Protected: Jinx: Unseen 👀 Savior🦸🏼‍♂️ : The Birth of Jaegeng

April 20, 2025November 12, 2025 ~ Bébébisous33

Jinx: Confined Spaces 🚽, Hidden Wounds ❤️‍🩹

February 2, 2025 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ Leave a comment

Please support the authors by reading Manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the Manhwa: Jinx But be aware that the Manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. Here is the link of the table of contents about Jinx. Here is the link where you can find the table of contents of analyzed Manhwas. Here are the links, if you are interested in the first work from Mingwa, BJ Alex, and the 2 previous essays about Jinx A Clueless One-Way Street to Kim Dan and Bruised by Choices, Bound by Sacrifice

It would be great if you could make some donations/sponsoring: Ko-fi.com/bebebisous33 That way, you can support me with “coffee” so that I have the energy to keep examining Manhwas. Besides, I need to cover up the expenses for this blog.

As you know, each illustration for an essay always always captures the main message of the analysis. Since the restroom serves as the background illustration, it becomes clear that the topic will focus on this location. However, the picture reveals another underlying theme: bullying. In Jinx, bullying is not always overt but often hidden beneath layers of social interaction. When Kim Dan visited elementary school, he got mocked by being called a bum (chapter 57). Similarly, when Joo Jaekyung faced his opponent Randy Booker, he was also verbally harassed (chapter 14) which visibly destabilized the champion. Then in chapter 49, Team Black failed to perceive the duality of appearances and reality: (chapter 49) the surface shows two athletes seemingly engaged in a normal, even friendly interaction – they are shaking hands -, while the panels reveal a darker undercurrent of verbal harassment and manipulation. (Chapter 49)

Strikingly, Kim Dan and Joo Jaekyung are both connected to the restroom, a recurring space of emotional significance. For Kim Dan, it represents refuge and protection, while for Joo Jaekyung, it evokes exposure and humiliation. That is why the illustration portrays a ruined restroom on the left side. Yet, neither character uses this space to truly reflect on their circumstances. Instead, their reactions are dictated by ingrained survival mechanisms—Kim Dan withdraws into himself (chapter 61), while Joo Jaekyung represses his emotions and thoughts through “physical activities”. (chapter 55) This essay will explore how their experiences in the restroom space serve as a mirror to their past and reveal the psychological scars that shape their behaviors.

Restrooms vs. Bathrooms: A Key Distinction

Previously, in Season 1, the restroom always combined a shower and toilet. (chapter 14) (chapter 38) (chapter 47) However, in Season 2, the lavatory appears isolated for the first time, reinforcing a shift in symbolic meaning. This distinction helps to explain why restrooms (toilets/water closets) hold different meanings for the two protagonists. [for more read The duck🦆 and the dragon🐲 in the bathroom 🚿] Restrooms or toilets, often public and utilitarian, symbolize exposure, vulnerability, and societal judgment, where individuals are figuratively and literally exposed to others. In contrast, a bathroom, typically private, evokes intimacy and self-reflection (chapter 19) —a space where one is free to confront their inner selves without external pressures. In Jinx, the use of the restroom emphasizes the external pressures and the characters’ reactions to their environments, reinforcing their struggles with exposure and control. But how did I come to this realization?

Bullying and Stalking: Parallel Mechanisms of Control

It is related to Kim Dan’s behavior in episode 61. Why would he seek the lavatory and stand in front of the closed door? (chapter 61) Naturally, it is related to Joo Jaekyung’s behavior. The latter would meddle in his life. First, he forced him to treat him as patient. Then he acted, as if he was his friend by meeting Shin Okja. (chapter 61) The wolf reminded me of a stalker.

Ironically, bullying and stalking share striking similarities, as both involve an imbalance of power, unwanted attention, and the erosion of the victim’s sense of security. These dynamics mirror the framework of the childhood game “Truth or Dare,” where boundaries are tested (chapter 34), vulnerabilities are exposed, and participants are pushed to their limits. In the essay Guilty Truth or Dare ⚖ – part 1 (second version) I had already outlined the strong connection between bullying, the game and the champion’s past. Interesting is that in season 2, we discovered that the “hamster” had suffered such a fate. This could only reinforce my impression that the athlete shares the same pain than his soulmate. But let’s return our attention to the comparison between stalking and mobbing.

In this way, bullying and stalking act as real-life manifestations of the dangerous interplay between daring actions and withheld truths, forcing victims into cycles of fear, helplessness, and anxiety. And remember how I had developed the theory that Heesung might have been a victim of “stalking”, because he was seen in house slippers and had no jacket, though it was in the winter. (chapter 33) This would explain why Heesung was determined to hide the physical therapist’s whereabouts. (chapter 58) He saw in him a bully and even a stalker. His judgment was based on these two incidents: (chapter 58) He imagined that Kim Dan had been coerced to it, while the physical therapist always had the choice to refuse. Joo Jaekyung would never hurt the doctor.

Bullying often occurs in childhood, imprinting deep-seated fears and behavioral patterns that linger into adulthood. (chapter 57) Hence the doctor is now plagued with nightmares from the past. (chapter 59) The imminent death of his grandmother triggered his repressed fears. (chapter 57) Without her, he is now left with no protection. Stalking, in contrast, occurs later in life but evokes the same psychological distress—trapping victims in a cycle of hyper-awareness, helplessness, and anxiety. What makes stalking even more insidious is that it often mimics past experiences of bullying, dragging the victim back into a state of learned helplessness.

Joo Jaekyung, unfamiliar with being ignored by someone he values (chapter 61), reacts with pursuit. His behavior mirrors the tendencies of a stalker—not out of malice, but because his entire life was shaped by the belief that to be ignored is to be erased and forgotten. (chapter 55) In childhood, he learned that only strength could secure attention (chapter 26) (chapter 54), so when Kim Dan refuses to yield to him, Jaekyung instinctively fights back. (chapter 60) He tracks him down, calls him repeatedly (chapter 61) with the hope to have a conversation with him. (chapter 61) Deep down, he wants to be part of his life. Hence he moves next to Kim Dan’s house as his final attempt. (chapter 61) To Jaekyung, dominance and control are how relationships function, yet due to the doctor’s silent treatment, he is incited to change his approach. But to Kim Dan, these actions trigger memories of past tormentors, reviving the very feelings that once sent him running to the restroom for solace. The same space that shielded him as a child now becomes his only escape from Jaekyung.

Kim Dan’s Trauma Response: The Restroom as a Refuge

The physical therapist’s bullying experience adds another layer of complexity to his relationship with the restroom. In Chapter 57, (chapter 57) he is mocked in the open air, likely in a schoolyard, surrounded by peers. This public ridicule forced Kim Dan to develop a survival strategy—seeking the toilet at school for privacy and protection. There he could cry and vent his negative emotions, for he could no longer complain about his suffering at home. (chapter 57) As a child, he was bullied, humiliated, (chapter 57) and cornered, leading him to associate confined spaces with protection. The restroom was his only escape from ridicule, his sanctuary where he could momentarily regain control. This explains why he went crying there, when he heard the terrible news about his grandmother. (chapter 47)

In adulthood, this habit resurfaces due to Joo Jaekyung’s actions, which unconsciously mirror the behavior of a stalker—persistent, invasive, and overwhelming. The inability to escape fuels Kim Dan’s negative emotions. However, contrary to the past, he is not crying or on his knees. He is now standing, a sign that he is getting stronger mentally. Like mentioned in the previous essay, his thoughts are now showing more resent and anger. Consequently, his gaze is surrounded by darkness. (chapter 61) Since he can not escape the champion, he decides to ignore him.

The best protection against bullying is a healthy self-esteem

If your child is quickly intimidated, this will motivate the perpetrator to continue the nasty game. However, if your child reacts confidently and lets the insults bounce off him or her, the other children may soon stop enjoying it. quoted from https://www.familienportal.nrw/en/6-bis-10-jahre/krisen-konflikte/bullying-school

This shows that he is regaining confidence thanks to the “dragon”. In other words, in Episode 61, Kim Dan’s retreat into the restroom reflects this ingrained response, showing how deeply his childhood trauma influences his present. This explicates why he is trying to recall the champion as a selfish and ruthless man. (chapter 61) What caught my attention is that he is hiding his bruise on his arm. This exposes his denial about his own physical condition. He wants to act, as if nothing was wrong.

Unlike Jaekyung, who fears his own reflection (chapter 55) – the mirror is very low -, Kim Dan retreats into memories to rationalize his pain. Instead of processing his suffering, he shifts blame to Jaekyung, using the restroom space to wall himself off emotionally. The restroom in Jinx thus acts as a metaphor for entrapment—whether through self-isolation or forced exposure, neither character is truly free from their past.

Because of his denial and self-deception, the restroom loses its function as protection which coincides with his increasing self-esteem. On the other hand, the restroom represents now a source of danger. That’s the reason why I am anticipating that something terrible could happen in this place. Don’t forget that the toilet in the States was connected to the doctor’s illness: (chapter 38) So he could faint there or hurt himself and he would have no one by his side. Don’t forget that this place stands for seclusion and privacy.

But there’s more to it.

Since the bullying started in elementary school (chapter 57), it is clear that the kids were not thinking of sex or using the restroom to assault the little boy. However, we should question ourselves how this rumor about Kim Dan being an orphan started. (chapter 57) The role of a leader in bullying is necessary because their words and actions set the tone and direction for the group. Without a clear leader, group dynamics may remain neutral or passive, but a leader’s initiative legitimizes aggression and creates a structured environment for bullying to thrive. This connection to his childhood bullying raises an intriguing theory about the leader of the mob that tormented him. In Chapter 57, four children are shown mocking him, but the boy in the orange t-shirt stands out—his full face, hairstyle, and outfit are visible. Notably, a newly hired physical therapist introduced in Chapter 54 (chapter 54) bears a striking resemblance to this boy, leading to the possibility that this new character could be Kim Dan’s childhood bully. Given Jinx’s themes of positive psychology and confronting past demons, it is plausible that Kim Dan will encounter this schoolmate again. Such an interaction could force Kim Dan to address his unresolved trauma and reexamine his perceptions of strength and vulnerability. Moreover, don’t forget that the doctor in green saw the champion in a terrible shape who had admitted that he had drunk the night before. (chapter 54) And in episode 61, the main lead announced to Park Namwook that he had to fire the physical therapist. (chapter 61) I sense some retaliation here.

Joo Jaekyung‘s hidden suffering

And the moment I connected the restroom to bullying, I realized why Joo Jaekyung would dislike to share the bathroom with others. (chapter 08) It is because in his mind, this place is associated with toilets in general. That’s how it dawned on me that the athlete could have been harassed at school, but contrary to the physical therapist, it took place later. The leader was Baek Junmin who hid behind the “mob”. (chapter 49) Because he utilized the expression “how you were as a kid”, it signifies that the MMA fighter was not only older, but also an adult, whereas the champion must have been a teenager. And now, you comprehend why Baek Junmin acted like a friendly athlete in front of the public: (chapter 49) It is because if his past actions (an adult bullying a teenager) were to be exposed in the media, there is no doubt that no one would see him as a champion. (chapter 49) People could discern his true personality: he was nothing more than a thug. Moreover, he would be perceived as a cheater, because he used others and his seniority to torment a child or teenager. At the same time, since Joo Jaekyung became a victim of bully later, the content about the mobbing should have been different. I am suspecting that he could have been targeted because of his homosexuality. (chapter 49) So we have to envision that he got assaulted in the school restroom, but everyone chose to close an eye to the situation. There exists two reasons why I am assuming that the restroom is linked to the champion’s suffering.

First, in episode 14, after getting verbally harassed by Randy Booker, the athlete went to the bathroom (chapter 14), but observe that next to him, there was the toilet. That’s the only time we see the toilet linked to the athlete in season 1. Interesting is that though he was alone in the room, he couldn‘t calm down. He even avoided to look at his own reflection. His behavior displays an immense stress and anxiety indicating that despite the presence of Park Namwook in front of the door, he didn‘t feel safe at all. (Chapter 14)

Then in episode 55, we see the champion going to the restroom for sex. (chapter 55) For the first time, he accepted someone other than Kim Dan in such a private room, a sign that the man was getting stronger mentally. However, while he was receiving a fellatio (chapter 55), he showed no reaction. In fact, his headache got even worse than before. (chapter 55) The champion’s passivity and migraine could be the symptoms of the athlete’s past suffering. His pain worsened in that place because of the past, but he didn’t realize it, for he was so focused on his soulmate. Secondly, the moment he was about to get kissed (chapter 55), he pushed the uke away and left the place (chapter 55).In this place, he could show vulnerability, yet he experienced that nothing bad happened to him. This explicates why after this experience is willing to remember and even reconnect with the doctor.

Contrary to Kim Dan whose body got bruised, the athlete’s past traumas are linked to his head and as such his memories. Hence he is now suffering from headaches. (chapter 61) In my opinion, the departure of Kim Dan forced the champion to be confronted with his repressed past. (chapter 54) While he calls his former rival and tormentor’s name and recollects his beating, he is not plagued with a migraine. This means that the real cause for Joo Jaekyung’s suffering (his headache linked to his repressed memories) is triggered by the attitude of his guardian. That’s the reason why he had a nightmare with the ghost of the past.

From my point of view, the fears experiences in episde 14 (chapter 14) are related to the words expressed by the abuser from this past: (chapter 14) The latter mocked him for being vulnerable and weak („pathetic“). Joo Jaekyung was compared to „trash“ because he was useless. (Chapter 54) There is no ambiguity that Randy Booker‘s insults had triggered the athlete‘s repressed memories and fears. Joo Jaekyung’s avoidance of mirrors suggests a fear of self-recognition—an unwillingness to face the vulnerability he tries so hard to suppress. His reaction mirrors the response of someone who has internalized a rigid sense of masculinity, where showing emotion is equated with weakness. The restroom, then, becomes a battleground where he unconsciously fights his past conditioning, yet he is unable to overcome it.

But how are the guardian’s words linked to the bullying? Since Kim Dan’s fate mirrors the star’s, I come to the following deduction. Their guardians shaped them in opposite ways, yet both were left emotionally stunted.

Guardians as Architects of Emotional Vulnerability

The guardians in Jinx—Kim Dan’s grandmother and Joo Jaekyung’s guardian —are pivotal figures in shaping their wards’ emotional landscapes. Through their contrasting philosophies, they unconsciously embedded patterns of emotional dependency and isolation, which continue to influence Kim Dan and Joo Jaekyung’s present behaviors. The guardians’ responses to vulnerability, particularly in the face of bullying or hardship, set the foundation for the protagonists’ respective coping mechanisms.

Kim Dan’s Grandmother: Overprotection and Dependency

Kim Dan’s grandmother, with her constant refrain of (chapter 57) “You have me. I’ll always stay by your side,” cultivated a false sense of security but at the cost of Kim Dan’s autonomy and self-esteem. This overprotection became a double-edged sword—while shielding him from immediate harm, it left him ill-equipped to confront challenges on his own. She didn’t teach to have friends or seek help. By placing herself as his sole protector, she inadvertently taught Kim Dan to suppress his needs and desires in favor of compliance and silence.

This dynamic becomes especially evident in the aftermath of bullying. Instead of empowering Kim Dan to stand up to his tormentors or to assist him, her approach reinforced his tendency to retreat and confirmed the bullies’ words ruining his self-esteem. Her suffocating reassurance offered comfort but also fostered passivity, leading Kim Dan to seek solace in confined spaces like the restroom, both physically and emotionally. Hence he ended up with no friend.

Joo Jaekyung’s guardian: Emotional Isolation and Rigid Strength

In stark contrast, Joo Jaekyung’s father operated under a philosophy of emotional detachment. His words (chapter 54) imply that the fighter is not lovable, because he is useless and weak. He can only resolve his problem on his own and this through strength. His message instilled in Jaekyung a belief that vulnerability was synonymous with weakness. Instead of providing guidance or support during moments of hardship, his guardian emphasized self-reliance and resilience, equating worth with strength.

This approach left Joo Jaekyung emotionally stunted, unable to process his own feelings or seek help when needed. His relentless pursuit of dominance, whether in MMA or personal relationships, stems from this ingrained belief that strength is the only way to earn respect and avoid being discarded. The restroom, for him, became a site of humiliation, where vulnerability was laid bare and mocked, rather than a place of refuge. In addition, though Jaekyung likely does not consciously recognize it, the ghost’s treatment—emphasizing toughness and dismissing vulnerability—constitutes a betrayal of trust. As a child, Jaekyung needed emotional validation, guidance, and reassurance, but instead, he received criticism and was left to fend for himself. This breach of trust planted the seeds of betrayal trauma, which explains why we have not seen his “family” yet.

Truth and Dare: The Guardians’ Role in Perpetuating Cycles of Avoidance

The contrasting approaches of Kim Dan’s grandmother and Joo Jaekyung’s tormentor parallel the dynamics of the childhood game “Truth and Dare.” In this game, participants are forced to confront uncomfortable truths or take risky actions that test their boundaries. The guardians, when confronted with the harsh realities of bullying or their wards’ emotional needs, made choices that mirrored this dynamic.

Kim Dan’s Grandmother (Avoiding Truth, Choosing Dare): Faced with the reality of Kim Dan’s vulnerability, she chose to shield him rather than confront the deeper issue of his emotional growth. Her “dare” was her decision to take full responsibility for his well-being, creating an illusion of safety while neglecting the need to equip him with tools for self-reliance.
Joo Jaekyung’s Father (Avoiding Truth, Choosing Dare): When faced with his son’s emotional struggles, Joo Jaekyung’s father dared to dismiss them entirely, opting for a philosophy of “tough love” that denied vulnerability. His refusal to address his son’s emotional pain perpetuated a cycle of repression, forcing Jaekyung to internalize his struggles.

In both cases, the guardians avoided the truth of their wards’ emotional needs, choosing actions that perpetuated cycles of fear, dependency, or isolation. These choices highlight how avoidance and denial, much like in the game of “Truth and Dare,” can have lasting consequences. But why did they avoid truth in the first place? The answer lies in their unwillingness to confront their own shortcomings and take responsibility for their actions. Shin Okja refused to admit her inability to provide Kim Dan with the tools he needed to navigate the world independently, because she needed him more than anything. He was supposed to take her burden, once he was an adult. The silence about the absence of his parents is quite telling. She would be forced to tell the truth how they came to vanish.

As for the champion’s guardian, he hid behind the veneer of toughness, refusing to acknowledge that his neglect, alcohol abuse and rigid philosophy of self-reliance were harmful. I am quite certain that he is responsible for the manager’s biased perception: “spoiled child”. (chapter 7) At the same time, it shows that by asking to defend himself, he pushed the athlete to become a “fighter”. He needed to demonstrate his strength and worth constantly. Choosing truth would have required him to admit that his emotional detachment stemmed from his own fears of vulnerability and inadequacy. Instead, he projected these insecurities onto his son, perpetuating a cycle of emotional isolation and avoidance.

Conclusion: The Restroom as a Mirror to the Past

The restroom is a seemingly mundane place, yet in Jinx, it takes on a profound duality, reflecting the psychological wounds of both Kim Dan and Joo Jaekyung. For Kim Dan, it has long been a place of retreat (chapter 61), a shelter from external threats, a sanctuary where he could escape the ridicule and bullying of his past. For Joo Jaekyung, however, it represents something entirely different—an exposure of weakness, a space where he once cried as a child, likely subjected to ridicule or even physical harm. The restroom is where their pasts unconsciously collide, revealing how their respective traumas dictate their present behaviors and interactions.

For either of them to heal, they must first recognize how their pasts dictate their present. Kim Dan must learn that setting boundaries does not equate to abandonment, and Joo Jaekyung must realize that control and power are not the same as connection. Hence conversation is necessary. The restroom, once a place of refuge and exposure, may ultimately serve as a metaphor for change—a space where both men confront their wounds, not alone, but together.

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Jinx: The Wolf’s 🐺 Cure ⚕️ Among The Sheep 🐑

January 1, 2025 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ Leave a comment

Please support the authors by reading Manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the Manhwa: Jinx But be aware that the Manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. Here is the link of the table of contents about Jinx. Here is the link where you can find the table of contents of analyzed Manhwas. Here are the links, if you are interested in the first work from Mingwa, BJ Alex, and the 2 previous essays about Jinx Craving Mama’Shine – part 2 and Turning Toward the Light

🥳🎉I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025 🎆🎇

Introduction

The second season of Jinx promises to delve deeper into the lives of its main characters, transitioning from the confines of the gym (chapter 54) and penthouse (chapter 54) in Seoul—a city symbolizing anonymity, invisibility, and corruption—to the hospice “Light of Hope” (chapter 56) in a small town on the West Coast (chapter 56), where people know each other. This essay builds upon my previous interpretations of the series, which led me to develop these predictions for the upcoming season. By comparing the visual depictions of the gym and penthouse in Seoul with the hospice and small town on the West Coast, the divergence in weather becomes a powerful symbol of the changes Joo Jaekyung will undergo. The rainy, overcast settings of the gym and penthouse reflect the fighter’s inner turmoil and sadness, highlighting the oppressive atmosphere of a city rife with anonymity and corruption. In contrast, the sunny and open environment of the hospice and town by the ocean represents a space of hope and renewal, where human connections thrive. This comparison underscores the significant role the hospice and small town will play in fostering Joo Jaekyung’s self-discovery and healing. The gym and penthouse in Seoul symbolize anonymity, invisibility, and corruption. This anonymity stems from the city’s indifference to individual suffering, as seen when Kim Dan was dragged (chapter 16) (chapter 16) through the streets by loan sharks in broad daylight without anyone intervening. Invisibility is further exemplified by the perverted hospital director, (chapter 1) who harassed Kim Dan without facing any consequences, though he was caught, and by Kim Miseon’s unethical actions, such as leaking patient information (chapter 48) and using Shin Okja as a guinea pig for trial treatments (chapter 21) —none of which led to accountability. In contrast, the hospice represents a counterpoint: (chapter 56) a space where respect and dignity take precedence over ambition, fostering genuine human connection and care. This contrast between the city and the hospice highlights the champion’s need to redefine his understanding of life, identity, and success. The contrast between the hospice and MFC becomes pivotal, as these environments symbolize opposing values: while the hospice fosters compassion (chapter 57), reflection, and healing, the MFC epitomizes exploitation, indifference and neglect. (chapter 52) The best example is the vanishing of the protagonist’s former rival, Baek Junmin, (chapter 57) who no longer appears in the news.

Contrasting the Hospice and MFC

The hospice, Light of Hope, does not offer healing in the traditional sense, as its patients are no longer hoping to be cured. Instead, it provides a space for those burdened by emotional scars to wait for death in a positive way, (chapter 56) emphasizing respect and dignity. This stark reality will serve as an eye-opener for Joo Jaekyung, who is burdened by news and media narratives equating (chapter 36) (chapter 35) (chapter 36) his shoulder injury or potential career loss with “death.” At the hospice, he will encounter people who are truly facing the end of their lives (chapter 57), prompting him to recognize that his so-called career end does not symbolize his real death. (chapter 29) This realization will help him distinguish between his life as a fighter and his life as a person, setting the stage for his transformation. It provides a stark contrast to the MFC, which is riddled with manipulation and greed. At the hospice, Joo Jaekyung is likely to encounter individuals whose lives are defined not by competition but by care and connection, like Mingwa implied it with the comment of the nurse: (chapter 57). This environment challenges him to confront the indifference of figures like Yosep and Park Namwook, whose neglect, blind trust, passivity, naivety, neglect and selfishness have shaped his struggles. Notice that the nurses are often seen together and exchanging thoughts about doc Dan symbolizing unity and harmony (chapter 57) which contrasts so much to the mentality at the gym. There, no one paid attention to the well-being of Kim Dan or the athlete. The latter had to burden everything on his own. The hospice’s focus on teamwork and selflessness mirrors the qualities of the sheep—often symbols of conformity but also of communal support and altruism.

On the other hand, the grandmother believes she has found her “family” and “roots” at the hospice (chapter 57), yet her exclusion of Kim Dan reveals her flawed understanding of family, which she associates solely with a location. This behavior aligns her with the symbolism of the black sheep: a disruptive force within the community whose selfishness and inability to nurture genuine familial bonds isolate her. Her neglect of Kim Dan, despite his evident suffering, exposes her as prioritizing her personal comfort over the well-being of her own grandson. The arrival of the wolf—Joo Jaekyung—will challenge her perception, forcing her to confront the flaws in her thinking and her selfishness. His presence, along with interactions with other characters such as Potato and Heesung, who possesses the perceptiveness of a gumiho, will expose her true nature to the community. This confrontation will push her toward an overdue reckoning with her actions and their impact on Kim Dan. I also realized that since this woman is suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome, her true enemy is youth which is embodied by Yoon-Gu. The latter stands for the opposite values: innocence and responsibility. So his ignorance and purity could lead her to experience unpleasant truths, like for example: Potato asks her about the whereabouts of Kim Dan’s parents, a new version of this scene: (special episode 1) In other words, the presence of Kim Dan’s friends (Joo JAekyung, Potato and Heesung) could make her realize her true nature, which would impact her mental health. She led a life full of missed chances and regrets.

The MFC, in contrast, represents the worst of hierarchical power dynamics. It stands as a symbol of industrialization, producing ‘champions’ not for their personal growth or well-being but for monetary gain. Fighters are treated as commodities, molded and exploited for profit in a system that prioritizes output over humanity. As an organization, it prioritizes profit over the well-being of its fighters, fostering a culture of exploitation and blind obedience. Joo Jaekyung’s realization of these flaws will likely spur his transformation into the true owner of the gym, imposing his values of loyalty, care, and protection.

Defining the Cure: Reconnecting with the True Self

For Joo Jaekyung, the “cure” lies in reconnecting with his true self and rediscovering his childish side, something he could only experience twice in season 1. He had fun with Kim Dan by his side (chapter 26) (chapter 27) In Korean culture, the saying “when the heart isn’t in it” reflects a profound truth: actions devoid of sincerity lack real value. Season 2’s new settings allow the champion to reflect on his mechanical, dispassionate life and begin to act with intention and feeling.

Central to this transformation is his relationship with Kim Dan. Taking care of Kim Dan—physically, emotionally, and mentally—becomes a pathway for Joo Jaekyung to rediscover his own humanity and generosity. However, it becomes evident that the one truly dying a slow death is Kim Dan. His negative change, marked by physical and emotional decline, should make the champion realize that Kim Dan has been identifying himself with the athlete. The last incident appears to have “killed” the physical therapist’s spirit, leaving him a shadow of his former self. (chapter 54) Though in denial, Joo Jaekyung feels undoubtedly responsible for the doctor’s suffering, as one of his nightmares reveals his guilt for doubting Kim Dan’s honesty and dedication. Once seeing his terrible transformation, the man can only blame himself, especially if he recalls Cheolmin’s advice: (chapter 13)- The act of nurturing Kim Dan is symbolic: it aligns Joo Jaekyung with the wolf, an animal deeply associated with love, family, and protection. Through this connection, he learns to balance his ferocity with tenderness, becoming not just a fighter but a protector.

Education also stands at the center of Season 2, exemplified by Boksoon (chapter 57) and her puppies. Kim Dan is tasked with taking care of the dog and her newborns, and Joo Jaekyung should be asked to do the same. This responsibility not only serves as an allegory for taming the wolf within him but also paves the way for the champion’s deeper connection with Kim Dan. By being close to the ocean (chapter 56), a place where Joo Jaekyung finds relaxation through swimming, the setting introduces an opportunity for him to teach Kim Dan how to swim, addressing the latter’s fear of water (chapter 27). Swimming could become a shared activity that rebuilds their relationship on a foundation of trust, mutual learning, and growth. Engaging in this physical activity would not only strengthen their bond but also boost Kim Dan’s confidence and help him rediscover his own resilience.

Moreover, the professional dynamic between them shifts significantly in Season 2. With Joo Jaekyung hiring a new physical therapist (chapter 54), his connection with Kim Dan is no longer defined by a boss-employee relationship. Their interactions, now free of financial obligations, offer the fighter a clearer view of Kim Dan’s selfless and angelic nature. The physical therapist’s unwavering care, even at the expense of his own well-being, highlights his ungreedy and altruistic character. This realization will deepen Joo Jaekyung’s respect and affection for Kim Dan, further cementing the transformative journey they both embark on.

The Role of Mirrors and Mentors

Key secondary characters at the hospice serve as mirrors and mentors to the main leads. The landlord (chapter 57) and the yelling patient (chapter 57), represented as an ibex, embody qualities that challenge Joo Jaekyung and Kim Dan to confront their past traumas and current flaws. The ibex’s defiance contrasts with the sheep-like conformity of the hospice patients, encouraging Potato, Kim Dan and Joo Jaekyung to question the blind obedience that has shaped their relationship with figures like Park Namwook. These characters reflect the flaws of Yosep and Namwook, enabling Joo Jaekyung to see the neglect and indifference he has endured and inspiring him to redefine his role in the gym and in Kim Dan’s life.

Nurses 1 and 2, previously conceptualized as (chapter 56) “Nurse Mind” and “Nurse Heart,” provide another layer of mentorship. They could act as the champion’s eyes and ears, teaching him to observe and understand Kim Dan’s mental state. Though the nurse 1 started reproaching Kim Dan to neglect himself (chapter 57), she was able to note that he was suffering mentally and emotionally. She diagnosed it as burn-out. Then in the latest chapter, a new nurse appeared. With her green hair and glasses (chapter 57), she reminded me of the champion’s friend: (chapter 13) She already noticed his unusual fatigue, so in my opinion, this third woman could be the one detecting that the main lead is not eating properly. If this assumption is correct, then she stands for food and body, like in the Korean saying: “If your heart is not in it, you can’t see if you look. You can’t even hear if you listen, and you can’t taste even if you eat.” Their guidance should help Joo Jaekyung cultivate a nurturing side, showing him that strength is not solely physical but also emotional and relational. In this way, the nurses become pivotal in his journey from a lone wolf to a leader who values and protects his pack.

The Symbolism of Wolves, Sheep, and the Illustration

The wolf symbolizes love, family, and protection, qualities that Joo Jaekyung begins to embody as he nurtures Kim Dan and confronts his own vulnerabilities. The illustration visually represents this duality: the wolf in sheep clothes, walking towards the hospice, embodies Joo Jaekyung’s fierce yet diminished and protective nature, while the broken tree—representing Kim Dan—signals his fragile state and the need for healing. Together, the wolf and the sun symbolize Joo Jaekyung’s journey toward self-discovery and redemption, as he draws strength from the tree’s shade, embodying Kim Dan’s care and quiet support.

Meanwhile, the sheep represent conformity and selflessness, but the presence of the ibex disrupts this harmony, standing as a challenge to blind obedience. I have to admit that the patient’s reaction (chapter 57) reminded me a lot of Yoon-Gu’s (chapter 49), though their positions are absolutely opposite. The patient’s reaction in Chapter 57 echoes this dynamic, as he accuses Joo Jaekyung of being ill-tempered (this means that he remembers the suspension), a perspective shaped by the media’s manipulations. His criticism reflects the behavior of a sheep, falling prey to misinformation and failing to see the larger truths. On the other hand, it indicates that this man also knows a part of the truth: the suspension which is no longer mentioned, but also escaped Kim Dan’s notice, as he was dealing with his departure. In contrast, Potato’s response in Chapter 49, where he courageously questioned Director Choi despite the latter being an elder, showcases independence and critical thinking. This juxtaposition highlights the patient’s potential to awaken Joo Jaekyung, Kim Dan, and Potato to the damaging impact of media narratives. Over time, the patient himself must confront the wrongfulness and cold-heartedness of his accusations, fostering growth and understanding on all sides. These characters reflect the flaws of Yosep and Namwook, enabling Joo Jaekyung to see the neglect and indifference he has endured and inspiring him to redefine his role in the gym and in Kim Dan’s life.

The illustration’s inclusion of the hamster—symbolizing Kim Dan’s fun, fragile, and nurturing nature—along with the chow chow and the gumiho, emphasizes the roles of protectors and mediators. The chow chow’s loyalty and the gumiho’s cunning serve as essential forces guarding the hamster and navigating the complexities of this “pure community,” where lies and selfishness can still exist. These characters highlight the intricate dynamics within the hospice, where Joo Jaekyung must balance strength with empathy.

Wolves also represent loyalty and teamwork, values that stand in stark contrast to the selfishness and manipulation he experienced at the MFC. Meanwhile, the sheep, often dismissed as symbols of conformity, carry a deeper meaning at the hospice. They embody gentleness, warmth (due to their wool), selflessness and community, traits that Joo Jaekyung learns to appreciate and emulate. That’s how the wolf will learn how to give warmth and comfort to his fated partner. The hamster can only feel grateful towards his benefactor pushing him to reciprocate the attitude. Then the moon, embodied by the doctor, will become the guardian of the champion so that the latter can little by little recover from his insomnia and recurrent nightmares.

A Journey of Transformation

In a world where individuals are on the verge of death, Joo Jaekyung discovers his own senses: his humanity and generosity. The hospice provides a space for him to reconnect with his true self, guided by the lessons he learns from Kim Dan, the nurses, and the “mirrors” of the landlord and the ibex. This transformation not only redefines his relationship with Kim Dan but also prepares him to reclaim his rightful place as the leader of the gym, imbuing it with values of care and protection. Furthermore, the hospice teaches Joo Jaekyung the value of rest and relaxation (chapter 57), concepts he had previously dismissed as “laziness.” (chapter 13) This newfound appreciation allows him to form fond memories of the place, associating it with peace and renewal despite the grandmother’s inevitable passing. By metaphorically taking over her place at the hospice, Joo Jaekyung symbolically builds his family there, grounding himself in the values of compassion and community. These lessons ultimately empower him to take over the gym with a renewed perspective, ready to lead with strength and empathy. Finally, I deduce that the main couple will initially navigate between the Light of Hope Hospice and the doctor’s rented room before visiting other places (like the beach and the mountain) The more places they will visit together, the more they will become true to themselves, inciting them to open their mind and heart to each other. Surrounded by nature, all the characters will get purified and discover the true source of happiness.

Ultimately, The Wolf’s Cure Among the Sheep is a story of healing through connection, a reminder that even in a world marked by competition and death, humanity and generosity can flourish when the heart is truly in it.

Feel free to comment. If you have any suggestion for topics or Manhwas, feel free to ask. If you enjoyed reading it, retweet it or push the button like. My Reddit-Instagram-Twitter-Tumblr account is: @bebebisous33. Thanks for reading and for the support, particularly, I would like to thank all the new followers and people recommending my blog.

Protected: Jinx: Illusory Reset 🔁

April 19, 2024November 2, 2024 ~ Bébébisous33

Jinx: Precious Puppy 🐶💕 Pals (second version)

March 18, 2024November 10, 2024 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ 4 Comments

Please support the authors by reading the Manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the manhwa: Jinx. But be aware that the Manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. Here is the link of the table of contents about Jinx. Here is the link where you can find the table of contents of analyzed manhwas. Here are the links, if you are interested in the first work from Mingwa, BJ Alex, and the previous essay about Jinx “Effective Anguish”

It would be great if you could make some donations/sponsoring: Ko-fi.com/bebebisous33 That way, you can support me with “coffee” so that I have the energy to keep examining manhwas. Besides, I need to cover up the expenses for this blog.

Any beholder of the illustration can recognize that with the puppies, I am referring to Hwang Yoon-Gu and Kim Dan.

In episode 23, Mingwa introduced the maknae Potato as a dog. (chapter 23) On the other hand, the physical therapist has always been associated with a hamster, like in this image. So how did I come to connect the main lead to a puppy dog? (chapter 47) It is because Shin Okja called her grandson “her puppy dog”.

1. Kim Dan’s birth as puppy and its signification

It is not anodyne at all, for it indicates doc Dan’s transformation. He is no longer a little boy (chapter 5), but a young dog. This signifies that in the bathroom, the main lead’s true nature came to the surface due to the bad news concerning his grandmother. (chapter 47) Yet, a puppy embodies innocence and inexperience. Thus it needs the guidance of a mother. On the other hand, in my essays about the doctor, I kept describing him as a person who would constantly grow and mature. So “a puppy dog” would appear as a contradiction to my previous interpretation. Nonetheless, we shouldn’t forget that this was representing the grandmother’s desire. By turning him into a puppy dog, she expects from him obedience and loyalty. She is denying his right to determine his own life. He needs to follow its master. Hence this scene announces a certain regression for Kim Dan. On the other hand, I believe that this is just temporary. What the elderly woman didn’t know is that by linking him to a dog, she was freeing Kim Dan from society as well. He is now an animal. He belongs to Nature from that moment on. This animal symbolizes freedom and independency. So when the grandmother described him as a puppy dog (chapter 47), she didn’t realize that she was telling him that he should do anything in order to survive. She was encouraging him not only to find a new home, but also to protect himself. As a conclusion, her words were ambiguous. On the one hand, she was putting chains on him with her new request, for she was expecting loyalty from him. (chapter 53). On the other hand, she was also cutting off ties with him symbolically. She was also liberating him from any obligation and expectation, as her favor was linked to a single moment: watching the sunset once again. The moment he does this, she can no longer ask for a new favor, especially after admitting him that she had never done anything for him. (Chapter 53) In that moment, she became the person indebted towards him. I would even add, she was inciting her grandson to follow his instincts, though I doubt that she recognized the consequences of her words. Kim Dan should no longer follow traditions, like do everything for her sake. So the patting on the head is an allusion to Nietzsche’s transcendence of conventional morality. [For more read Effective Anguish] Hence I come to the following conclusion. With her words, Kim Dan’s animal instincts were triggered. It is relevant, because animal symbolizes nature, which stands in opposition to civilization. The latter represents laws, social norms and money! But money means nothing to a puppy! And now, you comprehend why Kim Dan could only reject Choi Gilseok’s offer. (chapter 48) Furthermore, Jinx-philes could observe how the doctor had followed his instincts during the conversation with Choi Gilseok in different panels, like for example in this image. (chapter 48) The idiom “fishy” is a reference to smell, indicating that he was relying on his own senses. But we have another evidence that the puppy dog was using all his senses to judge his counterpart: (chapter 48) He rejected the touch from Choi Gilseok. That’s how he could detect the director’s hypocrisy. He refused to drink the coffee from the senior, although it had been recommended. As you can imagine, all his 5 senses were on alert, and the latter are strongly intertwined with instincts. In addition, when he asked his counterpart to go to the point and speak frankly (chapter 48), he was urging Choi Gilseok to drop all manners. Yet, Manhwalovers should keep in mind that the synonyms for manners are etiquette and ceremony. This proves that manners stand for civilization. But what are good manners?

1.Greetings (…) 2. being punctual (…) 3. respecting elders (…) 4. always speak the truth (…) 5. asking permission (…) 6. using please and thank you (…) 7. listening actively (…) 8. saying please and thank you (…) 9. being kind and compassionate (…) 10. stop wasting food (…) Quoted from https://www.krmangalambahadurgarh.com/blogs/10-necessary-good-manners-for-kids

In the last picture, Jinx-addicts can detect doc Dan’s good manners (“please”), yet at the same time a certain rudeness. He is not drinking the coffee (“wasting food”) and he is not obeying to the director. (Chapter 48) This means, he was disrespecting the elder. However, his disrespect didn’t start at the café, but in front of the gym. (chapter 48) He refused to take the card from the director. However, the moment his grandmother was brought up, he became obedient and accepted the invitation. (chapter 48) He acted out of loyalty and love for her. Nevertheless, the director’s offer for his halmoni served him to see the truth. His behavior during the conversation exposes the awakening of his wild and rebellious side. Thus we could say, Doc Dan showed more and more his rudeness. He left without asking permission and saying goodbye. (Chapter 48) He even gave an order to the patriarch and turned his back to him. No wonder why Choi Gilseok got so upset. (Chapter 48) To conclude, the conversation displayed that Kim Dan was already following his halmoni’s advice, he was living as a dog. This made me smirk, because I could detect how Joo Jaekyung had rubbed off on Kim Dan!! 😂 (Chapter 7) Thus I deduce that Kim Dan will follow more and more his instincts and as such ignore more social norms! I will elaborate further this point in the last part: predictions.😉

But what is the role of a dog? It is to act as a guardian and protector. Hence the dog symbolizes home and family, as the latter is supposed to guard the household. But for that to happen, the dog has to be raised and treated properly. Consequently, the basis of the relationship between dog and home is affection and trust. Therefore it is no coincidence that dog stands for loyalty, courage, vigilance, companionship and friendship too. Everyone knows the saying “dog is man’s best friend”. Under this new perspective, it becomes comprehensible why I added so many hearts in the illustration about the puppies. These two characters symbolize true friendship. Thus I come to the following deduction: Kim Dan is about to get truly adopted by Team Black, while it looked the opposite at the end of the season. He might have been wearing a uniform and a jacket Team Black, yet there were signs that he wasn’t truly part of the team. (Chapter 43) He wasn’t simply left out here, when it was dinner. They never questioned the origins of his tiredness, indicating a certain neglect and disinterest. Their concern was rather superficial. He was not included as well, when Oh Daehyun and the other members prepared a surprise party. Hence he was caught by surprise. (chapter 43) The cause for this issue is that Kim Dan was hired as the private Physical Therapist for the champion. He occupies a special position, for he is no fighter. Yet, he did everything to integrate his new family by treating the other members, though it was never his responsibility officially. (chapter 47) But for the adoption to happen, he needs to prove his loyalty. How will he do it? Once again… wait for the part with the predictions. Yes, I am taunting my attentive readers.

2. Doc Dan and Team Black

But now, I would like to return my attention to the grandmother and the two puppies. While writing the first part, a detail caught my attention. Thus I created a table of the three panels so that people could understand how I came to this new discovery.

What caught my attention is that when Shin Okja treated the protagonist as a little boy, she caressed his cheeks. But when she called him a puppy dog, her stroke changed. She was patting his head. In other words, the halmoni was copying the gesture from Oh Daehyun and Kim Changmin! 😮 We could say, she was giving her blessing and some strength to her poor puppy. It was to encourage him to become strong.

It is important, because only in episode 47, we discover that Potato as lucky charm has never been efficient for the fighters! (chapter 47) They could never break into the MFC! Yes, chapter 47 actually exposed the falsehood of this belief: Potato hadn’t been bringing luck to Team Black. But why? The first reason is simple. It is because of his good vibes. (chapter 23) He stands for innocence too. None of the fighters were mad or angry enough to hurt their opponents. Yes, their “killer instincts” had not been awakened. And now, you comprehend why the author portrayed the fighters as chibies in episode 47. (chapter 47) She was underlining their innocence and naivety. Thus they are still ignorant of the existence of schemes in the MFC world. They have the impression that the underground fighting ring and MFC are two different worlds. (Chapter 47) That’s the reason why they were not expecting that their idol would get so hurt or lose the fight. Kim Dan didn’t dare to contradict them, especially when Potato asked for his opinion. (chapter 47) In my eyes, Doc Dan didn’t dare to ruin the maknae’s illusion about his idol, though he thought otherwise. His broken sentences and his drop of sweat are revealing his discomfort and skepticism. He was not sure about the success of his VIP client. But Kim Dan as his PT knew about the champion’s true conditions: he is not truly healthy. But why are the fighters so innocent?

Park Namwook as their coach raised them too kindly. He treated them like little kids, while he was really harsh towards his star. (chapter 7) (chapter 26) That’s how it dawned on me what had been happening in the past. Don’t forget that Park Namwook is the coach of Black Team. Hence he brought the fighters to the match himself and left Potato, Joo Jaekyung and Kim Dan behind. (chapter 23) While it looks like he has high expectations from his members, the reality is different. He offered them chicken (chapter 26) or gave them new jackets, as compensation for their disappointment and bad mood! (chapter 36) To sum up, he was buying their loyalty. Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why the coach of Team Black treated Seonho so gently (chapter 46) and why he was worried about the desertion and betrayal from members. (chapter 46) It is because the success of the gym relies only on the champion’s glory and the number of members. Till the end of season 1, he has not changed his behavior yet. (chapter 52) He only relies on the star’s image and success while trying to take credit from his fame. He is his manager and coach, he was the one who made him into a celebrity. Hence he claims to be the gym owner. Joo Jaekyung has always been the face of Team Black, hence the manager came to neglect the other fighters. The members from Team Black have not participated in any official bout yet. It signifies that with a defeat and an injury, the gym has no other income! The words from Heesung’s manager were valid for the gym. (chapter 31) It looks like I am diverting from the topic, as I am now talking about the fighters and the gym. No wonder why most of the members switched the gym, as soon as the champion lost and his reputation got tarnished. Nonetheless, keep in mind that his game with Baek Junmin ended up with a TIE. So it is not a complete defeat. In my opinion, the schemers desired to tame the Emperor, not to ruin him, as they definitely need him to make money.

But like mentioned in the first part, a dog is strongly intertwined with home and family. The latter is its guardian. The problem is that at Team Black, the opposite was happening. The members from Team Black would protect the dogs by leaving them behind at the gym! (chapter 23) Kim Dan and Yoon-Gu had no task at all. The latter were treated like playmates and nothing more. Hence the manager asked patience from the doctor. (chapter 36) He should keep the star company, as no one was willing to be exposed to his sour mood and roughness. To conclude, both puppies were treated the same way: like puppies and not dogs or better said as fighters.

However, home is not just alluding to a place, but to people. Secondly, Jinx-philes could keep in mind Choi Gilseok’s goal. What did he want exactly? He wasn’t only motivated by his desire of revenge (chapter 46), but also by his greed. He had lost so much money. He needed to refill his pockets. Thus his wish was to “kill” the emperor and as such to ruin Team Black. In other words, he had planned the destruction of the rival gym. With the victory, Baek Junmin could replace the champion, and Choi’s gym King Of MMA would attract members. And my prediction came true. With the tie, many members from Team Black went to King Of MMA hoping that they would come to get rich and famous very quickly. (chapter 52) And since the other fighters from Team Black had never been able to break through MFC, it is not entirely surprising why they made such a decision. With their desertion and the champion’s ruined image, the future of the gym Team Black seems to be sealed: failure. Under this new light, my avid readers can grasp the true signification of this gesture: (chapter 49) It was not just about Kim Dan’s fate, but also Team Black’s. Hence he can not quit or run away. This new interpretation made me perceive the entrance of Kim Dan in the arena in a new light. (chapter 50) Remember how I said that the locker room had become a temple. Thus I come to the conclusion that he got baptized there. He discovered the power of his hands, similar to this scene. (Chapter 14) So when he comes to the arena, he is still following his instincts, unaware of his own metamorphosis. He is no longer a puppy, but a dog. Deep down, he feels that he has to be there despite his agony. He needs to be there in order to protect his home. To conclude, in the locker room, the doctor reached adulthood. Interesting is the chosen perspective from Mingwa. It was, as though he was flying high in the sky, like a yeouiju. (chapter 40) In this image, he has to look up, whereas in the other panel, the beholder has the impression that doc Dan is rather standing on the same level than his soulmate, the alpha Jaekyung. However, since the athlete blamed him for the incident and rejected his hand, for Kim Dan, it sounded that he was no longer needed. (chapter 53) This exposes that the physical therapist learned through this terrible incident the huge significance of a PT. The latter is the sportsman’s protector. He is the one making sure that the athletes don’t ruin their career. (chapter 27) Thus I come to the following conclusion. With the switch of the spray, Joo Jaekyung was forced to recognize the importance of a physical therapist. Keep in mind that till his meeting with Kim Dan, he never saw them as necessary. Even before his immanent match, he kept looking down on his soulmate. (chapter 42) Here, it becomes obvious that he didn’t see his PT as a partner, but as an underling.

Interesting is that the dog is the domesticated version of the wolf.

Genetic evidence suggests that dogs descended directly from wolves (Canis) and that the now-extinct wolf lineages that produced dogs branched off from the line that produced modern living wolves sometime between 27,000 and 40,000 years ago. The timing and location of dog domestication is a matter of debate. Quoted from https://www.britannica.com/animal/dog

Thus this animal represents a combination of two worlds: nature (freedom) and civilization (rules, duties). He is attached to a place and he can not do what pleases him. This explains why the alpha is getting tamed. Furthermore, I realized that the dog stands for selflessness as well. He is not living for himself, but for his “family and owner”. This aspect was palpable in the puppy’s love declaration: (chapter 35) Thus it dawned on me why Joo Jaekyung reacted so violently, when he received the golden keychain. (chapter 45) Have you ever seen a wolf wearing a collar? No, this animal symbolizes freedom. What the champion wants from his soulmate is the following: he wished his puppy dog to follow him! (chapter 40) And that’s how the champion will come to realize that he can not live like before, as Kim Dan can not keep up to him. He is physically weaker. He desires his loved one to always look at him, to never leave his side, to stop living like a stray dog. (chapter 4) (chapter 48) Yes, these images represent a metaphor of a wandering dog. On the other hand, the shadow below the doctor is indicating that he is slowly turning into a human being out of flesh and blood. He is no longer living like a spirit.

But since the doctor chose to listen to his boss by quitting, the dog ended up with no home. Hence he even gave up on the Wedding Cabinet. So we should perceive the vanishing main lead as the beginning of his real freedom. (chapter 53) Observe that the doctor’s shadow is getting bigger. I interpret it as a sign of his growth, and it implies that Kim Dan is leaving traces behind inviting Joo Jaekyung to follow him. In the nature, far away from the city, the wolf should be able to reconnect with his true nature: freedom, but also loyalty and family. Home is no longer a place, but a person: (chapter 53) As you can see, with this new interpretation, I recognized that at the end, Joo Jaekyung stopped being under the influence of PArk Namwook. The latter hasn’t recognized the true role of a PT for an athlete yet. Hence he has no problem to hire a new one. (chapter 53) They are just tools and nothing more.

3. Yoon-Gu, the hidden puppy

Striking is that doc Dan was the first one to compare Yoon-Gu to a puppy, (chapter 29) while all the others called Yoon-Gu as Potato. (chapter 9) The image divulges us the origin of this nickname: coach Jeong Yosep. Yet, this shows us the naivety from the hyung. And what did the other fighters do? They simply followed the suggestion from their elder: (chapter 23) Note that the cute puppy never appreciated their gesture. Because the maknae was associated with a potato (“Tater Tot”), he was left behind. They imagined that if he were to come to fights, he would be eaten alive. This is the other reason why Potato was not invited to watch the fights first. Interesting is that the doctor was the only one respecting the maknae by calling him Yoon-Gu, exactly like he wished. (Chapter 23) This shows that he was not infantilizing him despite judging him as a child or “puppy”. (Chapter 29)

But Yoon-Gu is not a potato, but a dog. Hence he is brave and can be rude. (Chapter 49) Not only he yelled, but also he protected his star by standing in the front line. (Chapter 49) I detected a huge contrast. He is the only one with clenched fists, ready to punch the other fighters or even Choi Gilseok, whereas the other members were trying to restrain their athlete, though the perpetrator was in reality the other director. As you can see, exactly like his hyung doc Dan and Joo Jaekyung, Potato is also disregarding good manners, when it is necessary. I could include another example for his impoliteness: (chapter 35) He stood up, yelled and gave an order to the artist, though he is a junior. No wonder why the other guests turned around and looked at him. But this shows his strength, as he is following his instincts and as such his heart. He has already developed his own moral codex.

Moreover, because of his weight and seize, he does appear as young and as such weak. However, the hyungs from Team Black were all making a huge mistake: such fighters are by no means less dangerous than bigger guys. The best example are the punches Joo Jaekyung received from Kim Dan. (chapter 7) He might have not wounded his partner terribly, but we shouldn’t forget that he was facing the Emperor. To conclude, by calling him Potato, the fighters were misjudging the young fighter. Kim Dan was the first one to identify him correctly. He was a dog, hence he desired to treat the champion as his master.

Potato’s dream exposed his true nature: he was thinking like dog. (chapter 23) His desire was to become the Emperor’s companion and as such best friend. The problem is that he was projecting his own thoughts onto the protagonist. The latter is not a dog, but a wolf. Moreover, Jinx-philes can sense that in his mind, the maknae was viewing the training as a playground. However, for the Emperor, life is like a battlefield, where death can strike at any moment. It is deadly serious. So in the star’s eyes, training has nothing to do with pleasure and fun, but survival. That’s why Joo Jaekyung received punches from his soulmate, a reminder that he needed to be careful. And that’s how Kim Dan earned the athlete’s respect. (Chapter 8) I noticed that the champion initially only listened to violence. It was, as if he had internalized this Nature’s law: the strongest prevails. No wonder why the champion didn’t react to Potato’s admiration so positively. (Chapter 23)

I also think, this false perception about the athlete (chapter 23) came from the treatment Potato was receiving from the other members of Team Back. He was treasured and protected. So he imagined that at some point, the champion would come to notice him and his dedication and treat him like the others. However, Joo Jaekyung mistrusts people and as such he never desired to have a friend. Hence Yoon-Gu could never become Jaekyung’s best friend.

4. The birth of a true friendship

In the same chapter, Mingwa placed the two puppies next to each other. (chapter 23) Interesting is that she cut the chibi Kim Dan in half. Why? In my opinion, the main lead had not found his true self yet. She didn’t place any puppy above his head as well, because she wanted to keep her readers in the dark. However, let’s not forget that a puppy will recognize another puppy much more easily. Therefore Potato felt jealous and resentful first. (chapter 25) Moreover, we should interpret his nightmare like this. The puppy doc Dan had already marked his territory: (chapter 25), though in his vision it looked like the roles were switched. The “dog” was the champion, whereas the doctor was the owner. That’s the other reason why Potato was so worked up. He preferred the strong man or beast.

However, Potato noticed the main lead’s isolation. (chapter 25) The latter was trying to learn more about MMA, as he desired to improve his skills as PT. (Chapter 25) That’s how Potato came to offer his assistance. Interesting is that Yoon-Gu became the teacher for the physical therapist. (chapter 25) It is relevant, because the maknae was acting like a sunbae and not like a junior. He was given responsibility. His task was quite important compared to the coffee incident. With such a task, the cute puppy got to learn the importance of PT. This explicates why Potato always paid attention to the protagonist and his duties afterwards. Though Kim Dan had been constantly diminishing himself as physical therapist, in front of Potato he acted differently: meticulous, dedicated and caring. As you can see, this training session had huge repercussions for the chow chow.

Their interactions reminded me of Potato’s dream: (chapter 23) Without realizing it, Potato was replacing his idol with the cute Doc Dan. Let’s not forget that so far, Joo Jaekyung has never jogged or trained with Kim Dan. Thus I couldn’t help myself thinking that this could actually happen in the future between the two dogs, as they belong to the same weight category. They would help each other in their career. But during the training session, they were both puppies.

Through the training session, the two puppies came to open up to each other. (Chapter 25) Hence it is not surprising that Kim Dan chose to repay Potato’s kindness by fulfilling his dream. (chapter 26) He was following his heart and as such his instincts. That’s the reason why money was out of question.

I am quite sure that his reproach towards his idol is the moment when Kim Dan detected the maknae’s true nature: First, he barked, (chapter 25), then he lowered his face like a moping mutt. (chapter 25) Because of his sacrifice and generosity, doc Dan became a role model in Potato’s eyes. (chapter 26)

However, since he had discovered the secret between the two protagonists, he decided to protect their relationship. For him, they are a couple and that’s it. Hence he acted like a guardian, when Heesung appeared in the picture. It was, as if he had found his home finally. (chapter 31) But how could he judge the actor as a danger? It is because he was using his senses as well. Don’t forget that they had bumped into each other (chapter 31) Secondly, since Yoon-Gu is a dog, this signifies that he can not be bought with money or presents either. Hence he could only mistrust the artist’s generosity. It is important to recall that before meeting the “angel”, Heesung would simply offer meals (chapter 30) and not expensive stuff like designer clothes or electronics. So Potato was not wrong either to mistrust the actor first, for the latter was indeed expecting affection in return despite his claim. He did want to date the doctor, but the puppy knew that the protagonists were together. He represented a threat to his new found home.

Interesting is that the comedian was the second person to identify Yoon-Gu’s true personality. (chapter 31) Heesung described him as ugly, which is actually an insult. Note the contrast. Heesung is smiling despite his words. It is because he was voicing his annoyance at Potato. The latter represented a hindrance to his courting.

For me, the trip to the States represents a turning point in their relationship. Though Potato was still admiring the champion (chapter 40), the former came to appreciate the doctor much more than before. (chapter 40) First, he informs him about his patient’s conditions. On the other hand, it becomes obvious that he worries much more about the doctor’s health. His increasing care started with the party. (chapter 37) When Potato and Daehyun saw that Kim Dan was feeling down, they tried to cheer him up. Moreover, let’s not forget that when they got caught partying, the hyung tried to protect them: (chapter 37) Besides, Yoon-Gu witnessed the effects of the drug (chapter 38). Contrary to the other fighter, he touched his head. This gesture reminded me of a mother’s. And now, I know why Kim Dan saw Potato as a puppy. (chapter 29) It is because unconsciously, he was projecting himself onto the maknae. The latter might be innocent too, but like the description is mentioning it, he is already a semi-professional in term of skill levels and is able to teach regular gym clients. To sum up, as a fighter, he is no longer a puppy. Thus the champion doubted his perception. So we should see the training session as a “mother” teaching her child how to fight. (chapter 25) On the other hand, Yoon-Gu lacks experiences, for he has never been exposed to the cruelty of this world, unlike Kim Dan or Joo Jaekyung. His fighting spirit is not developed yet.

If the two puppies were destined to become best friends, why was Kim Dan alone after their return from the States? There exist many reasons. First, it is related to his confession to Heesung where he describes his “love” as “cheer that person”. (Chapter 35) However, this term indicates that he is thinking more like a fan. At the same time, it exposes Potato’s passivity. He is just standing by the side and watching. He is doing nothing except “thinking and wishing happiness”. But the definition of “love” is caring, knowledge, respect and responsibility. [For more read “The Art Of Loving”] And now, you comprehend why the puppy could never get the love from Joo Jaekyung. He wanted his idol to become responsible for him, while he knew nothing about him and his tragic past. He is only interested in the champion and the present. Thus I deduce that since Potato knew that the protagonists were together, he thought that Joo Jaekyung would take care of his lover. Yes, he was thinking exactly like Heesung. (Chapter 40) Therefore it is not surprising why after mentioning the incident with the MFC security guys to Park Namwook. (Chapter 40), he didn’t follow his boss despite his concern. In his eyes, it was Joo Jaekyung’s role as his soulmate to take care of his partner. Furthermore, since Potato came to value doc Dan as PT, it becomes understandable why he brought up the vanishing of Kim Dan. For him, the latter is already part of Team Black and plays an important role, as he is taking care of the physical condition of the Emperor.

But there exists another reason why Yoon-Gu neglected his future friend. The former was busy because of his love life. He had a secret relationship. There’s no doubt that the admiration for the champion must have bothered the actor: (chapter 41) Thus the latter must have suggested to go out during the planned birthday party. (chapter 43) This could be seen as a violation of his belief: Joo Jaekyung is his idol! Here, the puppy was starting distancing himself from the Emperor. His absence is displaying that he was transcending social conventions. Therefore it is no coincidence that he agreed, when the boxers compared the champion to a thug! (chapter 47) Little by little, he got influenced by his other hyungs who would always listen to Park Namwook. Therefore it is not surprising that at the hospital, he came to blame the main lead, but not the manager. (chapter 52) He never questioned why the coach didn’t stop Kim Dan from quitting. On the other hand, I wondered how he came to change his mind about his idol. It can not be his brutality (chapter 1) and rudeness, for he didn’t criticize the athlete in the first episode or episode 7. In my eyes, the maknae lacks critical thinking. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t overlook that he followed the members’ behavior. No one from Team Black called Kim Dan and looked out for him. They all abandoned him after the match. (chapter 52) They only talked about the lost members, not about the physical therapist. This exposes that they didn’t treat him as one of them. To conclude, as time passes on, Yoon-Gu came to mimic and think like hyung Namwook.

While Yoon-Gu was slowly distancing himself from the alpha, his respect and care for Kim Dan was even stronger than before. Therefore he asked for his opinion. He saw Kim Dan as an expert. (Chapter 47). In my eyes, it is related to his job as a physical therapist and its role in the champion’s career. This explicates why in the locker room, he paid attention to the main lead (Chapter 49) and helped him. I have to admit that the way the main lead was holding his hand reminded me a little dog. (chapter 49) For me, it becomes clear that the more time Potato and Kim Dan interacted together, the more the chow chow valued the job as physical therapist as significant in the career of an athlete. Besides, thanks to Kim Dan, the young puppy had the impression that he was contributing himself to his champion’s success too. It gave his presence a meaning. In other words, the puppies bonded through their jobs. That’s the reason why I am quite certain that with the recent incident, Potato will change his attitude towards Kim Dan. His vanishing made him realize how important he was to the team. (chapter 52) Hence he looked so upset and sad. Thus I can only come to the deduction that for Kim Dan’s return, he will do anything. Moreover, after the discovery of the scheme, there is no doubt that the chowchow will become Kim Dan’s guardian. He will protect him, as he failed to do so in the locker room. At no moment, he vouched for the PT’s innocence, he chose to follow the hyungs. On the one hand, we could see glimpses of a change in the locker room. He not only gave him an advice, but he spoke loudly and clearly to his role model: (chapter 50) He was cheering him up! On the other hand, he still remained passive, and didn’t question the sunbaes like Park Namwook or Yosep. One thing is sure. After the last incident, he should have realized cheering someone is not truly loving someone. And this brings me to the other reason why Kim Dan was alone between 41 and 47. Yoon-Gu didn’t know doc Dan that well. He has no idea about his past and his actual situation. He can not expect the champion to act like in the States, as now the situation is different. He is already injured. Consequently, I am quite certain that it is also time for the semi-professional to reveal his true nature: he is a chow chow in verity! He sometimes acts more like a mother towards Kim Dan, though the latter is his hyung. Take the last panel as an example. Yoon-Gu is strong, extremely loyal and intelligent! His nickname Potato might be cute, but it doesn’t reflect his personality.

Finally, the third reason for his passivity is that from the outside, it looked like the relationship between the two main leads was fine. Even Choi Gilseok was thinking that their relationship had not changed at all. (Chapter 50) However, the doctor (chapter 47) was hiding his sadness and pain behind his job. How could Potato notice his suffering? Kim Dan never let his wounds transpire. Finally, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that Kim Dan never confided to the puppy dog as well. The protagonist has always been a loner, like we could see it in his memories. (Chapter 47) He never had a friend before, and Joo Jaekyung was more than a friend. (Chapter 21) He was first of all his boss and his landlord. Yoon-Gu is not connected to the main lead because of money. The foundation of their relationship is based on trust, care and respect. Thus I deduce that Potato is on his way to become not only his first true friend, but also his second stan. He might have noticed his angelic nature in the past (chapter 26), but his adoration for the champion was still very strong. (Chapter 40) However, when Potato helped doc Dan in the locker room, he expressed his admiration for the first time. (Chapter 49) Though he still followed the herd, he turned around and spoke loudly to his hyung. It shows his increasing attention and care. (Chapter 50) Furthermore, his words were indicating that he was waiting for him. Since I detected that Yoon-Gu is the only one among the members showing a great interest in Physical Therapy through his actions, I can’t help myself thinking that the young fighter might decide to change his career later and follow doc Dan’s footsteps.

5. The role of their friendship

Since their nature is similar, they can understand each other very well. Hence it is only natural that they are destined to become best friends. Thanks to the two puppies, Team Black will be saved from destruction. It is no coincidence. Youth represents the future. Without children, humanity is doomed. Nevertheless, there exists another cause for their friendship. (Chapter 33) Yes, through them, the dragon and the gumiho can become real friends. So far, they had been more frenemies. They know each other’s secret (chapter 33), hence they can talk frankly to each other. Heesung knows that he won’t be condemned for his confession. (Chapter 33) Thanks to him, the actor can drop all good manners and expose his true self. In the essay Two Worlds, I announced a return to nature and the transformation of Kim Dan reflects this interpretation. Remember that the dog symbolize the union of nature and culture. At the same time, I had another revelation. Kim Dan is a magician, because he is able thanks to his touch to turn a wolf into a dragon or into a cat. (Chapter 44) And what did the doctor do during that wonderful night? He patted his lover on his head (chapter 44). He was telling him that he was doing a good job! One might say that he treated him like a little child. The second interpretation is that he was treating him like a pet. The dog was complimenting his lover, the wolf!

5. Predictions and reality

In my first version, I had presented the following prediction. Kim Dan would come to use his fists. MY reasoning was that since I described that Kim Dan had become a dog, he would be following his instincts. This signifies that etiquette and laws are no longer important. Yet, Jinx-philes shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that the doctor has become a beast. No, don’t forget that a dog represents the link between wildness and domesticity, between abandon and self-restrain. Hence I assume that he is on his way to develop his own moral codex, which are based on Nature’s laws, and as such like moral laws: faithfulness, protection and integrity, while he will drop his good manners, the symbol of civilization. However, I overlooked an important aspect: the influence of the environment. Kim Dan was still in the sports arena and as such in the city. Both represent civilization. Moreover, Kim Dan still has his grandmother who embodies social norms and conformity. Thus he didn’t question authorities and vent his anger. In addition, we should consider the grandmother’s deaths the moment for the PT’s true emancipation. He is no longer bound by social norms and conformity. Hence we should still expect that he will forget his good manners and even stand up for himself. But which good manners will he disregard exactly? (chapter 49) Respecting the elders! For me, Kim Dan will see red, when he hears the truth about the incident. From that moment on, he will start questioning not only seniors (manager Park Namwook), but also authorities (doctors). (chapter 1) Yes, he never exposed the truth. He didn’t even try to sue the man.

Imagine the scandal. A physical therapist is punching a senior, even a director. He would appear as a crazy person. What did Nietzsche say about craziness? “Madness is rare in individuals – but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule.” The madness is already present in this society, as MFC uses money and medias to control the fans. Like everyone else, Choi Gilseok thinks that money rules the world. (chapter 50) Therefore he is safe. And how did the main lead describe the antagonist? As a crazy person! (chapter 48) He had judged the man correctly. While the director believes that money can buy everything, he is overlooking that money is powerless in front of a punch, as it is just paper. (chapter 42)

Though my idea was that Kim Dan would punch someone, my prediction was not entirely wrong. Potato was the one who used his fists and questioned his sunbae. (chapter 52) His behavior shows that he was no longer respecting social norms, respecting the elders. While in the beginning, he still followed Seonho (chapter 52), at the end he chose to leave the restaurant on his own accord. Yes, he stopped being a follower of “herd mentality”. (chapter 52) But who caused him to change like that? Naturally, it was first his idol. (chapter 52) However, since Kim Dan had been framed for the incident, there is no doubt that the PT was also the other motivation. That’s how it dawned on me that thanks to Kim Dan, Potato is following his idol’s footsteps: he is breaking social norms. Hence it is very likely that this young man was banned from the restaurant after the physical argument. In other words, thanks to Team Jaekyung-Dan, Potato’s natural fighting instincts are getting more pronounced. Little by little, he is losing his innocence while maintaining his purity. He is still loyal and protective. Despite his disappointment in the champion, he still chose to stay at the gym.

Very early on, I had announced that Kim Dan would become a fighter! He had always restrained himself (18, 42) because of his grandmother. He didn’t want her to get into trouble. But since she is about to die, Kim Dan has nothing to lose. Both puppies are making the same transformation in the end. Hence they are destined to become best friends. For me, it signifies that the moment Kim Dan returns to the gym, Potato will treat him as a real hyung, a role model. He will listen to his advices, which is important, for the MFC matchmaker and Park Namwook are only using fighters as possessions and tools. They should make money as quickly as possible. They are racing against time, and they don’t pay attention to mental well-being.

Now, take a closer look at this panel: (chapter 49) The hyungs and Oh Daehyun were restraining the star, for they feared that he would punch the “old man”. But no one paid attention to the puppies, even less to doc Dan. They have the impression that as an educated man, he will never use his hands like that. This image was revealing Potato’s transformation as well. Little by little, he was becoming a guardian, a real protector. On the other hand, keep in mind my previous statement: Joo Jaekyung understands the language of the hands and violence. The star was never upset, when Kim Dan punched him. From my point of view, the moment Kim Dan defends himself, the champion can only be happy, for he tried to teach him to protect himself. (chapter 26) In other words, both worlds (medical and sports) will join their hands together. Kim Dan and Joo JAekyung will learn from each other, which will naturally bring some changes at the gym. Their partnership will affect the fighters’ career in the long run. Their bodies will be protected from overuse and money will no longer be the motivation to accept a challenge. Training will be more focused on fun and teaching than on work and money.

So far, none of the members from Team Black questioned the decisions and actions from the hyungs. They were always respectful towards them. Yet, note that in episode 47, the doctor took over Park Namwook’s role. (chapter 47) Little by little, he gained authority among the staff. But how can he do that? Let’s not forget that after the match, the staff is usually invited to enter the ring like here. (chapter 40) I am quite certain that some readers might be shocked or call me crazy… but actually such an incident was a blessing in disguise. How so? It is because it pushed both protagonists to drop their bias and flaws.

With his return, he would create a new event. Team Black is challenging King Of MMA! Thanks to Kim Dan, our little fighters would get the opportunity to break through MFC! (chapter 47) However, there is no doubt that the physical therapist is a thorn in their eyes.

Finally, according to my interpretation, Kim Dan is Saturn. He is the owner of time! By becoming a dog, he reconnected to his true nature and has time on his hands now. Hence he came to judge the meeting with Choi Gilseok as a waste of time. (chapter 48) Is it not funny that each interpretation I made in the past gets more validation after the release of each new episode? Saturn brings Karma to people: retribution or reward. Park Namwook received his karma by not protecting his champion and claiming that he was the gym owner. The question is if the man has learned his lessons from the incident.

Feel free to comment. If you have any suggestion for topics or manhwas, feel free to ask. If you enjoyed reading it, retweet it or push the button like. My Reddit-Instagram-Twitter-Tumblr account is: @bebebisous33. Thanks for reading and for the support, particularly, I would like to thank all the new followers and people recommending my blog.

Jinx: Effective 👼 Anguish 😭😈

March 16, 2024November 12, 2025 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ 5 Comments

1. Why Anguish?

Feel like dropping Jinx? Perhaps you’ve reached chapter 50, and the weight of the narrative feels too heavy to bear. Yet, despite the urge to abandon ship, you shouldn’t. Why? One might say, that’s how life is: harsh, painful and unfair. On the other side, others might argue about this perception, as people can experience happiness too. Besides, anyone knows the idiom “to look on the bright side”. Nonetheless, people can only enjoy life to its fullest, when they experience sadness and agony either.

The popularization and misinterpretation of Positive Psychology has led us to praise positive emotions and try to escape negative feelings at all costs. However, in our emotional universe everything is important and has a reason for being. As Carl Jung wrote: “The word happiness would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.” A study conducted at Colorado State University, for example, revealed that experiencing feelings that we wouldn’t exactly classify as positive actually promotes psychological well-being. […]

These results indicate that we are often not affected as much by the situation and the primary emotion it triggers as by our response to it (the secondary emotion). It’s like feeling stressed for being stressed or feeling depressed about being sad. If we believe that we should not experience negative emotions, we will reject, ignore or repress them, which will end up reinforcing them since we will not understand the message they are trying to convey to us, so the discomfort they generate will continue latent within us. […]

Sadness, like the rest of the emotions, brings with it a message, so we must try to understand it. Recognizing our emotions and accepting pain as part of the human condition is essential to achieve the balance essential to growth. Sadness is a natural self-regulation mechanism, something we are born with and that we do not consciously choose. We don’t wake up thinking: “Today is a great day to be sad!” It is a perfectly adaptive response to something that has happened to us, usually a loss, something we wanted to have, or a situation that hurt us emotionally. Quoted from https://psychology-spot.com/it-is-good-to-be-sad-benefits-occasional-sadness/

This article explains why sadness and heartache are necessary in life. And this rule also applies in the world of Jinx, especially since the Webtoonist is promoting Positive Psychology. Chapter 50 was so painful for both Joo Jaekyung (chapter 50) and Kim Dan. While the former was tormented by his challenger directly (chapter 50) and indirectly, the other had to witness how the members from Team Black turned their back on him in the locker room. (chapter 50) Interesting is that on X, hamster Dan received more affection and attention than the champion. Though I have always pointed out the doctor’s flaws, in episode 50, I couldn’t help myself being upset and heartbroken for Doc Dan too, until I had a revelation. Many readers were disappointed or mad, when they saw him in this panel. (chapter 50) They could put themselves in his shoes: he was left behind. On the other hand, the reaction from Joo Jaekyung was totally understandable. (chapter 50) He acted on instinct. Moreover, he had a match, therefore they had no time to discuss or investigate the matter. (chapter 50) And everyone knows this saying: Time is money. Yes, the hyungs didn’t decide to postpone the fight, because they would have to pay huge fees, and this could have affected the Emperor’s reputation. It exposes that the fight as such the show was more important than the well-being of their star. As a conclusion, money played a huge role in their decision. On the other side, the annulation would have brought more trouble to Kim Dan, as it would have caught the attention from journalists and fans, though it can still happen later. Under this new perspective, it becomes comprehensible why they left the locker room and didn’t argue with Kim Dan. They were under pressure. Nevertheless, the readers had a different reaction, for they knew the truth: Doc Dan was the victim of a new scheme. Therefore they judged the whole situation as unfair. Some were mad at the manager for yelling at the physical therapist. (chapter 50) Yet, we shouldn’t allow our emotions cloud our judgement, for this image displays the doctor’s metamorphosis. Notice that he talked back. Though his sentence is still not complete, the thickness of the writing and the point of exclamation are indicating that he was not whispering. He was speaking loudly and clearly. He was talking back firmly. Moreover, he was not avoiding his counterpart’s gaze contrary to the argument in the penthouse. (chapter 45) In other words, the scene in chapter 50 exposes the doctor’s growing strength and resilience. That’s the second reason why anguish is necessary in Jinx. Through their suffering, the characters can change, and Jinx-philes have the opportunity to witness their growing maturity. At the same time, the author is able to underline the other figures’ flaws thanks to torment. Between the essay “My hero (full version)” and chapter 22, my perception of Park Namwook changed totally. While in the beginning, I judged him as a hero, I came to consider him as a naïve and blind man. Chapter 50 proved my interpretation correct. In episode 50, his superficiality and hypocrisy became so obvious that he was resented by Dan’s stans. On the other hand, his behavior didn’t surprise me at all. The irony is that his behavior is actually improving too 😮, though the manager is still far from being a hero. Episode 50 represents an evidence. To sum up, Mingwa is using anguish for three reasons:

The characters should accept sadness, agony and anger in order to be able to enjoy life and discover happiness. (chapter 44) Now, the doctor is no longer associating sex with prostitution and corruption, but with love.
Through painful events, the characters are encouraged to face their fears and overcome their trauma. Anguish helps them to metamorphose.
Finally, terrible incidents serve as a tool to expose the characters’ true personality and as such their flaws.

Interesting is that I had selected the title “Effective Anguish” even before the release from episode 50! My follower and friend @Milliformemes can vouch for it. How come? It is because I discovered two patterns.

2. Pain and wounds

2. 1. The painful awakening of the dragon

First, I noticed that the champion’s wounds are coming to the surface. In the beginning, the injury on his shoulder could only be detected thanks to Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). (chapter 27) But only Dr. Lee and Kim Dan got to see the results(chapter 27), not Park Namwook. He just overviewed the medical file quickly. But for that, the manager needs to be capable of understanding medical terms. Thus I doubt, he could visualize the seriousness of the situation. (chapter 27) Then, after the match in the States, the manager asked his “boy” how his shoulder was. (chapter 40) Here, he chose to rely on the celebrity’s words, (chapter 40) while the manager had witnessed how Dominic Hill had targeted his shoulder. He should have realized that his star’s shoulder had been damaged. Nevertheless, we shouldn’t overlook that the athlete’s statement was corroborated by the medical checkup from MFC. That’s how he got fooled. Hence there was no treatment. However, doc Dan could detect the champion’s lie not only through observations (chapter 41) but also through touching. (chapter 41) As you can see, the wound was slowly coming to the surface. Thus I consider the incident in episode 43 as a metaphor for the shoulder injury. (chapter 43) It was exposing the damage in his body. Consequently, when the champion’s foot got wounded by the pepper spray, (chapter 49), I realized what was happening. Mingwa is forcing the Emperor to admit his suffering. Hence his wounds are becoming more and more visible.

First, he let transpire his pain more through his grimaces. Secondly, his moans are getting louder and louder. The point of exclamation and the facial expressions are indicating the increasing pain. But why? Don’t forget that in the past, the champion used to reject any assistance from a physical therapist,. (chapter 5) for he was simply relying on the prostitutes due to his jinx. Thus I consider this argument in the penthouse as a huge step for the athlete: (chapter 45) He can not win, if he is not receiving the help from a PT. That’s the reason why he didn’t mention the jinx at all. Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why the athlete is suffering more and more. The goddess of Jinx is cornering the athlete: the latter has to admit that he doesn’t just need the assistance of any PT (chapter 45), but the help from the angel Dan.

Finally, during the fight with Baek Junmin, the athlete’s foot is bleeding. (chapter 50) So far, he just had a cut above his eye, nothing serious. (Chapter 40) However, the wound on the foot is different, for his skin is damaged. The recovery will take longer. It is relevant, because Park Namwook can no longer feign ignorance about his star’s wounds. He is less susceptible to manipulations.

On the other side, through the injuries, the champion’s mental health gets boosted. He can sense his own strength and appreciate all the punches he could give to his opponent despite his injuries. (chapter 50) That’s the reason why he turned into a dragon at the end of the chapter. [For more read the essay “Color Clash: Decoding MMA Posters] The blue is exposing that he is not controlled by his emotions (rage, anger or fears), he is totally rational. As the suffering pushed him to become the better version of himself, his victory can only appear even sweeter than before. In other words, the easier his victories were, the more he came to doubt his talent. (chapter 5) And now, you comprehend why he got so nervous and angry, when he imagined that Kim Dan had blocked him. (chapter 5) This shows that his belief in his jinx had been reinforced after his first night with Kim Dan.

On the other hand, Kim Dan could be held responsible for his injuries, similar to this scene. (chapter 31) He could take the fall for everything. The main lead is put in such a position so that he has no other choice: he needs to clear his name! (chapter 1) He shouldn’t accept his fate like in the past, but fight for his rights and reputation. In other words, the painful incident serves another purpose: Kim Dan is incited to develop a fighter’s spirit. That’s the reason why the situation is quite similar to the past.

On the other hand, we should question why the champion felt a pain in his ankle during that morning. (chapter 50) From my perspective, this is the result of the overexerting. (Chapter 50) Even the coach is noticing that the athlete is overtraining himself. Remember that the athlete refused to listen to his PT. (chapter 42) In addition, he would return home late, a sign that he would train even more than before. (chapter 48) Finally, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that after his match in the States, he never visited the hospital due to the law suit. (chapter 41) According to me, the MFC medical checkup was not reflecting the verity. Hence he never got a real check-up and MFC could definitely say that the athlete was definitely fine. (chapter 41) This shows that the more the champion refuses to his PT’s advice, the more injuries he will substain. That’s how it dawned on me why Joo Jaekyung is now getting more and more wounded during the fights. It forces him to take a rest! However, in the past, he had a reason not to listen: he got barely injured. He needed to treat his body roughly in order to prove his effort and strength. This observation reinforces my conviction that there is a second group manipulating the champion’s matches: MFC itself. For me, Heo Manwook and Choi Gilseok are rather puppets. How so? It is because someone knew about the champion’s sexual habits, hence he was supposed to take an aphrodisiac in the States. But neither the loan shark nor the director from King Of MMA are aware of this. To conclude, the champion’s anguish is necessary to expose the deceptions and the schemers as well.

2. 2. The pleasant Park Namwook, Tolstoy and pain

What caught my attention is that in the locker room, the manager didn’t make the decision for the fight. (chapter 50) How? Through a question, he let the coach Jeong Yosep give the answer. Through their words and actions, Jeong Yosep and Joo Jaekyung called shots, and Park Namwook just followed. The darkness around his forehead and the drop of sweat indicate his torment. But he can not voice his suffering, for it is nothing compared to the star’s. Hence if something were to happen to the celebrity, I can already predict that the manager will put the blame on others. Mingwa already left many clues about his lack of responsibility. First, the manager (chapter 27) refused to force the champion to take a day-off by saying that the protagonist would never listen anyway. With such a statement, he pushed Kim Dan to make the decision and announce it to his VIP client. Moreover, the manager didn’t stop his “boy” from exposing his injured shoulder to the public. (chapter 41) However, by doing so, he was exposing his vulnerability to his opponents, though I am still suspecting that MFC leaked information too. So far, the headlines are not indicating which shoulder is wounded. Yet, the moderator knew which one: (chapter 50) So why was the manager so shocked with such an attack? (chapter 50) It was clear that during such a match, the challenger would use the opponent’s weakness. What did he expect in the end? The panel exposes his stupidity and his immaturity. He should have anticipated such a move. These observations lead me to the following conclusion: the champion needs to realize that his hyung will never recognize his suffering, as long as Joo Jaekyung is in denial. Until now, he hasn’t been protecting Joo Jaekyung’s interests, rather his own comfort. His MO was to put the whole responsibility on the athlete. But it was his duty as his manager not to accept the new challenge. (chapter 41) Observe that he is just asking questions once again, when he voices his doubts. He is not making a statement. However, the manager is changing. While in the past, the manager was not treating the celebrity like real family, though he was called hyung, I detected a switch, when Park Namwook sent messages from his family for his birthday. (Chapter 45) In other words, his loyalty towards the star is improving. (chapter 46)

On the other hand, the nature of their relationship is still rather like a boss or employee. Thus he is his advisor or superior. It depends on the situation. I noticed the ambiguity of Park Namwook’s position. First, he introduces himself as the star’s manager (Chapter 9) and coach for Team Black, but he acts like the director of Team Black. (Chapter 49) This explains why he claimed that Team Black was his gym, (chapter 22) yet the reality is that this power comes from the champion, as the latter is the real owner of Team Black. Therefore the captain warned the two hyungs. (Chapter 46) Thus I deduce that the role between the star and his hyung must be redefined because of Kim Dan’s presence. But wait… the heading is referring to the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. So what is his connection to the manager from Team Black?

The reason is that I found an interesting article about Tolstoy entitled: “How to live with purpose: Leo Tolstoy’s 5 secrets after his existential crisis”. The Russian writer noticed the existence of 4 different types of people: Ignorance, Epicureanism, Strength and Energy and Weakness. The moment I read his descriptions, I couldn’t help myself connecting these types to characters from Jinx: Park Namwook, Halmoni, Joo Jaekyung and Kim Dan. Interesting is that Tolstoy suffered immensely before he was able to give a meaning to his life.

1. Understand that reason has limits (…)

2. Search within yourself (…)

3. Find spirituality (…)

4. Learn to accept (…)

5. Embrace simplicity (…) Quoted from https://psychology-spot.com/how-to-live-with-purpose-according-to-leo-tolstoj/

The latter advice reminded me of the champion’s philosophy. He definitely preferred the breakfasts (chapter 41) to the golden keychain. (Chapter 45) As you can see, the famous writer is connected to Positive Psychology, for he was also promoting meditation and experiences. This fits our story, as both main characters are on their way to give a meaning to their life and as such to find happiness. But let’s return our attention to the manager Park Namwook as a representative of “ignorance”.

1. Ignorance. In this group, the writer placed people who chose not to know and not to understand, those who embraced what could be called “motivated ignorance.” They were those who preferred to close their eyes to the basic questions of existence and settled comfortably in ignorance. Quoted from https://psychology-spot.com/how-to-live-with-purpose-according-to-leo-tolstoj/

This description corresponds to Park Namwook’s mentality, as the latter is always seeking the easiest way out. He is always avoiding discomfort. Hence not only he closed an eye to the doctor’s wounds in episode 11 (chapter 11), but also he never tried to correct the star’s false conclusion. (Chapter 11) He just got angry giving the impression that he was siding with Kim Dan. But the reality is that he did nothing for the poor doctor at all. He remained passive and silent. His “ignorance” explains as well why he is not questioning events and his athlete’s success. (chapter 43) Through the two examples, Manhwaphiles can sense that his “ignorance” is a mixture of willingness to close an eye and real naivety. Under this new approach, it dawned on me why the manager used to beat his star so brutally. (Chapter 7) (Chapter 31) It is his way how to deal with uncomfortable situations. He stands for social norms and conformity. It is not surprising that the manager proposed to use Kim Dan as compensation for Heesung’s fake injury. (chapter 32) Furthermore, he forced Joo Jaekyung to take the blame without investigating the matter. (chapter 31) That way, he avoided to get into trouble. Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why he is gentle and polite, when he is not under stress. (chapter 43) The latter triggers his anxiety and nervousness. Thus when there is a problem, his MO is either to threaten, (chapter 22), to scold (chapter 36) or to let others make decisions. I would even add, he often delegates things to others: the manager from the Entertainment company (chapter 27), the MFC manager, the lawyer, the advisors, coach Jeong Yosep (chapter 46), Kim Dan [f. ex. He should accept the bad mood from his VIP client] (chapter 36) However, he is not trying to solve the problem himself. Yet, he can not keep such an attitude in the long run, for his passivity and blindness are the reasons why the main couple can be targeted so easily. Park Namwook is failing to protect his champion and his team. However, I detected a positive change despite the heartache in episode 50. He stopped using violence after episode 31. He learned that he needed to treat the champion’s body more kindly, hence we have this confession: (chapter 43) Furthermore, compare his behavior towards the celebrity and the doctor: (chapter 46) and (chapter 50) Mingwa didn’t use any red in the last picture, a sign that the manager’s anger was controlled. So he is trusting the physical therapist. Consequently, his words at the bar were not empty. (chapter 43) Nevertheless, I am expecting Park Namwook’s effective anguish at some point. He needs to be confronted with his biggest fears and pain. And who will act as his mirror of truth?

While Park Namwook stands for ignorance, the champion embodies fire!

3. Strength and energy. They are people who “burn” life. These are exceptionally strong and resilient people who, although they perfectly understand the problems of human existence, prefer to live quickly, burning through stages and opting for drastic solutions without reflecting too much on the consequences since they are convinced that it is better to put life into the years that add years to life. Quoted from https://psychology-spot.com/how-to-live-with-purpose-according-to-leo-tolstoj/

This description reflects the fighter’s mentality. Therefore, it is normal that he is suffering. Under this new light, readers can grasp the severity of the star’s situation. Kim Dan is there to save him from self-destruction. I would even say, the hamster’s love represents his safety belt and salvation. As for Kim Dan, the latter is destined to suffer, as he has always considered himself as powerless. And until he realized his grandmother’s mortality, he acted, as if she was his goddess. Hence he was willing to sacrifice himself for her sake. (chapter 16)

4. Weakness. “It consists in seeing the truth of the situation and yet clinging to life,” Tolstoy wrote. These types of people wait for a kind of divine rescue to occur or for an escape route to open up before them as if by magic. Although they do not find meaning in life and do not feel satisfied, they continue forward on autopilot. In fact, that was the position with which the writer himself identified. Tolstoy felt lost and powerless. Quoted from https://psychology-spot.com/how-to-live-with-purpose-according-to-leo-tolstoj/

And now, you know why the doctor had not projected himself into the future. He was simply surviving. Though the champion had paid off his debts, Kim Dan had not dropped his life principles: money was important, and it should be spent as quickly as possible, as if there was no tomorrow. Why? It is because he had internalized that his earnings would immediately get wired to a different bank account. That’s why he needed to be confronted his biggest fears: the loss of his job as PT. The incident would not only ruin his career, but also turn the efforts of his grandmother into meaninglessness! Don’t forget that she supported him to become a PT! He was her pride and reward! (chapter 47) And what was the halmoni’s wish? He should give his all to Joo Jaekyung, (chapter 41) and he should assist him during his matches! (chapter 41) Therefore I believe that in the locker room, Kim Dan must have recalled her words. She became his source of strength once again. That’s why we have parallels between these three scenes: (chapter 21: he was criticized by Kim Miseon, he feared to lose his halmoni) (chapter 47) and finally (chapter 50) That’s the reason why Kim Dan could become a star. Contrary to Joo Jaekyung, we didn’t assist to the birth of the yeouiju. It is no coincidence that birth is connected to pain and happiness. Mothers forget the suffering of the delivery, as their child can procure them a lot of joy and happiness.

3. The Overman Kim Dan

Striking is that Psychology and Literature are not the only fields advocating negative emotions and suffering. I have to confess that while reading Painter Of The Night, I noticed parallels between Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy and the Manhwa. And since Mingwa’s writing is very similar to Byeonduck’s, I am not surprised that the readers are exposed to heartache and misery. Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher from the 19th Century, developed complex ideas about pain and suffering, as well as the concept of the “Übermensch”, or “Overman.”

Pain and Suffering: Nietzsche believed that pain and suffering were inherent aspects of human existence. Nonetheless, he did not view them solely as negative experiences to be avoided. Instead, he argued that ache and hardship could serve as sources of growth, strength, and self-discovery. Nietzsche famously stated, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger,” suggesting that overcoming adversity can lead to personal development and resilience.
Transcend Conventional Morality: Nietzsche critiqued conventional morality and values, arguing that they often inhibit individual freedom and self-expression. He described it as herd mentality. “Madness is rare in individuals – but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule.” This quote highlights Nietzsche’s critique of herd mentality, suggesting that individuals are less prone to madness or irrational behavior when acting alone, but when they become part of a collective group, they are more likely to adopt the behaviors and beliefs of the group, even if they are irrational or detrimental. To find one’s real self, he suggested transcending societal norms and conditioning, questioning traditional beliefs, and forging one’s own path based on personal values and principles. As he provocatively declared, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.”
Strive for Self-Overcoming and Übermensch (Overman): The concept of the Übermensch is central to Nietzsche’s philosophy. The Übermensch represents an idealized individual who transcends conventional morality and societal norms. Nietzsche saw the Übermensch as someone who creates their own values, embraces life’s challenges with courage and creativity, and strives for self-mastery and self-realization. The Übermensch is free from the constraints of traditional morality and embraces the full spectrum of human experience, including joy, suffering, and struggle. In relation to pain, Nietzsche believed that the Übermensch would not shy away from pain and suffering but would instead confront them head-on as part of the process of self-overcoming. By embracing pain and integrating it into their existence, the Übermensch achieves a higher state of being and transcends the limitations of ordinary human existence. Nietzsche wrote, “I teach you the overman. Man is something that shall be overcome.”
Embrace Individuality: Nietzsche celebrated the uniqueness and individuality of each person, urging individuals to embrace their authentic selves without conformity or compromise. By embracing one’s individuality and embracing one’s unique strengths, weaknesses, and experiences, individuals can cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness and authenticity. Nietzsche emphasized, “Become who you are.“
Create Meaning and Values: According to Nietzsche, individuals have the power to create their own meaning and values in a world devoid of inherent meaning. By engaging in creative expression, pursuing passions and interests, and embracing life’s challenges with courage and resilience, individuals can discover and affirm their real selves. Nietzsche famously proclaimed, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”

In essence, Nietzsche’s philosophy offers a provocative perspective on finding one’s real self in the face of suffering, pain, and adversity. This reminds us of the famous sparring in episode 26. (Chapter 26) By embracing misfortune, transcending conventional morality, striving for self-overcoming, embracing individuality, and creating meaning and values, individuals can embark on a journey of self-discovery and self-actualization, ultimately becoming the architects of their own lives. At the heart of Nietzsche’s vision lies the concept of the Übermensch, or Overman, who embodies the pinnacle of human potential and serves as a beacon of courage, creativity, and self-mastery. Through the pursuit of the Übermensch ideal, individuals can transcend their limitations, confront their fears, and forge their own destinies, thereby finding their true selves in the process.

If you watched the video, then you know why doc Dan (chapter 5) or Heesung drank alcohol (chapter 35). Both were trying to numb their pain, though they shouldn’t have according to the German philosopher. The soju stopped them from becoming the better version of themselves. I am suspecting that doc Dan copied this poor habit from his grandmother, who drank in secret. Don’t forget that in all the memories, the halmoni is smiling (chapter 47), though she must have struggled a lot. Her smile is a sign that she tried not to burden her grandson. However, her toxic positivity had the opposite effect.

And now, you are wondering how chapter 50 is linked to Overman and Kim Dan. From my perspective, when we look at this scene, ‘ (chapter 50) we shouldn’t see it as a betrayal, rather as an opportunity for Kim Dan. He is not following the herd, because he needs to reflect on the incident. (chapter 50) The latter forced the doctor to question his identity and his desires. What does he want to be in life? Let’s not forget that he selected PT because of his grandmother. (chapter 47) In other words, he had selected this job, as he was following traditions and expectations. Only in episode 47, he realized that she was his real motivation. Yet, he discovered shortly after that she is about to die. Thus he needs to find a new motivation for his job, or better said, he needs to question himself about his profession. Does he truly want to be a physical therapist? Since the beginning of the story, doc Dan has never identified himself as a physical therapist. Thus he accepted to be judged as a whore (chapter 16) or as a tool for the jinx, therefore he mopped the floor (chapter 36), acting like an errand boy. Then he doubted Heesung’s words and admiration (chapter 31) (chapter 31). Furthermore, he took a side gig in order to buy the champion’s present and finally, he rejected Choi Gilseok’s praise and offer. (chapter 48) He was always diminishing himself as a doctor. Therefore in the locker room, he was confronted with his biggest fear: is he really a physical therapist? (chapter 50) He injured his patient. The spray is there to let him see that he has power in his hands. He should trust himself and his magical hands. Don’t forget that this request was made by Joo Jaekyung. (Chapter 49) He never asked him for his expertise and advice. He practiced self-medication in the end. Thus his karma was to be betrayed by the drug, since he keeps mistrusting people. In other words, because of the switch, Kim Dan is encouraged to become brave, to see his job as a great chance: his power is in his hands and nothing else. Heesung described it as magical touch. Doc Dan is talented and he is the champion’s private physical therapist (chapter 50) And from my point of view, the locker room became the doctor’s new temple. There, he must have recalled his grandmother’s wishes. She would like to see him on TV. For me, the light over his head symbolizes Enlightenment. He has become the champion’s yeouiju. Thus I deduce that Kim Dan is on the verge of proving his worth to Team Black. I am anticipating, he will approach the ring, and even treat him during a break, something he denied to his halmoni. (chapter 41) This signifies that he has to become strong and determined, for he has to impose himself in front of the other hyungs. By intervening, he would not only prove his innocence, but also earn his right to be viewed as a hyung! So far, the doctor was always excluded from the meetings, though the manager and advisors should have asked for his opinion. Don’t forget that till episode 42, he relied on the recommendations from other physicians and therapists. If this theory comes true, Joo Jaekyung would show to the public that he is trusting him. This would stand in contrast to this image. (chapter 50). Let’s not forget that MFC doctors can not intervene during a match, but only before or after. Like in the video above, I am expecting that Kim Dan will distinguish himself from the others! PArk Namwook only appeared in the spotlight after his boy’s victories. (chapter 5) (chapter 40) I am expecting a surprise in the next episode. Kim Dan will no longer stand in the shadow, he will no longer follow the “herd”. But there is another reason why I am hoping for such an intervention. It is because neither Baek Junmin nor Choi Gilseok are not expecting the intervention of the physical therapist during the fight, for it never happened before. Besides, the demon could see that their trick had worked. (chapter 50) It is relevant, because through such an intervention, hamster Dan would teach the champion an important lesson. He is not alone in the ring, the doctor is watching his physical condition and helping him. For me, chapter 50 announces a new start! Interesting is that the number 50 is associated with the planet Mercury which stands for poison but also medicine! And now, you comprehend why I consider the painful chapter as treatment sessions. The two protagonists are forced to redefine themselves. Joo Jaekyung might be injured, but he no longer sees himself jinxed! (chapter 50) And keep in mind that the poster was portraying the two fighters looking at hamster Dan (as Dan means red and sweet in Korean). (chapter 48) So the moment you perceive this moment )chapter 50) as something positive, Kim Dan is on the verge of turning over a new leaf, similar to the one in episode 19, (chapter 19), this signifies that Potato was acting like a true friend in the locker room. (chapter 50) He had truly grasped what Kim Dan was going through, and he was giving him a good advice. He was not abandoning his hyung, he was taking care of Kim Dan in his own way. His words were actually showing genuine care and true interest. To conclude, anguish is there to turn Kim Dan into a hero! But so far, he was standing in the shadow! (chapter 37) (chapter 40) (chapter 42) In the first part of Jinx, the doctor was the star’s companion of the night, but since the incident with the birthday present, he stopped being the night partner. Now, he is about to become the famous private physical therapist acknowledged by the public and media. In other words, his destiny contrasts to Baek Junmin’s, a shooting star, it will last longer. Why? It is because the main lead is Saturn! He brings fortune and karma to the evildoers. This interpretation corresponds to Übermensch from Nietzsche, which is sometimes translated as “Superman”. Under this new light, you comprehend why I added the protagonist’s pink angel wings. It was an allusion to his transformation, he is destined to become an “Overman” or Superman. And this brings me to my next observation. The doctor’s pain is exposing his recovery! Weird, right?

4. Healing

But discomfort and pain are strongly intertwined with healing. What? Another video! Yes, watch this while thinking of Kim Dan and Joo Jaekyung.

I have to admit that I will use mostly Kim Dan as an illustration in order to prove his recovery, as the essay is already getting very long.

1. You allow yourself to feel your emotions. In chapter 47, the doctor accepted his halmoni’s imminent death (chapter 47) and his agony. He was no longer under the influence of toxic positivity. While he cried, he admitted his flaws making him realize that he had never been abandoned by his grandmother. (chapter 47) That’s how he overcame his abandonment issues.

2. You’re getting better at expressing and maintaining boundaries. I could use the following panels as illustrations that Kim Dan is getting better at setting boundaries. (chapter 27) For the first time, he rejected a suggestion from his lover and even slapped his hand. (chapter 37) He wanted the party to continue. It shows that he was having a good time with Oh Daehyun and Potato. He has no problem to stop kissing his soulmate, when the latter shows his discomfort. (chapter 44)

3. You accept that you’ve been through difficult experiences . (chapter 36)

4. You’re less reactive and more responsive. Before the incident took place, he made sure that everything was fine. He was meticulous and proactive. (chapter 49) He didn’t wait for an order from PArk Namwook or the champion.

5. You realize that healing is not linear. Therefore it is normal that the relationship between the two protagonists is progressing or regressing. (chapter 50) They are trying to find themselves, therefore they must constantly adapt to each other. While the image gives the impression that the trust between them is vanishing, it is in reality an illusion. People should pay attention to the color of the speech bubble. It is white, there is no point of explanation. It reveals that the champion is not raising his voice. He is rather calm. In reality, the champion was not truly mad at Kim Dan. He was restraining himself. Jinx-philes should compare this image to the following two panels: (chapter 34) (chapter 45) As you can see, Joo Jaekyung is not glaring at the poor doctor. He didn’t yell at his lover too, and he never took the spray away from his lover and threw it like the golden medal! (chapter 45) And now, you comprehend why I stated earlier that he acted rather instinctively. For me, he still trusts the physical therapist.

6. You begin to step out of your comfort zone. Despite the rejection, he didn’t run away. He still went to the arena. (chapter 50)

7. You easily accept disappointments and take them in stride. Though he was scared and hurt, he answered to Namwook. He never apologized for the incident. (chapter 50) He is no longer blaming himself. He refused to admit his wrongdoing. He didn’t commit any mistake.

8. You have more inner peace. (chapter 44)

9. You welcome help and support. In this scene, he accepted the assistance of Potato. (chapter 49) After watching the video, I realized what Kim Dan’s next step should be: asking for help! In the beginning of Jinx, he was always relying on himself. He rejected any help. (chapter 18) When the champion paid off his debts, he saw it as meddling. Interesting is that he came to accept the champion’s support, but he never asked for Joo Jaekyung’s help directly. In addition, Jinx-philes should notice that in the interrogation room, he thought just about the champion and not himself. (chapter 40) It never came to his mind that he should ask for assistance. Finally, observe that after he got drugged in the States, he let the champion deal with the problem. (chapter 41) He accepted the statement from his boss. Nevertheless, doc Dan was the real victim. He should have become more involved in the matter. Besides, he was a witness. And this brings me to my next thought: if Kim Dan gets into trouble, he should remember Heesung’s words: he should give him a call! (chapter 35) For me, the incident is there to teach Kim Dan that he can ask for help! This would show him that he is no longer alone. He wouldn’t appear weak at all. That’s how he would end up to gain his first friends. Let’s not forget that Heesung’s relationship with the doctor is no longer tainted by money or by lust or greed. In fact, thanks to him, he found his soulmate. What unites Kim Dan and Heesung is the heart and the desire to help. Heesung stands for brotherhood, so he could be the one outlining the problems to Team Black. Finally since Potato likes Doc Dan very much, there is no doubt that Heesung and Potato will work together to assist the main lead. This image still exposed doc Dan’s loneliness. He needs to have a true friend. And Heesung would be the perfect person, for he is cunning and quite perceptive about people’s true nature. In fact, he already possesses certain features that Nietzsche admires. He is disregarding social norms (chapter 33). He is not hiding his sexual orientation, he is greedy, but in a good way. Hence he tried to win the doctor’s heart. He never gave up, till he was properly rejected by the doctor. (Chapter 35) Interesting is that after his confession, he still chose to come clean with the doctor. He revealed the truth to Kim Dan, though he could have lost the protagonist’s respect. He admitted his lie and manipulation, (Chapter 35), but Kim Dan’s reaction was not to scold his future friend. In fact, he appreciated his honesty. In front of Kim Dan, he could show his true self. He was not entirely a good guy, but he didn’t get rejected. But so far, the actor is not present in the arena. Therefore Potato could be the first person Kim Dan asks for help. He shares some similarities with his soulmate. He doesn’t fear people’s gaze, hence he raised his voice under the tent. (chapter 35) he doesn’t represent the herd mentality, for he never thinks and acts like others. (chapter 31) While the fighters all liked the actor, he judged him in a different light. Then he was not present during the champion’s birthday. Therefore he possesses all the qualities to become a hero. He could cause a scandal, (chapter 49) similarly to his idol and hero in the States. He noticed the issue right away: the security didn’t do his job properly. To sum up, Potato would follow his foot steps and that’s how he would get noticed by MFC!

But there exists another evidence that the cute hamster is healing. For the first time, he asked WHY! (chapter 50) The word is displaying that the doctor is not accepting the incident simply like that. It is showing that the doctor is slowly losing his naivety. Before the incident with the spray took place, he still trusted the words from people. (chapter 49) Naturally, he can not get rid of his naivety totally, for keeping a certain purity is necessary in life too. On the other hand, it becomes clear that his naivety is the result from his education. The halmoni is herself quite too trusting. Hence she ended up being harassed by loan sharks. On the other hand, the incident was like an eye-opener for the physical therapist. He should stop judging people based on their words (chapter 43) but on their actions.

The vanishing of his naivety is caused by his constant suffering. Because he got deceived twice (chapter 1) (chapter 1) by bosses, it becomes comprehensible why he didn’t fall into the trap a third time. (Chapter 48) He is pushed to question impressions and people’s motivations. As a conclusion, anguish is a tool to push people to become wiser and happier. And this leads me to my final part.

5. Painful pattern und fortunetelling

I discovered another pattern, which is strongly intertwined with suffering and purpose. For the first match, Joo JAekyung, his coach and his manager left to Busan without him. However, due to a pain, Kim Dan had to join them. Thus he came running. (chapter 14) But back then, Kim Dan didn’t mind staying in Seoul. (chapter 13) Furthermore, after having sex in the locker room, Kim Dan was left behind. (chapter 15) And notice that this pattern was the same in the States. For the second match, Team Black left without him, hence Kim Dan arrived late. (chapter 40) Therefore he was running once again. However, back then, no readers felt angry at the team, though it could also be perceived as a betrayal and abandonment! Kim Dan was not perceived as necessary, neither for Joo Jaekyung nor for Park Namwook. Hence the bedroom could be judged as the place of the betrayal: “ (chapter 40) That’s how I realized why the Webtoonist never showed the athlete’s caring gesture. He moved him in the middle of the bed! It is because the celebrity was still not treating his soulmate as a physical therapist. The second reason for the absence of anger is that Kim Dan had been drugged and as such was not fit. In addition, he needed to rest after having sex for the whole night. And now, you comprehend why the doctor could get dragged away by the MFC security guards, and no one from Team Black intervened. (chapter 40) It was to outline their previous disregard and betrayal! Thanks to Potato, Joo Jaekyung got informed, hence he could rescue the physical therapist. (chapter 40) But he never revealed the hamster’s role in the team! This explains why Kim Dan was used by Choi Gilseok. He needs to expose his role in Team Black to the world. He is the champion’s private PT!

Chapter 13-14-15	Chapter 40/41	Chapter 49-50
1. Match: Randy Booker	2. Match with Dominic Hill	3. Match with Baek Junmin
They left without him	They left without him	They left without him
He arrived late to the arena. He had to run.	He arrived late to the arena. Hence he had to run , but no one was expecting him except Potato.	He arrived late in the arena. Contrary to the two previous fights, the match has already started, when the doctor reaches the stadium. Thus he didn’t see the shoulder injury. But this time, he is not running. Once again, only Potato is expecting him: “Take your time, doc Dan”.
He was left behind in the locker room.	He was left in the bedroom behind.	He was left behind in the locker room
He has no uniform of Team Black, hence Joo JAekyung gave him his own jacket. But the latter was taken away later He has just his blue uniform.	He has now his own jacket which he is carrying with the blue uniform.	He has the jacket and uniform
He was interrogated by a MFC security guard	He is interrogated by MFC security guys and they are framing.
	There was a checkup from MFC doctors , for both characters. (chapter 41)	Joo Jaekyung went to the MFC medical center Hence he could get into trouble! The MFC could report the incident to the authorities!

Since I detected similarities between the three matches, I can’t help myself thinking that Kim Dan will be interrogated again. He could end up dragged away after the match. But this time, the champion can not save him, as he is himself badly injured. Therefore expect another anguish in the next episode! Since my theory is that MFC doctors are corrupted, there’s a high chance that the doctors will frame Kim Dan. And now, you comprehend why Kim Dan needs more than ever a friend who can help him! Potato is the witness of the doctor’s innocence (chapter 49) in both cases! He was present, when Kim Dan drank the drugged beverage. (chapter 38) To conclude, it was not in Kim Dan’s interest to run away or hide! This would have been judged as a sign of his culpability and complicity. He needs to face the problems so that he can shape his destiny with his own hands and not remain the playball of dark forces! Yes, this chapter announces a huge change at Team Black, the start of a real friendship between two puppies. 😉

I hope, this long essay gave you the strength to keep reading this terrific Manhwa! Let’s us become a better version of ourselves and embrace the pain, as it means that we are not indifferent and even changing.

Protected: Jinx: Whispers of Dusk, Blossoms 🌸 of Dawn 🌅

December 17, 2023January 6, 2024 ~ Bébébisous33

Protected: Jinx: Shoulder 💪 Stories: Tears 💧, Triumphs and Responsibilities

December 3, 2023December 9, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33

Jinx: Trapped Butterfly 🦋 in Deceit’s Web 🕸️ (part 2)

November 30, 2023November 30, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ 4 Comments

Please support the authors by reading the manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the manhwa: Jinx But be aware that the Manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. Here is the link of the table of contents about Jinx. Here is the link where you can find the table of contents of analyzed manhwas. Here are the links, if you are interested in the first work from Mingwa, BJ Alex, and the previous essay about Jinx “Trapped Butterfly in Deceit’s Web” (part 1)

After publishing the first part, I had another huge revelation. Yet, instead of updating the last analysis, I decided to write a second part. And now, you are probably curious about my new discoveries. It is related to the methods I employed to examine chapter 40 which were to interpret the significance of the sun glasses and to contrast the interrogation scene with previous episodes.

1. The importance of glasses

I don’t think that my inquisitive readers have already forgotten the different meaning behind the spectacles: naivety, blindness, hypocrisy and deception. And now, let me ask you this. Who has been wearing glasses in Jinx? The first person coming to your mind would be Park Namwook. But he is not alone!! We have Cheolmin (chapter 13) who also jumped to the wrong conclusion, when he saw the doctor’s bruises. He imagined that the champion had been too rough in bed with Kim Dan. However, once he heard his testimony, he believed him. This shows that he trusted him. On the other hand, this scene reinforces my interpretation that the glasses are connected to prejudices and false perception. Moreover, observe that he was curious about the physical therapist, hence he interrogated the champion. (chapter 13) Then, observe that in the penthouse, the doctor acted too. (chapter 13) He faked to be frightened, while in reality he was having fun, which is displayed by the onomatopoeia “epp”. As you can see, the behavior of Cheolmin corroborates all my previous statement about the glasses. They are used as masks. Another important detail is that this scene contains all the same ingredients than in episode 40: a rescue, a doctor (chapter 40) and the blood test (chapter 13) and a new face!! (chapter 40) (chapter 13) And by contrasting these two scenes, I realized that it reinforced my theories. 1. There must have been a phone call!! In episode 13, the champion must have called his chingu. (chapter 13), for he couldn’t leave the main lead alone. Secondly, this phone call was to cover up a scandal. To conclude, because of a phone call, the MFC security guys had received a task. They had to cover up a scandal by framing the new face. (chapter 40) However, the moment the guard with the sun glasses got caught, he tried to act as a savior. As you can see, this comparison reinforces my theory. The MFC manager must have asked the MFC security guys to cover up the incident. If not, they would be blamed for the matter!! And now, you comprehend why they had to know everything about Kim Dan. (chapter 40) They needed to find any excuse to put the blame on the protagonist. Either he had a strong reaction because of his medication or because of a different meal… but since Kim Dan never replied to them, they had to frighten him, to coerce him to confess a crime. (chapter 13) That’s how desperate and ruthless they were in the end. While dressed like FBI agents, they were acting like thugs and criminals. No matter what… MFC should not be involved in a scandal! And this brings me to my second discovery. Who else is wearing glasses in Jinx?

2. The hidden reflections

The perverted hospital director!! (chapter 1) And he also got caught!! What did happen afterwards? (chapter 1) Kim Dan got fired, for he was a new face! (chapter 1) The wrongdoing from the higher-up had been covered up, and the staff had assisted him!! (chapter 1) The nurse had not testified in the physical therapist’s favor. She had remained silent. This door opening doesn’t symbolize true rescue… but abandonment. It stands for silence and betrayal. The reason is simple. The staff wanted to keep their job. This signifies that the hospital director used the organization to protect his reputation and cover up his crime. In a previous essay, I elaborated that the nurse had been sent to the office on purpose, for the director office had no light on. I doubt that she was allowed to enter her superior’s office like that. And this assumption got reinforced, for Park Namwook was the one mentioning the incident to Joo Jaekyung in the hallway. (chapter 40) The intrusion of Joo Jaekyung in the office was caused by Park Namwook’s revelation. And it was the same, when the champion caught Heo Manwook with his minions. (chapter 17) And what is the common denominator between the perverted hospital director (chapter 6) and the moneylender? (chapter 16) Sexual harassment and the usage of the number to achieve their goal!! These two characters could hide their crimes with the assistance of other people (thugs, staff). We could say that both used an organization. Consequently, I am assuming that the MFC manager is doing the same!! Therefore it is no coincidence that Mingwa employed the same colors: blue, white and black . (chapter 1) That’s the reason why I am suspecting that the MFC guys must have already been informed that Kim Dan might be the champion’s sex partner. (chapter 40) If the champion had admitted that Kim Dan was his boyfriend, then they could say that Kim Dan had drunk the nutrition shake by mistake, and Joo Jaekyung had actually planned to take the drug. Keep in mind that according to me, the green-haired guy, the loan shark and the MFC manager are working together. But they were assisted by the lawyer and the manager from. the Entertainment agency. Fortunately, the champion’s answer was ambiguous. (chapter 40) Is he his partner or a member of his gym? Not only he is the face of Team Black (chapter 1), but also he owns the club. This means, in chapter 40, as the team leader of Team Black, he protected Kim Dan!! It exposes that Joo Jaekyung used the organization to defend his lover and physical therapist. (chapter 40) Joo Jaekyung is behaving the opposite from the perverted hospital director, Heo Manwook and finally the MFC manager. Thus it dawned on me that the reporter from this article did the same. (chapter 35) He sought protection behind the hospital (chapter 35) and social medias (chapter 36). Thus I deduce that the agent from the Entertainment agency and that lawyer are acting the same. They believe that they are safe, for they are both working for a huge company or law firm. And guess what… the doctor Kim Miseon is also wearing glasses. (chapter 5) As you can see, thanks to the glasses, I discovered a new pattern. These schemers and helping hands are avoiding any responsibility by hiding their wrongdoings behind an institution or we could say behind a name. (chapter 7) In the last case, it would be MFC!! But the reproach from the champion (chapter 40) should have opened their eyes! Not MFC would have been involved a scandal… but only the MFC security team!! As you can see, the moment they had been informed about the incident, they should have reported the MFC manager to the highers-up! They should have never protected such a person in the end, because the latter is the reason why the organization would be involved in a scandal. That’s the reason why such people are framing others. They know how an institution works. Under this new light, it becomes comprehensible why the plotters are trying to ruin the champion’s name!! (chapter 36) (chapter 36) It is because they are projecting their own thoughts onto the champion. He is just a person. However, what they don’t realize is that behind the athlete, there is also an organization: TEAM BLACK!! (chapter 40) Because their scheme failed, there is no doubt that they will target the physical therapist, for he is much weaker. He is “new” in the team and he comes from a low social background. He has a sick and old halmoni. However, Kim Dan has almost become their true mascot!! (chapter 36) Note that Oh Daehyun and Potato tried to investigate the matter with the doctor’s illness. (chapter 38) (chapter 38) Thus I deduce that because of Kim Dan, the members from Team Black will become more proactive. They need to show to these people that Joo Jaekyung is not alone, he is the alpha of a great gym… producing many champions!! In other words, the dragon with his yeouiju will be able to remove these Deceit’s webs and purify these institutions. As you can imagine, I am suspecting that Dr. Lee must have been blamed for the article (chapter 27), for someone had to take the fall. I hope, we will see him again.

Interesting is that the Manhwaphiles have no idea about the identity of the perverted hospital director. We don’t know the name of the hospital as well. It is no coincidence. It indicates that this person is hiding behind the reputation of the hospital. This contrasts so much to Joo Jaekyung, but there is definitely a link between them. Thus my suspicions got reinforced that this man could be Seo Gichan. And we know for sure that Joo Jaekyung has connections to a hospital. (chapter 13)

3. The hidden wearers of glasses

By focusing on the glasses, I had another revelation. Joo Jaekyung is also wearing glasses. (chapter 29) However, here the item has a different signification. How so? It is because Joo Jaekyung was totally honest and was opening up to the physical therapist. (chapter 29) It seems to contradict my previous interpretation about the glasses. But no… Observe that during that whole scene, the readers could see the champion’s eyes contrary to the MFC guys (chapter 40), Park Namwook (chapter 37), Kim Miseon (chapter 21), Cheolmin (chapter 13) and the perverted hospital director (chapter 1)!! The eyes are the mirror of the soul. In Park Namwook and Cheolmin’s case, I don’t judge them as manipulators and schemers. The glasses are there to expose their flaws. But let’s return our attention to this scene. (chapter 29) Because he was wearing blue light blocking glasses, he was protected from “Agent Blue”, the positive version of episode 36 and 40!! This explicates why I consider them as a shield. He was trying to hide his vulnerability while confiding to Kim Dan.

And this interpretation got reinforced with Choi Heesung. (chapter 35) The Jinx-Philes could see his eyes too. He had come to the café with them to hide his identity, but in reality his action had the opposite effect. People noticed the actor. (chapter 35) Striking is that as soon as the actor removed them, he got honest with the doctor. He revealed his intentions, but he got rejected. As you can see, the glasses can have a positive function. Consequently, I came to develop a theory which was triggered by the glasses. Kim Dan envisioned the athlete in a suit (chapter 32), then he imagined him with the sun glasses (chapter 35) Thus I come to the conclusion, Kim Dan will be the one turning the athlete into a star, a real celebrity! But he won’t be reduced to his body and face (chapter 30) People will notice his qualities and talents so that he doesn’t need to prove his strength and power in the ring. The celebrities often use sun glasses to protect their anonymity. And Mingwa already implied that the champion’s birthday is around the corner. (chapter 40) So he could offer the sun glasses to his savior. If this prediction comes true, then it means that Kim Dan will become the rival of the manager from the agency. Besides, it was the manager’s job to develop a strategy how to change the netizens’ opinion. But he chose to put the whole responsibility on his athlete. (chapter 36) He could have shown that Joo Jaekyung was the owner of Team Black and he was training other athletes. It is important, because it shows that certain people hide their laziness behind the organization or a name. That’s the reason why I am expecting that Choi Heesung will play a role in the demise of the bad manager at the agency. (chapter 33) Since he has sun glasses, he is already connected to spying. Don’t forget that he tried to determine the true nature of their relationship before giving up on his angel. (chapter 32) Finally, I have the feeling that Team Black will come to act like the security guys in episode 40, investigate the matter why the champion and the doctor became the targets of malicious rumors and bad articles.

Thus I came to the final conclusion, though Cheolmin and Park Namwook are wearing glasses, they are the positive reflections of the other doctors. They will change for the better contrary to Kim Miseon and the perverted hospital director! Meeting the physical therapist, the blue butterfly, will affect their life forever… you know all the butterfly effect…🦋 A simple gesture from him is like a magic touch (chapter 31) and they are under his spell.

Protected: Jinx: The Night Is Young 🌕 ⌛- part 2

November 7, 2023December 27, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33

Protected: Painter Of The Night: Bloody 🩸 tide is turning 🌊

October 13, 2023October 26, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33

Jinx: Breaking Fake News 📰 🎤 (second version)

October 10, 2023October 10, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ 5 Comments

1. Between facts and lies

In this short essay, I would like to focus on the article which was sent to the protagonist with a link. (chapter 35) What caught my attention first is the difference between the title and the content in the article. On the one hand, the author is revealing Joo Jaekyung’s injured shoulder, on the other hand, he is implying with the expression “the tip of the iceberg” that the champion has other injuries. Dr. Lee had pointed out the joints and his shoulder as problems. (chapter 27) But his diagnosis in English wasn’t clear enough. Was he referring to the joints of the shoulder or to others? Nonetheless, based on the X-rays and the therapy (chapter 27), it is clear that Joo Jaekyung’s real issue is his shoulder in bad shape. Hence we see him constantly touching his right shoulder. (chapter 1) Because of this contrast between title and content, the Manhwaphiles can grasp the writer’s true intentions behind the article. He was looking for sensationalism, hence he exaggerated the champion’s physical condition. But there is more to it. The columnist attempted to create the illusion of a proper and serious investigation by employing the idiom “the doctors”. With this term, he insinuated that he had consulted different doctors and they would all come to the same verdict. Moreover by including the fans, he gave the impression that this topic had been long discussed among the supporters. In reality, he was mixing the cause and consequence. The moment people will read this news, they will start speculating about his future. However, since this was a secret till this publication, I doubt that the lovers had already speculated whether the champion had reached his zenith. That’s the reason why I consider this column as a fake news. It was a hype created on a truth mixed with lies.

Fake news is information that is clearly and demonstrably fabricated and that has been packaged and distributed to appear as legitimate news. This narrow definition seeks to distinguish fake news from other types of misleading information by clarifying that the former is patently false and was created and presented in a way meant to deceive consumers into thinking it is real. Quoted from https://researchguides.uoregon.edu/fakenews/issues/defining

2. XX Hospital and the anonymous source

Moreover, we know for sure that the champion only has one doctor: Dr. Lee. The latter had actually prognosticated that the athlete’s career could last much longer (chapter 27), if he changed his way of life and training. Hence he recommended rest. (chapter 27) Another evidence for this tabloid journalism is the reference to the hospital and the anonymous source. It was, as if the personal from that hospital was not trustworthy, for the “anonymous source” had leaked information from the files. Though the name of the hospital was not mentioned, it is clear that Dr. Lee will feel concerned, for such a divulgation to the public can endanger the champion’s career and his own reputation. He could be held responsible for the main lead. Now, his opponents know his weakness. So such an article can lead to an investigation from that hospital and the chaebol. Who is the anonymous source? Dr. Lee will certainly vouch for his employees, and that’s where Kim Dan comes in. Notice that this article was released shortly, after Kim Dan met the doctor for the first time! (chapter 27) Moreover, he is the only doctor who read the files! (chapter 17) People will start suspecting the protagonist and if his past with the perverted hospital director is exposed, (chapter 1) it is clear that his reputation will suffer. Furthermore, Kim Dan was seen with bruises too (chapter 11) which could lead to the discovery of the debts and the loan sharks. He had financial problems and a sick halmoni. Finally, let’s not forget that the boxer is the first client of the physical therapist. So people will question the champion’s choice for picking Kim Dan as his personal physical therapist. He lacks credentials. Consequently, the doctor’s integrity and competences will be questioned by public opinion. In other words, Kim Dan could bring bad PR to Black Team and this could create some frictions between the champion, the doctor and Park Namwook. To conclude, it is clear that the target of this article is not just the athlete, but also Kim Dan. The allusion to the “anonymous source” was done on purpose, so that people would ask for his identity. He betrayed the hero and emperor! Someone violated the confidentiality clause. Nevertheless, divulging the existence of an anonymous source was to divert attention from the real issue! The real traitor is the author of this article who broke a rule. He shouldn’t have leaked this to the public! He is responsible, if Joo Jaekyung gets really injured by his opponent. But I would like to outline that the files were left in the office of Team Black and they allowed strangers to enter the gym because of Heesung! (chapter 30) As you can see, anyone could have access to the files, especially because the physical therapist was absent in the morning. He only joined the company much later. As the Jinx-lovers can observe, this article should be seen as a lesson for the physical therapist, Park Namwook and Joo Jaekyung. They should be more careful, due to money, this rule “bringing strangers” had not been followed. (chapter 1)

But fortunately, Doc Dan got quickly accepted by the fighters from Team Black. Hence I am certain that they won’t suspect him. Moreover, thanks to Heesung, the members from Team Black could perceive Kim Dan’s angelic nature. He rejected the actor and didn’t accept the presents from him either. (chapter 35) He is not a greedy, immoral and selfish bump. He embodies true loyalty (chapter 35) That’s the reason why I believe that this article was written to drive an edge between Joo Jaekyung and Kim Dan. The former should suspect his lover. However, what the schemers don’t know is that the doctor is living with the champion and he already knows about his suffering (insomnia, his fear of losing). Yet, this was not revealed in the article. I think that this breaking fake news will push Kim Dan to become more proactive towards his VIP client.

3. Joo Jaekyung in bad shape

While the physical conditions of Joo Jaekyung was in the center of this article, the columnist never brought up his mental state which represents the main problem in my eyes. Why does he mistreat his own body? (chapter 27) It is because he is unhappy. He definitely has a low self-esteem despite his attitude. And this observation brings me to the following remark. When Kim Dan described Joo Jaekyung in bad shape (chapter 35), he was thinking of his mental health. He was paying attention to his moods and his anger. (chapter 34) This shows that the doctor is slowly realizing the importance of welfare in such a career. Anger is a sign for stress. The latter is also the cause for damaged “joints”. (chapter 27) This means that the physical therapist will have to find a new way to invite the champion to rest more. Sex? A new version of this … (chapter 19) 😂

On the other hand, the news has a different signification for the fighter. It is like a challenge. (chapter 35) Therefore he got angry. I am quite certain that he was thinking like this: (chapter 29) He shouldn’t have lowered his guard… he shouldn’t have taken a day off. He was already wondering why he had done such a prank to Heesung (chapter 35) In his eyes, he had focused too much on Kim Dan. Like explained in the previous essay, I am expecting a relapse from the athlete, but this time, he will be stopped by the main lead, for the latter is now well acquainted with his mental and physical condition. Furthermore, since this news resembles to a challenge, I think that Joo Jaekyung will organize a match in order to prove this exclusive announcement wrong. I see parallels between chapter 35 (chapter 35) and this one (chapter 20) For Kim Dan, it was back then a matter of life and death. Now during this night, Joo Jaekyung is put in the same situation. It was, as if someone was attempting to kill him. If he loses his title, he has the impression that he will die, he will vanish into thin air. But why is it so important to him? It is necessary to recall that in his childhood, the athlete was an invisible and silenced child! With this title, he has the impression to “exist”, though he is not truly living. So how will he react to this article? Rush to the hospital and throw a tantrum? Or go to Kim Dan and wake him up?

4. Shim Yoon-Seok

The sportsman discovered the existence of this article, because he was contacted by the journalist Shim Yoon-Seok. (chapter 35) Striking is that the latter had the cellphone number from the athlete. (chapter 35) On the other hand, the content of the message clearly indicates that the two characters didn’t know each other. How did this reporter get the cellphone number from the champion? This shows that there is someone behind pulling the strings. Moreover, note that he was contacted during the night. Since my essay “Magic hours”, my avid readers know that this night sky is indicating that it is rather late. (chapter 35) Why did the reporter send this message and article at this hour? For me, there is no doubt that they knew that the champion wouldn’t be asleep. It was, as if they knew about his insomnia. Besides, Joo Jaekyung never leaves his cellphone behind… and a sign that they expected him to see the message very quickly. As a conclusion, this breaking news expose the involvement of people close to the champion. Moreover, notice that he was contacted directly and not through his gym, Team Black. This proves to me that there is a conspiracy in the end. Someone leaked information to this reporter.

Besides, it occurred to me that if the article had just been released, his agency should have contacted him first informing about the existence of this news. (chapter 30) Hence I deduce that the agency will get involved too very soon and the owner could ask for the identity of the anonymous source. Who leaked this information to the author of the article? Since Kim Dan is the newest member, he would be the biggest suspect and the perfect scapegoat, for he doesn’t belong to a hospital and he has no agency protecting him. And this brings me to the following conclusion. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic love story, because these two young people’s families were in a feud! Hence I sense the birth of a conflict between Team Black and the agency. But we have Choi Heesung who is also represented by this agency. (chapter 33) In the English and Korean version, the actor employed the possessive pronoun “our” and not “my”, this could be an evidence that the agency could belong to Heesung’s family. So because of this breaking fake news, Heesung would be brought in a position, where he can help the physical therapist. (Chapter 35) If he helps the angel, then he would keep his promise and appear as reliable. And that’s how he would become more responsible and selfless. That way he would learn how to practice “true love”: a choice, a judgement and promise! He would give without expecting anything in return! This is real selfless love.

5. Theory about the identity of the anonymous source!

Yes, after releasing this essay, I had a new thought. There was a third person who had access to Joo Jaekyung’s files! And this person had a strong motive to expose the champion. (chapter 1) The previous physical therapist!! Moreover, the latter got hurt by the athlete. One of my theories was that the man had not treated the champion properly. (chapter 1) Besides, he would have another interest to have Kim Dan fired. How could he get hired, when he lacked experience? By mentioning the anonymous source and the hospital, the reporter would divert attention from the real traitor. No one would suspect a former employee. The schemers are hoping that the hospital and Kim Dan would put the blame on each other. In other words, we shouldn’t forget this mysterious person. Finally, the author has to expose the truth about this incident. What had happened exactly? I doubt that Joo Jaekyung truly beat him, for the latter could have sued the man. Besides, we know now that Park Namwook is biased and has the tendency to put the blame on his star.

Protected: Jinx: Driving me Hot 🌶️ 💗& CRAZY🤯!!

September 22, 2023September 22, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33

Protected: Jinx: Sweet 🍦Angels 👼 and Wolves 🐺

August 20, 2023August 24, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33

Protected: Jinx: ✨ Magic hours ⌛🌆🌃 (second version)

August 10, 2023November 12, 2025 ~ Bébébisous33

Protected: Jinx: My cute 💜 hamster 🐹 and me 🐺🐉

July 18, 2023December 16, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33

Jinx: Longing for a (candy)🍬 kiss 💋

April 27, 2023April 28, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ Leave a comment

Please support the authors by reading the manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the manhwa. https://www.lezhinus.com/en/comic/jinx_en But be aware that this manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. Here is the link of the table of contents about Jinx. Here is the link where you can find the table of contents of analyzed manhwas Here are the links, if you are interested in the first work from Mingwa, BJ Alex, and the previous essay about Jinx Wendy and the mirror on the wall (locked)

1. Joo Jaekyung, the “cookie/candy monster” 😉

The trigger for this essay was the question I received from my follower @Denkoumaru. She wondered why Joo Jaekyung had not renewed the kiss since episode 15! I had noticed that many stans were expecting a kiss for episode 20, whereas I had predicted an ejaculation through masturbation. Her question made me look at the scene in the locker room one more time. That’s how I had another revelation.

Here, I would like my avid essayphiles to take a closer look at my illustration and more precisely at the symbols I added: the red sweet bear from Haribo and the kiss mark. Yes, by kissing Kim Dan in the locker room, the champion discovered sweetness. (chapter 15) Thus he licked his lips after kissing the doctor. I had already outlined it before, but back then I had not truly grasped the athlete’s mentality. Until that scene, he viewed sex as work! This means that in the locker room, he started connecting sex to food! The kiss was the trigger for this change of mind. Thus Kim Dan had the impression that Joo Jaekyung was devouring him! (chapter 15) It is no coincidence that at the end, the champion even bit his neck (chapter 15) As you can see, the words and the gestures were all connected to the lexical field eating. Striking is that the latter has for synonym “consumption”. Anyone is aware of the strong association between sexuality and consumption. To conclude, this sex session is the moment the athlete’s perception about sex changed. For him, sex became a synonym for food and the doctor was his dessert. Hence I couldn’t help myself associating him with the cookie monster from Muppet show! 😂 The only difference is that in reality, Joo Jaekyung is more lusting after candies than cookies. Nonetheless, he has not realizing yet that he is longing for intimacy and affection.

2. The kiss and Kim Dan

Moreover, I would like to point out that the moment the celebrity started kissing the doctor, the latter was forced to turn around. But the problem is that the physical therapist rejected this smooching. First, with his hands, (chapter 15) he tried to stop his partner and even to push him away. Besides, it looks like he was trying to scratch Joo Jaekyung. Then he had voiced his dissatisfaction with his own mouth: (chapter 15) IT was, as if it was disgusting. Then he had used his hands to cover his mouth. (chapter 15) The champion could only notice Kim Dan’s displeasure about the kiss. He was refusing to be kissed. But after the kiss, they were still facing each other. However, since the physical therapist had put an end to the smooching, Joo Jaekyung had only one option left: the renewal of the penetration. However, he didn’t change his partner’s position. (chapter 15) Because of the doctor’s negative attitude, Joo Jaekyung could only become rude in this image. He had still listened to the doctor’s request, but the latter kept protesting and arguing with him. (chapter 15) However, they have a deal and in his mind, Kim Dan could not object to the intercourse. Hence Joo Jaekyung silenced him with such a remark. What caught my attention is that after tasting the sweetness from the doctor’s lips and tongue, the champion was no longer satisfied with a simple thrusting. (chapter 15) Here, I would like the beholder to pay attention to the athlete’s hand on the locker. He is clinching his fist, a sign that he isn’t relaxed and rather frustrated. This shows that there was something missing, and Joo Jaekyung sensed it unconsciously. In verity, he was longing for the candy kiss. And now, the manhwalovers can understand why with his hand, he reinitiated the kiss (chapter 15) However, this time, he was paying attention to Kim Dan’s reactions. Therefore he didn’t close his eyes and observed his reactions. The doctor was reciprocating the smooching. The evidences for this interpretation are the doctor’s hands (no scratching, they are now on the side), his tongue and finally his blushing. (chapter 15) Joo Jaekyung could only get greedier after such a reception… he acted like the cookie monster which Kim Dan also sensed. However, the latter didn’t consider it as a real kiss. (chapter 15) He had the impression that he had become the beast’s lunch. (chapter 15) Yet, the reality is that the main lead was enjoying the kiss, hence his body was reacting to it. (chapter 15) The thoughts of the protagonist implies that he was slowly getting aroused. And now, it is important to recall the champion’s response to this view. (chapter 15) He thrusted a few times, but he had a climax shortly after. This means that this view linked to the kiss (chapter 15) had aroused the athlete so much that he sensed the arrival of his ejaculation. And the proof that the sportsman felt such an immense pleasure with the kiss is that he bit the doctor, the moment he came. (chapter 15) This shows that the candy kiss from Kim Dan is so powerful that this can shorten the time of a sex session! 😮 And now… take a closer look at this. (chapter 20) The champion is not done yet, because his hunger is not satisfied. Yes, for me, the doctor could end this by kissing him. He would be done with him, for he would have had his midnight snack. 😂 But before giving more details about this prediction, I would like to return to the question my follower had. Why is there no kiss again?

3. The absence of a kiss

Naturally, there exist many reasons. First, it is simply related to Kim Dan’s attitude. Remember what the main lead had said to his partner after the intercourse in the locker room. He had made a request: (chapter 15) Here, his words were quite ambiguous. Was he referring to the sex session itself, for Kim Dan had not been informed about the fighter’s true intention either? Or was he referring to the kiss? Don’t forget that the doctor talked about emotional preparation, and the kiss symbolizes affection and intimacy the best. And now, you comprehend why Joo Jaekyung pouted like a child after hearing the main lead’s wish: (chapter 15) It was, as if he was deprived of his sweet. I believe that’s how the sportsman understood the message. And now, you comprehend why Joo Jaekyung came to consider Kim Dan as his meal. (chapter 18) This is no coincidence that he licked his lips in this scene again. (chapter 18) Because the physical therapist was somehow rejecting any kiss and as such any intimacy, Joo Jaekyung couldn’t initiate a new kiss. At the same time, the readers can grasp why the couple was no longer facing each other. Due to the physical therapist’s request and attitude, Joo Jaekyung was no longer obliged to face him. That’s the reason why the couple had sex in the dog position on the table again. After all these new discoveries, it actually confirms my previous interpretation. We should see this sex session as a substitute for a kiss. Like I had written before, it was, as though the champion was kissing his wife before going to work!! 😂 In the end, I consider this manhwa as very funny, but the jokes are subtile.

To conclude, when the fighter expressed his desire to have a snack (chapter 18), in reality he was longing for a candy kiss. This signifies that as long as Kim Dan doesn’t take the initiative, the athlete won’t change his attitude. Moreover, why do you think that the boxer said this to his companion in the bedroom? (chapter 20) He is longing for the candy kiss, but he can’t voice it. So far, their deal is about sex. This shows that he has somehow internalized the doctor’s request. Moreover, the protagonist’s ejaculation had caused him immense pleasure, but the champion couldn’t taste the sperm. It was on the mirror. As you can see, I see a strong connection between the physician’s pleasure and the champion’s satiety. The latter is slowly learning that he can achieve his goal (having a good fuck) without putting too much strength in the end. That’s the reason why he bought the toy. (chapter 12) Here, I feel the need to expose the sportsman’s lie. The fuck buddies could never have brought such an object, because the champion’s partners are all bottoms. I doubt that they would use it for themselves. What would be the point in the end? Besides, the protagonist already has an anaconda. However, since he viewed sex as a job (it was to get rid of his jinx), I have the impression that he could never truly satisfy the bottoms. This would explain why the champion would constantly switch partners and thought that if he used such a toy, he could provoke pleasure. However, all the ukes rejected the toy!! Why? They all got scared (“nobody was up for trying it”). Who would be crazy to try it? Funny is that he gave the toy to the doctor, as if the latter would have to use it, thus the latter asked the question: “How do you use it?”. As you can see, through his words, the main lead gave the impression that this tool was for the bottom, hence one of them left it here. It was to hide his true desire. This truly exposes that the champion had never learned how to have sex properly. It was about power, strength and as such fortune! But by meeting the doctor, an innocent virgin, the champion could change his sexual behavior. We could say, he discovered a new world. Hence the kiss plays a central role.

Finally, I would like to outline that in this scene (chapter 20) the color of the characters’ skin reminds us of a candy and the kiss mark. The main lead is grabbing the doctor’s buttocks, like he is taking a meal. As you can see, everything seems to pointing out that a candy kiss should occur very soon. It is important, because the moment it happens, it signifies that the doctor is giving up on the dog position. He has to face his partner, and as such to face reality. He would accept to become intimate with Joo Jaekyung. However, after the scene in the bathroom, the young man was still in denial. He was still avoiding reality. Therefore he chose to face the bed, and he was passive again… waiting for the time that the champion would finally stop. (chapter 20) So if he wants to take the call from the hospital, he needs to become proactive and satisfy his partner in a short time. And the candy kiss would do the trick… Besides, I would like the manhwalovers to recall Kim Dan’s words in front of the mirror: (chapter 16) These words expose that in this scene he had already envisioned the possibility to return such a smooching! And because we have a connection between the mirror and the locker, a different form of a mirror, it is now necessary to reexamine the doctor’s confession in the bathroom.

4. Kim Dan’s first kiss

The latter had revealed that he had never been kissed before. (chapter 16) Naturally, everyone interpreted this word like this. He had never been kissed on the mouth, for he never had any girlfriend or boyfriend before. But I would like my attentive readers to keep in their mind my previous theory. Joo Jaekyung had never been affectionate and tender, because he had never received any affection and attention from his mother. IT is very important to kiss a baby and a child, and this for 3 reasons:

It boosts the immune system
It makes them smarter
A child who was often kissed will be less anxious as an adult
Finally it teaches babies and children empathy [For more read these articles which are both similar 3 reasons (daily mon) 3 significant ways]

This means, the fighter had never been kissed or embraced before either, and not just in a romantical way. Thus as soon as I began examining the importance of the kiss, I couldn’t help myself thinking that it could have been the case for Kim Dan as well. Naturally, I am talking about a kiss on the cheek, nose or forehead, less one on the mouth.

According to me, the grandmother is suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome, hence she is rejecting adulthood and as such intimacy. At the same time, it implies that she is more self-centered. Why? Simply because interacting with people would force her to deal with reality and as such become responsible. This explains why the psychologists noticed that people suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome share some common traits with Narcissistic people. However, the kiss embodies closeness and intimacy which the halmoni rejects. Moreover, the grandmother might have hugged him (chapter 5), but I don’t think, we should jump to the conclusion that because she embraced him, she kissed him. Here, note that she used Kim Dan to protect herself from the loan sharks. She was not kissing him, she was talking to the threatening men. Moreover, I detected a certain physical distance between the woman and her grandson. (chapter 19) The phone was between them. In addition, they were simply sitting next to each other. Then at the hospital, the doctor never hugged his grandmother. He would strike her shoulder (chapter 07) or take her hand (chapter 7) As for Peter Pan, she would just caress his face. (chapter 5) Besides, if you compare all the images I quoted above, you will notice the physical gap between them. Why? It is because the grandmother knows deep down that Kim Dan is a man, and as such he is connected to the “dirty old creeps”. (chapter 20) Thus I deduce that she must have hugged the boy, as long as he was a child. However, when he became a teenager, it was no longer possible. Such a change could only increase Kim Dan’s abandonment issues, pushing him to become more attentive towards his grandmother. This reinforced his dependency on her. Therefore it is not surprising that he never developed any dream on his own. Here, I feel the need to remind my avid essayphiles that I am not wishing her death. Quite the opposite. Why? She has to realize before her death that she was also responsible for her own misery and her grandchild’s.

Another reason for believing that Kim Dan was never kissed is the betrayal and abandonment from his own father. If my theory is correct that the halmoni had a son, we have to envision that the latter was raised by an immature and self-centered mother who was rejecting intimacy. Therefore I don’t think that she kissed her own son. In other words, the son imitated the mother. However, after getting betrayed by her own son, I believe that the grandmother changed. Because she was now on her own, she had to become responsible. Thus she treated Kim Dan differently with the hope that he wouldn’t become like her son. That’s the reason why I am more than ever convinced that the moment the halmoni discovers that he is working for Black Teams, she will view it as a betrayal and abandonment. For her, the young man should work at a hospital so that he would take care of her.

The third reason for believing that Kim Dan received his first kiss is that psychologists discovered that kissing boost self-esteem.

In addition to boosting your happy hormones, kissing can reduce your cortisol levels — potentially improving your feelings of self-worth. Researchers in one 2016 study found that participants who were unhappy with their physical appearance had higher cortisol levels. Although more research is needed, experiencing a temporary drop in cortisol each time you kiss isn’t a bad way to pass the time. Quoted from https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-kissing#selfesteem

But this picture proves the exact opposite. The physical therapist has such a low self-esteem, I would even add, he has almost developed self-loathing. However, this was not truly visible, as long as he could work. His confidence was only based on his career and as such work. That’s the reason why the grandmother was so proud. However, like my follower @rantofthetimelife pointed out, Kim Dan had selected this career because of his grandmother, hence he had no real ambitious to become famous. He wasn’t seeking recognition from others… only from the halmoni.

Moreover, there is another evidence that Kim Dan was never kissed before. In the article mentioned above, the author outlines 16 reasons to smooch:

Happy hormones, Bonding, Self-esteem, Stress, Anxiety, Blood pressure, Cramps, Headaches, Immune system, Allergies, Cholesterol, Cavities, Compatibility, Libido, Muscle tone, Workout, Takeaway Quoted from https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-kissing

The manhwaworms can detect that kissing is very beneficial for the body! Hence I view the grandmother’s illness as the proof that she has never kissed anyone. For her, there is only sex and it is dirty. The jinx-stans will certainly remember the champion’s complain about the doctor: (chapter 12) Therefore it is not surprising that he was in bad shape either. The smooching could have helped him to relax. In my eyes, the halmoni as a mother was too busy focusing on herself (her disillusion, bitterness, Peter Pan Syndrome) that she didn’t feel the need to kiss her own child (a son). So his son was never shown affection, hence when he became a father, he did the same. He didn’t kiss his son. Finally, we never see the halmoni kissing the main lead. So his words in the bathroom would reflect reality: Joo Jaekyung was the first to kiss him! (chapter 16) This explicates why the doctor started viewing the champion under a different light. He hoped that he had helped him out of kindness. (chapter 18) This scene outlines that he was slowly moving on from his prejudices and as such from his grandmother.

But now, I would like to outline another aspect. Kissing helps in assessing potential mates. It is even an important tool to create a bond and contributes to monogamy.

“Turns out the 1964 classic “The Shoop Shoop Song” was right — it’s in his kiss! One 2013 study found that kissing may help you assess the suitability of a potential partner. According to women surveyed, a first kiss can basically make it or break it when it comes to her attraction. […] Kissing causes a chemical reaction in your brain, including a burst of the hormone oxytocin. It’s often referred to as the “love hormone,” because it stirs up feelings of affection and attachment. According to a 2013 study, oxytocin is particularly important in helping men bond with a partner and stay monogamous.” Quoted from https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-kissing#libido

This signifies that the moment the champion kissed the doctor, it sealed the deal. From that instant on, the champion became monogamous. Therefore, it is not surprising that he proposed his partner to live with him in the penthouse. He had many reasons to act that way. He knew that he had taken his virginity. (chapter 20) But when he saw the doctor on the verge of getting raped (though he has no idea about the true nature of the crime yet), he imagined that the poor man was now selling himself. Consequently, I judge the fighter as a very responsible man despite his actions and words. In fact, he is the opposite of the halmoni, who lets her relative take care of everything. But if something doesn’t go the way she wishes, she will surely feel disregarded and betrayed.

5. Sugar daddy

Under this new approach, the readers can understand why Kim Dan thought so much about the kiss in the first place. Somehow, he felt more attached to the fighter. This is no coincidence that while searching for a new house, he thought of his benefactor. (chapter 16) The latter was now part of his life, and he was recognizing his generosity. He was no longer judging him simply as a spoiled rich child. Since the doctor is older than the athlete and he is associated to sweet, I couldn’t restrain myself thinking of the idiom: “Sugar daddy”. 😂 Mingwa was giving a new definition to this expression. And this observation led me to the following prediction: Kim Dan will initiate a kiss.

How so? It is because I discovered parallels between chapter 1, 2 and 20! Let me show you. The lover from episode 2 was sent away, after the protagonist had called the doctor. The bottom had not paid attention to this phone call. (chapter 1) Note that he had remained silent, while the other was talking over the phone. (chapter 1) The telephone call was not perceived as an interruption, which stands in contradiction to this scene. (chapter 20) Secondly, observe how the sex partner had reacted. (chapter 2) His behavior is very similar to the physician’s in the locker room. Both are sticking their tongue out while looking at their counterpart. The first big differences are that the blushing and gaze diverge. (chapter 15) The blushing is more pronounced. Secondly, the latter is simply breathing loudly and moaning, whereas the other is just talking. The doctor’s reaction could only move the celebrity. (chapter 15) However, the champion had a different response to the green-haired partner. (chapter 2) He remained indifferent. Moreover, observe that the champion was called “sugar”! In that scene, Joo Jaekyung was the sugar daddy! This time, the author was applying the true meaning of this expression. A sugar daddy is someone paying a younger lover in exchange for his sexual services. This explicates why the fighter denied that they were dating and later gave him money, though a sugar daddy is still considering the recipient as a partner. Yet, money plays a huge role. This exposes that their relationship was fake, for it was based on mutual interests. (chapter 2) In addition, the vocabulary and situation in both chapters are quite similar:

“baby”, “sugar”, “suck of so good” (chapter 2) versus “sucks”, “tastiest thing” (chapter 20) The hole sucks like a baby. Another common denominator is the phallus in both scenes.
The presence of departure which is strongly intertwined with “to be done” (chapter 20) Besides, the scene in the bathroom was definitely hot and heavy, as the boxer had to carry his partner. The lover from episode 2 had used the exact same expression, but this was not true.

Moreover, the bottom in episode 2 said that he was talented, for he knew techniques how to make the protagonist feel good, but the truth is that Joo Jaekyung gets only satisfied, when his partner finds pleasure! That’s what he discovered in the locker room with the kiss and in the bathroom with the mirror. (chapter 20) He had a climax, because Kim Dan had liked the kiss. Then in the bathroom he had come too, but after the doctor’s orgasm. In other words, the protagonist can only feel satisfy, when it is natural! The expression technique is an allusion to a job, but what did the main lead say to the main lead at the table? (chapter 13) He doesn’t care about technique with Kim Dan. Why? The young man’s inexperience makes Joo Jaekyung realize that the situation is not artificial. The young man’s reactions are more genuine, and it is not an act. That’s the reason why I am more than ever convinced that the young man can solve this tricky situation with an easy trick: a candy kiss. This doesn’t require technique, simply sincerity and dedication.

“A good kisser has the ability to create a mental bubble around the two people,” dating and relationship expert, and founder of LUMA, April Davis, tells Bustle. “When kissing, it should feel as if the two of you are focused on each other and the rest of the world blurs around you.” Quoted from https://www.bustle.com/p/what-makes-a-kiss-good-according-to-experts-3208024

And don’t forget that their first kiss was also done under pressure. However, in that short moment, the champion had been able to make the doctor forget the match. The latter was focused on his partner and the kiss. (chapter 15) So the moment the doctor kisses his lover, he will become his sugar daddy, for he will give the champion his dessert, the red sweet bear from Haribo. And the recommendations for a good kiss on this website are the following:

treating it like an art; (chapter 15)
being willing to compromise (chapter 15)
being open to different techniques (chapter 15)
being aware of your partner’s body language (chapter 15)
being absolutely present (chapter 15)
branching out from the lips (chapter 15)
treating kissing like a dance (Kim Dan was turned around)
Giving your partner positive feedback (Joo Jaekyung invited Kim Dan to watch the fight by giving him the black jacket)
not to take it too seriously (chapter 20) The doctor didn’t complain Quoted from https://www.bustle.com/p/what-makes-a-kiss-good-according-to-experts-3208024

Thus I deduce that the kisses in the locker room should be judged as good kisses, which explains why Kim Dan couldn’t forget them: (chapter 16) He had come to appreciate them. Striking is that he thought of them, the moment he was looking at his own reflection. (chapter 16) Why? IT is because he had seen his own face reflected in the champion’s gaze. Moreover, the kiss is also strongly connected to the face.

Furthermore, after examining the kisses, I came to realize why Joo Jaekyung denied that he had been dating the uke. (chapter 2) He had never kissed anyone among his partners. The doctor had already implied that kisses and embraces were inexistent in the champion’s world. (chapter 13) But the kisses changed everything, they affected their relationship, deepening the fighter’s attachment towards the physician. Therefore it is no coincidence that he crossed the line during that evening. (chapter 17) He had already done it with the kiss. Thus I deduce that it is only a matter of time, until the champion announces to others that he is dating the doctor. And if the doctor decides to kiss him during that night, this would seal the deal. They would be together from that instant on. Keep in mind that so far, the doctor had been the one rejecting their closeness and intimacy, for he didn’t desire emotions to be involved. (chapter 15)

To conclude, the champion has been longing for a kiss from his partner… just like the readers! As soon as the sugar daddy initiates a smooch, the champion’s mind-set about the physician would change one more time. And that’s how the athlete’s dependency on the doctor will increase. It is important, because I am sensing the arrival of a quarrel between Kim Dan and his grandmother. In such a moment, the poor man needs the presence and support from a close one so that he doesn’t feel lonely and rejected.

So if they kiss again, think of the sweet red bear from Haribo… Joo Jaekyung is devouring his sweet! The cookie monster is receiving his candy kiss! 😉

Painter Of The Night: A book📖 , a kiss 💋, a confession (second version)

April 8, 2023April 9, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ 5 Comments

Please support the authors by reading the manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the manhwa. https://www.lezhinus.com/en/comic/painter But be aware that this manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. If you want to read more essays, here is the link to the table of contents: https://bebebisous33analyses.wordpress.com/2020/07/04/table-of-contents-painter-of-the-night

I have to admit that chapter 109 left me wanting more, for the story barely moved on. Technically, only a few minutes elapse between the end of episode 108 and 109. The former begins with the painter’s arrival in the library and the latter ends with Yoon Seungho’s shocked expression: (chapter 109) He discovers that Baek Na-Kyum has already prepared himself, as he is longing for him. (chapter 109) He never expected such a reaction. The reason why the evolution of Painter Of The Night is flowing at a snail’s pace is that season 4 is now focusing more on the past. First, Byeonduck needs to divulge the lord’s suffering and its causes. And this can only happen, if memories are brought up. Hence in episode 109, the painter’s memories stood in the center. Why? It is because he is trying to understand why his loved one is now avoiding him. Thus he is remembering what happened just before. The readers are actually put in the same situation than the artist. On the one hand, the focus on recollection is a method to unveil how the young master was turned into a “sodomite and pariah”, for the painter is going through the same experience than his partner. In episode 109, he is isolated from his “lover” and as such from his family, for he has now maids by his side. The latter are supposed to be his new “family”. On the other hand it helps the manhwaphiles to anticipate the future main events,. as the progression is in slow motion. This means, the Webtoonist left all the elements in the previous seasons in order to decode the past, the present and the future. That way, the manhwalovers are capable to unveil the mystery. Besides, the author has to answer all the questions the beholders had while reading the previous seasons, like this one: (chapter 27) What book was the scholar looking for? Up to now, we have no clue, though I had developed the following theory: Jung In-Hun was a Christian and had a bible.

1. The mystery behind the book

What caught my attention in chapter 109 is the falling book! (chapter 109) How did this happen? One might reply that the book fell from the shelf, when the painter kissed his lover. (chapter 109) This interpretation can be easily refuted, for the noble stood next to the shelf and not in front of it. Besides, the counter stands on the noble’s left, while the ledger was on his right. However, one detail caught my notice, the beholder can not see Yoon Seungho’s hands!! That’s how I realized that the book came from the protagonist! He had carried it hidden in his right sleeve. This explicates why the book stands on the right side. (chapter 109) Besides, contrary to the previous panel, now the lord’s hand is visible! This is no coincidence. But if he was hiding the copy from Baek Na-Kyum, I deduce that it is related to the painter. But there is another person associated to manuscripts in this story, Jung In-Hun!! But what have the low-born and the scholar in common then? The erotic publications! (chapter 34) Note that in the background, there’s a book open on the desk, and it has the exact opposite position than in episode 109! And now, you comprehend why Yoon Seungho rejected the painter’s company next to his table. He didn’t want him to see the publication, for he feared that the painter would be reminded of Jung In-Hun. In the lord’s mind, the young artist still treasures his former teacher. He heard his confession on the bridge next to the pavilion. (chapter 94) However, Yoon Seungho is suspecting that the learned sir was behind the trick in the shaman’s house due to the glasses Min had in his hand before dying. (chapter 102) Hence he doesn’t want to break the main lead’s heart and mind. In other words, the main lead is determined to hide the past from Baek Na-Kyum so that the latter’s memory and agony won’t be triggered. The book could definitely remind the low-born of all the events which led to the massacre in the shaman’s shrine. Besides, I feel that the noble must feel guilty as well. If only he hadn’t admired the erotic publications which led to Baek Na-Kyum’s stay in his mansion. Consequently, I think that the noble is also in agony because of the work.

2. The identification of the volume

So far, I didn’t prove that the copy was an erotic publication. This is just a speculation from my part. But like mentioned in the introduction, the clues are all left in the previous seasons, for the story is constructed like a kaleidoscope. That’s why I included it in the illustration. However, there exist two reasons why I came to this deduction. I detected similarities with the first encounter between Yoon Seungho and his nemesis in the scholar’s home and the painter’s kisses.

2. 1. The scholar’s book in episode 6

First, let’s start with a comparison with episode 6. Here, the lord was holding a book while interrogating the learned sir. (chapter 6) Both were standing in front of the cupboard, while the learned sir suddenly took away the copy and closed it to put it back on the cupboard. This made the protagonist smirk. Due to the characters’ reaction, (chapter 6), I had assumed that the protagonist was making fun of Jung In-Hun. He had played a prank on the host, especially after asking about his occupation. I have always wondered about the content of the volume. Therefore I had developed the idea that this could be the bible. However, it was clear that the book was not for children which is visible due to the writing. (chapter 6) In fact, the learned sir should have the manual Thousand Character Classic (Chinese: 千字文; pinyin: Qiānzì Wén), also known as the Thousand Character Text.

“The Thousand Character Classic has been used as a primer for learning Chinese characters for many centuries. It is uncertain when the Thousand Character Classic was introduced to Korea.” Quoted from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand_Character_Classic [I usually avoid wikipedia, but here I was not able to find another source mentioning Joseon and classic book]

The main lead was holding the evidence for Jung In-Hun’s hypocrisy. That’s the reason why the learned sir was forced to admit that he wasn’t dedicated to his job. (chapter 6) In reality, he wasn’t teaching them reading and writing at all. But Yoon Seungho had feigned ignorance with this discovery. With his indifference and praises, the false teacher had the impression that he was supporting his attitude. This scene is relevant, because the learned sir had lied to the protagonist about the painter’s education. (chapter 6) This means that the book represents the evidence of learned sir’s betrayal and abandonment. He is responsible for his illiteracy. To conclude, this scene contains the following elements: a prank, a lie, a confession which was triggered by a book that Yoon Seungho had picked up by chance. But wait… it could be the book from the scholar’s home! (chapter 06) But this image can be used to refute this theory. How so? It is because this book has a title, hence there is a white rectangle!! However, take a closer look at the copy on the floor. (chapter 109) There is no white rectangle and as such no title! Why? It is because the publication is illegal, for sodomy was condemned by Joseon society and traditions. According to me, the tailor was involved in the erotic publications. Besides, compare it to the manuscripts in the learned sir’s bedroom! (chapter 50) Finally, I would like the readers to keep in mind that they could only see the content of the books (chapter 1), but they never got the chance to see the cover.

Now it is time to return to our contrast between chapter 6 and 109. Since the scene in the library from episode 109 represents the positive reflection from chapter 6, this signifies that the characters must have behaved the opposite way. And what did the noble do in the library? He made sure that the painter wouldn’t come close to the table, while in episode 6, the host did the exact opposite. (chapter 6) He proposed him to sit and have a cup of tea to divert his attention from the books on the cupboard. Besides, I would like to outline the huge contrast between these two scenes. The scholar needed the assistance of the prestigious family Yoon, while the protagonist replied this to his loved one: (chapter 109) Needed versus not necessary!

Finally, in the same chapter, the scholar admitted that he had scolded Baek Na-Kyum, but he never revealed what he had truly done and why. (chapter 6) He was here very vague (“bizarre and vulgar”), he spoke of a scolding, but never of rejection and abandonment!! This is important, because Yoon Seungho also experienced something similar in the shed: (chapter 77) Back then, the butler’s words must have wounded him terribly, he must have felt dirty either. Under this new perspective, it becomes comprehensible why I came to this conclusion that the book is related to the learned sir and to the erotic publication. But this doesn’t end here. In my eyes, episode 109 clearly outlined the importance of the library in the protagonists’ life. This is the place where both main leads got betrayed and abandoned. (chapter 40) When the scholar wounded the artist with his words, he implied that the artist was responsible for his lack of education. With the idiom “I thought, you could be educated”, he gave the impression that he had put some effort, but due to the artist’s disposition, he had failed. We had another scene where the learned sir was blaming Baek Na-Kyum. (chapter 70) He would fall asleep instead of studying. And who knows about the learned sir’s hypocrisy? Yoon Seungho!! That’s the reason why the goddess Byeonduck let them meet in the library. It is to heal their wounds. In this room, Yoon Seungho’s suffering started and later, the painter got betrayed by his former teacher, someone whom he viewed as his “family and mentor”.

2. 2. The painting and the kisses

But like mentioned above, I identified the publication thanks to the painter’s kisses as well. That’s the reason why these kisses are in the center of the illustration, where I chose a kaleidoscope in the background. When Yoon Seungho got kissed by the painter (chapter 109), he got surprised, and he had the same gaze and facial expression than the one during the First wedding night , in the gibang and in the study (chapter 42), though here the artist kissed his companion twice! (chapter 49) And what had these scenes in common? Paintings and the artist’s confession. And now, you comprehend how I made the connection between the book and painting.

In episode 19, the artist had been asked to show his latest creation to the guests, and Min was present. (chapter 19) This scene could only break the artist’s heart, because he was reminded of the learned sir’s reaction: his rejection. The latter got angry and jealous that the low-born would be treated as someone special. Furthermore, Jung In-Hun had only got the noble’s sponsorship thanks to Baek Na-Kyum and not thanks to his own talent! In verity, the learned sir had been the tool to submit Baek Na-Kyum. Shortly after the exposition, the protagonist went to the study. There he got confused for Jung In-Hun, hence he received a wonderful confession (chapter 19) before getting kissed and embraced!

In episode 42, the lord noticed the artist’s agony, but he blamed the learned sir. (chapter 42) Yet, the artist was unable to explain the situation, for he had internalized Jung In-Hun’s criticism. (chapter 42) So we could say that the yangban tried to get a confession from the painter, but he failed. Hence they had just sex. The artist’s heartbreak was the reason why he never got to confess the truth! And what had happened in the study after the painter kissed the main lead? The lord saw the inauguration illustration and got jealous of Jung In-Hun (chapter 42)

Then in season 2, the painter had voiced his perception of his sex partner (chapter 48), and the painting had exposed the main lead’s uneasiness and pain. The drawing was not refined, barely finished. (chapter 47) The behavior from the painter and the new painting had not only wounded the main lead, but also pushed the lord to discover why the artist was behaving this way. After the rough sex session, the artist had made a confession: he was dropping the rules he had been raised. (chapter 49) He was admitting his sexual orientation and his own pleasure, but he still kept his distance from Yoon Seungho. Why? It is because he was reminded of the learned sir’s fake embrace and betrayal. (chapter 49)

Finally, in the kisaeng house, the noonas had shown the artist’s paintings (chapter 94) which incited the artist to recall his childhood. That’s how he came to unveil his past and confess his love to the noble! (chapter 94) And what do have all these kissing scenes in common?

A painting triggering souvenirs and as such emotions (sadness, jealousy, pain, nostalgia)
A confession
SEX
The direct or indirect meddling of Min: the wine (chapter 19), the parties after the separation (chapter 51), his visit in the gibang and his tricks (chapter 96). In episode 109, the painter confused Yoon Seungho’s shadow with Black Heart’s. In his nightmare, he was brought back to the shaman’s house and the lord’s smile was similar to Min’s. (chapter 109) (chapter 99) Besides, let’s not forget that during that terrible night, Black Heart never touched the artist himself, as if he didn’t want to touch a trinket sullied by another man”. On Twitter, the author revealed that Min would help Yoon Seungho. Through this comparison, the beholder can confirm this. Thanks to Black Heart, the couple got closer in the end.
The meddling of the maids, as the latter are responsible for the kitchen! The stolen wine (chapter 19), the spying on the painter – though here it appears like a good thing – (chapter 41), the stones in the rice (chapter 47) and the words from the maid who repeated the noona’s principle (chapter 109). Here, the maid was triggering the painter’s memory and as such fears. That’s the reason why the readers can see the laugh of someone outside the building (chapter 109). She was acting, as if Baek Na-Kyum was not present, but in reality she knew that he could listen to her. How do I know this? The evidence are the sweets on the windowsill. (chapter 109) They never encouraged the tormented boy to eat the sweets!! Besides, this episode confirmed my interpretation about the complicity of the maids. As their role is to comfort Baek Na-Kyum, the readers should question themselves about their absence. (chapter 108) Why is the room dark? Where are the maids during that night, as they are supposed to sleep next to the painter? (chapter 109) The absence of the light is truly noticeable, an indicator that they are not in the bedchamber. Moreover, I had detected that the brown bed cover symbolizes the meddling of Kim. [For more read the essay “The riddle with the bed cover”] Finally, this scene contrasts to the painter’s dream with the noonas: (chapter 87) Sincerity versus fake concern; own choice versus manipulation, happiness versus sadness. Under this perspective, you comprehend why I view the maids as traitors. But since season 1, the women were never punished. Hence they felt free to badmouth Yoon Seungho or Baek Na-Kyum. So while he was preparing himself, where were the ladies-in-waiting? I doubt, the painter would give them orders. The painter was left alone on purpose. Finally, the manhwalovers should question why there is a bottle of oil in the bedchamber. So far, Yoon Seungho utilized it once (chapter 20) and it was during the first Wedding Night. And oil comes from the kitchen, the lord had fetched it from that room!! Naturally, there is an exception, and it is the kiss in the gibang. Yet, here the kisaengs had just replaced the maids. In other words, they had played a role in the confession. And this explains why the noona’s words are superposed with the maids. (chapter 109) This exposes that the couple has enemies not only in the mansion, but also in the kisaeng house, though I don’t think that the noonas have truly ill intentions.

3. The scholar and sodomy

But I have left the most important common denominator, Jung In-Hun!! He was always present, before, during and after the kiss and the sex session! However, the last episode represents the exception. At no moment, the artist thought about the teacher for one moment! All his thoughts were revolving about Yoon Seungho (chapter 109) That’s the reason why I am convinced that the book is strongly connected to the learned sir. In my eyes, it can only be the erotic publication of sodomy!! Why? It is because it represents the painter’s biggest wound. It explains his low self-esteem. Consequently, I am expecting the appearance of this panel: (tweet) The teacher told him “It’s dirty”, and wounded him the most with his gaze full of hatred, the symbol of rejection! Note that in episode 109, the painter always focused on the mouth and not the gaze, (chapter 109) (chapter 109) (chapter 109), because he fears to meet such a resentful gaze. This observation leads me to the following conclusion. In season 1, the painter’s memory got triggered due to the lord’s behavior, as the latter wanted to see a painting of their Wedding Night, but he got something else. (chapter 25) Moreover, during that night, we have the same elements: a painting, a confession, sex, a book that the scholar was looking for. From my point of view, in chapter 34, Baek Na-Kyum only recalled the beating from Jung In-Hun. (chapter 34) Moreover, observe that the artist was covering his eyes, a sign that he was trying to deny the existence of the hateful and cold gaze from the learned sir. As if he wanted to forget it. However, in chapter 34, the artist never realized that this incident had triggered his abandonment issues. And now, in the library, the painter is about to get confronted with his biggest fear: he is not lovable, for he is dirty. Moreover, he is not educated, because he is just a low-born. And this can only be triggered by an image, an erotic painting of sodomy, like in the artist’s nightmare from episode 34: (chapter 34) But like I wrote above, this place is also where Yoon Seungho got betrayed and in my opinion, the schemers are planning to use this place to ruin the protagonist!!

4. Sex or not?

So what is the trick? Naturally, this can only be a conjecture… yet my prediction is based on observations and deductions. My method is to compare the scenes containing parallels. And what have all the scenes mentioned above in common? SEX!! That’s the reason why I am now expecting that the couple won’t have sex, but they will have a painful and long discussion. Yes… this is the true night of revelation. Thus I believe that Yoon Seungho will talk about his own past to Baek Na-Kyum…. as the former also feels guilty and dirty. Remember that he views himself as the bird of misfortune. The couple has been separated for one week on purpose… it is to push the painter to have sex with Yoon Seungho. Why? The purpose is to prove that Yoon Seungho is guilty of sodomy. Yes, it is because in Joseon, it is a crime. Homosexuality had to happen behind closed doors. The father had never reported it to the authorities in order to protect his reputation. In the street, the gossiping women were complaining about the depravity of noblemen who would have sex with women and men. (chapter 106) (chapter 106) And if Yoon Seungho gets caught having sex with the painter and he has an erotic publication of sodomy, he can be framed for the murder of lord Shin and the other nobles. He will be guilty by association. Thus I deduce that the schemers needed the father to report him to the authorities. (chapter 107) That way, he can prove that his son is a depraved lunatic and regain the control of the mansion. (chapter 86) And if they are not caught having sex, the schemers are hoping for an argument between the two main leads because of the separation. This was planned to incite Baek Na-Kyum to resent his lover, to accuse him of „abandonment and betrayal“, a new version of this scene. (Chapter 105) As you can see, the staff had encouraged the lord to keep his distance from his companion on purpose, to create a misunderstanding… they used the painter’s anxieties. Why? That way, the artist would be more inclined to betray his lover, if the latter was in difficulty. He could put the blame on him. In my opinion, the book was planted there on purpose. Remember how the artist denied that he was the author of the erotic publications. (Chapter 1) Besides, there is no doubt that the father refuses to take any responsibility in his son’s suffering. And now, you comprehend why this copy was put on the lord’s desk. He was supposed to be the owner of the erotic book and even the author! I am suspecting that he was accused of the „same crime“ in the past. Then this observation raises the following question. Which erotic publication is it? The original (chapter 1) or the copy (chapter 1)? For me, it can only be the original. I have two reasons to think so. First, the painter had only painted such pictures, because he had no other choice, or better said he was asked by someone close. (chapter 1) This would stand in opposition to the scholar’s rejection (dirty), as the artist was just the helping hand. Besides, there is no ambiguity that Yoon Seungho blames himself due to the erotic book. If he had not brought the painter to his mansion, none of this would have happened. But the painter’s confession would make him realize that his misery started long before he met Yoon Seungho. And how did the puppetmaster come up with such an idea? From my point of view, this plan was inspired by the learned sir. (chapter 27) Notice that he has a drop of sweat on his face, a sign that the book is really important and could be even dangerous. He was diminishing the value. In the past, I had already pointed out that the learned sir had planned to backstab the main lead and denunciate him to the authorities (my first theory was the bible or the the absence of jesa in the mansion). But the erotic publications of sodomy would fit the profile.

Secondly, the schemers believe that with the original, they can ensure Yoon Seungho’s culpability. If they are caught having sex and there is this publication, then both can only be sentenced. They would even kill two birds with one stone, as the painter is in reality the real target of the scheme. That’s the reason why the painter was left alone in the bedchamber. The maids needed to give him space so that he would make a move and seduce his lover. Thus I deduce that during that night, Kim won’t spy on the couple. He has no need to, for he “knows” what is going to happen. He definitely views them as people consumed by lust. However, the gods are on the couple’s side. Hence the book fell on the ground.

And who could have the right to barge in the mansion followed by officers? A family member… and this can only be Yoon Seungwon… who had been a witness of his brother’s sodomy. (chapter 37) Back then, he imagined that the man hidden under the green hanbok was the learned sir, but he was mistaken. Both father and son believes to have seen the relative’s sodomy. Besides, the brother mentioned letters and these usually are written on a desk and as such in the library. Yes, this night should trigger the lord’s memory… his brother’s betrayal and abandonment. I am still waiting for this picture. Yoon Seungwon had definitely tattled on his brother out of jealousy in the past. Don’t forget this flashbulb. (chapter 55) Finally, Heena could serve as a witness, for she did hear their conversation in the annex and saw their intercourse: (chapter 96) She would tell the truth… yet it wouldn’t serve her, because she reported it too late. She could be perceived as pathological liar. Besides, she was not supposed to be in the kisaeng house. Moreover, note that all the erotic paintings the painter created vanished. There is no evidence that the artist is the author of the erotic publications of sodomy, as his notebook contains images of nature. (chapter 84) Finally, the childhood paintings could be used as an evidence. But what about the book in the library? Both could decide to burn it…

Chapter 35: the burned letter
Chapter 103: the shrine

And now it is time to conclude this essay. I would like to remind the role of the painter’s kiss in this story. It is to emulate his lover, to trigger emotions and thoughts in him, to open up. Hence he is caught by surprise all the time. While in chapter 49, the artist kissed his partner to silence him (chapter 49) so that he wouldn’t argue with him (being his sex toy), I view the kiss in the library as the opposite, it is liberating Yoon Seungho. (chapter 109) Note that there is no rejection from the lord, just surprise and shock. Besides, in the kisaeng house, the artist’s confession had led the main lead to confess as well. (chapter 96) Striking is that he had hidden his gaze from the artist first. As if love was a sin…Hence I am expecting a confession from Yoon Seungho in that very room too, something he has never done before! Why? It is because he was not the owner of his own past. Kim acted, as if he possessed his memories. Finally, the moment the painter divulges this incident to his companion, (tweet), the latter can only come to the conclusion that the scholar would have no problem to hurt Baek Na-Kyum and even get revenge on the artist, for he received the favors from the protagonist. Yoon Seungho would no longer feel obliged to respect Heena’s wish, for her words wouldn’t reflect reality. (chapter 105) And it was Yoon Seungho’s luck, when the book fell from his sleeve! (chapter 27) contrary to the night of the rape. (chapter 27) The goddess Byeonduck is on their side. But the problem is that the readers have the impression that both are followed by misfortune due to their misery. The reality is that they are both victims of manipulations and tricks. That’s their tragedy. But by repeating that the two figures are “birds of misfortune”, the accomplices are trying to deny their own involvement and as such responsibility. The maids are the perfect example. They blame Baek Na-Kyum for his own illness. He eats like a bird and he would hide his illness. (chapter 108) To sum up, he was responsible for his own suffering, for he was in denial and the maids could do nothing to help. But the lord can see the truth, when he touches his lover’s butt. (chapter 109) He lost weight in such a short time. And their presence by Baek Na-Kyum’s side was supposed to help him. They were responsible for his well-being, but the women never realized it.

I have to admit that I am always anticipating the story due to the slow progression of the story. We are all waiting for the time, when Yoon Seungho and Baek Na-Kyum can have a date properly. One thing is sure. The storm is coming during this night… and it will affect the life of many people, the schemers and accomplices! The question is now how long this night will last (how many episodes).

Jinx: Caught in the act! 🎬

March 14, 2023November 12, 2025 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ 14 Comments

Please support the authors by reading the manhwas on the official websites. This is where you can read the manhwa. https://www.lezhinus.com/en/comic/jinx_en But be aware that this manhwa is a mature Yaoi, which means, it is about homosexuality with explicit scenes. Here are the links, if you are interested in the first work from Mingwa, BJ Alex, https://bebebisous33analyses.com/2021/06/21/who-are-you-the-significance-of-masks-in-manhwas/ and the last essay about Jinx “Tell me something I don’t know” Here is the link of the table of contents about Jinx. Here is the link where you can find the table of contents of analyzed manhwas

Announcement: The essay “Two worlds” has been updated.

1. Kim Dan’s jinxed life

Once again the readers were upset, for the young doctor became again the victim of misfortunes. Imagine that his wounds on his face had almost vanished (chapter 16) that he received new ones. (Chapter 16) The worst is that this would have never happened, if his path had not crossed Heo Manwook’s. Yes, the loan shark has finally a name!! (chapter 16) Moreover, in that moment the loan shark had to hear that Kim Dan was moving out!! (Chapter 16) Two bad lucks in one go! It was, as if Kim Dan’s life was jinxed! Because the young man is so pure, the manhwaphiles’ heart could only be broken, when they witnessed the abuse from Heo Manwook and his minions.

2. Violence and pain in Jinx

And this observation leads to the following questions. Why did Mingwa write such an episode? What is the purpose of the doctor’s suffering? Is the author a sadist? The first answer could be that she wants to turn Joo Jaekyung into a hero saving his damsel in distress. Many readers saw the parallel between this image from Jinx (chapter 16) and Painter Of The Night (chapter 101) Both ukes and semes are put in a similar situation. That’s the reason why many are hoping that Joo Jaekyung punches the villains and makes them suffer so much that they decide to keep their distance from Kim Dan. But by making a connection to Painter Of The Night, the manhwalovers didn’t realize that they had found the reason why Mingwa is making her protagonist suffer. 😲 Nevertheless, I wouldn’t like to be misunderstood. I am not saying that the author copied Painter Of The Night. Far from it… It’s just that both works are inspired by the same philosophies, Buddhism and Taoism, which are deeply rooted in Korean society. In Painter Of The Night, Baek Na-Kyum had to suffer for two reasons. Through pain, he was forced to drop all the doctrines he had internalized. This means, he learned to become more honest, to face truth… At the same time, by making him suffer like Yoon Seungho, Byeonduck wanted the lord to be confronted with his repressed traumas! As you can see, pain and suffering are not gratuitous. They have a function.

3. Kim Dan’s karma

And now it is time to return our attention to Kim Dan. The latter is exactly like the painter. He is still full of prejudices. The readers could notice his biased perception, yet only through the mind’s eye. However, since he is not violent, they didn’t catch him in the act contrary to the goddess Mingwa. Hence she confronted him with reality. First of all, when the doctor noticed his recovery, he actually blamed Joo Jaekyung for his wounds. (Chapter 16) Sure, his anus had been wounded, but notice that the cream was given for the bruises on his face. (Chapter 16) That’s the reason why he thought of the cream after seeing the fading of his black eye. However, the champion had never punched him!! This was the work of the loan shark and his minions. As you can see, chapter 16 was built exactly like episode 11. Kim Dan was hopeful again, and was viewing his relationship with the champion as the worst thing in his life. Compare this scene (Chapter 11) with this statement: (Chapter 16). He still portrays the athlete’s actions as terrible. Striking is that he saw the kiss as something negative, while the fighter had actually listened to his plea: (Chapter 14) If the physician had to reproach something to the boxer, it should be the rough sex before and not the kiss. The boxer had done it, because he had realized how fragile Kim Dan was. This was for Kim Dan’s sake. Yet, thanks to the kiss, Joo Jaekyung discovered that he could get pleasure and provoke pleasure much quicker. But according to Kim Dan’s words, it looked as though the kiss was the worse, hence Mingwa chose to confront him with reality: (chapter 16) At the same time, these words are strangely similar to the ones in the athlete’s bedroom. (Chapter 13) This is not random. Back then, he was denying his own pleasure. In episode 16, Kim Dan is now facing cruel reality. Moreover, the readers could detect the doctor’s pleasure, when he got eaten up by Joo Jaekyung. (Chapter 15) To sum up, Kim Dan is not only dishonest to himself, but also rather ungrateful towards Joo Jaekyung. The latter is definitely no angel, but he is changing for the doctor’s sake. The latter doesn’t recognize the sportsman as his savior yet. Let’s not forget that without his money, he couldn’t finance the halmoni’s treatment at all. Naturally, he is not totally oblivious to the fighter’s generosity. (Chapter 16) However, exactly like in episode 11, he was forgetting that the real source of his misery is Heo Manwook with his minions. Their encounter was a reminder, and Kim Dan has now the chance to see Joo Jaekyung as his “knight in armor”. (Chapter 16) But I doubt that he will view him as a hero after that. He still has a long way to go… for the author announced that Jinx would be much longer than BJ Alex. And it is the same for the champion, the latter has a long way to go before turning into “Prince Charming”. This signifies that as long as Kim doesn’t get rid of his prejudices about Joo Jaekyung, a spoiled rich brat who is obsessed with sex, he will keep suffering. Why? It is because Kim Dan has a huge role to play in Joo Jaekyung’s life, to discover his hidden traumas and give him what he has been missing all along: attention and affection. Something that money can never buy!!

This interpretation could be detected in episode 16. The physical therapist had started wondering why the athlete had kissed him. (chapter 16) This was the first time he showed curiosity about the champion and his motivations. The problem is that he stopped pondering on this question. Hence “karma” retaliated. As you can see, the doctor has to learn to pay attention to the athlete’s personality (question the motivation behind his actions) so that he can discover his mental issues. Like in real life, no human is perfect, Kim Dan has his faults. The problem is that because he is a victim of violence, his mistakes are less noticeable.

Another detail caught my attention. When Heo accused him of being a prostitute, he had the following flashback. (Chapter 16) This corresponds to their first sex session. Why didn’t he think of the latest intimacy? It is because he is slowly accepting his relationship with the champion. However, this night represents the loss of his virginity, which was accompanied with pain and anxieties. For me, this night symbolizes the “prostitution” as its best, because if he had not done it, he would have never been paid. But now, he has signed a contract with Black Teams, which doesn’t include the sex services. Everything is off the record and Kim Dan offers other services (massages, physical consultation etc). This explicates why the word prostitution triggered this image. This also exposes that Kim Dan is gradually accepting it as one part of his job, the champion’s physical therapist. This explicates why he had this sudden thought: (chapter 16) This truly exposes that he had the upper hand in their relationship. That’s the reason why Kim Dan gets confronted by his own fears and reality: (chapter 16) Is his relationship with Joo Jaekyung really prostitution or more a boss-employee relationship?

4. Joo Jaekyung’s true position

From my point of view, the doctor has another flaw. He is not used to ask for help. Besides, he dislikes receiving pity. (chapter 10) Hence he never explained his situation to Joo Jaekyung which created a misunderstanding. On the other hand, I would like the manhwaphiles to keep in their mind that Kim Dan never had a real friend, which is different from Joo Jaekyung. While many view the boxer as a terrible man, they are forgetting that despite his roughness, he is able to maintain a good relationship with Park Namwook, coach Jeong Yosep. (Chapter 16) and the gay doctor. One might say that it is related to his money. Episode 16 confirmed my previous suspicion that Joo Jaekyung owns Black Teams. (Chapter 16) How could Joo Jaekyung decide the amount of the salary and even send the salary in advance without consulting his manager? Since Team Black Inc. transferred the money, it implies that the fighter has a saying in the expenses, transactions and the income. He is not an employee of the club. However, imagine that Joo Jaekyung let his coach admonish him (Chapter 7) Hence his true position among Black Teams is not obvious. He doesn’t act like the club owner. But I have another evidence for this interpretation. Heo Manwook represents his negative version. Thus the author created similar images: (chapter 16) (chapter 16) And imagine that Park Namwook asked him to go to the doctor’s house twice. (Chapter 16) Though the man is famous and powerful, he is not using his position to delegate tasks to others. I would even say, in Black Teams, there exists no hierarchy. Hence Park Namwook appears as “the head” of Black Teams, yet he was not involved in the discussion about the expenses (salary, advance). He takes care of the paper work (contracts, uniforms). This displays that in reality, the celebrity is not “arrogant” per se. He shows humbleness in different situations. He cooked for the doctor, and brought him to his penthouse. Since Kim Dan had no person close to him except his grandmother, it is not surprising that the young doctor is not confiding to the athlete. From my point of view, Joo Jaekyung is Kim Dan’s jinx and lucky charm. As long as he doesn’t trust the sportsman, he will suffer.

And since Heo Manwook is the negative version of Joo Jaekyung, this signifies that he embodies the opposite values of the champion: arrogance, selfishness, no empathy at all. But above all, he is just a nobody!! The best example is when Kim Dan begs Heo Manwook not to hurt his halmoni. Notice he grabbed the leg of the minion: (chapter 16) This scene mirrors the one from episode 10: (chapter 10) Nevertheless, observe what the loan shark did to Kim Dan. He stepped on the doctor’s hand with his foot. (chapter 16) Thus I deduce that when the champion notices that his physician has been wounded, he could cause trouble to the loan shark. But Heo Manwook will refuse to admit this, and could put the blame on his minions. There’s no ambiguity that he will never take responsibility for his actions, the opposite to Joo Jaekyung who didn’t deny his wrongdoing. (chapter 13) That’s the reason why Heo Manwook uses minions in the end. They are his helping hands so that he doesn’t need to do much. Finally, Heo Manwook is the one suggesting the rape. (chapter 16) What caught my attention is that the money was transferred to his private account: (chapter 16) Since Joo Jaekyung is able to separate his private wealth from the account from Black Team, I detected that the loan shark’s “company account” is his private account. And now, you have the explanation why Heo Manwook views Kim Dan as his slave and property. He is the one working for Heo Manwook. But the latter should have two accounts. Why?

“Although having two bank accounts appears inconvenient, you shouldn’t use a personal account for your business finances primarily because it can affect your legal liability. […] But, if you mingle your finances, a court can potentially go after the individual running the company because it looks less like you’re running a separate entity and more like you and the corporation are one and the same. […] For example, using a separate business account makes it much easier come tax time, as you will need to file your business income and expenses separately from your personal transactions. Differentiating personal expenses from business expenses when they are in the same account can be time consuming and cumbersome. ” Quoted from https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/are-you-still-using-your-personal-bank-account-for-your-business#:~:text=Although%20having%20two%20bank%20accounts,to%20a%20personal%20bank%20account.

While many readers are envisioning that Heo Manwook’s best punishment would be beaten, I came to the following conclusion. One of his karmas should be to be facing legal issues, like for example tax evasion!! Let’s not forget that he yelled at Kim Dan that money meant everything to him. (chapter 16) Thus his karma should be that money becomes his jinx! He gets into trouble because of money! 😂 I have to admit that I was even thinking about a complaint against Heo for hurting his own physical therapist (compensation for the damages). Anyway, going after the company Heo means ruining Heo’s life!! On the other hand, I believe that first the athlete wishes to keep a low profile. One of my followers @jaeekyung_ had even the impression that this panel was announcing the arrival of the champion. If so, this means that he heard them calling his company a whorehouse. (Chapter 16) As the owner, he can only feel insulted. But we don’t know if he heard this comment. We will see.

5. The identity of the assailants

When Joo Jaekyung had discovered that his sex partner had been beaten, according to my interpretation, he assumed that Kim Dan had been assaulted and robbed in his home. The latter couldn’t provide security. And now, the athlete is faced with reality. (chapter 16) Finally, he is able to see their faces. But what does he see? Kim Dan is on the verge of getting raped. (chapter 16) This is more than just theft or burglary. Remember what Joo Jaekyung had said during their first encounter: (chapter 4) Now, he is discovering the ugly side of sex and even “prostitution”: the sexual abuse. The protagonist can’t misjudge the situation, for the doctor is bleeding and bruised. (Chapter 16) His body is even restrained. As a boxer, the champion is used to judge quickly the seriousness of the situation. In his mind, “prostitution” was not connected to violence and exploitation, he always saw it as a win-win situation. Thus this encounter lets him see reality. Yes, Joo Jaekyung is also put in a similar situation than the doctor, following the Taoism’ principle, the harmony between yin and yang. His believes and prejudices are slowly removed as well. In his mind, poor people are responsible for their own misery, for they lack strength, knowledge and good judgement. When he first met the doctor, he called him a ”wimp”, for he was trembling and in tears in front of him. But now he can grasp why Kim Dan would have such a reaction. He was beaten by three people. This scene can only prove the champion’s bias all wrong! Here, Kim Dan is suffering because of others!! He is not keeping his promise, (chapter 16) not because he is not reliable, but because he is sequestrated. Though the fighter was upset and complained, (chapter 16) he still chose to fetch the young man! Any other employer would have fired Kim Dan for such an incident, but the main lead chose to discover the reason for his absence. We don’t know how much the champion listened to their conversation, but one thing is sure. He intervened, the moment Heo Manwook and his minions were about to commit a crime. They can not say that Kim Dan is a prostitute, or the latter has to pay his debts as excuse, for this doesn’t justify their action. That’s the reason why he asked them this: (chapter 16) He can confront them with reality.

Striking is that he announced his presence to the loan shark and his minions. (chapter 16) Why? It is to deescalate the situation. We have to envision that the doctor is like a hostage, hence the athlete should rather negotiate with them. Contrary to Yoon Seungho, who never said a word and started stabbing lord Jang, Joo Jaekyung is quite calm and level-headed. That’s the reason why I don’t think he will punch these terrible men (though I wished deep down he would). However, this doesn’t signify that he feels indifferent to Kim Dan’s fate. Imagine for him, Kim Dan is like Sleeping beauty, and he liked so much seeing his aroused face, there is no ambiguity he is upset. (chapter 16), when he sees that his lover’s body is once again covered with bruises. Besides, he has definitely not forgotten the doctor’s warning: (chapter 13) (chapter 16) The evidence for his anger is the usage of “the hell”. Furthermore, I would like to point out that Joo Jaekyung is first a strategist. He is not using violence blindly, for he is not traumatized like Yoon Seungho. Finally, his affection towards the doctor is not so deep that he would get blinded by his affection. These are the reasons why I believe that Joo Jaekyung will save his doctor in a different way. Since he asked these men to identify themselves, Heo Manwook has to explain that Kim Dan has to pay off the inherited debts! For Joo Jaekyung has been raised that money can solve everything, he could decide to pay off the debts to Heo Namwook. That way, he would attach Kim Dan to himself. However, the champion will discover that his “solution” didn’t solve the problem!! Why? It is because Heo Manwook would have no longer any source of income. I had described him and his minions as parasites. Furthermore, I am suspecting that Heo Manwook will feel humiliated after this encounter. Let’s not forget that he enjoys displaying his power, and for the first time, he met someone stronger than him. He couldn’t do what he desired. In my eyes, the author has planned to create different encounters between Joo Jaekyung and Heo Manwook which will reflect the evolution of the relationship between the sportsman and the other protagonist. There will be an escalation. Right now, the fighter is a professional who will not risk his career for the doctor.

While Joo Jaekyung criticized Kim Dan for living in such a house, (chapter 10) this new situation can only make him realize how wrong he was. He will believe that he couldn’t move out due to the loan shark. (Chapter 16) But this is not entirely the truth, as you already know it. His main reason was his halmoni and his promise to her.

Another important aspect is that the champion is wearing a cap, a sign that he is disguised. Therefore I doubt that the loan shark and his minions will recognize the champion. Hence the loan shark will come to the conclusion that the intruder is not brave enough to punch them. One thing is sure. Heo will also suffer from karma, and will view the athlete as his jinx which can provoke such Schadenfreude for the readers.

Finally, I also believe that this scene will incite Joo Jaekyung to question his sexuality and Kim Dan’s. How rough can he be in the end so that Kim Dan is no longer in denial about his libido and pleasure?

Since I compared Heo Namwook to Joo Jaekyung, this signifies that his minions have their positive reflections and that would be Oh Daehyun (Chapter 9) and Potato. (Chapter 9) Thus I am expecting the visit of the loan shark with his minions to the club Black Team!! One of the minions had threatened to break Kim Dan’s knees, thus his karma 😈 (Chapter 16) should be … As you can see, we just need to wait for „divine retribution“. You caught me in act… I am already imagining all sorts of punishments for these 3 guys: beating, trouble with justice, loss of money, abandonment and betrayal of the minions or 😈 Joo Jaekyung sets a trap. They “become members” of Black Team! While these three men imagine, they are going to a whorehouse, the moment they realize that due to their membership, they can get punched by the members of Black Teams, they come to regret to have signed the papers!! Similar to the loan!

To conclude, I am full of hope. After each suffering, there is the return of peace and light! That’s how we should read this terrific manhwa.

Painter Of The Night: The shadow 👤 behind the shrine ⛩️

February 9, 2023February 17, 2023 ~ Bébébisous33 ~ Leave a comment

Lezhin Korea released a few panels from season 4, thus we could discover that lord Shin got into trouble. He is on the ground, his face bruised and bloody, while he is asking an anonymous man for help. He is mentioning the shrine. As he is wearing the same hanbok, we can definitely assume that this scene takes place during the same night. The irony is that each time Byeonduck offers a new piece of a puzzle, she also creates a new riddle or mystery. How did the young master get wounded in the first place? And who is the person facing lord Shin?

1. The shoes and the weapon

First of all, I would like to point out that this image confirmed my results from my ongoing investigation. The author is using the shoes and clothes to give clues about a person‘s identity. Thus I was definitely right to say that during the abduction in season 2, there were two perpetrators. (Chapter 59) (chapter 66) The size and length of the protections and the cords around the pants were different. Besides, the masks were also different due to the form of the mouth.. (Chapter 61) (chapter 61) Finally, I had also detected his presence next to the barn because of a time jump. First, the manhwaphiles saw Lee Jihwa sitting on the floor, (Chapter 60), then shortly after he was standing at the entrance of the storage room holding a fireplace poker! (chapter 60) His position indicated that the young master had shortly left the building. However, the readers had not witnessed his move, for the author had diverted their attention by exposing the character‘s inner thoughts. He was recollecting the past, while talking to himself. (chapter 60) However, how did the fire poker end up in his own hand? The last time this tool was seen, it was in the kitchen. (chapter 60) As you can see, each image has its importance! However, I doubt that the upset aristocrat had this sudden idea and returned to the kitchen and take the fire iron. His mind and heart were definitely elsewhere, while such an action exposes the intention of hurting someone. Jihwa was acting, as if he was in trance, the moment he saw the hickey and heard the painter’s scream. His long lasting stupor was visible in this image. (chapter 60) That’s the reason why I had developed the theory that someone was hiding in the shadow, next to the barn and observing the evolution of the event. [For more read the essay “No matter what… Baek Na-Kyum must vanish“] For me, it could only be Kim. The latter had put the fire iron in the young man’s hand with the hope that he would strike Baek Na-Kyum. My conclusion was that he was not just involved in the painter’s abduction. However, all these were minor circumstantial evidences. Now, I found more concrete proofs for this hypothesis. Thanks to the new release, I can corroborate my assumption! 😱 The fireplace is the evidence of his involvement during that night! Why would Byeonduck zoom on the furnaces? (chapter 57) It is because they serve as a clue for unveiling the truth. (chapter 60) And now take a closer look at the stove in the storage room! (chapter 62) It is the same furnace! 😨We all assume that the lord prepared the fireplace, because he put his clothes on his lover. But is it true? We were all jumping to this conclusion, but actually we never saw it. Our brain was led to fill the blanks. (chapter 61) Finally, the readers were all assuming that the butler had never entered the storage room due to this image and his action before. (chapter 61) But is it true? He could have opened the door before, and go to the lord in order to explain his intervention. Faking his concerns for the painter. Why would he place the fireplace there? He wished that the warmth from the fire would wake up the painter. Hence he remained close to the gate of the storage room. That way, he had a reason to visit his master. Moreover, the author exposed that the valet had been keeping an eye on his master for a while too. (chapter 62) Because the valet went to his master, we got the impression that the valet had followed his master’s instructions. (chapter 61) In fact, this request could be perceived differently. The lord had seen the butler’s intervention, hence he expressed this wish. From my point of view, the butler must have brought the fireplace to the barn, and he left the poker there on purpose. I am quite certain that some people will think that I am again exaggerating. But why did the butler put a fireplace with a fire iron in the lord’s room, when the coal was not properly lit? (chapter 86) Compare the fire to this one: (chapter 62) But note that in the furnace, there was a fire iron too. (chapter 88) Consequently, I am suspecting that Kim had expected an outburst from Yoon Seungho. The latter could hurt his father with the fire iron. But none of this happened, for the lord preferred playing a comedy.

But let’s return our attention to the fireplace in the storage room. My theory would explain why Kim encouraged his master to go to the barn. (chapter 61) He hoped that Yoon Seungho would become so enraged due to the betrayal that in his violent outburst, he would grab the tool and wound the artist!! Thus he said this the next morning: (chapter 65) He had expected that the lord would hurt the main lead. But how was he supposed to harm Baek Na-Kyum in the end? With the fire iron… This signifies that he had been present in the barn during the abduction, and even knew the place of the sequestration. Thus he took the furnace and the fire iron to the shed.

And now, you have the explanation how lord Shin was wounded. He got beaten with a fire iron! This explicates the cut on his nose. Compare his face to the painter’s who got wounded by wooden sticks. (chapter 99) The painter’s head was bleeding, but his face and nose remained intact. (chapter 99) Besides, this theory also explains why the shrine is set on fire. (chapter 103) The fire iron is connected to a stove. Finally, I would like to outline the absence of the furnace in the shrine, though it was very cold outside. (chapter 99) So when the lord said this to his lover (chapter 88), we could interpret it the following way. It was once again a vision from the future, he was seeing from lord Shin’s perspective the betrayal. To conclude, I am sensing many parallels between the noble’s death and the night of chapter 86/87/88.

But I have another evidence that the butler had been spying on Jihwa and No-Name. How is it possible that Lee Jihwa had such a vision? (chapter 60) (chapter 60) At no moment, he was told that his childhood friend had been brought to the physician’s. He just heard him leaving. Moreover, the joker never mentioned the place where the couple was fooling around. (chapter 60) He didn’t even admit that he had seen them himself. These were memories from someone else! One might assume that these could represent the criminal’s recollection, but I don’t think so. He arrived much later to the physician’s house. If he had been present right from the start, he could have kidnapped Baek Na-Kyum on his way to the restroom. (chapter 59) To conclude, the person with such memories (chapter 62) had been at the doctor’s office before. This stands in opposition to the false memory the red-haired master had in the study. (chapter 43) Here, he had visited the place, hence he could imagine what had happened, though he never saw their encounter according to me. [For more read the essay “The liars in front of the mirror of truth: Lee Jihwa and Yoon Chang-Hyeon”] This explains why he created a false memory. However, in chapter 60, it is simply impossible for him to have such a vision, for he was not there. And in the propriety, only two people could know about their love session, the doctor and naturally the valet. For the latter is constantly seen with the bucket of water, I conclude that this can only be the butler. (chapter 58) He had left the bucket of water in the patio! But note that when the painter left the room, the item had simply vanished. (chapter 59) The painter was not supposed to detect his presence.

2. Identifying the shadows

Since I recognized the presence of a third person involved in the kidnapping from season 2, I come to the deduction that we have in this scene 3 people. And if the release is not changing, and these panels are still framed in black, this signifies that the readers are dealing with remembrance again. So we could say that we are seeing the event from the perpetrator’s perspective. But we will see. On the other hand, why am I so sure about the presence of 3 people? First, don’t forget that the story is going in circle, thus the author is working with reflections. The manhwaphiles will certainly recall that lord Shin had been made unconscious by No-Name, when he had approached Lee Jihwa. (chapter 100) The manhwaworms can grasp the similarities. Back then, the lord had refused to help Baek Na-Kyum, thus he was even encouraging Lee Jihwa to return to the shrine. Hence he had acted as a willing accomplice and perpetrator. Thus his karma is to be denied any assistance, he is punished the same way than his friends, Min and the other nobles. Finally, observe that the red-haired master (chapter 100) was lowering himself in front of No-Name which reminds me a lot to lord Shin’s situation. However, the naïve yangban is not suspecting the person facing him. He has the impression that the latter will listen to him and assist him. Thus I deduce that he was assaulted by someone else, the third person… I am excluding 2 people with the beating, for the noble was not unconscious in contrast to the scene in front of the scholar’s house. Besides, this person was not strong enough to kill the noble and had not tied him up either. (chapter 66) (chapter 99) Lord Shin was still conscious, and he could still run away, until he met this mysterious person. Why do I think so? It is because lord Shin is not suspecting the one standing in front of him. If they were together, he would have recognized the betrayal. From my point of view, he didn’t see them together. And I have another evidence for this interpretation. This picture is a reflection from this one due to the presence of the shadow. (chapter 88) Abandonment and rejection versus embrace and acceptance. And what had Yoon Seungho said during that fateful night? (chapter 88) (chapter 88) But while the painter was exposed to sexual abuse, lord Shin had indeed left his friend’s side. In my eyes, lord Shin embodies treason. As you can see, I conclude that lord Shin is about to get assassinated and from the person he expected the least. Why? It is because no one has to realize that lord Shin ran away from the shaman’s shrine. (chapter 102) He was a survivor. The opposite from this scene. They faked the painter’s desertion, (chapter 60) hence in episode 102 they had to mask his escape, for this would have exposed the involvement of other people, like Lee Jihwa, the doctor with the drugs and Heena. And now, you have the explanation why the shadow hidden behind the tree had put mattresses on the soil. The desertion and survival from lord Shin should not be detected. But who is this person facing the weak lord? And who is the third person who hit the young man? First, I would like to answer the second question.

3. Identifying the helping hand

We have to suspect a rather frail person who can be reckless and even stupid. As you can envision it, I am now suspecting the kisaeng Heena. Not only her philosophy allows her to be blinded by hatred, but also she witnessed herself her brother’s terrible condition. (chapter 99) Secondly, the moment she hears from someone that she got betrayed, for her brother died, she could definitely resent Min and his friends. But one might argue that she was killed by the two guards, or if she is alive, she was held captive by them. However, it is important to recall the following rules: the clothes and shoes are revealing the character’s identity. Both men are not wearing robes. Besides, they are not wearing black shoes like the other black guards! Yet, note all the black guards from chapter 7, 64/65 and 86 were wearing black shoes (chapter 7), (chapter 65) or boots (chapter 86), a sign for a high position. They even had all a sword. Why would the guards from chapter 99 use a wooden stick? In my eyes, it is because they are no real black guards. Besides, I detected that one man had a scarf similar to the butler’s, from lower quality. Thus I am suspecting that these two men are more servants than trained black guards. In other words, they are commoners. This would explicate why they didn’t know how to tie Heena properly. Her mouth was not covered, her feet were not tied. Thus they covered their face. That way, Baek Na-Kyum wouldn’t recognize them. And if he were to survive, then he could blame it on Yoon Chang-Hyeon, as their uniform was similar. During the assault, he couldn’t pay attention to such details and question their true origins. Besides, don’t forget that so far, the beating was tasked to the staff: (chapter 13) (chapter 77) As you can see, the wooden stocks were present during the first straw mat beating.

Under this new light, the manhwalovers can grasp why their face was masked. If they had to be identified, then by the clothes… that way they could mislead the investigation and frame innocents. We could detect their involvement in this scene, (chapter 101), but here Min thought that he was capable to frame the Lees. The other evidence for this interpretation is the presence of two servants during the main lead’s hunt, while he was wearing the suspicious boots. (chapter 83) As you can detect, I see a strong connection between the new panel and the hunt from chapter 83. And here we have 3 people again.

But let’s return our attention to the kisaeng who I am suspecting to be behind the noble’s wounds. What caught my attention is that the woman has always been involved in kidnapping and immobility (being tied up). She was present, when the lord was dragged and tied up. (chapter 68) She was again a witness, when her brother was tied up in the bedchamber. (chapter 66) Finally, when her brother was on the verge of getting abducted, she saw him lying unconscious with a bloody face. However, she never considered it as an abduction, for his hands and feet were not tied up. (chapter 99) That’s the reason why she blamed him with her questions. She implied that he shouldn’t have fought back. As you can see, I detect a common thread between Heena and her presence in different scenes: sequestration and a bloody face. But this doesn’t end here. When the young painter got beaten in the gibang, there was a furnace on the left side. (chapter 94) For me, this incident was to push the painter to leave the gibang and as such to listen to Heena’s suggestion. Furthermore, the man on the left side was wearing a white headband, though he was dressed like a noble in a hunting outfit! The hair dress and his moustache [for more read the analysis “Painful departures”] led me to the following assumption: He was just a commoner in the end, impersonating a noble.

The other clue for Heena’s involvement in lord Shin’s demise is her presence in chapter 88. (chapter 88) She was supposed to discover a crime scene. But what did she do? She didn’t report it to the authorities. Why? It is because the schemers implied that she would never get justice. As a kisaeng, she was totally powerless.

Thus the moment someone tells her that her brother died by the hands of nobles, the young woman’s hatred for yangbans can only increase. At the end of season 3, Yoon Seungho and even the shadow behind the shrine believed that the painter had died too. Consequently, the painter was just given a purple hanbok, and the main lead went to the mountain. Since the protagonist was under such a shock and pain, he never pondered why there was a person helping him. He was behaving like Lee Jihwa during the night of the abduction, the hanbok was put in his hand. The sword, the scholar’s glasses and even the painter’s clothes vanished from the shrine. (chapter 102) This is the evidence that someone had manipulated the crime scene. The clothes from the painter could serve as evidence of her brother’s curtains. Heena could come to the conclusion that Min had gone back on his words, and her fake death, which had definitely shocked (chapter 99) and bothered her, could only be perceived as real at the end. But this means that while Yoon Seungho had murdered the nobles, there was someone hiding in the shadow , exactly like in season 2. He had not stopped the execution either. He could have faked his late arrival and the shocked lord would have even believed him. This time, the man in the shadow had covered the bloody traces and had thought that the noble outside had died from cold. (chapter 61) And according to me (chapter 61) the second Joker (Kim) had tried to murder the painter, but he had failed, for he had covered the painter’s head. (chapter 66) However, his new attempt to have the painter vanished failed again.

4. The “trustworthy” disguised man

What caught my attention are the pants. The form and color remind me a lot of the painter’s. (chapter 97) It could be the same, though I have my doubts. Secondly, I suddenly got aware that the painter had 3 different grey pants at least. (chapter 4) This one had a cut just below the knees, though the color is much brighter. (chapter 84) This is the third one I detected, as the shape of the pants diverge once again. This explicates why Baek Na-Kyum chose to change his clothes before leaving the mansion. (chapter 85) And because his pants are very similar to the painter’s, I deduce that he must be close to Baek Na-Kyum or at least he has a spy informing him about the artist’s clothes. Compare his pants to other servants: (chapter 97) (chapter 61) (chapter 67) (chapter 67) Their pants have either a different pigment (white, black, khaki, or light grey) or the shape is different. That’s the reason why I am assuming that the person was wearing these trousers on purpose. A new version of this scene: (chapter 98) The only difference is that the disguised person is alive contrary to the corpses in the wells. But the problem is that the shoes are betraying him. The boots resemble a lot to Yoon Seungho’s which the latter utilized during the hunt. (chapter 83) What did the lord see back then? Three shadows, two men wearing a gat and one caught in the middle with a topknot. Since I consider Yoon Seungho as a shaman, I believe that this vision was not only referring to the past and the incident in the shrine. It exposes the immutable truth, the involvement of three people, either. This is no coincidence. Thus imagine one moment that this illusion was referring to lord Shin’s murder. He is about to get murdered because of a new conspiracy. From my point of view, the man is disguising himself. However, I doubt that he is wearing the lord’s boots. The latter could be “couple boots”, just like the lord and the painter had couple hats. (chapter 91) And note during that day, Baek Na-Kyum was called sir due to his hat and clothes. (chapter 91) However, if the woman had paid attention to his shoes (mituri), she would have realized that our beloved painter is just a low-born. One might think that I view Kim as the one facing lord Shin. Strangely, I am suspecting the involvement of someone else. One thing is sure. The person in front of lord Shin is disguising himself, and the latter trusted the man in front of him. But his misfortune was not to identify correctly the person, for he didn’t detect the contrast between the clothes and the shoes. And the author left us another clue that disguise plays a huge role in our protagonists’ suffering. Why is Kim wearing a gat with a headband for nobles, when he is dressed like a servant? But there is another detail what caught my attention. He is wearing a bag. It was, as if he had packed his belongings before leaving the mansion. This means, he is taking his brown hanbok, but he is not wearing it. He reminded me of Deok-Jae. (chapter 44) (chapter 54) But the readers should question themselves this: why did Kim dress like this in the first place? From my point of view, the schemers have already planned to frame Baek Na-Kyum for the murder of the nobles and even of Jung In-Hun. Kim is trying to separate the couple so that the artist can be arrested easily and sentenced immediately. By burning the place, the evidence that Baek Na-Kyum was a victim vanished. That’s how they can manage to turn a victim into a perpetrator. They wanted to erase every trace of the crimes, but then the return of the painter will force them to change their plan. The fire can help them to turn Baek Na-Kyum into a scapegoat. That’s the reason why the anonymous shadow is wearing clothes similar to the painter’s. No one should recognize him. Later, Baek Na-Kyum can be “identified” as the culprit. And any blood trace on his clothes could serve to incriminate the painter. They could use the resemblance of the clothes as a proof for his crime. That’s the reason why lord Shin had to die in the end. And if lord Shin never doubted this person, I am suspecting that the latter is working with the authorities. Kim is not the only suspect, for according to me, there always exist a conspiracy of 3 and even 5 people. This observation leads me to create a list of suspects. First of all, Yoon Seungho’s confession to the learned sir should help us to determine the schemers and culprits. (chapter 44). A synonym for old bearded men is “elders”. The latter are supposed to serve as role models. That’s the reason why the young man didn’t suspect the man. With his beard, he must have oozed “responsibility” and even “selflessness”. But who are the suspects?

The officer from the bureau investigation is definitely involved. Thus he misled Yoon Seungho. Besides, observe that the officers are connected to fire! (chapter 94) Secondly, his explanation implied the involvement of a physician. (chapter 98) Though he had been found in a well, the lord’s comment insinuates that “Deok-Jae” had been stabbed. Striking is that the lord didn’t show any interest in the violation of clothes and the servant’s death. This reaction surprised the yangban which left him speechless. It is important, because this shows that the schemers were trying to direct the lord’s attention to a certain person: Lee Jihwa. They were trying to instill the thought that Lee Jihwa had planted a professional spy in his household. And after his betrayal, Deok-Jae had run away with the money earned from his work.
The physician: What caught my attention is that the author focused on the fire place at his office. (chapter 57) Why? There has to be a reason. I don’t believe in coincidence in Painter Of The Night. Furthermore, observe that both men, Kim and the doctor, were sitting in the kitchen, similar to Jihwa and No-Name. (chapter 57) Finally, the painter met the Joker again on the same day he visited the physician. (chapter 75) Finally, why was the doctor never brought to the mansion again after his last visit in chapter 57? And it looks like he was not there to treat Baek Na-Kyum. The latter is suffering from PTSD. Thus the painter had a nightmare. Hence I have the impression that the butler’s intervention and suggestion to Yoon Seungho will fail. The lord won’t be able to leave his side. Moreover, I would like the readers to recall that when Baek Na-Kyum got sick, a different physician was fetched. (chapter 33) Different clothes displays a different identity. From my point of view, the doctor doesn‘t want to be connected to Yoon Seungho. Finally, don‘t you find it weird that he was not by his side in chapter 57? He literally abandoned the young master in the room with the painter (chapter 57), though the latter was a patient too. He had a wounded wrist. The physician should have controlled Yoon Seungho’s fever, brought him water and even an infusion. His absence and passivity caught my attention. So what was he doing in the kitchen? Finally, the doctor is also connected to the shaman. Not only he mentioned him, but also there is the symbol of shamanism in his kitchen. Why did the gods want our couple to have their first “true” love session at the physician’s office? Somehow, it was to confront him with the truth. Finally, don’t you find it weird how Kim reacted (chapter 82), when the new version of Deok-Jae made the following suggestion to Kim: (chapter 82) Hence the doctor is not off the hook, quite the opposite.
Father Lee: he has a huge motivation to eliminate not only the painter, but also Min. The latter had denunciated Lee Jihwa’s crime to Yoon Seungho. Since I judge father Lee as someone suffering from Machiavellianism, he certainly plotted something behind Yoon Seungho, and not only once, but at least twice. Moreover, someone could have divulged to the patriarch that Black Heart had been responsible for the loss of his son’s topknot and his manipulations. Besides, Black Heart had witnessed the altercation between the Lees and Yoon Seungho (chapter 67), and discovered Lee Jihwa’s sodomy which was supposed to be a secret. The father is well aware that the main lead’s suffering is linked to the young master’s sexual orientation, which the father had always denied. His involvement could be detected, when he allowed one of his servants to be dragged to the gibang. (chapter 99) Finally, The Joker also heard father Lee’s humiliation and powerlessness. (chapter 67) He never asked for the authorities’ assistance, for his son’s crime could have come to the surface. And since there was a ruckus in the gibang, where his name was mentioned, he had another reason to kill lord Shin. With his disappearance, his son’s “crimes” would be buried. Moreover, his son never went to the bureau of investigation to clear his name. (chapter 101) Thus the fire could be seen as a desperate measure to cover the Lees’ culpability.
Because people are violating code dress, and they are wearing similar clothes to deceive people, I think that we should include the tailor in the list of suspects, but the one I am referring to is the one from chapter 64. (chapter 64) He can play a huge role by making a false testimony, as he can recognize the clothes ordered by the clients.
Finally, I would like to include these two men. (chapter 37) The latter had already disguised himself in season 1, and due to his age, no one would suspect his real nature or power. Then we have this faceless man from chapter 83: (chapter 83) I am not including Yoon Chang-Hyeon in this list, for he is not intelligent and cunning enough to develop such a plan. For me, he is just a pawn. Thus he never intervened on his own. He was always pushed by others’ suggestions. Yet, there is no ambiguity that the elder Yoon will be involved in a new plot.

To conclude, I am suspecting many people involved in lord Shin’s struggle and curtains. Thus expect in season 4 new plots again. Finally, I would like to underline the butler’s hypocrisy one more time. While he keeps saying to his master that he is a bird of misfortune, why is he remaining by his side? Dedication or love? I have my doubt, for he keeps badmouthing him. If this “curse” was true, how come that he did not suffer like the painter? And note that he has a drop of sweat on his face, the symbol for manipulations and lies. In my eyes, the words from the publication are reflecting the butler and Heena’s philosophy. Why? Both are trying to hide their own wrongdoings and bad choices. They are still in denial to admit their responsibility.

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