The eleventh episode of "The Potato Lab" kicks off with a poignant revelation from Baek-ho, who unveils the heart-wrenching truth that he was, in fact, the catalyst behind Mi-kyung's initial heartbreak and emotional turmoil. Unable to bear the sight of him, Mi-kyung flees, dashing back inside, her heart heavy with pain.
As dawn breaks, Ong-ju is met with a startling scene—her friend, downcast and directionless, struggling to come to terms with the revelations of the night before. Mi-kyung, though visibly distressed, manages to pull herself together for work, her silence towards Baek-ho speaking volumes. Meanwhile, the rest of the team, aware of her impending departure, rallies around her, determined to make her remaining days as pleasant as possible.
Mr. Bu Jae-joong, ever the vigilant observer, suggests a lucrative opportunity in Vietnam, but for Mi-kyung, the prospect of uprooting her life and moving halfway across the world is daunting. Moreover, the looming potato harvest adds to her burgeoning worries.
Rumors swiftly spread like wildfire when Baek-ho, inadvertently, lets slip the news of their breakup. The mood turns somber, and Mi-kyung confronts Baek-ho, branding him a walking disaster and ordering him to leave her alone. She desires neither his sight nor his voice, her words cutting deep into his heart. With a heavy spirit, he promises to steer clear of her and offers a heartfelt apology.
Back at their shared abode, Ong-ju too discovers the crumbled relationship, stumbling upon discarded photos and keepsakes in the trash. Mi-kyung unburdens herself, revealing Baek-ho's role in her past. In turn, Ong-ju shoulders some blame, confessing to Hwan-kyung that she too bears a part in their unraveling.
Ki-se's phone call, intended as a gesture of concern, fails to comfort Mi-kyung, who openly admits her turmoil. The whispers and gossip soon envelop Wonhan, and under the weight of the breakup and the looming threat of losing her job, Mi-kyung succumbs to illness.
Baek-ho, worried sick, ventures to her place, only to be met with a closed door. Undeterred, he entrusts a bag of abalone porridge to Hwan-kyung, a gesture meant to convey his care from afar. Mi-kyung, eventually, rejects the porridge, but Baek-ho refuses to accept it back, reinforcing his concern for her well-being. Respecting her wishes to remain apart, he settles for this small act of kindness, hoping it would reach her heart despite the distance.
That fateful night, as Ong-ju began to mend, she imparted a bombshell to Mi-kyung, revealing that she had known all along about Ki-se's infidelity. She had caught him red-handed at a dress shop and confronted him, but fear and indecision had kept her from confronting her best friend sooner. In the meantime, Ong-ju had been there for Mi-kyung through thick and thin at Wonhan, offering unwavering support and cheer. Mi-kyung, however, brushed it off gracefully, acknowledging Ong-ju's efforts and reflecting on her own feelings towards Baek-ho.
Elsewhere, Hee-jin, exuding a bubbly demeanor, paid a visit to her best friend. Over dinner, she confessed that she had known about Ki-se's girlfriend before he left for Korea. Despite this revelation, Hee-jin had been willing to overlook it because of her deep affection for him. In retrospect, she realized it had been a foolish decision, yet she had felt a peculiar sense of safety and protection in his presence. As for Ki-se, he had merely viewed her as a stepping stone in his corporate ascent.
Meanwhile, amidst a cheeky nod to product placement, the potato gang carried on with their harvest. Upon inspecting their bounty, it became apparent that they were falling short this time around. Just as they were contemplating their next move, Mi-kyung received an urgent call summoning her back to the lab. It turned out that the storage facility at the Chungnam factory had encountered a critical issue: a malfunction had caused all 500 tons of potatoes to freeze, rendering them unusable. Baek-ho readily took responsibility but emphasized the need to replenish their stock immediately.
Mi-kyung proposed a solution: they should source potatoes from local farms rather than companies, who would likely exploit their desperation by hiking up prices. Baek-ho initially disagreed with her approach, but given the urgency of the situation, he agreed to collaborate.
Part of the team set off to nearby farms to procure more potatoes, while Baek-jo volunteered to work alongside Mi-kyung on the logistics. This arrangement was not only strategic, given Baek-jo's expertise with local farms, but it also provided an opportunity for the two to converse and bond over their shared task.
Just as a ladder teeters precariously towards Mi-kyung, Baek-ho springs into action, shielding her from its impending fall. Amidst their heated exchange, in full view of everyone, Mi-kyung voices her reluctance to end their relationship, insisting that he should have stood his ground for her, considering how swiftly he folded under the slightest adversity. Realizing the intensity of their dispute, the rest of the team discreetly scatters, switching off the lights and leaving behind a first-aid kit for the pair. They proceed to lunch, resolute in their decision to allow the couple some private time to untangle their differences.
Mi-kyung tends to Baek-ho's wounds, and during their intimate conversation, he, at last, clutches her wrist, confessing his undying love for her. The epilogue finds Mi-kyung savoring her porridge, her actions revealing a deeper sentiment as she sifts through the trash, meticulously rescuing every token of their past with Baek-ho, including a cherished photograph of them from a retreat, their smiles frozen in time.
