Rebirth Turn Chapter 47 Discussion

I'm stopping here for a second. I may come back to it but so far I don't really like it.

This story is a bit different and I really do enjoy the romantic tension as it builds up. However, as a story as a whole and the relationship develops, I don't like it.

It's a rebirth entertainment danmei. A lot of entertainment danmeis tells about the MC's job. What roles they take and their public image. Very standard. Nothing so amazing. As with rebirth stories, they take roles that they didn't get in their previous life. There are some entertainment danmeis that the roles they take are actually very interesting and engaging, but this one is not one of those.

The first reason I don't like this story is how apathetic and unfeeling the MC is. He's reborn after finding out that his only friend had betrayed him all this time. The reason why he's so unpopular and poor is due to him. In his previous life, he didn't seem unfeeling. He just seemed humbled by his experiences. But after his rebirth, he's like whatever. He doesn't care. He doesn't even want revenge. He only wants to become a big star.

Spoiler

After all the chapters I read, I still don't really know why he's interested in showbiz. It just states that he likes to act. And obviously, our MC cannot only act, he can sing as well. He can also play instruments (violin mostly). He's got a personality and an all-rounder.

Anyways, because of issues with the ML's brother, MC signs in with ML's company with a very loose contract and he gets an amazing, well-known, agent. So basically, MC did nothing, but because of the ML's favorability, he gets an amazing head start as a "newcomer" to the industry.

What happened was the ML liked the MC, the first for his assuming 30 year old virg*n self, and offered to sponsor MC. ML's younger brother sponsors a lot of artists, so the ML probably got the idea from his brother. MC refuses, because he doesn't want to sell himself for benefits. ML's brother retaliated against MC and later ML apologizes with that contract as stated in the previous paragraph.

MC didn't sell himself, but he still got the benefits.

With his new agent, MC offers no opinions (except once because he knew that a script would be an international hit and a Cannes Award winning film). He lets his agent do everything because he trusts the agent's work. So basically, MC kind of does nothing. He doesn't seem to have any interests except being popular because that's what it means to be a "celebrity." Obviously, people will talk about him. He can't do anything about that. He also has a proper and right attitude, so he always saves people because it is correct to do so. Later, in an interview, he deliberately states that he would actually hesitate to save a guy though. He does this because a bit of "controversy" will help him be a better "star" to the public.

It just feels like, he has no emotions and is very robotic. But at the same time, he has his "dignity" because he doesn't sell himself.

Like no, my guy, you took the benefits and gave nothing back.

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The only thing that was enjoyable for me was the romantic tension. It was slow and you get to see more of the MC's backstory. His mom was crazy. Someone in the reviews state that MC seems very demis*xual (part of the ace spectrum). And I agree. I just think it's more as*xual by trauma. Not that it's a good representation, but it's nice to let more people know about asexuality. Actually, it'd probably be more like aromantic by trauma. but s*xual orientation is usually linked up and considered the same as romantic orientation.

Because of his mom, he never envisioned falling in love. He never wanted to. He refuses to be like that. So he has no interest in love and s*x. But the ML was very sincere and didn't seem to be a liar. In the beginning, MC actively refuses. and then later, he watches it like a hawk. There's a lot of trust issues and trauma from his mom.

As someone already stated (and the tags), the MC is the top. And I f*cking hate it. Now hear me out.

Spoiler

The tags say "Seme Protagonist" but reading it, the MC felt more like a shou/uke/bottom (however you want it). And honestly, it makes me uncomfortable, because it feels like the MC does like the ML, but doesn't trust him.

When I read this, I just saw the synopsis and went into it. I didn't know that the MC would be the top. So I had a very honest reaction to the plotline and characters for this romance. For reference, I love reading seme protag novels, but I don't review much since I'm usually on my phone and only made an account after the chapter links were blocked. So this hate I have is not due to MC being top.

Let's just start off with their first time together. ML originally wanted to sponsor the MC. So I knew that he envisioned topping the MC. I knew it. ML knew it. And the MC knew it. All three of us f*cking knew it.

But it is the moment they are in bed that MC turns ML over (or whatever, I don't remember the correct order but!) and touches his as*hole and asks if "this was okay?" The ML is a bit speechless and lets him continue. The ML feels embarrassed, uncomfortable, and a bit of pain. I felt bad for the ML because I kind of felt like he was manipulated into being that vulnerable.

Like I said. We all knew. Okay? If the MC didn't want to bottom, he should've said it before and not in the heat of the moment. The romance in this story runs on emotions and patience. And this scene made me very uncomfortable.

Previously, they were both pretty proactive in their kissing. And yes, the MC messed with the ML's chest. But I still thought the MC would be bottom. But I guess that's just the rule in gay literature. The person's whose nipples are s**ked on gotta be bottom. lol

ANYWAYS, here's the other part why I thought the MC would be bottom.

Because of his mom, the MC has issues. He doesn't want to fall in love and then be abandoned like his mother. His mom was crazy and would hate the MC for being the child of his father while he'd be bullied outside for being a "wild seed." And yet, his mom still obsessed over the MC's father.

The MC knew that if he were to fall in love, he'd be like that too. Obsessed. He was moved by the ML's actions, but it wasn't enough. He needed to know that the ML would never leave. He needed to know that the ML would choose him over the ML's younger brother.

It's unhealthy but he needs that.

I thought MC would be bottom, because I thought he could finally relax himself and let go. Just let himself be loved.

In addition, he needs so much to trust the ML. I thought after getting what he needed to feel secure, he would reward the ML with all his vulnerability.

Because, well, this romance ran on emotions and patience.

Anyways, I got none of that. I just felt like the MC manipulated/pressured the ML to be bottom in the heat of the moment and he didn't really trust the ML.

The ML gave all those benefits to the MC at work. He gave the MC his dignity of not being a sponsored artist. He was the one that constantly showed up and called the MC. The ML gave everything he could.

The MC took everything and gave nothing back.

It feels uncomfortable because this relationship feels very unequal. It's not that being bottom puts someone at a disadvantage in a relationship. It's the lack of vulnerability and trust from the MC.

Like if they were real people, I'd tell the ML to leave the MC. Just because he has trauma, it doesn't mean that the MC can't put in the effort for this relationship. You work so hard and act like a wife who is minding her husband and his emotions, while he gives you nothing before you even start the relationship. After the relationship starts, and after marriage, there are going to be more expectations of you while all the MC has to do is buy flowers one day. And that would apparently be good enough from the MC's side. That's not okay. You're gonna run dry and become bitter.

I honestly don't think even knowing that the MC was the seme before reading this would make me feel differently. I always just hate relationships that feel unequal. It could get better, but for now, IDK.

If he had no sad backstory, he'd just be scum. But he didn't ask for it, they all gave it to him on their own. And he asked, so it was okay for him to top. Like... stop! We all knew!

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I quickly gave this story a 3 star by mistake. IDK if my thoughts will change later.

It's the same kind of story just from a different perspective. So it feels different, but really it's not. IDK, maybe it does get better. But for now, I need a break because the MC literally does nothing. He doesn't seem to put in any effort towards anything except not being used himself. He just seems very emotionless. He doesn't seem to have passion and strong ambitions. He just does things because he says he wants it but it doesn't seem like he really wants it. He's very "moved" but he takes no action. All his actions seem like "well, this is correct." Perfunctory.