beta
So many people are acting as if Yeon-ho is being stupid for telling him that he will pay back the 1 billion won, but you have to understand it from his perspective.
His relationship with Kwon has been nothing but transactional from the start.
Kwon acted as his sponsor to bolster his acting career, and in exchange, Yeon-ho was to pretend as if they were in a relationship and retrieve the USB for Kwon.
Even though he knew this from the start, Yeon-ho found himself catching feelings but once Kwon re-established the nature of their relationship, Yeon-ho was forced to take a look at reality.
He never was anything more than a pawn in Kwon's game, an object used to fulfill an objective that Kwon had been seeking for years.
For someone like Yeon-ho, who's never really had anyone to truly care for him and love him, Kwon's kindness was something he clung onto because it was all he had, and for once, it made him feel loved and made him feel special. But, to be reminded that it was all a ruse sort of reaffirms his life experiences and has hardened him incredibly.
He's scared to trust once more. He's scared to be vulnerable again. He's scared to allow himself to be swayed and fooled by this kindness again because if the first time was transactional, why would this situation be any different?
He doesn't want to owe Kwon anything. He doesn't want to have to rely on him in exchange for anything else.
In his mind, in order to be fully be free of him and not continue this transactional relationship, he has to cut complete ties with him, and the last thing tying them together is the 1 billion won.
I hope this makes sense lol