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The moment the variety show "Seasons of the Wealthy" was announced, it sparked heated discussions among netizens.

"Is it the Kim Family? Will that century-old prestigious Kim Family participate?"

"The Kim Family is practically the most high-profile wealthy family these days. If they don’t join, who will? The notoriously low-key Jeon Family?"

"Pfft, the Kim Family only stays relevant because Ruan Nian carries them. Otherwise, with their snobbish attitude, how could they possibly maintain this level of popularity?"

"Just think about how much Ruan Nian has improved the Kim Family’s public image. If they dare look down on her for marrying into wealth again, they’ll truly learn the power of public opinion."

"And especially that elder brother, Kim Taehyung—the epitome of a bitter, meddlesome troublemaker! If not for his interference, Ruan Nian would’ve married into the family ages ago!"

As the online debates raged on, the young man scrolling through Weibo comments in the nightclub grew increasingly irritated.

He glanced at Kim Taehyung, who was resting his forehead in his hands, nursing a drunken headache, and whispered, "Taehyung, Taehyung, are you just going to let them talk about you like this?"

The intoxicated man furrowed his brows, seemingly still half-asleep.

Kim Taehyung’s heartbroken, self-destructive drinking spree left his close friend Fang Yining feeling helpless.

Was he giving up after being so deeply hurt?

Kim Taehyung, the eldest son of the century-old Kim Family. At 27, he had accomplished nothing meaningful, couldn’t tell crops apart, and his greatest achievement was earning dual degrees in Business and Law at Stanford.

—But everyone who knew him was aware that the Kim Family had simply donated buildings to secure his spot, right?

Unlike his second brother, Kim Zhaoye—a true prodigy, with an impeccable MIT diploma, standing tall at 188cm with striking looks, and a natural-born CEO (albeit a notorious playboy).

Even his third brother, Kim Zhaosi, was an outstanding and handsome talent...

In the entire Kim Family, Kim Taehyung was the only failure.

As for the online discourse, it all started like this:

Ruan Nian was a long-beloved sweetheart of the entertainment industry—adorable and pure as the nation’s darling child, then blossoming into the youthful "first love" of the public, with countless admirers and an unusually strong fanbase.

Her conflict with Kim Taehyung stemmed from being Kim Zhaoye’s first love.

Kim Zhaoye was indeed a womanizer. In his youth, he didn’t understand love—only that he wanted to keep this innocent starlet as his caged songbird.

Their relationship dragged on for years, a cycle of chasing, escaping, heartbreak, and tears, yet even now, Ruan Nian remained without an official title—just "with him."

The biggest obstacle between them? Kim Zhaoye’s brother, Kim Taehyung, who always stuck his nose in.

He was a snob who looked down on Ruan Nian’s humble background, constantly meddling to sabotage their relationship and publicly humiliating her.

His shrewish antics frequently made tabloid headlines, and since the internet loved a dramatic love story, Kim Taehyung became the villain—the meddler who tore apart true love.

But Fang Yining felt indignant on Kim Taehyung’s behalf.

The reason Taehyung disliked Ruan Nian was simple: Kim Zhaoye had a fiancée arranged since birth. Ruan Nian knew this yet still insisted on testing her importance to him. Worse, the fiancée was Kim Taehyung’s best friend—how could he tolerate that?

...Oh, right. The fiancée was Fang Yining herself. He sometimes forgot.

"Taehyung, Taehyung?" Fang Yining nudged him again, and this time, Kim Taehyung finally stirred.

He lifted his gaze, his calm eyes locking onto Fang Yining, sending an inexplicable chill down his spine.

His light brown irises, illuminated by the club’s neon lights, seemed piercing—as if they could see through everything.

For the first time, Fang Yining noticed the sharp shape of Kim Taehyung’s eyes, the faint color at the outer corners giving off an intimidating "older brother" aura that made his heart skip.

Strange. This was the same Taehyung as always—why had he never noticed before?

Kim Taehyung had just wrapped up a day of meetings and fallen asleep when he encountered a "system" that told him:

[You’ve transmigrated into the role of the CEO’s older brother in a wealthy family novel.]

[You know what the older brother of a wealthy CEO is supposed to do...]

At first, Kim Taehyung was stunned. But he had invested in an AI research project with rapid progress, so his acceptance of this "system" was relatively high.

After a brief pause, he replied graciously, "I know."

He was already the eldest son of a wealthy family, with younger siblings. This identity was familiar, and he knew how to handle it.

Even in another world, he trusted his honed abilities to excel.

Into his chest, slapping wads of cash against his pecs while declaring he no longer believed in love, only male models?

Brother Taehyung, what game are you playing today? A scolding?

Trembling, the male model glanced at Fang Yining for help, but he looked just as lost. He swallowed hard, mustering his courage before obediently fastening each button with shaky fingers.

His voice was soft, laced with cautious flattery. "Okay, Brother Taehyung. Next time, I’ll wear whatever you like."

"I have pressing matters to attend to lately. I doubt I’ll return." Kim Taehyung’s tone was oddly formal today, leaving the entire room stunned—Fang Yining included.

Noticing Fang Yining’s shock, Kim Taehyung gave a gracious nod. "The bill is on me. Spend freely, no limits. Enjoy yourselves. Goodbye."

He picked up his coat, draped it over his arm, and walked out.

He preferred the pure, innocent type. This place no longer suited his tastes.

Kim Taehyung stepped into the back of his chauffeur-driven car—a stretch Lincoln.

The driver checked the rearview mirror, surprised the young master was leaving so early. Off to the next venue?

With a knowing smile, he said, "Young Master, which club next? Oh!" He suddenly remembered a new male model in the neighboring city, rumored to be exactly his type. Tonight was supposed to be his champagne tower celebration.

Proud of his insight, he prepared to change course—until a cool voice from the backseat cut in.

"To the Kim Family estate. I’m visiting my parents."

"Got it, heading to—... Huh?!"

The driver’s eyes widened in shock, his expression horrified—the seasoned chauffeur nearly stomped on the brakes like they were a drum set. He glanced in the rearview mirror again to confirm that the person who had entered the car was indeed the young master and not some ghost possessing him!

Wasn’t Kim Taehyung the one who hated returning to the Kim Family mansion the most? Why would he suddenly decide to go back now?!

Kim Taehyung pulled down the vanity mirror and wiped off his meticulously applied makeup with a cleansing wipe from his bag. He was used to exercising and disliked wearing makeup—it added an extra step to his skincare routine, which didn’t align with his strict sense of time management.

His parents were probably fuming over the recent scandal surrounding him. The sooner he returned to settle the matter, the sooner he could take over the family business.

As the eldest son of a wealthy family, this was his duty.

Rumor had it that his younger brother was too busy tangled up in romantic affairs to be reliable. How could anyone depend on a man who couldn’t even handle his own love life?

He glanced down at his feet, still clad in a pair of delicate leather shoes. Bending over, he swapped them out for a pair of disposable flat slippers he kept in the car.

The expensive designer shoes—identical to those seen on the runway—were casually tossed aside.

The driver noticed his actions and shuddered.

Those shoes had been a gift from his fiancé... If he could treat them so carelessly, he must have been deeply hurt by Young Master Jeon.

Had his latest rejection shattered him so completely that he wasn’t even bothering with male models anymore and was actually going home?

The driver muttered to himself but didn’t dare show any further reaction, smoothly pulling the car to a stop at the entrance.

A security guard hurried down the steps to open the door, gloved hand raised to shieopen the door, gloved hand raised to shield the car’s roof. But when he saw Young Master Kim Taehyung step out in disposable slippers, he froze, eyes bulging.

​As he strode forward without a second thought, the guard snapped out of it and gestured frantically to the others. The staff exchanged bewildered looks before scrambling to roll out a carpet.

​Kim Taehyung, draped in an overcoat, marched up the steps with steady footing, tossing back only a single word: "Thanks."

​The driver and security guards stared at each other in stunned silence.

​What was wrong with the young master today? Since when was he this polite?

​Had he lost his mind from the shock?

​Inside the Kim Family mansion, the atmosphere in the grand hall was thick with tension. Old Master Kim and his wife, Hua Bingfan, radiated fury—everyone knew better than to provoke them now.

​"Where is the young master? Off ogling male models again?"

​When no one answered, Old Master Kim’s rage boiled over. He slammed his hand on the armrest. "With the old man bedridden these past few days, he’s out there stirring up scandals! First, it was that humiliating rejection from Jeon Jungkook, then picking fights with that celebrity Ruan Nian, tarnishing the Kim Family’s reputation—and now he’s off playing with male models!"

​"The old man despises these kinds of indecent rumors. Let’s go drag him back right now. If the paparazzi catch him again, I swear I’ll—"

​"Mom."

​Kim Taehyung’s voice cut through the room as he stepped inside. He spotted Hua Bingfan standing first, then his father—frozen mid-rant on the sofa, face red from choking on his own words. He nodded. "Dad. You’re here too?"

​Old Master Kim nearly suffocated on his own shock. He gaped at him, horrified that he’d actually returned—and to the family mansion, no less, instead of his own residence.

​Like father, like son—right now, he felt like he was seeing a ghost. Especially when he took in Kim Taehyung’s bare face, devoid of makeup or the flush of alcohol, his expression cool and composed. It was like he’d swallowed an egg whole.

​"You... you’re back so early?" Old Master Kim managed, still half-risen from his seat, face red.

​Kim Taehyung nodded. "I’m visiting Grandpa tomorrow morning. He wakes up at dawn for his breathing exercises, so I should be there early to accompany him."

​His father’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull. Hua Bingfan’s teacup trembled in her grip.

​...Was this really Kim Taehyung?

​Since when did he speak so politely, so thoughtfully, so... normally?

​Kim Taehyung continued, "Do the two of you have plans tonight? I don’t stay up late, so I’ll head to bed first. Oh, and staying up late is bad for your health."

​He turned to the housekeeper. "Sister Zhang, if my parents have any engagements, make sure they’re taken care of."

​Sister Zhang flinched, so thrown off she nearly drowned a potted plant with her watering can. "O-oh... yes, Young Master."

​Only after Kim Taehyung’s slender, icy silhouette disappeared into the elevator and the doors slid shut did the room’s occupants snap out of their daze.

​Wait... Had they just been lectured by the most spoiled, irresponsible, party-obsessed, scandal-magnet in the entire Kim Family?

​And he’d told them not to stay up late?!

​Since when was that his line?! Since when did Kim Taehyung of all people worry about their well-being?!

thanks for reading 😘😘

this is my first ever adoption story please 🥺 forgive me if I make any mistake

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