Episode 3 of "Namib" kicks off by delving into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shim Jin-woo's hearing loss. Through a haunting flashback, we witness Soo-hyun, momentarily distracted at an amusement park while her husband is away, glance away for just a heartbeat—enough time for Jin-woo to suffer a devastating accident that robbed him of his hearing.
In the present day, despite Jin-woo's hesitation, Soo-hyun resolves to take him to the factory. It transpires that after the accident, Soo-hyun stumbled upon a school assignment where Jin-woo had expressed his aspiration to become a CEO, like his mother, and to own a factory someday. This discovery sparked Soo-hyun's determination to teach Jin-woo to read lips and later implement safety measures at the factory to accommodate his disability.
After dropping Jin-woo off at home, Soo-hyun ventures to her friend Jeong-hwa's café. Jeong-hwa, a former chart-topping artist from Soo-hyun's old company, holds a pivotal position in the family's saga. Upon returning home, Soo-hyun enlists her husband Jun-seok's support in nurturing Yoo Jin-woo's latent artistic abilities.
Meanwhile, Shim Jin-woo catches Yoo Jin-woo sneaking out to work at a club. The following day, Yoo Jin-woo stands up for Shim Jin-woo by warding off his bullies, bribing them with merchandise he had taken from the company. Later, during a practice session at Jeong-hwa's café, both Soo-hyun and Jun-seok acknowledge Yoo Jin-woo's raw talent. However, Jun-seok harbors doubts, noting that Jin-woo lacks stage presence during his performances.
Soo-hyun, on the contrary, spots an opportunity. She meets with the producer of "Star Rise" and pitches Jin-woo's narrative, believing it has the potential to be a gripping reality TV tale. The producer concurs but insists that Jin-woo's mother must appear on-screen to round out the story.
Elsewhere, Shim Jin-woo starts to develop feelings for Ji-yeong, Yoo Jin-woo's sole friend and fellow trainee at Pandora Entertainment. The trio hosts a birthday celebration for Jun-seok, briefly brightening the mood.
Later, Soo-hyun learns from Yoo Jin-woo's aunt about his troubling habit of self-harm. Worried, she confides in Jun-seok, fearing that Jin-woo's self-destructive tendencies could sabotage his path to stardom.
As the episode draws to a close, Shim Jin-woo uncovers Yoo Jin-woo's secret: he works at the club to repay debts, driven by the fear that Soo-hyun might abandon him. That night, Shim Jin-woo bids him farewell for his shift. Tragically, Jin-woo is involved in an accident while escorting intoxicated VIPs. The episode concludes with Jin-woo plunging into a state of panic, leaving viewers on a gripping cliffhanger.
