Baek Ah-jin tries to keep her success firmly in her hands in Dear X episode 5. As a result, anyone who crosses her path may face misfortune.
Dear X episode 5 aired on November 13, 2025, alongside episode 6 on HBO Max and TVING. This episode, titled Let Me Reach The Highest Place, explores Baek Ah-jin’s new life as a rising actress. Her world opens to new opportunities, but as she walks toward success, she may need to take matters into her own hands again. Jun-seo and Jae-oh return to her life, helping make her plans possible once more.
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Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers about Dear X. Read at your own risk.
New Faces Enter Ah-jin’s Life in Dear X Episode 5
Dear X episode 5 opens with Ah-jin walking the red carpet at the Busan International Film Festival. Alongside Ah-jin was the established actor Heo In-gang. In-gang, who is dating his co-star Le-na at the time, later decides to break up with her.
Upset that Ah-jin appears with him, Le-na starts bullying her on set, forcing her to repeat a scene multiple times. Meanwhile, CEO Seo Mi-ri meets with In-gang, who confirms he wants to push through the breakup. Soon after, Ah-jin calls Mi-ri, prompting her to visit the set and confront Le-na. Mi-ri threatens to expose Le-na’s past DUI case—an incident someone else took the blame for—to make her behave.
Later, Ah-jin’s manager, Hyang-i, explains that Mi-ri keeps “Shackles Files” on each actor, holding blackmail-worthy information in her desk drawer. The tension escalates when Ah-jin and Le-na meet at a salon and exchange sharp, cutting words.
Jae-oh and Jun-seo Returns
Jae-oh is released from prison and crosses paths with Ah-jin while working as a deliveryman, though he keeps his identity hidden. Meanwhile, Jun-seo has become a well-known author under the name Yoon Seok-ha. His book, Co-Offender Y, appears to recount events from Ah-jin’s life.
At the same time, Ji-sun struggles with loan sharks and turns to Joon-seo’s grandfather for help, but he refuses her and has her thrown out. Jae-oh visits his aunt to give her money for taking care of his younger brother, Jae-woong. Concerned that Jae-woong might see the person who killed their father, she sends Jae-oh away.
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Le-na’s Plan to Get Back at Ah-jin
After an interview, Jun-seo watches Ah-jin during a film shoot. But his mother finds him and drags him away, scolding him for following Ah-jin again. Le-na overhears the exchange. Jun-seo stands up to his mother for not apologizing to Ah-jin yet.
Later, Ji-sun storms into Mi-ri’s office at the entertainment agency, demanding that Ah-jin be removed from screens because of her past crime. Ah-jin arrives just as Ji-sun leaves, unaware of the confrontation.
Meanwhile, Le-na sets up an event to get close to Jun-seo. She flirts with him and asks him to drop her home afterward. At the same time, Hyang-i informs Ah-jin of a blackout at the office. Ah-jin persuades Hyang-i to drop her off there before leaving for the day, and Hyang-i unknowingly texts Le-na about it. Le-na then tells Jun-seo to stop by the office briefly.
Once at the office, Ah-jin climbs the stairs to search for the Shackles Files. She discovers a secret room with a safe but cannot open it. Suddenly, Le-na appears, revealing that she has taken both their files. Ah-jin chases her to the parking lot, where Le-na forces her to beg for the files and even slaps her.
Jun-seo steps out of his car upon seeing the confrontation, but Le-na pulls him aside. Over drinks, she asks him to be her date for Longstar Entertainment’s anniversary party, claiming she wants to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. She adds that Ah-jin will also attend, heightening the tension.
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Ah-jin Asks for Jun-seo’s Help in Dear X Episode 5
The day of the party arrives, and the celebration is in full swing. In-gang struggles with some pain and has trouble opening his bottle of pills, so Ah-jin steps in to help him. Meanwhile, Jun-seo attends the event as Le-na’s date, just as planned.
During a dedication video, the screen suddenly switches to a clip showing Le-na hitting Ah-jin. Mi-ri quickly shuts down the video, dismissing it as a scene from a movie. A flashback reveals that Ah-jin had already discovered Hyang-i working with Le-na. She had convinced Hyang-i to secretly record the parking lot incident, giving her leverage. Back at the party, Ah-jin warns Le-na not to interfere, threatening to leak the video if she does.
Later, Ah-jin encounters Detective Park, the officer who once tried to arrest her for her father’s murder. Disguised as a waiter, he tells her he hasn’t given up on the case. Le-na notices their interaction and sends a photo of the detective to a man, asking him to investigate, which Jun-seo overhears.
Before Dear X episode 5 ended, Jun-seo returns home that evening only to find Ah-jin waiting for him. They share a tight hug, and he remarks that he thought she had found peace. Ah-jin admits she’s still struggling and asks Jun-seo for help, saying that she wants to learn how to love Heo In-gang.
Dear X Episode 5 Review
Dear X episode 5 takes the story to an exciting new stage. Ah-jin moves from struggling to make ends meet to building a promising acting career, facing different challenges and meeting new people along the way. Despite the changes, she stays clever and in control, always staying one step ahead of everyone around her.
Le-na emerges as a strong new rival, creating tension between the two actresses. In-gang becomes Ah-jin’s latest target, adding another layer of intrigue, while Detective Park’s presence reminds viewers that her past is never far behind.
The episode also explores the emotional reunion between Jun-seo and Ah-jin, showing her vulnerability and reliance on him. Overall, the story blends suspense, strategy, and emotion, keeping the audience fully engaged and eager for what happens next.
Catch the episodes of Dear X on TVING and HBO Max. New episodes will be available every Thursday with two episodes each week. It airs every 18:00 (KST) / 17:00 (PHT) on HBO Max and TVING.
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