Bad adaptation. Just read the novel.

The manhwa adaptation has really gone downhill, especially since Season 4.
I get that the novel was super long, so it’s impossible to include every single detail—but honestly, I wish they had shortened the early parts and focused on adapting Books 5 and 6 more faithfully. Instead, they did the exact opposite. They dragged out the buildup for three whole seasons (covering just four books), and now it feels like they suddenly realized viewers are losing interest and want to wrap things up fast. That’s probably why they crammed Books 5 and 6 into one season—and maybe even Book 7, the finale, into Season 4 as well.
Because of that, the pacing is all over the place—it’s hard to follow what’s happening. The characterization also feels really flat, so it’s no surprise people are frustrated with both the ML and MC.
Seriously, if you love this story, just read the novel. Books 5 and 6 are the best part—they’re intense, complex, and do such a great job of exploring the relationship between the MC and ML. You really get to understand why they act the way they do, their emotions, and all those subtle details and symbols that make the story so rich. The manhwa just doesn’t capture any of that. It’s confusing, rushed, and the chemistry between the characters is basically gone.

TLDR: Do yourself a favor by reading the novel to follow the plot and check the manhwa regularly if you're into smut scenes :)