Feel free to ask questions! I did my best lol. Please know that it 3am rn and my writing might be confusing or off
Also I don't mind sharing the novel but just dm me or comment if u want to read it
imagine having such a hard life that being kidnapped by a second generation chaebol is much more preferable. I would stay too lol imagine not having to cook or worry about the next day’s meal, not even work a part time job
can i have the link? this sounds too interesting to wait for more chapters
Hello, hoping for the Nobel, please and thank you
I have never seen such a beautiful literary analysis in this app before. Thanks for the spoiler and the novel link
Great summary! Thank you!
I try my best with the spoilers or summary lol
Omg btw the ml is so funny. He’s always nagging Seonwoo about his lifestyle telling him to eat properly, work out, go run, stop eating junk food, etc. There’s this one scene where Ihyun falls asleep, and Seonwoo tries to quietly sneak off to make ramen. Then Ihyun wakes up and catches him in the act, “I told you to eat meals on time, and here you are making ramen and eating ham in the middle of the night?”
Another time, after Seonwoo recovered from pneumonia, Ihyun told him to go outside and run around the house three times a day. Seonwoo agreed… but by day three he gave up. Ihyun asked, “Did you run around the house three times?” and Seonwoo didn't so of course, Ihyun started nagging him again about taking care of himself. Mind you this was when he was still confined
Like I said before, I really do think the ML is a gentle person deep down. A lot of his behavior comes from trauma, which makes it even sadder. It feels like this whole “kidnapping” situation with Seonwoo is actually what Ihyun wished he had as a kid just watching TV, playing games, eating good food in a safe place.
I’m not justifying the kidnapping(obviously it’s not okay but tbf seonwoo really doesn't think this is kidnapping or confinement. I don't think so too bro is treated so nice) but it really shows how much Ihyun is still stuck in the dark emotionally. Seonwoo kind of realizes that and that why he so gentle with Ihyun, always comforting him or saying things to express his love. Ihyun would always get scared seonwoo would leave and Seonwoo would always tell him, "I'm not leaving. I wanna stay with you"
Thank you for all the spoilers and the message! I didn’t respond because I didn’t know how to work it sorry but very much appreciated!!!
It all good gurl! Lol have fun reading it! I enjoyed it!
SCREAMING ITS SO GOOOD!!!! I was legit crying at some parts and am almost finished already cuz I couldn’t wait
Comfortable confinement literally. Lol I love their dynamic. I will read the English translated novel. I bought the korean version one to support author coz of your summary. (≧∀≦) around 5,300 won including the special chapters on ridibooks app.
This was the best summary & analysis I’ve read! This makes me want to read this story novel & webtoon so much Thank you!!!
Ikr?? (≧∀≦)
Spoilers ahead like, full on spoilers. If you don’t want to be spoiled, scroll past now!
Why did the ML kidnapped the Mc? To explain that im gonna provide some context.
So, the MC (Seonwoo) and his childhood friend Yoochan were both orphans. They had no family, no support system. Yoochan was the rough type, always getting into gang activity and bullying others. Seonwoo wasn’t like that, but he still tagged along, never really stopping Yoochan or stepping away.
Eventually, Yoochan got involved with a dangerous gang. The gang used both of them and would abuse them. An Hyungtae, there leader who is ruthless, cold, and terrifying took a particular interest in Seonwoo, more than Yoochan, which made Yoochan jealous.
Later, Seonwoo was given a mission. It was to “Get close to Ihyun” (aka the ML). He even gave Seonwoo candy and nice clothes to help him blend in and look the part. Seonwoo and Ihyun became friends and played games, eating food, and just going out. Seonwoo noticed Ihyun’s parents weren’t very present or attentive, and he reported that to An Hyungtae. The next day, An Hyungtae told him to bring Ihyun out again and when Seonwoo invited ihyun to the arcade a van suddenly pulled up and kidnapped both of them. Ihyun was tied up wrists and ankles while Seonwoo just stood there, frozen in shock. Ihyun looked at him with tears in his eyes, completely betrayed.
Ihyun was locked in a basement. Small, dark, dirty, and disgusting. He was barely fed. Eventually, Seonwoo found him. Horrified, he made a plan to help Ihyun escape. Long story short: he put Ihyun in a cage to make it seem like he was gone and sneak him out. But before this Yoochan found out and told Seonwoo he was gonna tell An Hyungtae but Seonwoo, terrified of being found out beat the shit of yoochan and after yoonchan passed out he ran.
Seonwoo brought Ihyun to the police and told them everything. Detective Noh took the case seriously and arrested the gang. Turns out, An Hyungtae had been hired by a rival with a grudge against Ihyun’s parents to kidnap him.
So why did the ML kidnap the MC years later?
Because he was angry. ML (Ihyun) hated that Seonwoo got to live a normal life. Working. Making college friends. Moving on. Meanwhile, he was left behind with trauma and scars. He was kidnapped and betrayed, and Seonwoo just… moved forward. Ihyun wanted Seonwoo to understand the pain he went through to experience what it felt like to be trapped, helpless, and forgotten.
ML’s Trauma
Ihyun struggles with PTSD, especially around dark, enclosed spaces. His bedroom literally reflects this. it’s basically a giant cage. A scaled-up version of the one he was held in as a child. It’s tall and wide enough that he doesn’t have to crouch, but it still feels overwhelming. The cage fills nearly the entire room, which is just a bit smaller than Seonwoo’s bedroom. Sunlight filters in through the window, casting shadows of the bars over the bed. It smells like oil and metal.
Ihyun has multiple locks on the cage, and he fastens each one from top to bottom every night. Without them, he can’t sleep. It’s part of his trauma.
How did they get closer? How did they fall in love?
When Seonwoo got kidnapped, he actually… didn’t hate it. At first, he was scared but then he kind of liked being lazy. And it’s important to note: Ihyun never abused or raped him. The MC was terrified he’d be thrown into a dark, nasty basement and fed only dumplings or sold off for ransom at any moment. But none of that happened.
In fact, Seonwoo didn’t even feel like he was kidnapped. He thought he deserved a harsher punishment because of the guilt. Ihyun was treating him nice too.
Regular, delicious meals three times a day, fresh fruit and snacks, plenty of sleep, warm sunlight, fluffy blankets that smelled like fabric softener, and soft floors and walls everywhere. His body, used to little sleep and constant overwork, adjusted fast to the cozy life.
Since starting university, Seonwoo had been under so much stress on top of working two or three part-time jobs. He even felt sorry for Ihyun, who had traumatic memories of basement, while Seonwoo found comfort in it.
At first, he lived in the first floor, but when Ihyun saw Seonwoo trying to leave after he stepped near the door, he panicked and moved him to the basement. But it wasn’t bad at all. The basement had everything Seonwoo liked: a TV, video games, a bed, food, everything.
He liked that Ihyun could only sleep deeply when he was around. He liked the desperate way Ihyun looked at him. He liked that Ihyun couldn’t get enough of him. He liked the affection and even started to like Ihyun himself. He liked when Ihyun showed his obsession. He liked being desired. He was even satisfied with the metaphorical (and literal) shackle that kept him from running away.
Even when they had sex, it never escalated beyond a hand job until Seonwoo told Ihyun he wanted to go further. He told Ihyun to put it in and that he wanted it. Lol. He liked that Ihyun couldn’t sleep without him, that he was wanted, needed. He even liked that their relationship started as childhood friends and led to this. Once Seonwoo realized his true self and feelings, he let everything go.
One arc that stood out:
When the MC got pneumonia ihyun thought it was bc of the basement but it was actually bc of mc had apartment. It got really bad and he wasn’t eating or moving, and Ihyun freaked out. He seriously thought Seonwoo was going to die. When Seonwoo got better, he told Ihyun that he wanted to stay with him. That he wouldn’t run away. That he liked being with him.
Ihyun got scared and thought maybe Seonwoo had Stockholm syndrome, so he called a psychiatrist. LMAO. But in the end, Ihyun realized Seonwoo genuinely liked being by his side. Seonwoo even listed all the reasons why. They ended up together and lived happily.
Some thoughts:
BTW, the ML is actually very gentle in his own way. And Seonwoo realized that. Ihyun’s trauma is so deep and heavy that Seonwoo couldn’t even compare what he went through to it. And that’s why he allowed Ihyun to do what he wanted because he understood it. He believed he deserved it. You could tell that even when Ihyun was relaxed with Seonwoo, he was still haunted by what happened.
One scene that hit hard:
Seonwoo, held tightly in Ihyun’s arms, thought:
“But the padlocks seem more for himself than for me…”
Judging by how worn out the locks were, they had clearly been used for a long time. They weren’t there to imprison someone, they were for Ihyun’s mental stability. Maybe he couldn’t even sleep without them.
(Which was true.)
I didn’t fully finish the novel, but the last arc explains more in detail about Ihyun’s trauma and his personality. It’s honestly really sad how much pain he’s in. And while he might look like one of those obsessed, possessive MLs… he’s not. Not really. He’s just a broken person trying to hold on and Seonwoo is the piece that helped him.