17. Unexpected Item — The Will

“Brother Du, who is that man?” Yu Dongxi tilted her head slightly toward the man behind Song Yinhong.

“Song Yintu, the second young master of the Song family, Song Yu’s second uncle,” Brother Du explained.

Yu Dongxi recalled that the first time she entered Song Yu’s fantasy realm, she had seen this Song Yintu. But the Song Yintu she saw back then was about twenty years older than now. At that time, Song Yintu looked much older and was even better at hiding his emotions.

Yu Dongxi also remembered the light and shadow she saw when she was trapped in the garage. Among those images was an elderly man in a suit. On reflection, that man must have been Song Yintu, and right after, she was sent out.

“Brother Du, what did the old man just say to Song Yu’s father?”

“He said, ‘The eldest brother is like a father. The prosperity of the Song family depends on every branch and vein. You must love every brother and cherish every family member.’“

“The eldest brother is like a father…” What happened after that? Who was responsible for Song Yu’s death?

Yu Dongxi still didn’t know the answer, but a woman’s intuition told her that Song Yintu was definitely not an ordinary person. In fact, he might be the real driving force behind the fantasy realm.

“Xiao Hei, I’ve wanted to ask for a long time — why did we enter the fantasy realm? And before entering, when you said ‘help me,’ what did you mean? How did you want me to help you, and by what means did you get me to help?”

“It’s simple. I need to understand the circumstances of Song Yu’s death inside the fantasy realm to judge whether Song Yu is a threat to the Underworld.”

Yu Dongxi looked at the little boy Song Yu crying inside the bedroom and asked, “What if he is?”

“Then he probably will never be able to leave the Bridge of the Other Shore again.”

Yu Dongxi sighed and continued, “Then let me ask you, what’s the standard for a threat? What counts as a threat, and what doesn’t?”

“As long as he doesn’t show a tendency to commit violent acts, like attacking people, it’s fine. I don’t care what Song Yu thinks inside, as long as he doesn’t show it, that’s enough,” Xiao Hei said bluntly.

“So, you dragged me into Song Yu’s fantasy realm just to have me find evidence proving Song Yu doesn’t have a violent tendency — even if that evidence isn’t true.”

“Hey, you’re young but you speak without caution. ^[1]“walls have ears” means: Be careful what you say, because someone might be secretly listening. It’s a warning to speak cautiously, especially when talking about private, sensitive, or … Continue readingWalls have ears.” Xiao Hei slapped Yu Dongxi’s hand, signaling her to be careful. “Wait, how did you know it was me who dragged you into the fantasy realm?”

“Do you think I’m blind or stupid? Your moves were obvious, and your intention even more so.” Yu Dongxi said, not bothering to argue further.

Xiao Hei: “…”

After crying for a while, most of the people in the bedroom were probably too exhausted to cry anymore. Their voices gradually grew quieter, as if they were about to start discussing serious matters.

Song Yinjiang saw that everyone had quieted down and cleared his throat a few times, saying, “Father has passed away. I know everyone is very sad, but after all, once the body is laid to rest, we should first place Father into the coffin.”

“Song Yinjiang is the third young master of the Song family, Song Yu’s third uncle,” Brother Du reminded at the right moment.

Yu Dongxi had also seen this third uncle before, but that was about twenty years later.

“Only after the previous generation’s head is laid in the coffin can the next generation start to be appointed as the family head. I don’t know what the current rules are, but at least back then, that was the rule in the Song family,” Xiao Hei said, licking his front paw.

“How do you know so much about this?”

“Song Yu once mentioned it to me by chance.”

“Daddy!” Yu Dongxi was listening attentively to the conversation inside the bedroom when she was suddenly bumped into and hit the edge of the doorframe. Fortunately, it wasn’t hard, and since Yu Dongxi’s senses were dulled now, it didn’t really hurt.

The one who bumped into Yu Dongxi was a little girl. The girl called out “Daddy,” then ran straight toward Song Yinjiang.

At that moment, for some unknown reason, Yu Dongxi’s heart tightened, and a bad premonition rose within her.

She sensed an aura—that of a person near death.

Sure enough, as the little girl ran toward Song Yinjiang, maybe because she was running too fast, she was tripped by a foot, stumbled forward, and knocked over the small lamp at the foot of the bed, shattering it. The adults nearby were stunned and hurriedly helped the child up.

From the broken lamp fell an envelope.

The girl was running fast, but the real reason she fell was that someone had tripped her.

Yu Dongxi saw that foot. Song Yinhong saw it too.

But neither of them made a sound.

Why was the lamp placed at the foot of the bed?

Song Yintu, why did you trip a little girl?

And what was the envelope inside the lamp?

These mysteries were unknown to Yu Dongxi, but for Song Yinhong, it was an open-book exam.

Yu Dongxi and Song Yinhong calmly observed the situation, watching how things would unfold.

“This little girl is called Song Wan. She is Song Yinjiang’s eldest daughter and the fourth child in Song Yu’s generation of the Song family,” Brother Du explained.

Song Yinjiang picked up Song Wan with one arm and took the envelope with the other. After tearing it open with one hand, his eyes widened—the contents of the letter were definitely beyond what he expected.

However, whether this reaction was genuine or rehearsed in advance remained a mystery.

Song Yintu took the envelope, and after reading it, fell silent. Finally, the envelope ended up in Song Yinhong’s hands.

After reading the letter, Song Yinhong said in his usual tone, “First, let’s place Father in the coffin. Since Father left a will, we will handle the family matters according to his wishes.”

Upon hearing this, Song Yintu looked at Song Yinhong with a complex expression and said, “Big brother, there’s no need to verify the authenticity of this will…”

“No need. I trust you, Ah Tu,” Song Yinhong smiled and handed the will to Song Yintu. “Even without this will, I intended to let you inherit the family head’s position. I am going to take Scarlett back to her hometown.”

Song Yinhong looked out the window and said, “After finishing Father’s funeral arrangements, Ah Yu and I will leave.”

“Big brother, about sister-in-law… don’t be sad anymore.”

Song Yinhong shook his head and said, “No, I’m not sad anymore. After all these years, I have to… let her go.”

Song Yinhong lowered his head to look at Song Yu, gazing into his deep blue eyes. He bent down and wiped the still-wet tear marks on Song Yu’s face. Then he said to Song Yintu, “Ah Tu, everything with the Song family is in your hands now. I feel at ease. Brothers united as one, sharing the family’s honor and disgrace, our Song family will surely prosper forever.”

The scene shifted. Yu Dongxi felt the world spin, and when she opened her eyes again, she was looking at an asphalt road lined with phoenix trees. Yellowing leaves drifted down from time to time. In the distance on the grass, groups of people with typical Western features were gathered. In front of Yu Dongxi, a man walked with one hand in his pocket and the other holding something. He wore a long black coat—it was Song Yinhong.

Yu Dongxi quickened her pace to catch up. The man’s destination was a nearby grassy area scattered with a dozen or so tombstones.

At one tombstone, the man stopped. The stone was clean, unlike an old grave. The surrounding plants were neat, with very few withered weeds. The photo on the tombstone was of a curly-haired woman with sharp but gentle features. Looking closely, Yu Dongxi realized the woman on the tombstone was the same woman in Song Yu’s portrait.

The tombstone was engraved with the words: “Beloved Wife Scarlett Roanjena.”

So the woman in the portrait was Song Yu’s mother.

Song Yinhong placed a bouquet of red roses in front of the tombstone. His gaze was tender, his voice slowed: “Ah Yu is doing well. Recently, he joined the music club at school and became the piano club president. He’s grown quite tall, very sensible, and I never have to worry about his studies. As for me… I’ve been doing okay. There’s just one thing—I still can’t dream of you. I mean, I miss you a lot, and Ah Yu misses you too.”

“So you must remember… please come visit me often in my dreams.”

“I love you.”

Song Yinhong’s figure grew smaller and smaller until he was far away. The scene suddenly shifted, and Yu Dongxi found herself back at the old Song family mansion.

“Our story is transitioning this fast?”

“Shh.” Yu Dongxi covered the little black dog’s mouth with her hand.

Now, the place where the two of them were was neither the mansion’s main hall nor outside the bedroom door, but—under the bed.

Xiao Hei: “……”

The person on the bed seemed to move slightly, making the sound of clothes rubbing against the blanket. A soft, gentle voice spoke up, “Daddy! Daddy?”

A pair of pale feet appeared in front of Yu Dongxi, then quickly slipped into slippers. The girl’s voice grew louder: “Daddy! Mommy!”

No one answered.

The girl slowly walked toward the bedroom door. Her fair little legs swayed in front of Yu Dongxi’s eyes. Soon, the door opened, and a woman’s voice came from outside: “Oh dear, Fourth Miss, please don’t shout. Little brother just fell asleep, and Madam will be back soon.”

“But I want to find Daddy.” The girl’s voice was choking with tears. “I dreamed of that monster again—it wants to eat me!”

“Miss, there are no monsters in the world. It’s just because you always read those silly little comic books that you keep dreaming about all these crazy things!”

“No… no…”

The nanny looked worriedly outside, seemingly afraid of waking the Fifth Young Master. She quickly covered the girl’s mouth and whispered, “Shh! Fourth Miss, be quiet! The Fifth Young Master has been sick for several days and finally fell asleep. If he wakes up, he’ll surely throw a big tantrum again. If that happens and wakes the old master and mistress upstairs, I won’t be able to explain it! Miss, please try to understand me!”

The girl shook her head while crying, her throat choking with sobs, unable to speak for a moment, only looking at the nanny with pleading eyes. The nanny looked at the girl the same way and slowly pushed the door shut.

“Who is this girl?” Yu Dongxi silently asked herself.

“Song Wan, you know, the Song family’s Fourth Miss,” Brother Du answered.

It seemed that the current timeline was many years later, the children from back then had now grown into young ladies.

Song Wan paced anxiously in circles, as if some terrifying beast was waiting for her.

Suddenly, a knock sounded in the silent night. Song Wan gasped and nearly jumped back, making Yu Dongxi secretly nervous for her.

Song Wan trembled as she walked toward the bedroom door, her voice choked and trembling: “Who is it?”

No one answered outside. The knocking slowed, but the sound struck like hammer blows, one after another, deep in the heart, making one unbearably tense, like being in a horror movie.

Song Wan swallowed and slowly opened the door. From Yu Dongxi’s perspective, Song Wan’s legs were trembling violently.

“Wanwan, why did you open the door so slowly tonight?”

A man’s voice sounded, like a devil whispering.

Yu Dongxi’s heart jolted — wasn’t that voice…