The moment his vision and freedom of movement were stripped away, Song Jiaxin’s panic exploded like wildfire. He thrashed and kicked violently, but the rope around him only grew tighter, cutting painfully into his skin with every desperate twist.
“Mmmph, mmmph!”
Even with the cloth stuffed into his mouth, the muffled sounds carried enough emotion for anyone to recognize that he was shouting Song Shiyi’s name.
“Don’t bother screaming. Even if you shout until your throat bleeds, no one’s going to save you.”
Song Shiyi’s tone was almost casual, but as soon as he finished speaking, he realized that the line sounded oddly familiar. It took him a second to recall, it was something Song Jiaxin had once said in the book, to the original version of him.
The irony made him laugh.
His low, pleasant laughter echoed through the hollow, half-renovated floor, the sound bouncing off the concrete walls and turning strangely chilling in the empty space.
So this was what revenge felt like.
So simple, so effortless. There was no need for patience, no need to endure humiliation, no need for some long, drawn-out plan.
The people who had haunted the original body’s nightmares, who had crushed his life and future without remorse, now lay before him, trembling and helpless.
All he needed to do was take one step forward, give a single push,
A dull thud, and everything would be over.
Song Shiyi stared blankly at his own hand, fingers slightly curled, before he lifted his gaze toward the open floor without guardrails. The drop below yawned like an abyss.
This, this was the moment that had hurt the original most of all.
Framed for a crime he did not commit, forced to take the blame for his younger brother, sentenced to three years in prison. His university, one he had fought tooth and nail to enter, had expelled him. By the time he walked free, he had nothing but a high school diploma and a criminal record branding his future shut.
When he returned to society, the world had already left him behind. He had no social skills, no qualifications, and no means of survival. The very group of rich brats who had ruined him stood laughing in front of him, carefree and unrepentant.
And Gu Ye…
Song Shiyi’s eyes darkened, a quiet pain tightening in his chest.
That night, Gu Ye had been with the original, but instead of providing him with an alibi, he had forged evidence, delivering the final, fatal blow.
All for his beloved “white moonlight,” the person he couldn’t bear to see fall.
After destroying him completely, Gu Ye had even played the role of a benevolent savior, “forgiving” the past and offering the broken man a place to stay, as if it were an act of mercy.
To ruin a life so thoroughly, unforgivable.
Clarity returned to Song Shiyi’s eyes.
Even if he could do it, he would never push Song Jiaxin off that ledge. That would only mean destroying the original’s life a second time.
No, he would send every one of them to hell, properly, cleanly, one by one.
He walked toward Song Jiaxin, reaching into the other man’s pocket and pulling out his phone. Then he pried open Song Jiaxin’s clenched fingers, one by one, ignoring his desperate struggles as he tried to trigger a fingerprint unlock.
Nothing.
So the little rat hadn’t registered his fingerprint at all. How cautious of him.
Song Shiyi let out a low, humorless laugh, then yanked out the cloth gagging him. “What’s the password?”
“Song Shiyi, you filthy bastard! Untie me right now! Are you looking for death?” The venomous scream was exactly what he expected.
“What’s the password?” he repeated, voice flat.
“Why the hell would I tell you anything? Didn’t you hear me? Let me go right now!”
Song Jiaxin’s voice cracked from anger, words tumbling out in panicked rage.
“Not saying it, huh?”
The sharp, grating sound of metal against metal sliced through the air, echoing coldly in the empty floor. The blood drained from Song Jiaxin’s face as goosebumps broke out across his skin.
He flinched backward in terror, not even noticing that the rope had already rubbed his wrists raw and purple.
“Song Shiyi, you lunatic! Let me go! My father won’t forgive you for this! And when Ye-ge finds out what you’re doing, do you think he’ll let you walk away?”
His voice cracked further, trembling on the edge of tears.
But Song Shiyi remained unmoved, his voice calm and patient, like a teacher repeating a lesson. “The password.”
The cutting sound grew closer.
“I’ll give you one last chance,” he said quietly. “Otherwise, I can’t guarantee what I might do next.”
“Five… four… three… two, ”
“Four nine two three! It’s four nine two three!”
The words burst out of Song Jiaxin’s mouth in a sobbing panic.
Song Shiyi’s lips curved upward in a faint smile as he switched off the phone’s recorder. He had planned to use an actual blade for better effect, but Qin Huai, ever sharp, had seen right through him and confiscated it. He’d even chewed out the safety officer for leaving something so “dangerous” around.
Still, the effect wasn’t bad. Song Jiaxin’s fear was genuine, thanks to the deep shadow that had already been carved into his mind.
Unlocking the phone, Song Shiyi scrolled through the messages lazily.
Cold sweat soaked through Song Jiaxin’s hair as he finally regained his breath. His voice trembled. “You tied me up just to look through my phone?”
“Well, not originally,” Song Shiyi said, eyes still fixed on the screen. “But since you came knocking yourself, it’d be rude not to give you some proper attention.”
He scrolled idly, unhurried, his tone light.
That was his way, he never planned far ahead. Whoever provoked him, he dealt with on the spot.
And since Song Jiaxin had come to him first, trying to stir trouble over that video, he naturally deserved a lesson. One deep enough that he would never dare reach out his filthy claws again.
Song Jiaxin’s jaw worked soundlessly. This man was insane, completely, utterly deranged.
Then, suddenly, a memory struck him, those words from that night, the way Song Shiyi had looked at them, those emotionless black eyes that seemed to swallow everything.
“So just watch your back and wait,” he had said. “This time, I won’t let a single one of you go.”
At the time, Song Jiaxin had thought it was just bluster. But now, hearing the calm certainty in those words again, true terror crawled up his spine. It spread cold and heavy through his limbs, until even his fingertips went numb.
“Qi… Xuan.”
Song Shiyi spoke the name slowly, each syllable clear, almost tender.
Song Jiaxin’s heart stopped. He froze, ice flooding through his veins.
It was over. He remembered now. The disgusting thing he and Qi Xuan had plotted together,
“Wasn’t he your best friend?” Song Shiyi asked softly, tapping the screen with one slender finger. The faint rhythmic sound struck like hammer blows in the silence. “Then I suppose I should invite him over too.”
On the phone screen the latest message from Qi Xuan glowed.
“I found that super potent stuff you mentioned. When are we getting your second brother out for a little fun?”
The message was fresh, sent only minutes ago and right beneath it, there was already a reply.
A smiling face emoji.
And a shared location pin.
“Come over,” it said. “There’s a surprise waiting.”
“What the hell does he mean by that?” Qi Xuan muttered under his breath, downing the last of his drink. Still, he called out a lazy goodbye to his drinking buddies before leaving the private room.
A few minutes later, he arrived at the address, taking the stairs up as instructed. With each step, his unease grew. The tone of those messages didn’t sound like Song Jiaxin at all. There was something cold and wrong behind those words, something that made the air feel sharp against his skin.
Then, from the pale wash of moonlight spilling through the broken window of the old building, he saw someone standing there.
A familiar silhouette.
The boy smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curved with quiet gentleness. Moonlight draped across his face, soft and ethereal, outlining features that were too pure, too beautiful, to belong in a place like this.
“Good evening,” he greeted pleasantly.
He lifted the phone slightly, the movement easy and deliberate, wordlessly telling him whose phone he’d used to lure him here.
Qi Xuan’s mind went blank as the realization hit. He remembered the filthy, suggestive message he’d sent only minutes ago.
It should have been mortifying.
But he was used to these games, an expert at playing dirty, always able to twist his way out with a grin. His foxlike eyes curved as he smiled, smooth and mocking.
“So,” he drawled, “what did you want to see me for?”
“Nothing much,” Song Shiyi replied with a dazzling, almost innocent smile. “I just wanted to witness for myself that amazing little drug you were so proud of.”
The brightness of that smile only made the words more terrifying.
Qi Xuan’s expression finally changed, completely, utterly drained of color.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
This chapter was powered by questionable decisions. The next one may require 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