Chapter 28: President, We Were Wrong.

Chapter 28: President, We Were Wrong.

Professor Gu?

It was rare to hear Song Yuqing address him with such politeness. Every time Song Yuqing looked at him, Gu Jingtang half-expected a curse like "you damn dog" to follow.

Cold words spilled from those pale lips, laced with disdain and contempt.

Song Yuqing’s hair had grown longer, dark strands obscuring his beautiful face, yet his complexion remained as pale as ever, his lips still devoid of much color.

He was like a porcelain doll, fragile enough to shatter at any moment. It was unclear how Qi Zhengqing was raising him—or perhaps Qi Zhengqing had no intention of raising him at all.

In high society, an Alpha like Qi Zhengqing was an anomaly. He seemed approachable, but in reality, he harbored extreme contempt for the Qi family’s bloodline.

Some Alphas might despise their family’s sordid affairs, but most would still enjoy the privileges while hating them, continuing to reproduce until they became part of those very sordid affairs.

But Qi Zhengqing never gave Betas or Omegas the time of day, wishing the Qi bloodline would end with him.

Marrying Song Yuqing was merely a repayment.

Yet, even a wife like Song Yuqing—he could ignore her completely.

Truly heartless to the extreme.

Gu Jingtang collected his thoughts. "I can help you."

"But you must promise to study hard and achieve significant research results."

He had seen Song Yuqing’s grades; they weren’t stellar, and he had never been involved in research before.

But lately, he had been very diligent, carrying a book with him everywhere.

A bookworm, then.

Better than having his mind not on studying, only thinking about climbing the social ladder.

At least it wasn’t what he had initially thought.

Gu Jingtang leaned forward slightly, getting closer to Song Yuqing. "You’re only nineteen; your future can still be brilliant. Don’t limit yourself to love. Qi Zhengqing isn’t a good person either—keep your distance from him."

Even if Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing had a child, it would absolutely not secure Song Yuqing’s position.

If they had a child, Qi Zhengqing, that psycho, would probably strangle it with his own hands.

Song Yuqing: "…"

As if it wasn’t Gu Jingtang who had flung contraceptive pills at him before.

Now he’s playing innocent.

Song Yuqing averted Gu Jingtang’s gaze and stated matter-of-factly, "I am studying hard."

Just that one sentence satisfied Gu Jingtang’s controlling nature. He was Song Yuqing’s mentor; it was only natural that Song Yuqing would obediently listen to him.

Song Yuqing subtly and quietly observed Gu Jingtang’s expression, noting the slight satisfaction on his face.

Song Yuqing spoke to 88, "Did he become a teacher because he has too strong a desire to control other people’s lives?"

88: "…"

Ahem. Well said, and quite reasonable.

Gu Jingtang: "Mm, come with me to the lab. I’ll teach you how to collect pheromones."

Song Yuqing walked behind Gu Jingtang, following him into the laboratory.

The Alpha took off his suit jacket and sat down in front of the operating table. The muscles on his back crisscrossed, as if containing boundless strength.

Gu Jingtang spoke, and Song Yuqing merely nodded, but the words went in one ear and out the other.

His cold, pale fingers, with clearly defined knuckles, pressed against the Alpha’s gland. Only then did Song Yuqing speak. "The gland is swollen, pheromones are leaking."

"Professor, you’re being a rut-crazed mad dog again."

Song Yuqing used polite address in the flattest tone to say the most disrespectful things.

Gu Jingtang: "…"

Gu Jingtang swiftly changed the subject. "An average Alpha can extract 20mL, but you can take a bit more."

Song Yuqing had already inserted the needle tip into Gu Jingtang’s gland. "Professor, how much is a bit more? Professor, just tell me to stop if you can’t take it."

Gu Jingtang: "…"

Once again, Gu Jingtang was left speechless by Song Yuqing’s words.

Song Yuqing was the most disobedient student he had ever met. With the aloof, elegant face of a top student, he always gave the impression of being well-behaved and academically excellent.

But the things he did were more and more outrageous.

Even now, when he seemed to be asking for guidance, he was evasive and slippery, his words leaving people stifled and frustrated.

Song Yuqing extracted 200mL of fluid, stopping only when he noticed the Alpha’s face had turned slightly pale.

"Sorry, Professor Gu, did I take too much?"

The apology was delivered without any emotion, as if spoken by a pre-programmed little robot engaging in some soulless dialogue.

No, even robots had more genuine emotion than Song Yuqing.

Gu Jingtang let out a frustrated laugh. "No, you did very well."

Perhaps if he said Song Yuqing had done something wrong, Song Yuqing’s next words would be, in that same flat tone—Professor, you don’t seem to be doing so well yourself.

Before Song Yuqing left with his pheromones, Gu Jingtang spoke up. "By the way, congratulations on becoming the new student council president."

"From now on, you’ll need to balance relations between the nobility and the commoners. Leaning too far toward either side could spark class conflict at Victor University."

Song Yuqing pushed open the lab door. Hearing Gu Jingtang’s words, he turned his head to look inside, his gaze shifting from the lab to the window outside. The trees beyond were lush and vigorous, their reflections merging with the actual shadows on the glass.

The branches and leaves were thick and luxuriant, growing unrestrained.

Song Yuqing lifted his eyes, his gaze sweeping past Gu Jingtang to the world outside the window. For the first time, a trace of gentleness appeared on his strikingly cold yet beautiful face.

"I will do well."

Gu Jingtang was momentarily stunned. He looked at the now-closed lab door, eased back lightly in his chair, and slowly curled his lips into a cold smile.

Repeatedly scheming to drag Tan Shu down, even with public opinion overwhelmingly favoring him and votes completely leading, making it difficult to manipulate the outcome.

Gu Jingtang couldn't help but wonder, if Song Yuqing was so calculating, could he really struggle so much academically?

Yet, Song Yuqing's first exam results at this school showed he had given his all but ended in dismal results.

The appointment of the new president was quickly sent to every student's email and also notified their parents.

After all, the student council president not only had to mediate conflicts among students but also mediate relationships among heirs of various families. Additionally, as the sole student representative for the school's external representation, they would participate in various events.

The identity of the new president needed to be known by all parents.

Qi Zhengqing: "Congratulations."

Song Yuqing received Qi Zhengqing's message just as he finished dividing and storing Gu Jingtang's pheromones.

T-T: "Mm."

Song Yuqing pondered seriously—both Qi Zhengqing and Pei Huai were S+ rank Alphas. He wondered if Qi Zhengqing could produce 240ml.

T-T: "Where are you?"

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

Dusk spread over the river, the sky dyed with magnificent gradients of sunset glow, where the sky and water almost merged into one. The river reflected the neon lights from the riverbank, and the warm glow of countless households gradually lit up, feeling both cozy and slightly lonely.

The freshly awakened Alpha wore a black silk robe, the collar left casually open, revealing subtly defined, powerful muscles.

The Alpha narrowed his eyes slightly—was Song Yuqing asking him to check in with him?

Qi Zhengqing: "Handling official business in the Fourth District."

The Fourth District, also known as Xinzhou's financial trade zone, was the financial hub and free trade port of Xinzhou.

Fully controlled by the Qi family, which gave Qi Zhengqing considerable authority.

The Fourth District—then it’d be impossible to collect Qi Zhengqing's pheromones.

In reality, even if Qi Zhengqing were in the First District, it might not be feasible. Viktor Academy students were only allowed to go home during major holidays; at other times, even on breaks, they had to remain on campus.

Unless Qi Zhengqing came to him.

But that possibility was almost zero.

T-T: "Mm."

The conversation ended abruptly here. Qi Zhengqing rubbed the side of his phone, feeling like something was off.

As Song Yuqing's husband, shouldn't he be doing something?

Qi Zhengqing: "Do you need me to do anything?"

T-T: "Is your rut approaching?"

Qi Zhengqing: "It just ended."

T-T: "Mm."

T-T: "From now on, set aside your pheromones for me. I'll send you the equipment; you collect them and mail them to me."

Leave his pheromones for Song Yuqing?

Qi Zhengqing: "I remember you're a Beta—you don't need pheromones to soothe you."

If Song Yuqing were an Omega, even out of gratitude, he wouldn't have married him.

Marrying an Omega came with too many unpredictable complications.

Song Yuqing was getting annoyed. Qi Zhengqing said he could help, but when asked for a favor, he had a lot of questions.

T-T: "Just give them to me."

T-T: "If not, forget it."

Qi Zhengqing leaned back, shifting to get more comfortable as he read Song Yuqing's messages.

He could almost picture Song Yuqing glancing up lightly, looking at him with an almost expressionless face. Even when demanding he fulfill his husbandly duties, it was with an air of "do it if you can; if not, get lost."

Though young, this Beta was unbelievably cold, only showing a slightly softer side when coaxed.

Perhaps coaxing might not even get you a better attitude.

Qi Zhengqing felt a weird feeling his partner was mad.

Qi Zhengqing: "I'll give them to you, don't be angry."

Qi Zhengqing: "Being angry stunts your growth."

Song Yuqing: "..."

If you know how to talk, then talk. If not, keep quiet.

T-T: "I'm not angry, and I’m still growing. But being too happy makes you age faster, so don't be too happy."

Qi Zhengqing: "..."

Qi Zhengqing read it twice more and suddenly chuckled—still so childish. Direct, lively, not like his usual uptight self.

Song Yuqing continued flipping through books and writing reports, typing expressionlessly on the keyboard for the perfunctory assignment Gu Jingtang had given him.

After less than two minutes, Song Yuqing slung his bag over his shoulder and messaged Pei Huai.

T-T: "Training ground, training."

My Heart Towards the Moon: "Coming right away."

88: "..."

What was this? Getting angry at her husband and then going to fight with the side piece?

88 only dared to think it, not say it aloud.

88 hesitated for a moment before suggesting, "Maybe you should drink some milk? Perhaps some extra calcium might help you grow. You haven’t gotten any taller in the last two months—maybe calcium will help."

Song Yuqing: "...Just shut up."

88: "..."

Pei Huai thought Song Yuqing was acting weird today, always looking at his head as if measuring something. He wondered if his hair was messy, but after touching his head several times, everything seemed fine—every strand was exactly where it should be.

Pei Huai was even more baffled, and Song Yuqing was really laying into him today, going straight for his head.

Was his face offending Song Yuqing’s eyes?

Couldn't be. Though he might be reckless, he wasn’t bad-looking.

When they took a break, Pei Huai finally asked, “What’s up? Bad mood? Who pissed you off?”

“Did Gu Jingtang upset you?”

Song Yuqing was drinking from his water bottle without responding.

Pei Huai stuck a straw into Song Yuqing’s cup. “Use a straw.”

Song Yuqing frowned slightly, with a confused look as he lifted his eyes to Pei Huai. Without a word, his look said it all—What are you doing?

Pei Huai’s eyes wandered as he recalled the way Song Yuqing drank from his bottle—tilting his head back slightly, his hair falling back to reveal his pale neck, his delicate throat bobbing gently with each swallow.

His pale face was flushed slightly from the training, lively and tempting. His lips, damp and shiny with a hint of moisture, were totally hot, making one want to get up close and lick it off.

Yet Song Yuqing remained cool and clueless, as if completely unaware of the effect.

It only made Pei Huai’s heart want him even more.

He wished he could turn into a dog, put his front paws on Song Yuqing’s shoulders, and lick his lips. At worst, Song Yuqing would just smack a dog a couple of times—still satisfying.

“Your water bottle is huge,” Pei Huai pointed at the huge bottle in Song Yuqing’s hands, making an excuse. “Isn’t it heavy to drink from it like that?”

Song Yuqing nodded slightly, agreeing with Pei Huai’s point, but then tossed the straw back to him and continued gulping it down from the bottle.

Pei Huai: “…”

So he agreed, but still didn’t listen.

Pei Huai couldn't help but laugh in frustration, finding Song Yuqing so damn cute. “Fine, if you won’t use it, I will.”

“Was it Qi Ran who upset you?” Pei Huai kept asking, adopting the sweet-talking ways of the other man to perfection.

“Did that asshole Tan Shu come bothering you again?”

“Was it Qi Zhengqing?”

A flash of annoyance crossed Song Yuqing’s eyes, and Pei Huai was over the moon.

Damn, luck was on his side.

That old man was useless.

Now was his chance to seize the opportunity.

It’s always been said that the main partner is just for show—since ancient times, it’s the other man who knows how to read the mood and coax someone properly.

Pei Huai: “Ignore him. He’s an Alpha practically ancient—what good could he possibly say?”

“I’m different. I’ll listen to whatever you say. I’d never say anything harsh to you.”

“By the way, what did he do to upset you?”

Song Yuqing replied flatly, his expression indifferent, “He said I won’t grow taller.”

Pei Huai: “…”

After a two-second pause, Pei Huai said, “Well… that is a really mean thing to say.”

In reality, as a Beta, Song Yuqing was already pretty tall among Betas. But compared to Alphas, he was the perfect height. The nearly 20-centimeter difference made Song Yuqing seem like the perfect size to be picked on and teased in the eyes of any Alpha.

A fair-skinned, delicate, standoffish Beta with a slender waist was every Alpha’s dream girl.

But since the old man was already into him, the other man like him couldn’t very well say that Song Yuqing’s height was just perfect.

Pei Huai: “Who says you can’t grow taller? You still can. More training will help you grow. Qi Zhengqing wouldn’t be mocking you just because he’s tall, would he?”

Song Yuqing was slightly soothed by the first part of Pei Huai’s words, but the second half only deepened his resentment toward Qi Zhengqing.

Pei Huai: “You should eat properly.”

Song Yuqing lifted his eyelids slightly. “…No.”

Pei Huai: “…”

Seemed like he’d pushed it too far—Song Yuqing was mad at him too now.

Pei Huai: “Alright, alright, don’t eat then. But your nutrient drinks are too low-quality. I’ll get you better ones.”

Perfect chance to take care of Song Yuqing a little.

So picky.

Really, such a picky, ice-cold princess, and yet the princess wouldn’t allow anyone to call her finicky.

Song Yuqing jumped down from the steps, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. “I’m leaving.”

Pei Huai: “…”

Another typical move—use him for training and then discard him. Song Yuqing had always been like this. But Pei Huai just grinned to himself, resting his hand on the back of his head. So what if he was being used? He was still far better than that old man. At least he got to train with Song Yuqing and see him every day.

LZ: Not bad. The newly appointed leader’s first rule is to clean up the forum’s excessive, provocative, and rumor-spreading posts, and to prohibit nobles from bullying commoners. You guys who pushed syq into power must be pretty pleased, huh?

1L: But syq has immunity. Even if something happens, if you’re on good terms with him, you might get a pass from him. Isn’t that better than being outright expelled?

5L: All the top-tier posts I saved with photos got deleted.

8L: Honestly, I think syq started coming down hard as soon as he became president. Didn’t he get that position partly thanks to votes from people like us who have a crush on him? And then he goes and bans everything.

18L: What else did you expect? Did you think voting for syq meant he’d give us special treatment in return?

26L: It’s fine. If the forum doesn’t work, we can always move to group chats. Fantasizing in small groups is even better.

28L: Qingqing’s photos are out. How can someone’s ID photos be this beautiful?

29L: Who wants to try stealing them?

30L: Sorry, I’ve already taken them. I even got them laminated, so they won’t get wet.

45L: You pervert! What are you doing with our president’s photos? Me too—Mr. President, don’t move, turn around, just let me press against you.

69L: Pressing again and again, huh?

70L: President, you want this sponsorship, right? President, you’re so sensitive. President, I recorded a video earlier. You wouldn’t want it to get out, would you? Mr. President, can you try a different position next time?

The next second, the post was taken down.

As the student council president of Viktor, Song Yuqing is the public face of Viktor's student body. Even if Song Yuqing doesn’t say anything, his assistants will take care of cleaning this stuff up.

"President’s cold face is such a mood. I wish I could see it every day."

"The president also banned spreading smutty rumors, which is really good for us Omegas. Otherwise, being constantly judged and commented on is truly annoying."

When they scrolled to another post, they couldn’t help but comment, "They really have no shame. But it’s so enticing, absolutely enticing. I also want to fuck the president."

"President, turn around. I've got great skills."

An Omega colleague who was also deleting forum posts glanced at the Omega who'd just said something so brazen.

"Sis, shut up. You’re an Omega—you don’t have the dick for it, and neither do I."

"Ugh, why *don't* we have the equipment?!"

Just as Song Yuqing reached the doorway, he overheard the two Omegas’ conversation. "..."

88 explained, "Well, ahem, you know? This is just empty talk. They don’t actually mean it."

How should he explain that particular online culture?

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze, somewhat helpless, but still spoke up, "I understand. I won’t give them a hard time."

Song Yuqing walked in without mentioning what had just happened.

The Omega who had been speaking earlier fell silent.

Upon seeing Song Yuqing, the Omega recalled her earlier words, her face flushing red. "Hello, President. By the way, my name is Qin Shu."

As she spoke, she elbowed the Omega beside her. "This is Shen Yu."

"We, we…" Qin Shu was about to cry. "Just now…"

Song Yuqing seriously emphasized to the two Omegas, "Be more careful next time. This isn't appropriate."

The two Omegas hung their heads even lower. What could be more embarrassing than being caught by the person in question? The key was that Song Yuqing didn’t scold them—he simply told them it was wrong.

*Sob, we were wrong, truly wrong.*

"President, we’re sorry."

Next time we'll go easier on objectifying the president.

"Alright, carry on with your work. Thanks for your hard work." After greeting the two Omegas, Song Yuqing went to his designated work area to handle his tasks.

They couldn’t help but glance at Song Yuqing again—his features were strikingly beautiful, delicate and elegant, yet his serious demeanor was aloof and unapproachable.

They had seen many photos of Song Yuqing on the forum, but seeing him up close like today...

Their minds couldn’t help but imagine scenarios of the untouchable beauty being made to cry from being teased.

His eyes reddened, his lips swollen and bright from kissing.

Song Yuqing's husband is really lucky to be married to a Beta like him. Even if the president were to cheat, his husband would probably stay silent.

The president’s husband would completely forgive him if the president just kissed him, blaming it all on those damn Alphas outside.

By the time Song Yuqing finished handling all his tasks, it was already evening.

The two Omegas were still there. Song Yuqing said, "I’ll walk you back to your dorm."

Qin Shu & Shen Yu: "!!!"

We get something this good?!

When they used to work overtime with Tan Shu, the most he'd do is tell them to be careful on their way home.

They also knew Tan Shu was just being polite to them on the surface.

Qin Shu: "President, there’s no need. We can go back on our own."

As it was already very late, Song Yuqing smiled and said, "Let’s go. I’ll bring you something small tomorrow instead of walking you back."

Shen Yu: "Okay, then thank you, President."

After walking them back, Song Yuqing left. Shen Yu and Qin Shu couldn’t help but discuss.

"The president is really so kind."

"Earlier, I could smell the scent of an Alpha’s pheromones on the president—so strong and overwhelming, almost like he was being marked. Each scent was very dominant."

"Even so, I support our darling having multiple wives and concubines."

As he was walking, Song Yuqing’s phone suddenly rang.

Several photos were sent from an unknown number. The sender hadn't been accepted as a friend yet, but that didn’t stop them from sending the photos.

They were photos of Song Yuqing sleeping.

.: "Qingqing is so pretty, like a doll. I wanna hug Qingqing so bad."

In one photo taken from behind, Song Yuqing was leaning forward, showing off a slim stretch of his waist. The angle suggested the photographer was very close to him.

.: "So pale, so slender. I wanna lick it."

There were also photos of Song Yuqing handling tasks in the office.

.: "Baby, do you know? You’re like an aloof young lady. I really want to help you out."

Author’s Note:

Qingqing: Help with what? Help me knock your stupid head off?