The Real Young Master is Entangled by the Paranoid Fake Young Master - Chapter 18

“You want to invest? Do you know this money could easily go down the drain? If you invest in me, forget dividends  you might not even get your principal back!”

Fang Yang listened to Zhao Qing’s “grand talk” and felt the guy might have something wrong with his head. Even he didn’t dare believe this project would succeed; how could this young master, who was just brought back to the Song family, be so certain?

Seeing Fang Yang staring at him with a complicated expression, Zhao Qing knew exactly what he was thinking. To dispel his doubts, Zhao Qing simply patted Fang Yang’s shoulder with a warm hand and said gently:

“You don’t need to fear that I have ill intentions, nor do you need to worry about whether my money can be recovered. Actually, my goals are the same as yours. You want to escape the Fang family  how do you know I don’t want to leave the Song family forever?”

“So, don’t feel pressured. I’m not just helping you; I’m helping myself. After all, everyone in the S-City business world knows I’m the unfavored ‘adopted’ son of the Songs. They won’t let me enter any projects. Furthermore, three million is just a drop in the bucket for others. I’m not that selfless; I want to turn a small stake into a large one. Don’t carry a psychological burden; just go ahead and do it boldly.”

“But… do you really not want anything from the Song family?”

Fang Yang realized he couldn’t see through the youth before him. He assumed that whether for family ties or the sudden wealth, Song Zhaoqing would at least have some attachment and wouldn’t be as determined to leave as he was.

Unexpectedly, the boy was even more radical than himself.

In response to Fang Yang’s question, Zhao Qing gave a nonchalant shrug and said with a flair of casual elegance:

“This kind of power and wealth isn’t something everyone wants. I came from having nothing; even if I return to having nothing, what of it?”

Zhao Qing’s smile was light and mysterious:

“Besides, I believe in you, Fang Yang. I don’t know why, but the moment I saw you, I felt a sense of familiarity… as if I knew you in a past life.”

On the third-floor balcony of the Song residence, a tall silhouette leaned quietly against the white marble railing. The night breeze stirred his hair. It seemed like a moment of peace and beauty, but upon closer inspection, it was nothing but loneliness.

Just a wall away in the meeting room, the Song family was in a heated negotiation with Xie Tao, the head of the Xie family, regarding cooperation details and profit margins.

Song Yuening knew Xie Tao was far too shrewd; he certainly wouldn’t invest heavily in this project to avoid damaging his own vitality. His “good father” would eventually yield a step, settling for petty gains just to maintain peace.

In this vibrant spring night breeze, his so-called family was discussing the “price” for selling him. It felt like a piece of dark humor. Thinking of this, Song Yuening couldn’t help but let out a mocking laugh.

He remembered what Song Zhiyuan had said while lobbying him under Song Shicheng’s instructions before the banquet:

“Ningning, I know this is hard on you. But for the future of the Song family, we have to do this for now. Father says you’ve always been the most obedient and sensible since childhood; you’ll consider the Song family’s interests this time, right?”

“Father will definitely make the Xie family pay a price. If they dare disagree, their precious son can spend the rest of his life in prison!”

Song Zhiyuan’s eyes had been full of guilt, but Song Yuening remained unmoved. He had agreed easily on the surface, continuing his role of the filial son, but he couldn’t help but sneer in his heart. Song Zhiyuan’s negligible guilt wasn’t worth his time; it was just hypocrisy.

It wasn’t the first time he’d seen the Song family’s cold pragmatism. He never expected them to help him get what he wanted. He had long mastered these rules of survival. Everyone was a hypocritical opportunist, saying beautiful things while doing the most wretched deeds behind people’s backs.

Except… it seemed there was one person…

Song Zhaoqing.

Song Yuening suddenly thought of him. He wondered if that naive plan between Song Zhaoqing and Song Lili had succeeded. At this moment, he didn’t want to return to that suffocating negotiation table, nor did he want to go downstairs for fake socializing. His gaze drifted aimlessly across the garden.

He was distracted. Fountains, streams, lawns, streetlights, pavilions… His eyes swept over the familiar sights. Suddenly, something caught his attention, and his gaze froze there, unable to be pulled away.

In the pavilion, two youths stood side-by-side, seemingly in a deep, earnest conversation.

For the first time, Song Yuening hated his perfect vision  he could clearly see the brilliant smile on Song Zhaoqing’s lips. It was a smile he had never seen before. Those obsidian eyes were staring so intently at that pink-haired youth. From afar, the two of them looked so… compatible.

So compatible it was an eyesore.

The way Song Zhaoqing leaned in to whisper with that person created a space that no one else could enter. They were so intimate, while he could only watch from afar like a voyeur, silently observing someone else’s laughter and joy.

He seemed to lose the desire to watch further and turned to leave. As he did, he caught his reflection in a large silver ornament in the hallway. His eyes held a complex emotion he didn’t understand, looking so fierce that he lost the cold arrogance and pride he usually displayed.

“However… I have one last question,” Fang Yang said in the pavilion. “My project is kept very secret. How did you know about it?”

Without clearing this up, Fang Yang couldn’t fully trust a partnership with Zhao Qing, even though his heart had already chosen to believe him.

Zhao Qing didn’t try to stall. He simply said three words: “Mrs. Fang.”

Those three words made a chill run down Fang Yang’s spine. He reacted quickly, but his voice still trembled: “You’re saying she already knows I’m secretly seeking investment?”

“More than that. She likely discovered you and your project a long time ago. It’s just that she also values your talent, so she’s waiting for your project to be nearly complete before stealing your results for her precious son, Fang Haoyang.”

“So… you got this news from Fang Haoyang?” Under Zhao Qing’s intentional misdirection, Fang Yang reached this conclusion.

“A few days ago he came to see Song Yuening. He drank a bit too much at the Song family gathering and bragged that he was about to get a huge project. So, I paid special attention to it.”

Zhao Qing told a white lie. In his past life, Fang Haoyang had indeed successfully stolen Fang Yang’s success, so pinning this crime on him wasn’t exactly a wrongful accusation.

Fang Yang fell silent. So that’s how it is. Mrs. Fang, Fang Haoyang… so it was them. But was there any tacit approval from his “good father” in this? He figured there probably was. They were the “happy family of three,” a fact he’d known for a long time, but being deceived still stung, even if he was used to it.

“Are… are you okay?” Zhao Qing felt a bit of regret seeing his silence. Fang Yang just took a sharp breath and shook his head.

“I’m fine,” he replied. “I accept your proposal. We’ll set a time to talk about the details.” Fang Yang took out his phone and saved Zhao Qing’s number.

Zhao Qing felt the deal was done, but he worried that the teenage Fang Yang might be depressed after such “heavy medicine.” He feared the boy might still yearn for the fake warmth of the Fang family.

Seeing Zhao Qing staring at him hesitantly, Fang Yang actually burst into a laugh. His smile was still a bit roguish, his flamboyant pink hair shining brilliantly under the moonlight.

“Hey, Song Zhaoqing. You’re so good-looking, why are you such a ‘mother-hen’?”

Fang Yang even wanted to reach out and pinch Zhao Qing’s face, but he stopped just before his hand made contact, realizing it was improper. How strange who pinches someone’s face right after meeting them? Fang Yang scolded himself internally. But seeing that worried look in the boy’s eyes, he felt a bit of warmth in his heart.

Fine, this roguish attitude is the Fang Yang Zhao Qing knows best. With the tension broken, the gloom in Zhao Qing’s heart also dissipated.

“Alright, that’s it for today. I’ll wait for your call. Contact me when you’re free…” Zhao Qing saw that everything was settled, then looked at Fang Yang’s wet clothes and hair again. “But you should still come with me to change. Fang Haoyang has a foul mouth; if you go back to the banquet hall like this, he’ll definitely draw a crowd to mock you.”

In his past life, this was Zhao Qing’s own treatment. He’d been pranked and mocked by Fang Haoyang’s gang countless times; he knew their routine inside and out.

Fang Yang didn’t refuse this time. He nodded and was about to follow Zhao Qing, but a sudden voice startled them both.

“Young Master Fang, what happened to you?”

Although it was a question, the newcomer’s tone held no trace of inquiry  it sounded as if he already knew exactly what had happened.

Zhao Qing’s brow furrowed the moment he saw who it was. He instinctively stepped in front of Fang Yang, blocking Song Yuening’s view. Whether it was a delusion or not, Zhao Qing felt that after he made that small movement, Song Yuening’s gaze became even sharper. It didn’t look like an observation  it looked like… “catching an affair.”

The three of them stood in a silent, stiff standoff. Zhao Qing was speechless at his own sudden thought. Just as he was about to speak to get rid of Song Yuening, the other finally opened his cold mouth:

“What are you doing here?”

He was looking at Zhao Qing. His tone was close to an interrogation.

Zhao Qing felt a surge of irritation the moment he saw Song Yuening. He wanted to snap back: Is what I’m doing with whom any of your business, Song Yuening?

But considering that if he angered Song Yuening now, it would be quite easy for the guy to use some scheme to harass Fang Yang, Zhao Qing didn’t want things to get too tense. He said flatly:

“Thanks to your good brother Fang Haoyang, Young Master Fang’s clothes are soaked. This banquet is a Song family event; we can’t let him stand here and air-dry. I was about to take him to my room to change when you showed up.”

The implication was clear: If you’re not going to help, don’t meddle.

Song Yuening remained unmoved. As if prepared, he clapped his hands. A servant stepped out respectfully from the bushes behind him.

“Let the servant take Young Master Fang to change. Young Master Fang is a guest of the Songs; taking him to your room would be… inconvenient.”

Song Yuening’s voice dropped on those last three words. He walked up to Zhao Qing and practically whispered a reminder:

“Where on earth did Lili go?”

Zhao Qing immediately stepped aside, his eyes full of wariness. He instinctively covered his ear, but his gaze remained a cold warning. Song Yuening was amused by this “facing a great enemy” look, but after the amusement came a surge of annoyance.

He didn’t act like this toward that Fang Yang.

Without another word, he grabbed Zhao Qing’s wrist, yet kept a fake smile as he said to Fang Yang:

“I have some business with Zhao-zhao. My apologies, Young Master Fang.”

Zhao-zhao… that nickname again! Zhao Qing’s expression stiffened. He temporarily forgot to worry about how Song Yuening knew about Song Lili; in this moment, fear swept over him. Could it be that Song Yuening didn’t lose his memory at all?

Zhao Qing scrutinized Song Yuening’s face, but found him perfectly composed. That “Zhao-zhao” seemed to be used only to display intimacy in front of Fang Yang.

Seeing that Zhao Qing’s attention was finally back on him, Song Yuening’s mood improved. Ignoring whatever Fang Yang wanted to say, he pulled Zhao Qing away with a strong grip.