Chapter 14

Ruan Zhen had never had trouble sleeping.

Whenever he felt like it, he could close his eyes and drift off to dreamland in no time. Even if he was woken up in the middle of the night and did something else, he could still pick up where he left off when he returned to bed.

Moreover, he never dwelled on his problems. If he felt wronged, he would either take revenge on the spot or come up with a plan to get back at the person later. So when he slipped into bed, he was like a sloth hanging from its favorite branch, feeling lazy and content.

He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Ruan Zhen wasn’t particular about beds, but he did care about cleanliness. So that night, instead of staying in Song Qiuguang’s room, he went to the piano room on the first floor.

Song Qinwen’s name included “qin” (琴), which means “music,” but he had no interest in playing the piano. However, his late wife loved to play, and because she had a leg condition, he had a piano room built for her on the first floor.

It was designed by the world’s top masters and was exquisitely elegant.

Ruan Zhen didn’t doubt Song Qinwen’s love for his wife, but some people’s hearts were like durians—anyone could stand on any of its spikes. His attentiveness to his wife at home didn’t stop him from having affairs outside.

People in their circle didn’t think much of it, considering it just another romantic escapade.

The young wife passed away at an early age, and after that, Song Qinwen never remarried. Although he had children with different women, people still praised him for his loyalty and dedication to his late wife.

What did it matter that he kept many mistresses, none of whom he married?

He was much better than the younger Song, who, despite his strong abilities and decisive nature, had no companion and didn’t produce heirs for the family. What kind of man was that?

Perhaps to maintain his reputation, the piano room was preserved. The expensive and elegant piano stood as a silent witness to thirty years of change. The world outside was bustling, but the Song family’s front door saw a constant flow of people, with money flowing out and then pouring back in a hundredfold.

Every day, the room was cleaned by the servants, and it was spotless, with no unpleasant odors. The windows were kept open, allowing a gentle breeze to flow in, and the room’s seclusion brought a sense of peace.

Ruan Zhen slept on a small sofa against the wall.

He was also using an expensive blanket, reportedly worth a hundred thousand yuan.

Warm and soft, it was very comfortable.

It was indeed luxurious to live off the rich.

Especially after hearing Song Chunfeng’s screams from upstairs, Ruan Zhen turned over and slept soundly.

The situation was simple.

Since the young masters had begged him to return, as an elder, Ruan Zhen had to take on the responsibility of educating the younger generation. He couldn’t just leave Song Qiuguang in the hospital without a care, could he?

So when he was kidnapped by Song Chunfeng, he used the argument to his advantage and threw a shoe out the car window during their quarrel.

After slapping the bastard, he threw the shoe, making good use of it.

And inside that shoe was a hidden listening device.

Ruan Zhen had discovered it early on.

As soon as he entered the guest room arranged by Song Shuling, he sensed something was off.

It was impossible for Ruan Zhen to forget the feeling of listening devices. The young masters of the Song family had not only forced him to wear a shock collar to prevent his escape but also installed listening devices in his room.

He had secretly called outside to ask about his grandfather’s condition.

The person on the other end said he was still in the ICU, costing a fortune, and that his friends were kindly paying the bills and taking care of the old dog.

His hand holding the phone trembled slightly.

Ruan Zhen had no choice.

What he didn’t know at the time was that all of this was a lie.

His conversations, transmitted through the listening device, were heard in another room. The hospital staff, the daily expenses, and his grandfather’s coma were all fabricated.

The young masters of the Song family were like greedy spiders, weaving a vast web to trap him, leaving him no room to struggle.

Later, Ruan Zhen thought that if it had all been a lie, it would have been better.

At least his grandfather and the yellow dog would still be with him, alive.

But by the time he learned the truth, the young masters had grown tired of him. He had fallen ill, coughing for a long time, and his frail body couldn’t withstand the prolonged torment. He suffered from insomnia and felt as if he was vomiting his soul.

“Since it’s snowing, take him out to play.”

Song Xiaoyu’s voice was thick and sincere: “Do we need to bring him back?”

“Leave him out.”

Someone casually added, “Right, isn’t the stepmother the one who fears the cold the most?”

But no one answered the question.

Even when Ruan Zhen lay face-up in the snow, a small listening device was still on his body.

He was not free.

… When he saw the device again, Ruan Zhen felt no great emotion.

He didn’t make a fuss but calmly took a shower, ate, and lived his life.

Oh, and he had a fever once.

It came and went quickly, and he soon recovered. When he slapped Song Chunfeng, he put all his strength into it.

It felt great.

So before he left, he opened the window—

Dark clouds rolled, and the rain poured down, accompanied by rolling thunder and bright lightning that split the sky.

It was as if the heavens were expressing their anger.

Ruan Zhen removed the listening device from the lamp: “Third Lord, it’s been a pleasure working with you.”

This time, things would be different. He would stand up bravely, use the other party’s power, and do whatever it took to ensure that his grandfather, the yellow dog, and himself could survive and live well.

His voice was as light as a feather.

Song Shuling wouldn’t hear it.

The listening device was small, about the size of a fingernail, and easily slipped into the shoe, which he then discarded along the way.

He sent a signal to Song Shuling.

The other party was already suspicious of his identity, so this would only make them more cautious. Sure enough, when a plate of fresh fruit was brought in, a small earpiece was slipped into his hand.

On the other side, Song Chunfeng was still talking nonstop.

Ruan Zhen looked up and greeted him with a sweet smile.

“Auntie, could I have more strawberries?”

The other person smiled and nodded, leaving as usual.

Song Xiaoyu was still talking, asking the stepmother if she had any instructions they should follow.

“If I move in, I’ll stay on the third floor. To avoid suspicion, you’re not allowed to come up unless necessary… When signing the land deal, remember to have me review it.”

At the same time, Song Shuling’s cold voice, tinged with static, came through.

“Is that all?”

The strawberries were sweet and tangy, their juice sticking to his fingers.

Ruan Zhen climbed the stairs, stepping through the corridor on the third floor. The light from the bamboo leaves cast golden coin-like patterns. His voice was soft: “Of course not.”

He wanted more than that.

In his palm lay the listening device that had been sent with the strawberries.

He wasn’t particularly interested in dividends or land deals.

… Okay, maybe a little.

But now, that wasn’t the most important thing.

Ruan Zhen pushed open the door to the guest room, locked it, and propped a chair against it before speaking: “I want Song Qiuguang to come back today.”

He undid his shirt buttons, taking off his damp shirt: “You’ve always been suspicious of my identity, haven’t you? If I tell you that I only want two years to properly educate these young masters, would you believe me?”

The laughter on the other end was light.

Song Shuling was very different from his nephews.

Even if he didn’t believe Ruan Zhen, he wouldn’t mock him sarcastically.

There was a hint of curiosity and even admiration in his laughter.

Ruan Zhen didn’t notice or care about the latter. He continued: “Third Lord, you’ve been away for a long time and may not know how bad things have become at home. Of course, you could leave after the funeral and ignore all the conflicts here.”

In the original story, Song Shuling had indeed done just that.

He seemed to have a complex relationship with his elder brother, a mix of respect and disdain, which led him to distance himself and avoid getting involved in family disputes.

There was a pause on the other end.

“The choice is yours, but I hope you’ll bring Song Qiuguang back from the hospital and send him to me.”

Ruan Zhen gently persuaded: “After all, it’s better for the family to be together, isn’t it?”

The silence was brief.

“When?”

“Now,” Ruan Zhen glanced at the time, “If possible, it should take about an hour to get here from the hospital.”

Through the distance, he could almost hear the other person’s steady breathing.

Very calm, with no signs of surprise.

“You don’t need that long,” Song Shuling replied, “At this time, he should already be downstairs.”

Ruan Zhen’s eyes widened, his gray-blue pupils flashing with surprise.

The static suddenly disappeared.

Less than a minute later, Song Qiuguang indeed knocked on Ruan Zhen’s door.

“Stepmother…”

His eyes darted around, and he almost fell to his knees, possibly due to an injury on his knee.

Ruan Zhen stepped back to avoid him.

“I was wrong,” Song Qiuguang swallowed, “I won’t dare to offend you again. I’ll be good…”

His voice was low, as if afraid to wake the others downstairs. He made several promises before finally raising his head, trembling.

“Could you say a good word for me to Third Uncle… Please?”

Although he didn’t understand what the stepmother had done to gain Song Shuling’s support, Song Qiuguang quickly switched allegiances.

That was Song Shuling!

He rarely returned, but when he did, his word was law. Whether it was the stock market, the land in the northern suburbs, or the stability of the Song family’s business, it all depended on him.

They had spent years trying to figure out Third Uncle’s preferences, but today, Song Shuling had personally come to the hospital to pick him up.

Forget about staying in the hospital for observation or dealing with his art school lover. Song Qiuguang quickly climbed into the car, too scared to breathe.

Song Shuling didn’t speak the entire way.

No problem!

Song Qiuguang encouraged himself.

Third Uncle was just a man of few words. He had no one close to him and was said to only talk to his pet parrot at home.

For a man of his status, being a bit odd…

Was quite normal!

When they got out of the car, Song Shuling remained silent.

Song Qiuguang didn’t dare to follow, but he asked timidly, “Third Uncle, where should I go next?”

The tall, handsome man paused and slowly looked at him.

Song Qiuguang’s heart almost stopped.

Time seemed to stretch, but the next moment, Song Shuling turned away and left without a word.

The driver opened the car door for the stunned Song Qiuguang.

“Please,” he smiled, “Just follow the instructions.”

The whole way, Song Qiuguang couldn’t figure out what was happening, but when he saw the Song family’s ancestral home, he understood.

Just follow the instructions.

Follow who?

It couldn’t be Eldest Brother!

He had been stabbed by Ruan Zhen, and Third Uncle had shown no reaction, even bringing him back. This clearly meant that Third Uncle was on the stepmother’s side.

Song Qiuguang realized this with a sense of awe.

The adult world was so complicated.

He just needed to follow the instructions and do as he was told.

So, Song Qiuguang obediently lay on the bed, wrapping himself tightly in the blanket, listening to the soft click of the door as Ruan Zhen left.

The stepmother was so kind.

She had even left the bed for him to sleep on.

But he never expected what happened in the middle of the night.

Song Qiuguang sighed in frustration.

After a while, he reached out to touch his foot.

Although he knew it was a misunderstanding…

Eldest Brother’s lips were so warm.

He liked it so much.

Song Qiuguang’s thoughts drifted, feeling as if a strange door was slowly opening to him.

What he didn’t know was that at the same time, in the elegant piano room at the end of the first floor—a room that was now just a decoration, almost forgotten by everyone—

Ruan Zhen sat up, clutching the blanket tightly.

His expression was fierce.

He stared at the door as it slowly opened, saying nothing.