The red ember nearly burned his fingertip before An Bao crushed it into the ashtray. With a complicated expression, he called out to Gu Lingzhou, who was about to leave. “Lingzhou, I know this is your family business, and the Imperial Planet’s laws don’t explicitly forbid a mistress living under the same roof as the legal spouse, but… I still want to remind you—tch—don’t let yourself get caught on camera.”
Gu Lingzhou looked back at An Bao, who was sitting in his chair with a pained expression. “Mm?”
The latter’s face was full of disdain. He still remembered how this younger man had raged and smashed glass the day before, vowing to kill the adulterer. Yet an entire night had passed, and the police station had received no calls about a mistress being dealt with. More importantly, the way Gu Lingzhou had defended Shi Yuxing just now made An Bao’s molars ache.
Watching An Bao’s expression shift from worry to shock, Gu Lingzhou frowned. “Brother, I only accept monogamous marriage. It’s not what you think.” He took a deep breath, his hand pulling back from the doorknob, and continued defending Shi Yuxing: “He still likes me. I know that.”
An Bao shot up so fast his chair scraped against the floor, its wheels squealing. “Brother, you’ve been domesticated, you know that?” He strode over and slapped a heavy hand on Gu Lingzhou’s shoulder, as if trying to shake some sense into him.
Gu Lingzhou glanced at the scarred hand, then shifted his gaze to the scar beneath An Bao’s eye, waiting for more.
“You’re like your wife’s dog, you know that?” An Bao’s eyes widened, the worm-like scar twisting as he lowered his voice, as if aware of the shame in what he was about to say. “She cheated on you, Gu Lingzhou. You go home and get possessed—she has low morals, shouldn’t you just divorce her? That’s not like you, brother.”
Gu Lingzhou pushed his hand off. “Weren’t you the one telling me to stay calm? I’m calm now. I’m clear-headed about what I’m doing, and I’m clear that he likes me.”
He looked up, meeting the officer’s gaze: “Brother, I was the one at fault first. I left him on our wedding day, and he didn’t even ask for a divorce back then. And anyway, it’s not what you think…”
His voice was cut off as An Bao scratched his head and snapped. He finally understood the frustration of friends trying to wake up a love-struck fool. “I can’t take this. I bet your next words will be: ‘It’s all my fault, he was lonely because of me, so he found someone else—but he hasn’t abandoned me, he loves me, otherwise why would he treat me like this?’”
As he spoke, the officer seemed to lose it, playing both roles himself.
“Gu Lingzhou, it’s all your fault for leaving me back then, so this is what I became.” An Bao put on an air of superiority, his posture tall and imperious, his voice pinched high. Then the next second, he hunched into a submissive pose: “I’m sorry, wife, it’s all my fault. I can’t live without you. I’m willing to share a room with the mistress.”
Then, to Gu Lingzhou’s dumbfounded expression, he spread his arms and hugged himself. In the blink of an eye, An Bao’s expression snapped back to stern seriousness, his sharp gaze raking over Gu Lingzhou from head to toe. “That’s you, isn’t it? Willingly playing your wife’s dog. Gu Lingzhou, you’re done for—you’re love-stupid.”
Gu Lingzhou’s mouth twitched. “Your acting skills and imagination have really improved since you became a cop.”
An Bao grabbed Gu Lingzhou’s right hand, still wrapped in gauze. “And by the way—this isn’t evidence from beating up the mistress yesterday, is it?”
Gu Lingzhou pulled his hand back. “No. I did that myself.” He pressed his hair down over his forehead, hiding the marks the “mistress” had actually left.
Left alone in the office, An Bao clicked his tongue. “Jesus, what an idiot. If I meddle in his business again, I’m a dog. Let him keep being played by Shi Yuxing.”
The man he was muttering about was busy running around the hospital.
Nine at night—for most nine-to-fivers, this was overtime, but for Shi Yuxing, clocking out at this hour was practically early.
He leaned back in his chair, finally catching his breath. His message feed was already flooded by three men.
-10086: Wife, are you working late again today?
-10086: We made your favorite sweet and sour pork. Waiting for you to come back.
-10085: Yuxing, around what time will you be home?
Shi Yuxing replied to each one, then a message from his legal husband popped up at the top of the screen.
-Ex-husband: Still not off work? Want me to come up and get you? Waiting for you at the hospital entrance.
Shi Yuxing stared at the label, thought for a moment, then tapped into the contact field and deleted “Ex-husband,” changing it back to his full name. He also renamed the two contacts masquerading as customer service.
Gu Lingzhou, Da Ling, Xiao Zhou—perfect.
At the hospital front desk, a nurse was doing stretching exercises, lifting two water bottles filled with water like dumbbells. Shi Yuxing smiled and waved as he prepared to clock out—when the nurse hurriedly set down the bottles, bent over, and quickly produced a bouquet, thrusting it into his arms under his surprised gaze.
“Dr. Shi, please take these—and please don’t make me deal with flowers again! The head nurse already scolded me last time.”
Shi Yuxing was about to ask who sent them when the nurse ducked back behind the counter. “Dr. Shi, you can do whatever you want with them.”
White magnolia blossoms adorned the branches, their pale yellow centers peeking out, mingled with a few unknown green stems. Shi Yuxing looked down at the snowy white flowers in his arms, something clicking in his mind. He turned to the wary nurse, who looked like she was bracing for him to toss the bouquet back, and said: “Thanks. I’m heading off. Hope no one calls for you tonight.”
This was undoubtedly a good blessing. The nurse waved goodbye to him. Only after he was out the door did she suddenly remember—she’d forgotten to mention that the flowers were from the General.
Holding the bouquet of white magnolias, Shi Yuxing stepped into the chilly night wind. A magnolia tree by the entrance shed something; buds that had only just begun to show were now blooming vigorously, a few blossoms in a state similar to the ones in his arms.
He spotted his flashy, ostentatious starship. The window rolled down first, revealing Gu Lingzhou’s sharp features. His brow bone melded into the bridge of his nose, casting half his face in shadow. His dark eyes caught a glimmer of light when they landed on the bouquet in Shi Yuxing’s hands.
Shi Yuxing unceremoniously opened the door, plopped into the passenger seat, and buckled up, clutching the flowers tightly—completely missing the shift in Gu Lingzhou’s gaze.
“Did you have dinner?” Gu Lingzhou gripped the steering wheel.
“Yeah. The flowers smell amazing. Who sent these? I’ve never received magnolias before.”
Gu Lingzhou started the starship and rolled up the window. “Do you like them?”
“Not bad. No idea which patient sent them—no name attached. I appreciate the thought, though.” Shi Yuxing fiddled with the bouquet, confirming there was no card. The sender was rather shy.
Gu Lingzhou secretly curled his lips. “You said you didn’t like roses.”
Shi Yuxing shot him a glance, then breathed in the magnolia’s fresh scent. “Roses are too strong. And besides, who knows—all those roses at the wedding went to waste.”
The starship let out a harsh screech, making Shi Yuxing grip his seatbelt as the bouquet tumbled to his feet. “What are you doing!”
Gu Lingzhou steadied the ship. “Sorry. My fault.” He was apologizing for his past behavior.
Shi Yuxing paused as he bent to pick up the flowers, then carried on as if nothing happened. The white petals had picked up some dust. “They’re dirty now. You owe me.” His tone was petulant.
It was just a casual remark—he didn’t actually expect Gu Lingzhou to make good on it. But unexpectedly, Gu Lingzhou followed him down the stairs and dropped a bombshell: “Alright. I’ll send you more next time.”
Shi Yuxing couldn’t hold it together. If he’d been gripping the steering wheel, there’d have been another skid mark on the road.
“You sent these?”
Under Shi Yuxing’s gaze, the driver nodded unhurriedly. “The front desk nurse didn’t tell you?” The unfortunate nurse, caught in the crossfire, was now frantically texting her best friend in self-reproach.
Shi Yuxing: “Maybe I didn’t hear.”
An awkward silence hung in the air. Shi Yuxing wished he could sink into the ground—he’d just made a fool of himself in front of Gu Lingzhou.
“If you sent them, why didn’t you say so earlier?” Shi Yuxing gritted his teeth, shifting the blame. Seeing Gu Lingzhou stay silent, he pretended to be busy wiping the dirt off the magnolia petals. “Now the flowers are all smudged.”
Gu Lingzhou glanced out of the corner of his eye, in good spirits. He seemed to care about what he gave him—so it really was that he hadn’t liked the roses last time. Luckily, on his way out of the police station, he’d spotted some kids climbing a magnolia tree to pick blossoms. Otherwise, he never would have thought to send flowers. At this time of year, some magnolia trees were already in full bloom, exuding a faint fragrance. The white buds were as clean and pale as Shi Yuxing’s face.
“If you like them, I’ll send you a bouquet every day.”
Shi Yuxing’s face burned at his words—whether from embarrassment or lingering awkwardness. He turned away: “I don’t want that. Just drive—don’t skid again.”
Even as they entered the house, a faint smile lingered at the corners of Gu Lingzhou’s mouth.
The door opened, and a figure shot toward them at lightning speed. Shi Yuxing was enveloped in a hug along with the bouquet, his back stiffening.
“You’re finally back!” Xiao Zhou wagged like an excited puppy, oblivious to Gu Lingzhou’s face darkening like a cast-iron pot and his eyes practically spitting fire. “Why do you have a bouquet in your arms?”
“Let go of him.” Gu Lingzhou’s voice was cold, and even wrapped in the warm embrace, Shi Yuxing felt a chill.
“Not letting go! What are you gonna do about it? Hit me if you dare.”
“Xiao Zhou, let go.” Shi Yuxing urged, leaning in to whisper: “You can’t take him alone.” With the retired soldier gone, Xiao Zhou alone was no match for the general.
Gu Lingzhou’s tone was icy. “Hear that? Let go.” Reluctantly, Xiao Zhou released him, then turned to fetch Shi Yuxing’s slippers and took the bouquet, glaring at Gu Lingzhou.
Da Ling was bringing out the dishes. Shi Yuxing took two steps and froze for a few seconds. The alpha in the cow-print apron was now wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. His rolled-up sleeves revealed muscular forearms—the picture of a CEO by day, househusband by night. Shi Yuxing nearly drooled.
“Why the glasses?” Shi Yuxing trotted over happily.
Xiao Zhou followed behind him, clutching the flowers, and butted in: “The old man’s eyesight is failing.”
Da Ling didn’t take offense. He’d already caught the admiration in Shi Yuxing’s eyes. Smiling, he pulled out a chair. “Time to eat. All your favorites.” Entranced by the alpha’s new look, Shi Yuxing sat down absentmindedly, forgetting to wash his hands. Just as he opened his mouth to be fed, General Gu, standing at attention nearby, swiftly grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the holder and intercepted the food meant for him.
Under Shi Yuxing’s incredulous gaze, Gu Lingzhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he slowly uttered:
“Your cooking’s not all that great either.”
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