In Episode 7, Jun-ho nearly collapses as Hong-ju rushes to his side to check on him. Jun-ho informs Hong-ju of his sickness and clarifies that his illness is the cause of their breakup. He attempts to explain to her that his anxiety prevented him from writing and confesses that he did not feel comfortable being vulnerable with her previously.
Hong-ju shows her appreciation to Jun-ho for being honest with her. She claims that for all those years, she believed the cause of their separation was due to her own actions. Hong-ju informs Jun-ho that she can now move forward without blaming herself for their relationship not working out.
At the same time, Do-seon informs her son Hu-yeong that she will also be remaining in South Korea. She insists on Hu-yeong accompanying her to the USA, but he remains firm in his decision. He informs Do-seon that he won’t return this time. CEO Baek is shocked by Hu-yeong’s response.
At the same time, Hong-ju tells CEO Bae at work that she will not be joining the project with Jun-ho due to personal reasons. CEO Bae is committed to ensuring Hong-ju’s welfare and approves her request to leave the project.
Hong-ju is hanging around a convenience store and drives away some annoying high school students in a rage. When Hu-yeong arrives, Hong-ju quickly embraces him. The duo have fun at the arcade, participating in gaming and singing karaoke tunes to unwind. Hong-ju is amazed to find herself drawn to the sound of Hu-yeong’s voice.
In the evening, they walk home together and Hu-yeong tells Hong-ju that he has quit his job. Hong-ju is upset, but Hu-yeong convinces her to trust him, and she agrees. At home, Hong-ju talks to Hye-ji about her recent dismissal by Mr. Sohn. While decluttering her laptop, Hong-ju deleted all documents related to Jun-ho and his writings.
Hye-ji tells her friend that she is at the park trying to get over Mr. Sohn. Hye-ji is sorry she purchased trekking shoes in an attempt to impress Mr. Sohn. After ending the phone call, Hong-ju collects all of Jun-ho’s books in her room and positions them alongside the trash can outside her house.
The next day, Hu-yeong goes for a jog and comes across Hong-ju’s treasured books by the garbage, the same ones they used to read together in high school. After a few hours, Hong-ju goes to work and realizes that the books have been taken from the trash can. In that instant, Hu-yeong returns from his jog and proposes to accompany Hong-ju to the bus stop. However, a taxi brings his mother to the location.
Hong-ju introduces herself to Do-seon, who asks for some alone time with her child. Hu-yeong tries to raise an objection but fails. Do-seon inquires CEO Baek in the residence about renovating her property and living there without consent. She announces her plan to live in the house with them, which annoys CEO Baek. A warning is sent to Hong-ju about being careful of Do-seon living in the house.
While working, CEO Bae watches Hong-ju’s emotions and tries to change her mindset by assigning her tasks. In the evening, Hong-ju tries carefully to get home without catching the eye of Hu-yeong’s mother.
Hu-yeong and Hong-ju engage in a romantic conversation outside her residence prior to Hu-yeong taking on a job as a waiter at Sang-pil’s eatery the following day. Even though he is messy and often shatters many bowls, he helps Sang-pil at the cash register due to his excellent math abilities.
Yet, CEO Baek gets upset with his sister for trying to oversee his staff at Rock Asset. He tells her that her behavior is because Hu-yeong is not giving her attention anymore. In the afternoon, Hong-ju pays a visit to the ttekbokki spot that she and Hu-yeong frequented when they were young. She messages Hu-yeong to tell him about her talk with the store owner. It dawns on Sang-pil that he has to look after Hu-yeong until Hong-ju gets back from work at 6 pm.
In the evening, CEO Baek tries to talk to Bae, but they end up engaged in a heated disagreement. She informs him that they should not behave immaturely in their forties. She gets into her car and is surprised when CEO Baek leans in through her window to kiss her, but instead he fixes her dress. Annoyed, she shoves him aside and speeds away. At the same time, Jun-ho shows up at Hong-ju’s house and makes paper airplanes from the loving letters she wrote for him. Hong-ju tries to persuade him to leave, but Jun-ho throws another paper plane that lands on Do-seon when he gets home.
While Jun-ho interrogates Hong-ju about Hu-yeong’s personality, she glances at the letter. Hong-ju is encouraging Jun-ho to come to terms with their breakup. She goes outdoors to collect the affectionate messages thrown by Jun-ho and encounters Do-seon. Hu-yeong is worried when Hong-ju is missing from Sang-pil’s restaurant and steps outside to call her. In their discussion, Hye-ji and Sang-pil talk about how Hong-ju is feeling pressure to work together with Jun-ho.
Hu-yeong is upset after hearing this. He leaves for his home. Meanwhile, Do-seon invites Hong-ju for tea and reveals her intention to take her son back to the United States. Hong-ju is shocked by Do-seon’s accusation that she is responsible for him staying in the USA. Hong-ju explains how she grew to have feelings for Hu-yeong because of his kindness and attention towards her. Do-seon implies that Hu-yeong affected multiple girls in a similar way, leading to Hong-ju’s sorrow. Hu-yeong comes back to the house and finds a love note from Hong-ju to Jun-ho. He places it in his pocket and visits Hong-ju, who is upset with him for his romantic involvements in America.
Hu-yeong and Hong-ju clash when she discloses her lack of trust in him. Hong-ju claims that she was scared he would leave her. The next day, Hu-yeong wakes up on the couch. Do-seon observed that Hu-yeong was intoxicated the night before and he is concerned for him.
Hong ju goes back to her high school to meet up with Hye-ji and recalls the time she played hooky with Hu-yeong. Hong-ju acknowledges her actions from the previous day and admits to Hye-ji that she tried to distance herself from Hu-yeong.
However, Sang-pil shows up to meet Hu-yeong. During Hye-ji’s dinner outing with Hong-ju, he cooks a meal for Hu-yeong at home. Hong-ju voices worry to Hye-ji about the chance of Hu-yeong going back to the United States with his mother. Sang-pil drinks with Hu-yeong, recalling past memories with Hong-ju and Hye-ji from their youth. He points out Hong-ju’s tendency to become sad when it was time for someone to leave, highlighting the importance of saying goodbye to her.
During lunch time, Hye-ji goes back to school and makes her way to her classroom. Mr Sohn notices the football is going to hit Hye-ji, so he jumps in front of her to shield her. He gets hit in the face by the ball, resulting in a nosebleed. Hye-ji grows concerned and chooses to look into the matter. Mr Sohn finally acknowledges his feelings for her and they kiss in the medical room.
That night, Do-seon comes back from work and finds a drunk Sang-pil at their house. She goes to find Hong-ju in order to find Hu-yeong and finds her son waiting at her house. Hu-yeong tells Do-seon about his strong feelings for Hong-ju and expresses his annoyance with her for making Hong-ju cry. Hu-yeong also expresses to Do-seon how he missed her greatly since relocating to the United States ten years ago.
That evening, Hong-ju quickly goes back home from work and surprisingly comes across Hu-yeong who saves her from an oncoming bike.
The episode ends with a flashback of Hong-ju and Hye-ji as children visiting the tteokkboki spot. Sang-pil shows up and brings up Hu-yeong, causing Hong-ju to cry because she misses him greatly.
The loss of Serendipity’s Embrace on Mondays and Tuesdays will certainly be felt now that we only have one episode left. Even though it is a short play, it is frustrating that the writers are hurrying to conclude it just as the characters are starting to show their true selves.
This episode reveals that Mr Sohn and Hye-ji are romantically involved, causing tension at home as Mr Kim tries to set up his older daughter with Mr Sohn.