The Songs were a wealthy family, and Song Zhicheng’s wife came from a family of scholars. She hadn’t treated him too harshly; even his room was quite spacious. Still, a layer of dust now covered everything, and his belongings had been rummaged through and left in disarray. Clearly, he held little standing in the household.
The original Song Liang hadn’t owned many clothes. Their subdued colors and understated styles did nothing for Song Liang, so he picked out a few at random, packed them into a suitcase, and began searching through the rest of his belongings.
From the bedside to the bookshelves, he eventually unearthed a diary with a combination lock.
3085 was about to explain that it couldn’t hack a mechanical lock when Song Liang gripped it with both hands and pulled.
With a sharp crack, the lock came off.
【…】
Never mind. Its host had no scruples anyway.
The diary was quite old, dating back to the original owner’s primary school years. He hadn’t written every day, and most entries concerned trivial everyday matters. About halfway through, however, a familiar name appeared.
Xiao Ji.
Song Liang checked the date.
Ten years ago.
“He knew Xiao Ji ten years ago?”
【I don’t know.】
3085 genuinely didn’t. Curious, it read a few more pages with him and discovered that Xiao Ji appeared repeatedly in the later entries. The two of them even seemed to have been on good terms.
It couldn’t help asking, 【Was the original owner delusional?】
Song Liang tucked the diary into his suitcase and turned to leave, only to find Song Xinglang standing in the doorway.
His brother glanced at the suitcase.
“You’re leaving?”
Song Liang nodded. “Move.”
Song Xinglang studied him for a moment, then gave a little laugh. His gaze held equal parts curiosity and condescension.
“Don’t tell me you actually managed to hook Xiao Ji?”
Song Liang looked at him, struck by the abrupt change in his manner, and nodded.
“Yes. He’s picking me up shortly.”
Song Xinglang scoffed.
“The Xiaos would never let Xiao Ji marry an illegitimate son. You’re dreaming.”
Song Liang merely watched him.
The smile gradually faded from Song Xinglang’s face, and his brow furrowed.
“You really have landed Xiao Ji?”
Song Liang couldn’t be bothered to answer. He pushed past him, but Song Xinglang caught his arm.
He was about to kick him when his brother suddenly asked, “Xiao Yi agreed too?”
Song Liang paused.
Why had he suddenly brought up Xiao Yi? Before he could ask, a commotion arose downstairs, punctuated by enthusiastic cries of “Young Master Xiao.”
At that, Song Xinglang could no longer stay put. He hurried downstairs.
Everyone in the living room had gathered around the stern-faced young man at the entrance. Tall and striking, with handsome, sharply defined features, he exuded an intimidating presence that kept everyone at a distance.
Song Xinglang blurted out in astonishment, “Xiao Ji?!”
The exclamation drew Xiao Ji’s attention. He also spotted Song Liang behind him, pulling a suitcase. His brows drew together even more tightly.
“Hurry up,” he said coldly.
Everyone held their breath, afraid of offending him. Song Liang alone seemed oblivious to his expression, calmly carrying his suitcase down the stairs at a leisurely pace.
Afraid his employer might lose his temper, Yu Hang hurried forward to take the case.
“Mr. Song, the car is outside. Mr. Xiao still has work to attend to at the office, so we can’t stay long.”
He had merely intended to nudge Song Liang along politely, but his words caused a sensation among those listening.
Xiao Ji had actually set aside his work to come and pick him up!
Clearly, the rumors were all but confirmed. The entire Song family was about to rise with him.
Father and son were equally astonished.
Song Liang really had landed Xiao Ji—and Xiao Ji appeared to be rather fond of him!
Song Liang gave it no such thought. After handing Yu Hang the suitcase, he said to Xiao Ji, “Give me a minute. I need a word with these two.”
Xiao Ji said nothing, his face cold.
Song Zhicheng and his elder son, meanwhile, were terrified of offending him. They lowered their voices.
“What else do you need to say? Don’t keep Young Master Xiao waiting.”
Song Liang spoke just as quietly.
“Send me some money.”
Both men stared at him.
“What?”
He lifted his eyes to meet theirs.
“You expect me to bring the whole family up in the world, and you’re not even going to contribute?”
Song Xinglang struggled to swallow the curse rising in his throat.
“How much do you want?”
“Two hundred and fifty each.”
“You—”
Song Zhicheng stopped him.
“We’ll give it to you,” he said firmly.
Song Liang nodded. “Bye.”
He left without hesitation.
Watching him go, Song Xinglang couldn’t help asking, “Dad, do you really think he can be with Xiao Ji? Xiao Yi would never agree—”
Song Zhicheng cut him off with a sidelong glance.
“He isn’t his father. How much say can he have over his nephew’s affairs?”
Song Xinglang hesitated.
Perhaps he wasn’t Xiao Ji’s father, but he was his uncle, the head of the Xiao family, and chairman of the Xiao Group. If Xiao Ji wanted to inherit the business, could he possibly afford to disregard him?
By the time Song Liang got into the car, Xiao Ji was already inside. His expression was icy, his bearing imperious and impeccably distinguished—a fair likeness of the domineering CEO from the original story.
But Song Liang was perfectly willing to provoke even the domineering chairman himself. He wasn’t intimidated in the slightest.
He dropped into the soft seat, spread his legs, and propped his head on one hand beside the window. Then he began browsing his phone and answering messages.
Watching him from the corner of his eye, Xiao Ji grew more irritated by the second.
For days, people had been pestering him about the annual gala, asking whether his relationship with Song Liang was real. A few close acquaintances had even asked outright whether he had lost his mind to fall for someone like Song Liang.
If only he had lost his mind.
Unfortunately, he was painfully lucid. He had been forced to tell his uncle he liked this idiot, and now he had to collect him in front of the entire Song household, lending prestige to both the idiot and his family.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Suddenly, he let out a cold snort.
Song Liang glanced up at him indifferently, then returned to his phone.
Xiao Ji felt himself choke on his frustration. Taking a deep breath, he asked, “How did you get the Emperor’s Tear?”
Something subtle shifted in Song Liang’s gaze.
“Your uncle didn’t tell you?”
Xiao Ji’s heart jolted.
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
Song Liang had assumed Xiao Yi had told his nephew everything that night. Apparently, he had said nothing at all.
Was he trying to spare his nephew’s feelings? Or did he consider Song Liang so insignificant a threat that there was no need?
“I found it.”
He recycled the story he had used to fool Liang Ziyu, leaving out the part about finding the gun. Even the rest was enough to astonish Xiao Ji.
“You were at the abandoned dock that night too?!”
“Yes.”
“What did you see?”
“Nothing. I was freezing. I just wanted to get back.”
“…”
Something flashed through Xiao Ji’s mind, but he failed to catch it.
Before he could pursue the thought, Yu Hang clicked his tongue from the driver’s seat and frowned.
“We’re being followed.”
Both men in the back went still.
Instinctively, Song Liang lowered the window and leaned out to look behind them.
Then 3085 screamed inside his head.
【Host, watch out!】
The electronic voice rose to a piercing pitch, sending a stab of pain through his head. His body, however, had already begun recoiling on instinct.
He was still half a beat too late.
A bullet, trailing the smell of gunpowder, grazed his temple and skimmed past the corner of his eye, leaving a burning sting. The faint scent of blood reached his nose.
Song Liang jerked back into the car and against the seat. The abrupt movement startled Xiao Ji beside him.
Xiao Ji frowned, about to tell him to stop acting up—then saw his face and stared in shock.
“Your face—”
“Yes.”
Song Liang slowly wiped away the blood at the corner of his eye. Turning toward him, he curled his lips into a smile.
“Your uncle’s sent someone to silence me.”
Xiao Ji stared at the crimson streak beneath his eye. He instinctively wanted to call it nonsense.
But before he could speak, his entire body pitched forward.
A violent impact struck the car. It veered sideways and hurtled straight toward the roadside barrier.
Bang!
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