Dare to Love Me: Episodes 5-6

36 May 30, 2024May 30, 2024

Dare to Love Me: Episodes 5-6

by starrygazer

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This week, the plot picks up for our couple as they have to shoulder a bunch of misunderstandings and mishaps. But while our OTP might be struggling, our secondary couple goes from a few limited yet sweet interactions to full-blown drama. Let’s see where this week’s episodes take us, shall we?

EPISODES 5-6

Poor Hong-do has convinced herself that this surprise guest of Yoon-bok’s has to be his ex-girlfriend. Dear oh dear. The identity of said over-familiar intruder is in fact SHIN YI-BOK (Jo In) —Yoon-bok’s long lost sister — who has made it very clear she will not leave. However, this just makes our hero build the walls around his heart even higher and tell her to stay out of his sight and to leave quickly and quietly. Ouch!

Now for our endearing couple. Hong-do tries to ask Yoon-bok outright who his guest is. But our hero just brushes her off thinking he doesn’t want to make her worry again. But Hong-do’s curiosity is killing her, so she decides to buy “Hong-hak” some chicken. When the chicken arrives she collects most of it, leaving the scraps for Hong-hak, and uses the excuse to go over to Yoon-bok’s – haha. She soon wishes she hadn’t! Seeing Yi-bok through the window throwing her wet hair back like a shampoo commercial has her imagination going everywhere it shouldn’t!

Hong-do can’t seem to concentrate on anything the next day; her heart is literally aching over Yoon-bok. (The gunshot she hears when seeing another couple. The hearts in the clouds!) Do you still not get it Hong-do? I did snicker to myself when she googled what her symptoms were and came to the conclusion of arrhythmia haha.

That night, Hong-do tries to buy her favorite beer and for the second time it’s been sold out. She marches to the counter only to find Yi-bok buying every last can of her beer. (Is that steam I see coming out of her ears?) Finally, Yi-bok puts Hong-do out of her misery and tells her she’s Yoon-bok’s sister. Hong-do’s demeanor changes so dramatically it’s hard not to laugh. The girls get on like a house on fire, which is lovely to see. Yi-bok tells Hong-do that she thinks her brother relies on her a lot — and that he’s different around Hong-do. He seems happy.

On his way home, Yoon-bok is thinking about Hong-do and remembering their non date whilst passing an ice cream parlor. He takes some over to Hong-do’s… just as she flings open the door, knocks him flat on his back, and then falls directly on top of him. Cue our Titanic music and me chanting “kiss-kiss-kiss!” (Yes, I am aware I’m getting ahead of myself). But after this interlude, Hong-do does come to an important conclusion: she likes Yoon-bok. How didn’t she know this already?

The next day, Hong-do is telling herself she can just control her emotions — she’s an adult. This “car accident” of a crush won’t go any further. Oh ye of little faith!! As soon as Hong-do comes out and sees Yoon-bok, she tries to flirt with him. (Side note: Hong-do is horrible at flirting to the point that Yoon-bok asks if she’s sick haha.)

Yoon-bok decides to help Hong-do try and convince Grandad Shin about the fashion show, since he has rejected Camille’s attempt. Hong-do feels shameless asking for help again, but Yoon-bok tells her that she isn’t just anyone to him so of course he should help her achieve her dream. Oh this is just so gooey and cute and I love it!

At Seongsan Village our couple try to convince the locals to come on board with the fashion show. Hong-do is downcast and dejected after the villagers all say they’re against it. So, Yoon-bok takes her for his favorite pick-me-up snack and tells her if today is a salty day something good will follow tomorrow to make it a sweet day. This is all kinds of adorable.

The conversation also harks back to what they talked about on their on their non-date, and Hong-do is touched. Yoon-bok tells her, “I will always cheer you up by your side. Do not be upset.” Hong-do thinks to herself: How can my heart not race at this? I wholeheartedly agree with you, Hong-do!

Se-ryeong hears that Hong-do is back in the village and makes an appearance to mark her territory, calling herself Yoon-bok’s fiancee (I think not, sister!). Thankfully, Hong-do sides with me on this, telling Se-ryeong that’s not what Yoon-bok said. Se-ryeong is startled by Yoon-bok’s voice behind her and knocks the food all over Hong-do’s white clothes. Accidentally? On purpose? I’m not sure, but it doesn’t really matter as I’m pretty sure the reaction coming was not what Se-ryeong wanted to see. Our little white knight dusts off his armor and wastes no time in taking off his overcoat to put over Hong-do. Cue the Titanic music again with slow motion to enhance the swoon factor.

The next day, Yoon-bok sends Hong-do the shoes she was admiring in the village (while he was admiring her, hah), and Hong-do can barely contain herself. Later that night when she’s having some beer with her brother, they both decide to write letters to their crushes, which we know isn’t going to end well. Indeed, Hong-do accidentally delivers Hong-hak’s letter to Yoon-bok instead of hers. Not only does she fail to retrieve it from his mailbox, but rather than the sweet and well-written note she wrote, Hong-hak’s letter says “I love you!” and looks more like the back page of my textbook in high school lol.

Failing to retrieve the letter, Hong-do is instead whisked off to a press conference with Camille. She announces Hong-do as her new designer, and says they will go to Paris after their show at Seongsan Village. Oh, the look on poor Yoon-bok’s face — he looks devastated. Hong-do follows him outside afterwards, and he asks if this was her dream. To leave. Hong-do innocently says yes (she wants to be a designer in Paris) and asks why he looks so upset. She assumes it’s the letter and starts trying to explain. But Yoon-bok looks crushed, and cuts her off. He tells Hong-do: “This is it. Don’t contact me again.” And then he coldly walks away leaving our heroine shocked, and a sad cliffhanger on our hands.

Until this moment, our hero and heroine had been making strides with each other this week. I was silly enough to get excited that things were progressing until *bam* we’re all hit with our hero’s abandonment issues. Although unwelcome, it dovetails well with Yi-bok’s arrival into the story, and Yoon-bok’s harsh reaction to her. Well, he might act coldly, but we know it’s just because he’s been so deeply hurt.

As for Yi-bok, I kind of feel for her. She has many secrets and not many friends. What’s the reason she and her mother left Yoon-bok alone as a child? What does their leaving have to do with Joon-ho? What is wrong with hospitalized mum-bok? There’s also a nice twist with Yi-bok: she is a cop! She’ll be going undercover at Seongsan Hall, and has asked Detective Park not to tell Yoon-bok. There’s a lot to unpack with this character, and I really want to find out how this will all tie together.

While all this is going on we have some drama for our second pairing: Hong-hak and Yoon-ah have some major developments this week. Yoon-ah is having a hard time with Yoon-bok acting all strange and secretive now that he is hiding Yi-bok in his house. Yoon-ah sees this as him drawing another line between them when all she wants to do is be of help to him.

As for Hong-hak, he’s in the dumps over his cancelled webtoon. He is told that his drawing skills aren’t that good, the company has no faith in him, his style is outdated. Yoon-ah happens to overhear and follows Hong-hak out suggesting they go for a drink, so they drown their sorrows and complain about their woes. Cut to: Yoon-ah’s face the next morning when she wakes up in bed with Hong-hak! I’m sorry, did that just happen…? I can’t believe my eyes! But I am liking that they didn’t dance around each other for too long.

After Yoon-ah sneaks away and ignores his calls, Hong-hak descends into self-doubt and angst. He finally got close to Yoon-ah and she rejected him. He is questioning if he is good enough at a lot of things in life haha. Yoon-ah, however, is mortified and avoids any and all contact with him until he runs into her by accident. She knocks him to the ground and pretty much draws a huge line herself telling him never to mention it again. He has such a puppy dog expression, how can you do that to him?

And as for our over loveline — the grown up children in their sixties — there’s a childish bickering going on between the two about the fashion show. Grandad Shin won’t budge, so Camille delivers her “final blow” which may or may not be to destroy the Seongsan Village trade by switching out their products with cheap overseas products and exposing them as a “scam.” It seems to me that there are some lingering feelings between Grandad Shin and Camille, and I hope they can come to some middle ground before things get worse.

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1 Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]

May 30, 2024 at 6:32 PM

the guy is so traumatized by his sister and mom leaving him, he ends relationships if even he *thinks* that person will leave him too. Also the nerve of the woman to just move into his home, without apologizing or even explaining herself! esp when she's been surveilling him for most of his life and *knows* what effect the abandonment had on the kid!

Also, the Seongsan Village is dystopian if you think about it for more than a few seconds. So restaurant boy was Yi-bok's slave and got thrown out for "seducing" her? And now she's an undercover cop trying to bring him down? what a cursed family. Joseon Grandpa alone is radicalizing me into a Jacobin in 2024.

but uh, rant aside, I do like the main couple and whatever Yoon-ah & Hong-do's brother have got going on it. they're genuinely really cute, when there's no misunderstandings. I am once again asking the writers to a) drop the crime storyline, more focus on the romance pls b) send the long lost sibling and mom away c) normalize not forgiving your awful family members

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DancingEmma

May 30, 2024 at 7:18 PM

It is completely dystopian. This is why I just couldn’t stomach this drama and have stopped watching it but still like to read the comments.

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Linarrick

May 30, 2024 at 9:23 PM

It’s indeed very scary, all the tactics of a cult is at play. Excommunicating members who want to leave, unable to contact their family inside the village and members in the village unable to contact their loved ones outside. The isolation, and all of them indoctrinated in not wanting to open the village to the public. And of course I hate the Grandpa cult leader/dictator

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DancingEmma

May 30, 2024 at 9:48 PM

OMG! You are dead right. I should have thought about the shunning/excommunication and reached your conclusion.

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vienibenmio

May 31, 2024 at 5:56 AM

I'm pretty sure that the mom left to get proper medical treatment, too

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vienibenmio

May 31, 2024 at 6:07 AM

Yeah, it's really hampering my enjoyment of this drama, too. Are we SUPPOSED to think it's dystopian? That's my question.

It's also wildly inconsistent and hypocritical (Grandpa got to go to Paris!) but then a lot of them are in real life, too...

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geminirat

May 31, 2024 at 6:21 AM

I know about Seongsan's isolation but excommunicating? The restaurant owner is the son of the family helper (who's taking care of the hidden guest), and he comes and goes to the village although he has left. Maybe it's just the mom and sister who were sent away - reasons unknown for now.

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Linarrick

May 31, 2024 at 10:50 AM

Why does Seongsan Village still have the Joseon caste system? Yeah it’s great for the royals and the nobles but why do the “peasants” stay? How does Seongsan village benefit them? They do backbreaking work, and get treated like scum. So far we saw Joon-ho who was a literal child get slapped and accused by evil “royal” Grandpa for “seducing” his precious granddaughter Yi-bok. Already that’s icky but he literally had no evidence, just that she was sick? WTF?

From the day Joon-ho was born in Seongsan Village his existence, his place in this society/cult was to be nothing but a slave. That was his role here, so after he realised how unjustly he was being treated he escaped on his own which intrigues me. Because how did he survive outside the village when he most likely didn’t have any money or much education. It’s shown he had a mentor/sponsor from someone we don’t know yet in episode four. It’s said that evil Grandpa only allowed Joon-ho back into the village because his mother begged him so desperately. Tho I wouldn’t be surprised if Joon-ho found out something shady and illegal about evil Grandpa and struck a deal with him to be able to see his mother and buy produce.

A certain scene also stuck with me. When Joon-ho tried to enter the village in the van to buy more produce, wearing a suit, evil Grandpa ordered the guard to scold him for not wearing “appropriate” Joseon clothing. A rule that doesn’t seem to apply to the cultural heritage administration man who always enters the village also wearing a suit. Interesting still, from what we know of Joon-ho’s past, “appropriate” Joseon clothing would be wearing the peasant/slave clothing his mother wears, to perhaps remind him of his lowly status? Wearing a suit implies some prestige, that Joon-ho successfully achieved class mobility and social standing, so I question again why does Joon-ho not wearing lowly status Joseon clothing disturb evil Grandpa so much? I can only guess that his achievement threatens the very existence of the cult, other peasants/slaves might revolt and leave if they see one of them doing so well no?

Anyway straight after Joon-ho picks up the produce he almost injures someone while riding his van, he apologises immediately. Evil Grandpa sees this incident and makes sure to include that he almost hit a “noble” woman from a “prominent family”. Again heavily reminding him of his lowly status. Like you can visibly see the distraught and fear in Joon-ho’s eyes. This is how much power evil Grandpa emotionally holds over people. Very much in line with a cult leader no?

Now we have Yoon-bok feeling betrayed that Hong-do will/might be going to Paris. He immediately becomes cold towards her. But why, unlike his sister and mother who lied to him, Hong-do was truthful. And he is smart enough to know they can still call each other from time to time. See I don’t think it’s the trauma of losing his sister and mother. This is how cults work, anyone who leaves with the intention...

Linarrick

May 31, 2024 at 10:51 AM

This is how cults work, anyone who leaves with the intention of not coming back is seen as a traitor, the worst type of human. Cutting off all contact with them is standard practice. Therefore that line of thinking very much informs Yoon-bok’s reaction, any perception of someone leaving is seen as an ultimate betrayal which is unforgivable, no matter if the person is upfront about it. Look yeah I think the sister and mother should explain why they left Yoon-bok behind, But my personal theory is that Yoon-bok is the only male heir after evil Grandpa, so if he goes missing evil Grandpa will track them down at all costs.

Bunny Sonaki

May 31, 2024 at 2:40 AM

Well said. Normalizing forgiving awful family members is a theme I hate about kdramas. They leave you alone and come back to say "We are sick. Please stay by my side." No. Just wish them a speedy recovery or whatever and bid them farewell. What Yoon-bok's sister did, forcing her way into his house is abuse. It was uncomfortable watching her refusing to leave.

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2 🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

May 30, 2024 at 6:47 PM

Thank you for the recap.

I loved our OTP, their Seongsan Village date, the way Hong-do thinks tilting her head to one side to show off her neck is *flirting* (Yoon-bok thinks she's ill or hurt 😂), the way he's all protective of her and supportive of her dream. ❤

I loved Yoon-bok remembering Hong-do's sweet salty advice while eating ice cream and quoting it back to her when she was low. By the way am I the only one worried about what happened to the ice cream Yoon-bok bought for her when Hong-do conveniently landed atop him. Dear starrygazer - you're not the only one, screaming "Ppoppo-ye, Ppoppo-ye!! at the TV in these circumstances is a given. 😂

Thank you @marcusnyc20 for kindly pointing out that Yoon-bok's favorite treat is the same as Da-hae's in The Atypical Family.

https://www.dramabeans.com/members/Seeker/activity/1587195/

I loved Yi-bok. She's an awesome character played by a good actress. I'm hoping for great things from her. Don't let me down show.

Cons - while its obvious our OTP has never *dated* before 🙄 Hong-do's cluelessness for a 30 year old seems trite.

I'm little more forgiving about Yoon-bok's abandonment issues. It doesn't have anybody to guide him or even talk to him. Hong-do appears to have been the only one to have talked to him with kindness. Luckily there is no ML trauma that "true love" can't cure. Hwaiting Hong-do - you've got this.

I'm little confused by Harabeoji and French-Korean girlfriend. While I don't think she's behind the village goods controversy, she's quick to press her advantage. Can't say I'm looking forward to their arc. 🤷‍♀️

I am looking forward to Yi-bok and Joon-ho trying to outwit each other.

Hope our sweet OTP is able to overcome their salty moments soon. ❤😊

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

May 30, 2024 at 6:53 PM

Ah! even though I really like Yoon-ah and Hong-hak is just like any other annoying little brother ever 🤷‍♀️ these two will need to do a lot of growing up including learning how to effectively communicate and not ghost your one-night stand. *sigh*

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Bunny Sonaki

May 31, 2024 at 2:44 AM

How to effectively communicate should be a mandatory subject for South Koreans.

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amruta1009

June 16, 2024 at 12:55 AM

Now now it's just a drama I bet SK people in general are like any other group of people and probably have the same complaints of their dramas.

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Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]

May 31, 2024 at 6:40 AM

The Seongsan Village date was genuinely the cutest thing ever! I also love that they've fallen on top of each other at least 4 times by now XD

I think it would be too obvious for French GF to be the culprit of the fake products controversy? Right?

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

May 31, 2024 at 7:07 AM

Considering we're only 6 episodes in should we expect them to fall on top of each other another 6-8 times!? 😂

I think Joon Ho is being manipulated somehow by his mysterious sponsor. He maybe / could be behind the theft of artifacts but this fake product controversy ... I've got no suspects till now.

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3 tabong

May 30, 2024 at 11:44 PM

There's no way Yoon Ah grew up in Seongsan.
Having a one night stand and then ghosting the guy is the most 21th century thing I've seen in kdramaland. She's more chill than most female leads in kdramas that have nothing to do with Joseon-era-values. LOL
I really like her storyline with the friend.

And I loved the scene of both siblings being fools in love writting letter to their crushes. They're cute.

Also, did Yoon Bok miss the filial piety class? There's no way "you're mom is ill" wouldn't make a guy like him run to the hospital right away.
I'm not judging him, btw. I just find it interesting.
I guess that shows how much he was hurt.

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

May 31, 2024 at 3:52 AM

I'm liking both Yoon-ah and Yi-bok. Strong, powerful women. I have a sneaking suspicion the Camille owner will end up opening the doors to Seongsan. 😊

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tabong

May 31, 2024 at 10:10 AM

I don't like Yi Bok. I wouldn't want a sister like that.
Yoon Ah is adorbs tho.

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

May 31, 2024 at 10:30 AM

I do think the mother and daughter would have had a strong reason (blackmail by Harabeoji!?) to leave Seongsan.

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

May 31, 2024 at 10:31 AM

I do agree from what we have seem if her till now, apart from her cool cop avatar can hardly be said to be endearing.

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

May 31, 2024 at 10:32 AM

* seen of her

tabong

May 31, 2024 at 11:35 AM

Yep.
Coming back with no apologies or explanations wasn't nice. Invading his personal space either.

vienibenmio

May 31, 2024 at 6:04 AM

Grandpa (that's Grandpa, right? I'm having a hard time keeping track of the characters) also got to go to Paris and enjoy modern life there. I really don't understand the rules of their cult.

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tabong

May 31, 2024 at 10:17 AM

You're right.
Maybe they have a "wtv happens out of Seongsan, stays out of Seongsan" rule? 😆

Or their true feelings (feelings of wanting to live like a modern person) show up everytime they set a foot out of the village. 🤔

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Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]

May 31, 2024 at 6:34 AM

Yoon-ah was a badass bodyguard/warrior well before she became a club rat and started having one-night stands. How do they reconcile that with Joseon values? or maybe she's really pragmatic.

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tabong

May 31, 2024 at 10:21 AM

She has incredible adaptability skills, for sure. 😂

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4 vienibenmio

May 31, 2024 at 6:03 AM

It's not the Titanic music! It's the opening of the OST track "I Hope" (sorry, I feel defensive because I love the song and have been listening to it nonstop for over a week now).

I dunno, I love the romance and even the secondary couple are cute, but I hate the weird Joseon cult. I feel like the drama picks and chooses. We already talked about the ML knowing about webcomics but not knowing what a microwave is, but also the 2FL having a one night stand and not at all having the reaction I'd expect from someone raised in an old time-y cult. I also hate when a drama drags out the misunderstanding of "female lead sees male lead with sibling/cousin/etc and assumes she's his girlfriend." This isn't as bad as a Taiwanese drama I love though where the misunderstanding lasts for MULTIPLE episodes. But Hong-do had so little to do in ep 5 that I felt bad for her.

Also, I still need to watch ep 6. We are Lady Parts season 2 just came out and that's taken priority, lol.

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Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]

May 31, 2024 at 8:52 AM

I've also been listening to that song nonstop, it's so good. but to be fair, it does sound a lot like the Titanic theme. Esp since they always play the opening snippet in the drama, not the full thing.

look, it was really funny to see how wild Hong-do's imaginations were about the noona and Yoon-bok. but it just made me uncomfortable to see those scenarios play out with someone *I* know to be his sibling XD

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tabong

May 31, 2024 at 10:26 AM

We Are Lady Parts season 2 came out????? I've been waiting forever, but I never saw any promo of season 2 (I never see promos of anything so maybe I'm the problem). I thought it wasn't happening. T.T

OMO, thanks for this piece of info. XOXO

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vienibenmio

May 31, 2024 at 10:34 AM

No problem! Yes, it was announced pretty recently and I also was shocked. I had sort of assumed it would never happen

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5 bong-soo

May 31, 2024 at 8:25 AM

Thanks @starrygazer for continuing the recaps for us faithful DTLM few.
First, Shameless Sis arrives and tells Yoon-bok, hi, I am staying with you. Yoon-bok should have pulled out his trusty cellphone and dialed 112 (SK’s 911) and had her butt tossed out of his apartment.
Her con job continues: I don’t have a place to live, I don’t have a job blah, blah, blah. All lies. She’s a cop for crying out loud, oh and to her cop boss: “don’t tell Young Master about me. Meanwhile Hong-do falls hook, line and sinker for SS’s baloney. SS’s next move is to con Joon-ho, “oh, do you maybe have a part-time job available at your nice restaurant.” (Joon-ho you should have followed your initial instinct here.)
Second, the amount of alcohol consumed in these episodes was incredible.
Eps. 5:
1: SS is purchasing 7 tall cans of beer at the convenience store when Hong-do bumps into her and they proceed to go out of the store, knock back a couple and become buddies.
2. Yoon-ah and Hong-hak shared 11 bottles of soju at the pojangmacha to the extent that both passed out.
Eps 6. Hong-do and Hong-hak shared 12 tall cans of beer during the letter writing episode.
Third, Seongsan Village. I personally don’t think it is cult or anything other than something historically unique to SK. As far as I can tell no one is holding a gun to the head of these villagers. Folks appear to be able to come and go as they please. Lol and personally speaking if I was a villager I would have also voted no on allowing the fashion show.

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Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]

May 31, 2024 at 8:50 AM

I think Restaurant Boy still has feelings for Toxic Noona :/ that's why he didn't follow his initial instincts. if that were me, i would have nothing to do with a family that hurt me so much. I do NOT want to see a romance develop between them.

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6 amruta1009

June 16, 2024 at 1:04 AM

I wonder if people are getting ahead of themselves and judging the sister too harshly though I understand some criticisms i need more info for the rest. I want to know exactly what happened. Ofc expecting her brother to be like okay welcome without clearing the air is not it.

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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸

June 16, 2024 at 2:32 AM

I just find it strange that she didn't contact him when she became a cop and would (hopefully) have been in a position to counter the Harabeoji's blackmailing tactics. Also why not even try to tell him the truth when she came to stay and attempt a rapprochement with their mother.

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7 Martine

July 7, 2024 at 8:57 PM

Just a detail but I like how the modern clothing the ML echoes the Joseon era ones. The pants are very loose. The colours understated and the cut is conservative. But still remain stylish

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Dare to Love Me