Episode 2 of "The Potato Lab" kicks off with Ong-ju playfully teasing Mi-kyung about the dramatic scene that unfolded in the rain. However, the atmosphere thickens with embarrassment as Hwan-kyung and Ong-ju announce their decision to host Baek-ho as a guest, a move necessitated by their previous difficulties in filling the guesthouse.
That evening, Mi-kyung arrives at the guesthouse to confront Baek-ho, suspecting an ulterior motive behind his choice of accommodation—perhaps to deliberately irritate her. Baek-ho, however, artfully clarifies his reasons, emphasizing that his selection of the guesthouse is purely coincidental. Mi-kyung swiftly asserts her boundaries, reminding the group that their work at the lab demands a clear separation between their professional and personal lives.
Ong-ju remains unconvinced, presenting what she believes to be compelling evidence of Mi-kyung's attraction to Baek-ho, based on her history of harboring feelings for men whose names end in "ho." Mi-kyung finds her claims absurd, and even Park Ki-se finds them hard to swallow!
At the lab, the tension mounts as Mi-kyung and her colleagues learn more about their director, who goes by the nickname ATH (All Talk, From Hell) for his habit of verbally decimating others. Lunch becomes an awkward encounter when they end up sharing a table with him.
The arrival of the farming ladies adds a humorous twist to the situation, as Baek-ho struggles to maintain composure under their playful teasing. Outside, Mi-kyung warns him that his stay will not be an easy ride, but Baek-ho stands his ground, giving as good as he gets.
Back at Wonhan Retail, we uncover that Ki-se holds the position of Executive Director in the Strategic Planning Department. He was once married to Hee-jin, a resident of the guesthouse, and is still in the midst of a divorce. His day takes a sour turn when he is reprimanded by CEO Yoon, who unexpectedly visits his office in the afternoon.
A rift of animosity also runs deep between Ki-se and Baek-ho, with the latter originally being dispatched to the lab by the former. Yoon criticizes the pettiness of this situation, but Ki-se strikes back, menacingly hinting at spreading rumors about Yoon's unrequited love and infatuation towards Baek-ho. Additionally, he subtly suggests an improper liaison between Chairman Wang and Baek-ho. It later transpires that Chairman Wang is also Yoon's mother.
The specifics of the past between Mi-kyung and Ki-se remain obscure, but Ki-se eventually discovers that Mi-kyung is at the potato lab—the very same place he had earlier sent Baek-ho.
Mi-kyung persists in troubling Baek-ho, this time orchestrating a greeting for him by bringing in the President of the Yongeul-ri Youth Association and other powerful villagers. As Baek-ho faces their scrutiny for not being a proper guest, Mi-kyung watches silently. He is also informed that he must contribute to the Village Development Fund.
Defying the village head, Baek-ho boldly provides his lawyer's information and resolves to confront him directly. However, things don't unfold as planned. That night, Mi-kyung, acknowledging defeat, brings food to Baek-ho. Despite Mi-kyung's childish antics, Baek-ho remains steadfast and categorically refuses to pay the fee, even when Mi-kyung offers to cover it for him. Thus, the situation concludes once again on a tense and unresolved note.
The following day, the drama unfolded further as the village chiefs confronted Baek-ho, encircling him and creating a deadlock. A white line etched across the ground demarcated Byun's territory, and with a smirk, he produced a land deed, proudly asserting his ownership of the entire area. Moreover, this was a private road, rendering Baek-ho powerless under the law. To rub salt in the wound, they had verified the legality through Baek-ho's own lawyer, and the absence of taxis in the vicinity left him truly stranded!
Back at the guesthouse, Mi-kyung came to the director's rescue and agreed to chauffeur him to work, albeit with a twist: he had to endure the indignity of riding in the back of a pickup truck. Of course, she didn't miss an opportunity to jar him over bumps and take sharp turns at breakneck speed. Despite this ordeal, Mi-kyung dropped Baek-ho off at the main gates, but his steadfast refusal to capitulate and pay the measly 85,000 won fee underscored his stubborn resolve. It seemed like an exorbitant hassle for such a paltry sum!
Meanwhile, Mi-kyung had problems of her own to contend with. The entire Crop Team had been hospitalized after a team dinner turned toxic, leaving the pepper field adjacent to the seed production area infested with aphids. This presented a dire situation, especially with no one from the Crop Production team available to intervene. They would have to rely on the Potato Lab crew to step in, save the seed potatoes, and manage pest control.
Mi-kyung elaborated to Baek-ho on the urgency of their involvement, but fashion-conscious and averse to bright, flashy colors, he stuck to his suit and sprayed pesticide in his own unique manner. The spectacle was rather amusing, especially as he caused havoc among the workers by collapsing on top of Jung-hae, sparking a hilariously romantic moment where they lay staring at each other on the ground. Matters worsened when a miscommunication led to the hose being yanked away, adding to the chaos.
Later on, the gang proceeds to take a shower, with Baek-ho waiting patiently until everyone else had finished, so he could indulge in some solitude. Mi-kyung, concerned for his wellbeing, decides to check up on him, and to her surprise, finds him standing there, soaking wet, his t-shirt clinging to his muscular frame.
Despite Mi-kyung's initial hesitance, Baek-ho decides to join in the camaraderie, sharing food and drinks with the team. Unbeknownst to them, Baek-ho had apparently never tasted the dizzying effects of alcohol before. Mi-kyung, determined to show him what he's been missing, proceeds to get him thoroughly intoxicated.
In the aftermath, as Baek-ho slumps in the back of her truck, Mi-kyung too finds herself under the influence, unable to drive. She reluctantly calls for their designated driver to come to their rescue. In the meantime, Mi-kyung ends up sitting in the back of the truck, with Baek-ho's head resting on her shoulder. Though she initially pushes him away, the tables turn when Mi-kyung awakens to find herself cradled in Baek-ho's strong arms. In a moment of whimsical abandon, she teasingly calls him the "hot director" from her beloved manga and, leaning forward, plants a kiss on his lips.
