[long post ahead]
This is a tricky one but love it regardless because it tells you that these characters are layered.
For Zeo, approaching Rawon hits 2 birds in one stone.
2 birds being:
1. Getting Rawon to reciprocate his attraction (sexual and now, romantic)
2. Sending a message to his brother, Editor K—to stop exposing rich people shit.
To Zeo, his attraction to Rawon is genuine. It also makes for a very effective and convenient bait for K. He tracks K’s movements while courting Rawon, waiting for K to catch them in the act. Fully aware that K hates for his brother to be involved with the very circle who has had a hand in his late boyfriend’s death. And K bit, confronted Zeo, all’s history.
Consequence: To Rawon, it felt like the whole time they’ve been getting to know each other, flirting and bantering, was just another stepping stone for Zeo’s corporate-political role. That their burgeoning relationship was nothing but a convenient turn of events in the grand scheme of things. And what’s worse? Zeo did not see anything wrong with that.
Yes, Zeo was not your standard rapist, abusive, douchey, sexual deviant of an ML. But he also has not been honest, he was dismissive to Rawon’s concerns because he’s the type to justify the means with the most favorable end, and he was willing to use his own attraction/feelings to get it too. I mean if you can’t even treasure your own, then you have no business wanting a relationship of mutual respect and devotion.
It doesn’t matter to Zeo that he has to throw a rock as long as it gets him those 2 birds. What he didn’t expect is for Rawon to take the hit and fly away regardless.
Mostly agree except for the part of Zeo being "dismissive" --- which I feel doesn't paint a fair picture... Rawon was also mostly in it just for the thrill, but he caught feelings for real. He also likes to assume things instead of confront the truth, and would actually rather not know most of the time (he did so on several counts) so it's hard to say Zeo was being dismissive of Rawon's concerns when Rawon himself was also dismissive and being flippant of said concerns---it wasn't something he ever brought up to Zeo. Not at all to say you were wrong in your analysis, but just wanted to throw that out. They were both mutually in a consenting fling, of which Zeo had more to benefit from, but simply realized he loved Rawon more than anticipated after the fact.
It should also be noted that Zeo only made the connection between Editor K and Rawon much later into their affair. He didn't start his relationship with Rawon under the guise of using him to get to Editor K, but he did try seize an opportunity once he made the connection - is this devious and possibly manipulative? Yes. Does he need to apologise for that? Absolutely? But neither Rawon or K have explicity made it clear why he's in the wrong, why Rawon left, thus leaving him to assume and deteriorate and second guess their relationship, and Rawon's confession.
Ohh I thought it was implied that Zeo knew or had an educated guess in the first chapter alone. Then the ‘connection’ of their relation came later for the readers’ benefit, to clue us in on Zeo’s current stance and how it has never changed despite the escalation of his and Rawon’s relationship.
He had an inkling, but he didn't approach Rawon romantically with that intention. He kept him close work wise for that reason and to confirm who Editor K was, but their affair was organic (at least that's how I saw it)
? That’s what I said—in my first response.
Why are people calling this a redemption arc? What is the redemption is supposed to be about? Like what did the ML actually do for yall to believe he needs one?