Chapter 29: Senior Brother

Chapter 29: Senior Disciple

Song Yuqing repeatedly flipped through the photos, scrutinizing the angles—all incredibly close, unnervingly so, as if the photographer had been right beside him.

The most recent photo, in particular, showed him walking with two Omegas.

.: "Babe, congratulations on becoming president. Here’s a photobook for you—hope you like it."

.: "Why are there so many people around you? It’s driving me insane with jealousy. When will you finally notice me?"

.: "I know you’re reading the messages. Why aren’t you replying? Do you hate me?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

Unless he was mentally unwell, he would never be attracted to a psychotic stalker with a voyeuristic obsession.

T-T: "Boring."

Song Yuqing didn’t even bother to glance around or try to identify the sender of the messages.

After Song Yuqing left, an Alpha, who had appeared utterly unremarkable, revealed a flicker of obsessive adoration.

This indifferent attitude—showing no panic or fear even when being stalked—made Song Yuqing seem different from before.

During Wednesday’s group meeting, Gu Jingtang criticized everyone indiscriminately, but Song Yuqing bore the brunt of it.

The other group members looked at Song Yuqing with sympathy, wondering if he had murdered Gu Jingtang’s parents.

Song Yuqing listened to Gu Jingtang’s tirade for what felt like an eternity, his ears growing numb. But no one dared to speak up against Gu Jingtang; all the students under his supervision feared being called out and asked to share their thoughts.

Song Yuqing, whose name was called again: "..."

88: "..."

88: "Why is he targeting you so relentlessly?"

Song Yuqing’s expression almost cracked as he stared speechlessly at Gu Jingtang, who curled his lips into a smirk, clearly enjoying the show.

Gu Jingtang clearly relished seeing Song Yuqing react this way.

After hearing Song Yuqing’s response, Gu Jingtang said, "Well said. Stay focused and don’t space out during meetings."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing took a deep breath. He hadn’t been spacing out.

He just hadn’t responded to Gu Jingtang. Did he have to nod and agree with every word Gu Jingtang said to prove he was paying attention?

He wasn’t insane.

"I've had it with him, Fa Fa," Song Yuqing said calmly.

88: "...You want to beat him up? Then I suggest you find a secluded spot. Even though you’re the student council president now, assaulting your advisor is still unacceptable."

Song Yuqing nodded reservedly: "That could work."

88: "..."

That day, Gu Jingtang left work at 9 p.m. and realized he was being followed. He sensed a little shadow trailing him, neither too close nor too far.

Gu Jingtang couldn’t think of anyone who would follow him, and since they were already off campus, the list of potential followers grew longer, making it impossible to pinpoint the culprit.

Gu Jingtang stuck to the main road but needed to go to the underground parking garage to get his car. As he turned into the garage, he suddenly glanced back.

All he saw was a face obscured by a black mask. The next second, the person threw a punch—swift, precise, and merciless—right into his face.

Gu Jingtang was stunned. Just as he thought about fighting back, he was struck hard in the stomach.

"What kind of mentor are you? If you can’t do your job, just shut up."

Another punch landed on the side of his face, forceful and accurate.

The distorted voice was hoarse, making it impossible to recognize Song Yuqing’s real voice.

Gu Jingtang unleashed the unique pressure of an Alpha, but it had no effect on the person in front of him.

Gu Jingtang narrowed his eyes. Another S-rank Alpha? Otherwise, whether Alpha, Beta, or even Omega, no one could withstand his Alpha pressure so effortlessly.

"What’s the point of these group meetings? Can’t you just get to the point? Why all the formalities?"

Another punch followed, but this time Gu Jingtang caught it with his hand. "Who sent you? Song Yuqing?"

The response was a loud slam.

Song Yuqing grabbed the Alpha’s hair with his other hand and slammed him against the wall. Another heavy blow followed, and Gu Jingtang fell silent completely.

"If you bother your team members again, I’ll come back for more."

With those words, the person left.

Gu Jingtang: "..."

Gu Jingtang went through in his mind the students he had confronted, each one seeming suspicious. The most suspicious of all was Song Yuqing.

But Song Yuqing was just a Beta. How could he remain unaffected by an Alpha’s pressure and even fight so fluidly under it?

The day after Gu Jingtang was hospitalized, news spread throughout Victor that he had been beaten up by a student over a project.

Gu Jingtang’s group created a "Victim Alliance" chat.

They couldn’t help but chatter excitedly in the group.

Victim No. 1: "Who did it? They’re my hero."

Victim No. 2: "Wow, this opens up new possibilities. If Gu Jingtang insults or verbally attacks me again, I’ll just get someone to beat him up."

Victim No. 3: "I won’t ask who did it. If Gu Jingtang gets beaten up again, don’t bother asking who it was."

T-T: "Hero."

The remaining dozen or so people in the group followed suit, calling the person their hero.

88: "..."

You really want people to call you their hero, don’t you?

Victim No. 4: "@T-T, President, isn’t the Student Council investigating Gu Jingtang’s beating? You have to let our hero off the hook."

T-T: "I will conduct a fair investigation."

88: "..."

Investigating yourself—surely that won’t reveal who did it.

Not having to see Gu Jingtang for at least a month left Song Yuqing quite satisfied. Online meetings were way better than seeing Gu Jingtang in person.

Song Yuqing gathered his materials and went to find Professor Lin. Today was his first meeting with Professor Lin.

When Song Yuqing arrived, Professor Lin was already in the lab. Since Professor Lin’s group only consisted of Song Yuqing and Ye Siling, there was no need to book a separate meeting room.

They could just go over recent tasks right there in the lab.

Professor Lin flipped through the materials Song Yuqing had organized and asked him carefully, "You want to work on a psionic-controlled robot? That’s a great idea, but you’ll have to handle most of the design work yourself."

"The workload is huge—far beyond what’s expected for a high school project."

Psionics is the closest thing to externalizing thoughts—essentially using thought to control a robot. It’s an incredibly promising form of human-robot interaction.

Just reading the proposal got Professor Lin's blood pumping.

But practical issues had to be considered. "It’s also going to require a lot of funding. I can apply for 200,000 SGD for you, but don’t worry too much—I’ll do my best to support you financially."

"As long as you approve this project, Professor, that’s enough. I really shouldn’t..." Song Yuqing knew full well that professors like Professor Lin, who were solely focused on research, were usually both poor and lacking in influence. He certainly didn’t want to take food off the old man's plate.

Before Song Yuqing could finish, Professor Lin cut him off with a disapproving look. "What are you talking about?"

Professor Lin dropped a heavy hint, "I’ve brought a sheep here for you to shear. Just make good use of it, ahem..."

Song Yuqing followed Professor Lin’s gaze and saw Ye Siling walking toward them.

The Alpha was tall and aloof, cold and arrogant. His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw Professor Lin and Song Yuqing standing together, clearly displeased.

Professor Lin spoke faster, "That arrogant Alpha dog thinks no one can measure up to him, but when he’s provoked or intellectually outmatched, he shuts up pretty quick."

"I think he might be jealous of you."

Song Yuqing: "?"

Professor Lin looked at Song Yuqing affectionately, "You’re smarter than him and more skilled with your hands. He’s going to be green with envy."

If it weren’t for Song Yuqing, Professor Lin might actually have been impressed with Ye Siling. But next to Song Yuqing, Ye Siling simply didn’t measure up.

"But when the gap is this big, all he can do is submit. Consider him the assistant I found for you—make good use of him."

Song Yuqing nodded in agreement. A small gap might breed jealousy and competition, but a gap this large only inspires awe.

Professor Lin continued sharing his wool-shearing techniques with Song Yuqing—clearly, he’d had plenty of practice.

"Don’t underestimate Ye Siling. My project was on the verge of collapse, but shearing Ye Siling’s wool brought it back to life. All the equipment here is state-of-the-art—that, that, and that over there, all sheared from Ye Siling."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Just then, Ye Siling reached them. Professor Lin introduced him, "This is your senior disciple, Song Yuqing."

Ye Siling frowned and looked at Song Yuqing, disagreeing, "Professor, I was here first. I should be the senior disciple."

Song Yuqing: "..."

I am the senior disciple, no question.

Song Yuqing kept his head down and stayed silent. Ye Siling studied the Beta in front of him—the one Pei Huai liked so much he was willing to be the other man.

He was a very pretty Beta, delicate and coolly elegant. Some might even mistake him for a beautiful Omega.

But the little Beta didn’t say much.

Ye Siling still couldn’t understand why Pei Huai was so willing to be the other man for Song Yuqing.

He’s just a pretty Beta.

Even his personality was completely ordinary, just like every other boring Beta.

Professor Lin: "Ah, Qingqing joined first. You must be mistaken."

Ye Siling felt a bit stifled. He looked at Song Yuqing, his tone cold but carrying a hint of threat, "You tell me—who’s the senior disciple?"

"Think carefully before you answer."

Song Yuqing’s clear eyes slowly met the Alpha’s threatening gaze. He said seriously, "I am the senior disciple."

His voice was clear and translucent. For a moment, Ye Siling found it vaguely familiar, but after a second of hesitation, he felt another wave of disdain.

"You’re quite the ambitious Beta, aren’t you? I don’t get what Pei Huai sees in you."

First, he fought for the student council president position and made Pei Huai help him win it. Now he’s fighting for the senior disciple position, and the professor is helping him again.

He didn’t understand what made Song Yuqing worth all this fighting over.

Ye Siling curled his lip, "You’re just a pretty Beta."

Song Yuqing ignored Ye Siling’s comment and calmly reminded him, "Remember to call me senior disciple."

Ye Siling: "..."

Song Yuqing and Ye Siling were helping Professor Lin assemble some equipment. They sat facing each other, sometimes soldering, sometimes coding, sometimes debugging the robot, and connecting wires.

Song Yuqing worked with intense focus. Ye Siling couldn’t help speaking up again.

"You’re taking on two projects by yourself? You must think pretty highly of your abilities. If you’re not seriously committed to this project, you should drop out now. You can’t do anything well if you’re not fully focused."

Song Yuqing kept soldering the circuit board, the iron sizzling. He didn’t even look up, as if he hadn’t heard a word Ye Siling said.

Through the gaps between the equipment on the table, Ye Siling watched Song Yuqing.

He narrowed his eyes, observing Song Yuqing’s fluid movements. The soldering sparks illuminated Song Yuqing’s slightly curved eyelashes, making his long, dense lashes appear like trembling butterfly wings.

The bright soldering light made the corners of his eyes flush faintly red.

Jet-black hair fell beside his face, giving his pretty features a fragile appearance.

Ye Siling’s hands moved slower almost unconsciously.

"You’re a married Beta, yet you’ve led Pei Huai around by the nose. Do you think that’s right?" Ye Siling questioned coldly.

Song Yuqing still didn’t respond. Ye Siling stared at Song Yuqing’s hands and noticed a small soldering spark land on his collar, burning a tiny hole.

It stood out, particularly glaring. Ye Siling stared at the hole in Song Yuqing’s collar for a long time.

After finishing the welding and debugging Professor Lin's robot, Song Yuqing finally glanced up at Ye Siling, his tone indifferent, even cold. "My husband doesn't mind, and Pei Huai doesn't mind either. I don't understand why you're so concerned for them."

With that, Song Yuqing stood up and went to find Professor Lin. "I made some changes to your code, Professor. Please run it yourself. I have other matters to attend to, so I'm heading out now."

Watching Song Yuqing leave, Ye Siling came back to himself, feeling once again that their worldviews were too different to ever see eye to eye.

He could never acknowledge Song Yuqing as his schoolmate.

Nor could he ever accept Song Yuqing as his senior disciple.

No matter what, someone like Song Yuqing, who goes around chasing after third parties, could only ever be his junior disciple.

A morally bankrupt junior disciple.

Professor Lin: "Haven't you finished yet? I already told you Song Yuqing is your senior disciple. He finished all this, and you haven't even completed half."

Professor Lin pressed the run button to demonstrate to Ye Siling. The little robot jumped up and hit Ye Siling's knee, its mechanical voice shouting, "Ye Siling, dog Alpha!"

Ye Siling: "..."

How could Song Yuqing hold a grudge this badly?

Professor Lin: "I thought you were the type to focus and get things done quickly."

Ye Siling: "..."

Ye Siling spent the entire day in the lab, studying the code written by Song Yuqing and the connections between each of his steps, all thanks to Professor Lin's comments.

Building robots is like this—the code has its own corresponding locations, and even a small error can lead to runtime errors, failing to achieve the intended outcome. Of course, there are also cases where a robot full of bugs still manages to run.

Ye Siling recreated Song Yuqing's robot and stared at the creation that hit his knee and called him a dog Alpha, his expression turning grim.

Professor Lin: "Quite talented, isn't he?"

Ye Siling remained silent, simply retracing each step of Song Yuqing's robot-building process in his mind.

Professor Lin: "Xiao Ye, you've lived a life of luxury since childhood, never lacking anything. How could you understand what regular people go through? Sometimes it's not that they don't like something or don't want to do it—it's that they can't."

"Take Qingqing, for example. Do you think he doesn't want to focus on his projects? But if he doesn't earn money, he can't even work on his own projects."

Ye Siling looked puzzled, lost in thought. Is that really how it is?

After fooling Ye Siling, Professor Lin sent a message to Song Yuqing.

An old man who laughs has good luck: "He's starting to question life."

T-T: "Feels like we're running a pig-butchering scam."

An old man who laughs has good luck: "Forget 'feels like'—we are."

T-T: "^ ^"

An old man who laughs has good luck: "After some careful thought, I’d say it’s not entirely a pig-butchering scam. Ye Siling lost money, but he gained knowledge. The two of us teaching that big fool is more than enough."

T-T: "Agreed."

88: "..."

Well, well, well. Ye Siling really got screwed ending up in your hands.

No wonder you two get along so well as teacher and student.

Song Yuqing recalled the information about Ye Siling—willing to sacrifice everything for his passions, but with extremely poor empathy.

Upper-class arrogance.

This kind of arrogance is even more cruel—doesn't understand others' pain, doesn't comprehend why some people chase fame and fortune, and always looks down to criticize them.

Song Yuqing's stream started right on time.

Song Yuqing: "By the way, I won’t be streaming anymore. I'll be converting the lessons into videos. Each video will be just 100 Star Coins, and you can purchase and rewatch them as you like."

The livestreams had only been meant to showcase his skills and promote himself.

Now that both goals have been achieved, he could start recording videos and selling them as paid content. It would be less exhausting for him, the profits would be better, and more importantly, it would become a product that could generate continuous income.

Ye Siling stared at Song Yuqing’s school uniform, where there was a small burn mark on the collar.

It looked like a soldering iron burn.

Ye Siling frowned and typed.

—Teacher, could I get your contact information? I’d like to purchase the course.

Song Yuqing saw the comment. "The course link is already posted below the video. Those wanting to purchase the course can click the link to buy it."

—Teacher, I need your livestreams. Please keep streaming.

—I thought I’d get to see your face one day. Why stop the livestreams?

Ye Siling’s suspicion resurfaced. Why was he unwilling to show his face, or even his hands? Unless he was very well-known, to the point where people could recognize him by his hands alone.

Song Yuqing?

Could it be Song Yuqing?

Ye Siling posted another comment.

—Teacher, you made a mistake in the last problem. Can you add me to discuss it?

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing glanced at the ID, leaned back slightly in his chair, and lightly raised his eyelids. "I didn’t make a mistake. I just used a different method."

Song Yuqing’s problem-solving approach was indeed unconventional. Even the most difficult problems could be quickly solved by his almost uncanny intuition and sharp thinking.

Following his thought process was undoubtedly an enjoyable experience—smooth and fluid, with a deep sense of satisfaction.

Many people tuned into Song Yuqing’s classes, not just because people were drawn to his voice and hands.

Even solving problems alongside Song Yuqing was addictive. They believed that after the next monthly exam, the positive feedback from improved grades would make watching Song Yuqing’s videos even more enjoyable.

—I didn’t understand. If the teacher doesn’t offer student support now, who would dare buy your course? If that doesn't work, you should just stream.

A series of comments urging Song Yuqing to continue streaming followed.

The person was almost pushing him persistently. Song Yuqing said, "Which part didn’t you understand? Post your question and I’ll see it. I can explain the parts you don’t get."

His voice was clear, very patient, and even carried a hint of gentleness.

It was as if he was coaxing someone into studying.

But those who knew Song Yuqing understood that he was actually displeased with the person stirring things up.

The chaotic barrage from earlier quickly dissipated.

—Teacher, your voice is so pleasant. Teacher, can I kiss your throat? I want to listen to you scold me as I kiss your throat.

—Mom, can I hug you? Puppy wants Mom to hug him! Wait no, the puppy wants to hug Mom.

—Mom’s neck must be soft and fragrant. I want to nuzzle into your neck and call you 'Mom'.

—Mom, I’m your puppy! Woof woof woof!

Song Yuqing: "..."

People in this world seemed to have a weird fixation on the idea of "Mom."

Ye Siling was also seeing this kind of thing for the first time. His ears turned bright red, but he couldn’t help but recall how aloof and focused Song Yuqing had looked while soldering in the lab earlier.

Aloof and focused.

What if he asked Song Yuqing from behind if he could hug him?

Song Yuqing would definitely reply with "No," or simply ignore him.

But if he hugged Song Yuqing from behind, buried his face in the curve of his neck, and breathed in his smell, Song Yuqing would probably say, "Cut it out."

Cut it out.

Behave, puppy.

Listen to your mom.

Realizing what he was thinking, Ye Siling panicked and signed off, even forgetting his original intention of adding Song Yuqing's contact to expose his identity.

Ye Siling could only resentfully think that when the opportunity arose, he would definitely expose Song Yuqing—at the very least, he would call him out to his face.

He couldn’t be wrong. After listening to the livestreams for so many days, he was certain it was Song Yuqing.

But Song Yuqing was playing possum, pretending to have poor grades when in reality, he aced even the hardest problems.

As much as he hated to admit it, the evidence was overwhelming. There was no denying that Song Yuqing was just that sharp.

Someone as cunning as Song Yuqing—there was no way Ye Siling would call him senior disciple. A sneaky, awful Beta like Song Yuqing could only be his junior disciple.

With the troublemaker gone, Song Yuqing’s livestream wrapped up without a hitch, fully transitioning from paid livestreams to paid knowledge videos.

Song Yuqing locked the lab and prepared to return to his dorm when suddenly the lights got cut—a familiar situation, but this time the roles were completely reversed.

Song Yuqing stood at one end of the hallway, glanced at the figure at the other end, and gave a wave.

Author's Note:

Qingqing: I’m impressive, call me senior disciple.

Ye Siling: Mom.

Qingqing: ...