Genius Twins, Wicked Guardian
chapter 1
Author
Hello Dear Readers 😘
Author
Hope you like this story 💗 💗 💗
The faint, broken sobs of a little girl kept drifting into Kim Taehyung’s ears. Standing just a door away, his hand trembled slightly on the doorknob, and he felt like he should go out and cry with her.
he wondered how, after living a dutiful and honest life for over twenty years, he had ended up transmigrating into the role of a vicious supporting character in a novel.
This was a story about genius twins and their wealthy stepmother. Years ago, the twins’ mother had fled while pregnant, gave birth, and then passed away from illness. On his deathbed, he entrusted his two children and a substantial sum of child support to his younger brother. But who could have guessed this sister would turn out to be heartless? Not only did he squander every penny of the support money, but he also abused the twins, subjecting them to beatings and constant scolding.
The children, starving and poorly clothed, had no choice but to rely on their clever little minds to earn money and survive—all while trying to find their biological father.
Miraculously, the twins managed to hold on until the domineering CEO finally tracked them down. But the younger brother, greedy and shameless, even set his sights on the CEO, scheming to become the twins’ stepmother.
Unfortunately for him, the CEO was cold-hearted and meticulous in settling scores. Not only did he force him to return every cent of the child support, but he also found ways to blind him, cripple him limbs, and ultimately send him to prison. The outcome was predictable—he died a miserable death in jail not long after.
And of all people, Kim Taehyung had transmigrated into this wretched brother.
He had just checked his bank balance earlier—great. At this point, forget squandering money; he couldn’t even afford next month’s utilities.
What kind of luck was this? The original owner spent all the money, and now he was left to deal with the fallout. Not a single day of luxury, but every bit of the blame. Was he some kind of cosmic joke?
Outside the door, the crying gradually weakened until it faded entirely. Unable to resist, Kim Taehyung opened the door.
A tiny, frail little girl—likely Kim Jisoo, the youngest of the twins—was curled up beside the sofa, barely three years old. Her small head drooped weakly, her hair tangled and unkempt, her face pale. Her half-closed eyes were swollen from crying.
Truly the child of protagonists. Even though Kim Taehyung wasn’t fond of kids, he couldn’t bring himself to dislike such a beautiful little one.
He couldn’t fathom how a child so small could possibly go out and earn money to survive.
His thoughts were tangled, unsure what to say or do, so he lingered in the doorway without approaching.
Sensing movement, little Kim Jisoo hugged herself tighter, flinching away from the carpet. Her aunt always said she and her brother were too dirty to touch it. But she missed her brother so much, and she was so, so hungry.
No matter how hard she tried to endure, her instincts won out—tears silently rolled down her cheeks.
Kim Jisoo
Seeing his aunt hadn’t come closer, she whispered a plea, “Auntie… I’ll eat less from now on. Can you… can you bring my brother back?”
Too weak from hunger, her voice was barely audible.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Kim Taehyung only caught the word “auntie.” he walked to the sofa and bent down slightly. “What did you say?”
Kim Jisoo
Kim Jisoo flinched, but for her brother’s sake, she mustered the courage to look up. “I said…”
Her whisper-thin voice trailed off, her tearful, fearful yet strikingly clear eyes filled with confusion.
But Kim Taehyung noticed something was wrong. Having lived alone for so long, he had plenty of life experience and knew how to take care of himself —and others. The child’s breathing was too hot, her eyes too red.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"What’s wrong with you?”
Dislike aside, the child was still young. Since he had taken over the aunt’s body, he couldn’t just ignore her.
As she spoke, Kim Taehyung hand reached for the child’s forehead—burning.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
“You have a fever.”
Kim Taehyung (ore)
he frowned, hesitating only a moment before scooping the child up. “Where’s the first-aid kit?”
Kim Jisoo remained dazed, unresponsive.
Realizing He was dealing with a three-year-old, Kim Taehyung mentally scolded himself. he had planned to take the child to his room first, but when he pushed open the other door, a blast of cold air made him shiver.
Unlike the aunt’s well-furnished walk-in closet of a room, this one was barren. The child had no wardrobe—just a few neatly folded clothes in the corner. The bed had only a thin blanket, and there was no air conditioning. No wonder she had a fever.
Kim Taehyung decided the original owner’s eyes being gouged out wasn’t entirely unjustified.
He turned and carried tHe child back to his own room, bundling her in thick blankets.
Kim Jisoo squirmed slightly.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Kim Taehyung pinned the blankets down. “Stay still.”
he didn’t have the patience to soften his tone, so it came out a bit harsh.
Kim Jisoo
Kim Jisoo froze, but fear crept into her voice. “I’m… dirty.”
Kim Taehyung didn’t respond. He wasn’t good at comforting kids anyway.
After scouring the house, he found nothing but alcohol and cosmetics. With no other choice, he used the pitiful hundred-something yuan left in his account to order medicine. While waiting for the delivery, he fetched a basin of water to wipe the child down.
Perhaps because she’d been ignored earlier, the child stayed silent now, not uttering a word—just staring at him with red, swollen eyes. Kim Taehyung preferred it this way; less hassle.
But little jisoo was terrified inside. Her aunt… didn’t seem like her aunt anymore.
The old aunt had always looked at her and her brother with nothing but disgust and curses. He never let them touch the carpet, let alone carried them or allowed them into his room.
This new aunt barely spoke, but so far, he hadn’t thought a single hateful thing about her. It was so strange.
Though young, Kim Jisoo had always been able to see people’s trust thoughts in their eyes—a secret her brother told her to keep. So she had hidden it carefully all this time.
Never had she imagined she’d see a different side of his aunt.
With her brother gone, Kim Jisoo didn’t dare speak, staying perfectly still.
But her empty, starving stomach betrayed her—a loud growl echoed in the quiet room.
Kim Taehyung, who had been sitting nearby planning his next steps, heard it. When he turned, he saw the child desperately sucking in her stomach under the blankets.
As if that would stop the hunger.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
“Hungry?”
Kim Jisoo pressed her lips together and shook her head hard.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
“I don’t like kids who lie.” Kim Taehyung stood and walked out, pausing at the door to add, “Stay put.”
The fridge was empty—no surprise the original owner couldn’t cook.
Then again, if he could, he wouldn’t have blown through all the money the twins’ mother left behind.
With a sick child at home, Kim Taehyung couldn’t leave. Luckily, the kitchen had basic seasonings, a few eggs, and a pack of noodles—still within expiry. He quickly boiled a simple bowl of egg noodles.
When he returned to the room, the threatened child hadn’t moved an inch—only her eyes followed Kim Taehyung’s movements.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Amused, Kim Taehyung lifted the bundled-up child and brought the noodles to her lips. “Blow on it until it’s cool enough to eat.”
Kim Jisoo stared at him for a long time. After confirming there wasn’t a trace of resentment in this aunt’s heart, she finally gave in, clamping her tiny mouth around the chopsticks and devouring the entire bite.
She was just too hungry. She hadn’t eaten a thing since her brother left.
She took a bite but immediately burned her mouth. Afraid of being scolded by her aunt if she spat it out, she stubbornly forced herself to swallow.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
The next second, a slender hand held out a tissue in front of her, and her aunt tapped her cheek lightly with chopsticks. "Spit it out."
Kim Jisoo reflexively opened her mouth, and all the noodles landed on the tissue.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Without changing her expression, Kim Taehyung folded the tissue and tossed it into the trash. Then he looked up at the child. "What did I just say?"
What had Kim Taehyung said?
Kim Jisoo couldn’t remember at all and could only stare back helplessly.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
After a few seconds, Kim Taehyung sighed in resignation, blowing on the noodles to cool them before holding them to the child’s mouth. "Are you kids even capable of taking care of yourselves?"
Those books must have been lying.
This kid didn’t seem particularly bright—what kind of "genius twins" were they supposed to be?
Kim Jisoo didn’t understand. Right now, her little head was filled only with the aroma of that delicious bowl of noodles. She’d never known her aunt could cook, let alone make something this tasty.
She wanted to eat every last bite.
Kim Taehyung had never seen a child eat so well—no fussing, no mess, no food smeared all over their face and hands like those other kids who even dogs avoided. In the end, the child even held the bowl herself.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
When the doorbell rang, Kim Taehyung assumed it was the medicine and stood up. "Hold onto this. I’ll feed you when I get back."
The child nodded obediently.
But when Kim Taehyung returned with the medicine, he found the bowl placed neatly on the bedside table, half the noodles untouched.
Maybe she was full—being sick could kill an appetite.
Kim Taehyung didn’t think much of it. After securing the thermometer under the child’s arm, he poured a glass of water, blowing on it first to cool it down, worried the kid might gulp it down recklessly again.
As he blew, he noticed something odd—the child kept stealing glances at the half-eaten noodles, hesitant.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Still hungry?"
The child shook her head hurriedly.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Kids this age couldn’t hide anything. Kim Taehyung set the water glass aside and opened the medicine box, speaking softly. "I told you I don’t like children who lie."
Kim Jisoo
Sure enough, Kim Jisoo panicked, fidgeting as she struggled to explain. Finally, with a little strength back from eating, she lowered her head and whispered, "If I eat less… can you bring my brother home?"
Kim Taehyung paused, confused.
Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t seen the other child around. Kim Taehyung had only just transmigrated here and was still figuring things out. Between the sick child and his own disorientation, he hadn’t had time to wonder—he’d assumed the other kid was out earning money, just like in the novel.
As he considered this, his phone buzzed with a notification.
The screen lit up, and his eyes caught the message—a bank transfer notification, followed by several zeros.
After a brief moment of suffocating silence, he remembered.
The original owner had spent every last penny. Used to a lavish lifestyle, he couldn’t bear the sudden financial free-fall—so he’d turned to the children.
he’d sold one of them for temporary comfort.
Oh, no. This was bad. Really bad.
Author
Let's end this here ❤️
Chapter 2
Author
Hello Dear Readers 😘
Author
Hope you like this story 💗 💗 💗
Kim Taehyung looked down at the medicine in his hand, struck by the impulse to shove all of it into his mouth and end everything. How had he become a criminal in this mess?
He took a deep breath, steadying himself before feeding the fever-reducing medicine to the child.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Take this first."
Kim Taehyung (ore)
[Just give me a little more time to sort through the chaos in my head and figure out how to bring my brother back.]
Little Jisoo, who had been secretly observing her aunt's reaction, widened her eyes slightly upon hearing this inner monologue. Auntie was acting really strange today—but why?
Yet her young mind couldn’t dwell on anything too complicated. Afraid her aunt might change his mind, sHe quickly grabbed Kim Taehyung’s hand and swallowed the medicine, then hurriedly reached for her little purse.
Kim Jisoo
"Auntie, I have money here," she said, holding up her tiny phone.
Kim Jisoo
"Can... can we buy Brother back?"
The original owner of this body had never liked taking care of children, seeing them as burdens. He’d given the siblings a phone just to contact him when necessary.
Still, Kim Taehyung was genuinely curious about how much the two kids had managed to save. When he checked, though, he found only a few hundred yuan inside.
he chuckled softly. It seemed the two little ones hadn’t yet started earning much.
But his amusement soon faded into a sigh. How ironic—just a minute ago, he’d had even less money than these two kids.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Placing the phone back under the child’s pillow, Taehyung added, "Don’t show your phone or wallet to anyone from now on, okay?"
Little Jisoo nodded half-understandingly, but what stuck with her more was that her aunt didn’t want her money. She and her brother had saved for so long—enough for lots of bread, she’d heard.
Kim Jisoo
"Auntie," she pressed anxiously, "aren’t we buying Brother back?"
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Taehyung pulled the blanket over her. "You don’t need to spend your money. Go to sleep."
The child stared at her with wide, pleading eyes, as if on the verge of tears again.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
After a brief silence, Taehyung awkwardly mimicked the way people on TV comforted kids, patting the blanket twice. "He’ll come back."
Kim Taehyung (ore)
[I heard sick kids are hard to soothe. Please don’t cry.]
Hearing this, Little Jisoo squeezed her eyes shut, forcing back unshed tears.
If Brother wasn’t back yet, she couldn’t afford to make Auntie angry.
Taehyung was surprised by how well-behaved the child was. Once the girl fell asleep, he stayed by the bed until the fever broke before finally stepping out.
Passing the bathroom, he paused and turned back to glance in the mirror. Seeing his own familiar face staring back, he couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. The world had truly gone mad.
Yet that familiarity also brought him a strange sense of comfort. At least now he could think clearly about what to do next.
Being transmigrated into a novel was unexpected, but he’d spent his childhood drifting from place to place, adapting to all kinds of environments—though this one was admittedly more "extreme."
Taehyung had always believed that as long as he was alive, he could keep moving forward, even if the path ahead was uncertain.
That was how he’d survived all these years.
He wasn’t good at building relationships with kids, but He wasn’t worried about his strained ties with these two. Eventually, they’d return to their biological father and a loving stepmother. he was just a minor villain in their early story.
Surveying the apartment—a spacious four-bedroom, two-living-room unit in a prime location, far better than his old rented room—he reminded himself that this had been transferred to his name by the twins’ mother. At least he wouldn’t be thrown out penniless. When the time came to part ways, he could earn enough to rent a small place for himself.
For now, his only tasks were to repay the money the original owner had squandered from the twins and ensure they stayed healthy until their father came for them.
But both were near-impossible missions.
As a fresh graduate with no savings, he’d never even seen that kind of money, let alone spent it. He had no idea where to find a job that could help him earn enough before their father showed up.
And the other child had already been sold off by the original owner.
In the novel’s plot, the aunt never bought the boy back. Instead, he pretended to be mentally unstable until the buyers returned him in disgust. The original owner then threw a fit, accusing them of breaching the contract, and managed to claw back half the money.
But even that half plunged the spendthrift woman into financial ruin, making him resent the kids even more. When he discovered they’d started earning money on their own, he schemed daily to take it from them.
Taehyung exhaled. He couldn’t wait for the boy to be returned—that debt would land squarely on his shoulders.
With one child still sick at home, he couldn’t leave yet. But he had a week before the boy’s return to the original timeline. He still had a chance to act first.
He had to bring him back, but he couldn’t be the passive party—otherwise, the penalty fees would be astronomical.
Until then, he couldn’t touch the money from selling the child. He needed a fast-paying job to stabilize his situation.
A twinge of envy struck him. Even these two kids had managed to save a few hundred yuan. What had they been doing?
By evening, the sick child woke up, her fever gone and color returning to her cheeks. Taehyung wiped her face and handed her clothes.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"We’re going downstairs. Come with me."
Kim Taehyung (ore)
[Such a young child shouldn’t be left alone at home.]
Though unsure of her aunt’s intentions, Little Jisoo didn’t dare disobey. She quietly dressed herself, head bowed.
But Taehyung frowned. Even in the thickest clothes he could find, the girl still looked underdressed—while the original owner’s closet overflowed with designer labels.
After rummaging, he managed to dig out a scarf and hat that fit the child, finally somewhat satisfied.
His gaze lingered on the luxury items he couldn’t even name. An idea sparked—he had no interest in these things. Selling them secondhand could at least ease the immediate crisis.
Back in college, he’d worked part-time as a model and picked up photo-editing skills from photographers. For practice, he carefully photographed one of the less expensive bags and lightly edited the images on his phone before listing it at the market price on a resale platform.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
[If this sells, at least the kids won’t go hungry.]
Little Jisoo looked up, puzzled. Was this really her aunt’s voice?
Kim Taehyung (ore)
The old Auntie would’ve snapped, "All you do is eat. Skipping a meal won’t kill you, you little burden."
Pressing her lips together, the girl touched the warm hat and scarf but stayed silent.
When they got home, she’d secretly message her brother. He was so much smarter—he’d know what was happening.
Outside, a fine drizzle drifted through the air. As Taehyung stepped out of the elevator, a gust of cold wind hit her face. Being a typical southerner, he instinctively shoved his hands into his pockets and walked a few steps before suddenly stopping, as if realizing something.
When he turned around, the child was still trailing closely behind him.
Bundled up tightly, Little Jisoo struggled to see the ground, her neck stiff as she hurried to keep up while carefully avoiding a stumble—her movements resembling those of a tiny penguin.
Kim Jisoo
Timidly, the child murmured, "Auntie, I’m walking."
Taehyung fell silent. He wasn’t used to close contact with others, yet he couldn’t ignore the child’s earnest efforts.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
His fingers twitched inside his pocket. "Can I hold your hand?"
The question seemed directed at the child, yet also at himself.
Little Jisoo’s eyes widened abruptly, as if caught off guard.
Seeing this, Taehyung grew even more uneasy. Without hesitation, he reached out and grasped the child’s small, icy hand.
Her hand is so tiny—how did she manage to hold that big bowl earlier?
So cold. I’ll buy her gloves once I have money.
Little Jisoo stared blankly as her aunt pulled her sleeve down slightly, covering their joined hands, then numbly followed him forward.
What’s going on? Why is he acting so strange since he got sick?
Kim Taehyung (ore)
When they arrived at the neighborhood grocery store, Taehyung instinctively started, "Do you—"
He cut himself off mid-sentence. The meager balance in his bank account hardly gave him the right to ask what the child wanted to eat.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
So he changed course. "Is there anything you don’t eat?"
Little Jisoo shook her head vacantly.
At least she’s easy to feed.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Feeling slightly better, Taehyung released her hand. "Walk in front of me. No running around."
With just the two of them at home, and the child having just recovered from illness, Taehyung didn’t plan to cook anything heavy. He had just picked up some greens when he noticed the child tugging at an empty bag, gazing at him expectantly.
Kim Jisoo
Almost pleadingly, Little Jisoo offered, "Auntie, I’ll help you carry things."
If her aunt liked it, then Little Le'an wouldn’t just prove she was easy to feed—she’d also show she was obedient. That way, her aunt wouldn’t sell her off too.
Someone
Nearby, a mother scolded her son, who was throwing a tantrum for snacks. "Look at that child over there, helping her aunt carry vegetables. All you do is whine when we go out."
Despite her words, the mother still grabbed a few snacks for her son, picked him up, and left.
Once they were gone, the surroundings quieted. Taehyung studied the child before him—no crying, no fussing, never reaching out greedily for anything. It was remarkably worry-free.
Memories surfaced of his own childhood, crouching outside convenience stores, enviously watching other kids enjoy sweets.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"What can you carry?"
Kim Taehyung (ore)
He smiled, placing a 50-cent lollipop into the child’s hands. "Hold this."
That’s really all I can spare.
On the way back, Taehyung’s hands were full, leaving him unable to hold the child. He slowed his pace, but after a few steps, Little Jisoo turned back nervously, extending her small hand—the lollipop still carefully cradled in her palm.
Kim Jisoo
"Auntie, you forgot the candy."
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"It’s for you."
Kim Jisoo
Little Jisoo blinked, hesitant. "I... can eat it?"
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Good kids get candy." Taehyung’s lips curved slightly.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Turn around. Don’t look at me—watch where you’re going."
Since he couldn’t hold the child, he made her walk ahead to prevent falls or getting lost.
Even after returning to the warmth of their home and sitting on the floor, Little Jisoo still felt it was unreal. She clutched the candy, not daring to eat it.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Sit on the couch."
At her aunt’s voice, the child looked up, confused.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"From now on, you can’t sit on the floor without my permission." Taehyung pointed to the sofa.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Couches are for sitting, not decoration. Understand?"
It sounded stern, yet why didn’t it feel scary at all?
By the time Little Jisoo processed it, she was already on the couch, and her aunt had walked into the kitchen, satisfied.
In the end, she didn’t eat the candy. Instead, she secretly took out her phone, found her brother’s contact, and followed the steps he’d taught her, whispering several voice messages.
Kim Jisoo
"Brother, I’m sick."
Kim Jisoo
"But Auntie seems sick too. He’s acting really weird."
Kim Jisoo
"He hugged me..."
Meanwhile, in another household, Little Suga immediately rushed to his room upon receiving his sister’s messages.
The couple who’d bought him had grown accustomed to his behavior—this child, though strikingly handsome, was quiet and odd-tempered, prone to inexplicable outbursts. They’d begun suspecting they’d been swindled into buying a dull-witted child.
Little Suga shut the door, listening carefully to his sister’s messages. His soft, round face scrunched into a frown.
That awful aunt would never do these things. There has to be a reason. But the couple hadn’t grown tired of him yet—he couldn’t return just yet.
Kim Suga
Worried, he instructed, "Don’t let him trick you. Wait for me."
Kim Jisoo
"Brother, when are you coming back?"
Kim Jisoo
"I heard Auntie’s thoughts—he wants to bring you back."
Little Suga grew even more skeptical. How could that be? That horrible aunt would sooner sell my sister too!
His sister was too naive to understand their aunt’s schemes. He was probably being nice now just to lower Little Jisoo’s guard before selling her off!
Panic set in. He couldn’t let that happen.
If that’s the case... I’ll have to act worse to get sent back.
He looked down at his freshly changed pants, his small face solemn with resolve.
Author
Let's end this here ❤️
Chapter 3
Author
Hello Dear Readers 😘
Author
Hope you like this story 💗 💗 💗
The dining table was silent, a quietness Taehyung was accustomed to as someone used to solitude. Yet today felt slightly different.
The child beside him ate without a sound, yet their presence was palpable, frequently diverting Taehyung’s attention. Naturally, there were no child-sized utensils at home, and he hadn’t thought to buy any. Now, the little one clumsily fumbled between a spoon and chopsticks, struggling to decide which to use. After much effort, only a few bites made it into their mouth, beads of sweat forming on their forehead from the effort.
These children had grown up under the care of their original guardian, learning very little. If this continued, the food would go cold.
Taehyung slowed his own eating, inexplicably recalling his own childhood—living under someone else’s roof, with no one to teach him how to grow up or develop good habits. While other children had already mastered chopsticks and neat handwriting, he could only watch blankly.
As a result, he always lagged half a step behind his peers.
It wasn’t so much that he disliked children; rather, he simply didn’t want to revisit the past.
Watching the child fail yet again to pick up food and resort to eating plain rice with a spoon, Taehyung grabbed a clean pair of chopsticks.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Watch me," he said, placing food into the child’s bowl.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Use the spoon for now. Later, you can slowly learn how to use chopsticks by observing me."
Little Jisoo clutched the spoon tightly and nodded cautiously. With the food now in the bowl, they could simply lean over and scoop it into their mouth while studying how their aunt ate.
But soon, their attention drifted.
This aunt’s mind was so quiet—no incomprehensible chatter about clothes, bags, or nightclubs—so their focus settled on Taehyung’s face.
In the past, Little Jisoo had never dared to look directly at their aunt. On the rare occasions they did, the harsh thoughts in his mind would frighten them. But now, they could finally see their aunt’s features clearly.
They racked their brain for words to describe his but came up short, settling only on "pretty"—prettier than the princesses in the cartoons their brother had shown them. Her eyes even seemed to glow!
Their brother often said posting nice photos online would attract attention. If they posted a picture of their aunt, would lots of people like it?
But no… their brother didn’t like their aunt.
And they… well, today, they liked this sick version of their aunt just a little.
After dinner, Little Jisoo prepared to quietly retreat to their room to sleep as usual, but halfway there, their aunt called out.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Where are you going?"
Kim Jisoo
Hearing the coolness in his voice, Little Jisoo replied timidly, "To sleep."
Kim Jisoo
After a pause, they added, "I’ll wash my feet."
That room had no air conditioning, and the blankets were thin. Letting a child who had just recovered from a fever sleep there didn’t sit right with Taehyung.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
He opened his own bedroom door. "Sleep here tonight."
Little Jisoo froze in place.
Taehyung walked into the child’s room and found a pile of neatly folded clothes. Kneeling down, he couldn’t help but smile—the child still hadn’t quite mastered folding, so while the clothes looked orderly from afar, up close they were just haphazardly stuffed together. At least they weren’t dirty.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
he picked out two sets and said, his voice carrying a faint trace of amusement, "You had a fever today, so you need a bath first. You know how to wash your feet, but can you bathe yourself?"
Little Jisoo nodded softly.
Still uneasy, Taehyung followed them into the bathroom.
Kim Jisoo
The child stretched on tiptoe to fiddle with the faucet, muttering, "Left, right… is left the hot water?" Without their brother here, they couldn’t remember.
A sudden spray of water drenched them completely.
Luckily, Taehyung had turned on the heater beforehand. He shut off the water and began filling the tub while undressing the child.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"How did you two usually bathe before?"
Kim Jisoo
Thinking they’d done something wrong, Little Jisoo lowered their head and mumbled, "Brother."
Kim Taehyung (ore)
[So the brother’s the clever one.]
Kim Jisoo
Little Jisoo grew nervous. "But I’m learning too."
Taehyung’s hands stilled as he noticed the bruises mottling the child’s fair skin. His pupils constricted slightly.
He'd known the original guardian abused the children, but he hadn’t expected it to be this severe. The patches of blue and purple, fresh and old, were horrifying to see. His fingers trembled, afraid to touch them.
The child, however, seemed entirely unaware of anything unusual about their body—perhaps already numb to it.
What was truly frightening was that despite all this, the child today hadn’t shown the slightest resistance to his words, obedient beyond belief.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
[How could they be so docile?]
Kim Taehyung (ore)
After testing the water temperature, Taehyung lifted the child into the tub and finally spoke. "Kid."
Kim Jisoo
Little Jisoo blinked. "Are you calling me?"
But their name wasn’t "Kid."
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Taehyung hummed in confirmation, his voice slightly hoarse. "From now on, if you don’t like or don’t want something, learn to say no."
This concept was still foreign to Little Jisoo, who’d been taught never to disobey—or face punishment. They blinked, unsure how to respond, and quietly picked up a small towel to scrub their arm.
The spacious bathroom was filled only with the sporadic sound of water. Taehyung collected himself and said nothing more, distractedly counting the bruises as if tallying the days he had left to live.
After the bath, he led the child back to her room to sleep, contemplating whether to spend the night on the sofa instead. The living room had air conditioning, and the sofa was large enough to avoid catching a cold.
He wasn’t ready to share a bed with a child who was still a stranger to him.
Just as he was about to turn off the light and leave, the quiet child suddenly spoke.
Kim Jisoo
"Will you hit me?"
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Taehyung paused and turned back. "What?"
Kim Jisoo
Tucked under the blankets, the child lay motionless, staring at the ceiling. "If I say no… will you hit me?"
Was this their response to his words in the bathroom?
Kim Taehyung (ore)
After a few seconds of silence, Taehyung returned to the bedside, his dark eyes lowering. "No."
Kim Taehyung (ore)
His voice was soft. "None of this was your fault. The one who hit you was the one in the wrong."
Even if he hadn’t been the one to hurt them, how could a child possibly understand that? Taehyung knew that at this moment, what the child needed wasn’t a lesson in right and wrong—just reassurance.
Kim Jisoo
"Then… will you take medicine?"
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Medicine?"
Kim Jisoo
Little Jisoo’s gaze flickered nervously. "Auntie, are you sick? If you take medicine, you’ll get better."
Kim Jisoo
The child pressed on. "If you get better… will you still hold me?"
Realization dawned on Taehyung. So the child thought his change in behavior today was because he was ill?
Kim Taehyung (ore)
[Kids really do have wild imaginations.]
But as for whether he’d hold them again, Taehyung couldn’t promise anything. He wasn’t used to physical affection, and once these children were reunited with their father, they likely wouldn’t need his embrace anyway.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Unsure how to comfort a child, he settled on a different answer. "At the very least, I won’t hit you."
What he didn’t know was that, for Little Jisoo At this moment, those words were already enough.
Enough that, for once, they forgot to be perfectly well-behaved—kicking their feet under the covers in excitement, creating tiny bumps in the blanket.
Then, realizing their lapse, they peeked anxiously at their aunt.
But Auntie simply turned off the lights, leaving only a dim bedside lamp. Under the warm yellow glow, his face appeared even gentler. After grabbing a quilt, he walked out.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"Go to sleep."
Little Jisoo quickly closed her eyes, only daring to peek open after hearing Auntie leave. She fished out her phone and secretly video-called her brother, as they had agreed—she couldn’t sleep without him.
The call connected almost instantly. Little Suga had thrown a tantrum to convince the couple who bought him to let him sleep alone, just so he could talk to his sister. His room was now quiet too.
Kim Jisoo
Little Jisoo whispered, "Brother, I’m sleeping in Auntie’s bed. He even praised me."
Kim Suga
"Praised you for what?"
Kim Jisoo
The little girl thought for a moment, tapping her head. "He said my brain works well!"
Did that mean she wasn’t stupid?
On the other end, Little Suga was baffled. Why had their mean auntie become so strange after just two days apart?
Kim Suga
"Is she sleeping with you?"
Kim Suga
Still uneasy, Little Suga pressed, "Go check quietly—where is he?"
The siblings hid under the covers for over half an hour before Little Jisoo tiptoed out of bed and cracked the door open. Through the gap, she saw Auntie asleep on the sofa in the living room, his brows slightly furrowed like a sleeping beauty.
Kim Suga
But Little Suga’s expression darkened instantly. "Go back now!"
Kim Jisoo
Confused, Little Jisoo obediently scurried back to bed. "What’s wrong, Brother?"
Kim Suga
Little Suga clenched his lips tightly. "She’s guarding you."
Sleeping in the living room meant he was afraid his sister would run away. And praising her "good brain"? Their silly little sister never got compliments—this proved their mean auntie was still planning to sell her!
Kim Suga
"Don’t hang up," he ordered.
Little Jisoo didn’t understand, but he truly hadn’t heard Auntie’s thoughts about hurting her.
Had her special ability broken because she was sick?
The stress from the previous day and caring for a sick child had exhausted Taehyung, so he slept soundly and woke up early the next morning. He remembered the designer bags he’d listed on a secondhand website.
To his surprise, even bags worth tens of thousands had attracted many inquiries. The world really wasn’t short of wealthy people.
Eager for quick cash, Taehyung chose a local buyer and arranged to meet offline, bypassing the platform. The buyer was also interested in his other bags, so they agreed to authenticate them in person for their first transaction.
Desperate times called for desperate measures—Taehyung had barely over ten yuan to his name, not even enough for gas to pick up the other child later.
After setting the meeting time and place, he checked on the little girl first.
The child stirred awake as soon as she opened the door, eyes wary until she recognized Taehyung and relaxed.
Little Jisoo had spent the night haunted by nightmares of being sold, thanks to her brother’s frantic lessons on how to escape child traffickers.
Unaware of the girl’s thoughts, Taehyung felt her forehead to confirm the fever was gone, then dressed her and took her to wash up.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
"I’ll make breakfast. Play by yourself for now."
Little Suga, who’d kept the call connected all night, immediately pressed his ear to the phone, listening for any signs of danger.
First washing his sister’s face and dressing her, now cooking?
He scowled. Why hadn’t their mean auntie done any of this before selling him?
Little Jisoo, still on the call, carried the phone to the living room, where Taehyung soon brought out two bowls of noodles.
Without prompting, the little girl climbed onto her chair and blew on the steaming bowl.
Taehyung was pleased. He didn’t mind teaching as long as the child was willing to learn—it saved him a lot of trouble.
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Thinking ahead, he said, "I need to go out later. Since no one’s home, you’ll come with me?"
Little Jisoo’s face instantly paled.
Panicked, Little Suga tried to warn her, but the door to his room suddenly opened. Afraid of being caught, he hung up and sent a voice message before hiding his phone.
Someone
"Sweetheart," the couple who’d bought him walked in, lifting his blanket to reveal a wet bed. Their faces soured.
Someone
"We put you in a diaper last night!"
This child was not only emotionally unstable but also couldn’t control his bladder. Even at three, they still had to diaper him at night.
Little Suga stayed silent, tossing the diaper he’d deliberately removed and torn onto the floor.
He’d drunk gallons of water and held it in all night just to wet the bed!
Someone
The young father rubbed his temples. "Clean him up. We’ll take him to the hospital later."
The couple had agreed to get his IQ tested—if he was truly slow, they’d return him. They wanted a smart, pretty, low-maintenance child, not one who needed endless patience.
While they fetched clean clothes, Little Suga hatched his next plan. He had to make them return him today, or his sister would be sold next.
Time to take things up a notch—maybe a big, stinky surprise would do the trick!
Author
Let's end this here ❤️
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Subscribe 😘
Kim Taehyung (ore)
Bye bye 👋 👋 👋
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