Love Next Door, featuring Jung Hae-in and Jung So-min, premiered episodes 9 and 10 on September 14 and 15, respectively, across tvN and Netflix. In episode 9, Bae Seok-ryu (Jung So-min) finds herself in the emergency room suffering from stomach pain. Choi Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in) discovers the hospital where she has been admitted and rushes there.
Meanwhile, Bae Seok-ryu realizes that Choi Seung-hyo’s father, Choi Gyeong-jong (Lee Seung-joon), is a doctor at the same hospital, prompting her to leave immediately. Outside, she encounters Song Hyeon-jun (Han Joon-woo) and Choi Seung-hyo and ultimately decides to return home with Choi Seung-hyo, who lives next door.
The following day, Choi Seung-hyo confides in Jeong Mo-eum (Kim Ji-eun) about his feelings of jealousy and hurt regarding Bae Seok-ryu’s choice of Song Hyeon-jun over him for the hospital trip. He expresses how awful he feels about the situation.
Love Next Door Episode 9-10 Recap: Choi Seung-hyo Supports Bae Seok-ryu in Saying Goodbye to Song Hyeon-jun
In episode 9 of Love Next Door, Choi Seung-hyo and Bae Seok-ryu meet at a playground, where she reveals that she received a marriage proposal from Song Hyeon-jun. However, she implies this does not signify the end of her relationship with her ex-fiancé. Bae Seok-ryu dismisses Choi Seung-hyo as merely “a mother’s friend’s son.”
She further trivializes Choi Seung-hyo’s feelings for her, likening them to a duckling’s affection for its mother due to their long acquaintance. Upset, Choi Seung-hyo rebukes her for questioning his feelings, even if she cannot return them.
The next evening, Bae Seok-ryu’s mother, Na Mi-Sook (Park Ji-Young), invites Choi Seung-hyo to dinner, noting his fatigue. After Na Mi-sook leaves for a neighborhood meeting, Bae Seok-ryu, unaware of the dinner invitation, finds Choi Seung-hyo in her home. He confesses his feelings, to which she responds he will remain just a friend and anticipates some awkwardness.
In a crucial reveal during episode 9, it’s disclosed that Bae Seok-ryu battled second-stage stomach cancer three years prior. She chose to keep this secret from her family and friends but successfully overcame the illness through surgery and chemotherapy, with her then-boyfriend, Song Hyeon-jun, supporting her recovery.
However, after a year, Bae Seok-ryu faced depression, causing a rift between her and Song Hyeon-jun, who struggled to cope with her condition. She ultimately rejected his marriage proposal, believing their journey together was concluded.
In a dramatic turn at the end of episode 9, Bae Seok-ryu visits Choi Seung-hyo while he is ill. While searching for food, Choi Seung-hyo discovers a document detailing her cancer diagnosis from three years ago, igniting his anger towards her for concealing this from him.
Coincidentally, Na Mi-sook and Choi Seung-hyo’s mother, Seo Hye-sook (Jang Young-Nam), arrive, shocked by the news. Once she learns it involves Bae Seok-ryu, Na Mi-sook embraces her.
Episode 10 elaborates on how everyone in Bae Seok-ryu’s life, including her father, brother, Na Mi-sook’s friends, and best friend Jeong Mo-eum, discovers her cancer history. It’s revealed that Bae Seok-ryu attempted to contact Choi Seung-hyo during her time in the States, but he turned away from her.
During a visit, Choi Seung-hyo spots her with Song Hyeon-jun but refrains from reaching out. Jeong Mo-eum’s response contrasts with Choi Seung-hyo’s; rather than confront Bae Seok-ryu, she simply hugs her, acknowledging the challenges Bae Seok-ryu faced.
As the two connect over their shared struggles, Jeong Mo-eum opens up about losing her husband, which leads to an emotional moment, culminating in a flustered kiss from Jeong Mo-eum to Kang Dan-oh (Yoon Ji-on) before she runs away.
Meanwhile, Bae Seok-ryu goes missing, leaving her phone at home. Choi Seung-hyo desperately searches for her and eventually finds her at the beach, where they argue again. Bae Seok-ryu expresses her frustration over people treating her delicately due to her past.
Choi Seung-hyo encourages her to release her emotions, revealing he is aware of her struggles with depression. Bae Seok-ryu chastises him for ignoring her attempts to communicate. Apologizing, Choi Seung-hyo admits he failed to recognize her signals.
Upon their return, Bae Seok-ryu’s family and Jeong Mo-eum plan a belated welcome-back party for her, as suggested by Choi Seung-hyo.
Later, in Love Next Door episode 10, Song Hyeon-jun observes Bae Seok-ryu surrounded by family and friends and realizes she is better off in South Korea. He calls her, stating it might be their last conversation, offering her well wishes. Bae Seok-ryu thanks him sincerely for all he has done.
Towards the end of episode 10, Choi Seung-hyo receives a message from Song Hyeon-jun regarding his departure from South Korea. He hurriedly takes Bae Seok-ryu to the airport, so she can bid him a proper farewell.
As Song Hyeon-jun departs, Bae Seok-ryu is overwhelmed with emotion and cries. Unable to bear her tears, Choi Seung-hyo drapes his blazer over her head and tells her to let it hang, signifying a poignant moment marking the close of Love Next Door episode 10.
Love Next Door broadcasts every Saturday and Sunday on tvN and Netflix.
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