Song Yuzhang: Chapter 25 - Use Force
Chapter 25: Use Force
Song Yuzhang had always had a sharp intuition. Whenever he sensed something bad might happen, it was almost always spot on.
This kind of keen instinct was both a blessing and a curse. The good part was he could anticipate danger ahead of time. The bad part was — damn it — every time he sensed something, it was always bad news!
Nie Bonian was a very innocent little kid. Song Yuzhang pretended to ask casually where his second uncle was, why he hadn’t come to eat with them. Nie Bonian immediately told him everything: his second uncle was in school, and his father had ordered him to return home before the end of the year.
Song Yuzhang calmly thought: judging by the look of Old Master Nie, he probably wouldn’t make it to the end of the year.
That was just the kind of person he was. Sometimes soft-hearted, sometimes surprisingly ruthless.
Half a year was enough — it wouldn’t take that long anyway. He just needed to keep a close eye on the Nie family and pay attention to any movement. What was there to be afraid of? Fortune favors the bold.
Even if Nie Yinbing really did fall from the sky, he wasn’t scared. He could righteously say, “I’m Song Yuzhang. People can look alike. You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
The more Song Yuzhang thought about it, the calmer he became. Even in his dreams that night, he said as much to Nie Yinbing. But in the dream, Nie Yinbing didn’t say a word in response — he just raised his hand and shot him.
When Song Yuzhang woke up, his back was drenched in cold sweat. He had to admit, he wasn’t quite as confident as he thought.
He changed places frequently, never giving anyone the chance to catch him — not least because of how conspicuous his looks were. Otherwise, he wouldn’t need to be so cautious.
He didn’t care how the other Song brothers saw it. He found another opportunity to visit Old Master Song. This time, he happened to catch him awake. They exchanged a few words, and Song Yuzhang judged that the old man didn’t have much time left, then left satisfied.
On the way back, Song Yuzhang was deep in thought. With things on his mind, his perception was even sharper than usual. Suddenly, he said, “Stop the car.”
The driver stopped immediately.
Song Yuzhang looked out the rear window and saw Meng Tingjing’s car behind them.
Meng Tingjing hadn’t come to find him for a while.
Since Meng Tingjing hadn’t looked for him, Song Yuzhang hadn’t gone looking for him either — truthfully, he had almost forgotten about him.
It had been fun, sure, but he had serious things to do, and no time to think about Meng Tingjing.
Song Yuzhang sat in the car for a bit. The car behind remained idle, just lying in wait. Song Yuzhang chuckled softly. “Keep driving.”
The driver obeyed and drove on.
Song Yuzhang directed him to stop in front of a department store and got out.
The store was one Song Mingzhao had brought him to before. It was near the Song family’s bank. Song Yuzhang didn’t go far inside — he lingered by the perfume counter near the entrance. The scent was so strong it was almost unbearable.
The shop assistant hesitantly began recommending products. Song Yuzhang didn’t know much about perfume, so she picked one and sprayed a little on his wrist for him to smell.
He raised his wrist to his nose. At that moment, he heard fast, aggressive footsteps approaching — rhythmic and forceful. He took a sniff — just caught a hint of sweetness — then extended his wrist to his right side, right in front of the charging Meng Tingjing, and turned his head with a cheerful expression, saying, “Tell me — does it smell good?”
Meng Tingjing had been approaching with a stony face, but the waft of sweet perfume made his expression stiffen even more.
Song Yuzhang withdrew his hand with a smile. “Looks like Brother Meng doesn’t like it much.”
Even during the day, the department store kept all the lights on — dazzling and extravagant, filled with fragrance and indulgence. Standing at the counter, Song Yuzhang looked handsome and effortlessly charming. Whether it was his appearance or his manner, he fit this place perfectly — as if he’d grown out of it.
The first time Meng Tingjing ever saw him, he’d been lying on the ocean, surrounded by money and opium — the fruit born of wealth and sin.
Impossible to resist.
Meng Tingjing didn’t waste words. He ordered simply, “Get in the car.”
This time, Meng Tingjing didn’t play games. He had the driver park at a small private residence, dragged Song Yuzhang inside, and before Yuzhang could even get a look around, Meng Tingjing kissed him — hard.
To call it a kiss was generous — it was more like biting, devouring, an attempt to swallow him whole.
Even though Song Yuzhang wasn’t exactly a stranger to physical affection, he was genuinely startled by Meng Tingjing’s aggression. He staggered back a few steps before grabbing his neck and forcibly ending the kiss. Tilting his head back, he smiled and said, “Are you trying to eat me alive?”
Meng Tingjing stared at him with burning eyes. “Why didn’t you come find me?”
He’d been giving Song Yuzhang the cold shoulder — yes, he admitted, it was a tactic, playing hard to get. But Song Yuzhang didn’t take the bait. He even started playing the game back, with more patience and skill. Today, when Meng Tingjing saw the Song family’s car on the street, he couldn’t help himself. When Song Yuzhang stopped the car, clearly having spotted him, he still didn’t acknowledge him. He’d tried to play hard to get — but Song Yuzhang was better at it. More practiced. More cunning.
Meng Tingjing was starting to lose patience.
He’d misjudged it.
With someone like Song Yuzhang — a veteran of the love game — subtle tricks didn’t work. The only way was brute force. Do whatever he wanted, however he wanted.
Unwilling to hear more clever evasions, Meng Tingjing kissed him again — and this time, started getting handsy.
Song Yuzhang didn’t resist. He kissed back, then gazed at him softly and asked, “Do you know how much I missed you?”
Meng Tingjing was thrown off by the question.
“You missed me…” Song Yuzhang smiled. “Then I must’ve missed you twice as much.”
Meng Tingjing didn’t speak for a while, then said stiffly, “If you missed me, why didn’t you come find me?”
Back to the same question.
Song Yuzhang asked back, “Then why didn’t you come find me?”
Meng Tingjing’s face darkened. “I’m asking you now!”
Song Yuzhang chuckled, grabbed his collar, and said, “Then go ask yourself.” And pushed him away.
Meng Tingjing demanded, “Ask myself? What do you mean?”
Song Yuzhang started wandering through the little residence, exploring the space. He circled around a decorative screen and said quietly, “The reason you didn’t come find me — that’s the same reason I didn’t come find you.”
“You—”
“You wanted me to miss you,” Song Yuzhang said as he came out from behind the screen, smiling. “Well, I wanted you to miss me.”
Meng Tingjing watched as he flitted around the room like a butterfly, finally settling lazily on a sofa not far away. He stretched out his long legs and tilted his head with a soft smile. “Tingjing,” he said, “tell me — did you miss me?”
Meng Tingjing was completely enraged.
He truly regretted it—he should’ve killed him back on the ship. One moment of hesitation, and now every step had gone wrong. He’d been caught by a glance and a touch. To put it plainly, he was seduced by beauty. No matter how much he refused to admit it, he had to—if Song Yuzhang hadn’t been so stunning, he would’ve been dead the moment he got on that ship. Not even the gods could’ve stopped it. But Song Yuzhang, with his beauty alone, had stayed his hand. Beauty was a weapon—a terrifying one. More effective than any authority.
In his seething fury, Meng Tingjing suddenly realized he was no different from an ordinary man. In fact, not much different from Old Master Meng. Just another man, with the same crude, lustful instincts.
Suddenly, it hit him like a bolt of lightning—he might even be worse than Old Master Meng.
Old Master Meng played with others. But now, he was the one being toyed with. Song Yuzhang didn’t take him seriously at all.
And if someone didn’t take him seriously, then they didn’t need to be treated like a person.
Meng Tingjing’s expression gradually turned cold.
He calmly thought, He’s toying with me. Why shouldn’t I toy with him back? Why waste so much time? Just do it already.
Song Yuzhang watched with great interest as Meng Tingjing’s face shifted expression. Before long, the man came over, grabbed him by the collar with one hand. Song Yuzhang wasn’t unfamiliar with being grabbed by the collar—it was happening so often, he was getting used to it. He still had a teasing smile on his face when Meng Tingjing suddenly slung him over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
The world spun as Song Yuzhang found himself upside-down, his waist and stomach slammed hard against Meng Tingjing’s shoulder. It hit so solidly he nearly gagged. What shocked him even more was that despite Meng Tingjing’s lean build, he had monstrous strength—he hoisted him up and strode forward with ease.
Stomach pressing against Meng Tingjing’s shoulder, Song Yuzhang winced in pain but still managed to speak, his voice laced with amusement, “Tingjing, have you gone mad...?”
Then another hard bounce hit his gut. Meng Tingjing was carrying him upstairs at a brisk pace, each step jolting his stomach painfully out of rhythm.
Hanging upside-down, blood rushing to his head, Song Yuzhang’s brain started to buzz. The perfume on his wrist was still lingering sweet and heavy, making his nose itch. “Meng~ Ting~ Jing~” he said, each syllable bouncing with each step, the tremor in his voice making even himself want to laugh. “You~ son~ of~ a~ bitch~ put~ me~ down~!”
Meng Tingjing obeyed—and put him down.
Song Yuzhang landed on a soft, springy bed and immediately realized something was off.
The bed was plush and bounced with his fall. He curled up slightly, rubbing his flushed forehead. Then, with stars still dancing in his vision, he laughed. “This is absurd. I don’t think I’ve ever wronged you. But every time you see me, it’s all fire and fury. You’ve never even given me a kind word,” he said, laughing and shaking his head. “I’m really innocent.” He slid naturally toward the edge of the bed, trying to get off—but as soon as his feet touched the floor, a strong hand pinned his shoulder. Looking up, he met Meng Tingjing’s cold, furious gaze and a vicious grin. “Song Yuzhang, cut the crap.”
“Don’t try your little tricks with me. I’m not Chen Hanmin, that brainless idiot who got sweet-talked into a daze.” Meng Tingjing’s hand pressed hard on his shoulder, eyes dark and full of menace. At last, he revealed the true ferocity of the Second Young Master of the Meng family. His smile was sinister, his tone mocking. “Song Yuzhang, Fifth Young Master Song, you’ve picked the wrong person to mess with.”
Song Yuzhang had never been afraid of emotional confrontations. These kinds of things can’t be solved with words—just a good round of intimacy, and everything would blow over.
But truth be told, things felt different this time. Honestly, Meng Tingjing was starting to remind him of Nie Yinbing.
Song Yuzhang had always prided himself on lacking any effeminate traits. He was tall, well-built, with defined, angular features. Yes, he was beautiful—but not in a delicate way. He was a handsome, masculine man. So why did people keep wanting to dominate him?
His lashes lowered as his eyes drifted to the hand pinning his shoulder.
A big hand, veins popping, the knuckles and joints sharp like they’d been carved with a blade. Song Yuzhang felt briefly bewildered. How had Meng Tingjing devolved from a civilized gentleman into a brute in just a few days?
Confused or not, he wasn’t stupid—he knew charm wouldn’t work this time. And when charm failed? Time to fight dirty.
He raised his right hand to cover Meng Tingjing’s, then looked up with a faint smile. Just as Meng Tingjing let his guard down, Song Yuzhang twisted his hand back with full force—ruthless and fast. So fast Meng Tingjing couldn’t react. Then, he followed with a sharp knee straight to the stomach, shoved him hard—and bolted.
Lesson learned: no witty retorts, just run!
He thundered down the stairs—thump thump thump—and spotted the Song family’s car parked outside. The chauffeur was leaning nearby, admiring the flowers. Song Yuzhang leapt in and shouted, “Drive!”
The chauffeur was well-trained. Without hesitation, he jumped into the driver’s seat and started the car. As he turned, he saw Second Young Master Meng stumble out of the house.
“What are you waiting for? Go!”
Song Yuzhang’s shout jolted the driver into action. He slammed the gas, and the car shot off like a rocket. Song Yuzhang was nearly launched from his seat, smashing his forehead into the back of the front seat.
The driver stammered, “Fifth Young Master, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
Song Yuzhang laughed cheerfully, thinking today had been equal parts ridiculous and hilarious. He’d just made an escape like some innocent maiden, fleeing with wild panic—truly a picture of flustered flight. Still laughing, he shook his head. Skinny ones just aren’t safe. Better steer clear next time. Doesn’t matter if he’s your savior—Heaven clearly doesn’t want you dead. If anyone deserves thanks, it’s the heavens.
The Meng family’s driver had watched Song Yuzhang flee with his own eyes. By the time he turned back, Second Young Master Meng had appeared, clutching his left wrist with his right hand, face dark as thunder, his grin twisted and terrifying. The driver shivered—They really fought this time. He dared not speak, dared not move, trembling where he stood.
Meng Tingjing stared at the wide-open door, lost in thought. His wrist throbbed like it’d been broken. That guy hadn’t held back at all... not just all show—he really had skills. That reaction speed, that strength—he’d be top-tier muscle down at the docks. Knows how to lie, knows how to fight... he’s the real deal. Meng Tingjing grinned, savage and amused. Fine. This ‘real deal’? He was going to tame him. If sweet won’t work—then it’s time to go hard.
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