A cacophony of voices reached his ears.

"Gukkie, don't be scared. Mommy will take you to the hospital right away!"

"No need, Mommy. Although Brother's dog is fierce and the wound hurts, I'm sure he didn't mean to bring it home," said the voice filled with a soothing tea-like quality.

Jeon Jungkook, who was initially groggy, was instantly roused by this voice, though his mind remained shrouded in a fog, preventing him from fully waking up.

Then, the initial female voice spoke again, this time with a heavy tone:

"Why do you keep bringing everything home? That stray dog should have been gotten rid of long ago."

The remark was clearly aimed at Jungkook. As an afterthought, the woman's voice softened, laced with disdain: "Don't bring your old habits in here."

Jungkook heard his own voice explaining, "Big Yellow isn't a stray dog; I only brought him back with your permission. He's very old and has no teeth left, he can't bite anyone..."

Before he could finish, the woman's voice rose sharply, "You dare to talk back? Your brother's wound is fake?"

Jungkook continued his explanation, "Big Yellow doesn't have canine teeth, he couldn't have inflicted such an injury."

"What are you implying? You're saying your brother pretended to be hurt?"

"Jungkook, I've told you many times, don't even think about getting your brother out of here, right?"

As soon as the woman finished speaking, a sobbing sound followed from the one addressed as "Gukkie."

This dream again!

Jungkook was so furious that he nearly spat out blood.

Fueled by anger, his consciousness seemed to break through some barrier, gradually regaining clarity.

Blinding light appeared before his eyes, not the natural sunlight but rather, the dazzling chandeliers of a luxurious setting.

Crystal chandeliers scattered delicate light, reflecting on the creamy matte tiles, turning the night into a shimmering spectacle.

Despite being nighttime, it was as radiant as daylight.

The entire villa reeked of wealth, shimmering with an ethereal glow.

Jungkook took a deep breath.

It had been a long time since he dreamt of the Kang family's decor in such vivid detail.

His body still felt somewhat disobedient.

Jungkook lifted his gaze to the two people seated on the sofa.

First, the lady with an assertive tone.

The lady was young and exuded elegance. Despite being at an age where women typically experience menopause, she appeared well-cared for and spared from the typical turmoil of hormonal imbalances and life's struggles that often drove others to desperation.

There was an illusionary ease about her that made one think she would be amenable to conversation.

The lady held the wrist of the person beside her with utmost care.

Sitting next to her was a young man who appeared to be a university student.

His black hair was sleek, and his skin was fair. He wore an ordinary light-colored plaid shirt that didn't reveal its brand or fabric at first glance. However, the stitching on the cuffs and the intricate detailing betrayed a refined elegance and exclusivity.

Jungkook's chest heaved again.

These two individuals.

One was Jungkook's biological mother.

The other was the adopted son who had taken over Jeon Jungkook's identity.

At the age of four, Jungkook had gone missing in a minor landslide.

Upon being rescued, he had developed a fever, erasing all memories of his family, and was subsequently sent to an orphanage.

Although he couldn't recall his family's identity, Jungkook had always firmly believed that his family loved him deeply and would surely find him.

Upon finally securing a university admission and reuniting with his family, Jungkook discovered that in the year he went missing, they had adopted a son.

The adopted son was around the same age as him, with an outgoing and innocent disposition.

No one wished to dwell on the pain of losing a child, let alone invest time and effort into searching for a lost orphan like finding a needle in a haystack.

With their family's void now filled, the Kang family quickly forgot about their lost youngest son.

They bestowed Jungkook's name, "Kang Jungguk," upon this adoptive child.

Not only did the adopted son take his place, but he also inherited the name that was rightfully Jungkook's.

Thus, the person closest to Jungkook's in this world abandoned him without a second thought.

Only Jungkook stubbornly held onto that name.

Back then, when he had gone missing, he couldn't even write.

Vaguely, he recalled being referred to as "Gukk," yet the recorder had mistakenly written it down as "Kook."

It wasn't until Jungkook was found that he realized he had suddenly become an impostor posing as Kang Jungguk.

At first, Jungkook was delighted and willingly embraced the identity of Kang Jungguk.

Having grown up without any close family, he yearned for more kinship and never once rejected the notion of being Kang Jungguk, the adopted son of the Kang family.

However, the contrasting treatment within the Kang family left Jungkook utterly bewildered.

Out of concern that he had grown up in poverty and might get into trouble with money, the Kang family not only refused to give him pocket money but also made him finance his university education through student loans.

Yet Kang Jungguk's monthly allowance started in the hundreds of thousands.

For fear that Kang Jungguk might feel ostracized and become saddened, his household registration was not transferred back to the Kang family, nor was his identity disclosed.

Kang Jungguk remained the adored young master of the Kang family, while Jungkook was nobody.

After being missing for fifteen years, Jungkook finally returned to the home that was rightfully his.

Surprisingly, everyone in the family – his father, mother, eldest brother, and second brother – were all worried that Kang Jungguk might be saddened by his return.

Jungkook felt like a culprit just at the thought of causing the slightest frown on Kang Jungguk's face.

Since he had come back to the Kang family, strange incidents kept happening to Kang Jungguk for no apparent reason.

He would either trip accidentally or get scalded by hot water.

All unrelated to Jungkook, yet when the family rushed to comfort her, Kang Jungguk didn't need to do anything but glance at Jungkook with a cautious look, and he would be showered with blame.

From initial confusion, Jungkook gradually turned angry and obsessive.

He repeatedly tried to explain himself to his family, only to be ignored.

However, aware of his family's deep affection for Kang Jungguk, Jungkook never directed any resentment towards her throughout it all.

After witnessing their unjustified favoritism, he unconsciously began emulating Kang Jungguk's behavior.

He emulated Kang Jungguk's fashion sense.

But Kang Jungguk's wardrobe was filled with cashmere, known as the "soft gold," whereas Jungkook couldn't even afford ordinary wool.

He tried to replicate Kang Jungguk's gentle demeanor and refinement.

Yet, Kang Jungguk's personality had been cultivated over a decade with wealth, while Jungkook was just an orphan who grew up in an orphanage.

In the end, Jungkook became more like a cheap imitation.

One day, during a dispute, Jungkook was pushed into a swimming pool by Kang Jungguk in the middle of winter, right before everyone's eyes.

However, his closest family members merely brushed it off with a casual remark: "Why weren't you more careful? Thankfully, it didn't involve Gukkie."

The desperate Jungkook, striving for familial affection, suddenly saw things clearly.

He realized that all his efforts were in vain.

He would never outshine Kang Jungguk.

Completely defeated, Jungkook left the Kang family to live an independent life, resuming his former tranquil and solitary existence.

This tranquility lasted for only half a year.

Before Jungkook could even graduate from school, the Shens unexpectedly showed up, using their most ruthless tactics to coerce and entice him back into the fold of the Kang family.

With a surge of defiance, Jungkook stubbornly refused.

It was during this struggle that Jungkook first became aware of the Kang family's formidable influence.

Just as he was about to graduate, he inexplicably found himself expelled from school.

He moved across several cities, seeking employment, only to have each opportunity sabotaged by the Shens.

In the end, the eldest son of the Kang family, Jungkook's own elder brother, personally led a group to confront him.

As Jungkook hastily fled, he was unfortunate enough to be struck by a car disregarding a red light.

The accident was severe; below his neck, Jungkook was left paralyzed, and his vocal cords were damaged.

The true ordeal had just begun.

In his early twenties, Jungkook found himself lying in a hospital bed, fully conscious, staring at the tubes that invaded his body.

Perhaps it was due to Kang Jungguk's "kindness" that the Kang family supported him, this cripple, with care.

Jungkook spent an entire decade lying in that hospital bed.

The room was enclosed, without windows, without birds, and without visitors.

There, he lay alone, accompanied only by the humming of medical equipment.

Even the nurses would only enter when he was asleep.

Occasionally, Kang Jungguk would visit him with his family.

Let him witness his family living happily and harmoniously with the one who had stolen his identity.

And Jungkook was powerless even to utter a curse.

In those absolute ten years of solitude, Jungkook first broke down.

He felt that his experience was so grotesquely tragic that it was unbearable for anyone to comprehend.

Afterward, Jungkook could only continuously ruminate over the past moments in his mind.

He recalled the agony of the car accident in an instant.

The biting cold as he fell into the pool during winter.

The memories of every futile explanation, every breakdown from being mistrusted.

Jungkook kept asking why.

Why did all this happen to him?

Why had he ended up in this situation?

He had given up already; he no longer contended with Kang Jungguk. If he couldn't provoke the man, couldn't he just avoid him?

But heaven seemed to be telling him that wasn't an option.

Until just now, something unexpected appeared in Jungkook's mind.

It turned out that all his absurd experiences were merely part of a novel.

In this novel of elite family adoration, Kang Jungguk was the main character, whereas Jungkook was merely a poorly crafted imitation, a tragic supporting role created by the author to highlight the protagonist's brilliance.

The author even solemnly explained that the creation of his character aimed to convey the message that blood ties didn't truly matter!

Jungkook: ...

After digesting all this information, Jungkook had only one thought:

Let them all perish!

Gazing once more at the two individuals before him, Jungkook, who possessed a photographic memory of his pre-paralyzed days, swiftly assessed the current situation.

It was shortly after he had returned to the Kang family home.

Driven by a longing for familial warmth, he had secretly raised a puppy back in the orphanage, naming it Big Yellow.

Upon returning to the Kang's, Jungkook had sought the matriarch's permission and brought Big Yellow along with him.

Yet, upon returning from school this time, he witnessed this scene.

Kang Jungguk sat on the sofa, two faint red marks visible on her hands.

The Shen matriarch reproached him, claiming that Big Yellow had bitten Kang Jungguk and had the dog thrown out.

Preposterous.

Disregarding the fact that Big Yellow, being a nine-year-old dog, had lost most of its teeth, it would be impossible for it to inflict such wounds.

Jungkook was well aware that Big Yellow wasn't an endearing breed and didn't want to burden his hard-won family, so he either took the dog out or locked it in his room.

How could Big Yellow, with all its strength, break through a securely locked steel door to bite Kang Jungguk?

In his previous life, Jungkook had been unable to defend himself.

No matter how he tried to explain, Kang's mother wouldn't listen.

Ultimately, Jungkook had sacrificed his nine-year companion for the sake of his family, watching as they cast Big Yellow away.

At first, Jungkook had chosen to endure silently.

Later, when he faced reality, he could only escape quietly.

But now, in this body, Jungkook was the one who had spent ten years confined in a small, dark room, hooked up to tubes.

He was on the brink of madness.

"Mother, forgive Brother. The wound on my hand only stings a little."

Kang Jungguk lowered his head to hide the smile at the corner of his lips.

Of course, the injury wasn't from that dog's bite.

He opened Jungkook's door, and that good-for-nothing dog would only cower in a corner, showing no sign of aggression.

He had to trouble himself to create fake wounds.

But as long as it was enough, it would do.

Saying this, Kang Jungguk expected Jungkook to fiercely explain or even curse at him, which would worsen Jungkook's image in the hearts of the Kang family members.

Unexpectedly, Jungkook didn't offer any explanation.

Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed a handful of Kang Jungguk's hair without warning.

Without a word, she lashed out with two slaps, one after another.

"Smack!"

"Smack!"

The crisp sounds echoed through the spacious living room, each one louder than the last.

After the deafening noise, an eerie silence ensued.

Mrs. Kang retreated, staring at Jungkook in shock. Her perfectly painted lips gaped ungracefully, but her scream was stuck in her throat.

Kang Jungguk's hair was still being tightly pulled.

He was still in disbelief, his fake gentleness freezing on his face. He stood dazed as his cheeks rapidly swelled, marked with red scratches from nails.

It looked far more genuine than if he had done it himself.

"Idiot, who do you think I am? Don't falsely associate us," Jungkook didn't release his grip.

He tugged on Kang Jungguk's hair and sneered, "My dog doesn't bite, but I do. After you've splashed dirty water on me, how can I not give you a couple of slaps to get my worth?"

"Ahh!" Mrs. Kang's delayed scream finally echoed, "You, you, you!"

"What are you blabbering about? If your eyesight is poor, go see an ophthalmologist!"

Spitting out those words, Jungkook left the stunned mother and son behind and swiftly ran out of the Kang residence.

Exiting the villa, Jungkook didn't linger.

Scanning the surrounding road signs, he summoned memories from his mind and hurriedly headed towards a specific location.

Big Yellow had been with him for nine years.

When he was ten, he was small and often bullied at the orphanage. His homework had been torn apart by his dorm mates, and he dared not report it to the teachers for fear that they would reprimand the aunt on duty that day.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, he could only wait until after lights out, grab a flashlight, and huddle in the corner of the orphanage, weeping while piecing together the shredded paper.

That night was bitterly cold, with a northerly wind blowing.

The scraps of paper kept being blown away, leaving young Jungkook no choice but to crawl on the ground, meticulously searching for each piece.

It was that very evening when Jungkook encountered Big Yellow, still a tiny puppy.

The puppy extended its tongue to lick his cheek.

In an instant, the warm sensation healed all his loneliness and grievances.

From then on, Jungkook often secretly saved his food for the pup.

Big Yellow also survived that frigid winter.

Young Jungkook had secretly fostered his first and only sense of family.

This was no different from his previous life.

When Jungkook returned home, Big Yellow had already been discarded.

Initially, Jungkook assumed the Kang family had merely chased Big Yellow away.

He planned to sneak out at night to search for the dog and find it a new home.

But when Jungkook weathered Kang mother's scolding, all he found on the road was Big Yellow's lifeless body, crushed by a collision.

The accident had occurred in a secluded area with incomplete surveillance coverage.

Yet, a kind-hearted passerby, having witnessed Jungkook's distress, provided him with a video they had taken.

In the footage, an expensive red sports car could be seen speeding up to knock down Big Yellow, who had been hiding by the roadside.

Far from leaving the scene, the vehicle proceeded to run over the struggling dog three times in a row.

Upon seeing the car's emblem, Jungkook realized that he lacked the power to seek justice for Big Yellow.

Perhaps the Kang family could, but Jungkook dared not bring it up.

With this, the last vestige of warmth in Jungkook's life vanished.

By the time Jungkook had suppressed the incident deep within his heart.

On one occasion, at his second brother Kang Hae-min's gathering, he had come across that red sports car. The owner had been in the midst of an animated conversation with Kang Hae-min. Jungkook had assumed that their acquaintance was simply an unexpected coincidence, given they were both from wealthy backgrounds. Little did he expect that when the car owner passed by him, he would pause and lean over, smiling as he asked, "Is your dog doing well?" In that very instant, Jungkook felt as if he had fallen into an icy chasm. He turned stiffly to look at Kang Haemin, then at everyone else in the Kang family. It was only at that moment that Jungkook realized the truth. The car accident that Big Yellow had been in was entirely orchestrated by the Kang family. Their sole purpose was to give him a harsh warning.

Irony, he was the foolish one to trust these so-called relatives without a second thought.

On the road.

"Ow! Woof!"

A small dog's mournful cry echoed.

A nimble little yellow dog darted to the side of the road, but its hind leg still brushed against a car wheel, causing it to limp away in a panic.

Inside the screeching red sports car that had come to a sudden stop, the driver, laughing, spoke on the phone:

"Well, looks like Brother Haemin's dog is quite clever. It actually dodged that."

From the speaker, Kang Hae-min's casual and uninhibited voice rang out: "Can't you handle it, Yellow Hair? Can't even get rid of a single dog?"

"Of course I can!" Yellow Hair pounded his chest in assurance. "I heard this dog bit Gukkie. Is he alright?"

"Nothing serious," Kang Hae-min chuckled. "He doesn't like dogs, so getting rid of it was necessary. Still, it caused such a commotion, what a hassle."

He concluded with a warning, "In any case, you deal with this dog."

"Sure thing!" The yellow-haired man replied, his gaze fixed on the limping dog in the middle of the road.

Moments ago, the dog had been hiding by the roadside and was forced into the center of the road after being hit by him.

It was just a mongrel, after all. If it died, it died.

Its owner should have taken better care of it, that's all.

With a grin, the yellow-haired man lit a cigarette and pressed down hard on the accelerator.

The engine roared in response.

The sports car sped towards the howling puppy on the pavement.

The speed increased steadily.

At the thought of what was to come, a hint of enjoyment curved the corners of the yellow-haired man's lips.

As the wheels were about to roll over something, a figure suddenly flashed in front of the windshield.

The yellow-haired man jolted, his cigarette trembling in his mouth from the scare.

Sparks from the lit cigarette ash fell onto his leg, causing a searing pain. However, he was too preoccupied to care, promptly slamming on the brakes.

The screech of the brakes pierced the eardrums.

A long skid mark was left on the road.

Just before the impact, the vehicle came to a halt.

The yellow-haired man was nearly strangled by the seatbelt, his neck hairs standing on end.

He vaguely recalled someone dashing into the way and quickly lifted his head to look.

Through the windshield, he saw a young adult, not long past his teenage years, standing steadily in front of the car.

The youth was dressed in an inexpensive white shirt.

From head to toe, his outfit probably didn't cost more than a hundred yuan.

This was the appearance that the yellow-haired one had always despised - a poverty-stricken demeanor.

But upon lifting his gaze to meet the youth's eyes, the yellow-haired lad couldn't help but involuntarily shudder.

The young man's slightly long bangs were dampened by the fine rain from above, sticking to his eyelashes.

Beneath the black tresses lies a pair of... eyes that defy description.

It was pitch black, carrying an air of reckless madness.

The yellow-haired youth hesitated for a moment, finally dispelling that peculiar sensation.

He stormed out of the car, lashing out with a verbal barrage, "Trying to court death, are you? Can't you see there's a car on the road? Do you want to lose your life?"

Approaching the vehicle, Yellow-haired's anger was momentarily arrested once again.

He lowered his gaze and saw the young man in front of the car, his knees almost touching the headlights of the sports car.

At such a close proximity, seeing the vehicle rushing towards him, this person didn't retreat even half a step.

Thus did the youth stand before the vehicle, arms outstretched, shielding the yellow dog collapsed upon the ground behind him.

That eerie sensation surfaced for a fleeting moment once more.

The yellow-haired one hadn't continued speaking yet.

Jungkook slowly turned his head to look at him, his tone icy and menacing. "Was it you who hit my dog?"

The yellow-haired man instinctively took a step back.

However, he swiftly guessed Jungkook's identity — merely the legendary illegitimate son of the Kang family.

Only then did he revert to his initial demeanor, chuckling as he said, "How do you prove it was me who hit you? I could just as well say your dog ran into my car."

Kang Hae-min deliberately chose a secluded area with no surveillance cameras and few pedestrians to dispose of the dog.

Who could provide proof?

By now, Jungkook had already crouched down to examine the condition of Big Yellow.

Upon seeing that Big Yellow had only a slightly limping leg and was otherwise uncrushed, a slight sense of relief washed over him.

Maintaining his crouched position, he lifted his gaze towards the yellow-haired youth: "You're right."

The yellow-haired one was somewhat perplexed by his calm demeanor.

He lowered his gaze to the young man before him and found that this illegitimate son of the Kang family was surprisingly good-looking.

Jungkook has a gentle and tranquil appearance, with features that exude innocence.

With round eyes and slightly downturned eyelids, when he looked up, there was a delicate and submissive gentleness in his gaze.

The yellow-haired one's mind turned, intending to tease the illegitimate child.

As he reached out, he saw the seemingly "obedient" person in front of him abruptly collapse to the ground, hugging their legs.

"What are you doing?" the yellow-haired one asked, confused.

Soon, he understood.

With a dramatic flair, Jungkook clutched his legs and wailed, "Someone's been hit! A wealthy second-generation brat was speeding and hit someone!"

"Hey! What are you talking about? Who bumped into you?" the yellow-haired one exclaimed impatiently.

Colliding with a person is not the same as colliding with a dog.

No matter how secluded this path might be, it was still traversed by others.

Passersby, upon witnessing a dog being hit, would at most express a fleeting sigh of regret.

Upon encountering a car accident, most people would likely gather around.

Now, with Jungkook howling outright, several passersby had already stopped on the sidewalk, casting curious glances in their direction.

The yellow-haired one was genuinely a bit flustered.

While his family was somewhat affluent, they dare not bear the scandal of him being involved in a hit-and-run while street racing.

Considering his father was currently vying for a major project, with most of the family's liquid assets invested in it, any scandal involving him could sink the entire endeavor.

His father would literally kill him if that happened.

The yellow-haired man panicked and desperately tried to distance himself. "Y-You're trying to extort me! How do you prove that I hit you?"

"How do you prove that you didn't hit me?" Jungkook countered.

"I have a damn dashcam..." The words died in the yellow-haired man's throat halfway through.

If the dashcam footage were revealed, the incident of hitting the dog would be undeniable. Furthermore, he had indeed accelerated and collided with Jungkook, who was so close to the car; it would be hard to argue that no collision occurred.

A crowd had started gathering on the sidewalk.

Jungkook sprawled on the ground, cradling his leg.

Having genuinely experienced pain from illnesses and traffic accidents before, he was a master at feigning it. His entire face turned pale, making the act all the more convincing.

The yellow-haired man was drenched in sweat, afraid of escalating the situation.

He leaned closer and whispered apologetically, "Brother, let's talk this out peacefully. You get in the car first..."

"What? You want me to know my place and then deal with me in the car?" Jungkook raised his voice, his face filled with fear.

The yellow-haired man was taken aback. "No... I didn't say that... I didn't..."

"You're surnamed Hu, your father is Hu Yaozu, right? You warned me not to mess with your family, or I wouldn't know how I'd end up dead?"

Jungkook was aghast, covering his mouth in a shocked gasp as he exposed the yellow-haired man's background completely.

He had the appearance of a student, now pale with sheer terror.

In contrast, the yellow-haired man seemed utterly detestable.

The yellow-haired man was at a loss for words. "How... how did you...?"

An onlooker became indignant upon overhearing. "I've heard of the Hu family. They owe our construction site money, don't they?"

"How can a wealthy young master treat an honest man like this! Don't be afraid, young man, we'll call the police!"

"Dare you call the police!" The yellow-haired one panicked and instantly raised his voice.

A moment of silence ensued, only for the voices of protest to grow even louder.

And a young girl added, "I saw it too. It was this blond guy in the sports car who hit the brother on the ground, and he even crazily hit the little dog behind him!"

The yellow-haired one grew increasingly uneasy.

This car of his... it simply couldn't withstand a thorough investigation.

Jungkook, while engaging in banter with the yellow-haired lad, never took his attention off Big Yellow's condition.

Seeing that time was running out, he quickly said, "Could someone kindly take me to the hospital? I dare not get into this person's car."

The road was narrow, and there were few vehicles around.

However, due to their altercation, two sleek black sedans were still quietly parked by the roadside.

Jungkook took a glance and immediately waved, "Driver over there, could you give me a lift?"

The yellow-haired man instinctively turned his head back.

At the sight of the stretched six-door limousine, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

How... how could this person be here?

But then, he quickly reassured himself.

No problem, no problem...

That person wasn't someone who meddled in other people's business.

The black sedan stood silently.

The yellow-haired man's suspended heart gradually settled back down.

However, just as it was about to fully descend, he saw the stationary sedan slowly start up and glide smoothly towards Jungkook's side.

The last car door glided open, revealing a pitch-black interior, devoid of any trace of light.

Without hesitation, Jungkook carried the dog towards the car.

After placing Big Yellow in the vehicle, he turned back to take a picture of the yellow-haired man's sports car's license plate with his phone.

Finished with that, he thought of something and looked towards the roadside. He approached a girl, spoke to her briefly, then returned to the car.

Throughout the entire process, he maintained his "injured" persona, limping slowly.

Surprisingly, the driver of the sedan didn't rush him.

Watching Jungkook get into the car, and seeing the rear door close gently, the yellow-haired man slumped to the ground, muttering, "Oh god, I'm done for!"

In a panic, he called Kang Hae-min, "Brother Min, w-what have you gotten me into?!"

On the other end of the line, Kang Hae-min was still inquiring about the dog.

The yellow-haired man exclaimed in despair, "Is this about a dog? Why the hell did you choose this route?!"

Inside the van.

Jungkook sat quietly in the backseat.

The vehicle was unusually spacious.

It seemed to be configured for eight seats, but for some reason, a row of seats had been removed in the middle.

Jungkook sat at the very back, with a black partition in front of him.

The entire van was pitch dark, with only occasional glimpses of streetlights seeping through the windows.

Jungkook didn't bother inspecting his surroundings.

His full attention was on the puppy resting on his lap.

Despite being called Big Yellow, the dog was actually tiny, barely reaching Jungkook's knees when standing. It could comfortably nestle on his body without any wobbling.

Jungkook meticulously examined Big Yellow's fur and the injury on its leg. He was a student at University Y's College of Veterinary Medicine, and he had chosen this major for Big Yellow back then. After the thorough check-up, Jungkook finally let out a sigh of relief. He affectionately stroked Big Yellow's head. "Have you missed Dad? Dad missed you so much!" Jungkook kissed Big Yellow several times. Big Yellow snorted and licked his face with its tongue, just like that winter nine years ago. Jungkook's eyes turned slightly sore. Perhaps in Big Yellow's eyes, they had only been apart for a few hours. But Jungkook had lost Big Yellow for over a decade. During the time he spent lying in the hospital bed, it was Big Yellow that Jungkook missed the most. Watching the Kang family cause Big Yellow's death was the thing he regretted the most in his previous life.

He held back the warmth welling up in his eyes and patted Big Yellow's paw softly, speaking nonchalantly, "Fortunately, you're not severely injured. If you were paralyzed and couldn't move, it would be better if you had died."

Jungkook wasn't referring to Big Yellow but himself.

As soon as he finished his sentence, an unexpected sound emerged from the quiet compartment ahead.

Jungkook lifted his gaze towards the partition.

In a moment, the partition was slightly pulled aside, revealing a middle-aged man peering over.

The middle-aged man had his hair neatly combed, and his attire was impeccable.

However, his demeanor was amiable and gentle as he softly asked,

"Student, we're approaching the police station. Would you like to head to the hospital first or settle at the police station?"

"I'm not going anywhere. Please take me to the nearest veterinary clinic," Jungkook replied.

The middle-aged man was taken aback and lowered his gaze to inspect Jungkook's knee.

Jungkook sat firmly in the backseat, with a dog resting on his knees.

He didn't seem at all like someone who had just been limping.

Jungkook gazed back calmly, not the slightest bit sheepish about his attempted manipulation being exposed.

The middle-aged man was mentally resilient as well, and he simply smiled and accepted the situation with grace.

He turned to seek the consensus of the others before continuing to tilt his body sideways. Smiling, he said to Jungkook, "Alright, it's on the way anyway."

The partition was pulled up once more.

With some distance to cover, Jungkook calmed down and began to feel drowsy.

In the Kang residence, he had slapped Kang Jungguk twice and spat at Madam Kang.

On the way here, he had rescued Big Yellow and given the yellow-haired troublemaker a taste of his own medicine.

Through all these actions, Jungkook had acted on impulse.

In reality, he had always been uncertain whether he truly returned to the time before Big Yellow's death or if... this was just a dream within his hospital bed.

Opening his eyes, he was still greeted by cold machinery and the enclosed space of the room.

After a moment of hesitation, Jungkook gave in to apathy.

It didn't matter anymore.

As long as he lived, the Kang family wouldn't have it easy.

Jungkook held Big Yellow tightly, warmth seeping through his embrace.

Half-awake, half-asleep, he recalled the car.

Its brand was indistinguishable, but it seemed exorbitantly expensive.

The middle-aged man who appeared earlier wore clothes that the Kang family had mentioned before, seemingly the attire of a professional butler.

In his previous life, when Jungkook was backed into a corner, he would dream of someone suddenly appearing to uphold justice on his behalf while lying on that hospital bed.

But after lying there for a decade, such illusions had long since faded away.

"Classmate, classmate?" A kindly voice sounded by his ear.

Jungkook abruptly awoke. His dark eyes stared blankly for a long while, still seeing the simple patterns on the hospital ceiling etched into his retinas.

How many patterns were there, and how many strokes in each? All of these were deeply ingrained in Jungkook's mind, impossible to forget.

"Classmate?"

It wasn't until he felt the warm sensation on his knee that Jungkook's gaze finally focused on the middle-aged butler's face.

"We've arrived at the veterinary clinic," said the butler.

"Oh, thank you." Jungkook shook his head and stepped out with Big Yellow in his arms.

The moment his toes touched the ground, he stumbled.

The butler promptly caught him, filled with guilt.

How could he assume that the teenager was attempting to extort compensation! Clearly, it was out of excessive concern for his pet that he neglected his own injuries.

Look at how badly his leg is injured; he can barely stand.

"The hospital really isn't necessary?" the butler inquired.

Jungkook gave him a puzzled glance, expressed his gratitude, and then carried Big Yellow into the veterinary clinic.

Does one still need to go to the hospital even with a numb leg?

This affluent family is indeed particular.

Jungkook conducted a thorough examination of Big Yellow at the hospital.

Fortunately, Big Yellow's leg injury wasn't severe; it would only cause a slight limp in the future. However, due to the inconvenience caused by the injury, the dog would need to stay in the hospital for a few days.

After tending to Big Yellow's wounds, Jungkook sat by the cage and kept the dog company for a while.

Taking advantage of this break, he retrieved his phone to receive a video.

Just before he got into the car, he had rushed to the roadside in search of the kind-hearted person from his previous life who had provided him with the video, so he could obtain it.

The video captured the entire sequence of Big Yellow's accident.

From the sports car deliberately veering towards the dog hiding on the sidewalk to the driver accelerating and deliberately crashing into him.

Jungkook had edited out his own part and uploaded only the section where the sports car intentionally struck the dog onto the internet.

In his previous life, the content of the video was even more grim.

But after obtaining the footage, Jungkook, fearing it would cause trouble for the Kang family, had suppressed the matter as if nothing had happened.

Now... well, he couldn't care less about the Kang family's fate.

As the video gained traction online, its popularity gradually escalated.

Initially, it sparked outrage against the wealthy second-generation for recklessly driving and hitting the dog.

As the buzz grew, someone even dug up that the same sports car had previously been involved in an accident on campus, hitting someone.

More scattered but clearer videos emerged.

They were taken on a secluded road at a local university, where several luxury cars surrounded a student who had fallen to the ground. The vehicles would pretend to speed up and almost collide with the student, then abruptly stop, toying with their prey like a cat playing with a mouse, leaving viewers with goosebumps.

Big Yellow's eye-catching red sports car was among them.

The incident immediately blew up.

More revelations followed, claiming that the student in the video had sustained injuries, but the wealthy offspring had collectively pressured the school to suppress the matter.

Such an incident was utterly inconceivable.

Netizens slammed the yellow-haired individual and the other cars in the video relentlessly. They even flooded the official Weibo account of the involved university.

Jungkook watched for a while, then put away his phone and looked at Big Yellow, who was receiving an IV drip inside the cage.

He opened the cage and gently stroked Big Yellow's head. "Rest well, I'll come see you another day."

After bidding farewell to Big Yellow, Jungkook left the pet hospital.

He paused on the road for a moment, then without hesitation, hailed a taxi and headed straight back to the Kang residence.

Not long after he left, the extended limousine passed by the pet hospital once more and smoothly came to a halt in front of it.

The car remained quietly parked on the side of the road, with no one getting out.

After a while, a low and deep voice came from the partitioned backseat, "Forget it."

With the words spoken, the car started up again.

Jungkook quickly returned to the Kang residence.

Logically speaking, he should have taken Big Yellow and left the Kang family's house right away.

But events from his past life had shown that even the path of departure was sealed off by fate.

And why should he be the one to leave?

Jungkook strolled into the living room, only to find it empty.

The current head of the Kang family, his biological father Kang Gyeongho, was currently on a business trip.

The heir to the next generation of the Kang family, his older brother Kang Hyunwoo, was busy with a project overseas. His second brother, the prodigal son Kang Hae-min, didn't have a great relationship with the family and lived outside most of the time.

At this moment, Jungkook wasn't curious about where Madam Kang and Kang Jungguk had gone.

Given how protective the Kangs were of Kang Jungguk, even a stumble over a stool would send them rushing to the hospital for a checkup.

Now that he had been slapped twice by him, they would surely be anxious enough to do a full-body examination.

A brain scan might be in order too, to treat any ailments early on.

Jungkook appreciated the peace and quiet.

He returned straight to his room, brushed his teeth and went to bed without a care in the world.

Early the next morning, Jungkook got up and headed to the dining room.

The housekeeper had already prepared breakfast.

Jungkook usually had a packed morning schedule, so he left the house quite early, often while the Kang family was still asleep.

Yet, no matter how rushed he was, he would always wait patiently until everyone was awake before starting his meal.

The Kang family, however, never waited for him to eat.

On this particular day, Jungkook ignored those conventional rules. Under the disapproving gaze of the housekeeper, he lifted the steamer lid and grabbed a bun, beginning to eat right away. He then helped himself to a bowl of porridge without any hesitation.

Soon, some noise came from upstairs.

Mrs. Kang was descending.

Jungkook looked up.

Madam Kang was composed and patient.

She strolled down slowly and sat at the table.

Noticing that someone had touched the breakfast on the dining table, she immediately lifted her gaze to look at Jungkook.

Her eyes carried a distant disdain, but she quickly suppressed it.

She picked up her chopsticks as if nothing had happened, reprimanding, "Gukkie took the day off today and doesn't even want to step out of his room."

Jungkook pretended not to understand and asked innocently, "Why isn't he coming out? Is he too ashamed to face people?"

Madam Kang lost her composure. "After what you did to your brother, you still have the audacity to eat breakfast! How shameless can you be?"

Jungkook listened quietly to Madam Kang's words before suddenly laughing.

The privileged Madam Kang was clearly not skilled in scolding.

But being called shameless by her own mother was an unusual experience for her.

In his previous life, Jungkook had been deeply affected and plagued with self-doubt upon hearing this. He had become cautious in his actions and hesitant to speak up.

In this life...

Jungkook nonchalantly nodded. "That's right, that's right."

As he spoke, he reached out to take the steamer of crab roe buns in front of Madam Kang and transferred them to his own plate.

"I haven't had much exposure to fine things due to my humble background. Please forgive me, Madam," Jungkook said with a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes.

Madam Kang's chopsticks grasped at thin air. "..."