Shi Yuxing’s work was hectic. Fresh off handling a “medical disturbance,” he had to rush to change into his white coat.
He hadn’t planned on reminding someone, but the man’s unwavering stare made him uncomfortable.
“Still here? What are you standing around for?” Shi Yuxing brushed off nonexistent dust from his clothes and pumped two squirts of hand sanitizer, quickly rubbing his fingers together.
Gu Lingzhou: “You’re my wife.” He stressed this as if to confirm it, stepping forward and raising his fingers slightly—then lowering them again.
Shi Yuxing was amused by his demeanor. He rinsed the remaining foam from between his fingers and flicked off the water droplets, which trickled down the white tiles into the drain. “If you have nothing to do, go do your own thing. Stop following me around—people will talk.” With that, he moved to step past Gu Lingzhou and open the door, but before he could take a step, his path was blocked.
His limpid eyes looked up at the silent alpha. Gu Lingzhou stood wordlessly with his back straight, lowering his gaze to avoid his eyes. He looked a lot like an awkward Xiao Zhou—the shy college boy who always acted this way when he wanted something, or would nervously sidle up to him when he’d done something wrong. Though, he wasn’t as unreserved as the younger one.
If it were the 18-year-old Gu Lingzhou, he’d already be wrapping his arms around him and resting his chin on his shoulder, whining.
Thinking this, Shi Yuxing’s lips curved slightly.
“Are you free for lunch together?” Gu Lingzhou, seeing him smile, relaxed a little and extended an invitation.
This was unexpected. Shi Yuxing had never really had a proper meal with the real Gu Lingzhou—let alone an invitation from him.
Shi Yuxing thought for a moment, then gave a slight shake of his head. “Next time. The hospital’s busy.”
He was telling the truth. The hospital work was demanding—the clinic time lost that morning had to be made up during lunch, or the afternoon consultations would be delayed, and patients would be unhappy. If anyone wanted to see him, they could go to the hospital lobby, take a right, and book an expert consultation—lasting no more than fifteen minutes.
Shi Yuxing never expected his offhand “next time” to come so soon.
The afternoon patients were sparse, and he didn’t need to work overtime today. A glance at the clock showed 4:30—plenty of time for a proper dinner.
Turning around, he saw Gu Lingzhou sitting upright on the cold iron chair by the door, while Dr. Lin from the next office was enthusiastically chatting with him one-sidedly.
Shi Yuxing frowned. “You’re still here?” This was directed at Gu Lingzhou—had the man been sitting outside all day?
Gu Lingzhou turned his head. “Just got here. I left in between to handle some things. Are you done with work? If so, I’d like to take you to dinner.”
Shi Yuxing pinched the bridge of his nose, then shifted his gaze to Lin Anran behind Gu Lingzhou. “You’re done too?”
Lin Anran was just a regular physician, with far fewer patients queued up than Shi Yuxing. He typically only saw patients when the specialist slots were full. Lin Anran pushed up his glasses. “Of course. I’m not as busy as you. I’ve been chatting with General Gu for…” He lifted his wrist and checked his watch. “Half an hour.”
Gu Lingzhou’s gaze remained fixed on him. Shi Yuxing felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny, coughed lightly, shot a glance at Gu Lingzhou, and said to Lin Anran: “Join us?”
Lin Anran caught the subtle tension in the air and waved his hand. “I’d better not.”
“Join us.” Gu Lingzhou stood up first. Barefoot, he was already 1.9 meters, and with his military boots on, the added height put even more pressure on Lin Anran.
Shi Yuxing watched Lin Anran swallow hard, his chest rising and falling with a breath, before letting out a sigh. “Come on, let’s go together.”
·
Lin Anran sat rigidly beside Shi Yuxing, his jaw tight as he took in the dazzling surroundings. The walls were decorated with all sorts of ocean-themed elements, and a holographic sperm whale swam overhead. No one had told him they were coming to a high-end themed restaurant like this—he’d assumed they’d just grab something at the cafeteria.
He’d barely managed a few bites. Who knew it would be such a lavish, high-spending venue? Rich people were terrifying—this place probably cost as much as half a month of his salary.
“Order whatever you like.” Gu Lingzhou pushed the menu toward him. Lin Anran felt flattered—though he’d chatted on and off with the General for half an hour, the man’s invisible presence still made him keep his head down and his skin tight. He’d only engaged because Gu Lingzhou had initiated the conversation.
Like a homeroom teacher, Lin Anran had gone down the list of Shi Yuxing’s daily life with Gu Lingzhou the “parent,” covering both good and bad—including blurting out the whole story about Shi Yuxing “pulling strings” to get in. By the time he realized what he’d said, he’d already let it all spill, and Gu Lingzhou had heard every word with both ears.
He had no idea if he’d done a good thing or a bad thing. Lin Anran cast an uneasy glance at Shi Yuxing. His friend’s husband didn’t seem at all indifferent to him—on the contrary, given Shi Yuxing’s looks, the chances of falling in love after marriage were easily ninety percent. The remaining ten percent was lost to Shi Yuxing’s vicious tongue.
Seeing Lin Anran pursing his lips and sneaking glances while hesitating to order, Shi Yuxing regretted inviting him along. Gu Lingzhou’s presence alone exuded an intimidating aura—visible from afar but hard to look at up close. “This one, and this steak is pretty good—you can try it.” Shi Yuxing stepped in to help, and Lin Anran quickly nodded. “Then I’ll have this, Yuxing.”
After he spoke, Lin Anran suddenly felt the eyes across the table fixed intently on him. There it was again—that overwhelming pressure. How had he been bold enough to talk to the General earlier? Had Shi Yuxing given him that courage?
The wait for the food was agonizing. Shi Yuxing kept his head down, texting the two alphas at home, completely ignoring Gu Lingzhou, who sat across from him with his fingers interlaced, watching him.
He invited me out and won’t say a word—am I supposed to have a staring contest with him?
Lin Anran followed suit, frantically texting his younger brother on his phone.
When the first dish arrived, Shi Yuxing put his phone down. He picked up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks—the tender meat, mixed with the flavor of black pepper, spread across his lips and tongue. It tasted about the same as reheated pre-packaged chicken breast. Shi Yuxing took only one bite before setting down his fork.
Review: Not as good as home cooking. And they dare to run a restaurant with this.
His cheeks moved as he chewed the remaining bits of meat. His tea-colored eyes met Gu Lingzhou’s across the table, who still hadn’t touched his utensils. The man remained in the same posture, his clear black-and-white eyes fixed on him.
Shi Yuxing’s gaze darted around as he inwardly grumbled: What is he doing? He ordered food but isn’t eating—just watching me.
Unbeknownst to him, in Gu Lingzhou’s eyes, he was a different sight altogether—those beautiful peach-blossom eyes, every blink carrying a thousand charms; his long, thick lashes occasionally falling, like tiny weights dropping into a glass, striking pain into his heart. The movement of his cheeks revealed faint dimples, and his rosy lips were stained with the juices from the chicken he’d just eaten.
Gu Lingzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His interlaced hands parted, and he raised one finger to point at the corner of his own mouth.
Shi Yuxing froze at the sudden movement, his whole body tensing. He wiped the corner of his mouth haphazardly, but the sauce stubbornly clung to his lips.
A finger reached toward him. Shi Yuxing pulled his neck back, his lashes fluttering rapidly as he watched the face draw closer. Warm, rough fingertips pressed against his soft lips, gently wiping away a few stray peppercorns that had accidentally stuck there.
Gu Lingzhou’s gaze darkened. He withdrew his finger from Shi Yuxing’s lips, pulled out a napkin, and wiped off the sauce.
“Uh…” Lin Anran watched the couple speechlessly. Why had he come along to be a third wheel? And he was certain now—General Gu had truly fallen in love after marriage.
The dishes arrived one after another. When Shi Yuxing’s steak was served, Gu Lingzhou asked the waiter to place it on his side.
Shi Yuxing: ?
“If you want some, order your own.”
Gu Lingzhou ignored him. Fork in his left hand, knife in his right, he quickly cut the steak into bite-sized strips and pushed the plate back toward Shi Yuxing before he could lose his temper.
Shi Yuxing’s irritation dissipated in his throat, replaced by surprise in his eyes. He looked up, somewhat incredulous. Gu Lingzhou was cutting his steak for him? He’d thought Gu Lingzhou was trying to take his food—he’d misjudged him.
Gu Lingzhou didn’t explain—his actions had already spoken for themselves. Shi Yuxing swallowed his would-be retort, nodded awkwardly, and muttered a thank you, picking up his fork to take a piece of beef.
The steak today was exceptionally tender and fragrant, the sauce neither too salty nor too bland—just right.
Lin Anran, completely forgotten by the two, couldn’t bear to watch. Once again, he regretted coming along. He sped up his chewing of the spaghetti—he needed to escape this den of awkwardness as quickly as possible.
Watching Lin Anran gulp down his food in a panic, as if someone might snatch it away at any second, Shi Yuxing paused with his fork. “In a hurry to be reincarnated?”
Lin Anran shot him a look, pursed his lips, slurped up a strand of noodles, chewed quickly, swallowed, and then grabbed a napkin, his voice muffled. “My brother’s texting me to come home.”
Shi Yuxing understood and felt a pang of guilt. He knew Lin Anran’s situation well—the two brothers were orphans. Their parents had been stationed on a frontier planet that was hit by a rare insect swarm shortly after they were born; both had died in the line of duty. As orphaned children of fallen soldiers, they were sent to the Imperial Planet to rely on each other—the elder brother raising the younger, the younger clinging to the elder, growing up together through thick and thin.
“When you have time, bring your brother over. I’ll treat you both to a meal.” Shi Yuxing’s guilt deepened. Lin Anran was one of his few friends, and the only comrade in the Imperial Hospital who had stood by him from start to finish. In the face of all the suspicion and malice, Lin Anran was the first to speak up for him.
He still remembered the complicated feelings on his first day at the hospital when he heard those baseless rumors—a mix of bitterness and anger. Yes, he was the young master of the Shi family, but his outstanding grades at school were earned step by step through his own effort. Entering the Imperial Medical University at sixteen and graduating early at twenty-two to become the youngest attending physician in the glandular department—these were the fruits of his relentless study day and night, not something to be casually dismissed by others with a flippant “pulling strings” or “relying on connections.”
He was a hot-tempered person. To save face for the Shi family and maintain the dignity of being the General’s wife, he’d decided to swallow his pride and endure. But just as he was preparing to settle the score later, a voice came forward to speak for him.
He remembered the embarrassment of hiding around the corner that day, and Lin Anran’s fearless defense.
“Talk is cheap. Dr. Shi graduated from the same school as me. I trust my alma mater, and I trust Dr. Shi’s medical ethics and skills. Please don’t bring this nonsense to me again—I’m very busy.”
Lin Anran probably never knew that Shi Yuxing had been hiding around the corner eavesdropping that day, nor that from the moment Lin Anran first greeted him, Shi Yuxing had already considered him a friend.
“He’s gone. Still staring.” Gu Lingzhou’s voice pulled him back to the present. Shi Yuxing realized he’d been blankly watching Lin Anran’s retreating figure for quite a while.
Gu Lingzhou’s brows were deeply furrowed, the corners of his mouth turned down in a way that looked almost intimidating. What was wrong with him? Shi Yuxing didn’t understand, and speared the last piece of steak with his fork.
“Total comes to 782. We’ll round it down to 780 for you?” The cashier smiled, then handed over two blue tickets. “These are complimentary aquarium tickets for you, as today’s 100th lucky diner. We’ve also included a 100-yuan restaurant voucher—we hope to see you again soon.”
In the shadows, the manager gave the cashier a thumbs-up.
“Your classic steak is really delicious. I wish you did delivery.” Shi Yuxing was still savoring the taste of the steak when he let slip this unexpected compliment.
The front desk was quick to respond: “Thank you for your kind words! However, the texture of the steak may change during delivery. To ensure the best dining experience, we look forward to serving you in person again.”
Shi Yuxing nodded, picking up the two aquarium tickets to examine them. The expiration date conveniently fell just a few days after his big weekend off. He hadn’t been to the aquarium in a long time. Instinctively, he glanced at Gu Lingzhou beside him—that impeccably upright figure and striking silhouette were the envy of many.
Gu Lingzhou finished paying, and as if sensing his gaze, looked over, his eyes shifting from the beta’s beautiful face to the two tickets in his hand.
Understanding flickered in his eyes.
“You want to go?”
Shi Yuxing wasn’t one to be coy, and nodded. “Mm. Are you coming?” He hadn’t intended to ask the second part, but Gu Lingzhou’s intense gaze seemed to be waiting for an invitation.
“I don’t have time.”
?
Then why the hell did you ask? What a boring, heartless scumbag.
Shi Yuxing was left speechless by his response, barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes. “Oh, suit yourself.” If he wouldn’t go, there were always others who would—the two at home would be thrilled to go on a date with him. This was a perfect excuse; they’d probably be over the moon.
Shi Yuxing lowered his head, suppressing a smile at the corner of his mouth. Gu Lingzhou, misinterpreting it as disappointment, quickly tried to make amends: “It’s not that I don’t want to—I’m just too busy these next few weeks.”
Fine, no need to explain. I’ll need to bring two people with me anyway. Looks like I’ll have to buy an extra ticket out of my own pocket—wait, why should I pay?!
“Mm, I understand.” Shi Yuxing pressed his lips together and tucked the two tickets into his pocket. “How much was that meal? I’ll pay you back.”
Gu Lingzhou stopped in his tracks. “No need. I’m treating you… Do you have enough money?”
“A doctor’s salary isn’t even a fraction of your pocket money allowance for me. What do you think?”
Gu Lingzhou caught on quickly: “I’ll transfer some to you. Let me know if it’s not enough.”
Shi Yuxing was satisfied. That’s more like it—using your husband’s money to spoil your little dogs is where the fun’s at.
“How are you getting back? Want me to drive you?”
Shi Yuxing waved his hand. “No thanks. I can get back on my own.”
He’d assumed Gu Lingzhou would leave it at that, but to his surprise, a voice came from beside his ear: “Is there something at home you don’t want me to see?”
Shi Yuxing jolted. “I never said that. Come back if you want.”
“Then let’s go—I’ll take you home.” Seeing Shi Yuxing rooted to the spot, Gu Lingzhou lowered his head and took his hand. “It’s a husband’s duty.”
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