4.

Chapter 4: Five Million Dollars

“Little white rabbit” was the nickname that Jeon Jungkook had given Kim Taehyung the first time they had met.

In this way he had called Kim Taehyung for ten years. Kim Taehyung knew there was no chance of him making Jeon Jungkook change it so he didn’t bother to waste any energy on it.

Actually listening to it now, there was some sense of nostalgia.

Kim Taehyung stood up and nodded at Jeon Jungkook. “Yes. Thank you Mr Jeon for finding the time to see me.”

Actually the Jeon Jungkook of ten years later didn’t change much. Especially his face which wouldn’t lose to many young stars. And his wild charisma which when Jeon Jungkook was young, made him seem older than his age, would also when he was older make it difficult to tell his age.

A cigarette dangled casually from Jeon Jungkook’s mouth and he ambled over carelessly to another couch and threw himself onto it. “Sit, say whatever it is you want to say.”

Kim Taehyung sat properly. He didn’t beat around the bush. “I want to borrow money from Mr Jeon.”

“Oh?” Jeon Jungkook raised his eyebrow. He didn’t disguise his surprise. “How much?”

“Five million.” Kim Taehyung said calmly. “In cash.”

“Five million in cash....” Jeon Jungkook smoked his cigar. Very slowly he blew a puff at Kim Taehyung. “That’s a lot of money ah. Do you mind letting me know the reason?”

“Of course. My brother Kim Younghoon owes five million to an underground money lender. There is no choice but to repay it.” Kim Taehyung lowered his eyes and considered whether or not he should pretend to be the previous him: naive with unrealistic stubbornness and perseverance. 

But after thinking about it for a few moments he thought, what was the point?

“If it’s not managed well, then if the news is leaked, then I’m afraid that it will affect my endorsement deals.” After finishing speaking, Kim Taehyung couldn’t resist the urge to turn his head and cough twice because of the second hand smoke.

Jeon Jungkook’s eyes flashed with obvious calculation. He seemed to be questioning of Kim Taehyung and his suddenly different behaviour.

“But you don’t look nervous ah, so it seems like you don’t really care if it’s repaid or not?”

Jeon Jungkook spoke lightly like a feather, but in reality he really immediately grasped a crucial point.

Because if Kim Taehyung didn’t help borrow to repay the money, then the misfortune Kim Younghoon would bring to Kim Taehyung was the damages from those endorsement deals. 

However if Kim Taehyung helped him, then the person who would take on the burden of those debts would be Kim Taehyung himself. 

No matter if he borrowed or didn’t borrow, in actuality there was no difference to Kim Taehyung. The only real difference was whether or not his parents and his brother could live peacefully.

“You’re right.” Kim Taehyung could not help but smile bitterly. “Whether or not it’s repaid makes no difference to me. In the end it will be me that owes money. So I want to ask Mr Jeon for help. After lending this time, to make sure that there isn’t a second time. This will be better for the company too.”

“Am I so effective? How come I didn’t know.” Jeon Jungkook snuffed out his cigar and raised his chin. “Why don’t you explain it to me?”

“... to be your kept lover. The five million is the price. Kim Younghoon will never dare to touch someone who is Mr Jeon’s person.”

Kim Taehyung’s voice was steady, however he still couldn’t help but lower his gaze.

Jeon Jungkook froze for a few seconds, and then suddenly laughed uproariously.

“Keep you!? Hahaha- I didn’t hear wrong right!? Hahahaha!!”

Kim Long couldn’t control a flush from rising onto his face. He still remembered the first time he rejected Jeon Jungkook. 

The way he had spoken had been extremely iron-willed, even though at that time he had been frightened to death. So right now in the face of Jeon Jungkook’s loud laughter, Kim Taehyung could only mock himself in his heart.

“Two years ago what did you say? I still remember, hahahah-!! You said something like your morals would never allow you to cross that line, and didn’t you want to report me to the police? Hahahaha!!”

Jeon Jungkook laughed loudly for some time. After finishing he even used his hand to wipe away his tears. “Now you want me to keep you, hahaha.... You’re good, I forgive you for waking me up in the middle of the night. Hearing all of this makes it worth it.”

Kim Taehyung’s mouth jerked into a mocking smile. Back then when he was called “a little white rabbit”, it really wasn’t for no reason.

“Then, what does Mr Jeon think?”

Jeon Jungkook’s mirth faded and became a light and vague smile.

“Shouldn’t you ask me first whether or not when I answered the phone last night, if there was anyone sleeping beside me?”

After he spoke Kim Taehyung paused for a few moments. Afterwards there was a faint sense of disappointment.

Because from Jeon Jungkook’s words, Kim Taehyung immediately understood that the other man had taken him as yet another young star who would abandon his morals for the sake of money. 

After all he had come here to sell himself voluntarily, and something like that obviously wasn’t worth much. This meant that between the him and the Jeon Jungkook in his previous life there had been a faint sense of respect and a blurred type of camaraderie. However now that he had asked Jeon Jungkook this question, this type of camaraderie no longer existed.

However Kim Taehyung did not regret his actions.

The reason he asked Jeon Jungkook this question was also to thank him for what he had done for him at the very end. He wanted to thank him for holding up that umbrella.

After his rebirth, Kim Taehyung didn’t really have anything to give Jeon Jungkook. Only this.

To use his body as a recompense, thinking about it it was somewhat dog blooded. 

{T/N: Dog blooded \= melodramatic. Common Chinese phrase so I left it as is.} 

However thinking about his body, he didn’t know how many years he had left in this lifetime. If Jeon Jungkook wanted it, then he could just take it. And if he didn’t then at least Kim Taehyung had done his best to repay him in his heart.

As for Kim Younghoon, if Jeon Jungkook rejected his offer, then he supposed that the company would not act as before and keep lending money to him. 

{T/N: As in if JJK loses interest in him then no need to keep helping him.} 

The him that had no house and no assets, and only two short months of fame, if he didn’t have any backers then there was no way of borrowing five million from the bank. If this was how it turned out, then really there was no way of him getting money to help Kim Younghoon and so this path was completely cut off for him. It can also be considered a way of finishing things cleanly.

So Kim Taehyung didn’t force anything. He expressed that he understood. “If there was, then it’s my mistake.”

After he finished then he got up to leave. “I still want to thank Mr Jeon for your time today.” Kim Taehyung nodded at Jeon Jungkook. “I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Jeon Jungkook’s eyes sharpened. He stared fixedly at Kim Taehyung like a poisonous snake. “What about the money? You don’t want it?”

Kim Taehyung paused. “To find someone with Mr Jeon’s qualities will be difficult, however at least I can find–” He didn’t finish speaking before Jeon Jungkook suddenly reached and snatched him around the wrist and jerked him back forcefully that Kim Taehyung’s entire person fell into him.

Kim Taehyung was shocked. However after the last few days of topsy-turvy events, he didn’t put up much resistance to the fact that his entire person was now pressing down on Jeon Jungkook’s body. 

Kim Taehyung was almost 180cm tall, however he was still shorter than Jeon Jungkook by half a head and that wasn’t even mentioning their difference in muscle tone. Kim Taehyung obediently let Jeon Jungkook raise his chin up and was gazed at calculatingly.

Jeon Jungkook narrowed his eyes. “You’ve changed a lot.”

“When a rabbit gets angry, it can also bite people.” Kim Taehyung calmly replied under Jeon Jungkook’s piercing gaze.

Jeon Jungkook stared at Kim Taehyung for several seconds. He seemed to think of something but in the next moment he suddenly used force and holding Kim Taehyung’s chin, forcefully kissed him. It was a impolite kiss, extremely searing.

The tyrannical tongue seemed to want to lay claim to its kingdom, thrusting deep into Kim Taehyung’s mouth.

Kim Taehyung couldn’t help but freeze slightly. Even though in his previous life he had gone out with Kang Chireul, however the two of them rarely had any violent interactions. 

And the strong scent of tobacco in Jeon Jungkook’s mouth made Kim Taehyung feel slightly dizzy. However under Jeon Jungkook’s strong offense, Kim Taehyung was able to recover and remind himself to relax and allow Jeon Jungkook’s actions.

So once Jeon Jungkook finally released Kim Taehyung, he dangerously narrowed his eyes. “It seems you’re more experienced than before?”

Kim Taehyung slightly pressed his numb lips together. “.... don’t force yourself.” It was impossible for him to return to the naive youth of his previous life.

Jeon Jungkook’s expression became suddenly dark. However it quickly faded because he once again grasped Kim Taehyung’s chin and kissed him again. However before this Jeon Jungkook gave him his answer.

“Then serve me well. Five million dollars, settled.”

***

The next day, a silver limited edition SUV came to a stop outside the apartment that was Kim Taehyung’s old home in T City.

This was an old apartment with six floors. Eight years ago the two elderly Kim parents who had been at that time farmers in an even more remote area had caught onto the development wind. 

Their farm had been taken back by the government and they had received a sum of money. At that time they had listened to the newly graduated from university Kim Younghoon and came to T City to purchase two apartments in this old building, one upstairs and one downstairs.

The two old people considered it carefully. Now that they didn’t have their farm they could only rely on their sons. If they purchased like this then they would live downstairs and their oldest son Kim Younghoon would live upstairs after getting married. 

That way they could take care of each other and help raise their grandchildren. As for their youngest son Kim Taehyung well it was up to him to make his own way in the world. The two old people didn’t have the resources to help him do anything.

So in fact Kim Taehyung had only lived here for a few years before going to university in A City. So he wasn’t extremely familiar with this place.

***

Kim Taehyung wore large sunglasses and descended from the car.

Today he was wearing a light gray long-sleeved shirt and pant suits. It was very different from his on-screen white T-shirt and blue jeans fashionable look, it was much more mature. The things that Kim Taehyung had experienced in his previous life were not fake. Right now his thoughts and actions were very different to the way people in his generation behaved.

Kim Taehyung held the car door, bent over and said to his driver of today, “Thank you Mr Jeon. I can go up by myself.” T City and A City were separated by around five hours drive, approximately it was at the limit of somewhere one could drive to and from in one day.

Jeon Jungkook who was sitting in the driver seat and smoking as usual, turned his head. “En? Do you need me to make an appearance?”

Kim Taehyung lightly smiled. “To some people, they might not recognize a person. But they will definitely recognize money.”

Jeon Jungkook looked at Kim Taehyung a few times. Since yesterday’s “exchange” was settled, the Kim Taehyung in front of his eyes became more and more difficult to understand.

“Okay. I’ll wait here then.” Jeon Jungkook took out something from his pocket and flicked it towards Kim Taehyung. “But since I’m your patron and the purchase has been settled, then we can’t forget about our responsibilities.”

Kim Taehyung reached out his hand and received it. When it was in his hand he saw that it was a silver watch. In the front it was filled with silver colored loose diamonds. 

Only on the four positions of the time indicators it was changed to four blue gemstones. It was lucky that the metal shape was very sleek and shapely, otherwise it could only be described using the terms “blingy” and “ostentatious”.

Kim Taehyung didn’t say anything. He only put matter-of-factly placed the watch onto his left arm and lightly covered it with his sleeve. “Thank you Mr Jeon.”

“Are you still calling me Mr Jeon?” Jeon Jungkook raised his chin.

“Brother Jeon,” Kim Taehyung changed it.

Jeon Jungkook made an “en” noise, and then smiled in a playful manner. “After you complete your business, then following that it’s time for our personal business.”

Kim Taehyung nodded his head slightly. He didn’t reply to these words and only closed the door and went up the stairs.

***

The Kim family had two apartments. They had purchased the fifth floor and the sixth floor.

It was a small apartment that didn’t have an elevator. So the higher levels were cheaper than the lower levels.

Kim Taehyung slowly walked up the stairs that were both familiar and unfamiliar. The memories that he didn’t want to remember floated through his head.

“You, you unfilial son!! How dare you come back!?”

“Do you want your brother and us to be cursed to death!? Do you want to force us to die!?”

“Do you know how the neighbours talk about us!? They say we have a perverted son!! Thinking all day about men’s bottoms!!”

“What are you doing! Do you know what this would do to your brother!! You almost ruined his business don’t you know!!”

“If you want to be disgusting then go be disgusting your yourself!! Don’t drag us down with you!! Get out!!”

“What did you say!? You still have something to say! Get out! I’ll beat you to death!! Beat you to death!!”

“What kind of curse have I been placed under ah!! Why did I give birth to a sick thing like you–!! Dear God ah–”

After that there had been beating and kicking.

At that time his mother had torn her voice hoarse crying and screaming, those cries still echoed in his ears.

His father had only given him the sight of his fleeing back.

As for his brother Kim Younghoon, he only said with a bitter face, that he never thought his own younger brother was like this...

These events from his previous life made Kim Taehyung stand at the door of his house for a long time before he finally pressed the doorbell.

After university, there was no longer his room inside his house, and so of course he also didn’t have a key.

The door was opened very quickly. It was Kim Younghoon whose eyes were bloodshot.

“Little brother!! Did you get the money!?”

***

A few minutes later, Kim Taehyung sat inside the living room. He was assaulted on all sides from questions from Father Kim, Mother Kim and Kim Younghoon.

“Where’s the money? Ah Taehyung, you borrowed it didn’t you?” Mother Kim directly asked impatiently.

“Your brother is waiting for the money to save his life ah!! You don’t live here so you don’t know what we’ve been through these few days!! Everytime we pick up the phone there’s strange laughter from the other end, and everytime we go out there’s someone in black following ah!! They’re not even scared of the police!! They just keep following!! How can we live like this ah!!”

“That’s right, little brother. You, you definitely got the money right?!” Kim Younghoon grabbed Kim Taehyung’s hand in a crazed manner. His grip was so strong he left a red mark. “I only have three days left!! Three days! If I can’t come up with the money, then both me, mom and dad will be over!!”

Father Kim and Mother Kim also were beyond logic. They said in a panicked manner, “Yes! Don’t you spend all day every day filming TV and movies?! You should have earned a lot of money right!! How come you’re not talking!! It’s such a small thing, why can’t you help your brother!?”

“Mom, five million is not a small sum....” Kim Taehyung finally raised his head and interrupted Mother Kim’s speech.

“Be honest Ah Taehyung, are you blaming me for been biased! Ah?! Is it because you blame us for giving the house to your brother is that what it is!? However he’s your brother ah!! There’s no need to separate things between brothers!! We’ve raised you for so long, eating, using, what did we not give you!? And you pick this timing to start to nitpick, aren’t you being extremely heartless!?”

{T/N: By the way I’m not exaggerating the number of !! and !?, the author really put this much lol.}

Originally Kim Taehyung had wanted to reach into his pocket to take out the cheque, but after hearing Mother Kim speak, a thought that he had never had in his previous life suddenly struck him.

“Right now these two houses, if you sell them, isn’t it worth around five million?”

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