MarkWasHere

Most drama writers cannot think of a way to extend the time it takes to solve conflicts (and thereby extend the runtime of the drama) except to have the characters possess the communication skills of a potato.

I 100% agree. They both are very attracted to each other physically and obviously enjoy the sex, but neither of them seem to genuinely love each other.

There's so much disfunction in their relationship, I'd predict any marriage between them would end in divorce after only a couple of years.

I'm hoping that I've just witnesses the start of some character growth from our immature, entitled and generally toxic ML. In episode 13, a rare moment of clarity, he's just realised that he has become his father, the person he hates the most. But will this realisation cause him to actually change? I'm not optimistic because of his arrogant and superior attitude. But I genuinely hope I'm wrong about this. I really want him to grow up and show some basic respect for the woman he's fucking. (I don't believe he actually loves her because all of his behaviour screams otherwise).
EDIT: Perhaps there is some character growth. ML actually apologised to FL in episode 14 for insulting her. Will this character growth continue? I'm still not convinced it will, but I still hope I'm wrong.
Looks like I was right. Still in episode 14 and ML is back to insulting and demeaning the FL again. He doesn't have even a shred of respect for her. Sigh! He's such a dick, and sadly she is too often a doormat.

You seem to have completely forgotten that their business has a no employee dating policy. If their "relationship" (if you can even call it that) is discovered, it won't be the ML who gets fired. Also, you seem to have forgotten that it was the ML who suggested they keep their "relationship" a secret, and the FL only agreed to enter the "relationship" with him on that condition. She is forced into secrecy because she is terrified of losing her job. Tell me, what can she do differently without putting her career in Jeopardy?

"Everything" you say? He doesn't give her respect, which is the first thing a partner should give. He insults and belittles her. He embarrasses her. He coerces and bullies her. He bosses her around and ignores her stated wishes. These are not things that a person does if they respect the other person.
They have what could be described as a purely physical "friends with benefits" type arrangement, which is the only arrangement that is available to them because of their work place's no employee dating policy, and as far as I can tell, she is upholding her end of the arrangement. So what doesn't she "give" him that she could actually give him?

I'll agree to agree to disagree, but you are "seeing" things in the plot that aren't evident. She has NEVER asked him for any special treatment. She has insisted that they keep their distance at work. She has been adamant from the very first episode that she wants to advance through her own achievements, and she has shown herself to be very diligent and extremely capable in the tasks given to her, something that is noticed by all her colleagues. She even took full responsibility for a mistake that she didn't make. The reason why I don't see what you "see" is because there isn't any evidence of it in the plot.

Yeah - you're definitely right. The entire plot of the drama would have to change if he made that sacrifice for his girlfriend.

How is she "taking advantage of him". Do you mean that she's getting regular sex? I genuinely do not understand what advantage you believe she is getting. Of course she is learning at work - there is nothing even slightly unusual about this. New employees are trained by experienced employees in millions of businesses around the world every day. I've never said that she's a "victim".

In episode 11, Luan Nian whinges to his friend because Shang Zhi Tao wanted to keep their "relationship" secret, even though it was originally HIS idea. Also, has he forgotten that their company has a no dating between employees policy? If their relationship is discovered, it won't be him that gets fired. And even if she is not fired, her achievements will be dismissed by many of her colleagues because they will think that she has been sleeping her way to the top. Luan Nian KNOWS THIS. This is why HE suggested that they keep their relationship secret. And only a short time later, he's whining about their arrangement.
If he truly loved and respected her, HE could resign. Then the reason why Shang Zhi Tao needs to keep their relationship secret immediately goes away.

Are you forgetting that their company has a no dating between employees policy? If the relationship is discovered, who do you think will get fired? If the ML really loved and respected her, he would resign from his position himself. Then the reason why Shang Zhi Tao needs to keep their "relationship" secret disappears. He boasted to his friend in the episode when he was falsely accused of womanising, that he didn't care if he got fired.

How am I being rude? You seem to very sensitive. Was it the fact that I used the word "dick"?
I'm up to episode 11 and I'm YET to see this opportunism and manipulation of which you speak. What I am seeing is a FL who desperately wants to keep her job and is genuinely afraid that she could lose it BECAUSE of her interactions with her boss. I'm also seeing a ML who repeatedly and inappropriately exploits the power imbalance between them for his own gratification. This is exactly why their company has a no dating policy. He's also not shy about criticising, embarrassing and belittling her, or just bossing her around, things that I would never expect from a man who genuinely loves and respects his girlfriend. He's obviously physically attracted to her, but it is abundantly clear that he has no respect for her as a person. Unfortunately, the fact that she has a massive crush on him causes her to be blind to, or perhaps just choose to ignore these glaring personality faults.

I've heard plenty of negative comments about Nana's enhanced lips, and I agree with those comments. But in my opinion, her breast implants were every bit as immersion breaking as her lips. I'm pretty sure the average Joseon woman couldn't afford silicone implants.

Giggidy.

I'm only 6 episodes in, so perhaps you are talking about things I haven't watched yet, because I haven't seen any manipulation on her part yet. But even if you are 100% correct in your description of her, that doesn't change the fact that he's a bit of a dick.

I'm only 6 episodes in, but as of right now, the ML seems like a bit of a dick to me.

I'm only 6 episodes in, but I've already concluded that Luan Nian is a bit of a dick. He's arrogant, a bully, manipulative, childish and seems quite comfortable sexually harassing Shang Zhi Tao. I'm hoping for some character development from him, because I really don't want to watch him being a dick for 24 episodes.

You were looking at the ass of his body double.

How anyone can divorce their spouse because their psycho parent doesn't like them is beyond me.

I do like concept of this drama, but I think it was longer than it needed to be. It started strongly and ended strongly, but I found that many of the middle episode dragged. There seemed to be (in my opinion) too many mundane scenes intermixed with the more interesting and plot-critical scenes. It's like they've stretched 20 episodes of story telling into 30 episodes. I haven't watched the prequel, so perhaps that influences my opinion.