Chapter 2: Hypocrite

Song Jingyao was far too embarrassed.

He turned around and hurriedly pulled up his pants, completely ignoring Shen Xiuzhu standing nearby.

After washing his hands, he quickly walked out.

He felt that if he stayed in the same room with Shen Xiuzhu for even one more second, he would stop breathing altogether.

Shen Xiuzhu didn’t notice his awkwardness.

What he did notice clearly, however, was Song Jingyao avoiding him.

His lips pressed into a thin line, and his expression darkened further.

Taking a few long strides, Shen Xiuzhu quickly caught up to the fleeing Song Jingyao.

He grabbed his shoulder and coldly asked, “Where are you trying to run off to now?”

That tone of an elder catching a child doing something bad instantly made Song Jingyao blush again.

This time from anger.

It was too humiliating.

He was already twenty-two years old.

Why couldn’t he go out with friends and come home late?

What era was this?

Why was there still a curfew?

The worst part was that his parents fully supported Shen Xiuzhu controlling him.

It wasn’t as though Song Jingyao had never protested before.

But absolutely nobody stood on his side.

His parents practically wished Shen Xiuzhu could train their son into becoming calmer and more mature.

Eventually, Song Jingyao gave up and simply started fighting Shen Xiuzhu head-on himself.

Over time, the two became famously incompatible rivals within their social circle.

Without thinking, Song Jingyao forcefully shook off the hand on his shoulder.

But the moment he turned around and met those deep dark eyes, his heart skipped.

He uncontrollably remembered the awkward intimacy from moments ago.

The anger filling him deflated like a punctured balloon.

For some reason, he even felt guilty.

His lips moved slightly.

Originally, he had wanted to snap back again.

But the words were swallowed midway.

His imposing attitude suddenly weakened a little.

“I know already.”

“I’m just going back to grab my coat.”

“You wait at the entrance.”

His tone still wasn’t pleasant.

Yet Shen Xiuzhu showed no anger whatsoever.

Instead, his expression actually improved slightly.

He stopped grabbing Song Jingyao and simply stood outside the private room waiting for him.

It was only eleven o’clock.

Nightlife had barely begun.

Naturally, Song Jingyao’s gang of useless rich friends refused to let him leave so easily.

The moment they heard he was going home, they immediately crowded around him, saying things like the fun had only just started and anyone ruining the mood was a coward.

But once they heard Shen Xiuzhu had arrived, the entire private room suddenly quieted down.

Nobody sounded nearly as bold anymore.

Several expressions even turned strange.

Only one completely drunk idiot continued shouting fearlessly.

“So it’s that bastard surnamed Shen again!”

“Back then he used to trail behind us like a little girl.”

“How the hell did he suddenly become President Shen now?”

“Tch, all he knows is how to act pretentious…”

“If he wants to be successful and well-liked, then he should go show off by himself.”

“Why the hell is he always bothering us?”

“He’s constantly interrupting Brother Yao’s gatherings.”

“He acts like Brother Yao already has a wife at home, controlling every little thing like some strict spouse!”

The instant those words fell, everyone else burst out laughing.

“What kind of terrible comparison is that?”

“By your logic, should we start calling that hypocrite Shen our sister-in-law?”

“If he hears you say that, you’re dead.”

“We definitely won’t save you.”

“At most we’ll help reserve you a coffin.”

Liang Ming laughed heartlessly.

The drunk guy was too wasted to care.

Hearing the word coffin didn’t anger him at all.

Instead, he insisted it had to be custom-made.

Something luxurious and full of personal flair.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t rest in peace.

Even after dying, he would crawl out of hell to argue with them.

Once drunk, these rich playboys — who normally avoided Shen Xiuzhu whenever they saw him — suddenly felt like rulers of the world.

Fearless and invincible.

Song Jingyao held back his laughter and raised an eyebrow.

“If you’re really that impressive, go say it to his face.”

“Say what to my face?”

A cold low voice suddenly sounded from behind them.

Nobody knew when Shen Xiuzhu had entered the room.

But the instant he spoke, the atmosphere froze solid.

Being caught gossiping behind his back startled Song Jingyao badly.

He felt inexplicably guilty.

Shen Xiuzhu looked at him.

“Where’s your coat?”

Song Jingyao glanced at him.

His lips moved silently in complaint before he reluctantly turned around to retrieve the coat from the sofa.

But the drunk friend was exceptionally tone-deaf and completely unable to read the atmosphere.

He shoved the innocent-looking beauty from earlier toward Song Jingyao again.

“You can’t leave this early.”

“No way.”

“Who are you?”

“You’re the most useless playboy young master of the Song family!”

“Someone tells you to leave and you just obey?”

“Where’s your pride?”

“If you’re leaving, then take this beauty with you!”

Song Jingyao felt utterly miserable.

Bringing an unfamiliar woman home?

Did he want to die faster?

And what exactly was he supposed to do with her after bringing her back?

Sit face-to-face and play mahjong until sunrise?

Seeing him remain motionless, the terrible friend grew furious from disappointment.

“You’re ignoring a beautiful woman?”

“When did you start acting so much like that hypocrite Shen?!”

“Are you betraying us?”

“We agreed that rich brats stay together forever!”

“Whoever leaves the group first is a dog!”

“Every time we come here, all you do is drink.”

“Are you even still part of the Rich Brat Squad anymore?!”

“I don’t care.”

“If you don’t kiss this beauty, you’re not leaving!”

Every word rang out passionately and righteously.

He sounded so sincere that it almost seemed like Song Jingyao was the unreasonable one.

What was the Rich Brat Squad?

A group dedicated to idleness and pleasure.

Villas.

Yachts.

Private jets.

Wild parties.

Those were the basic principles.

Their goal was to squander their family fortunes completely and sit around waiting for ruin.

So as one of the representative figures of the squad, how could Song Jingyao merely drink and play games while everyone else constantly changed women?

That was too unsociable.

Too strange.

He had completely lost the basic qualities expected of a rich playboy.

Whenever the topic of not fitting his “character setting” came up, Song Jingyao developed a headache.

Especially when other people started noticing something strange about him.

Frowning slightly, Song Jingyao hesitated before slowly leaning toward the girl.

He was just about to kiss her cheek—

But in the next second, someone forcefully grabbed his wrist.

Song Jingyao stumbled backward several steps against his will, getting farther and farther away from the girl.

Shen Xiuzhu’s face was dark.

He swept a cold glance toward the drunk idiot shouting the loudest earlier.

The man instantly felt chills crawling down his spine, like prey being watched by a cold-blooded predator.

He shivered involuntarily and immediately shut up.

Without saying another word, Shen Xiuzhu dragged Song Jingyao out of the club.

His face remained expressionless, though he was clearly suppressing anger inside.

Meanwhile, Song Jingyao — walking behind him — quietly let out a relieved breath.

Even his headache disappeared.

Spending money and fooling around everywhere was easy enough.

But acting like a qualified playboy was genuinely difficult.

He simply couldn’t fake it anymore.

What was he supposed to do during s*x?

Painfully tell a woman—

“Actually, I have erectile dysfunction?”

Did his dignity as a man mean nothing?!

Honestly speaking, Shen Xiuzhu forcibly dragging him away right now made Song Jingyao somewhat grateful.

Pretending to be a straight man who liked women yet never touched them while surrounded by rich playboys was exhausting.

Earlier, leaning toward the girl had only been for show.

There was no way he would actually kiss her.

Song Jingyao got into the car.

Shen Xiuzhu followed shortly after, entering right behind him.

His tall figure cast a shadow downward, carrying an oppressive presence.

But Song Jingyao had grown up with him since childhood and was already used to it.

He did fear Shen Xiuzhu somewhat, but usually only when he had done something wrong and Shen Xiuzhu got angry.

Right now, Song Jingyao had drunk a little alcohol and felt slightly tipsy.

He didn’t think he had done anything wrong at all.

The moment he entered the car, he casually kicked off his shoes and collapsed lazily onto the seat.

Curling himself up comfortably, he occupied the entire back row.

Meanwhile, Shen Xiuzhu got lightly kicked into the seat opposite the small table.

He sat there expressionlessly.

The driver, Uncle Zhang, was very familiar with Song Jingyao and could practically be considered someone who watched him grow up.

Naturally, he casually asked whether Song Jingyao had fun tonight.

Resting both hands behind his head, Song Jingyao lazily swung one leg.

“Yeah.”

“But if you send me back to keep partying all night, I’ll be even happier.”

Uncle Zhang honestly replied, “But the person paying my salary is President Shen.”

“I have to listen to him.”

Song Jingyao snorted.

“How much does he pay you?”

“I’ll give you double.”

“What do you think?”

Uncle Zhang laughed.

“I signed a contract.”

Song Jingyao huffed again.

Since Shen Xiuzhu personally came to drag him home, of course he knew escape was impossible.

He was only saying it for fun and to deliberately provoke someone sitting nearby.

Shen Xiuzhu sat opposite him, back perfectly straight like a pine tree.

Even without anyone watching, he remained disciplined and meticulous.

Completely different from Song Jingyao’s reckless indulgence.

The perfectly tailored suit and white dress shirt emphasized his composed elegance.

A section of wrist bone peeked out beneath the cuff, slightly protruding against pale cool skin.

Yet even something so simple somehow appeared absurdly sexy and restrained.

It was difficult to look away.

Song Jingyao glanced at him briefly before lowering his lashes.

Pretending to be disdainful, he curled his lips slightly.

Since Shen Xiuzhu wasn’t arguing with him, things suddenly felt boring.

Then he abruptly felt thirsty.

Rolling over, he sat up and opened the small cabinet beside the table.

He took out a bottle of water, twisted it open, and tilted his head back to drink.

Shen Xiuzhu said nothing to stop him.

He merely watched quietly as Song Jingyao swallowed several mouthfuls.

Half the bottle disappeared.

The only sound inside the car was faint swallowing.

Only after Song Jingyao finished drinking and set the bottle down did Shen Xiuzhu slowly speak.

As though suddenly remembering something, he casually said—

“Oh.”

“I already drank from that bottle.”

Song Jingyao nearly sprayed out the water he hadn’t swallowed yet.

He stared wide-eyed at Shen Xiuzhu in disbelief.

His entire face practically screamed—

You’re only telling me now?!

Shen Xiuzhu’s expression remained calm.

But a faint trace of amusement appeared in his eyes because of Song Jingyao’s reaction.

Song Jingyao looked thoroughly disgusted, as though accidentally drinking Shen Xiuzhu’s saliva was unbearable.

But in reality, he didn’t care at all.

The two of them had grown up together since childhood.

When they were younger, who even knew how many times they had indirectly shared saliva already?

Still, as the supporting male character, provoking the male lead was part of his duty.

Sticking out his tongue, Song Jingyao made several exaggerated spitting noises.

Naturally, the water wouldn’t magically come back out.

Then he irritably turned around and lay back down, presenting only his back to Shen Xiuzhu.

One arm rested beneath his face as though he couldn’t even be bothered looking at him anymore.

Originally, he only intended to pretend.

But the moment he closed his eyes, he accidentally fell asleep for real.

Nobody knew how much time passed.

In his hazy consciousness, Song Jingyao dreamed of lying asleep on a desk inside a high school classroom.

Golden sunlight streamed softly through the windows, warm and drowsy.

The person seated in front of him suddenly turned around and gently touched his face.

The movements were cautious and tender.

As though he were some precious treasure impossible to obtain.

A faint itch spread across his skin, carrying an indescribable tingling sensation.

It wasn’t unpleasant.

Unconsciously, Song Jingyao raised his hand and touched the back of the other person’s hand.

The sensation felt startlingly real.

Warm enough to burn.

But in the next second, the other person seemed frightened by the contact and abruptly withdrew their hand.

Song Jingyao’s palm suddenly felt empty.

Slight dissatisfaction made him frown faintly.

But his drowsiness was too heavy.

He didn’t think much of it before quickly falling into deep sleep once more.