Responses
If I remember correctly Eungyu was a TA or assistant to the ML bio dad and since the bio dad was cruel and stern the ex offered her emotional support and nurtured her when she was going through a rough time professionally
From the flashbacks it seems like he was overtly sweet too playing up the fox boyfriend act so I think she also relied on him emotionally so when the connection was cut she lost the self reliance she always insisted on in college.
As hot this is,I really feel it's about time they show her and her ex's relationship.One thing tears of a withered flower did really well is that it did a good job establishing how beautiful the fl and her ex husband's relationship used to be. So we as readers genuinely feel sad for what has become of their relationship. We understand why she's struggling to move on and why despite being attracted to the ml, she won't pursue a relationship with him. But here,every instance we've seen of her ex,he just seems like a jerk. So it's hard to understand why is she still hung up on him after so long. Its one thing if it was just that she developed abandonment issues or trust issues, it's another thing to have not even moved on from her ex even after years and for him to still have so much emotional sway over her after all this while. Personally ,I feel that he either better have been the most exceptional boyfriend or that he must have emotionally manipulated her like crazy or he must have been with her through a very difficult time of her life in order to make her this attached to him .