Disobedience To Control chapter 32
The Final Question
On the afternoon of February 13th, Song Siheng boarded the plane back to Jiangcheng.
One minute before takeoff, he received a WeChat message from Yang Xiaobei. It was an emoji of a cat dancing with a cake.
Normally, Song Siheng might reply with a word or two, but today he didn’t respond. Instead, he directly activated flight mode, cutting off the signal completely.
“Don’t worry. After we return, I’ll thoroughly investigate internally. If there are any signs of suspicious document leaks, we’ll launch an investigation immediately,” Li Ke reassured him.
Sitting in the window seat of the business class, Song Siheng didn’t respond to Li Ke’s words. He just kept staring out of the window. Thick layers of clouds filled the sky, indicating that the weather that day wasn’t favorable either.
He knew deep down that the possibility Li Ke mentioned was very slim. Sicheng had strict server risk control systems, and every operation left a trace. If an internal employee did such a thing, it was only a matter of time before they were caught. No one would willingly take such a risk.
Two hours later, the plane suddenly began to shake. The broadcast inside the cabin announced, “Dear passengers, the plane is descending and experiencing turbulence due to air currents. Please remain calm…”
Song Siheng heard the announcement, lifted his eye mask, and glanced out of the window. It wasn’t even five in the afternoon yet, but the sky outside was already covered in dark clouds, indicating an impending storm.
The aircraft trembled as it crossed through the ink-like clouds, gradually descending. However, it seemed to be taking a long time to land.
“Due to adverse weather conditions, Jiangcheng Airport ground is under control. Please be patient.” The broadcast repeated.
The massive aircraft hovered in the sky just as night fell, like a bird unable to find its way out.
Song Siheng put on his eye mask again and tried to rest. When he opened his eyes again, the plane finally showed signs of descent. After another twenty minutes, it finally landed smoothly on the tarmac and slowly taxied forward.
Water droplets continuously slid down the windows. The heavy rain in Jiangcheng had indeed arrived. Ground staff, clad in heavy raincoats, shuttled between the tarmac.
After the plane came to a stop and the cabin announcement ended, Li Ke turned on his mobile network and arranged for a business car to pick them up.
Song Siheng hadn’t slept well throughout the journey, with dreams coming and going, and a voice echoing faintly in his ears. He slowly stood up from his seat, picked up the coat he had taken off during boarding, and followed Li Ke out of the cabin, walking through the long gangway.
“Oh, by the way, Young Master Lin just messaged me, saying he wants to invite you to a party at the CLUB tonight. Should I refuse directly?” Li Ke said, looking back at him.
But Song Siheng raised his head, “I’ll go.”
“Huh?”
“Tell him I’ll go,” Song Siheng replied firmly.
Li Ke could only nod, “Okay. Then I’ll have the driver send you over later. It’s just past six now, so if we send you over now, you should arrive before seven.”
After collecting their checked luggage and getting into the business car, Li Ke still felt somewhat uneasy, “Siheng, today is your birthday.”
Song Siheng just nodded, “What about it?”
“It’s nothing. I’m just confirming your plans for tonight.”
“Let’s go,” Song Siheng didn’t say anything more.
The driver stepped on the gas, and the black business car sped forward on the overpass, splashing layers of water with its wheels.
Within half a year, Song Siheng had come to this club for the third time. It was still a bustling dance floor, with an unknown band, noisy drum beats, and a group of well-dressed strangers. Only the waiter who used to serve drinks had been replaced long ago.
Song Siheng wore a straight wool coat over a light-colored shirt, still looking out of place among the crowd.
He couldn’t quite explain why he had agreed to this invitation.
When the plane landed just now, Yang Xiaobei had asked him when he would return and even sent a photo of a restaurant. A long table was specially set with light gold tablecloths and two candles. It seemed to be carefully arranged.
He still didn’t reply.
“Hey! Hey!”
Lost in thought, Song Siheng was suddenly greeted by Young Master Lin, who emerged from the crowd, draping his arm around his shoulder.
“It’s not easy to catch you once. Come on, what would you like to drink?”
With a snap, a drink menu fell in front of Song Siheng.
“Anything,” Song Siheng didn’t look closely, just pointed casually and then sat down in the booth.
In Young Master Lin’s place, there were many young people here to seek opportunities. Song Siheng had only been seated for half a minute, and there were already a pair of men and women on either side who had vacated their seats.
“Boss, want to play dice?” A young man leaned over Song Siheng’s shoulder and asked.
Song Siheng subtly leaned back and shook his head, “You guys play. I’ll watch.”
Several people, as if receiving a royal decree, immediately crossed the table and began to play boisterously. After several rounds of drinks, the room was filled with laughter, as if silk was tearing through Song Siheng’s body.
Song Siheng sat in the middle of the crowd, fingers propping up his chin, hardly saying a word. Just then, Young Master Lin emerged from the dance floor. Seeing Song Siheng’s expressionless face, he immediately walked over and cleared the space around him.
“What’s wrong?” he patted Song Siheng’s shoulder and asked, “Did I not entertain you well? You’ve been wearing that expression all night.”
Song Siheng’s fingers were sliding aimlessly across the phone screen, and he hastily replied without looking up, “Nothing. Just a bit out of sorts after getting off the plane.”
Young Master Lin’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a dynamic notification on Song Siheng’s phone screen.
“Oh my God. Song Siheng, why didn’t you say earlier? It’s your birthday today?!” He immediately stood up, beckoning to the waiter nearby, “Haha! Quick, bring Mr. Song a three-tier cake, and change the lights and music on the dance floor!”
Song Siheng felt like he had fallen down a rabbit hole, and everything around him suddenly became surreal. Before he could refuse, the resident singer had already sat down at the piano. The band members transformed into party hosts.
Soon, a half-meter-high cake was pushed to the table by the waiter from the kitchen.
Bang! Someone picked up a small firework, and one after another, they exploded behind Song Siheng. Colorful ribbons fluttered and scattered, denser and fiercer than the raindrops outside.
Song Siheng sat in the illuminated area, surrounded by noise and a mixture of alcohol, cigarettes, cream, and perfume, creating a chaotic scent.
But his phone kept vibrating.
Without even looking, Song Siheng knew it was Yang Xiaobei’s voice call.
When he finally came out of the club, it was almost midnight. Song Siheng didn’t know how many drinks he had, but his cheeks were flushed with heat.
Li Ke messaged him, asking if he needed a car to pick him up.
Song Siheng declined and stood by the roadside in the cold wind and rain, flagging down a taxi.
“Where to?” The driver saw that he had drunk quite a bit and spoke softly.
“The eastern suburb villa area,” Song Siheng said, then unbuttoned his shirt collar and opened half of the car window.
Mixing with the cool breeze, the alcohol made Song Siheng open his phone, which had been untouched all night, with a dozen unread messages. But when he swiped to check, they were all voice call requests from Yang Xiaobei. However, without exception, each one ended with the cancellation by the other party.
Ten minutes past midnight, Song Siheng finally arrived home. After getting out of the car and taking a glance inside, he saw a faint light shining through the curtains in the living room.
He entered the password and opened the door. The entire living room was extremely quiet, as if there was no one there.
As Song Siheng stepped into the entrance, he suddenly saw a tall figure in the darkness.
Bang! his arms were firmly held, and his back hit the closet door behind him.
“What are you doing?” In the darkness, Song Siheng recognized the person in front of him.
Yang Xiaobei leaned close to his neck and took a deep breath, “Have you been drinking?”
“Yes.” Song Siheng broke free from his grip and walked past him.
But Yang Xiaobei wasn’t ready to give up. He grabbed Song Siheng’s wrist, “Who did you go drinking with? And why do you smell like perfume?”
Then his other hand tugged at Song Siheng’s collar, as if trying to sniff the scent on him. But the force was too much, and he inadvertently choked Song Siheng’s neck.
Song Siheng was pained by the strong pull, unable to stop coughing.
But Yang Xiaobei seemed to ignore his discomfort completely. He unbuttoned Song Siheng’s shirt, and his thigh directly squeezed between Song Siheng’s legs, as if trying to overpower him with absolute strength.
Two buttons fell to the floor, bouncing twice before disappearing.
Song Siheng was already simmering with anger, and Yang Xiaobei’s behavior finally pushed him over the edge.
“What do you want, Yang Xiaobei?! What does it matter to you who I go drinking with?”
“It matters! Do you know I’ve been waiting for you all night?!” This was the first time Yang Xiaobei had lost his temper in front of Song Siheng.
“You clearly promised me the day before yesterday, saying you’d come back early today. I ordered a cake and even made dinner. Why didn’t you answer my calls? Where did you go?!” Yang Xiaobei’s dark eyes were tinged with red veins, as if he wanted an explanation from Song Siheng.
Song Siheng pushed away his body abruptly, creating distance between them.
Song Siheng sneered, feeling the absurdity of the situation, “You want me to confront you directly?”
He no longer beat around the bush, picking up a book from the coffee table and slamming it against Yang Xiaobei’s chest, “Did you meet Xu Lang?”
Yang Xiaobei instinctively protected himself, looking puzzled, “Xu Lang? Who are you talking about?”
“Don’t pretend anymore,” Song Siheng looked into his eyes.
“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.” Yang Xiaobei’s brows furrowed in confusion, “Can you be clearer?”
Ignoring the torn shirt on himself, Song Siheng felt the alcohol rush to his head, burning him with anger.
“Why did you repeatedly try to enter my study? Why did you need the password to my house?” Song Siheng continued to interrogate him, staring into his eyes, “Yang Xiaobei, when have you ever told me the truth? Can you dare to tell me?”
Yang Xiaobei looked back into Song Siheng’s eyes, his Adam’s apple rolling several times, but he didn’t say a word.
The room was dim, and the moonlight streaming in through the curtains outside cast a silver glow on the floor between them, like a river of stars. No one could cross it.
Yang Xiaobei’s silence seemed to represent another answer. The result Song Siheng had calculated countless times on the plane was now right in front of him.
“If you won’t answer, that’s fine,” Song Siheng sighed lightly at last, “I’ll just ask you one last question.”
Yang Xiaobei’s breathing was slightly irregular, and the fabric on his chest trembled slightly as he looked back at Song Siheng. “What’s the question?”
“Did you secretly enter my study and look through my files?” Song Siheng’s gaze was sharp like a sword. “You just need to answer yes or no.”
On Yang Xiaobei’s wrist was still the mechanical watch with the dark green dial that Song Siheng had given him. The second hand continued to dutifully tick forward.
It wasn’t until the second hand completed a full circle that Yang Xiaobei, with a hoarse voice, softly replied, “Yes.”
With the answer given, there was no relaxation in Song Siheng’s shoulders. He took a deep breath.
“Yang Xiaobei, you’ve violated the rules between us.”
“So what?” Yang Xiaobei’s fingers tightened slightly.
“I won’t pursue this any further; I’ve done what I should. I don’t care what you took from me or what you’ve seen; everything tonight will be destroyed.” Song Siheng didn’t look into his eyes again.
Yang Xiaobei simply nodded, considering it as an acknowledgment.
Then there was about ten seconds of silence between the two. The leaves outside were swept by the cold wind, making a rustling sound. Thunder rumbled in the distance, signaling a new storm was about to descend.
“Our relationship is over,” Song Siheng suppressed his voice, trying to make it sound calm enough.
He pointed to the still-open door, the wind outside picking up, “You can leave.”