In episode 3, viewers are introduced to Hyun-oh’s compassionate side as he helps a group of grandmothers prepare for a friend’s death anniversary. We quickly learn that Hyun-oh, Ji-on, and Hyun-oh’s sister share a long history, possibly linked through their grandmothers. The plot thickens when Ji-on’s sister informs Hyun-oh that Eun-ho is trapped in a freezer truck alongside a dead body, prompting Hyun-oh to rush to her rescue.
When Hyun-oh arrives, Eun-ho questions his motives, and he admits that the PD had been too drunk to handle the situation. Eun-ho, still frustrated, insists that even if she were in danger, she doesn’t want his help. She also notices Hyun-oh wearing mismatched shoes, which adds an awkward tension between them. Hyun-oh tries to brush it off by mentioning how embarrassed he is by their past relationship, subtly showing he still cares, even though he’s conflicted.
The next day, drama unfolds at the station with the return of one of the least popular employees. Meanwhile, Baek Hye-yoon, a junior who has a crush on Joo-yeon, speculates that Joo-yeon might have a new girlfriend. She and the other employees are curious about the mysterious woman in his life.
In another subplot, Joo-yeon waits for Hye-ri, who hasn’t shown up to work after spending the night at his place. Flashbacks reveal a heartfelt conversation between Joo-yeon and Hye-ri, where Joo-yeon shares the tragic story of his brother’s death. His brother died on the way back from Joo-yeon’s graduation, and Joo-yeon later decided to become an announcer to fulfill his late brother’s dream. However, the episode raises the question of whether Joo-yeon is truly happy living out his brother’s aspirations.
The next day, Joo-yeon meets with Hye-ri and hints at his growing feelings for her, expressing that the next time they wake up together, it should be as a couple. That night, Hye-yoon and her colleague discover Hye-ri and Joo-yeon together, along with Eun-ho’s notorious senior, Jeon Jae-yong.
The plot thickens as Jae-yong starts asking about Eun-ho’s sister at work, while the station’s CEO rudely criticizes Eun-ho, mentioning her age and wanting her removed in favor of a new announcer. Eun-ho, feeling pressured, apologizes to her colleagues and senior announcers for breaking their rules by taking on field reporting twice. Flashbacks reveal Eun-ho’s struggle to become an announcer, showing the dedication she poured into her career. This apology serves as a response to Hyun-oh’s earlier comment about being embarrassed by her, adding emotional depth to her character.
Later, Jae-yong mentions to Eun-ho that he saw someone resembling her working as a parking attendant at another broadcasting station. He cruelly implies that, since her sister is dead, it couldn’t have been her. Eun-ho takes offense and responds firmly, saying her sister isn’t dead.
The episode dives deeper into Eun-ho’s backstory through flashbacks, revealing that her sister, Hye-ri, disappeared during a hiking trip following her graduation. As Eun-ho reads through Hye-ri’s diary, viewers see the close bond the sisters shared. Eun-ho begins impersonating her lost sister, working part-time as a parking attendant until she loses her sense of self, fully becoming Hye-ri. This eventually leads her to seek psychiatric help.
In the present, Eun-ho receives information about Joo-yeon and goes to meet him, but Joo-yeon finds her first, just as Hyun-oh arrives. The episode concludes with a tense moment as Eun-ho hides her face from Hyun-oh while Joo-yeon addresses her as Hye-ri.
In the next episode, we start with a flashback where a drunken Eun-ho speaks to a passed-out Hyun-oh during a team dinner. She emotionally vents about how missing adults are often labeled as runaways, even though they might be lost or kidnapped, clearly reflecting her grief over her sister, Hye-ri. Fast forward to the present, Eun-ho is overwhelmed by Hyun-oh’s presence and flees to the bathroom. She struggles to control her emotions, and memories of Hye-ri flash before her, pushing her to shatter the mirror in anguish before passing out.
Eun-ho later awakens in the nurse’s office with Joo-yeon by her side. He mentions the broken mirror, and Eun-ho insists on paying him back for the damage. However, when she visits her psychiatrist, Eun-ho confesses she doesn’t want to get better because she’s found happiness in love and fears losing herself. Back home, Eun-ho writes a letter to Hye-ri, asking her to return the body to her.
The next day, Eun-ho gets her phone repaired and tries to contact Joo-yeon, but he doesn’t respond. Meanwhile, Joo-yeon has a confrontation with the press director, accusing him of inappropriate behavior toward Hye-yoon. Later, Joo-yeon recounts the incident to Hye-ri, adding more tension to the office drama.
In a twist, Hye-ri has her own encounter with the press director when he inappropriately pokes her chest with a parking ticket. She screams, causing a scene that forces the director to kneel and apologize. Later, Hye-yoon laughs at the incident, explaining that the director only preys on those who stay silent. They meet for dinner and are joined by Joo-yeon.
Midway through dinner, Joo-yeon receives an urgent call and asks Hye-ri to accompany him. The two end up at the hospital, where Joo-yeon’s mother is having a meltdown. Hye-ri helps calm her down, reminding her that being alive is what truly matters, referencing Joo-yeon’s brother’s tragic death.
The plot deepens when Eun-ho, despite initially refusing to attend a weekend meeting trip, decides to go. The trip takes them to the very forest where Hye-ri went missing. Overcome with grief, Eun-ho recalls how Hye-ri never wanted to go on the trip in the first place, blaming herself for her sister’s disappearance.
The emotional turmoil peaks during a broadcast where Eun-ho reports on a story about an older sister abandoning her mentally challenged younger sister, leading to hospitalization. Overwhelmed, Eun-ho has a panic attack and freezes on-air. Hyun-oh, who is covering the story with her, tenderly talks her through the panic, helping her regain control. After the broadcast, Hyun-oh gently takes Eun-ho by the hand and leads her away. Inside the elevator, Eun-ho asks him to leave, but when he questions her sincerity, she hesitates. Still deeply troubled, the two share an emotional kiss.
The episode’s epilogue leaves viewers on edge as a drenched Hyun-oh waits outside Eun-ho’s house. When she opens the door, their connection is undeniable.
No Gain No Love delivers an emotionally charged episode filled with tension and character depth. Eun-ho’s internal struggles over her sister’s disappearance take center stage, leading to a heart-wrenching breakdown. The drama expertly weaves together complex relationships, from Hyun-oh’s tender care for Eun-ho to Joo-yeon’s family turmoil. The growing romantic tension between Eun-ho and Hyun-oh adds another layer of intrigue, culminating in a poignant kiss. With moments of intense vulnerability and well-paced drama, this episode showcases the series’ ability to balance emotion, mystery, and romance effectively.