Jolieb

Honestly, when I first watched, I also wondered why their intimacy scene seemed like it was leading to a kiss, but they never actually kissed. Later, when I found out that Aimi was around 17 when they filmed it and Hou Minghao was around 28, I was actually glad they didn’t.

That being said, their chemistry was INSANE. 😭 You can recognize their chemistry without thinking they needed physical intimacy or a kiss. For me, not having that scene was actually the right decision given her age at the time.
So I really don’t understand the “they have no chemistry” argument. You can dislike the pairing or the drama, of course, but chemistry is subjective, and personally, I definitely saw it. What matters more is respecting the actors and keeping appropriate boundaries. ❤️

For me, if I judge them as real people, I think Luke would be the one to end the relationship, and that would actually feel more realistic. Luke has clear flaws, especially his communication, but we also see him recognizing them, apologizing, and trying to improve. Flora has improved in communication too, but her deeper issues—her insecurity, avoidance, emotional distance, and lack of investment—remain largely unresolved.

That’s why I think a breakup could actually be good for Flora too. She needs time to build herself first, become more aware of her own flaws, and understand why she keeps protecting herself and repeating the same patterns. Otherwise, even if she gets back together with Luke, she risks bringing the same behaviors into the relationship again.

So if Luke eventually ends it, I wouldn’t see it as him not loving her. I’d see it as both of them needing to grow separately. Luke needs to continue working on his communication, while Flora needs to work on herself and understand her own patterns. Only then could they realistically build a healthier relationship.

Yes. I just want ask you a question
Who the one must end this relationship? Luka' or Flora ? And why?

Btw, about your point, there’s one more thing I’d add: what I actually disliked about the script is that we’re shown the roots of Luka’s issues quite clearly. He grows up with family problems, and then he’s betrayed by a friend at his first job, which reinforces his difficulty trusting people. So we understand why he becomes someone who mainly relies on the people closest to him.

With Flora, we see that she’s insecure, but we don’t really know where that insecurity comes from. We see how it affects her behavior, but the script doesn’t give us the same emotional background to understand why she developed these patterns. And I think that’s one reason her character feels less fleshed out to me.

And honestly, sometimes while watching her, I was like: “Girl, what the hell? Why do you act like that? Why don’t you trust yourself? Why do you need so much validation? Why can’t you just be confident in yourself? Where does all this insecurity even come from?” 😭

Because from what we’re shown, she already has a good family, a good friend, and people who care about her. So I kept wondering where this deep insecurity actually came from. It made me frustrated with her sometimes—not because I blame her for everything, but because the script doesn’t really give us enough context to understand her the way it does with Luka. And honestly… she stressed me out. 😂

Yes, I actually think Luka is more fleshed out than Flora, and that’s one of the reasons I interpret their behavior differently.
I think one of Luka’s biggest problems is that he doesn’t know how to express his true feelings through words. He can communicate very well professionally, but emotionally, he struggles to be direct and often expresses himself through actions or, unfortunately, through very hurtful words.
And I don’t think that comes only from his family issues. His personality and professional background also play a role. As a Creative Director and a very experienced industry professional, he is used to being confident, decisive, demanding, strategic, independent, authoritative, direct and solution-oriented. He is used to analyzing situations, taking control and solving problems. So when it comes to Flora, he often approaches things with that same mindset instead of communicating emotionally.
Flora is much less developed in this aspect for me. We understand that she is young, inexperienced and insecure, but I don’t feel the drama has explored the roots of her insecurities or her emotional patterns to the same depth. We see the effects—her mixed signals, withdrawal, jumping to conclusions, hiding things and avoiding confrontation—but we don’t get the same level of understanding of why she developed these patterns.
And that’s actually why I’m trying to analyze them equally. Luka’s flaws have explanations, but that doesn’t excuse them. The same applies to Flora. Understanding why someone behaves a certain way is not the same as saying their behavior is okay.

I wanna just to clarify, I’m really not trying to blame Flora or excuse Luka. I’ve tried to be critical of both of them throughout my analysis, especially when it comes to their communication and the way they handle conflict. I’m not taking sides; I’m just looking at their actions and how they affect the relationship.
The only point I still see differently is Flora’s level of investment. Some of her choices : keeping things to herself, handling problems alone, and pulling back when things get difficult, make me feel that she’s always protecting herself against the possibility that the relationship might not last.
So it’s not about expecting her to love the way Luka does. We simply interpret the same behaviors differently, and honestly, that’s what makes the discussion interesting. 😊

I understand what you mean, but this is actually where I disagree. I do see that Flora has feelings for Luka, and I believe she wants him in her life, but I don’t personally see the same level of investment in the relationship itself.
For me, investment isn’t simply staying, forgiving, or having feelings. It’s also being willing to communicate, confront problems, take emotional risks, make space for the other person, and actively work on the relationship. And throughout these 20 episodes, I see Luka doing much more of that.
Flora often protects herself first: she withdraws, hides things, gives mixed signals, jumps to conclusions, and avoids difficult conversations. I can understand where those behaviors come from, but understanding them doesn’t make me see them as investment.
That’s also why I keep saying having feelings and building a relationship are two different things. Flora clearly has feelings for him, but personally, I haven’t seen enough from her that makes me feel she is truly investing in the relationship.

I agree that both deserve the same level of nuance. I’m not trying to excuse Luka or blame Flora. I’m looking at what each of them does, why they behave that way, and how their choices affect the relationship.
My point is more about the difference between "having feelings and actually building a relationship".
Flora clearly loves him and wants a future with him, but for a long time, she keeps one foot outside the relationship emotionally. Luka, meanwhile, is much more actively involved and invested, but his way of expressing that investment comes with its own problems, especially his terrible communication and hurtful words.

Yes, I think you understood what I’m trying to show. 😅 I’m not saying everything is Flora’s fault, and I definitely don’t want to erase Luka’s mistakes. His words can be extremely hurtful, and sometimes he leaves wounds that don’t disappear just because his actions are good.

I understand your point, and I actually agree that many of Luka’s efforts are clearer to the audience than to Flora. His communication is one of his biggest weaknesses. He has a really nasty way of speaking, and for a long time he rarely expressed his feelings directly. So I completely understand why Flora would struggle to know whether she could truly trust him emotionally.

But when I talk about Luka’s investment, I’m not only talking about what he does for Flora personally. I’m also looking at the way he approaches his work and responsibilities. He works extremely hard, takes responsibility, handles pressure, solves problems, protects his team, supports the people around him and keeps pushing forward even when he’s struggling emotionally. That’s part of who he is: he tends to show care and commitment through actions rather than words.

And I agree that Flora does make efforts too. I’m not trying to erase them. But I think there’s a difference between loving someone and actively investing in building a relationship. Flora clearly loves Luka, but when things become difficult, her instinct is often to avoid, hide things, withdraw or protect herself rather than communicate and work through the problem with him.
So for me, Luka’s problem isn’t a lack of investment. It’s that he often doesn’t know how to make that investment emotionally accessible to Flora. He can do ten things for her and then say one hurtful sentence that completely cancels them out from her perspective. 😅
And Flora’s problem is almost the opposite: she needs emotional reassurance, but often doesn’t communicate what she needs or give Luka the opportunity to provide it.
That’s why my episode-by-episode analysis isn’t about deciding who is the red flag. I’m looking at what each of them actually brings to the relationship, how they communicate it, what they fail to give, and whether their efforts are truly reciprocated.

Exactly! The communication between them was a real disaster 😂 And I’d add investment to the list too. You can’t build a healthy relationship when one person is fully investing in it while the other keeps one foot outside the relationship.

This is my review of Luka and Flora in each episode. This isn’t about deciding who is the “red flag” or who is right or wrong. A real relationship has to be built by both sides, with communication, effort, trust, and emotional investment from both people.
So I want to look at what Flora does, what Luka does, and how much each of them actually invests in their relationship throughout the episodes :
EP 1 — First Impressions
Flora: Avoids confrontation and keeps things to herself.
Luka: Harsh, judgmental and uses sarcasm instead of communicating properly.
Investment: Luka starts paying attention to her and gradually takes an interest in her, while Flora is mostly focused on herself and her career.

EP 2 — Misunderstandings
Flora: Tries to handle things alone instead of asking for help.
Luka: Gives advice in a condescending way and doesn’t explain his intentions.
Investment: Luka actively helps and guides her at work. Flora accepts his help but rarely makes the same effort emotionally.

EP 3 — Hidden Feelings
Flora: Hides her feelings and overthinks his behavior.
Luka: Cares but refuses to communicate his feelings directly.
Investment: Luka starts showing genuine concern for her, while Flora mainly observes his actions without openly reciprocating.

EP 4 — Jealousy
Flora: Interprets situations instead of asking Luka directly.
Luka: Jealous and possessive, but doesn’t communicate his jealousy properly.
Investment: Luka becomes increasingly emotionally involved, while Flora still keeps an emotional distance.

EP 5 — Mixed Signals
Flora: Doubts his intentions instead of asking him directly.
Luka: Teases her and communicates indirectly.
Investment: Luka continues making efforts to get closer to her; Flora remains hesitant and guarded.

EP 6 — Crossing Boundaries
Flora: Gets emotionally involved while still denying what she wants.
Luka: Pushes intimacy instead of having an honest conversation.
Investment: Luka becomes more personally involved and starts making space for her in his private life. Flora accepts the intimacy but still avoids defining the relationship.

EP 7 — Push & Pull
Flora: Wants boundaries but continues sending mixed signals.
Luka: Reacts to rejection with jealousy and emotional retaliation.
Investment: Luka keeps pursuing her despite her hesitation. Flora doesn't make the same level of effort to build something stable.

EP 8 — Trust
Flora: Finally communicates more openly and supports Luka.
Luka: Still struggles to express himself but starts recognizing her value.
Investment: Flora does make an important effort here by standing by him. Luka also invests by recognizing her abilities and supporting her professionally.

EP 9 — The Secret Relationship
Flora: Agrees to a secret relationship while having doubts about it.
Luka: Proposes a secret relationship and establishes clear rules.
Investment: Luka is the one actively trying to turn their attraction into an actual relationship. Flora agrees, but keeps emotional and social distance.

EP 10 — Contradictions
Flora: Says she doesn’t want a relationship but accepts intimacy and exclusivity.
Luka: Assumes physical intimacy will solve their emotional uncertainty.
Investment: Luka invests emotionally and physically in making the relationship work. Flora participates in the relationship but still avoids fully committing to it.

EP 11 — Insecurity
Flora: Becomes insecure and assumes the worst instead of asking.
Luka: Gets defensive and angry instead of reassuring her.
Investment: Luka tries to reassure her through his actions, while Flora's insecurity makes her pull away instead of communicating.

EP 12 — Avoiding the Real Problem
Flora: Talks about ending things when overwhelmed instead of addressing the problem directly.
Luka: Uses affection and emotion to avoid actually discussing the breakup.
Investment: Luka clearly doesn't want to lose the relationship and actively tries to keep them together. Flora is already considering walking away instead of working through the issue.

EP 13 — The Breaking Point
Flora: Hides an important career opportunity because she fears Luka’s reaction.
Luka: Attacks her self-worth and says something extremely hurtful instead of discussing the issue.
Investment: Luka's reaction is wrong, but it comes after being deeply emotionally invested in their relationship. Flora makes an important decision without involving him.

EP 14 — Trust Issues
Flora: Doesn’t tell Luka that she was attacked and keeps serious problems to herself.
Luka: Gets angry and blames her for not telling him, although he ultimately handles the situation properly.
Investment: Luka immediately gets involved, protects her and takes action when she is in trouble. Flora had already chosen to deal with it alone.

EP 15 — Going Public
Flora: Still struggles to openly express what she needs emotionally.
Luka: Starts becoming more supportive and acknowledges her publicly.
Investment: Luka begins making the relationship more visible and treats Flora as an important part of his life. Flora is still hesitant about fully integrating him into hers.

EP 16 — Independence
Flora: Prioritizes her independence but doesn’t always communicate her decisions clearly.
Luka: Still controlling at times, but increasingly learns to support rather than dictate.
Investment: Luka actively supports Flora's career and future instead of asking her to sacrifice it for him. Flora focuses strongly on her own path.

EP 17 — Keeping Secrets
Flora: Hides what happened to her and lies because she thinks she is protecting Luka.
Luka: His anger is understandable, but he expresses his hurt through anger and reproach.
Investment: Luka is deeply concerned about her safety and wants to be the person she relies on. Flora's instinct is still to protect herself and handle serious situations alone.

EP 18 — Jealousy Games
Flora: Avoids difficult conversations and gives mixed signals about their future.
Luka: Assumes the worst, becomes jealous and deliberately tries to make her jealous.
Investment: Luka is still emotionally invested enough to react strongly to the possibility of losing her. Flora finally talks about marriage and children, but much of the relationship still depends on Luka pushing for emotional clarity.

EP 19 — Emotional Distance
Flora: Struggles to communicate what she really wants and continues avoiding direct confrontation.
Luka: Becomes emotionally distant and has difficulty expressing what he is actually feeling.
Investment: Luka has repeatedly tried to maintain the relationship despite their problems. Flora still struggles to actively work on the relationship rather than withdrawing when things become difficult.

EP 20 — The Breaking Point
Flora: Still avoids confronting the deeper problems in their relationship and struggles to make a clear emotional decision.
Luka: Becomes increasingly aware that love alone cannot fix their communication problems, but still struggles to express himself without withdrawing or becoming defensive.
Investment: Luka has consistently pursued, supported, protected and tried to maintain this relationship. Flora has feelings for him, but she has invested much less in actually building and maintaining the relationship.

Overall:
Flora has feelings for Luka, but having feelings isn't the same as investing in a relationship.

Luka's biggest problem is how he communicates: anger, jealousy, sarcasm and defensiveness.
Flora's biggest problem is whether she communicates at all: avoidance, hiding things, mixed signals and withdrawing.

And when it comes to effort and investment, I personally see Luka putting much more active effort into maintaining the relationship, while Flora often reacts to the relationship rather than actively building it.

This is my review of Luka and Flora in each episode. This isn’t about deciding who is the “red flag” or who is right or wrong. A real relationship has to be built by both sides, with communication, effort, trust, and emotional investment from both people.

So I want to look at what Flora does, what Luka does, and how much each of them actually invests in their relationship throughout the episodes.

EP 1 — First Impressions
Flora: Avoids confrontation and keeps things to herself.
Luka: Harsh, judgmental and uses sarcasm instead of communicating properly.
Investment: Luka starts paying attention to her and gradually takes an interest in her, while Flora is mostly focused on herself and her career.

EP 2 — Misunderstandings
Flora: Tries to handle things alone instead of asking for help.
Luka: Gives advice in a condescending way and doesn’t explain his intentions.
Investment: Luka actively helps and guides her at work. Flora accepts his help but rarely makes the same effort emotionally.

EP 3 — Hidden Feelings
Flora: Hides her feelings and overthinks his behavior.
Luka: Cares but refuses to communicate his feelings directly.
Investment: Luka starts showing genuine concern for her, while Flora mainly observes his actions without openly reciprocating.

EP 4 — Jealousy
Flora: Interprets situations instead of asking Luka directly.
Luka: Jealous and possessive, but doesn’t communicate his jealousy properly.
Investment: Luka becomes increasingly emotionally involved, while Flora still keeps an emotional distance.

EP 5 — Mixed Signals
Flora: Doubts his intentions instead of asking him directly.
Luka: Teases her and communicates indirectly.
Investment: Luka continues making efforts to get closer to her; Flora remains hesitant and guarded.

EP 6 — Crossing Boundaries
Flora: Gets emotionally involved while still denying what she wants.
Luka: Pushes intimacy instead of having an honest conversation.
Investment: Luka becomes more personally involved and starts making space for her in his private life. Flora accepts the intimacy but still avoids defining the relationship.

EP 7 — Push & Pull
Flora: Wants boundaries but continues sending mixed signals.
Luka: Reacts to rejection with jealousy and emotional retaliation.
Investment: Luka keeps pursuing her despite her hesitation. Flora doesn't make the same level of effort to build something stable.

EP 8 — Trust
Flora: Finally communicates more openly and supports Luka.
Luka: Still struggles to express himself but starts recognizing her value.
Investment: Flora does make an important effort here by standing by him. Luka also invests by recognizing her abilities and supporting her professionally.

EP 9 — The Secret Relationship
Flora: Agrees to a secret relationship while having doubts about it.
Luka: Proposes a secret relationship and establishes clear rules.
Investment: Luka is the one actively trying to turn their attraction into an actual relationship. Flora agrees, but keeps emotional and social distance.

EP 10 — Contradictions
Flora: Says she doesn’t want a relationship but accepts intimacy and exclusivity.
Luka: Assumes physical intimacy will solve their emotional uncertainty.
Investment: Luka invests emotionally and physically in making the relationship work. Flora participates in the relationship but still avoids fully committing to it.

EP 11 — Insecurity
Flora: Becomes insecure and assumes the worst instead of asking.
Luka: Gets defensive and angry instead of reassuring her.
Investment: Luka tries to reassure her through his actions, while Flora's insecurity makes her pull away instead of communicating.

EP 12 — Avoiding the Real Problem
Flora: Talks about ending things when overwhelmed instead of addressing the problem directly.
Luka: Uses affection and emotion to avoid actually discussing the breakup.
Investment: Luka clearly doesn't want to lose the relationship and actively tries to keep them together. Flora is already considering walking away instead of working through the issue.

EP 13 — The Breaking Point
Flora: Hides an important career opportunity because she fears Luka’s reaction.
Luka: Attacks her self-worth and says something extremely hurtful instead of discussing the issue.
Investment: Luka's reaction is wrong, but it comes after being deeply emotionally invested in their relationship. Flora makes an important decision without involving him.

EP 14 — Trust Issues
Flora: Doesn’t tell Luka that she was attacked and keeps serious problems to herself.
Luka: Gets angry and blames her for not telling him, although he ultimately handles the situation properly.
Investment: Luka immediately gets involved, protects her and takes action when she is in trouble. Flora had already chosen to deal with it alone.

EP 15 — Going Public
Flora: Still struggles to openly express what she needs emotionally.
Luka: Starts becoming more supportive and acknowledges her publicly.
Investment: Luka begins making the relationship more visible and treats Flora as an important part of his life. Flora is still hesitant about fully integrating him into hers.

EP 16 — Independence
Flora: Prioritizes her independence but doesn’t always communicate her decisions clearly.
Luka: Still controlling at times, but increasingly learns to support rather than dictate.
Investment: Luka actively supports Flora's career and future instead of asking her to sacrifice it for him. Flora focuses strongly on her own path.

EP 17 — Keeping Secrets
Flora: Hides what happened to her and lies because she thinks she is protecting Luka.
Luka: His anger is understandable, but he expresses his hurt through anger and reproach.
Investment: Luka is deeply concerned about her safety and wants to be the person she relies on. Flora's instinct is still to protect herself and handle serious situations alone.

EP 18 — Jealousy Games
Flora: Avoids difficult conversations and gives mixed signals about their future.
Luka: Assumes the worst, becomes jealous and deliberately tries to make her jealous.
Investment: Luka is still emotionally invested enough to react strongly to the possibility of losing her. Flora finally talks about marriage and children, but much of the relationship still depends on Luka pushing for emotional clarity.

EP 19 — Emotional Distance
Flora: Struggles to communicate what she really wants and continues avoiding direct confrontation.
Luka: Becomes emotionally distant and has difficulty expressing what he is actually feeling.
Investment: Luka has repeatedly tried to maintain the relationship despite their problems. Flora still struggles to actively work on the relationship rather than withdrawing when things become difficult.

EP 20 — The Breaking Point
Flora: Still avoids confronting the deeper problems in their relationship and struggles to make a clear emotional decision.
Luka: Becomes increasingly aware that love alone cannot fix their communication problems, but still struggles to express himself without withdrawing or becoming defensive.
Investment: Luka has consistently pursued, supported, protected and tried to maintain this relationship. Flora has feelings for him, but she has invested much less in actually building and maintaining the relationship.

Overall:
Flora has feelings for Luka, but having feelings isn't the same as investing in a relationship.

Luka's biggest problem is how he communicates: anger, jealousy, sarcasm and defensiveness.

Flora's biggest problem is whether she communicates at all: avoidance, hiding things, mixed signals and withdrawing.

And when it comes to effort and investment, I personally see Luka putting much more active effort into maintaining the relationship, while Flora often reacts to the relationship rather than actively building it.

One thing I really disagree with is the way people compare Luke’s communication with Flora’s behavior and then use that to label him a red flag.
Yes, Luke has a communication problem. He can be harsh, impatient, and say hurtful things when he is angry. I’m not denying that. But having poor communication doesn’t automatically make someone a red flag, and it definitely doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve to be a priority in his partner’s life.
And we have to judge the drama we are actually watching, not Luke from the novel. The novel and the drama portray him differently, so comparing the drama Luke to the novel version doesn’t make sense.
If we’re talking about communication, then compare communication with communication. And honestly, Flora’s communication has improved, but so has Luke’s. His development in communication is actually one of the clearest parts of his character arc. But communication is something you develop together. Luke can work on how he expresses himself, but Flora also has to tell him what hurts her, what makes her uncomfortable, and what she needs from him. He can’t improve around problems she never communicates.
The same applies to behavior. If Luke is investing in the relationship, making an effort, trying to include Flora in his life, wanting her to rely on him and treating her as his partner, then it’s completely normal for him to expect some investment and effort from her too.
You can’t spend six years keeping emotional distance, refusing to fully acknowledge the relationship, handling everything alone, constantly preparing yourself for the possibility that it will end, and then suddenly ask for marriage and expect him to immediately say yes.
Wanting marriage is one thing. Showing that you are ready to build a marriage with that person is another.
And this is why I understand Luke’s reaction. It’s not about him deciding that Flora isn’t worthy of being his priority. It’s about him realizing that, for years, he hasn’t felt like a priority in her life either.
If we expect Luke to work on his flaws, Flora should be held to the same standard. Communication needs effort from both sides. A relationship needs investment from both sides. And character development needs to happen on both sides too.
That’s the part I think people miss: Luke’s flaws are visible because they come out in his words. Flora’s flaws are quieter because they come out in her distance, avoidance, assumptions, and lack of emotional investment. But quieter doesn’t mean less important.

I agree with you. I think this is exactly what I’ve been trying to say. Flora’s fears and insecurities explain a lot of her behavior, but they don’t erase the fact that Luke is clearly more committed and more willing to show it. He has his communication problems and can say hurtful things, but I don’t understand why those flaws are the only things people focus on while his growth and commitment are overlooked. For me, both characters should be judged by the same standards.

Exactly

I understand your point, and I agree that the relationship isn’t healthy or sustainable as it is. But I still see some things differently. Flora’s fear that the relationship will end is a big part of the problem, but I don’t think everything she does can be explained by Luke’s behavior. She also keeps him at a distance and rarely lets him be a real partner in her life. Did you notice that in all those 6 years, she never even offered him a simple gift? Even after 6 years, she doesn’t seem to fully invest in the relationship. For me, the bag is just another small example of that. I’m not saying she doesn’t love him, but she seems to love him while always keeping one foot outside the relationship.

her biggest problem is that she always thinks their relationship will end someday, so she keeps herself at a distance. Even the fact that she didn’t use the bag he bought her shows that she doesn’t really let herself get attached. But honestly, what kind of relationship is this? How can you stay with someone for six years and always think that one day it will end?

I agree with some of what you said, but I see the room situation differently. He didn’t ask her to move in because he already knew she would probably refuse. He knows that money is one of her biggest insecurities and that she already feels like she’s bothering him or owing him something. Asking her to simply move into his place could make her feel even more inferior or uncomfortable.
And that’s exactly the problem between them: he doesn’t always communicate clearly, but she also makes assumptions instead of asking him what he actually means.

no the same drama but different point of vue