I find it so adorable that Khaotung seems to be a so much more affectionate person off camera, than he is when conscious of being publicly perceived.
I feel like you wouldn't expect him to be kissing First in a public setting like that and yet when we get candid pics or small glimpses of their every day (like that karaoke kiss) he actually initiates physical contact a bunch!
My read on Khaotung has always been that he’s comfortable with fanservice—because it is, in essence, acting—but he wants to keep his private life private. First does not like fanservice. He has never liked fanservice. Still, even now, he visibly cringes when fanservice is forced upon him. In my opinion, this has created a unique situation where the physical affection First shows to Khaotung in public—even if exaggerated for “fanservice”—is still real enough to make Khaotung shy away from those interactions because to him those feelings are private.
I’ve seen a lot of people worried that they have been acting differently over the past few months and I agree. They have. But I don’t think it’s because their relationship has changed. I think what they choose to share with the public has changed. And I think that’s okay. Khaotung’s more affectionate in private because he doesn’t want to cheapen his affection by pretending it’s fake. Even if we never get to see it, First does, and that’s all that matters.