Episode 8 of "Resident Playlist" kicks off with Sa-bi finding herself in the hushed atmosphere of the operating theatre. A fleeting flashback transpires, revealing her collapse within the hospital corridors, prompting Professor Ryu to relay the grim news: surgery is imperative to excise a fibroid. As Sa-bi undergoes this critical procedure, her fellow residents rally around her, their concern and solidarity palpable.
Elsewhere, a departure from his customary routine sees Do-won at the wheel, chauffeuring I-yeong to the hospital. The next day, his attention is inadvertently drawn to Dr. Ham Dong-ho, the very physician who had previously extended a dinner invitation to I-yeong, calling her.
Back at their clinic, I-yeong and Nam-kyung share a jubilant moment with Professor Seo, marking a patient's milestone 100th day in the hospital. This patient, a high-risk pregnancy case, has been confined to the hospital's walls for precisely this reason.
Conversely, Sa-bi finds herself growing weary of her patient role. Her yearning for health and a return to work is intense. Despite her best efforts to resume duties, Jae-il finds himself tactically avoiding her advances.
In the high-risk pregnancy ward, Professor Seo and I-yeong bear witness to an inspiring scene: the long-term resident patient lending a helping hand to fellow expectant mothers grappling with their own challenges. The ward soon buzzes with a renewed energy as these women forge unbreakable bonds. Even I-yeong finds herself seeking the woman's counsel on a myriad of general issues faced by other mothers.
Later, fate brings I-yeong and Ham Dong-hong face to face once more, and they finally hammer out a meeting place and time. As if by serendipity, Do-won catches sight of them together yet again. Taking Nam-kyung's advice to heart, I-yeong resolves to be forthright—should Ham Dong-hong confess his feelings, she intends to reciprocate by confessing her affection for someone else.
Meanwhile, Jae-il reunites with his mentor and first love, who surprisingly reveals herself to be Jang Gyeo-wool. Upon Jae-il's return, we discover that Nam-kyung's mother has been hospitalized, preparing for surgery. We delve into the backstory of her family's dumpling business and Nam-kyung's frequent outbursts towards her mother.
Elsewhere, Ju-yeong makes a heartfelt decision to embark on infertility treatment once more. She briefly mentions a haunting nightmare from a particular day, leaving a cliffhanger until later revelations.
The following day, Sa-bi persists in her desire to return to work, though her efforts remain unfruitful. As the residents share dumplings generously sent by Nam-kyung's mother, they ponder their fortune in having their mothers by their sides. I-yeong remarks that, at least, they still have their mothers alive, prompting Nam-kyung to appreciate her mother's devoted care. Moved by this realization, she accompanies her to the operating room before proceeding to her own designated surgery.
Shortly thereafter, the heartbreaking news unfolds that the long-awaiting mother has lost her baby. I-yeong takes it upon herself to delicately break the news to her, adhering to protocol while gently urging her to eat. To comfort her, I-yeong shares a personal anecdote about her sister who lost a child in a similar manner, revealing how she cried more than ever, seeking to alleviate the woman's sense of isolation in her grief.
Elsewhere, after receiving meticulous care from her friends and doctors, Nam-kyung's mother is discharged from the hospital. In an emotional confrontation, Nam-kyung tearfully pleads with her mother to stay healthy and avoid falling ill again.
During dinner with the residents, Do-won learns that I-yeong is en route to meet Do-hong. It transpires that Do-hong has extended invitations not solely to I-yeong, but also to the other doctors who were present during the harrowing emergency involving a foreigner's baby, a time when no seasoned physician was available. This revelation eases I-yeong's mind, as she had been apprehensive about the meeting being misconstrued as a romantic rendezvous.
However, on their way back, Do-hong confesses his feelings for her and also acknowledges his awareness of her crush on Do-won. They handle the situation gracefully, reaching a harmonious resolution. Following this, I-yeong returns to the hospital to retrieve her forgotten phone and discovers a text from Do-won, requesting her to call him. They end up waiting together at the bustling bus stop, preparing to head home.
There, I-yeong notices a couple and shares with Do-won her desire for a similar kind of relationship. Do-won is on the verge of confessing his own thoughts about her when, in a comical twist of fate, she fails to hear him. They sit side by side at the bus stop, the episode drawing to a close with an unspoken tension hanging in the air.
