Episode 3 of *My Youth* kicks off with Je-yeon immersed in her work at the company owned by Seok-ju’s mother. When Seok-ju’s mother and her supervisor press Je-yeon for details about her encounter with Hae the previous day at the office, Je-yeon swiftly concocts an excuse. She spins a tale about revamping and reintroducing a beloved, nostalgic show that once starred Hae and Tae-rin, with the intention of propelling Tae-rin into more diverse roles beyond the stereotypical ones she’s often pigeonholed into.
The following day, Je-yeon escorts the producer to meet Hae. The producer, brimming with enthusiasm, is eager to bring the show to life, having grown up watching it herself. Meanwhile, Seok-ju’s mother is consumed with worry over the inevitable gossip that will swirl around Hae’s involvement in the project.
Filming commences soon after, reuniting Hae and Je-yeon after an absence spanning decades. The set is abuzz with energy as the crew converges at Hae’s quaint flower shop to capture a scene of the two repotting plants together. It’s during this moment that Hae experiences a subtle yet palpable panic attack, the flashing cameras triggering a painful memory from his past.
Following the shoot, Je-yeon and Tae-rin accompany Hae to his nighttime part-time job at a friend’s restaurant. There, Je-yeon expresses her concern, inquiring if Hae is alright after his bout of anxiety.
The next day, during a lunch break on set, Je-yeon and Hae find a moment to reconnect. Hae opens up about his tendency to always speak his mind, attributing it to his upbringing as a child actor. He recounts how he was constantly calculating his words to please adults. But once he forged his own path, he vowed to always speak his truth.
During the subsequent filming session, the producer is delighted by the authentic sibling-like banter between Hae and Je-yeon, reminiscent of their on-screen chemistry from the original *Beat and Bebop* show. Meanwhile, Tae-rin’s genuine personality begins to emerge, adding a new layer of depth to the production.
At another film shoot, Seok-ju sends a bouquet to Hae to celebrate his debut. It's during this moment that Tae-rin and Je-yeon finally grasp with unmistakable certainty that Hae and Seok-ju are brothers.
Je-yeon also stumbles upon the fact that the relationship between Hae and Seok-ju’s mother is far from warm and cordial. Through a flashback, the root cause of their strained ties is unveiled: When Hae was called up for military service, he desperately begged his mother to take Nu-ri in, but she turned a cold shoulder and refused.
The following day, Hae crosses paths with Seok-ju’s mother, Pil-do, and hands back the money she had invested in his high school education. It's at this juncture that we uncover that Seok-ju had defied his mother's wishes and taken Nu-ri under his wing, which is precisely the reason he and Hae remain on close terms.
On that very same day, a bombshell drops regarding Hae’s shadowy past. His mother had ended her own life after being swindled by a director. At her funeral, where Hae was the chief mourner, he found himself engulfed by a sea of journalists, cameras flashing, and debt collectors clamoring for their money. Hae had remained blissfully unaware of the news until the producer gave him a call.
Lost in a whirlpool of agonizing memories from his past, Hae is suddenly enveloped in a wave of comfort as Je-yeon arrives and wraps her arms around him from behind, infusing his present moment with a rush of warmth. The episode draws to a close with Hae asking her to hold him tight as they cling to each other in an embrace.
