“Actually, I knew you were here too, so I thought you were the one knocking.”
Song Liang calmly addressed his fiancé while wrapping his robe around himself.
Xiao Ji was astounded that this man truly took him for an idiot. Holding back his anger, he closed the door before saying through clenched teeth, “…I heard you call him Uncle!”
“…”
After a long silence, Song Liang adopted a solemn expression.
“Xiao Ji, love means feeling you haven’t given enough, not constantly feeling shortchanged. Don’t you agree?”
“???”
Xiao Ji could scarcely believe it.
“I…haven’t given enough?”
“Exactly. You owe me.” Song Liang nodded seriously. “Count how long it’s been since you came home.”
“Because I couldn’t get in!” Xiao Ji protested, swallowing his frustration.
Song Liang sneered.
“Excuses. If you wanted to come back, you would’ve found a way. Just like I’d rather jump off a ship into the sea than hurt you!”
Xiao Ji: “…”
He choked on his response.
He wanted to say that normal people couldn’t do things like that, but Song Liang had.
More than once, even.
His mouth opened and closed before he finally managed, “I’m sorry.”
Song Liang frowned.
“Don’t do it again.”
【…】
3085 was dumbfounded.
【Only you could pull that off,】it said sincerely.
As though he hadn’t heard it, Song Liang smoothly changed the subject.
“So. What did you want to see me about?”
Xiao Ji paused.
For a moment, he couldn’t even remember why he had come. Then he pressed his lips together, his expression growing subdued.
“I know you saw my grandfather. I wanted to know…what you think.”
“What do you think?” Song Liang countered. “Are you really going to help your grandfather take on your uncle?”
Xiao Ji fell silent.
Even knowing Xiao Yi had caused his parents’ deaths, he couldn’t dismiss all their years together. He could tell that Xiao Yi had genuinely treated him well, that he had sincerely trained him to become his successor.
Deep down, he didn’t want to believe that everything his uncle had shown him was false.
But saying so would make him seem weak.
So he remained silent.
Song Liang understood enough from his lack of an answer.
Emotionally, he couldn’t let go. Rationally, he knew he couldn’t forgive what Xiao Yi had done.
That was why Xiao Musheng had been able to use him in the original novel.
【In the original, Xiao Ji and Xiao Yi were much more fiercely opposed. Neither could spare any thought for Xiao Musheng’s true motives. Your involvement has kept them from reaching that point yet. Should you warn Xiao Ji? It might change your ending.】
Song Liang: 【You think he doesn’t know? Xiao Musheng really did give him the vice president position. Compared with benefits he can actually hold in his hands, Xiao Yi—a mountain looming over him that he can never surpass—is far more intimidating. He might not realize it himself, but subconsciously, he’s already stopped trusting Xiao Yi and started seeing him as a rival.】
【Like an emperor and his heir in a feudal dynasty.】
【But don’t you think you deserve some credit for this too?】
Song Liang: “?”
【Haven’t you noticed you’ve bewitched both those domineering CEOs out of their minds?】
Song Liang: “…”
He raised his eyes toward Xiao Ji.
The corners of his eyes tilted upward, his dark irises catching the light with a watery gleam, clear and sharp.
Xiao Ji stared, transfixed, his gaze fixed on Song Liang’s lips and neck without blinking.
Song Liang: “…”
【There. See?】
Looking at his pale neck, still dotted with water, and the faint redness at the corners of his freshly showered eyes, Xiao Ji’s throat tightened.
He couldn’t help leaning in for a kiss.
Song Liang: “…”
He turned his head away and raised an eyebrow.
Under that gaze, Xiao Ji felt embarrassed—and a little unwilling to give up.
Staring into those clear, proud eyes, he asked, “If my uncle and I really reach a point where only one of us can survive, who do you want to win?”
Song Liang gave a short laugh, his lips curving.
“You, of course.”
You’re the male lead, after all.
Warmth flooded Xiao Ji’s chest. His heartbeat quickened.
“All right. I will.”
…
A few minutes later, Xiao Yi sat on the living room sofa and watched Xiao Ji descend the stairs with light steps and a smile he couldn’t suppress.
His gaze narrowed slightly.
“Cleared everything up?”
Meeting those deep green eyes brought Xiao Ji back to his senses.
Only then did he remember that he had also intended to explain the matter with Xu Huan.
He had completely forgotten.
And Song Liang hadn’t even asked.
Suppressing a faint unease, he decided that Song Liang simply loved him too much. He had chosen to trust him without needing an explanation.
The thought softened his heart and brought a smile to his face.
“Yes.”
Xiao Yi found the warmth in his eyes glaring.
Lowering his gaze, he asked, “Staying for dinner?”
Xiao Ji considered it, then declined.
“No, I still have something to—”
“Then leave.”
Xiao Ji: “…”
He gritted his teeth and deliberately added, “I’ll leave Song Liang in your care for now, Uncle. Tell him to wait a few more days. I’ll come take him home.”
Xiao Yi lifted his eyes.
“He said he wants to go back?”
Xiao Ji smiled happily.
“He complained that I hadn’t visited in so long. That must mean he misses me. And if he misses me, naturally he wants to come home. Wouldn’t you agree, Uncle?”
Xiao Yi lowered his head and turned a page of his book without looking at him.
Xiao Ji wasn’t displeased in the slightest.
In fact, the frustration in his chest seemed to disperse, making his smile even more genuine.
“I’ll be going, then, Uncle.”
“…”
The front door closed.
Suddenly, Xiao Yi curled his fingers around the page in his hand.
The white paper instantly filled with ugly creases, glaring up at him.
After an unknown stretch of time, he released it and tried to smooth the wrinkles away.
But he couldn’t restore it.
The creases remained like intersecting thorns.
He set the book down and stood. His fists tightened, then slowly loosened.
Then he turned and went upstairs.
A certain person’s door was half-closed, light spilling through the gap as though waiting for someone to enter.
Xiao Yi stood outside for a moment.
He was about to leave when a rustling sound came from within, as though someone were changing clothes.
Xiao Ji’s parting smile suddenly flashed through his mind.
A bitter ache rose in his chest.
He abruptly turned and pushed open the door behind him.
The person inside wasn’t changing. He was standing beside the bed, arranging something.
Metal clinked.
Realizing his intrusion, Xiao Yi was about to withdraw, but Song Liang had already turned and spotted him.
His face lit up with enthusiasm.
Seeing that familiar expression gave Xiao Yi a sudden sense of unease.
Before he could ask anything, Song Liang approached and dumped a pile of handcuffs, whips, fluffy tails, furry ears, and more in front of him.
Xiao Yi: “…”
Song Liang raised an eyebrow.
“Don’t know how? Want me to teach you?”
Xiao Yi considered himself quite capable of keeping up with this man’s thought processes.
Even so, this was a little much.
“…Xiao Ji just left,” he reminded him.
“I know.”
Song Liang picked up a black whip and used it to lift his chin, his tone suggestive.
“Now, go ahead. Tell me all about the pain your family put you through.”
Xiao Yi: “…”
No one in his family dared cause him pain.
He was the one who caused them pain.
He glanced at Song Liang’s damp hair, still dripping, and his open robe.
A helpless tenderness rose in his chest.
“Go dry your hair. You’ll catch a cold.”
“And after that?”
“Sleep.”
With that, Xiao Yi turned, walked out, and closed the door.
Leaving a scantily dressed, seductively posed Song Liang with one foot planted on the table and a leather whip still in his hand.
“Didn’t you say I’d bewitched them both?” he demanded indignantly.
【…Maybe the villain isn’t up to it today?】
Song Liang clicked his tongue, rather disappointed.
Fortunately, the main storyline task had announced its completion the moment he tossed out the whips and other items.
Otherwise, he would have dragged the man back.
He hadn’t driven all the way into the city to buy these things for nothing.
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