Chapter 31

Chapter 31

When Lin Ze finished his teaching and training session, he saw the omega assistant instructor standing at the training room door.

"Teacher Fan is planning to resign, and the teachers have spontaneously organized a farewell party for her. They sent me to ask if you'd like to attend."

Apart from the omega assistant, Lin Ze wasn't familiar with the other teachers. Worried his presence might make them uncomfortable, he shook his head. "I'll pass."

"Alright." The omega didn't leave immediately but casually added, "Do you know why Teacher Fan is resigning?"

"Did she find a better job somewhere?"

The omega assistant smiled. "That was my first reaction too when I heard she was resigning, but unfortunately, no."

Lin Ze couldn't think of any other reasons and waited patiently for her to tell him.

"It's to marry an alpha!" The omega tsked. "How can someone give up their own career for someone else? Having to hold your hand out, living at someone else's mercy!"

"You shouldn't do that even for the one you love. It's too 'love-brained'."

When it came to gossip like this, Lin Ze never really knew how to respond, but this time he said softly, "Everyone makes their own choices."

Sacrificing a career for someone means that person is more important to them than their job. It just isn't in line with mainstream values, but it's not wrong. Using a negative label like 'love-brained' to criticize it comes off as rather arrogant.

The omega assistant nodded, realizing her words had indeed been somewhat offensive. "I'll be going then."

Lin Ze nodded and returned to his office. Sitting at his desk, he was too distracted to work, lost in thought about what Li Xiujin had said the night before.

Taking a one-year leave of absence for marriage and resigning to get married might not seem as 'love-brained,' but at their core, both involve sacrificing part of one's future prospects.

This year of leave was specifically for the purpose of getting married—if it was specifically for marriage, then the marriage partner could have been anyone else, not necessarily him. Or did it literally mean just to marry him? But the two of them hardly knew each other before, almost like strangers. Why would he specifically take a year off just to marry him?

In the end, Lin Ze thought it must be the former. Li Xiujin had already planned to get married, and then, by chance, they had been intimate, so he simply went along with it.

Otherwise, he couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation...

As the day for Li Xiujin's return to duty drew nearer, he remained as usual, showing no change. In contrast, Lin Ze was filled with unease.

These past few days, Li Xiujin had become busy again, returning from the corporation and still handling work in his study. Lin Ze, who had only gone to bring him some fruit, ended up being made to sit on his lap. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Lin Ze said, "This might interfere with your work."

But Li Xiujin simply wrapped an arm around his waist and continued reviewing documents. Lin Ze tried to sit as quietly as possible on his lap, not wanting to interrupt his work.

Suddenly, a calloused hand began kneading his abdomen. Lin Ze shuddered and snapped back to reality, meeting Li Xiujin's scrutinizing gaze. A blush spread across his cheeks. "Xiu Jin, are you done?"

"What's on your mind? You seem distracted."

"Nothing..."

"Really?" Li Xiujin narrowed his eyes.

"Really..."

Seemingly convinced, Li Xiujin unbuttoned his shirt, exposing his abdomen.

Snow-white and flat...

Li Xiujin frowned.

Lin Ze felt deeply ashamed. Some time had passed, but he showed no signs of pregnancy.

But fortunately, Li Xiujin didn't blame him, as his attention was drawn elsewhere.

Lin Ze covered his flushed face, trembling lightly in Li Xiujin's embrace.

There was one day left until Li Xiujin's return to duty. Ever since waking up, Lin Ze's eyelid had been twitching. During breakfast, the usually lively servants were unusually silent, and the driver unusually didn't turn on the car radio.

While training the students, they kept whispering among themselves.

After class, Li Xiaoyang walked up to him with a malicious smile. "Sometimes I really don't know if you're too heartless or just too slow. Things have blown up so much, and you can still teach us normally."

He had been behaving well recently, so why was he suddenly being sharp-tongued again?

Seeing his confusion, Li Xiaoyang said, "You haven't seen the news, have you?"

"What news?" A sense of foreboding washed over Lin Ze.

"Your marriage to Li Xiujin has been made public. Now everyone knows that General Li married someone who killed his own teacher and teammate."

Lin Ze swayed slightly.

He returned to his office, found his phone that he hadn't touched all morning, and opened the news channel. Sure enough, it was all about him and Li Xiujin. The most prominent headline was: "Why marry a heinous alpha?"

Lin Ze's face turned pale. His worst fear had indeed come true.

Over the years, he had faced so many attacks that he had become numb. But Li Xiujin... Ignoring the old events from seven years ago being dug up again and the videos of him covered in blood answering reporters' questions...

Lin Ze, feeling icy cold, scrolled through every news article. Many who claimed to be Li Xiujin's followers began turning against him. Many others believed Li Xiujin had been seduced by him, given their significant age difference. The latter opinion seemed more prevalent.

Lin Ze thought that if people really believed that, it might actually be beneficial for Li Xiujin. If all the criticism was directed at him, it wouldn't affect Li Xiujin too much, especially right before his return to duty.

If this public opinion prevented Li Xiujin from returning to his post, Lin Ze would feel immensely guilty and blame himself.

Lin Ze turned off his phone and handwrote a statement. He explained his physical abnormality, how his heat cycle had affected Li Xiujin who was merely passing by, and how Li Xiujin had taken responsibility afterward by marrying him.

After finishing the handwritten statement, Lin Ze contacted the lawyer who had always helped him release statements when he was still a colonel.

However, just a few minutes later, the lawyer called back.

"General Li's side has already released a statement, Colonel. Perhaps you should take a look first before deciding whether to release yours."

After reading it, Lin Ze trembled slightly.

"On behalf of General Li Xiujin, the following statement is issued: General Li admired Colonel Lin Ze from their first meeting. Upon meeting again seven years later, he actively proposed marriage. There was no seduction involved."

Lin Ze requested half a day's leave.

On the way home, Lu Mo and Lin Zhuo kept texting him, asking how he was. Lin Ze didn't reply.

Li Xiujin returned home in the evening as usual. The news and public opinion seemed like a minor matter to him, causing no visible impact. His demeanor was normal. After dinner, he went to his study and didn't return to the bedroom until late at night. He hugged Lin Ze from behind, closed his eyes, and seemed ready to sleep.

"Xiu Jin..." Lin Ze spoke softly.

"Hmm."

"Will this matter affect you?"

"I could have my previous lawyer issue a new statement, saying it was because my... heat affected you."

His body was forcibly turned around. Li Xiujin gripped his chin, his gaze heavy. "If you release that now, are you trying to make me lose face?"

"No, I'm afraid it will affect you. Your reinstatement is coming up soon."

"You haven't committed any crime, and we are legally married. How could it affect me?"

"It's not that I'm innocent; it's just that they haven't found evidence yet." Lin Ze gave a bitter smile. His existence had always been a ticking time bomb for Li Xiujin's career. Even if it doesn't blow up now, it will eventually.

"If it's really proven in the end that I did it..." Lin Ze's voice trembled slightly. He might face dismissal or even heavier penalties.

Li Xiujin suddenly bit his lips, kissing him with a dark, possessive intensity.

Even at a time like this, a kiss could still stir up shameful feelings. Lin Ze was kissed until his limbs went weak, aching with desire, before he was finally released, his face flushed with humiliation.

"Then that's a price I'm willing to pay. From the moment I decided to marry you, I was prepared to accept this consequence," Li Xiujin said coldly.

*

"Brother, are you and Li Xiujin okay?" Because Lin Ze hadn't been answering his calls, Lin Zhuo came to the school to find him.

"It's nothing." Lin Ze didn't want him to worry and forced a smile. "How have things been for you working for him lately?"

"It's fine."

"This matter has caused quite a stir, and it's happening during Li Xiujin's reinstatement period. It will definitely affect him." Lin Zhuo mused. "Even though General Li's lawyer issued that statement on his behalf."

"He said he fell in love with you seven years ago. Seven years ago was when your reputation was at its worst. How could he have liked you back then? It's probably just a story his lawyer cooked up for the public," Lin Zhuo said.

"Besides, just because he issued a statement doesn't mean he won't divorce you in the end."

"In fact, the most likely outcome is that he'll divorce you for the sake of his own future. So, you should really start planning for yourself."

Lin Zhuo said, somewhat ruefully. If he weren't Lin Ze's brother, Li Xiujin wouldn't even glance at him. But because he was Lin Ze's brother, he could get favors from Li Xiujin because of Lin Ze.

"I should start planning for myself too. With Su Jingyuan gone, if Li Xiujin divorces you and kicks me out of the company, what should I do?"

Lin Ze's face paled slightly. "Zhuo, don't worry. Even if I really... divorce him, you can still continue working for him. He wouldn't just fire you."

"I hope so."

After that night, Li Xiujin began working tirelessly, day and night.

The date had arrived, but Li Xiujin still hadn't been reinstated. Instead, the media frenzy died down just as quickly, as if nothing had ever happened.

Lin Ze didn't see Li Xiujin, though he ran into Fu Zhi a few times.

"When does he plan to be reinstated?" Lin Ze asked him.

"There's been too much going on lately. Maybe after he's done, or maybe he'll step down completely." Seeing Lin Ze's expression turn troubled, Fu Zhi quickly added, "Don't worry too much. It has nothing to do with you. It's General Li's personal plan."

Step down completely...

After working so hard to become a general, with such a bright future ahead, to throw it all away like this?

Was it all because of him?

When Li Xiujin returned that night, all he did was take him to bed. When Lin Ze asked him, he simply said, "You don't need to worry about this."

Then he became engrossed. Lin Ze's cheeks flushed, and he soon couldn't think straight.

The next morning, Lin Ze didn't go to school. Instead, he went to see his former lawyer.

"Long time no see, Colonel. I didn't know you were married. If I had known, I would have congratulated you," the lawyer said politely.

"Thank you," Lin Ze replied with a brief smile.

"I came to get your advice on divorce."

"Divorce?" The lawyer was slightly surprised. "Has General Li decided?" The lawyer assumed Li Xiujin had chosen to divorce Lin Ze for the sake of his career.

Lin Ze didn't know how to answer. Instead, he said, "When we got married, we signed an agreement..."

"A prenuptial agreement?" the lawyer asked instinctively, as in cases of significant wealth disparity, the wealthier party often asks the other to sign such an agreement to protect their assets in case of divorce.

Lin Ze shook his head. "We didn't sign that."

"No?" The lawyer was slightly surprised. "If you didn't sign such an agreement, you'd be entitled to half his assets in a divorce. Someone in his position should know this basic legal principle. Why didn't he sign one?"

Lin Ze had heard of this before. Hearing the lawyer's explanation now made his heart tighten slightly. It seemed Li Xiujin had never been wary of him.

"We signed another agreement, promising to bear him children..."

After listening, the lawyer analyzed, "This agreement doesn't clearly state what the consequences would be if you divorce him without having children."

"In other words, if you divorce him now, not only would you walk away unscathed, but you could also take a large portion of his assets." The lawyer smiled. "It's been a long time since I've seen a client as fortunate as you, Colonel."

"Is that so?" Lin Ze wasn't particularly happy. Instead, he asked, "What if I don't want the money?"

"Of course. I can draft a voluntary declaration for you when the time comes."

"Colonel, you and General Li married quickly, and it hasn't been long. Although this marriage may have affected General Li's future, there must be feelings between you. Is divorce really what you want?"

"I'm just here for consultation. I haven't made a decision yet," Lin Ze said softly.

By the time he returned home, it was already dark. Lin Ze cooked with the servants and waited for Li Xiujin to return.

He returned a bit earlier this time, but after dinner, he went to the study with Fu Zhi.

Lin Ze cut some fruit and brought it upstairs. Before he could knock, he heard Fu Zhi and Li Xiujin discussing something.

"Actually, the Prime Minister's attitude is quite clear."

"He specifically sent his trusted police officer to remind you that, as a public official, you shouldn't ruin your career over personal matters."

"Although no one dares to say anything now, everyone's attitude toward you is quite delicate. After reinstatement, it will definitely spark a new wave of public opinion, which won't be good for your future."

"You really should think this through carefully."

He had gone to deliver fruit, but he came back down with the fruit still untouched in his hands. A servant asked, "Sir, didn't you deliver it to the General?"

"I'm not feeling well. Could you take it up for me?" Lin Ze handed the fruit to the servant and went upstairs to rest.

Usually, he fell asleep quickly, but this time, he lay awake until Li Xiujin got into bed and embraced him from behind. Thinking Lin Ze was asleep, Li Xiujin kissed and nibbled the flesh on the back of his neck, then trailed kisses down his spine. His coarse hair prickled Lin Ze's skin like thorns...

Lin Ze's cheeks flushed. "Xiu Jin... I have something to tell you..."

"Let's... let's get a divorce..."

Li Xiujin knelt up, glaring down at him, his expression dark. "What did you say?"