Nope, absolutely not. The anger/hate against Yuhyeon is absolutely justified.
Jinwon was already established as the alpha heir of Cheokwrong (or whatever they call that company) that Yuhyeon does business with. It was also implied that the company wants to own Yuhyeon's company
Plan A, Jinwon's father thinks the reason Jinwon defected is because working for Yuhyeon as a double agent and a spy that would gather and feed Intel to his own company.
Plan B, on discovering the deal the Chairman made with Yuhyeon, decides to make Yuhyeon their omega by getting him hitched to either Jinwon or the father himself. That is the reason why the father gave him the aphrodisiac, so Yuhyeon can become with kid, and so automatically, thereby getting the reins of Yuhyeon's company.
Yuhyeon knows this, he's not an idiot. Implied in his conversation with Jinwon. There's a reason why he took Jinwon in to rub it in the dad's face that he's using his heir as his lackey.
The only reason why Yuhyeon began to distance himself from Hyeondo was because his father (not Hyeondo himself) says he thought Yuhyeon and Hyeondo would mate which was why he gave him the ultimatum. Obviously, the dad is aware of Hyeondo's feelings, and is tired of the cat and mouse chase he thought the deal would make Yuhyeon mate with Hyeondo and he wins (he gets his grandbaby)
Annoyed at Hyeondo, Yuhyeon decides not to stay at his house but rather to live with his alpha secretary (ok homie)
BUT from Yuhyeon's perspective of the aphrodisiac scene, he saw water prepared for him by Jinwon, drinks it, get drugged and raped. On what Earth did it not even register to Yuhyeon that Jinwon is trying to get his company through this? That his loyalty was all a fake and in reality, he was still loyal to his father's company? He bitches about Hyeondo wanting the company, but why didn't he question Jinwon's loyalty at this point?
His secretary who is the heir to his fierce rival company, and that same rival company wants to own/buy out his own company, suddenly drugs him and raped him? And he didn't even think "wait a second"?
At least Hyeondo was pretty much clear he wants to be the chairman, but for all Yuhyeon's mind, Jinwon is a scheming guy who made him trust him all these years just to make him let his guard down and, drugged him and rape him to get him pregnant just so he can get his company. But instead, he tells him "use a condom at least", hears him out, BANDAGED him and by the end, is so nonchalant about it. Why does he gets a pass and Hyeondo doesn't? Why does he gives Hyeondo so much flake but forgives Jinwon who for all he knows, is trying to get into his pants so HE can get his company. Which is the bigger betrayal?
I completely missed/willfully forgot a lot of Yuhyeok's hypocrisy in his treatment of Hyeondo & Jinwon that you highlighted when I wrote that, mostly becaused I enjoy writing for a team/bias normally (I'm usually chill irl so being opinionated online is fun) & I think my biases were worse because of how stressed I have been. I'll probably need to reread to give myself a proper chance to reform an opinion, but your reply is very convincing & well written so thank you!
Welcome
I used to like the secretary & the omega rat from the ops until recent affairs, & most of my like for them it's because I felt both mc's are way too stupid about the chairmanship ordeal. It's obvious that Yuhyeon wants to be chairman, so I don't know why Hyeondo thinks that bet still makes sense today. It's clear Yuhyeok has forgotten it (to a reader at least), but he shouldve asked during their meeting. Yuhyeok also should've just plainly said "you can have a kid with me if you give up the chairmanship & your stocks" since Hyeondo obviously wants him.
But no, neither of them know how to read a room, or negotiate, or sell somebody on an idea using things the person would care about. It's not like you'd need those skills in business right? (I'm not a ceo so maaaybe I'm wrong yk). The issues over the chairmanship are the main driving force behind the story, so I understand from a storytelling perspective that it can't be easily solved, but there can, there must, be better ways to create conflicts without making the main characters so incompetent.
I see a lot of people claiming Hyeondo is better than this & getting very mad at Yuhyeok mostly over 31, which I find mostly reasonable. The few issues I have with all of these takes are that:
- Yuhyeok has trusted Jinwon for ages, & it can be hard to fully accept something relationship shattering like that when your stressed & tired (which he likely has been ever since the dinner with his dad
- Jinwon seemed like he trying to prevent further mess before he caved to his instincts like a fucking dickwad & (from Yuhyeok's perspective) has never done anything like this before (being attracted to him) so Yuhyeok is probably confused
- he literally beat him up (over at least punched Jinwon until his nose bloody) so he was mad (saw people saying he wasn't)
- he knows Hyeondo is possessive & controlling, so obviously (at least to me) he's concerned about how Hyeondo will react (examples like trying to kill Jinwon, keep Yuhyeok locked at home "for his safety," & taking over his secretary's role which would cause more tension over the chairmanship)
While it really sounds like I'm dickriding Yuhyeok, please understand that I thought his determination to be chairman & attitude about being an omega in a position of power was cool & admirable. It's what kept me reading. I think he had amazing potential until the dumbass author decided to write in goddamn rape because I know it's gonna be handled terribly.
All this to say; I don't like Hyeondo, I think he's kinda stupid & too possessive in a story where I feel the uke doesn't deserve that. I dont like Yuhyeok, he's terrible at communicating/reading people & justice had his character ruined in one chapter. I have been very stressed & mad recently & this just ticked me off enough to rant. It's been about 26 minutes of very interrupted typing so if anyone actually read all of that & still wants more, ask away.