Chapter 114: I’ll Stay with You

Chapter 114: I'll Stay with You

The alpha glanced at the overturned car and instructed his subordinates, "Blow up the car."

After giving the order, he tossed the Sri Lankan's phone off the cliff. It traced a smooth parabolic arc through the air.

The corners of the alpha's lips curled upward in satisfaction.

The rainy night itself would obscure many truths. He wanted everyone to see only the evidence he left behind.

After issuing instructions to his men, the alpha turned his gaze to the young man in his arms.

What he regretted most was not being able to confront Song Yuqing before his death—to see his reaction upon learning the truth.

The expression on Song Yuqing’s face when he realized he had been used and his research achievements had been taken by others would forever remain an unsolved mystery, now that Song Yuqing was dead.

Bang!

Two shots rang out. The alpha felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

He looked down.

A pair of amber eyes stared coldly at him. Another shot followed, the bullet piercing his heart. Blood splattered across Song Yuqing’s pale face.

His fair cheeks and dark lashes were stained with blood diluted by the rain.

The scene should have been fragile and tragic, but the chilling intensity in those eyes made it impossible to associate Song Yuqing with fragility.

"You..." The alpha was incredulous.

The alpha laughed—the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it.

The Sri Lankans thought they were tracking Song Yuqing, forcing him to flee to this place.

They believed Song Yuqing had no choice but to fight to the death, taking them down with him.

But in reality, Song Yuqing had long prepared to send the Sri Lankans—and them—straight to hell.

Wei Yuan, still in place, was dazed. Before he could react, a powerful force tightened around his neck. A dagger plunged into his throat, blood spraying before his eyes.

In his final moments, amid a sea of red, Wei Yuan clearly saw Song Yuqing kick the alpha away forcefully—swift and decisive.

Song Yuqing’s bloodied and mud-stained hand rose steadily, aiming the gun at the men they had brought.

Without hesitation, he fired, killing them all before they could react.

Despair spread like wildfire. Only then did Wei Yuan regret provoking Song Yuqing and following him here to witness Song Yuqing's death.

Song Yuqing hadn’t just killed them all like Number Six—he had done it cleanly.

Xiao Jinshi pulled the dagger from Wei Yuan’s neck and rushed over to embrace Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing, his face pale and tense, pushed at Xiao Jinshi but couldn’t break free. "I’m fine. Don’t hold me."

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Fine? Hardly.

He had been in the car too. He knew how violent the impact was. For a moment, he felt as if his organs had nearly been rearranged. How could Song Yuqing not be in pain?

Back when Xiao Jinshi used to race cars, no matter how bad the crash was or how long he had to lie in bed recovering, he never thought much of it. He only found it thrilling.

Even the moment Song Yuqing told him to crash, he felt excited, thinking that if something went wrong, he could die with Song Yuqing.

Dying with Song Yuqing sounded pretty good.

But now, the adrenaline had faded, and the dangers of what had just happened were laid bare before him.

For the first time, Xiao Jinshi felt that death wasn't romantic—dying with Song Yuqing wasn’t romantic at all.

Xiao Jinshi lifted Song Yuqing’s clothes and pressed his hand against Song Yuqing’s waist, "You’re bruised all over, and you say you’re fine?"

"And here, and here—you’re bleeding." Xiao Jinshi’s voice was urgent.

"It just looks worse than it is." Song Yuqing lifted his eyelids and repeated firmly.

This only angered Xiao Jinshi further. "Why do you have to be so stubborn? Everyone has weak moments. Can't you lean on someone sometimes?"

"I’m not some unreliable alpha."

Song Yuqing stared at Xiao Jinshi for a few seconds.

Normally, when Song Yuqing stared at him like that, Xiao Jinshi would reconsider and yield to avoid upsetting Song Yuqing.

But today, after locking eyes for a moment, Xiao Jinshi didn’t give in. Instead, he scooped Song Yuqing into his arms. "I’m carrying you down the mountain to the hospital."

"Not yet." Cold air seeped into his lungs, causing a faint ache. Song Yuqing frowned almost imperceptibly.

"Put me down over there." Song Yuqing pointed to a relatively dry rock.

He then placed the gun into Xiao Jinshi’s hand, which was supporting his legs. "Go back and fire a few more shots. Make sure they’re all dead."

Song Yuqing hadn’t expected Wei Yuan and the alpha he brought to fail to finish off Xiao Jinshi and himself, giving him a chance to counterattack.

Idiots.

He couldn’t afford to make the same mistake. He needed to leave no witnesses.

Xiao Jinshi took the gun, still holding Song Yuqing, and strode toward the designated rock.

He carefully avoided Song Yuqing’s injuries and set him down gently, allowing him to lean against the cold stone for support.

As soon as Xiao Jinshi turned away, Song Yuqing closed his eyes.

"Wipe the fingerprints off the gun and clean up any traces."

"Got it." The alpha’s voice was muffled, unsure whether he was angry at himself for failing to protect Song Yuqing or at Song Yuqing for getting hurt.

After firing the additional shots, Xiao Jinshi glanced down at the gun in his hand.

It was the same gun the Sri Lankans had been carrying. He had no idea when Song Yuqing had taken it from them.

After cleaning up the scene, Xiao Jinshi returned to Song Yuqing and crouched before him. "I’ll carry you on my back."

Their communication devices had been destroyed in the crash. Calling for help was impractical now—they had to make their way down together.

Song Yuqing glanced at Xiao Jinshi but said nothing. He remained seated, refusing to be carried.

Xiao Jinshi wanted to hug Song Yuqing directly, but Song Yuqing slapped him away again.

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Xiao Jinshi: "Are you angry?"

This was the first time Xiao Jinshi experienced what Song Yuqing was like when he was angry.

Xiao Jinshi wanted to say that he was angry too—angry that Song Yuqing hadn’t told him anything, and angry at himself for failing to protect Song Yuqing.

After finishing what Song Yuqing had asked him to do, Song Yuqing completely ignored him.

No touching, no communication, not even a glance—just a few brief seconds, and Xiao Jinshi was almost driven to distraction by Song Yuqing’s attitude.

Xiao Jinshi faced off with Song Yuqing for a few more seconds before finally giving in. He sank into a crouch in front of Song Yuqing, lowering his posture even further, almost kneeling.

Xiao Jinshi looked up, trying to catch the emotions in Song Yuqing’s lowered gaze, his voice carrying a hint of unwitting pleading and vulnerability.

"Brother, I'm sorry." He paused, his voice growing lower and hoarser. "I was just... too anxious."

"I came on too strong earlier. I shouldn’t have snapped at you." He swallowed hard, admitting his mistake. "It won’t happen again. Will you accept my apology?"

Xiao Jinshi’s tone softened considerably, and his apology was sincere.

In truth, Song Yuqing didn’t think Xiao Jinshi’s tone had been particularly harsh or aggressive.

He just felt that Xiao Jinshi was turning into another Ye Siling. Given today’s situation, he would never have let Ye Siling be involved in this with him.

He didn’t want a bunch of people around him telling him what he could or couldn’t do while he was making decisions.

If he had to overthink everything, he might as well not do anything at all.

"I don’t like others interfering with me. I know what I’m doing."

Song Yuqing’s cold gaze fell on the Alpha. "Do you understand?"

Xiao Jinshi’s throat tightened. "I understand, but..."

The warmth of Song Yuqing’s blood still seemed to linger on his palm, making Xiao Jinshi shudder with fear.

Song Yuqing tilted his head, pressing his cold hand over Xiao Jinshi’s mouth. "No 'buts.' Be obedient."

The process didn’t matter—only the outcome did.

Xiao Jinshi nodded. At this point, even if Ye Siling wanted to tattle, he would too. Let Qi Zhengqing take the heat—he wouldn’t bear the brunt of Song Yuqing’s anger that way.

Xiao Jinshi grasped Song Yuqing’s cold fingertips. "I’ll be obedient."

Song Yuqing was covered in injuries, and Xiao Jinshi wasn’t much better. Xiao Jinshi’s clothes were torn in several places, with dried blood and bruises on his shoulders and arms.

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze and gently patted Xiao Jinshi’s head, his thumb brushing through the Alpha’s hair, comforting his hurt feelings. "Does it still hurt?"

After all, it was he who had dragged Xiao Jinshi into such a dangerous situation.

His tone was soft, despite his cool voice. Xiao Jinshi was momentarily stunned before nuzzling his head against Song Yuqing’s fingers.

Song Yuqing did care about him, just as he cared about Song Yuqing.

"It doesn’t hurt. I can still carry you down the mountain. I’m not badly injured."

"Brother, let me carry you."

Xiao Jinshi looked up with a smile, meeting Song Yuqing’s slightly lowered eyes, his heart stirring once again.

Xiao Jinshi took a small path with Song Yuqing. Now wasn’t the time for Song Yuqing to sleep, so Xiao Jinshi tried to keep the conversation going to distract him.

"Where did the gun come from?"

Firearms were allowed in the Four Continents, but a permit was required, along with the serial number of the purchased firearm registered to the permit holder.

In other words, all the evidence was left at the scene.

No matter how they investigated, it would look like those scum from Xinzhou had clashed with the Sri Lankans, and he and Song Yuqing were just caught in the crossfire.

Or perhaps both sides had wanted to kill Song Yuqing but ended up conflicting with each other.

From any perspective, Song Yuqing was the victim.

"Stolen." Song Yuqing’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, his tone flat, though a closer listen revealed a slight unease.

No wonder the Sri Lankans died so quickly—Song Yuqing had stolen their gun.

Those bastards who tried to scheme against Song Yuqing were asking for trouble.

The mountain path was steep. Song Yuqing buried his face in the damp fabric of Xiao Jinshi’s neck, their closeness making Xiao Jinshi’s Adam’s apple bob. "Qingqing..."

He called twice but received no response.

Only faint breaths remained in the night, rising and falling weakly in the cold rain.

Xiao Jinshi fell silent, quickening his pace down the mountain. His mind urged calm, but his body refused to listen.

Panicked, Xiao Jinshi stumbled and fell to his knees on the damp soil before straightening up again. "Brother, Qingqing..."

"Don’t fall asleep. Hold on."

"I’ll get you down the mountain soon. We’ll go to the hospital, find a doctor, and I’ll make sure they use the best medicine..."

Song Yuqing heard the Alpha’s voice, panicked and slightly choked.

Song Yuqing reached out and touched the wetness. "Don’t cry. Don’t be afraid. Xiao Jinshi, you’re always so obedient. Stop crying."

Those words alone made Xiao Jinshi’s emotions spill over, tears rolling down. "I’m not crying..."

Xiao Jinshi swallowed his sobs. "Qingqing, don’t fall asleep."

"I..."

Xiao Jinshi finally couldn’t hold back. "I have some regrets."

Song Yuqing struggled to open his eyes, his eyelashes brushing against the Alpha’s neck as he asked softly, "Regret what?"

Xiao Jinshi: "I shouldn’t have spoken recklessly. I don’t want you to die with me."

"I want you to live well. If something really happens, I’ll die alone."

Song Yuqing: "Shut up."

"Don’t talk nonsense. Don’t make me hit you right now." Song Yuqing frowned slightly.

Xiao Jinshi could no longer bear the thought of losing someone important in his life right before his eyes. His mother's departure was already an irreversible past.

Now, he couldn't accept the idea of Song Yuqing leaving him.

Song Yuqing pressed close to Xiao Jinshi's neck, letting him feel his presence. "I won't die. Don't be afraid. I'm here with you."

The touch of their skin and Song Yuqing's words made Xiao Jinshi feel like a drowning person who had grabbed onto a floating log, resurfacing and able to breathe again. His chest felt refilled with air, and the sense of suffocation gradually faded.

"Then don't fall asleep," Xiao Jinshi emphasized again. "You promised to stay with me. I'm afraid of the dark, afraid of loneliness, afraid of having no one by my side, afraid of no one loving me. Without you, I can't go on."

Song Yuqing: "Mm."

Qi Zhengqing received the photos. Almost instantly, his alpha psychic energy surpassed its threshold. His vision was filled with those images, overlapping and intertwining, until the final frames were all of that pale, lifeless face.

Just two days ago, when he went to see Song Yuqing, Song Yuqing had been sleeping in his arms, they played with the cat together, and even looping an arm around his neck to share the source of some information.

Qi Zhengqing gripped his phone, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. A metallic taste rose in his throat.

The air was thick with the scent of alpha pheromones, explosive and impossible to ignore—an uncontrollable, nearly self-destructive pheromone leakage.

Qi Zhengqing opened the safe and took out several suppressants. After injecting dozens of doses, his mental energy gradually returned to normal levels.

His rationality also slowly returned.

Losing control now wouldn't solve anything. The more someone tried to provoke him, the calmer he needed to be.

Qi Zhengqing immediately contacted people to search for Song Yuqing.

He arranged a flight back to Xinzhou overnight.

Qi Zhengqing reviewed what Song Yuqing had said and the times Song Yuqing teased him for talking too much. Based on his understanding of Song Yuqing, he knew Song Yuqing wouldn't face those people unprepared.

Emotionally and rationally, he hoped Song Yuqing's death was a ruse, that Song Yuqing was waiting for him to rescue him.

After walking for two hours, they reached the city. Xiao Jinshi flagged down a taxi and took Song Yuqing to the hospital.

Xiao Jinshi received another call and notified Qi Zhengqing, "Third Hospital. Qingqing's injured."

Before completely passing out, Song Yuqing had told him to reach out to Qi Zhengqing.

Qi Zhengqing had just gotten off the plane. "Mm, look after Qingqing. I'm on my way."

"Don't rush over. Qingqing wants you to deal with the Beishan matter. He said you know what to do."

At this, Xiao Jinshi felt a twinge of jealousy. Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing were so perfectly in sync that they didn't even need to explain in detail. Song Yuqing knew Qi Zhengqing could handle it.

And...

What made him even more jealous was—

Xiao Jinshi didn’t want to pass that along, but he had no choice but to follow Song Yuqing’s words. "Qingqing wants you not to panic and to get your emotions under control."

Qi Zhengqing lowered his eyes, casting shadows beneath them. "I understand."

Xiao Jinshi: "You didn’t have a psychic outburst? They really underestimated you."

Xiao Jinshi didn’t know whether to attribute it to Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing being perfectly in sync, with Qi Zhengqing utterly convinced Song Yuqing would be fine, or to Qi Zhengqing not caring for Song Yuqing deeply enough—being able to remain calm and rational and manage everything after seeing those photos.

If it were the latter, he felt Qi Zhengqing wasn’t worthy of Song Yuqing.

Xiao Jinshi: "You’d better not use him as a tool in your hands."

He hoped Qi Zhengqing loved Song Yuqing.

Otherwise, why would Song Yuqing be so close to him?

Qi Zhengqing: "This doesn’t concern you. Look after Qingqing. I’ll come as soon as I’m done."

The assistant nearby didn’t dare utter a word. It wasn’t that there was no mental energy outburst—when he saw all those used suppressants, he feared Qi Zhengqing might not survive.

Mental energy outbursts were inherently irreversible damage. Alphas always tried to avoid letting them occur.

An abnormal outburst like Qi Zhengqing’s had probably shortened his lifespan by at least half a year.

Qi Zhengqing hung up and didn’t go straight to the hospital. Instead, he dispatched people to Beishan first.

The assistant was busy overseeing operations and allocating resources under Qi Zhengqing’s orders. Tonight was destined to be anything but quiet.

The assistant studied Qi Zhengqing’s expression and asked, "After Mr. Song wakes up, should we inform him about your condition?"

The alpha’s gaze instantly narrowed dangerously. "Have you found a new job already?"

His tone was calm, but it sent a chill down the assistant’s spine.

The assistant averted his eyes, not daring to meet Qi Zhengqing’s eyes. "Understood. No word of this will reach Mr. Song through any channel."

There were only four hours until dawn, but these four hours were the most grueling for the people of Xinzhou.

Almost every hour, many influential alphas were arrested and taken away for questioning.

After those arrests, Qi Zhengqing hurried to Third Hospital and saw Song Yuqing, still unconscious in the hospital bed.