“If you have nothing to say, don’t say anything at all” but

ikr, i kinda wanna rewrite bc it had so much potential if it wasnt for the unnecessary rape and toxicy

I'd say give it a chance. I know it's the same old and I'm not justifying what Taeju did, but I think the beginning of the story is what leads into the plot, making the story special. None of what Euihyun went through would not have happened if Taeju hadn't gotten entangled with him the way he did. As forcefully it may be, Euihyun would have never come to terms to receiving help without Taeju's interference, and Taeju wouldn't have found a different path in life if it wasn't for Euihyun. At the same time, Taeju's forcefulness isn't excused in the later chapters. He owns up to it. While it may not be exactly green flag material to you, it means a lot to Euihyun who believed that everyone stayed the same and that there was no one who was willing to be by his side. Taeju has both power and will, and that what makes the story. You also mustn't forget that Taeju grew up as, well, a gang member. You can't really expect a guy with that characterization to have morals.

All and all, that's how I see it. I get your point and respect it if you aren't convinced. I'm sure there are many green flag manhwas out there for you to enjoy if this one isn't the right one for you

I KNOW
Literally my first time reading this was I think the year it came out and it only had like thirty-something chapters, and you know those first chapters were just a chock full of misery on steroids. I couldn’t finish it. I think TikTok was what convinced me to pick it up this month when I saw snippets of the latter uploads.
I also wish it didn’t have to be so heartbreaking. It’s fine for the people who are discovering the manhwa now. But for those who were here from the beginning, having to wait for an update was just too much. It was like the horrible things didn’t have an end to them. There was always something else or always another way were the bullshit could get worse.

I was there from chapter 1... And yeah, I hated myself for keep on reading and wishing Euihyun will be saved and even wouldn't end up with Taeju (kinda like the reason of why I keep reading the Campus trap).

But, it developed kinda well...

Now I have been thinking, what did I expected from a gangster ML, he didn't sleep around when he still with Euihyun is good enough, he didn't beat Euihyun is pretty alright for a gangster, he didn't even let Euihyun got gang-raped. I still hate how it started, but I kinda grateful I didn't stopped halfway. The redemption arc is making us rooting for TJ to be with Euihyun so bad now., TJ really does his all so that he can be with Euihyun, and he really does regret what he did to Euihyun. He kinda deserve to have Euihyun now, even though it's still hard for me to reread without skipping some stories

Yea sameeee I also at one point didn’t really see the redemption with him. The only reason I kept on reading was bc of him apologizing, doing what he did for his brother and him actually taking responsibility (or at least trying) for his actions and realizing how ridiculous it was to expect a substantial relationship in that toxic situation without renewing the conditions of said relationship.