Chapter 199

Chapter 199: Misplaced Anger The waiter hadn't yet noticed anything wrong and continued mistaking their identities. "This one must be your younger sister, right? What a handsome family you are. Come, come, come, please—" Song Yu was too embarrassed to know whether she should clarify. Song Mingjin puffed up his cheeks indignantly and said, "You've got it wrong. This is my maternal uncle and my mother!" The waiter froze on the spot. He wanted to say they really didn't look alike, and wished he could slap himself twice. How could he have gotten it so wrong? "I'm so sorry, truly sorry. I've only been here for half a month. Please don't be angry—shall I bring you an extra pot of tea later?" The waiter was drenched in sweat, his heart full of fear. If the guests made a fuss, he'd lose the job he'd worked so hard to get. And if they complained to the manager, he'd be scolded again. Cui Lingrong said it was fine and went into the private room with Cui Zeyu and the others. From the moment Song Mingjin had started speaking, Song Shulan hadn't heard a word—because Song Shulan was frozen in place. Beside him, Gao Jingzhi didn't dare say a thing. After a long while, a new waiter came over to attend to them. "Two guests, please come inside. Where would you like to sit?" "I don't want to sit anywhere!" Song Shulan snapped, then turned and left. Gao Jingzhi chased after him. "Brother Song, you... you're just leaving like that? Not going up?" The cold wind outside blew against Song Shulan, sobering him considerably. Despite his fury, he knew that if he complained to Gao Jingzhi right now, it would reveal that there was friction between him and Cui Lingrong. And between Cui Lingrong and Cui Zeyu—could there really be something? "I'm not eating anymore. What kind of waiter is that? No sense of observation at all!" Song Shulan said angrily. "They're clearly siblings—why did he say husband and wife? If I hadn't known they were going out today, I might have actually thought something was going on!" His tone was resolute, and he spoke with such conviction that even Gao Jingzhi believed him. But soon enough, Gao Jingzhi felt something was off. Song Shulan had invited him out for drinks, but had only mentioned himself—he hadn't said beforehand that Lady Cui and the others would be there. And then the two of them had run into each other at Fan Tower. Gao Jingzhi couldn't help but say, "Brother Song, they're not actually blood siblings, you know. Don't you think they're a little too close sometimes?" Even real siblings should maintain some distance, let alone siblings of their kind. Song Shulan actually had the same thought, but he would never admit it in front of an outsider. "What nonsense are you talking about? Cui Zeyu was raised by Lady Cui. They call themselves siblings, but really it's more like mother and son. Don't be like those vulgar people, imagining all sorts of sordid things. Would you have improper thoughts about your own adoptive mother?" "You... what are you babbling about? I don't have an adoptive mother! And you've got quite the imagination—adoptive mother, indeed! Adoptive older sister, maybe!" Gao Jingzhi was furious. "I'm saying this for your own good, and you can't even tell friend from foe!" "How am I not telling friend from foe? If you hadn't been spouting nonsense, would I be in this state?" Song Shulan was angry too. "The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is panicking." With that, Song Shulan turned and stormed off. He still harbored resentment over Gao Jingzhi giving him the medicinal wine, and now with the matter of Cui Lingrong and Cui Zeyu on top of it, his anger was misplaced onto Gao Jingzhi. Gao Jingzhi was left humiliated and furious. "What kind of person is that? I treat you with nothing but good intentions, and this is how you repay me? Fine! Don't come looking for me for drinks again!" He turned and went back into Fan Tower. "If you won't eat, I will!" When Gao Jingzhi entered Fan Tower, he happened to run into some colleagues. When they asked why he was angry, he didn't reveal anything about Song Shulan's family matters. "Don't bring up such dreary topics—let's drink until we're good and drunk!" Upstairs, Cui Lingrong had no idea about Song Shulan's little scene. She had drunk two cups of wine today—not enough to get her drunk, but enough to give her cheeks a slight flush. As she and Nanny Qiu came downstairs, they happened to run into a thoroughly drunk Gao Jingzhi. She had no intention of acknowledging him. But as she was walking out, Gao Jingzhi suddenly called out to her. "Lady Cui, do you even have Brother Song in your eyes anymore? Spending all day with a brother who shares no blood with you—do you really think—" Before Gao Jingzhi could finish, Cui Zeyu kicked him. "Nonsense! If you're drunk, go home. Don't make yourself a nuisance here." "Is it me making a nuisance, or you being clueless?" Gao Jingzhi vomited violently while sprawled on the ground, one hand clutching his stomach. He felt like he was dying. "The Jiangyuan Marquis Mansion took you in, raised you, and gave you the opportunities you have today. And this is how you repay them? Don't think we can't see it—the way you look at your sister—" Before Gao Jingzhi could spew more reckless words, Cui Zeyu went over and covered his mouth, dragging him away. His secret, shameful feelings had been exposed in front of his sister. Gao Jingzhi deserved to die—he truly deserved to die! Cui Lingrong stood frozen in place, cursing Gao Jingzhi inwardly as one of Song Shulan's worthless friends. Zeyu was just her brother—how dare he say such things! And in front of Yu-jie and Jin-ge, no less! For a moment, Cui Lingrong wished she could tear Gao Jingzhi's mouth apart. But she was also afraid Zeyu might act rashly, so she sent Nanny Qiu over to check. "Tell Zeyu not to beat the man to death. We don't need that trouble. A lesson is enough." Nanny Qiu hurried over. Before long, the two returned to the carriage. As Cui Zeyu was about to climb in, his feet felt as heavy as if they were weighed down by a thousand pounds. "Young Master Yu?" Nanny Qiu asked quietly. "What's wrong?" "Oh, it's nothing." Cui Zeyu lifted the curtain and climbed into the carriage, telling himself not to dwell on it—it was all Gao Jingzhi's nonsense, and his sister wouldn't take it seriously. Yet, at the same time, he wished she would. As Cui Zeyu lowered his gaze, Cui Lingrong glanced over at him. Having been siblings for over a decade, she could tell that her younger brother was feeling uneasy at this moment.