Song Yuzhang: Chapter 42 - Make an Appearance
Chapter 42: Make an Appearance
When the guest list was shown to Song Yuzhang for review, he didn’t linger on Meng Tingjing’s name at all. After quickly scanning through it, he asked Song Mingzhao, “Why isn’t the Chen family on here?”
“The Chen family?” Song Mingzhao propped his cheek on one hand, showing a kind of effortless, innocent disdain. “They’re about to sell their factory.”
Song Yuzhang said, “Still, add them in.”
Song Mingzhao had no objections. “Sure, whatever you like.”
Seeing how Song Mingzhao wagged his tail like a little puppy, Song Yuzhang reached out and scratched his chin. After a couple of scratches, Song Mingzhao grabbed his hand and gave it a gentle bite.
The two brothers were as close as honey and milk, their affection for each other carrying a bit of wild-animal-like playfulness.
Chen Hanmin had already heard about the Song family’s banquet. Many people had been receiving invitations, one after another. Their family hadn’t received one, but he wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t until they truly faced the debt that he realized just how broke they really were. Exhausted and worn thin, he didn’t even have the energy to care about his pride anymore.
“All the land deeds and property papers are here. Please take a look.”
“Got it, Young Master Chen. Please wait a moment.”
Just as Chen Hanmin was about to sit down, the doorman came in.
“Young Master, a card just arrived from the Song family.”
Chen Hanmin was stunned for a moment, then rushed forward almost at a run. He practically snatched the invitation from the doorman’s hands, but once it was in his grasp, he handled it with extreme care. His hands trembled as he opened it, and sure enough, it was an invitation to the banquet. Overwhelmed with joy, he stared dumbly at the elegant and graceful handwriting on the card. He tried to smile, but when he did, his face looked like it was crying instead.
After the excitement passed, Chen Hanmin rushed to the factory to find his father, only to be stopped by the manager. “The old master is meeting with someone. Please wait a moment.”
“Oh,” Chen Hanmin replied, then sat down. He asked, “Is someone buying the factory?”
“Yes, the deal’s finalized. They’re signing the contract now.”
Another quiet “oh” from Chen Hanmin. He didn’t know whether to feel happy or sad. Selling the factory would likely clear their debts, but the entire family business would be gone for good. He’d always been somewhat aimless, thinking his life would amount to nothing more than eating, drinking, and inheriting the family estate. He’d never really wanted the responsibility of the business, thinking it was a burden he could keep pushing off. He never imagined things would end like this.
He waited outside the office for a while. When the door finally opened, two men stepped out. His father, Chen Song, was attentively escorting the man walking ahead. When Chen Hanmin saw who it was, he was stunned and blurted out, “It’s you?!”
Chen Song had just finalized the deal, and upon seeing his disheveled son being so rude, he quickly scolded him, “Hanmin! Where are your manners? Greet properly! Boss Meng, I’ve clearly failed in raising my son. I apologize.”
“No need for that, Uncle Chen,” Meng Tingjing said politely. “Chen and I were classmates as children. No need for formalities.”
The two exchanged some more pleasantries. Chen Hanmin stood off to the side like a block of wood, not daring to speak. After Meng Tingjing left, Chen Song finally couldn’t help but scold his good-for-nothing son. “Just look at you! Meng Tingjing is barely older than you, yet if you had even half his ability, would I be in a position where I had to sell off the entire business?”
Chen Hanmin had no intention of arguing. He muttered, “Why is he the one buying our factory?”
“Why not?” Chen Song said, clearly disappointed. “You think everyone’s like you? Just lazing around, living off your ancestors, eating and drinking your days away?” He jabbed his finger at his son, then sighed deeply and ruffled Chen Hanmin’s hair. “You really need to grow up.”
The next night was the banquet. Chen Hanmin went alone. His father outright refused to attend—this caught him a bit off guard. Perhaps it was because the Song family bank had declined to lend them a loan. Understanding how his father must feel, he decided to go on his own to see Song Yuzhang. This would likely be their last meeting.
As one of the most prestigious families in Haizhou, the Song family spared no expense on the banquet. They had invited nearly every influential figure in the city. The roads on either side of the Song residence were packed with cars from the afternoon onward. The Chen family car arrived late and had to park at the far end of the street, leaving Chen Hanmin to walk the rest of the way. Along the route, he recognized face after face, which only made him feel more out of place.
Inside the Song residence, Song Yuzhang had already changed into his outfit for the banquet—a brand-new custom set. Song Mingzhao said it was tailored by a master from Paris, the latest and most fashionable. But Song Yuzhang wasn’t particularly sensitive to these things. He wasn’t very conscious of his own image either. No matter what he wore, he stood out—he had that kind of presence, the kind that made people’s eyes sting from just looking.
A shadow appeared in the mirror’s edge. Song Mingzhao, hands clasped behind his back, smiled. “Not bad. You look great.”
Song Yuzhang smiled at the mirror. “You look pretty good too, Fourth Brother.”
“How can I compare to you?”
Song Mingzhao straightened up and walked over to adjust the silk scarf on Song Yuzhang’s chest. He didn’t seem to be good at many things, but he had a real knack for these little details—born to be a proper dandy.
Song Yuzhang watched as he folded the burgundy silk scarf into the shape of a flower and carefully tucked it into his breast pocket. Then Song Mingzhao stepped back and studied it like he was admiring a piece of art, nodding in satisfaction.
The whole vibe made it seem like dressing up Song Yuzhang beautifully brought him genuine joy.
To Song Yuzhang, the sight was a bit petty, but also kind of adorable.
“Oh? The two brothers hiding here whispering secrets?”
A bright, cheerful female voice interrupted them. Song Mingzhao quickly turned his head.
Nie Qingyun entered, wearing a deep blue gown. She was taller than most women, with a slim figure like a splendid peacock feather. Her brilliant and open smile only enhanced her stunning beauty. She held the hand of a little boy in a black formal suit—who else could it be but Nie Bonian?
“Haha, Xiao Bonian, what brings you here?”
Song Mingzhao picked him up and turned to Song Yuzhang with a grin. “Did you come to see your Brother Yuzhang?”
Nie Bonian’s composed little face immediately fell apart. His cheeks flushed red as he muttered, “No.”
Nie Qingyun burst out laughing behind them. “Who was it downstairs who clutched my hand the moment I said we were going up?”
Nie Bonian’s face turned bright red as he continued in a small voice, “I came to use the restroom.”
“Oh? There’s no restroom downstairs?” Nie Qingyun teased, flicking his little cheek.
Song Mingzhao laughed too. “The downstairs bathroom is shared by everyone. How could our Xiao Bonian possibly be used to that, right?”
Nie Bonian was still a child. After being teased in turn by two grown-ups, he was at a complete loss for words, his face burning with shame as he struggled to defend himself. Just then, another pair of hands took him from their arms. For a brief moment, he was lifted into the air before landing in a new embrace. Looking up, he saw a pair of gentle eyes.
“Did you find the restroom?” Song Yuzhang asked softly.
Nie Bonian nodded, unable to help himself. “I did.”
Song Yuzhang glanced at the boy’s chest and smiled. “What a coincidence—we have the same color pocket square.”
Nie Bonian replied, “Mine matches my daddy’s.”
“Really?”
Gradually put at ease by Song Yuzhang’s warm and gentle demeanor, Nie Bonian nodded again. “When Master Liang cuts fabric for Daddy, he saves a piece for me.”
His childlike honesty was endearing and immediately drew laughter from Nie Qingyun and Song Mingzhao. Nie Bonian, hearing their laughter, grew a little embarrassed again. Song Yuzhang, naturally fond of children’s innocence and fragility, also smiled lightly at his words.
“Alright,” Nie Qingyun came over to take him back. “If you let your Brother Yuzhang hold you any longer, his outfit will be wrinkled beyond recognition.”
Nie Bonian quickly squirmed down, and when he saw that Song Yuzhang’s clothes were indeed creased, he looked genuinely remorseful. “I’m sorry, Brother Yuzhang.”
“No harm done.”
After a while of chatting and laughter, Song Mingzhao offered to escort the aunt and nephew downstairs first. Nie Bonian was still reluctant to leave. He ran over to Song Yuzhang’s side and motioned with his palm for him to bend down—he had a secret to tell.
Nie Qingyun and Song Mingzhao both tried to hold back their smiles. Song Yuzhang glanced at them, then leaned down as prompted.
Nie Bonian cupped his tiny hands around his mouth and whispered, “Brother Yuzhang, I brought you a present.”
Song Yuzhang couldn’t help but chuckle. He shifted his gaze, using his eyes to ask a question. To his surprise, Nie Bonian actually understood and whispered again, “It’s a secret.” Then he darted off and grabbed Nie Qingyun’s hand. “Auntie, let’s go down quickly. If Daddy can’t find us, he’ll be worried.”
Nie Qingyun let him pull her forward, laughing as she walked. “Song Mingzhao, hurry up! Stop clinging to your brother. All your elder brothers are downstairs entertaining guests—don’t slack off!”
“Got it,” Song Mingzhao waved at Song Yuzhang. “Come down when the servant calls you.”
Song Yuzhang nodded slightly. Watching the three of them descend, he turned back to the mirror and smoothed out the creases in his outfit. Once he was neat and impeccable from head to toe, he walked to the window and looked down at the lawn.
The lawn was already set up with ground lamps, scattered like stars, emitting dark glows. The lake, like a massive black gem, reflected the vast night. In the distance, the headlights of cars surrounding the Song estate wound like serpents. Song Yuzhang slowly closed his eyes as an uncontrollable shiver began to seep from his chest.
He had been telling himself to take the money and run, making up all sorts of excuses to avoid facing things. But during the past few days of recuperation, he had done a lot of thinking—and his thoughts had begun to shift.
Meng Tingjing, Nie Yinbing… What was it about these people that he feared?
Simply that they had wealth and power. Otherwise, why should he care about Meng Tingjing? If he wanted to drag Chen Hanmin into bed, why shouldn’t he?
Because deep down, he knew he couldn’t truly stand against Meng Tingjing.
It was the same with running from Nie Yinbing.
He could play tricks on these people, get a few benefits out of them, but in this game, he was gambling everything he had—while these rich young masters, even if they lost, would only lose a drop in the ocean. He, on the other hand, was risking his life for scraps. If anything went wrong, he would lose everything.
It was simply too unfair a game. And he, in another sense, was weak—truly weak.
Song Yuzhang had always been carefree about life. The world was tough; staying alive was already a blessing. How he lived didn’t matter so much. And he really wasn’t doing that badly. There were countless people worse off than him—he wasn’t about to start feeling sorry for himself.
But the more he observed, the more he felt some people didn’t deserve to be living better than him.
All the Song brothers, except for the third, were fools. And the third acted like some aloof sage who cared nothing for worldly matters—what a pretentious act.
These people were just born lucky, that’s all.
And him? Just born unlucky.
Fine then. Heaven had given him a chance—put good fortune right in front of him. And yet he’d been hesitating, telling himself to do good, to be grateful, to play the whore but still pretend to be chaste.
Song Yuzhang looked out at the dazzling night and let out a low laugh. He laughed at himself for hesitating so long. What a waste of twenty years. He had almost let this heaven-sent opportunity slip away.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“Fifth Young Master, the eldest young master invites you downstairs.”
“I’m coming.”
The servant led Song Yuzhang to the staircase but stopped at the landing, whispering, “Fifth Young Master, please wait a moment.”
Song Yuzhang heard the sound of voices and caught a whiff of complex scents—a mix of food, alcohol, and perfume. The blend was intoxicating, making him want to inhale it deep into his lungs, to become part of it, lightheaded and ready to lose himself.
Suddenly, the noise downstairs quieted. He heard Song Jincheng introducing him, his tone warm and smiling—but it was fake. Song Yuzhang knew that Song Jincheng must be feeling extremely annoyed right now.
“Now let’s welcome our Fifth Brother, recently returned from England—Song Yuzhang—”
Thunderous applause and laughter erupted below.
That, too, was fake.
It was for ‘Song Yuzhang,’ not for him.
But it didn’t matter. Who said something fake couldn’t become real? Wasn’t he, after all, Song Yuzhang?
A faint smile rose on Song Yuzhang’s lips. Hands clasped behind his back, he slowly descended the stairs, making his grand entrance amid a tidal wave of pretense and false cheer.
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