Noh Jung-eui dreams of campus romance in Crushology 101
Noh Jung-eui dreams of campus romance in Crushology 101
by solstices
Heart-fluttering courtship is in the air with the two latest teasers for MBC’s upcoming webtoon adaptation Crushology 101. In this light-hearted campus rom-com, Noh Jung-eui takes a 180 degree turn from her lonely outcast in The Witch, stepping into the shoes of an affable second-year college student who can’t help but go starry-eyed at all the pretty boys around her.
Said heroine is Ban Hee-jin, who jovially introduces herself as just “Bunny.” With decent grades, a well-liked personality, and a loving family, Hee-jin is competent in all aspects except one — love. With little dating experience, and a kind heart that got trampled on by her ex who was ugly on both the outside and the inside, Hee-jin resolves to only date someone good-looking henceforth.
Sighing wistfully that she wants to experience the cherry blossoms with a pretty boyfriend, Hee-jin laments her fate to her friends: “I’m telling you, handsome guys don’t have any interest in me!” But she’s about to be proven wrong, and we get a montage of the four candidates who are striving to earn Hee-jin’s affection.
There’s the capable student rep Hwang Jae-yeol, played by her Hierarchy co-star Lee Chae-min, who boldly approaches her amidst a crowd of curious onlookers. In contrast, the mild-mannered arts student Cha Ji-won — played by Jo Joon-young (All That We Loved) — thoughtfully buckles Hee-jin’s seatbelt for her. Then there’s the sculptor Jo Ah-rang, played by Kim Hyun-jin (My Sweet Mobster), whose beautiful smile may as well have him blending right in with his artwork. Last but not least, we have Hong Min-ki (Study Group) as the sharp-eyed sports student Jin Hyun-oh.
The sudden attention throws Hee-jin into a flustered frenzy, and she indignantly exclaims: if he doesn’t like her, why would he have escorted her all the way home? Thus begins a four-way competition for Hee-jin’s heart, which sometimes escalates to petty jostling and rushing to be the first to check Hee-jin’s temperature. Other times, it ends with two suitors cuddling in bed, each thinking the other is Hee-jin. LOL.
With our heroine as the innocently naive bunny at the center of it all, which suitor will she ultimately end up with? The brusque and prickly fox Jae-yeol, whose tsundere exterior belies a sincere heart? The reliable and considerate puppy Ji-won, who devotes his all to the one person he likes? The sweet and gentle cat Ah-rang, with a tender smile and an artistic flair? Or the athletic and fearless wolf Hyun-oh, who’s never liked anyone before Hee-jin came along?
As for Hee-jin, who dreams of a romantic cherry blossom ending with her true love, she can’t help but wonder: “Do they really… like me?” If the captions on the character posters are anything to go by, though, they most certainly do. Jae-yeol can’t remain unaffected if Hee-jin keeps catching his attention whenever she’s around, while Ji-won is starting to chafe at the title of “close oppa” because he clearly wants to be more. Now all that’s left is for Hee-jin to figure out her own heart.
Helmed by PD Kim Ji-hoon (Check Out the Event), with scripts penned by Lee Seul (Dear M) and Sung So-eun (Twenty-Twenty), the twelve-episode Crushology 101 is slated for an April 4 premiere.
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