Molly03

He didn't know that she'd asked her team leader to shoot down his application. All he knew was that she met him to try to talk him out of it. In that sense, he didn't know that she was "messing" with his application, just privately counseling him against the job, which is inappropriate.

Time will tell. But I do think she cares for him deeply.

Some people will use resources given to them, others prefer to do it all on their own. Both methods have their merits. IMO it doesn't hurt to hear from a sunbae who's more experienced, but that's my own opinion. I respect anyone who holds a different view.

He's not being nice. He's interested in her romantically. That's why he's doing this. Two birds, one stone. One, he doesn't get her mad or cost her anything. Two, they get to spend more time together as a "pair".

I don't think he's nice. I think he's nice to her. There's a difference.
Based on how he spoke to her at the park, "How would you feel if I told your workplace that you're meeting privately with a job applicant?" , and how decisive he's being about this new career path, I get the feeling that he's no "Mr. Nice Guy". Maybe not someone overtly bad, but not anyone I'd want to cross, or even compete with . Had it been any other teacher he'd have taken that offer without blinking imo.
While there's evidence that he's a quick thinker, I do think her advice helped him in coming up with a solution to the marketing offer faster.

I didn't pick up on her looking at him with annoyance or like she despises him. Where/when specifically did this happen- would you happen to remember the time stamp?

More like, "This is my last gift to you."
Imagine you're switching careers, totally blind, and you have an old friend or acquaintance who's been in the industry for years. Wouldn't their insight be helpful?
Yes, she could have been nicer or friendlier in her delivery. But the advice she gave him was true and she was not trying to manipulate him anymore. She switched to speaking formally to him and addressed him as "teacher". Her mood was bad, therefore her delivery was scary and unfriendly. But her advice and her intentions were sincere. It also prepared him for when the director blindsided him with that marketing offer later on.

Same!!

This!!!! You just wrote everything I wanted to, and described it so beautifully. This show is a work of art. I'm hoping they keep it up. If they do, and it has a happy ending, then this'll end up being one of favorite rewatches.

I'll respect your opinion. But let me leave you with this thougt. After he passed the exam, he texted her saying how did, and calling her is tutor. To me, that shows a lot. It's not just her that's holding on to that relationship. As viewers, based on the synapsis of the show, we know that he likes her romantically, and part of why he's doing what he's doing is because he wants to be with her. But she has no clue. So, despiter him telling her earlier on to respect his decision as an adult, he still goes and texts her and refers to her as his tutor.
By the end of episode 2 we can see three things: she was right in the advice she gave him at the restaurant; he's determined not to run roughshod over her despite external circumstances or pressuers; and and she's treating him like a collegue.

She was more than a teacher. She was the woman who took a bottom-level student and single handedly tutored him to the top-tier + got him a scholarship to one of their couuntry's top universities. They spent hours together working hard. She understood him. She helped him grow step by step. And they still kept up a casual relationship for 10 years after she'd finished teaching him. Yes, she has to adjust her perception of him. He's no longer a student in her care, but an adult who knows clearly what he wants. You can blame her for taking too long to make that adjustment, perhaps. But you can not blame her for feeling the way she does. Based on her past history and relationship with him, it's easily understandable.
Also, the step he's taking is a gigantic risk. While he's confident that it'll pay off, most people would call him crazy to his face. In real life, this would be an insane choice. He's risking his entire future. Of course any caring person would be eager to stop him. This includes his friends, his parents, and his former teacher who all care deeply for him.

She did cross the line when she tried to stop him from being hired.
But regarding the restaurant scene, I don't see it as her being rude. She's a bit overbearing, and she needs to adjust her view of him from being a kid that she takes of to him being an adult who knows what he wants. They're both shocking each other now. He shocked her at the park and she shocked him at the restaurant. But she told him sincerely what he needed to know: how cut-throat the world of hagwon teaching is, and what he should be on the lookout for. She gave him good advice, albeit in a shocking way.
Also, she lied to him at the park. She genuinely cares for him, has him saved in her phone as "my pride" and kept up a relationship with him for ten years after she'd finished teaching him. When he walked in to the academy in episode 1 it was obvious that they'd still kept casually in touch. So yes, she's overbearing because she genuinely cares for him and she's desperate to keep him from throwing away his potential and his future.
They're both working on adjusting their perceptions of each other now. I'm really enjoying seeing how their relationship is changing and progressing.

Good G0d I love them so much!!!! The chemistry....!!!!!

Wow, wow, wow. I completey missed this subtext!! I love this level of writing--haven't seen a great show like this in ages.
Thanks so much for explaining!!

Ohhhh. Got it. Thanks for explaning. I thougth that roddib read my comment to you as an attack and it worried me that you might have too. I wasn't attacking you or your comment in my original reply, btw. I was genuinely asking a question about a part of the drama which you seemed to understand but I didn't. LOL. Anyway. Have a great day/night and happy k-drama watching!

Noooo,,,,not a love triangle I beg....!!!!!!!

Yeah, the writing is really great. I've rarely seen a show start off feeling so real-to-life. Hoping they keep it up.

Was this directed at me?

Yup. Agee with you. It's sad. Wish someone would've slapped him down for what he did. Absolutely unacceptable behavior.

It's assault. Regualar assault. She should have him brought up on assault charges. Nothing sexual about it.

I don't know what the textbook definition of a melodrama is but to me it's something overblown like a Lakron, soap opera, or a comedy that suspends belief in a major way and makes zero real-life sense.
This show, based off ep 1, is not that at all. It gives me mature, mellow-ish, slice of life drama vibes.

The hagwon exploitation bit kind of went over my head, but I did sense the tension between the school teacher and our FL. I thought it was just regular job or status competition. Not really getting the deeper implications. Can you explain it to me? Only if you don't mind ofc!

Why does this have "ex-lover relationship" and "exes reuniting" as tags? From what I can tell the leads did NOT have a romantic relationship when they were teacher-student. What's up???