Nia's Favorite

Personally, I'm reading this story because I find the black-bellied older brother really interesting. He's essentially the driving force of the story, and is the plot itself. It's not a light-hearted story, and that's part of its charm.

Jigeon basically played 4D chess, to crack an opening in Wooseo's heart for him, set up the board so that Wooseo starts falling for him, and then set up the reveal because he wants Wooseo to know his truest depths, leaving the last decision to Wooseo, because if Wooseo can still accept him and love him for what he really is like, then their relationship/bond will finally be physically and emotionally solidified. Honestly? Fun plot.
But I want to reiterate that not once did he force anyone's hand. Every decision each character made was their own decision. Jigeon only had a hand with the time and place. He never forced Wooseo into anything and has otherwise only been good to him.
And the reason I like and prefer Jigeon is because of this honesty to himself. He's sure of what he wants, and he doesn't want to lie to himself. He's never presented in any way to the readers other than what he really is. And if things were going to go south, he's willing to accept and take responsibility for that too, because that's what he's committed to.
I really dislike characters that are put in a "good light" but their actions don't line up, and vice versa, I don't like bad guys who only have their tragic backstory as justification. Jigeon is always ready and willing to own up to his own actions.

Jigeon may not be a good person, but I don't think being with a bad person leads to a toxic relationship. There are plenty of characters in relationships with bad guys that have a perfectly mature and happy relationship. It's thinking about the balance between the two parties in the long run. Wooseo didn't feel resigned, he had a choice and he chose to accept everything about the person he loves, both the good and bad.