Chapter 53: Can’t Be Craving Me, Right?

Chapter 53: Surely You Can’t Be Craving Me?

Pei Huai’s mind was in a daze, and he almost blurted out that he wanted Song Yuqing to kiss him.

*Clang!*

The glass in front of Xiao Jinshi made a sound, jolting Pei Huai back to his senses.

Damn, he almost said that he wanted Song Yuqing to kiss him, just like Qi Zhengqing had.

Qi Zhengqing wanted to be the first alpha Song Yuqing remembered? Impossible. As long as Song Yuqing didn’t remember, it was as if Song Yuqing had never kissed Qi Zhengqing.

He would be the first alpha to kiss Song Yuqing—and the one Song Yuqing remembered.

Song Yuqing glanced at Xiao Jinshi, who had made the noise. Xiao Jinshi smiled and said, "Brother, my legs are cramping. I didn’t mean to."

Xiao Jinshi added, "Brother, you won’t let me out. Are you still mad that I licked your finger?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

With just a few words, Xiao Jinshi had once again stolen Song Yuqing’s attention. Pei Huai felt both angry and irritated. "You’re looking at him again."

Who was the outsider here—him or Xiao Jinshi?

"Have you fallen for him again? It’s one thing to look at Qi Zhengqing, but why are you looking at Xiao Jinshi too?"

Pei Huai didn’t know what was wrong with himself. He was consumed by doubt. Seeing more and more alphas appearing around Song Yuqing, and watching Song Yuqing’s attention being drawn to other alphas, his heart felt swollen with a sour, aching tension.

He wasn’t like this before. He hadn’t been this pitiful, nor did he go crazy like this.

He had never yearned for someone’s affection this badly before.

Song Yuqing let go of Pei Huai’s chin and gently brushed Pei Huai’s cheek with his index finger. The pale finger stood out sharply against the alpha’s skin tone.

Song Yuqing said, "Stop making a scene, Pei Huai. Behave."

Perhaps he shouldn’t have let them gather together. Putting them in one place only made the once-obedient "dog" start fighting and competing.

"I don’t like those who misbehave."

Even as Song Yuqing looked down at him, Pei Huai stared back with red-rimmed eyes.

Song Yuqing lowered his head. "You should be confident. You’re an S+ rank alpha. You learn from your mistakes—you’re a good alpha. There’s no need for you to be insecure. Even if I don’t like you, you’re still worthy of being liked by others."

Song Yuqing tried to soothe the alpha who was jealous to the point of madness and beginning to doubt himself.

Pei Huai looked up, too far gone to care about pride in front of the other alphas.

"But I don’t need others to like me. I only need you to like me." Whether others liked him or not was irrelevant—he didn’t need their affection.

Song Yuqing averted his gaze for a moment and tried to withdraw his hand, but Pei Huai grabbed his wrist. The alpha looked at Song Yuqing cautiously, his eyes red and his voice thick with emotion.

"Do you—do you like me?"

Song Yuqing hesitated for a long time. "You’re special to me."

The beta’s voice was calm. Pei Huai’s lips curled into a cold smile. Special, but still not liked.

Pei Huai’s intense emotions gradually settled.

He latched onto Song Yuqing’s words—"You’re special to me"—as if they were a lifeline. Yes, at least Song Yuqing treated him differently from others.

"Then do you like Qi Zhengqing? Do you like Xiao Jinshi? Do you like Qi Ran?"

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Seriously? Did he really want to hear Song Yuqing say he didn’t like him?

How shameless of Pei Huai to ask on his behalf without even considering whether he wanted to hear it. So fucking shameless.

Song Yuqing: "No, I don’t."

Pei Huai’s aching heart instantly relaxed. He was so relieved—Song Yuqing didn’t like anyone! That meant he still had a chance. His earlier heart-wrenching agony now seemed like a clown’s performance.

Pei Huai’s expression eased. "Why didn’t you say so sooner?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

You didn’t ask earlier.

Song Yuqing looked speechlessly at Pei Huai, this idiot who had just gone through an entire emotional roller coaster in mere minutes.

Pei Huai looked up at Song Yuqing, who leaned lazily against the table, his eyes slightly lowered, long lashes fluttering like butterflies resting on his brows.

Pei Huai stared again at Song Yuqing’s pale, pretty face.

"I’m different from others, right?"

Song Yuqing nodded. Everyone is different.

Pei Huai pressed on, "And you treat me differently from others, right?"

"Mm."

He deals with people differently.

Pei Huai’s eyes grew brighter, like a hopeful dog waiting for its owner’s approval. "Then you do like me a bit. People you like are always treated differently."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing reached out and patted the self-deceiving Pei Huai, his tone indifferent. "You’ve put a lot of thought into that. Next time, don’t bother thinking."

Song Yuqing had no energy to argue with Pei Huai, this foolish dog, nor did he care to explain further.

Explaining to Pei Huai was useless—Pei Huai would just spin his own conclusions and believe whatever he thought.

If things were clarified, Pei Huai would only make a scene again. It was better not to explain at all.

Words spoken are open to interpretation.

He wasn’t lying to Pei Huai—Pei Huai was truly different to him.

It wasn’t just about taking advantage of him. Pei Huai helped him, treated him well, and worried about him—he knew all of it.

If Pei Huai ever needed him, he would stand by his side in a heartbeat.

Song Yuqing stood up to release Qi Ran.

Qi Ran was in worse shape than Pei Huai and Xiao Jinshi. Song Yuqing reached out, held Qi Ran, and placed him on the iron bed.

Qi Ran opened his eyes to look at Song Yuqing, his voice full of grievance, "Xiao-ba."

Song Yuqing: "Mhm."

"Rest well for a while, don’t speak. I’ll be analyzing data in the lab. Call me if you feel unwell."

Qi Ran didn't want to close his eyes until Song Yuqing left the room; only then did he close them and fall into a deep sleep.

Xiao Jinshi looked at Song Yuqing outside the glass window, "Is this where I stand in your heart, brother?"

First letting go of Pei Huai, then Qi Ran, and finally him.

He was last in Song Yuqing’s order of priority.

Pei Huai was resting in the corner. Song Yuqing glanced over, and though it was just a light glance, Pei Huai immediately sensed Song Yuqing’s gaze and smiled at him.

"Brother, do you even know how to love someone?"

Xiao Jinshi sat on the ground, looking up at Song Yuqing as he walked in.

Do you really know how to love someone irrationally?

Song Yuqing was very good at loving others, easily making people feel liked and treated differently by him, though it might also have something to do with his exceptionally good-looking face.

His exceptionally striking appearance, his aloof and distant personality.

Just by looking into someone’s eyes or smiling at them, he could make them feel the illusion of being loved by him.

Making them think they were Song Yuqing’s one and only, willing to throw themselves into fire for him.

But to say Song Yuqing loved anyone—in reality, Song Yuqing loved no one.

Song Yuqing pulled Xiao Jinshi up and tore open a nutrient pack, handing it to him, "You talk too much."

In truth, Song Yuqing didn’t understand why love or liking mattered so much.

Many things were more important than love or not.

Xiao Jinshi smiled, "You always think I talk too much."

But the moment Song Yuqing grabbed his hand, he once again felt that illusion.

The three alphas had mostly recovered from their rest. Song Yuqing sent Pei Huai and Xiao Jinshi off, keeping Qi Ran under observation for a while longer.

As soon as they stepped out, Xiao Jinshi rolled his eyes at Pei Huai, "Can you stop looking at Song Yuqing like a lovesick fool?"

Pei Huai retorted disdainfully, "When you were licking Qingqing’s hand, why didn’t you say you were an idiot?"

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Xiao Jinshi: "What you saw yesterday stays between us. If you don’t want Qi Zhengqing and Song Yuqing to be together, keep your big mouth shut."

Pei Huai: "What am I afraid of? Qingqing treats me differently."

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Song Yuqing treated everyone differently.

"Did your mom mistake the placenta for a brain when she gave birth to you?" Xiao Jinshi snapped.

It was bad enough having to share the role of a side piece with such an annoying guy, but to make matters worse, this fool Pei Huai was rated higher in Song Yuqing’s heart than him.

Xiao Jinshi felt even more stifled. How was he inferior to such an idiot?

Song Yuqing organized the data and imported it for analysis. His graduation project in the pheromones major was about controlling alphas' mental instability.

This project would be his first in this field, and though many had researched it before, Song Yuqing added his own innovations.

The supervising professor he was working with had already assessed the project’s feasibility and approved it through the system. Now, it was just a matter of following the steps: conducting experiments, producing results, and writing the paper.

With the project progressing normally, Song Yuqing was much more relaxed.

After finishing today’s tasks, he handled some student council affairs before going to Professor Lin’s lab to work on the project.

Professor Lin: "Not busy anymore? Finally remembered me?"

"I thought you had a new old man and didn’t need me anymore." The old man puffed out his cheeks, his jealousy written all over his face.

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing: "A teacher is always a teacher."

Professor Lin tilted his head up proudly, seemingly not entirely satisfied with Song Yuqing’s reassurance.

Song Yuqing was silent for two seconds, "I treat you differently from others. You hold a unique place in my heart."

Only then did Professor Lin smile contentedly, "Enough of that. Go do your experiments. Work hard on the project. I have a great opportunity for you—you’ll go with Ye Siling. It’s a good chance to get out, see more, and learn more."

Song Yuqing nodded, "Mhm."

88: "..." The same lines, works on both old and young. Song Yuqing couldn’t even be bothered to come up with new ones.

88: "Qingqing, you’re so perfunctory."

Song Yuqing lowered his eyes, "I treat you differently from other systems."

88: .

Even though he knew Song Yuqing had never met another system, even though he knew Song Yuqing had said this to many people.

But Song Yuqing said he treated him differently.

88: "Qingqing, hug me."

Song Yuqing: "Mhm."

Ye Siling had been distracted, but a familiar hand appeared in front of him, slender fingers pointing at what he was installing. "Wrong, junior. After so long apart—"

Ye Siling’s emotions were stirred by Song Yuqing’s brief words, only to hear the second half of his sentence: "—you’re still so useless."

Ye Siling: "..."

"You’re the junior. I’m older than you." Ye Siling suppressed his excitement. "You might not know, but I broke my hand the year I enrolled and had to delay my entry by a year. Counting the months, I’m a bit older than you, so I’m your senior."

Song Yuqing: "Do you know what month I was born?"

Song Yuqing asked seemingly casually, and Ye Siling panicked. Would Song Yuqing realize he had secretly investigated him?

In reality, Song Yuqing’s information wasn’t really a secret, but even if it wasn’t...

But what decent senior would look up their junior's birthday? That's clearly paying way too much attention.

While Ye Siling was still in a personal meltdown, Song Yuqing had already stepped past him to turn on the computer. "You're older but still terrible at this."

Ye Siling wanted to retort, but after thinking for a while, he found he couldn’t refute it.

Song Yuqing opened the computer and said, "Ye Siling, come take a look at this design."

Ye Siling immediately put down what he was holding and went over. Seeing Song Yuqing’s design, Ye Siling was excited all over again—the concept of an octopus-inspired robot that not only had a "main brain" but also a "sub-brain." It could react through the "sub-brain" processing system without having to relay back to the "main brain" central processing system.

The efficiency and reaction speed would be faster.

Moreover, it could directly cut off the connection with the "main brain" and operate on its own.

As Ye Siling listened to Song Yuqing’s explanation, he grew more and more excited.

He looked down at Song Yuqing, whose amber eyes seemed to have honey flowing through them as he explained the design concept—gentle and calm.

It was as if a great architect was earnestly examining the life they had created.

Song Yuqing was looking at his design, while Ye Siling’s gaze remained fixed on Song Yuqing.

The beta’s profile was fair, with long eyes with slightly downturned corners. Light danced along the curve of Song Yuqing’s fluttering lashes.

Ye Siling’s heartbeat synced with the light flickering at the corner of Song Yuqing’s eyes, as if resonating, the rhythm growing more intense.

"How is it?" Song Yuqing asked Ye Siling.

Ye Siling didn’t respond. Song Yuqing turned to look at him and met his dazed gaze.

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing: "You might want to wipe your drool. This is my project; no use getting greedy over it."

Ye Siling was both embarrassed and annoyed. "I’m not coveting your project."

Song Yuqing rested his chin in one hand resting on the table, while the other hand worked the mouse, spinning the model around again as if taunting Ye Siling with it. A faint smile appeared on his face. "So you’re not coveting my project?"

Song Yuqing looked at Ye Siling, who was also leaning against the table, looking at the model from behind him.

"You can’t possibly be wanting me, can you?" Song Yuqing teased.

Ye Siling had been leaning over to look at Song Yuqing. When Song Yuqing suddenly looked up at him, he could feel Song Yuqing’s breath brushing against his face.

His breath carried a cool, sweet scent.

Caught off guard, Ye Siling turned bright red. Unfortunately, Song Yuqing had already turned back to the model and didn’t see Ye Siling’s reaction.

"What do you think of this project?" Song Yuqing asked casually.

Ye Siling: "Good."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Good? Aren’t you going to invest?

Song Yuqing smiled. "Ye Siling, invest some money. Let’s make it big together."

The beta looked up at Ye Siling again, who seemed only able to see Song Yuqing’s pale lips moving, slightly parting, revealing a glimpse of teeth as he spoke.

It was as if Song Yuqing was using a dizzying "beauty trap" on him, luring him to give everything for Song Yuqing, to coax and amuse him, just to keep that smile on Song Yuqing’s face a moment longer.

Ye Siling thought of the ancient king who set beacon fires to amuse his beloved. He found himself empathizing with that king.

Ye Siling’s voice was dry. "You showed me the project just to get me to invest?"

Song Yuqing: "Aren’t you going to? I thought you’d like this project."

Ye Siling hurriedly replied, his voice slightly hoarse. "I like it. I’ll invest."

Of course, he liked Song Yuqing. What was wrong with investing in him?

"Then let’s work on it together and split the profits," Song Yuqing said to Ye Siling. "What do you think?"

Ye Siling clenched his fist tightly. "Okay."

"Split it fifty-fifty?" Song Yuqing asked.

Ye Siling: "Okay."

Song Yuqing was satisfied. It was easier to fool the young one than the old one—the young one gave him half without hesitation.

88 remained silent. If you used the beauty trap on the old one, he’d give you seventy percent.

Speaking of the old one, Song Yuqing recalled that restricted-level scenario.

At the critical moment, Xiao Jinshi interrupted. Neither Xiao Jinshi nor Pei Huai wanted to tell him anything. He even asked Qi Ran, but Qi Ran also said nothing happened.

He said he just brought Qi Zhengqing to see them and made Pei Huai bark like a dog in front of Qi Zhengqing.

When Song Yuqing heard this, he went quiet, not wanting to remember any more.

"What kind of restricted content do you systems have?"

88 got excited about this topic. "Non-consent scenarios, group scenes, father-son, NRT, threesomes, mistreating the young stepmother, tempting a married woman and catching them in the act, coming over to fix pipes and then forcing their way in, the neighbor coming over for dinner while the husband is in the living room, and the neighbor and the wife going at it in the kitchen, cough..."

Song Yuqing suspected 88 was throwing in its own fantasies to satisfy its own desires.

The more he listened, the more hopeless he felt. "Tell me something Qi Zhengqing and I might do."

88: "Have sex with Qi Zhengqing in front of those three?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

Just then, Qi Zhengqing sent a message.

First, a photo—a shot of the man from the chest down, showcasing the alpha’s V-shaped torso. The muscles weren’t exaggerated but exuded a raw hormonal appeal, radiating a powerful yet refined elegance. The tie Song Yuqing had picked for him that morning was clutched in the alpha’s hand, his knuckles standing out as he gripped it tight.

Qi Zhengqing: "Qingqing, my tie got dirty."

Author's Note:

After listening to 88's descriptions, Song Qingqing: Afraid to even open my eyes. I hope I'm just imagining things.