A Virtuous Business – K-drama Episode 11 Recap & Review

Do-hyeon’s Mum

Episode 11 of A Virtuous Business begins with Jeong-suk trying to act normally after finding the initials on the clothes upstairs. The implication here is that Do-hyeon is actually Geum-hui’s son.

The big meal goes ahead though, and Won-bong gives a big speech thanking everyone for showing up. He reminds them that health comes first and there’s a rather amusing moment where he keeps wanting to continue his speech but Geum-hui stops him.

Things are undoubtedly awkward between Jeong-suk and Do-hyeon though. The former is quiet and keeps her distance, refusing to let him stay over despite Min-ho’s insistence. Jeong-suk is undoubtedly conflicted, while Do-hyeon, unaware of this new evidence, believes he’s back at square one again for this hunt for his mum.

Geum-hui decides to take some pictures of products and she enlists the help of Dae-geun, who has studied photography at school before dropping out. He’s pretty eccentric and it’s quite funny watching him rolling around taking photos, especially as the other ladies are there to watch too.

That night, Dae-geun invites Ju-ri over to his place as scheduled. She looks very different though as she’s straightened her hair and has put on a more simple outfit. All of this is a disguise so people don’t spot her outside, and it works a treat.

The pair drink whiskey together but Dae-geun ends up crying when he talks about his photography. He gets drunk and after picking up Ju-ri to head inside… they’re in for a rude awakening. Ms Heo is back and she chases them across the lawn with a broom, shocked that the pair are together.

In the morning, when Ms Heo has calmed down, she speaks to Dae-geun and Ju-ri plainly. She has a lease agreement all drawn up and if the pair won’t break up, then shes forcing Ju-ri out the salon.

Dae-geun steps up and shouts at his mum, telling her that what he and Ju-ri have is special. He thinks he can be better with her around and won’t have his mum – who never really gave him a chance – do anything to destroy that.

Unfortunately, Ms Heo won’t take no for an answer, and later on they end up over at Geum-hui’s place with nowhere else to go. Won-bong isn’t so sure this is a good idea but eventually he concedes. However, things don’t go well and it’s rocky times as Won-bong struggles to live with the pair.

Meanwhile, Geum-hui and Do-hyeon’s ties continue to come to light when they’re joined by Jeong-suk at lunch. The two certainly have similarities, including both liking a lot of pepper on their food. Geum-hui even offers her house (along with extra dishes) for them to have food together in the future.

After, Jeong-suk speaks to Do-hyeon about his search for his mum. He’s already written off Geum-hui as a possible mum as her timeline doesn’t add up. However, she can’t keep what she’s found a secret anymore and reveals the embroidery link.

Do-hyeon heads over to see Geum-hui and shows her what he’s found. She’s very standofish and claims she has no idea what he wants to find. In reality, Geum-hui is rattled and inside, struggles to hold it together. When Won-bong gets her a new scarf and some meat, acting super happy and joyous, Geum-hui has a hard time feeling the same way.

That night, Do-hyeon recaps what happened with Geum-hui to Jeong-suk. He’s more sure than ever that Geum-hui is his birth mum.

Things are awkwad the next day though when the ladies meet up to check out their brochure and distribute it out. Jeong-suk and Geum-hui aren’t really talking, while Geum-hui is dismissive over anything regarding the detective. She’s even ready to ignore him completely in the street after.

However, Do-hyeon stops her and asks outright why she abandoned him. She admits that she dated recklessly when she was younger and fell pregnant by mistake. She was scared of what others would think of her so that’s why she abandoned him.

Geum-hui continues, telling him to move on with is life and not bother her as she wants to live peacefully. It’s incredibly cold, but it also at least ends Do-hyeon’s search.

Funnily enough though, it’s Ju-ri who helps talk her around that evening. If anyone knows anything about being a single mum, it’s her. She brings up how hard things were initially but never once has she regretted having her child. Raising Dong-u has given her so many reasons to be cheerful, and that is something that Geum-hui has missed out on entirely.

The next day, Jeong-suk gets some medicine for Do-hyeon as he’s feeling sick. Geum-hui happens to be there and overhears that his fever has broken. She explains that she got flustered about the whole Do-hyeon situation and thought it best for them to live separately.

Jeong-suk though breaks her illusion of him being a good and upstanding guy, pointing out that deep down, he’s been desperately waiting to meet his mum for many years. Geum-hui doesn’t know what to do, and things are made tougher when she finds out Won-bong has overheard the whole thing.

The pair sit and talk together, where Won-bong realizes this is why Geum-hui never wanted a child. Turns out Won-bong had a hunch that she was keeping something from him. He also found the baby clothes but knew she wanted to keep it buried so he supported her. Won-bong also reassures her that he’s not going anywhere and will stand by her side regardless.

Geum-hui does just that and shows up at Do-hyeon’s place. She apologizes to him and says that’s “mum’s fault” and embraces him. It’s a really nice moment, as Do-hyeon finally allows himself to be vulnerable with her.

The Episode Review

So the ending to A Virtuous Business wraps up Do-hyeon’s search for his mum, while also seeing several other subplots come through to the foreground. The drama involving Ju-ri and Dae-geun was always going to be messy and unfortunately, Ms Heo has forced their hand in the worst possible way.

We don’t see an awful lot of Yeong-bok here either, which is surprising because if there’s one person who knows about being a mum, it’s her. However, that chat with Ju-ri definitely put some things into perspective for her.

This is also backed up by that end chat with Won-bong, who comes into his own and really steps up as the loving husband. It’s a far cry from where we sae him earlier in the season and a definite highlight.

With this mystery wrapped up, everything is resting on the finale, which promises to be quite the emotional affair.