The fourth episode of The Dream Life of Mr. Kim commences at the Hwaunjang Inn, rewinding time to a pivotal moment when Nak-su and Jeong-tae awaken, brimming with anticipation for a day filled with sales prowess. As sales reps, the duo had always been closely knit, with Jeong-tae ascending the corporate ladder at a pace that left Nak-su in the dust, despite the latter coaching him in speaking and leadership skills.
In the present, Nak-su dials his "lazy unemployed" friend, Nompaengi, the landlord, who swiftly reminds him that Jeong-tae's lofty position in the ACT hierarchy means loyalty is a non-factor and that even he is not immune to the company's wrath. There's no indication that Jeong-tae would betray the company at this juncture.
Ha-jin gathers her courage to reveal her real estate exam to Ha-yeong, only to be met with her sister's teasing. Determined to prove her wrong, Ha-jin later even forces her sister to agree to hand over a car (a promise initially made) if she passes the exam. Should she fail, Ha-yeong vows to never let her forget it.
That night, Nak-su reluctantly agrees to meet with Jeong-tae and invites him over for dinner, believing he needs to buy some time in case the inevitable happens.
As Nak-su worries, Ha-jin proposes that he leave ACT and work with Sang-cheol. Nak-su takes this personally, believing Sang-cheol is only doing it to cultivate connections with the higher-ups at ACT rather than genuinely helping him.
Frustrated by Nak-su's attitude, Ha-jin decides she's had enough and will no longer assist her husband. Their marriage is poised to enter a new chapter, and this significant dinner becomes solely his responsibility to navigate.
The next day, Kim Nak-su arrives at work with drinks and food for the entire team, convincing them he's quitting but instead using it as a ruse to gain their support.
On the rooftop, Nak-su addresses the team with a pep talk, urging them to hit the streets and drive up sales. This, however, comes at the cost of their current workload piling up. Sung-gu steps in, attempting to dissuade Nak-su from his impulsive plan. He reminds Nak-su that mere coffee and donuts won't suffice; they need to win their clients' hearts. Sung-gu's solution? Offering them stellar performance reviews that almost guarantee promotions for all. The strategy works, with the exception of Song-hee who hesitates.
The team sets out on their mission, leaving Jeong-tae struggling to keep up with Nak-su's brashness. Sales are Nak-su's forte, and he's eager to make a splash. The duo sets off together, and as the day wears on, Nak-su suggests a night's rest, hoping to recapture the camaraderie they shared in their early days.
As they lie side by side, Nak-su opens up about the fears of being middle-aged and feeling like there's nothing to come home to. This is a result of his relentless dedication to work. Intriguingly, Sung-gu has been secretly recording their conversation all along.
Meanwhile, Su-gyeom decides to join the Jealousy, My Strength crew, and Han-an even flirts with him in his new office. However, Su-gyeom's motives are clear—he's doing it mostly for Han-na's sake.
Jeong-tae is in a bind as the photos of him with Nak-su at the hole in one have surfaced, making his job at the Korea Fair Trade Commission even more challenging.
Jin-woo, an adept strategist, concocts a meticulous team shuffle aimed at optimizing the Sales Department's efficiency. However, Nak-su is conspicuously absent from the newly formed line-up, as Jin-woo is convinced that the latter is poised for a promotion to the executive level.
One morning, Sung-gu and Nak-su embark on their journey to Kukkiwon for a sales meeting, only to find Taejeong representatives, led by Tae-hwan, already in attendance. Tae-hwan, still seething over his departure from ACT and currently earning half of his former salary with Taejeong, desires Nak-su to refrain from pursuing the sale due to Taejeong's status as a minor player and the need for a flawless transaction.
While Nak-su is content to defer, Kukkiwon's upcoming 4K live streaming service poses a challenge that Taejeong cannot currently fulfill. This revelation increases the likelihood of Kukkiwon choosing ACT for their new quote, a development that thrills the latter. However, Nak-su remains the only one not celebrating the win at the expense of his former friend.
That evening, Nak-su hosts a grand dinner for Jeong-tae, Ha-jin, and Su-gyeom. The gathering is filled with nostalgic reminiscences and home videos, with Jeong-tae even offering Su-gyeom a monetary gift and Ha-jin presenting him with takeaway dishes. As the night progresses, Nak-su and Jeong-tae take a stroll away from the group.
As Nak-su brags about his role in securing the sale and seemingly triumphing over his friend, Jeong-tae interrupts him with news of an impending HR meeting. Though shocked, Nak-su can do nothing but accept the decision. He leaves in tears, alone and sobbing outside. The restructuring of the Sales division sees Nak-su handed the role of team leader for Asan Factory Safety Management.
