Chapter 145: Ring

Chapter 145 The Ring

"Baby, do you know how many nerve endings are on the scent gland?"

Song Yuqing blurted out, seemingly unwilling to let Qi Zhengqing question his expertise, "Over eight thousand nerve endings—how could I not know that?"

Qi Zhengqing chuckled in exasperation and asked Song Yuqing again, "Then how many nerve endings does a normal male have?"

Song Yuqing fell silent, his fingers no longer tapping the alpha's scent gland.

He didn't know, but judging from Qi Zhengqing’s implication, the nerve endings on the scent gland were either more abundant or roughly the same in number.

So, touching an alpha’s scent gland seemed to take on a somewhat inappropriate connotation.

Qi Zhengqing, as if understanding Song Yuqing’s expression, teased, "You little pervert cat."

Song Yuqing’s fair face tightened. "It’s perfectly reasonable, legal, and proper—it doesn’t count as being inappropriate."

Where was his marriage certificate? He should slap it right on Qi Zhengqing’s face to make him understand that whatever he did was justified.

Song Yuqing asked, "Where's my marriage certificate?"

Qi Zhengqing replied, "There isn't one."

Song Yuqing stared at Qi Zhengqing. "No marriage certificate?"

Qi Zhengqing explained briefly, "Neither of us showed up to get the marriage certificate. My assistant took our IDs to handle it, and it was supposed to be mailed to you afterward."

"The marriage certificate is probably collecting dust in some corner of Victor's mailroom."

"Remember the day you used my card to buy nutrient supplements? It was the day after you used my card that I gave my ID to the assistant to process the marriage certificate."

88 remarked, "So Qi Zhengqing was the one who registered the marriage with you after you transmigrated into the book."

What scheming—it was a now-or-never situation. The moment Song Yuqing appeared in this world, Qi Zhengqing had already pocketed him and taken him away.

Song Yuqing fell silent.

So, when he first transmigrated, he was still unmarried. If he had been a bit more cautious, he wouldn’t have let Qi Zhengqing solidify his marital status so easily.

After a long silence, Song Yuqing finally uttered, "You’re really stingy."

He had used Qi Zhengqing’s card, and Qi Zhengqing still remembered it after all this time. He had thought that an alpha like Qi Zhengqing, with immeasurable wealth, would treat money like scraps of paper.

Song Yuqing said with feigned seriousness, "If I were rich, I wouldn’t even notice if someone used my card."

Qi Zhengqing touched Song Yuqing’s ear and explained, "It’s not about being stingy. It’s that no one else knows my card number or password."

"You’re suspicious, baby."

Song Yuqing fell silent.

88 also fell silent.

He had been exposed almost immediately after transmigrating.

88 trembled with fear. "Qingqing, you don’t think Qi Zhengqing will find out I helped you cheat, do you?"

"You really are stingy," Song Yuqing declared righteously, pinning all the blame on Qi Zhengqing. "What's wrong with using a bit of your money?"

After saying this, Song Yuqing fell silent again. Qi Zhengqing didn’t even have the marriage certificate in his possession, yet he acted so self-righteous all the time.

At the time, Song Yuqing had assumed that Qi Zhengqing had so much money and so many matters to attend to that he wouldn’t notice such a small expense.

Moreover, even if Qi Zhengqing found out, as his partner, it shouldn’t be a problem for Song Yuqing to know his card number and spend his money.

But at that moment, Qi Zhengqing had no intention of catching Song Yuqing in a lie, nor did he want to know how Song Yuqing had gotten hold of his card number.

Qi Zhengqing asked, "When will you have time to reapply for the marriage certificate?"

Song Yuqing fell silent.

88 remarked, "Qingqing, you’ve been someone’s wife for so long without even a certificate."

Qi Zhengqing’s gaze fell on Song Yuqing, focused and serious, with near devotion. "I never thought about retrieving the lost marriage certificate."

"Marriage is a lifelong commitment. I want that marriage certificate to bear your name and mine."

"I also want you to be willing to walk through life together."

"Can we go get the certificate again?" Qi Zhengqing said earnestly, word by word.

Song Yuqing stared at the alpha in front of him for a long time before finally nodding. "Okay."

"Where’s my ID?"

Qi Zhengqing replied, "It’s with me."

Song Yuqing asked, "Are you going to reapply for it yourself?"

Qi Zhengqing said, "We’ll go together."

Ever since he helped Song Yuqing set up the laboratory, he had been handling all of Song Yuqing’s affairs, big and small. Song Yuqing’s ID had naturally ended up in his possession.

He couldn’t let Song Yuqing’s ID fall into someone else’s hands—not even Song Yuqing’s own.

What if some other alpha stole it and registered with it?

Then Song Yuqing would be guilty of bigamy.

The laws in New Continent were not particularly friendly to Omegas and betas.

Over the years, there had been no shortage of cases where despicable alphas stole the IDs of Omegas or betas to register marriages.

High-society Omegas and betas, backed by their families, naturally had ways to deal with such shameless alphas.

But those without power or support often found themselves thrown into hardship, stuck with scoundrels forever.

Qi Zhengqing said earnestly, "Marriage involves both people. We have to go together."

Song Yuqing didn’t understand why simply reapplying for a marriage certificate had to be treated like a wedding.

But he spoke up anyway, "We have to wait until Pei Huai leaves."

Qi Zhengqing: "Sure."

Qi Zhengqing also understood how troublesome the alphas around Song Yuqing could be.

Pei Huai arrived early at Song Yuqing's apartment to wait for Song Yuqing, clearly planning to get cozy with him today.

Despite having no romantic sense, Pei Huai lit many candles, bought lots of flowers, and even purchased vases to arrange them.

Pei Huai’s typical alpha male taste filled the place with soft pinks—pink roses, pink ribbons, and pink petals scattered all over the bed.

He even tied a large pink bow around Meiqiu’s head.

He'd decorated the place like a wedding suite.

Song Yuqing hadn’t arrived yet, and Pei Huai was starting to get nervous. Holding Meiqiu, he said, "Meiqiu, don’t mess this up. Even though I’m your stepdad, I always feed you well, right?"

"I’m not biased. Look, what other cat gets to live with their mom at your age?"

"If it were a wicked stepdad like Xiao Jinshi, Ye Siling, or Tan Shu, they'd have kicked you to the curb long ago."

Pei Huai went on, "Later, just drag this over to Qingqing, just boop the box with your paw, and push it."

Meiqiu was batting at the ribbon, clearly not understanding a word.

Pei Huai grabbed the kitten’s head. "Did you get that?"

Meiqiu opened his big eyes wide, looking innocent. "Meow!"

As if to say—

—No clue, stepdad, what are you talking about?

Pei Huai: "..."

Pei Huai: "Dumb cat, you’re nothing like your mom. How can you not understand this? You’re useless at everything except cleaning your food bowl."

This time, Meiqiu seemed to understand. He let out a loud "Meow!"

The two began arguing, neither understanding what the other was saying, but both aware the curses were downright dirty.

When Song Yuqing returned, he was dusted with petals before he could process what was happening.

Before he could figure it out, he heard arguing.

Pei Huai: "You have the nerve to meow? Is she your birth mother? How much milk did you guzzle down? I barely got any, and you licked Qingqing silly."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing could only sigh helplessly, taking in the flowers and ribbons filling the room.

He instinctively raised a hand, his slender, jade-like fingers plucking a petal stuck to the hair on his forehead, his movements carrying their usual cool, elegant grace.

Some petals slipped past his collar into his clothes. Under the thin fabric, the outline of the petals was faintly visible; you could almost feel them against his skin—cool and soft.

The edges of the petals curled slightly from the pressure of the collar, creating a delicate, almost seductive beauty.

"Pei Huai, what are you doing?"

Just as Song Yuqing turned the corner, the alpha pulled him into a hug. "Waiting for you."

"Do you like it?" Pei Huai asked, looking at him expectantly.

Song Yuqing’s gaze swept over the overwhelming pink. He really couldn’t appreciate it—the entire room drowning in pink. He didn’t consider himself someone who liked frilly pink stuff.

Song Yuqing closed his eyes. "What does it look like?"

Pei Huai: "You like it."

Song Yuqing was finicky and high-maintenance, always needing to be waited on. Too much was unacceptable, too slow or gentle was also not enough. No matter what, Song Yuqing was rarely satisfied and would sulk or give the alpha the cold shoulder.

Song Yuqing was so picky, like a pampered princess.

Was there anything wrong with a princess using pink?

No, nothing wrong.

Song Yuqing ought to be carried while keeping a straight face by an alpha into a castle made of pink, carefully protected.

Song Yuqing pushed Pei Huai’s face away. "I don’t like it."

"I’m an adult, Pei Huai."

Pei Huai: "Oh, okay, you’re an adult."

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing went even quieter. Was there something wrong with Pei Huai’s head?

If this kind of alpha were on the battlefield, wouldn’t he just get turned into swiss cheese?

Meiqiu scratched at Song Yuqing’s ankle. "Mew~"

Song Yuqing looked down and saw Meiqiu tied with a pink ribbon by Pei Huai.

Another piece of pink ribbon was wrapped around his leg, attached to a pink box. Meiqiu stared up at him with big eyes, meowing softly as if snitching.

Song Yuqing: "..."

It was the first time Song Yuqing had seen Meiqiu decked out in so much color. He scooped Meiqiu up. "You really have a talent for managing to argue even with Meiqiu."

Carrying Meiqiu to the sofa, Song Yuqing was followed closely by Pei Huai.

After freeing Meiqiu, the cat shook his unbound head and began nuzzling Song Yuqing’s palm, meowing in a sweet, high-pitched voice.

Song Yuqing: "Good cat."

Pei Huai: "..."

When he was arguing with me, he wasn’t using that cutesy voice—now he’s laying it on extra thick.

This cat really has two sides. No wonder he was brought back by that jerk Qi Zhengqing.

Song Yuqing’s gaze fell again on the ribbon tied to Meiqiu’s leg. He took the pink box attached to it.

Turning to Pei Huai, he asked, "This for me?"

Pei Huai mumbled sullenly, "Mm."

But Song Yuqing might not like it—after all, he isn’t a fan of rooms decked out in pink either.

Only then did Song Yuqing notice the several scratches on Pei Huai’s face from Mei Qiu—seems like the earlier battle was quite intense.

“They say wearing a ring is a very romantic thing.”

Song Yuqing sat on the sofa, and Pei Huai naturally knelt down in front of him.

Pei Huai extended his hand, a simple ring on his left ring finger, adorned with just a small diamond at the center.

The diamond sparkled under the light.

Song Yuqing’s gaze fell on Pei Huai’s hand as he listened quietly to Pei Huai’s words.

“Because a ring always reminds you that you have a partner. Even when far apart, touching the ring is like touching your lover.”

“The ring also tells others that I already have a partner, a lover—that I’m not some fickle alpha.”

Song Yuqing gently touched the ring on Pei Huai’s finger.

“If you had other intentions, wearing a ring wouldn’t make a difference.” With that light remark, Song Yuqing nearly had Pei Huai pounding his chest to assure him that he had no other intentions.

Song Yuqing’s hand naturally reached for Pei Huai’s hand resting on his knee.

As their fingertips touched, Song Yuqing’s slightly cool fingers were instantly enveloped by the alpha’s broad, warm palm.

Completely enveloped and covered by its warmth.

Song Yuqing lowered his gaze. “Are you trying to tell me that you will always be loyal to me, that you willingly carry my mark?”

This time, once they parted, barring special circumstances, they would not see each other for a long time.

Two years, three years, or even five years.

Pei Huai probably wanted to tell him that no matter how long the time or how great the distance, he would always remain loyal to him.

And also… always love him?

An unfamiliar idea. At least back when he had just transmigrated, he never imagined that affection and love could exist between him and Pei Huai.

Pei Huai opened the box—inside was also a ring. Pei Huai looked up at Song Yuqing expectantly. “Will you accept it?”

Song Yuqing extended his hand toward Pei Huai. “Do you know my size?”

Song Yuqing’s ring finger was slender, like white jade, with tips tinged pink.

It’s said that everyone has a “love” vein on their left ring finger, a vein that leads directly to the heart.

Wearing a ring here brings the wearer closer to the heart.

And places the loved one closer to the heart as well.

Pei Huai stared at the hand Song Yuqing extended toward him, a confident smile curling at the corners of his lips. “Of course I know.”

Author's Note:

This chapter has been tweaked a bit—partly because I wanted Da Qi and Qingqing to have a marriage certificate with a photo, and partly to fill in a plot hole about when Da Qi realized Qingqing wasn’t the original owner.

It’s probably something like: Qingqing uses Da Qi’s card, and Da Qi thinks, “Little thief cat—I’m taking you home.”