To play devils advocate, in almost every encounter with NXG he has been either aloof or extremely hurtful to her.…
• He's in love but doesn't dare • He feels socially inferior → shame + self-deprecation • He projects this shame onto her ("daddy's girl") • He never clearly verbalizes his feelings • He avoids crucial moments • He waits for circumstances to take care of things for him
👉 All of this strongly suggests emotional immaturity and self-sabotage, not conscious manipulation.
The key reproach: "You promised to love me until I loved you"
This is where the nuance is subtle.
This reproach is not:
• a strategy to keep her
• nor a way to control her (she's already gone)
It's more like:
• a childish reinterpretation of the relationship
• a desperate attempt to make sense of her loss
• a confusion between passive desire and active engagement
👉 He's not reproaching her to get something 👉 He's reproaching her because he never took responsibility
⸻
1) Why it's not manipulation (but why it still hurts)
He never:
• knowingly nurtured her hope while refusing • promised something he knew he didn't want to give • used her feelings to feed his ego
On the contrary:
• he withdraws • he disappears • he punishes himself
The manipulative person remains at the center. He, on the other hand, excludes himself from the story.
Yes it’s normal. People can only judge on character but Forget the real actor behind. I Hope some people can be more kind about roles . Plus, he is not an antagonist or the WORST character in Cdramas Land.
To play devils advocate, in almost every encounter with NXG he has been either aloof or extremely hurtful to her.…
WRONG CRUHEAT !
"Manipulation" is a strong word. I don't think you've ever known people like that, but I have, and ZX isn't one of them. He's just a clumsy kid who didn't seize his opportunity and behaved badly, thinking he was dealing with a spoiled princess—clearly an excuse. If he were manipulative like you say, he would have done everything to make sure she didn't forget him or end up with the CEO, like the REAL RED FLAGs in other dramas. So watch what you say.
I completely understand that people don't like ZX, that's your right, and given his behavior, it's understandable (I personally love the actor, not the character, I should clarify).
But regarding the character, ZX, even though he was a jerk, he also put his love life on hold because he was taking time to try to be a better man and also understand his feelings for her. It's not like he dated a bunch of girls and then had a sudden epiphany at the last minute. He also lost everything, while in the end, our FL has money, family, a boyfriend... she has it all. Even if he blew his chances, I don't think ZX is a bad person. Just my personal opinion, thank you for being kind 🙏
lol you love to say that every time someone says that... it's true that it makes sense I've watched 24 episodes it's almost over I'm going to stop lol of course not I'm going to finish it's normal to finish what you start but my rating won't be great.
1 
• He feels socially inferior → shame + self-deprecation
• He projects this shame onto her ("daddy's girl")
• He never clearly verbalizes his feelings
• He avoids crucial moments
• He waits for circumstances to take care of things for him
👉 All of this strongly suggests emotional immaturity and self-sabotage, not conscious manipulation.
The key reproach: "You promised to love me until I loved you"
This is where the nuance is subtle.
This reproach is not:
• a strategy to keep her
• nor a way to control her (she's already gone)
It's more like:
• a childish reinterpretation of the relationship
• a desperate attempt to make sense of her loss
• a confusion between passive desire and active engagement
👉 He's not reproaching her to get something
👉 He's reproaching her because he never took responsibility
⸻
1) Why it's not manipulation (but why it still hurts)
He never:
• knowingly nurtured her hope while refusing
• promised something he knew he didn't want to give
• used her feelings to feed his ego
On the contrary:
• he withdraws
• he disappears
• he punishes himself
The manipulative person remains at the center.
He, on the other hand, excludes himself from the story.
"Manipulation" is a strong word. I don't think you've ever known people like that, but I have, and ZX isn't one of them. He's just a clumsy kid who didn't seize his opportunity and behaved badly, thinking he was dealing with a spoiled princess—clearly an excuse. If he were manipulative like you say, he would have done everything to make sure she didn't forget him or end up with the CEO, like the REAL RED FLAGs in other dramas. So watch what you say.
But regarding the character, ZX, even though he was a jerk, he also put his love life on hold because he was taking time to try to be a better man and also understand his feelings for her. It's not like he dated a bunch of girls and then had a sudden epiphany at the last minute. He also lost everything, while in the end, our FL has money, family, a boyfriend... she has it all. Even if he blew his chances, I don't think ZX is a bad person. Just my personal opinion, thank you for being kind 🙏
https://wetv.vip/en/play/wovs9yfw0u87ukq/v4101remu26-Teaser_EP30%3A_Shine_on_Me