I'm surprised people are confused. Older brother was under immense pressure his whole life - a real victim that Asian appearance and success focused tiger parenting.
In an attempt to get take the pressure of his younger brother, he deliberately took on the load of their expectations and discouraged his parents meddling by saying MC wasn't capable. I think his plan was to be successful enough he could come home and 'save' his brother, and they'd move out and away from their parents.
The issue is despite his attempts, the absent parenting impacted both of them anyway. They've both deeply internalised their parents expectations. So MC has withdrawn himself and disregards all his achievements because he assumes nobody really cares (especially when compared to his brother). While his older brother, like many high achievers, has worked himself into the ground and is burnt out. Neither like asking for help because they're hyper independent.
But they're still siblings and likely love each other. Both just feel alienated and don't know how to connect, hence the suggestion of money. I find it weird how people would say there's some odd motive. He has consistently messaged and sought out his younger brother (who is actively avoiding him lol). if he knows he's motivated by money, and has the means, why wouldn't you offer....to spend time with someone you care about?
comment section straight up got me realizing some of my experiences aren't as normalized as i thought cause i did naught question that interaction at all-- it seemed so normal,, and has kind of happened in my life too hhhh but at least with these two there's still some care for each other and it's not "strictly" transactional
That's unfortunate I'm sorry.
I think it's difficult for others who haven't experienced it, to understand the dynamics of a family who don't know how to communicate or talk through their feelings.
The greatest gifts parents can impart upon their children is emotional intelligence and resilience.
Only up to chapter 31, could someone I guess spoil me - I don't understand the animosity towards Yuri? And why does he allow Yonhee to treat him like that?m
It's also been a while since I read In the eyes of Sora so maybe there's context there. I'm just impatient, idm spoilers lol.
This dynamic is a direct result of their distinctive family structure. While Yuri is indeed his brother, his role is more akin to a servant to Yonhee, who is the chosen vessel of the family's deity. It is a long-standing family tradition for members to serve the chosen vessel, and Yuri was personally selected by Yonhee for this specific duty.
So does he choose his brother to torment him?
I've read the whole thing, so somewhat more caught up. I think their relationship represents the weird dynamic between the family and the god. In which Yonhee is both revered for his power, but highly controlled and trapped by his role Yonhee is the God and his brother represents the family.
So Yonhee immature and acts out in order get some form of control within his life, and his brother cops a lot of this behaviour. But he's sort of treated like a toddler who's acting out, and not a person with autonomy. Because the family (and by extension, his brother) do not see him as more than a power source.
Which is why when Yonhee and MC's relationship is so challenging. Because MC see's Yonhee as a person, with thoughts feelings and control over his actions. But Yonhee has been taught no matter how he acts, nobody will leave him - as they want to use his power. But MC has no use for his power, and did leave him and has held him accountable for his childish behaviour, despite his love for him. So they need to build communication ~
This is a really compelling story. Things are always really interesting when you have morally grey, complex characters. I like when an author can depict legit chemistry between two people who have almost no interest in the other beyond a means to an end.
In saying that, I've noticed I actually really don't vibe with masochism in stories. I've noticed I actually find the look of injuries kind of distressing and absolutely not hot. I just keep thinking about traumatic brain injuries and getting 1 too many concussions and not waking up lol.
I like more healthy masochism(bam), but this is plain self harm. Boxer's injuries looks gross to me and seeing him being hit on the head so many times is very uncomfortable.
Not (bam) but (bdsm)* lol
Actually yes, you're right this does present as overt self harm. I find it weird the author is so focused on him getting hit in the head/punched in the face. Like every just the act of passing out on the stairs - he could hit his head or break his neck?!
I like this story but I find the dialogue a bit stilted, so the characters kind of come off as somewhat inconsistent. I guess there isn't a whole lot of internal dialogue either, except a few thought bubbles, probs adds to the issue.
Also lol @ them having to climb up a ladder to a hovering helicopter.
I'd be soo fkn salty if I got hired as a celebrity body guard and was then expected to reenact the full christopher nolan dark knight special. Didn't know we needed a whole fkn armada out here.
This story is so wack, there's NO CONTEXT provided ever lol.
Context is probably in the novel?
Well it's definetly over the top, but many things are left random bcz it's from a novel (but I don't much as I haven't read it)
Hm, so generally when making a body of work you'd likely want to explicitly direct your reader to the original text if it's required. Or, just translate the story more effectively, so the context is uh, on the pages.
A bit rogue of me, I've literally just started this story. But I've noticed that when stories like these are written by Korean authors they seem to struggle with conceptualising multiculturalism or like the diaspora experience because of they've never experienced a non homogenous context. Also SK doesn't allow dual nationality lol.
This isn't even about this story in particular haha, just something I've noticed. Just someone being born and raised in Canada is also Canadian, not just a Korean who's now chosen to move 'home'. I just feel like there's an undercurrent of assumed nationalism, that I think people who've experienced otherwise may not inherently develop. And not just SK, but I notice it with loads of countries particularly those which require mandatory military service e.g., Singapore (the propaganda is crazzzy in singapore), Israel, SK etc.
frr like isnt canada also his home
The author struggles with developing meaningful endings, they're so weirdly timed and the mc's feelings and behaviours never match the context.
You know, these stories make a lot of sense when you frame them around the concept of 'what would someone with the emotional capacity of a toddler do?'
Toddlers don't try to create codependency, tie you down, and threaten to lock you up.
Hahah this is so well written.