Chapter 17: Am I Complimenting You?

Chapter 17: Was I Praising You?

As Song Yuqing stepped out, Pei Huai leaned against the wall, a smile playing on his lips. "Over here, Song Yuqing."

Song Yuqing's face remained impassive. "Didn't I tell you to go to the training ground?"

Pei Huai's grin was roguish. "I just prefer waiting here."

"I'm not walking with you anyway. You go ahead, I'll follow."

Song Yuqing offered no objection, and even if he had, Pei Huai likely wouldn't have listened.

A stubborn alpha—as long as he proved somewhat useful, that was enough.

That day, Pei Huai's offer to help him train his resistance to psychic energy was entirely unexpected for Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing wasn't intent on drawing a strict line with Pei Huai.

If Pei Huai could be leveraged, even with ulterior motives, Song Yuqing would utilize him as long as he maintained control.

Mutual exploitation—neither could truly accuse the other of scheming.

The vast training ground was empty save for Song Yuqing and Pei Huai. As Pei Huai's psychic energy pressed down, bit by bit, Song Yuqing found himself gasping for air, his breathing labored, as if on the verge of suffocation.

A persistent buzzing in his head screamed warnings.

Pei Huai watched the beta before him—slender and fragile, his damp lashes glistening with moisture, trembling uncontrollably. His clear eyes were veiled by a misty haze, the corners tinged with a physiological flush.

So vulnerable, so pitiable.

This scene, he thought, should clearly be unfolding in a bed—watching his delicate eyelashes wet with tears, seeing his fair face flushed with the tide of desire, observing him coldly kick him away.

Not here, not in the training ground, watching Song Yuqing engage in combat training with him.

Pei Huai couldn't help but speak. "Stop training, Song Yuqing."

"I won't bully you; I'll protect you."

Song Yuqing's husband treated him poorly, forcing Song Yuqing to not only raise their child but also support himself.

Pei Huai could replace Song Yuqing’s husband—even if it meant helping Song Yuqing raise that brat, Qi Ran.

As long as Song Yuqing remained obediently by his side.

Pei Huai extended his hand once more, hoping this time Song Yuqing would take it.

Song Yuqing let out a sudden, soft, almost inaudible laugh. "You protect me?"

His eyelashes fluttered slightly, tears welling up and overflowing, dampening his pale, beautiful face. They traced a path down Song Yuqing's fair chin, dripping onto Pei Huai's palm, a scalding sensation that made his heart throb with numbness.

"Don't joke, Pei Huai."

"No one protects another without expecting something in return, and no one can protect someone forever."

His voice was cool and detached, the final syllables carrying a chill. "If you don't want to do combat training with me, then go back. I never insisted on your help."

Pei Huai gazed at Song Yuqing. Under the interwoven moonlight, Song Yuqing remained like soft, fragrant snow clinging to a branch of red plum blossoms.

Untouched by dust, unblemished by his attempts to pull him down.

Unbeknownst to him, Pei Huai's heart was gently stirred—not with a dramatic jolt, nor with heart-wrenching pain, but with a quiet, murmuring shift.

After the combat training, Song Yuqing was once again drenched, as if he'd been pulled from water.

Pei Huai followed behind Song Yuqing, neither too close nor too far.

Under the dim streetlights, Song Yuqing's slender figure cast a long shadow. The road was quiet, with only two sets of footsteps—one heavy, one light—echoing.

The small robot on Song Yuqing's bed scanned the interior of Room 3216 with its camera.

A group of alphas huddled around the computer, perched on chairs.

It wasn't until Song Yuqing reappeared on camera that the alphas perked up.

He—he—

"His clothes are soaked through; was it that intense? He must have been thoroughly penetrated."

"He didn't reply to a single message, but now he's with Pei Huai—must be looking down on us."

"The corners of his eyes are red; why isn't he stripping yet?"

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze and patted the small robot's head. His beautiful face suddenly filled the screen, causing those on the other side of the camera to gasp.

They knew Song Yuqing was beautiful, but facing such overwhelming beauty felt like an assault.

Their hearts nearly stopped.

Especially when they saw Song Yuqing begin to undress, the alphas fell silent, leaning closer to the screen, eagerly anticipating what would come next—anticipating Song Yuqing's flawless physique.

Song Yuqing's slender fingers rested on his shirt buttons. Even the act of unbuttoning his shirt was captivating, every movement imbued with an elegant, rational beauty.

Aloof and inviolable, almost sacred.

Suddenly, Song Yuqing noticed something unusual about the robot's eyes. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and his expression turned cold.

He spoke coldly into the robot's lens, "Enjoying the view?"

Those on the other end of the camera froze.

Had they been discovered? No, no… it couldn't be.

"Enjoying it…" Pei Huai blurted out, then quickly caught himself and added, "I mean, it's just average."

Song Yuqing lifted his thin eyelids and cast a faint glance at Pei Huai. "I wasn't asking you."

Pei Huai: "..."

Damn, Song Yuqing really knows how to stare—a cold, alluring succubus. One look from him and you're on edge.

The person on the other end of the camera tensed. If he wasn't asking Pei Huai, was he asking them?

They never expected Song Yuqing to discover them like this.

Shit, Song Yuqing is talking to them coldly—such a thrill.

It'd be even better if he landed a few slaps.

Song Yuqing removed the camera. The screen flickered a few times before the connection was completely severed.

Song Yuqing then detached another dozen or so cameras from the pile of robots, shattering the fantasies of the alphas who had been waiting to see him undress.

Only after dismantling all these cameras did Song Yuqing go to wash up.

Pei Huai chuckled wryly—was this a gift for Song Yuqing? Clearly, it was a gift for himself.

A bunch of despicable curs.

Using such underhanded tactics.

Pei Huai didn't know what Song Yuqing was doing. In any case, Song Yuqing simply showered and then left again.

The next day,

The forum was in an uproar, with the names of over thirty alphas listed.

At first, no one knew what this list was about.

As time passed, compromising photos of the alphas on the list were exposed one after another.

Those whose unflattering photos were leaked were publicly ridiculed and subjected to judgment.

Those who hadn't been exposed yet were torn between relief and dread, terrified that they might be next.

But no one considered the possibility that Song Yuqing was behind it. After all, everyone still believed Song Yuqing was just a very pretty beta.

In the lab, slivers of morning light filtered through the half-open blinds, and the hanging wisteria swayed gently in the morning breeze. The ventilation system hummed softly as Song Yuqing, slumped on the desk, finally drifted into sleep.

The sleeping Song Yuqing frowned slightly, his raven lashes resting peacefully. His pale complexion, soft pink lips, and uneasy expression made him look particularly fragile and helpless in his slumber.

Robot One and Robot Two each held a corner of a blanket, gingerly moving their round bodies to tuck it around Song Yuqing.

Then they settled on either side of him, guarding him, wanting to curl up and sleep with him.

But the little robots forgot—they hadn't shut down and couldn't "sleep."

In the end, they took so many photos of Song Yuqing that their memory filled up, causing them to lag and stutter.

It wasn't until the afternoon that Song Yuqing realized the little robots had not only become "lame" but also "blind." Upon checking, he found their storage was full of his photos. Song Yuqing: "..."

He had given them too much freedom, allowing them to fill up the storage space.

Robots need to continuously write image data to storage. Insufficient storage causes write failures, leading to the little robots failing to recognize obstacles and becoming both "blind" and "lame."

The little robots drooped their heads guiltily and crowded around, trying to play cute.

"Mas—" *lag*

"ter—" *stutter*

"hug—" *lag*

"hug—" *stutter*

Song Yuqing lightly tapped a little robot's head with his curled index finger, ignoring their attempts to be cute, and scolded softly, "You're just as pathetic as those dog alphas."

The little robots: ヾ(≧▽≦*)o

Song Yuqing: "?"

Song Yuqing snorted, "Am I praising you?"

"Congratulations, you made them get off on being scolded," 88 said sassily, taking a jab at the little robots. "They're pretty perverted too, right? Qingqing, babe?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing: "You're just as pathetic."

LZ: This is the robot my wife Qingqing gave me—a token of our love. You guessed it, I'm the official side piece, Song Yuqing's off-the-books husband.

Author's Note:

Song Qingqing: A bunch of useless robots, a useless Fa Fa, and this... pathetic side piece guy.