Fateful Encounter in 'Annoying Love': Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon's Complicated Romance

Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon experience a fateful encounter in 'Annoying Love'. During the MBN 'No Next Life' production presentation on the 10th, Kim Hee-sun humorously mentioned the competing tvN drama 'Annoying Love', questioning the relatability of the romance between the two leads. 'Annoying Love' features a romance between Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon, who have an 18-year age difference in real life.

In the episode aired on the 17th, Lee Jung-jae's character, Im Hyun-jun, takes a step closer to Lim Ji-yeon's character, Wi Jung-shin, by offering a heartfelt apology. However, Wi Jung-shin's emotional barriers keep their relationship stagnant. The episode ends with a suspenseful scene where the two meet at a second-hand transaction site without recognizing each other, heightening curiosity about their relationship's future.

Episode 5 of 'Annoying Love' achieved a 4.8% average viewership in the metropolitan area, peaking at 5.5%, and a 4.6% average nationwide, maintaining its top spot in its time slot across cable and general programming channels (according to Nielsen Korea's paid platform data). The series started strong with a 5.5% rating for its premiere on the 3rd but has since settled in the 4% range.

In this episode, Im Hyun-jun is angered by the news of Kwon Se-na (Oh Yeon-seo) joining 'Good Detective Kang Pil-gu Season 5'. Despite questioning how they could act together given their past, Kwon Se-na remains unfazed. As a global star, removing her from the project proves difficult. Ultimately, Im Hyun-jun agrees to appear in Season 5, marking it as his last, while distancing himself from Park Byung-gi (Jeon Sung-woo) and Kwon Se-na.

Wi Jung-shin reunites with Ban Soo-jung (Park Hae-rin), the whistleblower of a corruption case, who is now more fearful than before. Wi Jung-shin calmly urges Ban Soo-jung to reveal everything she knows to resolve the case. The shocking truth emerges: Chairman Lee Dae-ho (Kim Jae-chul) of Eunseong Group is having an affair with Kwon Se-na and was present at the scene of the corruption. Wi Jung-shin is further shocked to learn that Lee Jae-hyung (Kim Ji-hoon) is Lee Dae-ho's brother.

Despite the chaos caused by Kwon Se-na's actions, Im Hyun-jun eagerly awaits the day he can apologize to Wi Jung-shin. On the day of a dinner meeting with Sports Eunseong, he rushes to the restaurant where Wi Jung-shin is waiting after completing a commercial shoot with intense focus. The two awkwardly exchange greetings and move to the Han River. Wi Jung-shin senses a hint of melancholy in Im Hyun-jun's expression as he shares the news of 'Good Detective Kang Pil-gu Season 5' and Kwon Se-na's involvement.

Concerned about Im Hyun-jun's injured foot, Wi Jung-shin inquires about its condition, which lifts Im Hyun-jun's spirits as he finally delivers his long-awaited apology. However, Wi Jung-shin declines, stating, "Accepting an apology is up to the receiver." The distance between them quickly returns to its original state. Wi Hong-shin (Jin Ho-eun) laments Wi Jung-shin's emotional barriers, fearing they might lead to false hopes.

At the episode's end, a fateful coincidence occurs for Im Hyun-jun and Wi Jung-shin. Im Hyun-jun, substituting for Im Sun-woo (Kim Hyun-jin), encounters Wi Jung-shin as a buyer at a second-hand transaction site, but they fail to recognize each other due to their concealed faces. Wi Jung-shin's confession of her unconditional admiration for Im Hyun-jun adds intrigue to the tangled fate of these two adversaries.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr