Song Yuzhang: Chapter 100 - Gain and Losses
Chapter 100: Gain and Losses
Nie Xueping hurried over—things at the mine hadn’t actually been settled yet—and after exchanging a few polite words with everyone, he excused himself to leave.
His knee was gently nudged. Song Yuzhang, slightly distracted, looked up and saw Nie Xueping’s gentle eyes. “I’ll take my leave now.”
Song Yuzhang smiled faintly. “Take care on the road.”
After Nie Xueping left, Liao Tiandong took it upon himself to keep the atmosphere at the table lively and harmonious. Seated between Meng Tingjing and Song Yuzhang, he chatted enthusiastically, trying to balance both sides. But both seemed rather uncooperative—their responses were colder than the winter breeze.
After about half an hour, even Liao Tiandong couldn’t take it anymore. Using work as an excuse, he got up to leave. Before going, he subtly hinted at Song Yuzhang, asking if he wanted to leave together. Song Yuzhang smiled, “Safe travels, Director Liao.”
Liao Tiandong felt he had done his duty and left.
The moment the meddler was gone, Meng Tingjing immediately got up and unceremoniously moved next to Song Yuzhang. “Why aren’t you eating? No appetite?”
Song Yuzhang looked at him. Though Meng Tingjing’s expression was cold, it wasn’t mocking, so he replied calmly, “Yeah, no appetite.”
The chef at the International Hotel was certainly top-notch, so it clearly wasn’t the food.
Even Song Yuzhang himself found it strange. Since when had he lost his appetite?
Now that he had everything—fame, wealth, power, even a changed background as the son of a banker, “Young Master Song,” “President Song”—how could he possibly not be in the mood to eat?
“No appetite…” Meng Tingjing casually picked up a decorative orchid on the table, his tone airy. “Why not come to my place for a bite instead?”
Song Yuzhang gave him a surprised look.
Twisting the flower in his fingers, Meng Tingjing turned slightly, his expression still cold. “What? Afraid?”
“I am afraid,” Song Yuzhang said. “Afraid I’ll go there and not only get no food, but be asked to kneel, too.”
Meng Tingjing was furious—but only just. He didn’t explode. Still holding the orchid, he spoke lightly, “I’ve said so many nice things to you, and you only remember the bad ones?”
“Oh? What nice things? I really don’t remember. All I recall are insults—‘slut,’ ‘filth,’ and the like.”
Meng Tingjing was momentarily speechless. Song Yuzhang had a terrifying memory, always able to dig up exact words with full context. But to argue back and forth now—wouldn’t that make him seem like a petty, whining woman? And another argument wouldn’t get them anywhere.
“My sister misses you,” Meng Tingjing said.
Song Yuzhang was a bit surprised. “Really?”
“She told me to ask you to visit sometime,” Meng said. “She’s bored at home and wants someone to talk to.”
Seeing Song Yuzhang look thoughtful, Meng Tingjing added, “I have no reason to lie. Don’t believe me—ask her yourself.”
Song Yuzhang agreed. The Meng family’s cook was a marvel, and he genuinely liked Meng Sushan. More importantly, he no longer feared Meng Tingjing. The Meng household wasn’t exactly a lion’s den—why not go?
Meng Sushan was visibly surprised by Song Yuzhang’s visit, but delight quickly followed. She had always liked Song Yuzhang. Even though he’d inherited the Song family bank and driven her husband to maddening frustration, she still liked him.
“Yuzhang, come in—have you had lunch?”
“I already told the kitchen,” Meng Tingjing said.
“Good,” Meng Sushan took Song Yuzhang’s hand, smiling at Meng Tingjing. “Yuzhang loves crab. Tell the kitchen to make some.”
“There’s crab,” Meng Tingjing replied.
Turning back to Song Yuzhang, Meng Sushan looked at him with gentle warmth. “You look so vibrant these days, Yuzhang—really handsome.”
Under her kind gaze, Song Yuzhang felt at ease. He smiled. “You look lovely too, Sister-in-law.”
She was still in mourning, a white flower tucked in her hair. She lowered her head with a soft smile. Her father’s death had left a deep mark in her heart. Quietly, she said, “I’m getting old.”
The Meng family’s cook didn’t disappoint. Song Yuzhang, having come with a mind full of worries, found his appetite restored. Eating with the Meng siblings, he found the meal delicious. “Where’s eldest brother?”
“Jincheng’s been busy lately,” Meng Sushan said. “Something about buying American bonds or stocks. I don’t really understand.”
Song Yuzhang was momentarily taken aback. “Really?”
She smiled faintly. “It’s good for him to have something to do.”
“Of course.”
Meng Tingjing nudged a dish toward the two of them. “Enough chatter—eat.”
Meng Sushan chuckled and gently teased, “Just look at him. Always barking orders. With that temper, I wonder how he’ll ever find a wife.”
At that, Meng Tingjing turned to look at Song Yuzhang. Song Yuzhang was already looking at him and smiled faintly. “With his looks and character, Tingjing could have ten wives and still not be enough.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Meng Sushan quickly glanced at her brother. Meng Tingjing detested the idea of multiple wives. She worried he might blow up, so she gave his foot a discreet nudge under the table with her high heel. He didn’t react—just picked up some lettuce and replied coldly, “Isn’t that your ambition, Brother Song?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Yuzhang is still young,” Meng Sushan jumped in quickly to smother any sparks. “Tingjing’s right. Let’s eat first and talk after.”
After mooching a great meal, Song Yuzhang leaned back contentedly. Meng Sushan, feeling sleepy after lunch, was helped by Wanlan into her room for a nap. Before leaving, Wan Lan’s gaze flicked between the two men, a bit awkward, then she lowered her eyes.
As Song Yuzhang watched the two retreat, Meng Tingjing said softly behind him, “Don’t worry. Wan Lan has a tight mouth—she won’t gossip.”
Song Yuzhang smiled. “I know—she’s a good girl.”
Meng Tingjing said, “At the banquet earlier, you seemed… off.”
Knowing how unusually perceptive Meng Tingjing was, Song Yuzhang chose neither to deny nor explain. He simply made a faint arching motion with his hand behind him. “Thanks for the meal. I’ll be going.”
Just as he was about to step away, a sharp “Stop” rang out beside his ear. Song Yuzhang turned back with a faint smile. “What, do you want me to kneel before leaving?”
Meng Tingjing had his hands behind his back, his face cold. “You still haven’t answered my question. I—” He paused, then continued, “Compared to Nie Xueping, what exactly am I lacking?”
Song Yuzhang lowered his gaze, silent for a moment, and sighed inwardly. “Tingjing, instead of asking me, why not ask yourself—what do you really feel for me?”
“If all you wanted was to make me your plaything, Tingjing—let me ask you this—I like you too. Even now, I still like the way you look. Would you be willing to be my plaything?”
Meng Tingjing was silent. For a long three to five minutes, he looked at Song Yuzhang with a complicated expression. “You said you liked me once. Was it just for how I looked?”
“Of course not.”
Song Yuzhang denied it immediately.
“You have your charms,” he said. “But those charms…” Song Yuzhang turned his face away slightly, “They’re gone now.”
Meng Tingjing walked up to stand directly in front of him. Song Yuzhang didn’t back away.
“Gone?” Meng Tingjing asked softly.
“Yes.”
Seeing how serious Meng Tingjing looked, Song Yuzhang added, “If you tell me what they were, I can find them again.”
“Things have changed, Tingjing. Our good times are over.”
Meng Tingjing’s gaze wavered again, torn between conflict and aggression, until he finally leaned into ruthlessness. “Just because you say it’s over, it’s over? There’s a whole life ahead, Song Yuzhang. Don’t be so sure of yourself.” He reached out, gripped the back of Song Yuzhang’s neck, and pressed their foreheads together tightly. “Time will tell. Let’s see how this ends.”
By now, Song Yuzhang was riddled with emotional debt—so much that he no longer feared it. He reached out and lightly pressed Meng Tingjing’s neck as well. “I’ll be watching.”
That afternoon, Song Yuzhang didn’t go back to the bank. Instead, he returned to the Song residence and shared his thoughts with the large white bird by the lakeside.
“Honestly, Nie Yinbing hasn’t treated me too badly. Being deceived—of course he’d be angry. He pulled a gun on me and forced me to take my pants off. Let’s just call it even, since I still managed to run away. Don’t you think so?”
The white bird continued preening with its sharp beak, ignoring him completely.
Song Yuzhang sighed and went on, “If he loves me, that’s not my fault either. Nie Xueping’s been good to me too. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it through that crisis.” He looked out at the rippling surface of the lake and sighed again. “To separate emotion from interest completely—it’s easy to say, but hard to do.”
We are not plants or trees—how can we be without feeling?
Humans aren’t machines. Every decision we make has some emotional component.
How could he claim that Nie Xueping helped him purely out of interest? Even if just one percent of it was out of love, then he owed Nie Xueping a debt of the heart.
Debts of money can be repaid. Debts of emotion are hard to redeem.
He could use anyone—but not someone who loved him.
Song Yuzhang even thought of Fu Mian again.
Now that he had truly become a respectable person, he realized, belatedly, what a bastard he’d been.
So would he continue living as a shameless scoundrel, or turn back now and try to be a better man?
He let out a deep sigh and collapsed onto the grass.
The white bird went on preening, entirely indifferent to the handsome man’s moment of self-reflection.
After thinking it through all day, Song Yuzhang made up his mind—he would turn over a new leaf. Not exactly a saint, but at least not a complete bastard.
Step one: confess everything to Nie Xueping.
Just repeat the lie he told Nie Yinbing.
Better to come clean first than wait for the past to be dug up.
Compared to Nie Yinbing, Nie Xueping was clearly not so easy to fool. With his composure and intellect, he’d probably figure out the truth without needing to hear it. That alone could destroy everything between them.
Luckily, luckily, Meng Tingjing had stepped in. Song Yuzhang no longer had to worry that Nie Xueping would retaliate against him for personal matters.
Would Nie Xueping really do that? Song Yuzhang honestly wasn’t sure. Everyone wore a mask in the business world. Could he say he truly understood who Nie Xueping was?
In any case, it was better to end it.
After the breakup, it would be best to maintain a simple relationship based solely on mutual benefit.
On the way to the Nie residence, Song Yuzhang couldn’t help shaking his head with a bitter smile. Turns out, being a decent person was far more exhausting than being a liar.
He had called ahead, so upon arrival he was quickly brought to Nie Xueping. They met in the study. Nie Xueping, dressed casually at home, greeted him with a warm smile. “I’ve been too busy lately.”
He pulled Song Yuzhang to sit with him on the sofa. “There was an explosion at the mine. A lot of workers were injured or killed. I’ve been busy with the aftermath. Thanks for keeping an eye on the railway.”
Song Yuzhang replied, “It’s no trouble. I just check in occasionally. It’s still best to leave the actual work to the professional engineers.”
Nie Xueping wore a faint look of exhaustion, but gently pulled Song Yuzhang into his arms. Song Yuzhang hesitated for a moment, thinking that this should be the last time, and so he obediently leaned against Nie Xueping’s chest.
Nie Xueping wrapped one arm around his waist, the other hand lightly stroking his fingers. He lowered his head and placed a soft kiss on Song Yuzhang’s cheek. “I missed you so much.”
Song Yuzhang gave a faint smile, but didn’t respond.
Beneath Nie Xueping’s short, thick lashes, a soft light shone in his eyes. His arms hugged Song Yuzhang more tightly, and the tip of his nose brushed gently across Song Yuzhang’s face with a fond, pampering affection.
Song Yuzhang looked up at him. With his lowered lashes and serene face, Nie Xueping seemed to glow with warmth. In that moment, a sudden clarity came over Song Yuzhang: Nie Xueping loved him—even more than he had imagined.
Nie Xueping leaned in and kissed him. Song Yuzhang treated it as a goodbye and responded deeply, passionately.
Just as the kiss turned lingering and intimate, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. The two of them instinctively pulled apart.
“Eldest Brother—”
Song Yuzhang turned his face away and wiped his damp lips with the back of his hand.
Nie Xueping clearly couldn’t avoid it and turned calmly to face his younger brother, who had burst in. “Yinbing, is something wrong?”
Nie Yinbing stood frozen at the doorway for a long moment. His gaze swept briefly over Song Yuzhang’s turned back, then fixed on Nie Xueping. “Call those people off. I don’t want to look for him anymore.”
Nie Xueping was slightly taken aback. “You don’t want to anymore?”
“Yes,” Nie Yinbing said. “Whoever comes to persuade me, I’ll kill them.”
Nie Xueping was even more surprised. He had concealed the matter from Nie Yinbing—he hadn’t planned to hide it forever, but he hadn’t expected this kind of reaction either.
“Yinbing, I didn’t mean to interfere with you—”
“I know.”
Nie Yinbing cut him off.
“You wanted to trade with me.”
“There’s no need.”
“You two want to be together, go ahead,” Nie Yinbing said. “I won’t oppose it.”
Each word came out cold and devoid of feeling, but crystal clear—impossible to misunderstand.
Nie Xueping hadn’t expected Nie Yinbing to let go so suddenly. It was just a pity his timing was off—otherwise he could have formally introduced the two of them. For now, he simply smiled gently and said, “Alright. Thank you.”
Nie Yinbing turned and left.
Nie Xueping watched the door until his brother’s figure disappeared completely, then turned back. Song Yuzhang was still facing away from him. Nie Xueping gently stroked his back. “He’s gone.”
Song Yuzhang didn’t turn around. Nie Xueping chuckled. “Shy?”
“You and Yinbing had some conflict last time, didn’t you? Yinbing has a strange temperament, but since he said today he won’t oppose it, he won’t make things difficult for you again.”
Suddenly, Song Yuzhang turned around and wrapped his arms around Nie Xueping’s neck. Nie Xueping smiled and pulled him fully into his embrace.
It had only been a few days apart, but clearly their longing was not just emotional.
Both of them felt it.
Nie Xueping’s hand slid across Song Yuzhang’s waist, with a faint hint of suggestion.
Song Yuzhang trembled slightly, tightened his arms around him, and when Nie Xueping kissed his shoulder, he let go, their eyes locking.
In Nie Xueping’s eyes there was desire, but also tenderness. That tenderness, like an unfulfilled moon, gently collided with the heart of a man known for his emotional detachment.
A pair of good brothers should not be betrayed.
Song Yuzhang said, “Mr. Nie, let’s break up.”
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