Episode 2 of "When The Stars Gossip" kicks off with a captivating synopsis of the bustling activities aboard the space station, emphasizing the unique experiments poised to unfold in the weightless realm, unattainable by Earth's gravitational constraints. Amidst this cosmic endeavor, curiosity piques over Ryong's role beyond his tourist status; what exactly is his mission on this interstellar voyage? The revelation is impending!
As our trio—Santiago, Ryong, and Eve—voyages through the cosmos, their arrival at the space station is punctuated by a delicate docking sequence, a testament to the precision required for even the most mundane tasks in the vast expanse of space. The G.o-10 spacecraft eventually aligns and makes contact, yet the scene masterfully underscores the intricacies involved in space travel.
Upon tapping on the hatch multiple times, our trio is greeted by their fellow astronauts. Ryong arrives bearing a thoughtful "housewarming" gift, while an unexpected guest joins them—a swarm of houseflies, inadvertently invited by Santi's opening of a fruit bag. Eve eagerly embraces this twist of fate, particularly when she seizes a microscope to observe the mating ritual of the fruit flies, both male and female. A rather candid shot of the insects in their intimate moment is captured, perhaps unnecessarily so. Nevertheless, Eve's fascination captures everyone's attention on Earth, her absorption so profound that she delays their proceedings.
Meanwhile, Jae-ryong, perched in his office, grows increasingly impatient, his mind racing with an alternate plan that remains shrouded in mystery (more on that later). Back on Earth, the Seoul Mission Control Center (MCC) is equally perplexed by the unfolding scenario. With the fruit flies blocking the crucial lever needed to open the hatch, they're at an impasse, their operations momentarily halted by these unexpected interstellar visitors.Amidst the chaos, Ryong engages in playful jests, proposing to nickname the fruit flies "Public" and "Indecency." He teases Eve relentlessly, steadfastly refusing to address her as commander. Eventually, the hatch opens, revealing not only our trio but also Mina Lee, Kang-su (formerly introduced as Go-eun's ex-boyfriend in the previous episode), and Seung-joon. The introductions proceed smoothly, with one notable exception: Ryong, who clings to Eve like a shadow and grapples with adjusting to the novel experience of zero gravity. As Ryong floats around, attempting to acclimate to their new surroundings, Eve proudly displays a handful of lottery tickets—Ryong's whimsical housewarming gift. And then, the ultimate delight for all: ice cream!
A separate narrative thread interlaces this scene, one that was glimpsed briefly in episode 1 but now unfolds with greater clarity. Jae-ryong hatches a devious scheme to perpetuate his family lineage. Dong-hun, deceased yet his legacy preserved, has donated his sperm, which the Chairman aims to send into space—a radical approach to "straighten out" the sperm, presumably enhancing its fertility. Post that, they intend to impregnate Dong-hun's partner with these revitalized sperms.
The eggs, delicate cargo meant for this audacious endeavor, are clandestinely transported aboard via Ryong, who Jae-ryong had discreetly briefed before the launch. He reveals that the sperm will precede them on a cargo ship. Moreover, if Ryong succeeds in this mission, Jae-ryong might reconsider his stance on Ryong's relationship with Go-eun. However, there's a twist.
The eggs are cleverly concealed within a vanilla ice cream container—a flavor Go-eun had selfishly intended to hoard for himself. Little did he foresee that Eve, with an unexpected choice, would select precisely that tub of vanilla ice cream, unknowingly playing a pivotal role in Jae-ryong's grand scheme.
Eve, wielding a gun, looms over him ominously as she subjects the ice cream to a rigorous drug test, Ryong's desperation to reclaim it only fueling her suspicion. Naturally, no trace of illicit substances is found, but Eve's subsequent act of compressing the empty wrapper into a tiny ball raises concerns about the integrity of the ice cream—or rather, the eggs within, until a far greater dilemma unfolds. It transpires that the contaminated ice cream wasn't the one Ryong was so eager to retrieve; instead, it's the batch meant for Kang-su. Privately assuring Jae-ryong that all is well and operations proceed as scheduled, Kang-su feeds back a false report to the chairman.
When Go-eun and Min-Jung storm into the office, they are astounded to learn that the tainted goods have reached Kang-su's hands, bypassing Ryong entirely. However, Go-eun's phone call soon clarifies that Kang-su is merely a conduit in this intricate web. The true purpose of this space station, a sanctuary for breeding and fertility, emerges as the ideal cover for smuggling eggs and sperm onboard.
Confronting Kang-su about his duplicity, Ryong finds himself easily overpowered by the latter, whose resentment towards him, fueled by his romance with Go-eun, runs deep. Kang-su vows to reclaim Go-eun from Ryong's grasp, setting the stage for an escalating confrontation amidst the delicate dance of smuggling and deceit.
As Ryong retires for the night, joining the rest in slumber, our narrative weaves back into the tapestry of the past. It transpires that Jae-ryong and Ryong brokered a pact, wherein the latter harbored a dream for MZ Group to erect a fertility clinic in the cosmos, contingent upon the experiment's triumph. This audacious vision aimed to bestow a glimmer of hope upon countless souls yearning for such miraculous outcomes. Initially, the Chairman derided the notion with a sneer, yet he extended his hand in a gesture of accommodation, albeit evidently devoid of any intention to uphold Ryong's deal in earnest.
Upon dawn's early light, tension mounts within the confines of the space station, centered around the mice brought along for the journey. The male mouse, a subject of scrutiny, exhibits aggressive behavior, gnawing at the females. The team grapples with the moral dilemma, pondering whether euthanasia is the most humane course of action. Kang-su advocates for objectivity and adherence to protocol—a swift termination of the aggressive mouse.
Fate, however, intervenes when the mouse suffers a heart attack. Ryong and Eve, in a synchronized effort, spring into action to revive the creature. This singular act of compassion propels Ryong into the limelight, endearing him to both his fellow astronauts aboard and those monitoring from ground control. Even Jae-ryong finds himself impressed by the turn of events. Eve, in a moment of elation, embraces Ryong, her spirits lifted by the prospect of the mice finally mating. She labels him a brilliant physician and expresses her profound gratitude for his presence amidst their endeavor.
Amidst this jubilant atmosphere, Go-eun's phone call rings out, a distant echo in the cacophony of celebration. Yet, enveloped in the warmth of Eve's company and the camaraderie of his peers, Ryong chooses to let it ring unanswered, savoring this fleeting moment of triumph and unity.
