Episode 3 of tvN’s “Resident Playbook” blends light-hearted crushes, emotional growth, and the everyday chaos of hospital life into a touching, quietly powerful hour.

The episode kicks off with Oh I-yeong hopelessly smitten with Do-won, who, unfortunately, only sees her with the fondness one might have for a clumsy puppy. Hoping for a private moment with him, she fakes a meeting just to catch a ride—only to be let down when she realizes he’s preoccupied with work (and Dr. Myeong). Eavesdropping on their conversation, she discovers that Do-won practically lives at the hospital.

Fans of Hospital Playlist are treated to a nostalgic cameo as Seon-bin and Seok-min reappear—still head-over-heels and thriving in their careers. Seon-bin continues her work with Song-hwa, and Seok-min now serves as a professor.

Meanwhile, the residents receive a not-so-gentle reminder from their senior about a professor who’s less than thrilled with I-yeong’s surgery delays. On the brighter side, Jae-il receives a sweet thank-you note from a patient, placing him in the running for the hospital’s compliment board. His “patient-first” approach earns admiration from his peers—suddenly, he’s their go-to guru for bedside manner.

I-yeong faces the heartbreaking case of a mother whose daughter has just been diagnosed with cancer. At a loss, she receives some quiet wisdom from Do-won: visit patients often, and they’ll know you care. Meanwhile, Nam-kyung, inspired by Jae-il’s charm, follows his surprisingly simple advice: “Eat well and exercise well”—and it works.

But I-yeong still struggles to connect. A casual meal with Do-won turns into another emotional letdown when she realizes it wasn’t the special moment she’d hoped for. Later, Do-won steps in to calmly explain the treatment process to the mother-daughter pair, showing the quiet strength of his empathy.

Elsewhere, Sa-bi takes on a tough case involving a pregnant university student and her disapproving father. With the baby’s father missing in action, tensions run high. Seeking advice, Sa-bi turns to Jae-il, whose vague response—“He needs to hear the baby cry”—leaves her frustrated. Yet, it proves oddly prescient when the father returns at just the right moment, softening the heart of the grandfather-to-be.

Back in I-yeong’s storyline, her professor lashes out again for surgery delays. Just then, the patient’s mother intervenes with a poignant moment: she envies I-yeong’s freedom to stumble and grow. It’s a wake-up call for I-yeong, who vows to dig deeper into treatment options.

The young patient later heads into surgery for a hysterectomy. Despite her earlier courage, she finally breaks down, and I-yeong delays the procedure to comfort her. It earns her another scolding, but the successful outcome makes it worth it.

Meanwhile, Sa-bi finds a discarded gift from her patient’s father, filled with raw, loving words. She gives it to the daughter, who breaks down in tears. Sa-bi’s partner quietly steps in to offer support, making for one of the episode’s more understated but moving moments.

Nam-kyung has her own twist: her elderly patient’s late-night workouts turn out to be prep for a wedding—not her grandchild’s, but her own! The wedding gets postponed, but not the joy.

As the episode winds down, the compliment board goes to someone unexpected—a nurse whose sincerity and heart touch a patient deeply, reminding the residents that there are no shortcuts to true recognition.

And just when you think things will end quietly, the residents gather for a department photo. In a brave, cheeky move, I-yeong grabs Do-won’s hand as the camera clicks. His stunned expression? Absolutely priceless.