Song Yuzhang: Chapter 20 - Eccentric Temperament
Chapter 20: Eccentric Temperament
Song Yuzhang was quite a patient person, especially when it came to coaxing others. And when he did, it wasn’t to deceive them for money or affection—he simply wanted the person being coaxed to be happy. Today, he wanted Meng Tingjing to be happy because Meng Tingjing had relieved his worries and made him happy as well.
“I’m not familiar with the restaurants in Haizhou. The driver said this place is good. Have you been here before? Do you like the food?”
“No,” Meng Tingjing's tone was a little unfamiliar, as if he had just learned how to speak and wasn’t yet good at forming sentences. “I don't eat out often.”
“I see…” Song Yuzhang said gently. “Because you have many dietary restrictions?”
“No,” Meng Tingjing suddenly felt irritated. He lifted his eyelashes and snapped impatiently, “Why do you care so much?”
Song Yuzhang held the menu, silently smiling, his gaze lowering as if indulging Meng Tingjing’s bad temper.
Meng Tingjing was feeling restless. He thought he was being a little unreasonable, and the realization startled him—Am I acting like a woman?
He glanced at Song Yuzhang again. Song Yuzhang was carefully examining the menu, and in his unhurried manner, Meng Tingjing suddenly noticed something new—Could this bastard be coaxing me like he would a woman?!
But that didn’t make sense. He had been involved with Chen Hanmin before, and Chen Hanmin wasn’t a woman—just a pretty boy.
Meng Tingjing’s thoughts came to a sudden halt, his mind roaring like a heavy cart rolling over cobblestones. He recalled every interaction with Song Yuzhang since they first met on the boat—how this man had woken up calling him baby and dear, how he would pinch his fingers and pat his arms, how he always spoke in that ambiguous, teasing tone, deliberately provoking him, then lowering himself to soothe him afterward. It was always a slap followed by a sweet date…
So… Song Yuzhang has taken a liking to me and is coaxing me like a little rabbit?!
“I've marked what I want. See if there's anything you'd like to add, or if there's anything you dislike, just cross it out.”
Song Yuzhang tapped the menu on the table and pushed it over.
Meng Tingjing remained motionless, still stunned by the realization that he was being treated like a rabbit. His gaze sluggishly fell onto the menu. Song Yuzhang’s hand rested on it—long, slender, and pale like a piece of fine jade. His gaze slowly traveled upward until it landed on Song Yuzhang’s face.
Song Yuzhang’s expression was gentle, with a slight smile. He had a naturally flirtatious look—he was enticing even when he wasn’t smiling, and when he did, his eyes and brows overflowed with warmth.
Meng Tingjing looked away in alarm, almost bolting right then and there. Fortunately, he wasn’t an impulsive young boy who couldn’t sit still, so he forced himself to stay put. He shot a glance at Song Yuzhang, trying to appear composed, but then immediately realized that this behavior made him seem like a rabbit deliberately playing hard to get. To correct himself, he straightened his back, leaned forward, and picked up the menu.
“This is fine.”
“Alright.”
Song Yuzhang beckoned the waiter over and handed over the menu. The waiter was a young Russian man, pale-skinned with a splash of pink freckles on his cheeks. His eyes stared directly at Song Yuzhang, and since his appearance was quite striking, Song Yuzhang took a second look. The Russian boy beamed at him, revealing a set of perfectly white teeth. Seeing someone smile at him, Song Yuzhang naturally returned the gesture.
Meng Tingjing rested his hand on his knee, watching coldly as the two exchanged glances and smiles. He felt a hundred—no, a thousand times—uncomfortable, sneering in his heart: Flirting again.
Song Yuzhang retracted his gaze and, not playing favorites, also smiled at Meng Tingjing. Meng Tingjing had originally wanted to scoff, but he reminded himself that he couldn’t let himself fall into Song Yuzhang’s coaxing like a naive little rabbit. So, instead, he smiled as well—looking completely unconcerned.
The restaurant was quite authentic, but the food was almost inedible for Song Yuzhang. It was either overly salty, fishy seafood or soups red like blood, neither sour nor sweet, with a bizarre flavor. The sliced bread was as hard as chewing on stones, and the accompanying sauces were too suspicious for him to touch.
Meng Tingjing ate in complete silence—no sounds, not even when drinking soup. His knife and fork barely made any noise, and his movements were elegant and precise. Watching him eat was a feast for the eyes, and though the food was terrible, at least there was something pleasing to look at. Song Yuzhang sipped the only tolerable soup and thought wryly.
A crisp clack sounded as Meng Tingjing placed down his teacup. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hands, his eyes flicking toward Song Yuzhang with a blank expression. “This is fucking disgusting.”
Song Yuzhang was in the middle of drinking that oddly sweet-and-sour soup and nearly spat it out. He coughed twice, quickly dabbing his mouth with a handkerchief. When he looked up again, his long lashes fluttered twice, directing a glance toward Meng Tingjing. Meng Tingjing, crossing one leg over the other, hesitated for a moment. Then, picking up on the silent cue, he also leaned in slightly.
“Brother Meng, I also think this food doesn’t taste very good,” Song Yuzhang murmured in a low, amused voice.
Meng Tingjing shot him a glance and, seeing his relaxed expression, loosened up a little. “You did this on purpose, didn't you?”
“Injustice, Brother Meng. I waited all afternoon just to take you to this meal—why would I do that on purpose?”
Waited all afternoon…
Meng Tingjing’s gaze turned sharp. “You really waited for me all afternoon?”
Song Yuzhang blinked. “Of course.”
“Where?” Meng Tingjing pressed.
“Shen Family Alley.”
“There?”
“Played chess all afternoon. Lost five bucks.”
Song Yuzhang’s voice remained light and playful, carrying an air of intimate secrecy. Meng Tingjing found it impossible to stay angry. He glanced at him and said, “You can’t win anything in Shen Family Alley. Do you know why it’s called that? Because the Shen family runs it.”
Song Yuzhang chuckled. “I know. But I was just bored out of my mind. Still, thanks for your concern, Brother Meng.”
Meng Tingjing scoffed in his heart: Who the hell is concerned about you? Get lost.
After paying the bill and tipping the waiter, the two of them walked out together. The moment they stepped outside, Meng Tingjing’s eyes went straight to Song Yuzhang’s hands. Song Yuzhang was putting away his wallet. Noticing Meng Tingjing’s gaze, he paused, looking at him with a hint of confusion.
Meng Tingjing smirked. “Fifth Young Master, how generous of you.”
Song Yuzhang thought for a moment, then smiled. “The food was bad, but the people were nice.”
Meng Tingjing gave him a look of disbelief.
Song Yuzhang tucked away his wallet. “Let’s go, Brother Meng. I’ll take you home.”
Meng Tingjing had spent the whole evening suppressing his suspicions, but now he couldn’t hold back anymore. He finally let his sarcasm slip. “Today you bought me cake, took me to dinner, and now you’re offering to take me home. What’s next? A movie tomorrow? A dance?”
Song Yuzhang hadn’t planned that far, but since Meng Tingjing brought it up, he paused for a moment, then smiled. “Whatever makes you happy.”
Meng Tingjing clenched his teeth, his heart burning with frustration. He turned his face slightly, casting a shadow over half of it. Then he let out a low, cold laugh, his words sharp and venomous. “Song Yuzhang, what the hell do you think you are to arrange my life?”
Song Yuzhang was startled by his sudden and unprovoked outburst. He turned his head and looked Meng Tingjing in the eye, catching a glimpse of scorching ferocity and sinister cruelty in Meng Tingjing’s gaze. He had seen his share of moody people, but Meng Tingjing’s temper had flared up far too abruptly.
Was he still unhappy even when Song Yuzhang went along with everything he wanted?
Song Yuzhang’s lovers were almost always handsome young men. He was skilled at coaxing people, having developed a set routine over time, because it never required much effort—his face alone was more than enough.
But even after hitting a wall, Song Yuzhang wasn’t the least bit annoyed. That was just his nature—when he was soft, he was incredibly soft; when he was hard, he was equally unyielding. With Meng Tingjing, he remained gentle because there was no need to be otherwise—Meng Tingjing was his benefactor, practically a second parent.
Retracting his gaze, Song Yuzhang silently descended the steps. The bright red lights from the Russian restaurant illuminated his face. Meng Tingjing watched as he got into the car and as the Song family’s vehicle drove off. He still stood motionless at the restaurant entrance.
A young Russian waiter came outside to take out the trash. Seeing someone lingering at the door, he said something to shoo him away. The man turned his head, his gaze sharp and venomous, scaring the waiter into muttering in his native language, “A man with a strange illness.” Before he even finished speaking, the man coldly replied in impeccable Russian, “You looking to die?”
The Russian waiter, terrified, scurried back inside.
Meng Tingjing had chased off Song Yuzhang and frightened the waiter. Standing at the restaurant entrance, surrounded by the drifting aroma of food, he frowned and cursed under his breath, “Tasted like shit.”
After getting into the car, his anger only intensified. Reflecting on his own behavior, he was horrified to realize that everything about him tonight had screamed ‘rabbit’—and not just any rabbit, but a capricious, spoiled, and willful one!
“Old He!”
“Yes, Second Young Master!”
“Change routes. Head to the Song family’s place!”
“You mean… to catch up to Fifth Young Master Song’s car?”
“…”
Meng Tingjing swallowed his frustration and growled through clenched teeth, “Just drive!”
The driver floored the gas, quickly catching up to the Song family’s car. Honking twice, he startled the Song family’s driver, who glanced in the mirror and immediately recognized the Meng family’s vehicle behind them. Alarmed, he called out, “Fifth Young Master, Second Young Master Meng is chasing us!”
Song Yuzhang, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and turned toward the window. It was dark outside, making it hard to see. “Pull over.”
Both cars came to a screeching halt. As Song Yuzhang steadied himself, he heard a loud ‘bang’ outside. He composed himself and stepped out of the car, just in time to see Meng Tingjing striding toward him with long, urgent steps.
This scene was uncannily similar to their first meeting. Song Yuzhang stood still by the car as Meng Tingjing closed the distance, like a storm sweeping in. The next moment, Song Yuzhang found himself grabbed by the collar and yanked forward.
The Song family’s driver yelped in alarm, about to chase after them, but the Meng family’s driver quickly stopped him. “Let them be. The two young masters are just arguing—we’d be stupid to get involved.”
The Song family’s driver hesitated, stretching out his hand helplessly as he stared toward the dark alleyway. “This… this won’t get out of hand, will it?”
Pressed against the wall by Meng Tingjing’s forceful grip, Song Yuzhang found the situation oddly familiar. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
In the dim night, Meng Tingjing saw the glint of amusement in his eyes. Was he furious? Not exactly. Frustrated? Maybe, but he wasn’t sure why. He stared at Song Yuzhang with a sharp gaze, grinding his teeth as he spat out his words, “Song Yuzhang, do you think I’m Chen Hanmin?”
Song Yuzhang was momentarily taken aback before he met Meng Tingjing’s eyes. In those dark irises, a fire burned wildly—blazing, fierce, and strangely familiar. It reminded him of something… something he had seen before.
“Brother Meng—”
“Shut up!”
The furious yet conflicted expression finally made something click in Song Yuzhang’s mind. This… this… For a split second, Song Yuzhang was startled, but not entirely surprised. Internally, he sighed, Why do I always attract these bamboo poles?
Meng Tingjing’s face slowly darkened under Song Yuzhang’s pensive gaze.
Even in the darkness, Song Yuzhang clearly saw the shift in his expression. Just when he thought Meng Tingjing might lash out like Nie Yinbing had, Meng Tingjing suddenly let go and turned to leave. The moment he turned his back, Song Yuzhang instinctively reached out and grabbed his hand.
Meng Tingjing stopped dead in his tracks and whirled around, their gazes clashing like drawn swords, sparks flying between them.
The night was quiet and stifling, yet Meng Tingjing’s hand was ice-cold and rigid. Song Yuzhang, having already figured out the root of Meng Tingjing’s temper, chuckled inwardly. He’s actually quite good-looking, Song Yuzhang mused. A little fiery, but that’s interesting too. Since he clearly likes me, why not go along with it and try something new? So he’s a bit taller—who cares? Once we’re in bed, height won’t matter…
Decision made, Song Yuzhang didn’t let go. Smiling casually, he tilted his head and looked up at Meng Tingjing. “So… tomorrow, are we going to a movie or dancing?”
Meng Tingjing didn’t say a word. The warmth of Song Yuzhang’s hand spread through his cold fingers. Instead of pulling away, he turned his grip over and clasped Song Yuzhang’s hand firmly, then ground out through gritted teeth— “An opera.”
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