“He looks fine,” Lin Wuyang interjected, his eyes scanning around before landing back on the beautiful face before him. “Give my brother a position.” Shi Yuxing furrowed his brows, three question marks appearing over his head like a feline who couldn’t understand human language.
Lin Anran patted Lin Wuyang’s hand resting on his arm, then explained to Shi Yuxing: “He means—is there anything I can help you with?”
Shi Yuxing made an “mm” sound and rubbed his cheek, looking left and right. Several fuzzy little heads poked out, wide-eyed children watching his movements. Then Shi Yuxing placed his hand on Lin Anran’s shoulder and took a deep breath: “The fact that you can take care of your brother proves you’re a very capable person, Dr. Lin.”
Now it was Lin Anran’s turn to have question marks over his head.
“Help me take care of the patients in this area. Don’t let them wander off. Thank you for your hard work, Dr. Lin.”
Lin Anran was about to say yes when, the next second, a glint of mischief flashed in Shi Yuxing’s eyes—and he turned and ran. Before Lin Anran even knew what was happening—
“Uncle, what did you say to the pretty brother? Why did he leave? Is he coming back?”
“Doctor! Doctor! My son has a stomach ache—and his butt hurts too! Please come take a look!”
“Uncle, wuwuwu—I want you to hold me.” A little girl clutching a rabbit plushie suddenly threw herself at Lin Anran’s feet, her face tear-streaked and chubby cheeks flushed red.
Lin Wuyang frowned. “Brother, why are there so many kids here?” In that instant, Dr. Lin felt like he’d been struck by lightning—Shi Yuxing had essentially assigned him to pediatrics!
That was the department no doctor wanted to go to. Pediatrics!!!
Lin Anran looked around, sighed, picked up the little girl at his feet, walked over to the parent complaining about their child’s stomach pain, and resignedly began his consultation.
…
Shi Yuxing hadn’t run far, gloating, before he ran into someone he hadn’t expected.
The person had a bandage wrapped around their forehead and a cut across their bulbous nose. Seeing Shi Yuxing, they shuddered and stopped dead in their tracks, staring at him with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?”
He hadn’t expected to run into Yao Jiaqi here of all places. Shi Yuxing walked past him without slowing down. People on both sides of the corridor turned to stare—besides waiting for the war to end, all they had to do was watch the drama. But Shi Yuxing didn’t even give them the chance to keep watching.
There was nothing to say to him. He had more important things to do.
“How’s it going? Found a way to keep the Zerg away from here for now?” Shi Yuxing turned into a small cubicle. The man in gold-rimmed glasses slid the tip of his pen across several rough regional maps he’d drawn on white paper.
Shi Yuxing leaned on the edge of the table. “Let me see.” He tilted his head, his pale fingers separating the stacked papers, scanning each one. Suddenly, his eyes stopped. He picked up a drawing that was clearly recognizable. Da Ling looked up, saw him holding the paper that should have been in the trash, and stood up in a panic. “That’s—”
The words cut off. Shi Yuxing looked at the vivid self on the paper—it appeared to be a banquet. He wore a suit with a small bow tie, chin slightly lifted, his peach-blossom eyes reflecting dazzling light.
The alpha’s hand grabbed the drawing. “Just a sketch.”
“It’s me, isn’t it?” Shi Yuxing’s tone was certain, his eyes shifting from the drawing to the man’s face. “I didn’t know you were such a good artist.”
Bitterness welled in the man’s heart. He’d spent eight years copying and creating from photographs. Countless days and nights, whenever insomnia struck, he’d get up and draw Shi Yuxing’s portrait. Just now, he’d picked up the pen and started drawing again without thinking. By the time he realized it, a vivid figure was already on the paper, smiling back at him.
At first, Gu Lingzhou’s drawings were terrible—ugly enough that his own family wouldn’t recognize them. He’d crumpled many sheets, sometimes drawing obsessively, forgetting to eat or sleep. Over time, his skills gradually became masterful. The Shi Yuxing in photographs wasn’t vibrant enough, so Gu Lingzhou would close his eyes and try to piece together a more complete version.
Shi Yuxing the first time they met, Shi Yuxing in wedding attire, Shi Yuxing crying under the covers, Shi Yuxing in surgical scrubs… Whenever Gu Lingzhou dreamed of Shi Yuxing’s resolute eyes, he’d get up and draw him smiling. He used this method to comfort himself, only to sink back into deep despair afterward.
Shi Yuxing didn’t know why the man’s eyes suddenly reflected emotions he couldn’t quite read, and assumed he was just embarrassed.
“Ahem…” He pulled the drawing from the alpha’s hand, folded it in half and then in half again, tucked it into his pocket, and found an excuse to claim it as his own. “Confiscated. You’re not focused on work.”
Da Ling said nothing. Shi Yuxing found it amusing, pushing him into the chair to use as a human cushion. “Who knew the General was also a great artist? From now on, I’ll have to call you Gu-da-Ling-Vinci-Zhou.” Shi Yuxing’s tone was teasing as he wrapped his arms around the man’s neck.
Da Ling twitched the corner of his mouth and wrapped his arms around Shi Yuxing’s waist. “It’s not good.”
“No, I think you draw exceptionally well.” Seeing him so humble, Shi Yuxing narrowed his eyes and leaned in, a mischievous glint in them. “If you want to draw something like that un-broadcastable scene from Titanic, I’d be happy to be your model.”
The alpha’s eyes darkened, his exhaled breath growing scorching hot. Shi Yuxing felt something off about his human cushion. He released his hands from the man’s neck, kicked off, and tried to escape—but was firmly trapped by Da Ling’s grip and pulled back down.
The hands around his waist tightened. The alpha’s chest pressed against his back, along with something else pressing against him. The fir scent grew stronger. The breath on his neck was burning.
Just as the alpha was stroking the soft skin of his neck, the door was pushed open. “Yux—” Seeing the intimate scene inside, Lin Anran’s eyes went wide, his lips trembling. He turned as red as a flustered shrimp, his entire face flushed. “S-s-sorry! I didn’t know the General was here! I’ll leave right away!”
“BANG—” The door slammed shut.
Shi Yuxing pushed away the alpha clinging to him. “I’ll go see what’s going on.”
Lin Anran hurried away, his heart racing, but something felt off—when did Gu Lingzhou get here? Wasn’t he just— As he was thinking, he didn’t notice the person at the corner and collided head-on, his vision swimming and his legs going weak. He instinctively reached out and pulled down the person’s mask.
“Are you okay?” The person caught his forearm. Lin Anran steadied himself and thanked him. He looked closer—and in that instant, his soul nearly flew out of his body. His voice trembled: “G-Gu Lingzhou?” He was so frightened he forgot to use the title.
Footsteps sounded from behind. Shi Yuxing caught up and immediately met Xiao Zhou’s gaze. Oh no—Lin Anran must have figured it out. Shi Yuxing hurried over, took two steps to stand in front of Xiao Zhou, and whispered reproachfully: “Didn’t I tell you not to take off your mask?”
Xiao Zhou looked at him pitifully, his voice muffled behind his hand. “Sorry, wife, but he was the one who pulled my mask off.”
Shi Yuxing looked down at the broken mask strap in Lin Anran’s hand, sighed, took Xiao Zhou’s other hand, and said: “Cover up properly.” Then he waved at Lin Anran. “Come here. I’ll explain.”
Wha—what did that mean?
Dazed, Lin Anran followed behind them until they returned to the cubicle. When he saw the person sitting in the seat, his eyes went even wider. He looked at the General over there, then at the General here who was acting spoiled and asking Shi Yuxing to help him put his mask back on. His brain worked furiously, seemingly piecing together an answer he could hardly believe.
Xiao Zhou placed his palm on his cheek through the mask. “Wife, what’s the situation with him?”
Wife?!
Lin Anran’s ears perked up. At the keyword, his rusty brain started turning. Why was he calling Shi Yuxing “wife”? Could he be a lookalike homewrecker? And he dared to bring him right in front of the real husband? What kind of spell had Shi Yuxing cast on the General?
Da Ling in the seat frowned, stood up, and walked over. Lin Anran immediately straightened up—after all, he’d just accidentally interrupted their intimate moment. He decided to pretend nothing had happened and stiffly greeted: “Hello, General.”
Da Ling didn’t even look at him, asking Shi Yuxing: “What’s the deal with this person?”
“He accidentally ran into Xiao Zhou,” Shi Yuxing glanced at Lin Anran. “Don’t worry—he’s my best colleague. He won’t say anything.”
Lin Anran avoided Da Ling’s cold, sheath-like gaze, trembling. “I didn’t see anything, I didn’t see anything…”
The alpha stared at him. Lin Anran trembled and backed away. “I swear I’m blind! I absolutely won’t say anything about some cliché body-double storyline!”
Shi Yuxing sighed and placed his hand on Lin Anran’s shoulder. “Dr. Lin, actually—one of the Gu Lingzhous you saw is a robot.”
Lin Anran’s expression changed. His hunched back straightened instantly, his eyes darting between the two Gu Lingzhous. “A robot?”
“Yeah.” Shi Yuxing curved his lips. “Scared you, didn’t it?”
Dr. Lin cautiously examined the two tall alphas—no matter how he looked, he couldn’t tell which one was the robot.
Just then, the lights overhead flickered, and fine dust rained down from the ceiling like saliva dripping from the gaping mouth of a ghost.
·
“General Gu, this is A6 district. Some Zerg are heading toward the shelter—requesting backup!!!” The communicator crackled with an urgent voice.
Gu Lingzhou piloted the mech, his voice erupting with fury: “First Legion—immediately head to A6 district for support!” With that, he stomped down on the Zerg’s bloated body. The creature let out a piercing “zzzz” screech. His gleaming arm raised to sever its head.
Just then, an immense buzzing sounded abruptly beside his ear. Gu Lingzhou turned—a speeding bullet grazed the metal.
The sneaking Zerg was shot through the body. Wen Lan’s eyes peered from behind the gun barrel, white sulfur smoke rising from the muzzle. Gu Lingzhou severed the heads of two Zerg and walked over.
Wen Lan lowered his gun. “A large number of Zerg are heading to A4 district. General Gu isn’t worried at all?”
“I’ve already sent people.”
“You have a big heart.”
Gu Lingzhou didn’t want to talk to him and walked away on his own, the heavy machinery leaving multiple imprints on the ground. Wen Lan let out a mocking laugh and called out to the giant silhouette: “It seems General Gu doesn’t know that Shi Yuxing is in the A6 district shelter.”
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