Beneath the Facade
Still leaving?
He was faced with a pair of eyes that sent chills down his spine and made his soul quiver.
His pale fingers tightly twisted the duvet.
Again, he had to endure the pain of his body being torn apart.
Could this be hell?
Why is it that I'm obviously dead but had to come back here, next to this devil?
His mind was muddled due to this man's scorching temperature and out of instinct, he resisted,
Kim Taehyung
"Don't touch me!"
With one fluid movement, it was as if he was touched by ice. The man's ghostly, bloodthirsty expression clouded, and his ice-cold lips bit down on him ruthlessly, as if wanting to swallow him whole.
Kim Taehyung was in such pain that he couldn't think straight. He muttered subconsciously,
Kim Taehyung
"Why... Why me... Jeon Jungkook... Why must it be me...?"
Jeon Jungkook
"Because it has to be you."
Hearing the man's deep and hoarse voice was like a shackle of chains that imprisoned his soul.
Upon hearing the same answer the man had given him in his previous life, Taehyung fell into a coma.
When he opened his eyes again, the darkness of the night sky had turned into daylight.
A floral scent filled the air and the warm glow of the sun filtered in, momentarily dissipating his uneasiness.
Yet, in the next second, Taehyung tensed up again.
A strong sense of distress spread in him as the man awakened.
The man's arm around his waist tightened. He felt like a pillow, being held in the man's arms.
Jeon Jungkook
"Still leaving?"
Next to his ears whispered the voice that gave him the creeps.
Out of his survival instincts, Taehyung shook his head.
He was unsure whether the man believed him. He glanced at the man for a moment and then looked down, giving him little kisses on his lips, chin and neck...
The heavy, hot breath buried in his neck gave him warning signs all over his body.
He was like a deer who'd been bitten by a predator. He didn't dare move an inch.
After what seemed like forever, the man finally let him loose.
In the next second, a surprisingly pleasant sight fell into Taehyung's view.
The man left the bed half-naked, the backlight outlining his slender stature and tapered waist.
However, this view lasted only for a moment as he swiftly picked up his clothes by the bed and buttoned his shirt all the way to the top meticulously.
It was only a while ago that he'd been as ferocious as a beast, but in this moment, his handsome face was cold without a trace of humanity.
It wasn't until he heard the sound of the door shutting that Taehyung allowed his nerves to relax.
He could finally reflect on his current situation.
He slowly glanced at the furnishings around him, and at his own reflection in the vanity mirror opposite.
The black lips of the boy in the mirror had been gnawed at until only a faint color remained, and the makeup on his face had been completely smeared by tears and sweat.
His body, filled with bruises and hickeys, bore a horrific and bloody tattoo.
He couldn't believe this was how he looked at only 20 years old!
At that time, in order to distance himself from Jeon Jungkook, he purposely made himself look ugly and disgusting.
Now he'd actually been... reborn...?
Suddenly, an overwhelming sense of fear and despair caused him to choke.
Kim Taehyung
Why have I returned to 7 years in the past?!
Kim Taehyung
I'd rather die than return here, back by this devil's side.
He clearly remembered that this was where he and Jeon Jungkook first had s*x, and he'd been tormented thoroughly for countless nights afterwards.
Furthermore, he'd lost his lover, his family, even his dignity and freedom. He'd lost everything...
Kim Taehyung
Must I go through all of it again?
Kim Taehyung
No. Since God's given me a chance to live again, I have to change it all!
He could tolerate it all
Kim Taehyung
But how am I going to change?
To Jungkook, crushing him was easier than crushing an ant. He got whatever he wanted.
Taehyung took a deep breath, forcing the fear of that man out of him.
Kim Taehyung
There must be a way!
At least she was no longer the same stupid, mindless and impulsive teenager.
Han So-hee
"Oh my god! Taehyung..."
Taehyung heard a sudden exclamation.
Hearing this familiar voice, Taehyung stiffened and turned to look at the door. Immediately, he saw the face of a person he'd never forget.
A pretty face that people would never suspect—
It was his best friend from his previous life!
Han So-hee
"Taehyung, how could Mr. Jeon do this to you?!"
Han So-hee rushed over and held his hand. She looked at the messy bed and Taehyung's bruised body in astonishment.
Taehyung lowered his eyes, looking at his hand clenched in pain from Han So-hee's tight grip. This time, he didn't miss So-hee's clumsily hidden feelings of jealousy.
Han So-hee
"Taehyung, are you alright? Are you okay? Taehyung, don't scare me!"
So-hee fretted anxiously. She saw that Taehyung's gaze was strange and wondered if he was traumatized.
Taehyung maintained his composure and drew his hands back. He shook his head and replied,
In his past life, the reason he'd been tormented so relentlessly by Jungkook was partly because of So-hee.
He had many fights with Jungkook and didn't dare tell anyone other than So-hee, his most trusted friend. Who would've known...
So-hee actually had feelings for Jungkook; she long coveted the title of "Mrs. Jeon".
On the surface, she was helping Taehyung, but she was actually using him to get closer to Jungkook.
She even tried to drive a wedge between them countless times and led Taehyung to be tortured by the wrath of Jungkook each time.
Taehyung hadn't noticed her level of deception before; he had even felt deeply grateful to So-hee for being his wing woman.
Staring at his own reflection in the mirror, Taehyung couldn't help but smile wryly.
Actually, this hideous disguise was So-hee's idea, and he actually agreed.
No matter how others saw him, as long as Jungkook loathed him, it'd be worth it.
But what he hadn't anticipated was that despite his revolting appearance, Jungkook could tolerate all of it.
Han So-hee
"How are you even okay looking like this?! Taehyung, don't worry, I've got your back!"
So-hee said with a kind expression.
Taehyung sneered in his heart.
The So-hee from his previous life had also been like this, generously offering to help him escape and asking for Jong Suk's help.
In the end, So-hee betrayed him and told Jungkook that he was "eloping" with Jong Suk.
This had intensified his conflict with Jungkook. From that point onwards, Jungkook's temperament became cranky and unpredictable.
Jungkook's possessiveness towards him became intolerable.
Facing Jungkook head-on was like courting death.
Why had he been so foolishly stubborn before? He'd even listened to So-hee and obeyed her, hurting himself again and again...
The Kim family hadn't exacted their revenge yet. His parents were still waiting for him at home and he still had to guide his older brother onto the right path. He had so much to do.
He needed to pacify Jungkook first; he couldn't do anything that would provoke him again.
Han So-hee
"Taehyung, wait for me! I'll come back for you!"
So-hee, only caring for herself, spoke words devoid of meaning. She then left.
Once So-hee left, Taehyung's helpless and fragile expression turned cold and numb.
So-hee's countless attempts to encourage him to escape hadn't succeeded.
The last time, he was accused of having an affair; it seemed So-hee was determined to ruin his life, no matter the cost.
Ex-Fiancé
In those three days, Taehyung spent his time mostly sleeping and reflecting on his memory of his previous life.
Jeon Jungkook was no different from the past. For three whole days, he didn't appear at all. The servants at the house were all buried in their work and rarely spoke to him. They didn't even dare to make any eye contact.
Such an enormous house, but it was like a prison.
Taehyung changed into his pyjamas and looked at the time. He immediately walked towards the yard.
The moonlight was beautiful with a gentle breeze, easing his fear of the terrifying memories of the cage he was trapped in.
This garden actually had a nice view. After all, it had been designed by Jungkook himself. He hired the world's top group of architects and it took five full years to finish building it in the top location in Imperial City.
It was such a pity that in his previous life, he hadn't appreciated it. He despised this cage that imprisoned him and only wanted to destroy it.
Then, a familiar voice abruptly resounded in the evening wind.
Under the dim light, he could see a man dressed in an expensive and luxurious suit. He was charming and... classy.
Lee Jong Suk's captivating presence was undeniable; he had to admit it.
Jeon Jungkook, that devil, paled in comparison with him.
Jong Suk stood a few steps away from her and frowned.
Taehyung noticed his subtle reaction, so he took a look at his own clothes.
At that moment, he was still in his heavy metal clothes, with a thick mess of makeup on his face.
As his wardrobe didn't have any regular clothes, he thought he might as well maintain his old image. He also didn't want to arouse suspicion by changing drastically in such a short period of time.
Jong Suk stared at him coldly, his expression filled with disappointment.
Lee Jong Suk
"Taehyung! How could you degrade yourself like this?"
Kim Taehyung
Degrade myself?
Taehyung tasted these words, mocking him.
In his previous life, he'd given Jong Suk his entire heart. In order to prove his loyalty to him, he'd made himself dress so strangely and repulsively.
But in the end, all he got in return was Jong Suk saying that he degraded himself.
He knew that So-hee spoke ill of him in front of Jong Suk, but if this man had the slightest affection for him, he wouldn't believe anything So-hee said.
Since So-hee was his best friend, she came over often to keep him company. Thus, she could come in and out as she pleased. She even allowed Jong Suk in secretly.
Just as Taehyung was about to speak, a chill went up his spine.
Kim Taehyung
Jeon Jungkook...
He was instinctively aware of that man's presence.
In his previous life, he didn't realize So-hee betrayed him. Jungkook watched him in the dark the whole time he cheated on him, marking the beginning of his nightmare...
Taehyung sighed gently, forcing himself to ignore the presence of Jungkook.
He looked at Jong Suk indifferently, chuckled and asked,
Kim Taehyung
"I wonder which perspective you're questioning me from? That of my ex-fiance? Or... my brother-in-law?"
Kim Taehyung
Jong Suk's expression turned heavy at Taehyung's sarcasm.
Lee Jong Suk
"Taehyung, I know you blame me, but I was also helpless. Whatever happened, I'm responsible for what you've become today. Leave with me now and I'll take you out of Imperial City!"
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