My Dearest Nemesis: Episodes 9-10

by Unit

In our penultimate week, our leads deal with the fallout of finding out about their joint dark history. As they navigate the future of their romance, they are hit with other obstacles that will either make their relationship or break them apart completely.

EPISODES 9-10

We resume with Soo-jung and Joo-yeon finding out that they’re each other’s first loves, and this doesn’t go down well with Soo-jung. When she was much younger, her dad spent more time taking care of her sick mom and she grew up having to be strong for herself and to take care of Soo-bin. Black Dragon was the first person Soo-jung wanted to rely on, and that’s why his catfishing devastated her. On the other hand, Joo-yeon has no idea how to feel now that the person who read him for filth and hurt him in the past is the same person who makes him happy in the present.

Ha-jin decides she and Shin-won need to come clean to Soo-jung and Joo-yeon, but at this point, the duo already know about their shared past. Soo-jung and Joo-yeon temporarily put aside their beef to drag Ha-jin and Shin-won for beginning their relationship off the back of separating the first loves. Heh. But the conversation soon circles back to the disastrous first love, and Soo-jung calls it quits. Joo-yeon protests, but she insists that it will be difficult to continue liking him with the knowledge that he is Black Dragon, and the best choice for both of them is to end the relationship. Cue: moments of awkwardness between them at work, and Joo-yeon’s unromantic abuse of power — where he makes Soo-jung sit in his office doing nothing for several productive minutes. Smh.

Soo-jung confronts Joo-yeon after a while, and he apologizes for lying about his age back then. He asks if she can forgive him, forget the lie, and just see him as the current Ban Joo-yeon. But nope, Soo-jung’s mind is made up. Joo-yeon doesn’t understand why she’s ending things when she likes him, and I can get behind his argument because Soo-jung’s choice to break up with him now is subjective. But then he unreasonably compares it to the past when she left him — and while I can understand why 15-year-old Joo-yeon would have been hurt, you’d think a 30-year-old Joo-yeon would understand her better. Anyway, after hosting a pity party with Shin-won, Joo-yeon finally realizes how much his lie hurt Ha-jin. Better late than never.

In the midst of the breakup blues, news breaks that the Yongsung successor is getting married, and the accompanying picture in the article is from Joo-yeon’s meet and greet with Soo-jung’s family. Oops! Soo-jung is the subject of gossip and snide comments at work, but her lovely team members are adamant that the rumor is false — because Soo-jung and Joo-yeon are always arguing at work. Oh, you sweet summer children. Secretary Kwon also reports to Grandma that there is no truth to the rumor, but Grandma still wants to get rid of Soo-jung. Joo-yeon argues that Soo-jung is actively involved in the renewal project that the department store is working on, and Grandma relents. But she warns that if she gets a whiff of anything else, she will handle it herself. How scary!

Soo-jung is worried about Joo-yeon now that Grandma is involved, but he shuts down her concern because they’re no longer in a relationship. His sudden cold attitude hits her like a ton of bricks, and she breaks down in tears at home for the first time in forever. Joo-yeon buries himself in work to get over the breakup, and he ends up falling so sick that he has to take a day off. Following this, Soo-jung has a mini conference with her head and her heart, and she decides to leave the past in the past. Cue: rushing over to Joo-yeon’s house to nurse him back to health, apologies, reassurances, recommitment to their relationship, and kisses. And more kisses. And spending the night together. Awww.

The next morning, Soo-jung is caught in her walk of shame, and she tells her dad that she’s back together with Joo-yeon. Dad is worried because chaebol families are not normal, but he trusts her decision. And as long as his daughter is happy, he is happy. But Grandma is not from that parental school of thought, and she fires Joo-yeon after hearing that Soo-jung spent the night at his place. Joo-yeon goes on his knees to beg and promise that being in a relationship won’t derail his work, but that falls on deaf ears. Joo-yeon finally realizes he will never be good enough for Grandma and she confirms it by saying he was never a substitute for her son, he was just a defect. Ugh! You can never make me like this woman.

The amazing Secretary Kwon resigns after Grandma criticizes her for covering up for Joo-yeon, but she has no regrets. Apparently, she has always known about his double life, but kept mum because his suppression of emotions and feelings reminded her of Grandma remaining strong and stoic after her son’s death. Secretary Kwon figured it was a good trait for a successor to have, but no more. She wants Joo-yeon to be happy in love, and she’s relieved that someone like Soo-jung is by his side. Joo-yeon is touched and he gives her a respectful bow and thanks her for working with him all these years. *Sniff* Show, can’t we keep her and blast Grandma off to space?

Now that Joo-yeon is in his jobless era, he spends time connecting with Soo-jung’s family. Soo-bin is more accepting of him now, and they bond over their shared joblessness, Joo-yeon’s nonexistent handyman skills, and his surprisingly good cooking skills. They have a lovely time over dinner, and it’s the first time Joo-yeon is actually sitting to eat in a family setting since his parents passed away. Dad and Soo-bin are further endeared to Joo-yeon when they hear this, and they make him sleep over — but not before fighting over whose room will host their precious in-law. Lol.

Grandma transfers Soo-jung to the facilities management hoping that she’ll be humiliated enough to quit. But, ma’am, have you actually met Soo-jung? She’s a resilient worker — with handyman skills to boot! She’s going to thrive in this department. Lol. Soo-jung’s refusal to quit also upsets the jealous coworker — who hates her because she is the only person who speaks her mind and refuses to cower in the face of office politics. Coworker can’t understand why that same Soo-jung is so accepting of this obvious humiliation, and Soo-jung explains that her intolerance of injustice was to protect herself, but now that she wants to protect someone else, she has to put up with Grandma’s crap.

A frustrated Grandma eventually summons Soo-jung to ask why she’s not giving in to the pressure to quit. “Because [Joo-yeon] might come back,” she replies. Grandma scoffs at the ridiculous — well, to her — notion that Joo-yeon will be allowed to return. But as far as Soo-jung is concerned, no one is more qualified for the directorship than he is. Soo-jung takes a swipe at Grandma asking if she is at ease after blaming all her misfortunes on Joo-yeon, before concluding that she’s not holding out because she wants Joo-yeon to get back the successor position, but because she wants him to get back his family. Which, unfortunately, is Grandma. Ugh! That woman doesn’t deserve her grandson.

Ha-jin’s mom drops by her restaurant, and Ha-jin hurriedly introduces Shin-won as her boyfriend a part-time worker to avoid unnecessary drama. But drama comes in the form of her ex-husband (cameo by Shin Hyun-soo). I thought it was weird that Mom kept hounding Ha-jin about the divorce, but it turns out she didn’t know that Ex cheated. Mom immediately turns on Ex when Ha-jin spills the tea, and of course, she’s thrilled when she learns that her daughter is dating Shin-won. But Ha-jin is uncomfortable with Shin-won getting too involved in her drama, and she draws the line to prevent him from getting any deeper. Shin-won reiterates that he wants more than just a casual relationship, and their differing stance on what they want from the relationship puts a wrench in the whole thing. Sigh.

Back to our main couple, Joo-yeon finds out about Soo-jung’s transfer and confronts her. He wants her to quit rather than endure the humiliation, but she’s unwilling to throw away the time and effort she devoted to the company just because Grandma is being petty. “I made this decision for myself because I love you,” Soo-jung says, and Joo-yeon comes to a decision as well. Next thing you know, he’s back in his chaebol suit and in his position as director. How he achieved that, we shall find out next week.

I don’t believe Grandma suddenly grew a heart in the black hole that is her chest after her conversation with Soo-jung, so I’m guessing Joo-yeon most likely cut a deal with her to get back his position. I want to believe that said deal will not jeopardize his relationship with Soo-jung, and I also want to believe that Ha-jin and Shin-won will reach a compromise and find a way to make their relationship work. We must get our happy ending on all sides.

 
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