After Crossing Over to the Republic of China, I've Become a Heartthrob Chapter 36

Life When We First Met

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If life is just like the first time I saw you, why is the autumn breeze sad? 

Who is it?

Who is reading poetry? 

Shi Yao thought, wasn't he at Yujiang Pavilion? Xia Jin came to pick a fight and then he hit his head?

Where is this?

When he was wondering, he saw a young man.

Why does this person look exactly like him?

But the temperament is completely different, he would not be so sentimental and sad, like a grieving daughter-in-law.

Is this the original owner, Shi Rongyu?

What he is seeing now are, the memories of Shi Rongyu?

As if watching a 360-degree panoramic 3D surround sound movie, Shi Yao listened to Shi Rongyu repeatedly read this line of poetry, his expression despondent and his tone unspeakably melancholy. 

A sad emotion flooded his heart without a reason.

It turns out that not only could he watch, but he could also empathise?

Suddenly, Shi Rongyu's eyes lit up, and he looked out the window excitedly.

Holding a book of poetry in his hand, he hurriedly ran out.

Song Liao and Master Song were walking in the courtyard, discussing the recent affairs of the Song family.

Shi Rongyu looked at them timidly, wanting to talk to Song Liao, but not daring to interrupt.

Song Liao didn't even glance at him, but Master Song kindly said: "Yao'er, you just arrived at the Song residence, are you still getting used to everything?"

Shi Rongyu nodded and quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look at anyone.

Master Song smiled and said to Song Liao, "Duheng, let's stop here today, you can accompany Yao'er for a walk and show him around."

Shi Rongyu's heart jumped with joy, but did not dare to look up at Song Liao.

Song Liao reluctantly agreed, but still put on a foul face.

The two of them were walking one after another.

Shi Rongyu plucked up courage and said, "Young Master Duheng, I learned a poem today."

Song Liao sarcastically said, "Do you know how to read? How can you learn a poem?"

Shi Rongyu hastily explained, "I don't know many, but I asked the teacher at the private school, and he taught me."

"What poem?"

"If life is just like the first time I saw you, why is the autumn breeze bad?" Due to the lack of literacy and nervousness, Shi Rongyu pronounced the word "sad" as "bad".

Song Liao mocked mercilessly: "That word is pronounced sad, can you study more seriously, don't bring shame to me in the future."

Shi Yao couldn't stand to watch, this Song Liao was also a big bully, he really wanted to punch him twice in the face.

But Shi Rongyu immediately apologised and said: "Sorry, Young Master Duheng, I..."

"Okay," Song Liao interrupted: "I don't have time to listen to you talk such nonsense."

Shi Rongyu lowered his head, not daring to answer anymore.

Song Liao asked, "How is your residence? If you need anything, you can tell me. "

Shi Yao spat in his heart, he finally said a human word, you have some conscience.

Shi Rongyu said: "Young Master, I am fine, I do not lack anything."

Song Liao nodded and was about to leave.

Shi Rongyu asked: "Young Master, what does sadness mean?"

Song Liao replied, "Not what the heart desires."

Back in his room, Shi Rongyu stroke by stroke copied the word "sadness" several hundred times.

When it was time for dinner, he was starving, but no one brought him any food.

According to the rules of the Song residence, the three daily meals for the masters are arranged by special personnel to serve them.

The servants will also eat in a special place when it's time for their meals. 

However, Shi Rongyu was a newcomer, and was neither a master nor a servant.

It’s not known whether it was intentional or not, but no one arranged dinner for him.

This was already the second time without food.

Due to the poverty of his family, Shi Rongyu often ate the first meal but not the next, and originally thought that he could endure it.

But he was growing, so he couldn't stand it and went to the kitchen to find something to eat.

He found a dry steamed bun and just put it in his arms when he heard footsteps.

Shi Rongyu quickly hid in the woodshed.

A few maids and servants came in laughing and talking, and one said, "I heard that the master wants to establish a chamber of commerce." 

"I also heard that it is for Young Master Song Liao, right?"

"Then why did I hear that Young Master Song Yuan is going to be the president?"

"Song Yuan? How is that possible? He's just a side kid! I heard that he was born from a low-class background, maybe..."

"Maybe what?"

"His dead mother is said to be a shameless prostitute, maybe he is not of Master's seed."

"Shhhhhh! What nonsense are you saying, do you want to die?"

"I'm not talking nonsense, look at Master, he never loved him, look, he is still kneeling outside as a punishment."

The sound of their voices faded away again. 

When Shi Rongyu came out of the kitchen, it was raining outside.

When he passed by the courtyard, he saw Song Yuan's figure kneeling in the courtyard from afar.

Shi Rongyu lowered his head, not daring to have a look.

Two people passed by.

Shi Yao felt a little distressed, if it was him, he would have, at least, held an umbrella for Song Yuan.

Trying to focus on Song Yuan, he saw the rain soaking his hair, running down the contours of his face and down his cheeks.

The winter rain was very cold.

Song Yuan knelt there, cold and indifferent.

In the hall not far away, the lights were bright, and it was the Song family's family banquet.

Master Song was sitting high in the hall, Song Liao was surrounded by stars, and there was a lot of food and delicacies.

Shi Yao felt more and more upset, he wanted to tell Song Yuan to stop kneeling, go take a hot bath, change into clean clothes and sleep!

But he couldn't.

Shi Yao's consciousness drifted around Song Yuan.

Hey, Song Yuan, can you hear me?

No one responded.

Song Yuan, Song Yuan, Song Youlan! 

There was no reaction.

Shi Yao tried to distance himself, as if the camera lens was far away, and then quickly shortened the distance, sprinting towards Song Yuan.

After a moment of dizziness, Shi Yao actually saw Song Yuan's memories!

———

It was a rainy evening, just after school.

Song Yuan looked about eight or nine years old, carrying his school bag and walking out of school alone.

Shi Yao watched the young Song Yuan for a long time, this child was lively, so cute ah, I really want to pinch his face ha ha!

Not far away, Song Liao was surrounded by a group of boys as he got into the car, and departed amidst the envious eyes of the crowd.

But the poor young Song Yuan could only walk home, it was raining and he had no umbrella, it was so miserable.

But why did he walk alone? Can't he share an umbrella with someone? Does he not have friends?

As Shi Yao was wondering, among the group of students, someone deliberately hit Song Yuan hard and pushed him far away, laughing and mocking: "The son of a performer, a little bastard!"

There was a burst of laughter.

This was too much! Shi Yao's teeth ached with anger, thinking you better not fall into my hands, I'll beat you to death!

He quickly went to see Song Yuan, but he saw that his eyes were darkened and his grip on his schoolbag was tightened.

He was quiet, not arguing with anyone.

The student who was picking on him did not relent: "Yo, not talking, Song Yuan, what does your cheap mother do ah? Tell us to entertain the group?" 

Song Yuan bit his lower lip, with suppressed anger at the bottom of his eyes.

"Why won't you say it? I help you to say okay? She is a shameless..."

Before his voice fell, Song Yuan took off his school bag, grabbed the man's collar, and punched him hard in the face.

"The performer’s son hit someone, the bastard hit someone!"

What followed was chaotic pushing and shoving, three or four teenagers teamed up and Song Yuan was naturally outnumbered, his body was bruised and battered, and he was forced into a corner.

The leader of the group kicked Song Yuan's body: "What, do you have the guts? You don't want people to say it? I have to say, your dead mother is a shameless..."

No one could see Song Yuan's movements clearly, they only saw him pull out a small knife from his belt and violently stab him in the chest.

Blood immediately flowed out.

Song Yuan looked calm and indifferent: "If you want to die, you can continue to talk."

The man immediately sat down in fear: "Crazy, crazy."

The group of people scattered like birds.

Song Yuan put the knife away, took a white silk cloth from his school bag, and carefully wiped away the blood.

He was very quiet, not making a sound.

But Shi Yao saw it clearly, he was crying.

Song Yuan was crying.

Shi Yao's heart throbbed with pain.

Youlan, Youlan, don't cry.

Shi Yao really wanted to hold him and comfort him, but he couldn't. 

He could imagine how much humiliation he had suffered during those teenage years.

In those dark days, no one said a word for him, no one lent him a helping hand, no one gave him even a little bit of kindness.

If only I could have met him earlier, Shi Yao thought.

If he had, he would have stood by Song Yuan, he would have helped him, loved him, and supported him.

At least, when it rained, he could hold an umbrella for him.

At least, when he cried, he could hug him.

Youlan, Youlan, don't cry.

It's going to be okay, everything is going to be okay.

———

Another wave of dizziness.

His eyes once again fell upon Shi Rongyu inside his room.

After eating the cold and hard buns, Shi Rongyu did not rest early.

Instead, he was talking to himself in front of a bamboo dragonfly.

From his rambling words, Shi Yao learned that this bamboo dragonfly was a relic left to him by his grandmother, and it was also his only toy, his most cherished thing. 

Early the next morning, hungry, Shi Rongyu took his precious bamboo dragonfly, found Song Liao, and joyfully said: "Young Master, I have something to give you."

Song Liao looked at him with disdain and impatiently said, "I don't need such useless things."

Shi Rongyu was very hurt, he immediately lowered his head and stopped talking.

Song Liao said, "Hurry up and pack up, get ready, I will take you to dinner later."

In fact, Song Liao did not want to take Shi Rongyu with him at all, it was Master Song's will.

But Shi Rongyu was very happy: "Thank you, Young Master!"

Song Liao took him to a business dinner, in order to establish the Nanyang International Chamber of Commerce and network with some important entrepreneurs.

This was the first time he attended such a dinner, and he was very excited and timid in his heart.

He followed Song Liao in a disciplined manner, reserved and restrained.

Song Liao unceremoniously took the main seat, and Shi Rongyu sat beside him.

There was a lot of toasting within the private room, and halfway through the dinner, the door was pulled open, and an imposing gentleman came in.

He was wearing a black trench coat and a bow tie, and the brim of his hat was pressed very low.

Ling Junde's voice was low: "Apologies, I'm late."

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

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Translator Notes

I mentioned this on my Discord, but chapters will be slower this week as my mom is in town for my dragon boat regatta. I will catch up and return to poster at the author's pace next week.

Please feel free to comment any mistakes I made so I can improve and do better as I go through the book.

Translated: July 5, 2023