A Marriage with an Expiry (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 15
Hyun Woo returned from his family home by car and glanced down at his wristwatch.
It was late.
But the image of the woman who had said she’d wait for him regardless came to mind, making his heart race with urgency.
The car entered the city roads, heading not toward his home or Imperial Hospital, but toward Seohan Hospital.
It was the hospital where So Ri’s mother, Soo Hyang, was staying.
Dialysis room at Seohan Hospital.
Soo Hyang, looking as plain as she had a few days ago, lay on the hospital bed.
Why did such trials have to descend upon this mother and daughter all at once?
Hyun Woo sat on the auxiliary chair beside Soo Hyang’s bed, his expression turning bitter.
“I’m sorry, Hyun Woo. No—should call you Professor Seo now, shouldn’t I?”
“It’s fine. Please feel free to call me however you’re comfortable.”
“I may look like this, but it’s nothing serious. You know that, Professor Seo, right?”
Hyun Woo didn’t reply, thinking there was no such thing as an insignificant illness.
“I couldn’t sleep all night, thinking I’d said something foolish to you that day, you know.”
It had sounded almost like a last request—asking him to look after her daughter if anything ever happened to her.
Soo Hyang had been diagnosed with stage two chronic kidney failure and was undergoing regular dialysis.
Although her condition wasn’t critical yet, she seemed terribly worried about So Ri, who had neither a father nor any brothers.
“It’s fine.”
“I know Professor Seo is discreet, but I feel I’ve burdened you too heavily.”
That was why Soo Hyang felt deeply apologetic toward Hyun Woo.
She was most concerned that knowing this secret would cause him pain.
On top of that, she’d jokingly asked him that day, “What do you think of our So Ri as a bride?”
Shamelessly, she’d even insisted he take care of So Ri at least until she became a specialist.
Hyun Woo, who had remained expressionless, wasn’t particularly surprised.
Seeing this as a glimmer of hope, Soo Hyang resolved to press her request now.
It was a somewhat cruel plea, but Soo Hyang decided she’d think only of her daughter So Ri.
She knew just how hard each step of her daughter’s journey to become a doctor had been.
She couldn’t possibly become an obstacle standing in the way of her daughter’s dream—to become her mother’s pride.
“But the reason I called you here again is because I want our So Ri to—”
“Forgive me, but I have something to say first.”
At that moment, Hyun Woo recalled So Ri’s clear, transparent eyes.
The image of So Ri, laughing and playfully teasing among her colleagues like a child, flashed through his mind.
He hoped her eyes and that bright, cheerful face wouldn’t turn into something as bleak as his own.
It wasn’t merely out of pity for Soo Hyang’s request.
He wasn’t entirely sure what this feeling was, but because of it, Hyun Woo solidified his resolve.
“I will marry So Ri.”
After her night rounds through the ward, So Ri was studying in the on-call room, textbooks spread open before her.
Fortunately, most of yesterday’s surgical patients had regained consciousness, and the night was passing without major incidents.
Around three in the morning, she hit a wave of exhaustion.
So Ri chased away her drowsiness with caffeine, stretched her stiff body, and let out a yawn.
“Ugh! Everything’s throbbing like crazy.”
There wasn’t a single spot that didn’t ache whenever she moved even slightly.
Standing in front of the mirror, she lifted the hem of her blouse and twisted to inspect her back.
She’d been struck so hard it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say her back was covered in autumn-colored bruises.
“I wonder if Ji Woo’s okay. She’s probably sleeping soundly, right?”
It was too late to call, so she picked up her phone, then set it back down.
Suddenly, the earlier events replayed vividly in her mind. In all her life, she’d never heard such foul language or experienced such a group assault.
Seo Hyun Woo, who had instantly silenced that whole commotion.
The palpable shift in the atmosphere after his arrival.
“I should’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
He must’ve looked incredibly cool, no doubt.
That was the nature of one-sided love—
always wanting to witness every single thing he did, wherever and whenever.
So Ri plopped back down onto her chair, elbows pressed firmly onto the desk, forming a flower-like cradle with her hands.
The unintentional warmth of his arms around her.
His chest, firmer than she’d expected.
His breath, rough and labored from running all the way to her room.
The vivid thumping of his heartbeat against her ear.
Perhaps Yoo So Ri might even find the dust on his clothes endearing.
“If it weren’t for my leukemia, I’d say I’m seriously injured—seriously.”
Chuckling softly as she shook her head to herself, she suddenly heard his voice again.
“I’ll be your guardian.”
“Let’s get married.”
To say such a thing so casually in that deep, calm voice.
Her face instantly flushed red.
This was a first in Yoo So Ri’s life—someone who’d completely shattered her soul in an instant.
Tomorrow, the moment she saw him, she’d have to confess everything.
No matter what, she absolutely had to.
Just thinking about it made her heart and mind feel heavily weighed down again.
Beep-beep beep-beep.
Suddenly, the pager rang out.
So Ri bolted out of the on-call room in a panic.
“Head nurse!”
“Dr. Yoo! Patient Choi Min Woo, who had brain tumor surgery yesterday—he doesn’t seem able to breathe on his own. His SpO2 is at 79 and keeps dropping.”
The emergency had occurred in the ICU.
The young patient, in his twenties, hadn’t regained consciousness even thirty full hours after surgery.
If he was still in this state despite being on a ventilator, it meant his airway was collapsing.
“We’ll most likely need to perform a tracheostomy. Please contact his guardian.”
So Ri let out a deep breath.
As she stepped out of the ICU, the patient’s suddenly summoned mother stood anxiously nearby, her face soaked with tears.
“You must be terribly shocked.”
So Ri approached and gently clasped the guardian’s hands. They were rough, dry, and trembling.
“This is something that occasionally happens to patients who haven’t regained consciousness after surgery.”
Her sturdy son had undergone major surgery and still hadn’t woken up—it must feel like her blood was draining away.
Through their joined hands, So Ri could clearly sense that overwhelming fear and despair.
“To put it simply, imagine the body sinking deeply into sleep—the patient’s airway has slackened similarly. So we’ll make an incision here…”
So Ri explained as calmly and kindly as possible, aiming to minimize the shock despite the gravity of the situation.
“Once he regains consciousness and can breathe independently, we can remove it.”
“I trust only you, Doctor. Please do whatever it takes. Just save my son… just help him wake up.”
“Yes, I’ll do my very best.”
So Ri exchanged a quick glance with the head nurse and swiftly began preparing for the tracheostomy.
Everyone moved with military precision, not even pausing to notice how late it was.
When she finally grasped the scalpel, So Ri’s heart trembled violently. Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed solely on her hands.
Stay calm. You can do this.
While performing the tracheostomy, no one noticed her shaking—not even a little.
She was, surprisingly, the type who thrived under pressure.
“Phew… it’s done.”
So Ri stood up, wiping her forehead. Cold sweat had soaked her face and back unnoticed.
A gentle smile spread across the head nurse Ae Sook’s face.
“Saturation’s coming back up. Good job, Dr. Yoo. Looks like this isn’t your first tracheostomy.”
“It is… actually.”
Still trembling in her legs, So Ri steadied herself with a hand on her knee, then rose to her feet with a faint smile.
“To be honest, I was so nervous I nearly died.”
“You did exceptionally well.”
“Thank you. It’s thanks to you, Head Nurse.”
“Now go get some rest.”
So Ri bowed slightly to Ae Sook.
But the moment she turned around, she froze like a statue.
Leaning casually against the doorway with arms crossed, Seo Hyun Woo stared intently at her—she had no idea when or how he’d gotten there.
He looked as if he’d just arrived for work, immaculate from head to toe.
His neat hairstyle, crisp white coat, perfectly knotted tie, and polished shoes—
he was the kind of man who, no matter when you saw him, looked absolutely flawless.
Straightening up from his relaxed pose, he spoke softly.
“Not bad for a first attempt, Dr. Yoo So Ri.”
It was rare praise from Professor Seo Hyun Woo—hard to earn, indeed.
The first compliment she’d received as a physician.
So Ri’s face flushed without warning.
It was five in the morning.
Having received his order to follow him, So Ri was now being led toward his research lab.
His long strides were especially fast, forcing So Ri to scurry along half a step behind.
Staring at his broad back, she muttered a question.
“Professor, weren’t you supposed to go back to your family home with Ji Woo? When did you return to the hospital? How do you manage to come in this early—when do you even sleep?”
Since his shirt color had changed, had he just come back after changing clothes?
She genuinely wondered when he ever took time to rest or sleep.
He suddenly halted mid-step, turned halfway around, and shot her a sharp look.
“Do I really need to report my entire schedule to a first-year resident?”
“Huh?”
She’d asked out of concern and discomfort with the silence, but his reply was icy cold.
“No, I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
He resumed walking and tossed off a remark as if discarding it.
“If my wife were asking, that’d be another story.”
So Ri’s eyes widened again as she trailed behind him.
If she became his wife, would he share his daily plans with her openly, unlike now?
Actually—she wouldn’t even need him to tell her.
Once married and living together, she’d naturally know when he came and went, wouldn’t she?
Just briefly imagining marriage to him made her realize how extraordinary the privileges of being his wife would be.
The wife who could know every move Seo Hyun Woo made.
“Huh?”
Lost in thought, she noticed he’d already gotten far ahead.
She quickly picked up her pace to catch up with his accelerating steps.
Following him into his lab, So Ri carefully closed the door behind her and tensed slightly at the sudden quiet.
He headed straight to his desk and asked casually,
“When will you get off work?”
“I was planning to take a short nap in the resident room.”
Her tone was stiff, overly formal and polite.
Apparently, due to yesterday’s incident, his mood still didn’t seem particularly good.
Expressionless, he pulled something out from under his desk and placed it on top.
“Take this with you.”
“What… is it?”
She stepped closer and saw a luxurious four-compartment bento box.
“Are you giving this to me to eat?”
“Were you planning to avoid me again today and just eat a sandwich instead?”
He asked indifferently as he settled into his desk chair.
Without realizing it, So Ri subtly shook her head.
“I didn’t have much of an appetite yesterday.”
Her lips pursed slightly, touched by his unexpected kindness.
“Can I open it for a moment?”
He gave a light, indifferent nod, as if telling her to do as she pleased. So Ri stepped forward and carefully opened the bento.
Bulgogi, rolled omelet, Vienna sausages shaped like octopuses, blanched broccoli, colorful fruit, and even kimbap.
Her eyes sparkled as she examined each compartment—it was a bento packed with care.
“I really love Vienna sausages. Ji Woo must’ve requested this for me.”
Given how full it was with her favorite foods, it was clearly a thoughtful gift from adorable Ji Woo.
While admiring the bento, So Ri glanced up—and found him already typing away at his computer, focused on the monitor.
She stared at him intently.
Sensing her gaze, he asked without looking up,
“What?”
He answered out of habit, then frowned slightly, dissatisfied with his own automatic reply.
Even bringing her the bento had already pushed him past his usual limits.
The real issue was that, strangely, he kept exceeding his limits specifically with Yoo So Ri.
When Hyun Woo finally looked up, So Ri was quietly watching him, her clear eyes soft, lips slightly parted.
With a soft, silent sigh, he exhaled.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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They are too shy to each other. I hope she will be a little relaxed ☺️
Oh no..she’s gonna tell fl about her mom.yup time for drama
I feel like the dad reveal will be a big one like he is some kind of big shot.