I just finished reading the novel, found out its a manhwa and came to read it. Didn't expect this much controversy. In the novel, the top is 19 going on 20(the legal age) based on the translation, and there is no conflict abt his age or the age gap nor feeling of taboo. In fact its barely addressed except maybe twice, as a means for the top to convince the bottom to let him stay(as in his experience most kids age out of help from outsiders and outsiders are less tolerant of them when they become adults). This happens so early on too, its like less than 10% of the novel. The reason he is underage is plot related honestly, which explains why he still stays with that trash abuser guy who is over the children and why he has a hard time leaving and doing things by himself(his status as a minor makes getting jobs hard). Imo its basically to answer the question as to why he can't just leave and go off somewhere and earn a leaving and get an apartment, he legit cant. Hes in that awkward stage of being too old for an orphanage or children's home and too young to actually live decently alone. Many troubled or orphaned teens that reach that age range (16-19) are kind of screwed no matter what country just based on this. So while I get the concern, I didn't mind it. Plus in the novel the bottom is objectively looking at him as beautiful, not in a sexual way. Its true they slept together the day he came of age, but its not like the bottom was waiting on it or even knew his bday at all or planned anything. He was legit having sex with someone else that day, obviously he had no plans at all. The top initiated it. And the bottom indeed has low morals, as once he knew the top was 20 he didnt find sex an issue. But he def didnt think about it before then, neither in behavior or thought. Later, the bottom even says smth along the lines of "would a good person have sex with someone the day they become an adult" which shows he sees his problem. But there's also a later extra that shows his pov from the first meeting. He rlly only invited him into the car in order to repay his own benefactor and also bc the depression and lack of will to live reminded him of himself. Yes the top is beautiful, but it was platonic admiration at the time. So personally im ok with it. Id understand if others aren't.
Just finished the novel 10/10. Im not rlly into the themes of the prequel Passion but Raga was right up my alley and i loved it. Yuri is so amazing in everyway i loved him so much. I liked his maturity, nonchalance, and also his willingness to accept change without losing his personality. His love for Xinlu was immense, but he didnt lose himself in it, just compromised. I was unsure of Xinlu at first but you will def fall in love thru Yuri eyes and then when he returns the feelings Xinlu is so in love and obsessed. Hes still insane, but insanely in love! Like peak yearning fr fr. This man is a cryer! They have many quiet moments together, reflecting and talking. The emotions they share are so tender. I won't read this manhwa till its complete tho cause i dont like serialized works i like to binge. But as long as it follows the novel its gon be amazing.
as much as I want to get ahead of the manhwa, I can't read novels T_T after one page and I'll be sleeping
Nah i get it. I've heard the manhwa is pretty accurate to the novel so ur not missing much even if u only read the manhwa.
Yes the reason Xinlu becomes so so so lovable in raga is cuz we're literally viewing him from Yuri's POV huhuhuhu I love them so much
If you completed the novel, I wanna get spoiled: How are their sex scenes? Is it better? Like.. No, SA, like what happened to Taei? I'm still vigilant after what happened, I don't trust the author that much, knowing they also made another spin-off series that's more fucked up, according to people who read it...
Ok so the first sex scene could be dub con or non con depending on how u look at it. Yuri is drunk and Xinlu knows Yuri likes him and decides to do him a "favor" or "repay" him for his help by having sex with him. To Xinlu, this has no moral burden and is like giving alms "You like me, so I'll be kind and have sex with you, like u want". There is no question in Xinlus mind whether Yuri wants this, basically he thinks since u like me ofc u want to have sex with me, you should be happy im doing this for you, that kind of thought. So he has no thoughts of taking advantage, in his mind Yuri is the one getting an advantage by getting to do it eoth the person he likes.
Throuought this, Yuri goes in and out of consciousness, but enjoys it and is later aware its Xinlu, but doesnt give explicit consent in words. This could be noncon. But when hes sober, he feels more odd they did it without Xinlu having feelings for him and as a favor to him then he does about him being drunk when it happened. When Xinlu asks if hes angry they had sex, Yuri thinks that he was not forced, and that he enjoyed it, so why would he be angry? Basically, I think Yuri and Xinlu knows he would have given consent if sober, so they didn't mind the drunken sex. Yuri, the person involved, did not think it was noncon, bc he would have given consent regardless bc he liked them. Like, the drink was an opportunity, not the reason? Imo its like if a harmonious married couple had drunk sex, would there be talk of consent? Its like implied consent to me. But it might be diff for you.
Later Xinlu is a little rough with foreplay when he's angry with Yuri, but no rape. He apologizes and asks for consent several times after. Yuri also likes him and says yes basicslly every time. So its a matter of how much you can tolerate.
The art is still so fcking good I remember this from when it first came out. The art aged like wine it only stands out even better among the copy and paste art webtoons nowadays. Tho tbh I do remember finding the bottom a little annoying. But it wasn't that bad, still a classic.
I come back to this to lament that all these other trash webtoons get like 100s of chapters and this masterpiece is so short. I think this authors other works are OK but this elevated them in my eyes. Its gotta be their best work imo. So good, why so short? Author pls extend this.
OMG OMG IM GONNA READ IT RN. Thanks so much translator!
We could've had another 50 chapters honestly just endless schooldays. I liked it alot.
Was so good I didn't even care abt the stalker. I just ignored him for the romance. Loved it.
I've always avoided reading this bc I thought the pink haired guy was a bottom based on the cover and i wasnt interested in that kind of dynamic at the time lol. The deception. Also the cover doesn't do the art justice imo. This was a great read
Ok back again! Im gon read the latest chapter then wait a month or two so I can binge many at once. I csnt take this chapter by chapter thing unless its extras.
Wow I feel like the art got even better and the coloring is just breathtaking