It's actually the first time I'm writing a rec on a drama that is currently on air, but I feel I can't bite my tongue anymore.
I'm going to write a lot so prepare your pillow xD
As almost every drama, it starts with a lot of comedy and the premise is interesting enough to make you eat the first 5 episodes. Hurray!
Then, after the half (usually, because it's a common pattern, just like the writer ran out of ideas along the way) there's an abrupt "dramatic" u turn that makes you wonder if it's the same title... when you start to hear "we need to talk" at least 200 times per ep (aren't they supposed to work at some point of the day?? Lol), screaming, crying, throwing trash at the poor guy and so on, you know it's time to let the violinist quartet have their last concert while you throw yourself into the first lifeboat available. Let's say not at a makjang level but winks at it sometimes.

I am disappointed at the lack of screen time between Ha Nee and her mom. They're more like roommates than relatives...this girl spends more time with the barista than her mom because she's busy having those boys slash satellites around all day...tbh I admit I don't really know in what consists the job of a film producer, but this drama surely made me more confused about it lol

I'm actually very sad, because I think there were a lot of possible paths for this story, (I had some hopes and expectations ಥ‿ಥ) a lot of interesting stuff and interactions left with the time they could find...the drama focuses on the old well known bullshit: a misunderstanding tore the couple apart 14 years ago and a long list of miscommunication issues that could have been literally resolved at episode one if only that female lead would have given us the honor of saying why the heck she disappeared from everyone's life. (I'll rant about the injustice towards the kid and the dad later I promise).
And assuming things on their own (especially on who the father may be) only to act accordingly to that wrong assumption. Jeeez check your facts!

But I liked the back and forth in time kind of introduction for the characters, they revealed bits of them (would have been much more interesting if they kept doing so)

The character I liked most is the gangster daddy, I clearly remember (because I saw it yesterday) a scene where Ae Jung and Dae Oh were sitting in Koo Pa Do's garden and he was very distinguished in comparison to the male lead. And he can cut the finest sashimi. Not to talk about the fruits. LET'S JUST SAY SHE ISN'T WORTHY OF HIM BECAUSE HE'S TOO REFINED FOR HER. At some point I invented an alternative plot with the male lead being the gangster in my mind because a)it was hella more interesting and b) I knew that wasn't even a ship to begin with. Because c'mon, we know from the start that the father of Ha Nee and the ultimate winner of Ae Jung's heart would be Dae Oh, the others are there only to slowly been cooked and trashed. I kinda hoped for Ryu Jin to be the dad, to add a bit of realism (and maybe a real motive to disappear...I mean you did the vertical tango with another guy and got the presento, is a valid reason and it makes also the fl more human and less oh, so innocent) just to make him have a purpose on this drama beside being mad in love with the fl for 14 + years like a fool. (You know like in "when the camellia blooms)
In the beginning I didn't expect him to be such a loser and even the relationship between Ae Jung and him looked different. Can we talk about the fact two grown ass adults had a one night stand and they didn't even talked about it like adults but they was behaving like nothing happened?? I know it's an old story buuut she left him with a freaking post it. The level of selfishness of this woman.
Speaking of Ae Jung...she didn't seem to like any of the suitors tbh, even Dae Oh...I felt like she started to date him just because he insisted and even tho there's a whole flashback explaining at some point she loved him more I don't know, it doesn't resonate with me. Maybe it's just my vision idk.
She irked me so much because of the damage she did to Dae Oh and their daughter: the fact she avoided the topic really made me feel bad for the little girl, it wasn't her place to decide she couldn't met with her dad. It wasn't her place to decide he shouldn't be involved, even if they were apart IT TAKES TWO (2) HUMANS TO MAKE ANOTHER YA KNOW. I felt sad for this girl desperately trying to figure out things on her own and being sad all the time because her mom wasn't willing to open her heart to her, 14 is old enough to know the truth. Ae Jung legit robbed 14 years of their lives to me. (if the guy was toxic or else I could have understand, but it's all based on a misunderstanding for the big fat holy lasagna).
Dae Oh on the other side was too dense...this actor played a really similar character on go back couple (but that was a gem, is not even comparable to this one) funny, seemingly chill even when he's boiling, talkative but mostly childish (he can be serious tho). The fact he didn't get the hint that he could possibly be Ha Nee's dad for 10 episodes left me dumbfounded. I like tho how he slowly and casually built a relationship with Ha Nee, without the "I'm your father but I discovered it yesterday" kind of stiffness. Another aspect I'll gladly follow.
Yeon Woo was so uninfluential for the girl and for the whole story...the usual nice guy who keeps being nice even when the selfish love interest literally poops on his head (it isn't a kdrama without a poop joke (: ) and won't really understand when it's time to move on. I can't be angry with him, he is a pure soul, but too dense to read the atmosphere: get out of the mess, she only saw you as a little bro, it's been 14 years are you going to die alone? She isn't worth your sacrifice. (I kinda ship him with Ae Jung's assistant).

The movie\book was one of the columns of the drama, because is the common point that brings the investor, the writer and the actor together. Sadly it becomes something in the background (the movie studio or wathever has only 2 people working in it, where is the staff to actually make the movie?? Aren't more people supposed to work on the numerous aspect of it? Then what are those lists of names at the end of every movie or tv show? Obituaries? Excusez-moi if I made a mistake out if ignorance but it looks odd to me. Feel free to correct me otherwise).

OH right I almost forgot THEM, a bunch of chicks obsessed with this or that male character who, of course, need to vent their frustration of being in a one sided love (that includes mom\son rejection) on the female lead. Let's note how the second female leads are usually depicted as obsessive crazy stalkers while the second male leads are just suitors.. worst case they are too sweet and "boring". There's a pretty big use of double standards in our society, just saying uh. Jessica and Ae Rin are creepy and made to be not only flat but totally unlikable... they even trespass the private spaces. YW's mom is annoying...only the ripped dress part made me like her a bit...like oh, maybe she isn't an harpy, but heh.

In conclusion I really really really wanted to like this drama but they threw to much poop on me to pretend my nose isn't about to fall for the smell.
I'll watch only for Koo Pa Do's storyline (that is really poor written omg it has no depth. They wronged you so much. ) while fantasizing for the rest of the time about an ex mobster with an honor code who slowly falls for an energetic, stubborn girl with anger issues who works as a private investigator (plus ghosts to make it more visual). The main point would be redemption (because he really did bad in the past and it's indirectly related to the fl. Cliched but it goes well for conflict), prejudices and rebuild. I'm totally ready for this. And there won't be noble idiocy nor sudden breakups. Only slow cooking with some sugar here and there to keep the sauce tasty ಡ ͜ ʖ ಡ

Ps. I loved the barista: she is mysterious and charismatic, classy, if they added that she reads the future in the liquor glass bottoms I would have been sold...but she's more like a guest star.
Ps2. I need a spinoff with Dong Chan and Ha Nee. They're cuteness overload (♡ω♡ )
Ps3. That samsung shell smartphone is all over the place nowadays uh? She was supposed to be poor....uh did I say all 4 men are filthy rich? Because they are (θ‿θ)