The eighth episode of "When Life Gives You Tangerines" kicks off with a dramatic twist as Geum-myeong finds herself inadvertently entangled at the police station. Her plight stems from the clandestine nature of tutoring, rendering her unable to rationalize the payment owed by a client for educating her child, which under the law's shadow, appears suspiciously like an illicit transaction.
Meanwhile, in a parallel narrative thread, Gwan-sik interrogates Yeong-beom about his tumultuous relationship with Geum-myeong, unearthing a pattern of an "on-again, off-again" romance where Geum-myeong has consistently declined Yeong-beom's affections, no less than eight times. Gwan-sik's introspection leads him to a startling realization: Yeong-beom bears an uncanny resemblance to a younger version of himself, while Geum-myeong mirrors Ae-soon almost like a living doppelgänger.
At the residence of Geum-myeong's employer, a housekeeper who has been privy to the woman's sinister scheme all along intervenes. With steel in her voice, she issues an ultimatum – retract the complaint against Geum-myeong or face the loss of an original diamond ring, a symbol of the woman's duplicity. The woman caves under the pressure, revealing a twist: the housekeeper is none other than the individual whom Gwan-sik and Ae-soon had once heroically rescued from a scam at a guesthouse in Busan. Touched by the serendipitous similarity between Geum-myeong and Ae-soon, the housekeeper feels compelled to repay the kindness extended to her, even if it means aiding a complete stranger.
Unbeknownst to Geum-myeong, her world is being propped up by this unseen act of generosity. Burdened by anxiety, she fears the repercussions of the police complaint coming to light, particularly Ae-soon and Gwan-sik's potential disappointment. In a bid to preemptively confront the impending storm, she dials Ae-soon's number only to learn that Gwan-sik, fresh from receiving an award for bravery at sea from the governor, is en route to visit her. The stage is set for a convergence of past and present, kindness and consequences, as the threads of their intertwined lives begin to tighten.
When they finally converge, their reunion unfolds into an uncomfortable dinner, where Geum-myeong unburdens herself of all her pent-up emotions—the agony of poverty, the inability to chase her aspirations, and the heart-wrenching loss of well-deserved opportunities such as the Japanese study abroad program. In the wake of this emotional outlet, she bids her father a poignant farewell, realizing that he had ventured far beyond his intended destination solely to reconnect with her.
As Gwan-sik departs, Geum-myeong sheds tears as she says goodbye to Yeong-beom, who must return to his military duties after his brief leave. Later, we catch glimpses of her wedding day, where tears stream down her cheeks as Gwan-sik walks her down the aisle, preparing her for her new life.
Back in Jeju, Ae-soon and the fellow haenyeos attend a poetry competition for schoolchildren, witnessing one of the aunties bravely submitting her own verse. Meanwhile, at the café where Ae-soon once encountered Sang-sil, preparations are in full swing for a shop that Ae-soon intends to open alongside the haenyeos.
Concurrently, Geum-myeong's teacher extends a generous offer to sponsor her study abroad journey, a prospect she eagerly shares with Ae-soon. However, this revelation sparks a heated discussion, as Ae-soon insists on knowing if Geum-myeong truly harbors a desire to embark on this venture.
Geum-myeong's aspiration to study overseas propels Ae-soon and Gwan-sik to make a profound sacrifice—selling their cherished home to finance her trip. That night, Ae-soon finds herself dreaming of her mother once more, as if she has come to bid a final, heartfelt farewell. Within the dreamscape, her mother offers comfort, while Ae-soon also says a poignant goodbye to her deceased son.
The family's relocation to Seoul coincides with Geum-myeong's departure for Japan, her heart heavy with grief as she holds the stack of money that Ae-soon had diligently saved for her. As Episode 8 of "When Life Gives You Tangerines" draws to a close, Ae-soon's poetry is declared the winner of the competition, yet the school's search for a student named Ae-soon remains futile, leaving a poignant reminder of the unspoken stories that often lie beneath the surface.
