During the episode, Hong Geum-bo's secret of pretending to be '20 years old' is exposed by Go Bok-hee, played by Ha Yoon-kyung. Go Bok-hee confronts her, exclaiming, "You're pretending to be twenty when you're thirty-five?" Hong Geum-bo admits, "I'm actually six years older."
Hong Geum-bo cleverly sets a trap to uncover the identity of the whistleblower 'Yeppi,' revealing it to be Manager Bang Jin-mok, portrayed by Kim Do-hyun. She confesses, "I hid a small trap before sending the email," using a keyboard malfunction and a missing period as evidence to pressure Manager Bang.
In a tense meeting with Manager Bang, Hong Geum-bo insists, "I can't go home unless you give me a convincing reason," leading Manager Bang to reveal the dark truth about managing Hanmin Securities' slush funds.
In a flashback, former President Kang Myung-hwi, played by Choi Won-young, ominously warns Manager Bang, "If things go wrong, I might suddenly die in an accident... Prepare for the chairman's suspicions," and intentionally leaves a photo with Hong Geum-bo.
Ultimately, President Kang meets a tragic end in a 'staged traffic accident,' and Hong Geum-bo confronts the harsh truth at the center of this tragic scheme.
Hong Geum-bo empathizes with the fearful Manager Bang, sharing, "I know the feeling of hopelessness and fear. I was fired as a whistleblower at my first job," and persuades him, "Invest in me, not as a gamble. I promise to protect you no matter what." Manager Bang is eventually swayed by her earnest plea.
However, amidst the IMF financial crisis, their collaboration faces another challenge. When Hong Geum-bo steals accounting books crucial for the employees' survival, Manager Bang erupts in anger, "This is about everyone's livelihood." Hong Geum-bo reveals a shocking connection, "We know each other. My mentor committed suicide in the 1988 accounting fraud case." Manager Bang retorts, "Even if the sky falls, there's no reason for us to be on the same side." Their intense confrontation heightens anticipation for the next episode.
Reported by Na-yeon Cho, TenAsia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr