flawlessly imperfect

or, some musings on an idol persona's impact and legacy

Atiny will sometimes speculate about when Ateez had their "big break," or when things really shifted for them in terms of popularity, recognition, and commercial success. Was it the Wonderland era, Guerrilla era, Bouncy era...? While there are valid arguments for each on a global scale, when it comes to domestic (Korean) fame, it's hard to argue against the impact of Golden Hour: Part. 2 and its title track Ice On My Teeth, released in November 2024.

I also don't think it's wrong to claim that San was a major part of that success, thanks to the "Grand Duke of the North" character assigned to him by ktiny and Korean media.

Before we jump in, let's first understand San's approach for each comeback.

San's Arena Homme interview (August 2025)

When it’s time to work - whether it's on stage or in front of a camera - a different version of me steps forward and does his best to embody the role. I think that naturalness gets captured by the camera. It’s not acting; it’s me fully accepting and expressing the role. These transformations feel natural and comfortable now.... I don't like pretending. It’s hard for me. So when I’m in that situation, I consciously tell myself “This is who I am,” and I focus completely....If I’m not fully immersed, there’s a risk of disconnect for the viewer. I need to accept it completely so it can move others.

Along with Seongwha, San has shown the greatest difference between his on-stage and off-stage personas. He embodies and expresses the theme and mood of each concept, delivering heightened and emotional performances that often transcend the expectations and conventions of his industry. This has earned him the respect of his peers (especially juniors) and has also made him the target of harassment from kpop stans.

But for Golden Hour: Part 2, the mafia-adjacent concept of Ice On My Teeth really resonated with fans. San's character is cold, calculating, and dangerous. He's also sexy and alluring.

His performance style for IOMT leaned away from bold, expressive gestures; instead, the choreography called for deft footwork and precise, almost robotic movements. This reinforced the story of San's character, who suppresses his violent nature under the guise of gentlemanly manners. At the same time, San does so much with just the quirk of an eyebrow. What he pulls off during his Last Supper performance solo deserves its own post (and I've written one).

His IOMT fancams were also the most watched of any other members.

KQ clearly understood the mandate. In a previous post, I discussed San's styling for fan events during the last few eras. To summarize: for Work, Crazy Form, and Bouncy, whose extreme concepts had San dressing like a sexy cowboy, sexy dystopian anarchist, and sexy boxer, stylists would opt for "soft boyfriend" looks with oversized cardigans and fuzzy sweaters when it came to off-camera events. This worked to diffuse his "scary" or "intimidating" impression. But for Ice On My Teeth, stylists dressed San like a CEO, putting him in crisp button-up shirts, oversized blazers, and long floor-length coats. This reinforced his romanticized image as cold, aloof, and potentially dangerous - even when posing with giant furry paws.

To be clear, I regard all these personas as a kind of hypermasculine drag performance. IOMT is just a different flavor.

When it came to their end-of-year stages, San's styling favored sleek, form-fitting outfits which drew attention to his undeniable masculine attractiveness. His KGMA performance (left) went viral, and for good reason.

Around this time, ktiny and knetz began commenting on videos, IG posts, and in forums, calling San the "Grand Duke of the North."

The name derives from a popular webcomic, whose protagonist bears a striking resemblance to San, as does the love interest of another romance webcomic Serena.

Thus, a star was born...

HYPEJACK: ATEEZ SAN has become the living embodiment of “Grand Duke of the North", a fantasy archetype known for icy charisma, power & striking visuals. From his dark, tailored outfits to his commanding stage presence, fans couldn’t help but liken him to a fantasy noble.

Whether it’s his sharp features, broad shoulders, or all-black fashion, San continues to serve major Duke aesthetics even in everyday life. It’s like he stepped right out of a fantasy novel.

San's "Grand Duke of the North" persona became a truly viral phenomenon that spread from fan cams to magazines, variety shows, and top luxury brands.

For his appearance at fashion week in March, Dolce & Gabbana clearly dressed him with the Grand Duke in mind.

Note: "DG Grand Duke of The North's Birthday"

(I was a little let down by this styling, compared to San's other appearances with the brand. But you can't deny he looks good.)

San first responded to the nickname in March 2025 during a live after his D&G fashion week appearance:

This time while I went to the D&G show, I think what I heard the most.. wherever I was, I heard it about 50 times in a day! That.. there's a word 북부대공 right? I heard it 50 times a day! People would be like 'It's because he's 북부대공' so I was *acting shy and embarrassed* ..ahhh!

Really, as I wondered what it meant, I actually looked it up, you know?ㅎ Anyhoo, it didn't mean anything bad.. yes.. my face is getting red right? Ah as I think of back then, I think I heard it 50 times a day, really! so like when I was grilling the meat, they would say 'oh he grills meat well~ as expected, he's indeed a 북부대공 Whatever I did, they would day 'u're 북부대공' so this was a bit- *getting shy and sips his drink*.. anyhooㅎㅎ

As it's a nice thing to say, I did feel nice about it~ but, because I heard it so many times, you know what I mean, I felt really shy.. hm.. *reading comments* you're saying that if I type out 북부대공 on naver, I'll show up? really?ㅎㅎ *checks naver* what!

Yes?? Does it show up if I type it on youtube? *checks yt* yes! What's this~ no, I had heard about it, but it's something like Truman Show- oh only I was unaware~~ah thank you~ as a keyword like this has been created (for me) thank you~ yes"

translation by @sunshine_1117

It's funny how bashful he was with this realization, but I also wonder at him being completely unaware of the nickname in the 3-4 months following IOMT's release. Of course, they were on tour in Europe for most of that time, but it implies a real disconnect or disengagement between Korean media/knetz and Ateez (or San, at least). I'm not sure I buy that, but who knows!

We are now about 10 months removed from Ice On My Teeth, yet the popularity of the Grand Duke shows no signs of waning. During promotions for Golden Hour: Part 3, San received invitations to appear on variety/digital shows primarily because of the impact and success of the Grand Duke.

Part of the reason for the Grand Duke's continuing popularity is that Golden Hour: Part 3 did not have a strong, character-driven concept. Lemon Drop was promoted as a sultry summer song, and while KQ made sure to emphasize San's assets in the roll-out for the new album, there was no new persona for San to embody.

Instead, many fans held onto the image of San as the sexy, intimidating, powerful Duke, and this applies to both international and domestic fans, only some of whom I would call atiny.

I think this has helped San. I also think this has harmed San.

Here's where my thoughts gets more speculative. I've read really compelling meta from mutuals who differ about San's response to the Grand Duke phenomenon, particularly during this past era. Is he trying to become more like the Grand Duke as his idol image matures? Is he trying to distance himself?

How has this persona affected his on-screen dynamics with other members, especially those with whom he engages in fan service? (this is a topic for another post I'm working on)

I think San has been trying for a while to uncouple the Grand Duke from his preferred idol persona. He wants to be known as a strong, exciting performer, but he also really wants people (not just atiny) to view him as a sweet, shy introvert who loves strawberry mochi and speaks in pout.

From his interview for Arena Homme, August 2025:

On stage, I give it everything I have, like flipping on a switch. I want the people who come to see me to leave feeling it was worth it, so I pour my energy into the performance. Off stage, I spend time recharging. No one can live at 100% all the time. I go into power-saving mode so I can be at my best when I step on stage. Contrary to the sharp image people expect, I’m actually quite soft offstage.

In interviews, he does his best to diffuse the impression people have as scary and intimidating (something Mingi also suffers from).

His variety show appearances have also felt like a PR campaign to shift the public's impression of him. This has been largely successful, thanks in part to indulgent female hosts and a sympathetic editing team (as we know, KBS is San-biased).

The members have also done their part in reinforcing the difference between Grand Duke San and their Sannie.

Seonghwa, who understands better than most the art and artifice of the idol persona, has been particularly valuable in this effort. In their Hometown episode and on their Ateez+ dates, he treated San like a cute younger brother whom he loves to tease.

To be clear, I don't believe San resents or dislikes the Grand Duke nickname and all that it signifies. In his recent interview with Arena Homme, he said his favorite era was Ice On My Teeth because it introduced him to so many new people.

With atiny, of course, he'll always defer to what makes us happy. In a recent TOKTOQ pop live, San said he likes everything - whether it's "The Grand Duke of the North," "Gimmick Grand Duke," or "Muscle-Packed Grand Duke," he's fine with any nickname. He told everyone to just call him whatever comfortable.

Can he really have it both ways?

This meta was inspired by San's recent appearance on the reality survival show Boys Planet II, where young men compete to debut in a new boy group. San was selected as "Planet Master" a role that implies he's status as a respected artist in the industry and a role model to aspiring idols.

But it's clear the producers at Mnet weren't just inviting San. They wanted the Grand Duke. You have to watch his introduction, which I've since learned is unlike anything they've done for other Planet Masters on the show before.

Poor San was visibly nervous, having to endure those stairs and everyone's attention. His appearance went viral, and this tweet was the most popular I've seen:

"Master San is so fkn reassuring. If any of the boys act trashy he is so gonna put them on the straight and narrow" (thank you @storkmuffin for the translation)

Many knetizens were surprised by San's stern appearance or confused by how he spoke:

너무 무섭게 생겨서 혹시 지금 화난거냐고 에이티니한테 물어보니까 최산 지금 개떨고있는데 왜지랄이냐함 He looks so scary that I asked ATINY if he was angry right now, and Choi San said he was shaking like a dog right now, what the hell is going on? 진짜 개간지나게 등장해서 저러고 내려와서 느와르인 줄 알았는데 입 열기 시작하니까 톤이 너무 잔잔해서 보다 잠들 뻔했음 I thought it was a noir because he came out so cool and came down like that, but when he started to open his mouth, the tone was so calm that I almost fell asleep.

What's interesting are the responses to the tweet from ktiny who say some variation of: you may think he's this way, but you don't know him the way we do.

Here are some of the translated quote-retweets:

이분 그런 분 아니세요 잘 때 인형 꼬옥 안아야 잠드는 분이십니다 This person isn't that kind of person. He's the kind of person who has to hug a doll to fall asleep. 최산 예전에 약간 무서운 사람 같아서 찾아봤었는데 그냥 당근 못 먹고 딸기모찌 좋아하고 성화 방에 가서 꾸물꾸물 거리는 애란 걸 알게 됨 Choi San used to be a bit scary so I looked him up and found out he was just a kid who couldn't eat carrots, liked strawberry mochi, and would go to Seonghwa's room and laze around. 아 이런 상황 영원히 웃김 타팬분들: 누아르ㄷㄷ스릴러ㄷㄷ무섭고멋져… 에이티니: 산둥이 잔뜩 긴장햇네… 곧 우는 거 아냐? 너무 웃겨 귀여워 Ah, this situation is so funny. Top fans: Noir, thriller, scary and awesome... ATINY: San looks so nervous... Isn't he about to cry? This is so funny and cute. 숙소 가면 한 손에 딸기 케이크 한 손에 여상이 쥐여줘야 한다는 말 영원히 웃김 진짜. It's so funny that when you go to your dorm, you have to hold a strawberry cake in one hand and a Yeosang in the other.

ATINY around the world are clearly united in disseminating propaganda about the real San. Newer or more casual fans may be lured in by the Grand Duke persona, but the fandom machine does a good job of correcting any misconceptions.

As for San, he went on live to discuss his Boys Planet appearance and did much the same kind of image maintenance:

You’re asking if I was nervous? Yes, I was nervous. Because everyone was only looking at me, I got nervous. Was I the only one sweating like that? But since there was no fan, no tissue, I just kept sweating… Why did I come down from the top? Uh… I think they arranged it for me, hahaha. Yes… I think they cared so that I’d come out looking good. Yes, please look forward to Boys Planet which will be revealed soon. I already know, since I finished filming it.

No, no, definitely not. Grand Duke of the North, you’re exaggerating~~

San may seek to distinguish between personas when it comes to how ATINY perceive him off-camera, but it's more complicated when it comes to his career and aspirations as an artist.

When it came to his solo for In Your Fantasy, San asked Hongjoong for a sexy song and wrote lyrics that tapped into the darker parts of his mind:

The intention? The concept… well… From the start… it moves like this, then like that *san demonstrates choreo*

It's pretty direct: "I feel like a creep". Like, I… kind of feel that way. Like… I see myself as someone I can't stand. It's a really simple expression of "me". What I feel.

It might come off like acting, but for me, I do feel like someone who hates himself sometimes, it's like a dry heave *san talking about the spitting smoke move*

So the movement comes from that emotion. Yeah, that's one way to feel it. You can think of it however you like. Maybe it's acting, or like… I couldn't stand it and I was like "eeakk". It might involve some level of self-hatred, but I didn't want to lock it into one meaning. I wanted it to be open to interpretation. Like an open ending.

translation by @incandescentsandbox

San continues to challenge himself within the narrow confines of the concept. He elevated a "sexy" song into a discourse on desire, restraint, and self-loathing. In many ways, this song feels like the natural extension of the Duke of the North persona, but modulated to San's personal register.

So where am I going with this?

I definitely agree with the fandom that IOMT unlocked a new level of fame and popularity for San, and by extension Ateez. This has manifested in exciting opportunities for San, from invitations to MC survival shows to partnerships with luxury brands like Tag Heuer.

But these also seem like invitations that San accepted, rather than pursued. And these opportunities primarily center on San's physical appearance and persona, rather than his talents as a singer, dancer, and performer.

The last time we saw anything like the latter was his appearance on Lee Mujin's Service, before the release of Golden Hour: Part 2. Notice how he's styled for that: fluffy hair, fluffier sweater. Soft boy.

By comparison, his members have spent the last several months pursuing personal passion projects: Hongjoong as a producer and featured artist with musicians he admires; Seonghwa as a model and muse; Yunho as an actor; Mingi and his solo projects; Wooyoung collaborating with Gallant; Jongho with his OSTs; and Yeosang with his fitness journey and solo mv.

Where are San's OSTs? Where are his collaborations? What about another performance video like Warrior?

To my knowledge, San has never expressed an interest in fashion, but he clearly understands the benefit of being associated with luxury brands. As he himself said in a recent interview, for these solo schedules he attends as San of Ateez. Being the most famous and recognizable member comes with the responsibility and privilege of opening new doors for the others to walk through.

But what does San want? He clearly does not want to leave Ateez, despite the cries of his solo stans.

Individually, I’m happiest when I’m with my bros, and if we’re not ATEEZ, I thought, it was meaningless.

San will only get more famous from here, but will he grow? I want him to have every opportunity to perform and for the world to see him as a performer, and not a model for expensive watches. Will the legacy of the Grand Duke prove to be fortuitous or an albatross?

I leave you with San's speech at the Elle Style Awards last year, where he won 'Best K-Pop Icon':

or, a little speculative non-fiction

"We have completely different point of views, even on a same topic. But surprisingly, Mingi and I tend to think a lot and there’s a serious side to us. So if there’s a topic thrown at us, he’s a friend who can talk about it all day. I think we are both like that.” 

In Episode 6 of Ateez+, Yunho and Mingi have a conversation that begins with Yunho asking:

“From your perspective, do you think I’ve changed? The other members, they think I’m the member who changed the least of all our members.” “I think you have changed.” “What part of me? I’ve been curious” “I think you’ve changed as you’ve become an adult. You were always careful back in the day as well, but I feel like you’ve become even more careful. Because you respond positively to most things, and because you tend to accommodate those around you, from an outside perspective people could say ‘Oh, Yunho is the same,’ but that pure and innocent side of you — I’m not sure how to say this — but I feel like we’ve become darker.”

What initially struck me in this exchange was the parallel to Yunho and Mingi's conversation in their Off The Record video several months ago, where Yunho said to Mingi:

"Since the first time we met, up until this point, seeing your growth and development....These days, that innocence? I wish I could see more of that happiness from you."

In both conversations, filmed only a handful of months apart, Mingi acknowledges innocence lost, but also something gained: wisdom, maturity, self-possession. Mingi wrote Youth to address the pain of being young and unhappy when everyone around you insists you're living the best years of your life. Growing up was the best thing that ever happened to him.

This perspective ties into the opening of Episode 6 of Ateez+ where Mingi shares the collective goals of the group for the next phase of their careers:

“Right now the eight of us are hoping to find a clear individual brand identity right now. We think that will help us last for a long time. Each member should know what we’re individually good at and as we brand those qualities, we can create a positive synergy in the group. I think that our goal is to stay and work together for a long time."

This echoes what Hongjoong said in a recent AP interview, on the topic of solo schedules — essentially, how they accommodate each other's "individual egos or individual dreams" within the ATEEZ framework. If that solo schedule is very important to that member, then the group will go ahead with it because, "that, too, is ATEEZ."

By the time they filmed Ateez+ (sometime in May, according to leaked photos from the set) Mingi had clearly taken this goal to heart: Calvin Klein modeling campaign, fashion week appearance with Off-White, two solo magazine covers, featured artist credit, self-produced solo track, and music production credits on a significant collaboration with Be:First. Not to mention multiple invitations to private events and solo schedules during their cb promotions.

Mingi's recent success is explicitly tied to his mental health journey, which fortified him with the toolkit to tackle challenges, both external and internal. He's grown beyond the limits others have placed on him, along with those he imposed on himself.

Meanwhile, Yunho, whose idol persona has long been “ideal boyfriend,” was/is struggling to figure out his own individual brand identity as he’s grown and matured. He addressed this in a recent interview with Marie Claire magazine (his first solo feature):

"These days, I really want to show a new side of myself."

Yunho's official role as Dance Leader and unofficial role as "happiness maker" have long put him in service to others, leading him to neglect his own personal development as an artist. This is something he's identified as wanting to change:

"People often say my lines are clean and my movements detailed, but these days, I've been focusing more on creating my own style of expression." "Just the fact that I have the desire to do better and to fulfill something real within me is already something to be grateful for. Some might call it greed, but I think it's worse not to desire anything at all."

For all that Yunho is very good at calibrating his idol persona to maximize fan attention and affection, he's previously lacked the "breakout" moment that other members have experienced, which catapulted them to new levels of fame and attention (like San and The Grand Duke of the North).

Yunho's solution was to manufacture a breakout moment for himself. He leveraged his network of actor friends from Imitation and landed a role in a short-form web comedy where he played a hapless office worker with unexpected martial arts skills; he recorded an OST for a popular airing tv show; and he starred in a dramatic short film that also doubled as iPhone spon, which led to him being invited to attend the launch of a new Apple product. He filmed a sexy mv for his solo Slide To Me (some of us found it divisive). He probably did much of this before and during their filming of Ateez+.

He's letting himself be greedy, selfish, nakedly ambitious.

Yunho asks Mingi: "do you think I've changed?"

It's not mere KBS plot contrivance that had him seeking an honest answer from Mingi, who has only ever given him honesty. He'll flatter Yunho's looks to anyone who asks, but he won't offer false praise.

Mingi tells Yunho: the members may not be able to see it, but I do. You're becoming darker. You've always masked it with a pleasant smile and a cheerful attitude, but I know you better than everyone. I see the darkness, and I'm not afraid of it.

Of all the members, I think Yunho wanted and needed to have this conversation with Mingi. I can only speculate that when Yunho embarked on these solo schedules, he looked to Mingi as model of what a certain kind of success could look like. He maybe even asked Mingi for guidance. Maybe Mingi even gave him the same speech he gives us in Episode Two:

"Self-esteem will rise and fall. I think that's possible as you work. But it's not good to keep people that try to bring other people's self-esteem down and try to take other people down because of their jealousy and envy around you. The people that cut you down by telling you to improve on something in the name of giving advice is not necessarily someone that will be helpful in your life."

This is the kind of advice that is actually helpful to Yunho, who has always been a people-pleaser. Mingi tells Yunho that he can't just wait for someone to say he's cool, he needs to say that to himself.

As @throwing-roses-into-the-abyss observed, during these episodes, when Mingi gets fired up about a topic, Yunho simply listens and prompts him to say more. There is, of course, always a bit of teasing and some classic Yunho deflection, but Yunho seems to be absorbing the Mingi wisdom.

This is because Yunho knows that Mingi is running ahead of him.

Mingi is running ahead, and seemingly doesn't require the same level of support or guidance that he previously sought from Yunho, or that Yunho offered him unsolicitedly.

This represents a significant shift in their usual dynamic, given their history. For a long time, from their pre-debut days and after Mingi's hiatus, Yunho has acted as a "savior-like entity" to Mingi (his own words). @ffg7 has written about the ways Yunho has attempted to live up to that moniker, perhaps at the expense of his own development (“Yunho is also pretty intense about Mingi, actually”).

To be clear, these were acts of love and care and Mingi takes that seriously. In that same Off The Record clip, Mingi names Yunho as the exception for his rule to "never rely on anyone"

"But Yunho calls me a lot ..and gave me a lot of strength...I think I [learned] what kindness and thankfulness is from you."

"Oh he can't live without me," Yunho once joked about Yunho during their promotions for Wave and, frankly, I don't think Mingi wants to live without him! But this kind of relationship did create an interesting and sometimes awkward power imbalance, one that often put Mingi at a distinct social disadvantage when they were on camera.

This past year made it clear that Mingi does not need Yunho in the same way he did earlier in their careers. Mingi no longer needs Yunho to "explain" or interpret Mingi to others, not when Mingi has been sharper, funnier, and far more charismatic in their public appearances than ever before. Not when Mingi commands entire stadiums to bark for him, or when he gets entire swaths of uninterrupted and minimally-edited airtime on a KBS show to expound on his philosophy about life, business, and personal growth.

I think of the recent Allure interview where the members put him on the spot several times and he ends up "winning" those interactions with a mix of cleverness and sincerity. I can absolutely see where Yunho, who has always been the Mingi-explainer in the group, can now relinquish that role to someone like Hongjoong, who now prefaces every interview with "Mingi has a gimmick."

Here's where I really lean into some rpf-influenced speculation, because Yunho has clearly spent the last several months dealing with the revelation that things have changed. And his response has been...interesting.

I'm far from the only one who's observed a difference in Yunho's behavior towards Mingi since before the GH3 comeback. Essentially, he's been leaning hard into the fan service. We've heard more "princess" nicknames from him this year alone than in other years combined; he goes out of his way to acknowledge their wordless ability to communicate on stage. He was super playful and affectionate with Mingi on stage during the North American tour.

But while Yunho has been mostly sweet, he's still a little salty.

I remember finding this moment from Episode 2 fascinating. When the interviewer prompts Yunho about a time they fought about something, Yunho first claims he doesn't remember..

And then he references an incident from several years ago. And not just any incident, but the incident.

Here's Mingi's answer for the same prompt:

"In Yunho's case, when he apologizes first, he says something like 'Mingi, I'm sorry for getting mad this time. I'll do better from now on.' On the other hand, I'm more like this. 'I think I was wrong about this part this time, so I'll make sure not to do it again. But I also want you to be a little careful because I'm sensitive about it....I feel like I try my best not to do what he dislikes."

In comparison to Mingi, Yunho's answer comes off as particularly discordant. He basically calls Mingi jealous and possessive, implies an imbalance of affection, and then admits to using some soft manipulation to make Mingi feel responsible for his own hurt feelings. I think Yunho realizes in the moment that what he's saying could be misconstrued, so after a beat of silence he tacks this on:

Yunho later recalls another infamous moment for Mingi: when he tore open his shirt on stage during the Akaraka Festival at Yonsei University in a fit of passion. This was the second time Yunho brought up this incident, unsolicited, a year after the festival.

A cynical person might read Yunho's behavior towards Mingi throughout this past comeback/tour season as an attempt to re-establish their former dynamic, wherein Mingi's radical vulnerability and ungovernable sincerity towards Yunho (his "moral loyalty") is often met with Yunho's fond dismissal or awkward indulgence. As for the fan-service, Yunho is well aware that YunGi the brand is stronger than Yunho the brand, so going viral for being clingy and affectionate and playful is good business.

This more cynical reading is not one I necessarily agree with. Because we often forget just how deep their friendship goes; just how hard they've worked to stay together and overcome their differences. The love between them that is apparent to anyone with eyes.

In observing Yunho’s interactions with Mingi over this past year, I saw someone who wants his friend's attention. Someone who wants to stay close. Someone who may even want to remain his friend's protector, even if Mingi can fight his own battles now.

look at how Yunho gently and instinctually goes to protect Mingi's broken finger 😭

In the final episode of Ateez+, Mingi and Yunho have a conversation about pursuing stability vs. pursuing risk. Mingi initially believed an idol career could make him enough money to protect his family, whereas Yunho wanted (craved?) the challenge and inherent danger of fame. Mingi admits he had nothing to lose in auditioning but you could make the argument that Yunho had a lot to lose. In their first few years, it ended up being that Mingi was more reckless and ambitious, while Yunho became safer and more conservative. Now it feels like they've reversed their positions: Mingi is so much more secure and confident, having systematically achieved his goals, but Yunho is now the one trying to regain the mindset that initially motivated him and challenge himself to try new things. 

AND YET! What I find so interesting in their exchange is how much Yunho tries to redirect the conversation to what he can be for Mingi, reiterating how much he worries about Mingi and how much he wants Mingi to talk to him freely. While Mingi has become so self-sufficient, Yunho is basically pleading with him to be a bit more dependent.

Yunho insists he’s saying these things sincerely and not for the cameras. He wants to go on more dates like this and have more deep conversations, and not just when they’re struggling with something. However, Yunho clearly is (was?) seeking something from Mingi that he can't quite articulate. His vulnerability in this episode was so surprising. 

"When you're with me, you get more honest, right?" Yunho sounds a bit possessive — Mingi is different with him — but he’s using this knowledge to (jokingly?) question Mingi's sincerity at the restaurant. Will he get an honest answer in response to Yunho’s sincerity?

Mingi is indeed aware that Yunho has been struggling. He tells us:

"Yunho probably has lots of worries. As ATEEZ'S Yunho and human Yunho, I think he's been worried a lot about how to realize his dreams. I feel worried for him.I feel sorry as i couldn't ask him earlier how could I help him. But I'm glad that we could share our thoughts now."

They both want to help each other grow, but "growth" to them represents different things!

And then they give their closing remarks:

Yunho doesn't want to hold Mingi back, he just wants to catch up. They promised to keep running together.

The cherry on top is that when prompted to select their "dates" for the next season of Ateez+, Mingi picks Yunho without a second thought. Mingi's moral loyalty to Yunho is absolute and uncompromising. He knows exactly who he is and what he wants, and he'll always choose Yunho.

first attempt at translating it (slightly closer to what the poem actually says, or so I hope)

我拜故人半为鬼，唯今醉里可相欢。

总角藏酿桂枝下，对饮面巧鬓已斑。

天光梦碎众行远，弃我老身浊泪含。

愿增余寿与周公，放君抱酒去又还。

mostly ghosts are the old friends to whom I pray, only when I’m drunk can we reunite.

over buried wine the osmanthus branches sway, the youth toasts to it, his hair long speckled white.

in the distant are all when light shatters the dream, leaving me in this old body, this tearful plight.

if only for this dream, live long I may, let me carry the wine and return tonight.

我访故人明月下，灯花人面相映红。

一朝凤雏啼春晓，万顷河山清平中。

总角藏酿君莫饮，经年归来与兄逢。

人生何必常相伴，遥以相思寄东风。

a visit to my old friends beneath the clear moon, the flower flame and my face both reflected red.

at dawn spring breaks to the young phoenix’s croon, days of peace through the lands far and wide spread.

without a drink the youth buries the wine, returning to meet his brother after years long fled.

Ok, so I’ve seen people wondering how many translations of 2HA are out there and where to read them, so I’m trying to do a comprehensive list:

[UPDATED August 14th 2021]

Original Chinese

 Raws on JJWXC (Chapters 133, 141, 142, 150, 151, 156, 185, 188, 189, 196, 208, 209, 242, 243, 247, 254, 267 and 294 are locked, but this is still the best way to support Meatbun and it’s only a dozen dollars)

 English guide to JJWXC

Human translations

Novel

Chapter 1-156 [ongoing]: GoogleFolder (one file for 10 chapters, no download allowed). Main translator Chapters 1-140: Rynn, main translator chapters 141-onwards: Suika, editor: Jun, translator of author’s notes: peri (1-71) and Liyou (72-140), This is generally considered the main translation. The GoogleFolder was emptied, the translation is now available via the Carrd. There is an advance system.

Chapters 1-4 [dropped]: Index, by Luka.

Chapters 52-69 [dropped]: GoogleFile for chapters 52-59, GoogleFile for chapters 60-69, by ABCDummy1.

Chapters 150-161 [ongoing]: by DanmeiLover ;

Chapter 156 [only]: Website by Polinsesi ;

Chapters 179, 185, 208, 209, 242, 243 (part 3), 279: Main GoogleFolder (deleted) / Wattpad by fukthestars ;

Chapter 279 [only]: Tumblr / GoogleFile, by @lihua-bai​ / senchafloat; DELETED BY AUTHOR

Chapter 294 [only]: GoogleFile, by yuka_cchii. Proof of purchase is required.

@milkmynk is also translating some scenes.

Extras

Chapter 312 [proof of purchase needed], GoogleFile, New link, by sanqians / gufeis ;

Chapters 313-318 [proof of purchase needed],: GoogleFile, by yuka_cchii ;

Chapters 319-321: GoogleFile, by llwy_jmoon ;

Chapters 322-341: GoogleFile for 322-330, GoogleFile for 331-341, by @danteriordan ;

Chapters 343-346 [proof of purchase needed], GoogleFile, New link, by sanqians / gufeis ;

Chapters 343-350: GoogleFile, by yuka_cchii. Proof of purchase is required ;

Edited machine translations

Chapters 110-350 [done?], GoogleFolder, by Mel ;

Chapters 1-23 [ongoing]: Index, by @translations-by-aiimee

this is rlly for everyone to love hc more TT // split by general/book1, book 3 spoilers, and book 5 spoilers via headings (though all are minor spoilers imo, except for the one in bk 5?)

there’s another question that pertains to TGCF’s comments, which I found interesting but have left out for now because it’s very very long. it’s half translated, so maybe i’ll finish it later

CW: domestic violence, Q.21 suicidal thoughts

the mdzs parts were prev translated here by @bigbadredpanda

original interview here

reposts and translations OK, but pls give credit!! twt @/uooongs, tumblr @uoongs, ig @/duoj1ao

GENERAL / BOOK 1 REFERENCES

Q14. TGCF characters’ heights?

Xie Lian 178cm (but can perfectly seem like 180), Hua Chen 190 (first appearance as a cute fresh youth was 185cm), Jun Wu 191, Feng Xin 188, Mu Qing 188, Mo Shui 189, Shi Wudu 187, Shi Qinxuan 186 (woman form 176), Pei Ming 188, Ling Wen 180, Quan Yizhen 184 (but has a very tall presence), Yin Yu 186 (but miraculously no matter how tall he is it’s hard to notice this person).

PS: Yu Shi [rain master?]’s cow is 150 without standing up

Q17. What was XL doing after his second time getting banished to the human realm? What was HC doing? Why couldn’t he find XL? HC previously swore to not let XL know he’s protecting him, so why did he decide to meet XL again after 800 years?

XL tried doing other jobs, but all didn’t go too well, and would bring sadness/strife to others, so could only collect trash by himself.

HC was looking for him while also working on his skills + earning money, expanding his power, and worked hard to become the strongest dude!

Really, it was because XL’s luck was so terrible and stuck to him so closely that he couldn’t meet HC. Actually, many times they almost saw each other, like in Banyue, and also when XL was Fangxin head priest, but both times they just missed each other. Finally XL ascended by himself and CEO Hua couldn’t contain himself and rushed over.

Shifter Secrets Revealed! Check our SENSATIONAL special feature!

RINSHA & KABRU - DAYDREAM HOUR 4 BY RYOKO KUI (DUNGEON MESHI)

made a companion piece to Dawn