Song Yuzhang: Chapter 31 - Passionate yet Distant
Chapter 31: Passionate yet Distant
After Song Jincheng arrived and went upstairs, he nearly blacked out at the sight of the chaos. To make things worse, Meng Tingjing was standing next to Song Yuzhang— something that hadn’t been mentioned on the phone. Such a dramatic and sudden appearance, even Song Jincheng, who was no stranger to storms, had a noticeable change in expression.
Meng Tingjing was sitting on the sofa, face stern as he threw the blame, “Brother-in-law, what happened here?”
Song Jincheng was thinking he wanted to ask that himself—what was he doing here?
He looked over at Song Yuzhang. The man had lost his coat and tie, his shirt collar was open, faint red marks showed signs of a struggle, and his helpless expression only added to the disheveled look. Song Jincheng could see how messed up he was. “Yuzhang, are you okay?”
Song Yuzhang shook his head. “Eldest brother, what do we do now?”
Song Jincheng glanced again at Meng Tingjing. “Tingjing, why are you here?”
Meng Tingjing lowered his head. “I was passing by the airport. Thought I’d see what kind of important guest my dear brother-in-law was being so attentive to.”
Song Jincheng almost coughed up blood.
Since when did Meng Tingjing start meddling in his family affairs?
Troublemaker. Just a complete headache!
Song Jincheng, burning with anger but unable to question Song Yuzhang with Meng Tingjing present, said instead, “Yuzhang, go with Tingjing first. I’ll handle things here.”
“Eldest brother—”
“That’s enough. Don’t say another word,” Song Jincheng said with authority, waving him off irritably.
Song Yuzhang stepped carefully around the pool of blood near the phone and silently came to Meng Tingjing’s side.
Meng Tingjing’s lashes were lowered, and from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Song Yuzhang’s hand hanging by his side. He hated being manipulated, especially by him. His voice was cold: “You go out first. I have something to say to my brother-in-law.”
Without a word, Song Yuzhang looked at Song Jincheng. Receiving a nod, he turned and quietly left the room.
The sound of footsteps creaked down the stairs, gradually fading. Once they were gone, Meng Tingjing spoke: “Brother-in-law, how do you plan to handle this?”
Song Jincheng replied, “How to handle it? Call the police and have them deal with it!”
“Oh?” Meng Tingjing lifted his face with a slight smile. “So brother-in-law is going to sacrifice family for justice?”
A chill passed through Song Jincheng’s heart.
That old wound began to ache again.
They both tacitly avoided speaking of what had happened on the ship. At this moment, even Song Jincheng felt uncertain. After a pause, he asked, “Then what does your side suggest?”
Meng Tingjing smiled. “This is your family matter. How would I dare interfere?”
Song Jincheng didn’t know everything about his brother-in-law’s personality, but he understood a good 70-80%. Steeling himself, he said directly, “Tingjing, we’re family. No need to beat around the bush. Just tell me what you want.”
“That’s an interesting way to ask,” Meng Tingjing said coldly. “Sounds like you think I’m here to blackmail you. Do you really think the Meng family has fallen so far that we need to come begging at your door?”
His face had turned icy, like he was a moment away from flipping the table. Song Jincheng, irritated but helpless, said, “That’s not what I meant, Tingjing. This has nothing to do with you. Just go home. I’ll take care of it.”
“Take care of it? So ‘taking care’ means letting that woman keep the baby? Then sending her abroad to raise it? Brother-in-law, don’t you think that’s a bit much?”
Song Jincheng was like someone swallowing bitter medicine—he couldn’t speak the truth. He couldn’t tell Meng Tingjing that the child wasn’t even his.
He simply couldn’t say something that would damage his dignity as a man.
Meng Tingjing’s face darkened. “My father married my sister into your Song family not because of your wealth. Even if she stayed single her whole life, our Meng family could still support her just fine. He married her off because your family seemed upright and because my sister is kind and gentle—he believed she wouldn’t suffer. And now, look at this mess. Brother-in-law, I think that so-called ‘upright family tradition’ has long gone off the rails.”
In truth, Song Jincheng had always had a good relationship with Meng Tingjing.
They didn’t interact too often, but their dealings were cordial and mutually beneficial. He also felt he’d treated Meng Sushan well. Maybe not like a perfect couple, but they respected each other. Yet here he was, being scolded to his face by someone ten years his junior—and he had to take it.
Because, frankly, he was in the wrong.
Keeping a mistress was one thing—as long as it didn’t reach home, it didn’t matter. But getting her pregnant? That was crossing the line. Especially when Meng Sushan still didn’t have any children.
Having no moral ground to stand on, Song Jincheng lowered his tone. “You’re right, Tingjing. I promise this won’t happen again.”
“Brother-in-law, you’d better take care of yourself.”
Meng Tingjing stood and went downstairs. A servant opened the car door for him. Song Yuzhang was sitting inside, but Meng Tingjing frowned. “Get out.”
Without a word, Song Yuzhang slipped out from the other side.
Meng Tingjing got into the car and turned to look out the window.
The driver said nothing, just sat quietly.
Outside, Song Yuzhang stood in the cold, disheveled and alone—like a striking scene from a drama.
Meng Tingjing forcibly withdrew his gaze. “Drive.”
About five minutes later, Song Jincheng came down. When he saw Song Yuzhang still standing there, he didn’t ask why he hadn’t left with Meng Tingjing. He just said, “Get in. We’ll talk in the car.”
Song Yuzhang obediently got into the car. After getting in, without waiting for Song Jincheng to ask, he spoke up on his own: “I shook off Zheng Kexian, but time was running out, so I had no choice but to take Le Yao’er straight to the airport. We ran into Meng Tingjing there—he probably misunderstood something. I couldn’t explain, so I just had to help Le Yao’er get away first.”
Song Jincheng didn’t say anything after hearing this. He just drove away from the scene before speaking further.
“Alright,” Song Jincheng said, “you don’t need to worry about this anymore. If Second Brother asks, just tell him the truth.”
“Okay.”
After a moment, Song Yuzhang cautiously said, “I’m really sorry, eldest brother. I didn’t handle this matter well.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Song Jincheng’s mind was still a mess, so he casually offered a few words of comfort. Song Yuzhang then mentioned that he had already given the money to Le Yao’er. Song Jincheng frowned slightly but still didn’t say anything.
Money wasn’t an issue for the Song family—there was plenty of it. Just consider it a payoff. But how did keeping a mistress turn into such a huge mess? It was maddening!
Song Jincheng took Song Yuzhang back to the bank. When Song Yekang saw him, he was clearly stunned, casting constant glances at Song Yuzhang. Song Jincheng figured he was worried about his son and let out a cold chuckle inwardly as he waved Song Yuzhang through.
After entering Song Yekang’s office, Song Yuzhang told him everything ‘truthfully.’
He had originally intended to send Le Yao’er away, but Zheng Kexian suddenly showed up. From the way he spoke, it sounded like he and Le Yao’er had some kind of rivalry for affection. Things got messy, and an accident happened. Then, at the airport, they ran into Meng Tingjing, and he had no choice but to call in Song Jincheng for help.
Song Yekang immediately interrupted, “Then Eldest Brother knows the woman is pregnant?”
Song Yuzhang nodded. “Yes, he knows. Eldest Brother was really angry.”
Song Yekang thought to himself, Of course he's angry—his woman and the child ran off, he offended his brother-in-law, and oh, even lost a ‘little bunny.’ Holding back laughter with all his might, he said with a straight face, “What a shame.”
Song Yuzhang continued, saying he didn’t know how exactly Song Jincheng handled the matter. In any case, he didn’t mention Song Yekang at all—in front of Song Jincheng, he had taken full responsibility.
Song Yekang nodded as he listened and comforted him: “It’s alright. Eldest Brother won’t hold it against you.”
“And Second Brother, that money you gave me—I didn’t get a chance to give it to Le Yao’er…”
As he reached for the check, Song Yekang quickly held down his arm. When Yuzhang looked at him, Yekang withdrew his hand and kindly said, “Little Brother, poor thing, you’ve been through a lot. Keep the money for yourself.”
“I can’t. That was for Le Yao’er and the baby she’s carrying…”
“Oh, come on,” Song Yekang said righteously. “She’s carrying a child with the surname Song. Don’t you also have the surname Song? Just take it. Eldest Brother will figure something out for her.”
“You’ve had a rough time—go rest now.”
After seeing Song Yuzhang off, Song Yekang laughed uncontrollably in his office for a good while. Just thinking about Song Jincheng’s grim face made him giddy. That 200,000 was worth every penny—both as hush money and a reward for Yuzhang’s trouble. Not only did it get the woman and the baby shipped out of the country, it also stirred up conflict between Song Jincheng and Meng Tingjing. Two birds with one stone—brilliant!
With things turning out this way by a twist of fate, Song Yuzhang temporarily decided not to run anymore. Meng Tingjing, after all, was just a paper tiger. He clearly wasn’t in the same league as Nie Yinbing—just an overly dramatic pretty boy at most. At least he’d wait it out until the end of the year, when Nie Yinbing might return. And who knows—if he got lucky and the old master of the Song family kicked the bucket soon? With that peaceful thought, Song Yuzhang settled in and decided to continue playing the role of Fifth Young Master Song.
A few days later, Song Yuzhang read a shocking report in the newspaper about a murder case involving film stars.
A male and female actor co-starring in a film developed feelings on set that turned into hatred. A violent conflict broke out at the actress’s private residence, and the male actor tragically died while the actress vanished without a trace.
After reading it, Song Yuzhang felt like it was fate. The report had reproduced the incident with uncanny accuracy.
The journalist’s writing was sharp and sensational, portraying the murder with a mix of eroticism and suspense. For a time, the paper sold out across Haizhou. The newspaper office had to work overtime overnight to reprint it and satisfy the city’s ravenous gossip appetite.
Song Mingzhao came to find Song Yuzhang with the paper. “Here, take a look.”
It had been a while since Song Mingzhao had approached him so enthusiastically. Hearing this, Song Yuzhang put down his coffee cup and said, “What is it?”
Song Mingzhao shoved the newspaper into his arms. “Just read it.”
Song Yuzhang opened the paper, deliberately flipping through it slowly. Song Mingzhao, impatient, leaned over to help him flip a few pages. “Here! Look at this! ‘Faded Starlight: Love on Screen, Hate off Screen—From Passion to Blades, Lovers Turned Enemies!’”
Song Yuzhang pretended he was reading it for the first time, frowning as he went. He set the paper aside and said, “That’s terrifying.”
Song Mingzhao widened his eyes. “You seriously didn’t catch it?”
“Catch what?”
“This is about Le Yao’er and Zheng Kexian!”
“It is?” Song Yuzhang looked shocked.
Song Mingzhao scoffed proudly, “I told you I could tell something was going on between them.”
Song Yuzhang said, “It’s really about those two?”
“Of course! The police even brought back Zheng Kexian’s body—how could it be fake?”
“I really didn’t see it coming. That’s wild.”
Song Mingzhao snorted and gave him a sideways glance, thinking, This guy is so clueless, and yet Song Qiyuan still thought he needed to be warned about him? What a joke!
“I’ve been busy with school lately and couldn’t get away,” Mingzhao said, bumping him with his elbow, “but I finally have some free time today. Wanna go dancing?”
Song Yuzhang looked at him, noting that proud and awkward expression. He chuckled inwardly. “Can’t today.”
Song Mingzhao had finally mustered the courage to invite his younger brother to hang out, but he didn’t expect Song Yuzhang to be so ungrateful. He was immediately tempted to turn hostile—though not openly, instead harboring it in his petty little heart. On the surface, however, he smiled brightly and said, “Forget it then, another day.”
“Since you’re free, why don’t you come with me to visit Father?” Song Yuzhang extended an invitation.
Song Mingzhao was stunned. “Visit Father?”
Song Yuzhang nodded. “It’s been a while. I want to go see him.”
Song Mingzhao wasn’t very keen on the idea.
Song Zhenqiao had always been a textbook strict father. The word ‘affection’ didn’t exist in his dictionary when it came to his sons. They were more like employees—whichever son performed better got more praise and a bigger share of the pie. If one did poorly, they were discarded like trash. Although Song Mingzhao was always very proud on the outside, deep down, he knew he couldn’t compare to his other brothers. Song Zhenqiao didn’t like him much.
“You don’t want to go, Fourth Brother?”
“Who says so?” Song Mingzhao instinctively snapped back. “I’ll go!”
Once they got in the car, Song Mingzhao began to regret it.
Unlike how he treated the other sons, Song Zhenqiao clearly had a soft spot for Song Yuzhang. If he went along, he’d just end up watching them act all father-and-son affectionate—how nauseating.
Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Song Mingzhao started regretting initiating any conversation that morning.
At that moment, Song Yuzhang suddenly reached out and held his hand. Startled, Song Mingzhao looked over to see him smiling gently. “Don’t be nervous, Fourth Brother.”
Song Mingzhao forced a smile. “What nonsense. Who’s nervous?”
Song Yuzhang didn’t respond, just squeezed his hand a little tighter.
Holding hands like that left Song Mingzhao feeling a strange mix of confusion and calm. He thought to himself, Father doesn’t like me. The other brothers look down on me. Only this little bastard treats me like a real brother.
Song Qiyuan was right—he did have a bit of an addiction to being an elder brother.
At the hospital, a nurse told them that Song Zhenqiao was awake and ready for visitors.
“Thank you.”
Song Yuzhang smiled warmly. The nurse blushed and walked away. Song Mingzhao, half-laughing and half-mocking, said, “Another one falling under your spell.”
With composure, Song Yuzhang replied, “The love of beauty is universal.”
Song Mingzhao shot him a side glance and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Never seen anyone praise themselves like that. Don’t you have any shame?”
Smiling, Song Yuzhang leaned in closer, inching his face toward Song Mingzhao. “Then do you think I’m good-looking?”
Song Mingzhao was momentarily stunned. Of course Song Yuzhang was beautiful—so beautiful it was hard to look at him for long without feeling dizzy and dazed.
He averted his gaze and mumbled, “Beautiful. You’re the best-looking in the whole family.”
Old Master Song looked energetic. When he saw Song Yuzhang, he laughed and chatted loudly, his voice firm and full. He looked much better than he had just days before. Song Yuzhang spoke with him carefully and tactfully, making him laugh a lot. At the same time, he made sure to include Song Mingzhao in the conversation, giving him a rare taste of warm, fatherly affection.
Holding Song Yuzhang’s hand, Song Zhenqiao’s eyes were filled with warmth. “Twenty years… and you’ve grown up so well.”
Song Yuzhang smiled but didn’t speak.
“Yuzhang,” Song Zhenqiao tightened his grip, surprisingly strong, “I want you to promise me one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Join the bank.”
Those three words landed like a hammer. Song Mingzhao immediately widened his eyes.
Song Yuzhang calmly replied, “I don’t know anything about banking.”
“You can learn. I’ll arrange someone to teach you.”
“But… I’m going back to England eventually.”
“Even so, you must still join.”
For once, Old Master Song showed a forceful side in front of Song Yuzhang. He held his hand tightly, as if unwilling to let go unless he agreed. “Promise me.”
Is he testing me again? Song Yuzhang thought. This is a bit much. After a moment’s silence, he finally said, “Alright. I promise.”
After the visit, as usual, Song Yuzhang asked the doctor about Old Master Song’s condition. The doctor repeated the same line: the old man was living day by day. “He seemed pretty energetic today,” Song Yuzhang noted.
The doctor, face like a stone wall, replied, “Then I suppose today is not the day.”
What a useless answer, Song Yuzhang thought.
Since he couldn’t get anything meaningful, he left. Outside, he saw Song Mingzhao smoking under the hospital’s pomegranate tree.
“Fourth Brother.”
Song Mingzhao glanced at him lazily, his mood as hollow as his expression.
Song Yuzhang looked at him quietly.
Song Mingzhao gave a faint, bitter smile and spat, “The old man’s senile—lifting up a bastard.”
Song Yuzhang’s expression didn’t change.
“What are you looking at?” Song Mingzhao growled. “You don’t really think the four of us treat you as one of our own, do you? A fake foreigner’s bastard child!”
Without a word, Song Yuzhang looked him in the eye and reached out. Thinking he was about to start a fight, Song Mingzhao flinched. But all Song Yuzhang did was take the cigarette from his hand—it was almost burned down and might’ve burned him.
He casually stubbed it out and said, “It’s still early. Let’s go dance.”
Song Mingzhao stared at him, stunned. Slowly, his face twisted into a prideful, tearful expression. “Fine. Let’s dance. Who’s afraid of who?”
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