In the 16th episode, which aired on the 20th, Go Gyeol (played by Yoon Jong-hoon) finds himself increasingly preoccupied with Jo Eun-ae (played by Uhm Hyun-kyung) without realizing it. The episode garnered a viewership rating of 10.6% nationwide, according to Nielsen Korea.
During the episode, Go Gyeol erupts in anger when Jo Eun-ae sees his monitor. Jo Eun-ae defends herself, saying she was merely curious about Go Gyeol's frequent absences without any work directives. However, Go Gyeol harshly reprimands her, asking, "Is this a playground where you can run wild as you please?"
Feeling upset, Jo Eun-ae secretly wipes away her tears and recalls the playground photo on Go Gyeol's monitor, feeling an inexplicable familiarity. This is because they had met at that playground during their childhood. As the two, now rivals and colleagues, continue to work together, viewers are eager to see when they will recognize each other.
Meanwhile, Jo Sung-joon (played by Sunwoo Jae-duk) shares his frustrations over a failed job interview with Seo Kwon-sik (played by Jung Ho-bin) over drinks. Jo Sung-joon apologizes for previously questioning Seo Kwon-sik's role as a secretary for the Go family, expressing his regret by saying, "We're both heads of our families, so what does it matter where we are?" He also recalls that Seo Kwon-sik and Go Dae-chi (played by Yoon Da-hoon) used to be close, to which Seo Kwon-sik responds bitterly, "Us?" revealing his strained feelings towards Go Dae-chi.
The day after the confrontation with Go Gyeol, Jo Eun-ae returns to work as if nothing happened and offers an apology. She resolves to endure Go Gyeol's harsh demeanor, determined to exploit the contract's loopholes and reclaim her ideas. During a subsequent team dinner, Jo Eun-ae takes the lead and drinks excessively, while Go Gyeol watches Han Ji-hoon (played by Seo Dong-kyu) take care of her with a sharp gaze, stirring excitement among viewers.
Unexpectedly, Go Gyeol and Jo Eun-ae discover a shared connection. When Go Gyeol, encouraged by his team, starts singing a song a cappella, Jo Eun-ae, who knows the song, joins in, captivating those around them.
Seo Seung-ri (played by Yoon Da-young) watches with a suddenly tense expression, while Go Min-ho (played by Jung Yoon), who had serenaded Seung-ri, also appears uncomfortable. As Go Gyeol's gaze towards Jo Eun-ae subtly changes, the tangled web of relationships among the four characters begins to unfold, leaving viewers curious about how these dynamics will evolve.
Jung Se-yoon, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr