Episode 5 of "Motel California" unfolds with an enchanting scene at an ice cream parlor. Nan-woo, chance upon Yeon-soo there, mentions casually that he's picking up a treat for someone else. Intrigued, Yeon-soo tags along, unaware that Kang-hee, lurking in the shadows, evades their notice.
A nostalgic flashback transports us to 2010, where Kang-hee's heart sinks as she witnesses the police dispersing a brawl at the motel. In a moment of solace, Yeon-soo suggests an ice cream retreat. They head to the parlor, sealing a heartfelt pact to share their sweet indulgences exclusively with each other.
Returning to the present, Kang-hee slips out of the parlor and settles on a bench amidst a lush field. Her words turn venomous as she scorns Yeon-soo, who unexpectedly appears. He inquiries about her tears, to which she curtly replies that he's transformed, and storms off, instructing him not to pursue. Oblivious to her true feelings, he follows nonetheless, ducking out of sight when she glances back. Her frustration mounts, realizing she hadn't meant her harsh words.
As Kang-hee ventures nearer to her home, she encounters Seok-kyung, and they commence a companionship walk. This time, Yeon-soo genuinely halts his pursuit. Upon reaching the motel, he entrusts Mr. Kwon, a veteran staff member, with a bag of ice cream, directing him to deliver it to Kang-hee.
Kang-hee and Seok-kyung's arrival at the motel is met with a gathering of inquisitive townsfolk, eager to converse with Kang-hee, whose presence is no longer concealed. Shielding her from their prying eyes, he guides her into the motel. Inside, her father has orchestrated a delightful surprise welcome party in her honor. Chun-pil then urges Kang-hee to join them on the rooftop.
She strides up to reunite with her friends, the "Gangsters," donning matching t-shirts that warmly welcome her back to her hometown. As they gather around a blazing bonfire to share a meal, Kang-hee's mind drifts back to their cherished childhood memories. A vivid flashback depicts young Kang-hee defiantly standing up for Yeon-soo in school, shielding him from bullies' teasing. This moment underscores how the Gangsters forged an unbreakable bond, especially when confronted by a fierce adversary like Heon-yeol.
In the present, Kang-hee catches up with her other friends, their laughter and chatter filling the air. However, when the conversation turns to her, she abruptly announces that she must leave. Ah-reum insists that Yeon-soo escort her home. On their way, she confides in him that Kang-hee has Seok-kyung by her side, and she doesn't want to see Yeon-soo endure any more pain.
Meanwhile, Kang-hee takes a leisurely stroll with Seok-kyung, confessionally admitting that she feels like a failure in front of her friends. She declares her desire for Otel Hana to stand as proof of her success and the wisdom of her decision to move to Seoul.
The next morning, Nan-woo receives an urgent call about a veterinary emergency. Kang-hee notices her struggling with the van and generously offers to drive her instead. They head to Han-woo's farm, where Nan-woo assesses the distressed cow and decides to insert a tube into its stomach. Despite Han-woo's father's skepticism, Nan-woo expertly performs the task.
On her way back home, Kang-hee catches sight of a sign advertising the upcoming beef festival in the town. She realizes that it will disrupt their construction plans for Otel Hana and discusses this concern with Seok-kyung. She laments that their concrete mixer won't be able to navigate the area due to traffic control measures. Yeon-soo, who has been eavesdropping, offers free home services for a month to persuade the festival committee to relocate the festival's stage.
Another flashback surfaces, revealing a drunken man scornfully telling young Kang-hee that her father is living a miserable life solely for her sake. He spits venomous words about her and her mother. Enraged, little Kang-hee confines the man inside his warehouse. Now, Kang-hee finds herself forced to confront the same man regarding the festival. When he tries to coerce her into kneeling and apologizing, Yeon-soo intervenes, reminding the man of his past insults to Kang-hee.
Kang-hee's anger flames at Yeon-soo for meddling in her affairs, ultimately conceding that it's mortifying how he's privy to every corner of her dark past. She storms off to the worksite, where Seok-kyung boasts of persuading the townsfolk to embrace the necessary transformations, revealing his collaboration with the Gangsters. The scene shifts to Han-woo, Yeon-soo, and Seung-eon successfully lobbying the police for support. Subsequently, Kang-hee confides in Seok-kyung her desire to thank her friends but finds herself unable to utter the words.
At the festive gathering, Yeon-soo and Nan-woo's pairing garners widespread praise. When Yeon-soo's mother mistakenly assumes a romantic link between Kang-hee and Seok-kyung, Kang-hee fails to set her straight. Instead, she makes a plea to Seok-kyung, asking for one last favor from him, to which he replies with a condition.
Elsewhere, Ah-reum ponders the best way to invite Seung-eon to accompany her to the beef festival. Fate干预 as she bumps into him, and to her surprise, he beats her to the punch by inviting her. Some time later, Yeon-soo seeks a private word with Kang-hee, poised to broach the topic of him and Nan-woo, only to be cut short by Kang-hee.
She reflects on the irony of the same townspeople who once gossiped about them now extolling their virtues. Their conversation is abruptly halted by Nan-woo, who expresses gratitude to Kang-hee for giving her a ride on another day.
A flashback unfolds, revealing Yeon-soo and Nan-woo discussing the rumors swirling around their purported romance. Nan-woo proposes a fake dating charade to shield her from incessant marital probing and dating pressures. Yeon-soo, admitting he has feelings for someone else, agrees, suggesting they pretend while he awaits her.
During the festival, Soon-ja's world descends into chaos when she catches her husband in a cozy embrace with another woman. The conflict escalates into a violent altercation, with him turning his aggression towards Soon-ja. Chun-pil steps in, swiftly intervening to halt the brutal assault. Meanwhile, Kang-hee stands by, her expression a melancholic mix of sorrow and disbelief. A fleeting memory of her ill mother, pleading with Kang-hee to fetch Chun-pil, crosses her mind. In the present, Kang-hee lays the blame on Chun-pil, accusing him of placing Soon-ja above all else.
Returning to the motel, Kang-hee is served the ice cream that Yeon-soo once gifted her, handed to her by Mr. Kwon. The realization dawns upon her, and she makes her way to Yeon-soo's room, finding the door ajar. She steps inside, her fingers instinctively reaching out to stroke Yeon-soo's cat. To her astonishment, she spots the towering teddy bear, a gift from Chun-pil, occupying a corner of the room.
Determined to seek him out, Kang-hee repeatedly attempts to contact Chun-pil, ultimately bolting out of the motel in search of him. Her relentless pursuit leads her to a bench where Chun-pil sits, strumming a guitar. This time, Kang-hee confronts him directly, her voice tinged with urgency as she asks if he harbors feelings for her and why he continues to lend her his support. Chun-pil responds, his words simple yet profound, stating that this is all he knows how to do for her. Unaware of her deeper intentions, he voices his reluctance to burden her or provoke her wrath, humbly requesting time to move past his feelings for her. This heartfelt confession marks the conclusion of Motel California Episode 5.
