@BanditHadron
I honestly have to disagree with that reason. At this point in time it's not a good justification given that he gave her no reason to doubt his sincere motives and because of her previous character development. Having her be in denial would backtrack and erase all of that.
Her obsession with the plot novel, and her previous status position, was main reason for her active denial and rejection of his feelings.
This comes to a head when she finally gets character development, in chpts 52-53, where she acknowledges this and chooses stop obsessing over the plot and accept, instead of ignore, his sincere devotion/feelings as is.
So, imo, it's not so much as denial(it shouldn't be) so much as it looks like the author is gearing toward bad characterization, and writing, as a result of her trying to keep Ibee "cute", and keep the chemistry in their relationship with her denseness, when it actually does the opposite and makes Ibee come off as unreasonably dumb in some instances.
It's either that or the author is just not properly analyzing and considering the implications of what the character says.