“Ooh—” A teasing voice came from the doorway. His mother half-covered her eyes, pretending to close the door. “When you’re done, come down to eat. Or I can bring it up—Lingzhou, you can feed him.”
Shi Yuxing scrambled up and sat up straight, his ears, neck, and cheeks all flushed a drunkard’s red—though he actually looked better than before. He bit his lip and rubbed his face. “No need, Mom. I’ll come down and eat myself.”
The door closed. Shi Yuxing quickly punched the horny devil beside him—and when that didn’t feel like enough, punched him a few more times before getting out of bed to grab his shoes. Gu Lingzhou wrapped his arms around his shoulders. “Are you okay, baby?”
Shi Yuxing clenched his fists and gritted his teeth: “Fine, fine, fine! You’re so annoying.”
The food his father made was fairly light—just right for Shi Yuxing’s current diet. There was congee with greens and lean meat, congee with lean meat and greens, and… congee with greens, lean meat…
“Dad, you only made one kind of congee.” Shi Yuxing pouted at the green-tinted white porridge, his lashes fluttering. He sat down reluctantly, apparently unable to accept that this was his dinner. He leaned over to peer into the kitchen—he’d definitely smelled other food when he came downstairs.
His father pushed the filled bowl in front of him and scolded: “Who eats rich food when they’re sick? You and your mother—both the same.”
“How is this my fault?” His mother frowned.
When his father went back into the kitchen and came out with two more dishes, Shi Yuxing’s eyes lit up. “I knew there was other food.”
One plate of braised eggplant, one plate of fried shrimp balls. Shi Yuxing’s chopsticks were eager to reach for them. His father glanced at him, then placed both dishes in front of his wife, blocking Shi Yuxing’s chopsticks. “Shoo. These are for your mother. Your body can’t handle greasy, salty food right now—and you’re a doctor. Don’t you know that?”
“Hmph.” Shi Yuxing acted no different from a child. He obediently sat back and looked at Gu Lingzhou beside him, who was gently blowing on the spoonful of congee. Looking up, he said: “Come have some.”
His aggrieved eyes darted between that side and this side. Eventually, he opened his mouth and let Gu Lingzhou feed him the congee. It was bland and tasteless. Shi Yuxing mechanically opened and swallowed until the bowl was empty.
His pale face wore a displeased expression. Throughout the meal, he kept glancing at those two dishes. Gu Lingzhou noticed and couldn’t help the smile curving at the corners of his mouth. He leaned in and whispered: “Once Mom and Dad leave, I’ll make you something special.”
At that, Shi Yuxing’s eyes lit up instantly. “I’m full!” He stood up and pattered over to the sofa, turning on the TV.
“That’s full? That was barely half a bowl of congee.” His mother ate the peeled shrimp meat, stretching her neck to look toward the sofa.
His father looked up, fixing Gu Lingzhou with a gaze. “Don’t spoil him too much. He’s still sick.” His narrow eyes were like arrows, piercing straight through Gu Lingzhou’s scheme.
“I’ll make something light,” Gu Lingzhou replied.
After his parents left, Shi Yuxing looked up, his tone brooking no refusal: “I want good food.” He’d shed his usual prickliness, becoming some obedient animal, whining endlessly.
Gu Lingzhou nodded. “I’ve sent them to buy ingredients. I’ll cook for you in a bit.” Shi Yuxing maintained the position of hugging his arm from before his parents left, slowly swaying and scratching a couple of times. “What are you making?”
The alpha’s eyes dimmed slightly. What do you do when your wife keeps coaxing you? His temples throbbed, the veins in his arms clearly visible. Shi Yuxing’s eyes were always smiling. Just a little teasing and he couldn’t handle it—Gu Lingzhou was still too green.
Gu Lingzhou’s face suddenly loomed large in his pupils. Before Shi Yuxing could let go, he was swept up in the familiar sensation of weightlessness.
The leather sofa beneath him was cold; the person on top of him was burning hot.
Pheromones burst out. Gu Lingzhou kissed his neck without a word, his hair scraping against it, tickling his ear.
“Don’t lick—Mom saw us.” He thought of his mother’s meaningful look and blushed. “Dad definitely saw too.”
Gu Lingzhou’s face really was to his taste—especially when he looked at him, even without smiling, it made his heart flutter. The alpha’s strong arms trapped his body, his deep, magnetic voice carrying hot breath against his ear: “Baby.”
Just those two simple words hit Shi Yuxing’s skull like a hammer, making him squeeze his eyes shut tight.
“Xingxing baby.”
“Baby wife.”
“Stop calling me that.” Shi Yuxing pushed at him a couple of times, then covered his mouth—only to receive a wet kiss on his palm.
His heart soared and plunged like a flyer taking off and landing.
Those two black pearls stared at him without blinking. He pulled down the hand covering his mouth and pressed it to his cheek. “Baby, when you have dinner with your mentor—take me with you, okay?” Gu Lingzhou’s eye shape gave him an inherent authority when looking up, but when he lowered his gaze and feigned just a little, he could look like a crestfallen puppy, watery and pitiful.
“Ugh—” The sound effect played in Shi Yuxing’s head. This was cheating. Complete cheating!
Shi Yuxing stared at his face, lost in thought. Gu Lingzhou leaned in and pressed a kiss to his eye, continuing to coax: “Baby Doctor, is that okay?”
Something about those words touched a soft spot in Shi Yuxing’s heart. He turned his head, revealing his neck marked with blotchy bite marks, his lips twitching as he reluctantly spat out three words: “Fine.”
“Can we sleep together tonight then? Baby Doctor.” Gu Lingzhou was clever enough to grasp the soft tissue in Shi Yuxing’s heart and beg for candy. “I promise it’ll just be sleeping. Only pheromones.” The better it sounded, the further Shi Yuxing’s nose was being led. He knew Gu Lingzhou was definitely lying, but the gentle voice and sweet words made him consciously surrender.
This was bad, Shi Yuxing thought. Damn Imperial General using such despicable tactics to win him over.
Gu Lingzhou had achieved his goal, a slightly poisonous smile curling at the corner of his mouth as he continued to coax: “Can we kick them both out? Baby Doctor?”
“Gu Lingzhou, don’t push it.” Shi Yuxing scolded him, annoyed. Did he really take him for a fool?
The scolded man buried his face in his chest. “I’m sorry. I just want some alone time with you.”
A well-timed show of weakness really was addictive. Shi Yuxing felt like he’d fallen—stepping into traps marked with warning signs again and again, almost reveling in it.
An Imperial General’s coaxing—ordinary people would never get to see that.
His hand was about to touch the hair on his chest when a damp trembling climbed up his skin. Baby Doctor’s anger flared, regretting agreeing to this unreasonable demand. “Gu Lingzhou, what are you licking now?!”
·
Three days later, at Jingyu Restaurant.
Not far from Shi Yuxing’s seat, two alphas kept stealing glances in their direction. Gu Lingzhou straightened his collar and shot them a smug smirk.
“Your mentor’s not here yet?” He withdrew his gaze and leaned toward Shi Yuxing’s phone screen.
The screen went dark. Shi Yuxing picked up the menu. “He’s coming. Let’s order first.”
The back of a veiny hand brushed against Shi Yuxing’s forehead. “Are you that nervous? You’re all sweaty.”
Shi Yuxing said: “No. It’s just hot.”
Footsteps approached with clear purpose. Looking up, he saw a man in a tie, his graying hair swept back neatly, walking toward them—his jacket draped over his arm. Upon seeing Shi Yuxing, the corners of his lips lifted slightly. Even in his old age, he maintained a gentle, refined air: “Xiao Shi, long time no see.”
Shi Yuxing shot to his feet. “Director Jiang.” He guided him to his seat.
Gu Lingzhou across the table followed Shi Yuxing’s movements. Only when he saw Shi Yuxing take the man’s jacket and pour him water did he stand up and size up this famous Professor Jiang. “Director Jiang, hello. I’m Yuxing’s husband.”
Jiang Chusheng’s gaze landed on him, nodding in approval. “I’ve heard a lot about you. I know your grandmother—she’s told me about you.”
Shi Yuxing returned to Gu Lingzhou’s side, watching Director Jiang shake Gu Lingzhou’s outstretched hand. “When did you arrive on the Imperial Planet?”
“Just a few hours ago. I’ve already met with your director. You’ll see me at the hospital tomorrow.” The two hands released. Jiang Chusheng said to Gu Lingzhou: “I thought the General would be busy. What an honor to have dinner together today.”
Gu Lingzhou sat down, his shoulder brushing against Shi Yuxing’s. Through two layers of fabric, he could feel the warmth of the other’s body. “I always have time to have dinner with my wife.”
“…Director, is there anything you’d like to order? We’ve already picked ours.” Shi Yuxing hurriedly pushed the menu over, trying to cover his racing heart. Jiang Chusheng took the menu with a smile but wasn’t in a rush to order. “It’s been almost three years since you got married, hasn’t it?”
“Mm. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Director.”
The topic quietly shifted toward Gu Lingzhou, who was cutting steak into small pieces and naturally bringing them to Shi Yuxing’s lips.
“How’s your grandmother doing these days?”
“In good health.”
Shi Yuxing guiltily took the fork from his hand, whispering: “I can do it myself.”
“Your grandmother hasn’t had it easy over the years.” Jiang Chusheng’s sudden remark made the beef in Shi Yuxing’s mouth catch. His chewing stopped. He swallowed the bite with difficulty.
All of Grandmother’s deeds, hidden in the dark like a string of pearls—their pale luster like the silently screaming faces in that laboratory. The clatter of cutlery from other tables faded into background noise. A flicker of alertness passed through his black-and-white eyes. “Mm. She didn’t raise me easily.” Gu Lingzhou pushed the cut steak in front of Shi Yuxing.
Jiang Chusheng withdrew his scrutinizing gaze. He chatted with Shi Yuxing about odds and ends for a while, reminded him to stay safe, then left first—barely touching the steak before him. The two who had been itching to stand up were waved back down by Shi Yuxing.
After finishing the food on the table, Gu Lingzhou led him to pay. Behind them, two people who hadn’t ordered anything followed at a distance.
“Your total is 1882 yuan. Remaining balance: 98,117 yuan.” The cashier’s smile was plastered on her face as she pointed at the screen behind her. “Since you’re our super VIP, we’ve launched a delivery service. Starting today, if you leave a note requesting it, we can cut your steak and deliver it to your door.”
Shi Yuxing stared blankly at the screen for a long moment, then said: “You only started offering steak-cutting service today? Last time I had it, it was already—” His voice cut off. He turned to look at the alpha beside him, who wore a faint smile. Well-defined fingers held the VIP card. His other hand squeezed the soft flesh of Shi Yuxing’s palm. “Baby, last time, I cut it for you.”
Leave a Reply