Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The Song Group headquarters, a towering and imposing structure, dominated the city center.

Song Jianan had only visited once before, years ago, and it hadn't been a pleasant memory.

He gazed up at the Song Group logo, blinked, and consciously pushed those recollections aside. Clenching his fists for resolve, he walked inside with a determined stride.

When questioned by the front desk, his confidence wavered. His eyes darted nervously as he spoke in a timid, hushed voice, "I'm here to see Song Yuqiao."

The receptionist, a long-time employee of the Song Group, remembered Song Jianan. However, given the recent rumors surrounding the Song family's youngest son, she hesitated to grant him immediate access. With a polite smile, she said, "Please wait a moment."

She called the executive secretaries' office. After hanging up, she reiterated, "Please wait."

A flicker of confusion crossed Song Jianan's face.

Yet, he dared not inquire further. He nodded and stood patiently, his chestnut hair falling over his forehead, giving him a docile and endearing appearance.

The receptionist's smile widened slightly. She gestured towards the lobby sofa. "You're welcome to sit there. Assistant Lin will be down shortly."

Song Jianan obediently took a seat, perplexed as to why Assistant Lin was coming to escort him.

He was no longer Song Yuqiao's brother, and having been to the Song Group building before, he knew the way to Song Yuqiao's office. Why the personal escort from Assistant Lin?

However, this thought didn't linger. His mind was entirely consumed by the task at hand.

Assistant Lin personally led him upstairs, explaining, "Mr. Song is currently in a meeting. His schedule is packed today, so he asked me to escort you."

Song Jianan's heart tightened. This meant he needed to act quickly.

They took the executive elevator to the floor housing Song Yuqiao's office.

As they passed through the secretarial pool, only one female secretary remained, covertly snacking on potato chips. Upon seeing Assistant Lin, she hastily concealed the chips and greeted him.

Assistant Lin gave a subtle nod, letting the matter pass.

Neither of them noticed Song Jianan's eyes, which had been practically glued to the potato chips. As they disappeared from view, his eyelashes drooped slightly. He swallowed hard, clutched his stomach to stifle a rumbling, then quickly lowered his hands to his sides.

Assistant Lin escorted Song Jianan to the reception room before excusing himself to attend to other duties.

The moment Assistant Lin departed, Song Jianan eagerly peered around, confirming he was alone. He then rose and began to pace the room, moving repeatedly between the tea station and the sofa.

He meticulously rehearsed his plan in his mind, ensuring every detail was flawless, before finally settling back down.

He stared intently at the door, his heart pounding. His fingers gripped his trousers, twisting the fabric into deep creases on his thighs.

Uncertain when Song Yuqiao would emerge, the blind waiting made him so nervous that he completely disregarded the discomfort of his protesting stomach.

After what felt like an eternity, Song Jianan finally heard muffled voices from outside.

He sprang up and hurried to the tea station, where he filled a disposable cup with cold water and swiftly dropped a white pill into it.

Just as he finished, he heard Song Yuqiao and Assistant Lin's voices. Startled, his hand holding the cup trembled, splashing a few drops.

The pill dissolved instantly in the water, leaving no trace.

Song Jianan's anxiety eased slightly. He tried to compose himself as he turned, his steps a little stiff, and returned to the reception room. He placed the cup of water before Song Yuqiao.

Under Song Yuqiao's calm and indifferent gaze, he sat opposite him, slightly lowering his eyes to avoid direct contact, and softly said, "Brother, please drink some water first."

Worried that Song Yuqiao might not drink it, he quickly added, "You just finished a meeting, so you must be tired and parched. Water will help soothe your throat."

To make time to see Song Jianan, Song Yuqiao had rushed through the meeting and was indeed a bit thirsty. Without a second thought, he picked up the cup and drank.

Song Jianan watched him finish, a sudden wave of relief washing over him. His tightly pressed lips relaxed slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly.

Song Yuqiao discarded the cup, stood up, and curtly instructed, "Follow me to the office."

Song Jianan obediently trailed behind him. A faint, almost imperceptible glimmer of joy danced in his dark eyes. This subtle shift diminished some of his timid, shrinking demeanor, and a faint spark appeared in his previously dull gaze.

The two entered the office, and Song Jianan closed the door behind them.

Song Yuqiao asked, "What did you need to see me about?"

Song Jianan froze, too ashamed to meet Song Yuqiao's gaze. His eyes darted nervously around the room as he stammered, unable to articulate a reason. Finally, he blurted out, "Brother, have you eaten yet?"

Song Yuqiao frowned. He considered that today's events must have been a significant blow to Song Jianan. Facing the very real possibility of abandonment, Song Jianan was insecure and constantly sought reassurance from him, needing confirmation that he wouldn't be cast aside.

Thus, he exhibited more patience and gentleness than usual, answering the meaningless question: "Yes, Assistant Lin bought lunch."

Song Jianan uttered an "oh," unsure what else to say. He couldn't help but inwardly grumble, *Why hasn't the drug taken effect yet?*

Just then, his stomach let out a loud, unmistakable growl.

Mortified, Song Jianan pressed a hand over his stomach and buried his flushed face. Even his exposed ears were bright red.

Song Yuqiao was startled for a moment, then frowned again, his expression turning stern. "You haven't eaten?"

He pressed the intercom and instructed Assistant Lin to order a meal.

Turning back, he was about to reprimand Song Jianan but saw him hunched, as if ready to burrow into the ground. He paused, rubbed his temples, and simply said, "Remember to eat on time next time."

Song Jianan was somewhat intimidated by Song Yuqiao's earlier tone. He responded quietly, a pang of bitter injustice rising in his chest. Unable to voice it, he could only wring his hands and bite his lip hard.

Song Yuqiao glanced out the window. The sunlight wasn't particularly strong, but despite his naturally low body temperature, he felt a slight warmth.

He didn't pay it much mind, assuming it was due to his recent emotional agitation, and loosened his tie.

A silence settled between them.

After a while, Song Yuqiao asked, "Would you like to travel abroad? If so, I'll have Assistant Lin book tickets, and you can come with me."

His family had never been fond of his younger brother, Song Jianan. After such a messy situation, Song Jianan could only rely on him, seeking a sense of security.

Song Yuqiao was typically aloof, but in such a sensitive situation, he couldn't remain indifferent. He didn't want to disappoint Song Jianan.

Song Jianan slowly looked up, his dark, lustrous eyes flickering with confusion, his expression dazed.

Somehow, Song Yuqiao's attention was drawn to Song Jianan's lips, slightly marked with faint bite marks and glistening with moisture.

He had just drunk a cup of water, but his mouth felt dry again.

The warmth he felt hadn't subsided despite loosening his tie—if anything, it seemed to intensify.

Song Yuqiao suppressed his discomfort, his gaze calm and restrained as it shifted upward to meet those dark eyes.

But Song Jianan shook his head. Seemingly startled by the sudden eye contact, he flinched slightly but didn't look away.

Song Jianan mumbled meekly, "I... don't want to go."

*Why hasn't Song Yuqiao shown any reaction at all? Is the drug not working on him?*

Song Jianan stared at Song Yuqiao's face, but seeing nothing amiss, he couldn't help but feel anxious.

His neatly trimmed, rounded nails dug into his palms, leaving crescent-shaped indentations. He seemed oblivious to the pain, his gaze fixed intently on the person across from him, as if scrutinizing every detail—determined to find any flaw in Song Yuqiao. He didn't even notice his own delicate brows furrowing in concentration.

Song Yuqiao noticed his unusual behavior and felt a strange sensation, though he attributed it to the ridiculous drama of the rich family's real and fake young masters.

The restlessness in his body seemed somewhat abnormal, and he wondered if his rut had come early.

This discomfort was steadily eroding Song Yuqiao's patience. He crossed his legs, pressed his temples, and felt a headache coming on. He truly didn't know how to make Song Jianan fully relax and understand that he wouldn't be abandoned.

But Song Jianan's eyes suddenly lit up, his previously furrowed face brightening abruptly. The corners of his lips curved upward slightly as he tentatively asked, "Brother, are you feeling unwell?"