Chapter 76: Miss You

Chapter 76: Longing

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

He knew Song Yuqing's words were meant for him.

Ye Siling had been observing Song Yuqing. Noticing Song Yuqing and Xiao Jinshi standing too close, Ye Siling interjected, "Are we celebrating today?"

Fearing Song Yuqing might decline, he quickly added, "We won."

Song Yuqing tilted his head towards Xiao Jinshi, "Do you want to celebrate?"

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Celebrate being beaten to death by Song Yuqing, or celebrate being cast into disfavor?

The former might be worth celebrating, but the latter...

No matter how he thought about it, it felt humiliating. Song Yuqing truly knew how to wound deeply, making his other paramours celebrate his fall from grace.

Song Yuqing: "Xiao Jinshi wants to see the ocean, to go somewhere secluded to see the sea."

Xiao Jinshi hadn't even realized he wanted to see the ocean, but since Song Yuqing said so, he played along, "Yes, I want to see the ocean."

Ye Siling: "..."

Ye Siling shot a cold glare at Xiao Jinshi. Xiao Jinshi was far too favored. If he wanted to see the ocean, Song Yuqing would go with him.

Ye Siling suggested a location—a stretch of coastline two hundred miles from the capital of Sri Lanka. It was remote, with beautiful scenery.

Especially in winter, when the sea surface freezes and waves push the ice blocks to collide, it would be a breathtaking sight.

Ye Siling: "I'll make the arrangements. Qingqing, get ready. We'll leave in an hour."

Pei Huai squeezed in, "Where are we going? I want to come too."

Ye Siling: "I didn't plan to bring you."

Song Yuqing glanced at Pei Huai, "Come along."

Ye Siling: "..."

What was he, Song Yuqing's chief steward?

Pei Huai and Xiao Jinshi could go just like that, while he had no say. They were all Song Yuqing’s people, but he had no official standing, yet still had to serve them diligently.

Pei Huai gave Ye Siling a disdainful look. He knew that one day he would regain Song Yuqing’s favor.

"Go pack up and gather downstairs later," Song Yuqing said flatly before Pei Huai could speak.

Xiao Jinshi still followed Song Yuqing.

As soon as they rounded the corner, Song Yuqing slapped Xiao Jinshi.

Song Yuqing put his full force into the slap. Sharp teeth cut the inside of his cheek, and under the dim light, Song Yuqing looked at him with cold indifference.

The icy glare in his eyes seemed to scorch his soul. Xiao Jinshi felt a pang of helplessness.

"Brother, if you hit me, will you not be angry anymore?" Xiao Jinshi’s lip was split, and his face still burned with pain.

Song Yuqing stared at Xiao Jinshi, "Don't touch Qi Ran. This is my absolute limit. I don't want him dead, and I don't want him hurt. If you keep pulling these stunts, stop following me."

Xiao Jinshi knew he was in the wrong, but hearing Song Yuqing say this still infuriated him. *What gave Qi Ran the right?* Why was Song Yuqing so protective of Qi Ran?

He's just a worthless... Would these two father and son ever stop!

Why did they have to monopolize Song Yuqing, monopolize Song Yuqing’s heart, monopolize Song Yuqing’s love, monopolize Song Yuqing himself?

"Why?"

Xiao Jinshi grabbed Song Yuqing’s hand, shouting out his frustration.

The Alpha lowered his head, looking particularly wronged, "Brother, tell me, why?"

Qi Ran wasn't even Song Yuqing’s biological son. Even if he were, why couldn't he be eliminated?

Xiao Jinshi stared at Song Yuqing, at his pale lips, and in his mind, he thought: *if those two could have him, why couldn’t he?*

"Brother, kiss me too. Show me some affection too."

Using the most humble tone, his actions were anything but. He lowered his head, determined to kiss Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing grabbed Xiao Jinshi’s hair and pulled back, making the Alpha’s scalp ache, but Xiao Jinshi didn’t let go.

Xiao Jinshi forced his head down, refusing to give up until he kissed Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing loosened his grip slightly. Xiao Jinshi, who had been resisting Song Yuqing’s force, stumbled forward and kissed Song Yuqing’s nose.

Song Yuqing’s gaze shifted past Xiao Jinshi, towards a figure hidden in the darkness.

His eyes were cold, as if they could pierce the darkness and see those eyes burning with malice.

Their breaths mingled. The obsessive thoughts in Xiao Jinshi’s mind vanished instantly. He looked down at Song Yuqing, whose nose he had kissed. The stinging pain on his face and the ache on his scalp stimulated him, making him feel that being hit by Song Yuqing and having his hair pulled was thrilling.

The young man’s skin was as fair as snow, his eyelashes slightly raised, like a dazzling white peony in full bloom—ethereal, aloof, and captivating.

Xiao Jinshi’s ears turned red. He was so close to Song Yuqing now, close enough to kiss his nose.

Xiao Jinshi gently nuzzled and pressed, nose to nose, his gaze fixed entirely on Song Yuqing’s face, studying every expression.

"Brother... you..."

Song Yuqing covered the Alpha’s mouth again and chided, "Too talkative."

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Xiao Jinshi continued to pin Song Yuqing against the wall, nuzzling and clinging. After who knows how long, Song Yuqing impatiently grabbed his neck and pushed him away. The feeling of suffocation came, but inexplicably, Xiao Jinshi grew even more excited.

"You can go back now."

Xiao Jinshi: "...?"

We didn't even kiss, did we? Rubbing and pressing is just foreplay, isn't it?

Xiao Jinshi: "Are you forgiving me?"

Song Yuqing looked at Xiao Jinshi, "*What do you think?*"

Song Yuqing: "Give me your phone. I need to use it."

Xiao Jinshi handed his phone to Song Yuqing without hesitation.

When Xiao Jinshi returned to his room, he was so giddy he could barely walk straight. No matter how hard he tried to suppress the smile at the corner of his lips, he couldn’t. Does Song Yuqing actually like him a little?

Otherwise, why would he let him get so physically close in public?

Indulgence was how Song Yuqing showed affection—after all, Song Yuqing was very indulgent toward Qi Ran.

Period: “I really want to kill you.”

Period: “Do you enjoy having others watch you get messed with?”

Period: “You really like being forced, don’t you? Did he force you and make you feel good?”

Tears: “Mm, come kill me.”

“Qingqing, you’re setting bait again. Bring No. 6 along? Before he kills you, why not kill him first?” 88 suggested sincerely. Although he’s pretty messed up and enjoys watching coercive scenes, when it comes to threats against Song Yuqing’s safety, 88 believes Song Yuqing should make the first move.

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze. “No need. Before he kills me, he’ll want to kill Xiao Jinshi first.”

“When he’s about to kill Xiao Jinshi, if I show up and help Xiao Jinshi kill him, it should count as excessive self-defense that’s still justified, right?” Song Yuqing asked System 88 very seriously.

88: “……”

Alright, alright, this is the real price Xiao Jinshi has to pay. Once again, Song Yuqing has been toying with him, making Xiao Jinshi unknowingly play along in his act.

Yet another instance of Xiao Dog being manipulated by Song Yuqing.

After piecing together Song Yuqing’s train of thought, 88 finally understood.

Taking Xiao Jinshi’s phone was to temporarily cut off his contact with Xiao Lin.

It’s also known that Period is working for Xiao Lin. Eliminating Period now not only removes a future threat to himself but also cuts off one of Xiao Lin’s key supporters. Of course, it’s also possible that Song Yuqing is still holding a grudge and wants to deal a crushing blow to that worthless alpha, Period, ensuring he never recovers.

Song Yuqing returned to his room and took a puffer jacket from the wardrobe. Qi Zhengqing asked, “Going out again? Where should I come to pick you up this time?”

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze to pull up the zipper, but before his hand could even touch it, Qi Zhengqing had already taken over.

Song Yuqing waited for Qi Zhengqing to zip it up for him and casually said, “If things go smoothly, you won’t need to pick me up.”

“If not, fish me out of the ocean.”

Qi Zhengqing: “……”

The sea is too cold; even a kitten would freeze solid.

But Qi Zhengqing didn’t try to stop him. “Understood.”

His gaze fell on the phone in Song Yuqing’s hand, which clearly didn’t belong to him. “Xiao Jinshi’s?”

Song Yuqing: “Mm.”

Song Yuqing: “I’m leaving.”

Qi Zhengqing: “Go ahead, come back early.”

Song Yuqing also went to Qi Ran’s room and slapped him awake. “Get up, we’re going out to have fun.”

Qi Ran, still dazed from being abruptly slapped awake by Song Yuqing: “……”

Qi Ran: “Are we going out?”

Song Yuqing nodded slightly. “Mm.”

Qi Ran was still recalling the slap Song Yuqing had given him and the words he’d said.

—“We’re going out to have fun.”

Qi Ran rubbed the back of his head. “Little Dad, my head hurts.”

Song Yuqing: “……”

Good, it should hurt. After bumping it hard twice, of course it would hurt.

Song Yuqing patted his foster son’s head. “It’s fine. You bumped it when you passed out.”

Qi Ran also reached to touch the back of his head, his fingers brushing against Song Yuqing’s hand. A tingling, electric sensation shot straight to his heart. The alpha whined, “Little Dad, it hurts.”

Song Yuqing felt a bit helpless. When fighting, Qi Ran never seemed to feel any pain.

This foster son of his.

But remembering it was No. 6’s fault, Song Yuqing still comforted his foster son with a few words.

“It’ll stop hurting if I rub it.” Song Yuqing rubbed his puppy-like son a couple more times.

“Mm.” The alpha’s voice was muffled.

No. 6, hiding in the corner, watched this scene and rushed out from a pile of clothes, dashing up to Song Yuqing. “Mommy, I want head pats too.”

Song Yuqing: “……”

No. 6 still had a piece of clothing draped over his head as he looked up. “Mommy, pat me, pat me.”

Song Yuqing slapped No. 6, this sneaky bastard. “Why are you still here?”

No. 6 pretended not to hear, tilting his round head back with big, sparkling eyes. “Mommy.”

88: “No. 6 has been lying in wait for you here.”

“He never left after bringing Qi Ran back; he’s been waiting here for you.”

“Oh, and he dropped Qi Ran twice on the way and kicked him a couple of times.”

Song Yuqing: “?”

88: “Because No. 6 thinks Qi Ran stole his mother. He wants to be the only robot son.”

Song Yuqing: “……”

That troublemaker’s mind is quite active—what a piece of work.

The group gathered downstairs. Ye Siling had prepared two cars and was driving one himself.

No one wanted to drive the other car.

No one wanted to sit in the front driving while watching Song Yuqing chat with other alphas.

Xiao Jinshi: “I can’t. I drive like a maniac and might get someone killed.”

Pei Huai: "..."

You weren't calling your driving reckless when you actually hit someone.

Pei Huai: "I'm not that great either."

Song Yuqing smiled, opened the driver's side door, and placed his hand on it. "I'll drive. It's fine. I won't get us killed."

Qi Ran: "Little Dad, I remember you don't have a driver's license..."

He didn't have one either, or else he could have driven.

The others: "..."

It seemed like Song Yuqing wanted to send them to an early grave.

Pei Huai: "Let me do it, let me do it. What are you driving for? I drive much steadier."

"Qingqing, I'll take over." Pei Huai opened the passenger door. The tall off-road vehicle should have made the person standing beside it seem small, but the alpha was so tall that his shadow nearly covered the entire door. Casually leaning against the door, he still appeared imposing. "Don't be angry."

"I'd be happy to drive for you."

Only when Song Yuqing walked over did Pei Huai speak. "Princess, get in the car."

He was promptly elbowed hard by Song Yuqing. "If you don't know how to talk, then shut up."

After several days, being hit by Song Yuqing again made Pei Huai feel as if all 36 trillion cells in his body had been energized.

The alpha couldn't help but smile at the corner of his lips.

He got into the car as quickly as possible, leaving no chance for the other alphas to get in.

"Qingqing and I are taking off first."

He drove away swiftly, splashing dirty slush and making the already displeased alphas even angrier.

They had no choice but to reluctantly get into the car driven by Ye Siling.

Pei Huai was such a pain.

How did Song Yuqing let him get away with it just like that?

A mad dog always fighting and scrambling for everything.

Once they left the city, the scenery stretched out before them—the snow-covered landscape coiling like a silver ribbon across the undulating wilderness. The alpha-driven off-road vehicle cut through the silent snow curtain like a sharp blade, steady and determined.

The winding road outside the city saw very few vehicles, fitting the characteristics of the Sri-Lan region, where harsh weather kept the population sparse.

The other car soon caught up.

A cat-and-mouse chase ensued.

After being passed again, the beta, who had been propping his chin on his hand watching the cat-and-mouse game, was getting restless.

"You get out, I'll drive."

Pei Huai raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything to spoil the mood. "Alright, I'll switch with you."

Song Yuqing drove aggressively too.

In fact, the competitive nature Song Yuqing occasionally displayed perfectly aligned with the alpha's typical competitive instincts. Sometimes, Song Yuqing seemed more like an alpha than the alphas themselves.

At this moment, Song Yuqing was fully letting his rebellious, dominant, rule-breaking, and unrestrained nature show.

Being docile had always been a misunderstanding of Song Yuqing.

The thin winter sunlight broke up against the rapidly passing car windows and flying snow dust, catching the light on the beta's long eyelashes and snow-white cheeks, with only the corners of his eyes flushed red from the cold air.

A beauty of extreme coldness.

So cold it was dazzling—both icy and radiant.

Pei Huai sat in the passenger seat, leaning against the window as he watched Song Yuqing drive, his gaze not looking away.

When they overtook Ye Siling's car again, Song Yuqing glanced sideways. "We're pulling ahead."

Ye Siling: "..."

Ye Siling: "Song Yuqing, you don't have a license. Slow down."

However, Song Yuqing floored the accelerator, leaving all the words he didn't want to hear behind in the swirling snow.

Xiao Jinshi stared with shining eyes at the car Song Yuqing had just driven past. "Ye Siling, you worthless piece of trash, get out. I'll drive."

Ye Siling: "..."

These bastards are such idiots.

Ye Siling called Song Yuqing on the phone while driving. "Don't drive so fast. Slow down. You don't have a license, Qingqing. Beginners shouldn't learn this way. Come here, and I'll teach you slowly."

After just one sentence, Song Yuqing threw his phone to Pei Huai, who caught it effortlessly, a slight smile curling his lips as he watched the ice-cold, unresponsive figure.

He spoke to the troublesome Ye Siling, "You're such a buzzkill. Song Yuqing told you to get lost."

Ye Siling: "..."

Xiao Jinshi sneered from the back seat, "Buzzkill. You're really too worried about safety."

Ye Siling: "..."

I give up. This family can't manage without me. The others only indulge Song Yuqing's recklessness. Only I have his best interests at heart. Only I prioritize his safety. It's just that honest advice is hard to accept, and Song Yuqing won't listen to me.

Ye Siling called Qi Zhengqing. "Your wife is speeding. Aren't you going to do something about it?"

Qi Zhengqing: "..."

Seeing how smoothly Song Yuqing was driving, Pei Huai laughed. "Winning without effort. Ye Siling is such a loser."

Song Yuqing was clearly in a good mood and responded to Pei Huai, "Yeah, stick with me, and I'll give you an easy win."

The alpha leaned toward the beta, his hand resting near the driver's seat, almost encircling the beta. Pei Huai's lips nearly brushed against Song Yuqing's earlobe, his warm breath dispersing in the confined space. The alpha's voice was casual and amused. "Sure, I'm with you."

Song Yuqing's phone rang again, breaking the moment.

Song Yuqing glanced at the caller ID.

—Qi Zhengqing.

What does Qi Zhengqing want with him?

Qi Zhengqing usually doesn't initiate contact proactively. If he does, it must be something important. Song Yuqing glanced at Pei Huai, "Answer the call."

Pei Huai: "...Qi Zhengqing is such a scheming dog."

Pei Huai couldn't help but recall that night when Qi Zhengqing asked him to take care of Song Yuqing. He went in only to find Qi Zhengqing holding Song Yuqing while they slept. The memory made him want to stir up some trouble for that scheming dog Qi Zhengqing.

Pei Huai waited until the phone rang to its final tone before answering. Before Qi Zhengqing could speak, he blurted out, "Qi Zhengqing, you're such a schemer. Did you tell him to follow you too?"

Song Yuqing: "No."

Pei Huai: "You only told me to follow you? You only said that to me?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing lifted his thin eyelids and glanced at Pei Huai, "You're crazy."

Pei Huai: "..."

He got scolded again. Did he answer the call just so Qi Zhengqing could hear him being insulted? He wanted Qi Zhengqing to hear that he was nothing but a cast-off.

After berating Pei Huai, Song Yuqing spoke to Qi Zhengqing, his tone a bit softer, "What's up? Why'd you call?"

Qi Zhengqing's deep voice came from the other end, "I missed you."

Author's Note:

Da Qi: Only someone as rigid as Ye Siling would actually try to talk sense into a rebellious little cat.