Chapter 52: Mom

Chapter 52: Mom

Song Yuqing looked at Qi Zhengqing, confused. "What happened? You can just tell me directly."

His gaze was indifferent and distant, as if he had no recollection of the previous night.

He had blacked out.

Qi Zhengqing felt a subtle, almost unfair, sensation. The drunken kitten had flirted recklessly, yet upon waking, remembered nothing, once again looking at him with that detached gaze—as if they were merely familiar strangers.

The events of yesterday were a fleeting occurrence, now relegated to memory.

He couldn’t even bring it up in front of Song Yuqing.

"You’re acting strange." Song Yuqing, unaware that one of his buttons had come undone, lowered his head to fasten it.

His hair fell, brushing against his collarbone. Qi Zhengqing watched, his gaze almost tangible, following Song Yuqing’s movements as he buttoned it.

The fair skin was once again concealed by clothing. Song Yuqing looked over, and their eyes met.

Qi Zhengqing averted his gaze slightly, but his eyes still lingered on Song Yuqing. The morning sunlight fell upon Song Yuqing, yet it did not melt the chill he exuded.

Instead, it accentuated his rationality and aloofness, like the thin frost of autumn—fleeting and elusive, impossible to grasp.

"If I did anything yesterday that you found inappropriate, you can mention it, and we can address it."

The sober Song Yuqing would rationally seek to resolve problems.

Qi Zhengqing knew that if he mentioned what had happened, Song Yuqing would simply distance himself.

An unexpected kiss—Song Yuqing was not prepared for it.

Nor would he accept it.

Rather than risk Song Yuqing distancing himself, it was better to act as if nothing had happened, reverting to how things were before the school anniversary.

As for those three alphas, he believed that if Song Yuqing showed no memory of last night’s events, they too would keep quiet.

After all, no alpha would want someone they liked to be involved with another alpha, or to remember kissing someone else.

Qi Zhengqing’s tone was casual. "Nothing happened. You just got drunk, and I brought you home."

He slightly emphasized the word "home," as if reminding him that this was their home.

Song Yuqing: "Mm."

Song Yuqing had already gotten out of bed. Seeing that Qi Zhengqing was already wearing a suit, he asked, "When are you going to work?"

Qi Zhengqing: "I’ll take you back to school first."

Qi Zhengqing brought two ties over to Song Yuqing. "Help me choose one. I have an important meeting today."

Song Yuqing glanced at the ties. One was a mocha brown, low-key yet elegant, but completely mismatched with Qi Zhengqing’s outfit. The other was a black retro jacquard tie that matched but was unremarkable.

Song Yuqing paused for a moment. "Let me choose from the collection."

Qi Zhengqing: "Mm."

From Qi Zhengqing’s glass cabinet full of ties, Song Yuqing selected a dark gray tie with a subtle pattern. The faint pattern floated elegantly, exuding refinement and maturity.

"This one." Song Yuqing handed it to Qi Zhengqing, who took it and, without looking for a mirror, deftly tied it in front of Song Yuqing.

After finishing, he asked, "Does it look straight?"

"Come closer."

The alpha leaned in. Even through his clothes, Song Yuqing could feel the powerful muscles beneath. He was completely enveloped in Qi Zhengqing’s warm, dry scent. Qi Zhengqing tilted his head, accidentally brushing against Song Yuqing’s fingers.

Song Yuqing adjusted the tie for him, his fingers resting on the knot. He looked up, suspicion in his eyes. "Did you do that on purpose?"

Someone as meticulous about his appearance as Qi Zhengqing—every time Song Yuqing had seen him, he was impeccably dressed. Could such a person really struggle to choose a tie?

The more Song Yuqing thought about it, the more convinced he became that Qi Zhengqing had done it intentionally.

Song Yuqing didn’t tug on Qi Zhengqing’s tie—Qi Zhengqing still had to attend the meeting, and wrinkling it would make him look unprofessional.

Qi Zhengqing: "It wasn’t on purpose."

"I just couldn’t decide and wanted your help."

"Your taste is better than mine."

With just a few words, he managed to soothe Song Yuqing’s irritation.

Song Yuqing: "I’m going to wash up."

Qi Zhengqing: "I’ll pick out your clothes for you."

Song Yuqing: "..."

He was just wearing his school uniform. What was there for Qi Zhengqing to pick out? It wasn’t like he could make the uniform look extraordinary.

Song Yuqing still felt that Qi Zhengqing was acting strangely today.

At the sink, Song Yuqing washed up and called out to 88. "What happened last night?"

88: "You blacked out."

Song Yuqing: "...I know that. Tell me something I don’t know."

"You blacked out after just one drink, Qingqing. Your alcohol tolerance seems pretty low," 88 said cautiously.

Song Yuqing’s tone was calm, stating facts as if he didn’t care about blacking out. "So? Anyone would black out if their blood alcohol level reached a certain point."

88: "..."

So don’t get defensive.

On the surface, Song Yuqing didn’t care, smiling.jpg

But actually, he was upset because his alcohol tolerance was so poor, frowning.jpg

88: "I don’t know what happened last night."

88 explained, "It’s possible that something rated-R happened, so I was blocked."

Song Yuqing hesitated for two seconds. "Aren’t you from Haitang? Why were you blocked?"

88: "..."

88's face turned bright red, "Because, because... the vice raid targeted our system headquarters, and our system is going through another cleanup. That kind of restricted content can’t be recorded anymore. Haven't you noticed I haven't been around these past few days?"

By the end, 88's tone was slightly resentful.

Song Yuqing: "...So you got swept up in it too?"

88's face turned even redder.

Song Yuqing said sympathetically, "That’s rough."

Song Yuqing patted 88’s head, "Don't worry about it."

88 started crying, spending ten minutes recounting the misery of being caught in every sweep. Its virtual tears nearly soaked through the fabric on Song Yuqing’s chest.

Song Yuqing didn’t know what to say, so he just listened while holding up 88’s virtual form with his hand.

"Alright, stop crying, good boy," Song Yuqing patted 88’s back, his tone casual and nonchalant as he comforted the distraught system.

88 couldn't help smiling. Mom, boo hoo.

Qingqing!

Qingqing called him a good boy!

Next time they do a sweep, he’ll make sure to get caught again.

Honestly, Song Yuqing was a bit speechless. From what 88 said, it seemed like every sweep caught this system—disciplined every time but never learns.

"Alright, don’t do that again."

Song Yuqing let go of 88, whose eyes still had tears in them. 88 nodded vigorously, determined to do it again next time, sneakily recording the sensations and feelings.

So soft, so nice to cuddle.

It’s just a shame that all the precious recordings of Qingqing he had saved were swept away. Does Song Yuqing know how attractive he is?

Boo hoo, still wants to cuddle. If he cries while Song Yuqing is showering next time, maybe he won’t have to cuddle through clothing.

Song Yuqing had given up on questioning this useless system. In a somewhat bad mood, he searched through his own memories.

Restricted content.

What kind of restricted content? It couldn’t be that something happened to Qi Ran, could it?

Song Yuqing hadn’t considered that the restricted content might involve himself—until he changed clothes and saw the crisscrossing finger marks on his waist.

Song Yuqing: "..."

It seemed the restricted content had happened to him.

In the car, Qi Zhengqing was working, barely looking up, focused and serious as he dealt with tasks.

Song Yuqing raised the partition, and only then did Qi Zhengqing glance at him. "What’s wrong?"

Song Yuqing: "I know what happened last night."

Qi Zhengqing didn’t even pause his typing. After finishing the last line, he looked at Song Yuqing. "Hmm, what happened? Tell me."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Fishing failed.

Qi Zhengqing took in Song Yuqing’s expression, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

The little cat failed at fishing and wasn’t too happy about it.

"Qingqing, do you remember how I pulled you home yesterday?" Qi Zhengqing closed his laptop.

Song Yuqing looked up at Qi Zhengqing. "That’s not how it was. You carried me."

Qi Zhengqing’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Yes, I carried you."

Song Yuqing: "..."

He knew it—Qi Zhengqing was acting strange today. But as for what kind of restricted content they might have engaged in, he still couldn’t quite imagine.

Then he heard Qi Zhengqing say slowly, "No matter how I called you, you wouldn’t come home. Do you remember how I talked you into coming back?"

"I spent half the time coaxing and half dragging you, but you were like a child being scolded, refusing to take a single step."

"Next time, drink less, or only drink when an adult is around. Understand?"

Qi Zhengqing’s voice was soft, his tone gentle, like he was instructing a child—the one he's responsible for.

Song Yuqing: "..."

The restricted content wasn't just Qi Zhengqing carrying him home.

It was also possible that the restricted content didn’t involve Qi Zhengqing at all but someone else.

Song Yuqing was suspicious of Qi Zhengqing but not completely. Qi Zhengqing could recall details without a hint of guilt.

He was so calm and confident that there were no flaws to be found.

But letting Qi Zhengqing off the hook wasn’t that easy. After all, it was possible Qi Zhengqing wasn’t lying—just telling part of the truth.

Song Yuqing often did the same thing himself: telling just enough of the truth for the other person to piece together the false story he wanted them to believe.

That was the highest form of deception.

"You’d better not let me find out you’re only telling half the story," Song Yuqing left Qi Zhengqing with these words before stepping away.

Qi Zhengqing: "..."

Things were getting out of control.

If Song Yuqing had said something like, "If I find out you’re lying, there’ll be consequences," he would still have room to argue.

Qi Zhengqing grabbed Song Yuqing by the hand. "Do you really want to know what happened yesterday?"

Song Yuqing finally looked at him. "You’re willing to talk?"

"I’ll give you a hint," Qi Zhengqing said calmly. "You were drunk yesterday, fixing my tie for me, then taking me out for some air, and showing me the three dogs you’re raising outside."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Right, he’d only given those three a meal of nutrient paste yesterday. He was supposed to let them out yesterday.

But since he blacked out, those three have been locked up until now, probably starving.

Especially that good-for-nothing Xiao Jinshi, who hasn’t eaten for two whole days.

Song Yuqing cocked his head, "And then?"

Qi Zhengqing chuckled lightly, "Then you figure it out. Tell me when you remember. You might not really want to know what happened. Maybe you’re aware that many people, after getting drunk, wish they’d blacked out the next day. I think you’re probably one of those who hoped to black out."

Song Yuqing: "..."

He wanted to black out? Was it his idea? It couldn’t be that he forced Qi Zhengqing, could it?

Song Yuqing: "I’m leaving. You should get going too."

Qi Zhengqing released Song Yuqing, "Mm, take it easy. Don’t skip class. If you skip again, I’ll come catch you skipping."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Is Qi Zhengqing out of his mind, coming all the way out here just to bust him for skipping class?

Watching Song Yuqing’s retreating figure, Qi Zhengqing rubbed his thumb over his fingertips, his gaze turning dark as he recalled the earlier skin contact and the warmth Song Yuqing had left behind.

He hadn’t managed to shake it off. He wondered how Song Yuqing would handle him if he found out what happened last night.

For now, Song Yuqing wasn’t in the headspace to dwell on what happened yesterday. He headed straight to the lab. Before he even reached it, he received a message from the Student Union’s External Relations Department.

"President, we’ve received quite a lot of interest from sponsors this time. Should we pursue every one of them?"

It was the first time they’d received so many sponsorship inquiries.

Song Yuqing only had hazy memories of the banquet scene from yesterday—the gazes, Qi Zhengqing approaching him to ask if he wanted a mark, the flickering lights and shadows making his memory blur again.

All that remained was the alpha’s gaze under the glaring lights and the scene of him adjusting Qi Zhengqing’s tie.

That alone was enough to explain Qi Zhengqing’s odd vibe this morning. Qi Zhengqing had deliberately asked him to help choose a tie.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, Song Yuqing replied to the message.

T-T: "You can start negotiations. Take your department members with you. If they're not serious about working with us, no need to follow up."

"By the way, a few people hinted that they’d like the president to join the negotiations as well."

T-T: "Sponsors like that can be ignored."

The External Relations Department printed out the list of influential sponsors and still felt amazed. None of the previous presidents had ever had as much pull as Song Yuqing.

Even when Tan Shu was still the Student Union president, before his scandal broke, there hadn’t been this many sponsorship inquiries.

"It all boils down to his looks."

"That’s a pointless thing to say. After working with the president for so long, do you really think he’s all looks and no substance?"

"This one, this one, and this one—they all want to sponsor the president’s robotics project. It seems they’ve done their homework on the president’s new project. They probably want to collaborate and make money."

"I’ve also heard about the president’s new project, but mind-controlled robots still sound pretty far-fetched to me."

By the time Song Yuqing arrived at the lab, the three alphas were ravenous. Pei Huai leaned against the iron bed, his handsome face showing deep exhaustion, his eyes possibly bloodshot from a sleepless night of hunger.

The moment Song Yuqing opened the door, an alpha pulled him in, drawing him completely into a warm, firm embrace. In an instant, he was entirely enveloped in Pei Huai’s arms.

"Why did you take so long?" Pei Huai's voice was thick with grievance.

Song Yuqing patted Pei Huai's head. "Alright, I've let you out now."

Pei Huai, who had been fuming all night, still clung to Song Yuqing and wouldn't let go.

"How could you treat me like this?"

His pent-up emotions kept building until they erupted—how could Song Yuqing kiss Qi Zhengqing right in front of him?

But Pei Huai didn't dare to cause too much of a fuss.

"I want it too," he said, at his most pitiful.

Looking at the disheveled big dog before him, Song Yuqing, for once, didn’t respond coldly. Instead, he lowered his gaze, gently pried Pei Huai’s arms away, and asked in a softened tone, "What do you want?"

With just those few words from Song Yuqing, Pei Huai’s heart grew a little calmer.

He had spent the night both angry and afraid—angry that Song Yuqing was entangled with Qi Zhengqing, that they had kissed. Afraid that Song Yuqing might choose to abandon him because of that kiss and go back to build a proper life with Qi Zhengqing.

Even as an alpha, whose emotions might not be as delicate as an Omega or beta’s, he still knew that people always remember their firsts.

Song Yuqing would always remember the first alpha he kissed, the first alpha who was intimate with him, the first alpha he ever loved.

Pei Huai’s voice was muffled. "Just like what you did with Qi Zhengqing yesterday."

Kiss me.

"What exactly did I do with Qi Zhengqing?" Song Yuqing’s tone was calm, but his heart beat a little faster. The answer Qi Zhengqing hadn’t given him, he might be able to get from Pei Huai.

Song Yuqing leaned against the table, and Pei Huai followed without hesitation, sitting beside him.

Song Yuqing glanced at Pei Huai, then quickly averted his gaze to Qi Ran, who looked like he had crawled out of hell after the night. Song Yuqing’s eyelid twitched.

Finally, he looked at Xiao Jinshi, who seemed different today—not his usual smiling self, just staring straight at him.

What had he and Qi Zhengqing done to make these three alphas react like this?

Song Yuqing lifted Pei Huai’s chin. "Tell me, so I know."

The alpha’s face was tilted up by Song Yuqing. With his prominent browbone and deep features, looking up at Song Yuqing, his usually untamed and arrogant gaze softened somewhat.

Like an untamed dragon obsessed with a treasure it had hoarded, a treasure that had gained sentience.

Enchanted by the deity he looked up to, hoping Song Yuqing’s gaze would linger because of him, Pei Huai stared unblinkingly at Song Yuqing’s fair, beautiful face, at his slightly lowered long eyelashes.

"I don’t like it when you’re vague. Tell me, what do you want?" Song Yuqing’s voice was calm, yet it made Pei Huai unable to resist voicing his deepest desire.

Author's Note:

Song Qingqing: Say it, just say it.

Pei Huai: My wife is telling me to kiss him, ah.