Ahn Bo-hyun and Lee Joo-been have begun dating publicly.
On Mon., Feb. 2, the tvN Monday-Tuesday drama Spring Fever (directed by Park Won-guk / written by Kim A-jung / planned by CJ ENM STUDIOS / produced by Bon Factory) episode 9 depicted Sun Jae-gyu (played by Ahn Bo-hyun) and Yoon Bom (played by Lee Joo-been) overcoming a crisis with love and moving forward together. The development, which alternated between excitement, tension and anxiety, kept viewers emotionally unsettled without pause. Episode 9 recorded its highest ratings to date, with an average of 5.4% and a peak of 6.3% nationwide on paid platforms that combine cable, IPTV and satellite, and 5.1% average and a peak of 6.4% in the Seoul metropolitan area. tvN also topped the 20-49 target ratings across all channels including terrestrial in both nationwide and metropolitan areas during the same time slot, solidifying its position as the dominant Monday-Tuesday drama. (Based on paid platforms combining cable, IPTV and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea)
Earlier, after learning that his mother Sun Hee-yeon (played by Son Yeo-eun) was alive, Sun Han-gyeol (played by Cho Junyoung) clashed fiercely with Sun Jae-gyu for the first time, leaving deep wounds on both sides. Wanting to win back his nephew's chilled heart, Sun Jae-gyu devoted himself to the village festival, but on the day of the festival Sun Han-gyeol never showed up. Before the unease could subside, when the villagers and Jung Jin-hyeok (played by Bae Jung-nam) exposed Sun Jae-gyu and Yoon Bom's relationship, Sinsu-eup was turned upside down in an instant, and the line "Uncle, are you dating teacher Bom?" echoed through the festival, drawing laughter.
Meanwhile, Sun Han-gyeol went to Seoul alone to meet his birth mother. In an awkward touch, Han-gyeol asked, "Is it really all right if I come? Can I call you mom?"—a scene that left viewers' hearts heavy. But the brief hope did not last. After eavesdropping on a phone call between Sun Jae-gyu and Sun Hee-yeon, Sun Han-gyeol learned that his mother's kindness was not genuine but an act for a settlement agreement, and fell into despair.
The one who stayed by Sun Han-gyeol's side was Choi Se-jin (played by Lee Jaein). Though she grumbled, Choi Se-jin quietly stayed by him and comforted Han-gyeol. Eventually, with Han-gyeol's confessed "I like you," the two confirmed their feelings for each other, and a day that had been heading for the worst turned into the best day, bringing fresh excitement. Returning home, Han-gyeol met his uncle Sun Jae-gyu again, and the accumulated conflict slowly loosened not through words but through a torrent of chatter. The sight of the two returning to a peaceful daily life reassured viewers.
Meanwhile at school, uncomfortable stares continued around Sun Jae-gyu and Yoon Bom's relationship. Unlike Hong Jeong-pyo (played by Kim Byung-chun), who pressured Yoon Bom, Seo Hye-sook (played by Jin Kyung) pushed Yoon Bom by saying, "If you have someone you like, like them freely. If there's someone you want to meet, meet them. Even if spring seems like it will last forever, it won't; it's brief. Live and let your flowers bloom fully," encouraging her. Prompted by Seo Hye-sook's advice, Yoon Bom decided not to hide anymore, met Sun Jae-gyu in front of the school and enjoyed an open date, drawing cheers from living rooms.
Not caring about others' stares, Sun Jae-gyu and Yoon Bom held hands and visited all the parts of the village they had not been able to go to, showing a completely changed side of themselves. As Yoon Bom said, "Today let's laugh our heads off, enjoy like crazy, and be happy to our hearts' content," both wore brighter expressions than ever. Later, not wanting to be separated even for a moment, Sun Jae-gyu and Yoon Bom spent the night together, raising viewers' heart rates to a peak.
But near the end of the broadcast, as Sun Jae-gyu and Yoon Bom were enjoying a happy time in Sinsu-eup, Yoon Bom's mother Jung Nan-hee (played by Na Young-hee) appeared, heightening unease. With the cutting line "From now on I'll handle it," her appearance in Sinsu-eup foreshadowed another ripple and maximized tension.
After the broadcast, viewers reacted strongly, saying, "Uncle Jae-gyu raised Han-gyeol so well," "So the villagers pretended not to know. What's with the sense of Sinsu-eup residents?," "Today's uncle series is twins," "Se-jin and Han-gyeol are finally official," "An episode that excites, amuses and moves you all at once," "I choked up when teacher Seo told Bom to live and let her flowers bloom freely," "Bom's mom shows up," and "I'm so excited I can't sleep."
The tvN Monday-Tuesday drama Spring Fever episode 10 will air today, Tue., Feb. 3, at 8:50 p.m.
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