“How can you already be putting down your chopsticks? Eat a little more, otherwise you’ll be hungry again at night.”
A gentle female voice, soft as if coaxing a child, rang out from the side.
“I can’t eat anymore. The moment I see certain unlucky trash, I feel so disgusted that I’m full from nausea alone, what’s the point of eating.”
A yin-yang, mocking teenage voice responded without backing down.
Song Shiyi slowly put down the bowl in his hand, his expression a little dazed as he stared blankly at his palms spread out before him.
This place… where is this?
“Song Jiaxin, if you’re eating then just eat, don’t bring that rotten temper of yours onto the dining table.”
Instinctively, he turned toward that dignified and low male voice. A middle-aged man with a stern, proper face sat at the head of the table, lightly frowning as he reprimanded.
Hearing that name, Song Shiyi suddenly realized something. He shot up from his seat, turned around, and rushed straight into the bathroom nearby.
His steps were still a bit unsteady, stumbling for a moment before he barely managed to hold himself up against the sink. Then he lifted his head and stared dead-on at the mirror in front of him.
The face reflected in the mirror was not his own. The bewildered and helpless eyes staring back made it look as though the person could shatter into pieces at any moment.
Though absurd, he seemed to understand what had happened.
He had actually had entered inside the very novel he had just read.
At first, he hadn’t realized the gravity of the situation.
The story’s main character, the shou, was the second young master of the Song family who had been lost outside for many years.
At eighteen, he was brought back by Father Song and began his pitiful rich-family life: a biological father who was biased, a stepmother who did not love him, an elder brother who was cold and dismissive, and a younger brother who constantly bullied him.
Since it was an old-school abuse romance, naturally there was a gong whose temperament matched perfectly with the suffering shou, Gu Ye.
But Gu Ye only treated the protagonist shou as a stand-in. The true white moonlight in his heart was none other than the shou’s half-brother of the same father but different mother, Song Jiaxin.
This near-thousand-chapter so-called masterpiece spent almost every ounce of its plot on tormenting the protagonist shou and scheming new ways to torment him.
While the younger brother played only the role of cannon fodder, the mere instigator that pushed this tragic love forward.
Unfortunately, the cannon fodder’s presence was too strong! So strong it made Song Shiyi want to spit out a mouthful of old blood.
The protagonist shou was bullied by the younger brother, drugged, photographed in indecent pictures… even made to take the blame for crimes and sent to prison, never able to graduate from college.
As the main character of an old-school abuse novel, of course, he had to embody endurance, silent tolerance of every bastard, plus the saintly virtue of never explaining himself like a delicate little white flower swaying alone in the cold wind.
The blind-eyed, blind-hearted Gu Ye forever chose to believe his white moonlight little brother, assuming it was always the protagonist shou stirring up trouble, and thus showered him with endless verbal humiliation and even physical violence.
Ask why? Because love cures pain.
Over hundreds of chapters of physical and emotional torment, when the plot reached its climax, the deranged younger brother actually hired someone to run him over with a car.
Unfortunately, his luck was a little off, and instead he himself ended up grievously injured and on the verge of death.
With absolutely no evidence, Gu Ye and the younger brother’s circle of relatives and friends all unanimously believed it was the malicious plotting of the protagonist shou.
They hurled insults at him, even forced him to kneel in front of the younger brother’s hospital bed to repent.
In the end, the protagonist shou was driven into utter despair, and under Gu Ye’s coercion, signed an organ transplant agreement, giving up one of his own kidneys so the younger brother could escape death’s door.
And it was precisely at this point that Gu Ye, shocked, discovered that the person who had once moved his heart had actually always been the protagonist shou, not the younger brother.
Just when Song Shiyi thought the long-awaited crematorium arc was about to begin, the plot suddenly veered in a sharp, absurd turn.
The biological father and stepmother, touched by the shou’s sacrifice, truly accepted him.
The younger brother, waking from his hospital bed, looked into the silent eyes of the protagonist shou, and the two exchanged a gaze and then smiled faintly, grievances erased.
At the same time, Gu Ye, now enlightened, confessed his deep feelings to the protagonist shou, under the good-natured instigation of the entire family. The two finally achieved their happy ending.
Although the protagonist shou had lost a kidney, what he had gained was priceless love.
That, apparently, was the author’s core message.
Everyone was happy. The protagonist shou had obtained the love he longed for, the protagonist gong had found his true white moonlight, and the younger brother proudly acknowledged this half-way-out-of-nowhere older brother.
At the end, the author tearfully penned a heartfelt afterword, and readers in the comment section, who loved nothing more than this kind of thing, threw flowers in celebration for this bittersweet love finally reaching its reward.
Only Song Shiyi, an innocent passerby, was left so enraged he could spit blood.
Just when he wanted nothing more than to crawl into the book and hand the Stockholm-syndrome protagonist shou and the manic protagonist gong each a big fat beating, he suddenly felt his vision turning darker and darker.
The words on the screen blurred, his body tilted forward and he blacked out.
And Boom! that was how he ended up here.
After turning on the faucet and washing his face, he barely managed to calm down, wiping the water droplets from his face with the back of his hand before walking back into the room.
“You still have the face to stay here? Didn’t I say already, just seeing you makes me sick to my stomach? Hurry up and get lost.”
Song Jiaxin, who had already sat back down to eat, couldn’t resist sneering again the moment he saw the returned Song Shiyi.
Song Shiyi looked at him, and fragments buried in memory suddenly surged up like a tide.
On the projection screen of a birthday banquet, shameful photos and videos rolled in a loop, their crystal-clear quality declaring loudly that the protagonist was none other than the illegitimate second son of the Song family.
The attending guests all cast either disdainful or mocking looks, and the whispers that rose again and again seemed to laugh at his depravity.
And the younger brother, who was the one behind everything from the start, was smiling with boundless malice, as if the one who had personally shoved the drug into his mouth had not been himself: “Second brother, you really are quite photogenic, aren’t you.”
“Jiaxin, what nonsense are you talking about, this is your older brother.”
The stepmother, Lin Nian, scolded, then turned to smile gently at Song Shiyi:
“Don’t fuss with your little brother, quickly sit down and eat with us.”
Song Shiyi’s gaze shifted to this woman who looked especially gentle and harmless, and he coldly recalled the plot.
How she had schemed step by step to drive the original wife out of this house, how she disregarded his life and death, again and again making excuses and cover-ups for Song Jiaxin.
“Enough, eating is eating, we’re all one family, what’s the point of making a scene.” Song Gucheng said impatiently.
“Fine, then I won’t eat!”
Seeing that no one was siding with him, Song Jiaxin’s temper instantly flared.
He slammed his chair back and stood up with a loud snap, acting like he was about to storm off.
Seeing this, Song Gucheng frowned slightly, but his eyes instead landed on Song Shiyi, as if waiting for something.
That so-called younger brother of his had put on the stance of leaving, but in truth only stood there with arms crossed, not moving at all.
One accusation after another from Song Gucheng seemed to echo in his ears.
When bullied by rich heirs, he was told to first look for the fault in himself.
When indecent photos of him were played publicly, he was blamed for being so improper.
When ordered to take the fall for his brother, he was accused of not being able to shoulder more responsibility for the family.
The emotions of the original body surged to a peak in front of these abusers, so fierce that Song Shiyi nearly couldn’t catch his breath.
He quietly steadied his breathing, step by step walking forward, and in a very light tone addressed Song Jiaxin:
“If you don’t want to eat then you can get out yourself. Just, I get nauseous just looking at you too.”
The atmosphere, which had been somewhat peaceful, froze instantly because of this one line from Song Shiyi.
“What are you saying, child?” Lin Nian looked in disbelief at this stepson she had always thought of as obedient. Her voice, raised in pitch, suddenly sounded piercingly sharp.
“Song Shiyi, have you gone mad with rebellion? Who do you think you are? In this house, you think it’s your turn to have an opinion?!”
Song Jiaxin was so shocked by the words that his rage exploded instantly, pointing a finger right at Song Shiyi and shouting loudly.
Hearing this, the corner of Song Shiyi’s eye twitched almost imperceptibly, and the fingers clutching the table edge trembled as well.
Those pitch-black eyes fixed unblinking on Song Jiaxin, like the surface of the deep sea just before a storm, ripples rising beneath.
His hair, dampened by water, gleamed like ink under the overhead light, and contrasted against his pallid complexion, made him look like a ghost who hadn’t yet returned from the underworld.
“You! you what are you looking at, keep staring and I’ll dig your eyes out!”
Being stared at like that gave Song Jiaxin a sudden inexplicable panic, but right away, embarrassed at his own show of weakness, his rage spiked even higher:
“You bastard born of a mother but raised without one—”
Smack!
Before Song Jiaxin could even finish his words, Song Shiyi had already snatched up the vinegar dish beside him and smashed it directly into his face.
The vinegar splattered outwards, staining Lin Nian’s carefully ironed white dress, but she had no time to care about the fabric. Her expression twisted as she stared at the suddenly violent Song Shiyi.
That look lasted only a few seconds on her face before she forcibly rearranged it into something else — three parts shock, three parts heartache, four parts bitterness.
With her face pale, she turned her gaze toward Song Gucheng, the one man in the family who held the greatest authority.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
Naturally, Song Gucheng did not disappoint her. He frowned slightly, his fingers tapping irritably on the table surface.
It was a habitual motion, one he had kept from the early days when he had clawed his way up from nothing to his current towering position and still had never managed to shake off.
In his heart he was surprised, because this second son, ever since being brought back home, had always seemed so very well-behaved.
Even when the younger son couldn’t accept suddenly having an older brother and would throw fits from time to time, the boy would just laugh it off, never once making things difficult.
So why today, all of a sudden…
But no matter what, treating one’s younger brother in this way was far too excessive.
Seeing that Song Shiyi couldn’t even be bothered to look at him, his tone sank in displeasure:
“This is simply unacceptable. I don’t think you need to eat tonight. Go back to your room and reflect properly.”
“Dad!”
The one who cried out first was actually Song Jiaxin. He clutched at tissues in a panic, trying to wipe the vinegar off his face.
His eyes, stung red from not closing in time, couldn’t even open.
What he wanted was for Song Shiyi to get thrown out from the table but not like this. He had been humiliated by that bastard, and yet it was being passed over so lightly?
Song Gucheng’s face was dark. He had originally wanted to make Song Shiyi apologize.
But only last night, that troublesome younger son had poured coffee all over the second son’s bed.
Back then, Jiaxin had refused to admit fault, and unwilling to make things too ugly, he had smoothed it over with “we’re all family, no need to apologize.”
He couldn’t now slap his own face by saying the opposite.
“Hurry up and go back to your room!” he repeated sternly, expression set in stone.
Hearing his words, Song Shiyi suddenly let out a laugh, “Not letting me eat, is that it?”
Before Song Gucheng could even react, Song Shiyi’s hands had already reached under the table and with a sudden violent shove flipped it over.
All the soups and dishes crashed down with the sudden tilt, tumbling with bangs and clatters to the ground, shattering into pieces.
Then no one eats.
If he couldn’t have peace, then none of them would either.
The air in the room instantly turned deathly still.
Even Song Gucheng, a man who had weathered countless storms in the business world and never let emotions show on his face, was stunned speechless by this terrifying act of Song Shiyi.
“Song Shiyi!”
Song Jiaxin’s face turned a blotchy mix of green and white. He hadn’t expected that this meek, fake-obedient pushover would actually dare to rebel.
Wasn’t he…. wasn’t he supposed to be a coward who wouldn’t fight back when beaten, wouldn’t talk back when cursed?
Furious, Song Jiaxin stood up, ready to throw a punch.
But just then, Song Shiyi instead began to step backward, one slow step at a time.
Song Jiaxin paused for a moment, then that smug feeling of having the upper hand welled back up.
So it really was the same lowborn bastard, after all.
He let out a sneer, with no intention of letting it end here. Holding the mindset of a cat toying with a mouse, he walked forward slowly, planning to give this bastard a very deep lesson.
But in the very next second, before he could even react, Song Shiyi had already grabbed the red wine bottle from the counter behind him and, with vicious force, smashed it straight down on his head.
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Cresvynia
[Translator]
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Next →
ChaptersChapter 1 · He’s in the BookChapter 2 · You Like playing Stand-in, Right?Chapter 3 · This Kind of person is just asking for troubleChapter 4 · Is it so Bloody?Chapter 5 · Let’s Rot togetherChapter 7 · Illegitimate SonChapter 8 · Unfaithful husbandChapter 9 · MemoriesChapter 10 · Silence before stormChapter 11 · Hunt beginsChapter 12 · Nightmare I rememberChapter 13 · Why do they ride on their own heads?Chapter 14 · I forgive myselfChapter 15 · Can you take me in tonight since I’m homeless?Chapter 16 · Mr. Qin, do you like me?Chapter 17 · If you like it, you can have itChapter 18 · Gu Ye, it’s obvious that you also pursue these thingsChapter 19 · If you still can’t let go of Gu Ye, why not give it a try with me?Chapter 20 · He actually made him bow down to that bastard.Chapter 21 · Ruining someone’s future is simply unforgivableChapter 22 · God can’t possibly favor someone like youChapter 23 · UrnChapter 24 · May they die a horrible deathChapter 25 · If you’re broke, stop showing off.Chapter 26 · Kneel before me, begging for mercy.Chapter 27 · The plan succeededChapter 28 Part 1 · This time, the victim is Gu Ye Part 1Chapter 28 Part 2 · This time, the victim is Gu YeChapter 29 · This time, I’ll make full use of youChapter 30 · Educating about the existence of lawsChapter 31 · So who is he now?Chapter 32 · I want to destroy this fake spacetime.Chapter 33 · So, I was himChapter 34 · They’re all crazy, just let me have my wayChapter 35 · I will punish them in the right way.Chapter 36 · I’m already a lunaticChapter 37 · Can you stay by Qin Huai’s side for my sake?Chapter 38 · I’ll grant your requestChapter 39 · Not a pitiful littleChapter 40 · They Both should dieChapter 41 · I want to destroy the empire that Song Gucheng builtChapter 42 · Do you hate me too?Chapter 43 · No one should feel goodChapter 44 · He’ll definitely be the winner in the end!Chapter 45 · Acting is really tiringChapter 46 · I wanted that bastard to disappearChapter 47 · Ready made scapegoatChapter 48 · He’s willing to save themChapter 49 · I’ve come to catch up with youChapter 50 · You stole someone else’s placeChapter 51 · Shiyi, why won’t you save me…Chapter 52 · To make a good life is more importantChapter 53 · Even if you really cheated on me, it doesn’t matterChapter 54 · Finally, I can say goodbye to you completelyChapter 55 · Angel sent by heaven to save himChapter 56 · CEO Gu is a very affectionate personChapter 57 · If you love him, go to jail for himChapter 58 · His most beloved son wanted to kill himChapter 59 · Take good care of our dear fatherChapter 60 · Take back everything that truly belongs to meChapter 61 · He knew that Gu Ye would not let him downChapter 62 · The Song family’s shares must absolutely not be transferred to Song ShiyiChapter 63 · I am no one’s thingChapter 64 · He always knew what kind of person Song Qingwen was.Chapter 65 · FinalChapter 66 · Extra