Translated by Eve
Edited by Kara
Song Xuanhe stared at the incoming call screen for a long time, his finger hovering over the “accept call” icon. However, he never pressed down on it.
Two seconds later, his phone stopped ringing.
He moved his thumb away, slightly pursing his lips as he stared at his phone. He waited five minutes, but no other call came. Song Xuanhe exhaled slightly. He didn’t know if he was disappointed or glad. He then turned off his phone’s screen and lied back down onto the bed.
【Why didn’t you pick up the bigshot’s call?】The System asked.
【Is this a scene I have to act out?】Song Xuanhe had already known that the System would ask about this. His tone was very calm.
The System was taken aback. It then said：【No.】
【Since it’s not a scene I have to act, then you Systems don’t have to meddle with how I handle it.】After saying this, Song Xuanhe shut his eyes. He grabbed the blanket underneath him and rolled over. He then scrunched up the blanket and held it in his arms, one leg pressing down on it. He seemed to be preparing to sleep.
The System also watched over Xiao Yuanmu, who didn’t seem normal. The other was sitting on a bench inside the hospital calmly. The System could see that Song Xuanhe obviously didn’t want to talk about this anymore. When it thought about his bad mood just now, it swallowed its doubt and warning back down. It didn’t detect any abnormalities in the data, so the System figured that it had probably sensed something incorrectly.
*
It was once again the weekend. Song Xuanhe finally decided to have a meal with Guan Zhi. It was just that Wei Chen had also come with.
When he sat down at the table, Song Xuanhe felt a bit out of it. Two of Xiao Yuanmu’s future pursuers were sitting in front of him, and they were all eating together.
“What are you thinking about?” Wei Chen was very perceptive. He had felt it the moment Song Xuanhe’s eyes had fallen on him. He didn’t know why, but although Song Xuanhe’s gaze on him and Guan Zhi seemed pretty normal, he still felt like something was off.
Despite having been caught staring, Song Xuanhe didn’t feel guilty in the least. He leaned back in his chair, appearing carefree, and said, “I didn’t expect for you and Guan Zhi to be related.”
“We’re cousins.” Guan Zhi, who had been looking at the menu, looked up. “But, my mom and his mom are half-sisters. They have different mothers. Therefore, we don’t see each other often.”
Guan Zhi’s words made it apparent that he didn’t really want to be associated with Wei Chen. Song Xuanhe couldn’t help but glance at Wei Chen’s expression. The corner of Wei Chen’s lips was slightly raised, and he looked like he hadn’t even heard what Guan Zhi had said. However, when he noticed Song Xuanhe’s gaze, he nodded slightly. “He’s right.”
They were cousins who seemed not too close to the point where they even seemed to dislike each other quite a bit. No wonder the book had never mentioned their relationship. Neither of them seemed like they wanted to mention it either.
When he recalled the indifferent way Wei Chen had introduced Guan Zhi last time as well as the expressions of concealed surprise—especially from Zhou Nan—from the other people, Song Xuanhe felt like he could probably guess why.
After Guan Zhi had ordered their food, he handed the menu over to the waiter and looked up. “Song Xuanhe, have you ever had millet fish from Liangbei? Its meat is very delicious and tender. It’s a really good fish to have filleted.”
Song Xuanhe had eaten it before. Back then, when he had seen it online, he had ordered his people to get it imported from Liangbei. All other fish he had ever eaten were nothing compared to the dish Xiao Yuanmu had made out of this fish.
“I’ve had it before as Sichuan boiled fish.” When he recalled how it had tasted, Song Xuanhe subconsciously pursed his lips. He said, “Delicious and fragrant.”
“You actually used millet fish to make Sichaun boiled fish?” Guan Zhi widened his eyes. “If the chef here heard this, he’d curse you for wasting it.”
“It’s fine as long as it tastes good.” Because of that boiled fish, Song Xuanhe couldn’t help but think about the other dishes Xiao Yuanmu had made. When he didn’t think about it, it was fine. But now that he was thinking about it, his mouth began to salivate. When he thought about how he hadn’t had Xiao Yuanmu’s food in such a long time, he started to feel unwell.
“I think Xuanhe’s right.” There was a slight smile on Wei Chen’s lips. His voice was bright and lively, carrying a casual and careless tone. “With ingredients, as long as you carefully choose for quality, it’ll taste good. There’s no need to be such a stickler in how it should be prepared.”
Song Xuanhe glanced at Wei Chen, who had chimed in. He didn’t reply to his words. Guan Zhi also didn’t pay Wei Chen any attention. The two of them continued to talk about other dishes. Meanwhile, Wei Chen continued to sit there, not embarrassed in the least. He seemed quite happy and at ease.
At the end of the meal, Wei Chen said, “Did you ask about the data you said you’d help Qian Ping inquire about yet?”
Song Xuanhe suddenly recalled this matter when Wei Chen mentioned it out of the blue. He shook his head. “Uncle’s been abroad, taking part in some secret seminar. Communication is limited in that they can contact outside, but we can’t contact them. I plan to ask him when he comes back.”
Wei Chen nodded. He was silent for a while before asking, “Are you really not interested in the medical robots project?”
Song Xuanhe looked up. Although Wei Chen was smiling, it didn’t reach his eyes. The corner of his own lips quirked up, and he asked back, “Why should I be interested?”
“I don’t believe that you can’t see what great prospects the robotics industry will have in the future.” Wei Chen took a sip of wine and continued in a flat tone, “Or, is it that you think that it’s enough to just be second-in-command of the Song Group?”
“Of course not.” Song Xuanhe sat up, expression turning serious. When he saw Wei Chen and Guan Zhi’s eyes fall on him, he barked out a laugh. He then leaned back onto his chair and said, “I don’t even want to be second-in-command. My family has enough money for me to squander for the rest of my life. Why should I bother with other things?”
“So, you’re completely at ease, handing the entire Song Group over to your older brother?” Wei Chen’s expression was calm and indifferent. His bright and clear voice made it sound like he wasn’t trying to sow dissension between the brothers. “Do you think that Song Xuanlin is a good older brother who will take care of his younger brother?”
Song Xuanhe raised a brow. He hadn’t expected Wei Chen to suddenly mention Song Xuanlin.
“That good older brother of yours seems to be getting close to that cousin of yours.” Wei Chen smiled, obvious ridicule in his eyes. “I heard that your cousin was screwed over by his business partner. He had been forcibly removed. Your brother seems to have given him some money to do some business.”
Song Xuanhe was slightly startled. He really hadn’t heard about this before. After warning Guo Tao, he hadn’t paid any more attention to Song Jiabao. He hadn’t thought that Guo Tao would be so efficient as to have already kicked Song Jiabao out of the company.
Wei Chen didn’t say anything more. However, Song Xuanhe knew what he had been implying. Now that Song Jiabao had been forced to leave his company, he would definitely want to settle scores with him. Meanwhile, Song Xuanlin knew that their cousin and his younger brother weren’t on good terms. There was little chance that he didn’t know how Song Xuanhe had humiliated Song Jiabao at that opening reception. And yet, he was cooperating with his cousin. Why?
“Did you come with Guan Zhi today to tell me this?” Song Xuanhe raised a brow, gazing at the other inquisitively.
When Guan Zhi heard this, he snorted. “He was insistent on coming with me. He had even said that I’d be fooled by you, because I’m young and have just become an adult. He had said that he didn’t feel reassured.”
Song Xuanhe looked at Wei Chen. The other’s expression was calm. When their eyes met, the other smiled as if saying, Think what you will.
“Are you free in the afternoon?” Guan Zhi gave Wei Chen a cold glance and then spoke to Song Xuanhe. “I heard that there’s a bakery in some alley here in the Capital that makes really good cakes. Take me there.”
Song Xuanhe hadn’t had the time to refuse before his phone rang.
It was Zhang Chao. “Xiao Shaoye, the person watching the hospital told me that the person from last time has come again.”
“Have they already entered the Director’s room?” Song Xuanhe raised his brow slightly. Last time, the Director had received treatment in time, so she was fine. However, he had guessed that the person who had done this would not give up. But, he hadn’t expected them to act so soon.
Just what kind of grudge or hatred would cause someone to refuse to give up until the other died?
“No. As soon as that person had entered the hospital, I received the report.” Zhang Chao said, “Should I go in and take a look?”
Song Xuanhe furrowed his brows. Xiao Yuanmu wasn’t working today either. He was probably at the hospital. Xiao Yuanmu had seen Zhang Chao before, so it wouldn’t be good for them to bump into each other in broad daylight.
“No. Just have your people keep a tight eye on things. If need be, chase that person out of the hospital room.”
“Yes.” Zhang Chao said. Song Xuanhe then heard a phone ring from the other end. Zhang Chao added, “It’s from the hospital. Do you want to stay on the line?”
“Yes. Take the call.” Song Xuanhe’s gaze was still on Guan Zhi. A moment later, Guan Zhi looked away, turning towards the window.
Song Xuanhe also looked away. He heard Zhang Chao say a few things on the other line before coming back to speak to him in a rather heavy tone. “Song shao, the person we had sent to watch over the hospital has been caught.”
Song Xuanhe was taken aback. He then quickly asked, “What do you mean?”
“It’s not just our side. The person who came to the hospital has also been caught.” Zhang Chao said, “Furthermore, Mr. Xiao is there. He also brought people with him. Our side cannot leave for now.”
Song Xuanhe took a few seconds to digest this information. He then said, “Does that person belong to the Song Group?”
“No. He’s someone I brought in from outside. Furthermore, he doesn’t know who you and I are.”
Song Xuanhe pursed his lips. Even so, he trusted that with Xiao Yuanmu’s methods, it would be very easy for him to figure out who that person was working for.
“Okay, I got it.” Song Xuanhe had an idea and said plainly, “Don’t worry about it. I have a plan.”
After hanging up, Song Xuanhe said to Guan Zhi, “Sorry, something urgent has popped up. I’ll take you to explore alleys another time.”
From Song Xuanhe’s expression just now, Guan Zhi knew that something had happened. However, when he thought about what had happened last time and how he and Song Xuanhe weren’t close enough for him to meddle, he just nodded. “If you need anything, you can ask me.”
Song Xuanhe nodded. He also nodded at Wei Chen before taking his leave.
As soon as he left the restaurant, he drove straight to the hospital that the Director was hospitalized at.
When he reached the hospital room’s door, his steps paused. He kind of wanted to turn around and leave. However, he still placed his hand on the door handle and walked in.
Contrary to his expectations, the Director wasn’t in the room. There were four people inside. Aside from Xiao Yuanmu, there were two unfamiliar men and one woman. The woman’s head was lowered, so he couldn’t see her face.
When Xiao Yuanmu saw Song Xuanhe come in, he only said in a flat tone, “You’re here.”
When he saw how Xiao Yuanmu wasn’t surprised, Song Xuanhe knew that he had been right. The fact that he had let this person contact Zhang Chao meant that he had already known who this person was. Although he didn’t know how Xiao Yuanmu, who had no connections, had found this out, Song Xuanhe gained a better understanding of Xiao Yuanmu’s capabilities through this.
“You knew that I’d come?” Song Xuanhe walked over and sat down, staring at the woman, whose head was lowered. He felt like she looked a bit familiar.
Seeing Song Xuanhe’s gaze on the woman’s body, a flash of cold light flickered through Xiao Yuanmu’s eyes. His voice turned colder. “Why did you have someone watch over this room?”
“If I told you that it was to ensure the Director’s safety, would you believe me?” Song Xuanhe didn’t cower. His lips curled into a smile.
Xiao Yuanmu examined his eyes carefully, but he didn’t find anything within them. He then looked away and asked, “Were you the one who donated?”
“Yes.” Song Xuanhe had been able to come over here openly, because he had an absolute trump card in his hands—the sum of money he had had Assistant Zhang donate. Since Xiao Yuanmu had let the person call the person behind-the-scenes, he had probably guessed that the true mastermind was Song Xuanhe and that the person who had donated was also him. That was why he had answered back so frankly.
“Why?” Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze was heavy. His chilly voice was laced with disbelief.
“Why did I donate, or why did I reject you before?” Song Xuanhe folded his arms, speaking at a speed neither fast nor slow, “I donated, because this is someone’s life after all. I’m not that cruel. I refused you, because I wanted to. There’s no rhyme nor reason.”
Xiao Yuanmu didn’t speak. However, the man standing off to the side frowned. Even the woman whose head had been lowered all this time looked over.
When Song Xuanhe saw that familiar face, he was stupefied for a moment. When he came back to himself, he realized that this made sense. When he thought over it carefully, there were only a few people who wanted to destroy his and Xiao Yuanmu’s relationship and didn’t want to see them happy. Yang Ran was definitely one of them.
Even though he already knew why, Song Xuanhe still cocked a brow and asked, “Don’t you like Xiao Yuanmu? Why were you trying to hurt the Director?”
Yang Ran’s face was deathly pale. When she saw his carefree expression, she bit down hard on her lower lip. “It’s because I like him that I can’t watch him walk down the wrong path. I wanted her to look after him properly!”
“How could he be walking down the wrong path, being with me?” Song Xuanhe blinked his eyes, appearing very innocent.
“He doesn’t like you at all! You’re forcing him!” Yang Ran spat out hatefully, “You used the orphanage to force him to be with you. The Director knows this now. She won’t approve of the two of you being together anymore!”
Song Xuanhe looked away, disinterested. His gaze shifted to Xiao Yuanmu and said, “Since you caught the murderer, you can let my person go.”
“I’m not the murderer!” Yang Ran screamed, “You’re the murderer! If it weren’t for you, the Director wouldn’t have been so mad!”
Song Xuanhe’s expression turned slightly cold. After seeing Yang Ran, he didn’t want to do anything else that would complicate matters. One reason was that he didn’t want to attract Xiao Yuanmu’s suspicion. But, the main reason was that he thought that Yang Ran had probably been tricked by someone else. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have done such a thing.
However, seeing her hysterical like this, Song Xuanhe felt like it would be better to clear things up.
“How much money did Song Jiabao give you?” Song Xuanhe asked after raising his hand, interrupting her screaming.
Yang Ran’s pupils constricted. She then feigned calmness and asked, “What do you mean? What about Song Jiabao?”
“Before coming here, I looked into your bank records.” Song Xuanhe’s lips raised. “This is an attempted murder. That sum of money is evidence of your crime. If you’re determined not to talk to me, how about talking to the police?”
“What are you saying?!” Yang Ran’s face paled. However, she didn’t give in. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Song Xuanhe laughed and said, “I thought you liked Xiao Yuanmu. Your love is really cheap to be able to go and hurt someone important to the person you love over a little bit of money.”
“What do you know?!” Hearing Song Xuanhe’s ridicule, Yang Ran screeched. “What would a young master like you know? I lost my love, and I lost my job! I’m an outstanding graduate from a famous university! But because I had offended you, I can’t stay in the Capital anymore. Since he won’t like me, why do I have to care about him? Furthermore, I can make you two break up, make you two suffer, and earn some money. Why shouldn’t I have done it?”
After Yang Ran said this, she felt an extremely cold gaze fall on her. It disrupted her agitated state and caused reason to come back to her.
“So, you did receive Song Jiabao’s money?” Song Xuanhe had just been guessing. He hadn’t thought that she would be so easily enraged into confirming his conjecture without him even having to try and squeeze it out of her.
Yang Ran bit down on her lip and didn’t respond. She lowered her head, trembling. She didn’t know why, but after she had looked at Xiao Yuanmu, she no longer felt love and hate for him. All she felt was fear.
Xiao Yuanmu was clearly no different from before. However, she felt like something had changed.
The gaze on her back was like a sharp sword, causing her body to go cold and quiver. Yang Ran really wanted to turn around and look at Xiao Yuanmu to explain herself. But underneath his gaze, she couldn’t even lift her head.
“Is everything clear now?” Song Xuanhe turned to look at Xiao Yuanmu and said, “I had someone watch this place, because it had come to my attention that Song Jiabao was up to something related to this hospital. When I had thought about how the Director was here, I sent someone to keep an eye out just in case anything happened. So, you can let my person go now.”
Xiao Yuanmu didn’t speak. He lowered his eyes. Who knew what he was thinking about?
Song Xuanhe wasn’t worried. His gaze fell on the young man standing next to Xiao Yuanmu.
This man looked young. His appearance was ordinary, but his gaze was upright and honourable. When he looked at Xiao Yuanmu, there was a sliver of subtle gratitude.
“Who’s this?” Song Xuanhe suddenly thought about how he and Xiao Yuanmu were currently “together,” so he glanced at the other.
“A friend.” Xiao Yuanmu replied quickly this time. He clearly had no intentions of introducing this friend.
But, Song Xuanhe didn’t mind. He had only asked to keep up the act that they were a couple. He didn’t really care about the answer.
However, what Song Xuanhe didn’t realize was that although he and Xiao Yuanmu weren’t fighting, they obviously didn’t seem close. No matter how you looked at them, they didn’t seem like a couple.
Regardless, even if Song Xuanhe had thought about this, he wouldn’t think much of it. After all, one of them was unwilling to be a part of this relationship, and the other was being forced to be in this relationship. It would have been weirder if they did seem like a couple.
Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze swept over Song Xuanhe’s expression and saw that the other didn’t seem to care. He then turned to the man next to him and said, “Call the police. Tell them that there was an attempted murder.”
Yang Ran raised her head at once. She hadn’t expected that the person to call the police wasn’t Song Xuanhe but rather Xiao Yuanmu.
“You want to get me arrested?” Yang Ran was in disbelief. “I like you so much, but you’re calling the police on me? The Director’s fine! Why should I be arrested?!”
Xiao Yuanmu didn’t even glance at her. He nodded at the man who had picked up his phone. The police arrived very quickly and took Yang Ran away just as fast. The person who had called the police also went with them to file the report.
Once the police had left, the only people who were left in the hospital room were Song Xuanhe, Xiao Yuanmu, and the man who had been helping Song Xuanhe keep an eye on the hospital.
The man hadn’t said anything all this time. He looked between Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu. In the end, he cautiously asked Xiao Yuanmu, “Can I leave now?”
Xiao Yuanmu nodded slightly. That person then left.
Song Xuanhe, thus, saw the man slip away after getting permission from Xiao Yuanmu, not caring about him, his boss, at all. He was stunned for two seconds, eyes on the shut door. He then cursed inwardly before standing up to leave.
He had slipped away so quickly without his boss! If this had been in the era of a revolution, he’d have been seen as a traitor!
“Where are you going?”
Xiao Yuanmu was sitting, head tilted up slightly towards Song Xuanhe. However, he didn’t seem any less imposing.
“Going home.” Song Xuanhe said blandly, “I’m meeting someone.”
“You look like you’ve been doing well lately.” Xiao Yuanmu cast an indifferent look at him, speech neither too fast nor too slow. “Since you don’t need me, your boyfriend, why don’t we break up?”
Song Xuanhe was about to take a step but paused. He then looked down at Xiao Yuanmu and said, “We’ll break up if I want to. If I don’t want to, we won’t break up. Whether we break up or not isn’t up to you.”
After saying this, he saw Xiao Yuanmu suddenly stand up. The other then made his way over.
Song Xuanhe forced himself not to take a step back. He raised his chin, not showing any weakness.
Xiao Yuanmu lowered his head slightly, their noses nearly touching. With a chilly voice, he said, “If that’s the case, then how about we do something that lovers do?”
Faced with Xiao Yuanmu’s dark, unreadable eyes, Song Xuanhe was taken aback. He took a subconscious step backwards, but Xiao Yuanmu reached around his waist and locked him in place. The other then slowly moved closer, gaze fixed onto his eyes.
Clack—
The sound of the door opening sounded in the room. A nurse and an elderly lady appeared at the door. When they saw the two people embracing, they were both stupefied.
“Yuanmu?” The Director could only see Song Xuanhe’s back as he was being held in Xiao Yuanmu’s arms. She hesitated and asked, “Is that Mr. Song?”
Xiao Yuanmu took a slight step back and turned Song Xuanhe around. However, he didn’t take back his hand that was around Song Xuanhe. He said to the Director, “Yes, it’s him.”
The Director took in the two people’s positions. Her gaze fell on Song Xuanhe’s red ears, and her gloomy mood brightened up. She smiled, “So, Mr. Song has come. Why didn’t you call for me?”
Song Xuanhe sighed in relief. Although he wanted to pull off Xiao Yuanmu’s arm that was around him, he bore with it and smiled. “I’m sorry. I’ve been caught up in some matters and haven’t been able to visit until now.”
“It’s fine.” The Director beamed at him. “As long as you two young’uns haven’t been fighting, that’s good. A couple should trust in each other. Don’t let others instigate you.”
Song Xuanhe was slightly taken aback. Soon after, he realized that the Director probably incorrectly thought that Yang Ran had come to come between them. However, this was fine. He wouldn’t have to explain things this way.
Xiao Yuanmu also thought the same. The corner of his lips rose. He then looked at Song Xuanhe and said in a meaningful tone, “Don’t worry. The two of us definitely trust each other.”
Eve: First thought is that MuMu is going to so regret having brought up breaking up. Second thought it dsfjafksdajkdfhjshfhjsahjs MUMU IS SO FORWARD MY HEAAAART.
Kara: Mumu, you liar! You don’t trust He bao at all! ( ≧Д≦) Aiya, this couple still has a long way to go, but at least Director Granny survived!! (*•̀ᴗ•́*)و ̑̑ Have to trouble Director Granny to give our babies the push they need to better their relationship!（○｀ω´）ゞ
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