A Rose by Any Other Name
The ML is by the FL's side. He supports her and knows her better than many boyfriends know their girlfriends, but his "title" is something other than "boyfriend" or "husband". Whether he's a best friend, a roommate, a subordinate at work, a "brother", or something else, the role sometimes becomes an excuse that lets the ML act like the FL's boyfriend without confessing his feelings (and he might not even fully realize his feelings).
The ML has this role for most of the drama and it's the kind of role where, if someone asks the FL if the ML is her boyfriend, she can respond "No, he's my ___." (Although some of the roles are pretty strange.)
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![In Time with You]()
1. In Time with You
Taiwanese Drama - 2011, 13 episodes
Best friend
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![Fight for My Way]()
2. Fight for My Way
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Friend
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![Romance Is a Bonus Book]()
3. Romance Is a Bonus Book
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Friend / younger brother
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![I Hear Your Voice]()
4. I Hear Your Voice
Korean Drama - 2013, 18 episodes
"Younger brother" - the FL helps the ML when they are children, but is endangered as a result. The ML vows to protect her. The ML is an orphan and much younger than the FL, so when he moves in with the FL to protect her / keep his promise, she tells people he's like a little brother that she's looking after.
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![Something in the Rain]()
5. Something in the Rain
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
"Younger brother" - the ML is the younger brother of the FL's best friend. He and his sister have been treated as part of the FL's family since he was little. Caveat --> unlike the other dramas in this list, the ML and FL start dating for real quite early on in this drama, but they keep their relationship secret for a while.
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![Wednesday 3:30 PM]()
6. Wednesday 3:30 PM
Korean Drama - 2017, 15 episodes
Childhood friend / tenant who's paying his rent by taking her on refreshing dates every Wednesday at 3:30 PM to help her get over being dumped and win back or get back at her ex
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![You Drive Me Crazy]()
7. You Drive Me Crazy
Korean Special - 2018, 4 episodes
Best friend
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![Across the Ocean to See You]()
8. Across the Ocean to See You
Chinese Drama - 2017, 44 episodes
Subordinate at work, nanny / personal assistant, acting father to her unborn child
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![Kimi wa Petto]()
9. Kimi wa Petto
Japanese Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
"Pet"
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![Pinocchio]()
10. Pinocchio
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
"Uncle" (due to a complicated situation involving the FL's grandfather's health, the ML is adopted into the FL's family and takes her deceased uncle's place)
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![That Winter, the Wind Blows]()
11. That Winter, the Wind Blows
Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
"Brother" - the ML is mistaken for the FL's long lost brother partly because they have the same name. Due to circumstances, he pretends to be her brother and moves in with her.
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![Personal Taste]()
12. Personal Taste
Korean Drama - 2010, 16 episodes
Gay Housemate (when the FL mistakenly thinks the ML is gay, he runs with it so that he can be her housemate in order to learn the secret of her house, which was built by her famous architect father)
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![Bloody Romance]()
13. Bloody Romance
Chinese Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
Shadow (servant / bodyguard for an assassin)
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![My Fated Boy]()
14. My Fated Boy
Chinese Drama - 2021, 29 episodes
"Little brother". The Leads' parents are best friends and the leads grew up together.
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![Kimi wa Petto]()
15. Kimi wa Petto
Japanese Drama - 2003, 10 episodes
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![Ugly Beauty]()
16. Ugly Beauty
Chinese Drama - 2021, 24 episodes
Assistent / agent / manager
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![Kiss Scene in Yeonnamdong]()
17. Kiss Scene in Yeonnamdong
Korean Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
Friend since childhood
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![Adult Trainee]()
18. Adult Trainee
Korean Drama - 2021, 7 episodes
Episode 3 - 5
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![The Best of You in My Mind]()
19. The Best of You in My Mind
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
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![Go Ahead]()
20. Go Ahead
Chinese Drama - 2020, 46 episodes
"brother"
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![Soundtrack #1]()
21. Soundtrack #1
Korean Drama - 2022, 4 episodes
Best friend
