It's kinda understandable in an office setting that people who are on the top of the food chain yk like presidents of the company can be viewed as "cold and difficult to work/communicate with" People like them do not nonchalantly interact with their subordinates as not everyone is comfortable with that (they can be intimidated or whatever) or some interactions may affect his standing in the company(misinterpretations, miscommunications etc). It's really Xiao Nuo's job as his secretary to get to know the people around the president so that it will help their boss know how to talk to them without them being suspisious or uncomfortable. Long story short it's part of his job really so you can only commend him for doing his job well. I think the hate for Xiao Nuo here is because President Mo has been clear about his intentions and feelings to him and Xiao has been playing on dear president's heart. And theyre not official because of that's what Xiao wanted and the president has been respecting all his decision and even not minding his disrespect to him at times. Yea, it is shown he has past trauma and whatever that backstory is, it is also not fair and not an excuse to drag another person just because you havent recovered with your past trauma. You cant hurt people just because you were hurt in the past and he is aware of what he is doing.
I mean we all know that this will eventually be happy ever after for them but you cant deny the fact that Xiao has been a jerk all along.
I really don’t see xiao nuo as a jerk at all. president mo has autonomy and is able to make decisions on his own, as well. He’s very much capable of that. He was aware *all along* of what secretary Xiao could give and was willing, if not fully happy, to go along with the status of their relationship. I truly don’t understand why readers are so hateful towards xiao nuo when president mo himself, a grown adult making his own choices, still cares for this person and shows no resentment. He’s even besties with Xiao Nuo’s mom!
Xiao nuo is allowed to have boundaries! He’s not intentionally hurting Mo. They’re in different places with their feelings. Secretary Xiao has no idea that President Mo has been pining for him for ages. Mo is the one who kept showing up to Xiao Nuo’s apartment day after day after day.
Also “CEO types are always cold, etc” is not an excuse for the bad behavior of executive types. Mo is noted, in particular, as having a bad personality. Truly, I think readers favor Mo to an excessive extent because they see him as a wealthy authority figure who’s warmed up a little and become a “Prince Charming” sort of character in their eyes. Like damn what’s going on when readers have no empathy for secretary Xiao—the character who’s worked his ass off and is from a poorer background AND has suffered intensely?? It breaks my heart.
Past abuse is not an excuse to string along people in your current relationships though? While I understand Xiao has his own baggage to carry, that doesn't make his behavior towards Mo any better. Mo loves Xiao, that's why he is putting up with him essentially playing with his feelings.
Dang so many people are crazy harsh on secretary xiao!! Yeah president mo might have deep and lingering feelings for him, but xiao nuo’s been honest about what he’s capable of giving. He hasn’t been leading anyone on! I hope everyone remembers that when pres mo wanted them to get serious and live together, he cut things off cuz that was more than he could handle.
Xiao nuo’s character should be allowed to have an arc and move at his own pace! He’s not going to magically get over horrific abuse just because someone wants to be his boyfriend!
They’re not in an on-and-off relationship. The most they’ve done is hug since they ended their friends with benefits relationship. Anyone who’s an adult and capable of empathy would understand and respect another person’s boundaries in attempting a relationship. Mo is aware of what’s going on and doesn’t even resent Secretary Xiao for it! A lack of empathy on the part of readers does not mean Xiao Nuo is acting unreasonably. They both have lingering feelings for each other and are giving their relationship some distance while they sort things out. That’s a mature thing to do.
Also, they’re having conversations that are alluded to but not fully depicted in the comic, such as at Xiao Nuo’s sister’s apartment. Mo wasn’t surprised when Secretary Xiao resigned because they’ve been communicating with each other! There’s no reason to hate the characters or place any blame.
And Mo isn’t perfect either! He’s had to learn to be more kind and humane. They’re both having to learn to open up in different ways.
This is a great comic that has a lot of fluff and humor, yet deals with complex topics, too. I hope people can gain some empathy and learn to be more humane from reading it, as well.
As an addendum to my earlier comment: I think people are forgetting that president mo started out cold and extremely difficult to work with. He didn’t really turn around and become a more likable person *until* secretary Xiao began to influence his behavior. He had to be taught to engage with his employees and show that he cares. Mo has flaws too! And that’s okay!
I’m really weirded out, though, that there’s so much hate for secretary Xiao because he’s an abuse survivor. It’s been very plain (obvious) in the story that that’s what he’s been going through. Mo is sad that they’re not official boyfriends but he doesn’t HATE secretary Xiao because of it. The plot is clearly headed towards a happy conclusion! It’s not dragging to me at all!! President Mo will get his happy ending! If everyone is so into Mo, the biggest part of his personality is that he loves xiao nuo! C’mon!!!!