The hot chemistry between the ‘show window couple’ Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin, which had been hidden until now, has exploded.

In episode 4 of the MBC Friday-Saturday drama ‘The Phone Call You’re Dialing‘ (planned by Kwon Sung-chang/ directed by Park Sang-woo, Wi Deuk-gyu/ written by Kim Ji-woon) that aired on Saturday, November 30, Baek Sa-eon (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) told his wife Hong Hee-joo (played by Chae Soo-bin) his true feelings that he had not been able to express until now while on the phone with the blackmailer. Episode 4 recorded 5.7% nationwide and 6% in the metropolitan area (provided by Nielsen Korea, based on households). The scene where the story of Sa-eon and Hee-joo’s first meeting 20 years ago was depicted continued its upward trend, soaring to a peak of 7% in viewership ratings.

In the episode that day, Sa-eon went straight to his wife upon hearing news that Hee-joo‘s biological father Na Jin-cheol (played by Park Won-sang) was in danger. In order to protect Hee-joo, Sa-eon, who acknowledged his wife’s existence in front of people for the first time, ended the situation by asking the police to keep her personal information secret.

Sa-eon was furious at the blackmailer who even touched his father-in-law, and his words were a great comfort to Hee-joo. When Hee-joo burst into tears, Sa-eon couldn‘t hide his surprise at hearing her voice for the first time in 20 years. “You’re making noise. I don‘t mean for you to stop crying. Cry as much as you want,” Sa-eon said, staying by Hee-joo’s side, adding to the heartbreaking feeling.

Sa-eon and Hee-joo then met Baek Ui-yong (played by Yoo Sung-joo) and Shim Gyu-jin (played by Chu Sang-mi) for a meal. However, Sa-eon was furious at Ui-yong‘s attitude of ignoring Hee-joo the whole time and even hiring paparazzi to get him to join his presidential campaign. The tense confrontation between Sa-eon and Ui-yong, the two rich men, created a tense atmosphere that made her sweat.

After the kidnapper (played by Park Jae-yoon) attacked, Hee-joo, who was suffering, decided to throw away the blackmail phone. Then, on the day of the final interview for the sign language interpreter at the presidential office, Hee-joo showed off her sign language skills without a single error based on Sa-eon’s briefing video that she had been studying diligently. Sa-eon, who had been watching Hee-joo‘s interview at the office, came to the interview site himself to evaluate her, but Hee-joo simply did the sign language interpretation without wavering. Sa-eon was overcome with strange emotions at the fact that Hee-joo had been looking at him for a long time.

On the other hand, the atmosphere of the drama changed abruptly when Hong In-ah (played by Han Jae-yi), Sa-eon’s real fiancée and Hee-joo‘s older sister, appeared. Hee-joo became anxious that she might have to return her position to her original owner when she heard that In-ah had come to Korea. Hee-joo, who took out the sealed blackmail phone, was confused when she learned the new fact that Sa-eon was the last person In-ah met before leaving during the call with Sa-eon.

In the meantime, the anniversary event of the ‘Cheongun Ilbo’ where the two families gathered was approaching. Hee-joo, who was tired of her family and friends pressuring her, went to the rooftop and called Sa-eon. Hee-joo, who was disguised as the blackmailer, pushed Sa-eon away with harsh words, but Sa-eon said, “Hee-joo is not an appendix, but a completely new language. Don’t talk nonsense about my wife.”

At the end of the broadcast, Sa-eon, who went up to the rooftop, met Hee-joo, who was holding the phone to her ear. The two people who couldn‘t look each other in the eye and exchanged sincerity were touching, and the ending where Sa-eon looked at each other with their phones, perhaps realizing that the blackmailer was Hee-joo, made viewers eagerly await the next episode.

The epilogue also caught the attention of viewers. Sa-eon, who visited the police station to report the case, heard Hee-joo’s voice screaming in the black box footage. Sa-eon‘s expression after learning Hee-joo’s secret that she had kept for the past 20 years left a deep impression on the living room theater, and focused attention on the couple‘s future actions.

MBC’s Friday-Saturday drama ‘The Call You Just Dialed’ Episode 5 will be aired on the 6th (Friday) at 9:40 PM with a 10-minute extension.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com Reporter jhj@donga.com