To me this is not losing its story, but finally getting on with it.
The issue everyone forgets about the leads is that, as far as the male lead knew, he had already been rejected.
As in, if you recall he already confessed once near the beginning and was turned down. Then after they knew each other, he tried it again and, at least to him, she turned the conversation away giving the impression she was avoiding it but would still reject him. As far as he knows, he is reading too much into things again. The last word being important.
Meaning that now the only way they would get together is from her side - and thanks to being around her parents she kind of avoids consciously doing romantic things, like confessing.