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With Mok-ha’s appearance and support, Ran-joo realizes that anything is possible. Things may have drastically changed over the years and she may not be the big superstar that she was 15 years ago but there is always hope. Although Ran-joo can’t return to the past, she can learn to live, appreciate, and soak in every single second of the present.

Castaway Diva Episode 4: 2008 vs. 2022

Ran-joo prepares to do an interview for her appearance on Bo-geol’s variety show ‘Heyday Again.’ She wishes to talk about her song that was inspired by Ki-ho and Mok-ho’s special friendship in hopes of somehow reuniting the two. Though Mok-ha is excited at the idea, Bo-geol declines. What if Ki-ho isn’t comfortable with it? Filming for the episode wraps up and Bo-geol bids farewell to Mok-ha before heading back to the studio with his team. He recommends that Mok-ha get both a cellphone as well as her driver’s license since she’s a manager now. The only thing is: Mok-ha needs money. So she approaches Bo-geol’s parents who own a salon shop and inquires about their hiring announcement. Sounds like Mok-ha is hired!

To prepare for Ran-joo’s episode of ‘Heyday Again’, Bo-geol recommends another thing to add onto Mok-ha’s to-do list: create an email account. Woo-hak stops by Bo-geol’s office and scolds Bo-geol for not being of help to Mok-ha. He stops by his parent’s salon afterwards and discovers Mok-ha working there. He’s relieved to learn that his parents can finally eat lunch together now and he joins Mok-ha for some food. While munching on gimbap (wow, now I want some!), the two chat about Ki-ho once again. Mok-ha’s still discouraged at how she hasn’t heard from him yet. She assumes he either doesn’t want to find her or he’s not alive. But Woo-hak proposes a third option: maybe Ki-ho lost his memory like he did. Woo-hak suffered an accident before high school that caused him to lose all his memories. He didn’t even remember his parents, there are no pictures around, and he also isn’t in contact with his childhood friends. Who knows, maybe Ki-ho also experienced something similar. Since the two are eating together, Mok-ha makes it clear to Woo-hak that he can call her anytime he wants someone to eat with. As someone who’s eaten alone for 15 years, she knows what it’s like and it’s something she never wants to experience again. Woo-hak is moved by Mok-ha’s sincerity.

It’s the day of Ran-joo’s appearance on ‘Heyday Again.’ Mok-ha and Ran-joo prepare for the performance by watching a decades-old clip of Ran-joo’s singing. CEO Lee also finds out about Ran-joo’s appearance on the show so he contacts Main PD Hong to ask for a favor. Speaking of Main PD Hong, she explains her complicated history with Ran-joo to Dong-min and Bo-geol. Ran-joo was quite the diva back in her prime and she wasn’t the easiest to work with. But times have changed and Main PD Hong assumes Ran-joo won’t act like that now. When Ran-joo and Mok-ha arrive on the set of the show, they’re amazed and impressed by how beautiful everything looks. Mok-ha’s nerves settle down but she’s rather suspicious about something else instead. It seems like CEO Lee is more supportive than usual of Ran-joo’s appearance for the show. From connecting her with her former stylist to providing some snacks and drinks, CEO Lee goes all out for Ran-joo. But things don’t sit right with Mok-ha.

Bo-geol encounters his brother in the elevators since they work at the same building and Woo-hak checks in on how things are going with the variety show. It’s not until Woo-hak asks about Ran-joo’s health condition that Bo-geol finally connects the dots. Ran-joo is hesitant on rehearsing before the actual filming of the show and Bo-geol realizes that it’s Mok-ha who sang for Ran-joo back at the village festival. He assumes the same thing will happen again during the filming of his show but it’s not just Bo-geol who reaches this conclusion. Even Manager Park is aware of Mok-ha and Ran-joo’s teamwork and he catches sight of Mok-ha placing a microphone into her bag. But their conversation is interrupted by Bo-geol who takes Mok-ha away.

Seconds before the show is set to film, Mok-ha and Ran-joo exchange microphones and they prepare themselves for the performance. And so the show starts by playing a video of Ran-joo’s performance from 2008. Then Mok-ha sings the same exact song backstage and viewers are instructed to vote on which performance they assumed was Ran-joo’s voice from her heyday. And just like Ran-joo and Mok-ha wanted, the majority of votes went towards Mok-ha’s performance. So Ran-joo appears on stage to “sing” the same song with Mok-ha singing behind the stage. 2022 Ran-joo has defeated 2008 Ran-joo and Mok-ha can’t help but feel moved by the audience’s reaction. Everyone cheers for Ran-joo and they’re impressed at how she’s still got it. In an interview with the MC after her performance, Ran-joo brings up the inspiration behind the song. She leaves a message to Ki-ho and reassures him that the friend who he had been looking for (Mok-ha) is doing well and that she hopes that they will meet each other again someday. This comment throws Bo-geol off and he’s surprised by the interview. Ki-ho’s dad too is watching the show while at work and he takes another glance at Woo-hak’s business card.

Mok-ha and Ran-joo rush to the restroom afterwards for the latest and greatest reaction to the performance. It’s clear that everyone liked it and live viewership ratings even skyrocketed too. Mok-ha can’t help but grow curious as to whether Ki-ho watched the show or not. When she re-enters the set, she imagines herself standing on that stage and singing Ran-joo’s song. Mok-ha’s imagination is cut short thanks to Bo-geol who interrupts her with some feedback. He requests that Ran-joo stay on script for their next filming. He also discourages Mok-ha from speaking about Ki-ho again.

Reactions to Ran-joo’s performance on the TV show are great and together, Ran-joo and Mok-ha read some articles that were written about her. 2022 Ran-joo is deeply moved and touched by the positive reactions but so is older Ran-joo who reflects on these same exact articles many years later. Elder Ran-joo reminisces at how she felt when she first read the titles of the articles and just how overwhelmed she was with emotions. It’s all too much for 2022 Ran-joo and she leans on Mok-ha while shedding some tears. She’s grateful for the support.

Mok-ha calls Woo-hak while he’s at work to update him on Ran-joo’s reaction but there’s something else that grabs Woo-hak’s attention. A bouquet of flowers with a note inside written by Ki-ho arrives at his office and he immediately notifies Mok-ha. It’s a note dedicated to her to meet at the old Seoul Station at 8pm. So Mok-ha immediately meets Woo-hak to take a look at the flowers and note for herself. The day has finally arrived. This is what she had been waiting for.

Bo-geol and his team celebrate their latest achievement by treating themselves to some cafeteria food. He joins his brother who’s sitting at a table alone and he learns about the dire situation that Mok-ha is in. Woo-hak finally accepts the fact that he’s not Ki-ho since Mok-ha received a letter and bouquet of flowers from Ki-ho which he definitely didn’t send. But this information immediately grabs Bo-geol’s attention and he runs off. Woo-hak’s condition worsens and he eventually faints while at work. His mind is triggered by some horrible and terrifying moments of Ki-ho’s father’s face and voice. So he connects the dots and realizes that the same man who delivered the bouquet of flowers to his office is the terrifying man in his memories. With that, Woo-hak too hurries out of his office and drives over to the Seoul Station to rescue Mok-ha. It doesn’t help that he can’t seem to get in contact with Mok-ha.

Meanwhile, Ran-joo visits CEO Lee’s house that night to have a chat. She’s uncomfortable with how supportive he was towards her that day and she wants to know why. Why did he go all out and do all these things for her? At first, CEO Lee tries not to say much. He simply felt sorry and guilty so he wanted to help her. But just when Ran-joo assumes that CEO Lee’s had a change of heart and she leans in towards him to give him a kiss, he pushes her away at the last second. Every move he makes is calculated and there was a reason for his actions that day. He’s confident that Ran-joo won’t be able to sell 20 million albums. He’s removed all of her albums both physically and digitally so that no one can purchase them. That’s why he felt sorry and guilty towards her. Ran-joo is in disbelief.

It’s 8pm and Mok-ha anxiously waits at the Seoul Station in hopes of reuniting with Ki-ho. But it’s not Ki-ho who shows up at the time that was written on the note to her. It’s none other than Ki-ho’s dad and Mok-ha realizes that she’s in grave danger. She attempts to escape from Ki-ho’s dad but it’s not until a stranger grabs her hand and runs away with her that they escape successfully. Mok-ha assumes it’s Ki-ho who’s grabbed her hand and helped her run away but when the stranger reveals their identity to Mok-ha, she grows rather confused and shocked. Wait, what is Bo-geol doing here? Why did he help Mok-ha run away from Ki-ho’s dad? Could he possibly be Ki-ho?