Chapter 162: Heat Surging

Chapter 162: A Rush of Heat

"I'll give you time to think. But surely, Admiral Pei wouldn't ruin his future for a beta, never again able to protect his country, right? You can't even measure up to..."

"Oh, Qi Ran—you’re not even as good as the alphas you used to look down on."

"That’s right. If you become useless, Song Yuqing probably won’t give you another glance. Would you even be worthy of him then?"

Pei Huai glared venomously at Su Quan.

His gaze shifted to the figure in the iron cage, almost completely submerged in icy water, so fragile it seemed about to break apart at any moment.

He saw Song Yuqing trembling in the cold.

He saw those usually calm eyes now clouded with tears of physical pain, yet still stubbornly refusing to show weakness.

Song Yuqing must be freezing and suffering.

He was afraid.

"Qingqing," Pei Huai’s voice was hoarse, soft but miraculously cutting through the chaos, reaching Song Yuqing’s ears clearly, "...don’t fear."

"Let him go."

Pei Huai abruptly jammed the back of his neck against the iron hook behind him. The hook pierced through his alpha gland, tearing it open, and the rich scent of gunpowder-scented pheromones spread everywhere.

Song Yuqing’s eyes seemed to burn with blood. The snowy scene in his mind rapidly faded, the cold seemingly melted away by the searing blood gushing from the alpha’s neck.

Song Yuqing stood rigid in the icy water, the water rising past his waist, yet he felt no cold at all.

A torrent of warmth melted the chill that had enveloped his entire body.

The back of his hand felt burning hot...

Pei Huai looked at Song Yuqing, curving his lips into a careless smile. "Qingqing, don’t cry... I'm your Alpha. I should protect you."

It was only then that Song Yuqing realized the scalding heat on his hand was his own tears.

"Idiot."

The chastisement was barely audible, dissipating in the thick scent of blood and gunpowder pheromones.

Su Quan never imagined Pei Huai would do such a thing. The smile on his face froze for a moment.

Even if Pei Huai hadn’t destroyed his own alpha gland, Su Quan would have destroyed it in front of Song Yuqing.

But now, Pei Huai’s actions had thwarted his plan.

In proving his love for Song Yuqing, Pei Huai had also made Su Quan’s own affection for Song Yuqing seem pitiful.

Had Pei Huai claimed an even larger place in Song Yuqing’s heart?

Song Yuqing said mockingly to Su Quan, "Is this the result you wanted to see? Are you satisfied?"

Song Yuqing’s amber eyes were calm, the earlier discomfort completely gone.

Su Quan gripped Song Yuqing’s neck, forcing him to look at him.

The young man’s alabaster complexion had lost its last trace of color, leaving only a fragile, tear-streaked broken quality.

Malice filled Su Quan’s heart. If Song Yuqing was in pain, he would push him over the brink. Su Quan suddenly spoke, "Then are you satisfied?"

"He became like this because of you. Don’t you feel guilty?"

Since Song Yuqing despised his battered self, unwilling to even understand his past, they might as well be ruined together.

He wanted to see how Song Yuqing could still look down on him after letting everyone who loved him die.

Song Yuqing placed his hand against the iron bars. "Why should I feel guilty? Even if he hadn’t injured himself for me, would you have let him go?"

From the moment Pei Huai was captured, Su Quan had never intended to let him go easily.

Su Quan wiped his thumb across the tears on Song Yuqing’s cheek, pained once more by those tears.

Not guilt—then heartache?

Song Yuqing liked Pei Huai, would feel pain for him? Why?

In the end, Su Quan could no longer endure looking into those calm, emotionless eyes directed at him.

Su Quan released Song Yuqing and yanked him out. "I’ll take you back."

Song Yuqing: "Let him go."

Su Quan had never felt such fury. "Do you think you can still negotiate with me now?"

Song Yuqing’s tone was cold, as if he had never shed a tear for Pei Huai. "If he dies, how will you humiliate him then?"

He was rational and calm.

Su Quan seemed to recall something, forming a cold smile on his lips. "You’re right."

"Then stay here with him."

He wanted to see how Pei Huai, having been brought low, would face Song Yuqing.

Pei Huai, who had just managed a faint smile at Song Yuqing, now had a flash of desolation in his eyes.

Song Yuqing: "Let go."

Su Quan raised his hand, a slight smile curling his lips, as if he hadn’t just been the one driving Song Yuqing to the brink of breakdown.

"Fine. Should I get you some medicine?"

Before Song Yuqing could respond, Su Quan’s gaze fell on his drenched clothing.

The wet fabric clearly outlined his slim, vulnerable frame, his snow-white skin partially visible through, exuding a heart-stopping, delicate beauty.

It created a bizarre yet alluring contrast with the squalid, blood-soaked environment.

"Change your clothes first, then come back, darling."

Pei Huai is already worthless—why give him rewards?

Song Yuqing stared coldly at Su Quan. "Psychopath."

Instead of anger, Su Quan felt a perverse thrill from being insulted by Song Yuqing.

"That’s right, I am a psychopath."

"You're surrounded by psychopaths."

"You deserve to become a widower over and over again."

Yet you don't even get the chance to be a widow, constantly being fought over by others.

Having something precious makes you a target—with a face and figure like Song Yuqing's, it's only natural for him to be coveted.

After being locked up for nearly half a month, those iron hooks were finally removed from Pei Huai's shoulder blades for the first time.

Pei Huai forced a smile at Song Yuqing, trying to maintain the last shred of his pitiful dignity, his voice dry and hoarse: "I'm fine."

Without a word, Song Yuqing tore open Pei Huai's clothes and flushed his scent gland with alcohol.

His movements were swift and decisive, leaving Pei Huai no chance to refuse.

It was excruciating, pain so intense it numbed the senses, but Pei Huai showed no reaction. From now on... he would be a useless invalid.

A waste who couldn't even release pheromones.

Worse off than Qi Ran.

Now that the chains were unlocked, he still couldn't protect Song Yuqing or get him out.

Maybe Song Yuqing still had some feelings for him now, but what about in the future?

He would have to watch helplessly as other alphas surrounded Song Yuqing, watch as Song Yuqing forgot about him and didn't give him the time of day again.

Just the thought of it was unbearable for Pei Huai.

"Qingqing, save the medicine."

As Song Yuqing wrapped a gauze bandage around Pei Huai's neck, he suddenly tightened it. The pressure constricted Pei Huai's throat, giving him the sensation of choking.

But he didn't struggle.

It might not be so bad if Song Yuqing strangled him to death—at least he'd die by Song Yuqing's hand.

Die at a time when Song Yuqing loved him most.

However, the expected death did not come.

As the air grew thinner, just when Pei Huai felt he was about to be strangled by Song Yuqing, a familiar cold scent and something soft met his lips.

Pei Huai's previously slack hands suddenly gripped Song Yuqing's slender waist, pulling him into an embrace.

Their breaths intertwined, deepening the kiss.

Song Yuqing pushed Pei Huai away. Pei Huai stared at Song Yuqing's lips, leaning in again, angling for another kiss.

If he could kiss Song Yuqing one last time before dying, then his life would've been worth it.

Then he heard Song Yuqing's cold voice: "Didn't you want to die? Why are you still kissing?"

Pei Huai steadied his grip on Song Yuqing's waist, staring intently at him as if waiting for Song Yuqing to finish him off quickly if he said he wanted to die.

"I..." Pei Huai opened his mouth.

Song Yuqing lowered his long eyelashes, cupped Pei Huai's face, and forced him to meet his gaze. "Mm, you don't want to die. Then live."

Pei Huai: "..."

88: "."

Yeah, that's so Song Yuqing. If Song Yuqing thinks you want to live, then you really want to live.

Pei Huai stared at Song Yuqing, quirked a smile, and said, "Alright."

On the surveillance feed, Su Quan watched as the two started with just applying medicine, then Song Yuqing seemed to try strangling Pei Huai, only for them to end up kissing instead.

The cameras Su Quan installed were extremely high-definition; he could even see the slight part of Song Yuqing's lips, allowing the other alpha to deepen the kiss.

It felt as though he had personally brought about this scene—he made Pei Huai prove his love for Song Yuqing, made Song Yuqing pity Pei Huai.

Su Quan once again wanted to kill Pei Huai, and even more, he wanted to destroy these videos, out of sight, out of mind.

But in the end, Su Quan resisted the urge to destroy everything. Instead, he exported the video to his computer and sent it to Xiao Jinshi.

Along with it, he sent the earlier footage of Song Yuqing being locked in an iron cage and submerged in icy water.

After doing this, Su Quan stopped monitoring Song Yuqing to avoid stewing over it.

Pei Huai had chosen Song Yuqing; now he had to make sure that Xiao Jinshi would betray Song Yuqing.

If Xiao Jinshi wouldn't harm Song Yuqing while conscious, then he'd betray him when he wasn't in his right mind.

All Su Quan cared about was that Song Yuqing saw the outcome—how underhanded the process was didn't matter.

Pei Huai carefully held Song Yuqing's hand and applied medicine to it, then wrapped a gauze bandage around Song Yuqing's wrist.

At least this way, it wouldn't rub directly against the handcuffs and leave bruises.

"What are you doing here? Am I really that important?"

Pei Huai hung his head. In theory, he should be thrilled that Song Yuqing came to rescue him.

He should stand in front of those other damn alphas and brag that Song Yuqing cared about him the most.

But now, he couldn't feel any joy, only a sour, bitter ache in his heart.

Song Yuqing looked calmly at Pei Huai. "If you can live, why would I want you dead?"

"And it's not just for you."

The alpha, who had been hanging his head, suddenly looked up. "Who else is it for, then?"

The jealousy and anxiety in his tone were almost overflowing, creating a stark and almost laughable contrast with his current severely injured and weakened state.

Song Yuqing pressed his hand against Pei Huai's shaggy head, feeling torn between amusement and exasperation.

"For Qi Zhengqing, and for myself."

"Oh." Pei Huai mumbled again.

All his old arrogance was gone, and none of his previous dominance remained.

What right did he have to be jealous now?

"Sleep. I'll keep watch." Pei Huai changed the subject.

"Mm." Song Yuqing didn't say more to Pei Huai either, and he closed his eyes.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Song Yuqing felt the Alpha grasp his hand, pinching the base of his ring finger and stroking the ring.

He turned it again and again, as if contemplating whether to take off this ring.

Finally, Pei Huai made up his mind, pinched the ring, and prepared to slide it off.

But suddenly, Song Yuqing grabbed his hand, his fingertips forcefully pushing between Pei Huai's fingers, locking tightly with his, stopping all his movements.

Pei Huai was somewhat startled, slightly dazed.

Author's Note:

Pei Dog: Wuwuwu, I wasn't smart enough to begin with, and now I'm even more insecure. Now that my gland is ruined, I'm even less worthy of my husband.

Song Qingqing: Shut up, your crying is disturbing my sleep.

Pei Dog pats his husband's back: Sleep, I'll cry quieter.

Song Qingqing: ...