Chapter 13: Almost Transparent White

Chapter 13: A Near-Transparent White

Tan Shu lifted his sharp, phoenix-like eyes, a refined smile gracing his lips, his tone gentle.

Song Yuqing, however, couldn't manage a smile.

He hadn't sought out Tan Shu, that conniving schemer, yet Tan Shu had come knocking.

"Nothing happened," Song Yuqing stated flatly.

Only Tan Shu knew he was coming to Laboratory Building 3 today. Aside from Tan Shu, that dog, betraying him, Song Yuqing couldn't imagine anyone else.

It couldn't be that he was simply so unlucky walking down the street, so unlucky that someone intimately familiar with him, knowing his every move, had managed to grab his hand in advance.

"Little Song..." Tan Shu smiled, his words as soft as a gentle breeze and fine drizzle, "Is there some misunderstanding between us? You're always avoiding me."

Song Yuqing's face remained impassive: "..."

He truly detested such pretenders.

"I've realized, Tan Shu is a smiling fox, Pei Huai is a dog too dumb to live, and the one earlier was a scapegoat—though that one wasn't entirely innocent either."

88: "Huh?"

How did the one earlier become a scapegoat? What had he missed?

Hearing 88’s "huh," Song Yuqing added, "You're just a gluttonous system, silly Fa Fa."

His tone drew out lazily, carrying a hint of idle nonchalance, subtly captivating.

88’s audio sensors burned bright red.

*Song Qingqing, go on insulting me—you’ll get the system excited and then just leave it hanging.*

Who would be fixated on him? It had to be Tan Shu, that scoundrel, sending someone to humiliate him. Only Tan Shu, that damn pervert, would stage such a scene for his own amusement.

After witnessing his torment, Tan Shu would offer insincere comfort, perhaps even recording the entire incident and spreading it far and wide.

Leaving him even more isolated and vulnerable.

These were all tactics Tan Shu frequently employed.

Today, however, Tan Shu hadn't gotten his way.

Tan Shu was never a savior; his meticulously crafted traps were designed to plunge people into hell, only to make them fall in love with him, the architect of their suffering, while still in its depths.

He truly deserved a taste of his own medicine, Song Yuqing thought.

Tan Shu noticed the bite mark on Song Yuqing’s neck, his gray eyes flickering slightly. "What happened to your neck?"

Tan Shu reached out to touch it, but just as his fingers were about to make contact, Song Yuqing turned his head away, leaving Tan Shu’s hand suspended in the air.

"Got bitten by a dog," Song Yuqing said calmly, not even lifting his eyelids. "If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving."

Tan Shu watched Song Yuqing’s retreating figure, a hint of regret in his gaze. He couldn't help but stare a little longer at the young man’s back. Song Yuqing had lost weight. He wasn't taking care of himself at all.

His hair had grown a bit longer too.

It chafed against the gland on his neck, making it slightly red.

He had been too gentle with Song Yuqing.

The Alpha turned, the smile vanishing from his face, as he replied on the forum.

251L: Qingqing is as adorable as ever today. His aloof expression is still so likable.

Someone immediately private messaged him.

252L: Are you selling Qingqing’s whereabouts? I’ll buy them.

Song Yuqing went upstairs to mark Qi Ran’s tests, then circled the questions Qi Ran could handle at this stage for him to work on.

He offered appropriate praise: "You’ve improved."

Qi Ran: "Are you still going to the lab today?"

Song Yuqing: "Yeah."

As Song Yuqing planned Qi Ran’s study schedule for the next day, he reminded him, "If you’re self-studying here, make sure to lock the door. Don’t open it for anyone, and watch out for Tan Shu. He’s not a good person."

"Did he do something to you?" Qi Ran’s tension spiked momentarily, his usual lethargic, gloomy demeanor vanishing briefly.

As if ready to fight for Song Yuqing at any moment.

Hearing this, Song Yuqing looked up, his eyelashes fanning out like a swallowtail butterfly's wings, his amber eyes carrying a scrutinizing quality.

Those eyes were beautiful, captivating when they fixed on someone.

Qi Ran’s hands under the table instinctively clutched his uniform trousers.

Waiting for Song Yuqing to say something to him.

But Song Yuqing suddenly chuckled, a very soft sound.

Like fireflies dancing on a midsummer night, a tingling tremor at the fingertips and heart.

Qi Ran hadn't been raised for nothing—he still knew to help him.

Song Yuqing felt pleased. Raising a child wasn’t so hard after all.

88: "..."

There was no satisfaction with Qi Ran, only admiration for his own parenting skills.

Song Yuqing: "It’s nothing major, just be cautious. I think he might target you. Tan Shu is the type who looks like a human-faced, beast-hearted fox."

"Whenever you see someone as suspicious as him, just steer clear. Don’t be fooled, and don’t trust him."

Song Yuqing freely implanted in Qi Ran the idea that Tan Shu was a scoundrel, hoping a bit more vigilance would prevent Qi Ran from being deceived by Tan Shu.

"Better to prevent than remedy," Song Yuqing said, lightly tapping Qi Ran’s head with the book in his hand. "Understand?"

Song Yuqing’s tone was gentle and patient.

But Qi Ran stared at the bite mark on Song Yuqing’s neck. Song Yuqing was very pale, making the bite mark appear vividly red and stark.

Qi Ran felt as if a string in his head had snapped.

Song Yuqing had been bitten by an Alpha.

Song Yuqing had already organized the materials Qi Ran needed to study and gathered his things. "I'm leaving."

Qi Ran, however, grabbed his wrist firmly. "Song Yuqing."

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze. "Yeah."

Lately, Song Yuqing had been spending his evenings in the lab and rarely returned to the dorm. Qi Ran knew he was heading back there again.

Qi Ran stared at Song Yuqing, his long black hair partially covering his red-rimmed eyes with that alpha's near-obsessive gaze. "I'll walk you there."

Song Yuqing: "..."

That really wasn’t necessary. If Qi Ran escorted him and then came back to study alone, it would be like releasing a lamb into the wild, inviting trouble from everyone.

Song Yuqing glanced at Qi Ran. "Forget it. Pack your things—we’ll go back to the dorm together tonight."

Qi Ran had no objections. As long as Song Yuqing allowed him to tag along, he was fine with it. He didn’t want Song Yuqing to get bullied.

Ever since Song Yuqing had knocked him down that day, Pei Huai hadn’t seen him.

But Pei Huai returned to the dorm almost every day, staking out the place.

He wanted to catch Song Yuqing and teach him a lesson.

Just two days ago, he noticed signs of Song Yuqing’s return—the clothes he'd changed out of were all washed and hung neatly on the balcony to dry.

Pei Huai lifted the hangers one by one, inspecting Song Yuqing’s clothes, but they were all the same dull, standard-issue school uniforms.

There was no trace of any other clothing.

Strange.

Pei Huai bent down to check the laundry basket, but only his own clothes were inside. Nothing belonging to Song Yuqing.

Was Song Yuqing not big on cleanliness? How could he not even wash his clothes? Was he waiting for someone else to do it for him?

There was no way Pei Huai would wash clothes for Song Yuqing.

Pei Huai kept searching until he finally found a small washing machine in the corner, with Song Yuqing’s name on it.

Inside were a few small pieces of fabric, tumbled together.

Pei Huai’s breathing grew heavier. The items in the washing machine seemed to hold a strange pull for him.

It wasn’t his fault—Song Yuqing was just too much.

If Song Yuqing hadn’t treated him that way that night, he wouldn’t be like this, wouldn’t recall every night how Song Yuqing had walked all over him, crushed him.

Left alone, lying there, toughing it out alone.

And he was just looking—not touching, not even smelling.

What kind of style would a beta like Song Yuqing wear? White seemed to suit Song Yuqing’s image—cool, dignified, and pure.

Song Yuqing would suit silk-white even better, or a translucent white that outlined a beautiful shape.

A hint of pink, probably fragrant, damp and clinging, making your hand wet.

Sacred and untouchable—only Song Yuqing’s husband could openly have Song Yuqing.

Others could only scramble for whatever drips from Song Yuqing as if it were holy water to soothe their restlessness.

Song Yuqing…

Pei Huai found himself spiraling into wild thoughts again, his mind and breathing growing chaotic because of his imagination.

Before he knew it, he had lowered his head, burying his face in the fabric, sniffing obsessively. So fragrant.

A faint, light and clean scent.

It felt as if his nose wasn’t pressed against soft fabric but against Song Yuqing’s soft lower abdomen, his nose touching Song Yuqing’s pale, smooth skin, inhaling the enticing scent emanating from his flesh.

Devoutly licking Song Yuqing’s lower abdomen, making his body tremble with heat.

Through the soft, fair skin, licking Song Yuqing’s crotch.

"What are you doing with my things?"

Pei Huai snapped awake instantly.

In his hand was Song Yuqing’s cotton underwear, about the size of his palm.

Caught red-handed, Pei Huai felt a moment of embarrassment but quickly turned the tables. "I was helping you hang your underwear to dry, and you’re scolding me? Song Yuqing, where’s your gratitude?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

This rich kid had never washed his own intimate clothing, so wanting to help hang them out to dry seemed almost believable.

It fit his character perfectly.

But given their relationship, Pei Huai would sooner kill him than help him.

Song Yuqing calmly shifted his gaze to Pei Huai’s face. "Are you out of your mind?"

It sounded less like a question and more like a verdict.

Pei Huai: "..."

How was he out of his mind?

Getting defensive, Pei Huai scoffed coldly and closed in on Song Yuqing, lowering his head to meet his gaze with an intense glare. "There’s nothing wrong with my mind."

Pei Huai stared at Song Yuqing. Though Song Yuqing’s face showed little emotion, even carrying a hint of coldness, from this angle, he kind of looked like a little rabbit.

Snow-white, aloof, yet inexplicably docile.

He wanted to ruffle his fur and take a deep whiff.

Song Yuqing raised an eyebrow. "There’s something wrong with your eyes."

"My eyes are fine too." Pei Huai stepped even closer, raising an eyebrow slightly, curious to hear what else Song Yuqing would accuse him of.

Song Yuqing looked at Pei Huai as if he were an idiot. "If there’s nothing wrong with your mind or your eyes, how could you miss the washer-dryer combo? If you’re not a pervert, then what are you?"

"Don’t bother making excuses." His voice was cold, not loud, but clear and final.

Pei Huai: "..."

*How careless of me.*

"Am I that kind of person? Why would I steal your underwear?"

The alpha hooked his finger through Song Yuqing's fabric, but his rough fingers snagged the cotton material, fraying the cotton fabric. He lifted it and waved it in front of Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing had no interest in knowing what Pei Huai would do with his stolen underwear.

He only found the fabric swaying before his eyes deeply annoying. Frowning slightly, Song Yuqing yanked the cloth from the alpha’s fingertips where it had been dangling constantly.

And threw it into the trash.

"Don’t touch my things. You’re very rude."

Song Yuqing said flatly, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. For a moment, Pei Huai felt compelled to listen to Song Yuqing’s words.

His expression was blank, his eyelids drooping, his face pale and weary, with a touch of impatience.

Pei Huai was stung by that hint of impatience from Song Yuqing, and the smile on his face faded.

Song Yuqing was actually impatient with him. Pei Huai’s chest seethed with anger—no one had ever dared to show such obvious disgust toward him to his face.

"You hate me? What a coincidence, I don’t like you either," the alpha sneered. "No one would like a stiff, dull beta like you."

Song Yuqing’s reaction remained cold, not even a flutter of his eyelashes. "Hmm."

He wanted to hear Song Yuqing explain, wanted to hear Song Yuqing say it wasn’t true, but all he got was Song Yuqing’s light, offhand "Hmm."

As if his likes and dislikes meant absolutely nothing to Song Yuqing, as if Song Yuqing simply didn’t care.

But he…

The alpha seethed for a while, then picked up the fabric Song Yuqing had thrown in the trash.

His large hand stroked the piece of cloth. Song Yuqing wouldn’t let him touch it, was disgusted by him.

Well, he would defy Song Yuqing’s wishes—he was going to steal Song Yuqing’s underwear anyway.

Let Song Yuqing have nothing to wear, have to sit there naked and crying.

Author’s Note:

Here’s a little group chat skit.

Group Name: Qingqing and His Dogs

Song Qingqing entered the group and changed the group name to “Everyone, Be Normal.”

Song Qingqing: You might not believe it, but I encounter three shameless people like this in a single day. I’m talking about you three. @Pei Huai @Tan Shu @Xiao Jinshi

Xiao Jinshi: Brother is right, I love you, Brother.

Tan Shu: Qingqing, what misunderstanding do you have about me?

Pei Huai: Another day spent obsessing over someone else’s wife till I’ve gone stupid. I’m really done for, infected with Song Yuqing. @Qi Zhengqing (wife-craving version) Can I lick your wife?

Qi Zhengqing (wife-craving version): No need, I can lick my own wife. @Wife

Song Qingqing: You’re begging for it too. @Qi Zhengqing (wife-craving version)

Qi Zhengqing (wife-craving version): @Wife Sure, left side or right side? Or maybe baby can step on me.

Pei Dog left the group chat and privately messaged Song Qingqing, "Why is your husband allowed but I’m not? You’re playing favorites"; Xiao Jinshi rushed into the group chat holding a paintbrush and used AI to replace (swapping Qi Zhengqing with himself); Tan Shu was busy screenshotting and spreading the news far and wide that Qi Zhengqing is a masochistic bitch dog; Qi Ran was knocking on the door making weird sounds, "Stepmom, I’m scared, don’t do it with Dad, do it with me (scratch that) sleep, okay?"; Ye Siling requested to join the group chat but was rejected by Song Qingqing.