Early in Gentle Control, there were many scenes like this, where sleazy middle-aged men harassed the protagonist in private club rooms. When the three psycho gongs encountered situations like this, they would generally watch and wait until Xie Sui could no longer bear it, then step forward with a smile. "Beg me, and I'll take you away." What followed was a dangerous hunt featuring a domineering CEO.
When Song Yu had read the novel, he had been so furious he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.
What kind of bullshit demand was "beg me before I'll take you away"?
Xie Sui really was pitiful, getting threatened right after being humiliated.
When you saw an injustice, weren't you supposed to shout and jump straight into the fight? Song Yu wasn't afraid of Wang Beidan. As City A's Third Young Master Song, he could do whatever he pleased in a melodramatic wealthy-family novel like this.
Song Yu picked up another bottle and stepped forward.
"Still got a light?"
Wang Beidan looked at him as if he were insane, sputtering with rage. "Where is everyone?! You useless bunch! Hurry up! What are you scared of a little brat for?!" He kicked the table and roared, "Grab him! I'm going to smash his head open with a beer bottle today!"
Only then did the people who had been scared witless snap out of it. They scrambled off the couches to restrain Song Yu.
Xie Sui had drunk so much and was only forcing himself to stay composed. His head was already spinning. Enduring the discomfort, he stepped forward and caught Song Yu's hand. "Get out of here."
Song Yu was still furious, waiting for these people to come up and get beaten, when someone suddenly caught his hand.
Xie Sui's hand was icy. There was a faint scent of alcohol on him, but it smelled crisp and clean.
Song Yu turned his head.
Xie Sui was a little taller than him.
What he saw was Xie Sui's chin and thin lips pressed into a line.
Song Yu inwardly sighed over this unlucky kid and said evenly, "It's fine. Don't worry about me."
Wang Beidan stood up furiously, grinding his teeth. "Leave?! Neither of you is going anywhere! You two lowly whores, I'll fucking kill you tonight!"
Just then, a commotion came from outside Room 305. The blond was blocking the doorway, keeping the manager out, when he suddenly pitched forward and crashed straight into the table.
Bang!
The door to Room 305 was kicked open. Meng Guang stood outside, his face thunderous.
Meng Guang wanted nothing more than to beat that bastard to death. Every word was icy. "Wang Beidan! You fucking dared to touch my little brother?!"
Several staff members followed behind Jing City's crown prince, on the verge of tears.
Everyone in the room froze, because no one in Jing City was unfamiliar with Meng Guang's face. This crown prince who ran rampant through the capital was someone nobody dared provoke.
Wang Beidan froze too. "M-M-Meng Guang?"
Meng Guang kicked aside the blond lying on the floor. The moment he entered and saw Song Yu holding a bottle, Jing City's crown prince saw red.
He covered the distance in two long strides, knocked Wang Beidan down with one punch, and pinned him to the couch to beat him.
Meng Guang roared, "You motherfucker, do you know my little brother can't drink?!"
He beat him mercilessly. "You actually dared to force him to drink! You bastard, if I don't beat you to death today, my name isn't Meng!"
Wang Beidan: "???"
The panic in Wang Beidan's heart turned into anger, and he lost his temper too. "Who the fuck forced him to drink? He was the one who smashed a bottle over my head and made me bleed first!"
But Meng Guang was already out of his mind with rage.
Punching and kicking, he had no time to pay attention to what Wang Beidan was saying.
"You actually dared to force him to drink?!"
"!!!"
Wang Beidan was about to die of fury.
Everyone in the room watched stiffly, dumbstruck, and no one dared touch Song Yu anymore.
The manager had no idea what sin he had committed to deserve this. His forehead was slick with anxious sweat.
The problem was that his own young master was standing beside him, happily enjoying the show.
Wei Ce said, "What are you so worked up about? We've wanted to teach Wang Beidan a lesson for ages. Relax, Meng Guang knows his limits. Nobody's going to die."
The manager: "..."
Still holding the bottle, Song Yu had been startled by his cousin too.
That was seriously fierce.
Before he could recover, he suddenly felt the person beside him stagger and collapse against him.
He turned his head and found Xie Sui pale, his forehead covered in sweat.
Startled, Song Yu hurriedly shouted, "Quick, quick! Come help him to the hospital!"
In the end, Xie Sui didn't go to the hospital. He merely went to sit in a lounge.
Away from that foul private room, the cool white light brought Xie Sui's features into even sharper relief. As expected of the novel's universally adored protagonist shou, his looks really held up. His lashes were long, his irises pure black, and his eyes curved down at the inner corners and up at the outer corners, aloof yet gorgeous.
At this point, Xie Sui was still a poor little thing, sensitive, insecure, and stubborn. Unexpected kindness left him frightened and uneasy.
He could face insults and mockery with indifference, yet dared not look directly at the concern and warmth in someone's eyes.
"You really aren't going to the hospital?" Song Yu asked.
Xie Sui lowered his head and murmured his assent.
Song Yu thought about it and could understand.
After all, Xie Sui still had an elderly woman at home. He was probably doing all these jobs behind Grandma Chen's back, not wanting her to find out and worry.
Song Yu said, "Give me your phone number."
Xie Sui paused. A flicker of helplessness crossed the boy's pale face. After a long while, he lowered his head and said, "I don't have a phone."
Song Yu: "..."
Sorry, he had forgotten.
Grandma Chen was currently surviving on a meager subsidy. The family lived in deep poverty.
"Then tell me your address."
Xie Sui froze.
Song Yu made a reasonable case. "I'm the one who saved you, so of course I have to see it through. Otherwise, wouldn't I have wasted my time and effort?"
Xie Sui pressed his lips together and lowered his lashes, hiding his eyes, then gave Song Yu an address.
Song Yu noted down his address, his lips curving in a pleased smile.
Tch. Useless 008, what do I need you for? Haven't I just gotten his address myself?
Delighted to have the address, Song Yu told Xie Sui, "My name's Song Yu. I just came to Jing City. Chances are we'll end up classmates."
Xie Sui seemed a little distracted, perhaps at a loss in the face of a stranger's kindness. He said slowly, "I... my name is Xie Sui."
Song Yu's lips curved into a smile. He had an innocent-looking face, and a genuine smile made him especially likable. "Mm, Xie Sui. That's a really nice name."
He had spent the whole afternoon listening to people sing at Linshui. After all this commotion, it was already evening. With something this serious happening at Linshui, no one was in the mood to keep the business open. They hurriedly cleared the place and sent the staff home early.
As Xie Sui headed out, Song Yu handed him the medicine he had specifically asked someone to buy.
"Take the medicine when you get home, then get a good night's sleep. Young man, you can't treat your body like that."
Xie Sui took the medicine. Moonlight flowed around them. Beneath the streetlight, the boy's lashes trembled, his exquisite, aloof features looking slightly dazed.
After a long while, he looked up and said softly, "Thank you."
His voice was indifferent, yet on closer listening, there was a slight rasp to it, as though he were forcibly suppressing emotions he shouldn't have.
Song Yu sighed inwardly. He waved to him, then headed back.
After all, there were still things to deal with.
Seriously, although his cousin had caused trouble and beaten someone into the hospital, it had all been for him. Besides, Song Yu had thoroughly enjoyed watching, inwardly spamming "666" from the sidelines. When his uncle and aunt questioned them, he would definitely have to put in a good word.
The moment he walked out of Linshui.
The fear and helplessness vanished completely from Xie Sui's face. His air instantly became mysterious and dangerous. His features remained aloof, but now carried the casual indifference of someone long accustomed to holding power.
Xie Sui opened his hand. A tiny listening device lay in his palm.
It had recorded every conversation in the room.
Xie Sui lowered his gaze, his eyes cold and mocking, his lips curving into a faint sneer.
Sooner or later, the Wang Family would be ruined by that loose-lipped idiot Wang Beidan.
The towering buildings of the bustling city blocked out the sky.
He strode forward on his long legs. Passing a trash can at the intersection, he intended to casually toss in the medicine in his other hand.
But in the end, Xie Sui paused. The boy's face beneath the dazzling lights flashed through his mind. For some reason, his fingers tightened slightly, and he gripped the medicine again.
He gave a quiet laugh.
"...Song Yu?"