The latest episode of the hit K-drama Dynamite Kiss throws its leads into an uncomfortable new dynamic, transforming a passionate holiday fling into a complicated office war. Episode 3, titled “Ping, Pong, Ping, Pong,” sees Go Da-rim and Gong Ji-hyeok’s unexpected workplace reunion, where hidden emotions fuel a tense battle of wills.
A New Job and a Shocking Discovery
Go Da-rim, desperate for stable employment to support her hospitalized mother, successfully interviews for a position at the baby-product company Natural Bebe. She is hired as part of a special team of mothers, a fact she secured by stretching the truth about her personal life. Her first day takes a dramatic turn when the team leader is introduced. To her horror, it is Gong Ji-hyeok, the man she shared a spontaneous kiss with in Jeju before she suddenly left.
Ji-hyeok is equally stunned. He had been searching for Da-rim after their connection in Jeju, only to find her as a new employee who he believes is a married mother of a six-year-old. Feeling betrayed and hurt by what he sees as her lies, his attitude turns cold. He immediately confronts her on the rooftop, demanding she resign by the end of the day.
The Battle Begins: Operation Make Her Quit
Da-rim, burdened by her family’s financial struggles and her mother’s medical bills, refuses to give up the job. The next day, she stands her ground, shocking Ji-hyuk by downplaying their kiss as a moment of “temporary insanity” after a fight with her “husband.” This further angers Ji-hyeok, who begins a campaign to force her out.
He volunteers his team for a difficult project, knowing it will require an all-nighter. He then specifically assigns Da-rim to conduct a product review alone at a remote campsite, a task that requires her to stay awake for 36 hours to record results 180 times. He believes the exhausting assignment will break her spirit and make her quit. However, Da-rim accepts the challenge, determined to prove her worth.
A Fiery Crisis and a Moment of Truth
The situation turns dangerous when the testing site suddenly catches fire. Ji-hyeok, who was nearby, panics upon seeing the flames, fearing Da-rim is trapped inside. He rushes toward the fire, but Da-rim appears behind him, safely holding a fire extinguisher. Overwhelmed with relief, Ji-hyeok instinctively pulls her into a tight hug, a clear sign of his lingering feelings.
He quickly tries to mask his concern, blaming her for being careless and again insisting she should resign. As he leaves, he drops his phone. Da-rim picks it up and notices he has kept the dried four-leaf clover she gave him in Jeju, pressed behind his phone case. This small detail reveals that he still cherishes their memory, despite his harsh words. In a moment of spite, Ji-hyeok later throws the clover away.
Desperate Measures and a Poolside Rescue
With Ji-hyeok absent from the office, Da-rim and her team work tirelessly on a project report. She tracks him down to a swimming pool to submit their work. Ji-hyeok, still conflicted, reacts cruelly. He accuses her of using her relationships to get ahead and throws the hardcopy report into the pool.
To save her team’s work, Da-rim, who cannot swim, jumps into the water. She immediately begins to drown, forcing Ji-hyeok to dive in and rescue her. As he holds her safely in his arms, the two lock eyes, their intense chemistry and unspoken emotions creating another charged moment between them. The episode ends with this dramatic standoff, leaving their professional and personal relationship hanging in the balance.
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A Web of Lies Grows Tighter
Complicating matters further, Da-rim runs into a colleague while grocery shopping with her neighbor and longtime friend, Kim Seon-u. Flustered, she introduces Seon-u as her husband to maintain her cover story. She later convinces a shocked Seon-u to continue this charade for the next six months until she can secure a permanent position at the company. This sets the stage for more misunderstandings as Ji-hyeok now believes Seon-u is truly her husband.
Meanwhile, other characters’ stories advance. Ji-hyeok’s half-sister, Ji-hye, who heads the company, is revealed to be intentionally hiring an incompetent team to sabotage her brother’s reputation. Additionally, Ha-yeong, a woman whose family wants her to marry Ji-hyeok, meets photographer Kim Seon-u and is immediately captivated by him, hinting at a new romantic triangle.
The episode masterfully blends workplace tension with unresolved romantic feelings, showing Ji-hyeok’s internal struggle between his hurt pride and growing care for Da-rim. Despite his harsh exterior, his actions repeatedly betray his true emotions, from the fiery rescue to the kept four-leaf clover.
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