Can This Love Be Translated Episode 2 Recap: Ho-jin and Mu-hee’s Unspoken Feelings

The episode opens with Ho-jin returning to South Korea after three months overseas. A casual conversation with his driver about celebrities unexpectedly brings Mu-hee to mind. Acting on impulse, Ho-jin follows her on Instagram, becoming her 10,000th follower, and even sends her a message. At the same time, Mu-hee suffers an on-set accident that leaves her injured, quietly setting the stage for the events to come.

In the present timeline, Mu-hee appears on a German talk show. Only weeks after waking from her coma, she still struggles to process her overwhelming good fortune. Her Instagram following has soared past 10 million, yet her sense of self feels unstable. While looking into a mirror, she suddenly sees Do Ra-mi’s reflection staring back at her instead of her own.

Ho-jin arrives at his late grandfather’s sprawling home, where he finds Mr Kim welcoming guests and encouraging them to stay comfortably. Mr Kim explains that he was a close friend of Ho-jin’s grandfather. Unmoved, Ho-jin asks him to relay a firm message to his mother—remove all her belongings so the house can be sold. Meanwhile, online attention grows as people begin recognising Ho-jin from Mu-hee’s Instagram photo.

Elsewhere, Mu-hee learns that Vogue Singapore will be interviewing her. Her team hires an interpreter, who turns out to be Ho-jin himself. Their reunion catches Mu-hee off guard, but she is visibly pleased to see him again. During the interview, questions arise about the mysterious man in her Instagram post. Mu-hee downplays it, calling him a stranger who once helped her with directions, though she admits there is something charming about the idea of meeting someone kind again.

After the interview, Ho-jin admits he deliberately took the interpreter job because he wanted to speak to Mu-hee. However, her packed schedule forces him to wait through her next talk-show appearance. While waiting, he overhears Mu-hee confessing to her assistant that she keeps thinking about her memories with him in Japan. Watching her on television, Ho-jin appears quietly mesmerised.

Later, Mu-hee suggests dinner to make up for the meal they never had. Ho-jin agrees, but insists it remain brief. During dinner, he directly asks her to delete the Instagram photo of him, explaining that it has caused misunderstandings. Mu-hee argues that deleting it might spark even more rumours. Ho-jin then reveals the real reason—he doesn’t want Ji-seon to know he went to see Mu-hee on her birthday. The revelation stuns Mu-hee, especially when she realises he never actually went to see Ji-seon that day.

After dinner, Ho-jin tells Mu-hee he will contact her manager, Yong-u, regarding the photo. On the drive back, Yong-u reveals a shocking truth: Ho-jin visited Mu-hee at the hospital while she was still in a coma, long before her film became a hit or her fame exploded. This revelation fuels Mu-hee’s curiosity about Ji-seon, prompting her to quietly investigate.

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At home, Ho-jin finds a charm tucked away in his drawer. The memory of meeting Ji-seon in Japan resurfaces—how she bought matching charms for them, believing they would help them find each other again. The memory turns bitter when he recalls seeing her again only as Jin-suk’s girlfriend.

Ho-jin ultimately messages Yong-u, confirming that he wants the Instagram photo removed. Mu-hee complies. While reading Yong-u’s phone, she notices Ho-jin repeatedly checking on her condition during her hospital stay. Moved, she calls Ho-jin to thank him, but the moment collapses when Yong-u loudly discovers Ji-seon’s identity—a producer he personally knows. Ho-jin overhears everything and grows upset.

Feeling responsible, Mu-hee goes to Ho-jin’s house to apologise in person for prying into his past. Ho-jin invites her inside, deciding it is best to satisfy her curiosity once and for all. He explains that although he and Ji-seon met during a trip, he continued visiting the island every year on her birthday and still harbours unresolved feelings.

Mu-hee asks if things might have been different between them had they gone to dinner that day. Ho-jin answers honestly—no. Mu-hee laughs it off, clarifying that she only wanted confirmation that he does not have feelings for her. Ho-jin agrees and suggests they should not meet again, even though he will continue supporting her from afar.

The episode shifts to a film festival in Tokyo. As Mu-hee walks the red carpet, she suddenly sees a vision of Do Ra-mi pushing her. She imagines herself falling into darkness before snapping back to reality when a Japanese actor catches her mid-fall. The incident sparks chaos among reporters and cameras.

Later that night, Ho-jin returns to his hotel room after work, only to find Mu-hee crouched outside his door in tears. She confesses that her “festival”—their shared metaphor for her unbelievable run of good luck—feels like it is coming to an end.

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