Chapter 127: Jealous

Chapter 127 Jealousy

The alphas in the shadows: "!"

Damn! Pei Huai calls Song Yuqing "young master," and still gets his face touched by Song Yuqing? To the alphas, the force wasn’t heavy at all—it even carried a hint of, well, something indescribable? Rather than punishment, that brief contact felt more like...

A reward.

Especially for alphas like them who’ve spent years in the military, all thick-skinned and rugged—a slap like that wouldn’t hurt at all.

They wondered if Pei Huai’s thick face made Song Yuqing’s hand ache instead.

Each slap felt as though it landed on their own faces. The alphas stared at Song Yuqing’s pale, sharp profile, his long, slightly lowered eyelashes carrying a hint of chill.

Each of them grew flushed, averting their gaze.

"Doesn’t Pei Huai have a wife? How can he let Mr. Song slap him like that?" they muttered.

"Isn’t this adultery? No morals. Who’s his wife? I’m going to call her and expose that scumbag alpha," they fumed.

Everyone automatically overlooked the fact that Song Yuqing was also married, treating his husband as practically invisible. They saw nothing wrong with Song Yuqing slapping an alpha’s face like that.

Pei Huai got a rush from the first slap.

The second slap gave him an even bigger rush.

Hearing Song Yuqing’s demanding questions, he knew he was in trouble.

But seeing Song Yuqing’s porcelain-white, aloof face and his clear amber gaze, Pei Huai was completely turned on. He wanted to grab Song Yuqing’s wrist, pull him into his arms, and hold him tight right then and there.

He wanted to press Song Yuqing against his chest, cover him in kisses and nuzzles.

"I didn’t know that thing was like that," Pei Huai explained stiffly, completely ignoring the inappropriate fantasies that had flooded his mind the moment he saw it.

Fully enveloped, the contours pressing against an expanse of snow-white, squeezed tightly, like a blood-red plum blossom trapped under a glass dome, in full extravagant bloom.

Forced ripe by wind and snow, it would turn into a fully matured plum in May.

The lightest suck would make the juices overflow.

Song Yuqing thought: "Stupid dog."

He didn’t even bother hiding his expression while lying—his gaze was straightforward, guilty, yet burning with brazen heat.

Like a dog spotting a meaty bone.

Pei Huai continued, "He only said it was milk..."

Before he could finish, Song Yuqing shot him a cold glare. Pei Huai promptly shut up—if he said any more, he’d really be kicked out.

But he felt wronged too—that damn merchant tricked him!

Was he that kind of shameless alpha?

Was he that kind of alpha who wanted to see?

Was he that kind of alpha who would suck and lick through a layer?

"Go back, don't follow me. I'm going to work, and also..." Song Yuqing reminded, "On the road to my workplace, you can't go there. If you do, you'll get six demerit points."

His slender, delicate finger pointed at Pei Huai's "ghost fire" motorcycle.

Pei Huai's hair was naturally golden, and now riding a motorcycle, he really did look like a blond punk on a "ghost fire."

Even without the one-way street no-motorcycle sign, Song Yuqing didn't want Pei Huai to take him to work.

Pei Huai seemed to sense the strange meaning in Song Yuqing's eyes—wasn't this cool?

Why was Song Yuqing looking at him with the look you give an idiot?

Seeing Song Yuqing leave, Pei Huai caught up in a few quick steps, leaving the "ghost fire" behind on the spot.

"This is my mission. You said I should follow discipline and strictly follow assignments."

"My task this time is to keep you safe."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Great, Pei Huai had learned to use his own words against him.

Song Yuqing raised his eyes and stared at Pei Huai, who immediately tensed up again. From Song Yuqing's cold, distant expression, he could tell he was about to be sent away again.

Song Yuqing: "Send another Alpha. I don't want you."

Pei Huai: "..."

"I was wrong," Pei Huai admitted voluntarily. "I will resolutely obey orders, and I'll take care of it properly."

"I won't make such a mistake again."

"Don't send me back. Qingqing, I was wrong."

Song Yuqing walked all the way, and Pei Huai tagged along the whole way. In the end, he managed to enter Song Yuqing's lab as he wished, while other Alphas stood guard around the laboratory, keeping an eye out for any suspicious individuals.

Pei Huai followed Song Yuqing all the way, and upon noticing the inquiring looks from some researchers, he didn't wait for anyone to ask and spoke up first.

"I'm Song Yuqing's boyfriend."

Song Yuqing: "...?"

After saying that, Pei Huai leaned close to Song Yuqing's ear and whispered, "I need a reasonable cover that won't raise suspicions. After careful consideration, I still think the identity of your boyfriend is best."

"Look, they're looking at me differently now."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Are you proud? That's the look they give an interloper.

Forget it, Pei Huai has always been all over the place. Rather than letting someone else follow him around, it's better to let this dumb dog in.

After all, this dumb dog's intelligence hasn't changed in ten years—he can't understand data, forgets a line the moment he finishes reading it, a typical case of in one ear and out the other.

It's a completely untouched, undeveloped, brand-new brain, untainted by knowledge.

But his physical prowess is relatively high.

This kind of dumb dog, he's comfortable having him around.

Song Yuqing didn't argue back, and Pei Huai’s smile deepened. Song Yuqing not refuting meant he agreed that Pei Huai could be his boyfriend, meant he was the true husband recognized in Song Yuqing’s heart—Qi Zhengqing was just a placeholder in name.

All day long, Pei Huai followed Song Yuqing closely, like a shadow.

While Song Yuqing was around, no one dared to say much, but during the lunch break, everyone couldn’t help but gossip.

“Song Yuqing’s lover is actually a blond guy?”

“My Song Yuqing was snatched away just like that by a blond guy.”

“A little punk and an aloof beauty—sorry, not my cup of tea. I hope they break up soon.”

“I know, you’re into Song Yuqing and yourself, and I’m into Song Yuqing and myself.”

“Say, since Song Yuqing brought his lover to the lab, is it possible he might find a number four?”

“Don’t even think about it. People in the lab are out of the question—Song Yuqing isn’t one for trouble. Everyone in the lab is somewhat tied to the experiments. If things go south, they might even use the results to blackmail Song Yuqing… Better to stick with the million-dollar salary. Song Yuqing trusts it, we’re happy to take it. Don’t aim for the person—you’ll have everything, and you can still see Song Yuqing from time to time.”

“No, no, I don’t think Song Yuqing is like that. If he likes someone, he’ll choose them, even if they’re from the lab. Song Yuqing isn’t afraid to tear up the agreement.”

Ye Siling was sitting not far from these researchers, and their words all reached his ears.

Of course, Song Yuqing had no idea the researchers were chatting about this during lunch, nor did he know Ye Siling heard everything.

In the lab, an invitation was delivered to Song Yuqing.

Pei Huai glanced at it. “What does Tan Hongzhen want with you? Definitely up to no good.”

Tan Hongzhen’s “Jingxi No. 9” was sold at exorbitant prices, and he never hesitated to rip off the military. Pei Huai had always believed the ones who most deserved to be shot were capitalists like the Tan family, who’d rather let medicine expire than sell it at a lower price.

The next ones who deserved to be shot were people like Xiao Jinshi, who mixed in both legal and illegal circles.

After that, it should be alphas like Ye Siling, who say one thing and do another.

And of course, the ones who most deserved to be shot were alphas like Qi Zhengqing—not out of jealousy or pettiness, but simply because people like Qi Zhengqing were a waste of oxygen and should be shot.

Song Yuqing: “It’s an invitation to the ‘Jingxi No. 10’ launch party. Also, Tan Shu is back.”

Pei Huai went on high alert, his expression turning panicked, clearly suspecting an affair between Song Yuqing and Tan Shu. “There’s nothing between you and Tan Shu, right?”

Back in the day, Tan Shu was incredibly influential at Victor, until Song Yuqing took him down. Everyone said it was Song Yuqing who ousted Tan Shu.

Rumors said Tan Shu hated Song Yuqing to the core.

But Pei Huai felt Tan Shu’s feelings toward Song Yuqing couldn’t be simple hatred.

At the very least, when Song Yuqing put him in his place, he didn’t feel much hatred—more of a twisted desire for Song Yuqing to notice him, trying every way to attract his attention.

Leaning against the windowsill, Song Yuqing lazily lifted his eyelids, a slight smirk forming at the corner of his lips. He tapped the invitation against Pei Huai’s face. “What do you think?”

Pei Huai: “…”

I think Tan Shu deserves to be shot too.

“Song Yuqing, give me a kiss.” Without waiting for a refusal, Pei Huai held Song Yuqing’s face and kissed him on the lips.

A sudden kiss caught him off guard.

“Xiao Jinshi, Qi Zhengqing, Ye Siling—aren't these enough? Now you’re letting Tan Shu come back too? I’m getting jealous.”

Pei Huai's breathing grew heavier as he held Song Yuqing’s face, their foreheads pressed together. His tone was unmistakably displeased, his jealousy completely unhidden.

Song Yuqing found it amusing and pushed Pei Huai away. “Go ahead and be jealous. I won’t stop you.”

Pei Huai: “…”

The moment he was pushed away, Pei Huai closed the distance again, until they were almost touching through their clothes. “What I meant was, I really need you to comfort me.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Pei Huai’s ears turned red. It felt unlike him—he preferred to dominate, to shield Song Yuqing’s eyes so he couldn’t look at other alphas.

Maybe all alphas were like this: arrogant and direct. They dislike lowering their heads or appearing weak, and prefer to be forceful with their omega or beta.

But if he was forceful, Song Yuqing would only be more forceful.

After saying it, Pei Huai didn’t even know how he managed to utter those words.

Song Yuqing ruffled Pei Huai’s hair, his tone playful and dismissive, his elegant, cold features tinged with a faint smile. “How should I comfort you, little dog?”

His tone was light, like a feather brushing over his heart, stirring ripples.

Little dog.

Little dog—he was being called.

Pei Huai was stirred by the words “little dog,” his Adam’s apple bobbing. He couldn’t help but grasp the nape of Song Yuqing’s neck. “Who are you calling a little dog?”

His voice was rough and husky, as if vibrating from his chest.

Song Yuqing whispered in his ear as he tensed, “If you’re not a little dog, what are you? A big dog?”

“Yellow-haired mutt,” Song Yuqing added softly.

Pei Huai: “…I’m not a yellow-haired mutt.”

“Yellow-haired mutt” wasn’t a good term—at least “yellow-haired” wasn’t. In the dating market, blonds were always rejected by parents. He hadn’t met Song Yuqing’s parents, but he didn’t want to be rejected.

Song Yuqing’s gaze fell on Pei Huai’s hair, gesturing. “Aren’t you a yellow-haired mutt?”

Pei Huai insisted stubbornly, “This is called golden-haired, not yellow-haired mutt.”

Song Yuqing looked away, slipped the invitation into Pei Huai’s pocket, and before returning to his workstation, answered dismissively, “Hmm.”

Casual and light, as if she didn't care about his insistence.

Pei Huai felt like all his emphasis had fallen on deaf ears.

The moment Song Yuqing turned around, Pei Huai immediately followed. “Once I finish my task, I’ll change my hair to black. I’m not a blond.”

Song Yuqing: “Hmm, golden-haired. Fine, be quiet now.”

Pei Huai instantly fell silent and continued following Song Yuqing. Now, Pei Huai felt the one who most deserved to be shot was Song Yuqing’s work.

Clearly, compared to alphas, Song Yuqing cared more about work.

Ye Siling stood in a corner, watching the entire interaction between Pei Huai and Song Yuqing—their kiss, how noisy Pei Huai was, yet Song Yuqing still responded to him several times.

Ye Siling even felt the scene was a bit too harmonious, as if they were already in a loving relationship.

The alpha's eyes darkened slightly. Song Yuqing was really kind to every alpha except him.

After two years, setting foot on the land of Xinzhou again, Tan Shu still felt somewhat unaccustomed.

This time, he had been urgently summoned back by Tan Hongzhen. Before he could even exchange two words with Tan Hongzhen, he was told to change clothes and prepare for the evening banquet.

The banquet was a scene of debauchery and extravagance, attended by alpha elites from the upper class. As soon as Tan Shu entered the banquet hall, he was surrounded by scrutinizing gazes.

Many people approached him to chat; after all, Tan Hongzhen’s decision to call Tan Shu back had already signaled that the successor of the Tan family might still be Tan Shu.

Moreover, Tan Shu had been thriving in Westlandia. The Tan family’s influence in Westlandia was merely his foundation—over the years, his development had extended far beyond just the family’s branch there.

Even the fact that Tan Shu was missing an eye seemed far less significant.

And, whether it was their misconception or not, many felt that there was almost no noticeable difference between his two eyes.

"Second Young Master Tan is truly thriving now."

Yes, the illegitimate child was even older than him. After entering the Tan family, he had squeezed him out of his position. Outside, he could only be referred to by alphas as "Tan the Second."

Tan Shu smiled gently, appearing very approachable. "It’s alright, I haven’t disappointed—"

Tan Shu left his sentence unfinished, but those around him couldn’t help but let their imaginations run wild.

After all, what had dealt Tan Shu the most devastating blow was still Song Yuqing, that beta who now stood high and mighty.

Was Tan Shu returning this time to seek revenge on Song Yuqing?

"Let’s not talk about it anymore. I was young and reckless back then."

Though he claimed it was better left unsaid, he had deliberately brought it up.

Tan Shu’s return was indeed aimed at dealing with Song Yuqing. Since they couldn’t rely on Song Yuqing, their only option was to slander him to curry favor with Tan Shu.

Someone couldn’t resist speaking up: "There’s no need for you to fear Song Yuqing now or avoid crossing paths with him."

They now wanted to purchase large quantities of the Tan family’s new product, "Jingxi No. 10," so building a good relationship with the Tan family was essential.

"I think you’re far more impressive than Song Yuqing. You’ve made it on your own. Song Yuqing, on the other hand—the number of alphas backing him can’t even be counted on one hand. He’s just a beta who climbed up relying on alphas. Crushing him wouldn’t be difficult for you."

Under the flowing lights, the alpha lazily leaned back in his chair. Most of the light fell on Tan Shu’s face, outlining his strong brow bone.

Tan Shu looked at the speaking alpha with a smile in his eyes, though the warmth didn’t reach them.

Author's Note:

Tan Shu: White Moonlight.

Everyone else: Archenemy.

Song Yuqing: That damn bastard.

Pei Dog: Love rival.

YSL: He doesn’t love me, he doesn’t love me, he doesn’t love me...