The shou/uke (CDL) is a very lonely person, as the title would imply. As the story progresses, we find that his lonliness is so terrible that he doesn't have much care for himself. What seems so far to be a very clear case of depression. His low self-esteem is quite heartbreaking at times. The gong/seme (YY) is someone he has liked for a long while, and seems to give him some measure of happiness and comfort. However, because YY is basically his only real source of happiness, CDL is arguably far too dependant on him. He will do anything to stay by YY's side, and kind of falls apart without him. Though it isn't wrong to criticize CDL for his dangerously obsessive infatuation with YY, it's important to understand that he doesn't really have anyone else. Most people have a network of people (good friends etc) and a reliable support (family), but CDL is very isolated. Even if you might say it's his fault for not reaching out, that doesn't change his loneliness, and it's very difficult for people with his level of depression and low self-esteem to reach out. This isn't an entirely unrealistic situation. The thing is, in the real world, people like this usually don't have happy endings. Depression doesn't magically go away, and relying on a single person for your happy is dangerous and often unfulfilling. I don't know whether or not the author intented to write a depressed character, but that's how it reads.

For instance, Yuan Yuan actually takes some time to think about his feelings for Chen Dong Lan, and eventually realizes he reciprocates, all on his own. There's no jealousy involved on either side, no sudden out-of-nowhere accident to facilitate a realization. It's gradual (though not too gradual) and the eventual consummation is even sweeter because of it.

And while Chen Dong Lan might fit the trope of "stone-faced boy hopelessly in love with his best friend and unable to express his feelings", I really like how Yuan Yuan is the (relatively) popular kid who's (basically) never even held a girl's (or boy's) hand until he realizes he loves Chen Dong Lan. (Yes, they're both inexperienced in love in this!) So the later descriptions of Yuan Yuan being lovey-dovey with Chen Dong Lan are extra, extra sweet because Yuan Yuan will frequently be just blindsided by his wealth of feelings. Ugh, so good.

that are unfortunately, not slapped in the face by the MC or the ML

CDL loved YY for ten years and I doubt just leaving that love behind wouldn't impact CDL. One cannot love and expect to forget that love in just a moment's time.

Yuan Yuan has repeatedly been stressed to be calculative in his relationships, yet from the very start of the story we are told that he has been going home earlier to have dinner with his “co-renter”, because he realised that the other would not have a proper meal unless he is there. For someone so calculative, and works in LAW, do you not realise what it means to not be constantly working overtime?

He said that the love he craves is something like his parents’, where he can live comfortably with his partner for the rest of his life. And what was his actual thoughts when Yu Lin asked him about getting a house? That continuing to live with Chen Donglan for the rest of his life was something he didn’t mind, and he never actually considered the possibility of anything else.

YY is dense, he doesn’t realise what’s he’s feeling— rather, I read that he’d rather ignore it because he’s still in a stage of denial. He doesn’t want to acknowledge it. He was already kind of aware of CDL’s feelings towards him, but he didn’t want to “read excessively” into it. He impulsively decided to get a house because he was about to be questioned about his relationship with CDL.

You can tell he regretted it soon because he hesitated on telling CDL and was actually mad when CDL packed up to leave because then his happy status quo would be ruined.

Once again, for someone calculative with relationships, he keeps unknowingly taking from CDL in his own ways— and for granted. After CDL moved out, YY was the one waiting for CDL to contact and coax him when he admits to himself he chased CDL out. He made me kind of mad in the beginning but redeemed himself. Especially when he realised that he might not be giving back “enough”.

Based on my interpretation, YY only needed confirmation that his feelings (that weren’t quite put to name yet) were reciprocrated, and then he’ll act on it. This is entirely within his character given how quickly he resolved buying a house right after deciding to get one.

I am just saying, there’s a reason why Mother Yuan refused to believe that the roommate was a boy. We live in a pretty heteronormative society, it wouldn’t be too much of a leap to assume your son is actually hiding a secret girlfriend who he is (shamefully) cohabiting with pre-marriage and even before introducing her to you based on how he talks about said roommate. ¯\_ (ツ) _/¯

I don’t understand how people are incredibly annoyed at the MC and/or ML. Yes, the ML does beat around the bush a lot. But, I believe his lies were for a reason. He feared MC’s reaction and has always been a lonely person. Moreover, because of his family situation, he didn’t really grow to be good with words. It’s unsurprising that he turned out that way. And, MC is the last person he’d want to give up. It makes sense. Meanwhile, MC seems to care a lot about ML without really knowing why. After discovering how ML feels about him through a hint, he starts looking more into his own feelings. ML comes clean and MC immediately gives his response.

One lead had a relatively happy family life but his childhood was filled with a benign neglect that led to him being fiercely independent, petty about emotional entanglements and self confident. The other lead suffered emotional disconnect from his family from such a young age that he grew up without confidence, proper socialization or anyone noticing he suffers from social anxiety.

Its normal to find a story about a character who suffers self confidence issues and is inspired by another character (usually the romantic lead) to overcome their insecurities. By overcoming in a fantasy world it usually means they are completely cured and they never have to deal with those issues again.

In this story both out leads carry their issues with them even as their friendship changes them both. Nobody gets fixed. But they learn to understand and support each other more positively. Both characters are almost unrealistic extremes until you realize that social anxiety is real and there are people with low interest in romance or s*x outside of a strong emotional connection. It’s realistic while still having a sugary sweet ending.