Well written, I agree; the only way he knows how to compete is by doing shady shit. But I think his redemption…
You’re right—the only way he knows how to compete right now is through shady, petty moves. It’s not confidence, it’s a coping mechanism. Once the SML fully realizes that his dad isn’t just horrible but criminal, that’s when things (hopefully) change. That’s the real breaking point. I think he’ll snap out of this competition mode and switch sides—not out of love or jealousy, but out of rage, clarity, and reclaiming his self-respect...
I really don’t understand her friend’s husband… and honestly, I’m done with him.
Let’s play that parallel universe- he’s totally innocent-game for a second ...
Let’s say he did nothing wrong—and that woman forced herself on him in public. A psychologically normal, emotionally stable man would do ONE thing immediately: Go Straight To His wife.
When something that shocking and inappropriate happens, people instinctively run to their partner—their home, their emotional anchor. Even if he didn’t tell her what happened, he should still be with her, inside that same safe bubble.
They don’t act casual. And sending her a “let’s go eat” message? Yeah… that’s not normal. 💀
This!! Agreed! I always felt, he has such a obsession with ML. Maybe he is jealous by the fact that ML is kind…
YES. Exactly. All this obsession and need to prove superiority is just a cage he built around himself. When he finally discovers the truth and (hopefully) turns on his father, it won’t be about revenge—it’ll be his first real choice. That’s the moment he stops living against the ML and starts living for himself.
I also had a hunch once the truth is out he might turn his back on his dad. It seems he doesn't really know much…
You’re right. He still doesn’t know the full truth yet... But those flashbacks say a lot. Even when they were young, you can see him genuinely welcoming the ML into the family—while his dad was already way too harsh on him. That relationship was toxic from the very start. He masks the pain when his father constantly compares him to the ML—insulting him, belittling him, even hurting him physically. Instead of confronting it, he buries everything under resentment and competition.
But I agree with you: once things become clearer, he’ll turn. I really believe he’ll take his father down and end up helping the ML. It feels like a slow-burn redemption—pain first, truth later, and finally choosing the right side...
As much as we side-eye the SML for interfering and trying to get close to the FL, a lot of it really comes from rivalry, old family issues, and jealousy, not pure villain energy. He wants to get under the ML’s skin—keep him tense, reactive, always on edge—because that’s the only way he knows how to compete.
Meanwhile the ML?!!He awakened early. When he was 12 and got caught, it wasn’t about stealing like they claimed—it was about digging through secret papers, chasing the truth, trying to get his hands on evidence. He was already refusing the destiny his father forced on him. That moment says everything. Then years later: He moves out .. Cuts financial and emotional dependence .. Builds his own life without his mom and stepdad .. Chooses freedom, even if it costs him comfort..
That’s the part that eats at the SML. Because the SML is stuck. Stuck with a horrible father. Stuck in the system. Stuck playing the role he hates. And somehow, I’m convinced he’ll play a part in exposing his own dad. That feels like the turning point—the moment he finally breaks free and starts his own journey toward freedom.
It doesn’t excuse his behavior… but it explains it.
I totally agree… he is. And adding to what you said:Marrying the widow gives him direct access to anything she…
Exactly. It’s too clean—loose ends vanish, loyal pawns get promoted, and the man at the top stays untouched. Not coincidence. It’s a cover-up. And I have a strong feeling his own son will be part of exposing him. Their relationship is sooo toxic, and I really believe the SML will play a role in taking him down.
So at this point, anyone else thinking SML‘s father is the true mastermind of what happened back then? What’s…
I totally agree… he is. And adding to what you said: Marrying the widow gives him direct access to anything she knows, and since she’s easily led and manipulated, it makes the whole thing even darker. Then changing the ML’s name under the excuse of “protection” isn’t about saving him—it’s about erasing his family’s past. Cut the connections, bury the history, and make sure nothing traces back to him.
So, mushroom kiss is being treated as two, yes highly unfair, but because there were two different scenarios,…
YEAH BESTIE 😭agree... let’s just pray we don’t get robbed of those remaining 25, because I WILL RIOT. We’ve trusted the calendar, waited through that slow burn… and now he’s super jealous LOL Let’s see… hopefully all this waiting gives us something worth it in return.
LMAOOO 😭😭 where is this kissing parade we were promised??!!!
They said 27 kisses and so far we’ve got: – one high-magic mushroom kiss (one-sided,one way ,done by her) – and one attempted kiss where she goes in and he just… turns around 💀
So yeah… total count so far: 1.5 kisses at best ..lol I feel scammed....writers.!!
Director definitely watched When The Phone rings kdrama. That car overtake scene and ML walking into the party…
Actually, I wanted to point this out before, but now that you mentioned it… there’s a Turkish series called( Love Is in the Air )from a few years back, and the vibe is surprisingly similar—the plot, the leads, the architectural company, the bickering, the contract-relationship energy, the push-pull chemistry. Same spirit, just without the VR twist...lol
OK.. The FL is honestly one of the strongest parts of this drama. She’s observant, emotionally aware, and not clueless at all. What I love is that she’s not written as some saint or martyr. He turned his face away when she went in for a kiss? Fine. She was upset, but she clocked it and went back to work—no unnecessary drama.
She helps when she wants to, draws clear lines when she has to—especially with the SML, that car scene dialogue was 🔥..lol She doesn’t romanticize suffering and straight-up exposed her nasty ex on the spot. Compassionate but not naive , strong but not cold. That balance is hard to pull off, but they nailed it.
And the actress is doing a LOT of the work here. She’s officially one of my faves now, no doubt ..
But....Bestie needs a break from red flags🙈She's going to have a major case of trust issues once her husband…
Yeah 😭 when they first met, he literally saved her and the FL from that asshole during the car accident… And you remember her husband?Man was busy denying her in the club when she got slapped—from the same asshole ,,,this husband was more worried about the cameras and who was filming than about her. Like??? be so fr ..
Honestly, I wanted her to leave him then—not wait around for that classmate or whoever to show up. She deserves better than all of this.
interesting but i will feel really bad for the bestie. she had enough to deal with her scumbag husband, she deserves…
Yeah, she married young and clearly wants her marriage to work—to be a safe place,as you put it.. Time together, stability, a quiet kind of happiness. And that’s completely valid. But she’s also so strong, and honestly? She’s been taken for granted by her husband. A few cute words here and there, and that’s it… lol. And that’s why I feel she deserves a different kind of challenge in her life—a strong man who can protect her, save her,love hẻr, and be someone she can truly depend on. That’s why this whole mess feels especially unfair to her..
1 
Once the SML fully realizes that his dad isn’t just horrible but criminal, that’s when things (hopefully) change. That’s the real breaking point. I think he’ll snap out of this competition mode and switch sides—not out of love or jealousy, but out of rage, clarity, and reclaiming his self-respect...
Let’s play that parallel universe- he’s totally innocent-game for a second ...
Let’s say he did nothing wrong—and that woman forced herself on him in public. A psychologically normal, emotionally stable man would do ONE thing immediately:
Go Straight To His wife.
When something that shocking and inappropriate happens, people instinctively run to their partner—their home, their emotional anchor.
Even if he didn’t tell her what happened, he should still be with her, inside that same safe bubble.
They don’t act casual.
And sending her a “let’s go eat” message?
Yeah… that’s not normal. 💀
But those flashbacks say a lot. Even when they were young, you can see him genuinely welcoming the ML into the family—while his dad was already way too harsh on him. That relationship was toxic from the very start.
He masks the pain when his father constantly compares him to the ML—insulting him, belittling him, even hurting him physically. Instead of confronting it, he buries everything under resentment and competition.
But I agree with you: once things become clearer, he’ll turn. I really believe he’ll take his father down and end up helping the ML.
It feels like a slow-burn redemption—pain first, truth later, and finally choosing the right side...
Meanwhile the ML?!!He awakened early. When he was 12 and got caught, it wasn’t about stealing like they claimed—it was about digging through secret papers, chasing the truth, trying to get his hands on evidence. He was already refusing the destiny his father forced on him.
That moment says everything.
Then years later:
He moves out ..
Cuts financial and emotional dependence ..
Builds his own life without his mom and stepdad ..
Chooses freedom, even if it costs him comfort..
That’s the part that eats at the SML.
Because the SML is stuck. Stuck with a horrible father. Stuck in the system. Stuck playing the role he hates. And somehow, I’m convinced he’ll play a part in exposing his own dad. That feels like the turning point—the moment he finally breaks free and starts his own journey toward freedom.
It doesn’t excuse his behavior… but it explains it.
Not coincidence. It’s a cover-up.
And I have a strong feeling his own son will be part of exposing him. Their relationship is sooo toxic, and I really believe the SML will play a role in taking him down.
Marrying the widow gives him direct access to anything she knows, and since she’s easily led and manipulated, it makes the whole thing even darker.
Then changing the ML’s name under the excuse of “protection” isn’t about saving him—it’s about erasing his family’s past. Cut the connections, bury the history, and make sure nothing traces back to him.
We’ve trusted the calendar, waited through that slow burn… and now he’s super jealous LOL
Let’s see… hopefully all this waiting gives us something worth it in return.
They said 27 kisses and so far we’ve got:
– one high-magic mushroom kiss (one-sided,one way ,done by her)
– and one attempted kiss where she goes in and he just… turns around 💀
So yeah… total count so far: 1.5 kisses at best ..lol
I feel scammed....writers.!!
The FL is honestly one of the strongest parts of this drama. She’s observant, emotionally aware, and not clueless at all.
What I love is that she’s not written as some saint or martyr. He turned his face away when she went in for a kiss? Fine. She was upset, but she clocked it and went back to work—no unnecessary drama.
She helps when she wants to, draws clear lines when she has to—especially with the SML, that car scene dialogue was 🔥..lol
She doesn’t romanticize suffering and straight-up exposed her nasty ex on the spot.
Compassionate but not naive , strong but not cold. That balance is hard to pull off, but they nailed it.
And the actress is doing a LOT of the work here. She’s officially one of my faves now, no doubt ..
And you remember her husband?Man was busy denying her in the club when she got slapped—from the same asshole ,,,this husband was more worried about the cameras and who was filming than about her. Like??? be so fr ..
Honestly, I wanted her to leave him then—not wait around for that classmate or whoever to show up. She deserves better than all of this.
But she’s also so strong, and honestly? She’s been taken for granted by her husband. A few cute words here and there, and that’s it… lol.
And that’s why I feel she deserves a different kind of challenge in her life—a strong man who can protect her, save her,love hẻr, and be someone she can truly depend on.
That’s why this whole mess feels especially unfair to her..