4 Times Lee Jun Hyuk And Han Ji Min Grew Stronger Together In Episodes 10-11 Of “Love Scout”
Love Scout is heading into its finale, and it's hard to keep calm for all the right reasons. Things have been rough for Han Ji Min's Kang Ji Yun, especially on the work front. She is facing one of her biggest challenges as Peoplez gets embroiled in a financial scandal. However, Ji Yun is unfazed and game to ride the storm because for once in her life she is not alone. Yu Eun Ho's (Lee Jun Hyuk's) love has not only nurtured her fractured soul but has also given her the emotional support to stand up for herself.
Despite the tense moments, as Ji Yun faces her career's worst crisis ever, it seems she may have found out the reason for her existence. Work kept her immersed and from facing her emotional issues. But Ji Yun no longer seems to be in fight or flight mode. Eun Ho's presence has changed the course of her life and has given her a reason to smile. Here are four times when Ji Yun was convinced that Eun Ho was the right partner for her in this week's episodes.
Warning: spoilers from episodes 10-11 below.
When Eun Ho helps Ji Yun heal from her past
Kang Ji Yun is devastated after Eun Ho's confession, that her father died after saving him from the fire. Ji Yun has never been able to overcome the trauma of her father's death and has always blamed him for abandoning and leaving her all alone.
So it seems like a cruel twist of fate that the man she loves is linked to the death of the father she adored. Ji Yun goes cold and asks Eun Ho to leave her alone. She tearfully asks Eun Ho why it had to be him. How could she ever be at ease with him now? Eun Ho responds calmly that he will always be there and that he will wait for her. He stresses that it is important for her to process the past and most importantly heal. He recounts her father's last words to him which were to never give up and survive no matter what. He reveals the words had become his motto during tough times. He wants to empower Ji Yun and free her from the grief which looms over her.
As conflicting emotions overtake her, Ji Yun continues to avoid Eun Ho, making him feel worse than he already does. But as she keeps observing him and his gentle demeanor, she realizes it's time to shed the excess baggage of the past. She has resented her father for too long and had been weighed down by the grudge she held against him.
It's surreal how both the men in her life seem to have a connection. Ji Yun thinks to herself that by saving Eun Ho, her father was giving her the love and happiness he had not been able to give due to his untimely demise. She has to stop yielding to the past and its memories and move on. She finally decides to visit her father's grave, something she had not done in years. Seeing the flowers left behind by Eun Ho, she breaks down and asks her father for forgiveness and says she is sorry for not coming sooner.
Thanks to Eun Ho and his soothing presence, her heart is on the mend. Ji Yun finally seems to have freed herself from the shackles of grief and is all set to embrace life, and in this case, Eun Ho.
When Ji Yun makes her and Eun Ho's relationship public
What's endearing about both Ji Yun and Eun Ho is the sheer simplicity and natural nature of their relationship. Eun Ho is well aware that Ji Yun has lots to process and is patiently gentle with her. She wants space and he gives it to her, but he also gives her the assurance that he is there and will always be there for her.
After visiting her father, Ji Yun thanks Eun Ho for being the wonderful man that he is. She takes his hand, saying she will never ever let go of it and that he is hers forever. But what Ji Yun does next takes not only Eun Ho by surprise but the viewers as well.
She proudly enters the office hand in hand with a startled and rather shy Eun Ho. This is her bold declaration of their relationship status as she makes it official in the public domain. This is a typical thing Ji Yun would do, but no one had ever anticipated her dating, even more so falling in love with someone at work—especially with her secretary. The stunned expressions of her staff are nothing compared to the happiness on Ji Yun's face. The straightforward gesture carries a lot of weight. She is a woman unabashedly declaring her relationship and shows her own individuality when it comes to her life and choices.
Ji Yun's confession to Eun Ho is straight from the heart. She confesses that she is not longer the person she was. She also understands that there is no need to keep controlling things and situations. She is just happy being herself and going with the flow, most importantly with him by her side. Their slow-burn chemistry is a scorcher, and this a couple who has been through a lot personally. Though there is a maturity and understanding between the two, there is also a soft playfulness and the romantic side of things, which make you squeal with happiness.
When Eun Ho and Ji Yun's staff stand by her
Tiding through difficulties comes easily to Ji Yun—after all she is a survivor. However, she is now faced with an insurmountable challenge, one that can cost her career and the reputation she has built in the industry. Her nemesis and former boss/mentor, Kim Hye Jin (Park Bo Kyung), who heads Career Way, has been on the path to ruin Ji Yun. The two had clashed five years ago when Ji Yun had been the whistleblower in their former company and had asked for an internal investigation over fraudulent financial deals. It is clear that Hye Jin had manipulated the situation and accused Ji Yun for being the cause of their CEO's death. The incident was a stain on Ji Yun's impeccable career trajectory.
However, Ji Yun is a self-made woman and is known for her unwavering commitment to her principles and is not one to compromise or play dirty. Recently Ji Yun has been outsmarting Hye Jin and Career Way, thanks to Eun Ho and his insights in the industry. But Ji Yun has not anticipated the cunning schemes up Hye Jin's sleeve.
Peoplez finds itself in an investment scam when a company they had made hirings for is declared a fraud. Not only have people lost their money, but many have lost their jobs. And Ji Yun and her company have been charged with being complicit since they were given some shares and are exclusive hiring partners.
Ji Yun stands to lose everything and is mocked by Hye Jin that no one from her employees or people in the industry will stand for her anymore. But Hye Jin could not have been more off the mark.
Aside from Eun Ho's unflinching support, her staff also proves their loyalty and commitment toward her. Along with Eun Ho, they all get together to investigate the issue. After all, they're better together than being alone. The team zealously puts in work to unearth the wrongdoings and stretching themselves for her and the company they love. Taken by surprise at the show of support, Ji Yun feels empowered.
As Hye Jin plans her next move, which is to take over Peoplez, Ji Yun needs to make some tough calls. Her stepping down as the CEO of Peoplez is the only solution to the problems as per her investor, Chairman Woo.
Unfazed and in control, Ji Yun stands tall and makes an alarming announcement. She decides to step down. Though the decision has shocked everyone, one sees Eun Ho standing by her, respecting her decisions as he always does. But Ji Yun is far from defeated, and one cannot wait to see what she does next.
Ji Yun bonding with Byeol
There is no denying the Ji Yun and Byeol's (Ki So You's) moments stole viewers' hearts. The two have struck up a friendship ever since they had met at Kang Seok's (Lee Jae Woo’s) bookstore. Byeol is a fan of Ji Yun unnie.
When Byeol has a spat with her dad Eun Ho, she tells him she hates him in her annoyance. The reason is that her father doesn't understand why she wants to dress up as a princess. He says that Byeol always looks like a princess to him. But how does Byeol make him understand that the theme of her classmate's birthday party is princess?
She sulks at the bookstore, deciding to give the birthday party a miss when Ji Yun comes to her rescue. Luckily, there are things that girls do better together. Ji Yun gives Byeol a makeover, turning her into the cutest princess ever. She also helps her find the most stunning doll house set as a present for her friend. Byeol is pleased and is the star of the party. As the mothers wonder who Ji Yun is, she answers calmly that she is a close friend of Byeol's.
After the party, Byeol confesses she feels guilty for hurting her dad. She tells Ji Yun that he is actually very good at everything he does, including styling her hair. Ji Yun confides in her saying her own father couldn't do half the things Byeol's dad can do. The moment is yet another testament of Eun Ho's awesomeness, agreed upon by both his favorite ladies.
When the work crisis gains momentum, Eun Ho thinks it'd be safe for Ji Yun to stay with him and Byeol. Byeol, excited to have her stay with them, is perceptive that all is not well with Ji Yun. She kindly gives her a note and a super power vitamin drawing, saying that she gives her father the same thing when he is down. The thoughtful gesture warms Ji Yun's heart. She even sweetly offers to sing a lullaby to Ji Yun and puts her to sleep, cuddling with her. It's such a pure moment, and the kindness and unconditional love shown by Byeol is bound to tug at your heartstrings. Like father, like daughter.
Even though Eun Ho has to officially introduce Ji Yun as the woman he is dating to Byeol, the little girl is way more perceptive than the adults. When Kang Seok asks Byeol why she didn't accompany her father and Ji Yun on their trip, she says her only concern is that he should give Ji Yun the gift he has for her.
We are shown that Eun Ho had asked Byeol to pick a pendant of her choice to give to Ji Yun. It's a poignant moment as Eun Ho makes sure to include Byeol in every decision of his life, even in what could be the beginning of a new chapter in both their lives. Embraced by the warmth of both father and daughter, Ji Yun seems to finally have the safety and emotional security she always craved.
Does Ji Yun finally get the happy ending she so seeks? The finale has given us some exciting sneak peeks into what happens next, but we'll just have to wait another week!
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Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
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