The Real Young Master is Entangled by the Paranoid Fake Young Master - Chapter 11

Zhaoqing turned and closed the door with a sharp, clean motion. His steps were light, and a trace of pleasure one he hadn’t even noticed himself flickered at the corner of his mouth.

Finally rid of that major headache. Truly something worth celebrating.

By the time he casually made his way down to the first floor, he spotted Lin Qi’s silhouette, frantically making phone calls. Zhaoqing wasn’t in a hurry; he leaned against a pillar and waited leisurely behind him. Through the noisy static of the phone, he caught the faint mention of the name “Xie Qianze.”

When Lin Qi finally hung up and turned around, he found Zhaoqing standing behind him like a ghost, wearing an inscrutable expression. Lin Qi had always found this “real” young master to be somewhat sinister. Even as someone who spent his life navigating the treacherous waters of the Song family and the business world, he felt a chill down his spine whenever he looked at the boy.

It’s eerie. He’s like a vengeful spirit crawled out of hell, Lin Qi cursed inwardly, though his surface remained deferential as he asked Zhaoqing for his orders.

Zhaoqing shook his head, his face a mask of innocent, natural brilliance. “Brother Lin, Song Yuening just woke up. He asked for you to go up; said he has something to discuss with you.”

Lately, Lin Qi had been constantly testing him, clearly suspicious of his recent behavior. But Zhaoqing played his part perfectly, refusing to admit to anything. Between those subtle probes and the exhaustion of handling the car accident, Lin Qi was forced to set aside his doubts and maintain a “peaceful” front.

Hearing that Song Yuening was awake, Lin Qi understood that the boy had fully regained his senses. That young master was a devil in an angel’s skin, hypocritical and ruthless. If he was calling for him now, it was likely to demand accountability.

Lin Qi no longer had the mental energy to trouble Zhaoqing. He rushed away without even a word of farewell.

Zhaoqing watched his retreating back and let out a soft, mocking chuckle. He turned to leave the Song house, but before he could reach the front door, the voice of the cold and bitter housekeeper rang out from behind him.

“Stop right there! Young Master Zhaoqing, the Master requests your presence in the study.”

Zhaoqing’s brow twitched. As expected. Song Shicheng finally lost his patience.

He stopped and stared coldly at the pale, wrinkled housekeeper. He held her gaze until she uncomfortably looked away, then he brushed past her without a word.

The housekeeper, a confidante of the Old Madam who had never been so ignored, couldn’t resist a parting shot to put him in his place. “Are you really going to see the Master in those clothes? How undisciplined. Don’t you know the Master’s study isn’t a place for just anyone to—”

Before she could finish, Zhaoqing tilted his head with a look of mock confusion. “Oh, is that so?”

“Then ‘Father’ will surely blame you for being an incompetent housekeeper.”

The housekeeper was taken aback, her voice turning shrill with indignation. “What do you mean by that? What does your lack of etiquette have to do with me?!”

“Housekeeper Yu!” Zhaoqing’s expression flipped instantly into sharp, merciless rebuke. “Don’t you find that statement hilarious? Have you been the Song housekeeper for so many years only to learn your manners from a dog?”

“I’m certain Father and Grandmother instructed you to prepare new clothes for me. Yet, you failed to do so. This is the Song house, and I am a Song young master. Who do you think you are? Not only do you withhold my clothing, but you try to shift the blame onto me? I happen to be going to see Father now. Why don’t we let the head of the family decide who is in the wrong?”

Zhaoqing spoke with terrifying clarity, acting as if he truly trusted Shicheng and the Old Madam. Housekeeper Yu never dreamed she’d be outmaneuvered by a mere brat. She couldn’t very well admit that the patriarch and matriarch had never ordered anything for him; even if she did, no one in the family would back her up. They would simply blame her for “incompetence.”

To think that filthy slum could produce such a silver-tongued brat, she thought, her eyes full of resentment as she reluctantly backed down.

Zhaoqing found her “paper tiger” act tedious. Aside from Lili, everyone in the Song house was a hypocritical social climber. In his past life, he had been kind to every servant, especially Housekeeper Yu. Even though she never gave him the time of day, he had tried to treat her with sincerity, wanting to be liked.

He hadn’t realized then that his sincerity was viewed as weakness. A discarded son, unloved by his father and grandmother, was easy prey for the predatory staff. At first, they were just lazy with his chores; later, once they realized the family’s true attitude, they stopped washing his clothes and bedding altogether.

Zhaoqing hadn’t complained back then. He was used to housework from his time with the Chens, so he just washed his own things in silence. But his tolerance only invited more abuse. Housekeeper Yu would often “forget” to prepare breakfast for him, forcing him to go to school starving. If he ever took a piece of bread from the fridge, the servants would report him as a “thief.”

His stomach issues had started then. He wondered if the stomach cancer that killed him in his previous life had its roots in those hungry mornings.

It was ironic. Back with the Chens, a neighbor would at least give him a bowl of noodles. In the house of his biological father, he was left dizzy with hunger during his most demanding school years.

Watching Housekeeper Yu suffer gave Zhaoqing a pleasant boost in mood. He strolled to the deep-red bronze doors at the end of the hallway. He knocked, and the door that had never opened for him in his past life was swung wide.

Song Shicheng’s study was massive, decorated in dark, oppressive tones designed to intimidate. The silence was unnerving. If this were the past, Zhaoqing would have felt a surge of terror. But not now.

He had seen too many wolves and tigers, too many knives and shadows. His once-sensitive heart was now mostly numb.

Whether out of mischief or a desire for petty revenge, Zhaoqing let his footsteps thud loudly against the wooden floor as he walked toward Shicheng. The rhythmic sound was like a heartbeat, a young lion’s challenge to an old king.

He was surprised to see Song Zhiyuan standing in the corner of the room; apparently, Shicheng had allowed him to audit the “lecture.” Seeing Zhiyuan’s defensive, arrogant posture, Zhaoqing knew his “good brother” and “good father” had already laid a trap for him.

As Zhaoqing approached with “frivolous” steps, Shicheng frowned and assumed his most authoritative persona.

“Song Zhaoqing, I am very disappointed in you.”

Hearing that opening line, Zhaoqing raised an eyebrow. As expected. Shicheng has PUA (psychological manipulation) etched into his bones.

But Zhaoqing had no intention of playing along.

“Cut the crap. If you have business, say it. If not, stop wasting our time. Who cares if you’re disappointed? Me?” He looked utterly bored.

Last life he couldn’t stop talking; this life he still wants to lecture people, Zhaoqing mocked internally.

“You!” Shicheng’s face twisted for a moment. However, remembering his objective, he took a deep breath. “I called you here to inform you that while the family is disappointed, you are still Song blood. We won’t leave you to wander the streets. Originally, seeing how disrespectful you are to your elders and brothers, your grandmother and I planned to send you to the secondary villa. But now, Yuening’s condition is unstable. He only remains calm when you are nearby. We won’t risk his health, so you will stay in this house.”

Shicheng spoke as if he were granting a divine mercy. In an older era, he would have expected Zhaoqing to kowtow in gratitude.

“In fact, you should thank Yuening. If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t have the chance to be near us. Yuening is frail; you must yield to him. Don’t let your insecure, dark nature turn into jealousy just because he is superior to you in every way. Only if you treat him well can your grandmother and I be at peace.”

“Your brother showed me your file. You already have experience taking care of people. From now on, you will live in the side-room of Yuening’s suite. There’s no need to prepare a separate room for you.”

Shicheng spoke with such righteousness, as if Zhaoqing were nothing more than Yuening’s servant or accessory. What a joke! Who in their right mind would enjoy serving their mortal enemy?

Zhaoqing laughed. He leaned back against the sofa opposite them, looking like a total delinquent.

“I’m so sorry, but I really am that ‘insecure and dark’ person you described. Even in this golden nest, I’m just a piece of mud that can’t be carved into anything. I’m just trash.”

“So, I really can’t fulfill your request.”

“However, everything is negotiable.”

“If you insist on having me guard that sickly brat, it’s not impossible,” Zhaoqing’s mind raced. “But I won’t work for free. You’re a titan of industry; surely you understand the concept of a fair trade?”

“You provide the money; I provide the labor. Neither of us loses. How does that sound?”