Chapter 42: Dad Will Teach You

Chapter 42: Dad's Lesson

"Lady Doctor?"

What the hell was Gu Jingtang spouting?

Pei Huai was momentarily stunned, his gaze dropping to Song Yuqing. Song Yuqing's head was slightly bowed, and from Pei Huai's vantage point, the graceful curve of his brows and eyes was captivating, imbued with a delicate femininity—indeed, he looked every bit the "lady doctor."

A lady doctor remarkably skilled with needles.

It took Pei Huai mere seconds to transition from shock to acceptance of this peculiar notion.

Staring at Song Yuqing’s exquisitely handsome profile, Pei Huai’s Adam’s apple moved slowly, a controlled swallow. The harder he tried to suppress it, the more an audible gulp escaped him.

Song Yuqing: "..."

But Song Yuqing had no time for Pei Huai, that blithering idiot.

Song Yuqing’s other hand closed over Gu Jingtang’s wrist, his movements swift and decisive.

*Crack!*

The distinct sound of a bone dislocating.

Song Yuqing offered a gentle smile, "My apologies, Professor, I used too much force."

Gu Jingtang, however, remained unfazed. His other hand reached for the ID badge on Song Yuqing’s chest, but before he could make contact, Pei Huai reacted, seizing Gu Jingtang’s hand. "Keep your filthy hands off him."

As an Alpha, Pei Huai’s strength was immense, as if he could snap Gu Jingtang’s bones. His gaze was predatory, like a wild beast fixated on its prey, sending shivers down one’s spine.

Ignoring Pei Huai’s menacing stare, Gu Jingtang merely smiled at Song Yuqing. "Is this how you treat your professor?"

Song Yuqing’s eyes were as placid as still water, utterly devoid of ripples. "I didn’t strike you, Professor. Pei Huai simply doesn’t listen to me—there’s nothing I can do."

Gu Jingtang: "..."

Pei Huai not listening to Song Yuqing? He was practically groveling at Song Yuqing’s feet, ready to be his loyal hound.

Pei Huai flung Gu Jingtang’s hand away. "I’d soil my hands just by hitting you."

"By the way, I still haven’t found the person who attacked you," Song Yuqing smoothly redirected the conversation.

Pei Huai glanced at Song Yuqing’s lightly clenched hand, remaining silent. Yet, in his heart, he was absolutely certain it was Song Yuqing who had slipped out and assaulted Gu Jingtang.

Others might be oblivious, but he knew. Against a lab-bound Alpha like Gu Jingtang, Song Yuqing could easily take on two. He deserved it. Who else would Song Yuqing target for causing trouble if not him?

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze, offering a sincere suggestion, "Professor, you might want to temper your behavior a bit. It seems quite a few people dislike you."

"If you have any suspects, Professor, you can tell me. I’ll investigate."

Gu Jingtang chuckled softly. "No suspects for now."

Song Yuqing: "Then I’ll be going."

Pei Huai followed Song Yuqing out. Gu Jingtang closed his eyes, cold sweat beading on his forehead. With his right hand, he gripped his dislocated left wrist and forcefully reset the bone.

Despite being drenched in sweat, Gu Jingtang let out a low laugh.

The student assisting him nearby was utterly bewildered by Gu Jingtang’s actions.

Most professors at Victor were adjuncts, also teaching at other universities.

Victor, in essence, offered students access to unparalleled educational resources.

Many students who graduated from Victor found it challenging to encounter such distinguished professors elsewhere.

Gu Jingtang was one of those adjunct professors at Victor. The student assisting him was one he mentored at the university where he held his primary teaching position.

Watching Gu Jingtang, in pain and drenched in sweat, yet still laughing, the student could only conclude that Gu Jingtang was utterly blinded by beauty.

They had followed Gu Jingtang for a full year before he granted them access to the lab and the current project.

While "Xiao Jiang’s" experimental skills were passable and didn’t hinder progress, allowing him to join such a project so casually seemed far too reckless.

"Drop that disdainful attitude," Gu Jingtang said coldly, as if reading the student’s thoughts. "His beauty is his least remarkable quality."

Gu Jingtang’s presence became intensely oppressive as he stared at his student. "If you knew this was his first experiment, his first time performing such data analysis..."

"You’d recognize his immense talent."

The previously skeptical student was taken aback. His first time?

"How can a useless individual like you, who requires multiple lessons for a single experiment, even compare to him?"

Student: "..."

Why didn’t "Xiao Jiang" just beat this arrogant jerk to a pulp!

Truly, if Gu Jingtang got beaten, he had no one to blame but himself—it was because he was a complete lunatic.

Seeing Gu Jingtang’s expression, as if savoring the memory, the student felt even more speechless. What a pervert. Next time he saw "Xiao Jiang," he would definitely tell him not to hit Gu Jingtang casually—it only made him enjoy it more.

Exhausted from the day, Song Yuqing collapsed into sleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Unaware that the instant he drifted off, the other three occupants of the dormitory opened their eyes, their gazes fixed on him, each filled with a different emotion.

Possessive, longing to touch yet daring not, openly confident and bold.

Their stares lingered on Song Yuqing. Even the slightest glimpse of fair skin was visually caressed repeatedly by the Alphas.

Lan Balun, who had stealthily returned to the dorm, hissed softly beneath the covers, seemingly agitated. He coiled around Song Yuqing’s ankle, rubbing against it until the skin flushed with a suggestive, alluring hue.

The friction made Song Yuqing frown slightly, letting out a soft, almost inaudible gasp.

He grabbed the small snake, preventing a repeat of the previous incident.

He pinched the back of the snake’s neck as a warning.

The snake settled for a moment, then coiled around Song Yuqing’s wrist, inhaling the cool, delicate scent emanating from his pale skin.

Though the snake didn’t keep Song Yuqing awake for long, the other three Alphas in the room were now wide awake.

Their minds replayed Song Yuqing’s soft gasp over and over.

A sound that ignited wild fantasies.

It wasn’t until early morning that Qi Ran finally succumbed to a restless sleep.

But the scenes in his dreams felt like a colossal net ensnaring him, leaving him breathless.

Sunlight flooded the room, branches swayed outside. He walked through layers of gauzy curtains; the door was ajar, and from within came sounds like slaps and the gentle murmur of flowing water.

Everything seemed shrouded in a mist, indistinct and unclear.

He thought he heard Song Yuqing’s voice.

His heart pounded—he yearned to approach, to uncover the truth, yet he feared what he might find.

As he drew closer to the door, Qi Ran’s steps grew slower and heavier. The door stood before him, and finally, he pushed it open. The scene inside made him want to flee, to escape, but his legs felt rooted to the spot. He could only stand there and watch.

He watched as his father kissed Song Yuqing’s lips, their mouths meeting, pressing and parting again and again until Song Yuqing’s pale lips turned a vivid red. His neck, tilted upward, was slender and fair.

Further down was his slender back and beautiful shoulder blades, a sudden expanse of snow-white skin spreading before his eyes.

Song Yuqing’s amber eyes glistened with moisture, misty like autumn frost, carrying a crystalline chill.

Trembling more violently than the swaying branches was his fair, taut foot.

The rustling of leaves brushing against each other was like shards of glass piercing his heart, making it bleed profusely, yet the relentless beating in his chest spoke to his excitement.

Suddenly, Song Yuqing looked up and met his gaze. Frowning slightly, his eyes seemed to command him to leave.

The next second, the dream shifted.

Song Yuqing was still watching him, seated on his... looking down at him with his usual calm expression. Noticing his physical reaction, Song Yuqing spoke softly.

"This is all normal. Don’t be ashamed. Everyone goes through this."

"Normal?" Qi Ran murmured.

Song Yuqing reaffirmed, "Perfectly normal."

Qi Ran’s words almost burst from the vibrations in his chest, but the next moment, he only gazed at Song Yuqing with longing, grabbed his hand, and pressed his face against Song Yuqing’s cool skin. "Xiao-Dad, I'm scared."

He was a monster. How could he be like this?

"Don’t be afraid. I’m here," Song Yuqing said, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly. "There’s nothing to be ashamed of."

"Let me teach you."

"Come here, yes… take your time." Song Yuqing’s voice faltered slightly as Qi Ran knelt before him.

The dream grew more wanton, and Qi Ran lost all control over its direction.

He couldn’t help but chase Song Yuqing’s gaze, longing for his approval. Song Yuqing’s cool, snow-like eyes took on a hint of allure—the highest praise he could receive.

The next moment, Song Yuqing’s gaze shifted away from him, looking past him toward the door.

The branches continued to sway, and the wind raced noisily. Qi Ran looked toward the door and saw Qi Zhengqing standing there, taking in their every move. His father’s deep, pool-like eyes held a calmness that could drown a person.

Song Yuqing’s foot rested on Qi Ran’s chest, but his gaze remained fixed on Qi Zhengqing.

In an instant, Qi Ran’s mind went blank, his blood running cold.

They’d been discovered. But… Qi Zhengqing wasn’t looking at him.

The dream ended abruptly. Sunlight streamed into his eyes, and Song Yuqing turned slightly to look at Qi Ran, who had just opened his eyes. "Did I wake you?"

Song Yuqing’s voice was clear and cold, calm and undisturbed.

The sheets were a mess beneath him.

Qi Ran’s heart was still pounding wildly.

Before his heartbeat could return to normal, Song Yuqing spoke again, "But it’s time for you to get up for class."

Qi Ran: "Mm."

Song Yuqing left, and Qi Ran felt an unprecedented sense of loss—lifted to the highest point in the dream, only to crash down brutally in reality, shattering into pieces.

Qi Ran had never felt this way before. He knew his strange feelings had started when he returned to the Qi family—when Qi Zhengqing first stepped into the Qi household where Song Yuqing lived, when he first saw Qi Zhengqing hold Song Yuqing, when he first saw Song Yuqing seated on Qi Zhengqing…

It had begun then, nurtured again and again, growing wildly.

Because Qi Zhengqing loved Song Yuqing, and because Song Yuqing never refused him, Qi Ran felt they would never divorce.

It made him realize that Song Yuqing was only his Xiao-Dad.

All his thoughts were like moss growing in the shadows—something that couldn’t see the light, or it would die.

His filthy thoughts were damaging the relationship between Song Yuqing and his father, defiling Song Yuqing. He shouldn’t think this way, much less act on it.

Most importantly, if Song Yuqing knew, he would surely despise him.

He would never smile at him again, never speak to him, would loathe him, and cast him out.

He would be thrown back into the lightless cave, left to die alone in the darkness.

The thought made it hard for Qi Ran to breathe.

He couldn’t let that happen. He had to stay by Song Yuqing’s side, accompany him forever. He had to remind himself over and over to be a good… son to Song Yuqing.

Room 3216 was now empty, save for the faint sound of water from the bathroom.

On the sink, bright red blood trickled down with the water, flowing into the drain. As if this could dilute his unspeakable thoughts, make them disappear.

Song Yuqing began working on Gu Jingtang’s project. Gu Jingtang wasn't often in the lab—perhaps he was usually in the laboratory on the B2 level.

Song Yuqing’s ID now bore his own photo, allowing him normal access to the lab every day.

He had been assisting Engineer Zhang with his project. Unlike Professor Lin, Engineer Zhang was quiet but meticulous, and highly respected in the lab.

Lately, Song Yuqing’s work involved genetic sequencing of various samples and importing the data into databases for comparison.

It was a detailed and tedious task.

Engineer Zhang had been observing Song Yuqing. He had expected someone so young to grow impatient or ask for other tasks, but instead, Song Yuqing showed great patience, working diligently for days on end.

Engineer Zhang had encountered so-called geniuses before—most were arrogant about their talents.

But Song Yuqing was different. He learned quickly, approached everything seriously, and during breaks, he asked many insightful questions, grasping concepts instantly.

Though Engineer Zhang didn’t show any particular fondness for Song Yuqing, he felt that Gu Jingtang had indeed found a treasure.

During a break, Song Yuqing went to get water. A few young assistants in the lab, also students brought in by Gu Jingtang, were gathered and chatting.

"Engineer Zhang is over the moon; all his wrinkles are disappearing from happiness. If possible, he'd probably want to keep Qingqing working on projects with him forever."

"If Qingqing ever asked me a question, I'd be over the moon too."

"Even his ID photo is so good-looking, he's basically the project team's eye candy."

"Did you know Qingqing is the campus heartthrob?"

"Seriously, if he’s not the campus heartthrob, then who is? He could easily get by on his looks, but he’s still so diligent. Tsk tsk, it’s just not fair to the rest of us."

"Aww, I’m already imagining it—once my academic achievements skyrocket, I’ll list Qingqing as first author, cup his face, and have him call me 'senior.' Wow, his face is just perfect, every feature just melts my heart."

"Give it up, senior. You’re so obsessed, but by the time you 'make progress,' Qingqing’s research skills will already be top-tier. Maybe you’ll be the one clinging to him, begging him to add your name."

"Can I pursue Qingqing? I want him to be my wife—betas can be wives too, even as a beta, right?"

"Female alpha, male beta—that would be hot. Just thinking about Qingqing crying makes my heart ache and excites me."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing really wanted to remind his seniors that this was the break room, not the wild west. He was here to work in the lab, not at a bar.

Gu Jingtang walked over from the other side and caught a glimpse of Song Yuqing’s lab coat sticking out. The corner of his lips curled slightly as he overheard his team’s discussion.

Standing quietly and watching Song Yuqing, Gu Jingtang felt like he was observing a cat eavesdropping on gossip but failing to hide properly, its tail still twitching slightly.

After standing there for a while, Song Yuqing realized the seniors showed no signs of stopping—in fact, they were getting more enthusiastic. He decisively gave up on getting water and turned to go back to running a few more sequences.

*Bam*—he bumped into Gu Jingtang. Song Yuqing: "..."

Why does Gu Jingtang have to be everywhere? What a pain.

Song Yuqing instinctively elbowed Gu Jingtang hard in the stomach.

Gu Jingtang let out a pained grunt. "Hitting me again, Song Yuqing? I’m your teacher, and you’re always hitting me..."

"Just preventing you from saying something unpleasant," Song Yuqing replied calmly, keeping his head down and avoiding eye contact.

Gu Jingtang sneered, "Trying to redirect your anger? Why don’t you hit them when they talk about you?"

Song Yuqing said succinctly, "You’re just more asking for it."

He could tell the difference between good-natured teasing and malicious behavior. The seniors might chatter, but they treated him well—lending him class notes and never said those things to his face. They even offered emotional support.

As Fa Fa would say, they were "wife fans."

As for Gu Jingtang? He was total trash—calling him a dog would be an insult to dogs.

Gu Jingtang gave a bitter laugh again. Even though his students got along so well with Song Yuqing, Song Yuqing still despised him and saw him as garbage.

Gu Jingtang: "Calling me names in your head again?"

Song Yuqing: "Mm."

Gu Jingtang: "If I give you a 'first-author position,' will you still curse at me?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

88 loudly: "...Qingqing, he... he's tricking you into being an academic Daji! You can’t listen to him; we don't do lovesick foolishness."

"No need, Professor," Song Yuqing turned to leave with his enamel mug in hand, "I still prefer cursing at you and hitting you."

Gu Jingtang, however, stepped in front of him and took the enamel mug from him.

Before Song Yuqing could react, the mug was taken by Gu Jingtang. Song Yuqing: "..."

Was Gu Jingtang insane?

That was the enamel mug given to him by Engineer Zhang, inscribed with the words "Work like hell until you drop." Song Yuqing was quite fond of that mug.

With the mug taken, Song Yuqing’s displeasure was written all over his face.

When the mug was returned to Song Yuqing, Gu Jingtang looked down at Song Yuqing and said, "Drink."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing took two steps, poured the water Gu Jingtang had provided into a flowerpot, and said to the monstera plant inside, "Drink up. Once you’re full, stop touching other people’s things like you're crazy."

Then he walked away, clutching his enamel mug.

Gu Jingtang: "..."

Making veiled criticisms.

How could a beta like Song Yuqing hold a grudge so intensely?

Holding onto such a small grudge for so long—did he expect Gu Jingtang to apologize? But Gu Jingtang wasn’t worried. Given time, Song Yuqing would come to understand how important resources and connections were in this field.

He could tell Song Yuqing was deeply fond of these things. For the sake of what he loved, Song Yuqing would likely lower his principles.

Only by experiencing the loss of resources after having them would Song Yuqing feel the disparity and yield. He had grown accustomed to these devices—could he go back to using the "shabby" equipment at the university?

Perhaps Viktor’s experimental setup was considered advanced, but it couldn’t compare to the equipment in his lab.

The equipment was just the beginning. Only when Song Yuqing lost everything Gu Jingtang had provided would he realize how good Gu Jingtang had been to him.

Half a month passed before they knew it. Song Yuqing went to Gu Jingtang’s lab every day, barely spending time in classrooms.

Song Yuqing left the dorm earlier and returned later each day, and Qi Ran saw him less and less frequently.

Yet, those feelings didn’t disappear with Song Yuqing’s absence—instead, they grew wildly, like weeds.

At night, Qi Ran still waited until he saw Song Yuqing before closing his eyes to sleep.

One morning, Song Yuqing reached the downstairs entrance only to realize he had forgotten a notebook lent to him by a senior student. He turned back to retrieve it.

Qi Ran pressed his hands against the sink, veins bulging on the back of his hands as he struggled to control his emotions. Images of Song Yuqing flashed repeatedly in his mind.

But it seemed ineffective—the pain didn’t make him afraid to think of Song Yuqing; instead, it made him dwell on Song Yuqing even more.

Song Yuqing picked up the notebook but heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.

A faint scent of blood spread through the air, and only Qi Ran's belongings remained on his bed. Song Yuqing frowned slightly.

"Qi Ran, what are you doing in there?"

"Qi Ran, open up."