Episode 5 of "A Virtuous Business" kicks off with an awkward scene where Jeong-suk watches Seong-su unexpectedly shower Mi-hwa with affection, leaving her feeling quite out of place. As they return home, it transpires that In-tae has granted Jeong-suk temporary refuge there until he secures another job. The cohabitation of Jeong-suk and Mi-hwa under the same roof doesn't bode well for their already strained relationship.
Seong-su vows to stay in touch, but Jeong-suk finds himself distracted by this promise. His absentmindedness leads to a messy breakfast for Min-ho, prompting him to seek a favor from his mother. He requests some clay and snacks, to which she readily agrees. However, Jeong-suk realizes that her purse is missing and recalls leaving it in the car with Da-hyun, who has it in her possession.
The animosity between Da-hyun and Seong-su is palpable, especially when he accidentally eavesdrops on their conversation about rekindling their relationship. Chewing gum, Seong-su faces Da-hyun's scorching gaze as she dismisses him as trash for littering. He gives her a piercing look before storming off. Meanwhile, Da-hyun hands Jeong-suk her purse, earning her heartfelt gratitude.
Jeong-suk presents the survey results to the team, revealing valuable insights into the most popular products. However, the prominence of vibrators on the list poses a challenge in attracting new customers. They identify the Chairman's wife as a potential key figure; if they can win her favor, her followers will likely follow suit.
Geum-hui is confident in this strategy, but her husband, Won-bong, remains skeptical, doubting their chances of success. Jeong-suk, on the other hand, shares Geum-hui's optimism and seeks a way to make it happen. She consults Seo-yeon, who proposes leveraging misery and misfortune to forge a connection with Ms. Heo.
The plan is set in motion, with the team working in unison to spread rumors. Geum-hui serves as the unwitting subject of their scheme, and to their amazement, Heo Young-ja falls for it completely, hook, line, and sinker!
Jin-hee goes all out about her husband acting like a beast after seeing her in sexy lingerie, and just like that, the rest of the gang show, everything goes according to plan. At the real estate store, Heo agrees to pay for all the underwear - just to help Jin-hee out of trouble, of course!
At the police station, a revelation unfolds as Da-hyun's arm, adorned with a burn scar, catches the Chief's attention, prompting an inquiry. However, Detective Na, eager to overshadow, interjects with tales of his own tribulations—a cut on his side, inflicted by mischievous schoolchildren. Da-hyun ponders over this exchange, his mind drifting back to his conversation with the nun in the previous episode. The narrative unfolds: a devastating fire engulfed the nearby neighborhood, amidst which a woman, a Catholic clad in a wooden rosary ring, rescued an infant and vowed to secure him a new family. This woman, who held a ticket to Geumje and seemed a local, holds the key to Da-hyun's quest—he seeks to reconnect with his mother.
Later that night, following a meticulously executed plan, the ladies are left astounded by a shocking discovery: Chairman Eom is entangled in an affair with another woman, not Heo, who had earlier faced rebuke from her husband for her attire and subsequently left to meet—to their heartbreak—this other woman. It transpires that Chairman Eom's infidelities are not unprecedented.
Meanwhile, an unexpected twist emerges as Ms. Heo steps out of the real estate shop, boasting about the remarkable efficacy of a product that has kept her awake throughout the night. With a resolute spirit, she decides to share this "miracle" with her clubmates. However, her companions, aware of her deception, feel a pang of sympathy. Jeong-suk, understanding Heo's coping mechanism, empathizes deeply with her plight.
You see, as Jeong-suk's mother elucidates, she harbored a deep aversion to being tagged with the scarlet stigma of divorce. She was acutely aware that this label would shadow her footsteps wherever she went, leaving Jeong-suk with much contemplation.
Returning to their abode, Geum-hui paraded a seductive red slip in front of her husband, urging him to return home for lunch with groundbreaking news. Earlier, he had vowed to wear the red dress if they managed to sell products to Ms. Heo. And indeed, with the Chairman's wife purchasing the underwear, he kept his word... albeit only in his fantasies. In reality, he labored to unbutton his shirt, but that was sufficient to sway Geum-hui's resolve, settling instead for a stern admonition for her spouse.
Back at the precinct, we unearth that there was a serial arsonist active at least three decades ago, potentially intertwined with Da-hyun's current case. Da-hyun promptly delved into the cold case files, seemingly uncovering a link.
That afternoon, In-tae had monumental news to impart to Jeong-suk. It transpired that Mi-hwa was with child, six weeks along, and they had already embarked on acquiring their initial stash of baby essentials. He likened it to a miraculous occurrence, but Jeong-suk understood the possibility that this could very well be Seong-su's offspring. However, Mi-hwa cautioned against stirring up trouble, emphasizing that it wouldn't bode well "for either one of them."
The complexity of the situation deepened significantly when Seong-su returned home that afternoon, intent on spending time with Min-ho. Jeong-suk promptly pulled him aside, where he swiftly twisted the narrative, portraying himself as the aggrieved party. Seong-su dismissed it as an isolated incident, a mere slip-up, but upon discovering Mi-ha's pregnancy, his composure shattered visibly. In the aftermath, he resorted to disparaging Jeong-suk's mother, doubting her dedication to Min-ho. Without so much as a goodbye, he slipped away, leaving Min-ho heartbroken and longing for their unified family life. This unexpected turn placed Jeong-suk in a precarious position, necessitating time to ponder over the tumultuous events.
Outside, her thoughts were interrupted by an encounter with Da-hyun, who had been drinking heavily and appeared equally distressed. His investigative endeavors had taken a detour, leaving him feeling disoriented and lost. Jeong-suk found herself in a similar dilemma, uncertain of how to navigate the unfolding chaos. Always the one striving to maintain family harmony, she now prioritized doing what was best for Min-ho above all else.
Ultimately, Jeong-suk resolved to make Seong-su confront the pain and recall all that he had lost. She recognized this as his final fleeting moment of happiness and steadfastly decided to initiate a divorce, intent on ensuring he did not forget the gravity of his actions.
