Chapter 319: Miss You

Chapter 319: Thinking of You

Ye Wang entered the questioning room.

In the center stood a long metal table, with the interrogator seated at one end and Jiang Qi at the other. His gaze was slightly lowered, fingers pressed against the tabletop, his posture unchanged from when he’d first gone to Pei Gu’s house.

Like he was triggered again.

Ye Wang paused briefly before pulling over a chair and sitting beside Jiang Qi, with him.

As an observer, this was highly inappropriate. The interrogator glanced at the insignia on Ye Wang’s shoulder and swallowed his doubts.

"Alright, Major General Ye, Mr. Jiang, let’s proceed with the interrogation," he said, organizing his documents. "Returning to our previous question—Mr. Jiang, as far as I know, you received high honors in the Empire and were the much-admired Imperial Star. So why did you choose to leave the Empire?"

Jiang Qi remained silent for a moment, prompting Ye Wang to speak up. "The Imperial Star honor was a sham. The Empire subjected Jiang Qi to a series of imprisonments and persecutions, including the so-called genetic engineering program. If you require specifics, I submitted a special operations document some time ago—File No. 9-1-3267—which details the situation. You may request access to it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Qi turned slightly, his gaze lingering on Ye Wang for just a second before quickly looking away.

This was not public knowledge, known only to Empire insiders.

"Understood, Major General Ye. I will request it," the interrogator noted. "Next question—Mr. Jiang, your husband, Pei Gu, is also a high-ranking official in the Empire and served in the Third Army. Could you briefly describe your perspective on this marriage?"

Jiang Qi opened his mouth to speak, but Ye Wang cut in first. "Jiang Qi and Pei Gu’s was a political marriage. There was no affection between them. Pei Gu was tasked with surveilling Jiang Qi, observing his every move. During their marriage, Jiang Qi was not involved in any Third Army affairs. This is also documented in File No. 9-1-3267."

His tone was resolute. Jiang Qi stiffened slightly before lowering his eyes.

Even in the Empire, barely anyone knew.

"Understood," the interrogator murmured, jotting down notes. "Now, the last question—Mr. Jiang, as you know, one of our secret routes was compromised. Technical analysis traced the leak to around 9 p.m. two nights ago. Could you tell me what you were doing at that time?"

Jiang Qi: "I had a shooting night class that day. Afterward, I returned to the instructor housing."

Interrogator: "We’ve verified the evening class. Is there anyone who can corroborate your whereabouts afterward?"

"..."

Both Jiang Qi and Ye Wang paused subtly, their eyes meeting for the briefest moment before they simultaneously looked away—Ye Wang at the ceiling, Jiang Qi at the floor, their eyes darting.

Interrogator: "...Mr. Jiang?"

Ye Wang coughed. "I was with him. I live next door to him."

The interrogator turned to him, adjusting his glasses, his pen hovering over the paper as he struggled for words. "...Major General?"

Ye Wang: "I rented a house from an elderly professor, right next to Mr. Jiang’s. There’s a lease agreement and records of my entry and exit from the school. I can get you the paperwork if needed."

"...Very well."

A few more questions followed. The interrogator tried to restrain himself, but he kept glancing at them. After several rounds, he finally concluded the session.

Clearing his throat, he gathered the files. "That’s all for today. Mr. Jiang, you can go. As for the records and documents Major General Ye mentioned, we will review them accordingly."

With that, the interrogator left.

The room fell silent.

Ye Wang stood, avoiding Jiang Qi’s gaze. "Federal interrogations aren’t like the Empire’s. You won’t be detained, subjected to marathon questioning, or placed under surveillance. Once the session is over, you’re free to go. Any follow-up investigations will follow the same procedure. No need to stress. I have military matters to attend to, so I’ve got to go."

He buttoned his jacket and turned to go.

"Commander Ye," Jiang Qi called out to him, also standing up. "May I ask a question?"

Ye Wang tilted his head slightly, signaling, "Go ahead."

Jiang Qi: "What is File 9-1-3267?"

Ye Wang: "...It’s a file on a classified operation."

Jiang Qi: "Starting with the number 9, a file under the National Security Department, with an auxiliary number 1, related to the Empire."

Military files are numbered systematically for easy retrieval. Jiang Qi, who teaches at Jingji Military Academy, knew this as basic knowledge.

Most Empire-related files in the National Security Department involve undercover ops.

Jiang Qi pressed his lips tightly together.

Given his current status, he couldn’t access this file.

Wild thoughts flickered through his mind like fleeting illusions. He studied the commander’s profile—his high nose bridge, handsome brows and eyes—a face entirely different from Pei Gu’s, yet their demeanor was so similar, nearly indistinguishable.

Jiang Qi wondered, was it possible?

Perhaps he was going mad, like a drowning man grasping at straws despite the odds. But maybe...

There was that one-in-a-million chance.

So, Jiang Qi suddenly stood up, stepping into Ye Wang’s path. He spoke hastily, "Commander Ye, I don’t have a flyer. Mind giving me a ride home?"

As he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Ye Wang’s face, not missing a single shift in expression.

"..."

"Of course." Ye Wang let out a soft breath. Meeting Jiang Qi’s eyes, he suddenly felt guilty and lowered his gaze. But a glance revealed Jiang Qi wearing only a thin shirt, damp with sweat, clinging to his frame and outlining the curve of his waist—just like in his dreams. The commander forced his gaze upward.

He rubbed his nose and replied politely, "Happy to."

The two left the interrogation room and boarded the flyer together.

Ye Wang took the controls while Jiang Qi sat beside him. They rode in silence, yet Ye Wang could feel Jiang Qi’s eyes on his fingertips, observing his every movement.

Even if the body changed, certain subtle habits remained.

Pei Gu liked to twist knobs with a slight turn; so did Ye Wang. Pei Gu pulled the control lever slightly to the right; so did Ye Wang... Every little habit matched perfectly.

An orange sat on the commander’s console. When the flyer landed on the school’s sports field, the orange almost rolled away, but Ye Wang snatched it mid-air.

Jiang Qi, already standing on the lift platform, stared at the orange in Ye Wang’s hand and said, "Commander Ye, can I have that orange?"

Ye Wang paused briefly before tossing it without much thought. The orange sailed in a clean arc through the air and landed in Jiang Qi’s palm.

"..."

Even the way he threw the orange was just like Pei Gu.

Jiang Qi stepped onto the ground. The winter wind whipped around them as he tugged his coat tighter and looked up at the commander. Suddenly, he asked, "Are you coming back tonight?"

Ye Wang blinked. "What?"

Jiang Qi pointed at the dormitory behind him. "Are you coming back tonight? Here."

Ye Wang: "...Of course."

Without so much as a glance at Jiang Qi, he coughed lightly and closed the aircraft door, pulled the control lever and took off.

Then he began flying aimlessly around the capital.

Ye Wang had claimed work at the military department, but in truth, he was actually on leave. Yet having spoken the words, it'd be awkward to take it back, so he kept circling the capital until finally engaging autopilot. By the time the aircraft signaled low power, the sky was already filled with stars.

Returning to the dormitory, the neighbor’s light was already out. He sat on the bed, leaning against the wall, only to hear Jiang Qi on the other side doing the same—settling in with his back to the wall.

Now, they were likely back-to-back.

The commander asked softly, "You have classes tomorrow. Aren’t you going to sleep?"

Jiang Qi's voice came through the wall: "Couldn’t sleep, sir."

He didn’t address him as "Commander Ye" or "Ye Wang," but just "sir"—a term that could refer to either a stranger or a husband.

Ye Wang paused briefly, then chuckled. "Funny you mention that. I can't sleep either. Why is that, Professor Jiang?"

Jiang Qi: "It got colder. It's a bit cold. The new blanket I ordered hasn’t arrived yet."

Winter had brought rapid temperature changes, and today had been freezing.

Ye Wang nearly said, "Take mine," but upon touching it, realized it was just as thin and inadequate against the cold.

Neither said another word.

Separated only by a thin wall, neither moved nor left. Ye Wang sat for a long while, only realizing how late it was when the cold deepened.

After hesitating, he quietly raised a hand and knocked lightly on the wall. "Jiang Qi?"

The reply came swiftly. "I’m here, sir."

Ye Wang: "I was thinking..."

He hesitated, then hesitated again. The commander never knew how difficult some words could be to say—how terrifying the fear of rejection could be.

But he asked anyway.

"I was thinking... it's so cold, you have classes tomorrow, and no blanket. If you end up with dark circles, wouldn’t that look bad in front of your students?"

Jiang Qi waited silently for him to continue.

"So, Jiang Qi," Ye Wang said softly, "do you... want to come home with me?"

This time, Jiang Qi answered immediately.

"Yes."

The next moment, both beds creaked in unison as they got up. Then came the sounds of drawers opening and zippers being pulled.

They began packing up wordlessly.

Soon after, both doors opened at once, and they stepped out side by side, neither glancing at each other as they boarded the aircraft. Ye Wang started the engine, Jiang Qi took the co-pilot seat, and the aircraft, running on fumes, landed on the lawn outside Ye Wang’s home.

Jiang Qi tightened his coat, surveying the three-story house, noting its uncanny resemblance—about seventy or eighty percent—to Pei Gu’s home.

"A bit similar, isn’t it?" Ye Wang chuckled, also gazing up at the house. "The Empire and the Federation may be adversaries, but they’re also trade partners. Architectural styles have evolved over the years, but mainstream designs don’t differ much. There are only so many layouts for three-story villas—no surprise they look alike."

Jiang Qi abruptly looked up, staring at him.

Ye Wang spoke volumes without saying a word.

He coughed lightly, unlocked the door with his fingerprint, and stepped aside to make way for Jiang Qi: “Please, come in.”

Ye Wang’s villa was cozier than Pei Gu’s, decorated in a rustic wooden style with thick carpets covering the floor. The kitchen was tucked in a corner of the first floor, equipped with a large refrigerator. Ye Wang opened it and pulled out a carton of milk: “Strawberry-flavored. Would you like some?”

“Yes, sir.”

Ye Wang then turned on the stove and poured the milk into a pot. He was so used to Pei Gu’s cookware that using his own felt awkward. The flame was too low, so he bent down to adjust it. The golden glow from the stove cast over the commander’s profile, softening every contour with warmth.

Jiang Qi stood close, his eyes drinking in every detail of the commander's face until Ye Wang shooed him away with discomfort: “Aren’t you afraid of fire? Stand back a little.”

On his first day at Pei Gu’s place, Jiang Qi had almost set the kitchen ablaze due to PTSD.

Jiang Qi paused but didn’t move.

It dawned on him that he was standing so close to the open flame, close enough to feel the heat from the stove, yet he felt nothing—his vision filled with nothing but the commander.

He was no longer afraid of fire.

His master wouldn’t abandon him on a burning ship. He would hold onto Jiang Qi.

The stove hadn’t been used in a while, and Ye Wang struggled with it for quite a while without getting it right. Worried about keeping Jiang Qi up too late before his class the next day, and seeing him lingering nearby, Ye Wang urged him again: “Alright, alright, go upstairs and sleep first. Any room is fine. I’ll figure out what’s wrong with this…”

Before he could finish, the commander suddenly froze.

A hand reached out, first brushing his fingertips, then spreading wide to clasp his entire hand.

Jiang Qi said, “Sir, I’ve missed you terribly.”