m

I viewed it more as a playful kind of way and in a “this boy is very smart” kind of way. Like I get that adult Fenn is like that too but in a more adult way but child Fenn’s way is being cute and charming in a childish and innocent way. Child Fenn was also manipulative (in a way) too, as he used his cuteness to get MC’s attention

Only that it made me feel weird that she couldn’t recognize for at least an entire chapter that the way he was acting was a defense mechanism and not the way a child should act.

Really, I probably would have thought the same as you if not for the manipulative bit. Could be just a bad bit of translation and it doesn’t carry the same weight in japanese. Its my personal belief children cannot be manipulative so I just really hated that. It implies malicious intent when their true intent is to get their needs met. In Fenn’s case, his need for love and affection, and he is simply modeling what he sees his father do, hence how he acts towards mc.

Perhaps if she used more ambiguous terms, but there are four instances where she was like “he’s the same! He’s always been this way!” not really thinking until its made overt that its a bad thing.

idc this is a dream what do you mean i (fenn) am long into this fulfilling relationship that has really healed me and i have grown a lot and you can’t recognize the change in me or see a problem with how I acted while being groomed 😪😪