The Real Young Master is Entangled by the Paranoid Fake Young Master - Chapter 45

“What do you mean? An arranged marriage? Song Zhiyuan, speak clearly!”

Zhaoqing, who had been lounging lazily, underwent a drastic change in expression at the mention of a marriage alliance. He used his good hand to seize Song Zhiyuan, who immediately cried out in pain.

“Are you people even human! How old is Lili! How could you force her into this! I don’t care what family you found for her, cancel it all!”

Zhaoqing was uncharacteristically forceful. According to his memories of the past life, Song Lili’s marriage shouldn’t have been settled this early. Perhaps because the project’s early stages were too successful in this timeline, the Song family invested far more than before, leading to even more staggering losses… It seemed the Songs were truly cornered this time!

“What do you know?” Song Zhiyuan snapped, finally wrenching himself free in a fit of humiliation and rage. “Lili is a biological daughter of the Song family and my own younger sister. I watched her grow up; how could I possibly throw her into a pit of fire?”

“You truly have no worldliness. Don’t you know the concept of an ‘engagement’?”

“It’s not like we’re making her marry into their family right now. They are merely an engaged couple. The Jiang family is a prominent clan; their eldest young madam took a liking to our Lili at first sight and is willing to extend a helping hand to us. Is that not a stroke of good fortune?”

“The fifth young master of the Jiang family is top-tier in both character and appearance. Even though he’s from a branch line, he is still of noble standing!”

“How unlucky! Why am I even telling you this? Where is Yuening! Let me see him. Father and Grandmother sent me to check on him. I haven’t even settled the score with you for dragging Yuening into the sea! Do you know Grandmother fainted the moment she heard the news? She’s withered away these past few days. If she truly falls ill, you, Song Zhaoqing, will be the culprit!”

“If you have an ounce of conscience, you should return home and serve Grandmother dutifully. Do everything in your power to return her to her former health!”

“Is that so? A good match?” Zhaoqing sneered, his eyes filled with undisguised hatred. “How good could it be? That Jiang fifth young master has a congenital mental illness that has only worsened over the years does that qualify as ‘very good’?”

As expected, the only ones willing to help the Songs at this hour were the branch of the Jiang family. They had been scouting for a well-bred, filial, and obedient wife for their son, who suffered from severe mental illness and a violent temper.

In the past life, Song Lili had been beaten to death by him! Zhaoqing would never forget the image of her lying in a pool of blood.

Seeing Song Zhiyuan’s expression turn guilty, Zhaoqing pressed further: “What? Did I hit the mark? So, you did know about it. This look of a ‘good brother’ selling his sister for glory is truly revolting!”

“And didn’t you just say Lili was forced? Why the sudden change to calling it a ‘good marriage’?”

“I bet Lili refused, didn’t she? No wonder I haven’t been able to reach her! Where are you hiding her? I’m warning you, if anything happens to Lili, I will cut off your heads one by one!”

“Song Zhaoqing!” Zhiyuan roared. “Don’t push your luck!”

“Push my luck?” Zhaoqing showed no fear. He hurled a fruit knife from the table toward Song Zhiyuan, where it thudded into the wall. He gave a cold laugh, finally tearing off the mask of civility. “And you really think I’m ignorant? That old woman didn’t faint out of concern for her grandson. I suspect she’s been diagnosed with something, hasn’t she?”

Zhaoqing’s words were pointed. Song Zhiyuan was internally terrified. Impossible! He just got back; how could he know Grandmother was diagnosed with leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant? Only he, Song Shicheng, and Lin Qi knew. Zhiyuan frantically wondered who the mole was. Or, was this “bastard” just trying to bluff him?

Right! That must be it. I can’t lose my composure!

In truth, Zhiyuan had a secret mission at the hospital: to manipulate Zhaoqing into returning home for a bone marrow compatibility test.

“Save your sarcasm. You are a Song, and Lili is a Song. Even if the family demands your lives, you must offer them up obediently. Father gave you life; you must know how to repay that debt! Song Lili has been locked up for days; she will soon learn to be obedient and fulfill her duty as a Song daughter. Until she reaches legal age, she will live with the Jiangs to learn etiquette and how to serve her in-laws. As for you, get back home and take care of Grandmother!”

Song Zhiyuan was utterly shameless.

The Play

“Zhao-zhao! Zhao-zhao!”

The furious Zhaoqing was about to trade blows with the man when he heard Song Yuening’s insecure voice from the inner suite. Yuening had just finished an exam; the doctors said the surgery was a success. Within a week to half a month, his vision would return.

He was eager to share the news and have lunch with Zhaoqing. Recently, Zhaoqing had been in a decent mood, perhaps he could even convince him to feed him a few bites.

Yuening was lost in his “puppy-like” fantasies, but the moment the door opened, he heard a voice that made him want to vomit.

Song Zhiyuan? Why is he here? Yuening wanted nothing to do with the Songs. They could send money, but the people themselves should stay away forever. Now that he had a lead on a cure for his illness and his sight was returning, he had no desire to maintain his facade with them. He only wanted to be with his Zhao-zhao.

Zhaoqing initially wanted to ignore Yuening and focus on pummeling Zhiyuan’s face. He truly wanted to make him pay… he had a sudden, first-time urge to kill. In the past life, it was Zhiyuan who convinced Shicheng to sell Lili to the Jiangs; this life was no different.

Zhaoqing remembered when he had forced Zhiyuan to kneel, and Lili had willingly given up her dignity to take the punishment for him. Yet, the moment Zhiyuan turned around, he handed his sister over to a den of tigers.

Furthermore, in the past life, Zhaoqing had been the one to donate bone marrow to the Old Matron, granting the old hag another decade of life. Only after he was kicked out of the Song Corporation did he learn that Zhiyuan had also been a match, he had simply let Zhaoqing take the hit. Even then, Zhaoqing never received an ounce of sincerity.

The Old Matron’s only comment had been: “Heh, just a sycophant eyeing the Song assets!”

Now, the moment Song Zhiyuan heard Yuening’s voice, his attention shifted entirely. He shoved past Zhaoqing to hover over Yuening with fawning affection.

Zhaoqing watched the undisguised “love” in Zhiyuan’s eyes. Thinking of the madman Fu Lansheng who was currently hiding somewhere waiting to strike, Zhaoqing made a sudden decision. His expression turned eerily calm.

Yuening was currently irritated beyond measure, wishing Zhiyuan would just disappear. Zhaoqing stepped between them, sat on the edge of Yuening’s bed, and affectionately put an arm around his waist.

Yuening’s ears turned red instantly. He was overwhelmed by the sudden favor. His “puppy” instincts took over, and he leaned in to nuzzle his face against Zhaoqing’s hand.

Zhaoqing caught Zhiyuan’s reflection in the glass. His face was as livid as Lansheng’s had been. Perfect. That’s the effect I wanted.

Zhiyuan stood there, about to burst into a rage. Zhaoqing ignored him, speaking softly to Yuening: “You finished your check-up?” His voice was incredibly tender. The red on Yuening’s ears spread to his cheeks.

He gave a wide, bright smile. “Zhao-zhao, I’ll be able to see you soon!”

He sounded so innocent that Zhaoqing felt a flicker of guilt for using him. But he quickly suppressed it, murmuring, “Is that so? Then shouldn’t you be a good boy and take your medicine?”

Zhaoqing picked up the bowl and personally fed Yuening. Yuening was so happy he felt dizzy. If having Zhiyuan here meant Zhaoqing would treat him this well, he’d endure the nausea. He drank the bitter medicine without a single wince.

When the bowl was empty, Zhaoqing leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.

Yuening froze. A gentle, long-awaited kiss had fallen on him without warning. Zhaoqing smiled and explained, “You were very good today. This is your reward.”

“I’ll be good, Zhao-zhao! I’ll always be good from now on!” Yuening excitedly tried to grab Zhaoqing’s waist, but the boy easily dodged.

Watching the two “flirt” as if he weren’t there, Song Zhiyuan’s jealousy burned away his last shred of reason. He wanted to go home! He wanted to tell Father that the shameless Song Zhaoqing was seducing Yuening! He would get him kicked out of the house no matter what!

The scene was too painful. Zhiyuan took several deep breaths to suppress his fire; he didn’t want to look like a jealous villain in front of Yuening. He gritted his teeth and stormed out, planning to settle the score with Zhaoqing later.

The Scheme

As soon as Zhiyuan left, Zhaoqing closed the suite door and stepped out as well. In the absence of Yuening, Zhiyuan stopped pretending. He opened his mouth to hurl the vilest insults, but Zhaoqing walked past him without a backward glance.

“Where do you think you’re going? You little bastard! How can you leave Yuening alone in the room?”

Zhaoqing waved a hand dismissively. “I’ve looked after him long enough; can’t I go get some air? What’s it to you! Besides, the medicine Yuening took has a sedative effect. He’ll be asleep soon. Why should I waste my time here?”

Having dropped that key piece of information, Zhaoqing left. Yuening didn’t follow. Zhaoqing’s smile turned meaningful.

At the corner, he dialed Lin Qi’s number. “Lin Qi, I have something at school today and must go out. You should come watch over Yuening this afternoon. Of course, if you’re comfortable leaving him alone, you don’t have to come. I’m just letting you know.”

He hung up before Lin Qi could argue. He knew Lin Qi wouldn’t come, because someone else would.

Zhaoqing did it on purpose. Fu Lansheng had been looking for a chance to be alone with Yuening for days. Lin Qi would undoubtedly report this to Lansheng. As for what would happen when Lansheng and Song Zhiyuan crossed paths.

Zhaoqing remembered the past life when he walked in on Zhiyuan trying to kiss Yuening’s forehead, which had led to Zhiyuan’s lifelong grudge against him. He wanted to see if the provoked Zhiyuan would try the same move today, and if Lansheng would let him succeed.

It was a dirty trick, but were any of these people clean? Dog eat dog, he thought. Not surprising.

His mood improved significantly. His medical leave wasn’t over, so he wasn’t going to school. He hailed a taxi and gave the address of the city’s largest law firm, where Lawyer Wu, the man in charge of his grandfather’s estate, worked.

As he closed his eyes to rest in the car, his phone began to buzz incessantly. Dozens of messages flooded in. He irritably checked the screen.

【Brother, how have you been lately?】 【Brother, my surgery was a success, but the rain makes the wound throb a bit.】 【Brother, at times like this I remember when we were small and shared a blanket. When I was cold, you’d hold me to warm me up. I always slept well then.】 【Do you remember that little lamp on the bedside? I bought it with money from collecting scraps. You cried when I gave it to you.】 【But you still gave me a beating and told me to study hard and stop collecting trash…】 【Brother, I just want to know if you’re doing well at the Song house.】 【I couldn’t spend your seventeenth birthday with you, but we were together for your sixteenth.】 【Brother, I miss our childhood so much. You were always so good to me.】 【Brother, why haven’t you replied? Did I do something wrong? Let me apologize in person.】

Zhaoqing stared at the messages in silence. He had already blocked several numbers, but they always came back. They were all from the same person, his “dear younger brother,” Chen Lian.