Chapter 94: Drugging

Chapter 94: Drugged

Everything went smoother than expected.

So smooth, in fact, that no one remembered Zong He hadn’t appeared at the event.

After it concluded, the first council member to enter the backstage found Zong He lying unconscious on the floor and gasped in alarm.

His head was covered in blood, so much so that even the floor was stained with thick, viscous blood.

Song Yuqing did it.

It had to be Song Yuqing. If he could beat Zong He half to death, would the rest of them be next?

He didn’t think Zong He deserved such a beating for being despicable; instead, he believed Song Yuqing was delivering a clear warning right after joining the council—that anyone who dared provoke him would have their brains bashed in.

Zong He was rushed straight to the hospital.

Good news: he was alive.

Bad news: he had a concussion.

Zong He woke up groggy, his head throbbing with pain, wrapped in layers of bandages.

“What time is it?” Zong He could barely see straight.

The caregiver attending to him replied, “Eight o’clock.”

Great, someone else got the benefit.

He had indeed said many suggestive things to Song Yuqing, but Zong He never believed a few flirtatious remarks would win Song Yuqing over. Instead, he had prepared a plausible excuse for Song Yuqing to stray—at the reception following the appointment ceremony.

Under the influence of an aphrodisiac, surely Song Yuqing wouldn’t force himself to resist.

If he had woken up earlier, he could have called off the plan. But now, Song Yuqing had probably already drunk the wine.

“Agh…” Another sharp pain shot through Zong He’s head; the aftermath of the beating hadn’t faded. He quickly said, “Give me a shot of painkillers.”

As an alpha, he never subjected himself to unnecessary suffering—the headache was simply unbearable.

After the injection, the pain eased. Lying in bed with his eyes closed, Zong He began replaying the scene of Song Yuqing beating him.

So damn ruthless.

Brutal and fierce, yet he loved looking at alphas as if they were dogs.

Whoever had the good fortune to be with Song Yuqing tonight must be truly lucky.

Well, it didn’t matter. Qi Zhengqing had already slept with Song Yuqing anyway—one more person before him wouldn’t make much difference.

Since it was impossible to be Song Yuqing’s first, Zong He didn’t care who else Song Yuqing had been with. What mattered was whether he could have a turn with him. Zong He couldn’t help but think of Song Yuqing’s face again.

Suddenly, he muttered, “So damn captivating.”

The caregiver: “…”

What a freak.

At the reception, glasses clinked, and Song Yuqing was undoubtedly the center of attention.

From the start, many alphas approached him, but Song Yuqing maintained a polite yet distant smile.

However, the wineglass in his hand remained untouched.

Zheng Kaiji was the first among the council members to approach Song Yuqing to show goodwill. “Welcome to join us.”

Zheng Kaiji brought his glass close to Song Yuqing’s and took a sip.

Song Yuqing simply watched him drink, still making no move to drink himself.

Zheng Kaiji: “…”

So disrespectful.

Song Yuqing’s light-colored lips curved slightly. “I don’t drink alcohol. Next time, please prepare warm water for me.”

Zheng Kaiji: “…”

Not only was he disrespectful, but he also made demands—literally pushing his luck.

“Is that alright?”

It sounded like a question, but in reality, from the moment he entered the council, Song Yuqing had made it clear he wouldn’t be easily manipulated.

If Song Yuqing stayed any longer, would their entire council turn into a bland, teetotaling group? Would their receptions become water parties, with everyone sitting together drinking plain boiled water?

At least it was healthy.

Zheng Kaiji raised his hand to signal to a server, who quickly approached. “Change Mr. Song’s drink to warm water.”

The server’s hand trembled as he held the tray. Change it to warm water?

Had Song Yuqing noticed something?

But this thing was supposed to be colorless and odorless—a favorite among the high-society types.

After stepping away, the server tried to contact Zong He but couldn’t reach him no matter what.

With shaking hands, he added a little something to Song Yuqing’s warm water.

His hand trembled again, and half the packet spilled in.

The server: “…”

Whatever, it’ll have to do.

Zong He asked if he’d added the drug, right? Well, he added it, Song Yuqing would drink it, and the task would be complete. Work was all about cutting corners anyway.

After this job, he’d take the money and run.

Only after the water was changed did Song Yuqing respond to Zheng Kaiji, taking a small sip.

Qi Zhengqing came over with a glass of water and saw Song Yuqing already holding a cup of warm water.

He handed his own glass of warm water to Song Yuqing and took the one from Song Yuqing’s hand.

“Who gave you this warm water?”

Song Yuqing lifted his chin slightly and pointed gently to the server standing in the corner. “He brought it. I only drank a little.”

It was just a fingernail’s worth; he wasn’t entirely careless either.

At someone else’s banquet, the people weren’t his, so he couldn’t let his guard down completely.

Dosing is always about the amount. Even if there was something wrong, a fingernail’s worth wouldn’t cause much of a problem.

Qi Zhengqing: "Don’t drink from glasses you didn’t pour yourself next time. It’s not safe."

Song Yuqing tilted his head, the light shimmering in his beautiful eyes. "Is that from experience?"

Qi Zhengqing looked at Song Yuqing. "You could say it’s from what I’ve seen. So far, no one has dared to try anything on me."

Before the age of eighteen, Qi Zhengqing was taught to be cautious of drinks from unfamiliar sources, to avoid being schemed against by people beneath their standing.

To the Qi family, anyone below their social standing was considered inferior.

After turning eighteen, when Qi Zhengqing seized control of the Qi family ruthlessly, no one dared cross him. No one would dare to target him with such vile schemes.

Because Qi Zhengqing was truly capable of killing—a true madman.

Qi Zhengqing’s gaze fell on the spot on the rim of the glass, the very spot where Song Yuqing’s lips had touched.

Qi Zhengqing casually picked up the glass and took a sip of the warm water.

Song Yuqing, still looking up, smiled at him. "Didn’t you say not to drink what others offer? Why are you drinking it now?"

Qi Zhengqing rubbed the rim of the glass with his thumb, lowered his eyes, and met Song Yuqing’s bright gaze. "Sharing the risk with you."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing tilted his head slightly, as if to say, "Are you sure we’re sharing the risk, not doubling it?"

Qi Zhengqing’s hands itched with the urge to pinch his kitten right then and there, using the excuse of giving the kitten a massage.

But the setting wasn’t right.

Song Yuqing was very protective of his image in public—no holding, no kissing—yet he always gazed at the alpha with a look that practically begged to be kissed.

It made the alpha want to break through his cool, collected facade with a kiss.

Song Yuqing went to the bathroom. As soon as he exited, he knew something was wrong.

Bracing against the marble sink, he looked into the mirror. His pale fingers clenched slightly, the faint greenish veins on the back of his hand becoming more pronounced.

Just great. Qi Zhengqing was right.

Now they were both in trouble—the risk had truly doubled.

The feverish heat felt like it was burning through his skin. For the first time, Song Yuqing felt like cursing. What kind of lunatic drugged this? A fingernail’s worth had already brought on this reaction.

If he had finished the entire glass, it would’ve finished him.

Using this method to take his life was a shockingly lethal method.

Song Yuqing’s head grew heavier. He took out his phone and searched for Qi Zhengqing’s contact, but his vision blurred, everything appearing double.

The character "Qi" blurred and doubled, shifting from one to two.

Song Yuqing dialed the number. The call was answered almost instantly. Before the other person could speak, Song Yuqing said, "Get over here..."

"Where?"

Song Yuqing briefly gave his location, then scooped water onto his face. He bit the inside of his cheek, using the blood and pain to keep his head clear.

His hair was slightly disheveled, his dark lashes wet and clumped together. The contrast of his jet-black hair and lashes against his pale skin made his beauty strikingly androgynous. Hearing a sound, he turned, his gaze fierce, his lips no longer their usual pale pink.

Smeared with blood, they looked broken yet devastatingly alluring.

This was the scene Qi Ran came upon.

"Why are you here?"

That single sentence sent Qi Ran’s heart plummeting. So, Song Yuqing hadn’t been expecting him.

"Never mind. Do you have anything on you?"

Qi Ran had already approached Song Yuqing, whose breath was scalding hot, as if it could sear his lungs.

"Do you have a knife?"

Qi Ran’s pupils narrowed. He did, but he couldn’t let Song Yuqing use it.

He couldn’t stand by and watch Song Yuqing harm himself.

It’s just a drug.

"I don’t have a knife. Let me get you out of here," Qi Ran said, staring at Song Yuqing.

"No need. Go find Qi Zhengqing for me." Song Yuqing pressed his hand against the marble counter, which had already grown warm from the heat of his palm.

Qi Ran’s fingers curled slightly, his disappointment plain to see. "I’ll take you to Qi Zhengqing."

Qi Ran tried to hold Song Yuqing, but Song Yuqing pushed him away. The next moment, however, his strength gave out, and Qi Ran caught him in his arms.

Every part of Song Yuqing’s body seemed to scream in alarm, warning of its discomfort.

This drug was stronger and more intense than any he had encountered before, almost overwhelming his rational mind, threatening to turn him into a mindless creature driven solely by desire.

"Don’t hold me..."

A cool scent washed over him. Qi Ran’s throat worked as he restrained himself, careful not to let Song Yuqing detect his unclean desires.

"Little Dad."

Hearing Qi Ran call him that, Song Yuqing forced himself to stay somewhat lucid. "Hmm."

"I thought you would love me, that we would be close..."

Qi Ran gazed at Song Yuqing, using the most honest-sounding excuse to declare his feelings.

Song Yuqing’s lashes fluttered slightly, his body pushed to the brink of discomfort. Even his breathing grew labored. "Of course, I’m close to you."

Even now, Song Yuqing remembered that Qi Ran was his good son.

The alpha’s firm, powerful arms and chest were proof that Qi Ran was no longer the boy who could be easily bullied by other alphas.

Qi Ran looked at Song Yuqing, puzzled. "Are we the closest? Why won’t you let me hold you?"

"I’ve grown up. I can be your support too. When something happens, I can help you."

Song Yuqing suddenly let out a soft chuckle, very soft, like the wind brushing through tree branches, making a faint rustling sound.

"Yeah, you've grown up," Song Yuqing readily affirmed Qi Ran.

He'd gone from being a whiny puppy to someone who strives for what he wants and tries to help Song Yuqing.

"Trust me, I'll take you back."

A mother and child are naturally the closest, the most inseparable bond.

He and Song Yuqing aren't blood-related; he is not Song Yuqing's biological child.

But Song Yuqing has been both gentle and strict with him, accompanying him, caring for him.

Song Yuqing loves him, and he loves Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing held out his hand, "Take my hand and lead me out."

Qi Ran's eyes lit up, "Okay."

Along the way, Qi Ran steered clear of the other guests at the banquet and escorted Song Yuqing away from the party.

Song Yuqing had just entered Parliament today, and even though Qi Ran is still in school, he knew he couldn't let Song Yuqing get caught up in a scandal on his very first day.

After helping Song Yuqing into the car, Qi Ran was suddenly grabbed by his collar and pulled closer by Song Yuqing.

In the dim light, Song Yuqing's eyes remained closed, his long, thick eyelashes drooping, his thin eyelids flushed with a faint blush, and the corners of his eyes glistening with moisture.

Dampness hung in the air like an elusive mist.

It blurred the alpha's vision and made his heart feel as if soaked, beating rapidly and heavily.

"Go…"

Qi Ran bent down, staring greedily at Song Yuqing's lips, at every flutter of his eyelashes, even his breath synchronizing with the rhythm of Song Yuqing's fluttering lashes.

"Yeah," Qi Ran's voice was hoarse, "Little Dad, what should I do now?"

"Go find Qi Zhengqing," Song Yuqing finished instructing him before releasing Qi Ran.

For a moment, Qi Ran wanted to tell Song Yuqing that he could handle it, that he could help Song Yuqing.

But he quickly calmed down; he couldn't.

Song Yuqing could be his adoptive father's wife, his little dad, but never his wife.

"Little Dad, wait here for me."

Qi Ran nuzzled against the skin of Song Yuqing's cheek, lingering and reluctant.

Like a young beast forced to give up its mother, his emotional confusion and helplessness nearly tore the alpha's heart apart.

But Qi Zhengqing was already there; he appeared right there.

"Step aside."

Qi Ran's back stiffened, and before Song Yuqing could open his eyes, he quickly closed the car door.

The two alphas faced each other in silent confrontation, their faces sharing a sixty percent resemblance—one still growing, the other already mature with a commanding, leader-like presence.

"Stay away from him."

"Your vile genes, the dirty blood running through your veins, are nothing but defilement to him."

"If you don't want him to utterly despise you, to find even a glance at you disgusting…" Qi Zhengqing showed no mercy, "Just get lost."

Qi Ran clenched his fists, the color draining from his face.

After Qi Zhengqing got into the car and drove away, Qi Ran instinctively chased after the car for a distance until exhaustion forced him to stop.

Sensing a familiar presence, Song Yuqing struggled to lift his eyelids.

Song Yuqing: "Are you okay?"

Song Yuqing's mind raced, even wondering if Qi Zhengqing had set him up, after all, he had drunk the most from the cup Qi Zhengqing handed him.

It wasn't until Qi Zhengqing placed his palm on Song Yuqing's forehead that Song Yuqing dismissed his unfounded suspicion.

Qi Zhengqing's hand wasn't cold; in other words, their body temperatures were similar.

Both affected by the drug, both burning, both suffering.

Though, if one didn't look closely, it was hard to tell Qi Zhengqing was in pain.

Qi Zhengqing: "I'm used to it. An alpha's rut is worse than this."

Song Yuqing: "…"

Song Yuqing: "You should have come earlier."

If Qi Zhengqing had come sooner, he would have made him drink the entire cup of water—let Qi Zhengqing be the one to suffer.

He could handle his own pain, but that didn't mean he enjoyed seeking it out.

Qi Zhengqing: "…"

Am I a husband Song Yuqing picked up off the street? He shows no mercy at all.

Qi Zhengqing asked for Song Yuqing's opinion, "Do you want me to help you or take you to the hospital?"

Then he added, "But going to the hospital probably won't help much. These drugs are obtained through illegal means."

"To ensure success, sending you to the hospital would be less effective than…" Qi Zhengqing smudged his thumb over the bloodstain on Song Yuqing's lip.

Song Yuqing: "…"

Song Yuqing hooked an arm around Qi Zhengqing's neck, and Qi Zhengqing cooperatively supported Song Yuqing by the waist to prevent him from slipping from his embrace from weakness.

Song Yuqing looked up, his thin eyelids lifting slightly as he gazed into Qi Zhengqing's dark eyes, his voice low and hoarse from exhaustion, "You want to fuck me?"

The tone was light, as if he didn't care whether the alpha would throw him onto the bed and have his way, merely asking out of curiosity.

Qi Zhengqing lowered his head, nuzzled against Song Yuqing's nose, and kissed his lips, drawing the taste of blood from Song Yuqing's mouth into his own.

"May I, baby?"

Author's Note:

Da Qi: Obviously, very much wants to.

Song Qingqing: Bastard.