Shallow conflict. I wonder how much the author is going to milk it.

Sure the ML could have worded his thoughts better. However he comes from old money so he is more straightforward than commoners, that's understandable. He was raised to be in the position of authority so he never had to learn to mix words about what he thinks, so his thoughtlessness is also understandable.

But MC's conflict is so shallow and his writing isn't convincing at all. People who have been through what he has been through know for a fact that ego and pride can only take you so far. He was literally in the dumps before ML came along and even if he doesn't want to hear it, if it hadn't been for the ML he would have been a goner for sure. He would have either collapsed from the overwork, or been maimed or killed by the loan sharks. He has no one backing him, he has absolutely no one to fall back on. He should know that he is a good student no matter what others think about him, he works hard and strives harder. But in real-life, people who have suffered non stop hardships would only be thankful for the leg up, for a helping hand. It doesn't mean that they think they are less than, it only means that they are finally getting the support that everyone else takes for granted. They would be grateful for the help, and most people in his position, especially in a money obsessed and status obsessed culture like korea, would be immensely thankful to what the ML did for him. It's absolutely true MC is better off without his father. His father wouldnt think twice to sacrifice his own son for his benefit, and the MC knows this very well. ML played the role for him that ideally his father should have, as his protector and financial and emotional support system. ML is absolutely right in thinking that's what MC wanted too, but MC is too blinded by his pride to be able to see that. He is doing better at his studies, he has been able to have a social life, all because of ML. He was able to experience a fuller, more satisfying life, all because of ML. And that in proportion is much greater than MC's shallow pride.

You can deride the value and importance of money and romanticize pride however much you want but it takes financial security to even romanticize pride. You gotta have the leisure to be able to do that, and that leisure can only be accessed with money.

I know most readers prefer to dickride the uke's character because #self insert, but objectively MC's writing doesn't make much sense, neither does it make him such a subject of sympathy. If anything, it makes him read hypocritical, ungrateful and immature. He knows that even if ML's words are harsh, his intentions come from a place of kindness and affection. Is is such a crime to not want to see your beloved suffer? At the root of ML's actions, is affection and care, not arrogance. Arrogance is what he uses to self preserve, at least in the case of his relationship with MC. But any sensible reader can see that ML loves MC and cares for him, even if he hasn't consciously worded it to himself.

Also it's such a oversight on MC's behalf to not put two and two together as to what ML's occupation was. He is a big businessman, he never looked him up online? Would it really have been that difficult to find out? If anything, MC doesn't know because he didn't want to find out. Either that or it's just a writing flaw. The latter most probably. But he is blaming that on ML as well. ML didn't tell him initially because he wasn't obligated to, he never made any secret about it being a transactional relationship. MC went along with the knowledge of how ML wanted it. So why blame the ML now?


I mean the story is pretty typical and cliched, so I was not expecting such nuance from it. But I also wanted to write about an objective perspective vs a biased self insertey one.