You worded this so well. I tried to like this story bc of how popular it is, but I just couldn’t. I finished it even though I wanted to stop many times, I thought it would come together at the end, but the relationship still felt off for some reason? I don’t understand the hype at all, and I really wanted to like this story. The second couple was nice though! And the baby is really cute!
thank you ^^. i agree about the baby and the 2nd couple! i actually wish 2nd couple has its own manhwa or a spin-off at least. even if its just like around 10 chapters, i'd devour it. i love the one sided pining from the older brother (i love stories w one sided pining premises in general) and i wish the author could go into more detail about it, esp when him and the beta were younger.
i kindaaa understand the hype. i observed that in general, if the seme is obsessive/loves more than the uke, yaoi/bl fans vibe w that. doesnt matter if the seme was violent or indifferent in the beginning, as long as there is certainty that later on he'd rather die than lose uke, fujoshis like that. i admit im also one of them, except i do want uke to reciprocate seme's love, even if uke is not as obsessive/possessive. i couldnt feel that in this one.
to clarify, i dont think hyesung is a gold digger in the sense that society usually thinks about gold diggers. he's a tsundere, but definitely a kind and caring person. he's a tsundere, but not one in love. i think imma join the hype in this manhwa, but only bc its a nuanced manhwa (or rather, hyesung makes it a nuanced manhwa, which makes sense bc he's the mc). i can see how the hype misled u about the story though bc same haha.
i just now realized that we (along w others who felt the same way) might be right about hyesung not being in love bc of the title.
Wow, once again you worded this so well! I think I can kind of understand why people like it so much now too.
Perhaps this wasn’t meant to be a an epic love story between both the uke and the seme. The seme was indeed horrible in the beginning, and more uke’s SHOULDNT be falling in love with the person that assaulted them. But yes I think I was misled in thinking that it would be like all the other stories I’ve read. And despite me not liking how the uke displays his emotions, he does indeed make the story more nuanced.
Me personally I’m still not a fan, just because it is my preference to see love that is reciprocated. However I will cut this story some slack lol.
i'm... uneasy about hyesung, in the context of this happy family at least. look, there's no doubt that he was raped, and even though its questionable that the author wrote their love story in the way the events followed, i (at the same time) appreciate my uneasiness about hyesung. over a hundred chapters and i'm still not convinced hyesung loves dojin, which is throwing me in a loop because thats usually not how these type of stories go lol. this manhwa seems to be treading a fine line between trying to be realistic or setting the story in the normal bl environment where rape is forgettable and forgiveable... like, it can't decide where it wants to be and wants the best of both worlds so the whole time i was reading, i didn't know what lens to read it in, if that makes sense.
but like i said, i appreciate my uneasiness about hyesung not really being in love w dojin. in some way, to me, it feels like a consequence of the earlier events of their story, especially of the rape. some type of punishment to dojin that he will never truly have his heart (if we're going by the realistic route, i feel like dojin could feel that but is just ignoring it; he has hyesung by his side anyway, and they have a kid too).
to explain why i was uneasy, let's not forget that hyesung was looking for a RICH omega, which means he was prepared to live a life without love if it means he gets to be comfortable. it's just that he nabbed a rich alpha, and the bonding aside, being around dojin gives him the family (both extended and nuclear) he has ever wanted. so what more could he ask for?
or maybe hyesung is really in love and i just dont understand his character. i just really reaaally doubt it because the lack of interest from him that dojin could feel just seems impossible if hyesung was truly in love, not even to the degree of love dojin has for him. notice how hyesung only gets worked up when it threatens him or puts him in an uncomfy situation, like the last arc of horniness, and the affair rumor arc.
so, thats just it for me. might have to cleanse myself w fluffy, wholesome yaoi after this. as much as i enjoyed the art (and the author has such smooth storytelling abilities), finishing it just leaves a bitter aftertaste and this feeling of uncertainty continues (bc of hyesung), which again is diff bc usually in the end, the author got me convinced uke is in love w seme.