Episode 1 of "No Gain, No Love" unfolds with a poignant scene set amidst the hustle and bustle of a schoolyard. Young Son Hae-yeong, her voice tinged with frustration, confronts her Physical Education instructor, questioning the injustice of girls being relegated to dodgeball while the boys indulge in soccer, sprawling across the expansive field. This moment serves as a window into Hae-yeong's psyche, shaped by a childhood where her mother's boundless generosity and kindness extended to fostering countless children under their roof, inadvertently leaving Hae-yeong to grapple with feelings of being overshadowed and deprived of her mother's undivided time, energy, and affection. Consequently, the concept of profit and loss transcended the realms of finance, permeating every aspect of her personal life.
Years later, a matured Hae-yeong finds herself amidst the festivities of a colleague's wedding, her mind wandering to the financial implications of selecting the appropriate wedding gift. She sighs heavily, reminiscing about the financial toll such occasions have taken on her. Ironically, the groom's face reveals a familiar visage—none other than Woo-jae, her former lover, whom she had parted ways with mere months ago, a mere six-month respite from their tumultuous past.
Meanwhile, in a parallel narrative, Kim Ji-uk, a man brimming with resolve, steps into a job interview at Liter Electronics. Instead of probing into his impeccable qualifications, the interviewers' inquiries take an unexpected turn, delving into his status as an orphan. Adjacent, a female candidate is subjected to a hypothetical grilling on sexual harassment, leaving her flustered. Ji-uk, unwavering in his principles, interjects, advocating for the matter to be escalated directly to the Human Rights Commission. His stance, however, falls flat with the interview panel, and afterward, Ji-uk extends an apology to his fellow candidates, his demeanor reflecting a sense of regret for the uncomfortable atmosphere he inadvertently created.
As the wedding celebrations reach their crescendo, Hae-yeong's tranquility is shattered by a phone call from her mother, whose voice echoes weakly from the confines of a nursing home. The nurse's urgent tone urges Hae-yeong to visit soon, a plea that hangs heavily in the air. Amidst the revelry, a fleeting memory of her breakup with Woo-jae invades Hae-yeong's thoughts, recalling the starkness of her words as she declared, without hesitation, that her feelings for him had vanished. The scene paints a vivid portrait of emotional complexities and the unyielding march of time, where past wounds linger amidst the glitz and glamour of life's milestones.
His heart shattered into pieces, he stumbled, prompting Hae-yeong to swiftly affix a bandage to his wounded hand. As the wedding ceremony unfolds, screens illuminate with images of Woo-jae and his bride Yi-lin's enchanting engagement. Curiously, the photographs reveal the very same bandage adorning Woo-jae's hand, a subtle clue that escapes no one's notice.
When a colleague casually mentions it's their one-year anniversary, a realization dawns on Hae-yeong like a thunderbolt—he's been betraying her for at least half a year. Fuming with anger, she snatches a tablecloth, transforming it into a makeshift wedding gown, a napkin serving as her veil. With all eyes upon them, she confronts Woo-jae, exposing his deceit.
The narrative shifts to a cozy apartment where Ja-yeon, a budding web novelist, struggles to pen an alluring erotic scene. Her creative endeavors are interrupted by the arrival of Hui-seong, both women sharing a bond of friendship with Hae-yeong. Hae-yeong herself enters, her demeanor cloaked in melancholy. She proudly displays a bouquet of flowers—a symbol of her unintended triumph as she caught the wedding bouquet! But it was all a ruse; the dramatic scenes were mere figments of imagination. In reality, Hae-yeong had conducted herself with impeccable grace throughout the ceremony.
Now, she vents her frustration at having squandered a fortune on a gift for her unfaithful ex. Her friends recount how Hae-yeong's past relationships often ended in heartbreak, fueled by her relentless pursuit of the upper hand—be it over meals, finances, or even intimacy.
Meanwhile, Ji-uk, a selfless do-gooder, returns a suit to a familiar policeman. Renowned for his vigilant reporting of crimes and assistance in apprehending criminals, he's also known for his kind deeds towards the elderly, earning him the title of 'angel.'
Back at Hae-yeong's abode, she sees Hui-seong to the door, the latter inquiring about visiting Hae-yeong's mother. Hae-yeong fabricates a tale of her mother's house being in disarray, her lie smooth as silk. She then announces her intention to visit the nearby grocery store, her heart set on her favorite jellies. The conversation drifts to Ji-uk, the store's gruff attendant who seems to harbor a deep-seated dislike for Hae-yeong. And indeed, when their paths cross at the store, a heated argument erupts over the unavailability of Hae-yeong's beloved jellies, revealing a long-standing animosity between them.
Upon returning home, Ja-yeon concludes her chapter with a sense of accomplishment, only to be met with a barrage of hateful comments. Amidst the negativity, a ray of positivity shines through—a comment penned by Jeong-a, a wealthy woman whose son, Gyu-heon, holds the prestigious position of CEO at Kkulbee Education, Hae-yeong's workplace.
Gyu-heon's father, ever the ambitious patriarch, expresses dissatisfaction with Kkulbee's second-place ranking, issuing an ultimatum: elevate the company to the top within a year, or face an arranged marriage. This edict weighs heavily on Gyu-heon, casting a pallor over his arrival at work. His beleaguered secretary, Ha-jun, deftly navigates his outbursts while harboring secret aspirations of a departmental transfer.
As fate would have it, Hae-yeong's path crosses with Ji-uk once more outside a store, sparking another heated exchange. Ji-uk's subsequent receipt of a troubling text message hints at a possible entanglement with an ex-lover.
Within the confines of the office, Hae-yeong and her colleague indulge in a discussion about the perks married employees enjoy, fueling Hae-yeong's determination. She confronts Woo-jae, her former lover, about his betrayal, only to find him unrepentant. Demanding repayment for her emotional turmoil, she is met with resistance.
A fleeting memory takes us back six months, where Hae-yeong sits outside a store, accompanying a drunken Woo-jae celebrating a promotion. In his inebriated state, he inadvertently reveals that she shoulders the sole responsibility of caring for her mother, making Hae-yeong feel like a burden. This realization prompts her to end their relationship. Now, fueled by a newfound resolve, she sets out to make Woo-jae regret his actions.
Orchestrating a calculated move, Hae-yeong lures Woo-jae to a meeting with the false pretense of confronting his wife, Yi-lin. The mere suggestion is enough to rattle Woo-jae, who confesses that Yi-lin holds the reins of their finances, leaving him financially constrained to repay Hae-yeong. He pleads for leniency, promising repayment upon her marriage.
Meanwhile, Ha-jun and Gyu-heon devise a creative challenge for the employees, inviting them to submit ideas that could propel Kkulbee to new heights. Gyu-heon's excitement is palpable, yet he remains steadfast in denying Ha-jun's transfer request. Hae-yeong, catching wind of the contest, eyes the opportunity as a gateway to the president's inner circle and a swift career advancement. The stage is set for a corporate showdown, where ideas will clash and ambitions will soar.
However, her supervisor declares a stark reality: single women are systematically excluded from teams directly supervised by the CEO. It seems that, owing to the perception surrounding Gyu-heon's father and his history with unmarried ladies, only the married are now privy to those coveted positions. Disheartened and annoyed, Hae-yeong storms off to the grocery, her frustrations leading her straight to the liquor aisle. She indulges, letting the alcohol numb her as she rants about the relentless prerequisite of marriage for everything worthwhile.
Hours later, inebriated and in a fit of impulsive desperation, Hae-yeong approaches Ji-uk, her voice laced with the haze of drunken bravado, and asks him to be her pretend fiancé.
Flashing to the epilogue of No Gain No Love's first episode, Ji-uk sits in the shadows, a silent observer as Woo-jae engages Hae-yeong in a conversation about her mother. Overhearing snippets of their intimate exchange, he later seeks her out, finding her in a contemplative solitude. Without a word, he takes a seat beside her, offering a cigarette in a gesture that speaks volumes of comfort and silent understanding.
