May Queen Episode 11

Mandatory overtime is interfering with my pursuit of happiness.

 

Geum Hee finds Hae Joo in the ladies room. She asks the young girl about the scar on her neck. As before, back when kid Kang San asked about, Hae Joo explains she doesn't know how she got the scar as she was too young to remember. Geum Hee asks to speak with Hae Joo's mother but Dal Soon is still in Geoje.

 

Meanwhile, Gi Cheol comes bursting into the main office, which draws the attention of Il Mun. Gi Cheol mumbles he was looking for Geum Hee and That Woman Whose Name I Need To Learn explains to her boss how his mother was just here and looking for the new girl (Hae Joo). The women must be in the bathroom. With this knowledge, Gi Cheol dashes out as fast as he dashed in. Il Mun wonders why his mother would be interested in the new employee. (While no one wonders why Gi Cheol is running around like a chicken with its head cut off.)

 

The two women are just emerging from the ladies room when Gi Cheol finally catches up with them. He gives the excuse of how he just heard the good news of Hae Joo's return and Geum Hee mistakenly concludes how he was eager to see the daughter of his old army buddy, Hong Chul. Geum Hee makes an awkward exit. (She tells Hae Joo she'll see the girl later, then she just runs off like a bat out of hell.) Gi Cheol takes Hae Joo to that favorite spot where all Drama Koreans like to go for a dramatic talk: the roof.

 

Gi Cheol demands to know what she and Geum Hee talked about. Hae Joo answers honestly about Geum Hee asking about the scar and also requesting Dal Soon's address. This has the git in panic mode. Then he asks if Hae Joo is still dating Chang Hee. She apologizes about lacking a formal education and having social status, but she loves Chang Hee and plans to continue seeing him. Gi Cheol slaps her! Now would be a good time for an over the shoulder flip, but Hae Joo restrains herself. Gi Cheol gives a veiled threat to Hae Joo to never see Chang Hee again or else something bad may happen to her.

 

Kang San calls Hae Joo and asks her to meet him on his yacht so they can discuss work.

 

Oh, now I see why Geum Hee took off like she did. She's rushed back home to retrieve the yellow knitted top she's saved all these years. Gi Cheol gets back just as she's about to get into her car. He tries to talk her out of going to Geoje but she's adamant about going so he changes tactics and offers to drive her there himself.

 

Do Hyun is having a meeting with his son. Il Mun is surprised to hear his father wants to build their own propellers instead of buying them from other companies. (We the audience are supposed to care about this. Remember when we were supposed to care about quick drying concrete in Giant? What, you haven't seen Giant! Well by golly you'd better - it's good.) In Hwa comes into the room saying how she just heard Hae Joo is now working for Il Mun. Her brother is still too thick headed to remember Hae Joo but Do Hyun is quick to catch the name and be privately alarmed. He's further alarmed when Il Mun mentions how Geum Hee had also been looking for Hae Joo. She's a popular gal.

 

Once the kids are gone, Do Hyun calls Gi Cheol, who is at that moment driving Geum Hee to Geoje. Do Hyun orders Gi Cheol to end this annoyance once and for all. He then calls his secretary and orders all the information on their newest employee, Chun Hae Joo.

 

Il Mun tries to order his younger sister not to take up with that beggar Hae Joo again but In Hwa blows him off. Only now is she clued in to her future others have planned when Il Mun basically says, "Hey, has anyone bothered to tell you you're supposed to be marrying Chang Hee?" In Hwa is like, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

 

Hae Joo arrives at Kang San's yacht. He tries to impress her with his fishing skills. She impresses him with her knowledge that the very dead fish on his line is a fresh water fish which he bought at the market and put on his hook before she got there. As they talk about business, Hae Joo sees a picture of a propeller and gets turned on. (Girl, I'm worried about you.) This gives them the chance to discuss propellers, like how no large ones are manufactured here in Korea and such. Remember, we're supposed to care about this.

 

Kang San hears how Hae Joo wanted to go to school to learn ship design but wasn't able to, so he promises to teach her everything he knows. They pinky swear, which gives Kang San the opportunity to caress her hand. She threatens to beat him. Then I'll be damned, here pops up In Hwa. Why don't you sew yourself to his hip.

 

Geum Hee and Gi Cheol arrive at the Chun household, where mom Dal Soon is napping on the kitchen floor. (It's a very small house.) While Gi Cheol makes faces, Geum Hee pulls out the yellow top and asks Dal Soon if she recognizes it. It's very obvious from the expression on her face that Dal Soon does recognize it, yet she tells them she doesn't remember. Geum Hee then pulls out an old photograph of baby Yoo Jin and shows it to Dal Soon. Dal Soon realizes the baby in the picture is the same baby her husband brought home all those years ago, yet still she says nothing. Geum Hee explains she lost her baby and asks if perhaps Dal Soon found and raised it. Dal Soon acts all offended at being asked such a ridiculous question and she throws them both out of the house. Once they're gone, though, Dal Soon begins to wonder just what the real story is concerning Hae Joo. Is she Hong Chul's biological child or not?

 

In Hwa takes the gang over to her restaurant for lunch. While they're all catching up on old times, In Hwa's like, "Want to hear something funny? My family wants me to marry Chang Hee. Can you believe that jive?" Hae Joo sits there with a pained look on her face.

 

Back at the big(ger) house, Il Mun confronts Chang Hee. Il Mun thinks the other guy only wants to marry In Hwa so he can take over the family business. Chang Hee starts to say something when they're interrupted by the return of Geum Hee and Gi Cheol. Geum Hee looks traumatized and Gi Cheol acts like he's about to faint.

 

Geum Hee goes to her bedroom to cry, which is where her husband finds her. They discuss her trip to Geoje with Geum Hee admitting she feels Dal Soon was lying to her about the baby. Do Hyun (who still believes Hae Joo is Dal Soon's biological daughter) shows his wife Hae Joo's resume which shows her blood type is different from Yoo Jin's blood type. (This must be a Korean thing. I don't recall ever having to put my blood type on any job resume or application. It's a good thing, as I have no idea what my blood type is. Anyway, back to the story.) Do Hyun urges his wife to give up on her long dead child and instead concentrate on their living ones: Il Mun and In Hwa. Geum Hee tells him that Il Mun knows the truth, that she's not really his mother.

 

Do Hyun goes to Il Mun's room, locks the door, and bitch slaps his son around. (I can't say I'm upset by this. Sometimes bastards serve a purpose.) He yells at Il Mun to accept Geum Hee as his mother and to never mention his dead mother again. Il Mun explains he was upset over hearing his sister was to marry Chang Hee as to why he said such a thing to Geum Hee. Do Hyun continues to yell at Il Mun, this time for being such an idiot to believe he would actually allow his daughter to marry Chang Hee. That was all just lip service to keep Chang Hee in line.

 

Chang Hee is at that moment trying to get his father to eat something. Gi Cheol tells about his earlier encounter with Hae Joo and how he slapped her. He warns his son that he'll continue to attack Hae Joo if Chang Hee continues to see her. Chang Hee refuses to back down.

 

That evening Hae Joo is cleaning up her room when Dal Soon calls to tell her they'll be there by Sunday. Hae Joo brings up how Geum Hee asked for Dal Soon's address. Has she come there yet? What did she want to talk to Dal Soon about? Dal Soon gets all defensive and changes the subject.

 

Chang Hee rushes over to check up on her since learning about his father hitting her. She assures him she's okay. Hae Joo starts talking about how much difference there is between them; how he's well educated and respected and she's still down at the bottom of the food chain. (I'm thinking, "Uh-oh. This sounds like a 'This is for your own good' breakup speech.") But then she declares she'll never stop loving him and she'll work even harder to get his father's approval. Chang Hee cries.

 

The Chun family (unfortunately) arrive in Ulsan.

 

Hae Joo goes over to Kang San's apartment so he can teach her about ship design. Hopefully she'll teach him about better wallpaper than what he has now. As they discuss something about bubbles and propellers, (I don't know, I'm not listening), here comes In Hwa knocking at the door. Even though it's all innocent, In Hwa is not happy that Hae Joo is alone with Kang San in his apartment. She takes Hae Joo out for a little girl talk about property rights and backing off.

 

Gi Cheol reads his son's phone messages and learns how "The Chief" is Hae Joo's code name. He once again orders his son to not see that girl any more. Chang Hee threatens to move out of the house if Gi Cheol does anything to Hae Joo. Gi Cheol takes out his anger on an innocent chair.

 

Geum Hee tries to talk to Il Mun but he's still moody and calls her stepmother. She goes out to the seaside to brood. Crying like a banshee, Geum Hee sets fire to the yellow top and baby picture in an attempt to finally let Yoo Jin go.

 

Jeong Woo invites Bong Hee over for a welcoming dinner in honor of the Chun's. They all get loaded and do the Gangnam Style routine. (Okay, seriously, I'm over it. Stop playing that damn song!) Bong Hee goes to pass out in Jeong Woo's bed. Sometime in the night she rolls out of it onto the floor, where Jeong Woo is trying to sleep. She attempts to act like she's accidentally snuggled up to him in her drunken sleep. He just throws her off and goes outside.

 

The next day as she comes out to get on her bike, Gi Cheol steps out of the alley and gives her the evil eye. Hae Joo thinks he's about to slap her again but instead he takes the Falling To My Knees And Begging You To Leave My Son Alone approach. This seems to work as later Hae Joo sends a "Dear Oppa" text to Chang Hee. (Because the only thing classier than breaking up with someone through a text is breaking up with someone through Facebook.)

 

Do Hyun and Kang San discuss propellers. The younger man doesn't think the company is technically advanced enough to build their own. He's against the idea. Do Hyun dangles the bait that if Kang San won't work with the company to build a propeller, then a young Miss Chun Hae Joo may lose her job. (And yes, before you ask it, even Kang San says comparing one employee to a 20 billion won project doesn't make sense. But this is DramaLand, just go with it.)

 

Down in the lobby Kang San comes across a tearful Hae Joo. He demands to know what has made her so upset. Just then Chang Hee storms in and grabs Hae Joo to pull her outside. Kang San steps in and grabs Chang Hee. The two men glare at each other.