daydreamer

Yes, I'm enjoying this drama, but ngl, I grew up with this kind of emotionally unavailable people and it messed me up, so watching this brings unpleasant feelings, but I'm captivated to see what's next all the same lol

Omg faaaacts😂 And if your mom sympathizes for the girls she's setting you up with, and is lowkey relieved when you decline also speaks a lot 😂😂

I actually think the ambiguity is kind of the point 😂 The drama seems to be deliberately putting them in this weird limbo where neither of them is willing to call it a real relationship, while their behaviour is very clearly becoming much more than casual.

Flora would probably never have agreed to a purely casual, weekend-FWB type of arrangement under normal circumstances. But she has fallen for him, knows she's not emotionally equipped for something casual with ''this particular man'', and still agrees anyway because she can't seem to stay away from him. So of course she can't suddenly become emotionally detached whenever he does something that hurts or confuses her. And realistically, she also has much more to lose if their relationship becomes public.

Luke, meanwhile, seems to genuinely want to keep things casual in theory. He's attracted to her, seems to trust her on some level, and thinks this arrangement is something he can control. Except... the man is very obviously catching feelings and doesn't seem to have received the memo 😂 He gets upset when she becomes distant, wants emotional intimacy, gets jealous, expects her attention and clearly doesn't behave like someone who sees this as a no-strings arrangement.

I also suspect he hasn't fully admitted to himself yet that he wants more. So you basically have two people pretending they're in a casual relationship while neither of them is actually emotionally casual about it, and both are terrible at communicating what they really want. 😭

Which is why the whole thing is such a mess. Flora thinks, “This is casual, so I can't expect anything from him,” while Luke is essentially thinking, “This is casual, so why isn't she acting like she cares about me?” Sir... 😂

And yes, the woman situation was absolutely an opportunity for him to just explain himself and reassure her instead of insulting her. The man has somehow made “I have feelings for you” into the most difficult sentence in the vocabulary. 💀

So I don't think we're supposed to have a perfectly clear label for their arrangement yet. I think the lack of definition is the dilemma: they're both trying to keep the relationship within boundaries that neither of them is emotionally capable of staying inside.

Yes, I completely agree 😭

I also find it interesting how the discussions are slowly turning into “poor Luke, Flora caused all of this” 😂. I really don't think it has to be one or the other. These two are both responsible for the mess they're in. Flora absolutely has her own issues—she gives mixed signals, makes assumptions, avoids difficult conversations and sometimes handles things badly. But Luke is not a helpless victim who was simply dragged into this relationship by a woman who didn't communicate properly. 😂

He is a grown man, he knows what he wants, he knows how she feels about him, and he is very much making his own choices too. His childhood and emotional baggage can explain why he behaves the way he does, but they don't automatically make him less responsible for the effect his behaviour has on her.

And let's be honest, I think Jing Boran's face card is making some of us significantly more forgiving than we would be otherwise. 😭😂 I too am guilty of looking at this man and temporarily losing access to my critical thinking skills, but being ridiculously hot doesn't automatically make the FL wrong by default. 😂

They are both flawed, they both contribute to the chaos, and they both have things they need to learn. That's much more interesting to me than turning it into a “poor Luke vs. unreasonable Flora” situation.

Lol, agree on all fronts, especially the one episode part 😭

I actually agree with quite a bit of this, especially regarding how much their lack of communication contributes to the mess between them. And yes, Luke is gorgeous, hardworking, demanding and protective of the people around him 😂 None of that is really in question.

Where I still see things differently is that I don't think someone has to be controlling or abusive for their behaviour to raise red flags. For me, the issue is much more subtle. Luke is very aware of how strongly Flora feels about him, and he's also aware of the power imbalance between them. Even his conversation with his friend makes it clear that he knows she's looking at him like an adoring fawn. 😭 Yet his actions and words don't really give her the reassurance or security that someone in his position should be giving her.

I also think Flora's insecurity around him matters. Yes, feeling inferior is ultimately something she has to work through herself, but when the person you're in love with repeatedly makes you feel like you're not good enough, while also keeping you emotionally off-balance, it's not exactly going to help your self-worth. And Luke knows this (his apology to his friend girl in Switzerland shows that). That's where his responsibility comes in for me. He's not deliberately trying to destroy her confidence, but he's a grown man who understands the situation and could handle it much better.

So yes, I still find their relationship somewhat toxic, even though I feel the drama has washed it down considerably. I'm not saying Flora is blameless or that she was forced into anything—she's an adult and makes her own choices. But Luke has more power, more experience, and a much clearer understanding of what's happening between them. He really should know better.

And honestly, if we strip away Jing Boran's face card (which is making me swoon, make no mistake), the romantic OST and all the cinematic aura-farming 😂, I'm not sure I'd be cheering these two on in real life. Flora herself seems increasingly aware of that contradiction, and the fact that she can't seem to walk away despite knowing how much the relationship is affecting her is what makes me uncomfortable.

''You took the scenic route to get to the point'' lmfao Imma use this phrase from now on 😆

🫶

I can't believe we're almost halfway this drama 😭

I think it's dried osmanthus added to the milk, I just googled it and it says Osmanthus flower tastes sweet and fruity with rich floral notes that strongly resemble ripe apricots, peaches, and honey.

Facts, I agree👏

Thank youu, and wow, that's a pretty generous schedule tbh

I can’t argue with Flora giving mixed signals 😂 She clearly fell for him and is fighting for her life trying not to admit it, while Luke knows exactly what he’s doing and is absolutely taking advantage of that. 😭

But the secrecy thing… What are they supposed to say, “Hello, we’re Friday fuck buddies, please don’t tell anyone”?? He hasn’t even called her his girlfriend😂

The work situation though? LMAOOO yes, I agree 😂

I’m actually really curious to see how their dynamic unfolds from here, because I really hope this isn’t one of those cases where they toned the ML down so much from the novel, but kept all the circumstances and reactions around him basically the same. Because then of course the FL is going to end up looking like the asshole by comparison 😂😭

I actually really appreciate this perspective, especially the point about the emotional neglect and how much of Luke’s behaviour starts to make sense once you understand where he’s coming from. I do think the drama gives us enough pieces to see that there is a lot more going on underneath his seemingly cold and authoritative exterior.

I’d still probably use “red flag” a little more loosely than you do, though 😄 For me, calling certain behaviours red flags doesn’t necessarily mean I’m putting him in the same category as a controlling or abusive man. Some behaviours can be concerning or unhealthy without defining the entire character, and I think that distinction is important. That’s also why I’m quite comfortable saying that Luke has some red-flag tendencies while simultaneously enjoying him as a character and rooting for him and Flora.

But I completely agree that he's much more complex than the usual cold, arrogant rich ML. And I really like the contrast between him and Flora. She thinks their biggest difference is their social and financial backgrounds, when in reality their emotional experiences are probably much further apart. Flora grew up knowing she was loved and had that sense of security, whereas Luke seems to have spent his entire life trying to earn something that should have been given to him freely.

And I think that's what makes their relationship so interesting. He clearly recognises something in Flora that he has always lacked, even if he probably doesn't have the words for it yet. She represents this kind of uncomplicated affection and emotional safety that he has never really had, and at the same time, he is going to force her to question a lot of the assumptions she has about how relationships should work.

The same goes for “playboy” — I think it is being used more loosely to describe his particular lifestyle and attitude towards relationships rather than as a strict definition. Perhaps “commitment-phobic womanizer” would be more technically accurate, but admittedly much less fun to say 😂

Ultimately, Luke is clearly not a one-dimensional character, and his flaws don't erase the genuine feelings he develops for Flora. Understanding why someone behaves the way they do can make their actions more understandable and add depth to a character, but it doesn't automatically make every action acceptable either. And honestly, that's precisely why he's such an interesting ML to watch — he's flawed, contradictory, frustrating at times, but also increasingly and very obviously down horrendous for this woman 😭😂

Thank youuu 🫶

Yeees!! I really didn’t like him in the novel, so I’m honestly SO glad they changed his character and toned him down a bit for the drama. He’s much easier to root for this way 😂

And fair point! I agree that the work-related behaviour doesn’t necessarily make him a “red flag” in the romantic sense, especially since she wasn’t his love interest at that point. For me, though, it’s more like… if a man insults a woman’s intellect and competence when she hasn’t really given him a reason to, my brain immediately goes, “Okay sir, do you actually respect this woman” But that’s just my personal line when it comes to these things :)

LMAOOO I feel you, girl 😂 This man is lethal because yes, he’s this and that, BUT I simply do not care anymore HAHAHA. Especially when it’s becoming increasingly obvious that he is absolutely DOWN BAD for her 😭😂 We love to see a man in shambles, and honestly, we love it even more when it’s this man. His suffering is suddenly very entertaining to me 🤣

I think it really comes down to how people interpret the term “red flag,” because everyone draws that line in a different place. Personally, I don't think he is some irredeemable villain, and I can absolutely see the flawed man who is completely lost in love, supports her, and pushes her to grow—even if his methods are often… questionable 😭 But I also understand why some viewers see red flags in his behavior.

For example, especially in the beginning, he clearly has a very low opinion of her and outright calls her stupid, tells her she should quit, and says she doesn't have what it takes. Yes, it's mostly work-related, but unless your subordinate has done something truly outrageous, I don't think repeatedly making them feel incompetent is exactly appropriate management 😭 And if a man constantly makes a woman feel like she's not good enough, especially while wabnting her, I think it's fair for some people to see that as a red flag.

Then there is their whole situationship, which is... messy 😂 He clearly wants her, and I actually think that deep down he trusts her more than he lets on. He doesn't want her to cling to him, yet gets annoyed when she doesn't show that she cares. He wants them to have something casual, but doesn't communicate that properly—while also being her boss, which makes the whole situation even more complicated. He still pursues a physical relationship despite the potential consequences for both of them. He lets his mother arrange a blind date while she overhears the call, yet gets jealous and upset when he sees her with another man. So, from her perspective, I can definitely understand why some of his actions would feel confusing or unfair 😭

And then there's their first night... he clearly knew she was drunk, and she was drunk enough to pass out and wake up in his house. That alone is something I personally can't just brush aside.

That being said, I don't hate him at all 😂 Quite the opposite—I'm ridiculously attracted to this man, and his face card has definitely made me question a few of my own morals 😭😂 There is also undeniable charm in watching a flawed, arrogant playboy slowly fall apart because he's hopelessly in love and has absolutely no idea how to deal with it.

But I think both things can be true at the same time: he can genuinely love her, support her, help her grow, and still have some behavior that people reasonably consider red flags. And honestly, thank goodness the drama seems to have softened him compared to the original source, because otherwise I don't think I would be rooting for them nearly as much 😭

At the end of the day, I overlook a lot because this is fiction and because this man is offensively gorgeous 😂 But if this were real life? I would be running in the opposite direction at Olympic speed 🏃‍♀️💨😭

Me tooooooo

I love the FL so much 🥹❤️ Despite clearly having feelings for the ML, she never really lets him see just how much she’s hurting. She keeps going, works hard, and quietly grows stronger day by day. 👑✨

She’s truly a queen in the making, and I feel like once she gains a little more experience through work, she’s going to absolutely SLAY. 🔥💅🏻 She’s always kind, hardworking, and carries herself with so much grace. Luke has absolutely no idea how lucky he is. 😭❤️