No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Contract Marriage
Original network: tvN, Netflix
Native title: 이번 생은 처음이라
This drama aired quite a while back in 2017, yet I only chance upon it and thankfully I did not miss it.
How it happened
Story about how opposite sex housemates started living together and enter into agreement to marry each other. Nam Se Hee (Lee Min Ki) is a single man in early 30s living alone in the house he bought on a loan for 30 years. Yoon Ji Ho (Jung So Min) is a single woman entering her 30s and still struggle to have a shelter above her head.
To support the living expenses and pay off mortgage, Se Hee rent out a room to male which he have to follow closely to a list of rules signed in the tenant contract he draft. No one ever satisfy him until he start to live with Ji Ho for a trial week. Ji Ho is in need of a shelter yet has no money to pay for a good room with deposit and when the opportunity came, she seized it thinking the landlord is a female.
Close Friends
Ji Ho has two very close friend of her, Woo Soo Ji (Lee Som) and Yang Ho Rang (Kim Ga Eun). Soo Ji is a working adult with the best career among them and Ho Rang is in a on-and-off 7 years relationship with Shim Won Seok (Kim Min Seok) hoping to get married.
Preparing to get married
Unlike others, this couple did not marry for love but to make life easier. Se Hee did a timeline chart with all his analytics on what the marriage should look like and what they need to do within the 2 years.
Obviously, they will need to inform their parents and both side are really shocked by the sudden announcement.
Beginning of marriage
You are a couple but you are not responsible for each other’s happiness. How can anyone make someone else happy? In an era where making yourself happy is hard enough, not interfering with other’s dreams is the best thing to do.
Kim Hyun Ja (Because this is the first life, Episode 5)
Cute guy from workplace
After being humiliated trying to pursue her dreams, Ji Ho give up on her writing career and to support herself for the living, she applied for a part time role in a cafe, YOLO. She then met Yeon Bok Nam (Kim Min Kyu) who is young and handsome.
Even her friends are smitten by his smile when their motive is to teach him a lesson for flirting with Ji Ho. To them “who can resist the smile”. Some misunderstanding, Se Hee is very wary of Bok Nam and think that he is the pervert stalker that might cause harm to Ji Ho.
Through him, their relationship went up another level and after misunderstanding resolved, Bok Nam still looks after his Noona, Ji Ho.
Relationship status
Not only the main leads, the supporting leads’ relationships are so relatable, painful yet sweet at the same time. Things like, when marriage is a consideration for both of them to move a step or not.
At the end of the day, it is fortunate to find someone that loves you equally to move to the next step and the hugs at the end of the night is so precious. Yet, not taking it for granted.
