If Ep 5 was about Taemoo’s change of heart after discovering Hari’s lie, and Ep 6 was about his attempts to change Hari’s heart to see him as a boyfriend, instead of a terrifying boss, then I think Ep 7 tackles what it means to be a boyfriend. Despite the inherent frivolity of this kdrama, there’s a natural and logical flow in the plot that pleases me.

So, what does it mean to be a boyfriend?

We all laughed at the Taemoo’s parody of a boyfriend.

Gifs from deokmis’ tumblr

source: deokmis’ tumblr

Heyyyyy. He ain’t an archaeopteryx anymore! Boooooo. Archaeopteryx is sad. 

But let’s not allow Taemoo’s role-playing to distract us from his actual role-modeling. His actions throughout the episode show a better picture of how he perceives a great boyfriend.

1. A boyfriend protects his girl from the mean girls.

The episode begins with Taemoo worrying that something bad might have happened to Hari after he dumped her at the side of the road. He learns that she’s at a hotel and when he rushes there, he sees that Hari’s real danger comes, not from would-be mugger or assailant, but from her so-called girl friends.

He sizes up her friends and knows that they’re trying to catch her lying about a boyfriend. He decides to step in. He calls her “Chagiya” which we, as kdrama veterans, know means babe, darling, sweetheart.

Taemoo: Chagiya!
Hari: (speechless)
Taemoo: Did you wait long? (resting a hand on her cheek)
Minwoo’s GF: Hari. Who’s this?
Hari: Oh…
Taemoo: Nice to meet you. I’m Hari’s boyfriend. Kang Taemoo.

Minwoo’s GF addresses Hari to invite them have dinner together. But Taemoo answers for Hari.

Taemoo: Shall we? (then looking at Hari) Chagidu, you’re fine with that?

He calls her darling again.

It’s noteworthy that Taemoo thinks it’s okay for a boyfriend to call his girl by an affectionate name in front of her girl friends, but he addresses Hari formally (e.g., Shin Hari-ssi) in the presence of Minwoo, and when they’re talking seriously with each other.

Hari’s facial expression expresses bewilderment. She’s nonverbally asking him, “What are you doing?”

So he winks at her. He’s reassuring her not to worry because he’s got a plan. Her wink-back, on the other hand, is 100% confused.

She doesn’t get why he’s winking at her conspiratorially.

Hari insists that she can handle the situation on her own. She doesn’t want Taemoo making the lie bigger. But then, they overhear Hari’s friends’ catty remarks about her.

“My God. Hari really has a boyfriend!”
“It seems suspicious, so I thought it was a lie.”

Mind you, the lie was started by YoungSeo AGAIN. What’s wrong with this BFF?!

“Anyway, the guy is so good-looking. He looks like a model.”
“He’s decked out in designer clothes. He’s amazing.”
“Hey, you don’t think Hari is the one who buys him all those expensive clothes. Right?”

In other words, Taemoo is a gigolo and Hari can only get companionship if she buys it.

“Please. Do you think Hari has the money for that?”

Taemoo looks smug when the girls were complimenting his appearance. But he turns fierce when the girls began dissing Hari.

Taemoo: Do you think you telling them the truth is the best option here? Just accept my help and keep your pride, at least. Let’s see. If we want to take your friends’ ego down a notch, what should my concept be?

That’s when he came up with the ridiculous caricature of a boyfriend.

Ironically, he doesn’t realize that the concept he’s mocking is actually only the EXTREME version of his ordinary behavior towards Hari.

For example, he doesn’t think a boyfriend should:

a. flaunt his wealth

He told the burger man that he didn’t want to tell Hari about the food truck. “It would be tasteless if I bragged about it.”

But what does he do the following morning?

Taemoo: Somebody will be up there soon. Open the door for them.
Hari: Who’s coming up?

He sends people from the dress shop to attend to Hari.

Later, he calls for his grandfather’s yacht.

He’s definitely flaunting his wealth. 🙂

b. act clingy

He doesn’t think he should display clinginess in public. He wouldn’t pick up her phone call right away and he would pretend to be busy signing memo before attending to her.

But he is definitely clingy…in the literal sense.

He clings to her

Clings again.

Like cling-wrap.

When you think about this, clinginess and jealousy stem from the same feeling of insecurity. He’s behaving like this because he’s insecure about Hari’s feelings for him.

c. be loyal like a dog

This scene sound comical because of his exaggeration.

But didn’t he get rid of the pervert because of Hari? Yeonseo figured it out.

Yeonseo: I knew it! You remember that bastard who took secret videos of us? I heard President Kang helped all of his past victims file lawsuits against him. I thought it was weird, but he only did it because he was into you!

See that?

Taemoo lacks self-awareness. He thinks he’s only acting out a “concept” when he pretends to be an over-the-top boyfriend in front of the Hari’s girl friends. He doesn’t realize though that he naturally does all these things for Hari on a daily basis.

2. A boyfriend isn’t too proud to admit that he made a mistake, to apologize and to makes amends.  

Hari: What are you doing? Why are you pretending to be my boyfriend?
Taemoo: Shouldn’t you thank me first? I just saved you from your friends finding out about your lie?

Note here: Taemoo is particular about the way they begin their conversation. Remember when she had to return his call when she was in the baechu field? She asked him, “What’s this about?” And he told her, “Would it kill you to exchange pleasantries first? ‘How have you been?’ ‘How’s your eye doing?’ And so on.” He’s doing it here again.

Hari: Shouldn’t you apologize first? You left me on some road in the rain because of some meeting.

She’s got a point there.

Taemoo: (pausing) I’m sorry. That’s why I came here after canceling my meeting.

I’m glad that he apologizes right away. He doesn’t bring up his trauma.

That was his beef with Hari when he discovered her deception. He became more furious when Hari seemed unapologetic about her deception.

The following day, he apologizes again.

Without any prompting from Hari, he apologizes for not paying attention to her condition.

Taemoo: I was too jealous of Chef Lee to realize you were feeling sick. I’m an idiot. So stop apologizing to me. I’m the one who should be apologizing.

I think this is the first time he’s berated himself and called himself an idiot.

As apologies go, he’s learned to say sorry, and admit that he’s wrong. He’s making progress. Next time, he’ll learn to ask for forgiveness, too.

3. A boyfriend makes a plan with the girl in mind. He’s not self-seeking. 

Since Minwoo and Hari’s girl friends pressured Taemoo to stay another day in Sokcho, Taemoo decides to spend the time fulfilling another one of Hari’s wish. He borrows his grandfather’s yacht to search for dolphins.

Unfortunately, dolphins can’t be located during the trip.

Taemoo: It looks like it’ll be hard to see any dolphins today. I know it’s your wish to see a dolphin. What a shame!
Hari: How did you know that?
Taemoo: You told me before. Don’t you remember?
Hari: (whispering) I did?

Comments:

a. Taemoo not only wants to spend time with her, but he thinks of activities that they will both enjoy doing together. That’s why the food truck was a success. He isn’t like SungHoon who brings Yeonsoo on a mountain hike in order to alter her inert state.

Tsk tsk tsk.

b. Taemoo wants to keep secret that he’s been stalking Hari’s social media, but almost gives himself away.

He owes Minwoo’s GF a favor for saving him. She points out to Hari that everybody knows about Hari’s love for dolphins since it’s on her social media. It would’ve been weird if her boyfriend didn’t know about it.

4. The boyfriend always has his girl’s back. 

Then the conversation switches to how they began dating. Hari can’t think up of lie so Taemoo steps in once more.

Taemoo: I followed her around because I fell for her at first sight.
Hari: (thinking) Love at first sight? You probably thought I was crazy.
Taemoo: I’ve never met anyone as crazy as Hari. It was refreshing. Every time we met, she would do something weird and say the craziest things.

It’s sweet how they both agree that Hari was crazy on their first meeting, but Taemoo is quicker to spin the truth into something romantic.

He chuckles as he remembers their first date, and he turns to ask Hari about it. I like this interlude because it shows their bonding. Despite the shortness of their relationship, they’ve bonded over shared memories.

Taemoo: Remember what you said?

Flashback to when she brazenly told him that she’s never two-timed anyone before, although she’d seen three or four guys at the same time.

lol. Did she forget about Samantha and Rachel? I thought that was more memorable.

Taemoo: Later, I found out that she was only trying to push me away because she realized I was interested in her.
Friend: (asking Hari) No way. What didn’t you like about him?

Hari again can’t think of an answer so Taemoo covers for her.

Taemoo: When we met for the second time, I proposed to her. But she turned it down immediately. So I had no choice but to go on blind dates with other women. But the more I did that, the more I thought of her. So I asked her to see me again.

Hari: (thinking) What the heck? How is he so good at making lies sound like the truth?

She’s impressed with his lies. It isn’t register with her that Taemoo is speaking the truth.

That’s exactly what happened to them.

His first impression of her was that she was a crazy woman because she was intentionally acting like a crazy woman to turn him off. Later, he found out about her sham. She had no choice but to deceive him because he was interested in hiring her as his fiancé, but she couldn’t reveal that she was already working for him.

It’s also true that on their second meeting, he proposed to her. She turned him down so he was forced to go on blind dates. Those boring dates made him realize that Hari was the one he chose to be with.

Taemoo didn’t say anything untrue. What he did, however, is omit the part about the blind date and her deception.  Minwoo and the girls aren’t privy to such personal and private matter.

Hari: So stop asking me to get married to you so early in our relationship.
Taemoo: (putting an arm around her) Okay. She hasn’t dated many guys yet she’s so good at playing hard to get. She always keeps me on my toes.

That’s how a good boyfriend pulls through for his girl. Taemoo doesn’t avoid the thorny subject but he’s able to recast it in a positive way. He no longer keeps a grudge from their first encounter.

5. A boyfriend appreciates the true value of his girl.

Minwoo and Taemoo have an encounter away from Hari. Minwoo thanks Taemoo but Taemoo gives credit where credit’s due: Hari.

Minwoo: I’m getting contacted a lot lately. Thanks to the recent collaboration.
Taemoo: The marketing team was confident that you would have the best reception. I guess my Hari really does have a good eye.

I think Taemoo said “‘uri Hari-ssiga” here or “our Ms Hari.” Uri” (우리) literally means “our” in Korean. However, Taemoo says it in such a way that he leaves no room for misunderstanding that he’s in a relationship with Hari. Despite Hari’s connection to them both, he’s claiming Hari as his alone.

Of course, Minwoo bristles at Taemoo’s words.

MW: President Kang.
Taemoo: Yes?
MW: May I ask you something?
Taemoo: Go ahead.
MW: Why did it have to be Hari, of all people?
Taemoo: Of all people? What’s that supposed to mean?

Taemoo zeros in on the undercurrent of disdain in Minwoo’s choice of words.

MW: I won’t beat around the bush. To put it bluntly, you can date any woman you want, right? But you’re seeing Hari who’s not only from a normal family but also your employee. I just don’t understand it.

To be fair, Minwoo has a point here. Taemoo is a chaebol. And it’s a “truth universally acknowledged” a chaebol marries a chaebol. Moreover, workplace romances, especially between a boss and a subordinate potentially exposes the subordinate to unfair pressure and demands.

As Hari’s long-time friend, Minwoo assumes that he has the right to questions Taemoo’s intentions toward Hari.

Taemoo doesn’t respond to Minwoo. Instead, he attacks Minwoo’s bias.

Taemoo: So you’re saying “Ms. Shin isn’t good enough to be dating someone like me.” Is that what you mean?
MW: I’m just worried about Hari.
Taemoo: I guess you only date people who are on your “level”? (stepping closer) In my eyes, Shin Hari-sshi is someone with endless charm. So don’t you dare judge my girlfriend ever again. Is that clear?

To be fair again, Taemoo hasn’t responded to Minwoo’s arguments. Instead, he’s attacking Minwoo’s character, and this is ad hominem. Minwoo is not the one dating Hari.

However, as far as Taemoo’s concerned, Minwoo’s questions are impertinent and irrelevant. He didn’t think Minwoo had the right to question his intentions, given the fact that Minwoo treated Hari himself.

He’s well-aware that Minwoo disregarded Hari’s feelings for the past seven years. He finds it unforgivable that Minwoo had hurt Hari because he considered Hari to be inferior to him.

Taemoo is a chaebol, but he’s no snob like Minwoo.

Gifs from deokmis’ tumblr

source: deokmis’ tumblr

6. A boyfriend cancels his meeting for his girl.

He was lying here.

But he isn’t lying when he says he must go back to Seoul for a meeting.

He cancels it because Minwoo wants Hari to stay behind.

MW: Hari, you should stay. There’s no need for you to leave too. Isn’t that right?
Taemoo: That’s right. Then I’ll adjust my schedule to fit Hari’s. (addressing Hari) Chagi, Do you want to stay here for one more day?
Hari: Huh? Ah.

There’s no question that he’s needed at the office on a Sunday. He receives a phone call on the way to the hospital with Hari.

Taemoo: Hang in there. We’ll be at the hospital in ten minutes.
Hari: It’s okay. I don’t need to go to the hospital.
Taemoo: Just listen to me!

His tone is angry because he IS angry. However, he isn’t really angry with Hari, but with himself for missing the symptoms of Hari’s illness. He’s beating himself up over it.

Then, his phone rang.

Taemoo: I’m busy right now. Let’s talk later. (hanging up)
Hari: You must be busy. Let’s go straight to Seoul.
Taemoo: (just looks at her, and doesn’t say a word)

Later, a Mr. Mattis calls him up.

Hari: We’re here? You should have woken me up.
Taemoo: I couldn’t since you were sleeping so soundly. Are you feeling better now?
Hari: Yes. Since I got treated and got some sleep, I feel a lot better now.
Taemoo: (answering call) Hi, Mr. Mattis. I’m actually in the middle of something right now. I’ll call you right back.

Then, he ignores another phone call to follow Hari and confess to her.

Taemoo is certainly a busy man, but on that day, work isn’t his priority. Hari is. He reorders his priority so Hari is on top.

This whole day is eerily foreshadowed in Ep 3 during Hari’s meeting with Taemoo’s grandfather. That time she made up a crazy story that she broke up with Taemoo because he was a workaholic.

According to her, she changed her mind and agreed to date him again after he canceled an important meeting and ran over to see her. She embellished the story by telling Grandpa that “it was raining that day and yet he still came.”

Her fantasy becomes real after all.

7. A boyfriend has to be considerate and patient. 

Despite patience because the hardest virtue for Taemoo to learn, he gives her time to make up her mind.

Hari: I’m sorry. It’s all because of me.
Taemoo: Why do you keep apologizing?
Hari: Well, that’s… you wasted your time just to act like my boyfriend, and you had to go through all the trouble today with the boat and everything.
Taemoo: Don’t be sorry. I did it all because I wanted to.

They look at each other.

Hari: What?

He stares at her and then his phone rings again. Hari decides to get out the car to go home.

Hari: I should get going now. Get home safely.

As she slams the door, Taemoo thinks for a moment. I think he’s deciding whether he should seize the moment to confess his feelings for her or not. Then, he gets out and calls out her name.

Taemoo: Shin Hari-ssi. (walking up to her) Do you really not know?

Taemoo: Why I spent the entire weekend pretending to be your boyfriend when I hate wasting my time more than anything? Why I went through your social media to find out the things you like, and why I put off my meetings for you? Do you really not know?
Hari: What?

I like how he repeats, “Do you really not knowing?” And she just answered, “네” or “ne.” At least, it was translated as “What?” and not, “Pardon me? What did you say?”

Taemoo: I have feelings for you. I know it must feel sudden. It’s the same for me, too. I was too jealous of Chef Lee to realize you were feeling sick. I’m an idiot. So stop apologizing to me. I’m the one who should be apologizing.

Gifs from deokmis’ tumblr
source: deokmis’ tumblr

This whole thing reminds me of Mr. Darcy’s “ardent” confession.”

I dunno about these men. But if you ask my opinion, in any love confession, a “What?” is tantamount to a “no.”

Hari: I should get going.
Taemoo: I know that you must be flustered because my confession is out of the blue. I won’t rush you, so take your time to think things over and let me know.

lol. Seriously, I think this is his only option. Unless he wants to be outright rejected, he has to wait.

Afterwards, he wonders whether he made the right decision to give her time. He thinks he shouldn’t have told her to take her time. He should’ve given her a deadline instead.

But then, he can imagine how surprised she must have been so it’s just right to give her time out of consideration. He doesn’t know long it usually takes to come to a decision. All he knows is he shouldn’t call her first because he’d give her time.

He resigns himself to wait for her to make up her mind. He’ll endure it.

To me, his current attitude indicates that he’s come a long way since Episode 3. Back then, he told her that there were some things that got results with a short amount of time, and other things where one risked the losses, and stayed in it for the long run. It was difficult to decide how good or bad something was just by how long it took.

Although I found his business metaphor to be reasonable, Hari laughed at him because even then, he viewed emotional entanglements dispassionately like a a business venture. To him, they were simply risks, losses and gains.

Now, however, he’s learned that all those business ideals have gone out of the window. They don’t apply to his feelings for Hari. When he’s willing to risk rejection over and over again for a small to nil chance of acceptance, then he no longer sees his relationship with Hari as a business proposal but a romantic one. It’s a new enterprise for him, and the rewards, like the surprise kiss at the end, are far more rewarding.