Distorted Fairy Tale - Chapter 10

Fu Yuting left the house after taking a phone call. Song Zhen deliberately waited until the Alpha had gone before setting off for the restaurant Ji Qinglin had mentioned.

The venue Ji Qinglin chose was a niche, private establishment with an elegant name: Cuizhuju—The Emerald Bamboo Residence.

Song Zhen arrived promptly at five o’clock as agreed.

Cuizhuju certainly lived up to its name. As a waiter led him toward the private room, the path was lined with lush, towering bamboo and artificially crafted landscapes of rocks and water. It evoked a sense of leisurely tranquility, reminiscent of the classic imagery of “small bridges and flowing water.”

At the end of a winding path through the greenery lay the “Tian” (Heaven) suite. The waiter opened the door, revealing a spacious and refined room where someone was already waiting.

When Song Zhen saw the man inside, he froze.

The man was fair-skinned and handsome, with a noble and aloof temperament. Dressed in a crisp white suit, he looked exactly like the stereotypical image of a prince from a fairy tale.

The Ji Qinglin in his memory covered in scars and dark-skinned—seemed a world away from the person in this room.

Song Zhen pulled out his phone to double-check Ji Qinglin’s messages, then stepped back outside to verify the room number. It was correct.

“Excuse me, sir, am I in the wrong room?” Song Zhen asked politely.

“Benefactor, it’s only been a few days; have you forgotten me already?” As soon as the man spoke, Song Zhen’s eyes widened. That was definitely Ji Qinglin’s voice.

“You look so different,” Song Zhen said, stepping forward to look at him in astonishment. “I didn’t recognize you at all.”

Ji Qinglin rose from his seat and waved a hand to dismiss the waiter.

He placed a hand on Song Zhen’s shoulder and guided him into a chair, letting out a light chuckle. “Last time I was wearing special effects makeup. I’m actually an actor,” Ji Qinglin explained apologetically. “I’ve been too busy to get away without holding up the production, but I finally had some free time today to treat you to this meal.”

“An actor!?” Song Zhen was even more surprised, though looking at Ji Qinglin’s face, it made perfect sense. “No wonder you’re so good-looking.”

“Thank you for the compliment.” Ji Qinglin sat down across from him, smiling. “I’m not very famous, actually. I’m quite a ‘niche’ actor, so it’s normal that you haven’t heard of me.”

Song Zhen asked, “Is ‘Ji Qinglin’ a stage name? I watch dramas sometimes; I can help boost your ratings.”

“It’s my real name, but I use it as my stage name too.”

“It’s a very nice name,” Song Zhen said with a soft smile.

“If you want to see my work, I’ll give you a disc later with all my projects on it. You can pick whatever looks interesting.”

“I’d love that.”

The food arrived quickly. Each dish was exquisitely plated and delicious, and the two chatted as they ate.

When Song Zhen asked about Grandma Ji, Ji Qinglin’s expression softened. “Her health hasn’t been great lately. She has Alzheimer’s, so she isn’t lucid very often and usually has someone watching her. That day, she suddenly ran off to Xishan Park on her own. probably because that’s where she first met my grandfather.”

“Grandfather passed away a long time ago. Grandma often dazes off and whispers his name,” Ji Qinglin sighed.

“Maybe she’s just…” Song Zhen said softly, “missing her lover too much.”

In those rare moments of clarity, or in the middle of a dream at night, a lover’s face appears. Logic tells you they are gone, but the heart simply cannot stop yearning.

Song Zhen had lived through that for just one month and felt utterly exhausted—his numb body dragged along day after day by a deep sense of helplessness. He couldn’t imagine how painful it must be for Grandma Ji to have lived like that for so many years.

The eyes of a lover are almost like a curse; they can trap a person for an entire lifetime.

“Perhaps.” Ji Qinglin gave Song Zhen a deep, searching look. He felt as though there was an unspeakable melancholy hidden in Song Zhen’s eyes.

“I was raised by my grandmother. She is the most important person in my life. So, I truly want to thank you for saving her. In this day and age, the courage to step forward and help an injured elderly person is a rare thing.” Ji Qinglin’s tone was sincere. “Thank you, Song Zhen.”

“I can’t speak for everywhere else, but in City A, if you ever face any difficulty, I will do everything in my power to help you.” Ji Qinglin poured a glass of wine for himself and filled a glass for Song Zhen. He raised his own glass. “Come, cheers.”

Song Zhen apologized, “I’m sorry, I can’t drink. Is a soft drink okay?”

“Are you allergic to alcohol?”

“No,” Song Zhen said, lowering his eyes. “I’m pregnant, so I shouldn’t drink.”

Ji Qinglin’s hand paused in mid-air. He instinctively glanced at Song Zhen’s stomach.

Song Zhen was wearing a simple white shirt. Whether it was because the shirt was loose or because Song Zhen was simply too thin, there was absolutely no sign that he was pregnant.

“I wouldn’t have guessed you were married.”

“We’re getting a divorce soon, anyway.” Song Zhen gave a bitter smile and clinked his glass against Ji Qinglin’s. He joked, “Then I’ll have to rely on you in the future, Xiao Ji.”

Ji Qinglin was two years younger than him, and Song Zhen had taken to calling him that in their messages.

“Whatever you need, just ask. Don’t be a stranger,” Ji Qinglin laughed. “If you need to file for divorce against that blind ex-husband-to-be of yours, I can even introduce you to some reliable lawyers.”

Song Zhen smiled but didn’t say anything.

They finished their drinks and ate a bit more before the meal finally drew to a close.

At that moment, Ji Qinglin suddenly handed Song Zhen a card. Song Zhen immediately waved his hands in refusal.

“There isn’t much money on it, just a small token of my appreciation,” Ji Qinglin said. “Besides, didn’t you say you’re getting a divorce? You’re pregnant; there will be many things you’ll need money for.”

Song Zhen insisted on pushing it back. “I really can’t accept this!”

He wasn’t a fool; a meal in a private restaurant with this kind of decor certainly wasn’t cheap. The meal and Ji Qinglin’s promise were more than enough.

“Just take it, Ge.” Seeing Song Zhen’s persistence, Ji Qinglin began to playfully force it into Song Zhen’s pocket. “Gege, Gege, Gege… please just take it!”

The two of them continued their playful struggle all the way to the door of the private room. When the door opened, they were still pulling and pushing in the hallway.

Ji Qinglin grabbed Song Zhen’s wrist, trying his best to shove the card into his hand.

Suddenly, Song Zhen went stiff and stopped in his tracks, staring straight ahead.

Ji Qinglin followed his gaze and froze as well.

Not far from them stood three people, staring right back.

Two tall Alphas stood with a beautiful Omega between them.

Of the three, Song Zhen recognized two. On the left was an Alpha in a sharp black suit, his expression cold and his eyes dark with a brooding intensity. It was none other than Fu Yuting.

The Omega in the middle had fair skin and delicate, sweet features. His slightly upturned fox-like eyes gave him a playful look. He wore a faint smile and seemed to recognize Song Zhen, even offering a small wave.

It was Zhou Nining.

Song Zhen didn’t recognize the Alpha on the right. He was about the same height as Fu Yuting, with a tall, straight posture and a gentle, refined aura. He also wore gold-rimmed glasses.

However, Song Zhen could guess who he was.

If his hunch was correct, the only person who would be dining here with Fu Yuting and Zhou Nining would be—Ji Xiuyuan.

The eldest son of the Ji family, who Assistant Lin had mentioned grew up with Fu Yuting and Zhou Nining.

Ji Xiuyuan’s gaze lingered for a second on Ji Qinglin’s hand, which was still gripping Song Zhen’s wrist. His eyes then traveled upward to Ji Qinglin’s face.

The moment he locked eyes with Ji Xiuyuan, Ji Qinglin flinched.

He abruptly let go of Song Zhen’s hand.

“Brother,” Ji Qinglin muttered, lowering his head.

Song Zhen was stunned. He looked back at Ji Qinglin.

They were actually brothers.

Yet they looked nothing alike; there wasn’t a single point of resemblance between them.

“So this is little brother Qinglin? Truly, seeing is believing,” Zhou Nining said with a smile. He then turned to Song Zhen and waved again. “City A really is small. Hello again, delivery boy.”

Neither Ji Qinglin nor Song Zhen spoke. Each was pinned down by a heavy gaze that made them feel incredibly uncomfortable.

“I thought you were filming abroad,” Ji Xiuyuan said tonelessly to Ji Qinglin.

“I just got back today.” Ji Qinglin stole a quick glance at his brother before looking away again. If one listened closely, his voice was trembling slightly.

Ji Xiuyuan didn’t say another word. He stared at Ji Qinglin in silence for a long moment before stepping forward and lightly patting his shoulder. “Since you’re back, remember to come home for dinner tonight.”

Song Zhen could feel Ji Qinglin stiffen visibly beside him.

As Ji Xiuyuan brushed past them, Song Zhen looked up and saw the man watching him. Despite his refined features, his gaze was unsettlingly cold.

Zhou Nining walked past them with a bright, radiant smile. This man seemed to be perpetually smiling at everyone.

When Fu Yuting passed Song Zhen, he bumped his shoulder against Song Zhen’s whether it was intentional, deliberate, or calculated, it was hard to say—before walking away.

Song Zhen heard a cold, derisive scoff right by his ear, making the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

Song Zhen let out a helpless sigh in his heart. When he turned around, he saw that Ji Qinglin’s face was deathly pale, looking as if his soul had left his body.

Support Distorted Fairy Tale