Chapter 149: Brother

Chapter 149 Brother

At these words, Xiao Jinshi's smile abruptly vanished, replaced by a flicker of displeasure.

"You're afraid Qi Zhengqing will find out? Brother, what are we? Are we having a clandestine affair?"

Ignoring Xiao Jinshi's jealousy, Song Yuqing answered Qi Zhengqing's call first.

Perhaps the incident with Tan Shu last time had deeply rattled Qi Zhengqing.

Now, if Song Yuqing was even a little late returning home, Qi Zhengqing would call hundreds of times within half an hour, often coming to pick him up directly. Song Yuqing worried that if he delayed answering, Qi Zhengqing might have an emotional breakdown.

Moreover, Qi Zhengqing's rut was nearing, and Song Yuqing didn't want to provoke him further. Alphas always had those few days every few months when their emotions became unstable.

"Are you working overtime today?"

A low, steady alpha voice sounded in his ear, "Want me to come get you?"

"Brother."

Along with Qi Zhengqing's voice, Xiao Jinshi's warm breath brushed his ear—also very soft, deliberately hushed, almost imperceptible unless one listened carefully.

Song Yuqing: "..."

This was truly the behavior of a homewrecker.

Song Yuqing's slender fingers gripped Xiao Jinshi's chin, meeting his gaze calmly and coldly, with a hint of scrutiny.

Those clear amber eyes seemed to say:

—Naughty.

Xiao Jinshi had originally only wanted to vex Qi Zhengqing, but now, meeting Song Yuqing's gaze, he found it strangely thrilling.

Facing Song Yuqing's eyes, Xiao Jinshi unhesitatingly grabbed Song Yuqing's fingers and kissed them, a cocky grin spreading across his face.

"Are you busy? You don’t seem to have had much to say to me today." The alpha's voice was calm and measured.

Song Yuqing tried to pull his fingers back but couldn't. "Not really. I'm working overtime today; I'll be home later."

Qi Zhengqing leaned back in his chair, his chiseled face shrouded in darkness, his hand gripping his tie, creasing it deeply, the veins on his hand standing out.

"I'll come pick you up."

"No need, I'll get back on my own—" The buttons were undone by the alpha, and the chill air instantly hit his skin. The alpha's sudden kiss on his collarbone made Song Yuqing's dark lashes flutter.

A faint gasp escaped his lips, and the next second, Song Yuqing bit his tongue lightly.

"...home."

Xiao Jinshi's arms encircled Song Yuqing's waist, kissing from his collarbone all the way down until he reached Song Yuqing's soft abdomen.

Even when pushed away by fingers, he persisted, nuzzling and touching that snow-white skin, as if wanting to melt Song Yuqing with his touch.

"Brother," Xiao Jinshi called him.

"Qingqing," Qi Zhengqing spoke at the same time.

Xiao Jinshi stared at Song Yuqing, watching his breathing gradually quicken, watching his lashes grow dewy, looking down at him with a delicate, porcelain beauty.

Xiao Jinshi's breath caught, forgetting to inhale, even forgetting to continue his ministrations.

Qi Zhengqing snapped coldly, "Who are you with?"

Song Yuqing's fingers gripping the phone blushed faintly. "Nobody."

Qi Zhengqing: "I heard—"

Song Yuqing suddenly spoke, "Brother."

His ice-cold voice carried a hint of unfamiliarity, somewhat stiff, yet with a lazy drawl.

Like an aloof cat bestowing a rare scrap of affection upon a human.

"I was just wondering, if I called you 'brother,' would you answer?"

Song Yuqing smoothly covered his tracks, lying. His tone was deadpan, yet it made both alphas forget what they had been about to do or ask.

Qi Zhengqing's throat moved slightly. "Yes."

Not only would he answer, but he would also scheme to haul Song Yuqing to bed and make him repeat that address over and over.

"I'll come pick you up and take you home," the alpha rumbled lowly.

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing stopped fighting it. "Fine, come. I'm gonna hang up."

"Don't hang up."

Qi Zhengqing's voice was still calm. "My rut is probably here. Don’t hang up. If I can’t hear your voice, I’ll feel terrible."

Song Yuqing rested his chin in his hand, tapping lightly, his dewy lashes slightly lowered, as if even his eyelashes were annoyed at his own improvising.

When he had Xiao Jinshi call him "brother," it hadn’t felt that awkward.

But calling Qi Zhengqing "brother" made Song Yuqing feel weird all over.

If only Qi Zhengqing could call him "brother" too, then he’d have evened the score.

Song Yuqing was pretty much resigned, feeling a little pissed. "Hmm."

"Whatever."

Icy.

The corners of Qi Zhengqing's lips lifted slightly, but he didn’t laugh aloud, afraid Song Yuqing would hear and become even more displeased.

He would be flustered and mad.

The kitten would get upset.

No matter what, Xiao Jinshi understood that Song Yuqing would be going home with Qi Zhengqing today. Even that "brother" couldn’t make him continue to lose himself in the moment.

Xiao Jinshi couldn’t deceive himself into thinking Song Yuqing’s "brother" was meant for him.

"Ge," Xiao Jinshi murmured against Song Yuqing's ear, "Are you angry? I wouldn’t make you call me 'Ge'; I’d only take the initiative to call you 'Ge' myself."

Song Yuqing glanced at Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Wasn’t it all Xiao Jinshi’s fault?

If Xiao Jinshi hadn’t made those damn sounds, he wouldn’t have said such things just to dismiss Qi Zhengqing.

Song Yuqing took a piece of paper and wrote on it:

—Go back. Qi Zhengqing’s rut is starting.

Xiao Jinshi seethed with jealousy. When Qi Zhengqing’s rut came, he got Song Yuqing’s company, but Xiao Jinshi had never gotten Song Yuqing's company during his own ruts.

Even worse, Song Yuqing would accommodate Qi Zhengqing's needs during his rut and ask Xiao Jinshi to leave.

—I’m not going back. I’m staying right here.

Song Yuqing: "..."

Song Yuqing picked up his coat, ready to head downstairs, and spoke to Qi Zhengqing at the same time, "I’ll wait for you in the parking lot."

He added a reminder, "Drive carefully."

Qi Zhengqing: "Come down later. It’s cold outside."

Song Yuqing never liked cold weather, and he didn’t want him waiting in the winter cold.

Xiao Jinshi grabbed Song Yuqing’s wrist, through clenched teeth as he spoke into his ear, "I’ll leave. You stay here."

Xiao Jinshi was still fuming.

But he couldn’t let Song Yuqing go downstairs and freeze.

Xiao Jinshi took the note Song Yuqing had written—it was written for him, so he should keep it.

Song Yuqing watched Xiao Jinshi’s receding back, both amused and annoyed.

A short-tempered pup trying hard to act tough.

Qi Zhengqing chatted with Song Yuqing, "What did you do today? Tired?"

Song Yuqing summed up his day, "Dismantled a robot."

"Played with a disobedient little dog."

Xiao Jinshi, reaching the door, overheard Song Yuqing’s offhand comment.

The disobedient little dog was him.

He turned back, his large frame engulfing Song Yuqing as he hugged him, muttering lowly, "I’m not disobedient."

He’d done as Song Yuqing said—when told to leave, he left.

Yet Song Yuqing still called him disobedient.

He was already the note-fetching dog, and Song Yuqing still complained he wasn’t obedient enough.

So biased.

"Little dog?" Qi Zhengqing asked in a low voice, "Where did this little dog come from? A stray?"

"Don’t touch it. Strays aren't vaccinated; they’re untamed and unpredictable. If you feed them, they might bite you."

"Strays are abandoned for a reason." Qi Zhengqing’s words were almost spiteful.

"I’m not a stray." The lowered voice held a defiant insistence for fairness.

Song Yuqing instinctively raised a hand, trying to push away Xiao Jinshi’s attempts to nuzzle and peck him.

But Xiao Jinshi gripped his wrist, pinning him close, demanding an explanation, "Ge, tell him I’m not a stray."

"He’s definitely throwing shade at me."

Song Yuqing said softly, "Still being difficult."

Qi Zhengqing: "A misbehaving dog should be abandoned."

Xiao Jinshi: "..."

Qi Zhengqing was truly such an asshole.

Of course, the one outside would never like the one at home.

Acting all high and mighty every day like some main wife deciding the fate of concubines, as if no one could surpass him.

In reality, if Song Yuqing didn’t give him face, who would give him face?

Really thinks he’s somebody.

Xiao Jinshi couldn’t keep smiling anymore, his face cold and actually threatening.

"Not happy?"

Xiao Jinshi forced a smile, more like a grimace, "No."

Song Yuqing: "Then go home."

"Disobedient little dog." Song Yuqing pushed Xiao Jinshi away completely, then called out softly.

The light, cool weight in his arms seemed to vanish instantly.

Xiao Jinshi’s embrace was empty.

Song Yuqing knew he was upset, knew he was unhappy, but Song Yuqing just couldn't be bothered to comfort him—all because he hadn’t obeyed earlier.

Song Yuqing was deliberately giving him the cold shoulder.

Xiao Jinshi wanted to say more, but Qi Zhengqing spoke up first, "I’m here, Qingqing."

"You can come down now." The alpha’s tone was calm, as if he thought Song Yuqing was just teasing a dog. "Stop playing with the dog."

Song Yuqing: "Mm."

Song Yuqing hung up temporarily and looked at Xiao Jinshi.

"I’m going home."

"Ge." Xiao Jinshi grabbed Song Yuqing’s wrist. "My bad."

Song Yuqing knew he was wrong too.

Song Yuqing looked up, looking at Xiao Jinshi. “What good does it do you to cause a scene in front of Qi Zhengqing?”

Xiao Jinshi wanted to say that Song Yuqing, of course, would never understand—Song Yuqing simply didn’t care and couldn’t comprehend the all-consuming jealousy of an alpha.

Because Song Yuqing never felt jealousy. Everyone naturally liked him, favored him.

He only ever treated such emotions lightly.

His older brother was never corroded by such vile emotions, just standing high above, looking down to pass judgment on his resentment and venom.

“Jealousy.”

After spitting out that word, the light in Xiao Jinshi’s eyes seemed to fade.

Song Yuqing also fell silent for a moment, then patted Xiao Jinshi’s head. “What is there to be jealous of?”

“Be good.”

Having his head touched by Song Yuqing, Xiao Jinshi instinctively lowered his head, rubbing against Song Yuqing’s palm.

The grievance of being cold-shouldered by Song Yuqing and the happiness of having his head patted by him now intertwined.

“Don’t compare yourself to him. You two are different.”

“No more acting up. Go home early.”

Song Yuqing gave simple instructions. “I’m going home.”

Only then did Xiao Jinshi nod meekly. “I understand. I’ll see you home.”

The elevator went all the way down to the underground parking lot on basement level 1. Just as Song Yuqing was about to step out, Xiao Jinshi tugged at him again, pulled him into a brief hug, and then let go.

“Goodbye, brother.”

Song Yuqing: “Mm.”

As soon as Song Yuqing left, the elevator doors gradually closed. Xiao Jinshi watched Song Yuqing walk toward Qi Zhengqing, his smile vanished.

In the darkness, Qi Zhengqing was flicking a lighter in his hand. Hearing the sound, he looked up and watched Song Yuqing approach him.