Is So Long As You Live, Debts Will Have To Be Paid Eventually Canon?

This one sparks a lot of messy debate among fans, and I got pulled into it the moment spoilers started circulating. From how I read it and the bits the author has confirmed, 'While I Was Dying My Husband Was With The Love Of His Life' is tricky: the original serialized novel is the closest thing to the official canon, while other versions—like certain webtoon adaptations, side chapters, or translated releases—have introduced scenes that don't always line up with the source. So if you want a clean, single source of truth, the novel as posted by the original author/publisher is the one to treat as canonical. I follow both the novel and the illustrated adaptation, and they feel like cousins rather than identical twins. The big beats—the main characters, their motivations, the ultimate resolutions—mostly match in spirit, but adaptations have padded scenes, visually dramatized moments, and sometimes even alternate epilogues to satisfy readers or fit pacing. There have been public notes from the creative team (afterwords, tweets, or platform posts) clarifying that some scenes were artist-driven embellishments. That means fan-favorite romantic scenes or confrontations you saw in the webtoon might be non-canon extras or director’s interpretations. Translations add another layer: unofficial translators sometimes paraphrase, omit, or localize content, which can make an already blurry line feel like fog. So how do I personally treat it? I give the novel pride of place when debating canon, call the webtoon an authorized adaptation (mostly faithful but with creative liberties), and treat fan-made extras or certain publisher-added epilogues as supplemental unless the author clearly endorses them. Enjoy both—there’s nothing wrong with loving a tender scene that doesn’t exist in the original—but for plot-accurate discussions, I default to the novel. Honestly, that blend of sources is part of the fun: you get the raw intent of the text and the emotional highlight reels the adaptation gives you. It keeps fandom lively, even if it means occasionally arguing about which scene “really” happened. I still prefer the subtle hints in the book, though; they hit differently in my head.

Curious question — that title really lingers in the mind. When people ask if 'After The Love Had Dead and Gone You'd Never See Me Again' is canon, I immediately think about what ‘canon’ even means in this context. To me, canon is whatever is explicitly sanctioned or produced by the original creator or the official rights-holder and integrated into the official continuity. So my first checkpoint is whether this piece was released or endorsed by the IP holder: was it published on an official site, included in a licensed anthology, or mentioned on the creator’s verified channels? If yes, it leans strongly toward being canon. If it’s a fan project, a commissioned side-story, or a remix without clear taglines, then it probably isn’t. Next, I look at internal consistency. Even if something has an “official” stamp, contradictions with core events, characterizations, or timelines can muddy the waters. Some franchises have tiers of canon — like strict primary canon (main works), secondary canon (official tie-ins), and then stuff that’s clearly non-canonical or apocryphal. If 'After The Love Had Dead and Gone You'd Never See Me Again' alters key events or depends on headcanon-level details that aren’t supported elsewhere, many fans will treat it as non-canon even if it has a loose official link. Finally, there’s community acceptance. Fan consensus doesn’t make something canon, but it does affect how people treat it. I’ve seen brilliant fanfics become beloved fanon because they filled emotional gaps left by the originals. So my take: unless you can point to a clear, official publication or a direct statement from the creator/publisher confirming its place in continuity, treat 'After The Love Had Dead and Gone You'd Never See Me Again' as unofficial. That said, canon is often a living conversation — and personally, I love how some non-official pieces enrich my experience regardless of the label.