His feet washed and in new shoes, Kang-woo asks if he shouldn't come back anymore. At that, Jae-yeol passes on Hae-soo's gratitude towards Kang-woo, since he could've ended up dead much sooner if Kang-woo hadn't appeared to him three years ago, buried under his massive guilt.
"She says I was actually comforting myself when I comforted you," Jae-yeol explains. He's come to realize just how much the abuse he endured from his stepfather and brother scared him, despite putting up a strong front. He realizes how much he hated the powerless and helpless little boy who couldn't stop his mother from being beaten, and how afraid he was when he ran away, barefoot.
Jae-yeol lowers his head, the tears imminent, and Kang-woo consolingly says that's all in the past now. Jae-yeol agrees, adding that despite his past, he grew up to be a rather decent adult.
Both of them try their damnedest to keep a smile on their faces, though the tears continue to stream down Jae-yeol's face. Kang-woo asks Jae-yeol not to acknowledge him in the future, "but if... once in a while, you do miss me, then just look in a mirror. Because you're me."
Now it's really time for goodbyes, and Jae-yeol pulls Kang-woo into a tight embrace while trying to keep his tears at bay. Kang-woo: "Goodbye, Han Kang-woo." Jae-yeol: "Goodbye, Jang Jae-yeol."
Slowly, Jae-yeol lets go of Kang-woo as the camera pans down, and when it pans up again, Jae-yeol is left staring at his own sad reflection. Truly alone now, he breaks down in silent sobs, and Hae-soo enters his room to be a literal pillar to cry on. ('Cause disciplinary board action be damned for love, y'all.)
Sunbae Jo is delighted to hear about Jae-yeol's breakthrough, and when Soo-kwang beats himself up for experiencing the first episode he's had in weeks, So-nyeo yells at him for hitting what's hers (meaning, him).
Sunbae Jo scolds him, saying that he should be proud of himself, only to get pinched and be met with So-nyeo's icy stare. He does, however, interrupt the couple's potential Lady and the Tramp moment though by cutting their shared noodle with his chopsticks.
Things seem to get better for Jae-yeol at the hospital, sneaking light hand-holding with Hae-soo and playing peacekeeper about TV rights with his fellow patients. Doctor Lee considers adjusting Jae-yeol's medication, and it seems Hae-soo's out of trouble with the disciplinary board now, thanks to Doctor Lee.
When Hae-soo ignores yet another call from Mom, Doctor Lee encourages her to stop avoiding her mother. Not that Hae-soo has much of a choice since Mom comes marching in to collect her daughter moments later. Jae-yeol sees Hae-soo leaving, and so do her friends Yoon-chul and Hye-jin, who are here to see Jae-yeol today.
The expecting couple offers Jae-yeol some encouraging words-sure, there are times when Hye-jin worries how difficult it'd be for her husband if she relapsed. But instead of running away-which would be the easier option-Yoon-chul tells her to love him all the more. So Jae-yeol shouldn't just worry about Hae-soo, and he has as much right to be happy as anyone.
Jae-yeol calls Hae-soo's mother (I guess he gets to keep his phone?) and entreats her for a chance to meet Hae-soo, where he'll convince her to leave overseas. Mom listens before hanging up without a word, and before Hae-soo can explain herself, she sends her daughter back to the hospital.
After sharing about the recent surge of his book sales and an invitation to appear as a guest on his former radio show, Jae-yeol tells Hae-soo to go on that worldwide trip she once told him about. When she asks if that's why he called her here, Jae-yeol frankly replies yes.
She asks if they're breaking up again, but Jae-yeol argues that this is being filial to her mother. He'll keep up his treatment once he's discharged again, and teaches her more about love: "Love doesn't mean giving up something for the other person, but it means to achieve something."
