Translated by Eve
Edited by Kara
“Mr. Song! Ai ya, I finally get to see you!” A stout, middle-aged man carrying a glass of white wine came forward. He smiled and said, “I’d been meaning to have Mr. Zhou introduce us all this time, but everyone’s been so busy. I didn’t think that we’d bump into each other today!”
Even though he was already a middle-aged man, Song Guochao took good care of his body. Right now, with a smile on his face, he looked cultured and refined. “It’s my fault that we haven’t been able to meet until now. Allow me to dedicate this toast to you, Mr. Huang.”
Mr. Huang waved his hand. He then downed his glass of white wine before Song Guochao could drink his own. “No need. It is my honour to meet you today. There’s no need for you to toast to me.”
“Old Huang’s right. It’s our honour to be with you today. Come, everyone! Here’s to Mr. Song!” Several people came over. One person smiled at Song Guochao, a glass of wine in hand: “Mr. Song, drink up!”
Song Guochao accepted the glass and smiled back. “Let’s drink together casually. No need to toast me.”
After a few rounds of drinks, the group of middle-aged men, who had been politely distant a moment ago, were now calling each other “brothers.” They were no longer as careful with their words as they had been in the beginning. One of the men said, “Song ge, ah, I really envy the fact that you have two good sons. Look at my sons. I’m ready to light incense and thank the Buddha if they manage to not worry me for just one day.”
“That’s right,” Someone else chimed in, “Your older son has a steady personality while your younger son is clever. One guards the company while the other helps the family expand. If I had children like that…just imagining it is enough to make me smile.”
“Exactly. I don’t even dare imagine what the Xiao Family’s banquet will be like. When the time comes, Old Song, you’ll have to come back and tell us about it. Share with us what that world is like. In the future, remember us when you’re looking for business partners, ah.”
“Returning to the previous topic, Old Song really taught his two sons well. Old Song, how about you give us some advice? I still have time to guide my youngest son.”
Song Guochao’s smile froze upon hearing these words. The conversation made him recall how his relationship with Song Xuanhe was not at all like how they thought it was. A few days ago, Song Xuanhe had even moved out and clearly expressed that he absolutely would not attend the Xiao Family’s banquet.
“Old Song, why are you so quiet?” Mr. Huang laughed, “Come on, tell me quickly how I should raise my son. Teach us your ways.”
Mr. Huang had only recently moved his business to the Capital. He didn’t know about what had happened with regards to the Song Family a few months ago. Therefore, he had no clue that Song Xuanhe and Song Guochao had a strained relationship. He had simply said this, because he thought that the other would feel good if he heard his son being praised. After all, if it was him, hearing someone else compliment his son definitely would have made him happy. That was why he had done his utmost to praise Song Xuanhe and Song Xuanlin. He wanted to use this as a chance to get closer to Song Guochao.
However, even if Mr. Huang didn’t know about the relationship between the Song Family members, the others did. In the beginning, they had also praised Song Xuanhe with Mr. Huang, because they had wanted to see if the relationship between Song Xuanhe and Song Guochao was really as terrible as rumoured. That’s why no one had stopped him. Song Guochao’s current expression gave them the answer.
“Ai ya, we came out here to relax and drink. What are we talking about our kids for? Old Huang, you shouldn’t have done that. Come on, have another drink.”
Mr. Huang had been a businessman for many years. He realized he had misspoken upon seeing Song Guochao’s evidently unhappy expression. Therefore, he immediately grabbed onto the opportunity to get out of this predicament. “Right, it’s my fault. I’ll drink this glass in punishment.”
The other people laughed and then changed the subject. They chatted about the stock market and golf. Every topic revolved around Song Guochao, causing his mood to improve. The smile on his face was genuine.
“It’s no fun if we just drink here. How about we go somewhere else to have some fun? I reserved a place for us to do some karaoke downstairs. Let’s go loosen up there.”
The party headed downstairs. As soon as they exited the elevator, someone asked, “Hey, isn’t that Xuanhe? Old Song, isn’t that your son? Who’s that next to him?”
Song Guochao paused. When he saw that it was indeed Song Xuanhe, his good mood disappeared, and the smile on his face faded.
“It looks like…he’s with Song Dongjia’s daughter. I think her name’s Song Jiani.” Someone seemed to recognize them. That person said in a surprised voice, “I had heard that Song ershao and Song Dongjia’s daughter were on good terms. Didn’t expect it to be true.”
The other people exchanged glances. For a moment, they all stood there in place.
Song Guochao hadn’t noticed Song Jiani in the beginning. But now that he had seen her, his originally unhappy expression turned even uglier.
It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for a girl and guy to have a meal alone or sing karaoke together. However, both Song Xuanhe and Song Jiani’s families had enthusiastically tried to get them together in the past. Most of the people here knew about this. What should he do if news of their rendezvous got to the Xiao Family?
“Mr. Song, since we’ve bumped into them, do you want to say hi? It looks like they’re about to….”
The person who was speaking stopped halfway. His expression changed subtly.
Song Guochao realized that something was wrong. He glanced over, and immediately, his face darkened. Song Jiani and Song Xuanhe were hugging—or rather, Song Jiani was unilaterally holding onto Song Xuanhe and refusing to let go.
However much Song Guochao had once wanted to get Song Xuanhe and Song Jiani together was however much he wanted to split them apart now.
Song Xuanhe still had yet to notice that they were looking at him. As soon as he had left his studio, he had been stopped by Song Jiani. She had threatened to tell the Song Family about the studio if he wouldn’t have a meal with her. She had also said that she had something really important to tell him.
Originally, Song Xuanhe hadn’t wanted to pay her any attention. However, when he thought about how the drug incident with Zhou Rong was supposed to come up soon, he figured that he might be able to get some clues from Song Jiani. As such, he chose to go with her.
Unfortunately, all Song Jiani had done was tell him how much she liked him and recount her past with the original host. She didn’t mention anything serious. Song Xuanhe’s patience had then run out, and he had tried to leave after paying the bill.
But before he could make it very far, Song Jiani had wrapped her arms around him.
“Let go.” Song Xuanhe’s voice was lowered. “Right now.”
“I won’t let go!” Song Jiani’s eyes were red as she said, “Xiao Yuanmu doesn’t like you at all! If he did, he wouldn’t have gone to America. Xuanhe, only I love you. Only I will never leave you. We were so good. Why did you suddenly fall for him and start to hate me? Like me instead, okay?”
“No thanks.” Song Xuanhe wanted to pry her fingers off of his arm. However, she tightened her hold, her knuckles turning white. If he used any more strength, he would hurt her. Although he didn’t like Song Jiani, he also didn’t want to hurt a girl. So, all he could do was make his expression colder. “I’ll say it again, let go of me. If you don’t let go, I’ll have to use force.”
A group of middle-aged men walked over. A man said, “Xuanhe, ah, what are you guys….?”
Song Jiani had originally wanted to say something. But when she saw Song Guochao, she immediately let go of Song Xuanhe.
“Uncle Song.”
Song Guochao forced himself to smile as he greeted Song Jiani. He then turned to look at Song Xuanhe, his voice lowering slightly. “What are you doing?”
Song Jiani had finally let go. Song Xuanhe took two steps away from her and then looked towards Song Guochao. For once, he didn’t give him an unpleasant look. “Did you need something?”
“What kind of question is that?” Song Guochao glanced at the people with him and angrily demanded, “What kind of attitude is this? Do I have to have a reason to look for you?”
“Uncle, that wasn’t what Xuanhe meant. He just hadn’t expected to see you here.”
Song Jiani tried to mediate. The other people watched the situation unfold. Everyone’s gaze turned even more pensive as they exchanged glances. Everyone knew about Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu. But right now, Song Jiani was acting like a girlfriend defending her boyfriend.
Song Guochao also thought that. His expression turned even uglier. However, he couldn’t get angry at a girl in front of everyone. He could only say to Song Xuanhe, “Why aren’t you going home? It’s so late already. Come home with me right now.”
Song Xuanhe had no clue what was going on in Song Guochao’s head right now for him to want to go back with him. He turned to look at Song Guochao and noticed that the other was looking at Song Jiani with a slightly guarded look. At that moment, he understood what was going on. He laughed. “I still have something to discuss with Song Jiani. If you want to go home, go on your own.”
Song Jiani looked up, a delighted expression on her face. She had been about to say something, but Song Xuanhe already started to walk away. She quickly chased after him.
“You!” Song Guochao had wanted to reach out and grab onto Song Xuanhe. However, there were too many people there. He couldn’t bear to do something so embarrassing. All he could do was quietly curse, “Absolutely disgraceful.”
The other people acted like they didn’t notice how indifferent Song Xuanhe had been to Song Guochao and like they hadn’t heard what Song Guochao had said. They all chatted jovially. Someone eventually said, “Let’s go. If the kid wants to play, let him. Let’s go sing.”
Song Guochao knew that he would probably turn into a joke if he were to leave now. He forced himself to smile. “Kids these days are so rebellious. Let’s go.”
*
Hearing the sound of footsteps behind him, Song Xuanhe turned around and raised a hand, indicating for Song Jiani to freeze in place. He then said, “Whatever you have to say, you can say it here.”
“I…Do you really like Xiao Yuanmu?” Song Jiani stood two metres away from Song Xuanhe. “Did you really never have feelings for me?”
Song Xuanhe’s eyes were cold, and his voice was full of indifference. “I’ve never liked you. Furthermore, I hate being pestered.”
Faced with Song Xuanhe’s undisguised impatience and coldness, Song Jiani bit down on her lip.
Half a second later, Song Xuanhe still hadn’t heard Song Jiani’s reply. Therefore, he turned around and said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving.”
“Wait…” Song Jiani took a step forward but paused. She then asked, “What’s so good about Xiao Yuanmu? I don’t think you really like him. I won’t believe it unless you tell me…that you would choose Xiao Yuanmu over your own life.”
He didn’t answer her. Staring after his departing figure, Song Jiani’s eyes reddened again. The hands hanging by her sides tightened into fists. Her lips turned white from how hard she had been biting them. In the end, she took a deep breath and shouted, “Zhou Rong wants to hurt you! That’s what I wanted to tell you today!”
Song Xuanhe paused. He uttered a thanks before leaving.
Back in the car, the System asked：【Did you come see Song Jiani, because you had heard Zhou Nan say that Song Jiani had been the original host’s only friend when he had been at his unhappiest?】
Song Xuanhe acted like he didn’t hear the System’s question and started the car.
The System kept talking to itself：【Your danger level is really hard to judge…. Well, at least the mission is more or less done. When the Xiao Family banquet ends, you’ll have completed all the scenes that were directly described in the book. Right, why do you think Xiao Yuanmu doesn’t want you to go to the banquet?】
Song Xuanhe finally spoke up, “I didn’t plan on going to begin with.”
【But, your emotional fluctuations told me that you had been angry when he told you not to come over the phone. If you weren’t planning on going, why would you be angry? That’s why I think that you actually….】
“Shut up.”
Eve: Aww, Xuanhe. Mumu has his reasons, don’t be upset.
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