In the seventh chapter of "My Stand-In," we embark on an exhilarating journey alongside Joe, whose eyes sparkle with pride as he eagerly guides his mother through the corridors of his newly acquired abode, unveiling each corner with a flourish. Her initial delight, a radiant smile spreading across her face, quickly turns to bewilderment upon discovering the startling truth: Joe had 'appropriated' the finances for this luxurious dwelling, adding an immense burden to their already towering pile of debts.
When Joe mentions casually that he received assistance from a celebrity acquaintance, her mind instantly leaps to the figure of Tharn, a shadowy presence from Joe's past at the agency. Yet, Joe's expression remains a blank slate, devoid of any recognition. As the warmth of their makeshift nest begins to envelop them in a cocoon of domesticity, Ming's abrupt summons interrupts their fleeting moment of belonging, casting a dark shadow over their burgeoning sense of home.
Steeling himself and apologizing silently to his body, Joe reminds himself of the sake of his mother as he submits to Ming's kiss. However, as passions rise, Ming is transported back to memories of the old Joe, and instead insists that Joe sleeps beside him. The following morning, Joe expertly rustles up breakfast before heading to a music video shoot, with the agreement to return later.
Arriving on the set unfashionably late, Joe is met with a startling revelation – he's to play a prominent role in the video, as Sol's boyfriend. Joe effortlessly portrays a reluctant partner, yet Sol, as he watches the footage later, is Suddenly jolted by a memory of the intruder at Joe's apartment. During lunch, Sol tries to broach the topic of his friend's apartment break-in indirectly, but Joe's phone rings, cutting him off. It's Ming, who unilaterally insists that Joe should refrain from working with Sol. Left alone, Joe can't help but ponder why his nascent life mirrors so closely his tumultuous past.
Gearing up for a discussion on Tong's cinematic endeavor, Wut announces his intention to accompany Joe to the meeting. Both men are taken aback to discover that the project is a sequel to Tong's maiden film, necessitating a stand-in capable of flawlessly replicating a complex sword-fighting sequence—a task fraught with the potential to tarnish Tong's storied reputation.
Post-meeting, an actor approaches Joe, eager to reconnect, yet Joe fails to recognize him, blaming an accident that has erased chunks of his memory. His former friend and colleague, Tharn, suspects Joe is merely toying with him. Later, Joe's mother verifies that Tharn was indeed a treacherous ex-lover and reveals that their dispute was the catalyst behind Joe's plunge into the river. Now, having miraculously survived, she vows to grant Joe whatever he desires. However, she warns that Tharn once exploited and abandoned him.
As Joe reports for his duties at Ming's establishment, Ming insists on knowing why Joe concealed his coma—which coincided with another Joe's mishap. Did Joe encounter any visions or dreams during his slumber? Frustrated by Joe's silence, Ming assigns him to pack some items for him. When Joe opens a drawer, he discovers the watch he once gifted to Ming. Caught red-handed, Ming, mistaking Joe's intentions, summarily ejects him from the premises.
At the designated location, Joe is eager to avoid being seen with Ming, prompting him to slip away and join the crew discreetly. During lunchtime, Ming sits with Tong but cannot resist the urge to keep a wary eye on Joe, catching sight of him in conversation with Tharn. Tong, noticing the direction of Ming's gaze, later approaches Tharn with a proposition: to distract Joe from his brother-in-law. Meanwhile, in a separate corner, a jealous Ming insists that Joe spend the night with him.
Called away urgently to work, Joe dodges the conversation but later finds Ming's text demanding a meeting. Before he can respond, a shocking revelation awaits him: his hotel roommate is none other than Tharn, not a fellow crew member as expected. Tharn initially threatens to expose Joe's relationship with Ming, then unexpectedly climbs atop him, only to be interrupted by Ming's furious entrance. Ming, driven by jealousy, rips Joe away and drags him to his room, shouting and attacking him in a fit of rage. The commotion draws Tong to knock on the door, giving Joe a fleeting opportunity to escape.
Back in his room, Joe feels humiliated and angrily throws Tharn out. Outside, Tong, worried and confused, tries to reason with Ming, asking if he's been altered by the influence of the old Joe. As their argument intensifies, Ming accuses Joe of running away due to the actions Tong and Ming had taken against him. Privately, Ming reinforces his belief that his Joe is still alive and somewhere out there.
The following day, Ming resumes his commanding tone with Joe but this time, his thanks are tinged with remorse. Seeking to avoid confrontation, Joe flees to work but is astounded when a crew member inquiries about receiving credit for his work.
Off the set, whispers suggest that Tong hadn't actually performed the stunt initially, which Ming overhears. Intrigued, Ming delves deeper and discovers that the previous stuntman had been offered a permanent role as Tong's stand-in, provided he let Tong take the credit for the sword fight.
In a flood of tears, Ming rushes onto the set, grasping Joe just as he wraps up his scene. He pleads with the old Joe to return to him, much to the astonishment of the entire crew and Tong, who look on in bewilderment.
