Song Yuzhang: Chapter 97 - Reunion
Chapter 97: Reunion
The courtyard fell into utter silence. Only the rapid, tense breathing of those present could be distinctly heard.
Song Yuzhang looked at Nie Yinbing, whom he hadn’t seen for more than half a year, and at the pitch-black barrel of the gun in his hand. He realized he no longer felt the same fear as before. On the contrary, he was rather calm.
After all, he had been through so much—he was no longer the same person he had been.
Song Yuzhang looked down at Liu Chu and gently patted his head. “You’re not ready yet. Don’t point a gun at people.”
Liu Chu turned his head, his young face showing a wild and savage fierceness. “He pointed it at you first!”
“Second Master Nie, how did Fifth Young Master offend you?” Shen Chengduo held onto Nie Yinbing’s arm, trembling with fear. “Please don’t act rashly…”
Nie Yinbing stared fixedly at Song Yuzhang. Though Shen Chengduo’s voice was loud in his ear, he didn’t register a single word. His eyes could only see Song Yuzhang’s face, and his ears could only hear Song Yuzhang’s voice.
Nie Yinbing’s arm, holding the gun, lowered. He strode forward with long, determined steps toward where Song Yuzhang stood.
Liu Chu saw him approaching and, without thinking, fired a shot.
“Liu Chu!” Song Yuzhang immediately pressed down his hand.
The shot hit the ground at Nie Yinbing’s feet, but his pace didn’t falter. He walked straight up to Song Yuzhang, and after his eyes roved across his face for a moment, he reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Nie Yinbing’s hands trembled slightly.
What he held in his arms was warm, soft, and alive.
Not a fleeting dream.
Nie Yinbing turned his face and inhaled deeply at Song Yuzhang’s neck. It was Zhao Jianfang—it was Zhao Jianfang’s scent.
Everyone in the courtyard was stunned.
Liu Chu, closest to them, still held the gun in his dazed hands, staring blankly at the two men embracing.
Shen Chengduo was even more dumbfounded. He felt this was all just too unpredictable.
Nie Yinbing had just pointed a gun at Song Yuzhang, and now he was throwing himself at him like a man possessed. What on earth was going on?
The calmest person was probably Song Yuzhang himself. He stood still, allowing Nie Yinbing to hug him. Nie Yinbing’s arms were as tight as iron bands, making it hard for him to breathe. Enduring the pain, Song Yuzhang looked down and signaled Liu Chu with his eyes.
Liu Chu cautiously raised the gun to aim at Nie Yinbing again, only to be signaled with another look—this time to stand down.
Liu Chu finally understood. Holding the gun, he waved at the Shen family guards and then pointed at Shen Chengduo, gesturing for them all to leave.
Shen Chengduo cursed in his heart—You little brat, ordering me around like this—but still waved his men away.
Once everyone had left, Song Yuzhang finally raised his hand and patted Nie Yinbing on the back. “Yinbing, long time no see.”
Nie Yinbing trembled and loosened his grip slightly. He looked up and fixed his gaze on Song Yuzhang’s face, staring for a long moment before asking, “Why have you lost weight?”
“I’ve been tired.”
Song Yuzhang’s tone carried a light laugh, completely unbothered.
He had thought before about what he would do if he ran into Nie Yinbing again. Originally, he planned to deny everything. Even Song Qiyuan had accepted his identity as Song Yuzhang. With time, he had halfway become the real thing. As long as he stuck to his story, there wasn’t much Nie Yinbing could do.
But he knew that would definitely stir up trouble.
Based on what he knew of Nie Yinbing, the man would never let it go and might dig up everything. That could lead to even more complications.
So what to do? Song Yuzhang hadn’t really decided. He had too many things to think about, and this one, not all that important, had been shoved to the back of his mind.
And when Nie Yinbing finally appeared before him, his instinct—his natural cunning—had already filled in the lies and prepared the perfect story to keep Nie Yinbing in check.
Sigh, I really am a born scoundrel, he thought. Absolutely rotten to the core.
“Yinbing, you’re squeezing me too tightly. Let’s talk once you let go,” Song Yuzhang said with a gentle smile.
Nie Yinbing hesitated, unwilling to release him. He was afraid Song Yuzhang would run, disappear, vanish beyond reach.
Song Yuzhang seemed to read his thoughts and smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
With those words, Nie Yinbing couldn’t help asking, “Where have you been all this time? I looked for you everywhere and couldn’t find you.”
“You looked for me? You’ve been looking for me this whole time?” Song Yuzhang pretended to be surprised. “Still mad I cheated you out of that thousand yuan? I’m sorry. I was only joking back then. Didn’t think you’d take it so seriously.”
He didn’t mention what had happened in the hotel, and Nie Yinbing wasn’t sure if he should bring it up either.
Half a year had dulled his anger. That burning resentment had long since been extinguished by Zhao Jianfang’s disappearance, leaving behind only pure longing.
Just longing.
Nie Yinbing thought for a moment and decided not to bring it up either. Instead, he explained, “Life or death, it wasn’t that I wanted to kill you. The world outside is dangerous. I was afraid you’d die out there with no one to care. If someone had found your body, I hoped they’d bring you back so I could cremate you and take your ashes with me.”
Song Yuzhang listened quietly and smiled tenderly. “I understand your kindness.”
Nie Yinbing looked at him. “I knew only you would never misunderstand me.”
“Then can you let go now?” Song Yuzhang asked gently.
Nie Yinbing stared at him without blinking. His eyes were long and narrow, bright phoenix eyes that always carried a natural chill. “Last time you spoke to me like this, it was to get me to put my gun down.” And then Zhao Jianfang ran away.
Song Yuzhang responded calmly, “You pointed a gun at me—of course I was scared. I just wanted you to lower it.”
“I only pointed it at you. I wouldn’t have fired.”
“I know. But I was afraid. Yinbing, it’s been over half a year. Don’t you want to know where I’ve been? Let go, and I’ll explain everything.”
Nie Yinbing released his arms, but as a compromise, he took hold of Song Yuzhang’s hand.
Song Yuzhang let him, one hand in his, the other in his pocket, a lazy smile on his face. Nie Yinbing didn’t take his eyes off him for even a second.
“My father got sick and asked me to come back to see him. I happened to be away from London at the time. Took a plane home, but got robbed on the way. Then I met you.”
“I was in bad shape, so I didn’t want to explain who I was. I had no money on me, and you looked rich, so I teased you a little. I was going to come clean eventually, but I didn’t think you’d get so angry. Once you pulled the gun, I panicked and ran.”
“After that, I went to a few more places and finally made it back home by boat. I was afraid my family would think I’d been messing around, so I lied and said I’d just returned from England. I’ve been staying here ever since…”
Nie Yinbing listened intently, and when he finished, he slowly asked, “So… your name isn’t Zhao Jianfang?”
“That’s right. My real name is Song Yuzhang.”
Nie Yinbing went quiet for a moment, then slowly turned to look at him.
“Song Yuzhang?”
“Yes,” Song Yuzhang said with a smile. “I’ve always had a good relationship with the Nie family. Maybe you’ve heard my name before.”
Nie Yinbing lowered his head. His thoughts were in a complete tangle.
Song Yuzhang.
Yes, that was who he came in looking for just now...
How could it be Song Yuzhang?
Zhao Jianfang is Song Yuzhang? Song Yuzhang is Zhao Jianfang?
Nie Yinbing’s head buzzed.
Then the one who spent the night with his elder brother last night… the one who flashed past and got into the car at the door…
Nie Yinbing felt Song Yuzhang’s grip on his hand tighten—stronger and stronger. But Song Yuzhang didn’t cry out in pain. Instead, he gently said, “Last night when I was discussing matters with Mr. Nie, he mentioned you had returned. I was even thinking of calling you over—to surprise you.”
Nie Yinbing looked at him, his eyes bursting with light.
Song Yuzhang met his gaze. “So much happened in my family before—my father passed away—and I didn’t have the energy to look for you. After I left, I regretted it. I shouldn’t have joked with you like that. I always thought we were friends, and you wouldn’t take it to heart… it’s all my fault. Yinbing, if you’re still mad at me, I apologize.”
Nie Yinbing couldn’t say a word.
He had found the person.
But Zhao Jianfang wasn’t Zhao Jianfang. Zhao Jianfang was Song Yuzhang. And who was Song Yuzhang? He had heard of him—and actually, he had seen him too. Suddenly, Nie Yinbing shuddered all over as he remembered: the first time he had seen Song Yuzhang was right here.
Song Yuzhang had been upstairs, holding two boys in his arms.
That image resurfaced vividly and shockingly in Nie Yinbing’s mind.
Zhao Jianfang. Song Yuzhang. Zhao Jianfang. Song Yuzhang…
The witty, cheerful Zhao Jianfang he could talk and laugh with was now crashing violently into the other figure—this dissolute, messy, fawning man tied to the Nie family.
Nie Yinbing felt like his brain was going to explode from the impact.
This wasn’t how he imagined finding Zhao Jianfang.
Zhao Jianfang was supposed to be Zhao Jianfang. How could he be Song Yuzhang?
Nie Yinbing looked at Song Yuzhang in disbelief, as if he couldn’t comprehend what he was seeing. He even reached out to touch his face. The skin felt smooth and delicate—like porcelain, like silk. Without a doubt, this man before him—smiling, elegant, and refined—was real. He was not just another bizarre midnight dream.
Midnight.
Suddenly, Nie Yinbing remembered last night.
When Nie Xueping came in to talk to him, he had a faint fragrance on him, and the exposed skin of his neck was slightly flushed. That was not a normal state.
Nie Yinbing had seen people like that—his schoolmates looked the same after coming back from a woman’s bed.
Just one wall away, his older brother was likely having sex with Zhao Jianfang while he, clueless, lay scratching at the scars on his back, losing sleep, wondering whether Zhao Jianfang was alive or dead.
Nie Yinbing’s hands began to tremble again. He said in a low voice, “You’re Song Yuzhang?”
“Yes.”
That voice—gentle and crisp—had a unique rhythm and tone. Light, melodic, like fingers playing random notes on a piano. One word was enough to settle into a person’s heart.
Nie Yinbing said slowly, “Last night… you spent the night in my brother’s room.”
“Oh, we were discussing the railway plan. It got late, so I stayed over. You probably don’t know this yet, Yinbing—there’s going to be a new railway in Haizhou. Your brother and I are pushing it forward. We’ll need your help in the future. Mr. Nie said you’ve been out fighting bandits—hope you weren’t injured?”
Nie Yinbing was silent for a while, then said, “No.”
Song Yuzhang smiled. “That’s amazing. Yinbing, I’ve always said—you’re a shame not to be on the battlefield. You’d definitely be a military genius.”
Nie Yinbing didn’t respond.
He had loved listening to Zhao Jianfang talk. Every word Zhao Jianfang said, he loved. But now—Zhao Jianfang was no longer Zhao Jianfang.
Nie Yinbing felt a terrible disconnect, a tearing sensation—he couldn’t reconcile the man in front of him with the one in his heart.
“These past six months, I missed you a lot,” Nie Yinbing said, his tone completely devoid of emotion.
“Is that so?” Song Yuzhang gave a small smile. “Thank you for thinking of me.”
Nie Yinbing turned his face, eyes locked on Song Yuzhang’s. Then he leaned closer.
In truth, from Song Yuzhang’s current perspective, Nie Yinbing’s appearance wasn’t unpleasant.
He didn’t look like Nie Xueping, nor did he have the same demeanor. His features were younger, more solemn—he looked like the ideal young officer on a military recruitment poster.
Song Yuzhang dodged.
“Yinbing,” he said, deliberately awkward, “we’re friends. Don’t be like this.”
Nie Yinbing’s face hovered by his cheek.
After a moment of silence, he said, “Is it because you’re with my brother now?”
Song Yuzhang faked a flustered reaction. “Don’t talk nonsense, we’re just working together.” Then, feeling Nie Yinbing tighten his grip again, he said earnestly, “Please don’t tell Mr. Nie about us, alright? I’m working with him now, and I’m worried he’ll think I’m unstable. It could affect our cooperation.”
Nie Yinbing’s mind kept circling: Zhao Jianfang is Song Yuzhang. Song Yuzhang is Zhao Jianfang…
His palms were sweaty, sticking to Song Yuzhang’s hand—sticky, entangled, inseparable. Even now, he couldn’t reject Zhao Jianfang’s request. Just like he had once obeyed Zhao Jianfang’s betting advice on horses. He said in a flat voice, “Alright. I won’t tell him.”
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