beta
I completely understand that it's not gonna be everyone's cup of tea - every piece of media isn't gonna be for everyone, but I really don't think it's a bad story in and of itself.
aside from a complete and total lack of lube at times, nothing so far seems out of place within the confines of this story. jaekyung is a brash and bullying yet self-deprecating and isolated figure who's risen to the top of his sport through sheer aggression and perseverance. dan is a tenacious, immensely skilled hardworker with a history of exploitation (sexual, financial, and physical) violence, and a clear fear of abandonment (i think he's a orphan? idk but he grew up poor with only his gran). Nothing Dan has, has ever been handed to him, he's had to work and struggle for a pittance.
you put these two into a world where money is king, and so the power dynamics are entirely imbalanced in favour of jaekyung. and yet, both characters are actually dependent on each other, although one party (jaekyung lmao) refuses to acknowledge that.
then you throw jealousy, lust and love into the pot???? fucking hell, what a banging mix! not only does the author (imo) brilliantly explore the socioeconomic differences between the two, and how that affects their relationship, but they also show how these two change each other.
is a lot of this explored through dark, grim, and non-consensual means? absolutely! and if that's not your cuppa tea, that's so understandable!