The Real Young Master is Entangled by the Paranoid Fake Young Master - Chapter 2

Zhaoqing felt a gentle breeze brush through his hair, like a mother’s hand softly comforting him.

It was a pity, however, that he had never met his biological mother. He had been stolen by his adoptive mother less than three days after birth, and since then, happiness had been a stranger to him.

But… is there a breeze in hell? Zhaoqing wondered. He forced his eyes open with every ounce of strength he possessed, yet he did not see the expected purgatory filled with demons.

On the contrary, he was currently slumping in the back of a luxury sedan. He peered out the window; the brilliant sunlight was so dazzling it nearly brought him to tears.

Am I in heaven?

A massive sense of unreality left him dazed and lost. Birds chirped vibrantly on the treetops, and the terminal illness that had tortured him for so long had vanished. It felt as though his body had been re-injected with the vigor of his youth.

Before Zhaoqing could even process the shock of this change, he felt something tightly gripping his left arm.

He whipped his head around, only to find an exquisitely beautiful young man with long hair peacefully, vulnerably leaning his head against Zhaoqing’s shoulder in a deep sleep.

The youth’s breathing was steady and calm. Every warm breath puffed against Zhaoqing’s sensitive neck, making his body tremble slightly. The youth’s silky hair cascaded down like a fine net, covering half of Zhaoqing’s torso. His entire weight pressed heavily against Zhaoqing, and even in sleep, he clutched Zhaoqing’s arm tightly, as if terrified that the person beside him would vanish the moment he woke up.

It was a posture that screamed a lack of security and an intense desire for possession.

Song Yuening…

Zhaoqing pursed his lips. With a surge of irritation, he immediately yanked his arm out of Yuening’s embrace and sat bolt upright.

Yes, from the very first glance, Zhaoqing had recognized exactly who this “sleeping beauty,” leaning so ambiguously and harmlessly against his shoulder, truly was.

If Song Yuening was here, then this was definitely hell.

Zhaoqing’s mind was a mess. He didn’t want to look at that face, so he stubbornly averted his gaze to examine the interior of the car. He only wanted to know where on earth he was.

But when his eyes swept over the rearview mirror, his pupils dilated.

He saw his own face specifically, his face as it looked in his youth.

The person in the reflection had eyes as black and bright as cold stars, with a tiny mole on the bridge of a high nose. Despite years of exposure to the sun, his skin remained exceptionally pale; a few faint blue veins were visible on his fair neck, winding down into his collar.

At sixteen, Song Zhaoqing looked somewhat rebellious when he wasn’t smiling. But the moment the corners of his mouth turned up, he looked like an enthusiastic, innocent puppy. His clothes were washed thin and faded, and the knees of his jeans were worn, but the simple attire couldn’t hide his excellent genetics his slim waist and long legs.

Zhaoqing stared at his prime self in the mirror, paralyzed by shock. Before he could cry out, a voice abruptly cut through his racing thoughts.

“Young Master Zhaoqing, you’re awake? We’re almost at the main estate. Do you remember what I told you? Once we’re home, don’t wander around. The Song family is strict and has many rules. You must act carefully; do not do anything to upset the Master, the Old Madam, or the Young Master and Miss.”

In the passenger seat, a version of Lin Qi who looked more than ten years younger adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and droned on. Zhaoqing felt a splitting headache.

He knew these words by heart. They were exactly what Lin Qi had said the first time.

Don’t upset them? The subtext was clear: he was expected to swallow every grievance and please everyone at his own expense.

Zhaoqing looked up at Lin Qi. His gaze held none of the anticipation or nervousness one might expect when meeting family for the first time. Instead, it was filled with flickering anger, contempt, and mockery. Lin Qi was momentarily startled; he felt as though this stupid, love-starved boy had somehow changed. It was as if the boy had seen right through his facade.

But how is that possible? Lin Qi thought. He’s just a sixteen-year-old who grew up in a neighborhood full of thugs with a gambler. How could he have the ability to read people so easily?

Lin Qi told himself not to overthink it.

Zhaoqing watched the “warm and kind” expression return to Lin Qi’s face and felt only irony. His throat tightened, and hatred flared in his heart, but he suppressed it, putting on a submissive mask.

“I understand. Thank you, Brother Lin. I’ll keep everything you said in mind.”

Zhaoqing remembered that before returning to the Song estate, he had never even met his biological father or Song Zhiyuan. The DNA testing, the adoption paperwork, and the school registrations had all been handled by Lin Qi under the patriarch’s orders. Back then, Lin Qi was the first person Zhaoqing knew in the vast Song family, and he had trusted this “Brother Lin” who seemingly “looked out” for him.

Thinking back now, it was pathetic.

Zhaoqing finally understood: he hadn’t gone to heaven or hell. He had been reborn into the year he was sixteen, the day he returned to the Song family.

But why?

Why be reborn on this day? He was inwardly vexed. If it had been just two days earlier, he would have had a chance to refuse. But the adoption papers were already signed. Unless his biological father signed a formal waiver, his fate was once again bound tightly to the Song family!

Seeing Zhaoqing agree, Lin Qi breathed a sigh of relief and continued with a beaming face: “But Young Master Zhaoqing, don’t worry too much. You know the Master and the Old Madam have you in their hearts. The Young Masters and the Miss are all very welcoming of your arrival…”

Welcoming? Zhaoqing nearly laughed out loud. How had he not noticed in his past life that Lin Qi was such a blatant liar?

In his previous life, he had arrived at the estate feeling terrified and inferior, terrified of losing face in front of the “noble” Songs. Having just escaped a home full of violence and filth, God knew how much he craved the affection of a normal family. He had asked endless questions about the family and even carefully prepared gifts for everyone.

Back then, Lin Qi had been so annoyed by the questioning that he had just brushed him off with platitudes. And Zhaoqing had been foolish enough to believe him.

Only when he arrived did he realize that no one welcomed him, and no one cared if he lived or died. The entire Song family had left for a private island vacation to celebrate Song Yuening winning first place in a competition. And that “first place” was just one of many mediocre awards for the “Heaven’s Chosen One.”

Even an honor that Yuening didn’t care about was more worthy of celebration to the Songs than Zhaoqing’s homecoming.

For the next two months, Zhaoqing didn’t see a single family member. He was left in the empty mansion with several tutors who drilled him on etiquette and academics so he wouldn’t embarrass the family at his new elite school.

One day, two months later, Zhaoqing returned from a golf lesson he was struggling with. He immediately sensed something was off. The servants, who were usually lazy and dismissive toward him, were suddenly bustling about, speaking in hushed whispers as if afraid to offend someone.

That was the day Zhaoqing first met Song Yuening.

As the high-and-mighty “Chosen One” descended the spiral staircase step by step, Zhaoqing momentarily thought he was seeing a god. The sunset streaming through the stained-glass windows draped Yuening in a golden light, as if God Himself were admiring His most flawless masterpiece.

With a face so handsome and cold, and an aura so vastly different from his own, Zhaoqing had shrunk back, hiding his calloused hands, feeling nothing but shame.

No wonder the family is so good to him, he had thought. Even knowing he isn’t their blood, they dote on him. Someone so noble and beautiful deserves the best of everything.

At that time, Zhaoqing couldn’t even feel jealousy. When Yuening approached him with a polite greeting, he had even foolishly resolved to be his friend, hoping Yuening would accept him as family.

But that day, no one gave him the chance to be kind.

When the patriarch returned, he didn’t even mention a welcome for Zhaoqing. He didn’t even eat dinner with him. The rest of the family from the grandmother to the eldest brother, Song Zhiyuan were cold. Zhaoqing could see the contempt in his grandmother’s eyes, especially when he struggled with the complex table etiquette.

As for the youngest daughter, Song Lili, she wore her hostility and disgust on her sleeve, mocking him multiple times during the meal. When she saw Zhaoqing turn pale, she would offer an affectionate, triumphant look toward Yuening.

Zhaoqing knew she was “fighting” for Yuening. She felt Zhaoqing’s presence was a threat to her brilliant second brother’s status. Even the eldest brother, Song Zhiyuan, only offered a biased “reconciler” comment: “Lili is young. Her words are blunt, but she’s sincere. Don’t take it to heart.”

In that moment, looking at the princess-like Song Lili and the refined Song Zhiyuan and Song Yuening, Zhaoqing didn’t have the courage to give them his simple, heartfelt gifts. He knew it would only lead to self-humiliation.

Throughout it all, Song Yuening never made things difficult for Zhaoqing, nor did he act close. It was as if the verbal sparring at the table had nothing to do with him.

Song Yuening, he always had that talent. He could remain high above like a cold, heartless statue, knowing full well that countless people were willing to go to battle for him.

The Zhaoqing of the past didn’t understand this, but since Heaven had given him a second chance, he would escape this den of monsters! As for the “Chosen One,” Song Yuening, Zhaoqing sneered internally. Let him and this group of demons entangle themselves in this hellish vanity fair.

With that thought, Zhaoqing’s mood improved significantly.

However, recalling his past life, his meeting with Song Yuening shouldn’t have happened for another two months. Why was Yuening here now, in the car with Lin Qi?

Zhaoqing didn’t think for a second that Yuening was here to “welcome” him. He instinctively assumed the worst.

Does Song Yuening have some new trick to torment me in this life?

The situation felt eerie. Zhaoqing endured the silence for a while but finally couldn’t help himself. He spoke up:

“Brother Lin, who is this?”

Zhaoqing cautiously pointed to the sleeping Song Yuening.

When he finished speaking, Lin Qi looked at him with an unreadable, complex expression. After a long pause, he finally spoke:

“Young Master Zhaoqing, have you forgotten? This is Young Master Yuening. He was so eager for you to return to the Song family that he insisted on coming with me to pick you up. Just a moment ago, you were so happy that you gave him the gift you prepared. How could you forget all that?”

As Lin Qi spoke, he sighed heavily in his heart. He didn’t know what kind of demon had possessed Young Master Yuening.

Others might not know, but how could Lin Qi not know Yuening’s cruel nature? When Song Zhaoqing handed over the gift, Lin Qi had expected Yuening to find some excuse to reject it.

Who could have guessed that Yuening would be more excited than the person giving the gift? It was just a pair of cheap gloves. How could they make the usually unflappable Yuening so happy?

If this is an act, it’s far too exaggerated, Lin Qi thought.

He couldn’t help but recall the strange events of the past few days. A few days ago, Young Master Yuening’s old illness flared up, leaving him in a coma for three days. When he woke up, he was in a state bordering on mania. He ripped out his IV, got out of bed barefoot, and demanded the patriarch tell him where Song Zhaoqing was.

The Master and the Old Madam had never seen Yuening so sharp and aggressive. Miss Lili was nearly in tears from fright. The Master assumed Yuening was throwing a tantrum because he didn’t want Zhaoqing back, so he soothed him, promising that if he disliked Zhaoqing that much, the boy would be sent to live at a different property.

Upon hearing that, Yuening’s agitation finally subsided. The Master thought he had agreed and breathed a sigh of relief.

But then, yesterday, just as the family was about to leave for their island vacation, Yuening claimed a prestigious calligraphy master was visiting his school. He insisted on staying behind for the three-day lecture before joining them. The Master offered to postpone the trip, but Yuening refused. The Eldest Young Master offered to stay with him, but he refused that too.

Yet, as soon as the family left, Yuening didn’t go to any lecture. Instead, he demanded to accompany Lin Qi to the chaotic, filthy old neighborhood to bring Young Master Zhaoqing home.

At the time, Lin Qi thought the “real” young master had finally triggered a sense of crisis in the “fake” one. He assumed Yuening was going to give the poor, stupid boy a harsh “welcome.” Lin Qi understood, but he had no intention of helping Zhaoqing. He knew exactly who his true master was.

But Lin Qi soon realized that the development of events was vastly exceeding his expectations. When Yuening saw Song Zhaoqing, he displayed a level of intimacy and friendliness he had never shown before. At least in front of Lin Qi, Yuening had never stared at another person with such unmasked, complicated, and intense heat in his eyes.

In that moment, Lin Qi had a bizarre premonition: perhaps from now on, these two young masters opposite in birth and character would collide in a series of unimaginably absurd and tangled ways.

Even if Lin Qi didn’t yet know exactly what kind of entanglement it would be.