4 Important Developments For Lee Jun Hyuk & Han Ji Min In Episodes 5-6 Of "Love Scout"

“Did they kiss, or didn’t they?” was the pressing question as viewers tuned into previous episodes of “Love Scout.” Even though they didn’t, there is no denying that Han Ji Min’s Kang Ji Yun is unable to take her eyes off Lee Jun Hyuk’s Yu Eun Ho. The cool collected boss is behaving out of character, and the staff at Peoplez are wondering what has brought this sudden shift in the aloof and indifferent Kang Ji Yun. In the meantime, secretary Yu Eun Ho continues to resolve issues at the firm with his calm foresight. But what makes him a tad jumpy in front of his boss?

As situations conspire to bring Han Ji Min and Lee Jun Hyuk closer, “Love Scout” gave us several heart-fluttering and important developments!

Warning: spoilers from episodes 5-6

Kang Ji Yun having a crush

The very poised Kang Ji Yun is dealing with a case of the butterflies and an erratic heartbeat thanks to Yu Eun Ho. The man is not only good at what he does but is drop-dead gorgeous—which is distracting for Ji Yun.

She initially can’t recall what exactly happened that night in her office when she lingered on Eun Ho’s face and whispered that he is really good looking, but the aftermath is that she is attracted and embarrassed in equal measure. From stealing glances and observing to even staring at Eun Ho, the writing is clear:  Kang Ji Yun is attracted to him, even though she keeps denying it.

Known to keep a distance from her staff beyond office hours, she finds her way to Eun Ho’s home for an office get-together. Even though the plan ends up being canceled by the others, Ji Yun is a bundle of nerves when she arrives at his door, unaware since she’s not in their group chat. When Eun Ho insists she stay and have a meal cooked by him, she willingly obliges. Gazing at him as he chops and cooks, one can see her feelings are stirred. For a woman who disregards the importance of food and sleep in her life, Ji Yun not only tucks in heartily into the meal cooked for her, but she even dozes off soundly on his couch!

When she wakes up the next day, completely confused at how she ended up sleeping at his place, she convinces herself that it must be his couch when she is unable to sleep at home. It is cute when she dials his number, acting as if it was done by mistake, and asks him about where he got the couch. Her cheeks, flushed and embarrassed, show that Kang Ji Yun is dealing with feelings she has never felt before.

Ji Yun has always been disinterested in the personal lives of her staff but cannot help asking Director Seo, her colleague and friend, about Eun Ho. When asked why she’s interested in his life, she simply states that she needs to know more about him since he is her secretary.

The change is there for all to see as the brusque and businesslike Kang Ji Yun seems to be making an effort with even her outfits. As she breezes into the office in a stunning outfit and a glow on her face, it is clear she has made an effort with her appearance. But more than that, it seems for the first time in her adult life, she is feeling something special, and you can’t help but feel happy for her.

Yu Eun Ho caring for both his daughter and his boss

Yu Eun Ho’s world revolves around his daughter, Yu Byeol (Gi So You), and even though he’s a single parent, he has never made Byeol feel a lack of love. He put in every effort to give her a secure and loving home.

Eun Ho is not short of female attention, but he is oblivious to it all since his world starts and ends with his daughter. But it seems the time is right to change things around. Byeol surprises him when she suggests that he should have a fun Friday night and start dating as she gets ready for a sleepover at school. Her suggestion shocks Eun Ho, who hasn’t dated since his divorce.

His devotion toward his daughter may not have impressed his previous employers, who held him responsible for taking paternity leave and compromising on his position. But it is this very aspect of his personality which has impressed Kang Ji Yun. Ji Yun has not been able to overcome the trauma of her father’s passing and is constantly haunted by it.

A tender moment is when she is having a nightmare while asleep on Eun Ho’s couch. Eun Ho gently holds her hand, as he would Byeol’s, to calm Ji Yun’s nerves. Another cute moment is when he includes Ji Yun in his and Byeol’s tradition of placing “you did well” stamps on her hand for motivation. And when Ji Yun asks why he’s treating her like Byeol, he cheekily responds that there is no difference, since they both demand his attention.

Beyond his unwavering devotion toward his daughter and his culinary skills, Eun Ho’s biggest strength is his dependability. He provides a haven of safety for everyone around, be it at home or at work. The cutest moment in the show has to be when Eun Ho carefully applies nail polish on Byeol’s fingers and allows her to do the same to him. These moments make Eun Ho perhaps one of best on-screen dads we have seen in a while, and I don’t blame Ji Yun for her fluttering heart as he is making viewers’ hearts also skip several beats.

Kang Ji Yun having Byeol’s approval

Kang Ji Yun may have “not kid friendly” written on her face, given her cool demeanor, but she strikes up a friendship with seven-year-old Byeol when they meet at a bookstore, unaware that the little girl is her secretary’s daughter. What draws Byeol toward this “unnie” is that she treats her as a grown up, and Ji Yun on the other hand is taken in with Byeol’s stoic nature.

When Ji Yun realizes that Byeol is Eun Ho’s daughter, she notices that they do have similar personalities. Byeol often has a hard time at school, where she is teased for being from a single parent home, but she keeps a brave front in front of her father. Ji Yun sensitively handles things after such a situation, telling Byeol that having two parents doesn’t mean she will get twice the love. She narrates her own example of having been raised by her father after her mother’s passing and explains that she thought herself to be the luckiest. This is perhaps the first time we get to see the caring side of Ji Yun, and you see an open warmth and tenderness on her face during her interactions with the girl.

When there is an alarm raised that Byeol has gone missing, it is Ji Yun who calmly calls Eun Ho informing him that Byeol had hurt herself accidentally and that she has taken her to the hospital. Byeol proudly tells her dad that this is the “unnie” she can’t stop talking about. And instead of focusing on the office, Ji Yun informs Eun Ho that he should stay with his daughter and not come to work. A couple of hours later, we see Ji Yun back at the hospital carrying dinner for Eun Ho. It seems the two ladies in Eun Ho’s life are developing a deep friendship!

Eun Ho transforming Ji Yun’s perceptions

Kang Ji Yun is a stickler when it comes to her principles at work. As a headhunter, her focus has always been to get the best candidate for her clients. However, she is facing competition from a rival firm, who has not only been poaching her nominees but also trying to destroy her credibility in the space.

A situation arises yet again when Peoplez needs to find the perfect applicant for a luxury portal. It is Eun Ho who suggests that sometimes one needs to go beyond the decorated work histories and seek the ones with actual experience. Ji Yun promptly gives her approval, which is a departure from her usual go-by-the-book rule.

Peoplez finds an elderly Mrs. Jo, who, though has not studied beyond elementary school, has the eye to detect counterfeit goods. Eun Ho convinces Mrs. Jo that it’s high time she is rewarded for her knowledge and the hard work she had put in. Even though everyone mocks Peoplez’s new candidate for being a mere store keeper, Eun Ho and Ji Yun end up having the last laugh as Mrs. Jo is far more experienced than anyone else.

As Eun Ho helps his colleagues through the trickiest of situations with his practical yet objective approach, it seems the air is swiftly changing at Peoplez. And even the inflexible Kang Ji Yun seems to be more approachable and human rather than the unfeeling robot her colleagues regard her as.

As Kang Ji Yun finds herself being drawn strongly towards Eun Ho, an office romance seems to be all set to brew with the professional and personal lines are getting blurred. We just have to wait to see what happens next!

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Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.

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