Chapter 44: Useless

Chapter 44: Good-for-Nothing

Song Yuqing gripped Qi Ran's wrist, not letting go, pressing Qi Ran's hand against his eyes as silent tears fell.

Dampness spread across his palm, the warmth seeping into his fingertips.

One drop, two drops...

Qi Ran's heart seemed to plummet with each tear Song Yuqing shed.

After his hand was released, Song Yuqing's emotions had already returned to normal. Qi Ran gently brushed his thumb under Song Yuqing's eyes. "Little Dad, I'm here with you."

"Even after dark, I'll be with you."

Qi Ran's voice was soft. He wouldn't let go of Song Yuqing; even in the dark, he would hold his hand and walk with him, ensuring he felt no fear.

Night had fallen completely.

"Let's go." Song Yuqing's tone was mostly flat, clearly having regained his composure. He didn't need comfort or many words from Qi Ran.

Qi Ran grabbed Song Yuqing's hand and looked up at him. "Yeah."

The abandoned building had been without power for many years. The staircase was pitch black, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of their face. Qi Ran led Song Yuqing forward—an alpha's night vision was slightly better than a beta's.

He could have turned on his phone's flashlight, but he figured Song Yuqing probably didn't want to be seen right now.

When Song Yuqing cried, he looked even more captivating, fragile, and beautiful.

But someone who covered their eyes while crying likely didn't want others to witness their vulnerability.

In the quiet hallway, their footsteps echoed together.

As soon as they stepped outside, they ran into another alpha. Qi Ran was still holding Song Yuqing's hand.

The alpha, dressed in a trench coat, stood at the entrance, the glow of a cigarette between his fingers. Noticing someone coming downstairs, he extinguished it.

Qi Zhengqing turned to look at Song Yuqing. The young man's eyelids were red-rimmed, his long lashes swept down like crow's wings. He must have been crying, blinking softly as if his eyes were uncomfortable, clearly in low spirits.

Like a freshly built snowman, his brows and eyes carried a hint of chilly reluctance.

Qi Zhengqing's gaze lowered, settling on their intertwined hands.

The alpha stepped forward, wrapping his coat around Song Yuqing. The scent of tobacco and oud wood blended together, a maturity unique to Qi Zhengqing's age, with a slightly bitter undertone that was completely serious.

Qi Zhengqing pushed Qi Ran's hand away and grasped Song Yuqing's wrist. "Your hand is cold. Were you standing in the wind?"

Qi Ran looked down at his father and Little Dad's joined hands, quietly clenching the hand that had just held Song Yuqing's.

"Why did you come here?" Song Yuqing didn't answer Qi Zhengqing's question, asking instead.

Qi Zhengqing: "Someone sent me your location, told me to come catch..."

Song Yuqing looked up at Qi Zhengqing, his gaze questioning what he meant by "catch."

Qi Zhengqing's large hand completely enveloped Song Yuqing's, and he suddenly chuckled. "Catch you skipping school."

Song Yuqing: "..."

"Then you've caught me." Song Yuqing's tone was flat, his voice thick with nasal congestion.

Song Yuqing looked at Qi Zhengqing. "Did you used to catch Qi Ran like this too?"

Qi Zhengqing understood what Song Yuqing meant—why he'd been hands-off before, why he hadn't been a good father.

Qi Zhengqing didn't explain. He believed Song Yuqing wouldn't want to know why he had neglected Qi Ran.

Qi Zhengqing said, "I'm starting to learn to parent now."

"I'll take you back to school."

Song Yuqing nodded, letting Qi Zhengqing guide him forward. Qi Ran followed behind, watching them walk side by side, watching Qi Zhengqing lean down to speak to Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing tried to pull free, but Qi Zhengqing suddenly spoke. "Don't move. If fathers have a good relationship, it should give their child good relationship examples."

Song Yuqing: "..."

"You're really boring." Song Yuqing muttered but didn't withdraw his hand.

Under the coat, Song Yuqing's hand was slowly warming in the alpha's grasp.

Qi Zhengqing: "Have you thought about what college you want to go to?"

Song Yuqing didn't understand why Qi Zhengqing suddenly asked this, but he answered anyway. "Central University."

"Mm." Qi Zhengqing said, "How about I set up a lab for you near Central University?"

Song Yuqing answered almost without hesitation. "Okay."

Since Qi Zhengqing was offering, of course he'd accept.

After seeing the equipment in Tan Shu's lab, he had already been tempted. He had originally planned to build his own lab.

But applying to establish a lab involved tedious procedures and layers of approval.

If Qi Zhengqing could help him with the process, Song Yuqing found him more bearable.

Qi Zhengqing looked down at Song Yuqing's slightly brightened eyes, a slight smile touching his lips.

"Study hard. Don't skip classes so often."

Song Yuqing: "..."

He's really acting like a parent now.

Song Yuqing didn't promise Qi Zhengqing. Qi Zhengqing almost laughed exasperatedly at his reaction—Song Yuqing was definitely the kind of child who pushed back constantly, likely to go through a rebellious phase.

If you gave him benefits, he would accept them calmly, thinking it was his due.

But if you tried to reason with him, Song Yuqing wouldn't listen to a word.

A contrary little cat.

Qi Zhengqing took them back to school, swiped his alumni card, and escorted the two wall-climbers back inside. He sat in his car but didn't leave immediately.

In the end, Qi Zhengqing still didn't go to find Gu Jingtang.

He knew Gu Jingtang would make things hard for Song Yuqing. He could stand up for Song Yuqing, but Song Yuqing's personality wasn't the type to need others fighting his battles.

He had his own plans and could handle his own affairs.

His intervention might disrupt Song Yuqing's rhythm.

"To the airport," Qi Zhengqing ordered the driver coldly.

On an asphalt road winding near the mountains, the racing car's roll cage scraped against the concrete guardrail, sending golden sparks flying. Xiao Jinshi jerked the steering wheel sharply, just made the turn before flooring the accelerator again.

His mind replayed images of: Song Yuqing and Qi Ran almost kissing, Qi Zhengqing draping his coat over Song Yuqing’s shoulders, holding his hand.

Crash.

A racing car rear-ended the vehicle in front. The driver got out, demanding an explanation, only to be hit in the eye by a ring Xiao Jinshi threw at him. "Get lost. This should cover your junk car."

The man, initially angered, quickly changed his expression upon recognizing who was inside. "Second Young Master Xiao, it’s you! No need for compensation—I’d let you hit my car a few more times!"

As the man kept flattering him, Xiao Jinshi grew increasingly irritated. He seriously considered running over this sycophant.

But then…

He thought of Song Yuqing. If Song Yuqing learned he had killed someone, he’d surely despise him even more. Even Pei Huai’s actions had earned Song Yuqing’s disdain—this would make it worse.

Xiao Jinshi looked up, smiling. "I told you to get lost. Can’t you understand?"

Though he was smiling, the man was intimidated by Xiao Jinshi's intimidating presence. "I—I’ll leave right away."

Xiao Jinshi got out of the car and leaned against it, not knowing how long he stood there before finally making a call. "Are you sure that drug has no side effects?"

After the other person spoke briefly, Xiao Jinshi said, "Bring it to me."

Song Yuqing received a message from Qi Zhengqing.

Qi Zhengqing: "Boarding the plane."

Qi Zhengqing: "I’ll send you the floor plan later. You design your lab."

Qi Zhengqing: "Also, it was Xiao Jinshi who told me to catch you skipping class."

T-T: "Got it."

That sounds like something Xiao Jinshi would do. He must have followed them out and hadn’t returned yet.

Song Yuqing got himself a glass of water, drank quietly for a while, then packed his things and left.

During the evening break, Engineer Zhang was still at his workstation. Song Yuqing went over to help, and Engineer Zhang casually asked, "Did you take the day off?"

Song Yuqing washing a test tube as he replied, "Just taking a break."

Engineer Zhang glanced at him. "Xiao Song, come sit for a bit."

In a small break room next to the lab, Engineer Zhang had planted flowers in beakers. Stones were placed at the bottom, covered with soil, allowing space for water retention and encouraging the roots to grow downward.

The transparent beakers revealed half of the plants’ growth dynamics.

"Xiao Song, in our line of work, we must be like plants—reaching deeper toward any water source."

"A heavy rain might provide temporary relief, but if the roots aren’t strong enough, they’ll wither in a drought."

Song Yuqing: "Mhm."

Song Yuqing understood: Engineer Zhang meant that Gu Jingtang’s help was like passing rain showers. Relying on Gu Jingtang was unreliable for a career.

Engineer Zhang hinted, "No matter how many papers you publish or how many first-author papers you publish, if the results can’t be applied, such research is like flowers in a mirror or moon on water. You’re smart—don’t let others lead you astray."

Song Yuqing suspected Engineer Zhang was implying criticism of Gu Jingtang, or perhaps he knew something.

Engineer Zhang: "Xiao Song, study hard. I’ll teach you everything I can."

Song Yuqing: "Mhm."

Sure enough, Gu Jingtang came again that evening. "Come downstairs with me."

Song Yuqing followed Gu Jingtang to the second underground level, the core area of Gu Jingtang’s lab. The entire space exuded a high-tech atmosphere, housing the core data of Gu Jingtang’s projects.

Gu Jingtang: "Qingqing, your talent is being wasted on the first floor. Would you like to come to the second floor? Work with me on this project, and we’ll be remembered together."

"Are you trying to tempt me with these things?" Song Yuqing pressed his finger against the glass, touching where the tentacle was of a giant octopus specimen. His fingertip turned pale from the pressure.

The glass reflected Song Yuqing’s silhouette—a tall young man as if staring back at the octopus.

For a moment, Gu Jingtang wondered if he'd prepared enough to win Song Yuqing over.

"No offense, but your research is essentially worthless," Song Yuqing said without looking at Gu Jingtang.

Gu Jingtang had expected Song Yuqing to be dissatisfied with his offerings or his role in the project, but he never imagined Song Yuqing would call his work worthless.

Anger and resentment surged in Gu Jingtang’s heart as his gaze fell on Song Yuqing’s slender back.

Song Yuqing pressed the glass where one of the octopus’s hearts was. "Extending life by a few months at the cost of infertility—do you think any alpha would want that?"

Song Yuqing’s tone was calm, merely stating facts, but to Gu Jingtang, it felt like constant reminders of his failure, destroying his superiority complex.

Gu Jingtang had skipped grades growing up, surpassing his peers. At sixteen, he started his own lab to conduct this research.

From sixteen to twenty-six, his success at eighteen was his peak. But in the eight years since, his research had stalled.

Once hailed as the alpha genius most likely to break the lifespan limitations of alphas, he now found himself no different from mediocre researchers.

What he hated most, the ones he avoided. Teaching at two universities and joining Victor University's board wasn’t out of passion for education but to distract himself—doing many things at once to hide his lack of progress in one area. Only he understood his torment and pain.

Then Song Yuqing appeared, repeatedly distracting him. Instead of dwelling on his stalled research, Gu Jingtang found himself thinking of Song Yuqing more often.

From that moment, he wanted Song Yuqing, hoping Song Yuqing could inject new vitality into his life and help alleviate his suffering.

"If it were Qi Zhengqing, I believe he’d agree," Gu Jingtang said maliciously. After all, with a partner like Song Yuqing, any alpha would trade fertility for ten extra months together.

Song Yuqing: "…"

For the first time, he felt like texting Qi Zhengqing to ask if he’d really be such a fool.

Song Yuqing composed himself and ignored Gu Jingtang’s remark, continuing to strike at his vulnerabilities. "I’d rather not share your failures, Mr. Gu."

Gu Jingtang laughed in frustration. "Song Yuqing, it’s not that I’m unsuccessful—it’s that you’re too idealistic."

"Do you think I never had such arrogance?"

"Do you think I’d ever be proud of merely extending life by ten months?"

"I too once thought that ten months was just my first step, that I would have a year, ten years, even a hundred years..."

Gu Jingtang tightly grasped Song Yuqing's wrist. The alpha's tone was somewhat agitated, but as he drew closer to Song Yuqing, it gradually softened. He asked in Song Yuqing's ear, "What gives you the right to mock me? Do you really believe you can achieve more than I have?"

Song Yuqing tilted his head slightly and used his hand to block Gu Jingtang's breath. "You're the one who came up to me with bad intentions, that's why I mocked you."

"Gu Jingtang, you are a..." The beta's lips parted gently, uttering two words before shaking off Gu Jingtang's grasping hand. "Waste."

A ruthless insult, showing no consideration at all.

Just as he was about to leave the second-floor laboratory, Song Yuqing turned his head to glance at Gu Jingtang, who was enveloped in the giant octopus's shadow.

His gaze was indifferent, his tone sarcastic. "By the way, Mr. Gu, I've found another professor to take me on. I won’t be continuing these boring games with you anymore."

Gu Jingtang looked over and saw Song Yuqing's porcelain-like side profile, his amber eyes reflecting Gu Jingtang's image.

That sense of unwillingness surged within Gu Jingtang again—he didn’t want Song Yuqing to escape his grasp like this, didn’t want him to leave just like that.

Song Yuqing returned to the dormitory unusually early, so early that the other three hadn't gone to sleep yet.

Pei Huai: "Why are you back so early today?"

Song Yuqing: "I had a falling out with Gu Jingtang. I won’t be going to his lab anymore."

Pei Huai was actually glad that Song Yuqing wouldn’t be going to Gu Jingtang’s lab—Gu Jingtang wasn't a good guy. But he still worried about Song Yuqing’s graduation project. "What about your graduation project then?"

Since Song Yuqing had fallen out with Gu Jingtang, Gu Jingtang certainly wouldn’t let any other professor at Victor take Song Yuqing on. Besides, most professors wouldn’t be willing to accept a student who had clashed with their previous advisor.

Song Yuqing explained briefly, "I'm working with another professor. Professor Lin introduced me—a friend of his."

It was an old man who, like Professor Lin, was shunned and sidelined. After Song Yuqing spent a few days washing test tubes for him, the old man agreed to let him join his graduation project.

He had never planned to stay with Gu Jingtang for long anyway. Once he learned what he could, he had been thinking about leaving. Today’s confrontation with Gu Jingtang was part of the plan.

Song Yuqing had no intention of making himself put up with working on a project with a lunatic like Gu Jingtang.

"Your graduation projects are such a hassle. Our mental power combat exams are much simpler," Pei Huai remarked casually.

Song Yuqing opened his wardrobe to get some clothes and found it packed with new uniforms and white T-shirts.

Without even thinking, Song Yuqing knew it was Pei Huai who had prepared them.

He pulled open the bottom drawer to get his undergarments, glanced inside, and was speechless. "..."