A Marriage with an Expiry (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3
After wiping the disinfected area with gauze, Hyun Woo quickly applied ointment on top. He figured it was probably best to close the wound as soon as possible.
His expression was utterly indifferent as he finished sticking on a bandage to keep the cut from reopening and began tidying up.
“So Ri! Ta-da!”
Just then, Ji Woo entered the dining room, holding wine bottles in both hands.
“Oh, Oppa’s here? When did you get here?”
“You really…”
“What? Did So Ri get hurt?”
Ji Woo’s eyes instantly filled with shock upon seeing the blood-soaked tissues.
“How badly is she hurt? What even is all that?”
“It’s nothing. Just a little.”
“How did this even happen! Be more careful!”
Hyun Woo, who had been putting the first-aid kit away, glanced at Ji Woo’s chattering disapprovingly.
“If there’s something you wanted to eat, you should’ve just asked Auntie to make it. Don’t make the guest do it.”
“So Ri’s not a guest! And I didn’t make her do anything—I asked because I wanted to eat her pasta.”
Suddenly, So Ri and Hyun Woo’s eyes met.
Hyun Woo’s gaze drifted back to So Ri’s injured hand, and the faint crease between his brows, which had just smoothed out, reappeared.
“Your friend’s a surgeon. You should’ve made sure she didn’t hurt her hand.”
“Oh! That’s right! What are we going to do, So Ri!”
So Ri simply smiled awkwardly, the corners of her eyes crinkling slightly.
“I’m sorry I made you cut your hand just because I suggested pasta. Does it hurt a lot?”
“It’s fine now.”
“Cuts like that actually take a while to heal. I’m really sorry—it’s my fault.”
“No, no, it’s not.”
Ji Woo kept examining So Ri’s hand from every angle, clearly distressed. Meanwhile, Hyun Woo quietly finished cleaning up the mess around them.
“But how did you even know Dad wasn’t home?”
“Father called me. Said you were alone and told me to check on you.”
“Well, that worked out nicely. You know, right? So Ri became a resident at Jeguk Hospital—neurological surgery, same as you.”
“Yeah.”
He replied nonchalantly while putting the first-aid kit aside.
“So we’re having a little celebration party tonight. You should join us.”
“Ji Woo, celebration for what exactly?”
So Ri felt like covering Ji Woo’s mouth.
She wasn’t even a specialist yet—what was there to celebrate about becoming a resident?
Her friend’s boasting felt especially embarrassing today.
“You two celebrate on your own.”
So Ri, who’d secretly hoped he’d stay, felt a little disappointed at his reply.
At that moment, Hyun Woo’s eyes briefly met hers before quickly looking away.
“I’ll make the pasta myself.”
“Really? You will? That sounds great!”
She’d expected him to leave the dining room right away, but instead, he suddenly rolled up his sleeves.
Oppa cooking? He seemed like the kind of man who’d never let even a single drop of water touch his hands—only antiseptic.
“So Ri, you haven’t tried Oppa’s cooking yet, right? He’s actually really good.”
“Really?”
That’s seriously unfair.
She’d heard he was good at every sport—so if he’s good at cooking too, what on earth isn’t he good at?
“When Oppa was in the States, his cooking got noticeably better. Every time I visited, he’d cook for me himself.”
“I see.”
“Just wait—you’ll be amazed.”
So Ri never imagined a day this flattering would come her way.
Hyun Woo stood confidently in front of the stove and started cooking.
Ji Woo stepped out onto the living room terrace to take a phone call.
That left just the two of them again.
So Ri felt she couldn’t just sit there doing nothing, so she moved to a spot where she wouldn’t get in his way and said,
“If you need any help, just let me know.”
She meant she’d stay nearby, ready to assist if needed.
Hyun Woo turned halfway toward her. His calm eyes seemed almost reproachful.
Fortunately, So Ri quickly understood why.
His gaze had landed precisely on her injured finger.
“Just sit down. It’s distracting.”
At Hyun Woo’s instruction, So Ri immediately returned to her seat at the dining table and began watching him cook with fascination.
For So Ri, who’d grown up without a father, seeing a man cook was an unfamiliar sight.
She watched intently as he started by chopping the garlic she’d failed to cut properly herself—it imprinted in her mind like a photograph.
Unlike her, who always seemed flustered in the kitchen, his movements were calm—even elegant.
Could cooking really look that impressive?
Then again, maybe it was just because it was Seo Hyun Woo…
“How was your hospital internship?”
“Huh?”
She startled at the sudden question—she’d been so absorbed in watching him that she’d zoned out.
“I heard you worked hard.”
So Ri, who’d been comfortably resting her chin in her hand while admiring him, straightened her posture.
“I really wanted to do well, but looking back, I wonder if I just ended up bothering the patients. All I can think about are the things I regret.”
Hearing her thoughtful answer, Hyun Woo’s lips unconsciously curved upward slightly—but since he was facing the stove, So Ri couldn’t see it.
“I still think about that tonkatsu we had in front of your school that day.”
“That one you barely finished?”
“Well… it tasted good, but it was pretty big.”
She’d forced herself to eat as much as she could back then, just to spend a little more time with him.
“If you remember it so fondly, just go eat it again.”
“This time, I’ll treat you.”
Hyun Woo turned and gave her a quick glance.
She hadn’t even invited him along—she’d gotten ahead of herself.
So Ri quickly added,
“You gave me a gift too, after all.”
But under his persistent, sharp gaze—like he was silently asking, “Why would you do that for me?”—her voice dwindled.
“Thanks to you, I did well on the college entrance exam, got into university safely, and even became a doctor.”
“Well, that’s only natural.”
He replied as if it were no big deal.
After all, it had been eight years—her belated thanks probably seemed oddly out of place.
She had so much more she wanted to say, but she held back, afraid he’d see right through her feelings.
“Do you handle spicy food well?”
“Huh? Oh—no.”
Unaware of her embarrassment, he changed the subject without further comment.
A moment of silence passed between them.
The air felt suddenly awkward, as if So Ri herself were the only thing out of place.
Soon, he came over with a sky-blue ceramic bowl holding beautifully plated pasta and set it down in front of her.
Her eyes widened in surprise, and a soft gasp escaped her lips.
“Wow.”
“But won’t it be hard to eat with your hand like that?”
“No, not at all.”
Though So Ri wasn’t particularly greedy, she answered firmly—just in case he considered taking her portion away.
“At least it’s your right hand that’s hurt.”
He had no idea how deeply moved she was—enough that even if both hands were injured, she wouldn’t have cared.
Hyun Woo, still gazing at her injured hand, asked,
“Do you like wine?”
“…No?”
She felt oddly flustered by the simple question.
She didn’t particularly like alcohol—or drink well, for that matter. The only thing she truly liked was just…
“You know better than to drink alcohol with an open wound, right?”
“…”
His deep, dark-chocolate eyes stared straight into hers, silently conveying something unspoken.
For a moment, So Ri’s mind went blank.
His unrealistically handsome face was suddenly too close, stealing her focus—and her heart, which had abruptly jumped out of place, pounded loudly in her ears.
His fresh, subtle scent instantly enveloped the air around her.
“Yoo So Ri.”
“…”
“Yoo So Ri?”
“…Yes?”
“What’s your answer?”
She couldn’t even recall what he’d asked…
But she couldn’t admit she hadn’t heard him.
“What were you thinking about?”
“I’m sorry.”
She’d just drifted off for a second… No, it was because Oppa was staring at her from way too close.
She must’ve made another mistake.
‘Ugh, what do I do?’
With a blank expression, he turned and took lemons and some green leaves out of the fridge. Ice clinked softly in a glass.
Moments later, a goblet with a long straw was placed in front of So Ri.
Inside floated lemon slices and mint leaves, and carbonation fizzed gently.
“Is this lemonade… Did you make this for me?”
“So your wound doesn’t get infected.”
Meaning: Please don’t drink wine if you can help it.
“…Thank you.”
Her heart—which she’d barely noticed before—felt strangely vivid today.
So Ri couldn’t take her eyes off the lemonade in front of her.
Its tangy citrus aroma and fizzy bubbles seemed ready to awaken her long-dormant crush cells.
Or perhaps they’d already awakened.
After dinner, So Ri and Ji Woo enjoyed their own cozy little party.
Catching up with Ji Woo after so long, they could probably talk until sunrise and still have more to say.
“Let’s go up to my room now. I have something for you.”
“For me?”
“Yeah, come on, get up.”
Ji Woo, having finished an entire bottle of wine and already pouring another, led the way out of the dining room.
Hyun Woo Oppa must be somewhere on the second floor.
As So Ri climbed the stairs, she patted her cheeks lightly and absentmindedly smoothed her hair.
When she reached the second-floor hallway, she instinctively lowered her footsteps.
“Looks like Oppa’s in the study. I wonder if I’d want to do that too, even at home.”
“Come on, let’s go in.”
Not wanting to disturb him, Ji Woo and So Ri whispered quickly as they slipped into the room.
Ji Woo started rummaging through the closet.
She handed So Ri a soft apricot-colored, flowy dress—brand new, with the tags still on.
“Try this on, So Ri.”
“I’m fine. When would I ever wear something like this?”
Used to always wearing neat work attire, So Ri was decidedly unenthusiastic.
“You’re a doctor—no need to stand out like this all the time. But you should dress up a bit more. You’ve got a beautiful figure and a pretty face—don’t let them go to waste!”
Pushed gently on the back, So Ri found herself standing in front of the full-length mirror. Ji Woo held the long dress up against So Ri’s shoulders.
The color seemed to brighten her face even more. The skirt fluttered softly—it was delicate and lovely.
“I knew it’d look perfect on you.”
“Thank you. I’ll wear it well.”
“You’ve got to try it on! It’s totally different from just holding it up. Come on, put it on.”
Pressed by Ji Woo, So Ri reluctantly changed clothes.
The dress, a soft apricot hue, wrapped So Ri’s slender frame like a delicate spring blossom.
“It feels a little strange.”
“Turn around once.”
So Ri moved shyly, following Ji Woo’s instructions. Ji Woo scrutinized her like a hawk.
“Does it look weird?”
“Weird? If you wore this to the hospital, all the doctors—and patients—would faint. Well, patients fainting wouldn’t be good. This is serious!”
So Ri finally laughed at Ji Woo’s over-the-top praise, though the dress still felt strange on her.
“You really think it’s okay?”
“You look absolutely stunning! You could be in a commercial! Oh—I need to change too.”
Ji Woo changed into a mint-green, flowy dress and suddenly suggested taking photos.
They snapped full-length mirror shots and close-up selfies, cheeks pressed together.
For a while, they giggled and chatted like teenagers again.
It was nearly midnight.
Ji Woo, having finished her second bottle of wine, was now drunk and had already fallen asleep.
So Ri, too, felt tipsy from the wine she hadn’t touched in a long time—her head heavy.
‘Can I really get this drunk from just two glasses?’
Her pale face was flushed red, as if someone had dabbed rouge on her cheeks.
Feeling warm, she wanted some cool night air.
Quietly, she stepped out alone and wandered through the garden.
Just then, her mom called.
“Yeah, Mom. I’m at Ji Woo’s place. I’m staying over and going home tomorrow. If I came back tonight, Ji Woo would pout…”
A soft spring breeze playfully brushed past, fluttering So Ri’s skirt.
While talking, she curiously watched her skirt ripple in the wind.
“Yeah, you should just have one glass and go to sleep too. Tomorrow, I’ll cook you something delicious for dinner. Mm-hmm. Sleep well.”
After hanging up with her mom, she reflected again on the evening.
Remembering Hyun Woo cooking at the induction stove, her face warmed again—and she found herself smiling for no reason.
And the pasta—what a taste!
When she went home tomorrow, she’d have a whole bundle of stories to write in her diary for the first time in ages.
It had been an unexpectedly, overwhelmingly happy evening.
“Ah, this is nice.”
She let her arms hang loosely, cooling her flushed cheeks in the night breeze,
When—thud. A warm weight settled gently on her shoulders.
“You’ll catch a cold like that.”
It was an oversized cardigan. It carried a scent that instantly reminded her of someone.
Now in short sleeves, Hyun Woo stood beside her, facing the same direction.
“When did you come outside?”
“A while ago. Needed to clear my head.”
He glanced briefly at her, then frowned faintly.
“What even is that outfit?”
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (22)
Girl how do you have constant nose bleeds and not go check it out atleast once
See i know he is completely and utterly in love with her
Why is sori’s mom at hospital is she sick too?
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🥲
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
Bannedbaddie
I really think hyun woo is in love with her he is just masking it so well