Love Next Door- Episode 3-4 Recap
In Episode 3 of Love Next Door, both Choi Seung-Hyo and Bae Seok-Ryu confront the ghosts of their pasts. Seung-Hyo reflects on his former life as a swimmer, while Seok-Ryu wrestles with the challenge of finding her true identity. Both are haunted by traumatic memories, but a trip to their old high school—initially for separate reasons—brings them closer together. As they unearth a time capsule they buried years ago, long-buried feelings resurface. It’s revealed that Seung-Hyo has secretly harbored feelings for Seok-Ryu since their high school days, adding a poignant twist to their shared history.
The latest episode of Love Next Door opens with a nostalgic flashback to the 2007 Seoul National Swimming Championships. Although Choi Seung-Hyo’s parents were absent, Bae Seok-Ryu was there cheering him on from the stands. His impressive performance secured him first place and a spot in the Olympics. As Seung-Hyo dreams of his Olympic aspirations, he’s jolted awake in the middle of the night by Seok-Ryu, who’s now living next door. Their playful bickering continues into the morning, as Seung-Hyo's move into the neighborhood adds an extra layer of tension.
At breakfast, Seung-Hyo’s strained relationship with his mother is evident as he and his father quickly leave for work. At the office, Seung-Hyo is thrilled by a client’s request to manage a retirement home, but his focus is firmly set on revamping his high school’s swimming pool for a new project.
Meanwhile, Seok-Ryu’s parents discuss their decision to let their daughter navigate her own path without pressure. Seok-Ryu spends a relaxing day with friends Seung-Hyo and Jeong Mo-Eum (Kim Ji-Eun) at a comic book store. The following day, she offers to help at her parents' shop and runs into her high school teacher. Accompanying the teacher back to the school, Seok-Ryu unexpectedly encounters Seung-Hyo, sparking a new twist in their intertwined lives.
Bae Seok-Ryu spun a story for her old teacher, claiming she was still working at the prestigious US company Greip. Seung-Hyo, who knew the truth, chose to keep silent. During their reunion, the teacher invited Seok-Ryu to share her experiences with the current students. As Seok-Ryu spoke about her career, one student’s question about her dream job prompted her to reflect deeply on her own life choices.
On her way home, Seok-Ryu crossed paths with Seung-Hyo, who insisted they finally locate the time capsule they buried back in school. Despite their initial excitement, the search proved challenging, and Seok-Ryu was about to give up. Inside the capsule lay letters they had written to their future selves, promising a glimpse into their past aspirations and dreams.
Seok-Ryu returned home, feeling increasingly stuck as she watched others advance while she remained in limbo. Meanwhile, Seung-Hyo juggled preparations for both the pool renovation and the retirement community project. The following day, Mo-Eum faced an emergency when traffic threatened to delay her ambulance ride. She noticed a mysterious man helping to clear the way but couldn’t see his face. Intrigued, she dubbed him her “ideal type.” Back at work, Mo-Eum received a thoughtful gift of rice cakes from Kang Dan-Oh (Yoon Ji-On) as a gesture of gratitude.
At the retirement community meeting, Seung-Hyo clashed with his co-founder, Yoon Myung-Woo, over differing values. The tension escalated when clients demanded Seung-Hyo use plagiarized designs from abroad, leading to a heated argument. Myung-Woo’s harsh words about Seung-Hyo's past failures in swimming left Seung-Hyo emotionally shaken as he stormed out.
Meanwhile, Seok-Ryu met with a recruiter who offered her multiple prestigious job opportunities. On her way back, she ran into Seung-Hyo and shared the news. Seung-Hyo, sensing her frustration, urged her to avoid returning to a draining job and to pursue her true passions. Seok-Ryu’s resentment simmered as she felt that Seung-Hyo’s success came too easily, amplifying her own frustrations.
Seung-Hyo reflected on his own past struggles as he shared his hardships with Seok-Ryu. He recalled the devastating moment just before the Beijing Olympics when a severe accident led doctors to declare he might never swim again. The following day, he not only reconciled with Myung-Woo but also gained insight into Seok-Ryu’s situation.
By the episode’s end, Seok-Ryu confided in her teacher about quitting her job, receiving encouragement to visit the pool where Seung-Hyo was. Arriving at the pool, Seok-Ryu found Seung-Hyo reading her letter from the time capsule aloud. Overcome by emotion, Seung-Hyo dove into the pool, recalling how Seok-Ryu had been his steadfast support during his own difficult times. He urged her to rediscover her cheerful self and return to the person she once was.
In a surprising twist, Seok-Ryu, who had never learned to swim, jumped into the pool in a moment of desperation. Seung-Hyo, caught off guard, asked if she would reconsider her decision to end the engagement and return to her job abroad. Her refusal, while disheartening, brought Seung-Hyo a sense of relief. The episode concluded with Seung-Hyo’s heartfelt revelation: he had planned to confess his feelings for Seok-Ryu in the letter.
In Episode 4 of Love Next Door, Choi Seung-Hyo and Bae Seok-Ryu's bond deepens as they reconnect over a time capsule they buried during high school. They excitedly read the letters they wrote to their future selves, sharing laughs and nostalgic moments. However, Seok-Ryu’s encounter with a troubling memory from her past disrupts the lighthearted mood, leaving her visibly shaken.
Amidst the turmoil, Seung-Hyo's support and presence become a pillar of strength for Seok-Ryu, strengthening their emotional connection. As Seung-Hyo reads Seok-Ryu’s letter aloud, he keeps his own letter—a heartfelt confession of his feelings for her—hidden. The mystery of their missing friend Jeong Mo-Eum’s (Kim Ji-Eun) letter adds an intriguing twist, hinting at unresolved stories and secrets yet to be uncovered.
As Seok-Ryu and Seung-Hyo pored over their old letters, Seok-Ryu searched for guidance to help her forge a new path, while Seung-Hyo struggled to deny the feelings he still harbors for her. The next day, Seok-Ryu took the opportunity to visit Seung-Hyo’s office under the pretense of snagging some free coffee, but what she stumbled upon was far more intriguing.
Seung-Hyo’s co-founder, Yoon Myung-Woo, revealed that Seok-Ryu’s former employer, Greip, had contacted them with a high-stakes project. Greip, along with their rival, had requested presentations to decide who would build their new office in Seoul. With Seok-Ryu’s insider knowledge of Greip’s standards, Myung-Woo suggested she assist them in the pitch. Initially hesitant, Seok-Ryu agreed to help, driven by her loyalty to Seung-Hyo.
Meanwhile, a surprising turn of events unfolded as their parents met and bonded over shared interests. At the store, Mo-Eum crossed paths with Kang Dan-Ho (Yoon Ji-On), sparking a connection over mutual tastes. Kang Dan-Ho revealed he had seen Seok-Ryu before, adding a layer of mystery to the growing web of relationships.
That night, as Seok-Ryu, Seung-Hyo, and Mo-Eum headed home, Mo-Eum casually revealed that she had secretly read the letters in the time capsule the night they were buried. Seung-Hyo’s heart raced, fearing that Mo-Eum might know about his hidden feelings for Seok-Ryu. To his relief, Mo-Eum admitted she didn’t recall much from his letter.
The next morning, Seok-Ryu played a crucial role in mediating a call between Seung-Hyo, Myung-Woo, and Greip. But even after the call ended, Seok-Ryu overheard unsettling conversations from the Greip team. Alarmed, she informed Seung-Hyo that Greip was leaning towards their rival due to Seung-Hyo’s company’s lack of a solid track record. Seung-Hyo, undeterred, vowed to work tirelessly and prove their worth, sparking a heated argument with Seok-Ryu.
Meanwhile, Mo-Eum found solace in the park, bonding with a child and sharing her heartwarming experience with Seok-Ryu. Back at the office, Seung-Hyo watched Myung-Woo’s enthusiasm for the project and decided to keep the worrying details to himself, leaving the outcome hanging in suspense.
Seok-Ryu had initially resolved to cut ties with Seung-Hyo, but when the opportunity arose, she couldn’t resist helping him again. The next day, as they prepared to welcome the Greip team, Seok-Ryu’s heart sank when she saw Chris, the Chief Product Designer from Greip. His presence unearthed painful memories of her time at Greip, where she felt exploited and devalued, used merely as a tool for others’ gain.
Despite Seok-Ryu’s efforts to move past her trauma, the tension was palpable. During the meeting, though the Greip team was impressed with Seung-Hyo’s proposal, Chris remained steadfast in his preference for their rival company. When Chris openly criticized Seok-Ryu and dismissed her contributions, Seung-Hyo’s protective instincts flared. He confronted Chris, leading to a heated exchange where tempers flared and insults flew. The confrontation escalated when Chris mocked Seung-Hyo and his company, prompting Seung-Hyo to defend himself and Seok-Ryu with intense fervor.
Myung-Woo soon uncovered Chris’s ulterior motives and took decisive action. Meanwhile, Seok-Ryu, driven by loyalty and frustration, offered to resign to support Seung-Hyo. In a moment of defiance, she slapped Chris, putting an end to his toxic behavior.
By episode’s end, Seung-Hyo and Seok-Ryu’s bond grew stronger as they reflected on their shared struggles. Seok-Ryu, inspired by Seung-Hyo’s determination, prepared a symbolic “curse lock” for Chris, signifying her final severance from past grievances. When Myung-Woo called with the news that their proposal had won them the project to build Greip’s flagship store in Seoul—and that Chris had been fired—Seok-Ryu embraced Seung-Hyo in a heartfelt hug, echoing a past moment of connection between them.
DramaZen's Opinion
Seung-Hyo’s feelings for Seok-Ryu were undeniable. Despite his busy schedule, he never missed her calls. When she invited him to the rooftop, he showed up, even though he’d initially declined. The same happened at the comic book store—he came through, despite his reluctance. These small, yet significant gestures are often the clearest signs of true affection.
The highlight of the episode was undeniably the pool scene, where the "Stop Line" transforms into the "Starting Line," symbolizing a fresh beginning and the depth of their connection.
My heart went out to Seok-Ryu in this episode. She endured so much hardship overseas, isolated from family and friends. Her strength is truly admirable, and she deserves a huge, comforting hug. To make matters worse, the one person she opened her heart to betrayed her, leaving her feeling even more alone. Chris was a complete jerk, and his punishment was long overdue!
Seung-Hyo is irresistibly charming in his hopelessly transparent denial of his feelings. It's almost endearing how he fumbles through his attempts to hide them, a bittersweet blend of sweetness and agony. Watching him struggle to convince even himself is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching.
On the flip side, despite her intelligence, Seok-Ryu is blissfully oblivious to his affections! I mean, he literally gifted her his gold medal on White Day—talk about a grand gesture! And kudos to their friend for keeping Seung-Hyo’s secret under wraps, showing true respect for his privacy.