Chapter 105: Escape from Prison

Chapter 105: Jailbreak

Qi Zhengqing emerged from the bathroom and saw Xiao Jinshi with his hand on Song Yuqing's lower abdomen, looking distracted.

However, Song Yuqing didn’t stop or refuse him, allowing Xiao Jinshi to approach and touch his lower abdomen.

Qi Zhengqing lowered his gaze, gently picked up Song Yuqing, and said, "I’ll carry you to the bath."

Song Yuqing’s phone screen was still open to a page about how to raise a cat. With Qi Zhengqing’s movement, the screen went dark. Xiao Jinshi didn’t notice that Song Yuqing was reading cat care guides, nor did he have the chance to realize that Song Yuqing’s "pregnancy" was just a misunderstanding.

Song Yuqing said, "I can go myself. Don’t carry me."

Qi Zhengqing’s large, damp hand rested on Song Yuqing’s ankle, firm and insistent. "I’ll carry you, or you could slip later."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Xiao Jinshi hadn’t fully recovered from his earlier shock when Qi Zhengqing picked up Song Yuqing again, instantly capturing all of Xiao Jinshi’s attention.

Xiao Jinshi stared at Song Yuqing being carried, his collar slightly open, faint traces of marks still visible. The young man’s pale legs rested against the alpha’s toned arms.

For a moment, Xiao Jinshi didn’t know whether to feel jealous or simply stare at Song Yuqing. Song Yuqing was held in Qi Zhengqing’s arms like a little figurine, only a hint of displeasure showing at his brow and the corners of his eyes.

A pregnant porcelain doll and his damn mutt of a husband.

Xiao Jinshi recalled the scene he had just witnessed: Song Yuqing being held and fucked by Qi Zhengqing until his eyes were wet with tears.

Qi Zhengqing was truly a dog of an alpha—so large and rough, he’d make Song Yuqing cry from how rough he was. Xiao Jinshi would never make Song Yuqing cry like that. Though he was also much taller than his brother, he would be gentle, only making him feel so good he’d cry.

Xiao Jinshi’s staring, along with Qi Zhengqing’s seemingly gentle but actually forceful actions, irritated Song Yuqing.

"Stop looking. You should leave."

"And you, leave too. I need to rest."

His tone was so cold it instantly snuffed out the resentment in Xiao Jinshi’s heart. In rejecting Xiao Jinshi, he also rejected Qi Zhengqing.

Both alphas left Song Yuqing’s apartment one after the other. After bathing, Song Yuqing went to feed the kitten.

Once the kitten was fed, he thought for a moment and took three days off to get work done from his apartment.

The kitten was too small and needed to be fed every three hours.

Song Yuqing taking three days off made Xiao Jinshi even more convinced that he might really be pregnant.

Xiao Jinshi started a group chat with Pei Huai, Ye Siling, and Qi Ran. Truthfully, he didn’t want to acknowledge these people’s status as "side pieces," just as he didn’t want to acknowledge Qi Zhengqing’s position as the official husband.

xjs: "Brother is pregnant, but it seems it’s not yet three months."

ysl: "Whose?"

Qi Ran and Pei Huai didn’t reply immediately. At that time, Qi Ran was engaged in field combat operations, and Pei Huai was participating in a joint military exercise. Neither had access to their phones, so they couldn’t join Xiao Jinshi and Ye Siling in discussing how to handle the situation.

xjs: "Who else’s could it be?"

When Xiao Jinshi first saw Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing together, he felt a mix of emotions. In that moment, just watching had excited him so much he even got a nosebleed.

But now he was panicking. If Song Yuqing was pregnant, would he still want them?

Would Song Yuqing’s child end up calling them "side-daddies"?

Given Song Yuqing’s personality, he would surely provide the best environment for his child’s upbringing, not one filled with distorted perceptions from a young age.

Song Yuqing might cut them off for good.

That day, Xiao Jinshi discovered something even more heartbreaking than being a secret lover: not even being kept as the side piece.

xjs: "Don’t impulsively go and cuss out Qi Zhengqing, that damn dog. Cussing at him won’t help. We need to find a way to make brother keep us."

Ye Siling, cold-faced, silently deleted a message he had just drafted to send to Qi Zhengqing.

—"Are you insane? You got Song Yuqing pregnant? Don’t you know his physical condition? Is he even fit for pregnancy? Are you so poor you can’t afford condoms? If you can’t, just tell me, I’ll send you money. You worthless trash. You think you deserve to be his husband?"

An abortion wasn’t an option. Betas have trouble getting pregnant, and if they aborted, Song Yuqing might not be able to have his own child when he wanted one later.

Ye Siling cursed a few more times, then sent a message to Song Yuqing.

He didn’t notice at all that there was still a researcher in the corner who hadn’t left.

"How dare he?"

"Damn dog with nothing but breeding instincts on his mind."

"Shidi needs to rest properly. At the very least, nothing can go wrong now."

After cursing, Ye Siling walked out of the lab. The researcher timidly raised his head.

*Holy shit.*

*Was this gossip he was allowed to hear?*

Mr. Song was pregnant, and at such a critical time when research deadlines were looming. Even though Ye Siling was in charge of the robotics lab, everyone knew Song Yuqing was the backbone of their team.

ysl: "You’re not coming to the lab recently?"

Song Yuqing was still stroking the kitten in his arms. The kitten, full and sleepy, lay limp against him.

Song Yuqing had bought many supplies for the kitten. Seeing Ye Siling’s message, he texted:

T-T: "Not coming."

Fa Fa was spinning tracks and singing in Song Yuqing’s mind.

*—"I ain’t workin’ tomorrow, feelin’ awesome, so relaxed. I ain’t workin’ tomorrow, I’ll lazy around all I want."*

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing: "I’m just handling some data. Fa Fa, don’t exaggerate. Your workload isn’t that heavy."

88 looked resentful. "Qingqing, I’m a flower market system, and you’ve sucked me dry."

Song Yuqing slightly lifted his eyelashes to glance at 88, who had entered as a metal-shelled robot. "...Rephrase that."

88 said indignantly, "I’m a flower market system, but you use me to process tens of thousands of data every day. This data is almost overwriting my prized collections. Isn’t that sucking me dry? Qingqing, if you want to suck me dry, there’re other methods."

"I'm here for the naughty stuff, not for work."

Song Yuqing lowered his eyelashes slightly. "Oh, then you're quite pathetic. How were you planning to do that?"

System 88 shrank into a pitiful ball, only its eyes visible. "Let me have a lick. Maybe if I lick you, I’ll generate a flood of data."

"What do you think?"

Song Yuqing: "..."

Hearing System 88's request, Song Yuqing ignored it.

Song Yuqing: "What did you say? Your words are a bit too explicit—seems like they got censored."

Meanwhile, Coal Ball took advantage of Song Yuqing talking to 88 to climb up to his collarbone, curling up there. Its wet nose nudged against Song Yuqing’s pajamas, the black fur making the young man’s skin look even paler in contrast.

The kitten’s wet nose gently brushed against the sensitive spot on Song Yuqing's collarbone. His back trembled slightly, caught off guard and unprepared. A soft groan escaped his pale lips.

System 88: "!!!"

You horny cat.

This kitten has known how to go for the premium stuff since it was little.

Damn it, even the cat gets to have a taste—why can’t I get a few licks myself?

Song Yuqing’s breathing rose and fell rhythmically, causing Coal Ball, who was lying on him, to move along with the rhythm.

An overwhelming sensation flooded his entire body.

Song Yuqing cupped the kitten and lifted it away from that spot, his tone stern. "What are you doing?"

His pale fingertip bopped the kitten’s nose. Coal Ball closed its eyes and let out a trembling "Meow!"

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing stared at the little creature, who couldn’t even open its eyes to look at him. His voice was cold and languid as he scolded, "You little rascal."

He tapped its head again, making Coal Ball’s head tilt to the side before it snuggled back into Song Yuqing’s palm.

"Meow!"

Song Yuqing: "Hungry again?"

Coal Ball: "Meow."

In truth, Coal Ball had approached Song Yuqing guided solely by warmth and instinct. As for licking him, it was just the kitten’s innate instinct—seeking comfort from a mother figure. Even when Song Yuqing lifted it by the scruff, Coal Ball only felt as if its mother was carrying it.

Coal Ball rubbed against Song Yuqing’s finger—not to please him, but out of instinctive affection.

A strange, fleeting sensation stirred in Song Yuqing’s heart again.

This feeling reminded him once more of the sensation he had when he, Qi Zhengqing, and Coal Ball slept side by side on the sofa and woke up together.

For a moment, Song Yuqing felt a trace of a sense of loss.

It was a feeling he had rarely experienced before.

As if he were being gently tugged into the human world, into something called warmth, into a feeling akin to home—all by these faint, lingering emotions.

He wondered if his mother had ever indulged a little brat like him this way.

Song Yuqing said thoughtfully, "Don't you think Qi Ran and Meiqiu are quite different?"

88: "Of course they’re different. One was raised by you since childhood, the other was taken in later."

No matter how pitiful or miserable Qi Ran might be, he was still an almost adult alpha. Even if Song Yuqing invested emotions in Qi Ran, it wouldn’t compare to the depth of feeling for the one he raised from childhood.

To be honest, 88 was seriously worried about Qi Ran’s future. He had no idea whether Qi Zhengqing using a kitten was meant to cut off Qi Ran’s last escape route.

Even if Song Yuqing were to see Qi Ran again, he might restrain his emotions and withdraw his affection. But Meiqiu would help Song Yuqing clarify what truly constitutes a mother’s compassion for her child.

88 said sourly, "Me and Meiqiu aren’t the same either. I was just picked up, but Meiqiu is the lucky one."

Song Yuqing: "..."

After reducing his workload, Song Yuqing enjoyed a short vacation. To be honest, not working was quite pleasant.

Listening to the heavy snow falling outside while holding Meiqiu and gazing out, Song Yuqing slowly began to feel himself experiencing the seasons and the passage of time.

Those issues that had haunted him for so long, those problems he had to solve the moment he opened his eyes, seemed to gradually fade from his life.

One day, Song Yuqing left a robot at home to feed the cat and went back to work.

Zong He was lounging with his feet on the desk, with no regard for his image whatsoever.

Upon hearing a piece of news, Zong He got so excited he nearly stumbled.

"What did you say? Song Yuqing is pregnant?"

"Whose child is it?"

"I know he’s had many partners, but maybe even Song Yuqing himself isn’t sure whose child it is."

At the same time, he felt a bit regretful—if only Song Yuqing had taken a liking to him.

Maybe the bastard child in Song Yuqing’s belly would have been his.

He didn’t know why, but the more unattainable Song Yuqing seemed, the more aloof and untouchable, the more Zong He desired him. The more he wanted to impregnate him, to make him curse at him but still have to bear his child.

He even imagined that, due to the fetus’s need for its father’s pheromones, Song Yuqing would have to suppress his disgust and approach him again and again, spending time with him. Sometimes, a child is the best way to control an Omega or a beta.

"Should we release this news?" Zong He tapped his fingers on the desk.

Song Yuqing had little political accomplishments in the past six months. All signs indicated that he was more suited to being a researcher than wielding power.

If the news of his pregnancy got out, more people would likely be disappointed in him.

After all, their aloof beauty seemed to completely disregard parliamentary affairs and the risk of being dismissed in six months, having shifted his focus entirely to family and childbirth.

But...

Zong He smiled. "Keep it under wraps for now. I’ll go talk to Song Yuqing first."

Zong He went to Song Yuqing’s laboratory. Song Yuqing hadn’t arrived yet, so Zong He casually asked about the situation. Upon learning that Song Yuqing had taken leave to rest, he became even more convinced that Song Yuqing was indeed pregnant.

Zong He: "Damn, he really is."

Song Yuqing’s lab assistant: "..."

What the hell? There's nothing here.

Zong He: "Let me in. I'll wait for Song Yuqing inside."

The assistant said expressionlessly, "Mr. Song said that Zong He and mad dogs are not allowed in the lab. You can wait right here."

Zong He scoffed angrily. Fine, Song Yuqing really went there, comparing him to a mad dog.

"Did I bite him? He calls me a mad dog?"

Assistant: "If you managed to bite him, that would be disastrous."

Their Mr. Song—none of them dared to even entertain thoughts about him. Zong He was truly shameless, even thinking about biting their Mr. Song.

Zong He: "..."

Song Yuqing spotted Zong He in the corridor.

But Song Yuqing walked right past Zong He, only to have Zong He grab his hand, trying to wrap his arms around Song Yuqing's slender waist and pull him into an embrace.

Song Yuqing, as always, responded by driving an elbow into Zong He's stomach, grabbing his head, and slamming it against the wall.

Same old story every time, and Song Yuqing found it boring.

Zong He always pulled the same stunt, always so weak, practically begging to get hit.

Zong He, dizzy from the impact, spat out a mouthful of blood and gritted his teeth as he spoke, "Song Yuqing, you’re hitting people again. Aren’t you building up any good karma for your child?"

Song Yuqing tilted his head slightly, grabbed Zong He's hair, and forced him to look into his eyes.

Actually, Song Yuqing didn’t even need to force him—Zong He couldn’t help but look up at Song Yuqing’s cold eyes and exceptionally beautiful face. The first time Song Yuqing hit him, pain had been the dominant sensation. But now, he was more accustomed to staring at Song Yuqing’s face, admiring every expression and movement of the beauty.

"Not your problem."

"Also, tell your people to stop following me."

Zong He even knew about the cat he was raising and used Coal Ball to threaten him. Did they really think anything could become his weakness? Was he really that easy to manipulate?

"If you lay a hand on her, it won’t be as simple as just beating you to death." Song Yuqing’s tone was cold as he yanked Zong He’s head back, forcing him to look up at his icy expression.

"Stay put."

Zong He couldn’t quite pinpoint his emotions—perhaps jealousy had become the alpha’s primary feeling. He was jealous that Song Yuqing was willing to carry an alpha’s child, that he seemed to genuinely care for the child, and that he was even prepared to take action against Zong He for the child’s sake.

Then again, betas weren’t easy to get pregnant. Who knows how many tries, how deeply, it took to conceive this child.

Of course, Song Yuqing treasured it.

Zong He: "I came here to discuss something with you. How about we make an exchange?"

He wouldn’t actively leak the news of Song Yuqing’s pregnancy, but Song Yuqing had to give him a chance.

Just one chance—whether it was compromising photos or something else, he would find a way to keep Song Yuqing. And if Song Yuqing really gave birth to this child he cared so much about, he could even hide the child away, forcing Song Yuqing to pay him more attention for the child’s sake.

Love or hate—did it matter? No, it didn’t.

Hatred is just love's twisted counterpart.

Song Yuqing didn’t think there was anything to discuss with Zong He.

What kind of exchange? With a mad dog like Zong He, any deal would only drag him into the abyss.

Song Yuqing looked down at Zong He for a few seconds, his voice cold. "Whatever you're offering, I have no interest in."

Song Yuqing: "Stay away from me."

Song Yuqing released his grip and walked into the lab.

Zong He, clutching his stomach, stared at Song Yuqing’s retreating figure and shouted, "Song Yuqing, aren’t you afraid they’ll use this opportunity to expel you from the council?"

Song Yuqing paused, turned slightly, and looked down at Zong He crouching on the floor, his gaze cold and slightly impatient. "Let them try. I’m ready."

A bunch of lunatics. If they really had a way to deal with him, they wouldn’t be yapping like dogs here every day.

Zong He stared intently at Song Yuqing’s back, recalling how Song Yuqing had just hit him, his focus lingering on Song Yuqing’s abdomen.

Still slender and taut, thin and lithe, radiating a restrained vibe.

Zong He leaned against the wall and said coldly, "Release the news. Our Mr. Song is pregnant with some alpha’s bastard child."

He had been too lenient. Only when the council put pressure on Song Yuqing would he realize that pregnancy was almost a professional death sentence for him.

Once inside the lab, Song Yuqing called security outside the lab to ensure that next time, no sign of Zong He would be seen in the lab corridor.

The car door was flung open, and the alpha stepped out of the military SUV, wearing a pair of dark brown high-top military combat boots.

The laces were tied tightly and firmly, and because he had just returned to the military district from a joint exercise, the boots and thick rubber soles were covered in the dry, familiar dust of the training ground.

Pei Huai tilted his head up slightly, his jawline sharp and defined, with a rebellious glint shining deep in his light golden eyes.

Cocky and overbearing.

However, after half a year, the alpha had become tougher and more upright, his overall demeanor carrying a touch more composure.

Pei Huai tossed his cap to his comrade. "You all head back first. I’ll return later."

Teammate: "Wait, I’m coming too."

Pei Huai: "..."

He had a husband—that’s why he was going to sneak to use a phone. Did this mutt even have a wife? What was he trying to do, copying him by sneaking a phone?

But Pei Huai didn’t refuse. The two coordinated, first diverting the attention of the person guarding the phones, then sneaking in, and finally successfully retrieving his phone.

Pei Huai didn’t return to the dorm. Instead, he found a secluded spot, crouched down, and unlocked the phone.

Teammate: "You’re just gonna squat here and play with it? Are you crazy?"

Pei Huai: "You’re the one who’s crazy. I’m looking for my husband. I haven’t spoken to him in two months. If I don’t talk to him soon, he’s going to miss me."

Pei Huai said it with such seriousness that his teammate couldn't help but feel jealous. Most of them had come straight to the military district after graduation, and many were single and lonely. The fact that Pei Huai had a husband was truly something to be jealous of.

Especially since, whenever Pei Huai chatted, three out of every five sentences were about his husband. According to his descriptions, his husband was drop-dead gorgeous and incredibly intelligent, having landed a job in Song Yuqing’s lab right after high school.

Their impression of Pei Huai’s husband had always been that of an exceptionally smart and aloof beauty.

Moreover, Pei Huai gave off the vibe that his cold, elegant beauty of a husband would become affectionate and longing for him whenever he was away.

That kind of impact was even stronger—who wouldn’t want a husband who was ice-cold to others but warm only with you?

Pei Huai’s one lucky guy.

His buddy didn’t feel like arguing. Whatever, he might as well look at Song Yuqing’s photos. Even though she’s someone else’s wife, it doesn’t matter—she’s everyone’s crush in their military district.

"Shit!"

Suddenly, Pei Huai bellowed, startling his teammate so much that he nearly dropped his phone.

Teammate: "Are you insane? What are you yelling for?"

But when he turned his head, he saw Pei Huai with wide, bloodshot eyes, looking as if he were about to kill someone as he stood up and stormed off.

Teammate, alarmed, called out, "What are you going to do? Dude, don’t run off like that."

"Holy shit."

Pei Huai: "I’m going to find my wife."

His teammate was even more confused. Find his wife? Has Pei Huai lost it?

Is he trying to "break out" again and get punished? And how far is it from here to his wife’s place? Is he planning to run all the way back?

The military district is far from the central residential area, in the middle of nowhere. To leave the district, they usually need to take a vehicle to the residential area, and there aren’t rides every day. It’s the middle of the night—is Pei Huai really going to find his wife? By running there?

The teammate was convinced Pei Huai had totally lost it. He was also worried that, since they had sneaked out together to access the phone, Pei Huai’s punishment might get him in trouble too.

"Bro, calm down."

"Just wait until your leave. Your wife definitely wouldn’t want you to go back now."

But Pei Huai was unstoppable, as if eight bulls couldn’t hold him back.

"My wife is pregnant. If I don’t go back now, when should I go?" Pei Huai got even more pissed off at his teammate’s advice. Song Yuqing definitely wouldn’t want him to return now.

The teammate flinched. "She’s pregnant? Well, in that case, you really should go back."

But then it occurred to him that Pei Huai had been confined for half a year. The teammate suddenly looked up. "Holy shit, what if the kid isn’t yours? Bro, you’re being cheated on! You should go back now. I’ll cover for you. We can’t let that adulterer get away! Do you want me to come with you? I’ll help you beat the crap out of him."

Author’s note:

Pei Dog: Nah, it’s the other way around—I’m the one who cheated.

Teammate: Even if I get punished, I’ve gotta see how this plays out.

The moment Song Qingqing saw the idiot: Pregnant, my ass.