Love and Obsession – Episodes 133 - 137
Janghwa is back home now, and she seems genuinely distressed about the question Boy-Toy handed her (“Is it my baby?”). But, when she checks a calendar to confirm the conception date, she relaxes. It can’t possibly be Boy-Toy’s baby.
She goes back to Boy-Toy, and gives him the news. She tells him that she was worried for a moment, but she checked. There’s no way the baby could be his.
*****
Things seem to be looking up for Hongryeon. She buys the Dragon House from Suchan, using the money she saved from working at the E-city food mart. And Hongryeon, Gongmi, and the kids all move in together.
But, Park Seokdu met up with Janghwa's Boy-Toy, furious that his money is gone, and even more furious that Hongryeon’s gone, too. “If Hongryeon touched my money,” he tells Boy-Toy, “I’ll kill her!”
And, from the sound of it, he wasn’t joking.
*****
Janghwa is still trying. She even offered to make porridge for Princess (though she ended up having her mother make it for her). She knows that people responded positively to Hongryeon because she sincerely meant it, and (she tells herself) she’s going to mean it now, too.
But, when she meets up with Taeyun at the hospital, things turn ugly. Taeyun gives it to her bluntly: “This whole situation feels like I’m in Hell,” he says to her. “Why are you so obsessed with me? Don’t you have any pride?”
Janghwa shoots right back. “Pride?” she asks. “I lost it all, and went to Hell and back.”
And, during the argument, Princess attempts to speak. Janghwa’s family is delighted, telling Taeyun that this is proof that Janghwa’s dedication is paying off. But, when the listen closely, they can hear what Princess is trying to say:
“Hong . . . ryeon . . .” she keeps repeating, over and over.
Janghwa recoils back, as if she had been hit by a truck. Even Aunt is shocked that Princess is asking for Hongryeon. And Taeyun doesn’t know how he’ll ever tell his mother that the Hongryeon she loved as a daughter is gone, and that the woman who abandoned her is now caring for her.
*****
Park Seokdu meets up with one of Taeyun’s lawyers. No worries, he’s told. The $5 million was just converted from stocks to cash. But . . . there’s one thing he needs to know. The account is a joint account, in his and Gilran’s name, and so he needs Hongryeon’s consent to withdraw money from it. But, if he agrees to drop his child custody battle, then Gilran’s name will be removed from the account, and he’ll have full control over the money.
Seokdu is furious (it looks like Boy-Toy was right: Seokdu doesn’t just want the money, he wants Gilran, too).
*****
Janghwa has just about had enough. She’s pregnant, and nursing Taeyun’s mother, and she’s still not being accepted. She finally blurts out that she’s so sick and tired of it, that she can’t do it any more. But, the next day, she tells her parents that she won’t give up. She’ll continue to nurse Princess, even if Princess keeps asking for Hongryeon.
And she tells the same to Taeyun. “I’m sick and tired of you and mother for hating me, no matter what I do. But, I won’t leave. I don’t care if you and mother want Hongryeon. I’m here. Don’t try to understand it. I’m going to have your baby, and live with you.”
Indeed, Taeyun doesn’t understand it. “Is it out of spite?” he asks. “What good is that? You hate my mother enough to abandon her, and I despise you. What’s the use of staying by my side?”
Janghwa shoots right back. “That’s not important. What’s important is that I’m here, not Hongryeon.”
*****
A very persistent entrepreneur has been chasing down Hongryeon, and finally finds her at the Dragon House. He loved Hongryeon’s little restaurant at the E-city Food Court, and he desperately wants to enter her cooking at the Seoul Food Expo. If she wins, he says, he’ll franchise her business throughout Korea. But, Hongryeon says that there’s no way she’s going back to Seoul.
But, Hongryeon offers him an opportunity: if she wins first place at the Food Expo, she’ll agree to the franchise – but only if the franchise headquarters is located in her hometown (the location of the Dragon House). Surprisingly, he happily agrees to Hongryeon’s terms.
*****
Janghwa moves back into Taeyun’s house. The housekeeper is aghast, and she asks if she has Taeyun’s permission. “I don’t need his approval, “ she retorts.
Taeyun isn’t exactly happy with Janghwa’s arrival, and lets her know flat-out. And Janghwa tells him that he’s treating her unfairly.
“Do you think you were the only one who was treated unfairly?” he asks. “I chose Hongryeon over you and the baby, but that didn’t work out. I gave up on Hongryeon because you wouldn’t let go. But know this: I married Hongryeon. She’s the only wife in my heart. My heart is empty since the woman I love left. THAT’S unfair.”
“But,” he adds, “if you still want to try, go ahead. I’ll watch you be ruined.” And then, he walks out on her!
Janghwa walks into the bath, turns on the shower, and then just sits there, crying.
*****
Princess begins having convulsions, and she immediately gets rushed into emergency surgery. And, at the same time, Hongryeon awakens from an awful nightmare, where she saw Princess walking a dangerous path alone. But, Gongmi reminds her that there’s nothing she can do about it, anyway.
And later, as Princess is wheeled out of surgery, the doctor informs the family that she’s in grave condition. She could die any day, and – at best – she has no more than a month left to live. But, despite her desperate condition, Princess is still awake and speaking, and she even manages to get out an entire sentence: “Hongryeon. When I die, I want her by my side.”
*****
Sara (the E-city beauty shop manager) tries to explain things to an increasingly desperate Janghwa. “Hongryeon said that family should be treated as if they’ll never be seen again. People always think that family will always be there, without any effort. You’re trying to keep your family, but it’s too late.”
Janghwa, sobbing, tells Sara “I’m trying. I want to do well. I’m trying.”
But, the next day, Janghwa gives up on Princess, telling herself that from now on, she’ll concentrate on “the things I can get.”
*****
Rumor has it that E-city is in financial trouble. Taeyun doesn’t care any more, and Hongryeon’s project for the new E-city branch is dead in the water. Janghwa volunteers to take Hongryeon’s place at the next board meeting, and Aunt approves. Janghwa’s old friend Jeonghae knows exactly what’s happening. “She’s going to fill her heart with money, fame, and power,” she says.
And, at the board meeting, Janghwa tells the board members that although Princess’ inheritance was intended for charity, there’s a clause that permits the money to be used for a plausible business. The new branch is going to waste, she tells them, so she’s taking over the project. And she’s going to enter E-city into the Korean Food Expo (using Hongryeon’s old plan, and then taking all the credit).
The big shareholders are enthusiastic. And Janghwa is happy. “Things were complicated,” she says. “I couldn’t stand it, so I settled things in my own way.”
Little does Janghwa know that Hongryeon is going to be at the Food Expo, too.
Taeyun’s aide informs him that Janghwa is effectively taking over control of E-city, and that the shareholders seem to think that she has Taeyun’s approval. Even worse, she’s taking Hongryeon’s ideas, and presenting them as her own.
Taeyun doesn’t care. “We’ll remember how evil you were,” he tells Janghwa, “That’s how we’ll remember you.”
Janghwa shrugs it off. “I don’t care. You’re mine. You won’t be able to look at Hongryeon. You can’t be with her, ever.”
“And you’ll die without being loved,” Taeyun replies.
“You’ll beg before then,” Janghwa tells him. “You’ll beg when the baby is born. We’ll see who the winner is then.”
*****
Suchan is at the Dragon House, and he’s almost in a daze, not knowing if he should tell Hongryeon about the events in Seoul. Hongryeon has been worrying about her bad dream, but Suchan (lying) tells her that he doesn't know, since he hasn’t been in contact with them. Nor does Hongryeon know that she’ll be going up against Janghwa in the Food Expo. Suchan tries to dissuade her from competing, but Hongryeon just laughs it off, saying she doesn’t care if she doesn’t win.
*****
An angry Park Seokdu shows up at the E-city Food Court, doing his best gangster imitation by overturning tables and breaking things, and demanding to know Hongryeon’s whereabouts. No one knows, though – except Suchan’s sister, who found out that Suchan had just bought the Dragon House. And she tells Seokdu everything she knows . . .
*****
The Food Expo is under way. Sara (Janghwa’s friend) is there, and Janghwa confides in her, saying that she won’t beg for Taeyun’s love any more. She’ll just get whatever she can get. And she instructs her staff to do whatever it takes to win first place. “We already have people on our side,” an aide tells her.
And then she sees Hongryeon, and Hongryeon sees her . . .
And “Queen Janghwa” is back. “I’d hoped we’d never meet again,” she sneers at Hongryeon, “but here we are. Taeyun put me in charge [not true – though the E-city people accompanying her seem to think so]. We’re entering the Food Expo.”
Janghwa is intimidating, and although Hongryeon seems nervous, she doesn’t flinch. “Yeah?” she says. “Then I guess we have to see other. I’m here for that.”
*****
Hongryeon and Gongmi have their own booth promoting their new franchise. Hyunggu and Jeonghae enter (presumably to visit Janghwa) and they are astonished to see Hongryeon and Gongmi there. They excitedly greet them, and Hyunggu comments that he’s not sure now who to cheer for, Hongryeon or E-city (a comment that makes Gongmi scowl). But, when Hongryeon leaves to use the restroom, Gongmi asks them not to mention anything about Taeyun or E-city. Hongryeon is having a tough time as it is, she tells them.
Hongryeon runs into Janghwa in the restroom. Janghwa tells Hongryeon that Princess is awake, and (lying again) that she’s doing fine. Hongryeon is thrilled at the news, but Janghwa dampens her mood by telling her that Princess doesn’t even remember her. All Princess cares about now, she says, is the new grandchild that’s on the way. And, Janghwa adds, how arrogant of her to think that everything would just fall apart because she left. Things are going well, she says, now that she’s gone. “There is no place for you in our family, so stop calling her ‘Mother,’” she tells her.
Later, Hongryeon cries about it. “I should be happy that everyone is fine without me. But why do I feel so sad?”
*****
At the hospital, Princess – still barely alive – is seen crying again. Her dying wish, it seems, is to see Hongryeon again. Aunt knows that she’s suffering, but when she asks Taeyun to bring Hongryeon, Taeyun asks her, how selfish can they possibly be? Are they really going to ask Hongryeon to come to comfort Princess, and then tell her to leave and never come back as soon as Princess dies?
So, Aunt takes it upon herself to find Hongryeon – but where could she be? She tells Janghwa that she can’t stand to see Princess like that, and that she wants to bring Hongryeon to see her. “I won’t be able to face her after I die,” she tells Janghwa. But Janghwa insists that nobody knows where Hongryeon is.
Aunt meets up with Hyunggu and Jeonghae a while later, and she asks them about it. They refuse to say anything at first, but Jeonghae finally tells Aunt that she’s at the Food Expo in Seoul, and that she’s even competing against Janghwa. “She’s running into Janghwa all the time,” Jeonghae tells Aunt. “We feel so sorry for her.”
And Aunt now realizes that Janghwa has lied to her . . .
*****
A very angry Park Seokdu shows up at the Dragon House, beating at the front gate, and demanding to see Hongryeon. Only the kids are home, and they fearfully try hiding under a table. Fortunately, a neighbor woman comes by, and she tells Seokdu that Hongryeon has gone to Seoul for a few days. Seokdu leaves – for now.
*****
Janghwa sternly instructs her staff that Hongryeon can’t be involved again with E-city. “Don’t tell anyone you saw Hongryeon, or know where she is,” she tells them. So, when Aunt asks Janghwa’s secretary to take her to the Dragon House, the secretary mumbles something about having “too much work to do at the office.”
Aunt suspects that the secretary is lying, so she summons Janghwa.
Aunt: “I know you saw her at the Food Expo. I know how you feel, but you overstepped your bounds by controlling the secretary.”
Janghwa: “I don’t want Hongryeon to come.”
Aunt: “Are your feelings more important than someone who is dying? Will you take me to the Dragon House, or will you get someone who knows?”
*****
Gongmi is back at the Dragon House, where the neighbor woman informs her that Park Seokdu had come by. And (thanks to the neighbor) she also learns that Nice Guy Suchan’s sister was the one who directed him there!
And, shortly afterwards, they have another visitor: Aunt.
Aunt is nervously contrite, but Gongmi is in no mood for this unwanted guest. “Get out. Nobody from Electron City is allowed to set foot here. Forget it. You kicked her out. Why did you come here? I don’t care what your reason is. Leave before I spray you with water.” Before Aunt gets doused, though, Hongryeon shows up, and Aunt tells her that Princess is dying.
Gongmi urges her not to go. “What did they do for you? They were so cruel to you. Let Aunt and Janghwa do whatever they want to do. How dare she come here? Kick her out.”
Aunt is waiting outside, and hearing everything that’s being said. And she’s unhappy with what she’s hearing – because she knows it’s all true.
But Hongryeon responds: “If you don’t understand how I feel, you don’t know my relationship with Mother. If I abandon her because I’m upset, I can’t say we’re family. If she needs me, I’ll go.”
Hongryeon arrives at the hospital with Aunt, where she sits bedside with Princess. Princess immediately recognizes her, smiles at her, and calls her “daughter.” Princess then falls asleep – and it’s the first peaceful sleep she’s had since she regained consciousness.
And Aunt has seen Hongryeon’s true sincerity, and she seems to have been genuinely moved by it.
*****
Suchan returns home. Gongmi had told him that his sister (the bad singer) directed Park Seokdu to the Dragon House, and the sister admits that it’s true. He’s furious, and he angrily tells her that he’s breaking off all ties with her. “Don’t think of seeing me again,” he tells her.
*****
Janghwa is pacing the house, worried about what Hongryeon might do at the hospital (especially since Taeyun has moved into a hospital room nearby, to be near his mother). When his aide tells him that Hongryeon was just there, he rushes to see her, but she’s already left.
Taeyun goes running outside, and he sees Hongryeon sobbing at the stairway leading down from the hospital entrance. She sees him, but they barely exchange a word. But, as they part, they think to themselves:
Taeyun: “I missed you. Didn’t you miss me?”
Hongryeon: “I missed you. I missed you so much.”
Taeyun: “I missed you, even in my dreams. I’m glad I saw you, but there’s nothing I can do.”
Hongryeon: “I missed you so much, but I can’t even tell you, and I have to leave again.”
Janghwa arrives on the scene just as Taeyun longingly watches Hongryeon depart. The last thing she wanted was for Taeyun and Hongryeon to meet again – but it’s happened nonetheless. She seems angry, nervous, and frightened – all at the same time.
*****
It’s time to announce the winner of the Food Expo, and Janghwa is strutting about with total confidence. “The Ilsan branch president is good,” Sara says. “He has everything taken care of.” But then Sara asks her: “Do you want to win because of Hongryeon?”
Janghwa gives it to her straight. “Mother and Hongryeon met. Thanks to that, I didn’t get any sleep. I have to see her fail today, for a good night’s sleep.”
But, when the judging is announced, “Hongryeon’s Fried Rice” comes up the winner. (!) E-City finishes a close second - but in this contest, second place means nothing. Janghwa is steaming mad, and one of her aides explains things to her. “The judges were with us, but the voters couldn’t be controlled.”
Back at the E-city food court, everyone (aside from Janghwa, who was a no-show) is celebrating Hongryeon’s victory. But, Aunt calls just as the party is getting started, and she’s asking to see Hongryeon.
It’s fine with Hongryeon, since she wanted to say goodbye to Princess anyway, but when Hongryeon tries to leave the hospital room, poor Princess begins sobbing. And Aunt (who honestly doesn’t seem too crazy about the idea) takes Hongryeon aside, and she begs her to come by the hospital and visit as often as she can.
After Hongryeon leaves, Aunt calls for Janghwa, and she tells her that she wants Hongryeon to visit Princess frequently. Janghwa tells Aunt that she’s against it. “My pride will be hurt if Hongryeon comes,” she says.
Aunt is clearly starting to get irritated with Janghwa. “You’re not the only one worried about Hongryeon coming. Taeyun and I were both against it. Taeyun said he couldn’t ask Hongryeon to come. Hongryeon considered Taeyun’s feelings first, too. You’re the only one thinking about yourself!”
*****
A very frustrated and irritated Janghwa goes off to confront Hongryeon (at Hyunggu’s and Jeonghae’s apartment, where she’s staying) and Janghwa leads right off with the insults. “Are you happy that you won?” Janghwa asks her. “I realized that you were meant to cook in a kitchen all your life. Are you glad Aunt asked you to care for Mother? Nursing sick people suits you. Take care of Mother. I’m going to live a leisurely life with Taeyun.”
Hongryeon fires right back. “You still haven’t changed. You still don’t know what a family is. You’re the only person that’s important to you. That’s why you and Mother can’t be family. You’ll qualify to talk about family when you care for someone more than yourself.”
Hongryeon’s words stung Janghwa, and when she returns to her parents’ home, she confesses to her mother. “I feel so pathetic,” she says. “I want to be honorable, but I don’t have anything. I only have an empty shell, and everyone knows it. Everyone will see that, and I’m scared.”
*****
A very angry Park Seokdu telephones Hongryeon at the Dragon House. She tells him to come by and see her.
“Come and see you?” he says. “Fine, I will. You dare take my money? You know what will happen, right? Have a coffin ready.”
Gongmi is horrified that she told him to come by, but Hongryeon seems ready. “I planned this before I came. It’s time we ended this.”
But, what could Hongryeon have possibly planned to deal with this very violent and dangerous man?
*****
Janghwa’s Boy-Toy meets up with Janghwa, for what he insists will be the very last time. He seems ready to give up, but before he leaves, he wants her assurance again that the baby she’s carrying isn’t his. Janghwa seems irritated at his question. “It’s not yours, it’s my husband’s,” she tells him. And Boy-Toy says that if that’s true, then he’ll leave.
But, Janghwa’s been having stomach pains, and as she’s leaving, she collapses right in front of Boy-Toy, and he rushes her to the hospital.
Janghwa gets checked over at the hospital, and the doctor tells her that the baby’s fine. But, the doctor also says that there’s one issue she needs to mention. “There is a discrepancy as to when you conceived. There is bleeding because the placenta is weak. That’s why you have stomach pains. What you thought was your last period was bleeding. You’re not two months pregnant. You’re four months pregnant.”
Which means . . . that the baby COULD be Boy-Toy’s after all?
?
****************
In the secondary plotlines . . .
Actor Boy continues to get beaten up by the middle-aged “Cougar” he just married. His face is so black-and blue now, that he can’t even get acting jobs. Even worse, Hyunggu somehow uncovered word on the Cougar’s ex-husband. It seems he became disabled, and moved to America.
What worries Actor Boy is that his new bride told him that her ex-husband was dead. In reality, Actor Boy’s new bride is an alcoholic who repeatedly beat her ex-husband, and when he finally asked for a divorce, she attacked him with a pitchfork, permanently disabling him.
Actor Boy ultimately escapes to the Dragon House, and he exposes his bruised face to Gongmi (his honorable ex-wife). She’s horrified. It turns out that he brought his luggage with him, and he asks her if he can hide out there.
And Actor Boy’s middle-aged “Cougar” is on the prowl for him – and she’s carrying a club, just to make sure that he gets the point that she’s trying to make.
*****
And Jeonghae confirms it: she’s infertile. She’s distressed and upset, and even more so because stupid Hyunggu (who doesn’t know anything about it) keeps excitedly talking about having lots of kids . . .
*****
One minor correction: I had been calling Janghwa’s skinny friend “Junghae” in recent summaries, but it seems that I misread my own notes, as her name is actually written “Jeonghae.”
Whoops, my bad!