Kang barges into Min-ho's apartment, telling Ji-hyun that if she's not working here because she likes Min-ho, she'd better quit. (Side note: I like the way he addresses her "Song" rather than, say, Yi-kyung-sshi, saying it with a little emphasis so it sounds like "Ssong." It's the kind of thing you'd call an old buddy, perhaps, and it's always interesting to note what people call each other when it's outside of the norm.)
He doesn't wait for her to answer and drags her out of there, not noticing that he's clutching her burnt hand until she draws back. She's torn because she wants to stay behind to find out what's in Min-ho's safe, but she's also touched by Kang's concern.
(His explanation for his behavior is that he can't let her stay here with his friend's fiancé. That word choice is telling in itself, since he could always use the ole "watching out for my buddy" defense, but instead his words show loyalty to Ji-hyun.)
Ji-hyun tears up as Kang goes on and on, and when he asks if she intends to stay, she shakes her head no. Finally he relaxes, then takes her back to resume her job at Heaven.
Ever gruff, he tells her not to slack off, but adds to Manager Oh that she shouldn't do the dishes (because of her burn). He admits to Manager Oh that he feels at ease with Yi-kyung back, but can't make sense of why. The manager gives him the side-eye, as if to say, Really now?, which is probably an echo of all of our thoughts. Silly boy. It's like he doesn't understand human emotions.
But I suppose it's not as straightforward as mere interest in Yi-kyung, because his conflict comes from feeling the Ji-hyun-ness in her. He recognizes that he's acting in response to that resemblance, but can't understand why it should motivate him this way. Not that you can blame him. It's not every day that your one true love almost dies and is brought back in the body of another woman temporarily.
Min-ho comes home and rings the bell, which seems like an odd thing to do when he's the owner - it's like he wants Yi-kyung to welcome him at the door, like a wife. He's therefore alarmed when he finds the place empty, dirty laundry on the floor where she dropped it.
He's so upset that he brushes aside a call with In-jung, who tries to bring up new concerns. She's noticed that Ji-hyun's father is keeping meetings from her and Min-ho, and worries that their plans are in jeopardy. Min-ho, on the other hand, is distracted and tells her he's gotta take care of something important. She rightly wonders, "What could be more important than this?" Something tells me that Min-ho's growing obsession with Yi-kyung is about to derail his carefully laid business plans, which would be the best revenge ever for Ji-hyun, who's not even trying to ruin him (that way). Talk about poetic justice.
Min-ho hurries to Kang's restaurant to ask for Yi-kyung's address, and finds that Kang took her away out of anger over the situation. Min-ho doesn't see why he'd be upset, but Kang says that he feels responsible for introducing Min-ho to Yi-kyung. What's important here is that Ji-hyun is his fiancé.
To which Min-ho says no, not anymore - "I'm a realistic guy. I don't think I have to continue loving someone I can't be with in the future." Congratulations, dastardly villain: You've just dumped coma girl and secured your place in hell. Well, you probably want a good seat. I have a feeling it'll be crowded down there.
Kang's incredulous at Min-ho's quick acceptance of Ji-hyun's condition, but Min-ho asks Kang how long he'll cling to hope before realizing the obvious. (This is a mirror of the Seo-woo/In-jung argument, which suggests to me that Kang and Seo-woo will be Ji-hyun's first two tears.) Kang points out that you can't turn love on and off at will, but Min-ho, evil robot that he is, says that he can.
Afterward, the boys join the ladies for birthday cake, and Kang is adorably uncomfortable being the center of attention. Ji-hyun sings along from a distance, then steps forward to greet Seo-woo particularly warmly, ignoring the other two backstabbing liars. She cheerily returns the soup thermos to Seo-woo...who has no idea how she got it in the first place.
