Episode 9 of "Love, Take Two" kicks off with a stunning revelation from Jeong-seok to Ji-an: she is his first love. Ji-an, both startled and bashful, yet handles the bombshell with a playful grace, mirroring Jeong-seok's lighthearted approach.
Back at the shop, Sun-young can't resist teasing Ji-an, who has primped and polished herself especially for her date with Jeong-seok. Her transformation is unmistakable, from her fluttery demeanor to the eyeshadow that earns her the playful nickname "Panda" from Hyo-ri.
Jeong-seok arrives to whisk Ji-an away, and the two find themselves strolling along flower-lined paths. It's a quintessential K-drama moment, complete with Ji-an toting her drawing pad to capture the beauty of the blossoms. When Ji-an stumbles, Jeong-seok catches her just in time, creating a heartwarming scene filled with charm.
At home, Yeo-jeong persists in her attempts to win Jeong-seok over, inviting him to join her for dinner. He politely declines, but Yeo-jeong clings to a false sense of optimism, believing he'll eventually see things her way.
Later that evening, Yeo-jeong embarks on a jog, her path crossing with Ji-an as she works to mend the Village Leader's wall. This time, Ji-an finds herself in the role of unofficial counselor. As they fill the cracks, Yeo-jeong unburdens herself, lamenting her ambitious life and the loneliness and sadness it has brought her. Ji-an responds by reminding her that life is inherently challenging, but it's about enduring and making the best of difficult situations.
Yeo-jeong confesses to being selfish, always driven by her desires and shaped by her relentless quest for recognition, partly due to her competitive twin brother. Her childhood battles for acknowledgment fueled her ambition and ruthlessness, turning "no" into a challenge she wouldn't accept. Over time, this competitiveness evolved into spite.
In stark contrast, Ji-an has always been on the losing end, seeing her choices as wrong turns but persisting nonetheless. "You don't break because you're soft," Yeo-jeong eventually acknowledges, recognizing the strength in Ji-an's resilience.
As their conversation unfolds, Yeo-jeong subtly requests a favor from her, unaware that this favor entails stepping aside so she can reconnect with Jeong-seok. Later in the episode, this underlying motive becomes evident. While attempting to mend the wall, Yeo-jeong loses her footing on the ladder, resulting in a painful sprain and an inflamed ankle. Ji-an quickly rushes her to the hospital, where she inadvertently spots scorch marks climbing Yeo-jeong's arm—a silent testament to a fire that ravaged her apartment two years prior, leaving her with burns. Despite her ordeal, Yeo-jeong hesitates to share this with Jeong-seok, partially explaining her delayed return to town. Her extensive therapy sessions for the burns had made her reluctant to impose on Jeong-seok and Ji-an.
Elsewhere, Tae-oh seizes the moment to grow closer to Sun-young in Ji-an's absence, suggesting they should savor each other's companionship. However, his plans are interrupted when Byeong Jae arrives with stomach troubles, prompting Sun-young to focus her attentions solely on him.
Shifting gears, Bo-hyeon extends an invitation to Hyo-ri for a trip, to which she agrees to contemplate. Her lifelong dream has always been to travel extensively after medical school, and it seems this dream might materialize sooner than anticipated.
Jeong-seok eventually arrives at the hospital to fetch Yeo-jeong, his demeanor less than enthusiastic about the situation.
Meanwhile, Lee Suk visits the village, harboring displeasure towards Hyo-ri's burgeoning relationship with Bo-hyeon, whom she views as a ladies' man. Ironically, it is So-yeon who steps in to vouch for Bo-hyeon, labeling him as innocent and pure. This unexpected defense adds a humorous twist, casting both So-yeon and Bo-hyeon in a positive light.
After the race concluded, marred by a touch of bruised egos, So-yeon and Suk decided upon a truce, with So-yeon warmly embracing Hyo-ri as her friend departed, sealing their reconciliation. Meanwhile, Jeong-seok arrived with a thoughtful gesture—a set of coloring pencils, all hues of purple, mirroring the floral motifs that graced earlier scenes in the episode. As they sat and engaged in heartfelt conversation, Ji-an confessed her affections for Jeong-seok but generously stepped aside, allowing him to reconcile with Yeo-jeong. Little did she know, Jeong-seok harbored feelings for her, not his ex, but he never had the chance to articulate them.
Fortunately, Chief Ko's husband was nearby to lend a supportive ear, expounding on the beauty of love and its unpredictable nature. He exhorted Jeong-seok to embrace new beginnings and fall in love anew should he so desire. Part of Jeong-seok's hesitancy to reunite with Yeo-jeong stemmed from her past infidelity. He had once surprised her at her hotel in Germany, only to leave with a shattered heart.
Ji-an, ever the embodiment of kindness, transformed the wall into a canvas of vibrant flowers upon hearing Grandma Mi-mi's tale of her late husband. It was a gesture so pure and heartfelt that it filled Yeo-jeong with envy, who watched from a distance before departing.
Down by the shore, Jeong-seok confronted Yeo-jeong, who attempted to persuade him to abandon everything and embark on a new journey with her to Germany. However, when he raised the incident of her infidelity, she was taken aback, rendered speechless. Jeong-seok confessed that he had grappled with these thoughts for years and had finally reached his limit.
Yeo-jeong offered an apology, but it lacked sincerity, seeming more like a forced gesture provoked by an earlier conversation with Ji-an. This realization was part of the reason Ji-an stepped aside, acknowledging her feelings for Jeong-seok but respecting their shared history and his autonomy.
However, Ji-an was soon jolted out of her passive stance by Sun-young and Moon-hee, who urged her to fight for what she desired and confront Jeong-seok. Taking their advice to heart, Ji-an expressed her feelings to Jeong-seok that evening. In response, he rushed towards her, enveloping her in a hug. He apologized for his indecisiveness and declared his desire to be with her.
