The book protagonist has the same last name as the MC but they aren't related (I was confused at first thinking this would be one of those switched at birth or lost son stories but it's not). For once the protagonist isn't an as*hole but looks up to the MC and the MC inspires him to further his acting. The original story for the protagonist is kind of vague and doesn't go into much detail but he's around a lot.

MC has the stereotypical denseness when it comes to his feelings about the ML. Why do MC always turn into bewildered 5 year old children when it comes to love in these stories? Especially irritating when they are clever and have a normal EQ in every other situation.

the ML keeps calling the MC cute and comparing him to a little animal; I have a bad feeling about this couple dynamic.

Obligatory blacking of the MC online followed by many face slapping moments.

Obligatory BE gay movie with ML.

Obligatory high fever/illness that magically cures in one night/day (I wish my colds went away that fast).

Obligatory winning double male lead at an award show.

Its unsettling how controlling the ML becomes after they get together, treating the MC like his pet/possession/child and completely dominating him. ML is constantly telling the MC to be obedient throughout the novel and sometimes punishing him when he gets jealous. I really dislike the way he treats him and I really dislike that that MC thinks it's perfectly normal and fine.

OK, I don't like this ML (I think he's mentally unstable). When he doesn't get his way he's angry and petulant and always, always jealous for no reason, taking his delusions out on the MC. He forces the MC into a passive role over and over again and then gets angry that the MC never takes the initiative in their relationship. You trained the "little kitten" MC into a child-bride/pet who is always pliant and obedient to the ML, of course he's not going to take initiative, (though once he figures out that's what the ML wants he gives the man what he wants).

what pisses me off most in this couple dynamic is that the MC is so smart, capable, and strong in every situation except when it comes to the ML. And this dynamic is not just the MC/ML, but with all the shou/gong couples in the story; they are all pampered and treated like children who occasionally need to be saved from their own actions and "properly disciplined" by their husbands.

honestly, that whole dynamic makes my skin crawl.

The rest of the story is mostly the typical entertainment circle tropes and intrigue. Very little family drama (only lasts for a couple of chapters at most) and no problems dragged out for too long, which was nice.

the part with the plagiarism had me thinking, "author are you sure this isn't about your own novel "

It has so much face slapping but everything seems to have a holier than thou attitude. Don't get me wrong the MC is amazing and was the reason I wanted to finish it as soon as possible but the ML. Dang that guy's clingy. Like it felt suffocating that he was everywhere, the first I understood as he was the main lead in the movie but the next one where he intervened by becoming a producer was also okay ish since the script was just too good but he should have left it for the company or his agent to handle. Then that special appearance in the drama was truly not needed but I give it a pass since there were too many cp fans of the original book. But the police film, I drew the line there, ML became just too possessive and for what? Like he didn't make his intentions clear nor did he ask MC's opinion. If he was there less and gave MC space to grow on his own like maybe a year or two so that he could establish his place in the industry then the foreign movie would have been an absolute joy to read and look forward to. I also felt that the author wrote everything for the purpose of face slapping and the others characters were so one dimensional. Also gave the MC this halo of always popular and getting all good opportunities and if something bad happens then just deal with it with no consequences to his career. I personally really like the MC at the beginning when he was not afraid to raise his fist and actually confront people then it slowly got boring. The romance was too fast paced for me and I wanted the MC to grow a strong before beginning a romance.

1. Random rich trainee that finds MC easy to bully and finds MC too good looking. Sets him up during a meeting with a influential director to get MC kicked out of the agency

2. Random not very successful idol actor that shares a manager with MC. Sees MC and decides the guy is a mega threat. From his face. Acts like a diva, throws a tantrum at the successful director while he’s filming and then gets kicked off the tv show. Makes a fuss online at the entire tv crew, tries to ruin MC by insinuating MC’s the sugar baby of the hugely successful actor ML. And all of these dumbass actions are pretty much condoned by his medium sized agency and experienced manager that should KNOW not to antagonize a big production crew, famous director and a famous actor without any backing and they know the production crew has evidence of the idol actor’s bad behavior.

3. Random actor that signs on for the same production as MC and completely changed the script and keeps targeting and reducing MC’s parts because he just doesn’t like MC. And the production crew allows this even though random actor’s agency isn’t even the main producer or investor and random actor isn’t even that popular. Like the author tried to justify the ridiculousness by saying that the producer and director allowed it because random actor’s agency is super influential. When it’s the same size as MC’s agency, and again, random actor’s agency isn’t the main producer or investor for the production. And the main investor is ML that invested money because of the original screenplay (and MC though this part isn’t known by the production crew) and the producer KNOWS this. This part is excused by saying producer thinks the main investor just won’t find out until filming is over and it’ll be too late for them to change anything by then. But why would the producer or the director risk angering the hugely successful ML for the mediocre random actor and allow the screenplay to be changed by a mediocre unsuccessful screenwriter which obviously might affect the success of the show they’re in charge of?? Like... they will ignore their own career prospects to please a random unsuccessful actor and his agency??

4. MC’s aunt and cousin that run to MC for money. Aunt makes a huge fuss at MC in a public restaurant and gets injured when she trips. Aunt and cousin then accuse MC of hitting her (even though there’s cameras in the restaurant and in the car park where MC and aunt argue that would obviously disprove this) and they try to sell MC’s personal belongings online.

5. Random famous screen writer who offers MC a plagiarized screen play and whom MC rejects in a relatively neutral manner. And then screen writer starts targeting MC online and keeps sniping at him every chance he gets.

When he had issues with his agency, ML gave him the contact for a super capable agent who immediately agreed to be his agent and who then paid for him to leave his OG agency.

When he had issues with the HL, ML invested in the production, asked production crew to help and also stepped up himself to solve it.

When he had issues with CYZ, ML stepped in and fired CYZ, the producer and the director and brought in his own crew.

When he had issues with his aunt and cousin, ML helped to freeze the transaction when they were trying to sell his stuff. His agency basically solved the rest.

When screenwriter started targeting MC online and offline, ML came along to stand up for him and introduced him to other directors and screen writers.

MC becomes friends with OG!MC and their friendship is one of the things I find cute in the novel. They form a friendship trio with another character.

Alas, no such luck. Every time it seemed hopeful, ML just creepily manipulated things to force them together without seeking Ji Li's opinion. Even them getting together had a bitter taste of ML manipulating Ji Li into filming a gay movie together and then springing confession on him. Then after they got together, I felt like the MC's personality got erased a bit and turned into the typical love brain plus his mental age went from 30? to teenager. ML turned into the typical controlling vinegar jar that can't stand his boyfriend even working with other men and actively manipulating him to his liking. For example the MC was supposed to go on a travel show with someone but ML didn't like it so he cancelled that person's contract to go with Ji Li instead after what felt like petulant child's emotional blackmail. No, there is nothing sweet about a jealous controlling partner.

The MC and ML have been fine up to this point, but I got turned off at this specific chapter. MC and ML discussed that they shouldn't stick together so much, as it undermines MC's abilities and makes him seem like he's only gotten the accolades he has purely because ML favors him. MC also encourages ML to go film a new project to keep his fans happy. This all seems fairly reasonable, and this exact issue has been touched upon before in previous arcs.

But of course, it doesn't stay that way. What makes me mad is that the MC takes up a fun and relaxing travel variety show with friends, only for ML to stop his filming and rush back to go participate in the show as soon as he hears about it. This is obviously contradictory to the (what I thought was) mature and respectful communication they had about their relationship in the public eye. What happened to letting MC be independent? ML just can't let go. Not to mention that ML even gets jealous, since MC doesn't consider asking him to join the variety show. No shit? He was supposed to be filming something else. MC gives a pretty good explanation for why he chose the friend he did, and it's completely reasonable in my opinion. But the ML justifies his jealousy by saying that the friend that the MC chose has a CP (ship) with MC, and that they'll be spending lots of time together, maybe even staying in the same hotel room. This leaves a very bad taste in my mouth, especially since ML (as a film emperor) has CPs with other artists in the industry. It's even recognized by the MC! It's so incredibly toxic to try and separate the MC from his friend based on what fans think, and it's made worse by the fact that MC never brings up the ML's numerous CPs.

The ML's completely unreasonable jealousy goes so far as to him forcibly taking the spot of MC's friend (who is certainly not a big name actor in the industry) since "the variety show guests must be divided into pairs and not the original trio, " apparently. The author was aiming for something sweet, but the ML's obsessive and toxic codependency is very bitter. It's really a shame, because I enjoyed the story up until this point.