So many people in the comments complaining about what Pyeonghwa did as if it wasn't apparent from the start that their interactions were caked in corruption, coercion, and violence. Incheol is one of Rep Lee's henchmen and is actively trying to gentrify a low income area for political gain and is perfectly fine with using blackmail, violence, and coercion to get that done. Pyeonghwa is a disturbed individual who uses violence as sexual currency and is willing to play Incheol's political game because he realizes that he has more power than Incheol in this dynamic and exploits that.
These are not good people, they never were, and if yall were reading the story for the sake of understanding what was going on rather than reading it just to look at smut, then yall would've known that and wouldn't be disgusted nor surprised by this because it was ALWAYS there. There is no difference between the events in ch.21 and ch.12, you can't act surprised or disgusted now. I remember making a comment a while ago that said yall were too focused on the smut and not the actual story and A LOT of you got upset, but here we are yet again where my words are proven right. If yall want smut, then read smut, but stop thinking that every BL you read is going to be some green flag story that focuses on romance and nothing else.
Incheol is pathetic and Pyeonghwa is a fuckin freak, I love it. I feel like Incheol originally had the intention of going about this relationship with Pyeonghwa like he has with all his other schemes for the sake of Rep. Lee, with an overexertion of dominance to compensate for the fact that he moves to the beat of another person's drum. Incheol is... well... a dog. He's an obedient servant for Rep. Lee and is willing to do anything to make right by her, even if it means selling his autonomy. He tries coping with this through the corruption of his tactics, whether it be violence, blackmail, or sex. It's not the right way to go about things, but it gets the job done and Incehol is able to feel like he finally has power over someone instead of it being the other way around.
Pyeonghwa and his disturbed nature completely flips this and exploits Incheol's weak nature and propensity to use unorthodox tactics for political gain in his favor. The violent and sexual tactics that would empower Incheol and weaken the other party is now the very thing that empowers Pyeonghwa and weakens Incheol. In the midst of trying to gain power for himself, Incheol has relinquished it to another, yet again. He may have been able to rationalize this dynamic with Rep. Lee because she actually has power and influence, but he cannot grapple with the fact that this lowly young man with a violence kink living in a ghost town is holding up his legs and having his way with him because he has more power than Incheol himself. I really look forward to seeing how Incheol begins to navigate his relationship with Rep. Lee, Pyeonghwa, and himself moving forward. Idk if he'll just condition himself to be a dog for another, or begin realizing that his pursuit of power has led him to being weaker than he's ever been... Excited to see how this unfolds!!
Because we all love this trope
(BL only)
Each page has my top 10 recs for these categories:
Pg 1 ➼ lighthearted
Pg 2 ➼ dark/heavy
Pg 3 ➼ sexual tension
Pg 4 ➼ slow burn
Pg 5 and beyond ➼ mix of stories
(will periodically shuffle order as I add more ◈ last re-organized 10/07/2023)
**The more extreme/explosive relationships tagged hate to love**
Genuinely love how although Joe is not a person used to violence or taking the lives of other humans, he is locked in and willing to risk his own life for Toby and Ian. It's so nice seeing Ian being cared for by other people. And the best part is, you KNOW that neither Toby nor Jo will make Ian feel guilty for putting them in harms way, unlike a certain someone we know. It sucks that Ian continues to be haunted by a past that mainly Jason and TJ orchestrated, but I'm hoping he's able to leave that all behind and live a new life of safety and peace. He deserves to go out on dates with Jo without watching over his shoulder, meet Jo's parents and go on camping trips, visit Toby and her baby every once in a while, having his job or figuring out what to have for dinner with Jo being the only stressful thing hes got going on. I hope to see this series end with Ian being able to get out of the quicksand thats had him stuck for the past 20 years of his life.
I keep seeing everyone talking about this one commenter and let me just say, leave them be! Theyre shadowboxing reading comprehension and losing, have mercy on them In all seriousness though, theyre allowed to be a TJ supporter since its just an opinion, and we still dont know how the series will end. Ian can chose TJ, Jo, or neither. Although I'm personally hoping for Jo, the TJ girlies can still hold their own desire. That being said, you better PRAY you never have a partner like TJ irl because those type of men suck the life energy out of you lmaoooo. Men like TJ can rearrange your guts and make you not want to leave (trust me I know) but outside of sex, they are lost, broken, and want an emotional support human than an actual partner. When you find yourself a Jo, life genuinely is brighter. You find someone that is caring, listens, and can rearrange your guts even better, lol. This is just a perspective you begin to understand once you start living life, going through experiences, and learn a bit more about the world. Yall love the fantasy of the toxic gangster and thats okay, but you forget that this story is about IAN and his journey to healing. Jo always has and always will be the correct answer. But in the end, the decision isnt up to us and we can only wait and see what Doyak decides!
Even though Jason has since passed, his scheming cascades into Ian's life to this day. On one end, TJ contributed to this mess by guilting and trying to manipulate Ian into staying instead of letting he move onto bike racing. On the other hand, Jason set all these events into motion by orchestrating the murder of Jamie's old boss, a consequence that he has the privilege of not facing himself. And to think that Jamie's new boss killed Jamie's brother, an innocent civilian, to frame TJ. No wonder Ian wants to stay far away from all this bullshit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that Jo and Ian can actually move away together and start a life without worrying because this shit is so depraved and dark As for TJ..... maybe he will eventually learn that this life was never worth it and can try to find solace in living the mundane, with a new partner or alone. Will his ego allow him to do that? Find out next time on dragon ball Z!
The fact that some of you think that TJ is the one with the stubble in the red robe actually has me wondering if yall are actually paying attention to the story.... remember Jamie, anyone? Yall so worried fighting over ships you forgot this story actually has a plot
I knew from the get-go that Ian only left Jo because he wanted to protect him and his family, they made it so obvious when he WANTED to write "I'll be back" but then erased it because he felt undeserving of this peaceful life and knew he'd put inncocent people at risk. He then tried to ask TJ to go with him so they can both run away from the "wet sand" (the "wet sand" being their affiliation to the gang and general criminal underworld). But Ian quickly realized that TJ is already neck deep and intends to stay, making TJ himself the very wet sand (aka quicksand) Ian is trying to escape from.
Rather than sinking with TJ as an unacknowledged lover, or going back to Jo to be a perceived liability, Ian chose to be the lone wolf who will use the money to find a life outside of his conflicting worlds. But, Jo..... Jo...... THE MAN THAT HE IS, sought out Ian because this is the love that Ian has wanted and needed for his entire life. Jo, even in the midst of his own hurt feelings, prioritized Ian's safety and well-being. Jo, despite not being gang affiliated, put himself in danger just to attempt to save Ian without the expectation that he'd choose him. TJ couldn't even kiss Ian in public, yet Jo is sticking his neck out and risking his life to save Ian and try to provide a life he knows Ian yearns for. THAT, is what love is, that is what love looks like: understanding and sacrifice.
Out of love, Ian sacrificed a life of peace to protect Jo and his family. Out of love, Jo sought out Ian to make him understand that he is someone worth fighting for and loving. All Ian has ever experienced was dependency veiled as love; manipulative tactics being used to make him stay, intimacy behind closed doors but coldness and stoicism in public, no acknowledgement of what he wants or needs from a relationship... that just ain't the right way to love. Jo going this extra mile will hopefully confirm a lot of things for Ian, and make his path to a life of peace much more clear. We're still at the point where literally anything can happen, but I'm honestly rooting for Jo and Ian to find a home within each other and live peacefully together. I also hope to see TJ be able to find peace in his own right and realize his faults so that he can treat his next partner better. This series is so good, stressful, but good
Seeing past events from Ahn's pov makes me realize just how insane and freaky this man is lmaoooo. I'm really trying to figure out what was the starting point for him to become a pain chaser, and why he is so intrigued by Joo. Like yeah, Joo's hot, but there's definitely more to this than baseline attraction. Is he attracted to Joo's pride conflicting with his desperation? Is he attracted to Joo being this fish out of water who he slowly sees breaking down? I'm also interested to see if the consistent head trauma Ahn is receiving will actually play a larger role in this story. I joked earlier about Ahn likely developing CTE and bouncing off of a dick and into an urn but now.... that may not be so far off
I've been telling yall since day 1, Jo was always the right answer for Ian. As much as I love TJ's character, he is fundamentally flawed and refuses to change the error of his ways, highlighting the toxicity of his "love" as it mainly manifests as possessiveness and trauma. For years, Ian has sacrificed his agency for the sake of a lover who wouldn't even hold his hand in public, TJ wanted to keep Ian as his DL lover to hide during the day and love on at night, thats no way for a man to live. Ian finally saw what love is supposed to look like through Jo. This isnt simply Ian choosing Jo, this is Ian finally choosing himself by deciding to be with Jo. I'm so glad the author actually chose this route and didn't do a half-assed redemption for TJ so that Ian can reunite with his abuser; not every toxic relationship needs to be saved. I'm really looking forward to what comes next, and im a bit worried as to what might be going through TJs head and what he'll do. You know how he gets when sees that Ian is slipping from his grasp.... but we'll see what comes of it.
This man's entire life is manufactured by Rep. Lee, he truly has nothing else outside of his work! Even Joo's girlfriend was something he saw as an asset Rep. Lee gave to him to care for. The more his life comes tumbling down and the more he realizes that he is an expandable pawn to Rep. Lee, the more he'll gravitate towards the chaos that is Ahn in a desperate attempt to cling onto the only thing he knows, which would hopefully catalyze breaking away from his norm to gain some autonomy and agency once more.
I was expecting more to happen from this chapter lmaoo. I cant take much more of this edging, I want to see TJ's decision and how Jo comes into this later on. I'm hoping TJ choses the life over Ian since I like Jo with Ian more, but we'll see what comes of this train wreck.
Engineer and yaoi addict. Yeah, we exist.
she/they**<3
First, let me just say that can yall enjoy a story without foaming at the mouth for a sex scene?? Being sexless but obsessed with sex is an unfortunate combination that I fear many of you suffer from. Rub one out, watch porn, or read a smutty BL instead of diminishing a story that is trying to show and tell more than lightsabers
With that said, I find the dynamic and parallels between Ahn and Joo very interesting, moreso for Ahn. Joo (at least for now) reads as an obedient dog who is trying his best to brown nose and hustle his way up the political ladder to the point where he compromises his agency and morals to be a tool for rep. Lee. But Ahn on the other hand, uses other people as a tool to satiate his violence kink. We have yet to find out the backstory behind that, or if there even is a backstory or just a kink he discovered, but its perplexing to see that the person getting beat on has more autonomy, freedom, and self-respect than the man in the suit working for a rising politician.
I'm looking forward to see how Joo and Ahn's relationship evolves as Joo's personal life begins to break down; I anticipate that rep. Lee will grow tired of Joo and dispose of/replace him as her lapdog, his relationship with his girlfriend unravels further, and he starts reeling as everything that made him feel worth something begins slipping from his grasp. I'm also looking forward to learn more about Ahn as a character because he's still such a ball of mystery to me! Ugh, really enjoying how this story is paced and drawn, feels very cinematic and deliberate. I hope this series gets licensed in english soon because I'm ready to buy the officials when they release!!
Gonna be real, some of yall have the reading comprehension of a baked bean. Not trying to be mean (sorta), I just think yall lack the depth and maturity to understand Ian without calling him a whore or mischaracterizing him altogether. Once yall live long enough to be in relationships and experience some real shit, then you'll be able to understand him better. Ian is not a whore, hes a former gang member/drug addict trying to find peace in his life but is trapped by his love for someone who is still deep in the very life he wants to leave behind. TJ and Ian love each other, but their biggest bond is through their trauma, some of which TJ catalyzed btw. Ian found someone who not only loves him, but also gives him the peace he so desperately wants, Jo. "Why doesn't he stay with Jo and stop two-timing Jo and TJ then?" you might be asking. It's because he is battling with what he wants vs what he thinks he deserves.
Jo represents what Ian desires in life: peace, love thats out in the open, safety, and normalcy. TJ represents what Ian thinks he deserves: stagnation and settlement to atone for his past sins. TJ literally hired people to beat Ian up to prevent him from leaving, tried tying him down with debt to have him stay longer, said Jo having a normal life would scare Ian away and that he was the only one who knew how to tame him... TJ is an abusive partner and has beaten Ian down into thinking that he is the only one he can go to for comfort and the only person he deserves. In this very chapter (81) Ian is saying "I'm the worst" about himself and how someone like him would just end up hurting Jo, he feels defeated. And who does Ian go to every time he feels like he is undeserving of a better life? TJ. The same person who has kept him in the same place, only loving him behind closed doors, for all these years. TJ serves as a reminder to Ian that he is "bad" and "selfish" and isn't deserving of the life he wants/desires, and TJ preys on that insecurity to keep him as his DL lover. Not to mention, everything with Jamie practically forced Ian to leave Jo in the first place! Ian wanted to go back to Jo, but his past life still haunts him and he doesn't want to put Jo or Jo's family in danger because of it.
Ian isn't a whore for not being able to choose between TJ and Jo, he is complex and in a difficult position by having to chose between love that would set him free (Jo) and love that he's trauma bonded with and has found comfort in (TJ). I can only hope that the author is brave enough to actually make Ian move on from TJ, but then again, BL writers love to keep the MCs with their abusive partner and give them a redemption because they had that planned from the start, and we're just along for the ride. Who knows if the next chapter will lay the seeds for making Ian and TJ endgame or breaking them up, I truly hope it's the ladder because I love TJ, but he doesn't deserve Ian and Jo is really good for him. But they again, these decisions are left up to the author.
I'm gonna be so real, team Jo people, we down real bad rn... but I'm interested to see where this goes.
Also, why did that light look like a halo in that one panel?? Please don't play with me rn. I still love TJ so I fear the death flags currently waving his way
Who knows how many beatings this man has been taking throughout the years. The CTE is already frying his brain. He's gonna end up bouncing off of dick and into an urn if he keeps it up.