Chapter 87 Marriage of Convenience

Chapter 87 Marriage of Convenience

Lin Juan'gui didn't know what new moves Huo Zeshen had come up with, but hearing Huo Zeshen say he was incompetent made his voice sound a little hurt. "Why would you think that?"

Huo Zeshen had no idea that Lin Juan'gui was on the other end of the phone, pursing his lips to hold back laughter. Lin Juan'gui's softened attitude made him think carefully about what to say before speaking. "You haven't reached out to me for days."

Lin Juan'gui had always been the one setting the pace in conversations. He knew exactly what Huo Zeshen's purpose was with this call, but he just wanted to mess with him.

"Don't you know what I've been doing these past few days?"

Mu Zhang taking leave wasn't a secret. Whether it was due to his rut or something else, Lin Juan'gui had stayed home with him for three full days. What they were doing during that time wasn't hard to guess.

Huo Zeshen insisted on playing dumb. "I only know you've been blowing me off much more than before."

"Then let me apologize. I'll try not to be like this in the future. Will you accept it?"

They say you can't be angry with someone who is being pleasant. Apologizing costs nothing, and Lin Juan'gui wasn't the type to be too proud for his own good and suffer for it.

Sure enough, Huo Zeshen didn't dwell on the issue any longer. Instead, he asked Lin Juan'gui about the Sixth Military District. "The cleanup and reconstruction across the planets will cost a fortune. Although I can provide aid, the troops I can mobilize are limited. It's a nightmare, and I doubt many will want to touch it."

Lin Juan'gui narrowed his eyes in thought. "Why do you think that?"

"The Sixth Military District has nothing to gain."

"Not necessarily."

Huo Zeshen's combat skills were top-tier in the Federation, but his political thinking still needed work.

Since he called Lin Juan'gui his teacher, Lin Juan'gui could give him a quick lesson.

"What seems like a worthless wasteland to you might be a treasure trove to others—it just serves different purposes. You've seen for yourself during your time in the military that without money, nothing gets done, right?"

Huo Zeshen fell silent for a moment, clearly understanding now.

When he was still a low-ranking soldier, Huo Zeshen often encountered budget shortfalls. His reports to superiors went unanswered, leaving him with no choice but to wait.

But Huo Zeshen was relatively lucky. With the Liang family as his financial backing, they helped him consolidate his position in the military—at the cost of having his psychic energy extracted.

At first glance, the Sixth Military District seemed worthless, even requiring one to pour money into it. But once reconstruction was complete, the return of its original residents would make their votes crucial.

In the eyes of politicians, this was a golden opportunity. They might even join forces to tackle this hard nut to crack.

Huo Zeshen caught on quickly and asked the most critical question. "Would you be interested in the Sixth Military District?"

Lin Juan'gui had expected Huo Zeshen to be more subtle, but when it came to serious matters, he was surprisingly direct.

However, Lin Juan'gui couldn't give Huo Zeshen a straight answer. Some things were safest when kept secret.

"It depends. If the competition isn't too fierce, the group will need time to assess its value. Sometimes, it's not just up to me to decide how to spend the money."

Huo Zeshen paused, sensing Lin Juan'gui's evasion, but it didn't seem to bother him. "Will you have time to meet alone then? I want to give you something."

Lin Juan'gui was intrigued. He was quite looking forward to what Huo Zeshen would give him. "Sure, if there's a chance. But after the medal ceremony, you'll be mobbed. I might not be able to get close."

Huo Zeshen gave a wry smile. "On occasions like that, I'd be lucky if they didn't give me a hard time."

Lin Juan'gui knew exactly how difficult Huo Zeshen's current situation was. He had walked the same path, surrounded by people who only wanted to exploit him in the cheapest way possible, draining him of all his value.

Back then, Lin Juan'gui had no one to rely on. He clawed his way out, but his progress was capped—he couldn't achieve more.

Whether he was speaking to Huo Zeshen or himself, Lin Juan'gui's smile faded, and his tone turned serious. "In situations like that, those unwilling to put on a facade with you are easier to deal with. Often, others' dislike doesn't matter. You just need to be a mirror."

"A mirror?" Huo Zeshen instinctively gripped the mirror fragment Lin Juan'gui had given him, recalling the scenes from his dreams.

"Not in the sense of treating others how they treat you, but rather, how they are determines how they'll treat you."

Huo Zeshen was fascinated. No one had ever taught him how to navigate life. He often relied on intuition, which served him well, but he still had much to learn. So he listened intently as Lin Juan'gui explained.

"To put it simply, if you're good to me, you're a good person?"

Lin Juan'gui couldn't help but laugh heartily on the other end of the phone. Why did this little rascal enjoy playing dumb in front of him?

But concepts of how to deal with people varied based on personality, so instead of using his own past as an example, Lin Juan'gui asked Huo Zeshen, "Have you met people who seem kind to you but make you feel like they don't truly care?"

Huo Zeshen took a deep breath and chuckled. "Yes, many."

"Their actions are often driven by self-interest. It might not be obvious at first, but over time, few can keep up the act. You can choose to humor them or deal with them superficially for your own benefit—just don't get too deeply involved. Keep your heart clear."

Lin Juan'gui had laid out Huo Zeshen's situation plainly, even seeing through how he was dealing with it.

Huo Zeshen didn't find this "mind-reading" version of Lin Juan'gui frightening. He only knew Lin Juan'gui was the one person who truly understood him.

"Thank you. No one has ever told me these things. I've learned a lot."

Lin Juan'gui rested his head on his hand, smiling gently. A knock came at the office door—probably Zhuang Xi coming to invite him for afternoon tea. Huo Zeshen tactfully said, "I have work to attend to. See you at the banquet."

As Zhuang Xi pushed open the door, he saw Lin Juan'gui's cheerful expression and asked curiously, "What good news?"

Lin Juan'gui turned off his light brain calmly. "Seems like many are wondering if I'll get involved with the Sixth Military District."

Zhuang Xi nodded understandingly. "After all, few are like you. Your stance will set the trend."

"Let's not worry about that now. We've been busy all day. Let's grab something to eat."

"Let's go, I'm starving."

In his youth, Lin Juan'gui had been wound too tight. After experiencing many things, he developed a laid-back attitude toward everything. But Huo Zeshen was still growing. Even with a good mindset, he needed to be cautious in everything he did.

Liang Xiancheng was truly aging, starting to dream of having others work for him while counting his money. Every day, he'd ask about Huo Zeshen's situation, speaking without regard for others' well-being—as long as his goals were achieved, nothing else mattered.

The other younger members of the Liang family were squeezing out benefits for their own purposes. Only Huo Zeshen was willing to obey Grandfather Liang in everything—if he said east, Huo Zeshen wouldn't go west. He did whatever was asked. This was why Liang Xiancheng no longer paid much attention to the other Liang family members and always wanted to involve Huo Zeshen in everything.

But ultimately, Liang Xiancheng only saw Huo Zeshen as a life extractor. Every time he stepped out of the life support pod, he felt years younger and his mind clearer—the only downside was that the effects didn't last.

Liang Xiancheng couldn't keep Huo Zeshen trapped in a mech, forcing him to use psychic energy in battle. Now that Huo Zeshen had social status, he couldn't push things too far.

So, inexplicably, Liang Xiancheng instructed Huo Zeshen to probe Lin Juan'gui's intentions.

"You haven't been in touch much these years, but he was the one who spotted your talent. You can't pretend not to know him. You should repay his kindness."

"...Yes."

At first, Huo Zeshen struggled internally. He didn't want his reunion with Lin Juan'gui to be so transactional. He wasn't sure how to position himself. Fortunately, Lin Juan'gui was willing to be accommodating. He always saw things from Huo Zeshen's perspective, never criticizing or forcing him to do anything.

Huo Zeshen especially cherished the time alone with Lin Juan'gui. He could feel that Lin Juan'gui's kindness was genuine—or perhaps it was for his pheromones or other things Huo Zeshen didn't want to acknowledge. But Huo Zeshen didn't care anymore. Lin Juan'gui had exposed his secrets and shared so many heartfelt words with him. Huo Zeshen didn't want to betray that trust.

So, when communicating with Liang Xiancheng, Huo Zeshen chose to protect Lin Juan'gui.

"He doesn't think much of the Sixth Military District, but he's not sure if he'll intervene for Mu Zhang. He's still wary of me and hasn't given me a clear stance."

Liang Xiancheng fell into silent contemplation, while Huo Zeshen waited quietly. After a long while, Liang Xiancheng finally said, "It's fine, take your time. You're a young Alpha, after all, with such potent pheromones—no Omega could resist you."

After hanging up, Huo Zeshen raised a hand to massage his temples. Although he now had a plausible excuse to approach Lin Juangui in Liang Xiancheng's eyes, it would be hard to explain if anyone told Lin Juangui his motives were impure.

He wondered if Lin Juangui would trust him. When it came to matters related to Lin Juangui, Huo Zeshen always found himself hesitating, unable to make swift decisions.

The Liang family was gradually declining. Although Grandfather Liang's birthday banquet had been held with great decorum, those in the know could sense the Liang family's growing inability to compete in the business world—they were no longer as illustrious as they once were.

More people were trying to curry favor with Lin Juangui, hoping to seize opportunities from him. But ordinary people rarely got to see Lin Juangui, who maintained a strict routine between his company and home, seldom appearing elsewhere.

Moreover, Lin Juangui was extremely strict with his subordinates. His trusted aides at Runlin were wholly focused on their work, leaving interpersonal relations to specialized departments. They received high bonuses but had limited authority; they simply couldn't accomplish some things, even if they wanted to.

Most of the corporate rules were set by Lin Juangui. They were humane yet demanding, which attracted many talented people to jump ship to Runlin, laying a strong foundation for the company.

Lin Juangui knew that his current success was largely due to Mu Zhang's protagonist halo. If it were up to him alone, he wouldn't have such luck where everything went smoothly.

But to Mu Zhang, Lin Juangui was a financial genius. Not only did Lin Juangui have the ability to earn money through legitimate channels, but his management skills were also exceptional. Both reputation and capital were things Mu Zhang needed.

Their marriage was a typical power couple union. Who would have thought that Mu Zhang's initial reason for marrying Lin Juangui was merely out of pique, to probe Mu Yuanqing's feelings?

Once Mu Yuanqing's attitude became clear, Mu Zhang gradually gave up. This marriage brought Mu Zhang new opportunities, and his affections began shifting toward Lin Juangui, bringing with them the world's fortune.

However, Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing still maintained contact. Mu Yuanqing remained the unattainable "white moonlight," though even he now had to marry another Omega for the sake of his family.

When they visited the lab together earlier, Mu Yuanqing had told Mu Zhang about this. Now in his forties, marriage was somewhat late for an Alpha of his age. If it weren't for Lin Juangui's pheromones supporting him, he might struggle to maintain rationality.

Mu Zhang frowned deeply. "If others find out about the matters between you, me, and Juangui, it will be very troublesome. Omegas are very perceptive. Will you still have time to help Juangui with his heat in the future?"

Mu Yuanqing also seemed troubled by this. He had originally planned to remain unmarried, focusing entirely on developing weapons against the Zerg. An Alpha like him had no business ruining an Omega's life.

But for most people, marriage was a way to exchange interests. At least Mu Yuanqing had high-level pheromones and good looks—these two qualities alone made him a hot commodity in the marriage market, not to mention his family's political background.

"At the very least... I should be loyal to my future Omega."

"..."

This was Mu Yuanqing's answer, but both couldn't help recalling what had happened in the beast's nest before.

After that incident, Lin Juangui learned about Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing's relationship. He began retaliating against them in his own way, using subtle torment to pierce their hearts. This dysfunctional relationship had persisted for many years, and perhaps Mu Yuanqing's marriage would finally bring it to an end.

Yet new developments in the lab plunged Mu Zhang into another dilemma.

At first, Mu Yuanqing thought it was just a coincidence, but when coincidences piled up, he began searching for causes.

During Lin Juangui's last heat, Mu Yuanqing specially brought a pheromone extractor. He knew Lin Juangui's pheromones were unique—everyone could smell their favorite scent on him. But if this uniqueness even affected the Zerg, it would be terrifying.

This meant they could conduct a series of weapon research projects based on Lin Juangui's pheromones, potentially curbing the Zerg infestation.

But these were still conjectures; practical application required more detailed analysis.

Lin Juangui's pheromones represented hope for Mu Yuanqing—his long-held wish might actually be achievable. However, when the lab report came out, he felt heavy-hearted and needed Mu Zhang's presence to feel at ease.

The lab report showed that Lin Juangui's pheromones not only attracted ABO groups, but basically all organic beings in the world had little resistance to them.

In other words, if Lin Juangui wanted, he could gain anyone's affection. His pheromones could attract Zerg swarms and also serve as bait for hunting them.

This discovery was undoubtedly a historic breakthrough. But the question remained: with so many Zerg, could Lin Juangui's pheromones alone solve the problem? Clearly, it was difficult.

So technological breakthroughs were still needed. At the very least, they needed to bring Lin Juangui to the lab for more detailed examinations and studies of his scent gland structure.

But Mu Zhang flatly refused the expectant researchers in the lab.

"His body has been through modifications. If it weren't for his glands being well-preserved, he wouldn't have survived. I won't allow you to risk his life for any dangerous experiments. No one even think about it."

That meeting ended unpleasantly between Mu Zhang and Mu Yuanqing. Mu Zhang had long known how special Lin Juangui's pheromones were, but who would have thought this uniqueness would drag Lin Juangui into such matters?

After spending several good days with Lin Juangui at home, Mu Zhang became even more determined not to let him participate in that nonsense experiment. He still had many years to live with Lin Juangui—what if the experiment accidentally cost Lin Juangui his life? Mu Zhang had saved Lin Juangui from death's door with great difficulty; he wouldn't allow any accidents or oversights.

Initially, Mu Zhang had fully supported Mu Yuanqing's enthusiasm for experiments and had collaborated with the military to establish several arms factories, investing heavily in labs with money and connections. But his goal was to enhance the military's strength and break free from the Liang family's control, not to turn his Omega into a lab rat.

So when Mu Zhang received the formal engagement party invitation from Mu Yuanqing's subordinate, he merely glanced at it and set it aside, not even planning to let Lin Juangui know.

Ge Miao recently found his job increasingly difficult. While he could quickly handle minor matters that didn't require Mu Zhang's attention, anything related to Lin Juangui or Mu Yuanqing made him hesitant to act without Mu Zhang's explicit instructions.

"Should I prepare the gift for General Mu's engagement party?"

Usually, social obligations were handled by Lin Juangui's side. His personal assistant kept track of these events, and gifts were selected by specialists to ensure everything was proper.

But Mu Yuanqing and Mu Zhang had a deep history, and Mu Zhang didn't want Lin Juangui to know about Mu Yuanqing's existence. Given the complexity of their relationships, Ge Miao opted for caution.

After a long silence from Mu Zhang, Ge Miao seemed to understand his stance and quietly left the office.

Mu Yuanqing's engagement party was arranged hastily, perhaps due to pressure from family elders who seemed relieved to see him settling down, immediately followed by pressure for him and his future Omega to have children soon.

At the party, Mu Yuanqing wore a polite smile, deflecting inquiries. Then someone tactlessly brought up his past with Mu Zhang, deliberately looking around and asking why Mu Zhang hadn't come.

Whether it was teasing or intentional provocation was clear to everyone present. They waited for Mu Yuanqing's response when his secretary timely intervened: "Mr. Lin Juangui specially sent someone with congratulatory gifts. Would you like to take a look?"

A gift from Lin Juangui essentially represented both him and Mu Zhang. While Mu Zhang's gift didn't arrive, Lin Juangui's was delivered so prominently—their public facade was impeccable.

Those close to Lin Juangui knew that Qu Yang was his most trusted aide. Though her title was merely assistant, her rank was high. Her presence represented Lin Juangui himself.

Mu Yuanqing looked at the set of exquisite jewelry and politely said thank you. The Omega beside him was overjoyed, and Mu Yuanqing smiled too, but he couldn't feel genuinely happy.

Thus, Mu Yuanqing's engagement party concluded with Lin Juangui's gift. His future Omega happily remarked: "Mr. Lin is so generous! I've had my eye on this ruby set for so long but couldn't order it."

"If you like them, take them," Mu Yuanqing said.

"You're quite generous too." The Omega gave Mu Yuanqing a scrutinizing look before waving for help to carry the gifts home, then smiled warmly again: "See you at the banquet in a few days then. I've prepared the formal wear—remember to wear yours."

"Mm, okay."

Lin Juangui didn't discuss the gift with Mu Zhang. To him, it was part of his duties—maintaining the appearances Mu Zhang overlooked.

But when Mu Zhang learned about it, he sighed deeply.

His marriage with Lin Juangui had already come a long way. That kid Huo Zeshen had probably investigated Mu Zhang's entire past and reported everything to Lin Juangui, likely with plenty of embellishment about Mu Yuanqing. Lin Juangui's kindness toward Mu Zhang was likely because he wanted Huo Zeshen to help with his heat, which required Mu Zhang's consent.

Everything had its traces. Mu Zhang no longer had the heart to dwell on it.

So be it. Mu Yuanqing was engaged now and couldn't help Lin Juangui with his heat anymore. Huo Zeshen was essentially just a tool. Lin Juangui was reasonable enough to know that aligning with Mu Zhang was the most stable alliance. Huo Zeshen was completely the Liang family's lapdog—Lin Juangui wouldn't be foolish enough to suddenly shift support to him.

Mu Zhang now focused entirely on the elections two years away. He had no energy for private matters that couldn't be handled publicly. Lin Juangui could play however he wanted—as long as a calm surface was maintained, Mu Zhang could turn a blind eye. After all, no matter how much Huo Zeshen jumped, he could never surpass Mu Zhang's place in Lin Juangui's heart.

But Huo Zeshen, who had just caught the scent of opportunity, wouldn't give up easily. Having waited years for this chance, he wouldn't let go without a fight.

On the day of Mu Yuanqing's engagement party, Huo Zeshen did not attend, but the next day he came prepared with a gift to Mu Yuanqing's office.

Huo Zeshen hadn't interacted with Mu Yuanqing for a long time. He spent most of his time in the Seventh Military District, leaving immediately after reporting to the Federal Capital Star, never staying long at the military headquarters.

But this time, Huo Zeshen made a conspicuous entrance. His usually cold eyes carried a hint of a smile, making him even more strikingly handsome and leaving people staring in awe.

"Is General Huo here to congratulate General Mu on his engagement? I thought they hadn't been in contact for years."

"Who knows? General Huo's current position was partly thanks to General Mu's support. They're both so busy with work, it's normal they rarely meet, right?"

"With General Huo recently being promoted to general, he must be here to thank General Mu..."

The speculations outside the office didn't reach the two men's ears. Although Huo Zeshen disliked socializing, he was a quick learner. Diplomatic pretenses weren't difficult for him—he could even humble himself in front of enemies, let alone Mu Yuanqing.

"General Mu, congratulations on your engagement."

Huo Zeshen's gift was a limited-edition collectible that Omegas typically favor. Since they were engaged, the Alpha and Omega were naturally considered a pair, making the gift easy to choose.

Mu Yuanqing stood up and replied, "Thank you." As he took the gift, he met Huo Zeshen's gaze and saw the other's faint, ambiguous smile.

This visitor means trouble—that was Mu Yuanqing's first impression.

Sure enough, Huo Zeshen casually sat down in front of Mu Yuanqing. Though not overly arrogant, he carried himself with full confidence. "You're engaged now. Does this mean you won't have the chance to participate in Lin Juangui's heat anymore?"

"!!" After a moment of shock, Mu Yuanqing quickly steadied himself. Frowning at Huo Zeshen, his eyes grew wary. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Huo Zeshen smiled lightly. "I'm guessing. General Mu, you've never had an Omega by your side. You rarely even experience ruts, but every few months, you carry a faint scent of an Omega's pheromones. Combined with your schedules, the answer is obvious."

"What do you want?"

Mu Yuanqing couldn't figure out Huo Zeshen's intentions. Over the years, Huo Zeshen had subtly gained Liang Xiancheng's trust without leaving traces and had done many things damaging to the military's interests for the Liang family. Zhai Yanhe had already given up on Huo Zeshen, calling him an ungrateful wolf.

Huo Zeshen seemed unbothered by such evaluations. Ruthlessness had become his trademark. His exceptional military prowess and high rank made many soldiers eagerly follow him, obeying his every command.

If Huo Zeshen intended to use this against the three of them, Mu Yuanqing would not hesitate to step up and take responsibility.

Mu Yuanqing didn't know how much information Huo Zeshen had obtained, but this kind of scandalous revelation would be hard to contain once exposed. He took a deep breath, quickly calming down, and urged Huo Zeshen not to act impulsively. "Are you trying to make three enemies for the Liang family all at once? Do you think Old Master Liang will still protect you then?"

Huo Zeshen shook his head. "Don't be so tense. I'm here to discuss cooperation. You and Commander Zhai must be curious about my stance. If I wanted to cause trouble, no one could handle it, right?"

Mu Yuanqing's eyes flashed with anger. "Huo Zeshen, are you using the Federation's safety as a bargaining chip?!"

Huo Zeshen couldn't hold back a cold laugh. Under the light, his face seemed both real and illusory, carrying a trace of imperceptible malice. "Who said I care about these things, while you do? The military hasn't done many honorable things over the years. Before pointing fingers at me, reflect on yourself. Don't always position yourself on the side of justice—it's hypocritical."

Experiments and research all require test subjects. How much of the annual experimental funding actually goes to voluntary participants? In the end, it's the homeless refugees who become permanent residents of the labs.

Mu Yuanqing fell completely silent, while Huo Zeshen pressed on—

"Just tell me this: Is Lin Juangui's marriage to Mu Zhang a protocol marriage? Did Mu Zhang force him? I want a clear yes or no. Beating around the bush is useless, General Mu. You have ten seconds to decide."