The heart was about to leap out of the chest. Shi Song bit his lower lip, trying his best to calm himself down.
Right now, he still hadn’t figured out what was going on, so he couldn’t let any abnormality be seen.
Shi Song took a deep breath, and his tightly furrowed brows slowly smoothed out.
“Songsong?”
Seeing Shi Song standing at the door without moving, Lin Yiming finally realized something was wrong in hindsight: “What’s wrong, Songsong? Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”
His eyes were fixed on Shi Song, so nervous that he almost wanted to stand up to look at him.
Shi Song shook his head. When he spoke again, his voice had already recovered its calmness, and he even smiled very faintly: “It’s nothing. Where do I sit?”
“Here, here.”
Lin Yiming hurriedly patted the seat next to him.
The interior space of the room was very large, and the lighting was dim. In the middle was a large semi circular sofa, and in front of it was a large table, messily arranged with wine bottles, drinks, food, and playing cards.
Probably afraid that he would feel uncomfortable, Lin Yiming let him sit on his left side, separated from those few people on the right.
Su Tang’s gaze, carrying a probing meaning, fell upon Shi Song.
After making contact with Shi Song’s light-colored pupils, he shifted his eyes away somewhat uncomfortably.
Lin Yiming was originally a bit worried, but when he saw Shi Song smoothly take off his outer coat and hang it next to him with a natural composure, he finally set his mind at ease.
He quietly leaned close to Shi Song’s ear and said, “Baby, if you really don’t like it here, we can leave early and let them play by themselves.”
The heat carried by his words brushed past Shi Song’s ear.
Shi Song leaned back somewhat uncomfortably: “It’s fine.”
He heard his own voice as calm as before, even bearing a few hints of understanding: “You guys just play, no need to mind me.”
“Hey, hey, hey, we’re already here and you’re still whispering secrets?”
Zhou Jing, who was next to them, suddenly chimed in.
He stubbed out his slender cigarette, pressing it dead into the ashtray. He tilted his head past Lin Yiming to look at Shi Song, his eyes full of a slouchy, dallying smile, “It’s also our first time meeting. Let’s exchange WeChat IDs, so it’ll be easy to come out and play together in the future.”
Lin Yiming had no objection to this matter.
These few friends of his came from similar family backgrounds and had grown up together since childhood. If he didn’t trust them very much, Lin Yiming wouldn’t have brought Shi Song over either.
It was just that they all loved to play, which might be a bit different from Shi Song’s personality.
Shi Song’s hand, casually resting on the table, lightly scratched once.
He raised his eyes. A few hints of unnoticeable coldness flashed through his beautiful, gorgeous eyes, and fine strands of hair fell by his ears. His demeanor was like that of a noble, aloof cat that kept people thousands of miles away: “No need.”
He didn’t even state a reason.
Zhou Jing’s face darkened, and for a moment, the scene became somewhat awkward.
Seeing this, Su Tang, who was next to them, hurriedly spoke up with a laugh to smooth things over: “Zhou Jing, what are you doing? Why ask blindly without even looking at whether Lin Yiming is willing or not.”
As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Shi Song, explaining with a grin: “He’s just that kind of person, lacking a sense of propriety. Brother, don’t mind him.”
“It’s Brother Shi’s first time here. Shall we play something?”
Shi Song looked at Su Tang, his brow twitching slightly, but he didn’t speak.
Looking at his gorgeous facial features, Su Tang felt inexplicably uncomfortable. He cleared his throat lightly and continued: “Brother Shi, don’t be too constrained either. We have a very good relationship with Lin Yiming, right?”
While speaking, he placed his arm over Lin Yiming.
Placing it like that normally was just a simple gesture between bros; Shi Song wouldn’t care at all.
But today, his gaze paused for a brief moment on the part where the two bodies made contact.
Lin Yiming, sensing Su Tang’s intention to diffuse the situation, hurriedly said, “Yeah, Songsong, we are all very close. Don’t be afraid.”
Originally, he was Lin Yiming’s boyfriend, but now it felt as though he were an outsider instead.
Shi Song let out a light laugh without much care, turned around, and asked Su Tang, “When were you born?”
“Huh?” Su Tang didn’t expect Shi Song to suddenly bring this up, “In the same year as you, my birthday is in October.”
“Then there’s no need to call me brother.”
Shi Song smiled very amiably: “I was born in December.”
His eyes curved slightly, presenting a distinctly harmless appearance, but the words that came out instantly made Su Tang feel awkward.
He had indeed spoken to Shi Song with the intention of claiming a close connection. Having heard Lin Yiming’s description before, he had thought Shi Song had a relatively soft personality, never expecting him to be this cold and biting.
“Ah, sorry, I used to call Lin Yiming ‘brother’ all the time, got used to it.”
After dry-laughing a few times, Su Tang hurriedly changed the subject: “Sitting dry like this is also boring. Didn’t we order alcohol? Let’s drink.”
“Tch,” Zhou Jing changed his posture and crossed his legs, “I already asked before you came. Lin Yiming isn’t drinking. What’s the fun with just the three of us?”
Su Tang turned his head: “Why aren’t you drinking?”
“I still have to send my baby back in a bit. Who’s like you guys? Play what you ought to play, don’t call me to drink.”
Lin Yiming leaned back onto the sofa, saying with a grin, “Moreover, even if you guys are willing, my baby won’t let me drink right, Songsong?”
Shi Song smiled and didn’t speak.
“Tch, it’s not like we don’t know what you’re usually like.”
Su Tang rolled his eyes at Lin Yiming, then immediately looked at Zhou Jing and Zhao Yan: “Then we’ll play, without bringing the two of them.”
The three of them produced a dice cup from who-knows-where.
“I’m also afraid you guys will corrupt my baby.”
Lin Yiming reached out his hand and embraced Shi Song’s shoulder: “Good boy, let’s eat something first to fill the stomach.”
A group of people gathered together to play while talking.
Zhao Yan spoke up casually: “Hey, have any of you seen that eldest young master of the Wei family who just returned to the country?”
Hearing these words, Shi Song abruptly raised his eyes.
Wei Huaichen?
Not only had he seen him, but over the past two days, Wei Huaichen would occasionally send him WeChat messages, wanting to check on Orange Treasure’s status.
Toward a person who liked small animals, Shi Song couldn’t help but harbor a favorable impression in his heart.
Lin Yiming’s hand was currently fiddling with his phone. Hearing this, he said completely unawares, “Who could possibly see him? Right now, I don’t even know what he looks like.”
“Their Wei family is simply too strong. In the Capital City for so many years, look at which family dares to provoke them. Especially that Wei Huaichen my grandfather talks at home every day saying the younger generation’s future is limitless. I’m about to be nagged to death.”
Zhao Yan on the side couldn’t help but say, “No matter how awesome that Wei Huaichen is, isn’t the company he manages also a part split off from the Wei Corporation? Backed by the Wei Corporation, one could probably earn money even with eyes closed.”
Lin Yiming joked, “President Zhao, are you getting a bit sour?”
“I actually quite admire him. Even with the Wei Corporation helping, this isn’t something an ordinary person can do. The development momentum of Wei Huaichen’s company simply cannot be stopped. My grandfather even told me to build a good relationship with him right now.”
“Wei Huaichen will definitely be the center of Capital City in the future. Even his mother, who is so formidable, will have to step aside.”
Shi Song raised his brows slightly.
He wasn’t very clear about the Wei Corporation’s affairs. He knew Wei Huaichen was excellent, but this was the first time he recognized it so visually.
“Holy crap, I lost again?”
Just at this moment, Su Tang’s disbelieving voice suddenly came from the side.
“No more, no more, I really can’t drink anymore hey, is there something wrong with these dice?”
“Not playing is for the next round; no backing out of debts now!”
Zhou Jing grabbed Su Tang’s hand firmly: “No way, you were the one who first brought up wanting to drink.”
Su Tang looked over here, and suddenly his eyes lit up.
Lin Yiming reacted instantly, repeatedly leaning backward, clamoring and saying, “Why are you looking at me! In any case, it’s impossible for me to help you drink.”
“Brother Lin, aren’t you very good at drinking? Just this one cup, it’s nothing.”
Su Tang leaned over, holding that cup of wine in his hand as he tugged at Lin Yiming’s sleeve: “Come, come, come, just this one cup.”
When he made a fuss, he had no sense of weight or proportion. Pressing against Lin Yiming, he smiled and was about to pour the wine into his mouth.
“Cough, cough, cough, don’t, I’ll drink, I’ll drink.”
Lin Yiming was choked terribly. With his good temper, he lifted his hand to take the cup.
Watching the interaction between the two of them, Shi Song had already formed a calculation in his mind.
Those scenes from the dream seemed to be one step closer to the truth.
Shi Song watched with his own eyes as Lin Yiming drank all the wine in one breath, placing the cup onto the table with a “thud”: “Satisfied now?”
Su Tang was especially sweet-tongued: “Thank you, Brother Lin!”
A few hints of self-mocking laughter flashed within Shi Song’s light-colored eyes.
He lightly nudged his hair with his fingers, then stood up: “You guys play, I’m going out for a bit.”
His voice unconsciously carried a touch of chilliness.
Lin Yiming instantly reacted to the abnormality.
“Hey, baby?”
In his urgency, he pushed away Su Tang who was leaning over, grabbing Shi Song’s sleeve: “What’s wrong?”
Upon meeting Shi Song’s light-colored almond eyes, Lin Yiming’s heart tightened.
His intuition told him that Shi Song seemed to be somewhat unhappy, but right now he still didn’t know why.
The light shone upon Lin Yiming’s face. A flush from drinking still remained on his face, his expression was a bit conflicted, and his eyebrows were knit together.
The pushed-away Su Tang let out an “ah,” his arm bumping into the corner of the table.
Shi Song smiled: “It’s nothing.”
Under the light, his demeanor was unexpectedly gentle, and even his tone was very peaceful: “I’m just going to the restroom, I’ll be back in a moment.”
Lin Yiming let out a sigh of relief.
“That’s good. Go ahead then, baby, come back quickly.”
Watching Shi Song go and close the door, the atmosphere inside the private room quieted down.
Su Tang blinked his eyes, a few hints of panic and helplessness leaking into his tone: “Brother Lin, did your boyfriend just get angry at me?”
Lin Yiming leaned leisurelily against the sofa, saying with a grin, “Oh, just set your mind at ease. Xiaosong’s temper is very gentle. It’s not like he doesn’t know what our relationship is, how could he possibly be angry.”
Another two minutes passed, and Shi Song still hadn’t returned.
Su Tang couldn’t sit still at all anymore. He stood up: “No way, I should still go out and ask him. We can’t let you two quarrel because of me.”
After saying that, he directly chased outside.
“Hey—”
Lin Yiming wanted to pull Su Tang back.
Seeing this, Zhou Jing, who was next to him, slowly pressed down on Lin Yiming who wanted to stand up.
“What kind of person Su Tang is, don’t you know yet? He won’t eat your boyfriend.”
“No…”
Lin Yiming still wanted to say something, but he was interrupted by Zhou Jing.
“Let him handle it himself, Su Tang is very sharp,” while speaking, Zhou Jing cast a thoughtful glance outside the door, “Just right, don’t you always feel your boyfriend can’t blend into our circle? Let the two of them get familiar first. Su Tang has high emotional intelligence; he knows how to please people.”
“Hiss, that makes sense.”
Lin Yiming nodded thoughtfully: “What you say is also true.”
Staying in there wasn’t very interesting; Shi Song originally intended to head back directly.
But he forgot which path he had taken when he came. Winding around, he finally managed to find the elevator entrance on the other side.
Suddenly Shi Song paused his steps, his eyes widening slightly.
This clubhouse was decorated very elegantly; even the elevator entrance could fully blend into Chinese-style decoration. Placed right in the center was a huge, murmuring, flowing-water goldfish pond, with rockeries and pavilions above, possessing everything one could expect.
But what truly confused him was that this scene was distinctly familiar.
It seemed as though he had seen it in a dream.
“Shi Song!”
Just as he was hesitating, an anxious voice from behind suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Shi Song turned his head and saw Su Tang running over, panting for breath.
This figure overlapped with the surrounding scene, suddenly awakening Shi Song’s memory.
He remembered.
In the dream, it was near such a goldfish pond that a blurry silhouette grabbed him, insisting on saying something. But at that time, his mood seemed to be very bad, and he didn’t want to listen to the person in front of him speak either, pushing him away instantly when the person stepped forward.
Clearly, the force he used was very small, but that person actually staggered a step and fell over directly, his head knocking against the adjacent rockery.
Immediately after, several people rushed up to question him on why he did that. Shi Song repeatedly defended himself saying he didn’t, he really didn’t use force, but not a single person believed him.
Someone looked at him fiercely: “Who do you think you are? Ten of you can’t exchange for one Su Tang!”
Shi Song’s heart felt as though it were pricked by needles, giving rise to fine, dense, sharp pain, his voice not quite steady: “I really didn’t…”
Seeking help, he looked toward another person on the side, seemingly hoping very much that he could come out to help speak a word for him.
But that person shifted his gaze away in disappointment.
Shi Song’s head let out a buzzing sound.
Under the accusing gazes of the crowd, excessive helplessness was about to swallow Shi Song up. He stood in place, at a loss, watching them send Su Tang to the hospital.
Clearly, he hadn’t done anything, but why did not a single person believe him?
The images in the dream turned into bloodstains and an ambulance; the voices were clamorous, turning into a piece of chaos.
Meanwhile, he shrunk himself into a very small ball in the hospital corridor, biting his lower lip as his entire body trembled.
The gradually awakening memories impacted Shi Song’s brain, his breathing quickening by a few degrees.
So that was how it was.
The person entangling him in the dream was Su Tang, the ones questioning him were Zhao Yan and Zhou Jing. At that time, although Lin Yiming was doing his best to stop them from truly harming Shi Song, after going to the hospital, he also quietly asked Shi Song why he had done that.
He let out a sneer in his heart.
Seeing Shi Song pause, Su Tang hurriedly accelerated his steps and walked up.
“Are you angry? I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose just now. Brother Lin and I have known each other since childhood, so that’s why we made a fuss without weight or proportion. You absolutely mustn’t hold a grudge against me over this little matter…”
He spoke his words all in one breath, looking at Shi Song with an earnest gaze.
Shi Song’s gaze turned cold inch by inch.
He lifted his chin slightly and asked Su Tang, “You guys have known each other for a long time?”
Su Tang smiled: “Yeah, we indeed have known each other for a long time. When you and Brother Lin got together, he told me at the first instance. It was just me failing to notice the propriety just now…”
“If there’s any place that caused you to misunderstand, please, you must forgive us.”
While speaking, he stepped forward: “Come back with me. If you find it boring, we can play something else.”
This tone was both sincere and understanding.
But Shi Song shifted away unnoticeably, avoiding Su Tang’s hand, which made Su Tang somewhat annoyed.
Having said it to this extent, he was still not satisfied? This boyfriend of Brother Lin’s is really too…
He steadied his mind, just about to say something more.
Suddenly, Su Tang caught a glimpse of Lin Yiming running over in a great hurry from the side.
His mind moved slightly. Before his brain could react, he had already reached out his hand, wanting to grab Shi Song.
Just as his hand was about to touch Shi Song’s sleeve, Shi Song suddenly let out a cry of surprise: “Ah!”
He was just like someone being pushed, his body swaying as he staggered a few times, actually falling straight down onto the ground.
Su Tang’s eyes widened.
He was dumbfounded.
“Xiaosong!”
Lin Yiming’s anxious voice came from behind.
He walked up in a few steps: “Xiaosong, Xiaosong, what’s wrong?”
“My head hurts so much.”
Because he had made preparations beforehand, in reality, Shi Song hadn’t truly knocked his head.
But his slender hand nevertheless covered the back of his head, his handsome eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes overflowed with rippling water vapor.
“Hiss—”
“What’s going on? How could you suddenly fall down!”
Although he had indistinctly seen that Su Tang pushed Shi Song, Lin Yiming nevertheless dared not believe it.
But Shi Song’s next action left no further room for dispute in this matter.
Shi Song instead tilted his head up to look at Lin Yiming, his voice very soft, containing a few hints of watery grievance: “Brother Lin.”
Even Shi Song felt that he himself was acting extremely green-tea-like. He bit his lower lip, his tone seemingly bearing a blank helplessness, frail as though he were about to cry: “I don’t blame Su Tang, he didn’t push me on purpose.”
When speaking, he sat on the ground with his two long legs overlapping, one hand propping behind him while the other hand covered his head. Because of the pain, he also let out tiny gasps of cold air, looking weak, pitiful, and helpless.
As Lin Yiming’s gaze, bearing full fury, looked over, Su Tang’s heart gave a “thump.”