To those who are confused about the end/think the ending was too rushed:
I just read the author's note on the original Chinese version, and it's only the end of season 1. The author confirmed that there will be a season 2 comeback, but there is not specified date. So for those who are emotionally invested into this story, it's not over!
Here's the link where I found the author's note (Scroll to the bottom to see the author's note in simplified Chinese):
https://www.tohomh123.com/zhenshangjiaoqijiaoyihunyaobiedangzhen/79.html
Aaahh you keep my hopes up! I was afraid it was really the end because the story is really endearing and touching (and these bad girls damn), so thank you for telling us!
Summary of this rant: honesty and communication is the key to a stablr relationship. Moving on is healthy. Don't disrespect the author.
I have mixed feelings about this one. For me, I could feel the pain from both sides. Yoo Il finally realized that this relationship is toxic, that Se Woong was being controlling of him. The last chapter, I interpreted as Yoo Il in his new relationship, now facing the same thing as Se Woong did in their relationship, and understands why Se Woong did all those stalkerish actions. You can see Yoo Il being curious about his new boyfriend's phone, but he chose a different path, to not be insecure, not repeat Se Woong's mistakes, and not be hung up on the past. And that I think is extremely realistic and healthy for Yoo Il, I'm glad that even though he can't forget, he moved on from that scarring experience and is now trying hard to make himself happy in this relationship by being honest and understanding.
I think that Se Woong had no one to be there for him, 30 years is a long time. He had another chance at love, and I think that his feelings for his first love eventually got confused with the feelings for Yoo Il, and I still don't know if he was dead or not, as his suicide attempts failed, showing his cowardice, but it was because the story shifted to Yoo Il's point of view in the epilogue, we never do understand what happened to Se Woong. Se Woong in the end, regrets his actions, I think the author tried to imply that Se Woong finally understands that what he did was wrong, and even if it's in human nature, he shouldn't have done that. The last we see of him is him wishing he could go back to the beginning and restart, but he knows it's impossible. Now all he has left are memories, and a single photo.
I think the author did the right thing with the epilogue, even though we never see Se Woong end up happy, he at least reflected on his actions, and that was something everyone should do. I hope that Se Woong finds help, so that he can move on and find happiness by being independent, without needing to control everything and let go of his insecurities. Yoo Il choosing the right thing shows that he grew from his previous relationship, that he has learned to be upfront about the issues, and to understand the other person for his sake and his boyfriend's sake. I think that Yoo Il became a much more complex character, as a human should. This realistic ending isn't something everyone can like, as a happy ending is much more widely accepted, but my interpretation of the moral of the story is that moving on from your first love may be hard, that being honest about your insecurities is hard, but in the long term, it's worth it for your happiness.
Really just goes to show communication is key in any healthy relationship. This work made me cry for both Se Woong and Yoo Il, they both have been through an emotional rollercoaster. But this relationship would have never worked out with Yoo Il having lost his trust in Se Woong and Se Woong with his constant insecurities. I'm just glad the author didn't choose the toxic route where they both ended up together.