Chapter 28

Chapter 28

He seemed fine when he went out, so why is he suddenly angry? Did I do something wrong?

As Lin Ze was lost in thought with downcast eyes, the door suddenly opened, and the man stared at him.

Lin Ze felt humiliated and wanted to shield himself with his hands, but thinking of something, he lowered them again, covering his face instead.

"Don't touch your wound..."

Li Xiujin's aggression suddenly dissipated. He asked, "Are you very worried about my wound?"

"Yes."

"Then you take over." Li Xiujin's voice was hoarse.

A light tremble ran through Lin Ze.

"You don't want to?"

After a moment of further humiliation, Lin Ze did as he was told.

The blush of shame on his face grew deeper.

He felt himself being skewered, thrust into relentlessly.

As time passed, it became increasingly unbearable.

Pushed past his physical and mental limits, Lin Ze fought hard not to faint.

As he felt the man finish for the third time...

Sweat streamed down his refined, handsome cheeks. Lin Ze bit the back of his hand tightly, yet a sound laced with unbearable need and pain escaped him.

Li Xiujin paused, pinched his chin, and bit his lip.

It took Lin Ze over ten minutes after the kiss ended to recover, asking softly, "Why are you angry?"

Li Xiujin paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Do you even care why I'm angry?"

Lin Ze was silent for a moment, lowering his eyes:

"I care."

*

"General, please look at this."

The next morning, as soon as Li Xiujin got into the car to headquarters, Fu Zhi took out yesterday's file and handed it to him.

Li Xiujin took it.

"Back then, a dedicated research team was formed to study Lin Ze. Most of the other team members have emigrated in recent years, only the team leader remains in the country."

Li Xiujin opened it.

"This team leader is named Li Jizhou, 50 years old, a graduate of a prestigious university, just an ordinary physician. Shortly after taking over the research on Colonel Lin, he was promoted to chief physician. However, after the institute went under, he hasn't worked anywhere else."

Li Xiujin listened to Fu Zhi's report while flipping through the file. On the last page, he saw Li Jizhou's current address.

"We'll see him."

"Yes."

While driving to Li Jizhou's residence, Fu Zhi cautiously inquired, "General, did you rest well yesterday?"

"What answer do you want to hear?" Li Xiujin retorted coldly.

Fu Zhi dared not ask further and immediately focused on driving.

Although Li Xiujin suffered an injury, it was a blessing in disguise—the couple's relationship deepened. But then Li Tingyuan said those things.

No subordinate wants their superior to have relationship troubles; once that happens, they're the ones who end up walking on eggshells.

He expected to see Li Xiujin in a bad mood this morning, but it didn't seem that terrible.

Had Colonel Lin already placated him?

After about half an hour, the car arrived at Li Jizhou's residence. It seemed he had made quite a bit of money before, living in a rather secluded villa surrounded by woods.

A maid opened the door, asking curiously, "Who are you looking for?"

"Dr. Li," Fu Zhi replied.

"Dr. Li cannot receive guests at the moment," the maid apologized.

"Why?" Fu Zhi asked, then quickly showed their identification. Seeing they were military personnel, the maid completely let her guard down and led them inside.

As they entered, she explained the reason: "He fell down the stairs seven years ago and became paralyzed. His daughter and son are abroad, so they hired me to take care of him."

In a room filled with various instruments, a gaunt old man lay on the bed, showing no reaction to the visitors, staring blankly at the TV screen.

Fu Zhi's expression changed slightly.

All the team members emigrated, and the only one who didn't ended up in an accident. It's too much of a coincidence, so much that it seems deliberate, as if someone wanted this buried for good.

Li Xiujin looked around and suddenly asked, "Where is his study?"

"On the second floor, I'll take you there."

"Have the things inside been disturbed?" Li Xiujin asked as they followed her upstairs.

"I'm not sure about that. My main duty is to take care of Mr. Li. Other miscellaneous matters are handled by other people who come by."

The study clearly hadn't been entered for a long time; a layer of dust covered the desk. Li Xiujin glanced at Fu Zhi, who understood immediately. "Could you take me to see other places?"

The maid, suspecting nothing, led Fu Zhi outside.

Li Xiujin examined every corner, finally focusing on an unlocked safe. The valuable items inside had been taken, leaving only a stack of notebooks. Li Xiujin opened one and found it was Li Jizhou's work log.

A flicker of interest passed through his eyes.

This Li Jizhou was clearly a very meticulous worker; the work logs were neatly arranged by year. Li Xiujin found the one from the year he researched Lin Ze and put it in his pocket.

Then he signaled Fu Zhi with his eyes. Seeing this, Fu Zhi said to the maid, "Thank you for your trouble today. We came mainly to investigate some matters. If Mr. Li's condition improves, please be sure to notify us."

After leaving Li Jizhou's house and getting in the car, Li Xiujin began poring over the logs page by page.

When he saw the work log dated May 21, 2367, his movements slowed.

"Today, I was notified by my supervisor to participate in a secret research activity. Only upon arrival did I learn that the subject of study was an alpha with both alpha and omega characteristics. The alpha was only fifteen years old and came with his teacher."

"He wasn't very cooperative. Before conducting research, he was often given anesthesia. Prolonged use might cause brain damage, but no issues have been observed so far."

"Yesterday, an incision was made at the nape of his neck to collect a gland sample. No anesthesia was used. He passed out from the pain. After regaining consciousness, he experienced temporary memory loss—likely a side effect of the anesthesia."

"General, did you find any clues in the logs?" Fu Zhi asked.

Li Xiujin's expression darkened, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.

Fu Zhi hurriedly took it to look.

"His teacher and teammates all died, yet he alone lost his memory. Many didn't believe him, accusing him of feigning amnesia to evade punishment and demanding a retrial. Now it seems it was due to excessive anesthesia at age fifteen, coupled with severe trauma, that created the memory gap."

"It was never about evading punishment."

Fu Zhi murmured.

"Cutting into the gland would hurt even with anesthesia. How excruciating must it have been without it?"

"Why did they study Colonel Lin's body? Even if he truly was a rare Alpha-Omega hybrid, was a whole year of research necessary?"

Li Xiujin's heart ached. He lit a cigarette in gloomy silence. After finishing it, his eyes turned icy.

*

When Lin Ze opened his eyes, Li Xiujin was already gone.

Lin Ze sat blankly on the bed for a while before getting dressed and going downstairs.

"Did you argue with the General last night?" the housekeeper asked.

Lin Ze absentmindedly sipped his soup and smiled faintly at the question.

It couldn't really be called an argument—it was more like Li Xiujin's one-sided anger. A night had passed, and Lin Ze still didn't understand why he was angry. Had he done something wrong?

At school, while teaching the children, Lin Ze kept thinking about Li Xiujin's wound. During a break, he mustered the courage to text and ask how the injury was, but received no reply...

During lunch break, Lin Ze met up with Lu Mo. Together, they went to the place where Su Jingyuan was being held—not a prison, but a detention center specifically for suspects awaiting trial.

Lin Ze found a soldier. "Can we see Su Jingyuan?"

"No."

After exchanging a glance with Lu Mo, Lin Ze spoke again. "Your superior is Yang Yu, right? My husband knows him."

"Who is your husband?"

Lin Ze actually disliked invoking Li Xiujin's name to get things done, but sometimes mentioning it made everything smoother. "Li Xiujin."

The soldier gave him a deep look and, without even questioning it, led them to a room designated for visiting suspects. Through a glass partition, Lin Ze saw Su Jingyuan being brought in.

In just a few days, Su Jingyuan looked haggard and disheveled.

"Ah, life is truly pitiful. In all my days here, the only one who came to see me is you, Colonel Lin." After sitting down, Su Jingyuan sighed—whether genuine or feigned was unclear.

Lin Ze got straight to the point. "Do you remember what I said at the underground market?"

"Of course I remember. I can give it to you, but you have to get me out first."

"I don't have that kind of influence," Lin Ze said.

"You don't, but your husband does. Just get me out this door today, and by tomorrow, I'll give you the list. How about that?"

"Mr. Su, now is not the time for you to set conditions. Even if you don't give it to us, we can still obtain it," Lu Mo interjected.

"Oh? Then go get it. Why come to me?" Su Jingyuan snorted.

"We'll consider your release," Lin Ze said, seeing he couldn't extract anything more for now and deciding to placate him first.

"I'll be waiting, Colonel Lin."

After leaving the detention center, Lu Mo asked Lin Ze, "Colonel, we can't really release him just for a list, can we?"

Truthfully, they had no concrete evidence that Su Jingyuan had committed any heinous crimes. Whether he could be released depended entirely on whether Li Xiujin gave the nod. But now, Li Xiujin was unlikely to agree. Without his approval, they couldn't get the list, and the hard-won lead would be severed.

"He's locked up for now and can't run. Let's see if there are other solutions," Lin Ze replied, rubbing his temples.

After parting ways with Lu Mo, Lin Ze led another afternoon of training. When school ended, he promptly took the driver's car home.

He happened to run into Fu Zhi.

"Is he back?" Lin Ze asked.

"Probably later today. I came to retrieve some documents the General left behind," Fu Zhi answered.

Lin Ze nodded, then after a moment's thought, asked, "Did something happen to him last night?"

Fu Zhi immediately understood he was asking why Li Xiujin had been angry the previous night. He quickly explained everything. "Last night, the General received news that his grandfather had fainted and went to see him. They had a conversation."

"His grandfather repeated to him what you had said."

"What I said to his grandfather?" Lin Ze echoed.

Was it "Xiu Jin never mentioned you to me," or that line about "leaving once his conditions are met"?

Lin Ze quickly realized it was likely the latter.

Seeing him lost in thought, Fu Zhi continued, "You probably know the General doesn't have a good relationship with his grandfather. After learning that your marriage was based on money and power, his grandfather said something to provoke him."

"What provoking words?"

"That he's pitiful, destined never to obtain what he truly desires."

"Actually, the General isn't angry—he's afraid."

His own casual remark, meant to brush someone off, had become a weapon used against him.

Why would anyone say something so cruel to their own grandson?

After Fu Zhi left, Lin Ze stood rooted to the spot, dazed.

What was it he truly desired?

A family? Or love?

The housekeeper was doing a thorough cleaning. Not knowing when Li Xiujin would return, Lin Ze didn't start cooking. His mind was too unsettled, so he offered to help.

The housekeeper repeatedly waved him off, but Lin Ze insisted, "I'm part of this household too. It's only right that I contribute."

Not daring to assign him heavy tasks, she asked him to organize miscellaneous items in the rooms. Seizing the opportunity, Lin Ze took a good look at every corner of the house. Unconsciously, he had already lived here for several months—from initial discomfort to now sleeping soundly without any vigilance.

All the rooms were tidied except for the final one: the walk-in closet.

On the day Lin Zhuo gave him a suit, the servant told him that Li Xiujin had bought him many clothes, actually, but because he had enough of his own, Lin Ze had never once been inside.

He stood before the wardrobe, looking at the neatly arranged shirts and suits. He casually took one down to try on; it fit his figure perfectly, neither too loose nor too tight.

As he was putting it back, Lin Ze suddenly noticed other clothes hidden at the back—some made of thin, almost transparent gauze, with pitifully little fabric. Nightgowns.

They were in his size. Lin Ze’s cheeks grew warm. Were these bought for him to wear?

Did Xiujin like seeing him in such clothes?

If he wore them, would he be happy?

At eleven o’clock that night, Lin Ze heard a car pull up outside. Shyly, he tugged at the skirt he had on, then covered himself with the covers, closed his eyes, and pretended to be asleep.

The bedroom door soon opened.

Li Xiujin stood by the bed, watching him for a long moment before getting into bed. He reached under the blanket to hold him, quickly noticing something was off.

After pulling back the covers and seeing what he was wearing, Li Xiujin’s throat bobbed heavily. In a hoarse voice, he asked, “Why are you dressed like this?”

Lin Ze opened his eyes, trembling, not daring to look at him. He looked away and asked uneasily, “Xiu Jin, are you still angry?”

So it was to appease him. Li Xiujin’s eyes darkened, his veins tensing with a faint ache.

“Yes.”

Lin Ze grew flustered. “I just said those words casually. I didn’t expect…”

“Mm.” Li Xiujin nodded.

“Turn around.”

After a slight pause, Lin Ze thought he intended to take him from behind. Obediently and with shame, he turned over.

Lin Ze felt as if his nape were being watched—so intensely it was as if a tongue with barbs were licking him inch by inch. Did he want to bite?

Lin Ze clenched the pillow tightly.

Soon, he was embraced, his neck nuzzled by a head, the hair prickling his skin. The scent gland on his nape felt the scorching heat of breath. Expecting to be bitten, Lin Ze gripped until his fingers turned white.

But instead, he kissed it gently, as if treating something precious…

“Does it hurt?”