ch 3

What’s wrong with Kim Taehyung?

​What on earth is wrong with Kim Taehyung?!

​Ms. Hua gasped for breath, clutching her husband’s sleeve in frustration.

​They had tried calling Kim Zhaoye, but his phone was turned off. When they asked his assistant, the reply was, "The CEO is currently with Miss Ruan and has closed his doors to all visitors. No one is to disturb him."

​Ms. Hua nearly rolled her eyes.

​This was too much—she was absolutely livid.

​"Closed his doors to all visitors"? Even to his own family!

​What if Grandpa Kim needed him?!

​At this point, they reluctantly realized that, for now, Taehyung seemed to be the only reliable one.

​Well, actually, Taehyung had always been the most dependable, even if he wasn’t often

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​home. He was always reachable, and Grandpa Kim could see him whenever he wanted. Unlike Kim Zhaoye, who was buried in work, or their third son, Kim Zhaosi, who was studying abroad and never returned

​A strange discomfort settled in Ms. Hua’s heart, though she wasn’t sure who exactly she was irritated with.

​With a sigh, she resigned herself to sending Kim Taehyung to check on the old man.

​Of course, nothing unreliable would ever happen with Kim Taehyung.

​He adjusted his watch by 15 minutes—a habit of his. His internal clock ran slightly behind the world’s, so he always gave himself extra time to react.

​Thanks to this habit, he had never once missed an obligation.

​Now, sitting in the car, he was deep in meditation, completely oblivious to the odd looks the Kim Mansion staff were giving him.

​

​Grandpa Kim was staying at a private sanatorium atop an artificial hill. Though called a sanatorium, the entire facility was custom-built for him, with layers of security checks from the entrance onward.

​Kim Taehyung removed his sunglasses and scanned his face at the gate. Just then, an understated black car passed by, its window rolling down as the occupant stared in surprise. "Kim Taehyung? Why are you here? Where’s Kim Zhaoye?"

​Kim Taehyung immediately recognized the speaker’s status but ignored him. Instead, he exchanged a few pleasantries with the security staff before getting back into his car, leaving the window down as they drove off.

​The driver stole a nervous glance at the dumbfounded expression of the second branch’s young master, Kim Kaichang.

​Good heavens, this was a disaster! The young master was being far too direct—he hadn’t even bothered to close the window, leaving no room to pretend he hadn’t heard!

​

​Kim Kaichang’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he hung halfway out the window, watching the car drive away without a care. "Kim Taehyung! Kim Taehyung!" he shouted.

​The more he yelled, the faster the car sped off. He turned to Kim Yingjie, the eldest son of the third branch, and demanded, "Was that really Kim Taehyung? He ignored me? What’s his problem?"

​Kim Yingjie was also taken aback. "Wasn’t he always the friendliest one? The one who’d put up with our cold shoulders? Did someone scold him or something?"

​Kim Kaichang sat back, recalling a piece of gossip he’d heard, and smirked. "Ah, I get it now. His fiancé chewed him out yesterday!"

​"Why?"

​"Because of Ruan Nian! It was Ruan Nian’s birthday, and she wanted Kim Zhaoye to stay with her. He’d already promised Fang Yining he’d attend some boring play, which he didn’t

​

​"Because of Ruan Nian! It was Ruan Nian’s birthday, and she wanted Kim Zhaoye to stay with her. He’d already promised Fang Yining he’d attend some boring play, which he didn’t even want to go to in the first place. The moment Ruan Nian called, he canceled. But Kim Taehyung couldn’t stand it—he went and made a scene, got caught by the media, then had the nerve to invite Jeon Jungkook to the New Year’s banquet. Instead of agreeing, he lectured him for having no principles, being indecisive, and embarrassing the Kim family in public."

​Kim Kaichang scoffed. "Ruan Nian just wanted company on her birthday. What was Kim Taehyung meddling for? If even their parents aren’t interfering, why should he, as an older brother, stick his nose in?"

​Kim Yingjie, who had slightly better judgment, hesitated but didn’t comment.

​He knew his cousin had a soft spot for Ruan Nian too. But since Kim Zhaoye was already in the picture, Kim Kaichang played the role of the gracious admirer, outwardly supporting Ruan Nian’s relationship while privately nursing his

​

​bitterness—especially toward anyone who crossed her.

​Kim Yingjie suddenly snapped back to reality. "Right, we should hurry up the hill. Kim Taehyung’s already gone ahead. If Grandpa Kim doesn’t see us, he’ll be upset."

​Kim Kaichang jolted and ordered the driver to move.

​They were the male heirs, the vanguard—how could they let Kim Taehyung beat them to it? That would be unacceptable.

​"Grandpa wants someone to play chess with him. We’ve been practicing for ages. Kim Taehyung can’t even play—even if he gets there first, he won’t have a place to stand," Kim Kaichang joked.

​Kim Taehyung had already stepped out of the car and spotted the ninety-year-old man sitting in the courtyard. Dressed in a neat Tang suit, he was slowly arranging chess pieces on the table.

​

​pieces on the table.

​A single glance told him everything about the game—Grandpa Kim was still at an amateur level, working through a puzzle from a manual. Coincidentally, this particular setup had only one solution, and he happened to know it.

​He greeted him warmly. "Grandpa, I’ve come to see you."

​Grandpa Kim looked up, startled, but his expression darkened when he saw him.

​"What are you doing here? All you do is embarrass yourself and our family—now you’re even making headlines! The Kim family doesn’t need—"

​Kim Taehyung listened with a faint smile, neither arguing nor correcting him. His calm demeanor unnerved Grandpa Kim, and he trailed off mid-rant.

​Strange. Why wasn’t Kim Taehyung wearing his usual stubborn, defiant look?

​It robbed him of the satisfaction of scolding him.

​him.

​Kim Taehyung had studied psychology. People unconsciously mirror others’ expressions, and his serenity was dissolving Grandpa Kim’s anger.

​He didn’t deny the past actions tied to this identity, but he also had no intention of bearing their consequences.

​He lifted his eyelids slightly, as if prompting him to continue. "I’m listening, Grandpa."

​Grandpa Kim: "..."

​He felt even more unsettled. What did he mean, "I’m listening"? How was he supposed to keep going like this?

​His frustration had nowhere to go. With Kim Taehyung reacting this way, he couldn’t even vent properly. It was maddening.

​He eyed him suspiciously. "You... have no reaction to being scolded?"

​Kim Taehyung smiled, dipping his head briefly before meeting his gaze again, as if the answer were obvious and he’d asked a

​before meeting his gaze again, as if the answer were obvious and he’d asked a ridiculous question. "Of course you’re free to judge me as you see fit. My only role is to listen."

​Before Grandpa Kim could process his uncharacteristic compliance, he added:

​"Others’ opinions don’t determine my worth."

​Grandpa Kim nearly choked on his own breath.

​The way he said it—so matter-of-fact, so unshaken—made it clear he genuinely believed it. All his yelling had meant nothing to him. He’d just let him rant like some free entertainer?!

​Grandpa Kim gave up. He didn’t want to talk to Kim Taehyung anymore. With a grunt, he turned back to his chessboard, slamming the pieces down harder than necessary.

​In his youth, Old Master Kim had been a master of composure. But age had granted him the privilege of wearing his emotions on his sleeve—and making sure everyone else

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​endured them.

​Of course, the old man had to give a slap before offering a sweet date.

​As Old Master Kim arranged the chess pieces, Kim Taehyung pressed one down with his finger and asked, "Grandpa, are you trying to figure out how to solve this game?"

​Old Master Kim frowned and looked up, only for Kim Taehyung to smile faintly. He tapped a spot on the board, his gaze focused.

​"Rook to C2—checkmate in seven moves."

​No, what do you know—? Just as Old Master Kim was about to snap at him, he suddenly froze. Wait, since when did Kim Taehyung know chess terminology like this? He couldn’t even win at Connect Five.

​Dumbfounded, he lowered his eyes to the board and, for some inexplicable reason, instinctively moved the piece as he had suggested.

​As he set the piece down, Old Master Kim’s heart skipped a beat.

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