The Real Young Master is Entangled by the Paranoid Fake Young Master - Chapter 33

(Song Yuening) felt the smooth, delicate sensation of Zhaoqing’s hand suddenly vanish. He felt a sense of loss, instinctively rubbing his fingertips together. Realizing he had overstepped with his words, he hurriedly changed the subject.

“What exactly happened today? Why were you brought to the police station?”

It was a blatant case of feigning ignorance. (Lin Qi) chuckled silently to himself. You investigated the guy’s background down to the last detail, knew exactly which of the Xie family’s friends were using modified bikes and which two had sticky fingers, and timed the police report perfectly. Now here you are, acting like an innocent bystander.

He felt a pang of pity for the “real young master” who was being kept in the dark, forced to watch this performance. Though Lin Qi didn’t know exactly how Song Yuening knew Zhaoqing had left with Xie Chengxuan, he was certain that with Song Yuening’s methods, planting a mole to monitor Zhaoqing was well within his capabilities.

But that wasn’t something a servant like him could interfere with.

“What does it have to do with you? I don’t want to talk about it, so stop asking.” (Zhaoqing)’s voice was sharp; he was clearly still angry.

Seeing that Zhaoqing hadn’t cooled down, Song Yuening opened his mouth to speak but suddenly clutched his knee in pain. “I hiss.”

Though the expression of pain was fleeting, Zhaoqing was immediately worried.

“What’s wrong? Is your leg hurting again? Honestly, are you even applying your medicine properly? And besides, why didn’t you just send Lin Qi to find me today? Why did you have to come yourself?”

With that distraction, Zhaoqing successfully forgot about their earlier friction. Lin Qi caught Song Yuening’s warning glare in the rearview mirror and quickly averted his eyes to focus on driving.

Once they arrived at the Song residence, Zhaoqing helped Song Yuening to his room and assisted with his medicine. He then prepared to take his leave, despite the lingering, reluctant look in Song Yuening’s eyes.

“Zhaoqing, our birthday is coming up. What gift do you want?”

The subtext was clear: Don’t forget to give me a gift.

Zhaoqing looked at the man who was in enough pain to wince yet still remembered to ask for a gift, and he nodded helplessly. Since they shared the same birthday, Zhaoqing’s seventeenth birthday in his past life had also been spent with Song Yuening.

In that life, the Song family’s projects hadn’t been going smoothly, so they had been cautious. Their seventeenth birthday hadn’t been grand; the family had simply invited some distant relatives to a simple two-day banquet at a family-owned hotel.

It was a year later, at their eighteenth, that things changed. Because Song Yuening had been accepted into a top-tier university with a full scholarship and had won several physics and chemistry competitions, the family threw him an unprecedentedly grand coming-of-age ceremony to save their declining reputation.

Remembering the unforgettable humiliation that ceremony had brought him, a surge of unspeakable pain filled Zhaoqing’s heart. Eighteen felt like a lifetime away, so far that he thought he’d forgotten the agony of the Song family accepting congratulations while locking him alone in the basement.

But looking at Song Yuening’s expectant gaze, he forced the pain down. No rush. If I want revenge, there’s plenty of time.

“I’m leaving. Rest well. I won’t disturb you,” Zhaoqing said politely before hurrying away.

He didn’t see that the moment he closed the door, Song Yuening’s phone screen lit up. The pity, restraint, and innocence on Song Yuening’s face vanished instantly. He calmly opened a message from a contact named “Z.” This mysterious Z had sent a short line:

I’m sorry. I understand. There will be no more oversights.

The message above that, sent three hours prior exactly when Zhaoqing had run out of the school gates—read:

He has left the school. He is leaving on a motorcycle with Xie Chengxuan from the alley entrance.

Song Yuening typed back a cold, four-word response to Z:

Do not repeat this.

No further reply came. The white light of the screen illuminated Song Yuening’s face, making him look like a lifeless, high-precision android intelligent and sophisticated, yet chillingly calculated and cruel.

In a cold, dim room elsewhere, a man was vigorously cleaning a shotgun. A sudden knock came from the door.

“Who is it?” The man’s eyes were bloodshot. He aimed the gun at the door and shouted sharply.

“陶江 (Tao Jiang), it’s me.”

A stern female voice came from outside. After a moment of thought, Tao Jiang opened the door to let her in.

“A shotgun?” The woman’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of the weapon on the table. “Didn’t you tell me you only wanted money and didn’t intend to take a life? What are you doing with a gun?”

“Just scaring them, that’s all. Don’t worry, I just want to kidnap those three kids and demand some ‘compensation’ from the Song family. I won’t go to extremes, Sister.”

Tao Jiang forced a half-hearted smile and gestured for her to sit on a crude wooden stool.

“Take the money and leave. Don’t show your face to me again, and don’t call me sister!” the woman snapped. “Do you know how much I regretted using my connections to get you into the Song Corporation? Luckily, the middleman who helped us died of a heart attack two years ago, or I would have never contacted you again.”

“I am the head housekeeper of the Song family, after all. I’ve given you plenty of money since you got out of prison. We’re only half-siblings by the same mother; your name is Tao, mine is (Yu). This is the last time I help you. Stop using that favor I did for you to threaten me! I want to work at the Song family until I retire!”

The woman was none other than Housekeeper Yu.

Tao Jiang hated her indifference, but he kept his face plastered with a smile to coax her. “I know, Sister. When I have the money, I’ll show you my gratitude. We’ll split it sixty-forty. Didn’t your granddaughter just turn one? Don’t you want to send her abroad for school? Why should those useless Song kids be born with silver spoons while our little treasure can’t?”

At the mention of her granddaughter, Housekeeper Yu’s resolve wavered. If it weren’t for the money, she wouldn’t have helped this failed brother again. Thinking of her precious grandchild, she finally revealed the purpose of her visit.

“This Wednesday is the birthday of the two Song young masters. The family is feeling very smug lately; they made a huge profit on the Dongyuan project. Next week, they plan to take (Song Yuening) and (Song Zhaoqing) to a luxury hot spring resort in (Xihai) for a late birthday celebration.”

“The old lady is vain; she’ll invite many friends and family to show off their wealth. If you’re looking for an opportunity, this is it.”

Housekeeper Yu didn’t linger after speaking, fleeing the room as if in a hurry. Tao Jiang, however, felt as if he’d received a priceless treasure, repeating her words to himself.

Xihai Hot Spring Resort?

What a coincidence. He knew that place. It wasn’t far from A-City, featuring mountains, the sea, and hot springs; many prominent families had properties there. Even better the wilderness behind the resort was perfect for hiding, and because the back mountain area was massive, it was nearly impossible to guard.

What a perfect opportunity!

Song family young masters, you won’t escape this time! Tao Jiang let out a grotesque, greedy laugh. He’d heard the boys were fair-skinned and handsome; if he caught them a lewd glint flashed in his eyes. He intended to “have some fun” with them.

9:00 PM – Message Reply

Zhaoqing, why are you laughing at me?

9:15 PM – Message Reply

Stop laughing! I sent you a box of things pick a few useful ones and bring them with you, do you hear me!

10:00 PM – Message Reply

Zhaoqing, that Xihai resort is really dangerous, believe me.

Zhaoqing watched the messages flood in and smiled as he dialed a call.  (Fang Yang)’s voice immediately filled his ear.

“Zhaoqing! Did you see the messages I sent you?!” he shouted right away.

“I saw them, I saw them. Honestly, why are you acting like a naggy old mother lately?” Zhaoqing teased. He was very close with Fang Yang now, so he felt comfortable poking fun at his erratic behavior.

“Naggy? Are you laughing at me, Song Zhaoqing?” Fang Yang feigned anger before lowering his voice, sounding genuinely shaken. “Don’t blame me for being over-cautious. A few days ago, on my way home, two big guys tried to force me into a car without a word.”

“They were strangers, but I know it was that ‘virtuous’ Mrs. Fang’s doing. It seems she’s really losing her patience.”

“What?! Something like that happened? Why didn’t you tell me? Are you hurt?” Zhaoqing’s relaxed demeanor vanished; he nearly dropped the phone as his voice began to tremble. He was terrified that Fang Yang would be killed again while he wasn’t looking; he would truly go mad.

“Hey, look at you! Are you worrying about me?” Fang Yang took on a “big brother” tone to comfort him. “Look, I’m talking to you just fine, aren’t I? Little Zhaoqing, don’t worry. You sound like you’re about to cry, don’t cry, okay?”

Listening to his lighthearted tone, Zhaoqing didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. Fang Yang was always like this; even in the darkest times of their past life, he had used humor to comfort Zhaoqing. Zhaoqing often felt that he could only be at peace when Fang Yang was by his side. He was his pillar.

Zhaoqing remembered how the stern Mr. Fang always belittled Fang Yang as an idle wanderer. Even now, Zhaoqing wanted to argue with that high-and-mighty man: He was wrong. Fang Yang was reliable, optimistic, kind, and firm. They had thrown away a pearl, mistaking it for a fish eye.

“Anyway, don’t worry. I know why Mrs. Fang is getting desperate,” Fang Yang said. “I’ll tell you a secret the Fang family spent a lot of money to keep this quiet. Half a month ago, (Fang Haoyang) got drunk and well he’s an absolute beast! To do something like that! Totally depraved! The girl was a top student from a decent family; her parents are professors. They refused to settle, and I don’t know how my father hushed it up. If you ask me, Fang Haoyang belongs in prison!”

Zhaoqing wondered if this was a butterfly effect. In his past life, when he was at High School No. 1, this hadn’t happened. Was it because Song Yuening’s presence at High School A meant no one was there to intimidate Fang Haoyang, allowing his vile nature to lead him into such a crime?

“Even though he’s not going to jail, my father is furious. He said he’s sending him abroad by next year at the latest to the strictest boarding school in Country E. He’ll freeze all his cards, and if he doesn’t graduate, he’s never coming back. Even Mrs. Fang couldn’t change his mind.”

“So… Mrs. Fang is desperate enough to try and kidnap you to steal your project?” Zhaoqing understood.

“Exactly! She’s not stupid; she knows her son needs a massive ‘merit’ to redeem himself, but he’s an idiot, so she decided to steal mine!”

“So, how did you escape?” Zhaoqing asked urgently.

“How? With that box of things, I sent you!”

Zhaoqing looked at the massive cardboard box in his room. Inside were pepper sprays, stun guns, hidden knives all sorts of “secret weapons.”

“Those guys didn’t expect me to be armed. One went to start the car while the other dragged me. When they were separated, I used the pepper spray on one guy’s eyes and slashed their tires. When the other one caught up, I gave him a face-full of the leather slapper, hahahahaha! I bet Mrs. Fang never dreamed her dirty tricks would fail!”

Fang Yang wasn’t psychic; he just knew Mrs. Fang’s ruthless nature all too well. He had been feeling uneasy and knew that when Fang Haoyang failed, his mother would take it out on him. So, he had prepared these things for self-defense.

“I’m not being alarmist. You’ve never been to Xihai Resort, so you wouldn’t know. Years ago, when I went with the Fang family, a little girl got lost in the back mountain. When the rescue team found her, she’d been eaten by wolves only bones were left. Fang Haoyang was so scared he literally peed his pants.”

“It’s luxury, but it’s surrounded by mountains and sea. Even with bodyguards, it’s not 100% safe. There might not be wolves anymore, but getting lost is no joke there’s no signal up there!”

“Speaking of which, I’m sending you another box of snacks. Pack a big bag. If you do get lost, at least you won’t starve. I don’t want my business partner dying young.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll listen to you, okay? But the snacks aren’t necessary. I’ll just stay inside the resort and soak in the springs. I won’t go near the mountains or the sea. I’ll call you every day, okay?”

Zhaoqing joked with Fang Yang for a few more minutes until he heard a knock on the door.

“Xiao Yue, what is it?” “Young Master Zhaoqing, your milk is warmed. I’ve brought it for you.” “Thanks, just put it on the table.”

Zhaoqing prepared to end the call. “Oho, little Zhaoqing still drinks milk?” Fang Yang teased. “Drink up; maybe you’ll actually grow taller than me.”

Zhaoqing sighed inwardly. Unless there was a genetic mutation, he’d never be taller than Fang Yang. In their past life, Fang Yang was 185cm while he was exactly 180cm. That 5cm gap was insurmountable.

Still, he replied: “Don’t you have insomnia? You should drink some milk before bed; it’ll help you sleep. Every time I drink this, I don’t even hear the thunder or rain. My sleep quality has improved so much!”

“Really? Is it that magical?” Fang Yang was skeptical. He’d tried milk for sleep before, but it never had that effect. “What brand? Send it to me, I’ll try it.”

Zhaoqing shook his head. “Don’t bother. Xiao Yue said it’s from the Song family’s own ranch in F-City. It’s exceptionally pure. Next time the manager comes to deliver it, I’ll set some aside for you. If you like it, I’ll keep you supplied. The Song family doesn’t dare make things difficult for me over small matters now.”

“Alright then. Thanks, brother,” Fang Yang said frankly.