Nox

By making NDS actively participating on the lie the author draws unwanted attention to his motives, wich it wouldn't be a problem in itself: NDS likes her, that's why he follows along, no problem here if he were to keep the lie going out of other people's wish, and not his (being a passive factor). But when NDS gets anxious about DM asking HJP it highlights the following reasoning: why is he so worked up? The obvious answer that follows is: because he likes her. So he likes her and gets worked up... hum, okay so what is the logical jump? He likes her and gets worked up because he sees in HJP a threat, especially if he were to say the truth. How he deals with that threat? By intercepting the conversation and doubling down the lie (active participation on the lie). On the 15 years scene the very same thing happens: DM mentions how much the letter meant and he says he has changed and he wishes she hadn't knew him back them: again actively participating on the lie and compelling the audience to dig deeper on it. You see the problem with digging deeper in my previous reasoning

"He stops her from going to find HJP and tells another lie" this particular scene shouldn't have been included, same with the scene were NDS says to DM he has changed in the last 15 years...along with a few rivalry dynamics with HJP, those scenes were counterproductive for NDS i think. But here we are taking the idea that the author didn't did on purpose as a given...i still keep the other hypothesis at the back of my mind: the author is doing all this on purpose as a set up for a plot twist later on.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how Bae Suzy chemistry with Kim Seon Ho is off the charts? At this point the chemistry alone is selling the couple to the audience. Their scenes are nothing at face value in romantic terms, yet look at the ruckus HJP is causing on the fandom with just those simple scenes. I think Kim Seon Ho and Bae Suzy are nailing the dynamics pretty well all things said

Thanks! As for your comment: i am not ready for the angst T.T

I need a link asap please lol

Oh i see, thanks for clarifying

It is confirmed there were going to be a timeskip? Like, it was hinted somewhere? My memory is failing me. By the way, i share the sentiment on the timeskip: it could help the plot but it wouldn't greatly improve

Oh i see what you mean...but in that case, do you think NDS is a lost cause from a writing POV? Or rather, if the writer were to go about it, how do you think she could fix the mess?

No physical attraction? Out of all the arguments i have seen this one is the most convincing to be honest. I am not sure the physical attraction isn't there but i can see how that could be a deal breaker (not being physically attracted)

I thought they would butt heads because NDS agrees with everything DM says and his friends not so much, so by picking DM over his friends they would become enemies. I never thought about one of the friends beind the culprit but that would be interesting

When HJP took advantage of the lie? Please point out to me how he intentionally exploited the letters to further his own interests (not grandma, or dm...but his own) and what does he personally gains by lying. I am with a open mind here, so please make your point. Just don't forget that for him to be manipulative he MUST gain something

There's also the foreshadowing of NDS friends becoming his enemies...wich doesn't necessarily support your theory of DM leaving but is something that just came to my mind when i was reading it

Honestly, if the above comment about kissing and touching a girl that feels free to do that with you because she thinks you are someone else didn't get the main point across i- you know what, nevermind.

The tongue got me shook, not gonna lie lol

To be honest, i don't even think the writer knows how it ended up that way either (assuming she didn't did on purpose). I have three main suspicions as to why it turned out this way:

1- In the first two episodes we get most plots being set up, and despite that...we get to see the male lead holding almost no significant role in said set ups. Having major overarching plots were the influence of the male lead is diminished is probably not a good idea.

2- In the grand scheme of things, NDS is introduced as a third wheel in the story. Flashing and developing his character should be the top priority, not the romance, especially when we have HJP depths being so explored. Whether with grandma, with young DM, old DM, on his investing firm, the dynamics of his business mindset or the effects of his childhood in his adult years... it's all filled with significance in a character that already got a head start.

3- There's a lot of different plots in this drama that need attention, but attention isn't limitless and there's only so much you can fill in a 16 chapter drama. Giving HJP that much development would mean not giving said development to something else. My suspicions is that this hindered NDS character the most.

Most people here are not nitpicking flaws, they are pointing out flaws on a character that is otherwise advertised to be the perfect personification of a living Buddha. I also see more criticism directed to the writer for writing NDS plot so badly. NDS is not manipulative? So tell what exactly he did upon figuring out DM wanted to ask HJP why he was helping her? Nevemind, i answer: he goes out of his way to grab a hold of said conversation and then later on when DM finally gets to talk with the right person about the right matter she is already with NDS narrative in her mind wich surprisingly is not the truth at all. I've seen a majority of HJP fans that know he is flawed and for some of them is even a major reason they like him, in fact people have even gone in depth in the comments about why he is that flawed, if it weren't for HJP fans calling out the writer on her poor character depiction of NDS nobody would be doing either because most NDS fans are busy getting butthurt whenever someone points out the tiniest flaw in his character. He is already the lead and has a 90% chance of ending up on good terms no matter what "HJP fans say"

Yeah, hopefully people will stop treating the letters like they were nothing now

Thank you for this! I saw rumours that someone translated and got curious but couldn't find it

Oh, if it were up to him he wouldn't tell the truth at this point as he ultimately didn't tell on chapter 7. According to what we can assume from the preview he is only going to tell DM because she is already having second thoughts about the handwriting on the letters. It's just more convenient for him to be the one telling the truth, or rather...DM will go directly to him first in order to clear her mind. Also in chapter 7 HJP said: "i thought you were ambitious...use the resources you have. Either me or DM" to wich he responds "i am not going to use her". This response is ironic because by now DM possible growing feelings for him might shield him from the blow up the lie might prompt, and it is that way because he did exactly what HJP advised: "used his resources". I guess in love and war everything is fair lol

I agree, NDS is not dumb...he knows what he wants and is willing to play his cards to get there. He can't fool me with the nice guy persona, i already figured him by the time he made the comment: "You can ask me" like come on dude, you know she actually can't because your not the one who wrote the letters, it was such a sneaky (but hecking smart) move. NDS is navigating the lie flawlessly, and if he is indeed the one to first disclose the lie by the preview i can already tell yet once again he played his cards just right by saying: "i didn't want you to cry like this" everybody knows NDS reasons to go back that day were anything but this and the way he puts is like he was not a major component of DM heartbreak just as much as everyone else involved. He does genuinely care about DM, but he was not honest about why he lied in that scene. Then again i may be jumping the gun to early and there's more context on it...