Insecurities are poison for relationships — even fake ones. Our archaeopteryx does his best to prove his feelings are genuine, but our leading lady is faced with a lot of opposition, and she struggles to find the confidence she needs to date him for real.
EPISODES 7-8
Even though Yoo-ra and her Gossip Gals didn't get a whole lot of screen time last week, they left enough of an impression that we know they aren't good people. With friends like them, who needs enemies, right? So when Tae-mu strutted across the hotel lobby and smiled oh-so-perfectly at Yoo-rah and her sidekicks, I was ready for him to show up and show out. And boy, he does.
Over dinner, Tae-mu is cheesier than mozzarella sticks, and the Gossip Gals, who are clearly not lactose intolerant, eat up every line. When Tae-mu professes that his love for Hari is as limitless as his credit card, their approval meters start glowing pink, and the more Tae-mu lays on the charm, the more the ladies want to live vicariously through Hari's fairytale relationship.
Tae-mu books a suite for the night in order to maintain the ruse, but after a brief fight over who gets to sleep on the couch, Hari worries about the long-term effects of their lie. After all, Tae-mu will have to encounter Min-woo regularly, due to his involvement with their newest product line. Won't that be awkward for Tae-mu?
But Tae-mu wonders if she's more concerned with how their fake relationship will be perceived by Min-woo. Surprised that he figured it out, Hari sheepishly admits that she's over her one-sided crush, and Tae-mu "jokes" that he's glad his (fake) girlfriend doesn't want to date someone else.
After a mostly sleepless night, Tae-mu and Hari greet her friends wearing matching outfits. Initially, their plan for the day was to drive back to Seoul, but Tae-mu cancels his meetings when Min-woo has the audacity to suggest that he leave Hari behind to enjoy more time with her friends. Pfft, as if Tae-mu would give Min-woo the opportunity to have one-on-one time with Hari.
Next we see them, they are all marveling as Grandpa's yacht pulls up to the dock — Take that, Min-woo! — and once they're onboard, Hari's friends are eager to hear how the couple met and fell in love. Tae-mu draws upon his real feelings and experiences with Hari to answer all their questions, and while Hari secretly marvels over his acting abilities, Yoo-ra and Min-woo stew in their jealousy.
Min-woo eventually corners Tae-mu for a private confrontation, acting like Hari's protective big brother whose job it is to scare away the evil rich man toying with her heart. But Tae-mu quickly puts Min-woo in his place. Why can't Tae-mu's feelings for Hari be genuine? Does Min-woo think so little of Hari — his friend — that he believes the only reason a wealthy and handsome man would want to date her is because of some elaborate joke?
Unfortunately, the boys are too busy with their pissing — I mean, fishing — contest to notice that Hari is growing increasingly miserable. Her legs buckle from her sea sickness, and Tae-mu, feeling guilty for his obliviousness, insists on driving Hari back home.
It's very apparent — to us, at least — that Tae-mu's primary love languages are quality time and acts of service. The crazy workaholic repeatedly rearranged his schedule in order to spend time with her and help her save face around her friends. So when Hari continues to apologize for taking up his time and causing him to miss work, Tae-mu has to spell it out for her: he canceled his meetings because he likes her. He understands that his feelings probably come as a surprise, so he tells her he will give her time to think and respond to his confession.
But instead of winning Hari over with his Boyfriend Bluff, Hari grows more and more doubtful of their compatibility. As fun as it was — from an outsider's perspective — to watch Tae-mu flaunt his wealth, his actions only reinforced her fear that he was too good for her, and that they live in separate worlds. It was very telling that the moments she seemed the most relaxed and attracted to him (e.g. when he suggested they wear matching outfits and when he revealed he knew her love of dolphins) were moments when he was being just a man, not a flaunting his chaebol CEO status for her friends.
