The words came out both cold and sweet, and the subtle chill condensed in the air crawled slowly up Song Jiaxin’s spine. He froze in place, his eyes catching a hand that seemed to loom larger and larger in his vision.
Acting on pure instinct, he leaned backward, and his body teetered uncontrollably, almost plunging off the edge.
“Jiaxin!”
A sharp, piercing female voice rang out, but before Song Jiaxin could react, he was yanked back by the collar of his clothes. Song Shiyi was smiling, as if the whole scene had been nothing more than a playful prank.
Yet they were on the fourth floor, and the winding staircase above had no protective barriers, falling would mean a direct plummet to the ground, with catastrophic consequences.
It hit Song Jiaxin suddenly: Fear
This was entirely different from previous encounters. A fall like this, landing on the back of his head, could maim him even if it didn’t kill him. This wasn’t an accident, it was naked, unambiguous murder.
The fingers still holding his collar didn’t relax; instead, with an intimacy that shouldn’t exist between them, they smoothed out the wrinkles in his clothes.
“You’re so careless.”
The voice was soft, almost teasing, yet it carried a quiet authority. Even without excessive words, Song Jiaxin realized this bastard was capable of anything!
He could destroy him on a whim, or just as easily pull him back. He was a predator, toying with his prey at will, unraveling everything slowly and completely.
A lunatic. A naked, unrestrained lunatic.
Such capriciousness, the swinging moods, reminded him of someone he once considered a friend. The mere thought made Song Jiaxin shiver.
And if it were them…
His breathing grew heavy in an instant. Dark, unrelenting thoughts sprouted straight and bold.
In that tense standoff, Lin Nian sprang forward, shielding Song Jiaxin like a protective guardian. Her eyes glistened with red as she confronted Song Shiyi. The corridor was empty except for the three of them.
Lin Nian glanced around nervously, her voice dropping to a low murmur as she asked Song Shiyi, “Did you… find out something?”
“Oh? And what exactly should I know?”
Song Shiyi’s smile didn’t waver, a faint, teasing lift at the corner of his lips, directed at his nominal stepmother.
Seeing his manner, Lin Nian’s fear receded, replaced by a complicated, unreadable expression. She shook her head slowly, forcing a smile. “Shiyi, I just saw, you were going to push your brother, weren’t you? If Jiaxin did something to upset you, all I had to do was make him apologize. This… this is too much, it’s your family.”
Her tone was gentle and considerate, filled with understanding. But Song Shiyi didn’t buy it for a second.
“According to your logic, Auntie, aren’t you letting my mother down?”
“But my mom isn’t here anymore. Saying that now, she can’t hear you.”
He feigned a moment of troubled thought, then his eyes lit up. “How about you go apologize properly in the basement? That way, everything is settled.”
The forced smile on Lin Nian’s face froze; she hadn’t expected this stepchild to have such audacious boldness.
“I’m joking, Auntie.” Song Shiyi’s tone softened, his eyes overflowing with a dangerously excessive amusement, “After all, I still hope you can live well.”
Death is instantaneous. Once buried, everything disappears. The living must handle everything thereafter. That would be too boring.
Watching Song Shiyi’s retreating figure, Lin Nian almost couldn’t maintain her gentle facade. She inhaled deeply, calming herself, and turned back to look at her son with a heart full of worry, “Are you hurt anywhere? Should I take you to the hospital…”
Song Jiaxin ignored her entirely, pushing her away and heading back to his room.
“Wait! I’m talking to you! Why are you in such a rush?”
“To find someone who can deal with that lunatic!” he snapped impatiently, leaving her behind.
In the club, lights flashed alternately in blue and red, while explosive music echoed through the hall. At the bar, men and women danced with intensity, their movements shaking the very air.
The moment he stepped inside, every nerve in Shao Zhuoran’s body felt electrified, his mind teetering on the edge of exhilaration.
Ascending floor by floor via the elevator, the noise gradually dulled. He arrived at the top level of Lanting, one of Suqing City’s most famous entertainment clubs.
The elevator opened to a scene entirely different from the bustling lower floors. Tasteful music flowed softly, warm-toned lighting created a lazy, intimate ambiance.
A regular here, Shao Zhuoran navigated the hall with ease, turning left and walking to the far end. He arrived at a tall, all-black door, pushing it open carelessly.
His friends were already present. With a grin, he greeted them briefly and walked to the innermost part of the room.
A young man sat on the window ledge, one leg half-bent, the other dangling freely, leaning lazily against the floor to ceiling glass that nearly occupied the entire wall.
The glass was so clean it created the illusion that one could pass a hand right through it. Below sprawled the city center, tiny people moving under the neon lights.
Even though Shao Zhuoran wasn’t afraid of heights, standing next to this scene made him slightly uneasy.
“Seriously, don’t you worry about falling?” he asked, instinctively stepping back.
“Relax,” Bai Xu replied. “Even if you sprinted and crashed into this glass, it wouldn’t budge an inch.”
He tilted the glass in his hand toward Shao Zhuoran, a flicker of restless aristocratic pride in his eyes. Shao Zhuoran snorted and flopped onto a sofa.
He crossed his legs, spreading his arms along the backrest, occupying most of the couch with ease.
He scanned the room, noticing someone missing. “Where’s Song Jiaxin? Doesn’t he usually show up for this kind of gathering?”
“Your villa’s internet cut out? Jiaxin doesn’t have the time for this now,” replied Qi Xuan, lounging on another sofa, removing his hand from his face in exasperation.
He had just come from another scene, slightly drunk, feeling nauseated.
“Hmm? What happened? His family went bankrupt?” Shao Zhuoran was momentarily stunned.
“Man, calm down. Can’t you think of anything better?” Qi Xuan laughed and scolded lightly.
“Didn’t you know? Your dad went to their house this afternoon,” Bai Xu added casually, finishing his drink and lifting the glass halfway.
A young man who had been sitting obediently got up and poured a refill for him, smiling. But Bai Xu didn’t even glance at him.
“My dad came back this afternoon, and for some reason dragged me to the hospital for a DNA test, whispering things with my mom. She slapped him so hard it took ages for me to slip away,” Shao Zhuoran said.
Something in this struck Bai Xu as hilarious. He laughed so hard on the window ledge that he spilled his drink on the carpet. The expensive liquid spread, but he didn’t bother to clean it.
The young man who had poured Bai Xu’s drink approached Shao Zhuoran again, whispering, “Shao, I have the audio from the scene. Want to hear it?”
Shao Zhuoran turned lazily, his sharp eyes glinting with wild confidence, like a large predatory dog.
Zhao Cun hesitated, swallowing hard, and played the recording after receiving approval.
“She spent all her assets supporting your career. Without her, do you think you’d have achieved this?”
“You phoenix man… You, the illegitimate child.”
“Don’t understand human speech? I said, you’re that bastard! ”
In the background was Song Jiaxin’s scream, blood-curdling and pitiful.
Shao Zhuoran raised an eyebrow and immediately grasped the key point, “Song Jiaxin is illegitimate?”
Having heard it before, Bai Xu and Qi Xuan barely reacted, but Wen Yan smiled faintly. In truth, whether he was legitimate or not didn’t matter; only the outcome mattered.
“This guy’s interesting. What’s his name? Song Shiyi?”
Shao Zhuoran’s interest piqued. Compared to subtle underhanded tactics, this kind of blunt brutality suited him perfectly.
The recording continued: “But first, your child has to be your own, right? Suppose your wife cheated and you raised another man’s child all these years, would you still value harmony?”
Bai Xu laughed again, turning his head, and Shao Zhuoran followed with a harsher, more predatory grin. “Song Shiyi, huh? When should we get Song Jiaxin to bring him out for a little fun?”
“After all, when a good brother gets bullied, someone’s gotta set things straight, right?”
The sensual lighting cast dark and light shadows on the faces of these wealthy heirs. Each carried different expressions, plotting silently.
Bai Xu lowered his eyes, staring at the phone in constant vibration, showing Song Jiaxin’s name. He didn’t answer, though, instead taking a new glass handed to him and raising it as if to signal the start of a new round of the party.
“The next banquet begins.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The Realm’s ancient scrolls mention something called… “buy them a coffee.”
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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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