“How are you here?”
Gu Ye’s expression turned dark in an instant, his face clouded like a brewing storm. He strode forward, intending to drag Song Shiyi out from behind.
But before he could reach him, an arm blocked his way, steady, powerful, immovable.
Gu Ye turned his head little by little, his eyes bloodshot as they locked onto Qin Huai.
The two men were about the same height, both gifted with top-tier looks and presence, one proud and arrogant, the other calm and unshakable. When they faced each other, it was like two beasts colliding, each claiming dominance over their own territory.
Song Shiyi looked at them with an unreadable gaze, the corners of his lips still carrying a soft, almost gentle smile.
“Mr. Qin.”
Gu Ye forced down his anger, managing a stiff nod toward Qin Huai.
The Gu family and the Qin family had always been evenly matched in power, but Qin Huai, though younger, had already taken full control of his household. Gu Ye, in comparison, was still restrained on all sides.
He didn’t need to bow or scrape, but basic courtesy was expected, especially now, when his father had suddenly promoted that illegitimate son, giving him equal standing within the company.
Just the thought made Gu Ye’s chest burn.
Someone he had always looked down on had bitten back at him when it mattered most. For someone as proud as Gu Ye, that humiliation was unbearable.
And the culprit was standing right in front of him.
In the past few days, he had become the joke of the entire social circle, falling hopelessly in love with an older married man, only to turn around and take up with that man’s son as a substitute.
The story was practically a spectacle.
And the worst part was, he couldn’t even deny it. Because he himself had said it. He’d said that there was some resemblance between them.
But he’d meant Song Jiaxin! How had those words, twisted through Song Shiyi’s lips, become about Song Gucheng?
Gu Ye gritted his teeth, his eyes sharp as blades as he glared at Song Shiyi.
Yet the other man seemed completely oblivious. Instead, Song Shiyi curved his eyes and smiled, a familiar smile, gentle and sweet, yet this time… something in it was different.
There was a subtle, elusive chill in that smile, like mist in a shadowed forest, beautiful, but strange, almost sinister.
Gu Ye felt a flicker of unease.
He had always thought Song Shiyi was a useless, meek little thing, timid, poor, easily crushed beneath his heel. How could he have changed so completely overnight?
“Since we’re already here,” Qin Huai said mildly, “let’s go. No need to waste time.”
Without even glancing at Gu Ye again, he reached out casually, slipping an arm around Song Shiyi’s shoulders and guiding him forward.
Song Shiyi’s heart gave a small tremor, and his smile deepened, syrup-sweet.
So protective, and yet he still claimed not to care.
Ah, men and their denial.
Gu Ye’s face turned even darker.
He had lowered himself to personally come to this meeting, just to show sincerity, and yet he’d ended up being humiliated like this.
If it weren’t for that damn illegitimate son pressuring him from behind, forcing him to prove himself, he would never have come here to be made a fool of.
“Mr. Qin, are you standing up for me?” Song Shiyi whispered playfully, tilting his head and brushing his lips close to Qin Huai’s ear.
“Is that what you think?” Qin Huai’s lips curved faintly, but his reply was soft and teasing. “Gu Ye’s arrogance needs to be tempered if he expects to cooperate with anyone.”
“I agree,” Song Shiyi said sincerely.
Gu Ye really was the worst kind of man, born into privilege, pampered his whole life, his pride sky-high. And as if that weren’t enough, he clung to his so-called ‘white moonlight’ while treating others like disposable stand-ins.
How could anyone fall in love with a man like that?
And yet the original owner of this body had done just that, and even managed to wring a so-called “happy ending” out of it.
But honestly, what kind of happy ending was that? Just the thought made Song Shiyi’s stomach twist.
This meeting today was about a plot of land in a prime district under the Qin family’s name. The Gu Group was determined to acquire it, it was critical to their upcoming business expansion.
And because of that, Qin Huai was bound to raise the price. Gu Yukang had ordered his son to secure the deal within budget, an opportunity for Gu Ye to prove himself.
But if he failed, it would only make his position in the family even weaker.
Song Shiyi couldn’t help but smile to himself.
For someone like Gu Ye, nothing would be more painful than watching all his pride and power stripped away, piece by piece.
When Gu Ye caught sight of that faintly triumphant curve of Song Shiyi’s lips, the humiliation from that night came roaring back.
“This place isn’t bad,” Song Shiyi remarked casually, glancing around the area.
“You’ve got a good eye, young master,” the project manager quickly flattered, eager to please. “This land was originally purchased by Mr. Qin himself.”
He had noticed the way the beautiful young man beside his boss seemed close, intimate, even, and that alone was enough to startle him.
Qin Huai was famous for keeping his distance from everyone. If this young man could stand by his side like that, he was clearly not ordinary.
Qin Huai raised an eyebrow, faint amusement glinting in his eyes at Song Shiyi’s unexpected praise.
But Song Shiyi didn’t respond to that look. Instead, he nudged the dusty ground with the tip of his shoe and said lightly, “It’s also a perfect spot for murder and dumping bodies.”
The manager’s polite smile froze instantly. After an awkward pause, he forced out a dry laugh. “Ah, young master, you have quite the sense of humor.”
But his eyes flickered uneasily.
Because, well, he wasn’t wrong. The area was in the suburbs, sparsely populated, no surveillance cameras in sight… there really was such a risk.
Of course, that wasn’t something he could say aloud.
Gu Ye’s expression turned ugly. He thought the remark was deliberately aimed at him.
With a cold laugh, he snapped, “And what would you know? People like you will never even touch projects of this level.”
He didn’t even bother to hide his contempt. Talking to someone like Song Shiyi was beneath him.
But before he could steer the conversation back to business, Qin Huai suddenly chuckled.
“If you like it that much,” he said lazily, “then I’ll give it to you.”
The words dropped like a stone into water.
The entire group fell silent.
The manager stared in disbelief. Gu Ye’s face went pale as ash, as if the ground had just crumbled beneath his feet.
Even Song Shiyi, who had been enjoying the show, froze in surprise.
What… did he just say?
But it was clear Qin Huai wasn’t joking. He signaled the manager, who immediately fetched the prepared documents.
Qin Huai signed his name smoothly, wrote a graceful zero in the amount column, and handed the contract to Song Shiyi.
Song Shiyi blinked, still dazed, but instinctively took the pen and signed his own name.
“Wait! Mr. Qin!” Gu Ye’s voice cracked, rising in panic. “You can’t just, just do that!”
But it was already too late. Song Shiyi had finished signing.
He returned the papers to Qin Huai, but Qin Huai only smiled faintly and pushed them back.
“Keep it,” he said lightly. “Consider it proof. I’ll handle the rest of the formalities later.”
Song Shiyi nodded, still a little dazed, and slipped the contract into his coat pocket, under Gu Ye’s furious, almost murderous glare.
Could it be that the original Song Shiyi had saved Qin Huai’s life or something?
Why else would he be this generous?
Song Shiyi didn’t quite understand, but whatever the reason, this outcome was…
Perfect.
If not for the occasion, he might have laughed out loud.
He smiled instead, softly, serenely, and met Gu Ye’s murderous eyes. Then he tilted his head and rested it lightly on Qin Huai’s shoulder, looking every bit the picture of tender affection.
But his dark eyes stayed fixed on Gu Ye, unblinking, almost predatory.
“Mr. Qin,” Gu Ye ground out, his voice trembling with anger, “this plot of land has been under negotiation between our families for a long time. And now you’re handing it over to someone else without warning?”
“I know,” Qin Huai replied calmly. “But I’ve already given it to Shiyi. It wouldn’t do to go back on my word, would it?”
He spoke mildly, but the way he said Shiyi’s name, so gentle, so intimate, carried a strange tenderness, as if he’d been saying it for years.
Song Shiyi didn’t reply. He simply smiled and continued to watch, thoroughly entertained.
“Of course,” Qin Huai continued, “you can still proceed with negotiations, just that you’ll be negotiating with Shiyi instead.”
That was, technically, true.
And from a business perspective, it might even be advantageous, after all, dealing with a naïve newcomer would likely be easier.
But personally, Gu Ye couldn’t stomach it.
The idea of having to bow his head before someone he’d always despised, someone he’d once treated as nothing, was intolerable.
His face flushed, then turned ashen, rage and humiliation warring on his features.
The manager in charge looked like he wanted to disappear. He’d only come to facilitate a simple contract signing, how had it turned into this?
Was this what people meant by spending millions to make a beauty smile?
His gaze drifted, almost involuntarily, to the young man glowing softly in the sunlight, his delicate features framed in gold.
No wonder.
Still, he forced a diplomatic smile and interjected quickly, “Why don’t we take a look around the rest of the site? There are still a few areas we haven’t checked.”
No one wanted to offend the Qin family, and Gu Ye had no choice but to follow, his face iron-blue.
Inside were several unfinished buildings, long abandoned due to funding issues.
As they walked, Qin Huai suddenly laughed quietly.
“What’s so funny?” Song Shiyi asked, intrigued.
“Nothing,” Qin Huai said with a faint smile. “I just remembered something my elders used to talk about.” He gestured toward the large circular saw used for cutting stone,
“In the old days, some gangs had a brutal way of getting people to talk. They’d blindfold them, tie them to a board, and start the saw, slowly, just enough for them to hear the blade drawing closer. The waiting, the fear… it broke them long before the blade ever touched flesh.”
The implication was unmistakable.
Gu Ye’s face drained of color. He understood perfectly well.
Qin Huai was warning him, not to act rashly, not to touch Song Shiyi again.
Fury and frustration churned in his chest.
But Song Shiyi’s eyes glimmered faintly, a restrained excitement flickering deep within. He curved his lips and murmured softly, his voice light yet strangely chilling:
“Mr. Qin, that is indeed… a fascinating story.”
His smile deepened, his tone dripping with quiet pleasure.
“It might even make the perfect surprise gift, for someone special.”
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
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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