I’ll write more in-depth about this episode perhaps later this week. But for now, I want to leave this out here so readers of this blog don’t miss a few important points. Especially in the emotional ending of this episode, I don’t want you to dismiss it as nothing but makjang.

No, it isn’t.

Remember this screenwriter’s other work, “Crash Landing on You” when the female lead Seri gave the hero three options, and he didn’t know the right answer? Seri said he could:

A. pretend that their kiss didn’t happen and behave like they used to;
B. act as if the kiss didn’t happen and never talk about it; or
C. avoid making a big deal out of the kiss and treat it like something trivial.

Hyun Bin’s character, Capt Ri, was stumped by the answer…as you all were.

I then had to explain the curious workings of the female psyche from the screenwriter’s perspective. It was a trick question, I said here. The correct reply was “none of the above.” Seri wanted him to commit himself, that is, to take responsibility for the kiss, affirm his feelings for her, and begin their dating relationship.

Now, the screenwriter is repeating the female’s perspective here.

HW: Hong HaeIn!!!
HI: (looking around her) What was that? Am I hearing things now?

His appearance utterly floored her. It was a good thing she was already sitting on the steps.

HW: Didn’t I tell you to wear comfortable shoes? You really don’t listen.

He proceeded to exchange her heels for sneakers. Everybody and her mother know that this scene alludes to the moment when Prince Charming finds Cinderella by putting on her glass slipper which she lost on the staircase. This is role swap.

HI: How did you know I was here?
HW: Your phone was off. They said you left the hospital after being rejected. But Secretary Na said you didn’t catch a flight back. So I thought long and hard. And this place came to mind. You enjoyed our honeymoon here. You liked the name.
HI: (standing up) I never said that. I said it was a lie. “A place of no worries or tears.” They’re just lying to lure tourists.
HW: (standing up, too) You’re the one who lied.
HI: What did I do?
HW: Don’t you remember? What did you say to me when you proposed?

Let me stop here and clarify this. Yes, HyunWoo is correct: SHE PROPOSED to him. But if we’re going to be brutally candid here, what REALLY transpired was SHE REJECTED his rejection of her. 🤪

By her own admission, he ran away when he discovered her identity. He resigned from the company and GHOSTED her. He went back to the peach farm. So she went to his farm and ORDERED him to go out. When she got out of her chopper, she shouted at him, “Are you going to leave me standing there?”

Let’s not overlook the nuance there. Her proposal = her rejection of his rejection of her.

It was her determination, her force of will, and her daring move that won him over. She took charge of the situation and reversed his decision (or instinct??) to flee from her.

Keeping this in mind, how do you think she’ll react when she finds out now that he’s planning to divorce her all along? Major 💔. Do you see why I said in my “First Impressions” that he’s due for a lengthy groveling?

😈 Ooooohhh. This is going to be delicious, @agdr03! Just like you live for endings with weddings and babies, I love a good grovel with lots of remorse, self-flagellation, and acts of contrition.

HW: (continuing) You promised not to make me cry. You told me to trust you. But guess what? I cried a lot during our marriage. I cried while driving, washing my face, and at the car wash. I liked sleeping separately since I could cry myself to sleep.
HI: Back then, I just said whatever so I could marry you.
HW: And now, we’re married.
HI: (not looking at him)
HW: So I should be by your side at times like this.
HI: (tearing up) Did I ever tell you not to? I wanted you to be by my side. I didn’t want to be alone. Ever.
HW: (tearing up too) I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.

Back in Episode 1, she urgently wanted him to accompany her to her doctor’s appointment, but he refused. When she pointed out that she hadn’t even told him where they were going, he coldly said, “It doesn’t matter. I refuse to go anywhere with you.”

Strike one!

Ony later did he learn that she wanted him with her for emotional support. Because he snubbed her, she ended up hearing the shocking news of terminal disease on her own.

Now again, he let her go off to Germany on her own to find a cure for her illness. He assumed that she didn’t need him by her side.

Strike two!

🤦🏼‍♀️The problem with Hyunwoo is that he was waiting to receive an engraved invitation to join her on this do-or-die medical trip. Duh. He should have just followed after her as soon as her aunt told him that she left on her own.

He didn’t understand that if HaeIn HAD TO ask him for his attention, his companionship, and/or his presence by her side, then it told her one of four things:

A. He showed no initiative to go after her.
B. He wasn’t attuned to her needs.
C. He didn’t love her anymore.

Or D. All of the above.

Lol. Do you see now how this scenario echoes Seri’s three options to Capt Ri in “Crash Landing on You”? This screenwriter likes a hero who understands the woman’s unspoken emotional needs and takes responsibility for the relationship. She doesn’t like wishy-washy and clueless men.

HyunWoo averted a marital crisis by showing up at Sanssouci with the pair of shoes. His actions proved to HaeIn that he was committed to her and their marriage.

HaeIn wiped her tears. He looked down to see her holding a hand out to him.

To me, this seemingly small gesture is important. This wasn’t merely a role reversal, but it showed that she was again leading him. Just like in the helicopter scene, the proposal/rejection scene, the tree kiss scene, and the queen-size bed scene, it was HaeIn who made the first move to reach out for him.

Sigh. This. Will. Have. To. Change. At some point soon, HyunWoo must switch places with her and make the first move to hold her.

HI: Let’s go home. I thought I’d find it here. A miraculous way to live. Or a place of no sadness. (shaking her head slightly) But there was none. All I wanted was to go home with you.

HyunWoo broke up in tears and they embraced. I don’t know who pulled whom first.

She wiped his tears (yes, a gender role swap), and they kissed.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Gotta go.