Episode 7 of "Friendly Rivalry" plunges us into the intricate backdrop of Ye-ri's life, unveiling her mother's former profession as a hostess bar worker who, driven by ambition, steered Ye-ri into the limelight as a child actor. However, Ye-ri's understanding of power underwent a profound transformation when she stumbled upon her mother engaging in a casting couch arrangement to procure her a role. Far from being horrified, Ye-ri seized this hidden truth as leverage over her mother, realizing early on that the mastery of knowledge, particularly the concealed scandals of others, held the key to wielding power. Over the years, she honed this ability, constructing an impeccable veneer while discreetly monitoring those in her orbit.
In contemporary scenes, Ye-ri orchestrates a meeting with Je-yi's father, brokering a deal where she subtly alludes to her suspicions about Je-yi's sister's concealed affairs in exchange for monetary compensation. Meanwhile, Je-yi orchestrates a plan, instructing one of her classmates to temporarily halt the circulation of drugs within the school.
The day of the mid-term exams presents an unforeseen twist. Seul-gi is astonished to discover that the exam questions mirror the academic materials Je-yi had previously bestowed upon her. Consequently, Seul-gi and Ye-ri jointly claim the top spot, sparking jealousy among their peers. However, Seul-gi's troubled past resurfaces as Nam Byeong-jin, the individual who once hired her to distribute drugs, tracks her down. He warns her to return the pills she had stolen from him at her former institution within a week, or face dire repercussions.
Adding insult to injury, the school mandates health screenings immediately following the exams. Seul-gi, who had resorted to drug abuse to bolster her academic prowess, realizes her drug use will be exposed if she submits her urine sample. At this critical juncture, she receives a text from Je-yi, summoning her to the rooftop.
Desperation etches Seul-gi's face as she kneels before Je-yi, begging for assistance and confessing that gaining admission to university stands as her sole lifeline. In response, Je-yi extends a different urine sample to her. The episode concludes with Seul-gi demanding to know how Je-yi had once again obtained her documents, particularly perplexing since she had secured the top position alongside Je-yi.
