Responses
Well mc is just a habitual smoker, and smoking is very prevalent in China, and it was his cause of death in one of the early arcs. I don't think they're portraying it as desirable, but it does reflect the author's everyday life. And it's not really a central plot point, just a personality trait of the mc (who's a glutton)
The author is a smoker no doubt about it. They trying to make it look desirable or something? Why this focus on smoking like it's a central plot point and not just disgusting?