Chapter 120 – Qin Yuxing x Song Hengye’s Daily Life (Extra)
Watching as Song Hengye led Arden into the training hall—into what used to be *his* private training room—Qin Yuxing felt something akin to betrayal.
And worse, right as he followed them, Hengye turned around and shut the door in his face!
Qin Yuxing: …
He pursed his lips, fuming by the door. *Song Hengye went to train with another guy. And in our private training room, no less!*
A wave of resentment started to rise in him.
For months, he’d been forced through grueling training under Song Hengye’s watchful eye, barely getting a moment’s rest. Today was the first time he’d finally had enough and snapped at Hengye. But instead of making peace or even saying a few kind words, Song Hengye just walked away and went straight to another “client”!
Now, Qin Yuxing crossed his arms tightly, standing silently by the door. He knew the full-dive simulations were intense on both spiritual power and mental strain, so the room was soundproofed—he couldn’t even hear what was going on. He couldn’t help but imagine all sorts of things.
*Would Song Hengye do for Arden what he used to do for him? Stand by like a bodyguard, guiding him through every phase of training? When Arden makes a wrong move, would Song Hengye go over, put a hand on his head, and mock him for keeping his eyes wide open while fighting like a blind man? Would Heiye even let his black tiger join Arden’s black eagle, swatting it whenever it makes a mistake?*
The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.
He could feel something that used to be his being taken away. But it wasn’t really Arden’s or even Song Hengye’s fault—it was his own outburst, his own fault for throwing a tantrum. Song Hengye wasn’t obligated to be his personal cheerleader. He wasn’t Qin Yuxing’s grandfather, after all, and he didn’t have to cater to his moods.
Qin Yuxing sniffed back the tears welling in his eyes.
As other classmates showed up to train and saw him by the door, they started asking, “Hey, Qin Yuxing, isn’t Vice-Captain Song Hengye here yet?”
One of them noticed the “in use” sign flashing above the door and gaped. “Damn! Who has the guts to steal *Qin Yuxing’s* training room?”
Qin Yuxing: …
Face stern, he turned away, muttering angrily, “I’m feeling generous today, so I lent it to the dogs.”
His classmates: …
*What kind of dog can make Young Master Qin Yuxing swallow his pride?*
He headed to the training field entrance and crouched in a sunlit spot, trying to look casual instead of, well, abandoned. To cover up his mood, he figured he’d go grab a drink. Walking over to a nearby vending machine, he decided he’d drown his frustration with some beer—but the machine blocked his purchase request.Because he was underage.
Qin Yuxing: …
He glared at the vending machine, muttering, “Screw you, must be Song Hengye’s twin or something.”
After venting his frustration, his mood only worsened, especially since Song Hengye—his usual drillmaster—wasn’t even here to nag him. Instead, Hengye was off training with someone else, leaving him out here alone.
Eventually, after everyone else went inside to train, Qin Yuxing sat by the entrance of the training hall, sulking as he sipped on a bottle of milk. There was no choice; that was all the vending machine would sell him.
*
Inside the training room, Arden looked eager and excited. “Vice-Captain Song Hengye, are we starting now?” he asked, already suiting up with knee and wrist guards.
Song Hengye turned and extended his hand, “Give me Qin Yuxing’s wristband.”
Arden paused for a moment before obediently taking it off and handing it over. “Yuxing said he wasn’t feeling well and wanted to rest, but his grandfather is strict. If he doesn’t see him training, he’ll chew him out, so I agreed to wear the wristband for just one day to help him out.”
As Song Hengye took the wristband, his expression grew a bit stern. “Yuxing said he wasn’t feeling well?”
Arden nodded, looking sincere. “Yeah, he didn’t look so good, so he’s probably pretty uncomfortable.”
Song Hengye deactivated the wristband and pocketed it. “I’ll check on him later. Come on, let’s get started.”
Though Arden was also an S-Class, his spiritual form wasn’t suited for close combat, and his late start in formal training left room for improvement. Song Hengye knew that Captain Chen Min valued Arden highly, frequently giving him extra guidance during morning training. Yet today, Chen Min hadn’t been seen.
So, for over an hour, Song Hengye helped Arden, and Arden, being a quick learner, made notable progress. With their different spirit forms and areas of expertise, they pursued diverging training paths. After their session, Song Hengye advised, “Continue working with Captain Chen. His golden eagle has a lot of experience in aerial combat.”
Arden, grateful, but a bit self-conscious, nodded. “Thank you, Vice-Captain. Hope we can train together again.”When the two exited the training room, Qin Yuxing was nowhere to be seen, and Arden hurried off to another appointment.
Song Hengye roamed around outside the training field, eventually finding Qin Yuxing asleep in a secluded corner of the garden.
Song Hengye looked down at him. “Not feeling well?”
Qin Yuxing jolted awake, his eyes widening in surprise before he quickly averted his gaze and started to walk away.
But Song Hengye furrowed his brow, stepped closer, and placed a hand on Qin Yuxing’s shoulder.
“Were you crying?”
Qin Yuxing immediately flared up. “I was *not* crying!”
Song Hengye: …
Song Hengye sighed inwardly, his expression softening. He knew the little heir had a tendency to tear up—he’d lost count of how many times Yuxing had broken down in front of him over these months. He took a tissue out of his pocket and handed it over. “So the stomachache was that bad, huh? Hurt so much it made you cry?”
Qin Yuxing: …
He grumbled in frustration, sniffling as he muttered, “Arden, that big mouth… thought he was so innocent.”
It was annoying; he had even thought Arden was the innocent type.
Song Hengye looked at his red-rimmed eyes and, with his usual patience, asked, “Need to go to the infirmary?”
Qin Yuxing scoffed. “No need, I just made up that excuse to avoid training. I only told Arden to get him off my back, and you actually believed it?”
Song Hengye’s expression grew serious. “Don’t use those kinds of excuses. People who believe you are the ones who genuinely care. Understand?”
Almost instinctively, Qin Yuxing nodded. “Got it…”
Wait, something wasn’t right.
Qin Yuxing paused, piecing it together. He turned to Song Hengye. “So, were *you* fooled?”
Song Hengye turned and started walking away. “If you’re fine, then let’s go train.”
Qin Yuxing: ???He rushed after Song Hengye. “No, seriously, were you actually fooled? Tell me! This is important!”
Song Hengye was unamused. “Of course not. The way you yelled at me this morning, you didn’t sound like someone with a stomachache.”
Qin Yuxing: …
Feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment, he mumbled, “I didn’t yell that much.”
Only then did it dawn on him that somehow, once again, he’d been coaxed back into Song Hengye’s orbit without so much as an apology. Just a tissue, and here he was, tagging along again.
With a sigh, he shook his head, feeling a bit foolish.
Yet, some curiosity lingered. “So, uh… what did you guys work on while you were training with Arden?” He cast a sideways glance at Song Hengye, half-afraid of the answer. “Were you his ‘bodyguard’ too? Did Heiye help that eagle?”
Song Hengye raised an eyebrow. “You think Arden’s as weak as you? We’re equally matched. What he needs is a sparring partner, not a bodyguard.”
Qin Yuxing: …
He clenched his fist, trying not to smack himself for even asking. *Great job, Qin Yuxing. Way to embarrass yourself.*
*
After this blow-up, Song Hengye finally understood the little heir’s true nature. He wasn’t one to pressure him too much after that, letting him skip morning training once a week and making up the sessions over the weekends. Qin Yuxing didn’t complain, enjoying his newfound freedom and even looking forward to his weekend catch-up sessions with Song Hengye.
Though he once refused all morning training, Qin Yuxing now found that just four days a month without it felt like a luxury after months of regimented workouts.
Under Song Hengye’s supervision, Qin Yuxing managed to float through his first two years at the academy and even achieved some notable results. By his second year, he’d been specially recruited as a mech technician by the Imperial Military Command Center.
Not only Qin Yuxing but all cadets were soon facing one of the biggest decisions of their lives. They were approaching a crossroads.
Song Hengye, with his exceptional performance, had been a vice-captain for two years and now faced multiple invitations. Han Baiyi and Chu Jiangting had joined the Central District Patrol Guard, and Arden had made it into the Border Air Patrol. Even the youngest, Qin Yuxing, had made his choice.Yet, Song Hengye still hadn’t decided.
Director Huo Ruan had spoken with him privately, expressing his hopes for him to stay in the Central District, where the Empire’s power could best maintain peace and stability. Still, if Song Hengye wanted to return to his home planet, Huo Ruan assured him he’d arrange the transfer.
However, Song Hengye hadn’t made a choice.
Over the past two years, not only had Qin Yuxing grown accustomed to having a “bodyguard” by his side, but even Song Hengye found himself unwilling to leave the little heir.
Every time he thought about being away from Qin Yuxing, Song Hengye couldn’t shake off the worry. With Qin Yuxing’s level of skill, what if someone bullied him or trouble found the Qin Yuxing family? Crying and causing a scene wouldn’t help; no one knew better than Song Hengye that tears of the weak carried no weight.
But eventually, little heir Qin Yuxing would have to grow on his own. Before Song Hengye came into his life, he’d managed well enough on his own, hadn’t he?
Song Hengye stood alone beneath the dorm building, knowing Qin Yuxing was waiting for him upstairs. Lately, Qin Yuxing had seemed anxious, asking him nearly every day if he’d made his decision about where he’d go in the future.
But Song Hengye never had an answer and didn’t know how to bring it up with him.
As midnight approached, Song Hengye took out his communicator, sending his birthday message the very second it turned 12:00: “Happy birthday, Yuxing.”
Six simple words, but they never failed to make Qin Yuxing’s heart soar.
Song Hengye always remembered his birthday!
And this year, it was special. Qin Yuxing was finally turning eighteen!
His eighteenth birthday! He was officially an adult now. The vending machine wouldn’t turn him away anymore; he could buy drinks, say things he’d held back, and maybe even do a few things he’d always wanted to try.
