Rebirth: The Villainous Young Master in a Novel

Chapter 4: The Cliché Redemption

———-

At that moment, Song Shicheng’s expression looked as if he had seen a ghost.

The Villain Counterattack System had been studied by him repeatedly over the past few days, but it had never been officially activated. This time, it was the first mission release!

However, his shock stemmed more from the content of the mission.

“Retain Ye Wensheng? Could it be that Ye Wensheng is planning to leave?”

Song Shicheng’s heart stirred. Seeing the disappointment and desolation in Ye Wensheng’s eyes, he vaguely guessed that Ye Wensheng might indeed be disheartened with his family and the group, and was planning to resign!

After all, the elder Song, whom he had faithfully served for decades, had passed away. Ji Jing, who had taken over the reins of the group, did not seem to value or trust him much. As for himself… well, even the most loyal servant would hardly be willing to serve a prodigal son who only knew how to eat, drink, and play.

Considering the current internal and external troubles of Fenghua Group, it was indeed reasonable for Ye Wensheng to want to leave.

Perhaps he had been hesitating before, but under Ji Jing’s current questioning and harsh criticism, he was completely disheartened.

But Ji Jing didn’t care about any of this. In her eyes, there was only her son. Anyone who dared to oppose her son would be the first to face her wrath.

Now, Ye Wensheng’s nephew, Ye Tian, had severely injured her son. Even though he had already been arrested by the police, it was still hard to quell the hatred in her heart, so she vented her anger on Ye Wensheng.

Just as Ji Jing was about to force Ye Wensheng to declare how to retaliate against the main culprit, Song Shicheng suddenly moved.

“Uncle Ye, please don’t be like this, I can’t bear it,” Song Shicheng said sincerely while helping Ye Wensheng straighten his waist. “You are my elder and a meritorious figure who built the empire from scratch with my father. If my father’s spirit in heaven saw you suffering like this, he would surely strike me down with lightning.”

Ye Wensheng’s body stiffened when Song Shicheng touched him. Hearing these words, he trembled slightly, raised his face, and looked at the prodigal son in disbelief.

Ji Jing was also stunned. Knowing her son better than anyone, she had no idea that her son could be so understanding and magnanimous. According to past patterns, before she could even question him, the child should have been complaining to her and then raging at Ye Wensheng, likely even clamoring to eliminate his nemesis.

But now, he acted as if nothing had happened, instead taking the initiative to forgive Ye Wensheng. Could it be that he really hit his head too hard?

“Son, what do you mean…”

“Mom, I mean, let’s just let this matter end here.”

Song Shicheng spoke very calmly: “After all, in this conflict, I was the one who provoked and started the fight. Ye Tian will also face legal sanctions. The debt has its owner, and we have no reason to shift the responsibility onto Uncle Ye.”

Under Ji Jing’s stunned gaze, Song Shicheng turned his head again: “Uncle Ye, my mom is just too worried about me. Plus, with all the recent changes at home and in the group, her mood is inevitably bad. Please bear with her. If there’s anything wrong, I apologize to you.”

Seeing Song Shicheng about to bow in apology, Ye Wensheng quickly stopped him, “No, no, you mustn’t do that, Young Master Song. I followed your father for decades, and both he and Madam treated me very well. How could I hold a grudge over such a small matter?”

“Then I am relieved,” Song Shicheng said with a smile. “It’s settled, this matter is turned over, and we won’t mention it again. Uncle Ye, you’ve been working hard for our family for decades. We all remember this kindness, and I regard you as a family elder. How could I bear a grudge over such a small matter?”

This was pure nonsense. Everyone knew that Song Shicheng usually didn’t take Ye Wensheng seriously, let alone respect him. In the heart of the young master Song, Ye Wensheng was just a dog working for his family.

But Ye Wensheng, hearing this, felt mixed emotions, recalling the decades of shared hardships with the Song family.

It could be said that within the group, he had the deepest and most sincere feelings for the Song family!

“Although Ye Tian is your distant relative, I know your relationship is just ordinary. Back then, you recommended him to join the hospital out of clan sentiment and seeing some real talent in him. I believe that between reason and emotion, Uncle Ye will surely make a wise choice.”

Song Shicheng spoke with great righteousness.

This was the advantage of being the novel’s author, knowing all the character relationships inside out.

“Don’t worry, Young Master Song, I know what to do.”

Ye Wensheng nodded with a sigh. Although he didn’t understand how this prodigal son had become somewhat unusual, this verbal trust still warmed his heart, even making his thoughts of leaving waver.

“Son, do you need me to call the doctor to check on you again?”

Ji Jing couldn’t help but ask, feeling that her son was quite abnormal, seemingly like this since he woke up from his injury.

“Mom, my head is fine, and clearer than ever. I know I was really too ignorant before, always causing trouble for you and dad. Now that our family has suffered successive misfortunes, I am definitely to blame…”

Song Shicheng’s mind slightly moved, recalling many urban novels where the prodigal son, after rebirth, would make repentant vows to his relatives. He casually borrowed from them: “Lying in the hospital bed these past few days, I often thought that if I had left some leeway in everything and not acted so radically, many disasters could have been avoided.”

Ji Jing was mesmerized, on one hand surprised by her son’s transformative change, on the other hand, reminded of her late husband’s regrets.

Back then, if her husband hadn’t deliberately withheld the hard-earned money of the construction workers, pushing them to desperation, he might not have met his end by a gunshot!

But there are no ifs. What’s done is done. Ji Jing only hoped that her son could avoid repeating the same mistakes.

“Son, you… you’ve really grown up.”

Ji Jing was both comforted and saddened, and in an instant, tears streamed down her face again.

Song Shicheng wiped them away for her, comforting her: “It’s all in the past, mom. We need to look forward. From now on, Uncle Ye and I will accompany you through the difficulties and get the group back on track!”

Hearing this, a trace of struggle appeared on Ye Wensheng’s face.

Song Shicheng waited until his mother’s emotions stabilized again before speaking: “Mom, I have some things I want to discuss privately with Uncle Ye. Could you wait outside for a while?”

Ji Jing widened her bloodshot eyes, puzzled as she looked at the two, but ultimately nodded in agreement.

After his mother closed the door and left, Song Shicheng secretly sighed.

The reason he had to make such a statement was partly to appease Ye Wensheng, and partly because he couldn’t completely destroy the original protagonist, Ye Tian, at this moment.

It wasn’t that he was reluctant to destroy the protagonist he had created himself. Given their opposing relationship, the next steps would inevitably be a fight to the death. Whoever showed mercy would perish.

Unfortunately, this was not the right time to deal with Ye Tian.

According to his outline, even if Ye Tian was arrested, he would probably be released soon. No matter how much he jumped around, he couldn’t do anything to him.