Chapter Seventeen: Fateful Encounter on a Narrow Path

“What? You’re saying Shijing has gone missing? Along with that rebellious girl as well?”

A furious roar echoed through the spacious courtyard.

His hand holding the phone trembled uncontrollably.

Beside him, Mrs. Song’s eyes were red from crying as she murmured, “How could this happen? How could Shijing be so foolish? Even if he doesn’t like that Meng girl, there was no need to run away with Yanyan!”

Mr. Song slammed down the phone, his temples throbbing with anger.

He never imagined that his most favored eldest son would have the audacity to elope with his adopted daughter.

Now, his dignity was utterly shattered.

Nearby, Song Shiyu clapped his hands with delight. “Big brother is so brave, so bold in love! That country bumpkin from the Meng family must be truly unworthy if she still can’t win big brother’s heart after all this time.”

Song Shixuan quickly tugged his sleeve, glancing at their father’s darkening expression as he corrected his brother, “Don’t say that. We both saw her when we were kids—she’s quite pretty, just a bit tanned, and speaks with a slight rural accent.”

Mr. Song sat on the sofa, his lips twitching involuntarily as he recalled how Meng Shuyue had politely come to say goodbye before the eldest son went to the countryside, carrying a basket of fresh eggs.

The young lady was charming and fair-skinned, her voice sweet and gentle. Yet, his two sons had the audacity to call her dark and criticize her accent.

In his heart, he had already decided that Meng Shuyue was his future daughter-in-law.

Even if the eldest son was blind, he refused to believe the second son was as well.

“Shixuan, your uncle and aunt want you to be their son-in-law. This time, you’ll go meet the Meng girl for a blind date.”

Mr. Song made a decisive declaration and took two movie tickets from his secretary, handing them solemnly to Song Shixuan. “Trust your father—my judgment is never wrong. It would be a pity to miss out on such a fine girl. From now on, you are my hope!”

With that, he patted his second son’s shoulder and, rejuvenated, turned to head back to work.

Mrs. Song, hearing about the eldest son running off with a woman, was distraught and had no energy to care about who would take over the Meng family alliance. She wept alone and retreated to her room.

Song Shixuan and Song Shiyu exchanged a knowing glance.

They had long been aware that the Meng family had grand ambitions and wished for Song Shixuan to be their son-in-law.

Thus, they planned a cunning ruse.

Song Shiyu smoothed his glossy hair and spread his hands. “Brother, don’t worry. I’ll make that Meng dark-skinned girl hopelessly fall for me, then reject the marriage with you. Finally, I’ll abandon her without hesitation to avenge Big Brother and Sister Yanyan, those poor star-crossed lovers!”

Song Shixuan counted ten crisp ten-yuan bills from his wallet and placed them in his brother’s palm, raising an eyebrow with some sympathy. “No need to go that far. Just have her come to Dad and cancel the engagement herself—don’t push her too hard.”

“Second brother, you’re too soft-hearted. If you don’t teach her a harsh lesson, she’ll just continue to interfere with you and your library muse. You don’t want to end up eloping like big brother, do you?”

At the mention of the library’s enchanting figure, Song Shixuan’s face flushed vividly.

“Alright, if this works, I’ll save up and give you a hundred yuan next month!”

Song Shiyu beamed, nodding enthusiastically.

---

Soon, the arranged blind date between the two families arrived.

Song Shiyu picked a rose from a vase at home and leisurely made his way to the meeting place.

Before leaving, Song Shixuan stood behind him, offering endless encouragement.

Outside a state-run restaurant.

Song Shiyu leaned lazily against a lamppost, holding a single red rose. His white shirt and black jacket, paired with sleek black trousers, made his long legs look even more striking.

A perfect roguish smile curled his lips, his profile sharp and handsome—no woman could resist his charm.

As he smugly admired himself, he caught sight of a girl approaching—her skin only slightly lighter than coal, dressed in a white floral dress, clutching the agreed-upon meeting token: a copy of the “Compendium of Materia Medica.”

Song Shiyu’s captivating eyes widened in disbelief.

This Meng girl was the very same “black bean sprout” who had called him a woman outside the library!

His smile instantly froze, and he forgot to maintain his composure.

Meng Shuyue, upon seeing the rose-bearing face at the door, looked away with disdain.

She had woken up groggy that morning, dragged by her mother to braid her hair and pick out clothes.

Though she wasn’t entirely against the blind date, the idea of meeting Song family’s second son filled her with resistance.

She no longer wanted anything to do with the Song family.

Didn’t she suffer enough in her past life to endure this again?

Yet, unable to escape her mother’s constant nagging and having already made a promise, she reluctantly agreed to attend.

Still, she refused her mother’s attempts to smear whitening powder on her face.

If her blind date cared only about appearances, not the soul’s harmony, why bother being together?

Now, she was even glad she hadn’t worn makeup to scare off Song’s second son.

She couldn’t understand how someone who had belittled women’s looks outside the library could be the “ideal son” her parents envisioned.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up.

Hadn’t he called a man “brother” during that argument?

Then how could he be the Song family’s second son?

She swiftly guessed that this younger “brother” was actually the Song family’s irresponsible youngest son.

Her gaze grew even more contemptuous.

It took Song Shiyu quite a while to come to terms with this awkward coincidence.

---

But since he had promised his brother, he was determined to help.

Having dated many girlfriends before, one more “black bean sprout” wouldn’t faze him.

He stepped forward with a polite, gentlemanly demeanor, wearing a sincere smile. “Miss, so it’s you! You must be the Meng beauty. Last time was all a misunderstanding. Let me treat you to a meal and apologize properly. How about it?”

“Sure, but if you’re treating, I expect a full meal,” Meng Shuyue replied boldly. After all, no one could say no to good food.

She intended to make these deceitful Song folks pay well!

Song Shiyu brushed his tousled hair from his forehead, his eyes curved into crescent moons with amusement.

This gluttonous little girl would surely fall deeply for him after three meals.

But less than half an hour later, his smile had vanished completely.

Just the two of them, yet the table was piled with hearty dishes:

Braised pork with preserved vegetables, red-cooked ribs, sweet and sour fish, taro stewed with pig’s feet...

Over a dozen plates—she ordered everything expensive.

He roughly calculated that this meal alone would cost forty yuan.

If he kept treating her, a hundred yuan wouldn’t cover it—he’d lose money for nothing.

Watching the girl slowly savor plate after plate, her red lips glistening with oil, sweat broke out on his forehead.

He pursed his lips, rolled up his sleeves, and reached for the pig’s feet.

But the moment he touched it, the glossy piece vanished as if by teleportation, snatched by the voracious girl across from him.

He reached next for the half-eaten fish, only to see her chopsticks expertly strip every morsel of flesh, leaving the pristine skeleton behind.

Song Shiyu’s hand froze mid-air.

He helplessly watched plate after plate empty before finally pinching his wallet and setting down his chopsticks.

As they left the state-run restaurant, Meng Shuyue rubbed her round belly and let out a satisfied burp.

Meanwhile, Song Shiyu staggered, nearly falling, unsure if he was starving or furious.

Yet he still leaned against the wall, cornering the meat-scented girl with a devilish grin. “So, Shuyue, are you satisfied with my apology now?”