Yeo Jeong-Woo has been in the worst slump of his life for some time, and that has had a rather severe effect on his psyche and confidence, which leads to the Doctor slump hiding his true feelings for Nam Ha-Neul.
Yeo Jeong-Woo had everything. Money, fame, recognition; he’s touched the sky and remained there for quite a while.
That is until a medical accident leaves his client dead and he’s framed for being the culprit.
The trial sees some compelling evidence piling up against him and amidst all of the legal and financial troubles, he starts thinking low of himself.
When he meets his academic rival from his school days, who’s in a similarly lowest slump of her life, he finds a companion he can relate to and his life brightens up a bit.
Enemies to lover
Yeo Jeong-Woo comes to care for Nam Ha-Neul shortly after their reunion.
The two see themselves in each other and can truly relate to each other’s woes and struggles.
The two start hanging out together and soon their bond develops into a strong dynamic.
Once rivals, now friends, the two grow romantically close to each other as well.
However, both of them hesitate and fear admitting it. Ha-Neul’s friend keeps telling her that Jeong-Woo likes her.
So Nam Ha-Neul finally asks him, if he likes her.
And Jeong-woo says he considers her a friend, apologizing for confusing her by mistake.
Reluctance borne of trauma
However, it’s a lie.
He does like her but because of the incident that cost his client’s life and also his career, his confidence and self-esteem have taken a huge hit.
He feels it was somehow his fault and after that incident, and all the legal troubles and other woes are what he deserves.
This is why he can’t really make peace with the fact that he can comfort others and make others happy.
He believes he has no right to comfort others like anyone else.
There’s another reason, though, as to why he becomes so incapable of confessing and feeling so down.
The catalyst
That is his friend Kyung-Min, who carries a sinister side to him and is likely the perpetrator behind Jeong-Woo’s downfall.
When he realizes that Jeong-Woo has fallen for Ha-Neul, he is visibly ticked off and immediately tells him that he shouldn’t be happy.
The former surgeon thinks his friend means he shouldn’t be happy in a situation/crisis like this.
This further lowers his self-esteem and increases self-doubt, to the point he believes being happy is wrong right now.