Later we’ll find out that he has a one in a million kind of mind that allows him to think faster than most people. This, paired with his flexible thinking, makes him a very valuable asset.

After being exposed to Xiao Yan, Heine starts a descent to obsession. This leads to a lot of dub/non-con scenes.

Some say the ML is too cruel, but it is explicitly stated that he's the type who prefers to express some tough love over letting the situation slide which may bring about severe consequences to the ones he cares for. He applies this to both his subordinates and his loved ones, and they and the MC accept this. Near the end of the novel his actions and mentality are explained and so many things become clear.

Regarding the argument that the ML's actions have made the MC unknowingly become more susceptive and accepting of their relationship, there is an amnesia/memory disorder segment in which the MC cannot recall the time in which their relationship developed. If anything, following the memory disorder, he's terrified of the man as he only remembers the ML breaking his shoulder and his outwardly cold character. To simplify, their relationship is built again after that without mental invasions as the author's way of showing that they belong together. I have to accredit this observation to the Wattpad translator and I'm grateful for it.

I just have to mention the breaking the shoulder thing lmao - the ML really shot himself in the foot with that and he realizes it. The MC tells him something along the lines of "Sry I rly can't remember much other than when you broke my shoulder/ hurt me" and the ML leaves the room, only to lean on the door outside in anguish. I love their relationship but this one bit felt good to read lmao. Like, yes you've done so much for the MC but that doesn't mean those events disappeared LMAO. Justice for the MC's shoulder HAHA

Someone said something about the ML knowing that he has limited time only to advance his relationship with the MC despite knowing so. Actually, the ML really restrains himself and tries to distance himself from the MC. However, the MC cannot stop trying to get closer to him and thus the relationship progresses. The ML can't exactly abandon and avoid him either as he prioritizes and attempts make the MC stronger for when he can no longer protect him. As the MC begins to spread his wings, his safety and ability to protect himself in a world where the he is constantly targeted by the enemy is crucial, and so the ML feels the need to give it his all so that this can be accomplished.

Issue of their libido and "overabundance of s*x" - it's literally stated in the beginning that the virus causes the special forces to have much stronger s*xual desires along with other heightened abilities. Also, so what if the MC likes it lmao it's not like this is a short story with no plot and all s*x. He's also infected w/ the virus that the special forces have later on, and I'd say this novel has a good balance- in general, actually lmao. The world-building is great, their relationship development is great, the MC's personal development is great, the side characters are great, etc.

One final bit- The hallucinations are not deliberately pushed onto the MC. It's explained that the virus makes it so that those infected with it may unknowingly cause hallucinations to the party that they're attracted to, no matter how much restraint.

PROS :

• This novel has an amount of good points, with ample world-building and some amount of story depth.

• The side characters are characterized well and stand out from one another. I even found myself amused at their antics during missions.

• The author has skill at writing smut scenes, as shown in her other work Strong Offense and Defense (which I suggest you read !!!) Too bad even the best smut writer couldn’t save the alarming subject matter of the smut..

CONS :

• MC is... alarmingly bland to say the least. If he was an otome game character with an affection meter, I bet it’d fill up even if you were straight up beating him to death. The second ML of this story, Jean literally s*xually harasses MC at every turn, but we see MC still treating him with the tenderness of a bosom friend?

Where’s that particularity for Maya, your friend, who has done so much for you? (Or maybe I’m just incensed because I love Maya.)

• And ML? Don’t get me started on the way he fills in the hyper masculine, insensitive ML trope. I’m not going to dispute the opinion that he’s a gentle person considering the circumstances, but he literally crushes MC’s bones in one of the smut scenarios he conjures up??

• One more gripe I have is that despite some people despising the second ML Jean for s*xually harassing MC, they still condone ML’s actions. Why? That’s the ML treatment for ya.

plus the final battle was just confusing to me in general - both the mind battle and their subsequent escape