Melting Me Softly Episode 9

Melting Me Softly Episode 9 – Between the Cold and the Passion

2019…

Go Mi Ran (Won Jin Ah) starts to walk away. Ma Dong Chan (Ji Chang Wook) orders her to stop acting up. If she doesn’t, he’ll start liking her. They lock eyes. Their heart rates and body temperatures rise. Dong Chan orders Mi Ran to follow him.

They eat ice cream and walk. They swap flavors. Dong Chan warns Mi Ran to not drink during working hours. Mi Ran asks if Dong Chan is still dating Ha Young. Mi Ran assures him she’s only curious. Dong Chan says he’s not dating Ha Young. That makes Mi Ran smile. Dong Chan warns her they can’t get closer to each other because physically it puts them in danger. He strides away. Mi Ran smiles and follows.

CEO Kim Hong Seok tells Na Ha Young (Yoon Se Ah) he wants a news report declaring him as the planner of the cryogenic experiment. She scoffs that after 20 years of denying the experiment, now he wants to claim it for political gain. Ha Young points out that she wanted to find Dong Chan 20 years ago but CEO Kim actively blocked her. CEO Kim warns her he can still alter her world as he leaves the broadcasting station to enter politics. He dangles the possibility of his job.

Dong Chan and Mi Ran review the candidates for their new TV show. Dong Chan remarks that phones are critical items for people. Dong Chan impresses Mi Ran with his memorization abilities. Mi Ran tries to figure out Dong Chan’s intent.

Director Son Hyun Gi learns all new interns want to work for Dong Chan. Entering the office Dong Chan orders Director Son to move next to him.

Mi Ran tries to determine Dong Chan’s intent. Ha Young enters the room. They stare at each other. Ha Young warns Mi Ran not tell her story or Dong Chan could get in trouble.

At the production meeting, a team member grouses about Mi Ran’s communication via text. Dong Chan takes Mi Ran aside and tells her not to do that again. Mi Ran promises to fix the situation. Dong Chan knows Mi Ran will try hard. Dong Chan gives her the tip that the writer likes BTS.  He tells her they are working late tonight.

Mi Ran googles BTS.

At the production meeting Mi Ran suggests they secure BTS. Everyone cringes. The writer snaps BTS is out of Korea. Mi Ran tries to argue but Dong Chan silences by holding her hand. They feel the connection.

Ha Young gets a call from the anonymous woman that claims to know about the attempt on Doctor Hwang’s assistant.

The production team works late until it is only Dong Chan and Mi Ran that remain. Dong Chan watches Mi Ran yawn. He tries to shake off his own tiredness and Mi Ran catches him. Dong Chan orders her home.

Mi Ran takes a taxi home. Dong Chan texts her to text him when she gets home. She grouses at his demand.

The anonymous woman calls Ha Young again and requests to see Ha Young and Dong Chan at the broadcasting station.

Ha Young informs Dong Chan that the anonymous woman is coming. In Ha Young’s office, she shares the background information on CEO Lee. He got lung cancer and the company struggled to identify a successor. The current CEO Lee was added to the family register and trained as the successor even though CEO Lee did not have a son. Prior to this he lived in the US and obtained a PHD. In 1998, he was assaulted and fell into a coma. It was considered a miracle when he woke 2 years later. Dong Chan recalls the man frozen in the people pod. He tells Ha Young in the secret lab there is a man frozen that looks exactly like CEO Lee. Ha Young points out there are many look a likes in the world.

Ha Young changes the subject and asks why Dong Chan didn’t accept her invitation to talk in her hotel room. Dong Chan is clear, he won’t be restarting his relationship with Ha Young, so he had to refuse her invitation.  Ha Young asks if Dong Chan knows what he turned down. Ha Young knows but couldn’t take advantage of her feelings for him that he no longer reciprocates.

Dong Chan couldn’t be any clearer or kinder about the blunt truth of their unequal feelings.

At the Go household, Professor Hwang wants Mi Ran’s mother to allow him to call her mother. He dashes away when Mi Ran gets home so she doesn’t see him.

Mi Ran thinks about her interactions with Dong Chan and her heart speeds up.

The anonymous woman is boxed in by two cars. Her driver is dispatched and a thug drives away with her.

Dong Chan wonders why the anonymous woman wants to see him. Ha Young asks if Doctor Hwang is really dead. Before Dong Chan can answer, the anonymous woman calls and begs Ha Young to help her husband. The thugs take her to CEO Lee. She’s shocked when he greets his sister-in-law. He asks why she was going to the broadcasting station. The thug shows CEO Lee the video of Doctor Hwang’s assistant’s car blowing up. CEO Lee grabs her arm and demands to know where Lee Seok Du is. She doesn’t know. She declares she hoped Dong Chan would be able to tell her which is why she was going to the broadcasting station. She begs him to let her husband come home. She promises that once her husband is unfrozen, they’ll live quietly. CEO Lee sneers that she never should have let him sample power and wealth. He snaps that CEO Lee Yang Gon should never have made Lee Seok Du his successor. She promises that CEO Lee can continue to live as Lee Seok Du. CEO Lee pushes her to the ground and declares he can’t believe that because she was headed to the broadcasting station. CEO Lee guarantees that whoever tries to wake Lee Seok Du will die. He declares he is Lee Seok Du, not Lee Hyeong Du. He threatens death to anyone creates confusion.

Some of the mystery is resolved. Evil CEO Lee is Lee Hyeong Du. He was installed by the wife and won’t give up his life should Lee Seok Du (his brother?) awake from his cryogenic state.

Ha Young and Dong Chan wait in vain for the anonymous woman. Ha Young worries that Dong Chan may disappear again. Ha Young asks for a ride home. Dong Chan agrees.

Oh Young Sun stares at her divorce papers. She watches her son, Hwang Ji Hoon (Professor Hwang’s son) sleep. She’s shocked to see a picture of Mi Ran and her son as the wallpaper on her son’s phone.

Ha Young lowers the temperature in Dong Chan’s car so he’ll be more comfortable. When they arrive at her house, Dong Chan apologizes for leaving her alone for the past 20 years. He states it felt like only a day but knows she’s suffered alone. He says they can’t be a couple again. He no longer wants her. He no longer loves her. He says this is the end for them. Ha Young asks if he’s ending their relationship because he likes another? Tears roll down her face. Dong Chan doesn’t answer.

I say again, Dong Chan couldn’t be any clearer or kinder about the blunt truth of their unequal feelings.

Ha Young sobs in alone in her bed.

Dong Chan thinks in his bed.

Mi Ran thinks in her bed.

The next morning, Professor Hwang is started when Nam Tae and Doctor Hwang enter the house. Nam Tae introduces himself. Professor Hwang declares that Nam Tae disrupted his first kiss. They shake hands and smile. Nam Tae tells Professor Hwang that Doctor Hwang lost his memory. They all shake hands.

At the broadcasting station, Mi Ran erects a book barrier between herself and Dong Chan.

Ji Hoon is thrilled to get the call that he’s been selected as an intern at the broadcasting station. He’s slated to work with Dong Chan and he starts tomorrow. As he gets ready to leave for school, he sees his mother drinking with the divorce papers by her side. She assures her son she’s okay. She agrees that staying in unhappy marriage isn’t the right choice. She asks about the wallpaper Mi Ran on his phone. He asks how she knows about Mi Ran. She doesn’t answer and tells him to go to school.

Dong Chan arrives at the broadcasting station and see the wall Mi Ran erected between them. He reads the note that they should communicate via written word in this notebook. He writes a note asking her to come to the editing room.

Mi Ran arrives in the editing room and sits across from Dong Chan. He asks if she wants to become a director. She confirms this. Dong Chan remembers that 20 years ago they both wanted to make a living. She asks why he likes being a director. He says he wanted to make people happy through his shows. He admits it may not be much, but it satisfies. He says she can achieve the same thing with their new show. He leaves. Mi Ran is touched.

Yep, she’s falling for him…big time.

At the Ma family eatery, his brother and mother worry about his sister. Dong Chan’s brother calls him.

Dong Chan takes the call from his brother (interrupting a meeting with Director Son and CEO Kim. Dong Chan’s brother says they can’t find his sister. He says this is unusual behavior. Dong Chan advises waiting to see if she shows up tonight then contacting the police. Dong Chan asks Director Son and CEO Kim why his sister would stay out all night. Dong Chan admits his sister seems elderly know. CEO Kim asks why Dong Chan wanted to meet. Dong Chan asks if CEO Lee is funding CEO Kim’s political career. CEO Kim confirms this. Dong Chan asks to meet him. CEO Kim is thrilled and says CEO Lee was interested in the cryogenics experiment. Dong Chan considers that.

Back at work, Dong Chan looks at Mi Ran through the book wall. He notes they can still see each other. She admits he’s distracting. Dong Chan says the book wall distracts him. He removes it.  He stares at Mi Ran and says much better.

At the beauty salon, Doctor Hwang gets a haircut and shave. Nam Tae and Professor Hwang are impressed by the new look.

Dong Chan tells Mi Ran he’s leaving early. He tells her to go home. She says she can go home alone. She fantasizes about snapping at him about his feelings. Instead she lets Dong Chan drive her home.

In the car Mi Ran looks at Dong Chan but averts her eyes when he catches her.  Ji Hoon calls and share the good news about his new internship. He admits his misses her. Mi Ran hesitates the says she misses him too. Ji Hoon declares he looks forward to seeing her tomorrow. Dong Chan asks about the phone call. He asks if it was a young handsome man. Mi Ran confirms this and demands to know why he’s asking. Dong Chan says he can’t like the young man. Mi Ran asks why. Dong Chan says she likes someone else. Mi Ran asks who she likes. Dong Chan pulls over. He looks at Mi Ran. She looks at him. Dong Chan asks why she’s overreacting. He tells her to eat with her family and he’ll do the same.

At Mi Ran’s house, Dong Chan clarifies he promised to eat with his family and she didn’t be irked. She claims she isn’t.

From a distance, Nam Tae, Doctor Hwang, and Professor Hwang see them. Nam Tae calls Dong Chan cryogenic man. Professor Hwang calls Dong Chan the jerk that is only 52 years old on paper.

Professor Hwang reads about the new variety show. He asks Nam Tae to help him make a video. He swings nunchaku and tells Dong Chan to stay away from his woman. He loses a grip on one of the nunchaku and it hits Doctor Hwang in the head. He’s knocked out. Professor Hwang tells Doctor Hwang that people get their memory back only in dramas. Doctor Hwang asks why Professor Hwang hates Dong Chan.

At the Ma eatery, everyone shares a meal. They discuss Dong Chan’s sister. His niece takes a selfie with Dong Chan to prove she knows the cryogenic man. Dong Chan tells her she might grow up like a girl he knows. His niece asks if the girl is pretty. Dong Chan confirms it.

Mi Ran is surprised to see Nam Tae with a book by Freud. Her parents are happy they rented the rooftop house. Her mother says the professor is handsome and friendly. She asks if he’s a phycology professor. Her parents confirm this.

Mi Ran goes to the rooftop house and sees Professor Hwang is indeed living there. She calls Young Sun and tells her friend that Professor Hwang is living at her family’s rooftop house. Young Sun isn’t happy about the news.

Young Sun arrives at the house. She takes a skillet and heads to the rooftop house. We hear Professor Hwang howl in pain.

The production team watches Professor Hwang’s video. They can’t believe Dong Chan would mess with another man’s woman. They assume Dong Chan is dating a married woman. Director Son enters and they are forced to tell him.

Director Son finds Dong Chan and shows him Professor Hwang’s video. He asks why they received such a video. Director Son tells him not to mess with married women. Dong Chan walks away.

The production team is still talking about Dong Chan when they enter the meeting where were Mi Ran is setting up.

At the Ma eatery, Dong Chan’s mother tells Doctor Hwang his new look is cute. Doctor Hwang tells her he needs to return to his lab in hopes that he can get his memory back. She reminds him that Dong Chan believes that will be dangerous. He’s firm that he must get his memory back. She supports him.

Sporting a suit and fedora, Professor Hwang mystifies his assistant with his fashion choices. Dong Chan arrives. Professor Hwang declares they need to fight man to man. Dong Chan offers him a chance to appear on TV. Professor Hwang is taken aback.

Mi Ran can’t believe it when she sees Professor Hwang’s video.

When Dong Chan returns to the broadcasting station, Mi Ran meets him in the lobby and apologizes for causing trouble.

Ha Young approaches the lobby and sees Dong Chan and Mi Ran talking. She sees Dong Chan check Mi Ran’s forehead. She assumes Dong Chan likes Mi Ran. Tears fill her eyes.

CEO Kim is shocked to read a news article about Mi Ran. CEO Kim texts Director Son to see him right away.

Everyone in the meeting gets a link to the article about Mi Ran.

CEO Kim and Director Son can’t believe that someone leaked the truth about Mi Ran being part of the cryogenic experiment. The article is not flattering.

Ha Young sips tea and smiles.

Young Sun reads the article and tears up her divorce papers.

The reporter who wrote the article smiles.

Professor Hwang reads the article and smiles.

Ji Hoon reads the article and is shocked.

Dong Chan reads the article and sighs. He sees Mi Ran has fled.

Dong Chan finds Mi Ran crying in the editing room. He tells her crying isn’t like her. Mi Ran says this isn’t a laughing matter. Dong Chan vows to protect her. He says he’s responsible for the situation so he’ll protect her. He tells her to live her life as she wants. They stare at each other. Dong Chan hugs a startled Mi Ran. He says I’m sorry.

My Thoughts

Dong Chan and Mi Ran try to keep a distance so they don’t heat up. Writer Baek Mi Kyung had Dong Chan pull back from Mi Ran declaring they needed a physical distance between them. This couple does have a chemistry and the physical issue of increasing heart rates and body heat is an interesting barrier. Writer Baek revealed that CEO Lee is Lee Hyeong Du, not Lee Seok Du and that CEO’s Lee’s wife recruited him to pretend to be her husband when he disappeared. Doctor Hwang gets a haircut and decided to return to the lab to get his memory back, regardless of the danger. I must say, the sci-fi storyline is a bit murky.

Ma Dong Chan (Ji Chang Wook) sends mixed signals to Mi Ran. He tells her they need to keep a physical distance between them but knocks down her book barrier. When driving her home, he overhears her call with Ji Hoon and states she can’t like a younger man because she likes someone else (him). He apologizes to Mi Ran when the article is published and hugs her. It is the classic battle of head versus heart. I have to give Dong Chan high marks for telling Ha Young not once but twice in no uncertain terms that he no longer loves her or wants to pursue a romantic relationship. Ji Chang Wook infused both of those conversation with tenderness while delivering the frank assessment.

Go Mi Ran (Won Jin Ah) continues to be confused by Dong Chan’s actions. She hears what he says but sees what he does. It’s the classic do I say not as I do. Mi Ran is drawn to Dong Chan more and more. She was startled when he hugged her after the article came out and didn’t hug him back. I like this couple but there have to be bumps in the road. They’ve got several to overcome – the physical barriers and the people barriers. Writer Baek implied Ha Young, Young Sun and Doctor Hwang were all candidates for leaking the truth about Mi Ran.

Na Ha Young (Yoon Se Ah) was rejected by Dong Chan…again…and one more time for good measure. Has she finally got the message that he\s just not into her? I cannot imagine that Dong Chan could be any clearer or kinder while delivering the message there was no chance for them and his feelings were gone. In typical fashion, Ha Young blamed the current object of Dong Chan’s affection, Mi Ran. It’s too bad that I don’t care about Ha Young and her unrequited love for Dong Chan. She gave up on him 20 years ago for a better job, and he’s giving up on her 20 years later because his feelings have changed. I don’t respect why she abandoned him but I do respect why he is ditching her. My money is on Ha Young for leaking the truth about Mi Ran. Am I right?

The fourth song of the OST “Ice Doll” by Parc Jae Jung is out:

I rank this episode (on a scale from 1-10) as good. My rating chart is below:

About KJT (aka kjtamuser)

Asian drama fan. I watch and blog dramas on https://kjtamusings.wordpress.com/.

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Tagged with: Episode 9, Ji Chang Wook, Melting Me Softly
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