Episode 7 of A Virtuous Business opens with Jeong-suk hiding from Gyeong-sik. She had gone to his house hoping to sell her products to his wife, only to discover that his wife didn’t live with him. Gyeong-sik had lied to Jeong-suk, trying to manipulate her. Luckily, Kim Do-hyeon arrived just in time, having overheard Young-bok’s conversation in the previous episode. He intervened, arrested Gyeong-sik, and made sure Jeong-suk got home safely.
The next day, Do-hyeon called Jeong-suk to gather her statement against Gyeong-sik. However, Jeong-suk begged him to keep the incident a secret, fearing that the people of Geumje would judge her and blame her job for what happened. She even kept the matter hidden from her friends. Concerned for her well-being, Do-hyeon suggested that she take a break from work.
But soon, the story spread around Geumje, and word of Gyeong-sik’s actions reached everyone, including Jeong-suk’s colleagues. She, along with Ju-ri, Guem-hui, and Young-bok, went to the police station to give statements. To her surprise, the women of Geumje, whom Jeong-suk thought would oppose her, stood by her and testified against Gyeong-sik, revealing his past wrongdoings.
Meanwhile, a new character, Du-seok, appeared with a shady past. He returned to Geumje and contacted Jong-sun, Young-bok’s husband, offering a money-making opportunity. However, Jong-sun, who was contemplating a robbery, turned him down, hinting at a shared past between them.
Romance seemed to bloom elsewhere, as Ju-ri and the chairman’s son, Eom Dae-geun share a wild kiss after a drunken night
Towards the episode’s end, Jeong-suk and Do-hyeon had a heartfelt conversation. Jeong-suk offered to help him in his search for his mother. Do-hyeon shared his research on Geumje’s arson case and a series of child abductions from thirty years ago. He showed Jeong-suk a scar, a painful reminder of his past.
Jeong-suk left with her notes on everything Do-hyeon shared, only to realize she’d left her notepad at his place. When she returned, she found Do-hyeon asleep, haunted by a nightmare about the fire from his childhood. As she approached, Do-hyeon suddenly woke up and hugged her. The episode closed on this intense moment.
Episode 8 begins right where the last left off, with Do-hyeon embracing Jeong-suk. This turns out to be part of his dream; he wakes up to find her at his door. He returns her notepad, and she leaves.
On her way home, Jeong-suk passes a movie theater screening an adult film and gets an idea. To understand her clientele better, she invites a group of women to watch the film, observing their reactions and asking them to fill out forms afterward. Among the women, one mentions she was once Catholic. Jeong-suk asks if she owns a wooden ring. The woman confirms, but when Jeong-suk reports this to Do-hyeon, he informs her that he’d already questioned this person.
Elsewhere, Young-bok receives some life-changing news during a doctor’s visit: she’s pregnant. She tells Jong-sun, but adds that she’s hesitant about having another child due to their financial struggles. Jong-sun, who has been unable to find a job because of his criminal record, feels hurt and frustrated.
Meanwhile, Jeong-suk and Do-hyeon continue investigating a missing child case and visit a hanbok store. The store owner is still searching for her lost child, giving Do-hyeon hope that his own parents might be out there looking for him too. While there, Jeong-suk tries on a traditional wedding hanbok, and Do-hyeon is visibly captivated by her.
The following day, Do-hyeon begins to distance himself, struggling with his growing feelings for Jeong-suk. Jeong-suk confronts him, worried she’s done something wrong, and in response, Do-hyeon hugs her, acknowledging his affection.
The episode concludes with Jong-sun calling the police from a phone booth to report a dead body, setting the stage for what’s to come in episode nine.
Share your thoughts