K-DRAMA RECAP: “No Gain No Love” Episodes 7 and 8

September 21, 2024
K-DRAMA RECAPS

We get some much-needed progress on the romance front only to end on a cliffhanger when the secret regarding our male lead’s birth gets out in the open. Between our leading lady getting caught in the middle of the two half-brothers’ fight or the fact that we don’t want them to fight, we don’t know which one to be more concerned about.

Luckily, we have plenty of funny scenes to balance things out, along with a sweet blooming romance between our second lead couple who has their fair share of revealed secrets, as well.

Bunny S. watches No Gain No Love on Prime Video

Episode Recaps: 01 & 02 | 03 & 04 | 05 & 06 |

No Gain No Love Episodes 7 and 8 Highlights

“If at any point you want to get divorced, let me know.”

Rewinding a little, we see Gyu-hyeon carry a wasted Ji-wook to a hotel room. Since they are “married,” Hae-yeong got inside too. Later that night, the ex-boyfriend who was also present at dinner crawled into our leads’ room. In the morning, the ex-boyfriend’s wife knocks on the door. And I don’t think any excuse could lift the awkwardness, especially given how Hae-yeong and the ex-boyfriend seem to know more about each other than colleagues normally do. Still, it ends pretty well, given the messy situation.

Earlier, it was suggested Ji-wook get taken off the task force to solve the issue of having a married couple working together on the same team. But the wife deems it a pity. Instead, she suggests the ex-boyfriend join the task force team as another team leader and have Ji-wook work under him. (The wife using her close relationship with Gyu-hyeon to get the ex-boyfriend to join the team was annoying to watch.)

Aside from lamenting the fact that the ex-boyfriend gets to ride on her coattails, Hae-yeong gets worried the ex-boyfriend might catch on that her marriage is fake. And I guess our leads need to up their game since the ex-boyfriend overheard Ji-wook tell Hae-yeong they can get divorced whenever she feels like it and assumed they were getting divorced soon.

Adding to Hae-yeong’s worries, one employee got caught misusing the benefits the company offers to married employees and those with children. So, the HR team launched a full-scale investigation on everyone. Cue: Hae-yeong feels scared of getting fired and tells Ji-wook to move in with her. But what Hae-yeong really meant was having Ji-wook stay in the rooftop room. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t Ji-wook’s first time there as he lived briefly in that room during high school.

To be more convincing, Hae-yeong throws a housewarming party and invites everyone (minus Gyu-hyeon) over. Ji-wook suggests registering their marriage and getting it over with. But a considerate Hae-yeong doesn’t want to stain his family register with a divorce when everything is fake. She even tells Ji-wook she feels bad he can’t go on dates because of her. But is this how she actually feels? Seeing how Hae-yeong followed Ji-wook upstairs after the party, I think we have an answer already.

I guess I counted my chickens before they were hatched, though. As it turns out, Hae-yeong only followed Ji-wook upstairs because the ex-boyfriend was keeping a watch on them. To fool the ex-boyfriend, Hae-yeong kissed Ji-wook, or, as she argues, it was only a peck. Having learned her real motive, a mad and jealous Ji-wook pulls Hae-yeong in for a real kiss, resolving to not hold back any longer.

“When I don’t have a new project or evaluations to do and when I am not worried about people finding us out, that is the time.”

For the next few days, Hae-yeong is mad at Ji-wook. Yet he can’t grasp what exactly he did wrong. Ji-wook tries to get Hae-yeong to talk to him by all means and even asks a coworker for advice, but he hilariously fails each time.

Luckily, Ji-wook can see through Hae-yeong’s words and actions, figuring she likes him and confessing he likes her as well. Actually, he is head over heels for her. Eventually, Hae-yeong admits to her feelings too, but she asks Ji-wook to wait for her until she isn’t worried about her performance at work or people finding out about them. That is when she wants to start dating him properly and freely.

Just when things were looking up for our leads, the ex-boyfriend ruined it for us yet again. After snooping around for a while, he figures out that Hae-yeong’s marriage is fake. He is even shameless enough to suggest they get back together. But that isn’t the worst that can happen. The chairman’s wife, Gyu-hyeon’s mother, has learned about Ji-wook’s true identity and is out to get him.

That woman has no problems crossing any line as long as she can make Gyu-hyeon the heir. But what I didn’t see coming was Gyu-hyeon’s mother telling her son about Ji-wook being his half-brother. Barging into the rooftop room, a mad and betrayed Gyu-hyeon asks Ji-wook if the chairman is really his biological father. As it so happens, Hae-yeong is also there. Hearing that revelation, she gets taken aback. And on that cliffhanger, we end this week’s episodes.

“Then, is this where we end things?”

Meanwhile, our second lead couple learns about each other’s true identity. Ja-yeon figures Gyu-hyeon is the CEO of the company where Hae-yeong works. And Gyu-hyeon learns “Bo-ra’s” real name, and that she is like a younger sister to Hae-yeong. Worried about doing damage to Hae-yeong’s career, Ja-yeon drops the lawsuit. But Gyu-hyeon asserts those are two separate matters, apologizing to “Bo-ra” for the mean comments and concealing his identity, and declaring he will keep volunteering at the orphanage to keep his promise to her.

As luck would have it, Ja-yeon’s abusive father shows up while she is meeting Gyu-hyeon. Ja-yeon is so scared that she grabs Gyu-hyeon’s hand and makes a run for it. Sensing something is off, Gyu-hyeon covers a trembling Ja-yeon with his jacket and sings her favorite song to comfort her. He keeps winning her over with his sincerity and it is palpable how these two are developing feelings for each other. Gyu-hyeon is sad to hear they won’t meet each other again and leaves positive comments on Ja-yeon’s works, hoping to see her again.

Surprisingly, the one who wrote the harsh comment that got Ja-yeon furious turns out to be Gyu-hyeon’s secretary. (Gyu-hyeon passed this task on to his secretary. And it seems the secretary insulted Ja-yeon’s parents in his comment.) Learning this, Ja-yeon feels betrayed that it was her crush who hurt her like that. It seems all secrets are getting out in the open this week, but not in the way I wished for them to.

 

No Gain No Love Episodes 7 and 8 Musings

Last week, I hoped that Ji-wook would open up to Hae-yeong about his chaebol illegitimate child identity. Yet while I am relieved it is already out of the way, it happened in the worst way possible. The guy was about to tell Hae-yeong the truth but Gyu-hyeon beat him to it. Speaking of whom, I enjoyed the bromance between Ji-wook and Gyu-hyeon this week. And the last thing I want to see is them drifting apart because of the company.

Given Gyu-hyeon’s mother’s personality, this might be where we are heading. But I will keep my faith in Gyu-hyeon. He has already proved he isn’t some spoiled rich guy through his stance with Ja-yeon. So, let’s hope he won’t switch to the dark side. Also, Ji-wook already declared he wants nothing from the chairman. The guy only wants some peace in his life. Is that too much to ask for after all he went through?

Speaking of brewing trouble, the ex-boyfriend’s wife is suspicious of Hae-yeong and the ex-boyfriend. She regrets having them on the same team and offers to transfer the ex-boyfriend back to his team. But he refuses, arguing he isn’t some doll she can keep moving around. Given the situation, it won’t be long until the wife connects the dots. But while it is satisfying to see the ex-boyfriend fall into the grave he dug for himself, I don’t want Hae-yeong to get entangled in a scandal and lose everything she worked hard for. Can’t our leads catch a break already?

Photos and Videos: tvN Drama

 

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Bunny Sonaki

I am Bunny. Just like you, I am smitten with Kdramas and look forward to watching every Kdrama out there, but is that dream ever possible since they keep showering us with new dramas every day? For me, Kdramas are my comfort zone and a warm hug that makes it possible to face up to whatever life throws my way.

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