Embarking on our recap and critique of "Good Partner's" captivating fifth episode, we witness Eun-kyung's shocking discovery of a news report slanderously accusing her of fostering an 'office husband' relationship. It soon transpires that Choi Sa-ra cunningly planted the seed of suspicion in Kim Ji-sang's mind, who subsequently colluded with a reporter to execute this malicious plot.
Upon arriving at the office, Eun-kyung is met with a whirlwind of gossip, forcing her to confront the storm head-on. She promptly summons Woo-jin and sincerely apologizes for inadvertently dragging him into this unwarranted scandal. Little do they know, their sincere conversation is interrupted by Yu-ri's sudden arrival, who catches them off guard and interrogates them about their bond, brandishing Choi Sa-ra's counterclaim that paints both parties as partly culpable.
Acting upon the behest of the enigmatic CEO, later unveiled as Woo-jin's father, Yu-ri delves into a meticulous interrogation with Eun-kyung, probing the nature of her relationship with Woo-jin. Her subsequent interview with Woo-jin reveals a steadfast insistence on their purely professional senior-junior dynamic, though his every word betrays a deeper admiration for Eun-kyung that Yu-ri's keen eye effortlessly pierces through.
Flashbacks reveal Eun-kyung's impulsive decision to tie the knot with Kim Ji-sang within a fleeting three-month courtship, a move that ultimately led to her current predicament. The aftermath sees Kim Ji-sang dismissed from his position, while Eun-kyung's daughter becomes an innocent bystander to her parents' tumultuous divorce, pining for her absent father amidst Eun-kyung's relentless busyness.
Days later, Choi Sa-ra attempts to broker a settlement with Yu-ri, warning of dire consequences for Eun-kyung if the matter persists. Yet, Eun-kyung stands resolute, refusing to capitulate at any cost, determined to clear her name and restore her honor.
Yu-ri is tasked with accompanying Eun-ho on a journey to a remote locale to meet a client. Their path is fraught with aimless wandering and conversations that border on the excruciatingly awkward. Upon finally encountering the client, they're met with a devastating revelation: the couple is unable to settle their debts to the company, and their divorce was a mere facade, orchestrated by the husband's mounting financial woes. In a heartwarming twist, they've since rekindled their love and remarried, leaving Yu-ri and Eun-ho empty-handed but deeply moved.
Over dinner, Eun-ho, his heart on his sleeve, tentatively broaches the subject of dating, confessing his fondness for Yu-ri. However, Yu-ri, her guard firmly up, rejects the idea of a relationship, let alone marriage, and departs solo, seeking to forge a physical and emotional distance from Eun-ho.
The following day, Yu-ri hatches a daring plan to turn the tables on Kim Ji-sang and Choi Sa-ra, proposing to expose Ji-sang's duplicitous bigamous common-law marriage. The revelation, when it explodes onto the scene, sets off a firestorm of controversy. Yu-ri, standing firm in family court, clarifies the term's sordid implications: "It's maintaining two families, one of which lacks the protection of the law."
Meanwhile, the narrative abruptly shifts to Eun-kyung, fraught with worry as she searches frantically for her daughter, who has inexplicably vanished from school. Her search ends in a confrontation with Choi Sa-ra, who holds the girl captive, a smirk playing on her lips as she taunts Eun-kyung with her anger.
