Episode 4 begins with Matthew pulling Ye-jin away from a moving car, only to find out that she is sleepwalking. She doesn’t hear him, doesn’t know what is happening around her. He notices that she is barefoot and buys her a pair of slippers. He walks her home to make sure she gets home safely. He puts her on the sofa, cleans up the broken vase, and quietly leaves. Ye-jin has no recollection of the event the next day.
In the meantime, Som-yi borrows money from Matthew in Deokpung and sees he has been researching Ye-jin. Back in the city, Ye-jin worries about putting on weight from Mrs Yang’s cooking. At work, Sung-mi and Ki-hong are excited to share that L’Etoile cleared out a whole warehouse for the product Ye-jin will be selling on HIT, forcing her to get Gojeuneok.
There is growing concern in Deokpung about Ye-jin’s growing attachment to Matthew. Ye-jin soon arrives in town looking for him and joins the locals in harvesting corn. In the interim, trouble begins when Mrs. Yang’s son-in-law backs out of the deal to purchase the corn, because of money problems. Matthew promises to find another buyer, but Ye-jin suggests selling it off on a live stream.
Back at the office Ye-jin is preparing the broadcast and Director Dong is not impressed. But the livestream is a huge success, selling all 3,000 boxes in minutes. However their celebration is cut short when Ye-jin faints from heatstroke and wakes up in hospital.
Elsewhere Matthew is quietly helping Mrs Yang’s son-in-law with a gift of money. He also gives Ye-jin half of what he earns. She feels faint again and asks him for glucose tablets. Matthew is starting to care about her, it’s clear as she rests.
Later, Sung-mi arrives in Deokpung, but has trouble navigating the town’s roads until Kwang-mo helps her. Finally she drives Ye-jin back to the city.
Ye-jin runs into Eric inside a café and he pretends that it is a coincidence. They have a little talk, during which she tells him that the umbrella she sold him was the first product she ever sold out of. He asks her out to dinner but she declines, saying she doesn’t date coworkers, although she agrees to consider it after their business deal is done.
Later, Matthew calls Ye-jin to bring her the sleeping pills she forgot, and they agree to meet halfway. An emergency at the mushroom farm delays him, however. Meanwhile Ye-jin gets to the rest stop, drops her car keys and locks her phone in the car.
As night falls and the shops close, Ye-jin is reminded of a painful childhood memory, of being abandoned by her mother. Finally Matthew arrives and she weeps and embraces him in relief. After a moment he returns her hug.
He only gives her part of her medication, saying that he will give her the rest gradually, and asks her to meet him every night. Outside, Matthew listens quietly as we see a flashback of Ye-jin telling her “mother” how safe Matthew makes her feel.
Episode 4 Recap:
The fourth episode has its moments of emotion and a few moments of lightheartedness, but it never really engages. The pacing is uneven, with some scenes, such as the extended sleepwalking sequence, going on longer than necessary. Some of the comedy bits also fall flat, which makes parts of the episode feel a little dragged out.
The biggest problem is the speed at which Ye-jin and Matthew’s relationship progressed. His change from aloof to caring is too quick, not enough of a build up to make it fully believable. And so, too, the ease that Ye-jin develops in his presence feels rushed, undermining the emotional punch of the final scene.
That said, the episode does have some strengths. The live stream segment is a highlight, showcasing Ye-jin’s chops as a host and injecting energy into the story. The supporting cast, especially the people of Deokpung, add warmth and charm to the story.
Overall, the series is promising with its likeable supporting characters and the occasional moment of brilliance, though the central romance needs more substance to be convincing.
