9. Ah, what a thoroughly satisfying debate.

Song Yu lowered his eyes and looked at the table, then firmly concluded, “Daquan, you judged her with prejudice from the start.”

That was really well said. If it weren’t for the setting, Yu Dongxi even wanted to stand up and applaud Song Yu.

“I… but you know our family…” Song Daquan mumbled quietly.

“So what? Are you planning to hide it your whole life?” Song Yu retorted.

“Not exactly. At least for now, I need to think of a way to get through this.”

Song Yu suddenly smiled. He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said, “Oh, haven’t you already figured out a way?”

The air in the room was fresh and cool, but Song Daquan was sweating all over his forehead.

It was cold sweat.

In front of Song Yu, Song Daquan felt like he had nowhere to hide, as if nothing could be concealed from this person.

“Ah Yu, you’re too smart, and you speak too directly…”

“You’re just too good at beating around the bush,” Song Yu said lazily. “Just say it—what do you want me to do?”

Song Yu really didn’t want to beat around the bush with Song Daquan.

“You’re smart, Ah Yu. Actually, this is simple. Just let Xiao Chu change her identity,” Song Daquan wiped the sweat off his palms and continued, “Xiao Chu didn’t grow up abroad. She was only sold overseas when she was a teenager. So I want you to help me cover it up, change Xiao Chu’s background… I know this won’t be difficult for you.”

Song Yu nodded and translated it into simpler terms: “You want me to create a fake identity for her to fool your uncles, so they won’t find anything suspicious during their background check.”

“Exactly! That’s what I mean!” Song Daquan thought it would take a lot of effort to persuade Song Yu, but now things seemed to be going too smoothly.

Song Yu nodded and said, “Alright, I have no objections.”

After saying that, Song Yu lowered his head, looking thoughtful.

Song Daquan was overjoyed and immediately stood up. “I’ll go out with Xiao Chu to order some more dishes. Ah Yu, you guys stay here.”

After the two left, Song Yu felt a cold hand pat the hand he had resting under the table. Song Yu turned his head and looked at Yu Dongxi.

Yu Dongxi leaned close to Song Yu’s ear and whispered, “What are you thinking about? You’re spacing out.”

Song Yu smiled and lowered his voice to a volume only they could hear: “I’m thinking about what I said back then. Isn’t this asking for trouble?”

Yu Dongxi snorted and ignored Song Yu.

Song Daquan returned quickly. Xiao Chu’s expression was very bad. Even after sitting back down, she still looked gloomy.

“Ah Yu, how long do you plan to stay this time after returning to the country?” Song Daquan was finally satisfied and even started talking more.

“A few weeks.” Song Yu tilted his chin toward the area behind Song Daquan. Song Daquan understood and turned to open the window. The fragrance of gardenias drifted in from outside.

Yu Dongxi quietly observed Xiao Chu’s expression. Xiao Chu was so beautiful that Yu Dongxi felt Song Daquan didn’t deserve her.

In fact, although Song Daquan was considered good-looking, he just didn’t compare when standing next to Xiao Chu.

After eating and drinking their fill, the group parted ways at the bookstore. In the car, Song Yu lowered his voice and reminded, “What happened with Uncle today must be kept secret.”

Song Ke and Song Shu exchanged glances and nodded.

If Song Daquan really was the scoundrel Song Yu described, then by helping Song Daquan marry Xiao Chu, wasn’t Song Yu actually putting her in harm’s way?

Of course, Yu Dongxi wouldn’t bring this up with Song Yu. She didn’t think they were close enough to interfere in each other’s family matters.

After returning, Song Shu and Song Ke went into the manor first. Yu Dongxi had planned to do the same, but under the watchful eyes of the head teacher Song Yu, who was eyeing students sneaking away, Yu Dongxi had to stop and accompany Song Yu to see off the car.

“Hey, are you an elementary school kid? Holding hands going to the bathroom?” Yu Dongxi meant, do you really need someone to accompany you when you just see someone off?

Song Yu smiled, cleverly dodging the question. His hands, with clearly defined joints, gripped the steering wheel—definitely handsome.

“What do you want to ask me?” Song Yu suddenly asked, catching Yu Dongxi off guard.

Yu Dongxi quickly regained her composure and asked back, “What do I want to ask you?”

“That’s for you to say. You’ve been staring at me so hard your eyeballs might pop out. Whenever Xiao Hei (Little Black) looks at me like that, it means she wants something,” Song Yu smirked. “If you want to ask something, just say it. I always tell you everything, no secrets.”

They had only just met, yet he claimed to tell everything without holding back?

Yu Dongxi felt like he was trying to trap her somehow, but what on earth did she have that was worth deceiving?

“I don’t have anything to ask.”

No sooner had she said that, Song Yu slammed on the brakes. Yu Dongxi’s back was suddenly pushed hard by some unknown force, and her forehead almost hit the windshield.

Fortunately, her neck was short, or else she might have ended up injured right here.

Song Yu’s expression was half-smile, half-smirk as he half-turned his head and said, “You still don’t trust me, ^[1]子 (zi) is a common affectionate or familiar suffix in Chinese nicknames, often used among friends, family, or peers. It doesn’t have a specific meaning here but makes the name sound more casual … Continue readingXizi.”

What a weird comment.

Yu Dongxi frowned and glared at Song Yu fiercely. Did this guy have shit for brains?

“Cut the nonsense!” Although her anger was at its peak, her reason was still intact. She wanted to leave this place but still had to rely on the guy in front of her. So she chose a reply that wasn’t too harsh.

Song Yu turned his head away, no longer sparing Yu Dongxi a glance. He stood tall and upright, the perfect image of a Korean webtoon-style double-door fridge of a man. A soft sigh followed. Song Yu took off his sunglasses and hung them on his collar. Then he pulled gauze from his pocket and began wrapping it around his clothes as he said, “I told you, you’re my best buddy, my good friend. If you have any questions about this fantasy realm, just ask me directly. Don’t treat me like an outsider.”

Yu Dongxi remained silent.

In the end, she still didn’t trust Song Yu.

“I… fine, I admit it. I don’t trust you. But you should try putting yourself in my shoes. We’ve barely known each other for long—you expect me to fully trust a stranger? Is that even reasonable? And…” Yu Dongxi took a deep breath, “Besides, this is your family matter. I have no right to interfere.”

Song Yu turned back to her with a smile and said, “Xi Zi, don’t forget—this is a fantasy realm. In the real world, everything and everyone here has already met their end. What we’re experiencing is just what happened in their lives before death. And besides, I’ve been dead for so long… going through these events again is no different than watching a movie.”

“In a fantasy realm, the biggest taboo is compassion. The number one hero of the underworld, Qiu Sui, only managed to leave every fantasy realm unscathed because he abandoned pity.”

This was probably the first time Song Yu had seriously mentioned Qiu Sui to Yu Dongxi.

Yu Dongxi stared at Song Yu, not saying a word. “So… even if the ending in a fantasy realm is tragic, painful, something no one wants to see… you people can just turn a blind eye to it?”

“Other than pushing the story to its conclusion, I’ve never heard of any way to break a fantasy realm without hurting someone,” Song Yu said calmly, not directly answering her question.

“But a fantasy realm is inherently illusory, isn’t it? Isn’t the whole point of its creation by the spirit to make up for past regrets? If it were me creating one, I wouldn’t choose a memory that meant nothing to me.”

“Maybe,” Song Yu nodded, “but that doesn’t matter to us. Our task is only to break the fantasy realm. Isn’t that right?”

“Only that?” Yu Dongxi suddenly let out a laugh—one born of anger. “I really don’t get you people. Nothing seems to matter to you. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I also can’t treat this like some casual part-time job while facing someone who’s lived a bitter life. Just like you said—if Song Daquan really is a complete scumbag, then by helping him, you’re essentially hurting Xiao Chu!”

“What happened has already happened. It’s beyond my power to change it—no one can predict the future,” Song Yu replied calmly. “Even if, by some miracle, we managed to change the ending into a happy one without being noticed by the fantasy realm’s creator… so what?”

“At the very least, memories still matter. Aren’t those fleeting moments what people live for?”

“Xizi, you just haven’t been dead long enough.”

“Isn’t this your job though? Haven’t you thought about how our ultimate mission is to help souls reincarnate? Maybe their fantasy realm exists simply to mend some regret. And if that regret isn’t resolved, causing them to refuse reincarnation, what then?”

“I don’t know what to do then. I only know that right now, breaking the fantasy realm is the top priority. I understand the humanistic ideals you value, but to carry them out to the end… that’s almost an impossible task. Forget it. In any case, the final decision is yours. As long as you can break the fantasy realm, you can do it however you want.”

“Do it however I want?”

“Yes. I’ll follow your lead.”

Yu Dongxi let out a few cold laughs and said, “Follow my lead? Did a donkey kick your head or did a door slam it? Quit trying to play me. The only reason I ended up in this damn place is because of you! And now you’re trying to dump the responsibility on me? Don’t even think about it. I was just running my mouth, alright? Don’t expect me to take the fall for you, damn it!”

Song Yu froze, then burst out laughing, laughing so hard he doubled over.

Yu Dongxi didn’t get it. She just stared coldly at him, too annoyed to even ask what was so funny.

But… wasn’t he laughing a bit too long?

Song Yu coughed hard a few times, and when he finally looked up, his entire face was red.

“What’s wrong with you?” Yu Dongxi now had every reason to suspect this bastard was laughing at her.

“Alright, alright, let’s not fight anymore,” Song Yu softened his voice, speaking to Yu Dongxi in a tone one would use to coax a child. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have argued with you.”

In reality, it was just Yu Dongxi doing all the arguing by herself.

By the end of it, even Yu Dongxi had forgotten what they were arguing about in the first place.

But that no longer mattered.

“I didn’t plan on fighting with you. It’s your fault for saying things that rub people the wrong way.”

“Mm, my bad. Are you still mad?” Song Yu’s tone of admitting fault was so sincere that even Yu Dongxi couldn’t bring herself to keep being snarky.

“I’m never angry.”

“Got it. So, you’re still angry,” Song Yu lowered his head, messy strands of hair falling over his forehead. “Then I’ll try joining your humanitarian concern squad and see if we can find a path that satisfies you, me, and everyone involved.”

“What do you mean?” Yu Dongxi frowned at him—he was always acting on sudden impulses.

Song Yu opened the passenger door and gestured politely for her to get in. Once Yu Dongxi was seated, he walked around to the driver’s side and got in himself.

“Back then, I had returned to the country to visit family. The timing was a bit of a coincidence—it was close to my second uncle’s birthday, so pretty much everyone in the family came back, except those who had passed away or were far too old to travel. Song Daquan is my elder, technically my youngest uncle. Strangely enough, he’s actually a few years younger than me. My grandfather had him very late in life. There were even rumors that Song Daquan wasn’t really my grandfather’s biological son, but rather the orphaned child of one of his old subordinates. That’s probably why he was so spoiled… otherwise he wouldn’t have turned out so spineless.”

As he said this, Song Yu sighed and gave a bitter smile—a smile full of helplessness.

“Just like you saw—he brought back a girlfriend from abroad and asked for my help. Helping him with that… might just be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”