LOLyou ask people to be kind to you for expressing your opinion & then proceed to scorch the first person…
Seriously, you must be 17, right? Not understanding that using words like "manipulation" is completely out of context—excuse me, my studies are speaking for me—but you need to stop blaming someone just because they don't fit into your mold. Manipulating and being immature are two different things. You're immature, for example, by responding like that. This person, on the other hand, who wrote this comment, doesn't realize what she’s saying, and it's serious to mix everything up because if you do that in real life, it can only lead to your downfall. A lack of judgment.
I can't believe people here think that having an inferiority complex can't change and that ZX is bound to end…
I half agree. I think people are right to think he's following the same path as FL's father. With his words, his actions, even their marriage could be a huge mess of lies, unspoken words, and recriminations. But I agree on one thing: immaturity is corrected with time; it's logical.
To play devils advocate, in almost every encounter with NXG he has been either aloof or extremely hurtful to her.…
But seriously, you're talking nonsense! Because I'm allowed to speak my mind, maybe? There's always someone who comes along and says they're this or that, so what you're saying, say it to others and don't come talking to me.
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 🙏
1 
This episode is INCREDIBLE ahah with LWM
• not manipulative
• but emotionally irresponsible
And that's where the tragedy begins.
⸻
The sentence that sums it all up
Manipulation seeks to keep the other person.
Emotional immaturity makes you lose the other person.
ZX isn't an emotional predator.
They're someone who:
• confuses love with indignity
• waits to be "worthy" instead of being present
• believes that time protects, when in fact it decides
• 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 🙏