Some good mysteries keep us in the dark too (Swallow You Whole) and can be very interesting, if done well. The problem with this one is that the intrigue behind the fragmented clues isn't as compelling as the resolution of the relationship tension between Dohu and Juheon.
Especially given that the two somewhat reunited, those plot points don't hold the same "power"(?) anymore. Previously, for example, the threat of knowing Dohu's suffering or true mom would create some major shift in the relationship {mending it). But now that they're together, it just becomes something extra the other needs to know before the story ends. The reveal is just not as interesting or anticipated anymore.
This story honestly had me best when they haven't gotten back together yet. It was like "oo is he gonna find out? dang can't wait for him to realise and run back to him!". If author had sequenced the events well, I think it would have been much better.
I personally don't mind being in the dark about some aspect of the story like the full extent of Juheon's backstory. However, there is absolutely no need to make some things into a mystery, like in the latest chapter, half of the chapter is spent with the characters talking in a roundabout way about something, seemingly building into a reveal, only for the chapter to end, yeah, you have to wait next week to know. I bet you whatever revealed isn't going to be mindshattering to the point we have to wait another week. This wrecked the pacing of the story, and is the culprit of why every chapter feels so slow and short. Why can't the author just make the character say it at the end to get us anticipate the next chapter? Instead, we are left in this weird limbo of, so what should I even anticipate now?
Honestly, the story is fine. I still look forward to see the eventual full reconcilation of Dohu and Juheon, but the execution has been a bunch of invisible carrots on the stick. It's hard to be excited because I don't even know there is a carrot on the stick since the author refused to show us that there is more to look forward to.
A lot of people seemed to be frustrated by the progress of the story, but I feel many mistakenly attributed it to the time skip. I personally enjoyed the time skip because it expanded their relationship and characterization. I don't mind the angst either as long as it's well written.
That said, I do have a problem with the story. I didn't really notice it early on in season 3, but the latest chapter showcased it. I'm not a fan of this vague storytelling that the author has been employing in season 3. Basically, the characters are withholding so much information from the readers, so we ended up with a bunch of conversation that lacked context, making it very hard to follow.
I don't understand why the author chose to write like this. I still enjoyed the characters and the story, but this shouldn't be a mystery story. The author decided to write it like it was one. It's ironic whenever I heard people saying they hated misunderstanding trope, but usually in most stories, misunderstanding trope requires us the reader to be in the know. With this series, we were given only fragmented flashbacks, cryptic conversations, and vague monologues. I often finished the reading the chapter thinking, what are they talking about again?
Like this latest chapter, the author should have just revealed what the characters are talking about, instead of making it a mystery to be revealed in the next chapter. It would probably work better as a cliffhanger as opposed to leaving the readers utterly confused.