Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The air grew thick.

Lin Ze had never seen him look so terrifying and began to tremble instinctively. "After the divorce, I'll still... have a child for you as agreed..."

But these words didn't placate him; instead, his gaze grew even colder. He grabbed Lin Ze's ankle and yanked him forward, forcing him into a humiliating position.

This time, he seemed intent on taking him without preamble. A remembered pain shot through Lin Ze. "Xiu Jin, please calm down first..."

Li Xiujin paid him no mind.

Soon, Lin Ze was trembling uncontrollably.

At that moment, the communication device beside him rang, but he ignored it, his voice cold. "Spread your legs."

Lin Ze felt utterly humiliated but still struggled to comply...

The phone rang a second time, a third time, a fourth time...

Even for important matters, Fu Zhi would dare call at most twice. Li Xiujin's brow furrowed in anger. Seeing the caller's name, he threw on his clothes and got up. Before leaving, he said coldly, "If you ever dare mention the word 'divorce' again, I'll throw Lin Zhuo into the sea."

Several heavily armed soldiers stood at the door. Yang Yu, who had just stepped out of a vehicle, opened the door for him. Catching a glimpse of his dark expression from the corner of his eye, Yang Yu was startled. "It's quite sudden for the Prime Minister to summon you to the Central Headquarters now, but it must be important, General. Please, sir, try not to be upset."

Li Xiujin shot him a cold glance.

Yang Yu's hair stood on end, though he felt he hadn't said anything wrong.

"Drive," Li Xiujin ordered.

The Central Headquarters was where the Prime Minister lived and worked, under heavy guard. After they arrived, they had to pass through a series of checks—fingerprint, iris scan, etc.—before being escorted inside.

They walked down a long corridor to where the Prime Minister handled official business. Two of the Prime Minister's personal guards stood at the door and opened it for them.

In the grand office hall, the Prime Minister, draped in an outer coat, had stacks upon stacks of official documents piled before him.

Yang Yu lowered his head as soon as he entered. But Li Xiujin's demeanor toward the Prime Minister was no different than toward a subordinate, offering a perfunctory salute before asking coldly, "Did something earth-shattering happen that you called me here?"

The Prime Minister was fifty-two this year, showing no signs of aging. His face was stern, his expression imposing, and his voice deep and powerful.

"What kind of attitude is this?"

Yang Yu's legs went weak, but Li Xiujin remained stony-faced.

Seeing him like this, the Prime Minister asked Yang Yu, "Who provoked him?"

Yang Yu shook his head while breaking out in a cold sweat.

Actually, even before Li Xiujin became a general, when the Prime Minister summoned him, he had always been like this. But the Prime Minister thought the world of him and never got angry with him. It was Yang Yu who suffered, his shirt drenched through each time he accompanied Li Xiujin here.

The Prime Minister coughed twice. "When will you ever change this foul temper of yours? I'm seeing you so late, of course, because I have something important to tell you!"

Seeing that Li Xiujin showed no sign of listening attentively, he plowed on. "Out of all those omegas, why did you have to marry Lin Ze? Now look at the mess you've caused! I want to help you, but there's nothing I can do!"

"I shouldn't interfere with my subordinates' private lives, but you're different. I have to rein you in. First, divorce him..."

Hearing these two words, Li Xiujin's face darkened further, and he turned to leave.

"Stop!" the Prime Minister roared.

"Alright, alright, have it your way..."

Only then did Li Xiujin halt.

Yang Yu watched with bated breath. It was true that the Prime Minister valued Li Xiujin highly, but more accurately, the Prime Minister treated Li Xiujin somewhat like a son.

"While the public opinion has been suppressed for now, don't delay any longer. Resume your duties quickly," the Prime Minister sighed, then added sarcastically, "People might think you're the master here!"

"Busy. I'll do it later," Li Xiujin said.

Actually, everyone thought Li Xiujin was delaying his reinstatement because of the public opinion caused by his marriage to Lin Ze. But that wasn't the case at all. Li Xiujin had been stalling all along, and the Prime Minister practically begged him every day to resume his duties.

"What are you busy with? Are you busier than I am?" The Prime Minister clutched his chest and called for someone to bring him fast-acting heart pills. After receiving them, he swallowed two in one go. "You'll be the death of me sooner or later."

But Li Xiujin suddenly showed him respect.

"If you agree to reinvestigate the incident from seven years ago, perhaps I won't be so busy."

The Prime Minister was slightly taken aback, then looked utterly helpless. "That Lin Ze has a good face and figure, but surely he hasn't bewitched you to this extent? Has he cast some evil spell on you?"

"That incident happened seven years ago. Those involved are either dead or gone. What more do you want to investigate? Perhaps the current situation is the best protection for Lin Ze. What if he really did it? You're married to him now. How will you explain it to the public? How will I explain it to the public?"

"It couldn't have been him," Li Xiujin said, his eyes darkening, each word spoken with conviction.

"You're not him. How do you know it wasn't him? You weren't even an adult when that incident happened! Even though you're married now, husband and wife, hearts are separated by layers of flesh. You can never truly know him."

Li Xiujin's face turned icy. "If the final investigation proves he really did it, I am willing to take responsibility."

Hearing this, the Prime Minister was speechless for a long moment, growing even more curious about what kind of charm this Lin Ze possessed.

"I can agree to other things, but not this," the Prime Minister turned away.

Li Xiujin let out a cold laugh. "In that case, Yang Yu, let's go. Let the Prime Minister rest."

The sound of footsteps grew fainter. The Prime Minister struggled internally. This stubborn brat—if he didn't agree to the investigation, Li Xiujin definitely wouldn't resume his duties. If he didn't resume his duties, then the faction led by Su Wang couldn't be kept in check. Su Wang himself wasn't important; it was the people behind him who were dangerously ambitious. Only Li Xiujin could restrain them.

After much deliberation, he finally relented, saying angrily, "Fine, investigate! Let's see what you can dig up!"

Then his voice turned cold. "But I warn you in advance: if it really was Lin Ze, I won't show any mercy to you or him."

Li Xiujin, who had reached the door, stopped. His perpetually gloomy expression finally softened somewhat, and he deigned to offer a salute.

"Thank you."

The Prime Minister rubbed his throbbing temples and waved his hand.

"Get out, get out."

*

After Li Xiujin left, Lin Ze closed his legs in humiliation, put on his clothes, and tried to sleep with his eyes shut, but couldn't. About two hours later, he heard the sound of a car outside—Li Xiujin had returned. Not daring to bring up divorce again, Lin Ze nervously pretended to be asleep. But a long time passed, and the bedroom door never opened.

In the morning, Lin Ze didn't see him either. Thinking he might have imagined the car sound, he heard a servant ask with a worried face, "Sir, did you have a fight with the General?"

"The General came back late last night and slept in the study. He left this morning without even eating breakfast."

So it wasn't his imagination.

"Everything was fine, how did you end up fighting again? And he slept in the study... Did the General make you angry?"

Lin Ze forced a smile. Li Xiujin had never made him angry; it was always him who angered Li Xiujin.

"You can fight, but don't sleep in separate rooms. Sleeping apart is really bad for your relationship. You have to talk out any misunderstandings," the servant fretted, going on about them.

Lin Ze nodded.

After class, Li Xiaoyang suddenly called out to him.

"My grandfather wants to see you."

Lin Ze was startled. He had originally planned not to go, but after thinking it over, he nodded.

"My grandfather wants to see you because your situation has affected Li Xiujin," Li Xiaoyang added.

"I guessed as much."

"And you're still going?"

Lin Ze gave a hum of agreement. "Take me there."

Li Xiaoyang snorted and led him to a private room in an upscale restaurant near the school. Besides Li Xiujin's grandfather, there was also a woman, who should be Li Xiaoyang's mother. She frowned and gestured for Li Xiaoyang to sit beside her.

"A murderer actually has the nerve to keep living in this world," Li Tingyuan stared at him coldly. "If you had any self-awareness, you should take the initiative to divorce Li Xiujin instead of dragging him down."

Meng Yang chimed in from the side, "We've seen plenty of people like you. You just want money, right? How much? We'll give it to you. Take the money and get lost."

Lin Ze paid no mind to their insults and said seriously, "When Xiu Jin and I got married, it was indeed for money. But afterward, I developed feelings for him. If he doesn't ask for a divorce himself, I won't leave him..."

"Actually, I came today to explain to you, Mr. Li, what I said last time." Lin Ze looked at him. "Last time, it was because Xiu Jin was injured, and I said those things just to get rid of you."

"But actually..." Lin Ze's voice was firm, his gaze gentle. "I really like him and want to build a family with him."

Li Tingyuan's eyes widened in shock.

Lin Ze continued, "You don't have much affection for Xiu Jin, so I hope you'll accumulate some virtue for your future days and stop disturbing his life."

"I've said what I wanted to say to you. I have class next, so I'll excuse myself and won't be joining you for the meal." Lin Ze said politely.

After leaving, Lin Ze finally let out a breath he'd been holding. Before meeting Li Tingyuan, he hadn't realized how cruel this man was, to the point that his own casual words had become weapons to attack Li Xiujin. Now he finally felt a little less guilty toward Xiu Jin.

Then his cheeks flushed with heat. He had never imagined that one day he would say such shameful things to others. Thankfully, the person in question wasn't there, otherwise... Lin Ze covered his eyes with his palm, his face turning a deep red.

After getting off work and returning home, Lin Ze waited for Li Xiujin until he fell asleep.

The next morning, he learned from the servant again: "The General came back very late last night and went to the study again."

The servant was extremely worried. "This is the second day."

At this rate, when are they ever going to have a child?

Lin Ze had waited for him last night, hoping to explain why he had brought up divorce. But it seemed Li Xiujin was really very angry about the divorce matter, to the point that he'd rather sleep in the study than see him.

There had been times when he was angry before, but Li Xiujin never slept in the study. This time, he seemed truly furious.

During his lunch break, Lin Ze thought about it and still called Li Xiujin, but Fu Zhi answered.

"Is Xiu Jin... busy?"

"Yes, Colonel Lin."

"What is it? You can tell me first, and I'll relay it to the General."

"It's nothing. Let him focus on his work."

"Really nothing?" Fu Zhi asked, remembering the last time.

Lin Ze paused for a moment. "About what time will he be back today?"

"That's uncertain, but it will probably be very late. The General has been very busy recently."

"Alright, I understand."

After the call ended, Fu Zhi immediately wanted to report to Li Xiujin, but at that moment, he was standing outside the conference room at the Central Headquarters. Li Xiujin, along with several other generals, commanders, and the Prime Minister, were discussing matters inside. They had entered at 8 a.m. and were still there.

He waited for about another hour and a half before Li Xiujin came out.

"General, is the reinstatement confirmed this time?"

Li Xiujin didn't answer, but judging by his expression, Fu Zhi thought it was confirmed. "That's great news. We should tell Colonel Lin right away. Colonel Lin is quite concerned about this."

Fu Zhi expected him to call Lin Ze immediately and was surprised when Li Xiujin just let out a cold laugh.

Fu Zhi was puzzled but didn't probe further. Instead, he asked about another matter he was concerned about. "Is the investigation into Colonel Lin's case from seven years ago also confirmed?"

Li Xiujin's expression turned serious, a hint of killing intent in his eyes. "The approval documents for the reinvestigation will be issued in a week."

"That's excellent. Finally, we can clear Colonel Lin's name. Some people have been arrogant for too long; it's time for them to be afraid." Fu Zhi was happy for Colonel Lin.

Back in the car, Fu Zhi remembered something. "Oh, right. Colonel Lin called while you were in the meeting."

Li Xiujin's face was stony. "What did he say?"

"He asked when you'd be back. I promised to get back to him. Should I tell him now that you're on your way back?"

Li Xiujin let out a cold snort.

Seeing a sulky expression on his face, Fu Zhi immediately understood. "General, did you two have a fight?"

"Don't inquire into matters that don't concern you." Li Xiujin shot him a glance.

When Lin Ze got off work and returned home, seeing Li Xiujin's car, he knew he was back. He suddenly felt nervous. Steeling himself, he entered the living room but didn't see anyone.

The servant hurried out from the kitchen and told him, "The she-wolf is pregnant again. The General is having the vet examine her. Go take a look. After the vet leaves, when you're alone with the General, try to say some soft words, act cute. No alpha can resist that. You'll surely make up quickly."

Feeling somewhat ashamed, Lin Ze took off his coat and went to the she-wolf's area. Sure enough, he saw the alpha he hadn't seen for two or three days. He wasn't in his usual suit but wore a crisp military uniform, as if he had rushed here right after returning without changing.

In his military uniform, he appeared even taller and more imposing, making the doctor beside him seem almost small.

"Xiu Jin, how is the she-wolf..." Lin Ze mustered his courage to ask.

Li Xiujin's face was tense, and he ignored him.

Still angry...

Lin Ze felt at a loss.

The doctor sensed the strange atmosphere between them and said, "She's fine, very healthy."

Lin Ze nodded.

The doctor had come mainly to check the she-wolf's health. Once he confirmed there were no issues, he tactfully left.

Only Lin Ze and Li Xiujin remained.

The originally small wolf cub had grown rapidly, eating and drinking heartily, quickly finishing the water and food prepared for him. Li Xiujin rolled up his shirt sleeves and went to fetch water for them.

Lin Ze followed closely behind him.

Li Xiujin's strides were so long that Lin Ze had to jog to keep up.

"Xiujin, are you still angry..." Lin Ze asked cautiously.

"If you've already decided on divorce, why do you care if I'm angry?" Li Xiujin replied coldly.

"I... I didn't really mean it. I was just afraid... afraid it would affect you..."

But such an explanation did nothing to soften Li Xiujin's expression.

Lin Ze didn't know how to speak softly or act cute. The only way he'd ever been able to calm Xiujin down was in bed, but Li Xiujin was no longer willing to sleep with him...

A slight tremble ran through Lin Ze. He didn't know what to do...