Chapter 140: Begging the Lady to Look at Me a Few More Times

Song Qicheng said, "It should be his intention. The project has been proceeding smoothly, with no problems at all, each item complies with the standards. It's just that the Imperial Emperor's side is now ignoring it, not approving. Every time we ask they tell us to wait a bit longer, and now they directly pick apart saying… these projects had problems from the very beginning."

"But these projects are already two‑thirds complete; if they're scrapped, all the early work will have been for nothing."

Song Qicheng spoke with some difficulty.

He naturally knew why.

It was Nan Gong Yu deliberately giving him a difficult problem and punishment.

It was to tell him that, with his own strength, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot match Nan Gong Yu.

Originally Song Qicheng shouldn't have said that; saying it would make him appear incompetent.

But he wanted to talk more with Song Huan Yan, to see her more, to hear her voice.

It's just… that's all.

His words, however, put Song Huan Yan into thought.

But soon, Song Huan Yan understood.

Since it was Nan Gong Yu's deliberate act, it must be related to Song Qicheng's liking her.

Thinking that, Song Huan Yan said, "I see. But what is your purpose in telling me this?"

Song Qicheng was stunned; he hadn't expected her to pose such a sharp question.

"Right, what's the purpose?"

Is it to rant and slander Nan Gong Yu?

Or to ask her for help, or something else?

Song Qicheng gave a wry smile and said, "I'm not exactly pursuing any particular goal; I just wanted to bring it up to you. If you think you can tell him so the project can advance quickly, that would be best. If you think it's unnecessary, just consider that I never said this."

Song Huan Yan stood in the cold wind, the gust lifting her jet‑black hair; a frost‑blooming chrysanthemum highlighted her unparalleled beauty, and she replied sharply, "But you already said it."

Song Qicheng's face flushed slightly, unsure if it was his pride that couldn't bear it.

Song Huan Yan said, "Brother, between us, speak of the matter, resolve it as it should be; you needn't overthink. I deal with the issue, not the person."

Song Qicheng finally settled his thoughts and said, "Then what do you mean?"

Song Huan Yan thought and said, "I'll give you some advice. Either abandon the project—what does it matter if the early work was for nothing? The Song Clan doesn't lack that money; business has successes and failures, that's normal. Or just wait, wait until the Imperial Emperor loosens his grip, then proceed."

Song Qicheng was a bit surprised and said, "What if the Imperial Emperor never loosens his grip, dragging it out a year or two—what then?"

Song Huan Yan said, "There's not much to do. The initiative is with the Imperial Emperor; how long he wants to drag it depends on Lord Yu's mood."

Song Qicheng frowned slightly, "…You don't plan to talk to Lord Yu about it?"

Song Huan Yan said, "Why talk to him? He can press, that's his skill. If the Song Clan wants ability, use the plan I just gave you. Isn't it more interesting when forces are evenly matched? Pleading? No need, we're not at that stage, brother."

Song Qicheng was surprised.

Since childhood she claimed she wasn't good at finance and didn't understand the market well.

But now Song Qicheng thought that her lofty demeanor and resolve were actually quite suited to the market.

Song Qicheng hadn't spoken yet when two claps sounded suddenly.

The siblings both froze, turned their heads, and saw Nan Gong Yu walking toward them.

Song Huan Yan raised an eyebrow slowly, "When did he arrive?"

"He couldn't have… heard everything, right?"

Her words just now were a bit reckless; would he think that she…

Before Song Huan Yan could finish, Nan Gong Yu stepped forward, lowered his gaze slightly, a smile at the corner of his lips, "Such resolve—truly worthy of my lady, what a… evenly matched contest is indeed interesting. Huan Yan, how do you always manage to surprise me so much."

He looked at her, admiration full in his eyes.

Song Huan Yan was stunned.

She had thought he would consider her too reckless.

But she didn't expect…

Nan Gong Yu's eyes were full of her, and he added, "The proposal you gave is also excellent—neither servile nor arrogant, fearless. Moreover, it's not greedy; if you can't obtain it, you let go, which is the best, unrivaled choice in this world."

Song Huan Yan felt a bit elated from the praise.

But Nan Gong Yu's final sentence was a double‑edged arrow.

It praised Song Huan Yan while also pointing at Song Qicheng.

Song Huan Yan raised an eyebrow slowly, smiled, and modestly joked, "Lord Yu, please stop praising me. My proposal is based on the premise that we aren't short of money. But if… we lack money, life and death, then most likely I would come kneeling to beg you."

Those words surprised Nan Gong Yu.

He probably had never imagined that Kyoto's Top Cold Goddess, with her proud backbone, would utter words about kneeling to beg.

Song Qicheng was also surprised by those words.

Nan Gong Yu's throat deepened a few notes, saying, "Is that so?"

Song Huan Yan nodded, "Of course. Being able to bend and stretch is skill; as long as the proud backbone doesn't cost a life, it depends on the situation."

Nan Gong Yu asked, "What do you mean by 'depending on the situation'?"

Song Huan Yan pursed her lips, "Sometimes the proud backbone can be discarded; even the King of Yue still endures hardships. But at other times the backbone must never be discarded—better to die standing than to kneel and weep."

Nan Gong Yu was deeply moved, reached out and pulled Song Huan Yan into his arms, lowered his head to her ear and said, "Madam, you needn't beg me, but I… am the one begging the lady."

Song Huan Yan was momentarily dazed and asked, "You, what are you begging from me?"

Nan Gong Yu's voice was low, "I beg the lady to look at me a few more times."

This made Song Huan Yan's heart race a few beats involuntarily; finally, she couldn't help but wrap her arms around the man's sturdy waist and said, "Lord Yu… you really flatter me."

Nan Gong Yu said, "Madam, you are modest. You deserve all the beauty of this world. Moreover, I assure you, you will never lack money or confidence."

A goddess cannot kneel; she must be venerated.

In the cold wind, Song Huan Yan felt warmth in her heart; she said nothing.

She simply held him tighter.

I didn't expect that the man she finally chose would be truly one of a kind.

The top‑tier boss's manner, however, hides a reassuring, homey vibe.

Nan Gong Yu, moreover, is a bit uncontrollable; when he thinks of the person in his arms being wholly his, he finds himself unable to restrain himself.

Especially when he recalls that her first times were completely given to him… when he remembers that night her beautiful eyes overflowed with painful tears because of him…

In his heart there is an indescribable feeling.

He actually doesn't know what this feeling is.

But he can't help raising her chin, kissing her lips, deepening, exploring, entangling.

He completely forgot that Song Qicheng was still standing beside the two.

This isn't some declaration of sovereignty; it's simply a pure desire to kiss her.

Song Huan Yan wasn't shy either; she boldly responded to him.

The two kissed passionately in front of this dazzling field of chrysanthemums.

Song Qicheng's surprised eyes widened slightly, and for a moment his heart felt unbearably painful.

It felt as if a myriad of arrows pierced his heart in an instant!

He truly was at a loss.

He couldn't put the pain in his heart into words.

It seemed his heart throbbed with pain.

He should have left directly.

But… it wasn't easy to leave.

If he left, it might be interpreted as something else.

He admits he can't let go of Song Huan Yan; he still deeply loves her.

But he doesn't want to ruin anything.

Although… seeing her happy actually aches his heart, because that happiness wasn't given by him.

But he still wishes her happiness.

Contradictory, yet inevitably so.

Song Qicheng, as if petrified, could only stand still, watching the two's sweet kiss like sugar.

His heart, however, kept bleeding.

He had never seen Song Huan Yan like this; he never knew she could boldly respond to a man's kiss…

She had been with Qin Zi Mo for several years, always restraining herself, and had never kissed Qin Zi Mo like this.

But with Nan Gong Yu, she changed.

Is Nan Gong Yu too outstanding, too charismatic?

Or… did she fall in love with Nan Gong Yu?

The kind of love that is truly fond?

It took a while before the couple finally ended their lingering, passionate kiss.

Song Huan Yan's jade‑white face flushed pink, looking very glamorous.

Nan Gong Yu's deep eyes also grew tense.

But he also noticed that Song Qicheng hadn't left.

So he turned his gaze toward Song Qicheng.

Song Qicheng slightly lowered his eyelids, actually indicating his attitude and stance.

He simply likes Song Huan Yan purely, can't let go of her; now that things have come to this, he has no intention of contesting anything with Nan Gong Yu.

Any contest would most likely be unwinnable.

Nan Gong Yu said, "Has the brother made a decision about the solution Huan Yan offered?"

He… still hasn't spoken up.

He hasn't spoken up to push the project forward; he still seems to be holding it back.

"Yes," Song Qicheng said.

Strangely, his voice changed, becoming hoarse and painful.

Some things are simply beyond his control.

However, Nan Gong Yu didn't say much, nodded and said, "That's good."

After speaking, he looked at Song Huan Yan and said, "Let's go back; it's cold outside."

Song Huan Yan replied, "Mm, okay."

After that, Song Huan Yan still said to Song Qicheng, "Brother, let's go back; lunch should be ready soon."

"Alright." Song Qicheng's eyes were slightly reddened; after nodding, he quickly lowered his eyelids, "You go back first; I'll make a call."

Song Huan Yan nodded, was taken by the hand of Nan Gong Yu, and the two returned to the Main Hall.

It was quite cold outside, mainly because the wind was strong.

The deep autumn in Kyoto signals the arrival of winter.

But no matter how cold it was outside, it couldn't match the chill in Song Qicheng's heart.

It was piercingly cold, bone‑deep, cold enough that he could never return.

He couldn't return to the days of youth, when brother protected sister, and sister relied on brother… at the beginning.

Song Qicheng stood in the howling cold wind for a while, then, shivering, took the Cigarette Pack from his pocket.

He struck a match several times before lighting a cigarette, took deep drags that burned his lungs, made him cough nonstop, and his eyes reddened instantly.

He slowly squatted down, took a few hard drags again, and tears that he couldn't hold back fell drop by drop.

That is... the girl he dreams of pulling into his arms to tell her just how much he loves her.

That is... the girl he, upon first seeing her in his childhood, resolved to protect and bring home as his wife.

That is... the girl he loves deeply, the one he loves most, and later doesn't even know how to love.

His parents died in a plane crash, both perished, and that year he was only seven.

The Song Family happened to have no children; when they proposed adoption, he was so naive.

Beyond his heartbreaking despair, all he wanted was to stay together with Song Huan Yan forever.

But he never imagined that he would be bound by the shackles of brother and sister!

It is a blessing, yet also his deepest constraint!

That is a lock that tightly seals him.

It makes him, at the dawn of his first love, bewildered, striving to restrain himself, to conceal himself, constantly telling himself he must not fall in love with his own sister.

But he still tries... and fails.