Chapter 117: Not in the Mood

Chapter 117: In No Mood

Their gazes met, Qi Zhengqing’s tall frame eclipsing half of Song Yuqing’s pale, fragile silhouette.

The way their bodies fit together was smooth and natural, as if they had done this countless times before.

Song Yuqing offered no resistance to the extreme closeness, nor to the effortless kiss.

It all seemed to declare them a couple deeply in love, leaving him feeling like an unwanted outsider.

Qi Zhengqing’s gaze remained fixed on Song Yuqing’s face.

His eyes did not stray, not even for a moment.

Song Yuqing grabbed Xiao Jinshi by the hair, pulling him away. "Enough, Xiao Jinshi, shut up."

Only then did Xiao Jinshi fall silent.

Yet he still clung to the memory of holding Song Yuqing, lingering in the scent that clung to him.

His brother was so good—how dared Qi Zhengqing upset Song Yuqing?

Xiao Jinshi’s thoughts about the argument between Song Yuqing and Qi Zhengqing still revolved around one idea: that damn alpha, Qi Zhengqing, had made Song Yuqing sad.

While Song Yuqing was analyzing data, Gu Ling, representing him, went to the conference room.

He brought two boxes with him. Today’s meeting was different—it wasn’t just the council members gathering, with Song Yuqing or his people dropping in.

Instead, Song Yuqing had called the meeting, and a group of elders were waiting in the conference room.

Since half the council members had been arrested, the room felt eerily empty.

Gu Ling placed the two boxes on the table.

The first box he opened contained a bloodstained watch. The council members understood immediately—it was Wei Yuan’s watch.

The other box held the psychic energy that Xiao Jinshi and Song Yuqing had previously used to trick Xiao Jinshi’s father.

Gu Ling spoke, "Mr. Song asked me to relay a message: Wei Yuan’s actions have severely disrupted his workflow. He can’t go to the lab. If any of you share Wei Yuan’s intentions, he wouldn’t mind dealing with you during this free time."

The remaining nine council members, who had been watching cautiously, were left speechless.

This was a blatant threat—what difference was there between this and telling them to obey or die?

Song Yuqing wasn’t even pretending anymore. They couldn’t help but wonder if someone had provoked him, making him so displeased that he couldn’t even bother with keeping up appearances.

After observing everyone’s reactions, Gu Ling spoke again, "This here is Mr. Song’s research achievement—a sample of psychic energy extracted from an alpha."

Following Song Yuqing’s instructions, Gu Ling applied pressure to the psychic energy, causing it to dart and flee in all directions.

"You should all understand what this means."

Everyone drew another sharp breath. Hadn’t Song Yuqing’s lab consistently failed to produce results?

Now… he suddenly presented something like this.

This was almost their hope for prolonging their lives.

Gu Ling placed one hand on the box containing the watch and the other on the box holding the psychic energy, offering a polite, empty smile. "You all know what choice to make."

"Oh, and one more thing—remember to relay this to your backers."

"Mr. Song is waiting for your good news."

Zheng Kaiji stared fixedly at the contents of the box, at a loss for words.

Song Yuqing intended to control the council but had never planned to cooperate with him.

Or perhaps Song Yuqing simply dismissed the meager resources Zheng Kaiji had to offer.

If he was to take over, he would seize total control of the council’s influence.

Song Yuqing had never considered using merit or political wins to secure his place in the council.

Instead, he made it so that everyone had no choice but to let him stay, forcing them to act like dogs, constantly mindful of Song Yuqing’s moods.

Moreover, Song Yuqing was adept at wielding both carrot and stick—first disciplining the disobedient alphas, then threatening the remaining council members, and finally offering them a glimmer of hope.

The council members exchanged uneasy glances.

Someone ventured, "What should we do now?"

"I feel like I can’t breathe."

It felt as though their lives were clenched in Song Yuqing’s grasp. If he was unhappy, he could easily make up charges to ruin them.

If he was pleased, perhaps his research results might allow them to live a few more years.

Who wouldn’t want to live a little longer?

The short lifespan of alphas had bred a desperate obsession with prolonging life.

"We should post guards for Song Yuqing. I’m quite worried that Sri Lankan agents might target him again."

"To be honest, we’re only bowing on the surface to Song Yuqing. It’s not that we’re afraid of him, nor are we 'desperately' clinging to life—we just think it’s important to give the younger generation a chance to prove themselves."

Everyone else: "…"

Your claim of not 'desperately' clinging to life would be slightly more believable if you left out the "desperately."

"So we’ll play along but undermine him, but ensuring Song Yuqing’s safety remains our top priority."

"From a certain perspective, you could say Song Yuqing’s life is in our hands too, don’t you think?"

Everyone: "…You’re right."

They were merely humoring Song Yuqing, pretending to transfer power to him, pretending to follow his orders.

At the same time, they were all silently plotting how to keep Song Yuqing in check.

The Tan Family.

The Tan family was one of the most powerful elite families in Xinzhou. Although they didn’t control any of the five districts, their monopoly over psychic energy and pheromones ensured that, as long as they didn’t rock the boat, they would remain immensely influential.

The Tan family had always excelled at maintaining this monopoly.

Researchers with any significant talent were strong-armed or bribed by the Tan family, receiving meager rewards while conducting the bulk of their research for the Tans.

In recent years, the only one to break free from the Tan family’s grip was Gu Jingtang, mostly thanks to the Gu family itself holding some influence.

But fortunately, after producing astonishing research results, Gu Jingtang burned out, which ultimately posed no real threat to the Tan family.

Now, with Song Yuqing bursting onto the scene—not only stripping Alphas of their mental powers but also taking control of the parliament—he has naturally become a direct threat to the Tan family's monopoly.

Tan Hongzhen closed his eyes. Could he really allow Song Yuqing to destroy the Tan family's decades of effort?

At this moment, Tan Hongzhen desperately wished that Song Yuqing would burn out like Gu Jingtang did.

"Father, what should we do now?"

An Alpha stood at attention before Tan Hongzhen, who waved his hand dismissively. "You go out first. Let me think a little more."

The news reached Sri-Lan Continent.

After watching the entire process, Hurst rubbed his temples. Song Yuqing was really something—setting traps for both sides, eliminating dissent within New Continent, and striking hard at the people of Sri-Lan Continent.

The clear winner of this round was undoubtedly Song Yuqing.

Hurst looked at the photo on the wall.

In the photo, a Beta wearing a simple white lab coat was turned slightly away from the camera, operating a sophisticated instrument. The light outlined his sharp profile—a straight nose, tightly pressed lips, and a cold, detached air.

The Alpha’s fingertips twitched, and a heavy tungsten dart flew from his hand, struck precisely and mercilessly through the Beta’s calm profile in the photo, embedding itself deep into the wall behind.

*Thud.*

The dart tip instantly tore through the Beta’s calm, aloof face in the photo, sinking firmly into the wall.

Hurst’s eyes turned icy.

Song Yuqing could not be allowed to remain. No matter the cost, he must not be permitted to threaten them.

At the same time, they had to prepare for all outcomes. Even if war broke out, they must not allow New Continent’s Alphas to face them in their best condition.

They needed to exhaust these Alphas before the current generation had fully matured.

Hurst pressed his fingertip against the location of the Western Continent.

"Brother..." Xiao Jinshi’s voice was very low, carrying a hesitant, probing tone, like a golden retriever trying to paw at its owner’s clothes without daring to use force.

He gazed eagerly at Song Yuqing’s profile.

Song Yuqing: "Hmm."

The response was utterly perfunctory.

But Xiao Jinshi seemed to grab onto this lifeline, immediately leaning closer until his warm breath almost brushed Song Yuqing’s ear.

"You promised..."

Just work a little while, then rest.

Xiao Jinshi was trying to reason with Song Yuqing.

Song Yuqing didn’t look at Xiao Jinshi, instead making a shushing gesture as he answered the phone. With one hand, he soothingly ruffled Xiao Jinshi’s hair, much like petting a puppy. "Be good, don’t talk."

He signaled for Xiao Jinshi not to disturb him while he took the call.

Xiao Jinshi had no idea why Song Yuqing’s phone always seemed to ring at the perfect time. Every time he was about to remind Song Yuqing, a work call would come in.

And every time after finishing the call, Song Yuqing would naturally resume working.

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Song Yuqing’s word meant nothing.

Nearby, Qi Zhengqing was also working. Seeing Song Yuqing on the phone, he walked straight over and took Song Yuqing’s laptop.

The Alpha demanded firmly, "Rest."

Song Yuqing stopped talking on the phone and fell silent.

He just stared at Qi Zhengqing.

Qi Zhengqing looked up briefly, reminding him, "Your phone—aren’t you going to keep talking to the other party? They’re calling for you."

Xiao Jinshi also looked at Song Yuqing, his peripheral vision catching sight of Song Yuqing’s phone screen. It wasn’t a call interface—it was the alarm clock interface.

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Xiao Jinshi fell silent for a moment.

Song Yuqing was really good at faking it, and when he did it, he didn’t bat an eye.

After Qi Zhengqing stopped Song Yuqing from working, he left the room.

When Qi Zhengqing returned, Song Yuqing had already eaten two apple slices cut into cat shapes. On the surface, he was obediently chewing the apple, but Xiao Jinshi couldn’t shake the feeling that Song Yuqing was mentally replaying the Alphas who had annoyed him, again and again.

Qi Zhengqing released Coal Ball from the cat carrier and handed him to Song Yuqing. "Coal Ball missed you. Will you hold him?"

Song Yuqing without expression took Coal Ball and sat on the hospital bed with the kitten, watching cartoons, but he still ignored Qi Zhengqing.

Coal Ball flopped onto his back, but Song Yuqing carefully adjusted him to sit upright. "Sit properly. A kitten should sit up straight."

Perhaps out of pure boredom, the young man began to insist on proper posture from the kitten.

Coal Ball immediately placed his paw in Song Yuqing’s palm, as if to say that a cat’s paw should rest in Mom’s hand.

She listened to Mom and was the best in the world with Mom.

Only then did Song Yuqing cheer up, gently stroking the kitten’s head.

Qi Zhengqing’s gaze lingered on Song Yuqing, staring intently for a while before he forced himself and looked away.

His wife, his beloved.

Even if Song Yuqing didn’t love him, he would never let Song Yuqing leave. Song Yuqing could be widowed, but he could not escape him while he was alive.

No matter how many Alphas surrounded him, he would not make room for them now.

As long as he lived, even if Song Yuqing liked other Alphas better, even if he was close with others, he could only admit that he was his husband.

By evening, as it neared Song Yuqing’s bedtime, Xiao Jinshi finally spoke up expectantly, "Shall I carry you to bathe, brother?"

Wasn’t it his turn now?

His tall figure exuded an undeniable dominance as he strode to Song Yuqing’s bedside in a few steps, bending down to scoop Song Yuqing up into a bridal carry.

The bathroom door slammed shut.

Qi Zhengqing wanted to unbutton Song Yuqing's clothes, but Song Yuqing remained silent, making it impossible for Qi Zhengqing, who'd intended to avoid Song Yuqing's gaze, to ignore his state.

He lowered his eyes to meet Song Yuqing's finely crafted but cold gaze.

His stare was icy and emotionless.

"Get out. I don't want you here."

The cold gaze seemed capable of burning through one's soul, rejecting any overly intimate interaction and refusing any touch that crossed boundaries.

This was how Song Yuqing was—when he was happy, he would reward the alpha, throwing him a bone.

When he was unhappy, he would turn cold and unfeeling, giving the alpha no chance to touch him.

Once again, Qi Zhengqing lost this round in their standoff with Song Yuqing.

He could only carefully place Song Yuqing on a dry part of the sink, letting him lean there, making sure he was steady before leaving.

When Xiao Jinshi entered, Song Yuqing was casually leaning one hand on the cold, smooth ceramic surface, his knuckles turning pale from the pressure. With his other hand, he was taking his time unbuttoning his blue-and-white-striped hospital gown.

The gown made the skin on his neck and wrists appear even paler and more fragile. By now, half the buttons were undone, hinting at the elegant lines of his collarbone and his thin, fair skin.

In the dim light, everything became an unintentional allure.

Song Yuqing, the beta, lowered his gaze, his expression largely unchanged.

His entire demeanor was cold and distant.

When Xiao Jinshi entered, Song Yuqing merely lifted his eyelids and gave him an indifferent look.

Xiao Jinshi's eyes darkened as he moved closer. "Brother, let me help you."

Song Yuqing tilted his head, his amber eyes calmly fixed on Xiao Jinshi. With slender fingers, he lifted the alpha's chin, staring intently at him.

The subtle friction sent an electric shiver through the alpha's entire body, bringing an uncontrollable tingling sensation.

Song Yuqing should belong to him.

If he showed him even a little affection, he should be clung to, unable to shake him off.

The possessiveness in the alpha's eyes was so intense it was unmistakable.

Now, right here, he would make Song Yuqing his, and Qi Zhengqing—the alpha who had been completely banished to the doghouse—would hear that the place he once occupied had been invaded by another alpha and would slink away in defeat.

Never approaching Song Yuqing again.

Xiao Jinshi's hand, which was holding Song Yuqing's ankle, tightened slightly, lifting it a bit higher. His fingers, scarred from wounds, slowly traced upward from the ankle, gently caressing Song Yuqing's skin.

He leaned forward with his tall frame, his other hand burning with heat and an unmistakable dominance, gripping the wrist Song Yuqing had placed on the sink.

He pinned Song Yuqing completely between himself and the cold surface.

"Brother, let me service you, okay?"

"I can do better than Qi Zhengqing..."

After saying this, Xiao Jinshi moved closer to kiss Song Yuqing, but Song Yuqing slightly turned his head, avoiding the kiss.

"Enough, you should leave for today." Song Yuqing pushed Xiao Jinshi away. "I'm not in the mood."

His hopes dashed, Xiao Jinshi could only restrain his desires and sheathe his claws. No matter what, he could not go against Song Yuqing's wishes.

"Let me clean you up, and then I'll go."

Song Yuqing nodded slightly, allowing Xiao Jinshi to wipe him clean.

Xiao Jinshi left first, exiting the ward, but his fingertips and tongue still tingled—from the restrained touches and... his unbidden thoughts.

Song Yuqing's nearly perfect body was as white as the untouchable snow on a mountain peak. In the misty steam, the unintentional display of vulnerability and laziness from the young man was a lethal allure that dragged one into the abyss.

Xiao Jinshi raised his hand and gently sniffed the lingering scent on it.

For a moment, his gaze seemed dazed.

When Qi Zhengqing arrived, he caught Xiao Jinshi looking like this.

The alpha's gaze glared coldly at Xiao Jinshi.

What Xiao Jinshi possessed was his wife's love, the reward that should have been his.

At this moment, Xiao Jinshi was in no mood to talk with Qi Zhengqing. Leaving the ward, he still felt his mouth dry and restless.

Song Yuqing came out a minute or two later. By the time he stepped out, Xiao Jinshi had done as told and left.

However, another alpha had appeared in his ward—Qi Zhengqing's assistant, whom he had met before.

As if sensing his presence, Qi Zhengqing took what looked like a round pill from his assistant. The corner of the packaging revealed familiar lettering and colors—several types of medication that Song Yuqing half-remembered.

Song Yuqing's gaze skimmed over indifferently, no longer focusing on the two.

Assistant: "Good evening, Mr. Song."

"Mm," Song Yuqing answered coldly.