Noh’s well being is never compromised in any of these. The discomfort Noh is feeling would not be enough for Earn to stop because it is not that Earn is trying to get what he deserves but that he is giving Noh what Earn thinks Noh deserves: himself. If Earn doesn’t feel that Noh deserves him, yeah, he should stop.
*jumps in* I think it also comes down to actions and what is being said as well as done. ATM there is nothing wrong with Earn pursuing Noh, he might have an inkling about the Noh/Phun connection, but nothing is made clear at this point in time. However, should there come a confession and then a rejection it would make things slightly different.
If Earn is clearly rejected by Noh, then I do think he should back down. Yes he is still allowed to have feelings, and be friendly and such (even wait in the lines for a potential break up sure) but there is a line there that I do think Earn should respect if it comes to it. There is a different in having feelings for someone, but respecting the other persons feelings, and forcing your own feelings onto another person. not that I think Earn would do so mind.
People do not have only one response to rejection. (Sales people know this for sure ha ha ha. ) And that is true even on a rejection of a love proposal. You back down because you are rejected? Some people do, some people persist. Earn has that choice. (In the same way that that choice is available to you and me. It depends on which we pick.) We speak of perseverance in other areas in life. Love isn’t dissociated with that.
And it is not disrespectful of Noh’s feelings should Earn persist. It simply means that Earn feels strongly for Noh. It is to tell Noh that Earn’s feelings is not that shallow, that one rejection will not cause him to stop and move over to someone else. (Although I suspect many fans want him to just drop Noh and move over to Pete. ha ha ha. ) If Earn does that, then he does deserve to be rejected for harboring romantic feelings as shallow as a puddle. If respect is due, it is respect for Earn’s feelings as well. This love-feeling has a way of transcending whatever protocols are in place with regard to being rejected in love. How Noh handles Earn’s persistence will be his own style.