Chapter 90: Fence-sitter

Chapter 90 The Fence-Sitter

A faint curve played on Song Yuqing’s lips.

He clearly relished such dynamics—alphas willingly submitting to his will.

In truth, it wasn't that he disliked power, but rather that he loathed power not being in his grasp. He detested being emotionally manipulated, tossed between hope and anxiety, yet he reveled in manipulating others' emotions, watching them fret and waver.

He craved control, the upper hand, before engaging in matters of affection and love.

And he enjoyed dispensing kindness and benevolence only after securing that control.

Of course, the path to power was fraught with risks and adventures, but these merely spiced up the journey.

Qi Zhengqing candidly expressed his surprise, "I didn’t expect you to prepare a gift for me."

"Nor did I expect you to spend the Bonding Festival with me."

Even knowing it was one of Song Yuqing’s subtle ploys, Qi Zhengqing felt a warmth spread through him, comforted that such a trick was employed specifically for him.

A small gesture of thoughtfulness from Song Yuqing was enough to make him feel utterly cherished.

"It’s just... I didn’t prepare a gift for you," Qi Zhengqing admitted, lowering his gaze to meet Song Yuqing’s.

Song Yuqing hummed softly, his mood clearly excellent. "No need."

The Bonding Festival was traditionally when the master prepared gifts.

"Is this your way of saying I belong to you?" The alpha’s towering form cast a shadow that completely enveloped Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing released the gear on the cufflink he had been idly toying with. "You guess."

His voice seemed to lilt upwards slightly, leaving a tantalizing uncertainty, subtly stirring the heartstrings.

By the time Qi Zhengqing moved to playfully "catch" the kitten, it had already sauntered ahead. Qi Zhengqing shook his head with a soft chuckle and strode to catch up.

Qi Zhengqing: "Zheng Kaiji is here today."

Song Yuqing nodded, mentally organizing all information pertaining to Zheng Kaiji. While System 88 sometimes seemed inconsequential, it was invaluable for providing diverse data. By analyzing seemingly unrelated pieces of information, even trivial clues, he could extract the precise details he needed.

Zheng Kaiji, a rather unremarkable member of the parliament.

Slow-witted by nature, often a fence-sitter, he typically aligned himself with the unequivocally victorious side.

However, what warranted closer scrutiny was that whenever parliamentary members diverged and a vote was required, Zheng Kaiji invariably became the pivotal figure, swaying the outcome.

Song Yuqing: "Did he come on his own accord?"

Qi Zhengqing: "Yes."

Qi Zhengqing added, "It’s always wise to familiarize oneself with future variables."

Based on Zheng Kaiji’s past conduct, he had a profound understanding of the fools in parliament, which explained his consistent success—securing benefits, discerning everyone’s true intentions, all while maintaining a remarkably low profile.

"It seems I have much to learn from Mr. Zheng," Song Yuqing remarked, tilting his head slightly. His pale cheek and gently fluttering eyelashes, when he looked at Qi Zhengqing, held a tenderness that could drown a man. "Will you help me?"

Qi Zhengqing placed his palm against the back of Song Yuqing’s neck, the warmth transferring to Song Yuqing’s slightly cool skin. "Yes," Qi Zhengqing affirmed.

In such a short span, Song Yuqing had matured with astonishing speed.

He was becoming increasingly adept at managing alphas and more skilled at concealing his true self.

Before entering parliament, remaining inscrutable was his best strategy.

Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing returned together to the discussion room. Xiao Jinshi, who had been listlessly fiddling with his phone, brightened the moment he saw Song Yuqing.

But upon noticing Qi Zhengqing, his expression immediately soured.

His gaze then fell upon the familiar cufflinks on Qi Zhengqing’s sleeves, and his face grew even more displeased.

Xiao Jinshi let out a cold scoff.

Pei Huai arrived in the reception room moments later, naturally gravitating towards Song Yuqing and complaining, "You didn’t wait for me again."

Pei Wei’s gaze had long been fixed on Song Yuqing. The young man was simply dressed in a white T-shirt and black trousers, his face largely devoid of expression.

There was a fresh, youthful innocence about him, tinged with a hint of aloofness, a delicate balance between adolescence and adulthood.

He truly possessed an exceptionally striking appearance.

Pei Wei’s gaze shifted, observing Song Yuqing and Pei Huai standing together.

He had to admit, Pei Huai certainly had discerning taste. *Cough*, they did look quite well-matched standing side-by-side, if only Pei Huai weren't the "other man."

His eyes then drifted to Qi Zhengqing. Feeling a pang of guilt, Pei Wei rubbed his nose and averted his gaze.

Qi Zhengqing was an alpha too, wasn't he?

Xiao Jinshi immediately plunged into the fray. "So what if we didn’t wait for you? Do you need a formal explanation?"

His eyes landed once more on Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing’s clasped hands. "Those cufflinks are quite handsome."

The light glinted off the interlocking metal gears on the cufflinks, their sharp, beast-like teeth gleaming coldly.

Xiao Jinshi’s tone was laced with sarcasm. "It’s just that the symbolism isn’t great—misaligned gears that can never truly mesh."

"Just like how Mr. Qi and brother will forever be misaligned, incapable of true love."

Qi Zhengqing’s eyes darkened slightly, his gaze fixed on Song Yuqing, as if silently asking, *Is that what you mean?*

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing looked up at Xiao Jinshi. "Why are you here?"

Xiao Jinshi was utterly flustered. He had thought the gift was meant for him. If not for him, why had Song Yuqing asked if it looked good? He was willing to let Qi Zhengqing submit to him, but couldn’t even bother to ask Xiao Jinshi, could he?

Seeing what should have been his own gift adorning Qi Zhengqing’s cuff, Xiao Jinshi was beside himself with rage.

Xiao Jinshi: "They can come, but I can’t? Brother, you’re truly biased. What? You can open a back door for Pei Huai, that dog, but I can’t even show my face?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

88: "Such formidable attacking power."

"I want to collaborate with you, brother." Xiao Jinshi struggled to suppress his emotions, looking at Song Yuqing, who stood between the two alphas. Even if he threw a tantrum or got angry, Song Yuqing remained indifferent. Xiao Jinshi’s emotions surged again as he stared at Song Yuqing’s impassive face, enunciating each word slowly, "Will you allow it, brother, or not?"

Pei Wei: "?"

What kind of grand spectacle of vying for affection was this? It seemed his son wasn’t the *only* "other man"?

Also, what did Xiao Jinshi mean? He owed his status to his son, while Song Yuqing received special treatment because Pei Huai pulled strings for him.

Zheng Kaiji, finally "booting up" after a long delay, quickly stepped in as a peacemaker. "What are you all arguing about? Stop fighting. It’s just a pair of cufflinks. Where did you buy them? I’ll go buy a pair for each of you."

Xiao Jinshi immediately redirected his aggression. "You finally came to life? You certainly know how to meddle."

Zheng Kaiji: "..."

Zheng Kaiji looked hurt at Pei Huai, but Pei Huai scoffed coldly. "Fence-sitter, spineless coward. Who asked you to buy anything?"

Pei Huai then turned to Song Yuqing, his defiant eyes filled with barely concealed irritation. "A Bonding Festival gift for Qi Zhengqing?"

"Why didn't I get one?"

Zheng Kaiji, who was being scolded and forced to witness this dramatic scene: "..."

Qi Zhengqing remained silent, only looking at Song Yuqing and asking, "Aren’t you going to explain?"

Song Yuqing looked at Qi Zhengqing with a puzzled expression, not indulging him. "If you don’t want them, take them off. I’ll just throw them away."

Qi Zhengqing: "I want them."

Qi Zhengqing’s response left Zheng Kaiji utterly dumbfounded.

Xiao Jinshi was even more furious, feeling both angry and wronged. "You’d rather throw them away than give them to me?"

Pei Huai also stared at the cufflinks with intense jealousy, as if he wanted to snatch them away.

Song Yuqing: "..."

Xiao Jinshi’s priorities were clearly skewed.

Pei Huai was simply a pure bandit, wanting to seize everything.

As another argument threatened to erupt, with the alphas’ body language indicating their readiness to resort to physical confrontation, Song Yuqing made no move to intervene.

Song Yuqing was deliberately stirring up trouble, playing with fire and risking self-immolation.

He wasn’t here today to watch them squabble.

Zheng Kaiji once again attempted to mediate. "Can you all stop arguing? Let’s sit down and talk properly, please?"

Xiao Jinshi: "Shut up."

Pei Huai: "Get lost."

Qi Zhengqing cast a chilling gaze at him.

Zheng Kaiji: "..."

Song Yuqing’s gaze swept over the two alphas. "One more word, and all of you can leave."

Zheng Kaiji’s eyes brightened slightly. Their departure would be ideal; then he could complete his task.

However, contrary to his expectations, though Pei Huai and Xiao Jinshi had been arguing fiercely, the moment Song Yuqing spoke, both fell instantly silent.

Their anger and frustration were still palpable, but they were forcibly suppressed.

Zheng Kaiji: "..."

These two "dog" alphas weren’t like this when they told him to get lost earlier.

He was truly getting old; he couldn't understand what kind of "play" these young people were engaging in anymore.

Was this right? Was he here to watch alphas vie for favor?

Zheng Kaiji looked at Song Yuqing with hesitation. "Mr. Song, how should we proceed with the discussion?"

Song Yuqing: "State your conditions. I will cooperate with whichever one satisfies me."

Despite the chaotic process, everyone eventually settled at the negotiation table.

Throughout the meeting, the alphas snarled at each other like rabid dogs. Zheng Kaiji’s head was buzzing—he had never participated in such a convoluted negotiation and felt his brain was about to explode.

Those damned cufflinks were mentioned dozens of times during the talks, serving as little more than a recurring, irritating punctuation mark in the discussion.

Zheng Kaiji felt this was purely a venting session.

His gaze returned to Song Yuqing, who remained expressionless throughout.

Zheng Kaiji couldn’t help but think Song Yuqing was a truly ruthless individual, managing to keep two such noisy "dogs."

After an hour of arguing, the council inquired about the situation.

Zheng Kaiji replied: "The situation is complex; I find it difficult to describe."

The conditions had devolved: Pei Huai wanted Song Yuqing to go to the Third District, while Xiao Jinshi insisted he go to the Second District.

Pei Huai was practically pointing at Pei Wei’s nose, demanding he step down. Pei Wei, standing nearby, not only didn’t object but seemed utterly nonchalant.

Xiao Jinshi was practically saying that once his father died, he would elevate Song Yuqing to power and fully support the development of the Azure Bay Area.

Zheng Kaiji was truly speechless. Assuming that Xiao Jinshi and Pei Huai both had some kind of relationship with Song Yuqing, no sacrifice seemed too great for them.

Having a handsome face truly had its advantages.

A group of alphas were fighting tooth and nail for him, spouting all sorts of absurdities.

Zheng Kaiji: "Mr. Song, our council is also very sincere. If it’s money you want, we..."

Song Yuqing impatiently cut Zheng Kaiji off. "Money just came from Qi Zhengqing and now it’s back to me? Mr. Zheng, offer something tangible."

Zheng Kaiji: "..."

Zheng Kaiji: "Mr. Song, do you have any interest in joining the council? If so, we can arrange for you to enter directly on the ninth floor."

Song Yuqing looked at Zheng Kaiji, a sudden smile playing on his lips, though his eyes held little warmth.

Zheng Kaiji felt a ripple of unease under Song Yuqing’s gaze.

"You’re still not being sincere."

Zheng Kaiji opened his mouth, attempting to persuade Song Yuqing further. "Entering the council is extremely difficult. Even becoming a clerk on the first floor is a lifelong dream for many. Starting on the ninth floor is already an exceptionally high position."

"Even many top-tier council members began their careers on the first floor."

Song Yuqing looked at Zheng Kaiji with an innocent query, "Has no one ever started directly at the top level?"

Zheng Kaiji: "..."

Zheng Kaiji fell into a heavy silence. Starting at the very top, just like that?

Zheng Kaiji’s mind raced, searching for a reason to politely decline Song Yuqing. "Well, you see, there are only eighteen council members at the top level. All eighteen are currently in their terms and have committed no wrongdoing. There are no vacant positions. If there were, why wouldn’t we want Mr. Song to join the top level?"

It was a case of one person, one position. Song Yuqing couldn’t just remove someone to take their place.

Song Yuqing’s pale lips curved into a gentle smile, his amber eyes as sweet and mild as flowing honey. "That’s easily resolved. Just add one more position. From now on, there will be nineteen council members at the top level."

"I’ll help share a bit of each council member’s workload. How about that?" he suggested. His slender, pale fingers held a glass, his middle finger idly tapping the side of the cup. He appeared completely at ease and casual, as if discussing something utterly trivial.

In the background, the sounds of Xiao Jinshi and Pei Huai bickering filled the air. Zheng Kaiji couldn’t tell whether his head was spinning from the noise of the two alphas quarreling or from being utterly stunned by Song Yuqing’s words.

Put politely, it was about helping them share their workload. Put less politely, it meant every council member would be under his control.

Author's Note:

Physical attack: Two dogs fighting.

Psychological attack: Add one more position, and I’ll sit above all of you.