In the bustling heart of Seoul, five years prior to the present day, Noh In-ji's (Kim Hye-soo) life underwent a seismic shift. With merely ten days remaining before her wedding, her fiancé, Seo Do-ha, was ensnared in a public scandal of epic proportions. His bisexuality and an intimate affair with another man came to light at the hands of In-ji's own mother, ultimately resulting in his abrupt disappearance. This left In-ji shattered and humiliated, the weight of the scandal and her mother's betrayal becoming unbearable. Consequently, she was compelled to cancel her wedding.
In an emotionally charged moment, In-ji attempted to rid herself of her wedding ring, a symbol of her desire to escape the past. However, Lee Seon (Kim Eung-soo), the CEO of NM and her forthcoming employer, intercepted her actions and returned the ring. It was Lee Seon who presented In-ji with a job offer that would irrevocably alter the trajectory of her life—marriage as a profession. This nostalgic flashback establishes the intricate dynamics among the characters and the tumultuous path In-ji's life has taken.
In the contemporary timeline, Han Jeong-won (Lee Jung-jae) hastily conveys In-ji to the hospital after she shields him from a collapsing chandelier. Jeong-won's frustration towards In-ji for protecting a stranger like him is palpable. In-ji's pragmatic justification, asserting it was for her performance review, adds a humorous twist to the tense scenario. Their mutual aversion to tomatoes forms an unexpected bond between them, as In-ji reveals that Jeong-won is her fifth faux spouse.
As Jeong-won departs for work the following day, In-ji's curiosity leads her to uncover a stash of pills in his cabinet, hinting at the severity of his insomnia and the reliance on medication that defines his life. Jeong-won's confession to Hyeon-cheol (Yoo Hae-jin) about his arrangement with Seo-yeon (Kim Hee-ae) underscores the extreme measures he is willing to take to reconcile with his ex-wife. Hyeon-cheol's skepticism about trusting In-ji further intensifies the tension woven into the narrative.
Meanwhile, In-ji's shadowy past rears its ugly head as Eom Tae-song (Park Hee-soon), a figure intricately linked to her, begins to stalk her relentlessly. His unwelcome presence casts a chilling shadow over her life, compounded by the appearance of a guardian who keeps a watchful eye on her, hinting at a disturbing past marked by abuse or violence. Though In-ji brushes it off, Tae-song's persistent surveillance elevates the stakes for her, leaving her increasingly on edge.
Seo-yeon's medical examination uncovers a potential barrier to motherhood, yet her steadfast refusal to entertain precautions underscores her unwavering determination to hold the reins of her life tightly. Yun-a's (Kim Bo-ra) idle chatter about In-ji shielding Jeong-won leads Seo-yeon to mistakenly believe that a romantic entanglement binds In-ji and Jeong-won. However, Seo-yeon's foremost concern remains Jeong-won's welfare, her emotions wrapped tightly around his wellbeing.
As night descends, it brings forth a series of intimate and soul-baring moments. Jeong-won joins In-ji in watching a soccer match, creating a space where In-ji unburdens herself, revealing her initial motive for joining NM was revenge, but now it stems from a profound sense of competence. In return, Jeong-won bares his soul, sharing the harrowing tale of his abusive father and the tragic role the chandelier played in his family's downfall. The trust he places in In-ji, seeing her as a temporary confidant bound to safeguard his secrets, marks a pivotal moment in their burgeoning bond.
Seo-yeon's irritation at Jeong-won's ability to sleep without medication stands in stark contrast to her overt support. Her call to In-ji regarding Mr. Han's incident serves as a subtle reminder of the intricate, deceitful web that entwines Jeong-won. The following day, Hyeon-cheol and Yun-a's financial woes and their yearning to abandon the label due to Jeong-won's precarious situation highlight the profound personal sacrifices made by those caught in Jeong-won's orbit. Jeong-won's visit to his comatose father and his heartfelt wish for his father's death expose the profound depths of his resentment and suffering, painting a poignant picture of his tormented soul.
Jeong-won's awakening to find In-ji's childhood doll nestled beside him, with her presence by his side, crafts a tender moment that endows their relationship with a heartfelt humanity. In-ji's whimsical jest about dispatching Mr. Han injects a macabre humor into the undercurrent of tension simmering between them. The episode's zenith arrives when Seo-yeon, troubled by Jeong-won's newfound ability to slumber without medication, resolves to visit him, only to stumble upon In-ji's unexpected presence. The fortuitous spillage of tea and Seo-yeon's haunting reminiscence of her suicide attempt while in Jeong-won's company add an emotional depth to her character, enriching her complexity.
Jeong-won receives a cryptic text message querying his trust in In-ji, and the episode concludes with a tea party shared between Seo-yeon and In-ji. During this gathering, In-ji reveals her awareness of Jeong-won's ex-wife's identity as Lee Seo-yeon, an architect. This revelation serves as a catalyst, setting the scene for the intricate power dynamics and emotionally charged entanglements poised to unfold in subsequent episodes. "The Trunk," Season 1 Episode 2, emerges as a virtuoso display of storytelling, intertwining a tapestry of affection, deceit, and concealed truths that grip viewers to the brink of their seats. The meticulous cultivation of character depth and the gradual unfurling of each individual's motives forge a suspenseful ambiance, heralding an exhilarating journey yet to unfold.
