Episode 2 of "Love, Take Two" kicks off with an intense scene where Hyo Ri, engrossed in her studies on the bus ride home, suddenly suffers a nosebleed amidst a whirlwind of stress and concentration woes. Ji-an's relentless nagging only adds fuel to her already frayed nerves. Prior to this, her fainting spell in the operating room was mistakenly attributed to a blood phobia, when in reality, it was a harrowing manifestation of her brain tumor. This revelation comes to light during her solitary hospital visit for a diagnosis that confirms the tumor's malignant nature, protopathic in origin. The news looms over her like a dark cloud, instilling fear and sorrow deep within her soul.
Flash forward to the present, where Hyo Ri's surgery is hastily scheduled, but the financial burden of her treatment poses a formidable obstacle. Meanwhile, Ji-an embarks on a desperate bid to reclaim her job from the CEO, amidst murmurs in the audit team that implicate Manager Jang in the mystery of the missing supplies. However, the CEO remains unmoved, placing the blame squarely on Ji-an for her perceived tardiness in uncovering the scheme. In a fit of frustration, he ultimately terminates her employment. Fuming with anger, Ji-an retaliates by threatening legal action unless the severance package meets her satisfaction. Sun-young steps in to offer comfort to her friend, vowing to lend whatever support she can to ease the financial strain of Hyo Ri's treatment.
Elsewhere, in the tranquil setting of Cheonghae Village, Hyo Ri is startled to encounter Yoon Tae-oh collapsing in a nearby field, a victim of his own overenthusiastic dressing for the weather. Drawing upon her medical knowledge, Hyo Ri swiftly diagnoses him with heat exhaustion and adeptly brings him back to consciousness with her gentle care.
As the narrative unfolds, Ji-an finds herself sharing a bus ride with Jeong-seok, who had initially ventured into town for his son's sake. Their unexpected encounter, triggered by the bus's abrupt braking, mirrors the fortuitous collision that had first brought them together years ago. Back then, as mere schoolchildren, Ji-an harbored dreams of becoming a reporter. When she stumbled into Jeong-seok's arms on the bus, it ignited within her an instantaneous infatuation, a love-at-first-sight moment. Determined to win Jeong-seok's affection, Ji-an orchestrated a grand spectacle at school, serenading and dancing with her classmates outside, all in a bid to capture his heart.
Flashing forward to the present, Jeong-seok and Ji-an stroll back to their village together. Hyo Ri, Ji-an's daughter, greets her mother with a mixture of resentment and frustration, particularly as she had sought some breathing room to navigate her life on her own terms. Reminding Ji-an of her request for space, Hyo Ri voices her anger at being coerced back to Seoul and teeters on the brink of a profound depression. After dining with the Ryu family, Hyo Ri confronts her mother, accusing her of failing to listen. Embarrassed by Ji-an's public boasting about being a single mother, Hyo Ri is oblivious to the fact that Ji-an employs this narrative as a shield against bullies and gossip. Ironically, Ji-an's coping mechanism ends up branding Hyo Ri with a stigma, inflicting upon her daughter the very pain she's trying to alleviate.
Recall Chief Hwang from the premiere episode? It transpires that Ji-an lent him money due to his ailing mother. Upon discovering this, Hyo Ri is incensed, viewing her mother's leniency as a weakness. She insists they confront Hwang together. However, upon arriving and witnessing the humble meal on the table and Hwang's tender care for his mother, Ji-an decides against creating a scene. Outside, Hwang apologizes to Ji-an, who forgives him, understanding that he never intended to deceive her. This encounter reinforces her belief that Hwang will repay her in his own time, when he is ready.
Hwang reciprocates that kindness and patience, not with monetary compensation but by offering a house for her to reside in. This gesture appears as a beacon of hope tailored perfectly for Hyo Ri, who earlier in the episode had expressed her desire to remain in the vicinity. As Ji-an pulls up to survey the neighborhood, her eyes fall upon the house, and it dawns on her that this could very well be the answer to Hyo Ri's prayers.
