Episode 4 of "Romance in the House" gracefully unfolds with a heartwarming vignette of young Mi-rae, her laughter echoing through the air as she engages in a lively game of ball with her father. This scene reveals a tender, unfamiliar facet of their relationship, yet Mi-rae's innate curiosity and analytical prowess shine through even in her childhood innocence. Puzzled by her father's seemingly endless breaks, she inquisitively inquires, only to be charmed with a brand-new bicycle, a testament to his love language that often manifests in tangible gifts. This pattern, perhaps, foreshadows the present-day tensions as Mi-rae rejects his gestures, seeking a deeper connection beyond material offerings.
In the present narrative, Ae-yeon finds herself caught off guard by the villa's residents, who suddenly turn on the charm, seeking to mend fences after their previous gossip-fueled slights. With a cool detachment, Ae-yeon dismisses their overtures, reminding them that their nosy nature is nothing new under the sun.
At the villa's threshold, a chance encounter with Moo-jin leaves him flustered upon realizing that Ae-yeon has contacted his sister. Unbeknownst to her, the veil of his affluence and the villa's true ownership threatens to unravel his carefully constructed narrative. Ae-yeon's assumption that he's been a long-term resident rings hollow, casting doubt on his every word.
Elsewhere, Tae-pyeong's father arrives, a visit that underscores the intricate bond between them, albeit with differing aspirations. The elder urges his son to abandon his security job, but Tae-pyeong stands firm in his resolve, a testament to their mutual respect amidst divergent paths.
After a day marred by incessant reminders of her father, Mi-rae seeks solace and release at the tae-kwon-do dojo. Her prowess in shattering boards is a testament to her inner strength, and as she unleashes her pent-up emotions, a sense of catharsis washes over her. Tae-pyeong, observing her with admiration, gently removes a splinter of wood from her hair, a subtle gesture that speaks volumes about their growing connection amidst the chaos.
In the meantime, Moo-jin catches up with Jae-geol, and as the night wears on, the tide of residents' sentiments towards him shifts, embracing him with warmer smiles and even presenting him with tokens of friendship. Yet, not everyone is swayed by his apparent sincerity, as Ae-yeon and Lee Jeong-hyeok maintain a healthy dose of skepticism.
When Moo-jin finds himself hopelessly intoxicated that evening, fate intertwines as he stumbles upon Mi-rae and Tae-pyeong on their leisurely walk back home. A complete disarray, he is thankfully assisted into a taxi, bound for his abode. Mi-rae, bristling with anger, vents her frustration on a nearby punching machine, her fists pounding out her unspoken emotions.
Mi-rae's bond with Ae-yeon remains unwavering, as she goes to great lengths to act as a formidable barrier between her father and Ae-yeon, ensuring no romantic overtures can flourish. This culminates in a hilarious race back home, both armed with bouquets of flowers, the competition palpable. As Moo-jin extends his flowers to Ae-yeon, he tentatively inquires about a dinner date, hoping to break the ice further.
Parallel to this, a subtle narrative thread unfolds, focusing on Hyeon-jae who embarks on a meeting with his friend, Ju-yong. Ambitions of owning his own department store simmer beneath the surface, and while he's not quite at the helm yet, tempting offers have begun to surface. His insatiable drive for financial success provides a glimpse into his motivations.
Ae-yeon, on the other hand, uncovers a surprising revelation about Jae-geol's profession—a tax accountant. Their friendship, supposedly rooted in high school days and aided by Jae-geol's tax expertise for Moo-jin, starts to unravel when Ae-yeon realizes she knows Jae-geol's entire social circle, forcing him into a corner of retraction. Overhearing him mutter, "Easy money is money easily lost," piques her curiosity, prompting her to seek clarification directly from Moo-jin. But alas, he is preoccupied, paying his respects to their landlord, leaving Ae-yeon to ponder the enigmatic words and the mysteries they may unravel.
At the workplace, the CEO went above and beyond to shower Mi-rae with praise, following their astronomical sales surge. While her exceptional performance made such accolades unsurprising to her colleagues, it was undeniable that part of his motivation was to silence her about his secret connections with Tae-pyeong. However, Mi-rae, a woman of unwavering principles, kept mum despite relentless probing from her office mates.
That fateful evening, Ae-yeon was ambushed in a dimly lit alleyway, her fingers already poised to dial Moo-jin's number, raising suspicions of a sinister link to the landlord's recent demise. Moo-jin frantically checked his phone, only to find it unanswered, as he frantically tried to reach her. To his surprise, it was their fellow villa resident, Chun-sik, who picked up, revealing he'd stumbled upon a discarded phone and the signs of a hasty escape.
With Ae-yeon's safety in jeopardy, Moo-jin sprinted towards the alley, Mi-rae close on his heels, both determined to track her down. Their search culminated at the police station, where Ae-yeon was already providing a statement, a victim of assault. The perpetrator? None other than the creepy figure from episode three, who had now met his just desserts at the hands of a swift mob of outraged residents.
Mi-rae, finding solitude outside, wandered, her thoughts drifting back to a haunting past where she witnessed the same perpetrator abusing her mother. The memory of almost striking him with a brick, only to hesitate, lingered heavily.
Moo-jin, aware of his daughter's vulnerability, chose to shadow her, offering silent support. When their paths finally crossed, he commended her resilience, acknowledging the weight she carried as the de facto head of the household. He confessed his regret for adding to her burdens and sincerely apologized, urging her to take a moment for herself.
But Mi-rae's anger bubbled over, asserting that she never aspired to be like her father. Moo-jin conceded, acknowledging her uniqueness and distance from his own path. Ae-yeon, struggling to connect with her daughter, realized that their strained relationship couldn't continue as is.
Mi-rae, overwhelmed by emotions, broke down in tears, only to find solace in the unexpected form of Tae-pyeong, who sheltered her from the pelting rain with his umbrella, allowing her sorrow to pour out freely.
The story concluded with a glimpse into Ahn Jeong-in's world, as she gazed fondly at a photo of herself and Moo-jin, their past intertwined with laughter and disagreements. A fleeting memory of him calling her crazy echoed, followed by her playful retort, acknowledging their shared madness in choosing each other.
