I just reread this with a more focused mind, and as a story, it has its very strong moments besides the annoying ones (like how Iheon, up until the end, NEVER respects Huimin's wishes during sex). Still, the concept is original enough to suck you in and overall, I really enjoyed it!
What I like the most about this is the fact the main characters in a particularly toxic BL novel become aware they're written characters in a setting made purely for reader's entertainment, bound in their inevitable tragedy by what they experience as fate, which is really plot written by a sadistic author who doesn't want to give their OCs a break. The existential horror of that alone is chilling to think about, and even more so the characters' realizations of who they are, like how Huimin from the drawings world realizes he's just the wishful projection of Huimin from the novel - that would've sent me into a spiral! But Huimin, as strong willed and brave as he is, isn't fazed by that. In typical Huimin fashion, he takes it with some humor and unwavering optimism.
Another horrifying part of the story is Huimin's dream world, as Inheon, in his final moments, I'm guessing through his desperate pleading with himself or fate to be able to go back and do things better, is transported into it. The fact Iheon slowly realizes, as he observes how things that don't serve a purpose anymore disappear, him and Huimin might disappear forever, too. His decision to send them back into the novel on one hand stems from his selfish possessiveness over Huimin as everything Inheon does, up until the end imo, is driven by his obsession (hence the title), but on the other hand, I can imagine his existential terror and the need to save them from dissolving into nothingness. However, Inheon's possessive nature isn't what could rewrite fate and create the happy end AU the author of Silence mentioned at the end - it's Huimin's will to reach ultimate happiness for everyone, because in this process, he was able to change Inheon for the better, and with that, he was able to prevent so much suffering from happening. Novel Huimin's dream world, carefree Huimin is the ultimate breakthrough out of this tragic horror, the continuation of novel Huimin's deep love for someone as cruel and abusive as Inheon. And that Huimin is the catalyst for everything, with his wit, brains, and endless kindness. His character is so proactive and truly drives the story, probably one of the coolest MCs I've read about so far!
Huimin counteracts Iheon's possessive, destructive nature with his kindness and carefree optimism, and his will to change the course of the story is ultimately what saves them all. Despite the fact Iheon seems tough with his thug persona, the cold, stoic look and emotional introversion, it's shown times and times again in the story that it's, in fact, all cover for cowardice. He's not as brave as Huimin, who is not only able to plan ahead (Iheon also knew what was going to happen, but he still let it and wasn't proactive at all), but was the one who was emotionally open and attentive enough to notice Inheon's feelings, too, and help him break out of his own one dimensional shell written by the author of Silence. Iheon just yearned and chased, without a goal, just complying with the endless cycle of a fate already written and decided just to keep Huimin around, while Huimin used his knowledge to create the best possible outcome for everyone. He's THE main character, and Iheon was just there.
Iheon, imo, despite Huimin's best efforts, hasn't changed in his core. His confession in the omega shelter felt genuine at first, but later on, in the epilogue, as he admitted to himself how controlling and possessive he truly is, to the point of not wanting Huimin to find out, that confession didn't seem as believable. In fact, I think Inheon was only able to change just to keep Huimin by his side, stemming from his obsession with him rather than wanting to become a better person as to not hurt him. Him not hurting Huimin was a means to an end, not the goal. For that, Inheon wasn't able to truly break out of the character written for him, but with how smart and kind Huimin is, he was able to work with that kind of possessive piece of shit. Hats off, Huimin lol. Still, Iheon's longing seemed almost painfully pathetic at times, and I can imagine it must've been very painful for him to realize he couldn't love Huimin the way he wanted to because it wasn't written out for him by the novel to become a good person for Huimin. Not an excuse for what he did, but definetly a plausible explanation. So the fact he was able to live years on end in a world that stops in time when Huimin isn't nearby, where stuff disappears, just to grant him his wish only after they've died in the novel, was the first true attest to his love beyond the novel-written obsession imo. That was the moment novel Iheon transformed, where a tiny space inside him was opened, with the potential to move beyond his script in Silence, and probably the reason why he was receptive for positive change as dream world Huimin entered the novel and tried to make him better.
Iheon was the canvas, Huimin was the brush and paint. Iheon had to let Huimin paint - by trusting him, and Huimin could paint because Inheon decided to start trusting and believing in him. And so the obsession turned cozier, with Huimin's colors and light. As Iheon put it, the light to his darkness.
I just reread this with a more focused mind, and as a story, it has its very strong moments besides the annoying ones (like how Iheon, up until the end, NEVER respects Huimin's wishes during sex). Still, the concept is original enough to suck you in and overall, I really enjoyed it!
What I like the most about this is the fact the main characters in a particularly toxic BL novel become aware they're written characters in a setting made purely for reader's entertainment, bound in their inevitable tragedy by what they experience as fate, which is really plot written by a sadistic author who doesn't want to give their OCs a break. The existential horror of that alone is chilling to think about, and even more so the characters' realizations of who they are, like how Huimin from the drawings world realizes he's just the wishful projection of Huimin from the novel - that would've sent me into a spiral! But Huimin, as strong willed and brave as he is, isn't fazed by that. In typical Huimin fashion, he takes it with some humor and unwavering optimism.
Another horrifying part of the story is Huimin's dream world, as Inheon, in his final moments, I'm guessing through his desperate pleading with himself or fate to be able to go back and do things better, is transported into it. The fact Iheon slowly realizes, as he observes how things that don't serve a purpose anymore disappear, him and Huimin might disappear forever, too. His decision to send them back into the novel on one hand stems from his selfish possessiveness over Huimin as everything Inheon does, up until the end imo, is driven by his obsession (hence the title), but on the other hand, I can imagine his existential terror and the need to save them from dissolving into nothingness. However, Inheon's possessive nature isn't what could rewrite fate and create the happy end AU the author of Silence mentioned at the end - it's Huimin's will to reach ultimate happiness for everyone, because in this process, he was able to change Inheon for the better, and with that, he was able to prevent so much suffering from happening. Novel Huimin's dream world, carefree Huimin is the ultimate breakthrough out of this tragic horror, the continuation of novel Huimin's deep love for someone as cruel and abusive as Inheon. And that Huimin is the catalyst for everything, with his wit, brains, and endless kindness. His character is so proactive and truly drives the story, probably one of the coolest MCs I've read about so far!
Huimin counteracts Iheon's possessive, destructive nature with his kindness and carefree optimism, and his will to change the course of the story is ultimately what saves them all. Despite the fact Iheon seems tough with his thug persona, the cold, stoic look and emotional introversion, it's shown times and times again in the story that it's, in fact, all cover for cowardice. He's not as brave as Huimin, who is not only able to plan ahead (Iheon also knew what was going to happen, but he still let it and wasn't proactive at all), but was the one who was emotionally open and attentive enough to notice Inheon's feelings, too, and help him break out of his own one dimensional shell written by the author of Silence. Iheon just yearned and chased, without a goal, just complying with the endless cycle of a fate already written and decided just to keep Huimin around, while Huimin used his knowledge to create the best possible outcome for everyone. He's THE main character, and Iheon was just there.
Iheon, imo, despite Huimin's best efforts, hasn't changed in his core. His confession in the omega shelter felt genuine at first, but later on, in the epilogue, as he admitted to himself how controlling and possessive he truly is, to the point of not wanting Huimin to find out, that confession didn't seem as believable. In fact, I think Inheon was only able to change just to keep Huimin by his side, stemming from his obsession with him rather than wanting to become a better person as to not hurt him. Him not hurting Huimin was a means to an end, not the goal. For that, Inheon wasn't able to truly break out of the character written for him, but with how smart and kind Huimin is, he was able to work with that kind of possessive piece of shit. Hats off, Huimin lol. Still, Iheon's longing seemed almost painfully pathetic at times, and I can imagine it must've been very painful for him to realize he couldn't love Huimin the way he wanted to because it wasn't written out for him by the novel to become a good person for Huimin. Not an excuse for what he did, but definetly a plausible explanation. So the fact he was able to live years on end in a world that stops in time when Huimin isn't nearby, where stuff disappears, just to grant him his wish only after they've died in the novel, was the first true attest to his love beyond the novel-written obsession imo. That was the moment novel Iheon transformed, where a tiny space inside him was opened, with the potential to move beyond his script in Silence, and probably the reason why he was receptive for positive change as dream world Huimin entered the novel and tried to make him better.
Iheon was the canvas, Huimin was the brush and paint. Iheon had to let Huimin paint - by trusting him, and Huimin could paint because Inheon decided to start trusting and believing in him. And so the obsession turned cozier, with Huimin's colors and light. As Iheon put it, the light to his darkness.