People won’t even take the time to read your comment because it doesn’t get to the point immediately like the story. Everyone’s attention span is ruined and when they get a high quality story like this with a melancholic slow burn they want it to wrap up quickly. But when it wraps up quickly they’ll complain that they have nothing to read now. I am glad to see a comment like this that appreciates the story because the aggression from readers is ridiculous. Since when do we read these manhwas like they’re fast fashion? Does nobody take their time to appreciate the art anymore? It’s ridiculous.
agreed. think lotsa people went into the story excited for either shitcheol's punishment/comeuppance/regrets/etc or haesoo+taeha. I dunno if they even realise they're pushing haesoo to the side of the narrative n placing taeha/pukecheol at the center even though this story has always been about haesoo. even her love w taeha is secondary bc this has always been haesoo's coming of age.
here's an explanation from someone w an academic and professional background in literature. if it feels like the story is moving slowly, that's bc it is but it isn't stuck, it is still. I understand it can be frustrating or boring to be still but stillness is the point and demand of melancholy: the central theme of tears on a withered flower (clear indicator hello one of the most melancholic (albeit basic) titles of ever). the narrative focus of melancholy is introspection and self-reflection which require characters to sit w their thoughts, emotions, and history. that's why we get an entire chapter of feelings and monologues. the characters use them to pull the story along slowly as their emotional states evolve as opposed to action-driven stories where progress is quicker due to the plot pushing characters into conflict and resolution. in a melancholic work, the conflict is largely internal so the resolution is found not fought. okay I'm done w the 101 so I just wanna say I appreciate melancholy. it's something I tend to look for in stories (films n tv too not just lit), as an introvert who requires extended periods of alone time w my inner world in order to process the world and interact w it. and for anyone who often wonders what you'd find if you could just unscrew the top of another person's head to see inside their mind, I think (hope) you can enjoy such stories as much as I do.