So, on to Episode Two.
The episode begins with where we left off… Jung Woo sitting in his office, about to interview the new Office Manager candidate. Just like the end of last episode, Jung Woo leaps out of his chair, bows deeply and offers her his seat, and she happily takes it. But then, there's the question of “Why are you here?”
In walks Min Kyu. He sees that they’ve seen each other. Cheok Hee notices the sign says ‘Lawyer So Jung Woo’ and she’s horrified because it’s starting to dawn on her what that means: that she’s interviewing to be *his* employee. Which would be even more humiliating that I’m sure this already is, considering how horribly she treated him in the past. Min Kyu smiles as he watches her reaction. Which makes me stifle a laugh. He’s doing this on purpose. And he acts so oblivious all the time. I think I have his number now. He’s watching everyone like a hawk, even as he acts clueless.
Jung Woo has yet to catch on. He stands there and blinks rapidly.
Switch to Min Kyu’s office. He’s sitting now, tapping a steno pad with his fountain pen. They’ve gotten the news and the still-prideful Cheok Hee is having a problem with it. Min Kyu’s telling her to work under him? Jung Woo isn’t much happier, but he’s objecting for much less prideful reasons. And Cheok Hee is offended that he would have a problem with working with her. Min Kyu looks completely impassive as Jung Woo objects: Gastritis, high blood pressure, hair loss, and what's even worse… Jung Woo motions to his groin area as he mutters “even erectile dysfunction.” He declares that he developed more than 10 illnesses while working under her.
Cheok Hee makes a face like Jung Woo’s being such a sissy as he protests that he could write a thesis paper on all of the effects that such stress gave him! Jung Woo is at a loss. Cheok Hee scornfully tells him that he's like a five year old who doesn’t know where he should and should not intrude, interfering, informing, and talking back word for word. And if you would have listened to him, instead of being prideful, you would still have your license. Cheok Hee declares that she would rather tell the President to go buy her cigarettes, than work under Jung Woo. She declares that he was a dog reciting poems in her school yard. Wow, she compared him to a dog again. It was bad enough before, but now he’s her superior and she should be the one saying, ‘Yes, Lawyer. You’re right. I apologize.’ Did she learn nothing in the last 3 years? Jung Woo is appropriately offended.
Cheok Hee declares that Min Kyu telling her to work under Jung Woo isn't right. Min Kyu drops his pen, done with the ‘conversation.’ He first addresses Jung Woo: For now Lawyer So if you've come into this field you will know well what a contract is. There's nowhere in your contract that says that you have a say in the matter of subordinate employees, right? It only says how much you have to pay as penalty if you were to break the contract unilaterally.
Unlike Cheok Hee, Jung Woo’s face is respectful, even as he protests, even though he knows it’s futile.
Min Kyu points out that there were 2,000 law students who graduated that year and Jung Woo is is six years older than the average age of the graduating class. Happiness is based on merit, employment is based on age. Min Kyu smiles as he tells Jung Woo that he shouldn’t forget that. Jung Woo can only look at the floor, because he knows that his protests aren’t going to change anything and he is going to have to go along with his boss.
Cheok Hee chuckles to herself as Jung Woo gets dressed down. Min Kyu smiles pleasantly as he turns to Cheok Hee. Pleasantly, he tells her that if she wants to leave, the door’s tight there. And I can almost hear him add, “and don’t let it hit you on the way out.” Cheok Hee’s eyes almost pop out of her head. Jung Woo is a little surprised at Min Kyu’s words and looks over at Cheok Hee for her reaction.
Outside the office, the younger secretary – Woo Yoo Mi (Lee Yul Eum) is trying to follow the conversation. The older one – Yoon Jung Sook (Hwang Young Hee) returns from getting some tea. Yoo Mi wonders what is going on. Jung Sook *knows* Go Cheok Hee.
Back in the office, Cheok Hee asks Min Kyu if he’s doing this to make her leave on her own two feet. Min Kyu replies that he’s doing it because he knows she won't leave. Heh. And poor Jung Woo is just going to have to endure it. Jung Woo adjusts the tie around his neck. Min Kyu asks what other firm would use a lawyer who got her license suspended. So, not disbarred, just suspended. Which means that she *can* get it back. He tells her that she’s a kid where playing is harder than working. Meaning that she’d rather work than play. Cheok Hee protests with a “Sunbae!” Heh.
Then Min Kyu starts to list why this is Cheok Hee’s only option:
- She doesn’t have the connections to be able to sell insurance
- She’s too old to work at a karaoke bar
- She’s not fast enough to work the cash register at a supermarket
Min Kyu looks at his watch and announces that he’s going home. He hops out of his seat and goes. Jung Woo can only count to ten to contain himself. Has to be a professional.
Cheok Hee arrogantly looks over at Jung Woo and tells him that she almost didn't recognize him. Jung Woo does some yoga breathing as mentions his hair, skin, suit, especially the way he talks. Jung Woo tries to act really cool – but he reminds me of one of the T-Birds from ‘Grease’ – as he tells her that it’s all thanks to her. After he was so respectful and became so quietly mannered in how he lived, all it returned to him was mistrust and he realized that it was all in vain. She can’t believe that he’s still saying that it wasn’t him. He can’t believe that she still won’t believe him.
Cheok Hee tells Jung Woo to drop it. It's not like whether if it's him or not will change the situation. She dismisses him and he has to fight the urge to punch her. He walks over to the door and opens it and declares that whether she believes him or not it doesn't matter to him either, so she should go ahead and leave.
We hear the secretaries’ conversation as we see a flashback of the trial which lead to Cheok Hee’s downfall. After Dong Goo’s suicide, Cheok Hee admitted her mistake without a fight (she meekly acknowledged the truth). Yoo Mi wonders what Cheok Hee has been doing since then. Jung Sook says that Cheok Hee’s family is well known in Busan as a wealthy one. Either they own a cruise line or several thousand yachts. And we get to see the high life. I can’t believe that they’re playing ‘Uptown Funk.’ I love that song. People enjoying champagne and caviar. But no Cheok Hee.
Sports car. Is it Cheok Hee? Nope. She’s working at Abeoji’s market. He is a fish monger. And this is a very different Cheok Hee. She’s pleasant, obliging. Abeoji arrives and Cheok Hee tells him that she just sold some eel to a guy who is cheating on his wife. Because the couple was walking arm-in-arm, eating expensive stuff, AND the man paid *with cash,* he’s cheating. That’s not cynical at all.
They decide to eat. Abeoji asks if Cheok Hee has heard from her sister and chastises her for not grabbing Mi Hee when she came to rob her house. Abeoji declares that it’s bad enough that Mi Hee drove the shop that Cheok Hee bought for her into the ground (using her hard earned money, at that!). Has Cheok Hee ever had the chance to spend any of the money she earned as a lawyer? Cheok Hee replies that she’s just trying to repay Mi Hee for having taken her mother away from her. Now that’s messed up reasoning. I’m sure that it’s not something that happened on purpose. Abeoji blinks in disbelief at his daughter’s brain.
Cheok Hee sighs and wonders if her sister is eating properly. She wishes she still had money, because back then, Mi Hee would come looking for her to get it. She sighs and declares that she better hurry and earn some more so she can see her sister again. That is truly messed up. I don’t care what kind of jerk Cheok Hee can be some time, this stuff with Mi Hee is messed up. That brings up a point for Abeoji: how long is Cheok Hee planning on staying there? Did she, perhaps, get fired?
Cheok Hee chokes on her food a little. She blusters that a lawyer can’t get fired. There’s no such thing. Abeoji wants to know what she’s not in Seoul, then. She lamely says that her firm rotates vacations and it’s her turn. Doesn't Abeoji know that people like her have to rest at times for the other lawyers to make money and live? Abeoji isn’t buying it, but because he doesn’t know for sure, he doesn’t say anything.
Cheok Hee notices the fish Abeoji brought and when he tells her what type of fish it is – a Line Flounder – she scolds him because of how expensive the fish will be to sell. Abeoji says that it’s a special order by an excellent customer of the store. Cheok Hee goes to deliver it. It’s a really *nice* flat with an impressive view. The fish decides to flop out onto the floor and flop away so that she has to chase it. It ends up jumping into the *chlorinated* pool and is totally okay. Cheok Hee jumps into pool after the fish. Out climbs Min Kyu. And thus explains how they ran into each other. He acts surprised but I know he *knew*. I’m not buying this clueless act of his.
Jung Sook says that Min Kyu said that he just happened to run into Cheok Hee at a party. Yoo Mi nods like she gets it. Cheok Hee leaves Min Kyu’s office. Jung Woo follows and asks her if she’s not leaving. Cheok Hee smugly smiles at him and tells him he should just break his contract and pay the fine. He shoots back that she would probably be better off working as a helper at a karaoke place. Men's tastes these days are completely varied. With clenched teeth, she smiles and says that she can’t sing. He replies that he doesn’t have money. They get interrupted by the secretaries, who say that a consultation has been waiting a while to meet with him.
Jung Woo adjusts his tie and Cheok Hee ribs him for it being his first time. Jung Woo tells her that she should be using honorifics, Miss Go Cheok Hee! She repeats that it must be his first consultation, *Office Manager So.* He leans in and corrects her: *Lawyer* So. She can’t help but snort at that. Still emasculating after 3 years. He just needs to bust out the: All you need to say is ‘I understand, Lawyer. I’m sorry, Lawyer.’
Switch to a man with a gut, lying on floor, stuffing his face with chips and watching television as his wife cleans. She picks up one of his discarded socks and glares at him. He uses his barefoot to turn up the volume on the TV. Wife starts vacuuming him. He rolls out of the way and laughs. Wife’s had enough and yells that they should get a divorce!
[Episode 2: The worst reunion of my life]
Back to the office. Jung Woo is apologetic for making her wait. He closes the blinds and introduces himself. Wife’s name is Lee Yong Yun. She asks him to please help her get a divorce. He asks her what kind of problem it is. Wife looks stymied. He asks if the husband is meeting someone else. No. The in-laws? No. Violence? No. Definitely not that. Then what? Just because. Pac-Man dying sound.
Outside, Cheok Hee is pacing and trying to hear Jung Woo’s interview. Jung Sook has brought drinks: Ice Americano. Cheok Hee tells her that she usually drinks iced Americanos without ice, but Jung Sook can get to know those things slowly. Wow. Jung Sook stops Cheok Hee from taking one of the glasses and motions with her head toward the conference room, a meaningful scowl on her face. Cheok Hee can’t believe that Jung Sook is suggesting that *she* bring Jung Woo and the client the Americanos. Jung Sook nods. Then, Cheok Hee gets evil and happily smiles. I’m dreading what she’s going to do.
Cheok Hee pleasantly enters and gives them the drinks. Jung Woo doesn’t even want to look at her. Jung Woo tries to get on with the consultation. Just because? Wife replies that it’s just because. Just because. Just because she hates everything, just because. Jung Woo replies that if that's the reason, it will be difficult to divorce. Wife wants to know why. Jung Woo points out that her husband doesn't want a divorce, right? Wife sighs and says that he probably hasn’t even noticed that she came there. Jung Woo tells her that there has to be a liable reason for her to sue for divorce. “Just because” to be recognized as grounds for a failed marriage is difficult. And Cheok Hee has yet to leave the room.
Wife wants to know why her just saying that she can't live with him because she doesn't like him isn’t enough of a reason. Jung Woo replies that legally, even if she hates him, there must be an appropriate reason. Cheok Hee makes a face. Wife asks Jung Woo if there has to be a reason for you to hate someone. You just hate them because you hate them. Cheok Hee can’t hold her tongue any more. Jung Woo makes a face and snaps his fingers as he waves for her to leave. Cheok Hee doesn’t go. Instead, when Wife asks if there isn’t a way, Cheok Hee pipes up that of course, there is a way. When Wife is interested, Cheok Hee just joins the consultation.
Cheok Hee sits at the table and asks Wife if Husband goes to church? If not, does he have depression? Jung Woo has the good sense to ask Cheok Hee to step outside. Outside, astonished, he asks her if she’s decided to break up someone else's family! Non-plussed, she replies that it’s already broken down. Wife just hates him. So it's over. Jung Woo breathes deeply to calm himself. Because he probably wants to slap her silly right about now. Cheok Hee declares that when it's over for one side, then it's over. That's love. Jung Woo replies that if even one side doesn't want it, then it can't be. That's divorce!
Cheok Hee sighs and shakes her head like Jung Woo’s a Neanderthal. She declares that if Korea wants to be an advanced country in divorce, then just like America, it needs to hurry up and recognize no fault divorce. Because letting people easily get divorced has been such a blessing in America. Jung Woo can’t believe that she just used advanced country and divorce in the same sentence. She replies that if a marriage fails, then that's divorce. What else would divorce be? Jung Woo sighs and replies that that is not grounds for divorce. She responds that Civil Code Section 840-6 says due to other important reasons that a marriage cannot be continued. Jung Woo can use that category. The husband neglected his family for religious reasons. His depression is so severe that he's unable to take care of his family. She makes a face like Jung Woo’s stupid as she offers those scenarios.
Jung Woo replies that he doesn’t use those kinds of dirty tactics. Like illegal CCTV footage. Cheok Hee replies that it’s not dirty, it's clever. Jung Woo has to breathe out, but then he spies the name on the door. *His* name. He points to it and tells her to read it. She rolls her eyes but he hisses at her to do it, still pointing. He declares that it says Lawyer So Jung Woo! In this office, *he* is the lawyer! She can’t help but laugh. He raps the tray she’s holding (and then shakes his hand because it hurt) and tells her to go wash the tray. He walks back into the office.
As he walks back inside, another wife arrives to meekly ask if this is the place to get divorce. He asks if she’s there to get a consultation. She is. He asks her to wait for a little until he finishes his current consultation. Then he heads back into Wife #1. Wife #1 wants to know what Cheok Hee was talking about. Jung Woo tries to say that Cheok Hee is a new employee and doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Jung Woo sighs and says that if her only grounds are dislike, then she won’t get a divorce judgement, she'll have to pay all the legal fees, and her relationship with her spouse will just become more awkward. He suggests they try taking up a hobby together. Nope. Couple's meetings? Wife moans that the other people's husbands are so cool there.
Jung Woo tries to figure out something and spots a book on the wall: Positive Psychology. He grabs it and gives it to her, along with a notebook. He tells her to list all the good points of your spouse. Psychologist Martin Seligman recommended this method. If she starts writing about her spouse's virtues, her satisfaction and trust in her spouse will become much greater. He tells her to think about it as her last chance, and try it. If the notebook is all full, and her mind hasn't changed, then he'll think of a way for them to divorce. Aw, and this is why he’s a divorce lawyer. So people who should get divorced do, but those who shouldn’t, don’t.
Cheok Hee is washing the tray and grumbling over how Jung Woo declared that in this office, he is the lawyer! How long has he been a lawyer? Gosh, how ridiculous. He's not even trained off of his diapers, yet just because he wants to keep his dignity. She calls Jung Woo rude. Pot. Kettle. I’m just saying. Wife is leaving as other Wife comes out to ask about the bathroom. And it’s Wife’s Oma.
Wife discovers Oma wants a divorce. Is Oma crazy?! Wife protest that Oma has lived her whole life with Dad. Oma spits back that she still has to live at least 30 more years! Wife thinks Oma should endure it for a little longer. Oma says that she’s been enduring since they were in high school. Then she points out how Wife has only been married for *three* years. Why is she getting a divorce? Does Son-in-law Kang cheat, or does he secure loans for others? Wife declares that she doesn't know! She hates him just because.
Jung Woo tells them to calm down. Instead, Oma opens the case she’s been carrying. Inside are pictures of Dad kissing *another woman.* She declares that this is the woman who's been having an affair with Dad since 1980. Dang! 35 years. Wife didn’t know that one. Mom pulls out tapes of all the times Dad cursed at her. She pulls out papers that list all of the wealth that Dad hid behind Oma’s back. Oma says that she’s been preparing to divorce for thirty years. Wife is saying she’s going to divorce just because she hates her husband. Would there be a married couple that could stay together in Korea, if that was a reason to do it?!
Jung Woo hands Oma’s evidence back to her and tells the pair to go home. Cheok Hee motions wringing Jung Woo’s neck for suggesting it. The ladies leave. Secretaries mutter about the pair.
Jung Woo tries to head into his office, but Cheok Hee blocks his path. With a motion I remember from the court house, where he clothes-lines her. Jung Woo groans. Cheok Hee tells him that he'll be able to get two cases with this one chance. Doesn’t he know what a windfall this is?! He repeats that the lawyer in this office is him. He pushes her aside and heads into his office.
Abeoji’s Office. So he hasn’t retired. Soo Ah is there too. And Hye Rin, who is on the handphone with her mother, talking about diapers. Abeoji has different glasses – I don’t like them as much. He asks Soo Ah about when they brought Hye Rin over from Go Cheok Hee's office, didn't they give her a lot of money? I *knew* she was the one who blabbed. Soo Ah tells him to pretend like they don't know anything.
Abeoji turns to go and Soo Ah mentions how Lawyer Bong opened his practice. Wow, not even ‘your son,’ but Lawyer Bong. And it’s a sore subject. As it would be, considering Min Kyu dissed his dad to open his own practice. I wonder what lead to their falling out. Abeoji pauses to avoid reacting – which is a reaction in and of itself – and tells her that she doesn't need to report matters concerning Bong Min Kyu to him. She bows an apology.
Cheok Hee is at her new apartment. Min Kyu just walks right in, unannounced and uninvited. Cheok Hee wants to know why Sunbae is there. What, is this his house, Sunbae? Why, yes, it is his house. That stops the pride. She tells him to use the doorbell from now on. He actually apologizes, saying that it's a habit. He asks if she’s done talking to So Jung Woo. Cheok Hee groans that Jung Woo is a rude bastard! She mutters that he’s the god of justice and she’s the evil homewrecker. Does he think that people will pack up cases and come find him, if he just sits there? Never mind not being able to hold on to people who are leaving, how can he fret over not being able to send away people who come?
Min Kyu sits and pretends to be sympathetic: “You suffered one under him, huh?” Cheok Hee wants to know why it had to be So Jung Woo. Min Kyu should have hired a lawyer with more skill. Someone with experience, who can do sales. Min Kyu replies that he knows one lawyer like that, but she's been disbarred. Ouch. Cheok Hee clears her throat and frowns because he’s right. He pulls out the parking garage remote and then turns on the TV. He groans about forgetting the car keys. Like it was an accident. He is totally scheming. Cheok Hee can come to my house to get them.
Cheok Hee says that she doesn't need a car. Then she asks where his house is. Number 702. Cheok Hee scoffs. Is this his building, or something? Matter of fact, he responds that it is. She can’t say anything else.
Television announcer: “Actress Han Mi Ri, the pride of Korea, has at last been crowned the Queen of Cannes. At the 68th Cannes Film Festival, with "Dangerous Love", she is confidently holding the Best Actress Award in hand. That a Korean actor has received an acting award at the Cannes Film Festival, this time is extraordinary.
Cheok Hee can’t believe the cause of her demise is there, guiltless and happy.
Announcer says that this is the third Best Actress Award received by an Asian actress. Min Kyu starts to say something, but sees Cheok Hee’s face as she watches the television. He straightens his suit jacket, tells her to change the passcode and announces that he’s leaving. She doesn’t even acknowledge his exit.
Announcer declares that overcoming that kind of pain and challenging herself with acting, Mi Ri shone even brighter. In her acceptance speech, Han Mi Ri said that she still couldn't believe it, and that since she received the award after experiencing great pain in her life, she was even happier.
Wow, she’s an even bigger slime. The great pain was her ex-husband’s suicide, which she maneuvered and didn’t even cry over.
Cheok Hee tries not to react/cry.
Jung Woo’s house. Soo Ah announces that she’s home and hurries in. Mom stops her from going into the bathroom. Soo Ah groans about being constipated since moving in and how they only have one bathroom. She and Jung Woo are together?! Uh. I just don’t see it. Mom thumps her on the forehead with her ladle and asks why Soo Ah sold a house with two bathrooms and crawled in there? If Mom had known where Soo Ah’s money came from – the money that put Jung Woo through law school– Mom never would have accepted it.
Soo Ah shushes Mom before Jung Woo hears her. Jung Woo enters, asking what he’ll hear. Soo Ah laughs nervously and then tells him to move! He blocks her way, waving because of what he just did. Heh. He tries to get her to count to thirty before going in, but she uses multiplication and hurries past him. Before she uses the toilet, she stuffs a pen in his pocket, as a present to commemorate getting hired. Jung Woo makes a face and asks Mom why he let Soo Ah live there.
Mom thumbs Jung Woo on the forehead with *a fat carrot* and says that she didn’t do it because Soo Ah was his friend, but the daughter of her friend. This reminds him to ask Mom for Dad’s phone number. He wants to start paying Dad back, now that he’s getting a salary. If he hadn’t had been able to borrow that money, he would never have been able to go to law school. His debt took all his money from when he was an office manager. Mom tells him to forget about it. It was money she was due. When she got the divorce judgment, she should have at least asked for child support. She didn't know any better back then. As he protests, she tells him to just do well at work.
This makes Mom think about that "car key" or "Chucky" or whatever that rude wench was. When Mom thinks about how that wench spilled seaweed soup on him, she wants to boil a whole pot of seaweed soup in a hot metal pot, and then pour all of it on her face. That's Mom’s regret even now! I like Mom. And Jung Woo seems to be enjoying the image of what Mom is describing. Jung Woo exhales and starts to bring up today’s events but changes his mind. He tells his mother to calm down.
Jung Woo heads up to his room – which is now a different color (blue) and clean – and pulls that burnt criminal law book out of his bookcase. He flips though it and finds a fortune. He sniffs it and says that it’s about to lose its scent. He sits down at his desk and puts his pin next to it on the book. He tells the book that he became a lawyer.
Switch to Cheok Hee putting flowers on a grave: Ma Dong Goo’s grave. Wow, that’s penance. She remembers what he said: that family is most precious to him. It’s his death day, so she pours the drink for him. And this makes me really sad, that no one else is there to remember him. I spoke too soon. Aunt arrives, calling Cheok Hee “Crazy Wench!” Aunt yells at her for being there, after she killed him! Aunt hits her repeatedly with the flowers Cheok Hee brought. Cheok Hee just apologizes. Aunt declares that this is why she shows contempt for the poor. The ones who will do anything for money. Ouch. Then Aunt insults Mi Hee. Aunt declares that her biggest regret is that they didn’t hire Cheok Hee before Mi Ri did.
Cheok Hee replies that she didn’t do it because of money. She says that she trusted what Mi Ri said. She adds that she will do anything to pay back her debt to Aunt’s brother. Aunt wants to know how, since Cheok Hee isn’t even a lawyer any more. Aunt tells Cheok Hee to get out of her face and hits her with the flowers some more. Cheok Hee looks even more shaken.
Office building. Jung Woo and Cheok Hee both rush to catch the full elevator and then fight to be the one in. He tells her that he cannot quit. She says that she cannot quit either. Awkward elevator ride. He asks if she knows what kind of humiliation he suffered from her before he became a lawyer? Cheok Hee can’t believe him. What, she doesn't want to hear it? If she works under him, she’ll hear even worse things than this. She tells him that he can call her whatever he wants. *He* should be the one to quit.
Jung Woo wants to know why he should be the one to quit. If Cheok Hee wants to avoid it, then she should do it. Vincent Price’s laugh from ‘Thriller.’ It’s Cheok Hee’s phone. Dad is calling. Jung Woo shakes his head and mutters that her ringtone follows after her personality. Dad wants to know if Cheok Hee has settle in well. Cheok Hee acts like everything is daebak. Dad apologizes for making Cheok Hee come and clean fish. Cheok Hee whines that he’s being silly. It was nice to spend time with him after a long while. She asks if he’s having a hard time now. He tells her not to worry, she should just do well.
The secretaries have overheard Cheok Hee’s conversation, but misunderstood, thinking that it meant that she’s even richer than they thought. Jung Sook wonders how can a princess be turned into a servant girl.
The group has left the office for lunch. Cheok Hee is walking with Min Kyu and Jung Woo, instead of Jang Mi and Jung Sook. Min Kyu asks what she wants to eat. She suggests Osso Bucco. Min Kyu is game. Min Kyu walks ahead and Jung Woo asks Cheok Hee why she includes herself there. He seemed to remember her acting according to her principles, even when it came to things like dining. The lawyers with lawyers, and employees with the other employees. He shoves her over to the girls. They look uncomfortable and don’t want to eat with her either. They end up eating at a cheap restaurant: Traditional Chinese cuisine: Hoo Jin Roo. (Hoo jin means ‘lousy’ in Korean.)
The girls want jjajangmyun (black bean sauce noodles). Cheok Hee asks for Kung Pao chicken. Nope. Shrimp toast. Nope. Shui Zhu beef. Nope. Cheok Hee tells the waitress that this is why her restaurant is this crappy. She looks at the menu and asks for the crab fried rice without the crab. Jung Sook sweetly tells the waitress they want three jjajang, please. Cheok Hee starts to protest but Jung Sook repeats herself with force.
Min Kyu and Jung Woo enter the restaurant. Min Kyu asks why Cheok Hee didn’t join them, since she’d the one who wanted to eat there. Jung Woo replies that Cheok Hee suddenly wanted to eat jjanjang, so she went with the other employees. Min Kyu notices Jung Woo’s new pen and comments on it being a nice one. When the waiter asks, Min Kyu orders *three* orders of Osso Bucco, since Cheok Hee will eat it even if it’s cold. Jung Woo comments that they must be close. Min Kyu replies that in the work arena, Jung Woo seems to know her better. Then he says that Cheok Hee is fun and has a good personality.
Jung Woo is surprised that good is being used to describe Cheok Hee’s personality. He laughs and says that Min Kyu and she must not be very close. He doesn't know how badly she treats those who work under her. Min Kyu replies that she also treats those above her badly. Jung Woo replies that when Cheok Hee is focused on something, she charges in through fire and water. Min Kyu – who I definitely suspect is playing match maker now – declares that this means that she's spirited. Jung Woo – his face scrunched – declares that Cheok Hee is dying to get someone to divorce somehow. Min Kyu wonders if divorce is a bad thing. It's more miserable to live without being able to get divorced.
Jung Woo stops talking and gives Min Kyu a respectful little bow. Min Kyu answers by saying that if Jung Woo has any difficulties in the future, he should say something. Then he adds that he thinks that he’s closer to Cheok Hee. Jung Woo smiles uncomfortably.
Wife at home. At least the apartment is clean. Husband is lying on the couch, stuffing his face again. Wife is at the table, hands in prayer, trying to think of positive things to put on her list. Husband is watching a k-drama, because someone just got slapped. Husband yells at the woman for slapping her daughter and mutters that even if it's just a drama, it's really frustrating. Wife looks at him, trying to restrain herself from beating to death.
She grits her teeth and tries to smile as she writes:
My Husband's strong points: He's good at acting. Why in the world is he more emotionally attached to the characters than the actors themselves?
Husband heads to the bathroom. Wife follows him and writes that Husband has good balance. It's too bothersome to stick his toes in, so he drags his slippers around. If it's so bothersome, why don't he just die?
In the bathroom, Husband notices the big zit on his upper lip. He decides to pop it. And I gag at the thought. So does wife. Wife writes that Husband has good hand skills. And I almost just threw up there. Seriously. Even though they didn’t show it, they alluded to it enough that I seriously gagged and almost vomited. Wife screams.
At the law office, Wife arrives. Jung Woo greets her. Wife declares that her mind changed. He’s happy and gives her some applause, until she declares that she hates him even more. Cheok Hee gloats a little at how stupid Jung Woo’s idea was. Wife wants to know what Jung Woo’s other method is. Cheok Hee asks if Wife has looked at Husband’s phone, navigation, and e-mail. If she starts looking, she’ll at least find a text message from a female colleague. Jung Woo says Cheok Hee’s name in admonishment. Wife replies that he was doing that, she’d be thankful. It's not like she can tell him to cheat on her. Wife groans, “What kind of law is this?!” and leaves.
Back at home, Wife looks through Husband’s email. His text messages and navigation is also clean. Then she looks in his spam and finds a message that the Motel Dream Suite was reserved. She is shaken. Mom arrives. She starts to cry. She declares that Husband is having an affair. Mom tells her to get the divorce. Don’t follow her grandmother’s advice of being patient three times. Mom declares that she cooked and did laundry like a fool for her dad who cheated on Mom, but she doesn't want Wife to live the same life. Mom declares that she hold on a bit longer.
Cheok Hee goes to a pay phone and negotiates with someone. It looks like Kyung’s mouth, although you can’t see his face. What is Cheok Hee planning?
Next day, Yoo Mi yells after Cheok Hee but Cheok Hee is oblivious because Yoo Mi was calling her ‘Office Manager.’ Cheok Hee tells Yoo Mi to call her ‘Unni’ instead. They arrive upstairs where Jung Sook is waiting with a cup of coffee for Min Kyu. Cheok Hee heads to her desk, which is clean. She groans. Min Kyu arrives, as Jung Sook predicted and thanks Jung Sook for the coffee. He sees the desk and asks if it means she’s quitting. Of course, it doesn’t. She tries to pretend that she was cleaning. He tells her he’s happy that she can do it and that he was worried that her pride and her habit of ordering people around would still linger. But now she’s leading by example. It’s truly the attitude of an intellectual.
He asks if she’s planning on cleaning his desk. Of course, she is. Min Kyu decides to leave. And Cheok Hee is stuck cleaning everyone’s desk. She, of course, is calling Jung Woo, because he’s out of the office, and cursing him when he doesn’t answer her calls. And then she accidentally sprays cleaner in her face. She almost quits but reconsiders because no one is going to hire a disbarred lawyer. She screams, wondering where he hid her stuff.
Cheok Hee decides to search his office. And right then, Jung Woo enters and gets startled because he wasn’t expecting her in *his* office. She demands her stuff. He replies that he warned her that if she interrupts during a consultation, he won't stay still. She starts searching some more. He stops her. She asks if he wants to go to jail for theft. He replies that it’s his office. Does she want to go to jail for trespassing? They’ve grabbed each other’s arms and they’re standing quite close together. Awkward moment when Yoo Mi enters.
Yoo Mi takes a second to not go there and get focused on why she came in: that woman came by again. Wife says that she thinks Husband is having an affair. For some reason, Cheok Hee is in the consultation. Cheok Hee claps a bravo and tells wife, ‘congratulations.’ Jung Woo slaps the table in front of her and scoldingly asks what she’s doing. Cheok Hee ignores him and declares that married couples can file for a divorce if a spouse committed an unlawful act. Wife has a clear reason for a divorce, so of course it's something to be congratulated. Jung Woo shakes his head to try to dissuade Wife from the logic.
Jung Woo asks how Wife found out. Wife relates the Motel Dream Suite reservation. Cheok Hee has the divorce application all ready. Jung Woo notices that wife is hesitating. He takes the form and rips it up. Cheok Hee asks him what he’s doing. He declares that their office is a place that will help people who have no choice but to get a divorce. It's not a place that will help someone decide whether they should file for a divorce or not. He tells Wife that she’s hesitating. Cheok Hee shakes her head at Jung Woo.
Wife dejectedly leaves the office. Cheok Hee follows her and says that Wife should just go see it for herself, instead of just thinking it in her brain.
Back in the office, the secretaries are wondering about Jung Woo and Cheok Hee’s relationship since they seemed to be fighting but then Yoo Mi caught them in each other’s arms. Yoo Mi has it, the answer! First love. Jung Sook rolls her eyes, but Yoo Mi is sure. Doesn’t Jung Sook watch dramas? Yoo Mi imagines Cheok Hee and Jung Woo on a bus, meeting unexpectedly and falling in love again. Yoo Mi supposes that Jung Woo’s erectile dysfunction is what broke them up. Jung Sook starts to cough from embarrassment.
Soo Ah and Min Kyu out shopping. The name of the store is JRM: Jeoryomi. (‘Jeoryom’ means affordable, cheap in Korean.) He’s appalled that she would bring him someplace where clothes are made out of polyester. She says that if there is a bit of polyester in the shirt, it creates less wrinkles. He sighs and declares that, for him, there is only one criteria for choosing clothes: Whether it has been made in the G7 countries or not. The US, Japan, UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Canada, okay? She replies that with the emergence of new markets, he should try to widen his geography. He cringes at it being made in China.
Min Kyu reluctantly tries it on. While he’s in the changing room, she has the shop girl wrap up another shirt as a gift. Min Kyu claims that the shirt is itchy. She tells him it’s because of a bug bite. He sighs and says that it’s his penance for hiring Jung Woo.
It *was* Kyung, who now is wearing better glasses. Kyung is startled to see the smiling Cheok Hee. He takes off in a run. She chases after him. ‘Terminator’ sound effects. She catches him. At a restaurant, she’s beaming at him. He asks why it has to be him. She replies that there really is no one else and then asks him if he wouldn’t want to work with her. He violently shakes his head ‘no.’ Then she basically tells him that it’s his fault for biting the bait that he’s there now. He calls her ‘Lawyer’ and she corrects him. Old habits die hard.
Kyung asks why she’s looking for this person – who has yet to be named. She says that she got a job at a law firm. Kyung is shocked. He can only sit there with stunned fear on his face. She clarifies that she’s an office manager, so the two of them will be working at the same level of hierarchy. They can be *friends.* Kyung stutters over the word, ‘friends.’ He can barely get past the ‘ch’ in chingu. As he’s stuttering, Cheok Hee pulls out an employment contract and tells him to sign. He just stares at the contract, so she shoves the pen in his hand and moves it so he’s signed. She really pleased with herself and tells her ‘chingu’ that it’s nice to see him. Kyung just blinks from the shock.
Soo Ah is trying on a red suit. With silver strapped shoes. Not sure why that combination. Hye Rin arrives and gushes over how pretty Soo Ah looks. Soo Ah immediately says that she bought it on sale and Hye Rin groans that if she had the money to buy new clothes, instead she'd buy another carton of milk formula for her kid. I thought that she might have child now. What do you want to bet that the hubbie is Kyung? Watch it be him.
Soo Ah asks if she looks okay and Hye Rin asks if she’s going on a consult. Nope, she has to look better than that. A date? She has to be prettier than that. Heh. When pushed, Soo Ah says that she’s meeting a friend. Names Jung Woo perhaps? Or maybe Min Kyu?
Jung Woo is at a restaurant with Yoo Mi and Jung Sook. Cheok Hee isn’t there because Jung Sook gave her some work to do. Heh. Yoo Mi asks Jung Woo whether he and Cheok Hee know each other from the past. Uncomfortable, he asks how Yoo Mi knew. Then he adds that truthfully, they were in a relationship where they shouldn't see each other again. He chugs a swig of his beer. He adds that Cheok Hee is like a fatal poison. This confirms what the pair were thinking about his and Cheok Hee’s relationship. Jung Sook tells him that even if it’s uncomfortable, he cannot leave. Lawyers have so much trouble finding work. People even say that there are more lawyers than convenience stores. And it’s not like one can just go and start one’s own firm though, in this era of lawyers.
Yoo Mi agrees. It’s not possible, unless you have a source of money like Lawyer Bong. This is news to Jung Woo. Yoo Mi adds that Lawyer Bong is the son of BF's Bong family. And Jung Woo recognizes that name. He's now unsettled.
Phone rings. It’s Soo Ah, who is at his office to meet him. So she and Cheok Hee are now going to cross paths. Oops. I wonder if Jung Woo is going to run.
Cheok Hee is washing dishes and grumbling about how she never made *her* office manager do this sort of thing. No, he had to be at your beck and call and go get embarrassing things like panty hose. Washing dishes is *so* much worse… Someone arrives.
And Soo Ah and Cheok Hee meet. Soo Ah is shocked to see her. Cheok Hee grimaces because she has her dishwashing gloves on.
And here comes Jung Woo – a running like I thought he would. Because he’s a considerate guy. Jung Woo tells Soo Ah that he said he would pick her up. She is not happy. She demands to know what’s going on. Why is a disbarred lawyer there?
Cheok Hee notices that Soo Ah calls him Jung Woo-a and declares that they must be in some sort of relationship. She shakes her fist (holding the sponge) at Jung Woo and asks whether he’s still going to continue denying that he was the one who squealed. She declares that 3 years ago, she clearly saw the two of them talk to each other. Soo Ah rolls her eyes as Jung Woo protests that just because he talked to Soo Ah, is that evidence that he squealed? Huh? She snaps back that now he’s become a lawyer, he likes evidence. Jung Woo grabs Soo Ah’s arm and tells her they should leave. Three is too much of a crowd. They go. Cheok Hee can’t believe his gall.
Outside, Soo Ah is trying to decide how to handle this. She reminds Jung Woo about how Go Cheok Hee treated him three years ago. She even made him run errands for her stockings. Does it make sense to work with her in the same office? He tries to play it off with an ‘Aigoo’ and declares that he’ll take care of it himself. Soo Ah doesn't have to worry about it. She asks how she cannot worry, since they’re like family.
Jung Woo decides to bring up his job. Did she help him get this job, too? He says that Lawyer Bong Min Kyu is CEO Bong In Jae's son. The money for law school flashes through her mind. She instead says that Min Kyu asked her to recommend someone who has passion even if he has no experience, and Jung Woo is that person, so she introduced them. That is all. Jung Woo replies that the idea that she and Min Kyu talked about him before the interview and whatnot, he hates it and hopes she doesn’t do things like that again. She tells him she gets it.
Uncomfortable silence. He so does not like her as anything more than a friend. Jung Woo remembers that he has a gift for her! Air freshener. For the bathroom. So she doesn't have to count before going in starting tomorrow. She can’t help but smile at his lame gift.
The next day, Yoo Mi and Jung Sook arrive at work. Kyung is there, pacing in the lobby. Pacing in a circle, like he can’t decide whether to stay or go. Jung Sook gets a call from her son, who is complaining that he’s sick. She tells him that she’s sick, too, but you just take medicine and go where you’re supposed to go. She hangs up. Yoo Mi grumbles about how ungrateful her son is. Jung Sook shrugs.
Yoo Mi points out the vacillating Kyung and says that he will be coming back. Then she tries to use some analogy like Cheok Hee, but fails.
Kyung leaves the building, but can’t bring himself to go. He calls his hyung, Jung Woo and tells him that he’s in big trouble. He really must be crazy. Jung Woo wants to know what he’s talking about. Kyung tells him that it looks like he’ll be working with Go Cheok Hee. Jung Woo is shocked. And I would be, too. Where does she get the hiring authority? If Jung Woo can’t hire, she can’t.
Jung Woo’s bus arrives and he asks where Kyung is. Kyung tells him outside the building. He starts work today but his heart is about to explode so he can't enter. Kyung looks toward the street and sees Jung Woo walking toward him. He tells Jung Woo that he sees someone who looks like him, but is much more handsome walking toward him. Jung Woo sees him and motions with his handphone that they are talking to each other. Kyung is shocked again. Jung Woo sighs.
Jung Woo takes Kyung aside and explains. Kyung’s reaction: What? Jung Woo repeats that he’s a lawyer there. Kyung can’t believe that the three of them are working together again. And thus begins their conversation:
What am I going to do? What should I do? She said she'll be my office manager. She said we should be friends. Don't you think having her as your subordinate is worse? Having her as a friend is worse. Friends eat together. Gossip together. Watch movies together...
Kyung can’t take it. This won't do! He pulls out a fat envelope of cash and says that he withdrew his rent deposit. It will be cheaper to pay the fines for breaking the contract than the hospital fees that would incur working with Go Cheok Hee. He'll just go back to living in a small room as if he was in college again. Jung Woo sighs and tells Kyung to put his money away. He assures Kyung that, somehow, he’ll take care of Cheok Hee. He pats Kyung’s face to reassure him. Kyung is not reassured.
Cheok Hee is upstairs and has decided to deface Jung Woo’s name on the door. Jung Woo is herding Kyung up to the office, but it isn’t easy. Kyung runs for the bathroom before going in. Jung Woo enters the office where Cheok Hee is humming like she’s busy working on something. He notices that his name now reads ‘Toilet.’ He yells her name, furious. She smiles and says that it’s a lovely morning! Jung Woo demands that she give them to him right now! She shrugs. He screams, “HO! SA! JUNG! WOO!” using his fist to emphasize each syllable. She wants her stuff back. He can’t believe it and protests that they’re lawyers! She agrees, so like a lawyer, he should get out. He yells back that she should leave. Please!
The secretaries arrive to find them glaring at each other. Jung Woo sees them and immediately tries to hide his name. Yoo Mi starts to laugh. Kyung arrives and Jung Sook is shocked to see that Yoo Mi was right. Jung Woo knows that he’s beat and tells Cheok Hee where her things are. She calls over to Kyung to go get them. And there they are, including her Chucky doll. She pulls out the extra letters from her pocket and drops them on the table with an ‘oops.’
Jung Woo is busy trying to put his name back on the door. It’s crooked. Kyung asks Jung Woo what happened. Jung Woo says he was going to take care of Go Cheok Hee. Jung Woo turns to glare at Cheok Hee, but she’s gone. Yoo Mi says that Cheok Hee got a call from Wife and left. Where to?... A dream castle? Jung Woo realizes Cheok Hee’s plan and inwardly curses her.
Cheok Hee is at the hotel with Wife and Oma. They are wearing scarves and sunglasses as a disguise. Husband arrives, wearing a nice suit. He’s with a woman who is carrying flowers. Wife can’t believe that Husband really came. And Husband is acting a little cagey. Wife wants to know if they should go right in, but Cheok Hee says that they should wait thirty minutes, so the deed can get done. They use a timer.
After 30 minutes, the trio arrives at the hotel room. Jung Woo arrives to stop them, but he’s too late. Cheok Hee knocks on the door, claiming delivery. Husband pops his head out and is surprised to see his Wife (Yeobo) and his mother-in-law. But not a guilty surprised, more a innocent surprised. Wife yells that they should get a divorce and lunges at Husband. Cheok Hee prepares to head in after Wife, when the episode ends.
Thoughts
I like that they’ve tossed the chaebol trope on its head and instead of a man being *that* prideful, it’s a woman: Cheok Hee. I mean, when I think about how she acts – where she’s certain that she’s right, treats people like they’re ants there to do her bidding, but at the same time, she is kind and gentle with those she cares about – she reminds me of Jun Pyo from BOF, the ultimate entitled chaebol’s son.There's stuff going on that we don’t know anything about:
- Jung Woo was involved in some sort of accident now 7 years ago that still is an open wound of sorts. Since Dad is still alive but out of the picture, I wonder if maybe it wasn’t a brother or a girlfriend. He’s keeping a memento in the burnt book’s pages and is noticing that its smell is fading, plus he told it and the book (which seem to be connected) that he became a lawyer, because it would have meant something to whoever is gone.
- Somehow Cheok Hee’s sister blames her for their mother’s death and Cheok Hee has agreed that she’s to blame. Because there’s blame to be had, that means it was an accident, too. Abeoji doesn’t blame her for Omeoni being gone, which means that this is an issue between them. Since the death, Mi Hee has been on a self-destructive bent. I definitely think that it’s going to show up at some point and Jung Woo is going to be there for Cheok Hee as she deals with it, but right now Mi Hee is causing lots of heart ache for her father and sister.
- Hye Rin now has a child. Does that mean she’s married? It’s obvious that she was the source of the leak. How did Cheok Hee not figure that out?
- Min Kyu is up to something. I’m thinking he’s a lot more cognizant of his surroundings then he lets on. And, I think he’s acting as match-maker. Does he have an interest in Soo Ah? He’s so hard to read.
- Jung Sook, senior secretary, is divorced and has a son who doesn’t like going to school. Where’s her ex? Why did she get divorced?
- Cheok Hee is just really prideful. I mean, she brought her downfall on herself and yet she still thinks that she’s better than other people and she still wants to be pissed at Jung Woo, even though he did basically everything in his power to try and stop her. But it’s interesting because it seems like it is just in the realm where she’s a lawyer. With her father and at the fish market, she had no problem being pleasant and friendly and humble. But it’s a selective pride, because Jung Woo is now a lawyer and yet she still is belittling him.
- Jung Woo really is a nice guy. If it wasn’t evident before, it’s evident in how he’s being nice even ask he’s trying to get rid of Cheok Hee. He hasn’t done anything too humiliating (which Cheok Hee doesn’t have a problem doing, as evidenced by changing his name into Toilet) and he hasn’t been disrespectful either. If he really hated her, he could be really mean. He could constantly put her down for losing her license. But, instead, the only time he seems to bring it up is when he’s trying to get her to treat him with some respect. (To play by her own rules.) He takes care of his subordinates even when he doesn’t need to. Plus, even though he doesn’t seem to see Soo Ah as anything more than a friend – despite what his mother says about him lacking confidence – he’s still really nice to her.
It’s going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. It’s obvious to me that Jung Woo likes Cheok Hee, even if he is in denial, to himself. He’s been hurt by her so much that he can’t let himself really admit her positive points, like he’s trying to convince himself that she’s terrible. And I think that Cheok Hee likes him, too, although she is definitely bothered when he has a problem with her behavior.
On to Episode Three!
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