His phone rang in his pocket. Seeing that it was Song Jiaxin, he ignored it.
After letting several calls go unanswered, he finally lazily swiped to answer.
“Why haven’t you been picking up my calls?” The tone at the start was sharp, annoyed.
“Picking up is already enough. Speak if you have something to say.” Song Shiyi showed no concern for Song Jiaxin’s feelings.
He leaned back against the wall, sliding down it slowly until he sat on the floor.
“Save some time for me tonight. I’ll take you out.”
Song Jiaxin, having suppressed his anger, now spoke in a gentler, more intimate tone.
“Fine. Just come get me when it’s time.”
The casualness of that answer sent a jolt through Song Jiaxin. All the carefully prepared arguments in his mind collapsed instantly.
His composure and smug satisfaction shattered. “You’re not even going to ask where we’re going?”
Like a sudden gust of wind scattering black clouds, the sun was momentarily hidden, plunging the sky into shadow.
Song Shiyi sat in a corner untouched by sunlight. His eyes were empty, lifeless. He looked like a parasite feeding on the darkness itself.
Yet the words he spoke at that moment were incredibly sweet, almost saccharine, as if scattered malice had condensed into a single, lingering thread that entwined around Song Jiaxin.
“You said so yourself, so of course I’ll come.”
A chill ran through Song Jiaxin’s skin, but he forced out the explanation he had already prepared, “Good… I’ve thought over these past few days. I admit I was wrong before, which is why I wanted to ask you out this time…”
He seemed genuinely patient, lowering his tone, making it sound almost like brotherly camaraderie.
Click
Song Shiyi hung up abruptly, no longer tolerating the other’s sweet-talking.
The clouds covering the sun gradually dispersed, revealing the bright sunlight once more. Song Shiyi tilted his head back, staring into the light until his eyes watered from the glare.
Night gradually swallowed the city. Song Shiyi returned home for dinner, but he encountered no one, not even Song Jiaxin.
He enjoyed the peace, though he barely ate, stopping at half-full.
Seeing Song Shiyi about to leave, Aunt Chen couldn’t help but ask, “Second young master, aren’t you having a bit more?”
“No, I have plans tonight.” Song Shiyi smiled, a look of eager anticipation on his face, like a child about to tear open a gift. “With my adorable younger brother.”
Before Aunt Chen could process how these two brothers who had been at each other’s throats just yesterday, now are going out together, Song Shiyi had already left.
Since Song Jiaxin hadn’t yet got his driver’s license, the family driver would take them.
Song Jiaxin was already seated in the passenger seat, clearly reluctant to be so close. Song Shiyi said nothing, opening the car door and sitting down.
They drove in silence.
“We’re almost there,” Song Jiaxin said suddenly, turning to Song Shiyi. His lips twitched with an almost uncontrollable smile, “I hope tonight’s a happy night.”
Song Shiyi, seemingly oblivious to his scheming, returned a soft smile. “So do I.”
The pulsing music hit them like waves, commanding the rhythm of their hearts and breaths. Song Shiyi was dressed simply, his shirt buttoned all the way to the top, clashing with the red and gold chaos of the nightclub.
Yet his striking features could not be hidden in the crowd. The flickering lights on his pale, almost paper-white face gave him an indescribable allure, impossible to ignore.
He pushed away a man who tried to get too close, then calmly looked at Song Jiaxin, “You didn’t bring me here for a date, did you?”
Seeing him handle it effortlessly, Song Jiaxin felt a twinge of disappointment. He had expected the boy to be flustered on his first time at such a place, but there was no entertainment in that, no one to laugh at.
Hmph. Pretending to be innocent.
Song Jiaxin moved on, leading him further inside, then pressed the elevator’s up button.
The glass elevator offered a clear view of the city nightscape. Song Shiyi casually leaned against the glass, gazing downward, feeling the thrill as the elevator rose.
He actually had a fear of heights; above the fifth floor, he became uncomfortable, struggling even to breathe.
The ground below grew farther away. Song Shiyi adjusted his breathing with effort. His heartbeat quickened, pumping blood through his body, making his skin flush.
Ding! Dong!
A soft chime signaled they had reached the top floor. The elevator doors opened slowly, letting in mellow music. Song Siyi stepped onto the plush carpet. Impressionist paintings on the walls made no sense to him; chaotic lines stretched like spiderwebs, awaiting the prey that was about to be ensnared.
The black door at the end of the corridor was tightly shut. Song Jiaxin eagerly moved forward, pushing it open.
“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, tonight, it’s not just me. A few friends are here too. We wanted to see you.”
The words, heavy with malice, floated from the side as Song Shiyi glimpsed the scene inside through the opening.
It was exactly as in his memory: the nightmare, down to the last detail.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
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☕ 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