Episodes 7-8 of Love In the big city begins with Go Young quitting his job as he gains recognition as a writer. However, despite his rising fame, his life feels increasingly bleak. Gyu Ho has been absent for a year, and Go Young tries to mask his gloom. When his friends finally see him after he’s been unreachable for six days, they’re alarmed by his state. They take him out for a meal and, over dinner, press him about Gyu Ho. Go Young casually reveals that he hasn’t been in touch, even deleting his messenger app. He brushes it off as unimportant, though his demeanor suggests otherwise.
During the dinner, Go Young receives a surprising call informing him that he’s the first-ever recipient of the Dublin Literary Award. However, the joy of this moment is dampened when he encounters his estranged father. His father, only interested in money, shows no remorse for not attending Go Young’s mother’s funeral. When Go Young confronts him, his father evades the question and instead offers to send him a mattress, calling it the only thing a “bad father” like him can give.
True to his word, the father sends the mattress. Go Young, however, refuses to sleep on it until his one-night stand helps him unpack it. They end up having sex, but not on the mattress he shared with Gyu Ho—he cannot bring himself to use it. Later, the sight of a stain caused on the bed brings back bittersweet memories of his time with Gyu Ho.
The narrative shifts as Go Young’s friends call him to support Eun Soo, who is having a mental breakdown over his boyfriend’s apparent disregard for their relationship. Eun Soo rants about his boyfriend, only to find him kneeling in his hotel room with a proposal. The scene reveals that Eun Soo’s other friends had orchestrated the secret proposal after the couple argued, but Go Young, preoccupied with his own troubles, was unaware. Although Eun Soo accepts, Go Young notices his friend’s lack of true happiness.
The boyfriend leaves, citing allergies, while the group celebrates at a club. Even with congratulations pouring in for his literary success, Go Young feels unfulfilled. The next morning, at the hotel, Go Young and Eun Soo find themselves alone. They confide in each other, acknowledging their shared unhappiness. Together, they burst the leftover proposal balloons in quiet rebellion.
Go Young’s frustration peaks when he learns the mattress his father sent is under investigation for carcinogenic materials. His father, the manufacturer, has vanished, leaving him grappling with betrayal and unresolved anger. That evening, Go Young throws the mattress away.
That same night, a message from a dating app informs him of a match with. Intrigued, he meets the man at an upscale hotel, only to discover a strikingly handsome, japanese man who barely acknowledges him. Annoyed, Go Young makes himself at home, pops open a bottle of wine without permission, and sarcastically thanks the man for his “hospitality.” This bold move grabs Kylie’s attention, and he introduces himself as William Habibi.
The next day, Go Young joins Eun Soo at a flower arrangement class, where Eun Soo shares plans for a small, intimate wedding. However, when one of his flowers is accidentally cut, Eun Soo breaks down, admitting he’s overwhelmed and unsure of his happiness. His vulnerability sparks a chain reaction, leaving the entire class in tears. Go Young, ever the skeptic of love, dismisses the idea of romantic bliss, preferring fleeting passion to commitment.
Later, William invites Go Young to his place, but Go Young flips the script, asking William to come to his apartment instead. There, they engage in a playful game of hide-and-seek. When William finally catches him, he grabs Go Young’s bouquet and teasingly asks what it means. With a smirk, Go Young replies, “It means: fuck me deep.”
Go Young travels to Bangkok at William’s invitation, a city he once visited with Gyu Ho. Coincidentally, he stays at the same hotel where he and Gyu Ho lodged during their trip. Memories flood back, especially when he discovers he’s been upgraded to a luxury suite—just like before, when a faulty curtain led to their unexpected upgrade. This time, the suite is pre-arranged by William, who leaves Go Young a note explaining he’ll be busy with meetings.
As Go Young explores the city, he recalls the bittersweet moments of his relationship with Gyu Ho, particularly the struggles they faced due to his HIV diagnosis. He remembers how they spent a night at a run-down guesthouse where, for the first and last time, they had unprotected sex. It was an act of vulnerability and trust, with Go Young ensuring he took preventative measures to protect Gyu Ho.
Their trip had been filled with tender moments: buying couple shirts at the market, being openly affectionate in public, and passionately kissing at a club. At the club, Go Young voiced his fears about returning home and falling into their usual arguments. Gyu Ho had reassured him, promising they’d always make up, repeating his words with unwavering confidence each time Go Young asked.
That night, Go Young meets William for drinks. During their conversation, he learns about the pain William carries—having lost his wife and daughter, leaving him emotionally closed off. Despite their connection, Go Young realizes William’s presence only reminds him of what he once had with Gyu Ho, not something new to cherish.
In the early morning, Go Young leaves William a parting note while he’s still asleep, quietly exiting the suite. On his way out, he’s hit with regret, acknowledging that Gyu Ho was his true love—someone whose worth he failed to fully appreciate at the time.
Back in Korea, Eun Soo helps Go Young move out of his old apartment. Go Young hesitates to part with the mattress that holds so many memories of Gyu Ho. After taking a long, bittersweet look at the home he’d lived in for so many years, he leaves with Eun Soo.
At his new, empty apartment, Go Young keeps only his mother’s awards, discarding everything else. That night, while celebrating with friends on the rooftop, he reflects on his failed love life. A vivid memory resurfaces: during their Bangkok trip, he and Gyu Ho sent lanterns into the sky with written wishes inside. However, their lanterns ripped, and the wishes burned before reaching the stars. Go Young had been upset—he’d wished for love. Gyu Ho comforted him, holding his hand and grounding him in the moment.
In the present, as fireworks light up the night sky, Go Young watches with a sad smile. Surrounded by his friends’ laughter and joy, he stands quietly, grappling with the realization that while his past relationships ended in heartbreak, they also shaped the person he is now