Denied Love EP7-8 – When Homework Gets Extra Credit

For fans of Denied Love, Episodes 7 and 8 gave us peak sapphic tension, major emotional breakthroughs, and let’s be honest—some very memorable "homework." But as always, the novel version of Denied Love goes places the series only hints at. If you’ve ever wondered what really happens when the lights go out or felt like the show was holding back emotionally, you’re not wrong—and the book is your answer.

In this blog review, we're diving deep into Denied Love’s novel vs. series comparison for Episodes 7 & 8, highlighting all the juicy extras you only get by turning the page.

🍱 The Office Hug: Sparks Fly With a Side of Hope

Series: Khem brings lunch and tries to act chill—saying she’s just there to eat. Cue the now-iconic hug and Rin’s gentle head caress.

Novel: The same moment hits differently. Rin knows she’s catching feelings. Her attachment to Pai is slipping away, and Khem’s quiet presence is healing her. Khem senses the shift too—and finally dares to believe their “two-year contract” could become more.

🍻 After-Work Drinks: The Whole Gang’s Here

Series: We see Khem walking home with Jay and Balloon. That’s it.

Novel: Celebration time! Khem takes Jay, Balloon, and even Kwanrin out for drinks to mark her probation success. Jay and Balloon get hilariously drunk and stumble home together. This scene is chaotic, adorable, and shows how close these misfits are becoming.

🍚 Dinner for One… or a Trap?

Series: Rin randomly has food prepared for Khem. Huh?

Novel: Oh, she had a plan. Rin had the maid cook a dish her friends said might make Khem sleepy—because maybe less homework would follow. She’s gaming the system… and we kinda respect it.

🛏️ The “Couch” Scene: Series Says Sofa, Book Says Bed

Series: Steamy homework on the couch. Top Rin energy? Yes please.

Novel: Nope, it’s the bed again—and this time, Khem is clearly in control. She teases Rin with expert precision, and the scene is dripping with sensual detail. But emotionally? It’s deeper. Khem brings up IVF, even suggesting Rin could carry her egg. And while Rin still insists she doesn’t love her, Khem’s inner monologue says she’ll walk away in two years if she has to—but only because she loves Rin enough to let her go.

📉 Wasin’s Power Move

Series: Wasin pulls his investment via a phone call.

Novel: He shows up in person. That’s why Rin ends up in the shareholders’ meeting instead. And it’s not just his shares—his whole circle pulls out. It’s the sapphic allyship power move we needed.

😴 Sleeping Beauty Gets VIP Treatment

Series: Khem quietly leaves her jacket and food by a sleeping Rin.

Novel: Khem goes full caretaker mode. She closes the curtains so Rin can sleep more comfortably, and when Rin wakes, she even carries her purse as they head out together.

Bonus Tip: We learn it was Kwanrin who told Khem that physical closeness builds emotional attachment—which explains all the “homework.” But now that Rin is visibly exhausted and emotionally tethered, Khem makes the choice to ease up. Love with restraint? That’s growth.

🍷 Pai’s Big Moment (That Wasn’t)

Series: Fancy dinner. Clinking wine glasses. Rin storms out after seeing Khem’s photo.

Novel: Nope—it’s an ice cream shop meetup. The same spat follows, but Khem lays her head on Rin’s chest, pleading with vulnerability. And the reason for the meeting? Pai wants to confess Kiri sabotaged their breakup to pursue Rin. But Rin? She’s more worried about why Pai keeps showing up bruised. The care is still there—but the love has changed.

☕ The Fall and the Fury

Series: Gee trips Khem and she cuts her hand.

Novel: Full drama unlocked. Khem’s holding a glass that shatters, slicing her hand open. The entire office sees it, and the gossip starts immediately. Khem doesn’t hold back—she calls Gee a b***h. The altercation nearly turns physical before Jay pulls Khem out. She ends up fainting from blood loss. Big sapphic stakes.

🏥 Hospital Drama with Ice Queen Flair

Series: Quick and sweet. Rin visits. They connect.

Novel: Much more layered. Rin chats with Jay and Balloon, then offers to buy them drinks. At the coffee shop, snobby staff mock them for not knowing how to order. Rin shuts it down instantly—Ice Queen mode: activated. Later, she tells them she’s Khem’s wife and to spread the word. Corporate sapphic royalty has entered the chat.

💘 Jay & Balloon’s Confession

Series: A bit confusing and abrupt.

Novel: Makes perfect sense. Jay had misunderstood Balloon’s identity and thought he didn’t like women. Turns out he does—and they’ve been hiding their feelings this whole time. It’s tender, awkward, and adorable.

🛁 The Bathroom Scene: Book vs. Series

Series: Rin helps bathe Khem—and takes control. Dom energy: confirmed.

Novel: The bath is more emotionally intimate than sexual. Rin hesitates, but eventually helps Khem into the tub. As she sees the scars—emotional and physical—she realizes how much Khem has endured. She wraps her arms around her and whispers that she’s glad she survived. Cue emotional sapphic puddle.

😏 Returning the Favor – And How

Series: The scene is mostly implied—more about suggestive camera angles than actual action. But it still delivers some standout lines and sapphic dominance from Rin that we were absolutely seated for!

Novel: Oh, it goes there. Rin fully takes over—and we mean takes over. What starts soft quickly turns bold. There’s teasing, sensual build-up, and some tongue-in-cheek banter, including the now-iconic line: “I thought you didn’t like milk?” And let’s just say—Rin proves otherwise.

In this moment, the power dynamic flips. Khem, who’s usually the confident tease, is blissed-out and loving every second. She even crowns Rin her “executive bottom,” while playfully calling herself a “hot top.” But the real shift? For the first time ever, Rin smiles during the act. And Khem knows exactly what that means—Rin is falling.

And honestly? So are we.

🧊 Rin Scolds Gee – With Witnesses

Series: Quiet reprimand in a meeting.

Novel: Oh no—Rin calls her out in front of the entire department. Public and professional. Chef’s kiss.

🏥 Pai in the Hospital

Series: Rin gets a text, leaves coldly. End scene.

Novel: Much rougher. Rin pushes Khem, hurting her injured hand. She checks on her briefly but still storms out. At the hospital, Rin reflects on it all—how she feels guilty, how she knows Pai is using her, but also how hard it is to let go of five years. Complexity? Delivered.

🍳 Missing from the Book: That Adorable Breakfast Scene

Series: EP8 gifts us a soft and delicious sapphic treat—Rin and Khem having breakfast together, complete with feeding each other and being so domestic it hurts. And the staff? Wide-eyed, mouths dropped, giggling with pure joy as they witness this unexpected display of couple cuteness. Honestly, same.

Novel: Sadly, this moment doesn’t exist. No shared breakfast. No playful food flirting. No stunned staff reactions. It’s a series-only scene—but we’re so glad it exists, because it gave us a moment of pure sapphic bliss.

🏢 Back to Work, But Make It Gay

Series: Cute couple entrance. Kiss, commitment, and knowing stares.

Novel: Slightly more subdued, but quietly powerful. Rin and Khem walk in together, and when Khem starts to get anxious about taking the elevator, Rin steps in—guiding her through it with calm support. She even distracts Khem with a casual lunch invite, helping her move past the fear. It’s subtle, but for Khem? It means everything.

💬 Final Thoughts: Book Girls Get More

The Denied Love series is sapphic light.The novel? Sapphic life.

For fans wanting deeper character development, emotionally rich storytelling, and a much steamier portrayal of Rin and Khem’s relationship, the novel is an absolute must-read. It’s smart, raw, spicy, and tender in all the right ways.

So tell us—did the book scenes surprise you? Are you team series or team novel? And which version of “homework” do you prefer?

💬 Drop a comment.

💞 Share with a sapphic friend.

📚 And seriously—do your homework.