Chapter 62: 062 The same awkward status as Song Yingchen_1
This photograph shattered Song Yingchen’s defenses.
His feigned strength finally gave way. The instant he saw the girl in the photograph, it felt as if a sharp knife had stabbed his heart.
In the photograph, Ah Jiang’s eyes, filled with despair, stared into the camera, conveying a suffocating oppression that made it hard to breathe.
What exactly was Wen Jiang thinking at that moment, under such circumstances?
Song Yingchen let out a low, pain-filled groan. Not daring to look any longer, he clenched the photo tightly and covered his face with one hand, his shoulders quivering.
He seemed genuinely grief-stricken.
Zero Egg, displaying the quality expected of a data System, said at this moment, "Not bad, the pain value has peaked. That’s two Points. Host, do you think you can extract a bit more?"
Meng Qi was also shocked by the photograph.
He looked at Wen Jiang in disbelief, seeing a hint of schadenfreude in her eyes, as if the desperate girl in the photograph wasn’t her.
She simply wanted to use this photograph to hurt Song Yingchen.
Although Song Yingchen had brought this upon himself, it also indirectly proved how terrifying Wen Jiang had become.
She didn’t love Song Yingchen; hence, she was impervious, and could even begin to torment him with ease.
Meng Qi suddenly had a bizarre thought. Perhaps the Wen Jiang of the future would become incredibly strong; she would be invincible.
"Does it hurt? Right now, you’re just shedding crocodile tears looking at the photograph. But where were you when she actually took a knife to my face?" Wen Jiang continued, "Song Yingchen, if you’re a man, don’t degrade yourself. Walk away and prove that your choice is the right one. Ah Jiang is nothing but a stumbling block on your life’s journey."
After she finished speaking, a shallow smile still on her face, she nonchalantly left.
Song Yingchen remained in agony. He murmured subconsciously, his voice tinged with choked sobs, "Not a stumbling block... she’s not... I was wrong. I was the one at fault..."
Wen Jiang was right. He really was worthless.
He returned to the Song Family, treading on thin ice. He tried his best to maintain a good image before the Song Family members, desperate not to bring shame upon them.
In the end, he had truly lost someone important to him.
He had initially thought that only by proving himself would he gain the ability to secure a better future for himself and Wen Jiang.
But now, his Ah Jiang was lost. What meaning was there in any of this?
Seeing his distraught state, even Meng Qi started to feel a bit of pity. "Young Master, if nothing else works, we could go to her and cry, make a scene, threaten to hang ourselves..."
As the saying goes, even the most resolute maiden can be worn down by a persistent suitor, right?
As Song Yingchen looked up, though his eyes were tearful, an emerging chill was visible in them. Meng Qi’s voice gradually trailed off.
"She was right," Song Yingchen said, laughing painfully. "I’ve lost Ah Jiang. Nothing I do matters anymore."
Meng Qi didn’t answer. With the Song Family’s power, he thought, wouldn’t it be possible to coerce Wen Jiang?
Of course, given the current situation, if they actually tried, Wen Jiang would probably bury Song Yingchen with her own hands.
It made some sense when Zero Egg had initially called Song Yingchen the male lead. The coldness in his eyes re-emerged as he said, "Since all of this is meaningless, then I must find Ah Jiang myself."
At that moment, his demeanor became even more somber, as if awakening some terrifying thought.
You’re not really planning to force her, are you? Meng Qi thought frantically. Think thrice, Young Master!
Obviously, Meng Qi was overthinking things.
After the emotional turmoil, Song Yingchen calmed down again, his gaze only becoming more resolute.
Meng Qi and Song Yingchen returned to the Song Family and, as expected, faced an extreme situation.
Song Yingchen had sneaked out.
His every move couldn’t escape the Song Family’s surveillance. They would not allow him to go to Border City, citing the reason that it would delay his training.
This morning, Meng Qi had secretly bought tickets and managed to alter the travel information, apparently with help from the Young Mistress’s side.
Upon returning to the Song Residence late at night, they found themselves facing a tribunal.
Patriarch Song, Madam Song, Song Zhi.
Song Zhi sat below the Family Head, her legs elegantly crossed. When she saw Song Yingchen return, her gaze darted towards him.
No sooner had Song Yingchen entered the main hall than Madam Song, seated there, spoke in a stern voice, "Kneel!"
In the past, if she said this, Song Yingchen would kneel without a word.
Even if he might not have done anything wrong, as long as Madam Song found an excuse or a reason, she could forcibly make him admit his faults. This was especially true for an offense as significant as today’s: he had gone to Border City without the Song Family’s permission.
But this time, Song Yingchen’s expression didn’t even change.
He only looked towards the Family Head, Song Ji.
That was a man who appeared refined and amiable. The years had not left many marks on his face but rather added a certain charm. He wore a white Tang suit, twirling a string of Buddha Beads in his hand, looking just like a compassionate Bodhisattva.
Of course, Song Yingchen knew this was merely a facade.
He was the Song Family’s most deeply hidden executioner, their absolute authority. He never needed to speak; others would carry out his will.
Just like at this moment, as Song Ji looked towards Song Yingchen, his face still held a gentle, mild smile. His gentle smile formed a stark contrast with Madam Song’s cold demeanor.
"I told you to kneel! Didn’t you hear me?"
When Madam Song saw Song Yingchen looking at her husband instead of her, she felt the immediate irritation of being defied. "You’ve made such a huge mistake! Don’t you realize your error?"
Meng Qi stood to the side, not daring to utter a word. After all, this was a Song Family affair, and as the son of a Butler, he lacked the status to interject.
Unexpectedly, Song Yingchen remained silent, prompting Madam Song to turn her sights on Meng Qi. "Meng Qi, you tell us! Where did you two go today?"
Meng Qi was speechless.
Just as he was about to speak, caught off guard, Song Yingchen cut in, "As a son of the Song Family, do I no longer have the freedom to go where I wish?"
Madam Song’s eyes widened, seemingly surprised that Song Yingchen would dare to talk back to her. She wasn’t so much aggrieved by his words as she merely scoffed coldly, "Failing to train properly, gallivanting about every day to see those unpresentable types. Do you really think being an S-Rank Spirit Card Master makes you invincible?"
Song Yingchen’s expression turned terrifyingly cold. "Constantly referring to others as ’unpresentable types’—who truly is unpresentable here? Do you need to incessantly belittle and defame someone to demonstrate your uniquely noble status, Madam Song?"
His words not only shocked Madam Song but also startled Song Zhi.
She rarely showed any surprise. But as she looked at her composed father, Song Ji, who was still smiling gently, and then glanced at Madam Song, she couldn’t resist a snicker.
Meng Qi looked at Song Yingchen with a face full of admiration.
Amazing, Second Young Master! After going to find Wen Jiang, you’ve really evolved! That sharp tongue of yours is just like Wen Jiang’s!
Look how livid Madam Song’s face has become!
After all, in this family, her position was just as awkward as Song Yingchen’s.