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“Song Shiyi! What nonsense are you spouting again?!”
Song Gucheng blurted out in shock. But the moment the words left his mouth, he realized there were two outsiders present. He immediately snapped his lips shut.
Slowly, Song Shiyi turned his head toward him. This was the very first time Song Gucheng had ever met his son’s gaze so directly.
Those eyes were pitch-black, like a stagnant, deathly pool. Just being looked at by him carried a clinging, suffocating dampness that seemed to seep straight into one’s bones.
A chill involuntarily ran down Song Gucheng’s spine. Even his anger deflated somewhat.
But Song Shiyi only raised his hands slightly, the corners of his lips curving upward into an expression that perfectly matched the natural innocence of his features.
“Dad, I really didn’t have a choice,” he said softly, almost plaintively.
“I was just sitting upstairs, minding my own business, when Jiaxin suddenly came running over. He not only grabbed at me, but also started spewing unpleasant words. Honestly, I couldn’t even be bothered to respond to him. But then, all of a sudden, he went tumbling backward on his own and insisted that I pushed him.”
“But the truth is, I never pushed him at all. And since I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me, that’s why I deliberately gave him that little kick just now.”
Song Shiyi’s eyes curved in a smile, his tone light, even playful. “See? The very last fall, that was the one I kicked.”
After offering this explanation, he didn’t forget to turn his attention politely to the two surprised men who had risen to their feet, Shao Xian and Bai Luping.
Lowering his gaze with impeccable manners, he greeted them:
“Hello, uncles.”
His brows and eyes were gentle, his skin a healthy shade of fair, as though softened by a natural filter of warmth and light. Just looking at him, it was difficult for anyone to harbor dislike.
“Haha…. hello, hello,” Shao Xian chuckled dryly. He didn’t even bother to hide the way his eyes roamed up and down the young man standing before him.
The boy’s mild, docile appearance stood in complete contrast to the hysterical outburst from the night before, leaving him wondering if he wasn’t dreaming.
“Song… Shiyi, was it?” Bai Luping’s lips curved into a smile that was not quite a smile. “A pleasure to meet you.”
His gaze slid meaningfully from Song Jiaxin, still sprawled on the ground, baring his teeth in pain to Song Gucheng’s tightly restrained expression.
He laughed with deliberate nuance. “Your son is truly quite… fascinating.”
The father might be the type to shrink back and swallow his tongue the moment trouble came knocking, but who would have thought the son’s temperament would be this explosive?
“Strange, though,” Bai Luping added, feigning casual curiosity. “We’ve never seen him around before. Did you only bring him back recently?”
At that, Song Gucheng completely forgot all the speculations he’d had earlier about the banquet. All he could do was curse inwardly.
Everyone in their social circle had already caught wind of him “bringing a son home.” This old fox was obviously pretending not to know, fishing for an opportunity to jab at him.
It had to be revenge for those recent business disputes, a deliberate ploy to make him lose face.
After all, when he’d brought the boy back, he’d never explained who the mother was.
Without a legitimate name or identity, of course people would assume the child was an illegitimate son not fit to be acknowledged in public.
He had assumed the boy was sensible, that he understood the difficulties of the situation, that he would quietly bear it without demanding a proper title.
Yet unexpectedly, he turned out to be so reckless and unruly, utterly beyond control!
Jiaxin had only acted out of momentary shock, anyway. Who could be happy about suddenly gaining a brother out of nowhere?
But instead of trying to understand things from another’s perspective, the boy had shown not even a shred of responsibility as an elder brother.
Just like his mother, exactly the same rotten nature.
At the thought of that woman, Song Gucheng exhaled lightly, his face impassive.
Luckily she was dead. Nothing more could come of it.
Even as he thought so, his expression remained calm and breezy. “This is Shiyi, my son whom I brought home just a few days ago. I’ve been tied up with company matters lately, and his health has been acting up, so I haven’t had the chance to properly introduce him to everyone yet.”
“I see. He looks about the same age as Jiaxin, don’t tell me they were born the same year?” Bai Luping’s smile deepened with deliberate amusement, his tone stretching out into a drawl filled with innuendo.
The implication behind those words made Song Gucheng’s face darken instantly.
Because if one calculated the timing that way, it could very well suggest an affair during the pregnancy. And that was hardly something respectable.
For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what had gotten into Bai Luping today. All he could sense was that something was off, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
What unsettled him more was the strange way both men were looking at him.
Especially Shao Xian, his gaze was as if he were observing some rare, exotic creature, without even the pretense of restraint.
A vague panic began to creep into Song Gucheng’s heart. He even forgot to defend his beloved younger son’s honor, instead just wanting to hurry Song Shiyi back upstairs before any further trouble could arise.
Meanwhile, Song Jiaxin, who had thrown himself down in a fit of desperation and then realized no one paid him any attention, had eyes rimmed red.
Biting back his frustration, he swept a resentful glance around the room. When one scheme failed, he immediately concocted another.
Clutching his head, he let out a loud, pitiful cry.
His head was wrapped in thick bandages, and dark circles shadowed his eye, s perhaps from lack of rest was making him appear all the more fragile.
“Did Jiaxin hit his head somewhere?” Shao Xian finally shifted his focus away from Song Shiyi and back onto the boy on the floor. After all, his own son got along quite well with Jiaxin.
The question landed right where Jiaxin wanted it. He clutched his head, a flash of venom glinting in his eyes before he quickly masked it with a look of pitiful evasion.
“It… it was a wine bottle,” he muttered. “Smashed against me. Twice. I had to go to the hospital last night and get several stitches. It still hurts.”
As he spoke, his gaze kept flickering intentionally or not toward Song Shiyi, the accusation all too obvious.
Both Shao and Bai were seasoned veterans. At once, they exchanged a meaningful glance.
Yes, Jiaxin’s performance was a little too contrived. But that hardly mattered, it only made the whole situation more entertaining to watch.
They had originally assumed that this illegitimate son must be deeply favored, to be so arrogant even under the Gu family’s roof.
But now that they saw him in person, it was clear things were far different.
He was completely uncontrollable! snapping and lashing out at anyone around him, even at home.
The situation was becoming more and more intriguing.
Song Gucheng’s expression grew darker and darker, unable to conceal the gloom in his face.
He had always despised situations spiraling beyond his control, and yet trouble kept piling up one after another, all to torment him.
If this matter were exposed in front of so many people, their entire household would be the laughingstock of the circle for weeks to come.
But when he glanced at his younger son’s pale face and reddened eyes, his heart softened instantly.
After all, Jiaxin truly had suffered an enormous grievance. If not for Song Shiyi’s sudden madness, would things ever have escalated to this degree?
Having made up his mind, he was determined to stand firmly behind his younger son. “Since Shiyi is here, let’s settle this matter now.”
“Yesterday at dinner, you lost your temper and smashed a wine glass at your brother, hitting him so hard he nearly blacked out. He had to be rushed to the hospital for stitches. And even then, while he was half-conscious, the only thing on his lips was begging me not to blame you. When he woke up, the first words he said were the same that I mustn’t hold you accountable.”
The more Song Gucheng spoke, the more righteous he sounded. In his heart, he still thought of Song Shiyi as that meek, compliant child who would never refute his words.
And if he wouldn’t refute them, then naturally the truth could be twisted however he pleased, the blame shifted entirely onto him.
So even when his speech became blatantly biased, reversing black and white, he felt no sense of guilt.
“Let’s be honest, ever since you came home, have we treated you poorly in any way? Jiaxin especially, he’s treated you with nothing but the respect of a younger brother toward his elder. And how do you repay him? You beat him, then run away from home without a care for whether he lives or dies…”
“Shut up, you pathetic little social-climbing peacock.”
Song Shiyi cut him off with a languid yawn, his voice dripping with disdain. Watching his father’s face blanch in fury, he let out a low, mocking laugh.
____________
🔮 Cresvynia [Translator]
😌 Crack Time ( ≖‿ ≖ )
Peacock?! Peacock!? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 This reminded me of another silly peacock 🙃 both his brother in law hated him….
✨ Peace was never an option but revenge is ✨
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Cresvynia
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
Yes, this is the part where we shamelessly ask for 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