The Real Young Master is Entangled by the Paranoid Fake Young Master - Chapter 32

After hearing (Zhaoqing)’s words, (Xie Chengxuan) assumed he simply disliked the frivolous nature of (Zhong Yu) and (Duan Shao). He leaned down toward Zhaoqing’s ear, softening his voice while maintaining a somewhat awkward tone:

“They were indeed out of line today. If you don’t like them, just ignore them; you only need to talk to me.”

In truth, he didn’t like the idea of Zhaoqing being friendly with anyone else in his presence.

Psh, who wants to talk only to you? Zhaoqing was speechless at the man’s overinflated ego.

The two had nothing more to say to each other. Zhaoqing just wanted to finish the race and be done with it. However, several others were currently racing on the road, so he could only lean against a nearby railing, waiting in boredom.

He didn’t speak to anyone else, nor did he show any curiosity about the ongoing races; he simply stood there, looking aloof and detached from the world. Several men and women noticed his beauty and fine physique, casting frequent glances his way and whispering among themselves.

But more people, like Zhong Yu and his group, were irritated by Zhaoqing’s “pretentious” attitude.

“Tch, what a piece of work. Once Xie-ge gets tired of him, let’s have a go ourselves!” Duan Shao said eagerly to Zhong Yu, rubbing his chin.

Zhong Yu scanned Zhaoqing from head to toe, noting his simple clothes. Concluding he wasn’t some wealthy young master, his contempt grew:

“Probably just some trash from a nightclub out for a sale, yet he dares to give me an attitude!”

He spoke loudly and spitefully, clearly intending for Zhaoqing to hear him to provoke a reaction.

“Hey, Song Zhaoqing, have a popsicle.” Before Zhaoqing could react, something cold brushed against his chin. He looked down to see a hand extending a wrapped strawberry popsicle toward his neck.

“It’s strawberry. Do you like it?” Xie Chengxuan asked, eyes glinting with a smile. For some reason, he felt strawberry suited Zhaoqing perfectly.

Oh, so that’s where he went just now to buy popsicles.

“Thanks.” Zhaoqing lazily took the package with two fingers. Instead of opening it, he took a step toward Zhong Yu and Duan Shao.

But before he could take a second step, he was intercepted.

“What’s the rush? This is my turf; you don’t need to step up.” Xie Chengxuan was smiling as if he were commenting on the weather, and just as Zhaoqing was about to ask if he was really going to protect those thugs, the sound of Xie Chengxuan’s fist cutting through the air beat his voice to it.

THWACK!

“Holy crap! Xie-ge! What are you doing?!”

As Zhong Yu’s cry of pain rang out, the crowd that had been chatting and watching the races gathered around.

“Xie-ge, why did you hit him out of nowhere?” Duan Shao, being close to Zhong Yu, couldn’t help but condemn the act.

Zhong Yu, his teeth loosened from the blow, let a flash of resentment cross his eyes, but it vanished instantly as he resumed a groveling posture. “Xie-ge, I know you’re frustrated because you didn’t perform well in the last race, but even so, you shouldn’t beat your brothers for the sake of a little lover!”

“Exactly, Xie-ge. We know you’re usually the most loyal guy out there. How could you do this for some plaything?” Duan Shao chimed in.

Zhaoqing frowned, preparing to snap back, but in the next second, another scream erupted. The crowd watched in shock as Xie Chengxuan ground Zhong Yu’s hand into the dirt with his boot without mercy.

“AAAAAAAH! My hand! My hand! Xie-ge, mercy! Xie-ge, I’ll never do it again!” Zhong Yu truly panicked this time, and even Duan Shao’s arrogance vanished.

They hadn’t expected Xie Chengxuan to be genuinely enraged. The last time, when dealing with Ren Wei, Xie Chengxuan hadn’t been able to help Zhaoqing, which had made him lose face. If he didn’t act this time when Zhong Yu and Duan Shao were being so insulting, this Zhaoqing who already disliked him would look down on him forever.

Xie Chengxuan’s voice turned chillingly authoritative: “Open your dog eyes and look closely. This is Song Zhaoqing. He isn’t my ‘little lover,’ and he isn’t for sale. He is a guest I invited here. If you dare spout such nonsense again, you can say goodbye to these hands!”

“We won’t! We swear, we won’t!” Duan Shao stammered, trembling. He wasn’t actually worried about Zhong Yu’s hand; he was worried that if Xie Chengxuan pulled his sponsorship, their motorcycle gang would no longer be able to live so extravagantly.

Xie Chengxuan had only intended to scare them, so he lifted his boot.

“So? Are we racing or not?” Zhaoqing asked. He didn’t want to deal with them any longer; he wanted to finish the race and leave, never to cross paths with these people again.

“Yes, we’re racing!” Xie Chengxuan hadn’t forgotten the main event. “Liuzi, lend him your bike.”

He gestured to a young man with dyed yellow hair in the crowd. The boy hurriedly handed over the keys with a respectful bow. “Xie-ge, the keys are right here. Use it as you like!”

Xie Chengxuan tossed the keys to Zhaoqing and smiled. “Come on. The track is cleared for you.”

Zhaoqing said nothing, catching the keys and preparing to mount the bike, when the sudden blare of police sirens filled the air. The crowd, which had been eager for a show, instantly fell into a panic.

“Who called the cops?!” “What’s happening?” “Heavens, we haven’t even done anything illegal yet! What’s going on?!”

Amidst the shouting, Zhaoqing was also stunned by the sudden turn of events.

“It was you! You called the police!” Zhong Yu snarled, clutching his injured hand as he glared at Zhaoqing.

“Are you insane? Why would I call the police out of nowhere?” Zhaoqing replied, genuinely confused.

“I… I…” Zhong Yu clearly couldn’t explain himself without confessing to his own crimes, so he froze.

A young officer stepped out of the police car, flashed his ID, and said sternly: “A witness reported illegal motorcycle modifications here. Furthermore, we have evidence that someone among you is suspected of a criminal offense and needs to be brought in for investigation.”

What? Zhaoqing looked around. Several young boys lowered their heads in shame, trying to hide their bikes—their guilt regarding the modifications was written all over their faces. As for the “criminal offense”… Zhaoqing glanced at Zhong Yu and Duan Shao; their faces had turned paper-white.

Could it be that they were already involved in shady business this early?

The Police Station

“Are you Song Zhaoqing’s family?”

“Yes, I am his brother. This… is our family assistant.”

Inside the station, Zhaoqing and Xie Chengxuan sat with a few others who had been cleared of wrongdoing. Since Zhaoqing was technically a minor, he had to be picked up by a legal guardian or family member.

Zhaoqing had intended to call (Lin Qi). However, somehow the call had alerted (Song Yuening), who had arrived personally with Lin Qi.

As Song Yuening’s slow, deliberate voice rang out, Zhaoqing felt like he had lost all his dignity.

“Yuening, you’re here.” Zhaoqing felt incredibly guilty, so he kept his head down to avoid eye contact. Xie Chengxuan, however, jumped up from his chair, looking visibly excited.

Song Yuening gave Xie Chengxuan a slight, perfunctory nod. Xie Chengxuan immediately felt that Yuening was even colder toward him than usual. Did I do something wrong again? he wondered, bewildered.

Song Yuening ignored Xie Chengxuan after that, walking straight to Zhaoqing and firmly taking hold of his arm. Because of his guilty conscience, Zhaoqing allowed himself to be led out of the station without a word.

One of the guys watching from the side whispered: “Hey, do you think Xie-ge likes that ice-cold beauty who looks like a porcelain doll, or the little lover he was just with?”

Girl A: “I’d bet my dignity that Xie-ge likes this Yuening guy. Look how scared he is of him! I’ve known Xie-ge for years and I’ve never seen him afraid of anyone. He looks like he’s afraid of his wife!”

Girl B: “Maybe he’s just afraid the guy’s actual boyfriend will blame him for bringing the ‘little lover’ to a police station. I thought he was pretty protective of the other one. As they say, don’t listen to what a man says, look at what he does! Zhong Yu and Duan Shao were his ‘brothers,’ yet he thrashed them for that boy!”

While they argued, Boy B added softly: “I think… Xie-ge likes both. Maybe he wants the best of both worlds?”

The other three were stunned by the idea and shook their heads in disbelief.

Outside, Song Yuening held Zhaoqing’s hand tightly as they walked to the car. Xie Chengxuan couldn’t wait to follow, shouting: “Zhaoqing! Yuening! Wait for me!”

Boy A, Girl A, and Girl B: “No way, is it actually true?!” Boy B: “Told ya! Rich people play by different rules!”

Inside the car, the silence was terrifying. Zhaoqing and Song Yuening sat in the backseat. Song Yuening’s hand was still resting on Zhaoqing’s wrist. Normally, Zhaoqing would have yanked it away, but right now… he was caught red-handed. He had to give the guy some face.

“Young Master Zhaoqing, how did you end up with that crowd?” Lin Qi asked, finally breaking the ice as he drove. “They’re the terrors of North Mountain. The residents around there avoid them like the plague.”

Zhaoqing breathed a sigh of relief. The atmosphere was finally less stifling. This was the only time he had ever been grateful to Lin Qi.

“Xie Chengxuan wanted to race me. My hands were itching for it, so I decided to give it a try.”

“A ‘try’? You’re that casual about it? You’ll ‘try’ anything with anyone? If he wanted to kiss you or date you, would you ‘try’ that too?”

For some reason, the moment Song Yuening spoke, his words were sharp and laced with hostility.

Zhaoqing had been putting up with him because he felt bad about skipping their walk home and because of the police station incident, but this was too much. If it weren’t for Song Yuening, Xie Chengxuan wouldn’t have been bothering him in the first place, and he wouldn’t have had to go to such lengths to get rid of him.

With that thought, Zhaoqing abruptly yanked his hand away from Song Yuening’s grasp.