After In-gang’s death, Ah-jin’s career was at risk. However, she was saved once again by a man who had been charmed by her in Dear X episode 9.
Dear X episode 9 aired on November 27, 2025, alongside episode 10 via HBO Max and TVING. Entitled A Fresh Start, the episode focuses on the conflict between Ah-jin and Mi-ri following In-gang’s death. Ah-jin’s career faces serious threats, but another man steps in to prevent her from being ruined. Meanwhile, Jae-oh grows suspicious that something might happen to Ah-jin, recalling the men who were previously following her.
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Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers about the series. Read at your own risk.
Ah-jin Faces New Threats in Dear X Episode 9
Dear X episode 9 opens with Longstar Entertainment officially ending Baek Ah-jin’s contract. CEO Seo Mi-ri openly blames Ah-jin for In-gang’s death and vows to destroy her life. In response, Ah-jin accuses Mi-ri of watching In-gang struggle for over ten years without helping, all for her own greed.
Seeing that Ah-jin no longer has the company’s protection, Jun-seo decides to pull his investment. Meanwhile, Ji-sun becomes more desperate after Jun-seo refuses to meet her. She calls Ah-jin while she has just arrived to see Jun-seo, revealing that she is on dialysis and urgently needs a kidney transplant. Ah-jin lets Jun-seo overhear the conversation, proving that Ji-sun only apologized because of her illness.
Jae-oh joins them, and the three discuss how to handle Ah-jin’s predicament. Ah-jin declares that either she or Mi-ri must fall. Later, Jun-seo visits Ji-sun in the hospital and offers to donate his kidney and pay off her debts—on the condition that she stays away from Ah-jin and his grandfather.
A Mysterious Man Appears
At Longstar Entertainment, the police show up with a search warrant, arresting CEO Seo for embezzlement and bribery. That evening, Le-na visits Jun-seo’s house and overhears him discussing the kidney transplant. Upset, she accuses him of hiding things from her and storms off.
The next day, Jun-seo heads into surgery, and Ah-jin receives a call from another entertainment company requesting a meeting. Sim Sung-hee, still staying at Ah-jin’s house, argues with her before leaving, then browses Ah-jin’s wardrobe to pick an expensive purse.
Meanwhile, a man in a black suit continues to tail Jae-oh. When Jae-oh mentions it to his boss, he is advised to tell Ah-jin. Unbeknownst to him, a bug in the room sends their conversation to Moon Do-hyuk, the same man who appeared in the previous episode.
Ah-jin asks Jae-oh to drive her to a meeting with Dio Entertainment. At the agency, she learns that Moon Do-hyuk, CEO of Hadere and a shareholder of Dio, suggested recruiting her. He is also the one who had all the malicious articles about her removed. Curious, Ah-jin visits him after his lecture. Moon Do-hyuk explains that he researched her life, saw her struggles, and wanted to help. He also reveals that he orchestrated CEO Seo’s downfall. When Ah-jin asks about his plans for her, he simply smiles and calls it a surprise.
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Rising Tensions and Moon Do-hyuk’s Offer
At the hospital, Jun-seo recovers quickly and prepares for discharge. Jae-oh calls him, asking him to come to his office. Meanwhile, Moon Do-hyuk’s team locates CEO Seo’s Shackles Files, deletes Ah-jin’s portion, and hands them over to the police. Do-hyuk then instructs his assistant to pursue Jae-oh but leave Jun-seo out of it.
CEO Seo, convinced Ah-jin is behind the chaos, sends her assistant to plead for help. Ah-jin, however, dismisses her just as Seo had dismissed her earlier in the episode. She then officially signs with Dio Entertainment. Do-hyuk asks if she wants him to go further and remove her enemies. Ah-jin questions why he would go to such lengths for her.
Meanwhile, Jun-seo arrives at Jae-oh’s office, where Jae-oh explains that men had been following Ah-jin and even attacked him. At the same time, one of Do-hyuk’s agents rigs the office to explode. Jae-oh senses something is wrong, and shortly after, the office goes up in flames.
At the same time, Do-hyuk tells Ah-jin that he pities her difficult life and wants to make her his. He even suggests marrying her and helping her start anew. He offers her grand plans, and Ah-jin responds with a laugh, hinting at her intrigue and amusement at his intentions.
Dear X Episode 9 Review
Dear X episode 9 brings fresh challenges for Ah-jin while keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. This time, she doesn’t have to act as much, since the enigmatic Moon Do-hyuk takes control of her situation. The episode cleverly misleads us into thinking Ah-jin caused Longstar Entertainment’s downfall, when in fact, it was all Do-hyuk’s doing. His true intentions toward Ah-jin remain a mystery, adding suspense and anticipation for what’s next.
Some moments could have used more focus, though. Ah-jin’s brief connection with In-gang’s grandmother isn’t explored much, leaving a gap in emotional depth. Questions linger, like why Sung-hee is staying with Ah-jin, or why Ah-jin would allow one of her early rivals into her home. Jun-seo’s relationship with Le-na also raises doubts—is he genuinely invested, or is he still using her? Despite these small uncertainties, the story keeps its momentum, and as the series nears its climax, the tension and drama remain compelling.
Catch the last 2 episodes of Dear X on TVING and HBO Max. The next episode will air at 18:00 (KST) / 17:00 (PHT) on HBO Max and TVING.
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