I think seme is a bright red flag and i think he is a cruel and shitty person and i hated his guts until i reached half of the novel, but I don't think it's fair to call him manipulative. In fact, i think he is the most direct seme and straight-to-the-point character iv ever come across, i understand how you can see it that way but I didn't see his comment to the uke "I'm moved to tears by your sacrifice" as him being manipulative, but him voicing his frustration at uke for just accepting shitty treatment, because I also thought the same thing and was frustrated when uke went with him to the beach without saying anything even though he was upset he was ignored for a week.
He was a cruel shitty person yes but I don't think he's manipulative at all, in fact he's the most direct and straight-to-the-point seme i have ever come across.
I hated him for half of the novel, but grew to like him after the beach scene and after they started dating officially. As for his comment when he told Seodan "I'm moved to tears by your sacrifice" I don't see it as him being manipulative or gaslighting him, i saw it as him voicing his frustration because Seodan keeps accepting the shitty treatment.
Let's not mischaracterize our red flags lol he's lots of bad things but not manipulative, that title should be given with a crown to Lee Wooyeon.
I just realized i wrote that twice lol sorry i thought the first one didn't send
If he is actually direct, he can express how he thought uke victimize himself and swim in his own depression. He can tell him to go to the therapist or seek help elsewhere. Instead, he plays with his words that can be interpreted differently. There's time when uke express how he was hurt by seme, yet instead of telling uke it's not what he mean to hurt uke's feeling, he just blame that negativity on uke. If not gaslight then what?
There's also a time where uke seeking confirmation if seme truly like him, but instead of saying something that confirm his feelings, he blames uke for questioning his sincerity. I don't even ask for seme to appease uke, just be honest instead of blame him. This much gaslight is like seme try to control what uke thinks. He wanted uke to feel and thought as he wish him will be. This is my reason to say seme are gaslights and manipulative.
Honestly, if you ask me what chapter in to novel is that, I can't remember specifically and I won't torture myself read that again just to find it.
I ever made a topic when I feel so overwhelmed after reading the novel. In that post there are some their conversation that I copy; https://www.mangago.zone/home/mangatopic/15894209/
If seme just a direct or blunt character that his words can come out harsh, why blames always follows it? You can say seme just frustrated with uke, but it is what you sign for when you decide to have interaction with mentally unstable person. I mean, seme didn't have to babying uke as uke has trauma, I just wish for him to act decent and try to understand uke a little bit better. Not someone who is easily frustrated with uke's reaction or response or actions then blames this mentally unstable person for having mistrust and negative thought.
After they start dating, their relationship might looks turn for the better, but it is just a sugar-coat as seme didn't actually realize how wrong his response and action can be. They just move forward and burry the problem.
Your feelings about the characters and novel overall are valid and no one can change how you perceive your media, but I don't agree with your last statement. After they started dating, the seme changed so much and stopped doing anything that made uke uncomfortable and he always discussed things with him whenever they fought, maybe you read the bad translation online and thats the reason you think this way.
Even though the seme was possessive he was never toxic, he's actually the only seme that apologized for being jealous and told uke to ignore his jealousy and keep the relationship with his colleague, that specific scene made me like him even more because he's always trying to better himself for the uke and understand his perspective instead of trying to dominate him.
Hat for the author to make ML a master of gaslights that even readers fall for his manipulations and thought he just easily misunderstood character
I believe people come here not seek fluffy story with kind, wise, hero like seme. People just can identify a bs of a character ╮(￣▽￣)╭
As novel readers myself, all I can see is how seme force uke to dance in his tune. When uke expressed his hurt and misery, seme gaslight him for having a mentality of a victim and challenge uke back is he(uke) thought of him(seme) as the same rapist that give uke trauma. When uke try to get away from him, he gaslight uke by admitting he was the sinner with twisted words that make uke feel bad. This is the character I get about seme. I wish he could turn for the better by making him in this manhwa different. Oh well, wishful just wishful