Song Yuzhang: Chapter 81 - Love at First Sight
Chapter 81: Love at First Sight
“Build a railway?”
Liao Tiandong waved his hand, sat down, loosened his collar, and said bluntly, “Impossible.”
“Why is it impossible?”
“President Song, you have no idea how much it costs to build a railway. The government doesn't have the money for it right now. And besides, there aren’t enough people to do it. Skilled workers in this field are far too rare.”
“People aren’t a problem. Director Liao, do you know Boss Shen from Vienna? He’s got all kinds of talent under his belt. As long as you approve, he can dispatch a thousand workers at will.”
When Song Yuzhang said that, Liao Tiandong knew he had come prepared. Annoyed, he replied stiffly, “Even if you have the manpower, there's no money for such a project.”
“If there's no money, we can build it in phases—complete one section at a time. Once any part of the railway is operational, funding will no longer be an issue. You can rest assured, Director Liao, our bank is willing to invest.”
Liao Tiandong scoffed inwardly. As if he didn’t know how profitable a railway would be once completed. Investment? They just wanted a piece of the pie.
“Resources are scarce right now. Building a railway requires vast amounts of iron and timber. The government doesn’t have that many resources to spare. This project is a no-go.”
Song Yuzhang gently stroked the sheath of his sword and smiled faintly. “That’s not a problem either. I have ties with the Nie family. They can supply those materials.”
Liao Tiandong still looked displeased. Just as he opened his mouth to argue again, Song Yuzhang cut him off—in a rather unique way: he drew his sword and placed it against Liao Tiandong’s neck.
“What are you doing?!” Liao Tiandong’s face turned dark as he shouted in anger and panic, “Song Yuzhang, are you trying to threaten me? Do you know the crime for attempting to kill a government official? Are you tired of living?!”
Song Yuzhang replied calmly, “Director Liao, you seem quite upset.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Liao Tiandong snapped, “Put down the sword now, and I’ll pretend this never happened. Otherwise, I don’t care what kind of president you are—tomorrow you’ll be cooling your heels in a police cell!”
Song Yuzhang chuckled, “So Director Liao understands what it feels like to have a sword at your throat. Then how can you tolerate the Meng family riding on your neck all this time?”
The veins on Liao Tiandong’s neck bulged like someone had suddenly gripped it tightly.
“Director Liao, you’ve been running the Transport Bureau for years. By rights, the Meng family should be the ones bending over backwards to please you. So how did it come to this—where you’re constantly under their thumb? Forgive me for being blunt, but in Haizhou’s transport business, is it you who calls the shots, or the Meng family?”
That line hit Liao Tiandong right in the gut. His face twitched, and he clenched his jaw in silence.
“Of course, I believe you had no choice. Two million U.S. dollars is no small amount. And that’s just the amount stored in our bank…”
“But Director Liao, have you ever asked yourself: is that two million really yours? Do you truly control it?”
Liao Tiandong recalled a certain phone call that had pressured him, and his face grew even darker.
Song Yuzhang was striking every nerve, revealing every hidden fear and frustration.
“The reason the Meng family treats you with such disregard is ultimately because Haizhou’s entire transport system is monopolized by sea routes. But if you push through this railway project... Director Liao, by then, there will be too many people trying to curry your favor. And I do hope you won’t forget who offered that modest initial investment.”
With that, Song Yuzhang sheathed his sword with a sharp clang and presented it with both hands to Liao Tiandong. “A fine sword for a true hero. Director Liao, for the future of Haizhou, I ask that you consider this carefully. Let’s build a railway for Haizhou.”
Liao Tiandong didn’t take the sword. The anger had drained from his voice and face. He licked his dry lips and said in a low tone, “The Meng family is not to be trifled with.”
The words were weak and frustrating, but he couldn’t help it. The thought had crossed his mind more than once—but the Meng family... just four words said it all: not to be trifled with.
Song Yuzhang raised an eyebrow and lowered his voice, full of confidence: “Don’t worry. The Nie family and I are on your side.”
Liao Tiandong cast him a sideways glance. “Why should I trust you? The Nie family has always remained neutral in Haizhou.”
Song Yuzhang said, “In three days, I will host a banquet and invite both you and Mr. Nie. We can discuss everything in detail then. I hope you’ll honor us with your presence.”
Liao Tiandong pressed his hand hard against his thigh, finally making up his mind. “Fine. We’ll talk again in three days.”
As he stood up, Song Yuzhang held the sword out again, but Liao Tiandong waved it off. “You keep it for now.”
Back at his office, Liao Tiandong was stewing in frustration when—unexpectedly—Meng Tingjing showed up in person. And he brought with him an earth-shattering piece of news. Liao Tiandong was struck dumb, like a thunderbolt had hit him. Yet he kept his composure and said, “Very well. Thank you, Boss Meng.”
After Meng Tingjing left, Liao Tiandong wrestled with indecision but ultimately decided to wait and see how things would unfold the next day.
By noon, the men he had sent out returned.
“Bad news, Director Liao—the Song family bank suddenly closed down.”
Liao Tiandong was smoking at the time. The moment he heard this, the cigarette fell from his hand and nearly burned a sensitive part of his anatomy. He frantically brushed his pants and cursed furiously, “Son of a bitch! He dared to play me!”
After taking a deep breath, he pointed and ordered, “Go guard the Song family bank. When they reopen tomorrow—no, forget it. I’ll go myself. You just make sure to bring enough men with you. We must get the money back!”
“Railway?”
Nie Xueping’s eyes flickered with a hint of light. “It’ll take a huge labor force to build a railway…”
“Shen Chengduo has more than enough manpower”
“The Meng family has been entrenched in Haizhou for years. Their ties with the Transport Bureau are rock solid.”
“They came together for profit—they can separate for profit too. I’ve already convinced Liao Tiandong to approve the railway.”
Nie Xueping looked at Song Yuzhang, saw that his eyes were full of resolve. He couldn’t help but reach out and gently touch his forehead. “You’re sweating again.”
Song Yuzhang took his hand and pressed it to his chest. “Promise me—work with the Song family. Haizhou will have a new railway. The Nie family’s minerals will be transported across the country. The transport monopoly in Haizhou will be broken. And by year’s end, the next chairman of the Chamber of Commerce will be you!”
From his tone, Nie Xueping heard excitement, passion, confidence... and youth.
That vibrant vitality and the courage to gamble everything—
It was truly... impossible to refuse.
Nie Xueping threaded his hand through the soft hair at the back of Song Yuzhang’s head and sighed inwardly. “I promise. We’ll work with the Song family.”
Finally getting what he had long wished for, Song Yuzhang felt an immense sense of relief. The breath he'd been holding escaped his chest, and his clenched hands relaxed as he took two steps back. Nie Xueping supported him by the shoulders. “Careful.”
Song Yuzhang half-leaned against Nie Xueping’s chest, drenched in sweat from head to toe. His shirt clung to his back, completely soaked through.
He had been confident, but it had also been a high-risk gamble. This move was nearly equivalent to grabbing something for nothing. Whether it was getting close to Liao Tiandong or persuading Nie Xueping, even the slightest misstep could have sent him to ruin.
This path—he hadn't walked it on his knees, nor had he relied on Nie Xueping’s affection for him. It was a path he had carved out with his own ability.
Suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, Song Yuzhang turned and wrapped his arms around Nie Xueping’s neck, kissing him fiercely.
In a moment like this, he needed an outlet.
“Yuzhang, Yuzhang…”
Nie Xueping caught Song Yuzhang’s roaming hands and held them tightly in his palms. Smiling faintly, he said, “Calm down.”
Song Yuzhang’s face was glistening with sweat, but he was smiling too—a carefree, roguish smile. “No way. I feel like I’m about to explode.”
Nie Xueping gazed at him deeply. The first time he saw Song Yuzhang had been in a hospital.
Nie Bonian had been ill for a long time and finally recovered. He had gone personally to bring him home. Holding his light, soft son in his arms, he couldn’t tell whether he felt joy or sorrow—just a calm, muted emotion. That was how he had always been, detached from everything.
He had been raised from a young age to carry the weight of the family, so naturally, he was more composed than most.
The only time he had ever lost control had probably been when his wife went into premature labor.
Married young, separated early—after the pain passed, five years flowed by like water, uneventful and unchanging.
The hospital walkway was paved with colorful cobblestones, narrow and long, with thick grass growing on both sides. Bonian mentioned someone ahead looked quite attractive. He lifted his eyes carelessly and saw only a tall, slender back wearing a hat.
It was a man.
He lowered his gaze again, uninterested.
Later, that man turned around. The hat covered half his face, which only made the smile in his eyes stand out more.
He was young, full of energy. His gaze radiated a free-spirited charm, the smile reaching from his eyes to his slightly narrow cheeks and full lips.
Nie Xueping had never imagined himself falling in love at first sight.
Much less with a man.
He had looked about twenty or so—practically a child in Nie Xueping’s eyes.
He didn’t know his name or background, yet love at first sight needed no justification.
It was a kind of infatuation that made Nie Xueping feel almost ashamed.
At his age, to fall for such a young and unfamiliar boy.
Nie Xueping gently caressed Song Yuzhang’s cheek and lowered his head to kiss him lightly. “Then don’t hold back.”
Nie Xueping’s palms were callused—each of those calluses Song Yuzhang had felt with his own hands. They represented the years and experiences carved into Nie Xueping’s life, giving him his unique charm. It made Song Yuzhang feel almost intoxicated.
Nie Xueping leaned in and kissed him. Song Yuzhang dropped his leg from the sofa and wrapped his arms tightly around him.
Letting out a long breath, Song Yuzhang leaned on Nie Xueping’s shoulder, nuzzling against it. He scattered kisses over Nie Xueping’s face and bit his earlobe.
Soft and pliant, Song Yuzhang lay lazily on the sofa, refusing to let go of Nie Xueping’s hand. His other hand crept into Nie Xueping’s robe but was quickly caught and stopped.
Song Yuzhang looked up at him with a half-smile. “Mr. Nie, are you trying to hold back?”
Nie Xueping held down his hand. “You’re drenched in sweat. Go clean up.”
Song Yuzhang replied, “Mr. Nie, we’re partners now—no need to act so distant.”
He sat up, and his hair was tousled from lying down. Hooking an arm around Nie Xueping’s shoulder, he added, “Don’t hold back. We’re both men. I know how bad that feels.”
Nie Xueping was still gripping his hand, his smile faint. “It doesn’t matter.”
Song Yuzhang recalled something Song Qiyuan had said and couldn’t help asking, “Mr. Nie, don’t tell me you’ve been holding back all these years?”
Nie Xueping looked at him, amusement in his eyes. Song Yuzhang kissed his eyelid admiringly and said sincerely, “That’s impressive.”
As Nie Xueping closed his eyes from the kiss, the hand he had used to pin Song Yuzhang’s earlier reached out and held him tightly again. He opened his eyes to see Song Yuzhang smiling at him with the same wild charm he had shown at their first meeting. “Mr. Nie, now you have me. No need to hold back.”
Song Yuzhang was no novice in this area. He was confident that, with his skill, even a saint would succumb.
But Nie Xueping was not to be underestimated. After five years of restraint, he remained calm and composed, sitting there as steady as ever. Only occasionally did his palm sweep firmly across Song Yuzhang’s back. His handsome and gentle face stayed dignified and proper. Song Yuzhang kept staring at it, but whenever there was the slightest change in expression, Nie Xueping would press his hand to Song Yuzhang’s back and kiss him, keeping his expression hidden.
It was tantalizing.
Even now, Song Yuzhang found that he felt no aversion—instead, his curiosity only deepened. He desperately wanted to see what Nie Xueping looked like when he finally gave in to passion.
Their lips met again, tongues tangling, and Song Yuzhang heard a deep, muffled breath from Nie Xueping. It made him shudder involuntarily.
This man had fallen for him at first sight, and he didn’t dislike him. In fact, he rather liked him.
So why not give it a try?
Song Yuzhang interlaced their fingers and gently pecked Nie Xueping’s lips. “Once we get through tomorrow, I’ll host a banquet the day after for Director Liao. That’s when our official partnership begins.”
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