Recap: Secret Relationships, Episode 7 - DryedMangoez.com (2025)

Like I mentioned in my First Impression Review, I don’t what I was expecting coming into Secret Relationships. But I don’t think I ever expected any of this! lol But as we head into the final episode, it has certainly been a crazy ride. And this episode certainly took things to the next level all leading into the sure to be thrilling climax!

The episode picks up where the last left off. Jaemin has stabbed himself in the arm several times, blaming Daon for letting things get to this point because he gives his heart to anyone who’s nice to him.

Jaemin says he sacrificed so much for Daon and now he doesn’t need him anymore? Jaemin screams why Daon is abandoning him and blames Daon for making him miserable.

While Sunghyun waits for Daon at the place they agreed to meet at, Daon takes Jaemin to the hospital. Daon is gone when Jaemin wakes up and the nurse gives him a note Daon left for him.

As Daon is running to meet Sunghyun, Jaemin reads the note thanking him for all the sacrifices he made for him all this time. But what happened with Jeonghun and sending Soohyun abroad was just too much and he hopes he will never do things like that ever again.

Daon says now for the first time, he wants to follow his heart and not regret lost opportunities.

Daon arrives at the meeting place and Soohyun is still there. Soohyun says he has been so worried about him, not even able to reach him. He sees the hickey on Daon’s neck and believes that is not only the reason he was unreachable, but also what Daon wanted to tell him this evening.

Daon is speechless. Soohyun is upset that he got his hopes up again. He walks away.

Back at the hospital, Soohyun is waiting outside when Jaemin walks out. He had called and the nurse told him he was here. Soohyun wants them to work together to make sure Daon does not end up with Sunghyun especially since both of them have pretty much messed up their own chances. Jaemin refuses to work with Soohyun and says maybe it’s time to move on since Daon will not accept him even after all he’s done.

Next day, Soohyun has called in sick. A worried Daon heads to Soohyun’s house to check on him. Daon tries to say yesterday was a misunderstanding, but Soohyun says it was very clear how Daon feels.

Soohyun admits being excited by Daon’s message and rushed over. But while waiting, he was so worried about what might have happened to him. Only to find out he was out getting hickeys. Soohyun thought maybe he should’ve given up on Daon when he first asked him to. He regrets it now and says he won’t cling onto Daon anymore, as he wished from the start.

Soohyun asks Daon to leave and to never come to him again.

Back at the office, Daon can’t stop thinking about what’s happened. And then when he gets back to his desk, the other employees are gossiping about an online post by Jeonghun alleging Daon is a nepotism hire, revealing how the new director (Soohyun) had not only gone to the same college as him, but almost went to jail for him. Jeonghun also mentions how Soohyun backed out of the deal with the other company because of that incident.

The comments are overwhelmingly against Daon and he quickly goes to confront Soohyun saying that all of that is in the past, so why would he let it affect that deal. Daon says he apologizes if Soohyun is still resentful about being sent abroad.

Daon says then and now, both Jaemin and Soohyun have kept things from him. If Soohyun had told him the truth back then… Soohyun cuts him off and says Daon wouldn’t have done anything. But the only important thing now is if Daon will come back to him.

A hurt Daon leaves and sits in the stairwell, thinking about all that’s happened. He blames himself and says he doesn’t deserve to love or be loved. That’s why everyone around him is miserable.

Grandma sees Sunghyun is sick so she makes him some congee to feel better. He tells her that he tried everything he could, but things didn’t work out so he is done trying now. He asks if he made the right choice and Grandma gives him a hug, telling him he did a good job.

Sunghyun says he feels better now so Grandma goes to make some tea. But Sunghyun lets out a big sigh.

Over at the university, Jaemin has quit his job and tells his boss that he just has some things to wrap up first before he goes somewhere far away for a long time.

Next morning, Sunghyun gets to work. But this time Daon is not in today. His co-worker tells him about what happened to Daon yesterday. Team leader comes over to say Sunghyun will have to deliver the presentation on his own because Daon is probably going to quit the TF team.

Sunghyun hurries out and literally runs into Soohyun. Sunghyun confronts Soohyun about not doing anything to protect an employee like Daon after what was posted about him. Soohyun tells Sunghyun to stay out of it and that he will take care of everything.

Sunghyun says Soohyun better do that because he will not just sit by and watch Daon quit the team. Soohyun thinks it’s a great idea for Daon to quit the team.

Sunghyun stifles his anger and leaves after starting to mention that Daon didn’t even come to work today.

The two race to find Daon first. Soohyun quickly heads over to Daon’s apartment. But Sunghyun remembers Daon telling him about the hill near his family’s home that was a comforting place for him.

Sunghyun finds Daon sitting on the bench. Daon gets up to leave. But Sunghyun says running away and hiding won’t help anything. He shouldn’t give up on something he worked so hard for. This is Daon’s dream. They agreed to work hard on it together, so why give up so easily.

Daon says he doesn’t deserve to work on this after what has been posted online. But Sunghyun insists that Daon should not give up and do everything to pursue his dreams. He asks Daon not to run away.

Daon heads home where Soohyun is waiting after smoking an entire pack of cigarettes. Soohyun screams at Daon who just ignores him and walks away. Soohyun grabs him and confronts him about quitting. Daon says he is not quitting. He is actually going to do his best to win the bid and go abroad.

“I won’t disappoint those who believe in me,” Daon says.

Soohyun screams, asking why Daon always wants to abandon him. Daon says this is the only way he can find himself and finally live a life without Soohyun and Jaemin.

After Daon leaves, Soohyun calls someone and gives them the greenlight to move forward with the plan.

Next day, Daon gets a call from Jaemin who apologizes for what happened with the stabbing. Jaemin tells Daon that he will be leaving soon. They tell each other to take care.

As they go about their day, Daon and Sunghyun keep things all professional, focusing only on their work. Though Daon can’t help but stare at Sunghyun when he gets close. And then put a coat on him when he falls asleep at his desk.

Next morning, Jaemin is packing his things, including a photo of him and Daon at graduation. He has his house all covered up and he leaves with his luggage.

At the bidding conference, Daon calls Soohyun when he is not here yet, but no answer. Soohyun is actually sitting in his car in the garage. He reads Daon’s message when he gets a knock on his window from a man saying everything is ready to go.

Daon and Sunghyun practice their presentation outside when Daon gets a message from Jaemin who says he has something to give him before he leaves for abroad. Jaemin asks Daon to meet him in the basement garage. Daon excuses himself to Sunghyun as he heads down.

Before leaving, Daon asks Sunghyun to spare him some time after the presentation as he has something he wants to tell him.

Daon heads to the garage. But no one is there. Jaemin texts that he’s caught up in traffic. One moment, Daon is alone; the next, a masked figure pounces, pressing a chloroform cloth against his face.

Sunghyun gets the call to head inside the ballroom for rehearsal of their presentation. He wonders where Daon is and he heads downstairs to the empty garage.

Daon wakes up and finds himself tied up in some kind of cabin. Suddenly, a dark-clothed man comes walking in, much to Daon’s horror.

Flashback to Christmas seven years ago, Daon, Soohyun and Jaemin were in this very cabin making Christmas wish decorations for the tree. Daon always wanted to write wishes on a tree like in the movies and TV and he never got a chance to wake up to many presents by the tree because of his poor family.

The three of them write their wishes and head over to tree to hang them up.

It starts snowing outside and the three go to the window to watch. The camera slowly pans across their wishes. Two of them write that they wish for all three of them to be happy. The last wish says “Please let us be together until the day we die.”

Episode Thoughts

Well then! We’re going full soap opera makjang everything! lol

And actually, I don’t mind it. lol This has been quite a refreshing entry into the Korean BL genre. The outright soapy-ness of the storyline from the dynamics between the main characters to the plot points. Maybe contrived for some. But perfectly fun and enjoyable for the rest of us I think. Lol

After the last few episodes, I’ve been lamenting the idea of this series being only eight episodes. But with the way the show has twisted about after Episodes 6 and 7 especially, I think this is probably the right time to wrap things up and come to their climactic conclusion. I mean, I don’t know what else there is to do after one of your main characters stabs himself in the arm.

Well, I mean, other than kidnapping and hostage taking I guess. Lol

So the episode made it seem like Soohyun is the one who ordered Daon’s kidnapping. So that’s too obvious. But isn’t it more obvious that it’s Jaemin with his own deathwish? But if that’s more obvious, then maybe he’s not the culprit either? I dunno. Lol It could be anyone. Heck, it could be Jeonghun for all we know.

But anyway, I definitely did not expect things to get this crazy!

Anyway, let’s talk about the other parts of the episode first.

A very heartbreaking scene in the stairwell. Daon thinking he has no right to love anyone or be loved. All thanks to the lack of love in his life. Whether from his family or these two manipulative, obsessed crazy hyungs he thought were his friends.

Daon’s been emotionally (and physically, obviously) abused by so many people. Sometimes you can’t blame him for not knowing how to deal with certain situations. Like, just simply talking things out. Whether with Sunghyun at the beginning or being more direct, more often to Sunghyun and Jaemin.

Then again, when he does finally get direct to his hyungs, they find a way to turn it around on him again. Further traumatizing Daon into silence and submission. As we saw this episode, he finally starts standing taller. Only now to get kidnapped and bound. *sigh*

There’s really no justifying either Jaemin or Soohyun’s actions. Not just now and regardless of whether either of them are the culprit here. But even back in college. They played with Daon, tried controlling his life and emotions. And it’s hung over Daon for now seven years. We are of course rooting for Daon and his happy ending. But for sure, we’re going to go through a bit of heaviness before that can happen.

Loved the scene with Sunghyun and Grandma. He’s just trying his best too. And it’s easy to understand his frustration and disappointment as well.

I have no idea what Soohyun could be planning. But again, you can pity him for losing out on a potential boyfriend. But his response to it ever since is just toxic to the max. So, sorry. But you threw your chance away long ago.

Now with Jaemin, the show certainly included all the keywords suggesting he is possibly considering ending his life. And perhaps even taking Daon and Soohyun with him. (Blunt final frame with that wish for them to be together til death do us part lol)

But I do always think that what will actually happen is the opposite of the most obvious thing that is shown and implied. So maybe Jaemin was just literally travelling to another country for a long time. Or he was referring to dying and travelling to the afterlife. I dunno! (The manhwa readers probably know though, so I need to stay off all social media until I watch the last episode lol)

So, a very dark and dramatic penultimate episode. Let’s see where this wild ride will end up!