I've read a TON of manhwas/mangas with toxic stories. And this is far from it. I feel like ppl just read and only read from the POV of the MC and not at all the entire picture. Sure nowadays, most BLs aren't that original. We've got the contractual fake relationship. the thirsty, sexually charged ML who isn't that nice, the realization of love afterwards, blah blah blah. This already has gotten creative by having the MC and ML's motivation be different from usual plotlines. PLUS technically, ML and MC are on equal grounds. Both are chaebols who have a ton of money.
But ppl out here really be thinking this ML is a red flag. Ooof, even without comparing him to other MLs, he shows actual logical thinking. To him, Yigon's reputation is AWFUL. He has no reason to trust this lunatic, spouting crazy nonsense who doesn't even have a credible reputation. He told his assistant to background check him. He's slightly confused why Yigon is saying one thing but his reputation is the complete opposite.
As for his sexual tendencies, that's like THE MOST COMMON way authors like to portray their MLs. A little forceful, more domineering, rough, rapey. Yea I said it. The more common fetishes are rapey inclinations. On an objective level, of course, its wrong. Esp in the beginning, Yigon is very RELUCTANT but willing to do so for his life, and its wrong. But later on, he's more willing. Ppl always harp on what the ML says like "If you fainted, it would turn me on so much" BRUH that's just dirty talking. You guys acting like he some monster.
As for his actions, I saw a few kind/sweet moments from him. He still treated Yigon decently. But yea he is sorta an asshole but a typical one. Not a black flag/red flag, totally dont give a shit about you person. He even offered to introduce Yigon to a psychiatrist bc he truly believed Yigon was delusional. Regardless, I'm still excited for what's to come bc I truly cannot predict what will happen--and that is whats really rare for this medium.
I feel like the diff timelines should've been approached differently? I know all the spoilers based on the novels and I feel like the author should've kept the timelines more individualistic as in making the outcome the results of their behaviors and not on some arbitrary fate. Like Aeroc being an omega no matter the timeline. That's fine. It's just the author pushing this idea that most big plot points don't change which sorta contradicts the idea of diff timelines. I also think this chapter was really a big miss. Kloff is remembering WAY TOO MANY details about the previous life and they seem to be talking it out now, which doesn't really make sense.
Someone please tell me there are more chapters. I heard and saw there are 2 more left where it is quite short and shown they will have 5 children. BUT I want to know if we will have actual chapters about the pregnancy and thereafter. It would be such a shame to not show that when the author has extended this story and shown such growth and closure for Ilya between him and his father.
This is why sometimes, original work is peak. Author is actually having the characters use their brain. Tae-kang is like I've been texting him, he's reading it but I'm getting a text message from someone else. Hold up, something ain't right. AND this executive is delaying shit. Nah I'm out" There's actual thinking, suspicion, and action. I still have no idea where this is going. Hopefully next chapter will be a step forward but not a complete 180 where they're all a-ok now.
This is almost exactly like Kiss me Liar. Everything is rushed, cliche, and things just happen so abruptly, it feels like whiplash. I feel like this story is such a bipolar manic episode. Apparently they changed some things from the novel but I don't think THAT much was changed considering the story beats being so similar with Kiss me Liar. I am skimming these last few chapters but what the hell is this? All of a sudden Chase cares. All of a sudden they're sleeping together. Like bro, what happened to keeping your son a secret? There's literally no stakes in this.
I thought the pacing made sense. Being that chase seems that Josh is considerate of his feelings and risked his life to protect him when they were alone. I would assume he’d start to like him.
The pacing is pretty awful bc there is no buildup. The buildup is not done right. Everything just happens bc the author wants it to happen.
She wants Josh to jerk Chase off?
Sure that's the 1st option he chooses when Chase is out of breath or whatever. Does that make sense for Josh's character? Is he supposed to be a weak-willed character who does not have anything to hide from Chase? Like the fact that he marked him and has his child and is an omega? You would think a character like how he's described would TRY TO AVOID Chase at all costs in order to protect his secrets. At least make it so the circumstances REQUIRE him to choose a LAST RESORT to jerk him off.
Everything happens as a sole purpose to put them together instead of making a story that makes sense where they find comfort in each other through Chase's trauma, slowly build sexual tension, HESITATE to engage with him for his son's sake, etc.
I KNEW ppl were lying when they said the novel is amazing and Chase is a GREAT character who's completely different from Keith. Oh please, he's violent like him, abrupt like him and develops superficial feelings just as fast as Keith. And Josh? What makes him stronger or better than Yeonwoo? Just bc he can fight? He literally RAN to temptation--Chase's dick. At least Yeonwoo FOUGHT BACK and tried to run FROM temptation.
This is some good stuff. No amnesia but just coldheartedness from our Yigon BECAUSE of what his brother shared with him, revealing the true nature of their contract--the actual benefits to Tae-kang. I understand Yigon being mad but as someone else pointed out, where can he go from here?
I thought of two ways this can go.
1) Yigon figures this shit out for himself, maybe goes to grandpa and actually fights his brother for the chairman role
2) Flip the script and this time enter another agreement with Tae-kang but having the upper hand instead - maybe decide to fight Ha-kyung together?
I just really hope the author utilizes the fact that she's brought up that Yigon is really smart and show some of these traits in his next steps. Other than that I'm very glad this did not go the amnesia route bc amnesia does NOTHING for the plot. It will be interesting to see where this author takes this, esp considering this is an original work that has held up to this point FOR ME.
I prefer the first one.
Same I hope he becomes the chairman
I actually hope he just fights his brother to prove that he could if he wanted to become chairman but I don't think being chairman is something Yigon wants or should be.
I once lined up a bunch of predictions for Yigon but nope, the author is just too unpredictable help ㅠㅠ
WHICH is what we have been needing from BL stories. Everything is just too predictable, cliche, and stereotypical. For once, I can truly say, I do not know where this is going, it hasn't let me down yet and I'm excited to see what happens next.
I know a lot of readers are praising this story, stating how different and sweet Chase is from Keith (from Kiss me Liar) but knowing this story is from the same author as the shit story Kiss me Liar (has a few positives) and seeing how this is going, this story ain't it. It takes more than just making the ML traumatized and sweet.
Everything that happens in this story is either cliche, stereotypical, or contrived just for the sake of it--just for the smut. An example of this is when Josh finds Chase in the woods of the party and Chase has some sort of reaction and the next thing Josh does is jerk him off... There isn't any worldbuilding to explain how the omegaverse works in this universe and they just state it as its happening, that he needs to drain his pheromones or else he can't breathe.
And for someone who supposedly is trying his best to hide his identity from the alpha he marked, Josh does a pretty poor job. Almost every time they engage, its sexual but there is no sexual tension or any reluctance/hesitation from Josh. You could say he's overcome by the pheromones but there's no worldbuilding to establish that. There's barely any inner dialogue to even show that Josh is worried about Chase finding out.
Side note, ppl praise the art too but I think the art leaves much to be desired. Look at Yeonwoo--the soft, round, juvenile look he's given bc he's an omega. After Chase got his hair dyed, he looks like a punkass gothic teenager.
youve actually made great points. between both this story and kiss me liar the only world buildin that stuck to me was that omegas can also mark alphas but after an alpha is marked by an omega the alpha cant mark any other omega. that is the one and only thing that stuck. aside from that everythin you said is true. in kiss me liar the last i checked there was another amnesia plot which didnt really add anythin to the plot tbh
no clue if this makes sense haha ＿|￣|○
The powerbalance in this one is different, which makes it better than in KML.
The omega is stronger in this one, not just physcally, but also has much more selfconfidence. The alpha seems much weaker here, much more naiive and innocent, if he ignore his violent behaviour at the beginning. And sweet, Chase is sweet to Josh, Pete and Josh's family, but if he improved otherwise in this aspect that wasn't really shown, but Josh will most likely have an eye on it.
The power balance shown so far is not the one you describe. Yes Josh is "stronger" and I guess the alpha is weaker but this isn't really shown in the context of them being in a relationship which is where power balances really play a part. You seem to really be referring to the novel which I am not basing my opinion on. I disagree that the omega was weaker in Kiss me Liar, bc he had the balls to stand up to Keith, drug him and fully intend on running away. He showed REAL defiance. He also had self confidence but key difference is Yeonwoo LOVED Keith which is what made him weak to his advances. Josh is "strong" physically as shown by his capabilities as a security guard but there is no such resilience mentally as he has shown to give in to this alpha he does not even love.
Yeonwoo had the balls to drug him and run away, because he bit him which made his situation much more complicated. And he was pregnant on top of that.
An omega biting and alpha is a different thing than an alpha biting an omega in this universe, you should know that.
And there are a lot of omegas leaving their alpha in the authors stories. Poor Angel always runs away, Koi left Ash for a long time, Josh raised Pete on his own. Yeonwoo later runs away again.. .
Yeonwoo's weakness is Keith and him being a bit naive. He is resourceful and can use his head, yes I know that, but he too often let Keith have his way.
Having a weakness for their partner is ok, but well Keith was really an asshole for a long time. And the pusherover-trash concern over Spence and the Miller children of Keith, is based on his relationship with Yeonwoo, sure it changed over time.
Yes, Yeonwoo loved Keith, but it's also true that he worked as his secretary for 2 years and most of time was managing Keith sexual afairs with actresses... . Imagine how that is for someone who loves Keith.
If Josh loved Chase or not at the beginning is difficult to tell.
Chase who was dressed like a girl in a chocolate commercial was Josh's first love. Josh didn't sleep with anyone else after Chase, and he was a womanizer before. He said it was because of Pete, but who knows. But what is clear from the beginning is, that Josh is very weak for Chase's beautiful face.
The problem here is also that their work relationship is different, Josh can't just quit because there are others relying on him.
My favorite of the author stories is Desire me if you can (web novel), that's different again from the others.
You got some fair points. I just think the execution and the way the writing is done is pretty shitty for both stories. I'm not surprised by the numerous novels that have come out. They still are stereotypical and very surface level, especially the manhwas. You mentioned the omega biting the alpha and that being diff in this universe but both adaptations have failed to explain anything about how omegaverse works so Yeonwoo biting Keith means nothing to me bc I legitimately do not know how, what, why. The premise is interesting but the execution leaves much to be desired.
At this point, I know we all thinking he either has amnesia or goes into a coma after this accident. I actually really pray and hope that that will not be the case. It's too cliche, overdone and boring. If the title has any bearing on this manhwa, I really hope like many predicted amnesia but with the twist that he's fakng it. We NEED something different--something that FLIPS THE SCRIPT. Maybe pretend to be crippled? Or pretending to lose intelligence? This needs to be done right or I'm crashing out.
You might be interested in Red Mansion. There is a ton of insanity and lying and just straight crazy in there. Very fun and different and its completed.
This chapter is soo short, I thought when someone said "rip up the contract yes!" meant Yigon actually ripped up the contract but instead its just them having a fight where Taekang is terminating the contract. LOVE the conversation happening here tho bc Yigon is telling him EXACTLY how and what has happened instead of just shutting up and leaving. This shouldn't have ended when Yigon said "you think im a delusional lunatic" NOOOOO I CANT WAIT ANOTHER WEEK FOR ANOTHER SHORT CHAPTER PLEASSE!
I rather wait 2 weeks for a longer full chapter than wait 1 week for half a chapter. This should've ended with maybe Yigon ripping the contact or leaving and packing and some shit starts to go down with this vague ass plan of his brother's and THEN cliffhanger.
I know the glossing over the brother molesting/raping Miyabi was a bad move. I thought the author would do something more with it. But other than that aspect, I think the author did well on the growth and new obstacles Miyabi and Haruto face. The hard questions like, what even is a family? How does or will he even know how to love? The author really focused on Miyabi learning to communicate, be unsure of the future, and learning to be more independent. That was good aspect to dig into but it did fall a little short. This could've been a whole 5-6 volumes to develop and go through Miyabi's trauma even more closely.