Episode 9 of "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" kicks off with a race against time as Jeong-nyeon is hastily escorted to the doctor's clinic, the tension palpable. The moment of reckoning arrives as the audition results are declared, revealing Yeong-seo and Joo-ran as the triumphant young leads. Ki-joo prompts Yeong-seo, who stands poised for her moment of glory, to address the gathered reporters. However, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it all, Yeong-seo bolts away, leaving the spotlight abruptly.
Back at her abode, Hye-rang encounters a chilling scene: Ok-gyeong sits immersed in a bathtub, her hands tainted with droplets of blood. Ok-gyeong confides that while Jeong-nyeon's audition vocals initially filled her with exhilaration, seeing someone surpassing her talents, her emotions have now taken a dark turn.
At her home, Yeong-seo is met with an unexpected guest – none other than the renowned pansori master, Kim No-sik, invited by her mother. Ki-joo and No-sik harbor ambitious plans to form an elite troupe, National Gukgeukdan, curating only the finest performances. Yeong-seo drops a bombshell, announcing her withdrawal from the joint production, stunning both collaborators.
Ki-joo, incensed, pursues Yeong-seo, ultimately confessing her underhanded deal – bribing the judges to secure Yeong-seo's role. Yeong-seo, tears streaming down her face, professes her yearning for her mother's affection and recognition but asserts her resolve to break free from Ki-joo's shadow, embracing her individuality.
With a heavy heart, Yeong-seo unburdens herself to So-bok, who reassuringly informs her that her selection was based solely on merit, urging her not to undermine her own talents. Later, So-bok ventures to the hospital to fetch Jeong-nyeon, where the physician delivers a grim prognosis: her chances of ever singing pansori again are slim. Yet, Jeong-nyeon remains steadfast, her determination to heal her voice unwavering.
Jeong-nyeon makes her way back to Maeran, where Cho-rok awaits with steaming buns as a gesture of kindness. As he hands them over, he mentions casually that Joo-ran had taken it upon herself to tidy Jeong-nyeon's room. Meanwhile, Yeong-seo steps out of her practice session alongside Joo-ran, accidentally running into Jeong-nyeon just outside. Like the others before her, Jeong-nyeon reassures Yeong-seo that her role was rightfully earned through merit.
The rehearsal for the upcoming joint performance commences, but not without friction. Geum-ju, a member from a rival troupe, voices her disagreement with So-bok's training methods, sparking a heated debate. The leader of the opposing troupe joins in, accusing Maeran of hogging all the limelight. As Joo-ran exits the practice hall, her path crosses with Jeong-nyeon's, but words remain unspoken as Jeong-nyeon hastily dashes off to consult another physician. This doctor, much like the others she's visited, delivers the same grim diagnosis: her singing voice is gone. Desperate for a solution, she expresses her willingness to try anything, prompting the doctor to suggest poppy flower extract—opium, as a last resort.
So-bok discovers Jeong-nyeon sitting alone with a bowl of opium-infused liquid, his disapproval evident as he scolds her for even entertaining such a notion. He urges her to see a doctor he knows, recently arrived from the United States. However, he warns that if this new doctor confirms there's no hope, Jeong-nyeon must accept her fate. Heart-heavy, Jeong-nyeon retreats to her room, where she finds Joo-ran waiting. Joo-ran expresses her sympathy, but Jeong-nyeon gently brushes it off, asking her to stop cleaning her room out of pity.
Jeong-nyeon and So-bok visit the doctor from the States, who delivers the heart-wrenching news once again: Jeong-nyeon must abandon pansori due to irreparable damage to her vocal cords from overuse. Jeong-nyeon is devastated. Returning to Maeran, she listens to her mother's recording, attempting to sing along but failing miserably. Finding her in this desperate state, So-bok can only stand by helplessly.
Upon waking in the morning, Yeong-seo finds Jeong-nyeon's side of the room eerily vacant, accompanied by a note addressed to the director, announcing her return home. So-bok masks her true emotions with a resilient demeanor, yet the disappointment in the turn of events is unmistakable.
Jeong-nyeon journeys back home to receive a heartfelt embrace from her sister Jung-ja. After sharing a moment of solace, Jeong-nyeon inquiries about her mother's journey towards acceptance after losing her voice. Yong-rye opens up about her struggles, counseling Jeong-nyeon to steer her gaze towards the horizon of possibilities rather than dwell in the shadows of the past.
At Maeran, Cho-rok unveils to So-bok the mischief orchestrated by Hye-rang against Jeong-nyeon. Enraged, So-bok demands Hye-rang's departure from the troupe post the joint performance. Hye-rang throws a tantrum, storming out in a huff, vowing that Ok-gyeong will also abandon Maeran.
Jeong-nyeon revisits the fish market, where the gangsters return with a vengeance, wreaking havoc on their belongings. During her journey back home, the haunting melody of a pansori singer echoes in her ears, leaving her troubled long after.
In Seoul, a newspaper headline strikes like lightning, revealing Ok-gyeong's frequent visits to an opium den. Investors, swayed by this revelation, threaten to retract their funding for the joint performance. Stepping up, So-bok reassures the other troupe leader that Maeran will bear any financial repercussions. Meanwhile, Joo-ran receives an unwelcome visit from her mother, who broaches the subject of a marriage proposal. The groom has pledged to shoulder the lifelong medical expenses of Joo-ran's frail sister, prompting her mother to urge Joo-ran to abandon gukgeuk and embrace matrimony.
Ok-gyeong holds a press conference, categorically denying the opium allegations and daring the article's witness to confront her face-to-face. She then returns to Maeran, where Yeong-seo is diligently practicing. Ok-gyeong heaps praise on Yeong-seo, heralding her as her heir apparent. In a shocking twist at the conclusion of Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born Episode 9, Ok-gyeong extends an invitation to Yeong-seo, inquiring if she would embark on a journey away from Maeran with her, leaving Yeong-seo utterly astounded.
