Piquina

Honestly, I don't remember any SML in this show. Maybe ML's secretary was the SML but he has his own love story.
And the FL had a crush when she was younger but that story ended.

Joy of Life is very good, and twisted, and strange, but the ML isn't toxic at all, it has a lot of humor, and the romance is very secondary. But I highly recommend it.
Ripe Town is a dark thriller in Ming Dynasty. Maybe you could give it a try.
And Rise of Phoenixes is very good too and it has exactly the kind of twisted relationship you are looking for.

In fact, LBTG has reminded me of The Legend of Shen Li since the beginning. There is a similar style and pace between the two series.

I watched the first two episodes and dropped it. I started it for the actors and I knew the series was dark but I didn't like the plot nor the characters. But I didn't rate it. I usually rate only the series I finish.

I had watched him in When Destiny brings the Demon but I didn't love him there. Then I watched Ever Night and everything changed. He was perfect as Ning Que. Totally charismatic.
Now in Love beyond the grave he is good too, but I'm not in love with this character yet.

A dream within a dream is another isekai (better, imo). Really fun.

Ever Night is a masterpiece indeed. I was lost for words with that series when I watched it last year.

I have read that Lee Min Jae will play another brother.

My happy ending (starring Jang Nara) was very hooking too. Not very good, but hooking.

One thing is a grey character. I love that kind of characters, completely imperfect. For instance, all the characters in A History of Losers were like that. And another thing are dark characters (basically everybody in Clímax).

I totally agree. The script even mocked the young actor in the press conference scene. Episode 2.

After watching the first episode I can't tell if this will be a good drama. It has many good actors but the plot is like these made-for-Tv movies or formulaic daytime thrillers.

I'm 7 episodes in and my opinion is similar to yours. All the characters but the ML are very dislikeable and annoying, and the series feels very cringey in too many moments.

It is very good. You'll notice the screenwriter is the same because there are some things in common.

I really liked him in The Haunted Palace. I thought he was a scene stealer there. And he has been very good playing Albert in Undercover Miss Hong. I'll miss him and the series this weekend.

Probably the plot doesn't seem interesting or light enough to some people. To each their own, but this drama's script is better than the ones from many other popular shows.

I'd say romance genre is when a drama is mainly centered on romance and two people fall in love or are in love at some point in the story (usually there are happy endings, but not always). In this series we had many moments of one sided love. I was totally shipping Miss Hong and Albert but I guessed the romance wouldn't be developed (I hoped a tiny hint of a future relationship, but the screenwriter had other plans). Anyway, this has been a great drama. I have enjoyed it a lot.

I like Undercover Miss Hong more, but if you are looking for something similar I suggest Chief Kim (Good Manager), which is very good too.

I wouldn't say there is romance, because they were mainly one-side loves, until the end.
Maybe we should say there is love, but not romance.

He is about to appear in the TV show Bite Me Sweet, which is not listed yet in My drama list.