In episodes 13 and 14 of Love Next Door, Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo’s relationship takes center stage, with romance, family drama, and unexpected twists.
The episodes begin with Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo waking up together at Seok-ryu’s house. As luck would have it, Seok-ryu’s parents return home from their trip. The couple scrambles to hide their relationship, pretending they were simply reading rom-com comics. Seung-hyo, eager to reveal their romance, overhears the parents discussing potential matches for both him and Seok-ryu. Despite his desires, Seok-ryu convinces him to keep their relationship secret for now. While they continue to enjoy spending private time together, they’re constantly avoiding people who might suspect something.
At the same time, tensions between Dan-ho and Mo-eum remain high. Dan-ho respectfully declines Mo-eum’s mother’s offer to help take care of Yeon-du, signaling ongoing friction between the two.
Later, Seok-ryu attends her cooking certification exam. Meanwhile, Seung-hyo’s friend Myeong-u grows suspicious that Seung-hyo is in a relationship, especially after noticing his close interactions with Seok-ryu. After Seok-ryu finishes her exam, Seung-hyo picks her up with a bouquet of flowers to celebrate. They then meet with Dong-jin, who is accompanied by Na-yun, a junior colleague from Seung-hyo’s workplace.
During this encounter, Na-yun drops a bombshell—Dong-jin’s protein powder business is caught up in a social media scandal due to moldy products. Seok-ryu immediately informs her parents, and Dong-jin gets scolded. He explains that his actions stemmed from feeling inferior and wanting to do something special for his family. This revelation softens Seok-ryu’s heart, and she reassures her brother that he is just as valuable as anyone else in the family.
Elsewhere, Mo-eum tries to repair her strained relationship with Dan-ho, but he rejects her once more, lying that he never had romantic feelings for her. The emotional tension builds as Mo-eum faces this harsh truth.
The next day, Seok-ryu learns that she passed her cooking certification exam on her first try, and Seung-hyo is quick to congratulate her. However, things take a darker turn when Mo-eum visits the columbarium to honor her senior’s death anniversary. There, she unexpectedly runs into Dan-ho and Yeon-du. In a shocking twist, it is revealed that Yeon-du is actually Dan-ho’s niece. His family died in a tragic car accident, and Yeon-du was the only survivor. Dan-ho took on the role of her father to protect her after malicious rumors spread in their old neighborhood, forcing them to move. Despite this revelation, Dan-ho remains determined to keep his distance from Mo-eum.
Meanwhile, Seung-hyo wins another prestigious award and is excited about the prospect of attending the award ceremony with Seok-ryu. However, Seok-ryu, who has been facing multiple job rejections, is hesitant. She uses the fear of their relationship being discovered by their parents as an excuse to avoid the event. Disappointed, Seung-hyo chooses not to attend either.
In a separate subplot, Mi-suk’s friends plan an extravagant cruise trip, but she cannot afford it due to her rival snack restaurant stealing all her customers.
Dong-jin decides to turn his life around, apologizes to his mentor, and returns to work at the gym. Seok-ryu, meanwhile, realizes during a meeting with her cooking class batchmates that her impressive resume may actually be preventing her from securing entry-level jobs. Later, Seung-hyo meets with a restaurant owner who appreciates his architectural design, earning him recognition.
The plot thickens when Seung-hyo discovers a brochure for a U.S. cooking school hidden in Seok-ryu’s room. Hurt that she’s considering going abroad without telling him, Seok-ryu explains that her job rejections have left her feeling uncertain. She admits she can’t survive on love alone and needs time to figure things out, asking for some space before leaving.
That night, Dan-ho finds Mo-eum drinking alone and takes her home. In front of Mo-eum’s mother, he unexpectedly confesses his feelings for her, much to the surprise of a drunk Mo-eum.
The following days are tough for both Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo. While on a construction site visit, Seung-hyo has a minor accident, breaking his arm. When Seok-ryu rushes to the hospital, she breaks down and confesses that she loves him. This emotional moment helps clear up their misunderstandings, and they embrace.
Episode 14 of Love Next Door picks up with Seung-hyo reflecting on his accident, mentioning how his life flashed before his eyes, and Seok-ryu was in all of it. As the couple returns from the hospital, it’s revealed that Seung-hyo secretly submitted Seok-ryu’s healthy dish to a cooking competition, where she won third place. This brings a joyful moment for both.
Meanwhile, Mo-eum’s mother remains opposed to her relationship with Dan-ho and begins to act colder toward Yeon-du as a result. Seung-hyo, now preparing to propose to Seok-ryu, seeks advice from his coworkers on how to pop the question.
In the meantime, Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo arrange for Mo-eum and Dan-ho to meet at the park in an attempt to fix their relationship. After a few awkward moments, Dan-ho and Mo-eum share a kiss, signaling the start of something new.
The next day, Mi-suk and her husband visit their rival restaurant, only to discover that the food is, in fact, delicious. Meanwhile, Seung-hyo assists Seok-ryu in shooting her first recipe tutorial video, adding a professional touch to her culinary pursuits.
That evening, Mo-eum has a heart-to-heart with her mother, explaining that despite the struggles, she will be happy raising Yeon-du alongside Dan-ho.
Mi-suk and her husband decide to close their struggling snack shop and focus on enjoying life. However, tension brews between Mi-suk and her friend Hye-suk after Hye-suk offers to pay for Mi-suk’s cruise, leading to a fallout.
As Seung-hyo plans the perfect proposal, everything goes wrong—his car breaks down, the restaurant chef has to leave, and Seung-hyo trips while bringing out the proposal cake. Eventually, they return to Seung-hyo’s office, where he finally proposes with a bracelet. But Seok-ryu, to his shock, rejects him!
The next day, a heartbroken Seung-hyo confides in Dan-ho about the failed proposal, while Mo-eum’s mother finally accepts Dan-ho and Yeon-du, inviting them to dinner.
Later, Seok-ryu picks up a drunk Seung-hyo, and they have an honest conversation about the proposal. Seok-ryu explains that she was scared of what might happen if they rushed things. Seung-hyo reassures her that life is too short to live in fear, and the two reconcile, embracing their love once again. At the same time, Mi-suk and Hye-suk happen to pick up their drunk partners, and on the way home, they come across Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu embracing.
These episodes deliver an emotional rollercoaster, blending romance, family tension, and personal growth. As Seok-ryu and Seung-hyo’s relationship faces challenges, the story explores the complexities of love and the courage it takes to overcome doubts, making these episodes a must-watch for fans of Love Next Door.