The two stood at the top of the stairs like a pair of guardian deities. Xiao Zhou clattered down the steps and the moment his feet hit the floor, he began to wail: “How dare you sneak bites behind our backs!” Shi Yuxing thought he was being accused and awkwardly climbed off Gu Lingzhou’s lap. But Xiao Zhou’s gaze wasn’t fixed on him—his hand reached out to touch him first, then his body shifted nimbly, shielding Shi Yuxing behind him like a hen protecting her chick.
“Shameless! Despicable! A low-down, counter-Empire dog!”
Shi Yuxing’s alarm grew—”counter-Empire” had come out of nowhere. He was about to explain when another machine-gun volley cut him off.
“And what about you? The homewrecker! Scum! Suppressing human nature and defying heaven’s will—ha! Do you think I wouldn’t have someone haul you in?”
Rhythmic footsteps descended the stairs. “Enough. It’s almost two—Yuxing needs to sleep.”
“Shut up.” The two who had been locked in a staring contest both turned their fire on the man above.
Xiao Zhou ruthlessly exposed him: “And you pretend to be so noble?” Then he turned—Shi Yuxing could only see half his face. “Wife, I want to report this guy! He was sneaking around outside your door, trying to pick the lock!” Shi Yuxing was stunned. He looked at the man standing alone not far away—his home had been burgled.
Da Ling stiffened under the scrutiny, his gaze sliding to Xiao Zhou’s pocket. He scoffed: “And what about the master bedroom key in your pocket?”
Shi Yuxing: “…………….”
So one had stolen a key and the other had tried to pick the lock. No wonder he’d gone to bed with empty space on both sides and woken up as the filling in an alpha sandwich.
“I was worried about my wife! What if she fell out of bed?” Xiao Zhou argued with conviction, righteous as could be: “I’m nothing like you two—always sneaking around and stealing bites.”
Gu Lingzhou’s face was black as charcoal. “I told you—he’s my wife.”
“You’re Gu Lingzhou, and I’m Gu Lingzhou! Yours and mine—it’s all mine!”
Shi Yuxing’s head was spinning. The words “stop fighting” were lodged in his throat, unable to break through. Gu Lingzhou grabbed Xiao Zhou by the collar. Shi Yuxing reached out to stop them: “Hey—no fighting! I’m warning you, I’m not applying medicine for any of you.”
Da Ling had somehow appeared behind him, taking his hand to lead him away. “Leave them. Let’s go to sleep.”
Gu Lingzhou released the kid’s collar, his peripheral vision catching the movement. The veins at his temples pulsed. The next second, Shi Yuxing’s other free wrist was seized—both hands now held. Not to be outdone, Xiao Zhou dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around Shi Yuxing’s legs, whining pitifully: “Wife, it hurts, wah wah wah.”
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Shi Yuxing suddenly felt his chin captured—and with a loud smack, Gu Lingzhou’s burning kiss landed on his cheek. The heat made him turn to look at the alpha beside him; his dark lashes froze in place. Gu Lingzhou’s cold eyes burned with possessive madness. “He’s my wife.”
“You! You…” Xiao Zhou’s eyes went wide as saucers. He stammered, then shook Shi Yuxing’s leg: “Wife, say something!”
Shi Yuxing twitched his lips, his mouth a tight line: “All of you—let go of me first.” He tried to shake his hands free, kicking at the man kneeling on the floor. “You too—get up. The floor’s dirty.”
Finally free, Shi Yuxing pinched the bridge of his nose, casting a glance at the two standing and the one kneeling. “Do you all absolutely have to squeeze into my bed?”
Xiao Zhou nodded frantically. “I can’t without you—I can’t sleep without you.” His tearful, earnest expression made Shi Yuxing’s lips purse. He looked up at the other two.
Seeing Xiao Zhou’s declaration, the other two nodded as well. Shi Yuxing raised an eyebrow, sat down on the small sofa, and studied the three alphas. He crossed his legs. “I can only sleep with one person. If you want to compete, it depends on who’s got the skills.”
“No.” The General was the first to object. The other two stayed silent, as if accepting Shi Yuxing’s terms. Shi Yuxing knew Gu Lingzhou wouldn’t agree. He looked at the other two alphas: “Then let’s vote—do either of you object?”
Xiao Zhou slowly stood up, blinking: “If it’s an auction, I don’t have money—can I pay with my body?” Instantly, he felt two icy glares on his back. No need to guess who was attacking him with their eyes. Shi Yuxing clicked his tongue: “Who said anything about buying me? I’m not a product. I want you to impress me with your talents.”
An emperor choosing a consort considered music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Shi Yuxing thought: whoever excels (in looks) will be tonight’s queen.
Shi Yuxing tilted his chin, signaling them to begin. But the next second, someone threw propriety to the wind and hoisted him up. His stomach ached again from the shoulder bone digging into it. He struggled twice—only to have his rear end slapped by Gu Lingzhou. “Let’s go to bed.”
Shi Yuxing: “!!!”
“Put him down!” Xiao Zhou tried to intervene, but Da Ling held him back.
Gu Lingzhou wasn’t about to compete with just anyone—even if that anyone was himself. He marched toward the stairs, Shi Yuxing slung over his shoulder. “From now on, you only sleep with me at night. Don’t even think about the others.”
Just as his foot hit the first step, a bizarre song echoed through the living room—
“Friends walk together for life—those days are gone forever…” On the coffee table, Shi Yuxing’s phone screen suddenly lit up—a beam of light in the darkness that saved Shi Yuxing’s life. He pounded Gu Lingzhou twice. “It’s the hospital. Put me down.” The footsteps continued. Shi Yuxing clicked his tongue: “I’m serious. Lin Anran needs me for something… Xiao Zhou, help me answer the call. It’s this late—it must be urgent.”
The figure by the coffee table stirred. Through the receiver, Lin Anran’s anxious voice came through: “Something’s happened, Yuxing. An alpha’s gland is severely damaged—it’s bad. We need you at the hospital right now.” Xiao Zhou ran over with the phone, and Shi Yuxing grabbed it, pounding the solid shoulder beneath him a couple more times.
“Did you hear that? Gu Lingzhou, put me down! The hospital really needs me—this is a matter of life and death, no time for sleep!”
“Uh… Officer An, you—”
“Give me the phone.” Lin Anran’s voice was cut off, replaced abruptly by a voice Gu Lingzhou knew all too well: “Little Gu, I know you’re in the arms of your sweetheart right now—bring your sweetheart and get over here.” An Bao’s words made Shi Yuxing’s face burn—”sweetheart”…
An Bao’s words were more effective than Shi Yuxing’s. The beta was set down, the call ended. Shi Yuxing wasted no time, sprinting to the master bedroom. The other two followed close behind, crowding at the closet door, ready to help him change. Gu Lingzhou irritably shoved the two impostors out and shut the door, blocking their curses as he stood guard.
Shi Yuxing, too rushed to care about the eyes behind him, grabbed a top and pants and started changing. The closet stood wide open. Gu Lingzhou’s gaze swept over the clothes inside, his brow instantly dropping. He walked over, rifled through them, and pulled one out. “This isn’t yours.”
Shi Yuxing’s head just emerged from the collar. He frowned. “They’re theirs. Move—I need to find socks.” As Shi Yuxing crouched down in front of him, Gu Lingzhou took the opportunity to pull out several more items that didn’t belong to Shi Yuxing, then, right in front of him, tossed them one by one into the laundry bin.
The frantic Dr. Shi cursed while pulling on his socks: “What are you doing?! Those are clean clothes!”
“They’re filthy.” Gu Lingzhou opened another cabinet. Shi Yuxing had no time to argue—he didn’t even pull his socks up properly, just shoved his feet into his shoes and rushed out the door. The two outside trailed after him like shadow puppets. Gu Lingzhou threw a few more items in the bin before following, shoving the two alphas aside. “I’ll drive. You two go to sleep.”
“Like hell,” Xiao Zhou shot back immediately.
Shi Yuxing yanked on his heels, grabbed the car keys from the shoe cabinet, and left the three alphas behind. Footsteps echoed behind him. He ran a stretch, activated the starship, and climbed aboard in a frenzy. The passenger door opened, and three heads piled in, meeting Shi Yuxing’s gaze just as he fastened his seatbelt.
“If you’re coming, get in.”
He hit the gas, pushing the starship to flyer speeds. In the dead of night, the streets were empty—with a roar, the ship shot off like a bullet.
·
“What’s the situation?” Shi Yuxing pushed through the door. Several people were already gathered around the hospital bed. Lin Anran rushed over, his face pale, and quickly briefed him: “A-class alpha. Gland damage level 4—moderate.”
The patient lay with his back to them, exposing the wounded gland on his neck. Shi Yuxing glanced at it. “Anesthesiology, get ready. Dr. Lin and I are going into surgery.” The few doctors and nurses on the night shift nodded and dispersed.
“Huh? Me?” Lin Anran pointed at himself.
Shi Yuxing shot him a glance. “You’re the only other gland specialist here. Hurry up.”
Lin Anran, clearly flustered by the responsibility, showed his nerves. Shi Yuxing placed a hand on his shoulder. “You’re just the assistant. I’m the lead surgeon. Relax.”
“Mm.” Lin Anran adjusted his glasses and followed him out. They happened to run into Gu Lingzhou and Officer An. The two stepped aside to let them pass. Lin Anran nodded to them and quickened his pace at Shi Yuxing’s urging.
The white-coated figures disappeared. An Bao straightened up from the doorframe and looked at Gu Lingzhou. “Are the mistresses dealt with?” Gu Lingzhou withdrew his gaze, silent—because both mistresses were him, and they were still waiting in the starship.
“Good. Getting woken up in the middle of the night by a call while you’re cuddling your wife—that’s how it is in our line of work. You get used to it.” An Bao, seeing his sour expression, assumed it was just the grumpiness of being woken up.
Gu Lingzhou glanced at him—An Bao in civilian clothes, clearly not on duty tonight. “What’s the story with the patient?”
“Oh, that.” An Bao paused to organize his thoughts: “You know I like to run when I can’t sleep. Found him in an alley near the neighborhood. The smell of blood mixed with a sweet scent—I thought some omega was in trouble. Followed it and found an alpha instead. Already sent officers to unlock his phone and contact his family.”
Gu Lingzhou watched the patient’s face as he turned sideways—something familiar. He pulled out his phone, scrolling through it. An Bao, curious, leaned in. Gu Lingzhou tapped a contact labeled “Door Repair Master Wang.”
After a long moment, the call connected. The voice on the other end was fearful: “General, what can I do for you at this hour?”
Gu Lingzhou first glanced at the puzzled An Bao, then uttered coldly: “Send me your apprentice’s number.”
“Did Tu An cause you trouble? I’m so sorry—I’ll talk to him—”
Gu Lingzhou cut him off, his gaze sweeping coldly into the ward: “He’s caused quite a bit of trouble. Looks like he might be dying.”
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