Chapter 16

Song Shuling looked at him with a blank expression.

His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, his heart as still as water.

Clearly, he did not find Ruan Zhen endearing at this moment.

His mind was entirely occupied by a parrot.

Song Shuling only wanted his bird, and to know why Qiuqiu was sick.

“It ate fermented apples,” Ruan Zhen explained. “They were left out for too long, so it got drunk.”

He was all too familiar with such tipsy little birds.

In the alley, there was a tall mulberry tree. Every season when the fruit ripened, birds would come, circling the branches, reluctant to leave. By evening, the clean stone paths would be dotted with drowsy, feathered drunkards.

After finishing his homework, Ruan Zhen would sit under the tree with his yellow dog, play with a ball, jump rope, and warn the occasional passerby not to step on the sleeping birds.

The alley was old and secluded, with few visitors, so it wasn’t much trouble for Ruan Zhen. When the birds woke up, groggy and confused, he would wave and say goodbye with a smile.

“Drunk?”

Song Shuling still couldn’t believe it. “You fed Qiuqiu rotten fruit?”

Not exactly rotten, just a bit overripe. In Ruan Zhen’s mind, a little trimming would make it edible, with a faint alcoholic aroma.

“It ate it on its own,” Ruan Zhen explained. “It had millet and apples…”

Song Shuling’s face darkened as he extended his hand. “Give it to me.”

Ruan Zhen nodded readily. “Sure.”

He carefully took the parrot out of his pocket and placed it in Song Shuling’s palm. The little white creature was sound asleep, oblivious to the exchange.

Their fingertips didn’t touch, maintaining a professional distance.

Song Shuling’s thumb brushed the parrot’s downy feathers, his eyes lowered, his expression unexpectedly gentle.

But when he looked up at Ruan Zhen, his face instantly turned cold again.

Ha, men.

But Ruan Zhen didn’t care about these two faces.

He was the same.

Back in school, a senior had pursued Ruan Zhen. Despite his clear rejection, the senior persisted, even going to great lengths to find out his preferences. Upon learning that Ruan Zhen liked fluffy animals, the senior seemed to have an epiphany and sprang in front of him.

“Do you like dogs?”

The senior’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Come on, you can treat me like a dog! Go ahead!”

Everyone, including Ruan Zhen, instinctively took a step back.

To avoid being entangled by this sudden mental breakdown.

Yes, the senior had declared his love in public, believing that such a grand and passionate gesture would better express his deep affection.

Ruan Zhen hesitated for a moment.

He had wanted to say, “Treat you like a dog? You’re not worthy.”

Dogs were so cute!

But fearing he might hurt the senior’s feelings, he changed the subject. “No, if I keep a dog, it has to be neutered.”

He smiled at the stunned senior, his voice soft.

“Maybe you should think about it?”

Indeed.

A kind heart is rewarded.

The senior never bothered him again.

“Ruan Zhen,”

Song Shuling called his name again. “You can continue.”

Over the years, he had heard about the Song family, but mostly just gossip.

“Nothing serious, men are like that.”

“The young masters are just in their playful years.”

Song Shuling’s gaze fell on the page. The setting sun cast a golden glow through the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a dreamlike ambiance.

He hadn’t expected it to be this disgusting.

Actually, during the funeral, he had seen someone from his father’s side entangled with an innocent person, forcing them to kneel on broken glass.

And yesterday, through the hidden microphone, he had heard the nephews calling Ruan Zhen “Step Mother,” discussing the benefits of staying, while secretly hoping to strip him of everything.

His brother had used a chain to restrain the other party before his death.

The eldest son, Chunfeng, had torn up a college acceptance letter.

Song Shuling hadn’t slept well, his thoughts turbulent. In just a few days, he had discovered the Song family’s roots were rotten to the core.

He also felt a sense of shame.

His avoidance had led him to ignore the warnings, allowing his relatives to wreak havoc to such an extent.

He was responsible.

After Song Qinwen’s death, the seemingly impregnable family had begun to crack.

Song Shuling looked at Ruan Zhen in silence.

“You can use your methods, but you must have restraint. Don’t go too far.”

The tall man stood in the doorway, blocking the light, looking down at the young “Little Madam” with the air of an elder and a superior.

A cunning little fraudster.

“Mr. Song,” Ruan Zhen said softly, “are you threatening me?”

“No,”

Song Shuling laughed. “Your nominal identity is… my sister-in-law.”

“So, is it appropriate to corner your sister-in-law in the bathroom?”

Ruan Zhen released his grip on the sink and took a step closer to Song Shuling, the blanket on his shoulder nearly slipping, but he held it tightly.

Song Shuling involuntarily breathed more lightly.

Too close.

Their breaths were almost mingling. Ruan Zhen tilted his head, his eyes level with the man’s Adam’s apple.

Further down, a perfectly pressed shirt with a neatly tied tie.

“Inappropriate, right?”

Ruan Zhen tilted his head. “What do you think?”

Song Shuling’s body tensed. Just as Ruan Zhen thought he would be pushed away, Song Shuling only averted his gaze, stepping back awkwardly.

“Please behave yourself!”

Ruan Zhen: “…”

Well, now he’s putting on a serious face?

Without hesitation, Ruan Zhen stepped forward, grabbing Song Shuling’s tie and pulling him closer.

“Enjoying the view?”

The air froze.

Song Shuling had never been controlled like this before, but he bent down without resistance, his suit jacket slipping off, the white shirt straining against his well-defined body. The submissive position, on him, didn’t look undignified but rather…

Sacred.

Because Song Shuling’s face was red.

From his cheeks to his ears, a faint blush spread, like a pomegranate hanging on a branch for years, untouched, and suddenly pulled down by a mischievous child, finally cracking to reveal the sweet, juicy seeds.

“Think I didn’t notice?”

Ruan Zhen ignored the other’s embarrassment, tearing off the mask of pretense.

“That mirror is two-way. When I undressed, when I showered, you were sitting in the room opposite, watching, weren’t you? How was it? Good view?”

Song Shuling’s eyelashes trembled, but he said nothing.

Got it.

Ruan Zhen knew.

The dog had indeed been watching him!

He had sensed something was off with the mirror but avoided touching it to avoid alerting anyone. He hadn’t checked for a camera in the bathroom, but his guess was confirmed by Song Shuling’s reaction.

Pervert!

How long had he been watching? And he still had the nerve to face him… and even blush?

Ruan Zhen sneered, pulling the tie tighter.

“Sure enough, Third Lord isn’t a good man, much less a gentleman.”

Song Shuling lowered his eyes, not responding.

His arms were slightly spread, as if trying to create some distance between himself and Ruan Zhen.

Or maybe because of the puddle of water on the floor.

If he slipped, this defensive stance would protect Ruan Zhen first.

“Simple enough,”

Ruan Zhen continued. “You can use me, and I’ll rely on you. We’ll each get what we want.”

As he finished, he released his grip lightly.

“What do you think?”

His gray-blue eyes were clear. “Third Lord, want to cooperate?”

The bathroom was quiet, filled with the scent of shower gel and the faint humidity.

After a moment, Song Shuling finally spoke. “Alright.”

Ruan Zhen didn’t extend his hand. “Pleasure doing business.”

With that, he walked out, pausing as he passed Song Shuling. “Hey, what about your bird?”

He didn’t mind the joke.

Deep down, Ruan Zhen didn’t care if Song Shuling had been watching him.

He wasn’t ashamed of his body.

Not because he despised it or had given up, but because, to Ruan Zhen, being watched was like being bitten by a dog or cut by a blade.

It wasn’t his fault.

He wouldn’t be hurt by it.

Because Ruan Zhen cherished his body.

And he loved himself.

Song Shuling replied softly, “Qiuqiu woke up and flew up high.”

Ruan Zhen looked over and, sure enough, saw the white parrot perched on a shelf, watching them with a curious eye, probably woken by their argument.

Its expression was like a bystander’s.

This little thing, not even complaining about a hangover?

Ruan Zhen waved at Qiuqiu and continued walking out.

“Wait,”

Song Shuling suddenly called out, stopping him. “I’m not finished.”

“Hmm?”

Ruan Zhen responded half-heartedly. “Go on.”

Song Shuling pressed his lips together, lowering his head toward Ruan Zhen.

“I’m sorry.”

The blush faded, and his handsome face resumed its cool demeanor. His voice was low. “I’m very sorry.”

Ruan Zhen stopped, looking at him curiously.

What now, make me look back?

No, that would be too much.

But with Song Shuling like this, he felt the need to tease him a bit.

After a brief pause, he resumed the previous topic. “Alright, tell me, did you enjoy the view? Was it good?”

Almost instantly, Song Shuling’s face turned red again.

Well, well.

Ruan Zhen’s eyes widened in surprise.

He felt like he had discovered something new and interesting.

Song Shuling composed himself, speaking seriously. “Ruan Zhen, don’t ask such questions.”

“Why not?”

Ruan Zhen looked at him lazily. “Can I ask something else? What do you think I’m thinking right now?”

The other man cooperated. “What?”

“I’m thinking that when you forget about this tonight, I’ll come and poke you. Third Lord, did you enjoy the view that day?”

Song Shuling’s breath caught. “No!”

“Why not?”

“Just no.”

“Oh… hey, your ears are red too.”

“No!”

On the nearby shelf, the parrot, which had been watching with interest, lost its enthusiasm. Finding the conversation childish and boring, it flapped its wings and landed on Song Shuling’s broad shoulder.

Hmm?

The bird turned its head, its beady eyes staring at its owner’s ear.

Why so red?

Sick?

Humans are so strange.