Episode 10 of "The Potato Lab" unfolds with Ki-se and Mi-kyung standing somberly outside a funeral hall. Mi-kyung, acutely aware of the pain radiating from Ki-se and its ripple effects on those around him, due to his recent missteps, offers him a handkerchief before discreetly departing, leaving him to grapple with his sorrow alone. Unbeknownst to them, Baek-ho sits in his car, a witness to this tender moment, yet he refuses to engage with Mi-kyung about what he has seen.
Haunted by the ghosts of his past actions, Baek-ho recalls a pivotal assignment six years ago when CEO Yoon entrusted him with handling the delicate matter of Mi-kyung and Ki-se's troubled relationship with utmost discretion. Ironically, both Ki-se and Mi-kyung ended up working at Wonhan on the very same day, a coincidence that Baek-ho now realizes was partly his doing. As these fragments of memory coalesce, Baek-ho acknowledges his role in Mi-kyung's initial miseries at Wonhan, prompting him to rush to their guesthouse and envelop his girlfriend in an emotional embrace. Torn between confession and silence, he struggles to find the appropriate moment to unveil the truth.
Inside the funeral hall, CEO Yoon arrives to check on Ki-se. Noting his haggard appearance, she gently suggests he take a few more days off to recuperate, reminding him of the importance of presenting a composed demeanor upon his return to the office. She also reveals that Baek-ho had visited her, probing into the past. During their conversation, Yoon confided in Baek-ho, sharing her frustration at how diligently she and her family had worked to keep Mi-kyung's story under wraps.
Baek-ho, sensing the imminent loss of something dear to him, seeks solace in Ms. Hong, the woman whose cow's calf he had once valiantly saved. In a roundabout manner, he opens up to her about his troubles. Ms. Hong, ever wise, engages him in a profound discussion about grief and the art of letting go, lessons that Baek-ho carries with him as he takes a reflective stroll with Mi-kyung.
Baek-ho, isolated in his thoughts, finds it an arduous task to articulate his desires, as distractions continually pull him away—whether it's the intrusion of a phone call or the mesmerizing dance of fireflies. In the end, he resolves to keep his thoughts to himself. Nevertheless, he chooses to accompany her to the upcoming Potato Lab picnic the subsequent day.
The festivities begin with lighthearted cheer as they venture to the site, which is a sorry spectacle of dilapidation and neglect. Though the locale leaves much to be desired, Mi-kyung strives to elevate the mood, urging everyone to engage in a game of ball. However, an unexpected complication arises.
Enter the Kim Jungmi Food Sweet Potato Lab. As it transpires, potatoes and sweet potatoes have harbored a rivalry that stretches back to the dawn of time. They have been forcibly evicted from numerous venues, and their animosity remains as fierce as it was in the distant past when it all began. This tense situation is eventually defused by Baek-ho's arrival, who diplomatically refers to them as dessert researchers. With a stroke of grandeur, he decides to splurge on a much more opulent space for Wonhan's Potato researchers.
Later, in a moment that seemed tailor-made for intimacy, Baek-ho and Mi-kyung lie together on the bed, their faces inches from each other, poised for a kiss. But their tender moment is abruptly shattered by the arrival of Su-jin, Jung-hae's inquisitive daughter. She startles them both, having been in search of Baek-ho for some time. With a playful glint in her eye, she entices him to join her in a game of princess, and to his credit, he embraces the role with unreserved enthusiasm.
After a day filled with exhaustive play, Baek-ho is utterly drained. However, Su-jin inadvertently steps into a minefield. In an innocent revelation, she discloses that Baek-ho has dismissed Mi-kyung from the lab. The others, previously oblivious to this development, are now plunged into an awkward silence. Baek-ho doesn't shy away from the truth, but the gravity of his decision casts a melancholic pall over the group. The other workers are saddened, and Baek-ho is crushed under a weight of guilt.
Mi-kyung eases the tension somewhat by revealing to Baek-ho a hidden potato greenhouse, a sanctuary unknown even to Ong-ju. Determined to press on with her potato research, she exudes confidence that her life’s trajectory and aspirations will remain unyielding, regardless of Baek-ho's presence in it. Her contentment with Baek-ho runs deep, a sentiment that has lingered for quite some time.
Overwhelmed by a surge of guilt, Baek-ho can bear no more and abruptly dashes off, needing solitude to grapple with the revelations. Elsewhere, Ki-se, having regained some composure, engages Mi-kyung in conversation. He confesses his genuine remorse over their bitter parting and reveals his endeavor to adopt a more optimistic outlook, inspired by her initial encouragement. As Mi-kyung prepares to depart, Ki-se cannot resist mentioning Baek-ho, cautioning her to temper her trust in him, alluding to undisclosed secrets he harbors.
Later, at the restaurant, Mi-kyung is startled to learn that Seung-hoon’s presence at the lab was merely a spying mission, targeting her and Baek-ho. Now redundant, he packs his bags and returns to headquarters, spilling the beans on his discoveries and implicating Baek-ho in "what transpired to her."
Back at home, Ong-ju catches wind of gossip about Baek-ho's tearful episode at Ms. Hong's place, prompting Mi-kyung to ponder deeply. Determined, she decides to stake out his place that night, waiting patiently in the dark. Unbeknownst to her, Baek-ho has already navigated through his turmoil and makes his way back to Mi-kyung, seeking reconciliation.
Baek-ho unburdens himself to her, baring the entire truth, acknowledging that he had been instructed to expel Mi-kyung from the company and had carried out this directive in a despicable manner to shield himself from legal repercussions. He was subtly directed to shift her to another department, hoping she would resign through isolation and emotional distress. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his actions played a pivotal role in her awakening and subsequent empowerment. Little did he foresee that she would become such a significant figure in his life. Mi-kyung endured untold sufferings, with Baek-ho, or rather his superiors, at the root of her ordeal. Though she has since mustered the strength to piece herself together, confronting this revelation is far from ideal, leaving her reeling and disoriented.
