littlebluemonster

I feel that the interesting catch of this drama at first was that FL was interested in both guys. But now it's pretty obvious she's interested in ML more than 2ML. Personally, that kinda takes away the fun because we already know who she's gonna end up with. Maybe it's still too early to assume, but this only has 12 episodes, so seeing her have a change of mind feels unlikely. Sure, she's got chemistry with SML, but the way she acts around him is so different from the way she acts around ML. And not just when she's with them, but even when they're not around her.

With the ML, she's always looking forward to see him. After that kiss at the church, she gets all excited and hopeful, and she keeps thinking about it. But with the SML, after she pulls him close in bed while she was drunk, she remembers it and that was it. She acts like nothing happened with him. So it's not like she's very conflicted about her feelings for both men. She doesn't see SML the same way he sees her. But watching Ep7 preview.... maybe things might change a little? Hopefully? Still, I can't see it happening. Their chemistry is there, but the interest feels so one-sided from SML. Meanwhile, FL and ML lack chemistry but their feelings are clearly mutual.

I think both male leads have their own strengths and flaws. It really all depends on what kind of guy you're more into. What kinda fell flat to me was SML's flirting with FL due to her clueless response to his hints. Or maybe she's just pretending not to notice to avoid awkwardness since she's interested in ML and not him. If she showed a little bit more interest toward SML, or we see how some of SML's advances make her sway a little, perhaps SML's advances wouldn't feel so flat. Because right now, it just feels like we're watching FL and ML plus an unwelcomed third wheel but the whole selling point of this drama was FL being conflicted about 2 guys. But since Ep3 or 4, when FL was shown excited about ML's message and all that while she just treats SML like a friend or younger brother, and she's so uninterested to the point where she doesn't even bother going to see his show once except the first time (which she eventually missed and I totally saw it coming 🙃), all that fun and excitement about having 2 guys pursuing FL come to nothing. And I've gotta say it's getting a bit boring to watch, because just like most of the other love-triangle themed dramas, we already know who she'll end up with, and the SML is just gonna get some sad backstory.

Ep7's preview does seem to stir things up a tiny bit and I'll still check it out, but I'm not sure if I'll be making it till Ep12 at this point. 🤔

I get where you're coming from, but since drinking is a huge part of Korean culture, I think it's hard to avoid in kdramas. They will definitely include lots of drinking scenes in kdrama to align with realistic Korean culture. So viewers either ignore it or accept it, because creators will definitely prioritize sticking closer to real Korean culture.

In Ep3 when James Paek smiled, I knew he'd most likely be the mastermind. He wanted to corner Seol Ah so that she has no choice but turn to him for help when he offered. At first I thought maybe Yun Ji might have colluded with someone, or it was Eun Hyeok. But after watching Ep4, James Paek could likely be the one targeting Seol Ah since the first man who died. Remember Seol Ah said she remembered seeing him before? That's probably when it all started.

But James Paek probably had nothing to do with Seol Ah's parents' deaths. I'm suspecting the auction house lady boss. Something about her just doesn't feel right. I have a feeling she's keeping Seol Ah close to spy on her and control her. Or maybe this lady boss is the real mastermind behind all of the deaths of the men who pursued Seol Ah.

I also wonder if the detective really took a bribe to cover up Woo Seok's sister's case. Maybe the detective isn't bad and there's something that Woo Seok doesn't know. I feel that anyhow, the detective must know something and isn't completely innocent. I wonder if it could later on tie to James Paek as well. Maybe the sister's boyfriend had some connections with him.

Seol Ah really seemed suspicious at first and I think it's understandable how Woo Seok was on her tail. Him finding out and changing his views about her after the first quarter of the show seems right. I think the pacing was done well. It would've been unrealistic if he completely trusted her so soon. He had to dig further and see it for himself to actually believe her.

Also, I wonder when will the detectives find out that Seol Ah's friend also met Yun Ji at the stairwell? What happened to that? So many suspicious people around Seol Ah, tbh.

This drama can be quite dark and depressing, but I'm really intrigued by the mystery and the acting. A lot of microexpressions are needed to convey the emotions for many scenes without much dialogue, and especially when many characters don't seem to be who they appear. Watching this can be a little draining emotionally, I've got to say. Nonetheless, I'm enjoying the series, and the leads have great chemistry! Really looking forward to upcoming episodes!

"I can't 100% agree with him but I do think it's deliberate."
I second you on this!

Thanks for sharing this. It's an interesting take! I feel that the shortcomings mentioned by the reviewer could also be deliberately used by the director to convey certain aspects with a dramatic approach. Take Bei's character for example, I feel that it's exactly what the director was trying to do with him, wanting viewers to instantly see how "perfect" Bei is to the point he almost seems fake. He doesn't want viewers to think Bei is perfect prince charming. He wants viewers to question the genuineness of Bei and whether such a person actually exists.

Perhaps some logic's definitely out the window, but I feel that the director is making each character questionable on purpose, representing different flaws. Just my two cents.

Ep18 was such a crazy ride, I couldn't wait any longer and had to look for illeg@l site to watch Ep19 coz I'm not paying for express 😂😂 Honestly, it was so satisfying seeing Yu toughen up and finally call out Xiu in the most direct way possible. She'd been playing mind games with him, being sarcastic, being indirect, putting on a show, and avoid saying those exact words coz she's terrified of saying it out loud. Hearing her say it right to Xiu's face almost had me applauding.

I'm really glad Bei and Xiao Xi are on Yu's side and know Luan Luan's take on the whole thing was unfair to Yu. Because they damn well know Xiu was partly responsible for the way Yu turned out. Even Gong wasn't siding with Luan Luan and I'm so relieved. Gong telling off Xiu at his house was also so satisfying to watch. Facts!!!! Gong spitting facts!!!! Xiu is just such a frustrating friend. Gosh.

Bei's soft approach back then was useless. Not that Gong's harsh approach knocked any sense into Xiu either. 🙄 How Gong and Bei are still able to tolerate Xiu for so many years and stay friends with him is unbelievable to me. If I had a friend like this who turned out to be such a scum and chooses to continue being a scum knowing they're a scum, I'd eventually leave this friendship and wish them the best.

Also seeing the way Bei protected Xiao Xi when her past client showed up, I feel more confident about Bei sticking with Xiao Xi even when he finds out about the psychiatrist. Though, I feel he might get angry that she didn't tell him she was threatened by Guan Jie, because that'd make him think that Xiao Xi didn't trust him enough to handle it. But speaking of this, it felt weird to me how those two past clients showed up right there and then. I have a feeling they were sent by Guan Jie. In fact, I even think the psychiatrist is in cahoots with Guan Jie and he's a trap for Xiao Xi. I really hope Guan Jie and An Miu will just rot together.

Da Sen and Mingming gave me the most surprises lately. From how Da Sen matured overnight after meeting that colleague to now handling Mingming's situation without lashing out and being a control freak. Da Sen had so much character growth. I guess he really meant it when he said he'd learn to trust her now, and he really trusted her this time. Also hate violence, but like Mingming said, it was kinda satisfying having Da Sen beat up that photographer jerk. He deserved it.

And then we also have Ying Tao and that young guy. Although Ying Tao's a divorcee, I'm seeing Yu and Xiu's reflection in them. Though Ying Tao seems more clear-headed and forward compared to Yu. And the clear difference between them is Ying Tao was very decisive when it came to divorcing her cheating husband's a$$. I feel that partly comes from having higher self-worth. And now when she's faced with a young guy, she knows it's too risky so she doesn't wanna put herself through another possible wreck of a relationship again. I don't know if I can trust the young guy Ze Yan. He looks soft and innocent, but that could also mean he's likely the type who fails to put his ex in her place. I really hope he doesn't turn out to be another a-hole, please.

And last but not least, what will happen between Gong and Yu He at Gong's place???!? 😱😱😱 Honestly, I really like Yu He. But I don't think Gong likes her anymore. He didn't even like her anymore even since he met Jiang Yi Fan, or more accurately, before he even met Jiang Yi Fan. His love for her was already fading. It was just Yu He still being crazily in love with him until Gong had an evident excuse to break up with her. It even took Jiang Yi Fan calling him out first. But excitement and anticipation aside, I feel that Gong wouldn't cross the line with Yu He now. He'd done it once, he wouldn't do it twice. Unless... Gong doesn't know Yu He is already committed to someone now. I feel that Yu He also wouldn't become the kind of person she wanted to test. I have high hopes in Yu He and Gong not to be another frustrating couple/ex-couple. I feel they were actually pretty cute together back then. It'd be nice to see them properly get closure for their relationship and part ways on good terms.

Luan Luan is indeed a top tier manipulator. I completely agree with you. I wrote about her emotionally manipulating Xiu as well after watching Ep16 yesterday. What I can't stand about her is she justifies her actions by implying no one's a saint, yet at the same time, acts innocent claiming she and Xiu never crossed the line. She wasn't just manipulating Xiu with her words and actions, she was also manipulating Xiao Xi when she claimed there was nothing between her and Xiu. But Xiao Xi never bought her bullsh*t of course. She tried to flip it back on Xiao Xi and although it left Xiao Xi stunned at first, Xiao Xi saw through her and chose to be on Yu's side.

Honestly, Luan Luan sounds so confident like she could give Xiu happiness now. But if she marries Xiu one day and faces similar problems in their marriage, I really wonder if she'd end up turning out like Yu.

Also about Mingming and Da Sen, my understanding was like you mentioned, it was all Da Sen's one-sided pursue until she officially got together with him after she ended things with her ex. I was also confused at first because of how Bei (ML) acted towards Mingming, but later on realized he was just speaking based on Da Sen's side of the story. All he knew was Da Sen had been pursuing MM all these years while Da Sen kept giving his friends the impression that he's got a chance. I think that could've made Bei and the others think that Mingming had been leading Da Sen on while still dating someone else. But based on what we've seen, that's not how it was. Mingming had tried turning down Da Sen, but Da Sen just wouldn't back down. So no, I don't think MM has cheated on Da Sen with the photographer. I feel that she's the most sane and rational and clear-minded person of the bunch so far.

And same here. I like that ML and FL are both finally opening up to each other about their past. But I also don't think she's told him about the psychiatrist and Guan Jie's threat. I think that will definitely backfire on her too. The whole thing with the psychiatrist honestly feels like a trap Guan Jie set up. I really don't get Guan Jie's deal. Is she jealous of people and wanna ruin every happy couple or what?

Everyone has said a lot about Bei, but honestly, I think more people in real life are like Bei than you'd think. Certain conversations between Bei and Mingming didn't sit completely well with me, but I also get where Bei's coming from. I've had friends being in questionable relationships but I also looked the other way even though it feels uncomfortable when they talk about their relationship and I don't exactly like their partner. But they're my good friend and it's not easy calling them out. If I hadn't known MM's side of the story, I'd probably be more concerned about my friend more as well. But I admit I'm a coward and if I feel that my words won't get through them, I'd just slowly distance myself because I've gotta look out for my own mental health and peace. I don't wanna get involved with their toxicity. So thinking back, I guess Bei actually has more guts sticking around and calling his friends out and still being there for his friends. His loyalty could also be both a good and bad trait, I guess.

Lastly, just wanna say that I don't think Bei is actually perfect either. He just appears that way. But no one's perfect for sure and that includes him.

Omg Ep15 I'm so happy for Xiao Xi and Bei for finally coming clean (but I later realize Xiao Xi hadn't told him about the psychiatrist and Guan Jie's threat). Also, it was hella satisfying hearing Bei put An Miu right in her place while Xiao Xi was right beside him. Ahhh I really wish Xiao Xi and Bei would be happy together 🥹 Even Ming Ming and Da Sen made such great progress. I guess it took Da Sen to be on the receiving end to finally gain clarity. Honestly happy for these two couples! I know both couples still have a lot to work on, but baby steps!

And then we have Ep16 with Xiu and Yu. Gosh. I don't see how their marriage could still work out. At first I thought Xiu was really putting in effort, until he met Luan Luan again.... 🤦‍♀️ Bei says Xiu is planning to end things with Luan Luan, but we'll see. I ain't trusting Xiu until he actually ends things for real.

Honestly, Xiu almost convinced me that he really made up his mind this time. But during the whole trip except for when he tried so hard finding Yu's skincare product, it really felt like he no longer loves Yu like he did before. They barely had anything to talk about. He's just constantly on his phone while Yu is there reminiscing their past. And then he asks to meet Luan Luan again and I'm like 🙄 Glad Yu's friend caught him red-handed and put him in his place.

Also can't stand Luan Luan sometimes when she's emotionally manipulating Xiu. Seriously? Giving Xiu advice to win his wife back? In that kind of tone? And then calling him baby? Luan Luan is sly AF. And Xiu is a dumb dumb who doesn't know what he wants and can never make up his mind, so he's easily led by the nose by both women in his life. Ugh. Unbearable. The 3 of them—Yu, Xiu, and Luan are all unbearable. Yu is getting more and more inferior since she's older, then she lashes out at Xiu for little things. Xiu... ugh. Need I say more? Just a complete coward and jerk. And Luan, this sly... sly woman who's so good at playing with words and feelings, having Xiu completely wrapped around her fingers. She damn well knows what their "relationship" is. She damn well knows what Xiu meant. But she's playing innocent, throwing the question back at Xiu, because she knows that will throw Xiu into confusion and he'd be unable to make up his mind.

Xiu really has got to make up his mind. If he doesn't love Yu anymore, he's gotta accept it and let her go. I get that Yu can't let go of him because she still loves him, but girl you deserve better. Stop turning yourself into an ugly monster for a man who isn't worth it. Yu's gotta accept that their love can't go back to the way it was, and neither can it be rebuilt unless Xiu makes up his effing mind to cut Luan Luan out of his life. I doubt he can keep things clear with Luan Luan if both of them still stay in that circle of friends, tbh. I don't trust both of them.

Ep15 and 16 were honestly quite heavy, especially with the absence of Gong. We got more of Gong's backstory before, so I get it's time the focus shifted to the rest. I hope we'd be getting Gong back in the next episode, even for just a short scene, because I miss his silly antics that sometimes either carry meaningful insights or is just the plain harsh truth masked as a joke. Lol. Also miss his annoying shark pouch 😂😂😂 Seriously, Gong feels like the type of guy-friend girls would like hanging out with coz he's got your back like a bestie, but you know he's not quite relationship material so you'd never date him, but you'd still feel safe with him coz he may be flirty but if you don't cross the line, he won't either.

Haven't started this and I'm waiting for more episodes to be out first as well. But if this turns out bad, I'm just gonna rewatch Love Scout too. Hahahahah

Yea, I agree. I hope that's the case with Bei and Gong. I also think when MM asked Bei that if Da Sen was the one leaving her, would Bei still feel the same way and he kept quiet, that was quite telling. Bei cares more about his friend, which I think is natural, but we've also seen Bei call out Xiu for his affair and not many people can do that. So hopefully he'll speak up if he learns this side of Da Sen.

I kinda agree with you about Yu. I see many calling her out on her verbally abusive behavior and I also agree that she became quite unbearable. But it was also her choice getting into a relationship and marriage with Xiu. She chose him, so that's on her. She also has a choice to leave him and choose herself now, which sadly, she isn't doing .

I also think no woman wants to become that naggy, loud, verbally abusive wife. Most women turn out that way because of the husband. The wives become so stressed being the only responsible and practical adult in the marriage that those burden forced them into becoming naggy and frustrated.

I get how stressful it was for Xiu having to deal with her yelling and criticism. Nobody wants to be in a relationship like that. But again, all the responsibility was on her to keep the roof over their heads and put bread on the table. Xiu was helping her with some stuff, and he thought he was sacrificing his dream, but being in that marriage, it was also his responsibility to carry that burden. We all wish we could make a living doing solely what we love, but that's not reality. And Xiu refuses to accept that, leaving Yu being the one to compromise more, eventually hating her life too and becoming this miserable person.

And also all the beautiful promises they made to each other like getting a dog and stuff. I feel that she was being very valid stating facts about how having a dog isn't just fun. It carries the same responsibility as raising a child. She was completely right and realistic. They weren't in a financial situation or even have the time and effort to afford raising a dog yet. So I completely agree with her calling out Xiu for being childish. If he took up other jobs to help ease their financial burden, she probably wouldn't have become so unbearable.

But I've got to be honest, I don't like how Yu is acting now, even though I get why she's acting this way. I won't say she's faultless in the relationship either. I feel that Yu and Xiu are both better off setting each other free. Because while they may be loving and sweet as an unmarried couple, married life is different and I don't think they're a fit. Their relationship is still gonna be a huge mess if Xiu doesn't grow up and they don't work on their problems together. Plus, do they still love each other enough to want to stay in this marriage? I think Yu may still love Xiu, but I feel that Xiu may not love Yu anymore. Some people stay in a marriage not because they still love each other, but if they're both so miserable, what's the point in keeping the marriage?

I think that's the thing. FL found herself great guy and she knows she's a mess. That's why she's trying to be the perfect girlfriend for him, fearing that he'd leave her if he found out the truth about her.

Omg completely agree with you about Xiu. Hahahahah that's why I agree with Gong on Luan Luan's bad taste in men. Dude can't even make up his mind, making life miserable for both women. I like that Bei and Gong call him out on that.

You hit the nail on the head with everything! Also about Da Sen, he keeps acting entitled just coz he's been "in love" (more like obsessed) with Ming Ming for so long. He speaks as if he's this selfless lover who sacrificed so much for her, so she owes him. Even previously when Bei was telling Ming Ming not to betray Da Sen after everything he's done for her, it gave off the same vibe.

This also made me think. Before they officially got together, we've seen Ming Ming reject things from Da Sen, but Da Sen wouldn't back down and just got pushy. Does that mean all these years, Ming Ming was forced to accept things from Da Sen even after she'd tried pushing him away? Did she try making it clear with him? And if Da Sen even knew she was seeing someone else, why did he still act like he had hope in front of his friends? And why did Bei act like Ming Ming was doing Da Sen wrong when Ming Ming didn't even accept Da Sen yet?

I'm not sure if I understood it right, so please correct me if I'm wrong. Since the beginning, we've only seen how aggressive Da Sen was at pursuing Ming Ming, but we didn't get to see how much she was leading him on while still being with her ex. We've only seen her trying to push him away. This is where Bei's attitude toward Ming Ming doesn't sit well with me. Then again, I feel that Bei and Gong might not realize how unhealthy Da Sen's obsession is toward Ming Ming. All they see is how "loyal" and "dedicated" he was, thinking their friend was being so selfless. This also made me think if Ming Ming actually likes Da Sen, or she only chose to love him and be with him because she ended her relationship with the ex.

Also, remember how Yu He was telling Xiao Xi back then that Gong was very sly and he'd keep in touch with his exes and stuff like that? Sometimes I wonder how much of it is true, or rather, why does Gong still keep in touch with them? Because although Gong seems like a playful and sometimes flirty (though I feel that his flirting doesn't really mean anything most of the time lol), he's someone who doesn't cross the line and knows his boundaries. At least that's how it is when it comes to him and Xiao Xi and Bei.

He calls out a jerk if he sees one, even if it's his friend, eg. Xiu. (Love the nicknames he comes up for Xiu. 🤣🤣) He also calls out Luan Luan too. But it always results in her calling him out in return. I feel that his borderline is not being the other man, or not being wishy washy like Xiu if a third person came into his relationship.

When Luan Luan asked him if he's only innocent because he hadn't had the opportunity to take action with Xiao Xi, then he contemplated and kept quiet, that made me even more curious about his answer. Then again, perhaps his silence meant he'd actually consider betraying Bei and cheat with Xiao Xi if she proposed the idea. But I also feel that he wouldn't be able to stand being the other man in the long run, unlike Luan Luan.

But guys aside, I actually quite like seeing Xiao Xi and Yu He together! I hope they can become closer friends in the future, though I think it's unlikely.

And speaking of friends, An Miu gets on my nerves so much. I like that Xiao Xi didn't pretend liking her when Bei asked what she thought about An Miu. Love the way Xiao Xi handled her. Not to mention, I already don't like An Miu for her job and her justifying it. She's basically paparazzi.

Just completed Ep14. And my biggest takeaway from this episode was Ming Ming turns out being one of the most rational and least toxic one. I didn't like the way she was holding on to Da Sen when she hadn't ended her relationship with the ex for good. But as the story progressed, I realized Da Sen was also a major problem.

In the beginning, I thought Da Sen was just a pursuer, because we never saw Ming Ming referring to him as her boyfriend. But Da Sen had pretended they were already a thing at the group's first dinner gathering we saw. That honestly left me puzzled because I thought Ming Ming hadn't officially accepted him. Later on, we saw Bei telling her not to betray Da Sen. But technically, before Ming Ming even officially accepted Da Sen, her fault was leaving things ambiguous with him, sort of still giving him hope while she's still working on ending her past affair. After she's accepted Da Sen, she hadn't really done anything wrong.

The way she handled her conflict with Da Sen really changed my views on her. Da Sen was trying to guilt trip her when he's being borderline obsessive and quite violent. She wasn't gonna have any of that. Da Sen knew it himself. He feels inferior, he gets jealous, he gets obsessive, he's also kind of a control freak. And Ming Ming was right. If he minded those things about her so much, he could've just gone ahead and look for a girl without a complicated past. But he was obsessed with Ming Ming and wants her to live the way he wants. It's understandable how anyone would get suspicious when their partner is with their ex, but Ming Ming really didn't cross any lines and she made it very clear with the guy. She wasn't being ambiguous with him. And it's true she was caught in a tough spot and it was hard to turn down his offer. She was still building her new business. And as a startup, if the ex hadn't shown up to help, those clients would've posted bad reviews about her and that's gonna potentially ruin her business.

Perhaps to some people, they'd agree with Da Sen, because they think Ming Ming should keep a distance with her ex no matter what, even if it risked ruining her business. While that may be the best way sometimes, I'm with Ming Ming this time because she handled things professionally. Da Sen wasn't wrong for being jealous or angry, but he also took things too far with the way he reacted. Not to say that Ming Ming is completely faultless in their relationship though. It's impossible for Da Sen to completely trust Ming Ming like that. She's also gotta work on earning his trust. But if Da Sen's only way of trusting her again is controlling her, then that's definitely unacceptable. The way Da Sen "loves" Ming Ming is just scary and suffocating to me. Honestly, I feel that they're better off apart than together.

I do like seeing Xiao Xi with Gong, but sometimes I don't even know if I ship Xiao Xi with anyone. She's got chemistry with Gong and Gong definitely has some feelings for her, but does she feel the same about him the same way she feels about Bei? I doubt so. I feel that she truly loves Bei, and to her, Gong is just like the girl version of her other bestie Ying Tao. Someone she can be completely honest with without fearing she might lose them because they've seen the real her from the start.

I think Xiao Xi and Bei can actually be a healthy and happy couple once they both learn to trust each other and communicate honestly. I do feel how much they care for each other, but they are both the same. I feel that they're afraid to open up about themselves because they're afraid they might lose each other. I'm looking forward to them finally being honest with each other about their past.

And speaking of Gong, I do feel bad for him sometimes because I feel he's masking his sensitive heart with a carefree facade, even though that playful and somewhat frivolous side of him are also partly his real personality.

I absolutely agree with you about Bei. He tends to avoid conflict, probably due to his past relationship. He wants to keep things nice and peaceful, even though it's just on the surface, but that doesn't solve anything. Problems and misunderstandings will only pile up. And a relationship can never be only rainbows and sunshine, and I feel that Bei is just trying to keep it that way, masking his fear and avoidance with open-mindedness. He appears to be understanding when it comes to others or when he answers a hypothetical question, but I really wonder if he can walk the walk when it actually happens to him.

Finished Ep8 and I really enjoy the conversations between Xiao Xi and Gong. When Xiao Xi and Bei are together, it's like Xiao Xi is trying to be the perfect girlfriend, almost tiptoeing all the time. Even though Gong fell in love with the made-up Jiang Yi Fan, Xiao Xi can be her true self in front of him now. When Xiao Xi is with Bei, it feels so suffocating because it's like they're both trying so hard not to show any bit of flaws. But when you watch Xiao Xi and Gong, it's like you finally get to breathe. But the fear and suspicion between Xiao Xi and Bei make sense because the more you care about someone or something, the more you fear losing it.

Also, the irony with Bei being the greenest flag in this show feels almost unrealistic when most dramas come up with the perfect green-flag ML and most of the time we love it. Bei almost feels too good to be true that I'm waiting to see what his "flaw" would be.

So glad we've got a character like Gong to balance out all the deep and dark moments. He's just so funny. Did not expect Gao Weiguang to play such a role, and he's seriously nailing it.