One enjoyable surprise is the fact that our couple isn't stereotypical and just stick to their top and bottom characterization. There is actually a scene in which the two swaps positions and the top actually ends up doing the receiving. Which I find pretty rare in this genre.

The MC, in my opinion, sorely lacks love. Seemingly disowned by his family, and the novel hinting at a troubled romantic past, he doesn't like to get close to anyone. It seems like he was close to accepting that he'd be alone for the rest of his life, and I think that quite sad. He also has to hide that he's gay from basically everyone, as he works as a news reporter, and considering the novel's setting, his orientation wouldn't go over well with the public. Only a small group of online friends know.
The ML is seemingly aloof solely because he was abused as a child, often told not to talk or make a sound by his mother. It's not entirely clear as to why she's trying to hide him, I assume from the father/father's family, and maybe it might even spring from good intentions for the child at first, but it definitely crosses into abuse territory quickly. He eventually develops selective mutism, and whilst he has overcome this as an adult, his past still troubles him.
I presume everything involving both of them is revealed in future chapters.

is coming out to his family and subsequently leaving his family due to it. They aren't on good terms but there are hints that there may be a chance of some form of reconciliation. Also, in uni days he got together with a scum who eventually broke up with him and married. So he's reluctant to start any new romance. Hence ML being more active at the start.

selective mutism due to his mother forcing him to be quiet when he was young. He was born out of wedlock and his father didn't want to marry his mother. Suffered abuse from her. Eventually she remarried and his paternal grandfather took him in and raised him but he later passed on. He's a vet and I thoroughly enjoyed scenes of him and animals and his daily log of animals recovery.

the plot brought back ML's mother and ML somewhat forgave her? ML is taking care of her (she's sick with some brain stuff at the hospital) as of chapter *looks up* 108? I can't? Maybe I've read too many face slapping novels, too many revenge plot. Maybe I need to look into myself and grow up and learn to forgive but I just can't? She nearly killed him when he was young? She gave him all his trauma, nightmares, tells him how his father doesn't want him and how not to speak cos no one will listen to him. Sure, MC made him a better person so he can't find it himself to be angry anymore (he said so, MC is so proud of him). But I rather she didn't exist anymore then be back. My blood boils. I can't let go of MY anger. Even if they had a heart to heart talk later on, it won't erase what she did. I just needed to rant this. As I continue this book, I'm just going to skip any part with her in it. So I guess what this book lacks is any face slapping.

When he said he would retire, I was shocked like seriously? What for? Are you a child, just giving up something just because of this?

Like on one hand, it’s very sweet and all, but really from the first few chapters I already wanted them to change out the leads in the Trap recording and redo the whole thing. Was just waiting for it to happen. Took too damn long.

Although I don’t feel reconciled with the turn with his mother, don’t feel like she deserved such a quick forgiveness. She tried to murder him, for goodness sake. Even if diagnosed with some mental illness, it still isn’t right. His cousin’s actions were another bomb that kind of got suitably explained, but still...

(Well, I'm deducting point off the painful first time where they were legitimately not prepared at all??? Like Shen Yan obviously cared for Qi Jing, but he didn't bother to research gay s*x so that it wouldn't hurt so much for Qi Jing???? I'm so salty about it. It's a trope that I very much dislike. Plus, there are some parts that read like an exaggerated dog blooded novel, but it's tolerable).