"Thirty-Nine" episode 3 delivers shocking and, at the same time, heartbreaking scenes featuring Jeon Mi Do, Kim Ji Hyun and Son Ye Jin.
Interestingly, the JTBC series' viewership rating jumped from its second episode.
'Thirty-Nine' Viewership Rating
According to Nielsen Korea, "Thirty-Nine" episode 3 garnered an average nationwide of 7.8 percent, setting a new personal best.
With the third episode breaking its own record, this means that the Wednesday and Thursday K-drama will continue its unstoppable upward trend.
'Thirty-Nine' Episode 3 Recap: Cha Mi Jo's Brewing Anger and Disappointment
Cha Mi Jo (Son Ye Jin) was engulfed with hatred, disappointment and fear as "Thirty-Nine" episode 3 highlights the shocking news that she found out.
Still in a state of shock, the head dermatologist attempts to deliver the sad news to her best friend, Jung Cha Young; she gets surprised by what she hears.
In her office, the acting teacher was visited by Kim Jin Seok's (Lee Moo Saeng) wife, Kang Seon Joo (Song Min Ji).
She confronted Chan Young about her alleged affair with her husband and told her to back off; instead of fighting back, she took it all in and calmly asked her to leave.
IN CASE YOU MISSED: Jeon Mi Do Reacts to Comparison Between her Role in New Drama 'Thirty-Nine' and 'Hospital Playlist'
Upon hearing the phrase "life is short," Mi Jo gets triggered and slaps Kang Seon Joo and grabs her hair, shocking her best friend.
Seeing her best friend do such unfamiliar actions made Jung Chan Young feel anxious towards Mi Jo.
Cha Mi Jo Tries to Tell Jang Joo Hee About Jang Chan Young's Illness
In "Thirty-Nine" episode 3, Cha Mi Jo couldn't hide her distress and this was noticed by her other good friend, Jang Joo Hee (Kim Ji Hyun).
As the duo had a conversation over dinner, Mi Jo seemed to be finding the perfect timing to tell her.
Sensing that she is also facing issues with her mother's cancer scare, the head dermatologist chose not to tell Joo Hee; however, she felt like Mi Jo was hiding something from her.
"I'll feel hurt if you're hiding something from me," she tells her friend, but Mi Jo refuses to spill the devastating details.
Cha Mi Jo Tells Kim Seon Woo + Pays Jang Chan Young a Visit
It was her colleague Kim Seon Woo (Yeon Woo Jin) whom she first told about Chan Young's illness, stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Seon Woo once again saw Mi Jo in her vulnerable state. After her talk with him, she finally dared to tell Chan Young.
The acting teacher was baffled as to why Mi Jo wanted to meet her so bad, which was unlikely of her.
The duo had a heart-to-heart talk at her house, but Cha Mi Jo just couldn't find the right timing.
However, Chan Young can feel that something is bothering her friend, so she blurted out a joke and said, "I heard that people change when it is time to die, so what kind of disease did you get?" she asked which made Mi Jo furious.
At this time, she knew that something was wrong after Mi Jo asked her to do another check-up.
Although she refused, Cha Mi Jo assured her and said, "It's not going to happen to us," as if it were his own mantra.
