Love Next Door- Episodes 7-8
Seung-hyo finally musters the courage to confess his feelings, but fate has other plans. Just as he’s about to bare his heart, an unwelcome figure from Seok-ryu’s past crashes the moment — and some long-buried secrets come bubbling to the surface.
We pick up exactly where the show cruelly left us hanging last week. Seung-hyo stands before Seok-ryu, his gaze filled with longing, and just as he’s about to tell her everything… BOOM. In walks her ex-fiancé, SONG HYUN-JOON (played by Han Joon-woo), like a storm no one asked for. Yes, Beanies, at that very moment, on that very street, he makes his grand reappearance, throwing a wrench into our OTP’s moment. I knew he’d be back — because K-drama rules, obviously — but I wasn’t prepared for just how obnoxiously he’d bulldoze his way into the story. I’m not loving this, and neither is Seung-hyo.
Seung-hyo’s face says it all: “Why are you here? Why now?” Valid questions that, sadly, the plot refuses to answer. And as if things couldn’t get worse, Seok-ryu’s parents decide to drop in at that exact moment, and they are furious. They’re ready to unleash their full wrath on Hyun-joon, demanding how he dares to even approach their daughter. But wait—do they know what he did? Weren’t we under the impression that Seok-ryu confessed to her cheating on him? Suddenly, it feels like a missing piece of the puzzle, and I find myself pausing the episode to make sure I didn’t skip a scene. I’m confused, but for now, we’ll roll with the chaos.
To her credit, Seok-ryu remains steadfast in her indifference toward Hyun-joon. For her, it’s over — and she’s determined to keep it that way. But of course, just when things seem clear, her mom pulls a complete 180 overnight and is suddenly back on team Hyun-joon, playing matchmaker with a vengeance. This episode officially solidified my dislike for both her parents.
While Seok-ryu is doing everything she can to dodge Hyun-joon’s constant lurking around the neighborhood, Seung-hyo is right there by her side, actively trying to help her escape his unwanted presence. He’s constantly telling Hyun-joon to back off, almost as if he’s in on the cheating scandal (which, uh, has never been fully confirmed). But the best part? One morning, Seung-hyo sweeps her away on his bicycle for a dreamy, cherry blossom-filled ride to work (or school — it’s K-drama, so who even knows at this point). It’s a sweet moment in a sea of chaos, and I’m here for it.
Aside from being a bit overprotective of Seok-ryu (which I personally don’t mind, though others might find him a tad possessive), I actually enjoyed Seung-hyo’s arc this week. He’s more open and honest now, steering away from his old habit of burying his feelings. In fact, he even calls out the toxic cycle he and Seok-ryu have been stuck in — constantly misunderstanding each other and bickering instead of being upfront. Well, Seung-hyo is determined to change all that.
In one of several beautifully charged scenes between the two this week, Seung-hyo finally attempts to answer the question he couldn’t the other night. But Seok-ryu’s starting to sense where this is heading, and she gently stops him, asking him to hold off for now. While this wasn’t the Big Confession we’ve all been waiting for, the scene, drenched in soft midnight light, was easily one of my favorites. The raw emotion in the air was palpable, and Seung-hyo’s vulnerability shone through as he straightforwardly asks if she plans on going back to Hyun-joon. Her answer? A firm, unequivocal no.
So imagine Seung-hyo’s shock when, later, he’s at a swanky lunch with Tae-hee (who’s clearly still angling to win him back), only to spot Hyun-joon and Seok-ryu sitting just a table away. And the worst part? Hyun-joon helps himself to Seok-ryu’s japchae — a dish Seung-hyo still hasn’t had a chance to enjoy after she made it for him earlier. The scene doesn’t reveal anything we don’t already know, but it’s still highly entertaining. Hyun-joon is laying it on thick, Seok-ryu is completely uninterested, Seung-hyo is quietly fuming, and Tae-hee is basking in the chaos of her first-ever “love square.” Honestly, it’s a riot.
Finally, Seung-hyo reaches his breaking point — he just can’t keep his feelings bottled up anymore. In a late-night rush of adrenaline, he races to Seok-ryu at her father’s tteokbokki shop, where she’s secretly practicing her cooking. And it’s here we get the long-awaited, heart-pounding clarification of his cryptic “you’re driving me crazy” remark. With his emotions finally spilling over, Seung-hyo delivers the line we’ve all been waiting for: “I like you.”
Seok-ryu is so stunned she burns herself mid-cooking (but come on, was it really an accident?). Naturally, Seung-hyo swoops in, rushing her over to the sink to run cold water over her hand. Oh, drama gods, you really didn’t have to, but we’re so glad you did. This will-they-won’t-they tension is the true heart of the show, but of course, Seok-ryu can’t respond just yet. They spend the rest of the night sleepless, stealing glances out of their windows at each other — always just missing the other.
The next day brings us one of the most hilariously adorable moments yet: they decide the “expiration” date of Seung-hyo’s confession by picking a perishable item from their local convenience store shelf. But when the canned goods have a three-year expiration, Seung-hyo settles on a carton of milk, teasing Seok-ryu that she has just 11 days to respond before the milk — and his patience — expires. They’re absolutely adorable, and honestly, if they got together next week and wrapped up the drama, I’d be perfectly fine with that.
As if Hyun-joon’s relentless pursuit and Seung-hyo’s poorly timed confession weren’t enough, Seok-ryu’s world takes another hit when her mom catches her leaving cooking class one day — and absolutely loses it. Back at home, Mom storms into the living room, empties Seok-ryu’s bag right in the middle of the floor, and her fury only grows when she spots the “forbidden” cookbook. Dad isn’t any better; he’s just as horrified, and before you know it, a full-blown family meltdown is underway. Honestly, I was over this scene before it even began. Yes, we’re deep into a story where her parents are drowning in their insecurities and can’t see beyond their own disappointment, but was this explosion really necessary?
Seok-ryu isn’t having it, though. She fights back, calling out the unfair treatment that puts her brother, Dong-jin, on a pedestal while she’s constantly held to impossible standards. Sure, the scene is a bit melodramatic, like most high-intensity arguments in this drama, but the message is clear: her parents want to control her future, and Seok-ryu is finally standing up for what she wants.
And of course, Seung-hyo — who’s been quietly witnessing the entire blow-up — steps in as the calm after the storm. He follows Seok-ryu outside, offering her some much-needed comfort and earning himself even more hero points in the process.
But Seok-ryu’s plate is far from clear. With her dad’s shop now off-limits for practicing her meatball recipe, Seung-hyo steps up, offering the sleek office kitchen after hours. She can’t resist the offer, but of course, their plans are derailed — because who shows up? Hyun-joon, again. This time, he’s trying to rope Seung-hyo into designing a retirement home for his parents. Seriously, can this guy just leave already? He won’t even let Seok-ryu make her meatballs in peace!
What’s worse, both Hyun-joon and Seung-hyo end up sitting on the sidelines, eagerly waiting to taste her dish. But just as Seok-ryu brings the finished meal to the table, things take a dramatic turn. She barely gets through a bite of broth before collapsing to the ground, clutching her stomach in agony. Both men rush to her side, but it’s Hyun-joon she asks to take her to the hospital, leaving poor Seung-hyo absolutely crushed. It feels like a reflex on Seok-ryu’s part, more muscle memory than anything else.
And then comes the bombshell. Remember that little nugget from a few weeks ago when Seok-ryu took a leave of absence from Greip? Well, we find out why: three years ago, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, had 70% of her stomach removed, and underwent chemotherapy. What is even happening right now? And to make things even more bizarre, why on earth does Hyun-joon have a packet of her medical records just casually on hand?
Our episode leaves us with a heap of makjang, but let’s shift gears and focus on something more lighthearted: Mo-eum and the hilariously awkward Mudflat Man. One day, while Dan-ho is out with Yeon-du, they run into Mo-eum. In true K-drama fashion, a car accident happens right in front of them, and Mo-eum springs into action, saving a man’s life like a total hero. Both father and daughter are left with hearts in their eyes, completely smitten by her bravery.
Later, when Dan-ho drives Mo-eum home, they’re casually chatting, and she brings up a guy who helped clear traffic for an ambulance a few weeks back. Mo-eum is fangirling hard, calling him her “ideal man,” while Dan-ho is sitting there sweating bullets. He awkwardly asks if he can take off his jacket... and bam! He’s wearing the infamous mudflat t-shirt, revealing that he is the Mudflat Man she’s been raving about! The timing of this scene was pure comedy gold, with both of them cringing as they realize what’s happening.
This becomes a running joke between them, and the awkwardness continues when Dan-ho tags along with her paramedic team for a story. Once again, they’re mortified over the whole Mudflat Man situation. While Mo-eum isn’t the most captivating character for me, this cute romance (plus Yoon Ji-on in Clark Kent mode) is giving me life. Honestly, we need this drama-free, feel-good relationship amidst all the chaos in the show!
DramaZen's Opinion
Honestly, this whole "ex-fiancé returns" plot twist feels awkwardly shoehorned in. Sure, Hyun-joon is back to stir up tension between Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu, but let’s be real — the story didn’t need this. There’s already more than enough drama brewing between their complicated families and tangled pasts. The real heart of the show lies in the emotional depth of the characters and their internal struggles, not these cliché plot devices. But hey, maybe that's just me. It feels like a missed opportunity to focus on what really matters: the emotional stakes we’re already invested in.
Also, why on earth would Seok-ryu keep such a devastating secret from her family and friends? I understand not telling her parents, given their toxic relationship (especially with her mom), but what about her close friends? That’s what most people would do in her situation! It’s starting to feel like a major oversight, and honestly, I’m disappointed in the writers.
Episode 8, in particular, felt like pure filler — a collection of teasers for every possible plot twist they want to throw at us. There were so many better directions they could’ve taken, but instead, we got this. I’m sticking with the show mostly for the leads, who still have undeniable chemistry, and for Dan-ho’s potential romance with Mo-eum, though right now they’re just awkward friends at best. Let’s hope things pick up soon!
Episode 9 looks like it's gearing up to seriously annoy me based on that preview! If Seok-ryu actually gets back together with her scumbag ex just because of her illness, I’m going to lose it. This guy not only cheated on her, but left her high and dry to handle all the work stress she was drowning in when she needed him the most. What a complete jerk! I swear, if the writers try to redeem him with some sob story, I’ll scream.