Youth: You’re my Redemption
Chapter 4: The Madman and The Doll (4)
“Move to a boarding school?”
In the large study of the Qin family, Qin Liang looked at Song Chengjun in surprise, and then his gaze fell on the girl he was holding by the hand.
“Is this Song Shu’s wish?”
“Yes.” Song Chengjun said, “Dad, Xiao Shu is a very sensible child, so she feels embarrassed to bring it up herself. But she is actually quite afraid of Qin Lou, and I can’t bear to see her like this. I would like to ask you to allow her to go to a boarding school by herself…”
“You cannot go in, Mr. Qin and Mr. Song are discussing something—Young Master! Young Master!”
In response to the calls from the corridor, the study door was abruptly pushed open from the outside. A slender boy stood behind the double doors, his gaze fierce.
The servant hurriedly chased after him, bowing quickly towards Qin Liang in the study, “Mr. Qin, I couldn’t stop him…”
“Mm, don’t worry about him. You can leave now,” Qin Liang waved his hand.
“Yes, sir.”
The servant breathed a sigh of relief and quickly turned to leave.
Qin Liang frowned and looked at the boy, “What are you doing in the study?”
“…Me?”
Qin Lou heard the question, slowly shifting his gaze from Song Chengjun. He smiled, a hint of menace in his casual demeanor.
The boy strolled in as if taking a stroll.
“My ‘doll’ is about to be taken away, of course I have to come and see who is doing this…”
Qin Lou took his final step, stopping in front of Song Chengjun. He looked up at the much taller man, his thin lips turning a faint red with anger, the corners curving sharply.
This smile seemed capable of cutting.
“—courting death?”
He mouthed the words silently, completing the broken sentence.
Song Chengjun was furious, his eyes almost bulging.
He was the only son-in-law of the Qin family, respected by everyone in the company and social circles—when had he ever been so challenged?
Especially by a mere teenager?
Without thinking, Song Chengjun reached out to grab the boy’s collar, intending to teach him a lesson.
“Chengjun.”
A low but authoritative voice came from behind.
Although Qin Liang said nothing more, the warning in that single word was clear.
Song Chengjun’s body stiffened.
A few seconds later, he released his grip with a forced smile, “Qin Lou, your uncle was just a bit emotional out of concern for Xiao Shu, don’t take it to heart.”
“…Take it to heart? I wouldn’t.”
Qin Lou smiled, raising his hand, revealing the unsightly bandages and bow on his half-rolled-up sleeve. He continued to smile lazily at Song Chengjun, leisurely straightening the collar that had been wrinkled by the latter’s grip.
Then, the boy’s eyes slightly lifted, his mouth curved, and there was a mad smile in his eyes.
“I have a grudge and always seek revenge, why would I take it to heart?”
Song Chengjun’s face changed, barely able to restrain himself from lashing out.
“That’s enough, Qin Lou,” Qin Liang intervened, “Did you come here about Song Shu as well?”
Qin Lou’s gaze returned. “Yes.”
“Your uncle said Song Shu doesn’t want to be with you, that she’s a bit afraid of you. Have you been bullying her?”
Qin Lou lazily lifted his eyes. “You believe him just because he says so? Who does he think he is?”
Song Chengjun turned sharply, furious. “I am Song Shu’s father!”
“Hahahaha…” Qin Lou burst into laughter, pointing at Song Chengjun like a madman, “You? Hahahaha—You consider yourself a father?”
“Qin Lou!”
Song Chengjun’s face turned red, as if he had been slapped.
Qin Liang spoke, “Qin Lou, that’s enough.”
The echoing laughter in the study abruptly ceased.
The boy, who had been laughing so hard he was bent over, slowly straightened up. He rubbed his face, his gaze indifferent, as if he hadn’t been the one laughing maniacally just a moment ago.
Half-closing his eyelids, the boy’s gaze swept across the study—
Qin Liang supported his forehead with a complex and helpless expression. Song Chengjun’s eyes were filled with a mix of disgust, fear, and retreat. And Song Shu…
The corners of Qin Lou’s mouth suddenly lifted.
His “doll” stood quietly beside Song Chengjun. At some point, she had lifted her head and was now looking at him.
In those eyes, there was still no trace of impurity or emotion, only a clear reflection of his image.
She just looked at him, without saying a word.
This little clam that couldn’t be pried open…
Qin Lou suddenly felt like laughing.
For the first time in his life, he wanted to laugh genuinely, a laugh that he felt was real and joyful.
“…Since you say she’s afraid of me, let her choose for herself,” the boy suddenly spoke up.
Qin Liang asked uncertainly, “What did you say?”
Qin Lou raised his head, “Between my side or the other side—where to stand, whom to go with, let her choose for herself.”
Qin Liang thought for a couple of seconds and nodded, “Chengjun, do you agree?”
Song Chengjun took a couple of deep breaths, slowly suppressing his intense emotions. Forcing a smile, he said, “Of course, Dad, I definitely respect Xiao Shu’s opinion.”
After speaking, Song Chengjun turned back, looking down at the girl he was holding by the hand. “Xiao Shu, did you hear what Grandpa Qin said?”
“…” The girl remained silent.
Song Chengjun secretly tightened his grip on the girl’s hand, though his voice remained gentle.
“You don’t like going to Second Middle School, right? It’s okay, Daddy understands.”
“…” Still silent.
Song Chengjun showed a satisfied expression, quickly concealing it before turning to Qin Liang with a respectful look.
“Dad, as you can see, Qin Lou intimidates her so she doesn’t dare to speak up…”
He hesitated.
Song Chengjun felt a bit uncertain. He instinctively looked down at his hand, feeling a slight pull in the opposite direction from the girl’s hand he was holding.
But it seemed… it wasn’t a mistake.
Song Chengjun’s face changed slightly.
“Let go.”
In the quiet study, the girl’s voice sounded faintly hoarse and slightly rough.
“——Xiao Shu?” The unexpected situation made Song Chengjun’s expression contort slightly. He forced a smile and bowed, “Why all of a sudden—”
“Let go.”
The girl’s voice was very low and soft, yet calm enough to seem resolute and unwavering.
She tilted her head back, her delicate face expressionless.
Her eyes were empty and chilling.
“Let go.”
“……!”
By the last time, Song Chengjun involuntarily released his grip.
He even took a step back.
For a few seconds, the study fell silent.
The adults were a bit stunned.
But the young man leaning against the desk suddenly burst out laughing.
He stood up straight, looking delighted and light-footed as if he could burst into dance at any moment like a little madman.
The young man walked a few steps to the girl’s side and stopped. Then he bent down and performed an exaggerated gentlemanly gesture, almost like a clown—
He bent nearly ninety degrees, his left hand in bandages stretched flat in front of the girl.
He tilted his head back, his smile reckless and wild.
“My dear doll, may I invite you to accompany this madman?”
The girl looked at him, her delicate face expressionless.
After a few seconds, she slowly nodded.
“Mm.”
Her delicate, cool hand rested in the boy’s palm.
And then suddenly clenched tightly.
“As… you… wish.”
A clown-like grin spread across the boy’s face.
“—My doll.”
Sansukini: I love this madman. He’s protecting her while her Dad is all for self-interest. It’s no wonder this girl is introverted. I feel like she and Qin Lou are soulmates. They understand each other.
I’m not sure if I should tag this novel as “yandere.” Because he will be very protective of her. But it’s not because of obsessive love, but because she’s all he’s ever had. Even if Grandpa gave him everything, gramps was also for self-interest.
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