Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Se-ri explains that Seung-jun is a former marriage prospect and introduces Jeong-hyeok as her bodyguard. She hopes an acquaintance from home can carry a message to her father, but Seung-jun secretly lets her brother hear her voice. Her survival becomes bargaining power in his dispute over stolen money. Seo Dan also learns that Jeong-hyeok is at the hotel with Se-ri and arranges a dinner with both families.
Jeong-hyeok agrees to the proposed wedding date, although his attention keeps returning to Se-ri. After their separate meetings, he and Se-ri share chicken, drinks and the first snowfall. In Seoul, Se-hyeong and Sang-a arrange to keep her from returning. Cheol-gang learns when the athletic delegation will leave and prepares to intercept her journey. Man-bok supplies information from the house despite knowing that another road attack could follow.
Se-ri enjoys a farewell picnic with the soldiers, including an unexpectedly affectionate poem from Chi-su. She says goodbye to Jeong-hyeok before Kwang-beom drives her towards the airport. Armoured trucks close in on the car, but Jeong-hyeok follows on a motorcycle and fights to stop them. His preparations have given her another layer of protection, yet they cannot prevent the shooting that follows. He shields Se-ri and is wounded, while Kwang-beom is hit in the leg.