“This is way too over the top. Falling for someone’s father but unable to have him, then turning around to use the son as a substitute? if this were written in a novel, the author would get torn apart.”
Gradually, the crowd that had started to regain their wits began whispering among themselves. I just heard it myself, someone thought, Gu Ye really did say, ‘A little like him is your lucky fortune’…
“Now that you mention it, it does seem like Young Master Gu likes visiting the Song family a lot, especially sticking close to the young son,” another voice added.
Though these were honest observations, mentioning them now felt cruel, like poking at an already tender wound.
Zhou Shu felt a twinge of recognition as he listened. When he turned his head, he realized it was Gu Shuli stirring the waters deliberately.
Zhou Shu: “…”
This kid really isn’t someone to underestimate.
“Surely he’s not trying to replace the original with the Song boy, right? Too scared to make a move, only daring to target a bastard child?”
“Do you think Song Gucheng knows about this? He’s married twice, could this be some kind of closet twist?”
In just a few casual sentences, the topic of Gu Ye’s fondness for the Song family’s young heir was nearly solidified, and even Song Gucheng’s private life and sexual orientation were called into question.
What kind of midnight soap opera is this? A ‘love but can’t have, so I settle for the son instead’ melodrama?
Zhou Shu didn’t comment. He just stood there, listening half with curiosity, half in disbelief.
Gu Shuli, the mischievous little schemer that he was, could spin his web of jokes.
But considering his small connection to Gu Ye, eating this drama openly wasn’t appropriate. At the very least, he should intervene a little…
Bang!
Another deafening crash echoed through the room. Song Shiyi, lifting a chair, missed Gu Ye entirely. It smashed to pieces on the floor, even cracking the marble beneath.
Damn.
Zhou Shu silently stepped back. Sorry, bro, that’s too much.
What the hell kind of steel-toothed little white rabbit is this?
Gu Ye could no longer tolerate being hit. His face darkened as he forcibly blocked another chair Song Shiyi hurled at him. Then he took a few heavy steps forward, closing in on Song Shiyi.
His imposing frame pressed right up, words grinding between clenched teeth: “Have you had enough of this?”
Song Shiyi, still catching his breath from the previous attack, rolled up his sleeves, straightened himself, and retorted, “You call that ‘enough’?”
As long as he caused enough chaos, no one else would even notice what Gu Ye was trying to say.
“I don’t like your father!”
Gu Ye shouted in a mix of fury and derailed thoughts, spinning the conversation into an entirely unrelated claim.
“Then why provoke me?” Song Shiyi’s voice, louder and truer, roared back.
“Because what I like is—”
Before Gu Ye could finish, Song Shiyi slapped him across the face, cutting off the words abruptly.
“Shut up!”
Gu Ye probably never expected the usually meek, rabbit-like Song Shiyi to actually hit him. And with such force.
His always-proud face was knocked aside, a red handprint blooming across his cheek.
The crisp slap silenced the crowd that had been murmuring incessantly.
He… he actually laid a hand on him?
Song Shiyi rubbed his stinging hand, feeling the sting but fueled by the adrenaline coursing through him.
No wonder the original character’s body in the story could take abuse; without that kind of stamina, he’d collapse under all this nonsense.
And yet, with this strength, why must he still endure all the insults and attacks?
Fuming, Song Shiyi’s anger flared hotter, rising like wildfire.
Gu Ye slowly turned, his eyes bloodshot with terror and rage, molten lava ready to erupt.
He had cast aside all concern for appearances or restraint. All he wanted now was to tear apart the audacious person who dared to defy him.
Before Gu Ye could act, a low, authoritative hiss froze him in place.
“Stop this at once.”
Gu Rukang, the current head of the Gu family and Gu Ye’s father, slammed his cane down heavily. “Do you not find this shameful enough already?”
This banquet was held at one of his properties, meant merely as a gathering for entertainment. Yet here was his eldest son, causing such a scene right under his watchful eyes.
“Ridiculous!”
“Father, I…” Gu Ye finally realized what he was doing and rushed to explain himself.
He had worked so hard, painstakingly cultivating influence, earning praise from the board, and was finally about to take control, he couldn’t let it all collapse over a single moment of embarrassment.
Song Shiyi watched the father-son conflict with quiet amusement. In the book, Gu Rukang is barely mentioned; the story mainly follows Gu Ye as the heir of the Gu family, calling the shots, commanding the storm.
Only fragments touch on how Gu Ye’s biological mother died during childbirth, how Gu Rukang never remarried, and yet somehow ended up with an illegitimate child later.
Even just standing there, Gu Rukang exuded a presence far greater than Gu Ye, the unmistakable aura of someone in a position of power.
In some novels, the trope goes that when a protagonist is far from a corrupt high-ranking lover, there’s a form of revenge in seeking solace in the father’s embrace.
Song Shiyi glanced at Gu Rukang’s already graying hair, thinking better of it, no sense in tormenting the elderly. A shame, though; otherwise, he might have spun Gu Ye into a subplot of a stepmother story.
Gu Rukang didn’t give Gu Ye a chance to speak. He ordered the servants to escort him back to the upstairs room and, with courteous efficiency, ended the banquet early and saw the guests out.
He had no reason to trouble Song Shiyi, his eldest son’s mess was his own problem. Making things difficult for a younger generation would just diminish his authority.
The stunned guests naturally said nothing, leaving in a very orderly manner. Yet many of them stole one last look at Song Shiyi, committing the mysterious new young master of the Song family to memory.
Having wreaked havoc, Song Shiyi finally felt the exhaustion setting in. The energy from the small cake he’d eaten earlier had mostly dissipated.
His vision darkened again; luckily, Gu Rukang had intervened earlier, or he wouldn’t have had the strength to battle Gu Ye for another three hundred rounds.
As he descended the stairs, he stumbled, almost losing his footing and fell forward into a pair of arms that instinctively reached out to catch him.
Looking up, Song Shiyi saw a boy with a clean, bright, sunny face holding him.
“Careful, don’t fall,” came the gentle, almost intimate voice.
Gu Shuli, Gu Ye’s half-brother from a different mother.
These rich kids really didn’t seem to have clean lives.
Song Shiyi silently cursed in his heart but noticed the way Gu Shuli’s grip on his elbow was gentle, tender even, almost affectionate.
Tonight’s battle wasn’t over; his scores with Gu Ye still had many unsettled accounts. Gu Shuli would prove to be a very useful piece on this chessboard.
“Thank you,” Song Shiyi smiled at him.
“I’m Gu Ye’s brother. Call me Shuli. Tonight, I’ll make up for my brother’s mistakes,” Gu Shuli said, his grin radiant, the very embodiment of twisting an elbow outward: “How should I address you… Sister-in-law?”
Song Shiyi curled his lips in sarcastic amusement.
He wasn’t fooled by appearances. Gu Shuli was all cunning beneath the sunny exterior, every strand of hair hiding schemes.
In the original story, he constantly called the protagonist “Sister-in-law,” yet never missed a chance to manipulate him against Gu Ye, even leading to a kidnapping eventually.
Of course, he never caused an actual scene, he became a catalyst for the protagonist’s emotional development instead.
Song Shiyi was about to speak when his gaze casually caught a figure hidden among the crowd, clad in a sleek suit and leather shoes.
In that instant, the world seemed to fall silent, leaving only the hum from the deepest reaches of his soul.
The colors in his vision flattened into black and white, like an ancient, faded television, obscuring the overlapping silhouettes of people.
Song Shiyi ignored everything else, mechanically pushing past those around him, stepping forward to pursue that shadow. But by the time he reached the doorway, it had vanished into the night.
A servant approached, holding a long-handled black umbrella with both hands. “Sir, this was entrusted to me by a gentleman just now.”
The wooden handle still retained warmth. Song Shiyi slowly ran his fingers over it, asking, “Did he leave a message?”
“He said.. don’t get caught in the rain on your way back.”
Song Shiyi was momentarily stunned.
“Everyone’s been sent off?”
Gu Rukang stood by the high window of the spiral staircase, hands clasped behind his back, expressionless as he watched the departing guests.
“All gone,” Gu Shuli replied with a smile. “I specially took care of those who live closest to the Gu family.”
“Hm. Well done.” Gu Rukang’s face relaxed slightly. He hadn’t mentioned it, yet the younger son had been thorough.
“And the young master of the Song family… you just let him go?” Gu Shuli asked cautiously.
Gu Rukang smirked. “Otherwise, what, hold him back? Don’t be absurd.”
But thinking of the earlier chaos, even Gu Rukang’s decades of cultivated composure couldn’t make him look entirely at ease.
“Using a son as a stand-in for a father… huh, some people really know how to cause trouble.”
Gu Shuli had wanted to curse inwardly, but as a mature, scheming little envoy, he feigned sympathy.
“Maybe it’s just that the burden on my brother’s shoulders is too heavy… that’s why he’s so repressed.”
At this point, even if it was false, he had to pin this mess squarely on Gu Ye.
Gu Rukang fell silent.
What made this so strange was that in its absurdity, it carried a trace of reality, preposterous, yet rooted in truth, a sort of abstract realism.
“…So repressed?” For the first time, even the battle-hardened Gu Rukang felt shaken by the youth’s affairs. So modern, almost too modern.
“But you mustn’t blame him for this. He’s worked tirelessly for the Gu family, unlike me, I can do nothing but help you bear some of it tonight,” Gu Shuli said, heartfelt.
Gu Rukang looked deeply at the younger son. He could read his thoughts, and in old age, he naturally favored the obedient, previously overlooked illegitimate child over the decisive, forceful heir.
“Since your brother is so repressed, from now on, you should help him shoulder some of it.”
After saying this, he left, leaving only Gu Shuli in the room.
A smug smile appeared on Gu Shuli’s face, quickly suppressed. No, he couldn’t smile too soon. He hadn’t even peeled back a single layer of Gu Ye yet.
Song Shiyi.
Gu Shuli whispered the name, thinking back to their hurried first meeting, and couldn’t help but smile again. Truly, a godsend.
Song Shiyi slowly walked away, the rain pattering against the umbrella above him.
He had been lost in thought for far too long, so much so that most of the guests had already left before he realized it.
He was still wondering where to settle for the night when he heard a low, cold voice call his name.
I enjoy such book a lot! Revenge, face slapping! So peaceful! Especially when Mc alone creates fear in everyone heart.
✦ ✧ ✦
Cresvynia
[Translator]
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One tiny coffee. One very happy translator. ✦
☕ 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