Spring Fever- Episodes 9-10
Old Wounds, Quiet Choices, and Love That Refuses to Break
Episode 9 of Spring Fever leans hard into that familiar, comforting ache of classic K-dramas, the kind where emotions simmer quietly, hearts crack a little, and love shows itself in the smallest, most human ways.
The episode opens right where our hearts left off, with Han-gyul confronting Jae-gyu about the truth he never wanted to hear: his mother is alive. Jae-gyu is completely thrown, unable to give Han-gyul the explanation he deserves. That silence ends up saying everything. To Han-gyul, it feels like betrayal. He believes the man who raised him deliberately kept his mother away all these years, and that hurt cuts deep.
Trying to make things right in the only way he knows how, Jae-gyu goes full Jae-gyu the next morning. When Han-gyul refuses to eat, he responds by arranging an over-the-top feast at his school just to make sure his nephew doesn’t skip a meal. It’s dramatic, excessive, and oddly touching. Meanwhile, Se-jin, who overheard the argument the night before, gently asks Han-gyul out for ice cream, hoping to lift his spirits. Han-gyul smiles, but keeps his pain hidden and then quietly boards a bus to Seoul, telling no one.
Back in town, Bom grows increasingly worried as she realizes no one knows where Han-gyul is. In the middle of the confusion, Jin-hyeok accidentally drops a bombshell by mentioning that he once saw Bom and Jae-gyu hugging. The room goes silent. Just like that, their private relationship becomes public knowledge. Yi-joon is visibly shaken, his heartbreak written all over his face, and the atmosphere at school instantly turns uncomfortable.
Meanwhile, Se-jin learns that Han-gyul has gone to Seoul and immediately alerts Jae-gyu. In Seoul, Han-gyul finally meets his mother. For a brief moment, everything feels almost normal. They eat together, talk, and she tells him she never abandoned him. She claims Jae-gyu stopped her from visiting and admits she now has another family, but insists Han-gyul still matters to her. It’s comforting, but something feels fragile beneath it all.
That fragile illusion shatters when Han-gyul overhears her on the phone with Jae-gyu. In that single conversation, the truth becomes clear. She did leave him. Her kindness was staged to protect him, not born from regret. The realization hits hard, and the fantasy collapses instantly.
Broken and overwhelmed, Han-gyul calls Se-jin. She doesn’t hesitate. She asks Yi-joon to drive her to Seoul, and when they meet, all the emotions they’ve been holding back finally spill out. Their confession is quiet and sincere, not dramatic or flashy, just two teenagers choosing honesty. It’s a soft, comforting moment in an otherwise heavy episode.
Back home, Bom stays by Jae-gyu’s side as guilt weighs heavily on him. When Han-gyul returns, he makes a choice that says everything about his heart. He doesn’t expose his mother. Instead, he tells Jae-gyu that the person he cares about most is his uncle. Those simple words quietly mend something broken inside Jae-gyu.
The next day, Bom faces whispered judgment at school when a colleague questions her relationship with a student’s guardian. Before it can spiral, Hye-suk steps in and shuts it down without hesitation. With nothing left to hide, Bom and Jae-gyu finally allow themselves a warm, sincere date, one that ends with them spending the night together, choosing comfort over fear.
But just when things start to feel steady, the episode reminds us that peace never lasts long. In Seoul, Bom’s mother learns about her relationship with Jae-gyu through Yi-joon, who shares it without malice. The final moments show her arriving in town, setting the stage for the next emotional storm.
When the Past Knocks Loudly and Secrets Refuse to Stay Buried
Episode 10 of Spring Fever pulls the story into heavier territory, reminding us that love doesn’t erase the past — it just gives us the courage to finally face it. With Bom’s mother arriving unannounced and old wounds reopening, this episode feels raw, tense, and emotionally loaded in a way that lingers long after it ends.
The chaos begins with Nan-hee, Bom’s famous actress mother, making her dramatic entrance into the countryside. Lost, frustrated by her GPS, and stranded after her car breaks down, she ends up being helped by none other than Jae-gyu. Unaware of who she really is at first, he brings her back to his home, setting the stage for an inevitable and uncomfortable reunion.
It doesn’t take long for Bom to walk in and come face to face with her mother. Their reunion is anything but warm. Old habits resurface instantly as they bicker, and Nan-hee quickly turns her sharp tongue toward Jae-gyu as well. He takes it in stride, but the tension in the room is unmistakable. The episode also reveals that Yi-joon has been feeding Nan-hee information about Bom’s life, adding another layer of discomfort, especially when it’s revealed that he’s actually the president of her fan club.
As Nan-hee starts digging into Jae-gyu’s background, particularly his connection to Yi-joon, the drama shifts into the past. Through flashbacks, we learn that Jae-gyu grew up with an abusive father. Yi-joon was once his closest friend, the one person who tried to help him escape that life. Together, they dreamed of running away, even pooling money to do so. But everything falls apart when Jae-gyu’s house catches fire, his father dies, and Yi-joon later discovers that Jae-gyu disappeared with all the money they saved. The betrayal becomes the root of their broken relationship.
Despite being told to leave town, Nan-hee refuses. Instead, she secretly follows Jae-gyu, determined to uncover who he really is. Jae-gyu quickly notices he’s being watched and chases after the person tailing him. When Nan-hee nearly gets hit by a car while fleeing, Jae-gyu instinctively pushes her out of harm’s way and is struck instead.
At the hospital, everyone rushes to his side, including Bom. Surprisingly, Jae-gyu walks away with barely a scratch, shocking even the doctor. Bom, however, is furious at the person he saved for not even coming to check on him, until Jae-gyu quietly admits that it was her mother. The revelation hits hard.
In an emotionally vulnerable moment, Bom finally opens up to Jae-gyu about why she left Seoul. She explains that the incident at her previous school destroyed her career, and to protect her mother’s public image, she chose silence over justice. She also admits that the “colleague” she had been seeking legal advice for through Yi-joon was actually herself all along. Moved by her honesty, Jae-gyu takes her straight to Yi-joon’s office.
But instead of closure, even darker truths surface. Yi-joon tells Nan-hee that Jae-gyu is not a good man and claims he is responsible for his father’s death. Just as these accusations are spoken, Bom and Jae-gyu arrive, hearing words that could change everything. The episode ends with Jae-gyu preparing to finally explain the truth behind his past, a truth that may test Bom’s trust more than anything before.
DramaZen's Opinion
Watching episodes 9 and 10 of Spring Fever, I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster... equal parts heartache, tension, and quiet, comforting romance. These episodes really pulled me in, making me feel every misstep, every misunderstanding, and every little victory with the characters.
Episode 9 hit me right in the feels from the start. Seeing Han-gyul confront Jae-gyu about his mother being alive was so gut-wrenching. I could feel Han-gyul’s mix of confusion and betrayal, it’s one of those moments that made me hold my breath, waiting for Jae-gyu to explain, and when he didn’t, the silence spoke volumes. My heart ached for both of them. I loved how the writers balanced the tension with small, tender touches, like Jae-gyu going out of his way to prepare a feast at school just so Han-gyul wouldn’t skip meals. It reminded me that love and care aren’t always loud gestures; sometimes they’re quiet, messy, and entirely human. And seeing Han-gyul finally meet his mother in Seoul, only for the fantasy to shatter, left me feeling a strange mix of sadness and relief. The honesty between him and Se-jin after that, their confessions and soft smiles, was such a sweet balm amidst all the heartbreak.
Episode 10 then took me even deeper into the pasts that have shaped these characters. Bom confronting her mother felt like a pivotal moment, I found myself holding my breath as she navigated old resentments, long-suppressed pain, and the way her choices had shaped her life. At the same time, getting a glimpse of Jae-gyu’s childhood, his abusive father, and the broken friendship with Yi-joon gave me a lot of empathy for him. It made every mischievous or teasing moment he shares with Bom feel even more layered, because now I could see the resilience beneath it.
And, of course, the scene where Jae-gyu saves Nan-hee from getting hit by a car while barely scratching himself had me simultaneously worried and impressed, the man really can’t stay out of chaos, can he? Watching Bom’s mixture of anger and frustration at her mother, coupled with Jae-gyu’s quiet patience and protective instincts, made me feel all the warmth of their bond. These two feel real: messy, human, and full of care for each other even when life is unbearably complicated.
By the end of episode 10, I was left reflecting on how past secrets, misunderstandings, and even small acts of courage shape the lives of these characters. I felt deeply connected to them, especially Bom and Jae-gyu, who continue to find trust and affection despite all the external pressures. These episodes reminded me that love isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up, speaking truth, and sometimes protecting someone silently, even when it hurts. I was laughing, crying, and holding my breath all at once, and I honestly can’t wait to see how they navigate everything that’s still left unresolved.
