Endgame Pairing is Not Obvious

Stories where the endgame pairing isn't the usual "met as children and loved forever" - the leads have romantic relationships and even marriage with someone else first, the love triangle looks like it could go either way, SML has traits of a ML, or the endgame ML has traits of a SML. Also includes those rare instances where the SML actually gets the girl.

emeraldarrows ian 1, 2024

152 Titles 5 Loves

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1. 24 Hours Love

Thai Drama - 2024, 4 episodes

8.0

FL has an ex girlfriend
2. A Mai Cong Jun

Chinese Drama - 2024, 36 episodes

6.0

FL does not end up with ML despite it indicating that way for most of the drama. The ending is open, but appears to be interpreted as the FL choosing the SML.
3. A Piece of Memory

Thai Drama - 2024, 5 episodes

7.5

FL had a girlfriend who died
4. A River Runs Through It

Chinese Drama - 2021, 36 episodes

10

ML has the traits of a SML, and FL loves someone else for a long time first
5. A River Runs Through It Special

Chinese Special - 2021, 10 episodes

10
6. After Breaking Up, I Will Return to the Wealthy Family and Become a Daughter

Chinese Drama - 2024, 100 episodes

7.0

FL has an ex
7. Ai Zai Xuan Ya Shang

Chinese Drama - 2024, 149 episodes

7.5

FL is divorced
8. Ban Sheng Fu Qi Zhong Cheng Mo Lu

Chinese Drama - 2024, 60 episodes

7.0

FL was married in her first life, and loves another in her second life
9. Beloved to Heaven

Chinese Drama - 2024, 112 episodes

7.5

FL is divorced
10. Beside You

Thai Drama - 2024, 3 episodes

8.0

ML has a boyfriend when it begins, and it's unclear at first who he'll end up with
11. Bon Appetit

Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

10

ML has an ex boyfriend
12. Choice Husband

Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

8.5

At different points in the drama, FL marries the ML and the SML. When she learns she's pregnant, she's unsure who is the father. She eventually ends up with the ML who is the father of her child.
13. Chun Jia Xiao Jie Shi Song Shi

Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes

8.0

love triangle, ML has a much smaller role than SML
14. Click Your Heart

Korean Drama - 2016, 7 episodes

9.5

all the SMLs get the girl ;)
15. Colourful Bone

Chinese Drama - 2017, 54 episodes

10

heavy love triangle, FL has the childhood connection trope with the SML
16. Cupid of Chou Dynasty

Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes

10

ML is atypical, has traits of a SML or supporting character
17. Dan Qin Ma Ma De Xing Fu Mi Ma

Chinese Drama - 2024, 100 episodes

7.0

FL has an ex
18. Dear Mayang Street

Chinese Drama - 2020, 37 episodes

9.0

SML gets the girl
19. Deep Love Love Again

Chinese Drama - 2024, 22 episodes

8.5

FL has an ex husband
20. Di Jia Qian Jin

Chinese Drama - 2024, 40 episodes

10

FL was married
21. Dr. Cutie

Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes

10

heavy love triangle, FL is much closer to SML at first
22. Dragoste printre Rânduri

Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

8.5

FL is divorced
23. Endless Night

Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

10

FL was engaged to the SML in her first life
24. Evening Star for You

Chinese Drama - 2024, 100 episodes

7.5

FL has an ex
25. Every You, Every Me

Thai Drama - 2024, 8 episodes

8.5

ML has an ex boyfriend
26. Ex Deadly Mirror

Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes

8.0

FL has a long term boyfriend at the beginning. By the end, it appears that she's starting a relationship with her friend, the SML.
27. Ex's Revenge

Chinese Drama - 2022, 20 episodes

10

FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
28. Faith

Korean Drama - 2012, 24 episodes

10

ML had a former first love who he planned to marry until she died
29. Fate's Whispers

Thai Drama - 2024, 4 episodes

8.0

FL has an ex girlfriend
30. First Choice

Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes

10

ML has a fiancée
31. Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency

Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

10

FL has the childhood connection trope and expectations of marriage with the SML
32. Forget You Remember Love

Chinese Drama - 2020, 38 episodes

8.5

ML has a fiancée
33. Fu Liu Nian

Chinese Drama - 2022, 30 episodes

10

ML has traits of a SML, and FL marries someone else first
34. Futtara Doshaburi

Japanese Drama - 2025, 7 episodes

7.0

ML has a girlfriend
35. Gang Qu Xiao Ba Wang Shi Lian Ai Nao

Chinese Drama - 2024, 95 episodes

7.0

FL has an ex who was her first love
36. Golden Spirit: Joseon Marriage Prohibition

Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes

10

heavy love triangle, FL is initially engaged to the SML
37. Gui Zhong Mi You

Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes

8.5

FL is married to someone else at the beginning
38. Gun and Rose

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

9.0

SML has the childhood connection and an engagement with the FL
39. Gyoza You Can Kiss

Japanese Movie - 2018

8.0

FL is divorced
40. Handsome Siblings

Chinese Drama - 2020, 44 episodes

7.0

love triangle in which the FL initially meets, loves and has a stronger connection with one of the MLs, but ultimately ends up with the other
41. Hao Wai Hao Wai

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

9.0

FL has an ex fiancée
42. Happy Merry Ending

Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes

8.5

ML is still broken hearted over his ex boyfriend
43. He He You Ming

Chinese Drama - 2024, 87 episodes

8.0

FL has an ex fiancée
44. Heartbeat

Chinese Drama - 2023, 20 episodes

10

FL has the past connection and first love with the SML (and actually only approaches the ML because she wrongfully believes he has the SML's heart transplanted into him)
45. Heartbeat Deviation

Chinese Drama - 2024, 99 episodes

9.0

FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
46. Hello My Shining Lover

Chinese Drama - 2022, 43 episodes

8.5

ML has an ex girlfriend
47. Hidden Marriage Love

Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes

6.5

FL is married to someone else at the beginning, love triangle
48. His and Her Secrets

Chinese Drama - 2023, 24 episodes

9.0

FL is married to someone else at the beginning
49. Hua Yan Jie

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

9.0

FL has an engagement with the SML, ML has traits of a SML
50. Huang Fei Wei He Na Yang

Chinese Drama - 2023, 32 episodes

9.5

FL is married to someone else at the beginning
51. Hundred Days Bride

Chinese Drama - 2023, 30 episodes

10

SML gets the girl
52. I Heard That after My Death, I Became the Former Husband of a Wealthy Family, Bai Yue Guang

Chinese Drama - 2024, 85 episodes

7.0

FL is divorced, SML gets the girl
53. Indefinite Meeting

Chinese Drama - 2024, 35 episodes

7.0

FL has a fiancée, SML gets the girl
54. Jie Jie Wen Wo

Chinese Drama - 2024, 77 episodes

7.5

FL is divorced
55. Jin Ji De Fu Ren

Chinese Drama - 2024, 21 episodes

8.0

FL has a different boyfriend at the beginning
56. Jiu Chong Zi

Chinese Drama - 2024, 34 episodes

10

FL was married in her first life
57. Kimi Wa Petto

Japanese Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

9.0

heavy love triangle that leans toward the SML who the FL is dating
58. Kurosaki-kun no Iinari ni Nante Naranai

Japanese Special - 2015, 2 episodes

9.5

heavy love triangle, ML is atypical protagonist
59. Ling Zong You Yang

Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

8.5

FL had a fiancée
60. Long Premeditated Love

Chinese Special - 2024, 6 episodes

7.0

FL has an ex
61. Lost You Forever Season 2

Chinese Drama - 2024, 23 episodes

10

heavy reverse harem, 3rdML gets the girl
62. Love Better Than Immortality

Chinese Drama - 2019, 40 episodes

10

ML has traits of a SML, SML has the ML traits and the FL is much more drawn to him at first
63. Love Is Gone

Chinese Drama - 2024, 30 episodes

7.0

FL is divorced and there's a love triangle between her ex husband and the man she eventually marries
64. Love Under The Stars

Chinese Drama - 2022, 26 episodes

9.0

FL is engaged to someone else at the beginning
65. Lovely Swords Girl

Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes

10

heavy love triangle, SLS
66. Lovers

Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes

10

FL is in love with someone else at the beginning
67. Maids

Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

10

love triangle, FL is initially engaged and nearly married to the SML
68. Marry My Husband

Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes

10

FL is married to someone else at the beginning
69. Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me

Chinese Drama - 2017, 23 episodes

7.5

ML has an ex girlfriend who is his first love
70. Master Devil Do Not Kiss Me 2

Chinese Drama - 2017, 23 episodes

8.0
71. MBTI Love

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

6.0

FL has an ex boyfriend
72. Meet Love in Chong Qing

Chinese Drama - 2024, 21 episodes

8.0

FL has an ex boyfriend
73. Mei Ren Mou

Chinese Drama - 2024, 24 episodes

9.0

FL was married
74. Miss Fox

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

7.0

FL is dating someone else at the beginning
75. Miss Jiang's Counterattack

Chinese Drama - 2024, 67 episodes

8.0

FL was married
76. Mood of the Day

Korean Movie - 2016

8.0

FL has a boyfriend and starts an affair with the ML
77. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo

Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes

10

heavy reverse harem, FL eventually ends up the SML for the remainder of her life in the past, despite still being in love with the ML and having his child
78. Mortal Housewife

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

6.0

FL is married for most of the drama but ends up with the SML
79. Mountains and Ocean

Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes

9.0

FL loves SML for most of the drama, ML has traits of a SML
80. Mr. Cool

Chinese Drama - 2021, 32 episodes

9.0

FL is dating someone else at the beginning
81. My Boss

Chinese Drama - 2024, 80 episodes

7.0

FL was married
82. My Dearest Part 2

Korean Drama - 2023, 11 episodes

10

FL marries another man but ultimately ends up with the ML.
83. My Handsome Husband

Chinese Drama - 2021, 30 episodes

7.0

FL is married and divorced from someone else at the beginning
84. My Wednesday

Thai Drama - 2024, 4 episodes

7.5

FL has an ex girlfriend
85. My Youth

Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes

8.0

FL has a long time crush on the SML
86. Night of Love With You

Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes

10

ML has traits of a SML/secondary villain
87. Ocean Like Me

Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

7.0

ML has an ex boyfriend
88. Only Friends

Thai Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

8.5

everyone is involved with or in love with everyone, endgame is not clear until the very end
89. Orange Soda

Chinese Drama - 2024, 20 episodes

9.0

SML gets the girl
90. Pachinko

Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes

10

SML gets the girl, FL is in love with and pregnant by the ML at the beginning
91. Perfect Marriage Revenge

Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes

10

FL is married to someone else at the beginning
92. Please Be Coquettish with Me

Chinese Drama - 2024, 101 episodes

8.0

FL has an ex fiancée
93. Princess Agents

Chinese Drama - 2017, 67 episodes

8.0

love triangle, SML is given scenes/tropes with the FL commonly given to the ML
94. Princess Silver

Chinese Drama - 2019, 58 episodes

8.0

ML is FL's second love, and she marries someone else before ultimately ending up with the ML
95. Qian Fu! Wo You 200 Jin Chou Hen Xiang Gen Ni Suan Suan

Chinese Drama - 2024, 80 episodes

7.5

FL has an ex husband
96. Qian Jin Nan Tao

Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

10

FL has a stronger connection with the SML at first, love triangle
97. Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People

Korean Drama - 2017, 30 episodes

10

ML is in love with someone else for a long time first, FL has traits of a SFL at first
98. Ren Sheng Shi Dao Xuan Ze Ti

Chinese Drama - 2025, 23 episodes

8.0

FL was married in her original life, remarries him in her second, but ultimately ends up with the ML, ML has traits of a SML and doesn't show up until toward the end of the drama
99. Renascence

Chinese Drama - 2020, 36 episodes

10

FL is married to someone else at the beginning, ML has traits of a SML
100. Rinko san wa Shite Mitai

Japanese Drama - 2021, 8 episodes

8.0

heavy love triangle that could go either way