Prodigal father Ji Jin-hee rekindles Romance in the House

by solstices

It’s time for some Romance in the House with JTBC’s upcoming drama, in which a failed entrepreneur embarks on a redemption arc alongside his newfound wealth. It’ll take more than dollar bills to get back into his family’s good books, but given Ji Jin-hee (D.P. 2) and his suave charm, I’d wager he’s already halfway there.

Having squandered his time and resources on a string of fruitless business ventures, Byun Mu-jin (Ji Jin-hee) once found himself cast out by his exasperated and embittered family. Now, he’s amassed considerable wealth in the time they spent apart — and so the prodigal father returns.

After her husband’s departure, Geum Ae-yeon — played by Kim Ji-soo (High Class) — devoted herself to raising her two children, lovingly cooking homemade meals for them even after a long day on her feet at work. As Ae-yeon’s daughter, Byun Mi-rae — played by Sohn Na-eun (Agency) — also contributes her fair share, toiling through the corporate grind so she can smack her younger brother Yoon San-ha (Joseon Chefs) at the dinner table.

Amidst the mundane drudgery, though, there are two surprises in store for Mi-rae. For one, the security guard she pins against a wall just so happens to be ~~the flaming charisma~~ Min-ho (The Fabulous), and it’s not long before he sends her heart fluttering. The second surprise, however, is much less welcome. When her estranged father shows up out of nowhere, Mi-rae can’t hide her frustration. “What exactly do you want?” Mi-rae questions, to which Mu-jin calmly replies, “I’m going to seduce your mom again.” HA.

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Romance is about to sweep our pragmatic mother-daughter duo off their feet, with their respective suitors going all out to court them. Asking Mi-rae out on dates and resting his head on her shoulder, the affections of the secret chaebol Nam Tae-pyung (Minho) has Mi-rae wondering why he’s being so nice to her. Tae-pyung leans in close: “Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

As for Ae-yeon, she’s trying her hardest to remain stoic in the face of Mu-jin’s flirtation, but her defenses are crumbling as we speak. Whether they’re walking down the street or standing above the city’s skyline, there’s a longing in Mi-rae’s gaze that’s difficult to conceal. This is the man she chose to marry, after all. Still, Mi-rae calls her out for wavering, and so Ae-yeon confronts Mu-jin about his unexpected return. “We were living well on our own,” Ae-yeon insists, “so why did you reappear all of a sudden?”

Despite his family’s firm rejections, Mu-jin remains unfazed. Swooping in close to meet Ae-yeon’s gaze, Mu-jin asks, “Didn’t you miss me?” Ae-yeon instinctively draws back, but it’s clear as day that the answer is yes, and Mu-jin grins. “You’re as beautiful as ever,” he says, sounding very much like he means it. With the siblings’ names meaning “present” and “future,” will Mu-jin be able to make amends for the past and step forward into a brighter tomorrow?

Helmed by PD Kim Da-ye (Fly High Butterfly) with scripts written by Kim Young-yoon (My Secret Romance), Romance in the House is slated for an August 10 premiere.