Song Yuzhang: Chapter 40 - Settled
Chapter 40: Settled
Song Mingzhao was sleeping soundly with Song Yuzhang in his arms when suddenly, he was yanked out of the blanket.
“Brother Tingjing?”
Song Mingzhao covered his neck, which was hurting from being strangled, and looked at Meng Tingjing in confusion.
Meng Tingjing's face was cold, his anger swelling to the point that it seemed like it could tear the roof off.
Song Mingzhao could tell that he was furious, but he didn’t understand why. He didn’t know what had upset Meng Tingjing, but he, too, was feeling displeased.
Early in the morning, he had been peacefully sleeping in his own house, holding his brother, and yet Meng Tingjing, without a word, had forcibly dragged him out of the blanket.
Song Mingzhao rubbed his neck and forced a smile. “Xiao Yu is still asleep. If there's something, we can talk outside.”
Meng Tingjing slowly said, “Xiao Yu?”
Song Mingzhao was still confused. He turned around to glance at Song Yuzhang, who was still sleeping. Perhaps he was really unwell or exhausted. The blanket had become a bit messy after Song Mingzhao was dragged out, so he turned back to cover Song Yuzhang with it. But as soon as he turned, his collar was pulled again.
“What are you doing?” Meng Tingjing said coldly.
Song Mingzhao didn’t understand why Meng Tingjing was glaring at him with such a strange expression, as if his eyes weren’t eyes and his nose wasn’t a nose.
Yes, the Meng family was impressive, and Meng Tingjing was the one in charge of the whole family, but no matter how impressive Meng Tingjing was, he couldn’t come to the Song family and act so arrogantly, right?
Song Mingzhao’s temper flared up as well. “What are you doing?”
Meng Tingjing stared at Song Mingzhao, his mind in a bit of turmoil.
Song Yuzhang wasn’t the real ‘Song Yuzhang.’ In other words, Song Yuzhang and the four brothers of the Song family weren’t biological siblings. Not biological siblings, and they’re sleeping together?
Song Mingzhao was too foolish to realize, but didn’t Song Yuzhang know?
Meng Tingjing glanced at the bed.
That glance revealed something.
On Song Yuzhang's neck, there were clear, distinct bite marks layered over each other.
Those weren't his bites.
He’s not a dog, and he doesn't have a habit of biting people in bed.
Meng Tingjing slowly shifted his gaze to Song Mingzhao’s face, saying not a word, before directly hitting him.
As for Song Mingzhao, facing Meng Tingjing’s silence, he didn’t stand there foolishly to just take the beating. He immediately erupted in anger, starting to retaliate fiercely.
The noise got louder, and the servants were alarmed. When they rushed over and saw the two young masters fighting, they didn’t dare intervene and quickly went to call the only master of the house.
Meng Sushan rushed to Song Yuzhang’s room in a hurry. The noise from inside sounded like the floor was being shaken, almost like an earthquake. With a pale face, Meng Sushan shouted, “Tingjing!”
Meng Tingjing was completely dominating—kneeling on one knee, both hands pressing down on Song Mingzhao’s neck as if he was going to strangle him to death right then and there.
Meng Sushan was so shocked by the sight that she couldn’t even speak properly. She rushed forward to pull them apart, and Wan Lan, sensing her intention, threw herself into the fray as well.
Although the two women didn’t have much strength, their intervention quickly jolted Meng Tingjing back to his senses. Seeing Song Mingzhao’s face flushed red like pig liver, Meng Tingjing gave a cold sneer and finally let go.
As soon as he released his hands, Meng Sushan began fanning Song Mingzhao with a handkerchief while ordering the servants to hurry up and carry the Fourth Young Master out and call for a doctor.
Half-strangled, Song Mingzhao clutched his neck, unable to speak—only able to cough hoarsely again and again. His bloodshot, swollen eyes turned toward the bed, and from his throat he squeezed out two words: “Xiao… Yu…”
He was afraid Meng Tingjing would lose control and hit Song Yuzhang.
Meng Tingjing had sharp hearing. The moment he heard Song Mingzhao’s hoarse cry, he immediately came over, intending to kick him again, but Meng Sushan stopped him with all her strength. “Tingjing!”
In the end, Meng Tingjing still gave his elder sister some face and allowed her to lead the servants in carrying Song Mingzhao out.
The large group left in a flurry, and the room returned to silence. Meng Tingjing gradually calmed his pounding heart, then suddenly turned his head.
Song Yuzhang was still lying there, eyes closed—as if sound asleep.
That huge commotion didn’t even wake him up!
Meng Tingjing, seething with rage, hesitated several times but still let his impulse take over. He strode forward, intending to wake the person up.
But just as he moved, Song Yuzhang moved too—he slowly pulled the blanket up and covered his entire face.
Meng Tingjing’s fury exploded. “You’re awake?!”
From under the covers, Song Yuzhang gave a muffled “Mm.”
“When did you wake up?”
“I was awake from the moment you came in.”
Meng Tingjing was beyond furious—so angry he couldn’t even speak.
Song Yuzhang had no intention of dealing with him either; pulling the blanket over his face had been his subtle way of hinting as much.
But Meng Tingjing either didn’t get the hint or simply chose to ignore it. He stormed over and yanked the blanket off Song Yuzhang’s face.
Song Yuzhang opened his eyes and looked at Meng Tingjing with a complicated expression.
Being stared at so calmly only made Meng Tingjing's anger burn hotter. His brows drew together slightly, and he pointed a finger at Song Yuzhang, shouting, “Are you insane?!”
Song Yuzhang had been awake the whole time. In fact, he woke up fairly early. Seeing Song Mingzhao sleeping like a baby, he stayed still—he didn’t feel like getting up anyway, so he just continued resting with his eyes closed.
His butt still hurt, though after a day of rest it was at least bearable—just felt strange more than painful.
Lying in bed, Song Yuzhang was caught in a battle between mind and body, like a kind of ascetic practice. But it hadn’t lasted long before Meng Tingjing walked in.
When Meng Tingjing started beating up Song Mingzhao, he had quietly watched the whole thing from the bed, eyes turned sideways.
Seeing how agitated Meng Tingjing was, he had a rough guess in his heart.
—Meng Tingjing definitely knew he wasn’t really a young master of the Song family.
As he lay there, Song Yuzhang was half wondering what kind of leverage Meng Tingjing had on him, and half wondering how he planned to use it. As for Song Mingzhao getting beaten up? He didn’t feel a thing about it.
“I'm crazy?” he echoed at Meng Tingjing’s accusation, lying there steadily. He lifted his chin with a faint smile. “Then go ahead and strangle me.”
When he lifted his chin, the bite marks on his neck became even more visible. Song Yuzhang wasn’t doing it on purpose—he didn’t know Song Mingzhao had left bite marks on him.
In the midst of his extreme rage, Meng Tingjing instead began to calm down.
Song Yuzhang couldn’t have really done anything with Song Mingzhao.
He still needed to keep pretending to be the young master.
But even if Song Yuzhang had slept with someone, why was Meng Tingjing this angry? Angry because some slut slept with someone? If that was enough to piss him off, he might as well smash his own head in and be done with it.
At the end of the day, he’d fallen for Song Yuzhang’s trap! Song Yuzhang wasn’t content with ruining himself—he had to drag Meng Tingjing down with him!
Meng Tingjing jabbed a finger at Song Yuzhang, eyes burning with fury and pain, as if he had been used and tossed aside by Song Yuzhang. Song Yuzhang narrowed his eyes and finally couldn’t hold back anymore. “What are you pointing at?”
Meng Tingjing clenched his jaw and spat two words through his teeth—“Cheap whore!”
Song Yuzhang didn’t even blink. “That one’s old. Try something new.”
Meng Tingjing didn’t hesitate. “Slut!”
This time, Song Yuzhang reacted.
The word ‘slut’ was one Ma Jiming often used to describe Xiao Yingtao, a favorite insult on par with ‘prostitute’ in his vocabulary. Song Yuzhang had heard it all his life and was crystal clear on how deeply contemptuous it was. He threw off the blanket and got out of bed. The movement tugged at the muscles in his thigh, making them ache again, but he kept his face blank as he walked over and gave Meng Tingjing a slight smile. Meng Tingjing was caught off guard for a second—and in that moment, Song Yuzhang tackled him to the ground.
This time, it was Song Yuzhang who had his hands around Meng Tingjing’s neck.
Song Yuzhang’s temperament had always shifted depending on the person—ever-changing and unpredictable. Up until now, he had still treated Meng Tingjing with a sliver of the same respect he gave a pretty boy or a life-saver. But after last night? Meng Tingjing was nothing but a fucking bastard born of a bitch!
Song Yuzhang went all out, using every ounce of strength he had. At first, Meng Tingjing didn’t take it seriously—until he realized that Song Yuzhang really meant to choke him to death. Then he got furious too.
The two of them quickly started brawling.
Normally, Song Yuzhang wasn’t a match for Meng Tingjing. And now that he was injured, he was even more at a disadvantage. But he fought dirty—going straight for Meng Tingjing’s vital spots. After a while of scrambling to block, Meng Tingjing suddenly noticed his body was reacting—uncontrollably aroused.
They were in close combat, practically skin-to-skin. Song Yuzhang noticed immediately. With no hesitation, he slapped Meng Tingjing hard across the face, shoved him away, and got to his feet. Meng Tingjing scrambled up too, one hand covering his cheek, staring daggers into Song Yuzhang’s back. His fury rose to his chest, dark and ugly, and he wanted nothing more than to drag Song Yuzhang down and screw him right there and then!
But the moment after slapping Meng Tingjing, Song Yuzhang was filled with regret.
That slap—it was too much like a panicked rabbit’s desperate kick.
Facing away from Meng Tingjing, he steadied his breath, then calmly said, “Brother Meng, I was half-asleep and confused. If I offended you, I apologize.”
Meng Tingjing was volatile by nature, so Song Yuzhang’s sudden change in tone didn’t even faze him. He just replied coldly, “You were definitely confused.”
Song Yuzhang really fucking wanted to twist Meng Tingjing’s head off.
There were no words. Truly, no words.
He’d had countless lovers in his life—he could savor all kinds of personalities and find something delightful in each one. But Meng Tingjing? Impossible. From the inside out, there wasn’t a single charming thing about him!
Song Yuzhang didn’t want to deal with him anymore. He went straight back to bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and prepared to return to his self-cultivation.
Meng Tingjing stood for a moment like a statue, hands behind his back, then walked over to the bedside. He looked at the marks on Song Yuzhang’s neck and found them unbearably offensive, so he reached out and started tugging at Song Yuzhang’s sleepwear.
Song Yuzhang turned his head sharply, fire flaring in his eyes.
Meng Tingjing ignored him, his face dark as ever, and leaned in for a closer look. Once he saw that the marks on Song Yuzhang’s body were all ones he had left, his expression finally eased a little.
“Meng Tingjing.”
Song Yuzhang softly called his name.
Meng Tingjing looked at him with a kind of reluctant condescension.
Song Yuzhang’s thin lips moved slightly, and he enunciated each word clearly: “Get out.”
Meng Tingjing stared at him without even blinking. “Say that again.”
“Get out.”
Song Yuzhang was clearly done wasting words on him. His dismissive attitude made Meng Tingjing’s expression darken even more. He said coldly, “Song Yuzhang, don’t think that just because you slept with me, you can climb over my head.”
Song Yuzhang looked at Meng Tingjing in utter disbelief.
He realized he really had run into a monster.
This time, Song Yuzhang finally and completely regretted it.
It wasn’t just that he shouldn’t have messed with Meng Tingjing—he should never have come to Haizhou in the first place.
Now that it had come to this, Song Yuzhang felt oddly at peace.
They say every gain comes with a loss. Meng Tingjing saved him and, through some twisted fate, sent him into the Song family. Fine. Then they could call it even now.
Song Yuzhang had truly reached a state of spiritual detachment through hardship. With a pleasant expression, he said, “Brother Meng, I had no such intentions. I’m just a bit tired and would like to rest. Could I trouble you to leave for now?”
But the more polite Song Yuzhang was, the more unsettled Meng Tingjing became. He couldn’t find fault with his words, so he rubbed the backs of his hands together behind him, his gaze flicking around the room until it landed on a blood-red pigeon’s blood ruby on the bedside. After a pause, his eyes returned to Song Yuzhang. “Some things go without saying between us. Don’t think I’ll indulge you completely.”
That was already as good as stating outright that he knew Song Yuzhang was a fake young master.
Song Yuzhang lay quietly, nodded gently, and said in a soft voice, “I understand.”
Seeing him so seemingly obedient, Meng Tingjing’s lingering anger gradually dissipated. He sat down on the bed.
The moment he sat, Song Yuzhang immediately lowered his eyelashes, clearly not wanting to look at him.
After a brief silence, Meng Tingjing said solemnly, “That night, we were both a bit impulsive. I suppose you didn’t have good intentions to begin with. But since you didn’t succeed, it doesn’t count as me taking advantage of you, does it?”
“Correct.”
“Mm,” Meng Tingjing, having sorted the right and wrong in his mind, raised his chin even higher. “But I’m not an unreasonable man. What’s done is done. I won’t deny it.”
Song Yuzhang responded calmly, “Brother Meng, you’re overthinking it. It was just a fleeting encounter. You don’t need to take it to heart.”
Meng Tingjing's well-rehearsed speech was somewhat disrupted by Song Yuzhang's nonchalant attitude. After a brief silence, his gaze turned sharply towards Song Yuzhang.
Song Yuzhang wore a smile, his face calm and composed, clearly having regained his composure.
The frantic struggle, the alluring charm, and the angry words and slap that had been forced out of him the previous night were now completely absent.
Meng Tingjing’s heart was filled with unspeakable anger, and his tone grew colder. “Brother Song, you are truly generous.”
“Not at all,” Song Yuzhang replied with a light smile. “It wasn’t really a big deal.”
Meng Tingjing almost couldn’t sit still anymore. Slowly clenching his hands, he ground his teeth and said, “Although Brother Song says this, the previous night you certainly went through hardship. I suppose, given how nervous and unfamiliar you were, this must have been your first time?”
Song Yuzhang rarely engaged in petty arguments. He was a man of clear insight and calmness, often becoming even more composed when others tried to provoke him. Without such psychological fortitude, he wouldn’t have lasted in his line of work.
“You’re right, Brother Meng,” Song Yuzhang openly admitted, a slight smirk on his lips. “Since Brother Meng claims not to avoid responsibility, are you offering me a reward for my troubles?”
When Meng Tingjing had arrived, he hadn’t thought in that direction at all. What he meant to say was that since the incident had already occurred, he was willing to take responsibility. As long as Song Yuzhang was willing to follow him, they could forget the past, and perhaps even form a new, better dynamic between them.
However, Song Yuzhang’s attitude brought a sense of humiliation, one that was unlike anything he had ever felt. This sense of humiliation crushed the last remnants of pride and satisfaction he had, turning them into dust. Meng Tingjing almost trembled but managed to conceal his feelings. Suppressing the strange pain inside, he spoke coldly, “Don’t worry. It will never be less than the ten thousand you gave to Xiao Yuxian.”
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