Song Yuzhang: Chapter 84 - Aftermath Handling
Chapter 84: Aftermath Handling
After night fell, the gold was transported away again. Shen Chengduo stood nearby, practically drooling. “The Nie family has this much gold?”
Song Yuzhang replied, “This bit of gold is nothing—just a little that leaked through Mr. Nie’s fingers.”
Shen Chengduo had always prided himself on his family's wealth, but now he was stunned into silence.
He didn’t doubt Song Yuzhang’s words. Given Nie Xueping’s relationship with Song Yuzhang, he figured there was no way the Nie family would lend all their gold reserves just to help Song Yuzhang put on a show of strength.
So, the Nie family really is deeply hidden and unfathomable!
“Brother Shen, I should thank you again for bringing so many people to help today.”
“It’s nothing, it’s nothing. We’re all in the same boat.”
After a few polite exchanges, Song Yuzhang sent Shen Chengduo on his way.
After all, Shen Chengduo had personally seen the Nie family’s long convoy transporting gold. As far as he was concerned, it was enough to confirm that the Song and Nie families were in alliance. Whether the Song Bank was actually in financial trouble no longer mattered.
Song Qiyuan had barely slept in nearly 24 hours, yet his energy seemed fine. “Back when I was in the opera troupe pulling all-nighters, I didn’t feel anything. But staying up one night for this, and I’m completely exhausted. Honestly…”
Song Yuzhang smiled at him—couldn’t stop smiling—then went over and gave him a hug. “Third Brother, yesterday must’ve been tough on you.”
Song Qiyuan, feeling drained to the bone, let his whole body relax. The tension from the night before seemed to melt away. He raised his arm and put it around Song Yuzhang’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Song Yuzhang smiled, “Sorry for what?”
Song Qiyuan didn’t answer, just gave his shoulder a squeeze. Then he stepped back and said, “Our Song family owes you. The bank is yours now. I’ll work like a horse to repay you for turning things around yesterday.”
Song Yuzhang said, “Third Brother, you should know I’m not…”
But Song Qiyuan waved his hand, “Let the capable one take charge. I never cared for this anyway. Since you’ve taken the burden, it’s yours. No one ever said which ‘Song’ the ‘Song Bank’ belongs to.” He paused, suddenly curious. “Wait... your surname really is Song?”
Song Yuzhang chuckled, “It’s not. You planning to give me a new signboard for the bank?”
Song Qiyuan replied seriously, “I could. But to avoid stirring things up, maybe you can just hang it in your room and enjoy the fantasy.”
Song Yuzhang sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside him.
Song Qiyuan joined him. Song Yuzhang lit a cigarette for himself, then offered one to Song Qiyuan. As smoke curled around them, Song Yuzhang said, “I really am Song Yuzhang.”
Song Qiyuan thought about that and murmured, “Then it was fate—just a twist of fate.”
Song Yuzhang didn’t deny it.
Song Qiyuan exhaled a puff of smoke, his face solemn. “That’s fine too. A twist of fate—and now everything has come full circle.”
“If it weren’t for you,” he said, shaking his head, “I really don’t know how this would’ve ended. But how did you convince the Nie family to help? And who leaked the news about the deficit? Was it some scheme you orchestrated yourself?”
Cigarette in his mouth, Song Yuzhang reached out and pinched Song Qiyuan’s face—only to get his hand slapped away. “You really think I’m some all-powerful sorcerer, conjuring clouds and rain at will? A self-directed act? Third Brother, am I that brilliant in your eyes?”
Song Qiyuan gave him a sidelong glare and silently took another drag from his cigarette. For the first time in a long while, his heart felt calm.
He had spent years dodging responsibility, content to be a rich idler. But even in comfort, he had never felt peace. Always aimless, always untethered. He didn’t know what he wanted, what he should be doing. He thought himself free-spirited, but in truth, he had just been wasting precious time.
He smiled bitterly, realizing now how naïve he used to be.
It wasn’t until he spent the night in the bank, with all the staff’s fear and anxiety weighing on him, that he felt grounded—like he finally had solid footing under him.
A person ought to carry something on their shoulders. That’s what makes one whole.
He stubbed out his cigarette, gave Song Yuzhang’s shoulder another squeeze, and said, “I’ll go check on Second Brother. He was really anxious yesterday too.”
“Oh?” Song Yuzhang puffed on his cigarette. “I thought Second Brother was too busy trying to hang himself.”
Song Qiyuan gave his shoulder a hard pinch. “You think that’s funny? Second Brother really had feelings this time.”
“No way.”
“Why not? He said that if Nie Qingyun won’t have him, then even if he doesn’t die, he’ll become a monk.”
Song Yuzhang couldn’t help laughing and suddenly thought of Meng Tingjing. With a faint smile, he said, “Then let him become a monk. Dharma name: Passion Fool.”
Hearing his teasing tone, Song Qiyuan didn’t take offense. He knew they weren’t blood brothers, so it was natural that Song Yuzhang didn’t feel much affection for Song Yekang. Even he, who was their brother by blood, often felt like smacking those two elder brothers himself.
Everyone from the bank had already left. The only ones remaining were Liu Chuanzong and the young boy. The staff had been terrified last night. Song Yuzhang had always been generous, and now that funds were no longer an issue, he had Liu Chuanzong hand out some extra money to everyone—as comfort and compensation.
“President, it’s all taken care of.”
“Good.”
Song Yuzhang looked up and waved the boy over. “Come here.”
Though the boy still looked defiant, his attitude had improved. When called, he swaggered over.
Song Yuzhang said, “You know a lot about how the bank works.”
The boy let out a proud snort in response.
“Who taught you?”
“Taught myself.”
Song Yuzhang smiled. “What's your name?”
The boy mumbled for a while, his face gradually turning red, and finally squeezed out two words: “Mao Dan.”
Song Yuzhang was taken aback, suppressing a laugh. “Not bad, sounds very... round.”
Mao Dan nearly bristled with embarrassment and anger, but then heard Song Yuzhang say, “Would you be willing to follow Old Liu?”
“He's very smart, and you're smart too. He can teach you a lot—skills you can rely on to survive in this world.”
Mao Dan stayed silent, shifting on his feet. The cloth shoes he wore were given to him by Liu Chuanzong. “Whatever.”
Song Yuzhang smiled at Liu Chuanzong. “Old Liu, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you.”
Liu Chuanzong nodded solemnly and placed his hand on Mao Dan's shoulder. “Yes.”
When everyone else had left, Song Yuzhang finally let out a long sigh of relief. He lay alone on the sofa for a while before lazily heading downstairs to catch a ride.
The Song family driver was dutifully waiting. After Song Yuzhang got in the car, the driver said, “Fourth Young Master came by.”
Song Yuzhang was startled. “Where is he now?”
“He already left.”
Song Yuzhang immediately told the driver to return to the Song residence. He’d been so busy spinning in circles over the bank that he’d completely forgotten about Song Mingzhao at home.
Upon returning to the Song residence, Song Yuzhang first asked the servants what had happened. They reported that someone had come to the house yesterday afternoon, causing a disturbance. The Fourth Young Master came back and got into a conflict with them. Later, the police arrived, and only then did he manage to get away. He then went to the bank and returned again this morning. He was now upstairs.
Song Yuzhang went upstairs to his own room first. No one was inside. He had a sense of what was going on and turned toward Song Mingzhao’s room. He didn’t push the door open but knocked gently.
There was no response for a while, so he opened the door himself. Song Mingzhao hadn’t hidden like a child, but just sat on the bed with his back to the door.
Song Yuzhang walked quietly over, hands behind his back, and covered Song Mingzhao’s eyes with his hands. “Guess who’s back?”
Song Mingzhao remained motionless and silent. Song Yuzhang found it odd. He let go and turned to look—only to see Song Mingzhao’s eyes were swollen like walnuts. Clearly, he had cried a great deal. His expression was blank and dazed.
Song Yuzhang figured he must have been badly frightened.
“Fourth Brother, it’s all okay now.”
He sat down on the bed and took Song Mingzhao’s hand. It was icy cold. Song Yuzhang rubbed it, then breathed warm air on it. Finally, Song Mingzhao looked at him in a daze. “Xiao Yu…”
“Fourth Brother,” Song Yuzhang held his hand tightly, “it’s okay now. Were you really scared?”
Song Mingzhao was indeed shaken. He had lived a very simple life, only between school and home. When rumors started spreading at school yesterday, he became anxious and furious, wondering who could be spreading such nonsense. But when he rushed to the bank, he found it had already been shut down.
That was when real fear took hold of him. He ran back home, only to find the Song residence swarming with people. He was nearly dragged off and beaten. In a panic, he fled to the small building where Song Qiyuan lived.
Song Qiyuan wasn’t there. Song Yekang mocked him, speaking with a tone of pity mixed with disdain, “Idiot.”
Song Mingzhao snapped, “Second Brother, say it clearly—what do you mean?”
But Song Yekang said nothing more, just muttered to himself, “I’m an idiot too. Haha, the whole family’s full of idiots.”
Song Mingzhao may have been a bit ‘silly,’ but he wasn’t completely hopeless. He had a vague sense that something was going on—but deep down, he refused to believe it: Surely they wouldn’t hide it from just him? Even if the elder brothers did, Xiao Yu wouldn’t.
He returned to the bank and stood hidden among the crowd, watching Song Yuzhang’s awe-inspiring appearance as he seemingly descended from the heavens. It was mesmerizing. Then he saw Song Qiyuan come out too. The two of them chatted like old friends. So he left.
His palm was now warm from the rubbing. His heart began to beat faster. He was a complete mess inside.
“He didn’t tell me anything because he didn’t want me to worry. It was for my own good.”
“What would it help to tell me anyway? I couldn’t do anything. I might even mess things up.”
“Third Brother is smarter, more capable. He can help Xiao Yu. I can’t. I can’t blame anyone else. I can only blame myself for being useless.”
Only blame himself for being useless.
Song Mingzhao suddenly grasped Song Yuzhang’s hand in return, forcing a smile. He didn’t want to ask anymore. “You must be exhausted. It’s so late…”
His voice cut off suddenly—he had seen the wound on Song Yuzhang’s lip.
“...Have you eaten anything?” Song Mingzhao finished the sentence weakly.
“No. What about you? Haven’t eaten either, have you?” Song Yuzhang stood up and pulled Song Mingzhao into his arms. “My dear Fourth Brother, I know you were worried about me. It’s okay now, it’s all over. Come on, let’s go down and eat.”
Song Mingzhao let himself be led downstairs by Song Yuzhang, his heart completely calm.
He had no right to ‘manage’ Song Yuzhang. He was Song Yuzhang’s brother—only one-fourth. If Song Yuzhang wanted to keep something from him, he had every right. Where he went, what he did, whom he met—it had nothing to do with him. He was just the elder brother. As long as they could still sit down and share a meal hand-in-hand, that was enough.
Song Mingzhao quietly swallowed all his emotions, and by the time the two of them actually sat down to eat, he already felt so full he couldn’t eat a bite.
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