Especially the suicidal side couple that acted as foil to the main couple. The only good advice the MC gave ("Maybe you should let him go, " I'm guessing was how that sentence would have ended) was utterly flat-out rejected by the wealthy side character in power. He would rather this partner die with him than find relief or escape.

Coincidentally, the MC proceeds to almost turn into an equally crazed psychotic yandere, several times, equally unwilling to let the ML go, equally the wealthy one with all the power...

And then there was the art show of the ML, showing his body contorted in super painful and awful ways. While it was under the context of "fine art" and also provided a great reason for the ML to be concerned with his body image, I can't help but think why the emotions expressed in the statues were all about pain and bending out of shape.

Coincidentally, those physical contortions exactly matched how the ML would psychologically contort, hiding and changing his wants/needs to do anything for the MC just to remain his partner.

There's also that bit of irony that all the money the MC gave the ML provided both for the rival artist AND this semi-masochistic art show.

And then there's the title of the story, the bird in the golden cage. The meaning of the phrase is to live in the lap of luxury without true freedom...

Of course the ML was very willing in this story, but there were a ton of flashbacks of how the MC spoiled the ML with his wealth, such as frequently fly him to different countries to experience art, etc. like spoiling a bird with gems and jewels so it will not remember its freedom.

Did the ML truly have any choice in this relationship? We shall never know.

The story of MC and ML traces back to unwritten 4 years of past. From just 26 chapters, we can see how they've grown and developed into the pair we read of now! I loved that they both knew that their relationship wasn't the healthiest (especially MC, who has witnessed the ongoing aftermath of an unhealthy relationship thanks to his unfortunate close friends) and broke up, albeit through miscommunication and misunderstanding.

While they only officially got together in the last 3 chapters, the earlier portion of the novel and the extras aren't lacking in super sweet and spicy dog food. The smut was pretty great. The s*x isn't extreme and the teasing between MC and ML are just (chef kiss) lord help me im depraved

who after using the shou to earn money for his schooling was throwing nasty words and even physically and verbally abusing him 😠🤬😤. He's both ugly in and out and doesn't deserve the shou's sacrifice and love! And not to mention giving the poor thing nightmares!ugh

MC misunderstood idol worship as love and gradually fall for ML. But ML was too excellent and he's a sugar baby

After they broke up their sugar contract due to misunderstanding, they got back together as lovers.

MC was a model for his "boyfriend" and the "boyfriend" is just casual working relationship with MC thinking they're dating

iirc the boyfriend treated him rough as a model and caused MC to have nightmares (he's a sensitive soul)

Not sure since MTL but MC is the naked model and "boyfriend" is rough with how he handled MC. MC didn't want marks because he's Boyfriend model. I think the boyfriend situation is more of MC's "delusion" to his idol.

MC is a rich ceo and ML is his sugar baby. Theyve been a contractual relationship for three years already but MC wants to take it a step further and start a romantic relationship with him. However ML has a boyfriend and MC respects that. MC never takes a step out of line until he discovers that ML is possibly ab*sed by his boyfriend. In the end, MC learns that the 'boyfriend' was just an excuse and just someone ML admires a lot and models for but holds no romantic feelings towards. MC formally pursues ML and succeeds as both their feelings are reciprocal.