3
A Rollercoaster of Romance, Revenge, and Regret
Summary:
FL, a strong and intelligent CEO, enters into a contract marriage with ML, an initially mysterious and seemingly kindhearted man. However, hidden motives, family feuds, and unresolved traumas slowly unravel, leading to a turbulent relationship filled with passion, betrayal, and obsession. SML, the childhood friend, remains a supportive presence, often caught between his love for FL and his moral integrity.
What I Liked:
1. The Chemistry Was CHEMISTRY
FL and ML had adorable, swoon-worthy moments—the playful newlywed energy, kisses, mutual protection, and especially those heart-to-heart bed scenes. When it was good, it was good. The way they slowly grew closer and genuinely cared for each other (before things derailed) had all the right fluff with just enough edge.
2. ML's Cunning King Era (RIP)
He started strong: mysterious, charming, low-key scheming. His early interactions where you weren’t quite sure what he was thinking? Gold. He played the sweet husband while plotting his way to the top of Yi Yuan, and we loved every second. He was calm, calculating, and ten steps ahead… until he wasn’t.
3. FL: The Queen We Deserved
CEO. Smart. Emotionally guarded. Loyal. And when betrayed? She didn’t fold. From the moment she threw those savage lines like “I’m not interested in your body anymore” or “You can pity yourself, but not around me,” she stayed powerful. Even when broken, she stood tall. Honestly? She carried the entire show.
4. SML: The Sweetheart Sidekick
Supportive, genuine, and respectful. He confessed, got rejected, and still stayed by her side without being pushy. Whether it was defending her against his own father or playing the third roommate role like a BL side character, he had heart and deserved more screen time.( Although they kind of ruined his character towards the end.)
5. Unintentional Comedy Gold
From kidnapping scenes with frog masks to childish banter between SML and ML while FL rolls her eyes, the show knew how to deliver chaotic energy. The trio's dynamic? Honestly iconic.
What Didn’t Work
1. That Scene
Let’s be real. The show took a dark turn. ML’s obsession went too far. Forced kisses and implied coercion are not romance—they’re abuse. FL’s fear was real, and even though ML regretted it and tried to redeem himself, the show minimized the impact. He should’ve been held more accountable.
2. ML’s Character Regression
He went from calculating genius to an obsessed, crying mess. From powerful to pitiful. His guilt arc was okay, but they never made him truly earn her forgiveness, especially with how serious his actions were.
3. Uncle Plot & Finale Rush
Uncle went from background puppet-master to full-on evil, but the pacing got clunky near the end. The last episodes felt rushed, and FL forgiving ML was inevitable, but it didn’t feel earned enough. It glossed over the emotional aftermath a bit too neatly.
✨ Would I recommend this drama? Depends. If you enjoy contract marriage tropes, angst, and redemption arcs (and can tolerate red flag behavior), you might still enjoy it. But if you’re looking for a satisfying romance where both leads remain respectful and mature, this might not be it.
The drama had a lot of potential, but it ultimately played it safe with a cliché ending and tried to make ML’s mistakes forgivable just because he was in love. If they had taken a different approach—like letting FL move on—this could have been a standout revenge romance.
FL, a strong and intelligent CEO, enters into a contract marriage with ML, an initially mysterious and seemingly kindhearted man. However, hidden motives, family feuds, and unresolved traumas slowly unravel, leading to a turbulent relationship filled with passion, betrayal, and obsession. SML, the childhood friend, remains a supportive presence, often caught between his love for FL and his moral integrity.
What I Liked:
1. The Chemistry Was CHEMISTRY
FL and ML had adorable, swoon-worthy moments—the playful newlywed energy, kisses, mutual protection, and especially those heart-to-heart bed scenes. When it was good, it was good. The way they slowly grew closer and genuinely cared for each other (before things derailed) had all the right fluff with just enough edge.
2. ML's Cunning King Era (RIP)
He started strong: mysterious, charming, low-key scheming. His early interactions where you weren’t quite sure what he was thinking? Gold. He played the sweet husband while plotting his way to the top of Yi Yuan, and we loved every second. He was calm, calculating, and ten steps ahead… until he wasn’t.
3. FL: The Queen We Deserved
CEO. Smart. Emotionally guarded. Loyal. And when betrayed? She didn’t fold. From the moment she threw those savage lines like “I’m not interested in your body anymore” or “You can pity yourself, but not around me,” she stayed powerful. Even when broken, she stood tall. Honestly? She carried the entire show.
4. SML: The Sweetheart Sidekick
Supportive, genuine, and respectful. He confessed, got rejected, and still stayed by her side without being pushy. Whether it was defending her against his own father or playing the third roommate role like a BL side character, he had heart and deserved more screen time.( Although they kind of ruined his character towards the end.)
5. Unintentional Comedy Gold
From kidnapping scenes with frog masks to childish banter between SML and ML while FL rolls her eyes, the show knew how to deliver chaotic energy. The trio's dynamic? Honestly iconic.
What Didn’t Work
1. That Scene
Let’s be real. The show took a dark turn. ML’s obsession went too far. Forced kisses and implied coercion are not romance—they’re abuse. FL’s fear was real, and even though ML regretted it and tried to redeem himself, the show minimized the impact. He should’ve been held more accountable.
2. ML’s Character Regression
He went from calculating genius to an obsessed, crying mess. From powerful to pitiful. His guilt arc was okay, but they never made him truly earn her forgiveness, especially with how serious his actions were.
3. Uncle Plot & Finale Rush
Uncle went from background puppet-master to full-on evil, but the pacing got clunky near the end. The last episodes felt rushed, and FL forgiving ML was inevitable, but it didn’t feel earned enough. It glossed over the emotional aftermath a bit too neatly.
✨ Would I recommend this drama? Depends. If you enjoy contract marriage tropes, angst, and redemption arcs (and can tolerate red flag behavior), you might still enjoy it. But if you’re looking for a satisfying romance where both leads remain respectful and mature, this might not be it.
The drama had a lot of potential, but it ultimately played it safe with a cliché ending and tried to make ML’s mistakes forgivable just because he was in love. If they had taken a different approach—like letting FL move on—this could have been a standout revenge romance.
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