The surge in popularity of this trend reflects a shift in values among young people. Faced with economic pressures and high expectations, many are preferring "practical love" that makes everyday life more comfortable and supportive. As one online user in China noted, “It is not about giving you good things, but about giving everything he has to you,”.

In localized online fan forums, "Hunstu" serves as a specific portmanteau for character pairings in web novels, Asian dramas, or indie text-adventure games.

They cry beautifully. They confess their deepest traumas on the third date, creating a bond of false intimacy that feels like destiny. You become their healer, their savior. And a savior can never leave without becoming a villain.