So true for Jo Chanyeong to call him out.

Basically when they become "vengeful ghosts" they lose everything (feelings for past loved ones or comrades included, which makes the relationships between the guild members quite empty) except dedication to revenge and "hunger" for MC. I was really hoping they would take this into an interesting decision that has MC re-examine his relationships, give up on his feelings, and more thoughtfully interact with them. However, tbh it seems to not be the case or at least not fast enough.

I think leekyung’s pretty reasonable. Before all of this, he’s just a regular guy. And although it’s implied in the first few chapters that he might have no interest in girls, he still has zero experience in love. Also, all of their relationships are contract based.

Although we can see that somehow both garam and dawon seems to be a little overprotective and defensive towards sangyoon regarding leekyung, it could also be taken from leekyung’s perspective because he’s literally the red lotus’s lifeline and success factor of the revenge.

And then about sangyoon, we can see his attitude change came abruptly with the contract establishment, so ofc leekyung would think that any changes in sangyoon for now is the influence of the contract. It’s not that he’s oblivious, he’s normal.

One last point is that all 3 of them (sangyoon, garam, dawoon) are practically celebrities, hell, even dawoon has the image of an unattainable man, so hypothetically, if you’re in leekyung’s position (a regular person), would you think that these high quality men are simultaneously in love with you? I think not.

as well as more jaded

I liked the arc with RHR and KOL. I just felt that KOL was a WLW!! I also felt bad for RHR whose circumstances were bad (but also a bit of world building that shows how child rankers can be exploited) and was so unstable that she ignored KOL genuine attempts at a connection with her. It's also interesting how she believes it's her lack of status that makes her think SDW doesn't see her as attractive. I also think her insecurity reflects a bit on the main couple.

RHR was so infatuated with what SDW represents to her that she forced a fake PR relationship with SDW. CYK, only through time and effort and standing up to SDW that they get together (according to spoilers that I read). I still don't like them as a couple though.

Hamchi had more chemistry with Woo Ragi and Han Kiseok.

SDW is so calculating but he never considers the MC's dignity or health. (see: pretending CYK has a BD*M harem to drive HKS away, hiding the insomnia from CYK, etc.)

Leekyung only really starts getting 'cool' around 200 or so chapters in, so if you aren't committed to reading up to that point with a white lotus MC, then maybe choose something else.

The romance between the MC and ML can be very frustrating at times and we readers often wonder why tf leekyung continues to like dawon and not his handful of other suitors. This is where I would probably criticize leekyung's character the most bc it seems like he will never realizes his worth and how he does not have to stand for dawon, his other servants, and everyone around him's shit. He also always gets flustered whenever dawon is mentioned and that is frustrating in its own regard as well.

The MC has severe insomnia and memory loss due to the trauma of having to go through the memories of the dead. Also it slowly is wearing away the sanity of MC. MC has blackouts and his health is gradually declining. The dead spirits too face backlash. They only have the desire for revenge and the hunger for their contracter. This is also why the relationship between them is so f*cked up.