Responses
Thank you so much for this. I don't want to hate Hyesung; I always choose to support or believe what the author wants us to believe or they want us to portray, but I'm having a hard time not to feel frustrated with him. I don't understand what's going on with him at all.
Sorry that I have to hop on the ranting boat. I love tsundere male characters, such as Mo Guanshan from 19 days, but Hyesung turns me off. 70+ chapters and we have no character development. Yes, character consistency is important, but development is equally, if not more, important. It is the job of a writer, thus, to balance these two elements.
The reason why Hyesung irks so many readers is the contradiction in what readers see and what readers are supposed to feel. Readers are supposed to feel that Hyesung likes Dojin but we see no such thing. Hyesung has done absolutely nothing for Dojin, never shown that he cares for Dojin's well-being etc, never shown that he is touched by the affection and sacrifices that Dojin made.
Here many Hyesung lovers would argue that we must sympathize with Hyesung, because Hyesung cannot bring himself to like Dojin just yet due to the terrible things Dojin did in the past. First of all, Hyesung does like Dojin, at least that's what the author wants us to believe. Second, even if the reason Hyesung is so apathetic towards DJ is because he still has a hard time forgiving Dojin, then the writer must explain it. Have a panel or two about Hyesung's inner turmoil. Such inclusion would also add great depth to Hyesung's character. It should never be left to the readers to have to theorize why Hyesung is so cold towards Dojin.
Right now Hyesung is no tsundere. He's just a tsun.
If you look at Guanshan, Guanshan insults He Tian all the time, but there are little moments that show he cares/ is touched, such as when he holds Tian's hands while Tian is having a nightmare, when he tries to stop the blood on Tian's hand, when he rushes over to Tian because he's afraid Tian is dying, when he asks Tian to give him a pair of pure black studs to mark him, etc. Old Xian is doing a great job balancing consistency and development. Guanshan is the same old sassy tsundere, but his feelings for Tian grow more and more evident.