Chapter 61: Looking for Friends

Translated by Eve

Edited by Kara

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Song Xuanhe noticed Xiao Yuanmu’s foul mood right away. The other wasn’t trying to hide it at all.

“What’s wrong?” Song Xuanhe carefully examined Xiao Yuanmu’s dark, icy pupils. The other’s complexion was deathly pale. Something was wrong. Song Xuanhe’s smile disappeared and was replaced with a concerned expression. “Did something happen while I was gone?”

Xiao Yuanmu pursed his thin lips slightly. When he saw that Song Xuanhe was genuinely worried for him, he grabbed the other’s warm hand. Suddenly, his mood had improved. He then shook his head. “No.”

Xiao Shenglin and Zhou Nan stayed a bit further back. They hadn’t been able to tell that Xiao Yuanmu’s mood had been different from what it had been before. This was because in their eyes, Xiao Yuanmu’s expression had been the same. But when they had heard Song Xuanhe ask that, Zhou Nan chuckled and said, “Weren’t you two fighting? You made up after being apart for a bit?”

Song Xuanhe’s hand in Xiao Yuanmu’s hold stiffened. Actually, he had forgotten all about that. That was why he had asked Xiao Yuanmu, “What’s wrong?” just now. Now that Zhou Nan had reminded him, he belatedly realized that perhaps Xiao Yuanmu hadn’t been upset over something that happened in his absence but was rather still displeased with his ridicule from this morning.

Upon having his sore spot poked, Song Xuanhe narrowed his eyes at Zhou Nan. Zhou Nan instantly understood that perhaps his words might cause the couple who had just made up to argue again.

Therefore, he quickly tried to remedy the situation. “This must be real love. None of Song Er’s previous lovers had been able to reconcile with him after angering him.”

Song Xuanhe felt like there was something off with what Zhou Nan had said. But before he could pinpoint what, he saw Xiao Yuanmu lower his gaze at him. “Who?”

“No one!”

Zhou Nan realized that he had misspoken again. After shouting that, he coughed and turned to look at Xiao Shenglin for help.

Shenglin laughed. “The banquet will start soon. Xuanhe had been looking for you since our chat had ended. Since you two have managed to reconvene, you guys should head over first.”

Zhou Nan was startled. He had wanted to ask Xiao Shenglin why he hadn’t tried to speak up on Song Er’s behalf, but Song Xuanhe cut him off. “Okay. Right, Shenglin, don’t you have to go over there too?”

Xiao Shenglin shook his head. “I’m just a really distant relative from a branch family. Furthermore, I already greeted Uncle when I had arrived. I don’t have to go over there again.”

Song Xuanhe nodded and then very naturally led Xiao Yuanmu over.

Halfway, he paused and turned to look at Xiao Yuanmu. “You’re squeezing my hand really hard.”

Xiao Yuanmu relaxed his hold, but he didn’t respond. He instead sped up so that he was now the one leading Song Xuanhe.

However, Song Xuanhe finally realized just what had been wrong during that pause. He squeezed Xiao Yuanmu’s hand a bit more tightly. He could feel how cold the other’s hand was. He then looked back up and realized that the other’s complexion was paler than normal. He asked, “Why is your hand so cold? Your face is also a bit pale.”

When Zhou Nan and Xiao Shenglin had heard this, they also turned to look at Xiao Yuanmu. At this moment, they also noticed that Xiao Yuanmu was paler than usual. But aside from this, they didn’t notice anything else. Just in case, Xiao Shenglin asked, “Yuanmu, are you not feeling well?”

“I’m fine.” Xiao Yuanmu’s expression was calm, and his back was straight. Although he was a bit paler than normal, it wasn’t a sickly pallor. He did seem fine.

Song Xuanhe furrowed his brows slightly. He had wanted to say something else, but Xiao Ranyun and the young man from the Xiao Family from before had walked over. Xiao Ranyun smiled at them. “Ge, Dad told me to call you and everyone else to come sit with him.”

Xiao Shenglin was rather surprised. “It’s all Uncle’s guests on that side. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to go over.”

The young man from the Xiao Family glanced at Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu. He then said in a flat voice, “Uncle obviously has his own plans since he’s called you over. Just go.”

Xiao Shenglin didn’t say anything more. Song Xuanhe frowned imperceptibly. The look in that young man’s eyes just now had been hostile.

“Actually, Dad heard that you guys are on good terms with Guan Zhi ge. That’s why he wants you guys to come visit.” Xiao Ranyun glared at the young man from the Xiao Family and continued, “Guan Zhi gege didn’t come today. Apparently he’s not feeling well. So, Dad wanted to ask you guys how he is doing.”

Xiao Shenglin frowned slightly. From what he knew of the Xiao Family and Xiao Ranyun’s father, they were not the type to invite strangers over to chat about a guest who wasn’t present. Everything the members of the Xiao Family did, they did for a reason. But even after having pondered over it carefully, he couldn’t figure out what his Uncle Xiao Nan wanted.

“It’ll be fine, la.” Xiao Ranyun batted her eyelashes. “My dad is easy to get along with.”

This was someone else’s banquet. It would be very rude not to go over when the host himself had invited them. Therefore, they had to go over regardless. Song Xuanhe nodded when he thought of this. “Then, we’ll have to trouble you with leading the way.”

“Xuanhe gege, you’re too polite.” Xiao Ranyun smiled.

Their party followed Xiao Ranyun over to the banquet’s host. Xiao Ranyun walked over, wrapped her arms around Xiao Nan’s arm, and spoke in a coquettish voice. “Dad, I brought Shenglin gege and them over, la.”

Xiao Nan was a middle-aged man with a refined temperament. When he had heard his daughter speak up, he ruffled Xiao Ranyun’s hair dotingly. He then smiled at Xiao Shenglin and then at the rest of the party. “Sorry, I hope I didn’t disturb you. I heard Ranran say that you took very good care of her while on the cruise. I should have been the one to have gone looking for you, but I really…couldn’t leave here. I could only call you three over to thank you in person for having taken care of Ranran.”

Zhou Nan smiled. “Uncle Xiao, you’re looking down on our friendship by saying this. Ranyun is Shenglin’s cousin, so she’s basically family to us. Furthermore, she’s a very clever kid. We didn’t really have to take care of her.”

Xiao Nan laughed while shaking his head. “I know my daughter. She…”

He didn’t finish his sentence. His gaze shifted to Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu. His gaze was gentle. “If I’m not mistaken, you two must be the Song Group’s Song er shao and Mr. Xiao.”

Song Xuanhe and Xiao Yuanmu nodded at the same time. One of them was smiling while the other had a distant expression on his face. But, neither or them spoke.

Xiao Nan didn’t mind. He continued to speak to Song Xuanhe with a smile. “Xuanhe—can I call you that? Thank you for taking care of Ranran on the cruise. Ranran has mentioned you often. Seeing you today, I must say, you are a remarkable young man.”

“Thank you.” Song Xuanhe smiled. “It was nothing much. Mr. Xiao doesn’t need to thank me.”

“Even so, I should still thank you.” Xiao Nan chuckled. “Ranran also said that you are rather skilled in mixing drinks and that you adore wine. Therefore, I have prepared a bottle as a gift. It has already been sent to the Song Family.”

The smile on Song Xuanhe’s face didn’t change. “Then, I must thank Mr. Xiao.”

“It is only polite. There’s no need to thank me,” Xiao Nan said, “But since you all are Ranran and Shenglin’s friends, just call me Uncle.”

The three of them nodded. Song Xuanhe secretly thought that people from the Xiao Family were not so simple as expected. A bottle of wine as a gift was very appropriate. Furthermore, the place he had sent it to was tastefully chosen. When Song Guochao found out who the sender of that wine was, he would probably have even more misgivings towards Song Xuanhe gaining yet another “backer.”

Xiao Nan then looked at Xiao Yuanmu. “I couldn’t help but feel close to you when I heard your last name. Now that I’ve seen you, I feel even closer. It’s probably because we share the same last name.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuanmu nodded. He replied in a flat voice though, “Thank you. However, my last name was given to me by the orphanage director. She gave me the surname ‘Xiao’ after looking at the bushes. That’s all.”

Song Xuanhe was taken aback. The gaze he had directed towards Xiao Yuanmu turned weird. The book had said that when the Director had picked Xiao Yuanmu up, she had found a jade pendant on him. The character “Xiao” had been engraved in that jade pendant. That was why the Director hadn’t given him her surname as she had with all the other orphans. She had named him according to the jade pendant.

It was impossible for Xiao Yuanmu not to know this. So, why was he lying?

“So, that’s how it is.” Xiao Nan didn’t seem surprised when he heard Xiao Yuanmu’s background. He continued to smile. “But, it is still fate for us to share a family name. Yuanmu, you don’t mind me calling you that, right?”

“As you wish.”

“It must be fate for the Director to have chosen the surname ‘Xiao’ amongst the myriad of last names.” Xiao Nan chuckled. He then brought the spotlight over to Zhou Nan. “I had just been speaking to your father. I heard that you had managed the holiday village in Nanzhou while you had been in university still. I’ve gone there once before. It was impressive. You are indeed an outstanding young man.”

Zhou Nan laughed. “Uncle, you’re exaggerating things. It was just a bit of practice while I was in school. It’s not worth mentioning.”

Xiao Nan was good at socializing. He didn’t forget anyone. In the span of five minutes, he had thanked every single one of them. It was only when his assistant had come to call him that he had courteously said his farewells. He had also told Xiao Ranyun to take good care of them.

After Xiao Nan and the young man from the Xiao Family had left, Zhou Nan said, “Worthy of being part of the Xiao Family. I had heard that Uncle Xiao was a cultured and refined man before. Indeed, he’s as the rumours have said.”

Xiao Ranyun smiled. “My dad is gentle. But, don’t think that everyone from the Xiao Family is like that. Those uncles and big brothers all have a temper. My dad has the best temperament.”

“But sometimes, having a good temperament isn’t necessarily a good thing.” When Xiao Ranyun said this, the smile on her face grew fainter but only for a moment. “I heard that there’s a ‘floating pavilion’ in this hotel. I’ve always wanted to see it. Come with me?”

Zhou Nan and them naturally didn’t mind. They followed Xiao Ranyun into the elevator. This hotel’s “floating pavilion” was very famous and was located on the hotel’s eighty-sixth floor. Because Xiao Ranyun had spoken to the hotel management already, there weren’t many people around when they had arrived.

Xiao Ranyun sat down on the glass, relaxed, and looked down on the tiny stream of traffic and other buildings. She looked at the cityscape, excited. After having asked about what a few special-looking buildings were, she pouted. “China is so fun. The Capital is really interesting. I want to stay here for longer, but it’s going to be Xiao da shaoye’s coming-of-age banquet soon. All the members of the Xiao Family will be rushing back to the main residence. I want to stay here, but Dad won’t let me. After the banquet, I’ll have to start school as well. I don’t know when I’ll get to come back. I really want to stay, ah.”

Xiao Shenglin also knew about this. However, he was very distantly related to the main family. His side of the family was already considered a waning side branch. He didn’t have the right to attend that banquet. Therefore, he could only smile and comfort her. “You can come back during your vacations. When that time comes, just board one of the Xiao Family’s planes, and I’ll take you around to play.”

When Xiao Ranyun heard this, she became happy. She talked about a few places she was interested in. In the end, she grumbled, “Dad could clearly find an excuse for us to not go. We’re not going to have a fun time even if we go. There’s so many rules at the manor. I honestly have no clue why Dad insists on going.”

“The eldest young master will finally be an adult. It is etiquette for all of the Xiao Family to go back.” Xiao Shenglin continued to console her. “The coming-of-age ceremony will only last three days. Just bear with it for a bit, and it’ll be over soon.”

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“I don’t want to bear with it.” Xiao Ranyun pouted. “Except for his close cousins, Xiao Baicong doesn’t talk to anyone else. And, Xiao Baicong is the only one considered royalty at the manor. Everyone else is his servant. I don’t even want to spend a single second there.”

When he heard this, Xiao Shenglin frowned. He gazed at the empty garden outside and said in a stern voice, “Ranyun.”

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Xiao Ranyun realized that she had misspoken. She puffed out her cheeks and saw that there was no one outside. She then pouted. “That’s just the way it is. I was just complaining. Gege, why are you being so mean to me?”

“You should know what you should or should not say.”

“Can’t I complain?” Xiao Ranyun hadn’t expected for her perpetually gentle cousin to suddenly speak to her in a fierce tone. Her eyes turned red, but she wasn’t willing to act weak. “I just said that Xiao Baicong doesn’t talk to us. I didn’t speak ill of him. Why are you being mean to me? What, should I treat him like commoners used to treat their lords in olden times? Should I be afraid of even talking about him?”

“Ranran.” Seeing that she was getting stirred up, Xiao Shenglin eased his tone and chided her. “It doesn’t matter who it is. Speaking ill of someone behind their back is not what a lady should do.”

“I’m sorry, gege.” After having vented a bit, Xiao Ranyun calmed down. She cast her gaze down and apologized quietly. “I was wrong.”

“Don’t do it again.” Xiao Shenglin sighed. He then rubbed Xiao Ranyun’s head softly and didn’t say anything more.

Since Xiao Ranyun had started complaining about the Xiao Family, neither Zhou Nan nor Song Xuanhe had spoken. Aside from the fact that this was about the Xiao Family, it also wasn’t their place to butt into a conversation regarding someone else’s family.

Now that the conversation seemed to have finally ended, Zhou Nan laughed. “The dishes here at the floating pavilion are also delicious. Ranran, want to try? Let’s order a few to try.”

“Okay.” Xiao Ranyun looked at Zhou Nan gratefully and beamed at him.

Zhou Nan got up and went to find the waiter who was on-call outside.

Song Xuanhe took a sip of his drink, eyes lowered in thought. Xiao Baicong was Xiao Yuanmu’s biological half-brother, who he shared a father with. But in the book, he hadn’t appeared all that often.

The book had said that when Xiao Yuanmu had returned home, Xiao Baicong had already become an adult. It was very hard for Xiao Baicong to get close to his biological brother. Therefore, he had avoided Xiao Yuanmu most of the time. It could even be said that he hadn’t cared that his brother had finally come home. He hadn’t seemed to care about how Xiao Yuanmu had lived in the past or how he would fare in the future. The two of them had rarely done anything together.

Since Xiao Baicong hadn’t interacted with the protagonist very much, he naturally hadn’t had many scenes.

Most of Xiao Baicong’s scenes had been towards the end of the book. Actually, Song Xuanhe didn’t know if it counted as the end as the author had simply stopped writing after that chapter. He could only guess that it was the end, because Xiao Yuanmu had already stabilized his position as the Xiao Family’s successor. In the final chapter, Xiao Baicong had been unexpectedly kidnapped, and Xiao Yuanmu had gone to save him. However, he was a step too late. The kidnapped Xiao Baicong had had his legs broken by his kidnappers. Even with the best treatment that the current level of medicine had to offer, his legs could not be healed. The best choice had been amputation.

The book had ended with the doctor informing the Xiao Family that Xiao Baicong could only choose amputation. The last line talked about how Xiao Yuanmu’s mother could not handle this news and had fainted with a wail. After that, there had been no more updates.

Because of Xiao Baicong’s identity and because he had been the supporting character with the most scenes at the end, Song Xuanhe had a very deep impression of him. When he had heard about Xiao Baicong from Xiao Ranyun, a weird feeling had risen in his heart. He involuntarily turned to glance at Xiao Yuanmu.

Xiao Yuanmu was looking down with an unclear emotion in his eyes. His lips were slightly pursed as if he was deep in thought. Song Xuanhe furrowed his brows slightly. He didn’t know if it was just his imagination or if the light was too bright here, but he thought that Xiao Yuanmu’s complexion had gotten worse.

Song Xuanhe called out Xiao Yuanmu’s name. When he saw the other look up looking the same as before, his heart calmed down. He asked, “Do you want to drink anything? I’ll get it for you.”

Xiao Yuanmu refused. “No need.”

“Drink a little bit of something,” Xiao Shenglin said, “I remember that you haven’t drank anything since you met up with us. It’d be good to at least wet your lips.”

When he had heard this, Song Xuanhe noticed that Xiao Yuanmu’s lips were very pale. After having carefully examined the other’s face, he realized that the other’s temples seemed a bit wet.

Song Xuanhe reached out. As he felt the other’s damp temples, he also felt how cold the other’s face was. He unconsciously pressed his hand against Xiao Yuanmu’s forehead. When he felt that the other’s temperature seemed normal, he said, “Do you not feel well? You’ve broken out into a cold sweat. I’ll take you to the hospital.”

Xiao Yuanmu brushed his hand away indifferently. “I’m fine.”

Xiao Shenglin had also noticed the thin layer of cold sweat on Xiao Yuanmu’s forehead. He was also worried now. But because Xiao Yuanmu insisted that he was fine, he couldn’t butt in. He could only look at Song Xuanhe.

Song Xuanhe didn’t know what to do. It was winter right now, and the temperature inside was just right. There was no reason why Xiao Yuanmu would be sweating. Furthermore, Xiao Yuanmu’s skin was cold. No matter how you looked at him, it didn’t look like he was feeling hot. He then recalled how Xiao Yuanmu’s hand had also felt a bit too cold when they had been downstairs at the banquet hall.

When he thought of this, Song Xuanhe went to touch Xiao Yuanmu’s hand that had been on the other’s lap. After feeling the other’s chilly hand, his expression changed, and he stood up at once. In a tone that could not be refused, he said, “I’m going to ask someone to bring a thermometer. If your temperature is abnormal, you’re going to the hospital.”

“I’m really fine.” Xiao Yuanmu moved his hand away, his eyebrows knitting slightly. He explained calmly, “I just haven’t been sleeping enough, because I’ve been staying up at night these last few days.”

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Nan came back after putting in his order. He just so happened to have heard Xiao Yuanmu’s last sentence. “I reserved a room downstairs. If you haven’t been sleeping enough, you can rest there. I’ll have someone send you some food later.”

Xiao Yuanmu nodded and replied to Zhou Nan first. “Sorry to trouble you.” He then got up and said to Song Xuanhe, “I’ll go rest on my own. You stay here.”

He then nodded to Xiao Ranyun and Xiao Shenglin before leaving.

Shortly after Xiao Yuanmu had exited the glass room, which seemed to be suspended in midair, Song Xuanhe pursed his lips. He told Xiao Shenglin and them, “I’ll go with him,” before he chased after the other.

Zhou Nan looked at Song Xuanhe’s back and sighed. “Song Er really fell hard this time.”

*

Xiao Yuanmu didn’t walk very quickly. A moment later, Song Xuanhe found him with the hotel’s manager who was leading the way to the room.

Song Xuanhe quickly caught up with them. He was about to say something when he saw Xiao Yuanmu’s expression turn slightly cold. The other practically ordered him, “Don’t follow me.”

“I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Actually, when he saw Xiao Yuanmu’s straight back and steady steps, Song Xuanhe thought that there probably wasn’t anything majorly wrong with Xiao Yuanmu. He was even more certain that the other probably just needed some rest when he heard that the other’s voice was as cool as usual. However, despite that, it was a fact that Xiao Yuanmu wasn’t feeling very well right now. Therefore, Song Xuanhe followed after him and gave him an explanation in a rare display of patience.

“Wait until we take your temperature. If your body is fine, I’ll go back up. Relax. I won’t disturb your rest.”

But, Xiao Yuanmu wasn’t grateful in the least. He stopped walking, and his voice turned even colder. “I already told you, I want to rest on my own. You don’t need to come with me.”

Song Xuanhe also paused. He looked up into Xiao Yuanmu’s frosty eyes. He was about to say something more, but he pressed his lips back together upon seeing the cold sweat on the other’s forehead. He stood in place, using his actions to tell the other that he would not leave.

At this moment, the manager tried to mediate. “The room Zhou shaoye reserved is very spacious. Including the two main bedrooms, there are ten rooms total. If Song shaoye and Mr. Xiao wish to have your respective private spaces, you will not disturb each other.”

Xiao Yuanmu started walking again. The only thing he said after entering one of the bedrooms was, “Take whatever room you want, but don’t enter mine.”

When he heard the door in front of him lock, Song Xuanhe suddenly felt like laughing in anger. He kicked a chest by his foot and then turned to enter the neighbouring master bedroom. He found a random chair to sit on and started playing on his phone. With a cold expression, he pledged to stop meddling with Xiao Yuanmu’s affairs.

In any case, they wouldn’t be in contact once the other returned to the Xiao Family anyway.

Who knew how long he had played on his phone for, but eventually the suite’s butler knocked on the outside door and brought food in. Song Xuanhe ate a bit and was about to call for someone to clear it up. But in the end, he clicked his tongue and resigned himself to knock on the other bedroom’s door. “Xiao Yuanmu, time to eat.”

There was no response. Song Xuanhe knocked a bit harder, but he couldn’t hear anything from the other side even after two minutes. Suddenly, a bad feeling arose in his chest. He stopped knocking and started to bang on the door. “Xiao Yuanmu! Are you okay?! Xiao Yuanmu?!”

His pounding was very loud, but the hotel’s sturdy wooden door didn’t budge. There were no movements on the other side either.

Song Xuanhe suppressed the panic in his chest. He calmly called for the butler to get the key and then quickly said to the System：【Help me check Xiao Yuanmu’s situation right away. Tell me what’s happening.】

The System hesitated：【I can’t scan him whenever I want to anymore…. 】

【My three chances.】Song Xuanhe’s expression was calm, and his voice was very steady：【I want to use one of them now.】

【Think it over carefully. Those three chances were given to you for the purpose of saving your life in a life-or-death situation. Xiao Yuanmu is the protagonist. Nothing major will happen to him. Are you sure that you want to use one of your chances on him?】

Song Xuanhe’s expression was terrible. He said：【Yes. Do it now.】

The System hadn’t responded yet when the door was pushed open from the inside. Xiao Yuanmu looked more-or-less the same as when he had entered the room. He looked at Song Xuanhe coldly and said in a heavy voice, “What do you want?”

“Are you okay?” Song Xuanhe’s eyes widened slightly. The butler had also come back with the key. However, upon seeing the situation, he bowed and withdrew.

Xiao Yuanmu’s thin lips were tightly pursed. There was an anger on his face from having been disturbed. However, he didn’t speak.

“If you’re fine, then…” Song Xuanhe recalled how the other hadn’t opened the door no matter how hard he had knocked. The concern on his face turned to ice. He suppressed his anger and said, “I won’t bother….”

Before he could finish though, he suddenly felt his body grow heavier. Xiao Yuanmu had fallen against him.

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Eve: Worried SXH is so cute. My poor babies and their communication issues aw. I’m also clearly biased because all I could think was MuMu! Don’t be mean to my He bao!

Kara: Aiya, these two! My blood pressure! Just be honest with each other!! They worry me so much! I do love how SXH is starting to reach out to XYM though. He is starting to C A R E!!! σ(≧ε≦ｏ) I also hope MuMu is okay. (´；Д；｀)

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