Episode 8 of No Gain No Love begins with Ja-yeon and Ha-jun revisiting their old school after attending Hae-yeong’s housewarming party. This nostalgic trip brings up a flood of emotions, especially when Ha-jun asks Ja-yeon why she transferred schools years ago. This question triggers a painful flashback of Ja-yeon’s father storming into Hae-yeong’s home, looking for her when they were just children. The scene is chaotic as Ja-yeon’s father demands to see her, but Hae-yeong’s parents intervene and drive him away. In the aftermath, Hae-yeong’s parents suggest Ja-yeon transfer schools and foster homes for her safety, hoping to keep her father from finding her again. The weight of these memories leaves Ja-yeon visibly shaken.
Meanwhile, on a different rooftop, Hae-yeong shares a passionate yet conflicted kiss with Ji-uk. When they pull apart, it’s revealed that Hae-yeong kissed him because she saw Woo-jae watching Ji-uk head to the roof. Her calculated move doesn’t sit well with Ji-uk, who is furious that she used him in such a way, especially without his consent. In retaliation, Ji-uk grabs her and kisses her back, but this time, it’s a kiss laced with anger and frustration. Their relationship is far from straightforward, and this moment deepens the rift between them.
After witnessing the kiss, Woo-jae heads home, feeling conflicted. When he arrives, he lies to Yi-lin, claiming he was just out for a walk. However, Yi-lin’s suspicions about Woo-jae’s connection with Hae-yeong continue to grow. She can’t shake the feeling that they share a past she’s not aware of, and their familiarity is starting to make her uneasy.
The following morning, Hae-yeong and Ji-uk’s unresolved anger spills into breakfast, leading to a heated argument that only escalates their tension. Meanwhile, Gyu-hyun, still feeling guilty over his role in Ja-yeon’s pain, reaches out to Ha-jun to learn how Ja-yeon is doing. Unexpectedly, Ja-yeon agrees to meet Gyu-hyun, setting the stage for a long-awaited confrontation.
They meet near a police station, where Ja-yeon reveals she has withdrawn the lawsuit now that she knows Gyu-hyun is Hae-yeong’s boss. Despite this, Gyu-hyun remains deeply apologetic, showing his sincerity. Suddenly, Ja-yeon spots her biological father across the street. Panic sets in, and she grabs Gyu-hyun’s hand, pulling him into a nearby alley. There, she collapses in tears, overwhelmed by fear and memories of her past. In a tender moment, Gyu-hyun sings a song that happens to be her favorite, offering her a small but meaningful comfort. After they part ways, both believe this might be the last time they ever see each other.
Back at home, Hae-yeong enters Ji-uk’s room and notices the thin, uncomfortable mattress he’s been sleeping on. This small but intimate detail makes her realize just how much Ji-uk has sacrificed. At the same time, Ji-uk is with Eun-ok, Hae-yeong’s mother, sharing a meal and discussing his feelings for Hae-yeong. He admits that he has strong emotions for her, but she seems completely unaware of his affections.
As Eun-ok listens, a rare moment of lucidity occurs, and she remembers her daughter, Hae-yeong. Ji-uk returns home, eager to impress Hae-yeong. He offers to do small tasks like opening jars and fixing the lights, but Hae-yeong, ever independent and capable, doesn’t need his help. Ji-uk’s frustration grows, but so does his admiration for her.
Elsewhere, Bok Gi-ho expresses his disappointment to Manager Jang about Ji-uk’s lack of ambition. Gi-ho suggests that Jang should shift his focus to Hae-yeong instead, believing she holds more potential. As Jang leaves the house, Jeong-a approaches him, enlisting his help in some unseen scheme.
On their way to work, Hae-yeong and Ji-uk continue to bicker, still holding onto their earlier argument. Their conversation shifts to work matters, specifically Hae-yeong’s struggles with a marketing event. Ji-uk mentions that he used his employee discount at the orphanage, sparking an idea in Hae-yeong’s mind.
At work, Hae-yeong presents her new marketing proposal, suggesting an event at the orphanage. Gyu-hyun, still distracted by thoughts of Ja-yeon, critiques her plan, but ultimately approves it, cautioning her to keep it a secret from both Ji-uk and Ja-yeon. This adds an element of secrecy and pressure to the unfolding events.
Meanwhile, Ji-uk seeks advice from a co-worker about resolving conflicts between couples. The co-worker advises him to promise never to repeat his mistakes. At the recording studio, Tae-hyeong assists Hui-seong with an audition tape. When Tae-hyeong suggests they spend time together, Hui-seong checks her calendar and seems to realize something important, though it remains unclear what that is.
Later in the day, Hae-yeong gets into Ji-uk’s car and finds an apology letter he left for her, promising never to kiss her again without consent. Annoyed, she crumples it up. She then takes Ji-uk mattress shopping, insisting that he deserves to sleep comfortably, even if the mattress is expensive. Touched by her gesture, Ji-uk teases her, saying that he knows she likes him, and in turn, he likes her too.
Their banter continues as they have dinner together, with Ji-uk flirting openly. But when they return home, Hae-yeong turns serious, asking Ji-uk if he’s willing to wait for her as she deals with her new projects and responsibilities. She admits that this was something she wanted to say the day they kissed. Ji-uk reassures her that he will wait for her, no matter how long it takes.
The next morning, Woo-jae is in high spirits as he prepares for work, knowing that he and Hae-yeong will be visiting the orphanage together. Yi-lin notices his good mood and suggests he consider transferring departments, but Woo-jae stands his ground, telling her she can’t control his career.
During their visit to the orphanage, everything goes smoothly until the director starts talking about Ji-uk, mentioning that he’s single and expressing hopes that he’ll eventually marry Yu-na, another volunteer. Woo-jae almost reveals that Ji-uk is married, but Hae-yeong stops him. This leads Woo-jae to confront Hae-yeong about her fake marriage, accusing her of staging everything just to get back at him. In frustration, he suggests they rekindle their old relationship, but Hae-yeong is having none of it. She chases after him, umbrella in hand, ready to beat him for his audacity.
Back at work, Ja-yeon discovers that Gyu-hyun has been leaving positive comments on her writing, a stark contrast to the harsh critiques she received earlier. She calls Ha-jun, who shockingly reveals that he was the one behind the negative comments, having agreed to do so in exchange for a departmental transfer promised by Gyu-hyun.
Later, Ji-uk runs into Manager Jang again outside his house. This time, Jang warns Ji-uk that Jeong-a knows about his existence and that he should protect Hae-yeong from whatever might come next. Alarmed, Ji-uk rushes inside and tells Hae-yeong they need to talk, but for now, they focus on setting up his room with new furniture.
As they finish, the physical closeness between them grows undeniable. Ji-uk reminds Hae-yeong of her earlier statement about not being able to love someone without knowing their physical compatibility. She counters by reminding him of his own words—that his heart and body come as one. Ji-uk moves in closer, but their intimate moment is interrupted when Gyu-hyun bursts into the room, accusing Ji-uk of being Gi-ho’s illegitimate son.
The episode’s epilogue lightens the mood, showing Ji-uk following some bad online advice on how to fix things with an angry wife. He sneaks around the kitchen tightening jars, messing with the TV remote, and loosening light bulbs, all in an attempt to “help” the next morning. But, as we’ve seen, none of these plans work out as he expected!
Episode 8 of No Gain No Love delivers a whirlwind of emotions, secrets, and confrontations. The episode kicks off with Ja-yeon and Ha-jun’s nostalgic visit to their old school, triggering painful childhood memories for Ja-yeon. Meanwhile, Hae-yeong’s calculated kiss with Ji-uk causes tension and fuels unresolved feelings, while Woo-jae wrestles with his own inner conflict. Ja-yeon faces an emotional breakdown upon seeing her father, finding comfort in Gyu-hyun’s tender gesture.
The episode also explores deeper relational struggles, as Hae-yeong and Ji-uk’s ongoing conflicts culminate in a serious discussion about their future. With the complexities of fake marriages, unspoken emotions, and tangled pasts unfolding, the characters are pushed to confront their unresolved feelings. The episode ends on a lighter note, with Ji-uk hilariously trying to fix things with Hae-yeong through a series of misguided household “repairs.”
This episode perfectly blends drama, romance, and humor, keeping viewers engaged as they wait to see how these complex relationships will evolve.