On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…
Ten spontaneous moments
Nine times he teased her (shucks! I’ve to limit myself to nine!)
Eight fashionista bags to drool over
Seven former male costars
Six references to YEH’s real life
Five words to text (“Merry Christmas, I love you”)
Four gifs of WH (and four of YJ, too)
Three parents-in-law
Two texting couple
And a fluttering love story.

I know that the critics complained about how boring this plot was.

I like how the usual tropes in a romcom (i.e., going on their first date or watching a scary movie) become magical moments because of YooJung’s spontaneity and Yoon EunHye’s acting. I especially like watching these moments when the actor’s personality shone through her character. For instance, YooJung took time to personalize each gift, like the get-well-soon care package for WooHyun’s mother or the painting for WooHyun’s office that she inscribed with a poem, because this kind of thoughtfulness is something YEH would do in real life.

I also like that her silly but affectionate gestures made her partner feel cherished. As his mother pointed out early in the kdrama, WooHyun distrusted love because of HER multiple failed marriages. But with YooJung’s constant attention, he learned to look forward to the “spark” a satisfying romantic life brings to him. In turn, he too indulged her with spontaneous moments like the proposal surprise.

But most of all, I like seeing her spontaneous moments because it showed a girl who was confident to take a lead in the romance department. She didn’t wait for WooHyun to deepen their relationship. She took the initiative, too. Besides WooHyun wouldn’t be attracted to a woman with his mother’s helpless personality. He would be thrilled to have an equal partner in life.

The ten spontaneous moments, in random order.

1. The ring

Giving him her mother’s ring. As WooHyun said, “I don’t even think I’ve seen this kind of event played out right before bed in dramas or movies. And (done) by a woman, at that.” She replied, “Yeah, you let the woman do it.”

Snickers.

They both admired the ring.

2. Her proposals

When you think about this, she proposed twice to him. The first time was when she asked him to date her for three months to save her from her ex. And the second time was when she asked him to marry her.

YJ: There are a lot of things that wouldn’t have happened if I had been a normal person right?
WH: We can’t know that.
YJ: It feels like everything is my fault because so many things keep happening. I keep thinking that. (her guilt showing up again.)
WH: Why should you think that?
YJ: WooHyun, are we really each other’s destined person? We are right?
WH: You don’t think so? When we’re together, my heart races so much. Is there a more certain sign that that?

YJ: (smiles shyly) Then, WooHyun, should we stop dating and get married instead?

WH: What?

Then, in her flashback in Episode 15:

YJ: Did you have any thoughts on what kind of woman you wanted to marry?
WH: Well, I didn’t really have any desire to get married.
YJ: And now?
WH: We just promised to (get married) a minute ago.

lol.

YJ: As for me, someone I can converse easily with. Someone who is fun to travel with. Someone I can be happy with. I wanted to marry that kind of man.
WH: How about a man who volunteers and does welfare work?
YJ: Well…a man who wagers his life on something so meaningful? A man with convictions. That’s good, of course.

I like how she rephrased that. She didn’t make the issue about money (i.e., a man who volunteers and does welfare work = less income, less fame) but about passion and conviction. She’s proud of him.

WH: We had misunderstandings and some other reasons. So I thought I’d accept the chairman’s offer. I’m considering it right now.
YJ: For me, no matter what choice you make, no matter what decision you make, it doesn’t matter to me. Because I’m on your side. Don’t worry about me, and choose what you want to choose.
WH: (reaching for her hand) Thank you.

lol. I like how she placed her hand on top of his and caressed it.

3. When she invited herself to eat his food

He asked her indignantly, “What are you doing right now?!”
But she responded to his question literally, “It’s strange, but the morning after drinking and the morning after getting dumped by a boyfriend, I’m always starving. Today, it’s both so I’m twice as hungry.”

lol. I think she understood that he was expressing annoyance with her shamelessness at eating without invitation but she ignored him and explained her actions instead.

4. When she invited herself to his home

Didn’t I tell you how adorable she looked her when she rushed to get something from the back of the van, and she came back with her sleepover rolling bag?

Some people would think it presumptuous of her to invite herself, but she reminded me of an excited puppy fetching her ball to play with her WooHyun.

5. Skinship

I think she always initiated the skinship and I liked it that it took the pressure of WooHyun whom we ALL figured out was a newbie at dating.

Here, she was smiling at the way he HELD FINGERS with her and she used the opportunity of a passerby to link arms with him.

6. Provoking his jealousy

I know it’s petty to play this game in real life but he could be so taciturn, I’d like to shake him up if I were her.

read here: Fluttering Alert: On Being Petty Cute

7. Saying sorry to him with the sagwa box.

I’m sure this made him look at her different. Read about it here: Her “sagwa” box

8. Searching for him at his Stephyung’s house

Only a confident girl would confront him AFTER he’d avoided her.

Look at those eyes! Only YEH could project beseeching eyes WITHOUT making my inner bitch want to strangle her for looking pathetic.

I’m glad she punched him.

lol. But I’m happy she wasn’t drunk this time.

9. Appearing like a diva to confirm that she’s actually THE girlfriend

He looked smug.

He needed this “validation” of sorts. After being the “secret” love child, he needed somebody who was unafraid to disclose to the whole world that she chose HIM. She understood him so well.

10. (I’m not mentioning the Truth or Consequence Game again) Doing

I finally understood why he was so flustered that she did his laundry that he made her go home.

It wasn’t because she touched his CLEAN underwear but because she touched his DIRTY underwear.

SHE must have loaded his dirty clothes herself because he clearly wasn’t expecting his laundry done at that time.

lol. So yes, sometimes her spontaneity can be embarrassing, too.

No wonder she was wriggling her fingers like this early in the scene.

So there you go my top 10. If you want to add anything else, go ahead.

Two more days to go!