Just a moment ago, Gu Lingzhou had been sending Shi Yuxing message after message—a wall of green bubbles with no reply in sight. The next second, the elevator doors opened, and there was his wife, the one he’d been thinking of day and night.
“Really? Officer An is on a business trip?”
Shi Yuxing caught sight of Gu Lingzhou, walked over, and pulled him along. The General obediently let himself be dragged, clearly in a good mood.
“Ask him. If you don’t trust me, surely you’ll trust the Imperial General’s word?”
“Hello, General!” Master Wang hadn’t expected to run into Gu Lingzhou. He gave a slight bow, his eyes blinking nervously. Gu Lingzhou didn’t spare him a single glance, his eyes fixed on Shi Yuxing’s cowlick—the hair looked so soft. He wanted to touch it.
Shi Yuxing happened to look up and met the alpha’s gentle gaze. “Gu Lingzhou, Officer An is on a business trip, right?”
“Mm.” One word from Gu Lingzhou was worth ten from Shi Yuxing.
Watching Master Wang anxiously drag Tu An back to re-register for admission, Shi Yuxing lingered in the moment. He remembered that Officer An was a bit shorter than Tu An—based on his instincts, Officer An was the bottom. Warmth forcefully wedged between his fingers. His attention snapped back like a stretched spring suddenly released. He looked down, following the crisp military uniform up to Gu Lingzhou’s face. “What?”
“Going back to eat.” Gu Lingzhou didn’t waste words—he just took his hand and started walking back.
Their intertwined hands, under the gaze of multiple eyes, grew warm. “Loosen up—there are so many people…” Shi Yuxing quickened his pace, trying to block those direct stares with his body.
Gu Lingzhou didn’t let go, nor did he slow down. “Everyone knows we’re together. Don’t be afraid.”
This wasn’t about being afraid—it was about being embarrassed!!!
The grip tightened. Shi Yuxing gave up struggling and simply sped up, shortening the time spent under scrutiny. He finally managed to escape back to his office, but Gu Lingzhou still hadn’t let go. The knuckles were pressing uncomfortably against his hand. He shook twice—still interlaced.
Shi Yuxing was about to protest when a heavy head dropped onto his shoulder. Warm breath brushed against his neck. Gu Lingzhou’s magnetic voice said: “Still no pheromone scent today.”
With that, Gu Lingzhou’s nose nuzzled against the spot where faint red marks lingered.
Shi Yuxing shoved him away, taking the chance to pull his hand back. He covered his neck, his heartbeat erratic. “Don’t mess around.” As soon as he spoke, his back hit the door with a soft thud. A hand was cupped behind his head. He stared at the massive figure pressing down on him, words stuck in his throat as his heart pounded.
Those eyes were bottomless black holes, threatening to suck him in.
“Hmph.” A low chuckle escaped the handsome man before him. His other hand was also busy. Feeling the warmth traveling over his clothes, Shi Yuxing jolted and pushed at him. “Don’t do this at the hospital—ah!” He bit his tongue to cut off the sound, glaring angrily at Gu Lingzhou, grabbing the sinful hand on his rear, and warning in a low voice: “If you keep this up, I’ll report you to your superior.”
Gu Lingzhou’s eyes reflected Shi Yuxing’s scrunched-up face. Hot breath brushed against his skin. Just as Dr. Shi tremblingly squeezed his eyes shut—
“Baby, where are you going to report me? The General’s superior is headquarters—you can’t get in there.”
Shi Yuxing’s eyes snapped open, a wave of embarrassment washing over him at being toyed with. He snapped: “Then I’ll call headquarters—they’ll arrest you, you pervert who harasses omegas.”
Seeing that he was adjusting well to his omega identity, the General rested back on his shoulder, fearless: “Is harassing one’s own wife perverted?” Then, the firm flesh of his rear was squeezed.
The omega let out an “Mm,” flustered and angry as he pounded on the chest in front of him. “Let go, Gu Lingzhou—I’m getting mad.” He was sandwiched between the door and the alpha, packed so tightly he couldn’t move. The fir scent crawled under his clothes along his skin—something inside him was secreting frantically. He unconsciously pressed his thighs together, terrified of Gu Lingzhou’s next move.
Gu Lingzhou met his gaze again. The omega’s eyes were rimmed with faint red, his tea-colored pupils misty—as if he’d been bullied to tears. “So cute.”
Damn it. Having been influenced into becoming an omega, Shi Yuxing was now somewhat susceptible to alpha pheromones. In frustration, he leaned in and left a wet bite mark on Gu Lingzhou’s face. Gu Lingzhou was surprised at being marked—but the wet sensation didn’t cool his fire; it only stoked it further. Shi Yuxing had barely pulled back when his wrist was seized, and he was pinned against the door, exchanging saliva with the alpha.
His lips were caught and sucked by this mad dog, his tongue stirred into a mess. Compared to before, the alpha’s kissing technique had improved not just a little. His body slowly slid down the door—if Gu Lingzhou hadn’t been holding him up, he’d have ended up sitting on the floor.
Suddenly, the crimson softness in the air exuded a sweet, cloying scent. The omega’s chest heaved violently, his hands clutching the fabric over Gu Lingzhou’s chest, knuckles white—yet his face and ears were flushed with blood. Gu Lingzhou tasted a faint sweetness, thinking it was his imagination. Only when he stirred again did he realize—that honey-water flavor was coming from Shi Yuxing’s side.
He immediately pulled back. The silver thread broke after only a second, fleeting.
Cradling Shi Yuxing’s burning cheeks in both hands, he leaned in and sniffed. Strange—his wife’s saliva was sweet, and just now he’d tasted something like the fragrance of magnolias mixed in. So why couldn’t he smell it now?
Taking advantage of his daze, Shi Yuxing slapped him across the face.
And so, General Gu sat there with a bite mark on his face and a red handprint, looking pitifully at him as he ate.
Shi Yuxing puffed out his cheeks, not even deigning to look at him.
“Baby…”
Shi Yuxing spun his chair around, turning his back to him. That scene just now had made him want to crawl into a hole. The red on his ears hadn’t faded. He chewed the meat in his mouth viciously, wishing he could grind Gu Lingzhou to pieces. If Gu Lingzhou ever dared to kiss him without permission again, he’d bite that tongue off—for sure!
“Baby Doctor, my chest hurts. I think I’m dying.” Gu Lingzhou’s voice came from above. Shi Yuxing turned back to face the table, keeping his eyes straight ahead, and picked up a bite of food with his chopsticks. “Mm. Out the door, turn right, take the elevator to B2—the morgue.”
Gu Lingzhou crouched down, a hint of hurt in his eyes. “Really not going to save me? I could still live.”
“You’re dead. Dead people don’t talk. Shut up.” Shi Yuxing shot him a cold glance. Gu Lingzhou was trying Xiao Zhou’s trick of playing pitiful on him. Normally, that might have worked on Shi Yuxing—but right now, his embarrassment and anger had kicked that little bit of desire right out of him. Even with that face, no matter how teary-eyed, he wouldn’t soften.
His peripheral vision caught the alpha’s knees touching the floor. Shi Yuxing’s lashes trembled as he waited quietly for the next move.
Gu Lingzhou took off his military jacket and hung it over the armrest of Shi Yuxing’s chair. The chest strap emphasized the bulging muscles beneath his white shirt, the black binding under his chest holding his tie in place. He rolled up both sleeves to his elbows, his veiny forearms making Shi Yuxing suck in a quiet breath. After swallowing that bite of meat, he didn’t pick up his chopsticks again.
Large hands covered his calves, then slipped off the crocs stamped with the Imperial Hospital logo.
Most doctors at the hospital wore these open-sided slippers during work—convenient, and also protective in case instruments fell during surgery.
Now, they were convenient for Gu Lingzhou too. His white socks were forced to step onto his abdomen. Shi Yuxing hurriedly glanced at the door but didn’t pull his foot back.
“I locked the door. It’s fine.” Gu Lingzhou eased his worries, guiding his foot downward.
Fuck! Shi Yuxing couldn’t help but curse inwardly. He immediately collapsed onto the desk, burying his face in his arms, not daring to look. “Who—asked you to do this.” Even through the fabric, the sole of his foot could feel the unyielding tumor. That familiar heat returned to his cheeks.
“Can you feel it?”
Gu Lingzhou’s skin had to be as thick as a city wall—how else could he say something so… so shameless?
Shi Yuxing didn’t say a word. Gu Lingzhou pressed harder. “I’m sorry. Every time I see you, I can’t help it—I want to kiss you, taste you.” Shi Yuxing’s toes curled, his instep tightening, wanting more and more to pull his foot back. “I get it. Let go now.” His voice came out small, regretting ignoring Gu Lingzhou earlier. The saying “hurt the enemy by 800, lose yourself by 1000” was playing out in real time.
Just as he was struggling to escape Gu Lingzhou’s grip—
“Back then, right here, you asked me a question. I can answer it now. And I’m certain—all of these actions are because I love you, because I can’t leave you… I’m overjoyed just seeing you. Every cell in my body can’t help but want to merge with you. I—” Shi Yuxing suddenly lifted his head from his arms, his numb hand covering his mouth. “Stop. I get it!”
Red as a ripe tomato, steam practically rising from his head, he lost his balance and slipped off the stool. Gu Lingzhou caught him just in time. Shi Yuxing buried his face in his collarbone, even his exposed neck flushed crimson. “Who confesses like that? Have you no shame?”
Gu Lingzhou held him, the upward curl of his lips revealing his successful scheme. “No shame then. Everyone knows you’re Gu Lingzhou’s wife.”
“Baby Doctor, did you accept my confession?” The person in his arms hugged him tighter—like a response. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He pressed his lips against Shi Yuxing’s soft hair, a faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose—whether from the fresh magnolias on the desk or pheromones, he couldn’t tell. The vibration of his chest made Shi Yuxing’s head dizzy. He clutched the fabric over Gu Lingzhou’s chest, burrowing deeper.
After a long while, the phone in Gu Lingzhou’s pocket rang—but the person holding him didn’t move. Shi Yuxing mumbled: “The phone’s ringing.”
“Don’t want to answer.” Gu Lingzhou kept his eyes closed, wanting to stretch this tender moment a little longer.
Shi Yuxing frowned. “Answer it. What if it’s an emergency from the military?” Under his wife’s urging, Gu Lingzhou reluctantly answered just before the ringing stopped, his tone curt: “It’s my break time.”
“General, I’ve sent you the documents on ‘Chu Mushan’ that you asked me to look into. Please confirm receipt.”
Gu Lingzhou hadn’t put it on speaker, but Shi Yuxing’s ear was pressed close, catching the voice on the other end. His lips parted slightly to speak, but Gu Lingzhou pressed his index finger to them. “Mm. Thank you for your trouble… I’d like you to keep this confidential.”
“Understood. Don’t worry.”
The screen flashed. Gu Lingzhou opened the file, and a small holographic screen materialized in the air.
“Your phone has this feature?” Shi Yuxing tilted his head to look at him. Gu Lingzhou stroked his back. “Mm. It’s more convenient this way.” Shi Yuxing raised an eyebrow—so this guy had been this calculating even at twenty-four?
Chu Mushan’s file was far more complete than Chu Ke’s.
“He passed away ten years ago.” Shi Yuxing looked at the deregistration date marked on the file—expected.
The holographic screen scrolled, revealing Chu Mushan’s social network. The two stared intently at the enlarged display. Suddenly, both their pupils constricted—their eyes landing on a name they’d previously dismissed.
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