If someone does something that's so shocking that no one in the entire world can understand it, then what do you think the reason would be?
She really doesn't remember anything.
She gets up and starts running. It’s in slow-motion this time.
♬ Right now, ♬
♬ I am having one of those times ♬
We go back to her conversation with Wan Shik. The Legend of Go Nan Gil, huh? He tells her to hear it from Nan Gil directly. He promised not to say anything. Which gives more weight to my theory that they’re brothers in spite of their upbringing. He just likes to give Nan Gil a hard time.
♬ Because I miss you ♬
Na Ri says nothing and leans in. Wan Shik looks down and says that one thing's for certain. He's someone to be sorry for.
♬ I feel like I'll go crazy ♬
Does she think it makes sense for him to act as someone's stepfather just because her mother helped him a little when he was a kid? Huh? This could be the end for Go Nan Gil. He corrects himself: No, this is the end for him. That’s ominous.
Their conversation was without any venom. It’s like he’s trying to get this to stop before Nan Gil gets hurt.
Na Ri runs as Wan Shik’s car passes.
♬ I can't forget your warmth ♬
Na Ri calls his name and he stops. She catches her breath.
♬ Because it's you ♬
♬ I can't forget you ♬
He asks what's wrong? His face looks so vulnerable, concerned. Rip out my heart! She thinks that she’s sorry she couldn't remember anything. She grabs him and hugs him, leaving him very confused.
♬ Sometimes ♬
♬ When I ♬
♬ Have a hard time or get tired or need a place to lean on ♬
♬ If you call me, then wherever it is, even to the ends of the earth ♬
♬ I'll surely go ♬
Duk Shim comes out of Hong Dumplings and sees them hugging. She drops the dumpling she was eating out of shock. Yong Kyu comes out, too, and scratches his head at the sight of them hugging. Heh.
Still hugging him, Na Ri says, “I'm sorry, Go Nan Gil. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.” She practically crying. I’m glad that she said it instead of just thinking it.
♬ My foolish love ♬
He’s still trying to get her to let go of her death grip. He asks why she’s sorry. She replies that she’s sorry she couldn't remember anything. She’s sorry and I'm grateful.
♬ But love still lives on ♬
He says that he’s got it. He’s got it. He finally gets loose. Heh. Since he understands what she’s saying, they should go inside and talk. She asks what he knows. Does he know how she’s feeling? Her voice is still emotional. He looks closer at her face.
Now about to cry, she says that she’s so sorry, and she’s scared. He asks if she drank again. She yells at him to stop everything. Stop everything! This conversation makes total sense, given we heard what Wan Shik told her, but Nan Gil has no idea what is happening.
Nan Gil’s frustrated now. Stop what? Say it in a way he can understand. He uses his hand for emphasis. He used his hand for emphasis! She replies that she’s saying that he can't fight with Dada Financial! He looks away, frustrated. He looks back. She tells him to just stop. Oma will understand.
Calmer, Nan Gil says that they should go inside and talk. Na Ri says no, she wants to talk there. She points to Hong Dumplings and orders him not to go in there again and to get out of here right away. He grabs her hand and shoves it down. I think he was going to do a wrist grab to pull her inside. Na Ri slumps into a squat – and Nan Gil hasn’t let go of her wrist – and tells him not to go into our house ever again! Duk Shim still hasn’t swallowed the dumpling she has in her cheeks. Yong Kyu is chewing on his thumbnail. He looks a little embarrassed for his boss.
Na Ri says that if he’s this skilled at making dumplings, he'll make it big wherever he goes. He lets out a deep breath of air through his cheeks, trying to stay calm. Pathetically, she tells him to go. When she lets him go, he should go. Irritated, he lets go of her hand and she falls backward to the ground. Ha! She looks at him with a pout. He reaches down and throws her over his shoulder with an “Aish!” And I am rolling.
As he carries her, she protests that she’s not drunk. She said she’s not drunk! He takes her over to the faucet in the yard and turns it on. He tells her to wash her face and get herself together. She turns it off and tells him to get *himself* together. She’ll handle the documents, so go pack his things and leave.
Nan Gil exhales through his nose. Does this look like a joke? Look at all the work he did to get the dumpling shop the way it is. Does this seem like a joke to the guys working over there? He repeats that she shouldn’t tell him to leave again. He loudly says, pointing, that this is his house! She counters, just as loud, that she’s saying this because it's not a joke... This is her house. She’ll take responsibility for any problems regarding her house.
Nan Gil sighs. When she drinks during the day all the time, how will she take responsibility? He turns the faucet on again. Na Ri says that her nickname is Chief Hong, will take care of things no matter what happens or where. He looks up in frustration and breathes. So, she'll take full responsibility for the things that happen in her house. He orders to stop saying stuff like "Chief Hong". Just wash her face and sober up!
Na Ri turns the faucet off. She steps closer, and he leans backward a bit. Heh. She adds that she remembers something. Eyebrow raise from Nan Gil. She says that ever since she was young, she always felt like someone was following me. It's him, isn't it? The middle-schooler in the uniform that rainy day. Slight eyebrow twitch of surprise.
Flashback of the day he gave her his umbrella and walked home in the rain.
Nan Gil says nothing. It is him, isn't it? He’s splashed water on her and run away before, hasn’t he? Nan Gil laughs with disbelief and mutters, “Jeez, there's no way.” She says that she’s right, right? Back then, when you liked someone you bothered them. Perhaps, is he doing this dangerous work because of her?
Nan Gil finally says something. He says that he’s never been immature even when he was younger, so he’s never picked on somebody because he liked them. No, he picked on you because he was jealous of you and Oma and he didn’t like you. Heh. He adds that this is not dangerous, it's the right thing to do. She answers that doing this could mean the end of his life. He yells back, asking who said that?!! She answers: Everyone.
Nan Gil sighs and grabs her by the arms, pulling her closer to him. It’s that kissing proximity. Not that it’s going to happen right now. Definitely not a moment for the first kiss. His tone scolding, he tells her to look at him. Just listen to him. Don't listen to people who only speak lies. Don't listen to other people. His voice softens as he says to only listen to him. Believe only what he says.
Nan Gil goes into his office and slumps into the chair at his desk. He just sits there and stares at nothing. His last best secret is out.
Na Ri is looking through an old photo album. She’s taken a picture out of Oma with kids at the home. I see Nan Gil in the photo. He’s the kid looking at the ground. She tells herself that she should be remembering something. She tells Oma that she’s worried about him. What should she do? She sighs.
It’s now night. Someone is outside of their gate, pounding on it insistently. Nan Gil goes out to see what the ruckus is. When he sees who it is, he’s annoyed. He opens the gate and a very drunk Yeo Joo stumbles in. Why is she there? She reaches forward and latches onto his waist, burying her face into his chest and calling him, ‘Sunbae.’ Nan Gil struggles to free himself – man, he’s not very strong when it comes to getting out of a hug – and asks why she’s doing this? Why *is* she doing this?
I am belly laughing watching Nan Gil squirm as Yeo Joo holds on. He stumbles across the yard, but Yeo Joo won’t let go. He protests that he’s not her sunbae! It is truly hysterical. He’s running around the yard, trying to get free. She won’t let go. He’s yelling at her to let him go, let him go, let him go! Na Ri comes out of the house and sees them. Nan Gil doesn’t see her yet, since his back is turned. She watches him struggle and yell for Yeo Joo to let him go.
Na Ri gets angry and yells, “Ya! Do Yeo Joo!” Nan Gil looks up and sees her. Fear is on his face. He starts shaking his head ‘no.’ Na Ri comes down the steps, guitar riffing as she does. Nan Gil still shaking his head. Since Na Ri’s got Yeo Joo’s attention, he’s finally able to shove Yeo Joo off. It doesn’t register for Na Ri and she lunges at him. With bionic sound effects. She tackles him to the ground. Guitar riffing finishes.
They look at each other and romantic music starts playing. Neither of them moves. Yeo Joo moans and starts to get up. Man, even her moaning is Oppa. They both avoid eye contact and then look at each other. Yeo Joo crawls over to Na Ri and asks if she’s okay. Does she even realize that Na Ri is crouched over Nan Gil? She touches Na Ri’s hair, which gets her attention. Yeo Joo notices Nan Gil and calls him Na Ri’s dongsaeng. Her expression says she thinks he’s cute. Which he is. Nan Gil looks in the opposite direction.
Na Ri stands up, dusting herself off, and says Yeo Joo’s name again. Yeo Joo helps Nan Gil get up, asking why he fell over. He still looks like he is freaking out to be caught in this situation. Yeo Joo asks if Nan Gil is drunk this time, too. Na Ri yells her name. Yeo Joo pats her chest and tells Nan Gil that today, she’s drunk, too. She asks if he wants to get another drink with her. He looks at her like she’s got two heads. He’s also fighting off her hands so she can’t latch back on.
Having enough, Na Ri reaches over and slaps Yeo Joo on the back of the head. Nan Gil looks at Na Ri, his mouth in an ‘O’. Which was totally hysterical to watch. Nan Gil looks back at Yeo Joo for her reaction. She spins around and... grabs her tight, crying ‘Sunbae!’ Nan Gil is still hysterical-looking, one hand stuck to his chest from the horror, the other stuffed in his pocket. Yeo Joo starts to cry as she says that she’s having a really hard time, Sunbae! Nan Gil is still staring at her with shock. He has yet to close his mouth.
Now it’s Na Ri who can’t get her to let go. Yeo Joo moans that she’s more of an outcast now than she was in middle and high school. She cries/screams that they're so childish! They're making her flight schedules a mess! Nan Gil still hasn’t moved. She motions with her head for him to go as Yeo Joo moans that they won't even let me rest in the bunker! It takes Nan Gil a few second to register what Na Ri’s doing. Silently, he leans in and asks what she means. She motions again and mouths for him to go.
Yeo Joo moans that everybody is whispering about her behind her back! She motions again and he finally gets it. He tries to creep by but Yeo Joo stops crying to sweetly ask Dongsaeng-bun, in full aegyo-mode, to get her a glass of water. He turns around and the terror is still on his face. Na Ri again mouths for him to go inside. Her face is annoyed – but it’s at Yeo Joo not him. Not that he probably realizes that. Yeo Joo proposes they all have a drink together. Nan Gil nods and gives Yeo Joo a shake of his head before he scurries off.
Once he’s gone, Yeo Joo shoves Na Ri away with a frustrated yell and flops onto the ground. What is wrong with the world? She starts beating the ground with her purse as she as she asks why he won't get her a glass of water?! Na Ri’s a little surprised at her intensity. Yeo Joo asks why the world is so unkind to only her! She hits the ground again as she screams, “What did I do so wrong?!”
Um, let me break it down for you. Not only did you go after another woman’s boyfriend, but he was the boyfriend of one of your co-workers. You knew he was attached and start an affair with him anyway. The really despicable part is that you started at Na Ri’s mother’s funeral. You stole the man of a grieving woman. Despicable.
She turns around and points an accusing finger at Na Ri. Hong Na Ri... You! Yeo Joo stands up and asks why Na Ri’s there. Everyone's whispering and saying that it's all her fault! She is throwing a little fit. She start to jump up and down as she says that she’s saying Na Ri should come back!
Nan Gil arrives with a cup of water. He grabs Na Ri’s hand and puts the cup in it. There’s a silent conversation – where it looks like Nan Gil is saying ‘Here’s the water. She be crazy.’ – before he looks at Yeo Joo, shakes his head and runs off.
Na Ri sighs and holds out the water, giving Yeo Joo a ‘ya.’ Yeo Joo immediately stops and proudly takes the water. She sips it and Na Ri looks at her. She be really crazy. They deposit Yeo Joo on a bed, where she falls asleep and snores. I can’t figure out where she’s sleeping, though. And she’s sleeping with her head on the wrong end of the bed.
Nan Gil enters the kitchen. Na Ri is there. She's standing there with her arms crossed, in a pose that says she’s mad. Is she seriously mad at him? It’s not like he was trying to keep Yeo Joo wrapped around him waist. She saw that much. He walks up to her and stops, asking, “What?” His voice sounds like he has no idea what she might be upset about, but his face looks afraid. She glares at him and tells him to stop dropping things everywhere. Huhn? Nan Gil repeats his question: What? And he sounds as confused as I am.
Na Ri says that he grabs at and hugs just anyone and brings her water just because she asks for it. Her calling you "Dongsaeng, dongsaeng." Did he like it? He answers – not looking scared but a little annoyed at her questions – that he didn't grab at and hug anyone. He got grabbed at and hugged by everyone else today. Na Ri stomps her foot and asks if he’s putting her on the same level as Yeo Joo right now?! He answers by asking what it is that she wants to say? A pause and then Na Ri tells him not to linger around near Yeo Joo.
Nan Gil asks ‘Why?’ Na Ri answers that she someone definitely steals someone else's things! Nan Gil repeats that last part: Someone else's things? He points to himself and asks if she’s possibly talking about him? No answer. Whose property is he? Na Ri looks a bit flustered. And I am sniggering in the background. She doesn’t say anything. She reaches over and takes him hand out of the point and puts it by his side. She quietly tells him to go and work. He snorts at her and leaves.
Once he's gone, she starts quietly jumping and yelling at herself. Oh, why! Oh! Why did you say that, Hong Na Ri?! She starts hitting her head. Oh! Idiot! Nan Gil comes in and sees her slapping her head with her hands. He stifles a small grin and tells her to come out. She turns around and looks at him. He tells her that he can’t leave her there, since she goes through his room all the time. She asks if he’s being suspicious of her right now? Imitating her voice, he says he is. He is 120% suspicious of her right now. So come out. She stops her foot and stomps out. He grins and follows her.
Next morning, it’s seolleongtang. No one looks happy to see it. Nan Gil sighs loudly. She gives him her stewardess smile. Her phone dings with a text. Shi Eun texted her: That fox Do Yeo Joo uploaded this picture this morning in the group chat. If it’s it's true, then she acknowledge her as Bodhisattva.
Wikipedia says that (in Mahayana Buddhism) it’s a person who is able to reach buddhahood but delays doing so until all other sentient beings achieve buddhahood.Shi Eun texts the picture – Yeo Joo holding a picture of Na Ri. She says that she’s at Sunbae Na Ri's house at her hometown. The air is so nice! Like that will make it all better. Na Ri mutters, “This crazy little... Nan Gil looks at her. Na Ri says that she feels like swearing first thing in the morning. The boys wordlessly start eating their soup. Heh. Avoiding her wrath.
Dharmanet.org says that Bodhisattvas are beings who are dedicated to the universal awakening, or enlightenment, of everyone. They exist as guides and providers of relief to suffering beings.
A bodhisattva is a being who carries out the work of the buddhas, vowing not to personally settle into the salvation of final buddhahood until she or he can assist all beings throughout the vast reaches of time and space to fully be free. A bodhisattva is a buddha with her sleeves rolled up.
They appear wherever they can be most helpful.
Yeo Joo is taking a picture of a picture of Yeo Joo and Oma. Na Ri enters and Yeo Joo spins around and hides her phone. Na Ri looks at her and she smiles innocently. Na Ri steps forward. Yeo Joo breaks out her best innocent face. Na Ri asks what Yeo Joo’s doing. Yeo Joo breaks out the aegyo and suggests they take a picture together. Na Ri grabs Yeo Joo by the collar of her shirt and asks why Yeo Joo lives like that, huh? She shakes Yeo Joo as she tell Yeo Joo to leave! Leave, okay?! She drags her downstairs, Yeo Joo screaming bloody murder.
Doing so means that she passes the kitchen. The boys and Nan Gil are standing, watching her. She sees them and immediately grabs a post, asking who all these people are. She’s compulsive. The boys are practically drooling, with Yong Kyu’s mouth hanging open. Na Ri pulls on her and Yeo Joo calls to Nan Gil to help her. He turns to look the other way. Na Ri motions with his head for them to get out of there. Since Nan Gil’s been watching *her* and not Yeo Joo’s performance, he sees it and herds the boys out of the kitchen.
Yong Kyu starts to protest – His feet aren't moving. What is he supposed to do? – and Nan Gil grabs him by the ears/neck. Shoving him out the door he orders Yong Kyu not to hang around near her (Yeo Joo)! Seriously, dude, you are too nice of a guy to get used and your heart broken by someone like Yeo Joo.
Yeo Joo now sits at the table, primping. Na Ri is across from her, looking at 2 glasses of water. She holds up the clear one and says that she liked how comfortable it was here, like a glass of clean water. She thought, "So this is what people call healing." But, because of Yeo Joo, in one morning– She pours the dark, dirty water into the clean one – her mood became like this. She says that it seems like Yeo Joo’s stupid, so she thought she should show her personally. Don't turn another person's life into muddy water. She holds out the dirty glass and orders her to drink up.
Yeo Joo looks horrified. Sh-she’s telling her to drink this? Putting on her little girl voice, she says that she’ll drink it. If that'll make her feel better, then she'll drink it, Sunbae. Na Ri cringes in irritation. She tells Yeo Joo to quit acting. Yeo Joo looks at Na Ri through the corner of her eye. Na Ri says that it's Arrowroot juice. She feels sorry to Arrowroot juice because she's giving it to such a person like Yeo Joo. This juice is even good for relieving hangovers. Drink it and leave.
Yeo Joo sighs and puts the glass down. She says that Oppa Dong Jin is going to work at the headquarters in Hong Kong. If they get married and she follows him there, there won't be any reason for her to turn Na Ri’s life into muddy water. Is she seriously asking Na Ri to help her marry Dong Jin? What planet does she live on? There won't be any reason for her to meet with Na Ri either.
Na Ri answers that, then, all she has to do is quietly go to Hong Kong! I’m with you, Na Ri. This girl is seriously annoying. Yeo Joo says that she’s okay with it, but Oppa's really scared of hearing other people calling him a bad person. That’s the price you pay, dude, when you cheat on your fiancé with her hoobae. Na Ri knows that. Na Ri indignantly asks what she knows. She doesn't know a single thing about that man!
Yeo Joo says that she doesn't want to let Oppa Dong Jin go. She asks Na Ri to please make up with him, even if it's just pretending. Why would she do this for her? Seriously, this girl needs to get a grip. Aegyo voice whines that she doesn't have any friends and she’s an outcast at work. Reap what you sow, babe. What will she do if there's no one at their wedding?
Na Ri says that she really wants to express her admiration at Yeo Joo’s shamelessness. Is she doing this because she's scared no one will come to her wedding? No, she knows that Dong Jin isn’t going to have anything to do with her until Na Ri says that it’s okay. Yeo Joo nods. It's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. Oh, my gosh, I cannot believe that she is pouting at Na Ri. Na Ri just looks at her. I’m really surprised that she hasn’t reached across the table and grabbed a handful of Yeo Joo’s hair.
Na Ri asks if Yeo Joo knows what eggplant flowers look like? She leans forward and holds up her hand, its thumb and index finger pinches together. Those tiny flowers change into something large like this. She makes a fist. Double meaning. Truly. Yeo Joo shifts in her seat.
Still holding up her fist, Na Ri asks if Yeo Joo shouldn't do some growing up, too? Another pout-face from Yeo Joo. She shakes the fist at Yeo Joo and orders her to leave. Yeo Joo makes a face, frustrated that it didn’t work. She stands and tells her Sunbae that she has an advantage. She smiles sweetly and says that she doesn't have any pride. And you’re proud of that? Na Ri hits her head against her fist. Super-aegyo, Yeo Joo says that she’ll be waiting for Na Ri outside. Na Ri pounds her fist on the table and mutters: That little thing, seriously!
Busy restaurant. Nan Gil is making the dumplings. Duk Bong knocks on the window to get his attention. Duk Bong says that he should come out. There’s a meeting of the residents in the redevelopment area. Nan Gil doesn’t respond, just keeps making his dumplings. Duk Bong sticks his head behind the counter and says that all Nan Gil has to do is sign. Then they'll start developing it right away.
Nan Gil looks out into the restaurant and looks around. He says that the lady from Seulgi Supermarket didn't come. Duk Bong’s pretty ballsy to have the meeting in Nan Gil’s restaurant. But they probably all like his dumplings. Duk Bong says that she said that she would do it if he does it. Nan Gil doesn’t answer. Duk Bong remarks that the restaurant will be auctioned anyhow. Will he have to buy it by paying a lot of money to Dada Finances? They should have a win-win for both sides.
Nan Gil looks at him and says, “Okay.” In exchange, he has a condition. Duk Bong quickly agrees: Deal. Leave the lake and forest as they are. Then he’ll hand it over to Duk Bong right away. Na Ri has come in. She steps out of sight so she can eavesdrop. Duk Bong sighs and looks down. Like he’s trying to think of a good story to spin. Nan Gil snaps his fingers near Duk Bong’s face and says that he guesses that Duk Bong isn’t that good of a liar. Since he took so long trying to come up with one.
Duk Bong tells him to look here… Go Nan Gil who's in the middle of a one-sided love with his first love. Na Ri. Nan Gil sighs and Na Ri’s face is shocked. Neither of them see Na Ri. Duk Bong asks if Nan Gil has some sort of passionate back-story with the lake and the forest or something? Na Ri is looking at Nan Gil’s face. Nan Gil sighs and happens to look in her direction. He sees her. Immediately his face says that he’s worried that she heard what Duk Bong said.
Duk Bong sees her too and pleasantly greets her. She smiles hello. Nan Gil is dying, standing at the dumpling counter. His face says that he wishes he could crawl into a hole and die. Duk Bong asks if Na Ri is going to just live there permanently. She says she isn’t and then adds that she completely forgot why she came into the room. She quickly exits. Nan Gil looks at Duk Bong and growls in frustration at him. Duk Bong: Ah... Did she hear? Hey, would she figure it out if she heard it? Nan Gil sighs because he *knows* she’s smart enough to figure out.
Duk Bong says that Soon Rye is going to leave the contract here. She holds up the contract, with the tiniest of smiles. Nan Gil looks at her as Duk Bong says that this is business. Look at those people's expectant faces. Nan Gil sighs, annoyed.
Outside, on the swing, Na Ri is processing what she overheard: Go Nan Gil, who's in the middle of one-sided love with his first love. Plus Nan Gil’s face when he realizes that she overheard. That all but confesses right there. She fans herself. One-sided love with the first love?
Duk Bong leaves the restaurant. Outside, Yeo Joo just happens to be standing by his car, looking at her phone. He gives her a glance but then turns to his phone. Yeo Joo says that they’ve met before, haven't they? He nods and says that it’s more than likely. She asks, with interest, whether he lives there. Duk Bong’s face registers slight surprise plus annoyance. Politely he says that it’s more than likely. He turns back to his phone.
Yeo Joo smells him, obviously. He leans away, asking her what she thinks she’s doing with his eyes. She says that his cologne scent goes well with summer. He just looks at her – like he’s just waiting this out. Yeo Joo places him. He’s that person who was at the airport with Sunbae Na Ri, isn’t he?
Ah, the reason why he’s standing by his car waiting. I was wondering why he just hadn't gotten in yet. Soon Rye comes out with Nan Gil. Their faces give him the bad news. Duk Bong sighs. He asks why Soon Rye still has the contract. Is she going to prove that she’s incompetent? Duk Bong snatches the contract out of her hands and Nan Gil gives him a look saying that he shouldn’t have just been that humiliating to her. Duk Bong looks down at the contract. Soon Rye makes a ‘huh’ of disbelief and offense at him and hurries away, obviously upset.
Duk Bong sniffs – to retain his dignity – and makes a phone call. He calls Na Ri and asks her to come out. And because she is completely self-absorbed – Yeo Joo scurries over to Nan Gil. She asks Dongsaeng-bun if he knows that Duk Bong’s relationship with Sunbae Na Ri is? He shakes his head and steps away from her. I laugh. She frowns and steps toward him. That guy was with Sunbae Na Ri at the airport before, and they looked super close. She pushes her index fingers together like they’re kissing. Sweetly she supposes that Na Ri still kept it a secret from him.
Na Ri comes out of the gate and Nan Gil immediately steps as far as he can in one step from Yeo Joo. She gives him a look and asks Duk Bong what he wants. Duk Bong offers the contract, telling her to look at it and have a family meeting. Looking at Nan Gil he says that that stepfather of hers will never– She stops him by grabbing the contract out of his hands. She says she understands. Nan Gil yells at her in Appa voice, asking why she would accept it. Give it back to him!
Looking at Nan Gil, Duk Bong asks if Na Ri saw that. That stepfather of hers didn't even read over the contract. Yeo Joo, of course, has been listening. She looks at Nan Gil and asks “Stepfather?” Na Ri puts a hand over Duk Bong’s mouth and asks her Dongsaeng if he’s not going back in? Dongsaeng should go and run the business! A bit of silent communication and Nan Gil leaves without a word. Na Ri lets go of Duk Bong’s face.
She says to Yeo Joo, “You haven't left yet?” Putting on her pout face, she walks over to Na Ri and says that she said that she was waiting for Na Ri. She nods her head toward Duk Bong. He’s the person that came to the airport before, right? She promises that she’ll reveal Sunbae has a man. Duk Bong laughs at Yeo Joo’s gall (and stupidity). Yeo Joo finds it most interesting that the two of them are not responding. That means that they’re acknowledging it, right? Right?
Na Ri asks what she has to do to pretend to make up with Dong Jin. Yeo Joo smiles, triumphant. She grabs Na Ri’s arm and pulls her away. Switch to Yeo Joo and Na Ri taking a selfie in front of Hong Dumplings. Duk Bong’s standing out of sight, looking bored. He didn’t get to finish his conversation with Na Ri, after all. Aegyo-voice, she says that she’s uploading it to the group chat room. Na Ri snaps at her to do what she wants and just leave, please! Yeo Joo gets and idea and takes a picture of them both; Duk Bong smartly turns his face away. And you’ll have to burn the coat, dude, like you never owned it. Sweetly, she says that she hopes the two of them turns out well. Na Ri tries not to fume.
Duk Bong says that Yeo Joo is not the type to wish others well. At least he wasn’t bamboozled by her ‘charm.’ Nan Gil isn't either, for the record. This makes Na Ri smile and she comments that she didn’t introduce them. This is Kwon Duk Bong. The pride of Seulgi, Nobok Museum CEO. He's part of the Green Land Group family. Yeo Joo’s face registers her shock at losing out on such a huge fish. Na Ri says that Yeo Joo can go and Duk Bong, they can go in. Na Ri basically drags Duk Bong away.
Now in the yard, Duk Bong asks if Na Ri looked him up. He is part of the Green Land Group family. He comments that his neighbor friend (Na Ri) is materialistic. Na Ri asks if she really has to do any research to find that out. All neighbors already know it. She apologizes for what she just did. She thought I'd feel better, but she doesn’t. Duk Bong tells her that she did well. The way you confront a materialistic person by being more materialistic.
Na Ri starts to ask him about what he said inside but thinks better of it. She tells him that he has a good eye for people’s character. He’s right that Yeo Joo is a materialistic person. He says that this isn’t what she was about to say. She looked like she wanted to say something. Na Ri replies that, really, it's nothing.
Nan Gil does some grunting as he brings out some pans to wash. Na Ri shoves the contract back to Duk Bong. Nan Gil walks through them and over to the faucet. He drops the pans so that they clatter on purpose – and checks that Na Ri’s looking. Duk Bong looks at both their body language. He reaches over, grabs Nan Gil by the shoulder and hauls him over to stand by Na Ri. He declares that since they’re all gathered together, they should talk freely. Neither Na Ri nor Nan Gil look like they want to do that. Nan Gil fiddles with his apron so he doesn’t have to look at her. Now he feels awkward.
Duk Bong asks Na Ri is she’s afraid of Nan Gil. No confirmation. Duk Bong asks then why can't she even read the contract? They can legally claim this house as her. Does she know that? She says that she does. And Mr. Go Nan Gil. He may be the legal owner of this house, but he cannot buy or sell on his own. If Hong Na Ri tackles him, he can't do anything. And that has double meaning after last night. Nan Gil looks at Na Ri and swallows.
Duk Bong asks if he’s uncomfortable with Hong Na Ri as his daughter? Nan Gil makes a face and looks away, like he really doesn’t want to stand here and be part of this discussion. Na Ri looks over at Nan Gil to see his reaction. Duk Bong says that he’s asking if Nan Gil’s really doing his best as her family regarding these documents. Nan Gil looks at the air over Na Ri’s head. Na Ri looks over towards the house. Nan Gil looks out towards the street.
Duk Bong groans that it’s so frustrating. He makes Na Ri take the contract. He pulls them closer together and tells them to talk this over... as a family... seriously. They are… family, right? They have to look at each other (briefly). Duk Bong adds that families don’t play hard to get. He shoves them closer together. Na Ri grunts as he does. I laugh loudly. I have to give it to him. He totally compartmentalizes. Business is business, without any of his personal life bleeding in.
♬ Ooh, yeah. Ooh, yeah. ♬
Duk Bong walks away and they just stand there, looking at each other.
♬ Be my waiting love ♬
After a moment, they wordlessly go in opposite directions. Nan Gil just happens to lose his balance walking over to the faucet.
Breakfast time again. More seolleongtang. The boys have to force themselves to eat. Nan Gil is not at the table. Heh! Na Ri looks a little miserable. She asks why Nan Gil isn’t eating. Yong Kyu tells her, with a little frustration in his voice, that Nan Gil said he's sick of the beef bone soup. In unison, Joon and Han Yi say that Nan Gil never said that. Yong Kyu mutters that they’re traitors.
Later, Nan Gil is looking at his laptop while the boys are working in the kitchen. Na Ri enters. Nan Gil looks at her, sighs and leaves the room. This obviously bothers Na Ri. The boys feel bad for her. She leaves.
The next morning, it’s not seolleongtang but some other kind of soup. Joon and Han Yi are excited. Na Ri looks at Nan Gil’s empty chair and frowns. Yong Kyu gives her a big bow as he accepts his bowl. Na Ri is obviously bothered that Nan Gil is not there.
Nan Gil is at work, making the packs for the dumplings. Yong Kyu asks why he’s avoiding Na Ri. Nan Gil looks at him and tells him to get ready for work. Talking like he’s Nan Gil – which cracks me up – Yong Kyu says:
1. I'm avoiding her because she makes me uncomfortable.
2. I'm avoiding because I haven't figured out my feelings for her.
3. I'm avoiding her to make her miss me to death.
It has to be one of these three, right? Nan Gil’s facial reactions look like Yong Kyu’s tormenting him.
Yong Kyu protest that he’s saying that Na Ri seems to be missing him very much! Nan Gil throws down the dumpling he was working on, raises his hands like he wants to strangle Yong Kyu while making a sound of frustration and walks out of the room. Yong Kyu mutters to himself, asking why Nan Gil always just gets mad at him.
Duk Shim is waiting for Nan Gil outside the greenhouse. She’s not excited when it’s Na Ri that arrives first. Na Ri enters before Nan Gil sees her. When he enters, she steps out to block his path and tells him to try running away there as well? Nan Gil acts like she’s not there and starts checking on his plants. Na Ri says that Duk Bong came to the airport just for the land. There's no other reason.
Nan Gil looks at her and asks why she’s telling him that? She answers that it’s when he found that out that he started to avoid her. He looks down. She says that she’s not friendly with Kwon Duk Bong. She's not taking Duk Bong’s side. Nan Gil frowns and shakes his head as she talks. She doesn't care whether Nan Gil sells or keeps the land. He looks up at her and asks if she isn’t going back to Seoul. She answers, telling him that he doesn’t know how she’s been feeling lately, does he?
Nan Gil replies that he knows that she’s drinking every day. Just go back if she’s going to do that. She says that she wants to see Oma, so she drank with the elders in town. She has so much regret, she could just die! Her voice starting to shake, she says that she planned for that wedding for so many years, but she never planned a trip with Oma. Since her daughter is a stewardess, flight costs are cheap. She must have been a terrible daughter to Oma. Because she’s a Wedge moth larvae and pig's nail.
She squats and starts to cry. She asks into her hands what she’s supposed to do? Nan Gil sighs and goes over to her. Then he notices something and smiles. He picks up a packet of seeds and shakes it at her. He asks if she bought this to plant. She looks at it and stands up. She takes his towel and wipes her eyes. She answers that she did. She wanted to make this her land. Since she’s a novice for farming, she wants to start planting the lettuce and peppers.
She takes the packet and walks over to an empty plot. She rips open the package and starts shaking the seeds onto the dirt. Nan Gil yells at her – in Appa voice, of course – that that's not how you spread the seeds! She snaps back, asking how she’s supposed to do it?!
Nan Gil shows her, gently explaining the steps. She smiles. As he puts the seeds in for her, he says that it was Omeoni who didn't travel. This place was Omeoni’s world. Na Ri says that she’s still a Wedge moth larvae. Nan Gil replies that the Seulgi Supermarket ajumma’s daughter took her bankbook and ran away from home. She hasn't contacted the ajumma since. Does she think her Oma was the type to brag about her daughter there? I knew there was a reason. Na Ri asks about Pig's Toenail?
Nan Gil kind of smiles and says that it's because of him. Because he hated her Oma’s daughter, Hong
Na Ri. He was jealous and envious of her. She tried to make me feel better, so she pretended to speak negatively about you. There's a pause. Na Ri says that since he said he hated her, she’s gonna ask again... That day when it was raining, and the water splashed... He cuts her off, saying that he said it wasn't!
She’ll give it to him. But when she was younger, someone hit her with a rubber band gun and even stuck gum on her shoe. He starts to laugh – because he knows that he got even with the boys that harassed her. Was he, by chance, the culprit? With a smile he says that he’s never done such childish things in his life! It happened because she was a brat. Na Ri gives him a ‘ya!’ and he ‘uh-uh’s back, saying that they’re not in a relationship where they say things like that.
Na Ri asks if he’s making this her land. Then will she go to Seoul? She shouts, “Fine! I'll go! I won't ever come back to this hous—” Nan Gil cuts her off, saying that she keeps saying that she won't, but she keeps coming back too often!
Duk Shim watches the whole thing. She’s not happy. Flashback to a year ago. Duk Shim is throwing a fit, smashing a scarecrow. She beats it with frustration. Finally, she’s exhausted. She sighs with satisfaction. Nan Gil calls her ‘Student,’ which startles her. He asks if she’s done. She tries to hide her face and scurry away. He blocks her path. When she looks up at him, he gives her a small smile.
There’s noise from a crowd of men who are looking for her. She groan/sighs. Nan Gil tells her to follow him. He cleans off her boots and hands. He smiles at her – I think she reminds him of Na Ri. He asks why she did it. She doesn’t answer. Oh, so she’s asserting her right to remain silent. Then should he tell them he caught the culprit in the scarecrow assault cases that have been happening lately? Cases? No wonder they were looking for her.
Duk Shim shakes her head vigorously. She sighs and admits that it’s because they were rude. That rice paddy's owner's children. Calling her student again, he notes that she transferred here and they picked on her. Is she going to mess up all rice paddies here just because of them? They have dogs and cows as well. Are you going to kill those as well? She’s horrified at that suggestion. Is he crazy?! Nan Gil says that the rice plants are alive too, swaying back and forth. Doesn't she see them growing up tall?
Nan Gil sighs and says that in this world, there are people who laugh while tormenting others. They don't know that their life is turning into garbage. She shouldn’t waste her time or energy on them. Okay? She agrees. He tells her he’ll be watching. They share a small smile.
Back in the present, Duk Shim’s getting upset. This was a place for just the two of them.
Uncle’s at a jjimjilbang in its sauna room. He sure seems to be enjoying life. He lies down, set to relax. Wan Shik and Bruiser enter. Wan Shik smiles to himself. He leans over Uncle and says his name. Uncle sits up, afraid. Wan Shik tells him that it's not good too sweat too much when you’re old.
Switch to Uncle in a dark room, still wearing his bath slippers. The door opens and he stands, head bowed. Director enters (with Wan Shik behind him) and sits down across from Uncle. He tells Uncle to sit. Uncle’s beady little eyes are wiggling as he tries to figure out what he’s going to do. Uncle sits. Director asks if Uncle doesn’t know him. Uncle doesn’t answer. Director tells him that when someone asks him a question, he should answer properly. Uncle is properly terrified. He sputters that he doesn’t know.
Director doesn’t think that’s right. Uncle can't not know. Think carefully. Ah. Ah, so Uncle might not know. When Uncle came, holding Hong Sung Kyu's (Na Ri’s father) hand to borrow money, how would Uncle have known that he would move up to this position? Uncle looks up in surprise, but quickly averts his eyes.
Director says that men who constantly avert their eyes... He can't stand them. He tells at Uncle to look him straight in the eye, you bastard! Uncle screams when Director reaches over and lifts his face to make him comply. Director notes that for someone who is so fearful, why doesn't he repay his debt? Or, run away, like Hong Sung Kyu did? Director says that he even saw Uncle’s successful niece, the stewardess, at Dada Finance. This actually gets a reaction of something that looks like regret out of Uncle.
Director says that she met the wrong father and uncle, and it looks like her life is in shambles because of it. Uncle looks at him, surprised at that news. Ah. Looking at how surprised Uncle is, it seems like Uncle just believed what Go Nan Gil told him. If Uncle knew what kind of guy that Go Nan Gil is, he wouldn't be able to leave his niece by Nan Gil’s side, old man. Director tells him to just work hard at doing what they tell him. It’s the only way to save his niece. Uncle swallows and his face says that he will. I wonder what they told him to do. And why would he believe anything that the Director is telling him.
Breakfast. Nan Gil’s helping to set the table. Na Ri says that it’s hard to walk around. She asks him to teach her how to ride a bike. Nan Gil says that she knows how to ride a bike. She replies that she does but she hasn’t ridden one in so long– She stops as she realizes the extent of how much he might know. She looks at him and says that he knows all sorts of things about her. He followed her around when she was younger, didn't he? He laughs a denial and walks away. So he won’t have to answer.
♬ Slowly, bit by bit, I love you ♬
Bicycle lessons by the lake.
♬ Get one step closer to you, love you. Get closer ♬
She tells him not to ride ahead of her. This is her first time riding in several years. She tells him to stay right by her side. And he’s grinning the whole time.
♬ I've never thought about it before ♬
He leans over, whispers, “Okay,” and then speeds away with a “Vroom!” Which gets a ‘Ya!’ She speeds up to catch him.
♬ You and I, our relationship ♬
She passes him and they both laugh. They are so cute!
♬ Just you and I, the two of us ♬
♬ You and I, forever ♬
♬ I want to live here with you ♬
♬ It’s just a small wish ♬
They’ve stopped. Nan Gil is laughing as Na Ri pants that she’s going to die.
♬ You don't know, you still don't know ♬
He offers her water and tells her that she should exercise everyday.
♬ Because that fearless imagination is so ridiculous ♬
Na Ri pants that it’s never been this bad before. Her body must have gotten older.
♬ Just once, if only I could take my heart out ♬
Take a deep inhale and a long exhale. They do, together. He sneaks a peek at her, loving every minute of it.
♬ I love you, I love you, would you know my mind then? ♬
♬ Just you and I, the two of us ♬
♬ You and I, forever ♬
Na Ri sighs and says that she’s so happy. She can’t remember how long it's been since she’s felt like this. Nan Gil doesn’t say anything. Just stores that one away in his heart.
♬ Only that I love you, it's enough to me ♬
He realizes that he’s starting to fall for her again. Nan Gil stops smiling. He quickly says that he’s going to go knead. Stiffly he takes the water and gets his bike. She tells him, “That dang kneading!” His face is expressionless as he rides away.
♬ Come slowly, don't rush ♬
♬ Slowly, bit by bit ♬
And off in the distance is Duk Shim. She’s not happy at Na Ri moving in on her man.
Nan Gil gets a call. It’s Director. He says that Shin Jung Nam is there. They talked about things from long ago for the first time in a long time. At first, he got mad at Hong Na Ri for using Nan Gil. But looking at what they talked about regarding the past, the biggest victim here is Hong Na Ri. Director sighs. He realized he’d I realized I'd forgotten something about something that happened a long time ago. Director says that Nan Gil and Na Ri are ill-fated. Don't make him reveal even that. Nan Gil doesn’t say anything and he’s shaken as he gets off the phone.
Na Ri is happily biking. Duk Shim barrels down on her. She rings her bell at Na Ri and then forces her off the road. Duk Shim grumbles about Na Ri’s bad reflexes. You mean you weren’t trying to force her off the road? Na Ri lies there and moans in pain. Duk Shim calls her brother. He asks where she is that she’d call her Oppa? She answers that he’s going to have to come here. He asks if she’s gone crazy. She says that it's about Hong Dumplings. That woman hurt herself. That gets his attention.
Duk Bong asks where Na Ri is and quickly leaves once Duk Shim tells him. Duk Shim yells down to Na Ri, asking if she’s okay. She cries for Duk Shim to help her. Duk Shim helps her sit up and Na Ri asks Duk Shim to pass her the handphone in her backpack. Duk Shim does and Na Ri calls Nan Gil.
Nan Gil is, indeed, kneading the bread. Oma’s song plays from his phone.
♬ If I were the sky ♬
♬ I'd want to be colored in your face ♬
Nan Gil frowns when he sees it’s Na Ri but he answers. She whines that Nan Gil needs to come! Duk Shim kicks herself for handing Na Ri the phone. Nan Gil is immediately concerned. Na Ri has no idea where she is. She asks Duk Shim to tell Nan Gil. Duk Shim clears her throat before she gets on the phone. She actually tells him where they are. I thought for sure she would say someplace else. Nan Gil immediately leaves to come there. Duk Shim looks at the phone and desperately tries to memorize Nan Gil’s phone number.
Na Ri takes back her phone and then asks if Duk Shim isn’t the person who was riding her bike just a little while ago? She can’t believe Duk Shim did that. She asks why Duk Shim drove straight at her when the road was so big! Duk Shim retorts that she didn't drive toward Na Ri. She was the one who rang the bell to tell Na Ri to get out of the way since Na Ri drove too slow. Na Ri snaps back, asking where she was supposed to move when Duk Shim pushed her toward this direction.
Duk Bong arrives as Duk Shim is pushing Na Ri’s bike to the top of the hill. Na Ri is crawling up with her, moaning as she does. He immediately tries to help her, telling her to lean on him and then suggests picking her up so he can take her to the hospital. She stops him and tells him that it would be better to just walk.
Nan Gil arrives and he’s visibly worried. He jumps off his bike, so that it clatters to the ground, and runs to her. Na Ri immediately shoves Duk Bong away, which he definitely notices. Nan Gil tries to see where she’s hurt as he asks if she’s okay. She nods that she is. He says that he called 119. he tells her not to make any sudden movements. Neither Kwon sibling is happy with how their exchange is going.
Ambulance with Na Ri on a stretcher. Nan Gil’s in the ambulance with her. He is really worried – as evidenced by his fidgeting and fiddling with his fingers. Na Ri notices and looks at his face. He notices and asks her if she’s in pain. EMT asks, too. Na Ri says that she’s fine. Nan Gil looks positively miserable. He’s sweating! And that’s not from the bike ride. Wow.
They arrive at Dong Hwa Hospital. Nan Gil anxiously waits outside the examination area for news. Na Ri emerges with a nurse, wearing a brace around her waist. Nurse says that Na Ri’s leg is only slightly bruised, not broken. But because of her herniated disc, they’ll have to watch on her overnight. Nurse tells Na Ri’s guardian – and this time she’s not arguing. Funny that – that every 3 hours, he needs to check to see if she's in any pain and what part of her body is hurting. He smiles politely and thanks the nurse.
Duk Bong has dragged a loudly protesting Duk Shim to the hospital by the wrist. He says nothing as she blames Na Ri for the accident. He does not look happy. Finally he releases her and says that a person was hurt and it’s the driver's fault no matter what. Duk Shim is snarky with him. He answers that that woman with bad reflexes isn't a pushover. She could report Duk Shim to the police. The police would do an accident investigation. Duk Shim just rolls her eyes. She doesn’t get scared until Duk Bong points out that Hong Dumplings President would find out that this accident was done on purpose.
In her hospital room, Na Ri is trying to climb into bed, but her back won’t let her do it. Nan Gil tells her to sit. He reaches to pick her up and they have a moment. Both of them are flustered. He tries to slide her onto the bed without looking at her and he isn’t successful. The door slides open and he immediately steps back. Duk Bong and Duk Shim enter, with Duk Shim carrying some medicine.
Duk Bong asks if Na Ri’s okay. She says that she’s fine and wants to know how Duk Shim got there. Duk Bong admits that the driver that caused the accident is his dongsaeng. They repeat “dongsaeng?” in unison. Duk Bong makes her bow deeply as he introduces her: Kwon Duk Shim.
Na Ri can’t help but notice how Duk Shim keeps staring at Nan Gil. She tells the men to leave so that she can take care of her clothes. She asks Duk Shim to help her. The boys leave. Once they’re alone, she unstraps the brace and says that Duk Shim did it on purpose, didn't she? Duk Shim rolls her eyes and says that Na Ri sure starts talking informally as soon as the men leave the room. Na Ri replies that Duk Shim is the one who sent those notes calling Go Nan Gil "My Prince" and saying "Your dumplings are the best!" isn’t she? Duk Shim acts like she has no idea what Na Ri’s talking about.
Na Ri says that Duk Shim is also the one who locked her in the basement, isn’t she? Her Your foot size matches up perfectly! Duk Shim squirms. Na Ri demands to know why Duk Shim is doing this to her. Does she have a disease of second-year middle schooler? Duk Shim protests that she’s in my second year of high school! Duk Shim blames the accident on Na Ri’s sucky reflexes, calling her ajumma.
Na Ri is about to stand up at the ‘ajumma’ crack but her back stops her. Na Ri looks at Duk Shim and says that what she did at the basement and this accident are both dangerous! She needs to tell her why. If Duk Shim doesn't, she'll just <whack>! Whether Duk Shim’s in her second year of high school or the dynamic adolescent period, she’ll not have mercy on Duk Shim at all. Duk Shim fidgets.
Duk Shim has the same problem as my nephew. She doesn’t know when to stop talking. Duk Shim says that she thinks it's sickening as a woman, to see Na Ri cling onto another man just because Na Ri got dumped by an ex-boyfriend! Then Na Ri latched onto her brother too. That's just the way Na Ri operates, you octopus-legs lady. If he's made a mistake and gotten married at a young age, the person who sent it in shouldn't hold him back and should just coolly divorce him!
Calling Duk Shim ‘Student,’ Na Ri asks when Duk Shim studies for school in between finding out all these difficult facts? Duk Shim protests that she saw it all, you know! She made her ex-boyfriend drunk, and fought with his girlfriend that came to pick him up. Then you came to my brother and pretended to be all womanly. And said you'd cancel the marriage annulment lawsuit or something.
Na Ri replies that she was going to acknowledge at least one thing Duk Shim said if it was right, but it's all wrong! Duk Shim wants to know what her relationship with Mr. Nan Gil is. Na Ri is surprised that Duk Shim calls him ‘Mr. Nan Gil.’ Duk Shim wants to know what it is that she keeps on sticking around him? So annoying!
Na Ri says that ff Duk Shim made a person into a state like this, she should apologize first. What? You're annoyed? Would it be so difficult for you to give a sincere apology in a situation like this? Kwon Duk Shim. You've gotten me all wrong. Na Ri’s voice is pleasant and threatening. She says she won't agree on a settlement. They should have an accident investigated! Including the incident of the storage room. She warned Duk Shim that she's merciless, didn't she?!
Outside, Duk Bong is surprised that Nan Gil really didn't know that Duk Shim’s his dongsaeng? Nan Gil says it’s the truth. It’s hard not to notice things like that. He doesn't feel too good. Duk Bong says that she's his sister, what’s not to like? Nan Gil says that Duk Bong called her a juvenile delinquent when she is quiet and gentle. Duk Bong replies that he only has one dongsaeng and she’s not quiet or gentle. He frowns a Duk Bong.
Na Ri yells for Nan Gil to call the police, right now! Duk Shim immediately drops to her knees and apologizes. Nan Gil and Duk Bong enter. Na Ri is surprised by Duk Shim’s quick reversal. Duk Shim buries her face in her hands and runs from the room. Nan Gil can’t believe that a grown woman would make a little kid cry? Does Na Ri think she did it on purpose? Both Na Ri and Duk Bong say, in unison, that Duk Shim did it on purpose.
Nan Gil is surprised. Why would she? Na Ri says that he’ll have to hear the reason from Duk Shim, but she just left without apologizing. Na Ri tells Duk Bong to go to his dongsaeng. Duk Bong agrees and apologizes before he goes.
After he leaves, Nan Gil sighs loudly. Wow, this is a big problem. Scolding, he says that whenever she goes, she's a troublemaker. She yells a ‘ya!’ and him, which hurts her back. He wonders why that quiet and innocent student would have done that on purpose. Na Ri can’t believe Nan Gil is calling Duk Shim a quiet and innocent student? Duk Shim looked her straight in the eyes and said, "I rang the bell when I was behind you!" "It happened because your reflexes suck, ajumma!" That's what she said. Nan Gil starts laughing at her. She glares at him so he stops.
Duk Bong is driving while Duk Shim stares listlessly out the window. He tells her the most energy-draining thing in the world is one-sided love. Because of jealousy. That's why people who have a one-sided love should just keep it as a one-sided love. If you have a one-sided love and get jealous on top of it, you'll go completely insane. He’s saying that her energy will disappear.
Duk Shim asks him what he’s talking about. He likes that lady, doesn’t he? Duk Bong avoids looking in her direction and then tells her to not beat around the bush. Why would he like that woman? She gives a verbal eye roll. He came running because she said it was the lady from the dumpling shop. Does he think he’s Prince Charming? He got rejected when he was holding her.
Duk Bong tells her not to say things that don't make any sense. She wants to know what his relationship is with that octopus-legs lady? Duk Bong notes the nickname. Why does he call Na Ri Octopus-Legs Lady? She doesn't divorce him but clings to him and keeps people on her hook. He tells her that she should just write a novel. Does Duk Shim even know how Hong Dumplings and Na Ri are related legally?
Duk Shim says that she knows about the marriage annulment lawsuit, too. Duk Bong clarifies that they have a father-daughter relationship. Stepfather and daughter. Duk Shim asks how Duk Bong could say a lie like that? He asks if the words stepfather and daughter sound like a lie to her. She tells him to let her out. He retorts that he’s not her chauffer. She throws her usual fit and Duk Bong sighs. She goes biking with a big smile on her face. I can’t believe he let her out of the car.
Nan Gil is walking with a hobbling Na Ri. Doctor assures her that if there are no problems with her x-ray tomorrow, then she can go home. She’ll have to exercise so that it doesn't become chronic. Keep walking a little longer. He tells Nan Gil to hold onto her and help her. Doctor goes on his way.
As soon as he’s gone, Na Ri picks up her pace. Nan Gil stops her by grabbing her arm. Did she not hear him tell her to walk a little longer? She tries to pull away but his grip is firm. He sucks his teeth at her. She gives an ‘Aish!’ He takes her outside. She worries that it’s taking too long. Won't her back get worse? He tells her that it hasn't even been ten minutes! She mutters, asking how a father could talk like that? He answered that he didn't know that he’s be taking care of an older daughter's illness, either.
Na Ri wonders if she should look for her Abeoji. Nan Gil lets go of her arm and sticks his hands in his pockets. What for? Na Ri says that she’s not sure how Oma would feel about it, but she never hated Abeoji. She rode a plane with Abeoji for the first time when she was a kid. She don't remember it too clearly because she was young, but she remembers being surprised at how big the plane was on the runway. She wonders why Mom didn't go with them. And where did she go?
Nan Gil says that it must not have been any fun, since Na Ri can't remember. Na Ri says that it would have been fun. Abeoji was a pretty funny man. Everyone in the neighborhood liked Abeoji, too. But when she talked about it with Oma, Oma would say that Na Ri never rode a plane with him. She definitely remembers it, though. She’s sure it happened.
Nan Gil says that Omeoni must have not liked that they had a relationship between just the two of them. Na Ri thinks that’s a plausible reason. He asks if she wants to find Abeoji so she can ask if she rode on an airplane? Na Ri says it isn’t that. Oma kept a lot of secrets from her. And I don’t think you’re going to like what you find. She kept them a secret for a reason. She wants to ask Abeoji what those secrets are.
Nan Gil gives her a comforting smile and tells her not to find Abeoji. Just think of him as comfortably resting somewhere while avoiding Dada Finance. She agrees that they should do that then. He smiles and grabs her arm again. They should walk another ten rounds. A ‘ya!’ and his correcting ‘uh-ut!’
Dong Jin is sitting with Yeo Joo, by a balled structure lit with colorful lights.
Yes, folks, I spent about 25 minutes trying to figure out where they were at: the Millennium Eye in Digital Media City. There is precious little about this steel balled structure. I was able to find a little information:Dong Jin is sitting with Yeo Joo. They’re looking at the Millennium Eye, a steel-balled structure lit with colorful lights. He’s drinking a Coke. He looks tired, beaten down. I don’t really feel sorry for him.
Digital Media City Unveils Symbolic Landmark
Korean Herald artice
InvestSeoul.com
Special thanks to Pinterest for providing the location and the artist, Anish Kapoor. I would not have found it without you.
The structure is also called “Tall Tree & the Eye.” Here’s the information that I got off of Leeum Museum’s website:
2011, Stainless Steel, Height 1,500cm
Artist
The Indian-British artist Anish Kapoor (born 1954) is one of the most influential sculptors working today. He has for many years been exploring scale, color, materiality, and the idea of void in sculpture and continues to expand the vocabulary and horizons of contemporary sculpture. As a student, Kapoor was deeply fascinated by Carl Jung's writings, and rediscovered Hindu philosophy on a visit to India in 1979. Kapoor's work is deeply rooted in the dialectics of existence and absence, materiality and immateriality, spirituality and sensibility, and life and death.
Artwork
Tall Tree & the Eye was inspired by the poem cycle Sonnets to Orpheus by the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke, whose work the artist has always loved. Based on the myth of Orpheus, Rilke’s sonnets are powerfully shaped by the poet’s own imagination, and full of conflicting images of life and death, reality and myth, this life and the next. Kapoor’s work is saturated with such poetic imagery. Its title is borrowed from Rilke’s lines praising Orpheus for playing the lyre with such skill that even the trees extend themselves to become taller and higher. Comprised of dozens of mirror-like stainless steel spheres, the work itself becomes an eye that endlessly reflects and enriches its surroundings.
And now, back to the show…
Yeo Joo’s got her full Oppa voice going. She says that while he was in his man-cave, she visited Sunbae Na Ri's house in her hometown. Is this all they have in common, Na Ri? He says that he saw the picture she sent. She says that they talked for one night and two days, and they got a lot off our minds. She feels better now. Because that’s all that’s important. He says that that’s good.
Yeo Joo blinks and asks if that’s it. He’s not going to ask how Sunbae Na Ri is? He says that Na Ri is strong so she’s probably fine. Yeo Joo smiles and adds that, thankfully, there's a cool guy in her hometown. She’s very proud of herself for giving Oppa this news. Dong Jin replies that that guy's not a man. Heh. And Yeo Joo is surprised that she’s not getting any emotional rise out of Dong Jin. He should be worried.
She tells Oppa that he met him when he went to Na Ri Sunbae's house, Kwon Duk Bong. He's not just working at the museum, but he's a part of the Green Land Family. She’s got Dong Jin’s attention now. She says that she heard he was just a neighborhood friend, but recently, he went with her to the airport as well. Man, she is such a gossip. In her opinion, it looked like they've known each other a long time.
Yeo Joo says that Na Ri probably cheated first. Now, there's no place for Oppa to return to. Wow, she has no problem trashing anyone to get what she wants. He chuckles slightly – not the reaction I was expecting – and asked who said he was going back? So has he decided to be with the one he’s with and give up on Na Ri? Has he told his mother yet? Yeo Joo blinks. Dong Jin says that if Na Ri says he's a neighborhood friend, then he's just a neighborhood friend. Unless she calls her stepfather her dongsaeng. Heh.
Yeo Joo really can’t believe that he is still sticking up for Na Ri. She asks Oppa, if he knows her as well as he knows Na Ri Sunbae? Does he know how she’s been lately? Dong Jin just looks at her. It’s like he’s found his inner Zen. She’s been outcast because she stole Sunbae's boyfriend. And the flight schedules are all over the place so it's been really hard for her. Still she didn't show any of it to him. Wasn’t he avoiding you before? And wow, guilt trip. She’s ‘so noble.’
He chuckles and says that today, she is more like the Do Yeo Joo he knew from before. On the first day they met – was that at the funeral or before, because, wow, I hate her even more if it was *the day of the funeral.* What a loathsome creature. – she showed up unexpectedly at his house – how did she know where he lived? – and said that she couldn’t stop thinking about him, so she ran to his house. Back then, she did and said whatever she wanted and didn't care what anyone else thought. So *that’s* what he likes about her? That she’s completely selfish and doesn’t think about how her actions impact anyone else? I shake my head.
He tells her to stop talking about Na Ri. Forget about her. Yeo Joo doesn’t have to send him pictures like that anymore. He says, “You are you, Do Yeo Joo.” She is who she is. He gives her a small smile. She smiles back – and looks a bit uncomfortable – and says that she wanted to look good in front of Oppa, so she was trying to imitate Na Ri Sunbae. Didn’t he just say to stop talking about her? But she’s herself. She leans over and kisses him and he keeps his eyes open.
Back at the hospital, Nan Gil is sitting, leaning on Na Ri’s bed. She’s under the covers. I guess they were able to figure out how to get her in bed. His head is resting on his hand. Na Ri sits up and he doesn’t move. Looks like he’s asleep. She looks at the sleeping Nan Gil – like those in love do, when they find their loved ones sleeping, drinking in the beauty that is their face. Nan Gil’s head loses its balance, so it jerks forward and wakes him. He checks on Na Ri and realizes that she’s sitting up. They say nothing.
He pulls out his phone and a clipboard and pen. He says that three hours have passed. Does she have any symptoms? Heh. Every three hours. Heh. She calls him “Mr. Go Nan Gil” and says that she’s sorry that he can remember her when she was young, but she doesn't remember him at all. Nan Gil looks down and says there's no need to be sorry about things like that. He puts the clipboard down and tells her to go back to sleep. He'll wake her up again in 3 hours.
Na Ri says that she didn't realize that someone remembering her as a child would make her feel so happy. Aw, that’s sweet. She feels like she was someone's first love. And she feels like she was a cool person, so she feels more confident, too. Aw, that’s a sweet way of telling him that he doesn’t have to worry about her knowing. They look at each other.
♬ I can't forget your warmth ♬
Nan Gil says, “I'm going to knead the dough.” I was having a swoon moment, too, Nan Gil.
♬ Because it's you ♬
Na Ri’s face says that she’s hurt. As he leaves, she sighs with frustration.
♬ Because it's you, I can't forget ♬
♬ That scenes that was so warm ♬
He tells himself that he’s ended it. He’s done. And he blinks several times.
♬ Sometimes ♬
Leaving the hospital, he looks miserable.
♬ When I'm having a hard time or tired out or need a place to lean on ♬
He stops – because he doesn’t really want to let go of his love for Na Ri – and looks up at her floor.
He thinks about what she just said.
♬ If you call me, wherever it is, even to the ends of the earth ♬
♬ I'll surely go ♬
He reminds himself what Director said: He and Hong Na Ri are ill-fated… Don't make him reveal even that. What could it be? We still don’t know why Nan Gil ended up in prison and I have a bad feeling that it has something to do with Na Ri’s Abeoji.
He decides to make a phone call.
Uncle is still at Director’s office. Wan Shik tells him to please think about which years and months he’s been threatened by Go Nan Gil. Are they going to paint Nan Gil as an extortionist? Uncle says that Nan Gil didn't threaten... Wan Shik sighs and leans on Uncle’s shoulder, like he’s Uncle’s pal. He said Uncle should try to remember it clearly. He’s sure there was a time when Go Nan Gil threatened Uncle.
Uncle comes up with the time that Nan Gil told him never to step foot back in his hometown. Phone rings. Director answers the phone. And it looks like they’re getting Uncle to sign something. I really despise Uncle, little weasel. Uncle stops what he’s doing and looks over at his phone. Director tells Nan Gil that it’s his father. Nan Gil suggests Director deals with him and releases Uncle. Director says that there is something Uncle needs to do with them.
Nan Gil says that, without regard to Hong Na Ri, he’s going to protect Oma’s place. So, Director’s threats about Hong Na Ri and him being ill-fated have no meaning. Director chuckles. He’s not threatening Nan Gil. Right now, Nan Gil might be thinking he’s protecting Hong Na Ri, But if he thinks back, Nan Gil was the one who made that household that way. I have this horrible feeling.
That shakes Nan Gil and can hardly get out: What are you talking about? Director answers that he can't tell Nan Gil the details right now because Uncle is there. If Uncle hears it, Hong Na Ri will eventually hear it as well. There’s a crack in Wan Shik’s wall and he looks uncomfortable. Definitely brothers.
Nan Gil is shaking as the call ends. It’s obvious that it’s bad.
Hong Dumplings. Nan Gil is preparing to ship an order. Na Ri approaches and announces that she doesn’t have any pain in her back and she didn't take any pain medications either. A few days must have passed. She says that she’s going to take care of the traffic accident. She walks away and he stays looking at the spot where she was standing. He looks miserable.
Na Ri and Duk Shim sit across from each other in a standoff. The hard guitar riffs play. Duk Bong arrive – wow, that’s a checked suit – and sits in the chair between them. He’s holding a settlement contract for both of them. Duk Bong says that as of now, the hospital fee, one-room ward fee, and treatment fee were paid. She can claim the compensation for the physical and mental damages. He looks pointedly at his sister. She mutters that this sucks.
Duk Bong continues, through his teeth at his sister, that the inflictor acknowledged that accident was done on purpose. Na Ri declares that she doesn’t intend on claiming compensation for the damage. She just requests a heart-felt apology from the perpetrator. Duk Shim makes a sneering face at her. "I’m sorry, I won't do that again", "I apologize, I won't do that again". Pick one.
Duk Shim responds that she didn't know Na Ri would fall that easily. She should exercise. One day, Duk Shim is going to cross the wrong person and get the crap beaten out of her. She just doesn’t know when to shut up. Duk Bong and Na Ri sigh with frustration, Na Ri to keep from throttling the girl. She smiles and pleasantly asks this Student if she knows what takes the energy out of a person the most. Looking at Duk Bong, she answers: One-sided love? Jealousy? Is she going to say something like that?
Na Ri answers that that’s not what she means. Omo, she’s in big trouble now. One-sided love and jealousy, if done correctly, can be energizing. The thing that wastes the most energy is hating someone. Duk Shim and Duk Bong look at each other. The easiest way to make your life a living hell is simple: hate someone close to you. Sir Kim Gu even wrote this.
Duk Shim replies that it's not like they’re that close. Na Ri answers that, if they can sit down like this, then they are close. She tells Duk Shim to remember this the next time she hates someone. She’s just making her own life a living hell. Aw, I was hoping Na Ri was going to demand physical labor or something. And Duk Bong falls in love with Na Ri a little more.
Duk Shim asks if Nan Gil is he really Na Ri’s stepfather. She looks over at Duk Bong. He shrugs. Duk Shim asks if Na Ri call Nan Gil ‘Stepfather’? That's daebak-nae. Regardless, that means they’re family. Na Ri chuckles and says that Duk Shim doesn’t really believes that, does she? Duk Shim says that she believes it. She bows deeply and apologizes. She did wrong. Please look favorably on her in the future. She sits back, her face challenging Na Ri not to be satisfied with that.
Na Ri asks what Duk Shim want her to look favorably on. Duk Shim asks Na Ri to please tell her stepfather that she apologized. Na Ri snaps back, loud enough that both Kwon siblings jump, that she told Duk Shim that he's not her stepfather!
Nan Gil is working. He gets a text. Na Ri asks him to please come to her room. Nan Gil is not excited.
Duk Bong is on the phone. Caller says that he’s sent the data on Dada Finance's confidential information. Duk Bong opens the email. It’s an org chart. Oh, frakadoodle! That looks like Nan Gil. He leans in when he spots Director Bae Byung Suk. Byung Suk looks an awful lot like Nan Gil. Close up and it’s Nan Gil. Why is he listed under another name? Duk Bong sighs and puts down the phone. One can only guess what he’s thinking now. Probably that Nan Gil’s in cahoots with Dada, rather than Nan Gil hates them and will fight them to the end.
Nan Gil goes up to Na Ri’s room. Stoically, woodenly, he asks, “What?” She says that she think she has to leave her things there. He answers that she thought correctly. She smiles at him. Like she’s smiling because she’ll have to come back. Looking at her bags, he says that if she lifts heavy things, it won't be good for her back. He says that he’ll ship them to her. Zero emotion. I hate that Director’s doing this to him! It’s making me sad and teary-eyed.
Na Ri tells him that it’s not necessary. Her face says that she’s disappointed that he did agree that she should come back. She says that she should visit there often because of what she planted in the greenhouse. Nan Gil orders her not to come. If she wants to end things with Dada, then it's best she doesn't come there anymore. He adds that he won't let anyone contact her. Just pretend they are strangers.
Na Ri answers that, of course, they are strangers. Did he really think she actually considered him her stepfather? Way to stab a man with a spoon. That gets a slight facial reaction in the form of a facial shrug and a swallow. Dying inside. She asks if he knows he really speaks coldly at times? But, it doesn't matter. No matter how coldly he talks, she won’t believe him. Because she knows his real heart. Nan Gil shifts on his feet. Woodenly, he asks what she thinks his heart is.
Police arrive at Hong Dumplings, with siren and lights going. The boys come out to see a detective and 2 policemen emerge from the car. Duk Bong also arrives. The boys are really scared – Joon is grabbing onto Han Yi’s sleeve. Detective asks if Go Nan Gil lives there.
Na Ri says that, actually, she doesn't know his real heart. No reaction. But at some point, she started to wonder. If she goes back to Seoul without asking, she’ll probably regret it. So she’ll ask now.
“Go Nan Gil, did you like me since you were young?” No reaction from Nan Gil. She’s his first love, right? He asks why she’s curious about that? It's all in the past. Nonchalantly, he says, fine, they should say it was first love. They should just say that he liked her so he followed her and bothered her. Alright?
Smiling, Na Ri says in that case, she’s not going to ask about the past. She wants to ask the Go Nan Gil that is here, now. How about now? There’s an almost imperceptible reaction by Nan Gil, as his emotional wall is cracking. No response. He’s remembered her for so long. Does he still like her now? She should have had this conversation at the lake. He’d have to admit it. They look at each other … and the episode ends. Arg!!!!!!!!!
Thoughts
Arg!!!!!!! At least show his answer! Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so mad right now. This show is killing me. They were so happy and then this. This is supposed to be a light comedy, dang it! Dramabeans said so! To quote:
This will be Su Ae’s first rom-com in nine years, but judging from the reported fits of laughter during the table read, it seems her comedic chops are still intact as she fluidly switched from her usual melodrama fare to light comedy.
PD Kim Jung-min (Joseon Gunman) confidently asserted that The Man Living in Our House is a fun drama that will be shot in an enjoyable manner until the end. Let’s hope the laughs from the table read carry over onto the screen and induce us into giggle fits.
This emotional squeezing is giving me a stomach ache. Dramabeans also said that Kim Ji Hoon’s role as Dong Jin won’t be very big. So far, he’s been in every episode. That seems big to me.
So, show, get out of melodrama land and back into the land of light comedy!!! Good night, cotton pickin' and kiss a sea monkey!
Okay, I’ve taken a few deep breaths and am much calmer.
So much of this episode is what I love about rom-coms. It was fun, romance, laughter, seeing them enjoy being together and feeling completely comfortable in their own skins. Show, I want more of this!
But instead, we have the threats of Dada Finance and Nan Gil's past. I'm really wondering if Nan Gil did something to her father and that's what landed him in prison. In Episode 5 he said: In order to return to Oma, he had to pay a heavy price. Up to now, going to prison could have been what he meant. But adding Director's comment about him and Na Ri being ill-fated, the answer doesn't look good. I have no doubt that Na Ri will forgive him, if it turns out to be that. Yes, he's her Abeoji, but he's a terrible abeoji who abandoned her.
I am really wondering about Wan Shik now, too. More and more, I see his relationship with Nan Gil as brotherly. Even though he likes to harass Nan Gil - and I get the feeling that Nan Gil was always that prickly around them, so he was easy to harass - he also cares about him and doesn't want anything to happen to him. That's why he's helping him and that's why there was that reaction in Director's Office. He's also trapped and doesn't have anyone to go to like Nan Gil did. Fingers crossed that he eventually will be working at Hong Dumplings, too, giving Nan Gil *and* Yong Kyu a hard time.
We got the back story which explained Duk Shim's stalker crush on Nan Gil. Nan Gil was his normal nice guy - how anyone could think he was a bad guy is beyond me, given how well he treats everyone - and she developed her crush. Discovering the news that Na Ri is Nan Gil's step-daughter, I'm not quite sure why that fixed it in her brain. Does she think that means that Na Ri's no longer a rival for Nan Gil's heart? And we all know that she lost that battle even before she was born. I wonder what she's going to do when she finds out that Na Ri is Nan Gil's first love. There's no way she's going to be able to compete with that.
For as cold and emotionally-distant as he acts most of the time, the minute Na Ri is in trouble, he comes running. I love that she told him she wasn't going to believe his act anymore. She should have had that conversation at the lake. He wouldn't have been able to lie there. In her bedroom, he can still pretend that watching her go rips his heart out.
It's really painful to watch his pure love for her. (Painful because I feel for/with him. Not because he's being a noble idiot.) It's not a selfish love, like Dong Jin's or Yeo Joo's. It's a love that is willing to lose her for her own good, that is willing to do it and never get any recognition or reward for it, other than knowing that his loved one is safe and happy. I actually admire his nobility for that. He's giving up everything to save her house, her land, her happiness, and not once does he get to say that "I love you." Not once does he get to hear that "I love you" back. Getting a little misty here. It makes me love him so much more, particularly because he rips his own heart out every time he does it. He did it when they were younger, to protect her from the hell he was in, and he's doing it now, to keep that hell from finding her.
Some might call this noble idiocy, but I don't. If you're not familiar with the term, it's where a person sacrifices their own happiness with the assumption that they are bringing happiness to the person they are sacrificing for, when in fact, this sacrifice makes the other person even more miserable.
UrbanDictionary.com Definition
KDrama Fighting!: Selflessness? You're Doing It Wrong
Are You a Noble Idiot?
Seoulbeats.com's discussion of their least favorite Korean drama cliche
Most of the time people hate it (Westerners at least) because it involves the sacrificer making a decision about the happiness of the sacrificee, which mean leaving the sacrificee without a real explanation of why s/he is doing it. Most of the time, the sacrificer *never* talks to the sacrificee and if they *just* had a conversation, the sacrificee wouldn't allow them to do it. Because for the sacrificee, the noble idiot sticking around, even if it means hardship, is preferable to losing the noble idiot. Their love is worth the pain.
I came across this post and I highly recommend it. It discusses the difference between noble idiocy and pragmatic altruism. It is really a good analysis of why this trope seems to pop up a lot -- because of the Confucian influence on Korean thought.
So just what distinction is being made between “noble idiocy” and “pragmatic altruism” and why does that distinction merit consideration?
- Well, with “noble idiocy” we have an empty sentimental gesture supposedly meant to safeguard the happiness of its beneficiary (i.e. the person for whom the ‘sacrifice’ is being made) but which, instead, only inflicts even greater pain on them. Furthermore, this device is inserted into the plot merely in order to up the ante on angst as a way of manipulating the audience emotionally to increase ratings.
- With “pragmatic altruism,” on the other hand, the altruists are driven by a clear desire to minimize the suffering their beneficiaries must inevitably endure under the given circumstances and the choices a pragmatic altruist makes arise organically out of a stable context of relationships where the nature of each party’s character has been clearly established and remains consistent within the structure of the story.
- While the “noble idiot” assumes that they are ensuring happiness, the “pragmatic altruist” can only hope that they are helping lessen the pain.
Above I said that it's noble idiocy when the sacrificee would, if they just had a conversation, bear the pain because losing the idiot is more painful. It pops up a lot, even in Western entertainment, when cancer or a fatal illness is involved. They don't want to be a burden, so they reject the sacrificee. They continue to do so, even after the sacrificee tries to get them to stop. That's why people call them idiots. Rather than share their suffering, they choose to suffer alone, which makes their sacrificee suffer just as much.
But the pragmatic altruist, the choice is consistent with the altruist's established character. It's a sacrifice that s/he is a peace with, even though it's painful. It's done without fear involved, but reasoned, rationed. It hurts, but the comfort of knowing that their sacrifice gives their loved one a fighting chance at true happiness, that makes it hurt less. They suffer but there's happiness in it, while the noble idiot sulks.
Nan Gil is *not* a noble idiot. He's the best kind of pragmatic altruist, because it's enough for him to see her happy. He didn't sulk when she had another boyfriend. He didn't feel sorry for himself when he heard she was going to marry. He married Oma in secret to protect Omeoni and Na Ri from people who are very, very bad. He had Oma keep the secret, because he didn't want his sacrifice exposed. He paid off Uncle's debt with Dong Jin so that Na Ri wouldn't feel the burden, on the condition that she not know. He kept everything the way Omeoni left it because of his love for them. He isn't selling the land because of his love for them. He's not explaining the reason behind what he's doing because it doesn't need to be said. He's sacrificing everything, every part of his love, so that Na Ri can be happy, and not asking for anything back.
And because Na Ri doesn't know, she actually will be happier and better off. She might hurt some, because she's grown to love him, but without the confirmation that her romantic love is shared, she's not going to hurt as much. She'll be able to move on. And Nan Gil will let her. He won't do anything to stop her, because her happiness is more important and satisfying than his own is.
When I was trying to think of other instances of pragmatic altruism, I thought of his character in Pinocchio, Seo Bum Jo, who confessed to a crime he didn't commit to not only save the girl he loved but also his mother from herself. Like with Nan Gil, even though I hated his choice, I appreciated the heart behind making it. His character in D-Day was kind of like that too: he sacrificed sleep, risked his life and his job, for his patients, people he didn't even know. In these three dramas, he doesn't play the arrogant jerk, a hero trope that I really hate. Being the nice guy who can get the girl (he was the second lead in Pinocchio, so he didn't have a chance) seems to suit him.
And Nan Gil is a nice guy. Period. Regardless of the things that he did in the past, and I can only imagine the things he did, none of them nice, to survive but he came through that with his goodness intact. He cares about people and looks out for their interests. He notices the little things and gives people the benefit of the doubt. Example: Supermarket Ajumma and his explanation, framed in Ajumma's broken heart, for why Oma called Na Ri a Wasp Moth Larvae. Example: getting Duk Shim's bike back and helping her a year ago. All the village elders like him and that doesn't happen if you're not nice and respectful.
Although I really hate wasting my time on her, I do have to have at least 1 paragraph to comment on Yeo Joo. That woman is a vile human being. And she can't help herself. The minute she sees a man, she goes into minx mode and I can't think of a single sincere or truthful thing that she's said - except maybe with her bald friend. I can't even count her drunk rant because I think all that was designed to elicit the response she wanted out of Na Ri. She's shameless and completely selfish. And I can't believe that Dong Jin likes that about her. I shake my head at that man.
Regarding the Kwon siblings: Duk Bong is such a pragmatist, that he doesn't let his emotions trump his business decisions. He also doesn't let them motivate his decisions. His polar opposite is his sister, who just can't help but act on any of her impulses. She can't stop herself from being disrespectful and rude, because she feels wronged. She pushes Na Ri off the road and then justifies it because she's been wronged (Na Ri was latching on to her man). I do love the fact that he didn't fall for Yeo Joo's act at all, but saw right through it. He's an excellent reader of people, except where Nan Gil is concerned, it seems. Actually, I take that back. I think he's read Nan Gil very well, but because it conflicts with Duk Bong's business goals, Duk Bong ignores it.
And then there's my girl, Na Ri. I love her. She goes with her heart, but mediates it with her head. She doesn't freak out (very much) at the revelation that she's Nan Gil's first love, in fact, when he starts avoiding her, she's the one who stepped up and got the problem resolved. He's so used to hiding his heart away in a box that he kneads the dough whenever it threatens to escape. She doesn't take the rejection in the hospital personally, but realizes that it's motivated by something bigger. The more she gets to know him, the more she understands him, even if he acts emotionless and stoic with her.
I love that she is straight-forward in her dealings with people. And, like I said, even she though has a big heart, she doesn't let it rule how she interacts with people. She doesn't over-react to things either. And now that she's figured out that she has feelings for Nan Gil - more than Abeoji feelings - she's going to do something about it, because Nan Gil won't.
I am wondering what exactly the police have come looking for Nan Gil for. I'm sure that it's related to Uncle and them trying to get him to manufacture violence in Nan Gil's character. I would tell the truth: Uncle's gambling debts are substantial. The men that the loan shark sent kept showing up around the house, looking for Uncle. They threatened my daughter, someone who is completely innocent in all this. I told Uncle not to come around to protect my daughter. What father wouldn't do that? The only time he has ever shown up is when he needs money. I gave him some, with the order to not come back. What father wouldn't do that?
It is a smart move on the part of Director. Nan Gil has a record, Uncle will not, so the police will be pre-disposed to believe what Uncle says. And speaking of Uncle, what another loathsome person. He only cares about himself. I think he cares about Na Ri and he cared about Oma, but that caring will never trump him looking out for himself.
I'm going to have to sustain myself on their biking outing and the sheer joy they had being together. Those times where they let themselves smile. Monday can't come soon enough!
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