The Real Young Master is Entangled by the Paranoid Fake Young Master - Chapter 54

Ever since the banquet scandal, Old Madame Jiang had invited Song Yuening to visit the Jiang villa on numerous occasions. While most would kill for such an opportunity, Yuening only went two or three times before refusing to go again. He wouldn’t say why, leaving Zhaoqing to assume he had offended the matriarch. However, looking at the mountain of gifts the Jiangs continued to send to the Song residence, Zhaoqing figured that wasn’t the case.

Privately, Zhaoqing wished Yuening would spend more time at the Jiangs; it would mean far less time spent pestering him.

With a period of rest behind them, Zhaoqing and Yuening finally returned to school. Zhaoqing immediately found himself buried under a mountain of missed coursework. With finals and the winter break approaching, he refused to let his ranking drop, so he spent his days catching up on assignments and notes while mentally cursing Tao Jiang and Butler Yu.

Yuening, meanwhile, spent so much time in Zhaoqing’s classroom that he might as well have been an unofficial member of the class. His clinginess exceeded all expectations. Having such a brilliant, prominent figure walking him to class and waiting for him every day made Zhaoqing feel like a monkey in a zoo, and he prayed for just an inch of distance.

Zhaoqing even tried to stage a small rebellion. Once, he purposefully went to an internet café with Zhou Sixuan’s group instead of waiting for Yuening. When he finally emerged, a torrential rain was falling. Upon returning home, he was met by Song Shicheng, who was waiting in the living room specifically to scold him.

Before Zhaoqing could snap back, Shicheng revealed that Yuening had fallen ill after searching for Zhaoqing in the rain. Even Old Madame Jiang had come to visit. Fearing for his connection to the Jiangs, Shicheng ordered Zhaoqing to act as Yuening’s personal caretaker until he recovered.

“What does this have to do with me?” Zhaoqing asked, bewildered.

Shicheng’s reply silenced him: “He got sick because he was looking for you. He didn’t know where you were and searched every shop one by one. Did you not know his constitution couldn’t handle the rain?”

Zhaoqing finally realized: every time he tried to flee, Yuening would gamble with his own life. The boy is a lunatic.

However, what truly exhausted Zhaoqing was the ongoing “defense-and-counterattack” battle between Xie Chengxuan, who was trying to pursue him, and Song Yuening, who was trying to eliminate him.

At home, Yuening had guards; at school, Zhaoqing’s range of movement was much larger. Even though Yuening couldn’t realistically have Xie Chengxuan dragged away every time he shouted “I love you, Song Zhaoqing” in public, the tension was palpable. The arrogant, cold Xie Chengxuan had discarded his pride entirely. He reported to A-High every day, becoming a local celebrity at the school gates.

After Yuening intercepted Xie’s gifts for the Nth time tossing them into the trash in a perfect arc the three of them officially topped the school forum’s “Love Triangle Rankings.” Students whispered about who would win: the “frail, beautiful primary wife” Yuening, or the “cold, seductive fox-spirit concubine” Xie.

The forum was split. Yuening’s supporters argued he had the advantage of proximity and a possessive “Oujousama” vibe. Xie’s supporters argued that even the coldest man can’t resist a “loyal dog” pursuer, and if Zhaoqing really liked Yuening, they’d be together already.

The rivalry reached a fever pitch. One day, Yuening played the piano at the school gala, dedicating the piece to “the most important person, my Zhaozhao.” The next day, Xie drove a sports car to the gates, offering a candlelit dinner.

Zhaoqing’s response: “Stop tagging me. I’m doing homework.”

Finally, vacation arrived. Zhaoqing was satisfied to see he hadn’t regressed in his rankings. On the last day, he collected a form from the office and tucked it into his bag. As he left the classroom, Yuening followed like a shadow.

“Your class finished early?” Zhaoqing asked, noticing Yuening seemed to have been waiting a long time.

“Yes.” Yuening noticed Zhaoqing wasn’t wearing gloves and that the chilblains on his hands were flaring up. Without a word, Yuening pulled off his own gloves and slid them onto Zhaoqing’s hands.

Zhaoqing didn’t know what to say, especially since he had just received a text from Xie Chengxuan:

Xie: Zhaozhao, Yuening is busy trying to kick me out. Has he been bothering you less?

Xie: I told you this plan would work. He’s so focused on me that he can’t control you.

Xie: But I really do want to take you to dinner!

Xie: By the way, are we acting today? I’m at the gates! Should I play the ‘bitter husband’ or the ‘homewrecker’?

Zhaoqing felt a pang of guilt. He had used Xie to distract Yuening, but Xie clearly had his own agenda. Looking at Yuening carefully adjusting the gloves for him, Zhaoqing’s conscience pricked him—but not for long.

When they reached the gate, a crowd had gathered around a luxury car. Someone shouted, “It’s Song Zhaoqing! He’s here!”

The crowd parted to reveal a girl clinging to Xie Chengxuan’s leg, sobbing. “Ah-Xuan, why are you abandoning me? We promised to go public in college!”

The girl was beautiful and looked exactly like the type Xie would usually go for. Zhaoqing looked at Yuening, who was watching the scene with a smirk.

“Your actor? Good acting,” Zhaoqing noted.

Yuening blinked innocently. “Zhaozhao, what are you saying? Xie Chengxuan was clearly unfaithful and won’t admit it. What does that have to do with me? I only care about Zhaozhao~”

Stop the ‘green tea’ act, Zhaoqing thought.

Xie was desperately trying to peel the girl off without hitting her. Seeing Zhaoqing and Yuening, he panicked. “Zhaozhao! I’m innocent! I don’t know her!”

The girl only clung tighter. Zhaoqing pulled Yuening’s sleeve and said, “Tell her to let go. This is a public place.”

A nearby student whispered, “I knew it! Zhaoqing likes Xie more! Look how he’s defending him from the ‘other woman.’ Yuening has no chance.”

Zhaoqing froze. Are they serious? He looked at Yuening, whose eyes had darkened. Yuening leaned in close. Zhaoqing tried to push him away, but he couldn’t move him, he suspected Yuening had been letting him win their physical struggles all along.

“You’re right, it doesn’t look good,” Yuening whispered, answering Zhaoqing’s earlier comment. “He needs to lose face so he knows not to covet someone else’s treasure.”

Then, a light kiss landed on Zhaoqing’s cheek.

The school gates erupted in screams. “Yuening is insane!” “Someone calls the Dean!” “They kissed!” “The forum war is over! Yuening won!”

Before Zhaoqing could react, Yuening covered his eyes. His voice was husky and low: “Don’t look at me like that, Zhaozhao. Otherwise, it won’t be just a kiss on the cheek next time.”

The words triggered a memory for Zhaoqing. In his past life, on a king-sized bed, a voice had whispered: “Zhaozhao, don’t glare at me like that. If you keep doing it, I won’t stop at just a kiss.”

That night, the rhythmic three knocks sounded. Zhaoqing didn’t open the door. Soon, his phone buzzed.

Yuening: Zhaozhao, I have to go to another city for work. When I’m back, we’ll go on vacation, just us. I’ll fulfill everything I promised. Today’s kiss wasn’t an accident. Don’t hide from me. I won’t force you, but I want to hear your answer in person.

Yuening: Tonight’s flower is a Black Rose. The gardeners just bred it. I love the meaning. Goodnight.

Zhaoqing opened the door to find a dewy black rose on a handkerchief. Gentle, sincere, unique. You are a devil, but you belong only to me. That was the language of the black rose.

He realized Yuening was likely leaving for the Old District bidding war. Once that was decided, there would be no “future” for them. He looked at the rose, then at the “Dormitory Housing Application Form” on his desk. He smiled, though there was no joy in it.

Then, another message arrived. It was from Fang Yang.

Fang Yang: Zhaozhao, DON’T CALL ME. I suspect there is a pinhole camera in your room, installed by Yuening. He’s been watching you. Remember how the Song family’s milk always made you groggy? Zhaozhao, the milk was drugged, check your room. See if anything important is missing.

Zhaoqing’s hand trembled, tearing a petal from the black rose. Half an hour later, after tearing his room apart, he found it hidden in the mirror facing his bed: a pinhole camera.

Would you like to explore Zhaoqing’s immediate confrontation with the remaining Song household, or jump to the high-stakes bidding war where the drugged milk’s true purpose is revealed?