
I'll pretend like the 3rd season doesn't exist and that the story is just about them falling in love and being pretty forever, like in season 1 and 2. The ending was straight up dumpster fire and doesn't deserve to stand alongside such a nice beginning. I'll only think of this story as the masterpiece it should have been.

Am I the only one who's quite uncomfortable with the 2nd couple? It almost feels like the seme is sleeping with a literal child - like the uke is as naïve as a prepubescent boy and he doesn't seem to know anything about sexuality, not even about his own body. All the sex scenes feel like the seme is just grooming the uke to be sexually active with him. And btw, sex doesn't necessarily entails penetration Mr. I-have-a-dick-so-I-must-penetrate.

I feel like you're not even reading the story because he didn't even had any interest in having sex with him from the get go, also its a about a idol which they generally start idol training about at 13yrs old usually train for 5 years so it's not uncommon based on today's idol standards to be inexperienced. You guys gotta stop applying these moral superiority to every fiction that you read granted there are stores that definitely deserve it but this isn't one of them

It’s so weird that people are attacking you for asking “is anyone else feeling uncomfortable” people can just say, no I’m not uncomfortable & move on instead of trying so hard to invalidate your opinion.
I feel similarly to you - I think if they had established that Hajin actually wants to have sex w him outside of just making sure that Starlight is sponsored, I’d feel fine about his inexperience because I’d know he was a willing participant regardless & this is a win-win for both. But it’s a little unclear. Seme’s inner monologue at least makes it clear the situation isn’t grooming though even if it kind of seems that way. I thought the dynamics of the first couple were fantastic so I’m a little disappointed. When I saw the “it’s not sex without penetration” my eyes rolled so hard.

Yeah, exactly ! I don't dislike the experienced x inexperienced pairing - in fact, it can be quite endearing when it's well done, like in season 1. I loved the 1st season actually.
I'm just super disappointed in the 2nd story tbh, and I wanted to see if I was the only one being weirded out by this dynamic or not (like the emphasis on the uke's body being so small, him feeling uncomfortable, the seme not sharing his thoughts and the weird contemplation of his butthole, and so on). I quite like the characters in themselves actually, but their dynamic is uncomfortable for me. I didn't mean to offend anyone - I just wanted to share my thoughts, which I thought was supposed to be the purpose of the comment section.

Well, that was a hot mess.
I can see what the author was going for, but the execution was just NOT IT.
The cabinet thing was so unecessary and unimpactful. Like it didn't bring anything to the story. I hate this I-secretly-know-you-since-childhood trope, even more when it brings nothing to the table.
Not excusing what he did, but the red-head guy was obviously a victim of rape and drug abuse. Like wtf did the author think with creating this character? What happened with him choking the sex offender? He should've received justice and not be antagonised. What a badly-written villain. I just feel pity for him (even tho I agree that he did something despicable to mc). I won't even comment on the other doofus.
The drugging and sexual assault by the childhood friend was so UNECESSARY LIKE WHY EVEN THINK OF THAT AS A PLOT DEVICE. That's just messed up. And like the mc seemed to have a moment of clarity in the last talk-show about not talking to a friend who has feelings for you out of respect for your bf. Where did this clarity go? In the trash, like all the rest of the plot it seems (and where soobin belongs as well).
And don't even get me started on the main characters and their love story. So lackluster. The only redeeming quality is the art, which is nothing exceptional either. Quite poorly written story if you ask me.

I still don't understand why marrying each other wouldn't solve most of their problems. Is it just me who's a dumbass or am I missing something ╮( ̄▽ ̄)╭

It involves the imperial family and the other factions so it’s more complicated than that. You’re right it would but the blondie(MC) mother who’s high in power including with the other factions wouldn’t leave them alone, so they’d need to deal with that first, then the King which I think would be easier.

Yeah, I understand why the mom would still be a problem, but I feel like she's a problem in every scenario because she's just that evil. At least they wouldn't have to hide like that if they were openly together. But I guess I see why the author is going in that direction. Just seems like a more complicated path ( ̄∇ ̄")

The mother k1lls everyone who gets in the way of her plans so if they were seen together ML and the people around him including the people who would support him to become king would be in danger then if they (the nobles who support ML to be king) get attacked by the queen like assassinated or their wealth decrease. Worse situation, ML d1es or gets poisoned and sick.
It does seem a dramatic path but the most realistic out of all, if they just get married and the author who had described the Queen as a dangerous women disregards that just for the romance between the two, the story quality would be even more unrealistic and honestly crappy

Above comments are right, also because marrying e/o would be against what the factions wanted. Which is herace family hogging the power if etty ascends the crown (cos obv more power would be given to shar for being dominant as explained by empress) and if shar became emperor, the aristocratic faction would be supressed.
The new artstyle is honestly not that bad (I've seen worst tbh), but it does lack one of the most charming effect of the previous one - the sensuality between the two main characters. Their expressions, the close ups of them looking at each others, the intimacy in the sex scenes, ... All of this is missing in the continuation. I felt like I was reading two different stories. I'm at least satisfied that the story has a conclusion, but the new artist should have tried a bit more to capture the sensual essence of the previous part.