Ripen an Apple - Chap 35

I really don’t like how this manhua ends, I tried to read this eversince it came out. The flow and artstyle is fine and I’m quite looking forward to this. Like how come in their big age they are still not together and why start the story as if the ML has white moonlight childhood friend, when they are actually childhood friends themselves?
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Why does it seem like ML doesn’t really show that he likes the MC romantically and he’s not with him or will be sad if he’s gone just because they are friends but much more than that? It leaves a bad taste.
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And why after doing a good deed, they are curse with an apple? Instead of giving blessings, they got misfortune instead. It’s so silly that it’s irritating, it doesn’t eve make sense.
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And the story only has 35chapters in total, then why still make a second couple? Does a short panels every episode for Lead Characters alone short already?
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And in the end, the Author made the Second Couple the reason the two would come back together, isn’t it just to give reason for their existence? They could just develop feelings on their own too even without the Yellow Hair childhood friend (he almost ruin it too).
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It had potential but the Author didn’t know where to go with their concept.