The ninth episodes begin with Gyu-hyun and Ha-jun engaging in a lively football match with the children at the orphanage. The playful energy fills the scene as the kids cheer and laugh, clearly enjoying their time with the two men. After the game, Ja-yeon arrives and overhears Gyu-hyun telling the kids how much he enjoys playing with them. This endearing moment makes her more curious about him, especially regarding his relationship with Ha-jun. But instead of addressing her curiosity, she impulsively asks Gyu-hyun if he likes her.
Caught off guard but sincere, Gyu-hyun confesses that he does indeed like her, despite believing he has no right to feel that way. His vulnerable admission surprises Ja-yeon, but it also leaves her conflicted. Gyu-hyun, sensing her hesitation, asks for a chance to prove himself. However, Ja-yeon, deeply convinced she is not meant for a happy ending, walks away, struggling with her feelings. As she turns, she finds herself face-to-face with Ha-jun, who immediately recognizes her as the famous writer Yeon Bo-ra, the very author whose works he admires. Meanwhile, Gyu-hyun offers Ja-yeon a ride home, and during the car ride, she subtly mentions that she plans to move out soon, adding a sense of finality to their conversation.
Back at Ji-uk’s place, he and Hae-yeong are busy assembling a new bed in his room. Amidst the casual conversation, Ji-uk gently asks Hae-yeong about her father, a subject she rarely opens up about. The atmosphere grows tense as she gives a brief response, indicating the emotional weight of her past. Meanwhile, Gyu-hyun drops Ja-yeon off at her home and immediately receives a shocking call from his mother, his expression darkening.
As Ji-uk and Hae-yeong’s moment of intimacy continues, the door bursts open, and an agitated Gyu-hyun storms into Ji-uk’s room. His eyes are filled with suspicion and anger as he confronts Ji-uk, demanding to know if he is the CEO’s illegitimate son. Taken aback, Ji-uk replies that he has no idea who his father is, but Gyu-hyun’s frustration boils over, and he orders both Ji-uk and Hae-yeong to leave the company. The confrontation leaves Hae-yeong shaken, and Ja-yeon, who witnesses the entire scene, feels the tension escalate. Once Gyu-hyun leaves, Hae-yeong suggests that there’s only one way to protect her and Ji-uk’s future — Ji-uk must take over Gyu-hyun’s position at Kkulbee.
Later, Gyu-hyun returns home to find his parents in the middle of a heated argument. His father, Gi-ho, admits that he brought Ji-uk into the company to challenge Gyu-hyun, hoping competition would motivate him. But his mother, Jeong-a, isn’t having any of it. The tension between his parents weighs heavily on Gyu-hyun as he processes the implications of Ji-uk’s sudden presence in his life.
Meanwhile, Ji-uk apologizes to Hae-yeong for causing so much trouble, but she reassures him, showing compassion for everything he has gone through. Ji-uk, however, admits he fears their marriage was a mistake, a confession that makes Hae-yeong pause. She responds by kissing him softly, promising that they’ll face tomorrow’s challenges together. Yet, despite their heartfelt exchange, secrets linger — Ji-uk still carries the photo of Hae-yeong’s mother, a reminder of something unresolved between them.
Later, Hui-seong accidentally drops her bag, and Ja-yeon finds a sonogram inside, realizing Hui-seong is pregnant. Hui-seong confesses that she doesn’t know which of the men she’s seeing is the father, and Ja-yeon warns her, reflecting on the consequences of raising a child when one isn’t ready. Hui-seong, though aware of the gravity, asks Ja-yeon not to tell Hae-yeong.
The next morning, Ji-uk, ready to resign and avoid more conflict, walks into the office with Hae-yeong, only to find a notice announcing Hae-yeong’s dismissal and his own suspension. Gyu-hyun enters the scene, and in an attempt to defuse the situation, Ji-uk loudly declares that he and Hae-yeong are getting divorced. However, Gyu-hyun immediately sees through the ruse and knows the divorce is fake. A flashback shows that Gyu-hyun’s mother, Jeong-a, had advised him to send Ji-uk abroad, far from the company’s affairs. In the present, Gyu-hyun orders Ji-uk to leave the country permanently, threatening to make both his and Hae-yeong’s lives miserable if he stays.
Meanwhile, Woo-jae, upon hearing about the supposed divorce, sees an opportunity and approaches Hae-yeong. He mentions the fake marriage, but Hae-yeong remains steadfast, convincing him that their relationship is real. Meanwhile, Hui-seong meets Tae-hyeong and reveals her pregnancy. Though Tae-hyeong is eager to keep the baby, Hui-seong, struggling with uncertainty, suggests they consider an abortion.
Later, Hae-yeong takes Ji-uk to the rooftop, where they playfully blow bubbles, trying to ease the tension. She tells him not to worry about her, but the weight of their current predicament hangs over them. Woo-jae, meanwhile, is discussing Hae-yeong’s demotion with Yi-lin, who reveals her suspicions that Hae-yeong might still have feelings for Woo-jae.
Hae-yeong’s new role in the company requires her to shut down struggling Kkulbee centers, and she heads to Busan for her next assignment. Ji-uk surprises her by joining her on the train, wanting to spend more time with her. In Busan, Hae-yeong has to break the unfortunate news to an employee, leaving her disheartened. Later, she learns that a woman with dementia regularly visited the center, and now she won’t have a place to go.
Back in Seoul, Ja-yeon receives a terrifying phone call from a mysterious man, his name in her phone listed as “Murderer.” Hae-yeong, returning from Busan, finds a text about the parole of Man Chang-il, and she panics, realizing Ja-yeon could be in danger. Rushing home with Ji-uk, they spot a man hugging Ja-yeon in the yard. In their haste, they pull him off, only to find out it’s Gyu-hyun.
Episode 10 opens with Gyu-hyun drunk and thinking about Ja-yeon. Ha-jun, concerned, picks him up and sends him to Ja-yeon’s house in a taxi, hoping he’ll finally confront his feelings. Ja-yeon, seeing someone lurking from her roof, mistakes Gyu-hyun for her father and bravely goes to confront him. To her surprise, she finds Gyu-hyun instead. When she asks if he’s okay, he pulls her into a tight embrace.
Just as Ji-uk and Hae-yeong arrive, they mistakenly think Gyu-hyun is assaulting Ja-yeon. They pull him off, and Gyu-hyun admits to trolling Ja-yeon online, only to fall for her later. A furious Hae-yeong attacks him with an umbrella, but Gyu-hyun grabs Ji-uk to shield himself, taking the hit. Amid the chaos, Ja-yeon finally confesses that she likes Gyu-hyun too. This prompts Hae-yeong to chase Ja-yeon around the house, but after some playful bickering, they share a hug, knowing the situation is far from simple. Meanwhile, Gyu hyun spends the night in Ji uk’s room.
Later, as Hae-yeong prepares breakfast, Gyu-hyun blurts out that Ja-yeon is moving out and Ji-uk is planning to leave for good. Upset, Hae-yeong orders both men to leave, retreating to her room. Ja-yeon and Ji-uk find solace in each other, discussing their complicated lives over breakfast.
In another corner of town, Hae-yeong visits her mother alongside Hui-seong, and when Hui-seong starts feeling nauseous, Hae-yeong realizes she’s pregnant. In a rare moment of clarity, Eun-ok, Hae-yeong’s mother, congratulates Hui-seong with a warm hug.
Meanwhile, Ji-uk has a reflective conversation with Mr. Jang at a racecourse, where Jang encourages Ji-uk to take control of his life and not be weighed down by other people’s expectations. Inspired, Ji-uk returns home, where he shares a heartfelt moment with Hae-yeong. As they discuss their future, Hae-yeong tearily admits she’s used to people leaving her, and Ji-uk, deeply moved, promises he won’t leave this time.
Later, Ja-yeon meets Gyu-hyun at the Kkulbee office, and they explore the space together as Gyu-hyun pretends to be a character from her novel. The playful atmosphere shifts when Ja-yeon overhears an argument between Woo-jae and Yi-lin about Hae-yeong’s job and Ji-uk’s imminent departure abroad. Realizing how much is changing around her, Ja-yeon decides she can’t continue seeing Gyu-hyun, leaving him heartbroken.
In the morning, Hae-yeong stumbles upon a photograph of Ji-uk with her mother from years ago, connecting the dots that Ji-uk had been one of her foster siblings. The realization feels like a betrayal, and with tears in her eyes, she tells Ji-uk to leave her life for good, ending Episode 10 on a dramatic and emotional cliffhanger.
Episodes 9 and 10 of No Gain No Love deliver emotional intensity, relationship drama, and significant character growth. Gyu-hyun’s vulnerable confession to Ja-yeon adds emotional depth, while Ja-yeon’s conflicting feelings create intrigue as their romance develops. Ji-uk and Hae-yeong’s relationship faces its own struggles, with Ji-uk’s impending departure and Hae-yeong’s fear of abandonment adding tension. Their tender moments, like the rooftop bubble scene, contrast well with the heavy drama.
The family dynamics deepen with the power struggle between Gyu-hyun and Ji-uk, while Hui-seong’s pregnancy adds a fresh, though melodramatic, subplot. Humorous moments, like Hae-yeong chasing Gyu-hyun with an umbrella, help balance the emotional weight of the storyline.
Though some K-drama tropes feel predictable, strong character development and emotional payoffs make these episodes compelling. With cliffhangers and evolving relationships, the show keeps viewers hooked, promising even more drama ahead.