DPPM Chapter 58.2 – Response (2)

Sure enough, the next second, the driver opened the rear door and got out of the car. He brought an umbrella, covering a middle-aged man in an expensive suit and coat.

It had to be said that Song Minghai was able to marry an excellent woman of Tan Qing’s status after being widowed under odd circumstances was mostly due to the credit of his good looks. 

Even in his forties, his body was still tall and slender, his face was still handsome, and his expensive and sophisticated style has attracted people around him to whisper.

“Who is this? He looks so handsome?”

“Hey, looks like that boy, is he his father?”

“Isn’t that boy ranked first in this competition? Sure enough, like father, like son.” 

“Yes, yes, his good appearance and intelligence must have been inherited from his father.” 

“I’m so envious, why don’t I have such a father.”

The non-malicious whispers fell in Song Yan’s ears, but he just wanted to scoff at the irony.

The most pathetic thing was that obviously he loathed Song Minghai to the extreme, but on the contrary, there was still his DNA embedded inside his blood. Even his own efforts to achieve honors – that should all be his credit – was instead accredited towards his father. 

For a long time, Song Yan felt disgusted at himself. 

This is a blessing given to him, so why does he hate it so much? 

Song Yan didn’t think it would be a good thing for Song Minghai to suddenly appear here, so he quickly turned to leave. However, Song Minghai, who was standing beside the car, held a white box and presented it to his face. 

When he saw what the box was, Song Yan’s eyes immediately widened.

It was the watch he bought for Xia Zhiye.

It seems that Song Minghai has already been to his dormitory ahead of time. This time he had prepared in advance, cutting off all possibilities and avenues for Song Yan to escape his clutch. 

So with a cold face, he walked over, all the way to Song Minghai. Then, he stopped and looked directly at him, face cold and indifferent.

Their height is similar. Their eyebrows and eyes are similar. They even dressed in the same formal shirt with a black overcoat. 

When the two faced each other like this, there was a dramatic impact.

Song Minghai looked at Song Yan in front of him, but there was no disgust or dislike in his expression, but a sense of satisfaction in looking at the perfect product he made: “Not bad. Not a disgrace.” 

It seems that the school has informed Song Minghai of what happened two days ago.

His reaction clearly stated what Song Minghai thought about the situation – he didn’t think that his previous actions were wrong. He just thought that this current situation will only reflect positively on his image as the father of an excellent child. 

Song Yan knew it was just a pipe dream to expect Song Minghao apologizing to him. 

He came here all of a sudden because he was finally cleansed of his sin, and now could go back to Beijing to be his perfect son again.

Song Minghai’s inner thoughts were much clearer than Song Yan’s. The youth didn’t want to waste his words on him. He just pointed at the box and said, “Give me back my things.”

“Your things?” Song Minghai seemed to be amused by his statement as he fiddled with the box in his hand. “What I bought with the money I gave you can be counted as your things?” 

Song Yan wanted to deny that this was not the money Song Minghai gave him.

But the Omega watch that he sold was indeed bought by Song Minghai. So in the end, he seemed to use Song Minghai’s money. 

Song Yan won’t risk this kind of thing, so he just said coldly, “Give me my things, and I will pay you back the money later.”

As if hearing some kind of joke, Song Minghai snorted again. “Don’t worry, I’m not interested in your useless garbage. Get in the car.”

Meaning: “if you want this back, you better get in the car.” 

After all, it’s not that Song Minghai doesn’t know how his son’s temper is. If there is no threat, he will not be able to sit down and chat with himself calmly.

And he had checked Song Yan’s account before – he had no money for a long time. Now he spent more than 40,000 to buy such a watch. It was definitely not for himself, because Song Yan was not the type to chase after things like this. So this item must’ve been bought as a gift, to a very important person. 

So this gift should still be useful as a threat.

As expected, Song Yan opened the car’s back door with a cold face.

Song Minghai also had little interest in Song Yan’s interpersonal interactions with him. When the two of them sat in the backseat and cranked up the obscuring glass, he went straight to the point. “At the end of this semester, you’ll transfer back to Huiying.”

Song Yan disagreed directly: “No.”

“The conditions in Nanwu are too poor. As long as you return to Huiying, it is not hard for you to get accepted into an Ivy League university with your resume.”

“I don’t want to attend any Ivy League university.” 

“But I need a successor who is an Ivy League graduate.”

Song Minghai made no secret of his purpose.

–Or rather, he had never hidden his purpose since he was a child. So even though he obviously did not expect Song Yan’s birth  and did not give any paternal love, he had hired the best foreign tutor for Song Yan since he was a child. He made sure Song Yan went to the best school available, and gave him the best material conditions. 

Swordsmanship, equestrianism, taekwondo, golf, piano, art appreciation, and yearly school trips. 

Materially, he always provided Song Yan with bank cards for his monetary needs. He can buy whatever he wants using that card. As long as it is not something that brings him shame, Song Minghai will not forbid him from buying it. 

As long as Song Yan is always the first.

When he was a child, Song Yan was always striving for the first place, because only when he won the first place, Song Minghai’s attitude towards him would ease.

When he grew up, Song Yan was always fighting for first place. Because this was the only way he could prove that he’s better than Song Minghai. And one day, there’s a glimmer of hope that he can defeat him, breaking free from him. 

Song Yan once felt that Song Minghai was the lingering shadow of his life.

But now, he doesn’t want to waste his feelings on such people. He just wants to give his time and affections to those who deserve it.

So he tilted his head to look out the window and replied tersely, “I won’t be taking over your company. And didn’t you have more than one son?” 

Song Minghai only raised his hand slightly when he heard what Song Yan said. “It’s not that I don’t remember about Lele, but he can’t be my successor. He’s been spoiled by his mother. His piano skill hasn’t passed the eighth grade yet even at his age. His academic achievement never reached top 10 in his class, so I have no hope for his prospects in the future.” 

Song Yan couldn’t help but turn his head. “Song Lele is only eight years old, and your company was saved by Aunt Tan’s funds at that time.”

As he said that, Song Minghai’s cell phone happened to ring. He looked at the caller’s identity, which happened to be Tan QIng. His eyebrows flashed with a hint of impatience and boredom before he picked up the call, his tone unkind. “What’s wrong with you again.”

Song Yan couldn’t hear clearly what was said on the other end of the phone. He only vaguely heard some harsh tone – even the always-gentle and demure Tan Qing can lose her temper. 

After listening, Song Minghai just replied, “Tan Qing, you’re really getting out of hand.” 

Then he abruptly hung up.

He looked like he was riddled with trivial matters, so he had no interest in having unnecessary disputes with Song Yan. He directly used a negotiation method in the business field that he excelled at: “If you don’t want to transfer back, it’s fine, but starting from today, I will cut off all your financial resources.”

Song Yan did not like this, but he kept his tone fairly cold and calm, “Don’t forget, all your property now has my mother’s share, her will is written clearly – it will all be inherited to me.” 

Song Minghai did not deny it. “But I’m your legal guardian. So until you are 18 years old, you have no independent right to use this property. You still have to listen to me, do you understand?”

“Of course.” 

Song Minghai paused for a moment and added, “Under legal constraints, even if I cut off your financial resources, I will still fulfill my support obligations, so I will pay for your tuition and other fees. I will even give you 800 pocket money every month according to the minimum living standard, which means you can still live comfortably.” 

Song Minghai sounded so righteous, it’s as if he was the one who occupies the highest moral point between the two.

And after finishing speaking, he admired Song Yan’s expression through the car’s mirror. “What? Are you not convinced? However, there is nothing you can do even if you are not convinced. Song Yan, remember, this is all because the weak are powerless.” 

“The weak are powerless.” 

Because he is underage.

Because he is a ward.

So no matter how hard he tried, he would not be able to resist Song Minghai, as he is powerless. 

Song Yan looked forward, his nails digging into his palm, trying to keep himself from getting angry. Instead of anger, he maintained a polite yet arrogant attitude. “Alright, what you say is what you say, I just hope you will do as you say.” 

“If that’s your choice, I hope you won’t regret it.” Song Minghai opened the watch box in his hand, took out his wristwatch, glanced at it, and lifted his eyebrows slightly. “Truly a pity.”

Song Yan saw his move through the car’s mirror, and immediately turned around and reached out to grab it. However, Song Minghai had already rolled down the car window before he could do anything, and threw his watch out.

There was a vehicle passing by, and it was completely crushed.

This was the most suitable gift for Xia Zhiye in Song Yan’s opinion.

This was the answer he wanted to give to Xia Zhiye.

Ever since he bought it, he has been looking forward to Xia Zhiye’s reaction when he’ll give it to him during the night. This item also cost almost all his savings. 

But now it was crushed so easily. 

Song Yan looked at the shattered remains on the road. He was unable to open the car door with his hands, he could only gaze at it from afar, with hurt clearly expressed in his eyes. 

The culprit just took out a tissue and wiped his fingertips, and said innocently, “Since you bought it with my money, I have the right to dispose of it. Don’t you think so, Song Yan?”

Provocative and contemptuous.

Song Yan’s fingers tightly clasped the edge of the door. With gritted teeth, he restrained all irrational impulses.

If it wasn’t for the fact that tomorrow will be Xia Zhiye’s birthday—

If it wasn’t for the possibility that Xia Zhiye might still be waiting for him with flowers–

If it wasn’t for the possibility that Xia Zhiye would be worried and sad—

Song Yan felt that he might have raised his fist and fought Song Minghai viciously. 

And he won’t stop until one of them dies. 

But he knew Song Minghai. If he really did this, it would not be impossible for him to be sent to the police station by Song Minghai himself.

So he can’t.

Because there are a lot of people worrying about him now.

So Song Yan swallowed all his emotions and said coldly, “Mn, you are right. Of course you have the right to dispose of your things, so do as you say. If you can do what you say, please ask your driver to open the door.”

He seemed to be certain that Song Yan’s anger was just a momentary thing, so Song Minghai smiled and raised his finger.

The door lock was released.

Song Yan immediately opened the door and got out of the car.

The moment he closed the car door, he seemed to think of something, held the car door, leaned down, and showed a senseless and arrogant smile.

“Ah, by the way, Song Minghai, there is something I forgot to tell you. You do have the right to dispose of your things at will, but I am not yours, so I hope you will seize this moment before my adulthood to be a little more arrogant than last year. Otherwise, I’m  afraid you won’t be able to say that the weak are powerless. And one more thing…” 

A pause.

“Since it’s  December already, I wish you an early New Year’s greeting. I hope you’ll quickly divorce from your wife and family, get an early and ugly death, all completely alone. As for the New Year’s money and red envelopes, I don’t need it. I can feel your so-called ‘sincerity’ clearly.” 

After saying that, Song Yan politely closed the car door.

He then let out a long breath, and walked quickly towards the back of the car.

If he stays for a second more, he will lose. 

After he said those words, the stagnant frustration that had been building up inside him finally gushed out.

He wouldn’t use Song Minghai’s money. Using his own hands and feet, he wouldn’t let himself starve to death. As long as he could stay in Nanwu and be with the person he wanted to be with, that would be enough.

But he has no gifts for Xia Zhiye.

The emotions he had been forcefully suppressed and restrained by being indifferent in front of Song Minghai harshly bubbled up in aggravation at the moment of that realization.

He turned his head, and the Maybach car had left, leaving only the corpse of the watch that was crushed by the vehicle on the asphalt road next to it.

Song Yan walked over, squatted down to pick the pieces up. He looked at the broken dial, at the little prince that was injured up, looked at the broken dial and the injured little prince that became inaccessible behind the dial. He suppressed the sore feelings behind his eyes.

This was the first time he has carefully selected a gift for Xia Zhiye.

It cost him almost all of his savings.

Before he had time to give it to him and told him that he returned his romantic feelings, it was crushed so easily. 

His intentions seem so insignificant.

But it doesn’t matter – it’s just a watch, anyway. If it’s gone this time, there will be more in the future. He can definitely earn a lot of money in the future, and buy Xia Zhiye a lot of watches, a lot more gifts.

Xia Zhiye is very good-tempered, he shouldn’t be angry.

Song Yan consoled himself as he stood up. But when he turned around, he was accidentally hit by a tricycle truck.

Fortunately, the tricycle truck braked in time. However, the goods on the truck fell a lot due to inertia.

Song Yan was busy bending over to pick it up, and said in a low voice, “I’m sorry.”

The entrance to the school was extremely empty and sparsely populated, and the old man riding a tricycle just happened to pass by here to go home, so he was not in a hurry.

Seeing that the young man in front of him seemed to have encountered something – his eyes were a little red – he hurriedly comforted him, “It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t cry, if you are really embarrassed, just take a look. Is there anything you want to buy?”

When he said this, Song Yan just looked up and saw two scarves hanging on a shelf.

One dark red, one dark blue, and the end of the scarf was also printed with inferior pirated logos of Iron Man and Captain America, which matched the sweaters they wore when they went to the amusement park before.

Xia Zhiye did say that he had no scarf. 

He should look good in red.

So Song Yan looked at the old man, asking, “How much do these two scarves cost together?”

The old man raised a finger, “101 yuan.” 

Song Yan took out his mobile phone and found that his bank card had been frozen by his legal guardian. 

All he had left was 164.52 yuan in his Alipay, and the 800 yuan Song Minghai might give on January 1st. 

No wonder Song Minghai would use this as a threat. He is indeed a young master who has no concept of money but a high consumption level. He will always fall into this situation with a pitiful amount of money. 

Song Yan gritted his teeth, then looked at the old man. Without hesitation, he said, “Then, I would like to buy this red one.” 

He quickly finished the payment.

The old man seemed to see through him. He asked with a smile, “Did you buy it as a Christmas present for your little girlfriend?”

“…”

Not a girlfriend, but similar.

Song Yan: “Yeah.”

“Then there is nothing to worry about, this is originally a pair, a buy one get one free deal. Since you bought the red one, I will give you the blue one. Isn’t it just right?”  The old man smiled and took off the two scarves, stuffed them into Song Yan’s hands, and patted his head, “Tomorrow is Christmas, so don’t cry. Sleep your unhappiness off, tomorrow will be a new day, and you’ll be alright.” 

The strong dialect of the old man was like a catalyst for some kind of repressed emotion.

But still, Song Yan resisted it. With a lowered head, he mumbled, “Thank you, Grandpa.”

“You’re welcome. it’s snowing, go home now.” 

The old man rode back on the tricycle with satisfaction and went away amidst the pure white wintry night. 

Song Yan looked down at the scarf in his hand. The stitches were rough, and he knew that the artwork must be pirated in some way. He took a deep breath, forcibly held down the warm, sour feelings that started to swell in his eyes. 

He never thought that he, who was given a slap in the face by his biological father, would receive warm healing from a stranger he had never met.

He used to resent these emotions as pretentious, not understanding why someone would cry at the drop of a hat, or why someone would instantly break down their defenses just because they were emotionally moved.

But he seemed to gradually discover that, despite the looming shadows like Song Minghai, it was not impossible to encounter a bright, warm sun in life.

For example, a big idiot who looks good in red.

As he was mulling about it, he  heard a “Song Yan!” shout from afar.

When he turned around, he saw Xia Zhiye rushing towards him with a large bouquet of lilies of the valley in the heavy snow. Before he could say a word, Xia Zhiye was already hugging him tightly. 

Hot and heavy breaths fell in big gulps on Song Yan’s neck and ears; and with every breath, the strength of the hold on his hand tightened by one point, as if he was protecting something precious that had been lost and painstakingly recovered.

Song Yan was almost breathless from this hug. He asked in a small voice, “What’s wrong?”

The sound of Song Yan’s voice was the confirmation needed to affirm that he was here. Xia Zhiye finally straightened up his posture, his gaze fell down, alongside his messy bangs. His voice sounded a little hoarse. “I thought you were gone.”

“I thought you were gone.”

In just five words, he managed to convey that he was the most precious thing in the world. 

Song Yan held back his welled eye sockets for a long, long time. Finally, as a snowflake fell, it melted away near the corner of his eye. 

He looked up at Xia Zhiye, like a child who finally found support after suffering grievances. Using up all his courage, he asked: 

“I didn’t leave. But Xia Zhiye, I only have this not-so-good scarf left. Are you still willing to be with me?”

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T/L: This is a hard chapter to tl. I hope I managed to convey all the proper emotions.