Omg preach!! I wanted to write something similar but you worded it way better. The ML was never an ass to her and was considerate. You can't blame him for not liking her before, she wasn't a good person (also the political issues don't help)... and anyone would be curious with a change in personality from someone very weak and dumb, to someone very strong and smart.
Exactly! Her change was so huge he had to wonder if she was just pretending to be dumb and weak before. I don't understand why he's getting so much hate?? Lol all he did was reject her. He didn't curse her nor have her executed like many other MLs do in other manhwas and ppl still love them and root for their endgame.
So i see some folk not like him cause they think he's the "as-soon-as-you-lost-interest-in-me-I gained-interest-in-you" type but to me it's like ...
"You're finally giving me space to breathe and not setting all the alarms off in my head and making me uncomfortable and respecting my space bc I have a trauma and I thank you for being considerate" which makes sense to me why he would be more interested.
He never denied that he didn't find her attractive or was rude to her (she mentions many times he's way too kind for his own good) so it's more like she's giving him the chance (unintentionally) to actually approach her and talk to her rather than her swarming him and not giving him a chance to be curious about her. Also her personality is more calm and less obnoxious which is probably more his type anyway so all of that together gives her less reproach.
I'm not a novel reader but this is my first impression of the situation. Even the FL is like yeah yikes i kinda sucked sorry i was so embarrassing. But what are your opinions so far?
Also YES I LUV HER BROTHER. He's got the backstory of a ML haha and he really just needs some love and warmth :'(((