Lee Jung-jae Exits App with Memories of Lim Ji-yeon in 'Annoying Love'

Lee Jung-jae has exited an app filled with memories of Lim Ji-yeon.

In the 10th episode of tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama 'Annoying Love' (directed by Kim Ga-ram, written by Jung Yeorang, produced by Studio Dragon, Studio&New, Artist Company), aired on the 2nd, Im Hyun-joon (played by Lee Jung-jae) deleted his 'Melo Master' account, ending his secret friendship with 'Soulful'. As he began to focus more on the real-life Wi Jung-shin (played by Lim Ji-yeon), Im Hyun-joon teamed up with Yoon Hwa-young (played by Seo Ji-hye) to win her heart but made little progress. Meanwhile, a potential change between Lee Jae-hyung (played by Kim Ji-hoon) and Yoon Hwa-young was hinted at, and the episode ended with a preview of a four-way confrontation, leaving viewers curious about the tangled relationships.

The 10th episode of 'Annoying Love' recorded a viewership rating of 4.8% on average in the metropolitan area, peaking at 5.8%, and 4.7% nationwide, also peaking at 5.8%. The drama started with a 5.5% rating on its premiere on the 3rd of last month but has not rebounded after dropping to the 4% range from the second episode. (Based on Nielsen Korea's paid platform) Previously, at the production presentation of TV Chosun's 'No Next Life', Kim Hee-sun mentioned the competing drama 'Annoying Love', jokingly questioning, "Can you relate to their romance?" 'Annoying Love' depicts the romance between Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon, who have an 18-year age difference in real life.

Fortunately, the three-way confrontation between Im Hyun-joon, Wi Jung-shin, and Lee Jae-hyung did not occur. Im Hyun-joon's emotions became more complicated as he looked back at past chats with 'Soulful' after seeing Wi Jung-shin with Lee Jae-hyung. Wi Jung-shin was anxious about the unresponsive 'Melo Master'. Her message, stepping back and telling him to contact her when he felt lighter, left Im Hyun-joon more troubled. Deciding he couldn't continue the relationship, Im Hyun-joon ultimately deleted the account filled with memories of 'Soulful'.

At the filming site of 'Good Detective Kang Pil-gu Season 5', a report by Sports Eunsung's entertainment department was scheduled. Yoon Hwa-young unexpectedly appeared in front of Im Hyun-joon, who was eagerly waiting for Wi Jung-shin. Wi Jung-shin had requested to avoid the coverage, saying she couldn't report with personal feelings as a fan of Kang Pil-gu. Yoon Hwa-young, noticing Im Hyun-joon's disappointment, asked if he liked Wi Jung-shin. Im Hyun-joon denied it, but he couldn't escape Yoon Hwa-young's intuition. Yoon Hwa-young, confessing her feelings for Lee Jae-hyung, extended her hand to Im Hyun-joon, forming an alliance.

The day Wi Jung-shin was supposed to visit the filming site arrived. Amidst a mishap where Park Byung-ki (played by Jeon Sung-woo) disguised himself as an old man to avoid being caught as the fake 'Melo Master', Wi Jung-shin's coverage began. At the filming site, Wi Jung-shin remembered 'Melo Master', who claimed to be a fan of Im Hyun-joon. She accessed the second-hand trading app, only to find a message that the member had withdrawn. Shocked, she briefly watched the filming of 'Good Detective Kang Pil-gu'.

Wi Jung-shin couldn't take her eyes off the dazzling and intense action of Kang Pil-gu unfolding before her. During a high-difficulty action scene, Im Hyun-joon injured his ankle. Even as they headed to the hospital, Wi Jung-shin found Im Hyun-joon's behavior of ensuring her exclusive article strange and incomprehensible. Returning home, she cried and drank, staring at the chat room where 'Melo Master' had vanished without a trace.

Feeling frustrated with the lack of progress in her alliance with Im Hyun-joon, Yoon Hwa-young took direct action. She arranged for Wi Jung-shin to attend a premiere where Im Hyun-joon would be, giving them time alone. However, neither Im Hyun-joon nor Yoon Hwa-young anticipated Lee Jae-hyung and Oh Mi-ran (played by Jeon Soo-kyung) entering the same theater, thwarting their movie date. Moreover, Wi Jung-shin left due to an urgent call, leaving Im Hyun-joon to wait for another opportunity.

Wi Jung-shin went to meet Kwon Se-na (played by Oh Yeon-seo). Even after joining the entertainment department, Wi Jung-shin continued investigating corruption cases, suspecting a dark connection between Chairman Lee Dae-ho (played by Kim Jae-chul) and Congressman Ha Ki-wan (played by Jo Deok-hyun). Kwon Se-na admitted to an inappropriate financial relationship between the two and hinted at ulterior motives behind the merger of Im Hyun-joon's and her agency.

Yoon Hwa-young tried to divert Lee Jae-hyung's attention, which was focused on Wi Jung-shin. Sitting across from Lee Jae-hyung, using Wi Jung-shin as an excuse, Yoon Hwa-young pointedly asked, "Haven't you been pretending to be dragged along until now?" Lee Jae-hyung, smirking at Yoon Hwa-young's bolder attitude compared to when they were dating, pondered her words. As a change in the dynamic between Lee Jae-hyung and Yoon Hwa-young was sensed, the episode ended with an unexpected four-way confrontation, heightening curiosity. The tension between Im Hyun-joon and Lee Jae-hyung over Wi Jung-shin, and Yoon Hwa-young's relentless pursuit of Lee Jae-hyung, draws attention to the dynamically intertwined relationships.

Lee Dae-ho, hiding his hostility towards Im Hyun-joon, gradually approached him. Pretending to leak information through Kwon Se-na, he drew Wi Jung-shin into dangerous truths. Knowing Lee Dae-ho's cruel and dark side, Kwon Se-na feared his growing closeness to Im Hyun-joon. Her trembling question, "Will you kill again?" hinted at the impending crisis Lee Dae-ho would bring, raising tension.

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