Chapter 19 Toffee Apple Candy

Chapter 19 Toffee Apple

Li Hanchuan had achieved perfect scores in all subjects at the military academy. With his top-tier Alpha talent and relentless diligence, there was nothing in this world he wasn’t good at—except for handling his wife.

The proud Commander Sir saw the omega’s shocked expression and sensed something was amiss, though he hadn't quite figured it out yet.

The next moment, an oversized bite of ice cream froze the alpha’s brain solid.

His sharp mind quickly kicked in.

Born and raised in the northern frontier, where freezing cold was an everyday reality, Li Hanchuan had never found it unusual. It wasn’t until he moved south to the central city that the soaring temperatures began to irritate him, making him avoid thinking unless absolutely necessary.

But seeing the look on Rui Rui’s face, as if he wanted to smash half the ice cream in his face, he was forced to wonder—

Was it possible…

That his little wife didn’t want to share it with him? Could Ruifulodite truly be that petty?

……

"Not at all."

"Why would I be upset over something like this?"

His little wife muttered, his downcast eyes glittering with happiness.

Li Hanchuan spotted the omega’s attempt to suppress a smile—lips quirking up despite his efforts—and couldn’t help but chuckle. Rui Rui, feeling the vibration from the chest pressed against his back, blushed in embarrassment.

"...Why don’t you believe me? I’m really not angry."

Even as he said this, his eyes remained glued to the food.

Taking advantage of Rui Rui’s distraction, Li Hanchuan rubbed his rough fingertips a few more times against his wife’s tender earlobe. Even such a slight physical contact helped soothe his chaotic pheromones.

His little wife usually carried himself with such poise and maintained such emotional stability.

It had almost made him forget.

Rui Rui was a full five years younger than him.

When he followed the military academy to the front lines, this little mermaid might not even have entered adolescence, still a silly little thing digging in the seabed mud.

"Not just a child..." Li Hanchuan thought, his dark gaze fixed on him, "but also a little animal."

No one could coldly reject a little animal so infatuated with them.

Just as, if one day a cat wanted to sniff a human, plenty of humans would line up eagerly waiting for the chance.

Besides.

Li Hanchuan thought of his own insatiable behavior toward Rui Rui in his dreams and felt a twinge of guilt.

Even if this marriage was just for show, he ought to act a bit more human.

Rui Rui had no idea that, in the major general’s mind, they had already progressed to a stage of being stripped bare without a hint of shame.

Proactively sharing food.

For an animal, this is a way to show affection.

The omega was utterly delighted.

With his fair, slender fingers, he picked the one he wanted most and eagerly yet gracefully took a small bite. He ate obediently and quietly, without making a sound.

The alpha could only watch as those glossy, full lips swallowed gently, a hint of pink, soft tongue licking away the excess milk residue.

The large hand propped against the refrigerator suddenly tightened, veins bulging on the back of his hand. Li Hanchuan’s breathing grew heavy—he couldn't stay there any longer.

"Don’t eat too much; be careful not to catch a chill."

He straightened up, his free hand instinctively moving to pat the other person, but realizing it was heading straight for his little wife’s backside, he quickly moved it to his lips and cleared his throat dryly.

"Rest early."

Rui Rui watched the alpha’s stiff, retreating back with confusion, licked his finger, and muttered, "The Major General seems to have suddenly become more human."

But that scorching gaze earlier was as if he wanted to snatch food right out of a leopard’s mouth.

Was he that hungry?

-

The next day, Rui Rui personally made a boxed lunch and brought it to the Double Eagle Building. Only the rice was cooked by him; the side dishes were all pre-made and delicious.

Entering the building, he received thanks from many alphas along the way—all officers, husbands of the ladies from the day before.

Only in the most critical of times can one truly see a person’s character. Though Rui Rui hadn’t yet attended any formal social events, his reputation had already preceded him.

"Madam, you're here?"

The adjutant saluted. The usually smiling African Elephant was unusually serious today. Rui Rui followed him inside. "Has something happened?"

Qi Mu sighed, looking somewhat uneasy.

"The Major General is handling the ghost incident at the old palace site from yesterday. Public opinion has exploded, and with the surveillance footage capturing a shadow in the heavy fog, the higher-ups have already held several meetings about it..."

The omega’s face paled, his heart pounding wildly.

It was caught on camera?

He wasn’t a careless seal. He knew well the power of the federal surveillance network and always made a point to avoid cameras wherever he went—except for that one time he was stuck on the railing out of necessity.

The surveillance had only captured a brief ten-second clip.

And because of the heavy fog, only a vague, round shadow was visible.

Li Hanchuan had already concluded for the panicked higher-ups—

It was nothing more than an accident.

Fearful people had spread rumors, causing panic.

The alpha submitted a report, suggesting the suspect could be a sea lion, seal, or fur seal.

Given the round, chubby shadow, it was likely an ordinary, unintelligent animal—nothing like a cold-blooded prehistoric beast.

Even if caught, there wasn’t much that could be done.

The most important task at hand is to dispel the rumors and reassure the frightened residents.

It was all just a big misunderstanding.

Case closed.

Hearing that his little wife was coming to deliver food, the alpha specifically reopened the video, struck a pose, and frowned in deep thought.

When Rui Rui approached him, he happened to see the commander wearing a grim expression, as if he were about to riddle the mastermind behind it all with bullets—a stark contrast to the man who had teased him just yesterday.

"...Major General." The omega set down the lunchbox with trembling hands.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his own silhouette rolling around on the computer screen, bouncy and cartoonish, and his face instantly turned pale. He abruptly covered his mouth.

This!

This damned fog, it even obscured his tail!

It hid the seal's elegant little flippers, leaving only a round ball behind—not resembling a mermaid in the least.

Seeing his pale expression, Li Hanchuan quickly closed the video and stood up, offering his seat. "Why are you so frightened? I’ve already taken charge of this matter. There’s no need to worry too much."

The omega’s legs were trembling slightly as his husband’s strong hands pressed him into the seat. "Sit down."

It oddly felt like Little Dumpling had been locked in an interrogation room by terrifying humans.

The commander ordered someone to bring a cup of sweet coffee. Seeing how fragile his little wife looked, even unable to hold the cup steady, he found it utterly heart-wrenching.

A flicker of emotion stirred in the alpha’s light brown eyes.

Mermaids really are such fragile creatures.

"Still scared?" Li Hanchuan asked.

Rui Rui nodded, then shook his head. "I—"

Before he could finish, the alpha abruptly pulled open a drawer. When Rui Rui saw what was inside, he shivered violently, his face growing even paler.

Still not done, Li Hanchuan proceeded to pull open every drawer of his spacious desk one after another—

Countless heavy, finely crafted weapons came into view.

Li Hanchuan casually picked one up and placed it in Rui Rui’s hands. The omega was too weak to hold the weight, and his small hands dropped, only to be steadied firmly by the alpha. Rui Rui had never noticed before how strong he was.

The omega gazed up with pitiable eyes, the Little Dumpling in his heart also on the verge of tears.

He didn’t understand why the Major General suddenly coughed lightly, his gaze shifting uncomfortably elsewhere before tentatively looking back at him:

"So, who do you think is more formidable—that nonexistent monster, or your husband?"

Rui Rui struggled to catch his breath: "..."

H-had he been found out?