this is such a dumb take. people are allowed to be displeased with way things are going, especially since it doesn’t follow the previous narrative of the original story. this is a forum where you can discuss your opinion, regardless of it being negative and/or positive. the same could be said to people like you commenting about other peoples comment; if you don’t like it, don’t read it.
Idk I think the story makes sense? Like, the first part was about how their relationship came to be, while this second part is about the trials that come while in a relationship, they're different stages of life so they obviously won't feel the same, most relationships have problems like this after the honeymoon faze where everything is fine and dandy. Also, it's OK to not like punishment sex, but that doesn't mean it's wrong for other people to enjoy it, I personally wouldn't like punishment sex in an irl relationship but I don't mind it in fiction
You know what? I hadn't thought about it like that until I read your comment but you make an excellent point.
I remember my sister fell in love with this guy who she thought was perfect because right after they started dating, he'd make her breakfast in bed every morning, pampered her, practically worshipped the ground she walked on, etc.
But after a couple months, she felt let down when she learned he hated to cook / clean and didn't want to invest as much of his time or money on her.
I personally think there were opportunities on both sides but I've definitely observed a pattern wherein a lot of people will be on their best behavior during the honeymoon phase of a new/budding relationship only to grow more comfortable around each other and let their hair down.
If you're a normal/decent person, you might stop holding your farts/burps in to the point it's painful, stop dressing up as sexily/cutely/etc., stop wasting as much money on dates when you can just enjoy each other's company at home, etc.
But if you're a jerk, "letting your hair down" can come across in far more toxic ways (e.g., suddenly asking your partner to sever ties with long-term friends, never be alone with people of a specific sex, or to constantly report their whereabouts to you).
I guess what breaks my heart about this manhua is that the author seemed to have finally mixed the perfect formula necessary to create a healthy BL couple.
Nonconsensual smooshing is far too prevalent across BL manga/manhua/etc.
Finding a BL story that lacks problematic characters, plots, and / or tropes is VERY hard.
So I was very excited to have found S1 of this series.
But to now have to look at these characters through such a realistic lens is frustrating, disappointing, and confusing (especially for anyone- - like me - - who may have assumed the author was mindfully trying to subvert toxic BL stereotypes by creating a healthy couple).
Now if the hot / mature older boyfriend is suddenly played off as the toxic jerk who took advantage of a younger partner who needs to develop experience and learn how to pick a good partner, it would destroy / negate everything that happened in S1 (though that would be a novel idea that I haven't seen in BL or elsewhere).
But more realistically, the author is going to just write this toxic behavior off as a developmental opportunity for the hot older boyfriend, which reinforces the toxic notion that getting jealous to the point of disregarding your partner's requests to stop when they say "no" is ok as long as it's hot, you forgive them, etc. (which is not only a crappy message but incredibly trite/unexpected for what we all thought / hoped would be a BL story aimed at raising the bar rather than keeping it as low as it has remained for decades).
if you don't like it, don't read it.