No Gain, No Love- Episodes 3-4

It’s contract marriage time, and our heroine is just now realizing she’s signed up for the real deal instead of the knock-off bargain she thought she was getting. But there’s no turning back now—the show must go on! This week kicks off with Ji-wook’s jaw-dropping tuxedo transformation that leaves everyone at the wedding shop speechless. Meanwhile, hovering like meddling spirits, Woo-jae and his wife make their appearance. While his wife swoons over the groom, Woo-jae stews with jealousy. He can't stand the thought of his ex marrying someone younger—and much better looking.

Things only get worse for Woo-jae when Ji-wook spins a tale of a long-lost childhood connection with Hae-young. Clearly, this guy’s been watching too many K-dramas. Woo-jae, ever the insecure ex, starts doing mental gymnastics: If they’ve known each other since childhood, when did they start dating? Was Ji-wook the reason she dumped me? Did she move on with him right after we broke up? But, coming from a two-timer like Woo-jae, the equation’s simple: X + Y = itZ none of your business.

Meanwhile, Hae-young is not thrilled to discover her future husband has been hiding his “lethal face card” all this time. But maybe it’s a sign she should start paying more attention to him. Ji-wook, on the other hand, is taking in every word and move she makes because—surprise, surprise—he has a major crush. His brain is a “computer” logging every detail she absentmindedly reveals during their convenience store runs. Alright, genius, we see what’s happening here.

Hae-yeong and Ji-wook head to a café for her to cool off. Over coffee, Ji-wook reveals that his grandmother didn’t want him relying on his good looks to get ahead in life. In turn, Hae-yeong opens up about Woo-jae’s betrayal, confessing he cheated on her for six months. Curious, she asks Ji-wook how he remembered all the details about her friends and ex. He casually responds that she used to talk about it loudly at the convenience store.

Meanwhile, Woo-jae can’t stop thinking about Hae-yeong and Ji-wook. Yi-lin remarks that Hae-yeong is exactly Woo-jae’s type, though Woo-jae dismisses the idea, claiming he’s never thought of her that way.

Back at the grand chaebol mansion, Gyu-hyun tries to convince his mother to allow unmarried women on his team, but she refuses, haunted by memories of his father’s affairs. Later, at work, Gyu-hyun runs into Hae-yeong as she’s handing out wedding gifts. They exchange polite words, and he congratulates her before sending Ha-jun to attend her wedding in his place.

At the office, Hae-yeong is caught off guard when she walks into a meeting room and learns that Yi-lin has been bragging about Ji-wook’s looks. Her colleagues pounce, asking for details about the proposal and ring. She deflects with vague answers but quickly realizes she needs a wedding video documenting their “love story” and proposal to keep up appearances. After all, it's the trend these days.

In the evening, Hae-yeong goes to the store and asks Ji-uk to take part in an elaborate proposal. He refuses to do so even when brings up the cat ‘Kitty’, who Ji-uk wanted her to care for. This all happens in front of two young students and is absolutely hilarious. 

Now, we move to the final stage of wedding planning: the proposal. Ideally, this should have been the first step, but hey, who cares about order when the whole wedding’s a sham? Hae-young is on a mission to create a video montage of their “romantic history” to play at the wedding. But let’s be real, maybe what she really needs is a psychiatric evaluation, as Ji-wook cheekily suggests. Without Ji-uk’s support, Hae-yeong takes a selfie stick around and films herself. But Hui-seong and Ja-yeon reject it, saying that her eyes look dead.

Back in his tiny apartment, Ji-uk gets continuous texts from someone named Yu-kyung. This person calls and Ji-uk responds that he doesn’t want to “go there”, referring to some place overseas. He then says that he’s getting married.

Hae-yeong buys herself a wedding ring and rents one for Ji-uk. She then goes to the store when Ja-yeon asks her to pick up a package. When she gets there, someone locks her in and the lights go out. In true Ji-wook fashion, he plans an unexpectedly thoughtful and cute proposal that’s perfectly on brand with their convenience store “love story.” He arranges colorful cup yogurts to spell out “marry me” and gives Hae-young a ring made from her favorite brand of jelly — which, by the way, has been discontinued. But here’s where Ji-wook shows he’s the king of grand gestures: he called the manufacturer, tracked down every store that still had stock, and bought the last batch. “You said it’s your favorite, and I wanted to see you happy,” he tells her. Honestly, if anyone says romance is dead, they’ve clearly never been swept off their feet by a K-drama male lead!

While setting the store back to normal, Ji-uk admits that someone he knows lives in Canada and wants him to move there. He’s using this marriage to stop them from contacting him for good. She sympathises but also tells him to make a better proposal when he’s doing it for real. He says he’s going to avoid women who wants designer bags and hotel rooms for a proposal, a.k.a women like Hae-yeong.

Later, Hui-seong and Ja-yeon are watching the tape of the proposal when they comment that Hae-yeong’s eyes look genuinely happy. Meanwhile, Gyu-hyun comes across his mother’s tab and the scandalously sexual web novels on it.

The wedding day has finally arrived! Ja-yeon makes sure everyone within earshot knows that the groom’s relatives are conveniently “overseas,” explaining their absence. Meanwhile, Hae-yeong forgoes the traditional waiting room, opting to greet her guests in the hall instead.

Her mother, however, takes over the waiting room, where she’s greeted by all the foster kids she once cared for, now grown up and there to honor her. Hui-seong and Ja-yeon tear up as they realize Hae-yeong planned this special moment for her mother.

While waiting outside the hall, Hae-yeong spots another bride with her father, sparking memories of her own dad comforting her after an argument with Ja-yeon. Her father had promised they’d live just the three of them for a while. In the present, Hae-yeong seems to regret something involving her father, though the details remain a mystery. Ji-wook arrives, and the two walk down the aisle hand in hand. As they make their way, Hae-yeong can’t help but wonder if her mother regrets her father’s passing, too.

Outside, Producer Yun, who had been snapping wedding photos at Hui-seong’s request, steps out of the hall. Ja-yeon assumes he’s off on a date, but Yun explains he has other plans. Hui-seong pulls Yun aside, and it becomes clear both know about his affair with another woman—a secret they’ve been keeping from Ja-yeon for the past ten years! He kisses Hui-seong and leaves.

Meanwhile, Ha-jun, following Gyu-hyun’s orders, arrives with Hae-yeong’s wedding gift. He runs into Ja-yeon and immediately recognizes her as his old schoolmate. She blushes at the encounter, clearly flustered.

After the wedding, Hae-yeong and Ji-wook find themselves outside on the street, waiting for a cab to take her to her company-sponsored night at a hotel. Ji-wook, ready to part ways, is about to return the wedding ring. But then, Yi-lin drives by with Woo-jae, revealing they are also cashing in on their company-sponsored hotel stay that very night.Awkward.

Ji-wook tries to leave, but Hae-yeong convinces him to come with her to the hotel. As fate would have it, the couples are booked into adjacent rooms. Ji-wook again wants to make a swift exit, but Woo-jae suddenly steps out of his room, forcing the newlyweds to hide in theirs.

In the epilogue, we’re taken back to a sweet moment from the wedding when Ji-wook gives Hae-yeong’s mother a hug. She recognizes him, calling him by name. Ji-wook simply responds, “It’s me.”

Episode 4 of No Gain No Love kicks off with a nostalgic flashback to Ja-yeon’s school days, where she and Ha-jun find themselves serving a punishment together. In this moment, they witness Hae-yeong making her bold entrance into the school—dressed in punk clothes with fiery red hair. She’s stepping in as Ja-yeon’s guardian since their mother is unwell. Their teacher, who had also taught Hae-yeong, criticizes Ja-yeon for focusing on writing instead of studying. But Hae-yeong, while clarifying that they aren’t blood-related, encourages Ja-yeon, predicting she might become a bestselling author one day.

Fast forward to the present, Ja-yeon and Ha-jun catch up at a restaurant. He expresses interest in reading her stories, but Ja-yeon hesitates, reluctant to share. Before she can explain, Ha-jun is called away by a text from Gyu-hyun but leaves his card with her as a way to stay in touch.

Meanwhile, Hae-yeong and Ji-wook have accepted their situation and are staying the night at the hotel. When Hae-yeong realizes Ji-wook has never been to a hotel before, she playfully offers tips for when he spends a night there with someone else. Ji-wook, however, responds with a pointed question: "Wasn't the kiss enough?"

A flashback reveals that during their wedding, despite Hae-yeong’s attempts to avoid it, they were pressured into sharing a kiss. Just as it was about to happen, Hae-yeong’s mother, suffering from dementia, interrupted, claiming she had to go home to see her son, allowing Hae-yeong to use the distraction to avoid the kiss.

In the present, Ji-wook playfully pushes Hae-yeong onto the bed, declaring he’s more experienced than she assumes. Hae-yeong doesn’t flinch, pulling him closer before pushing him away and sending him to shower. Only once he’s gone does it become clear just how flustered she really is.

Elsewhere, Gyu-hyun is having an intense reaction to Ja-yeon’s novel, which she writes under the pen name Yeon Bo-ra. He’s so overwhelmed that he’s lying in a hospital with an IV drip. He even shows the novel to Ha-jun, revealing that his mother has been reading it as well.

Back at the hotel, there’s nothing steamy about our newlyweds’ wedding night—despite what the insinuation might suggest. Instead, Hae-young and Ji-wook spend their first night together counting stacks of congratulatory money. Honestly, I loved how comfortable they were with each other. No petty fights over who gets which side of the bed, dodging the typical K-drama bed tropes. And yet, you can feel the attraction simmering just below the surface—a subtle spark of awareness that never tips into awkwardness. It’s refreshing!

The next morning, Hae-yeong is at the airport, and Ji-wook accompanies her, having been spotted getting on the airport bus with her by Yi-lin. Ji-wook questions why she’s not traveling with her mother, and Hae-yeong confesses that while she loves her mom, she doesn’t exactly like her. She hands Ji-wook some money, encouraging him to go to Canada and live life on his own terms, rather than following his grandmother’s wishes.

As Hae-yeong boards her flight, she finds an envelope in her purse, signed by Ji-wook. Inside is some money and a heartfelt letter, wishing her luck and happiness—a simple yet touching wedding gift. A flashback reveals Ji-wook writing the note while Hae-yeong had fallen asleep.

Fast forward three months, and a lot has changed. Hae-yeong has won first place in the company contest, while Woo-jae, who stole her idea, managed to come in second. Meanwhile, Ja-yeon has signed a contract for an audio version of her web novel Spice Up Our Love. Her editor informs her that the legal team is sending a notice to the person behind the malicious comments—none other than Gyu-hyun. His parents are furious and order him to settle the matter quietly.

Because of this, Gyu-hyun misses the company contest’s awards ceremony, where a hall full of employees are waiting for him. Afterward, the staff heads out for a team dinner, and Hae-yeong’s colleague suggests she invite her husband. She quickly makes an excuse, claiming he’s visiting his parents in Canada.

On her way home, Hae-yeong stops by the convenience store, only to mistake a new employee for Ji-wook. For the past three months, she’s been unknowingly confusing this new worker for Ji-wook, and the realization that he quit without saying anything leaves her hurt. Meanwhile, Ji-wook is seen sitting with Hae-yeong’s mother at the nursing home.

The next morning, Hae-yeong is cleaning up after her cat, Kitty, who has made a mess. She mentions to Hui-seong that she hasn’t actually seen the cat for days, and then vents her frustration over Ji-wook ghosting her.

At the police station, Gyu-hyun, disguised in worn-out clothes, looks nothing like the wealthy CEO he is, and nobody recognizes him. After accepting the defamation charges, he leaves the station, only to be confronted by Ja-yeon, who has been watching from a distance. In her attempt to confront him, she stumbles and falls, allowing Gyu-hyun to spot her phone, with her pen name flashing on the screen—sending Ja-yeon into a panic. She quickly flees the scene.

Hae-yeong receives a frantic call from Ja-yeon and rushes to her aid. While waiting by the police station, she spots and recognizes Gyu-hyun, but he seems unfazed. She eventually finds Ja-yeon hiding in a phone booth and retrieves her phone from the police. On the way back, Hae-yeong scolds her for not confiding in them about what had been happening.

Elsewhere, Ji-wook is seen walking outside the nursing home when a mysterious man approaches him, asking for him by name.

At work the next day, Hae-yeong and her team are busy setting up their new office. Ha-jun, however, has taken the day off to meet Ja-yeon. Gyu-hyun heads downstairs to meet this “friend” and is shocked to see Ja-yeon waiting for him.

Later, Hae-yeong stops by a café to grab coffee for her team. When she returns to the office, she spots a group of new hires—and among them is Ji-wook. Frozen in shock, Hae-yeong watches as Ji-wook walks up to her and, with a smile, says, “I’ve missed you,” bringing No Gain No Love Episode 4 to a close.

DramaZen's Opinion

In episodes 3 and 4, the love story between Shin Min Ah’s Son Hae-young and Kim Young Dae’s Kim Ji-wook finally shifts into high gear, delivering more romantic moments, much-needed angst, and undeniable sexual tension. With a proposal straight out of a novel and a fairytale walk down the aisle, we’re left wondering if this “fake” marriage is even fake at all. These scenes not only bring mother and daughter closer but also reveal a surprising twist about Kim Ji-wook that could change the entire course of the story.

The chemistry between Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae keeps us hooked, with a perfect mix of awkward yet funny moments pushing them together, inching closer as they start to break down the walls between them. By sharing deep and personal secrets, they slowly close the emotional distance that once separated them, leaving us eager to see where their journey will lead.

The latest episodes hit much closer to the heart, with emotions running high and leaving us reaching for tissues more often than we anticipated. The show succeeds in drawing viewers deeper into the characters' lives, making us feel more connected to their stories than ever before.

I can’t wait to see how their working relationship unfolds. It’s bound to be a wild ride as they scramble to keep their secret marriage under wraps—which, let’s be honest, we all know will eventually lead to real love!