them—her works are just my thing. I’ll slowly upload everything here. One day, when my website is official, I hope I can invite her to join as one of the star authors.
Here’s the story synopsis:
One-line summary: She is his lifelong obsession, to the point where he was willing to be a third wheel, scorned by society, just to wedge his way into her relationship with her fiancé.
Cold-hearted and indifferent female lead + Scheming and subservient CEO male lead
Intro 1:
“I know she doesn’t love him.”
With blood trickling from his clenched fist, Rong Xiu gazed at the woman before him, his eyes clouded with anguish. Hidden in the wardrobe, he had witnessed Fan Xia – the woman he desperately loved – in an intimate embrace with her fiancé. Yet his heart still yearned for her, defying all reason.
Fan Xia, the elegant and composed assistant, carried something mysterious in her eyes whenever she looked at her fiancé, Wen Lan Sheng. Strange occurrences began to surface – secret meetings with the young Gu Jin Yi, an unexplained withdrawal of 5,000 yuan… Then suddenly, her fiancé’s sister, Wen Jing, violently attacked her.
In this matriarchal society, Rong Xiu had risen to become the chairman of a powerful healthcare conglomerate, breaking through gender prejudices. But for the first time, he willingly stepped into the shadows as the other man, disregarding his friends’ warnings to become her secret lover.
Because he had discovered the truth – Fan Xia wasn’t the pure angel everyone believed her to be. And perhaps, he was the only one capable of helping her execute her mysterious plan…
Intro 2:
Rong Xiu’s biggest regret in life was missing out on Fan Xia.
He secretly loved Fan Xia for 7 years.
Watched her go public with her boyfriend.
Watched her kiss her boyfriend at their wedding.
Until that man blissfully nestled in Fan Xia’s arms, obtaining everything he could only dream of.
The crazy jealousy stripped away his hidden secret love, layer by layer, burning like wildfire.
Fan Xia, how can I have you!
【Reading and Trigger Warning Guide】
1. Female dominant, male submissive, male pregnancy
2. Male lead schemes his way to the top, male competition
_____
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.
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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (24)
So why is hyun woo not working at his own dad’s hospital?
I really think hyun woo is in love with her he is just masking it so well
Girl how do you have constant nose bleeds and not go check it out atleast once
Inline Comments (1)
She couldn't recall a single word she'd just said.
Oh I will tell you..you said some pretty harsh things🥲
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Bannedbaddie
Hope its he fells first and harder