In tvN’s new Saturday-Sunday drama “When the Stars Gossip”, which aired on January 4, Gong Ryong (played by Lee Min-ho), who ventured into space with Eve Kim (played by Gong Hyo-jin) , recalled his first meeting with his girlfriend Choi Go-eun (played by Han Ji-eun) while facing life-and-death situations.
On this day, Gong Ryong boarded a spaceship as a space tourist at the request of his future father-in-law Choi Jae-ryong (played by Kim Eung-soo). Jae-ryong ordered Gong Ryong, an obstetrician-gynecologist, to conduct experiments related to incurable diseases such as dementia and infertility, threatening: “If you fail, you are no longer a doctor. Breaking up with my daughter Choi Go-eun.”
The spaceship passed through a bolt of lightning and headed into space. Seeing the corpses drifting in space, Gong Ryong expressed his disappointment, thinking: “I came here fully trusting that space would save me, but this is a cemetery?” While vomiting due to space motion sickness, Gong Ryong choked and began to reflect on his past.
Orphaned at birth, Gong Ryong grew up under the care of his three aunts: Ji Hwa-ja (played by Jeon Soo-kyeong), Jang Mi-hwa (played by Choi Jung-won) and Jung Na-mi (played by Jung Young-joo). They put pressure on him.”Earn money no matter what,” but their sacrifices provided him with the financial support that allowed him to become a doctor.
Gong Ryong, who became a poor obstetrician-gynecologist, became the attending physician of Choi Dong-hoon and Na Min-jung (played by Baek Eun-hye), a wealthy couple from the MZ group. However, he couldn’t solve their infertility due to Choi Dong-hoon’s damaged sperm.
One day, Go-eun, whom he met by chance after a car accident, was in an ectopic pregnancy state that required emergency surgery. Go-eun, distressed, said: “I like children. I didn’t even know I was pregnant. Are there men you can trust in this world?“He warned him:”Keep my surgery a secret. If you cheat on me, you will regret it.“
Gong Ryong calmed her down, saying, “When you wake up, pretend you don’t know me. Repeat after me: “I will trust you and sleep now.” Just sleep. Don’t worry, trust me. I’m your doctor.”
Their first meeting led to conflict. Choi Jae-ryong asked angrily, “Who gave you permission to touch my daughter’s body? Who are you to sever our family line?“Gong Ryong, adhering to his medical ethics, replied:”Even if it were the same situation, I would still operate on your daughter.” However, Jae-ryong retorted “You’re fired. I will make sure you can never work as a doctor again”, blocking Gong Ryong’s career.
Subsequently, Go-eun appeared before Gong Ryong, now unemployed, driven by a sense of revenge. She offered him compensation and shared a passionate kiss with him in an alley. Gong Ryong, surprised, said “I’m not interested in women. I don’t have time for love. I don’t even know what love is” and ran away.
However, Gong Ryong, under the influence of alcohol, spent the night with Go-eun. Between conflicting emotions of revenge, love, and desire, Gong Ryong accepted Go-eun’s proposal when she said, “I love you. Let’s get married.“He thought to himself:”Okay, let’s get married. This is the kind of woman you will marry. Whether it’s love or not, what does it matter?“
Meanwhile, Go-eun’s ex-boyfriend Kang Kang-su (played by Oh Jung-se) chimed in, saying, “If the guy coming isn’t better than me, I won’t let you go.” Elsewhere, thanks to Eve, Gong Ryong was able to expel the food stuck in his throat. He showed concern over a wound on Eva’s foot, suggesting a growing connection between them.
