In Love to Hate You Episode 4, the stakes get even higher for Yeo Mi-ran and Nam Kang-ho as the media scandal surrounding their alleged relationship takes center stage. The tension between them is more intense than ever, as they are forced to confront both the public scrutiny and their growing feelings for one another.
The episode opens with the aftermath of the paparazzi photos that went viral at the end of Episode 3. Tabloids are ablaze with rumors about Kang-ho and Mi-ran dating, and the gossip quickly spreads across social media. Kang-ho's fans are furious, and his management team is scrambling to do damage control. Mi-ran, on the other hand, is livid. She never asked to be dragged into Kang-ho's high-profile world, and the attention is making her personal and professional life chaotic. She storms into Gilmu Law Firm, demanding a resolution, while Kang-ho is equally frustrated at being thrust into a scandal he didn’t expect.
At the firm, Do Won-jun tries to mediate the situation. He suggests that the best way to deal with the rumors is for Kang-ho and Mi-ran to pretend they are actually in a relationship for a while, at least until the media frenzy dies down. Both Mi-ran and Kang-ho are horrified at the idea. Mi-ran, fiercely independent, doesn’t want to be part of a fake relationship just to protect Kang-ho’s image. Kang-ho, meanwhile, is uncomfortable with the idea of getting closer to Mi-ran, especially since she’s already getting under his skin in ways he didn’t expect.
However, after realizing that denying the rumors would only make the situation worse, both reluctantly agree to go along with the charade. The fake dating premise sets up a series of hilarious and awkward encounters, as Mi-ran and Kang-ho are forced to act like a couple in public. They have to attend events together, hold hands for the cameras, and even appear in a staged "date" arranged by Won-jun. The contrast between their forced affection in public and their bickering in private is both comical and endearing.
As the two continue to spend more time together, their initial hostility starts to soften. Although they still argue and snipe at each other, there are moments when they begin to understand and empathize with one another. Mi-ran starts to see that beneath Kang-ho’s public image as a romantic lead, he’s actually much more complex and vulnerable. She begins to suspect that his distrust of love and women stems from something deeper, although he still keeps his guard up around her.
Kang-ho, in turn, starts to appreciate Mi-ran’s strength and independence. He admires how she handles herself in a male-dominated world and how she doesn’t back down from a challenge. Despite his own cynicism, he finds himself drawn to her fiery personality, even though he can’t q
