Chapter 33

Chapter 33

"Xiujin, is the study uncomfortable to sleep in?" After dinner, Lin Ze stopped Li Xiujin as he was heading to the study.

"It's just a place to sleep."

"If it's uncomfortable, you can return to the bedroom. I'll sleep in the guest room..." Lin Ze added.

"No need."

Lin Ze's expression dimmed, but he still said softly, "Then be careful not to catch a cold."

"Hmm."

Lin Ze stood in place, watching his cold back as he entered the study. His heart clenched, and he finally lowered his gaze and returned to the bedroom, tossing and turning for a long time before falling asleep.

After finishing his work, Li Xiujin didn't even glance at the bed in the study before returning to the bedroom.

In the dim room, a small bulge was on the bed. Li Xiujin scooped Lin Ze into his arms, pinched his face, and studied it. His long eyelashes were lowered, his cheeks were flushed pink, and he was sleeping soundly, not even waking up when his face was pinched.

Li Xiujin sneered inwardly. *Still pretending you can't sleep without me? You're clearly sleeping more soundly than anyone.*

Li Xiujin lowered his head and took his lips, sucking. Soon, Lin Ze's face turned from pink to flushed, and his lips became moist.

Li Xiujin pressed his forehead against Lin Ze's, his voice hoarse. "Just two days without touching you, and you're already this needy?"

After he was done, Li Xiujin, his sweat-dampened head, burrowed into Lin Ze's embrace and fell asleep. Just before Lin Ze was about to wake up, he nonchalantly returned to the study, running into a servant who was preparing breakfast.

Li Xiujin said, "Keep your mouth shut."

While sitting in the car on the way to school, Lin Ze was still feeling ashamed. He didn't know why the sheets were wet when he woke up in the morning. Was it because he had a wet dream last night? Had he already become so shameless? It had only been three nights since he and Xiujin started sleeping in separate beds.

When Lin Ze returned from school, he saw Li Xiujin's car at the school gate. His heart fluttered. *Was he no longer angry with him?* After getting in the car, he found that Li Xiujin wasn't there, only Fu Zhi.

"Colonel Lin, General Li asked me to pick you up to attend a banquet," Fu Zhi said with a smile.

Lin Ze hid his disappointment. "Given my status, wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to go?"

"How could that be? This banquet requires bringing a spouse. If the General doesn't bring you, who else could he bring?"

Lin Ze just smiled and asked, "What kind of banquet is it? Is it okay for me to dress like this?"

"You'll change clothes when we get there."

Lin Ze nodded. Li Xiujin wasn't one to attend banquets often, so this one was probably very important. He needed to make a good impression.

Upon arrival, Lin Ze discovered that the banquet wasn't held at a wealthy person's villa or a luxurious hotel, but at a place he had visited many times when he was still a colonel—the Central Headquarters.

"Are you sure we're at the right place?" Lin Ze asked.

Of course, such a place could host banquets, but they were usually limited to generals and above. Li Xiujin was currently mired in scandal and might never be reinstated. Why could he still bring his spouse to a banquet here?

"No mistake," Fu Zhi said.

After the vehicles and personnel were inspected, they were smoothly allowed entry. The palace, symbolizing the highest authority, was grand and solemn. Alphas in military uniforms with stern faces entered the dedicated banquet hall in an orderly manner.

Lin Ze followed Fu Zhi inside. Fu Zhi took him to change clothes, settled him in, and then said, "Colonel, please wait here for a while. The General will be here soon."

Lin Ze nodded.

After Fu Zhi left, Lin Ze sat quietly, waiting for Li Xiujin while observing the people in the banquet hall. The Alphas were all in military uniforms, their shoulders laden with insignias. Their spouses were dressed beautifully and elegantly.

As they passed by, Lin Ze faintly overheard a few sentences: "I thought he was going to be forced out completely, but I didn't expect the Prime Minister to invite him back in the end, even hosting such a special banquet for him..."

"There's no helping it. Who told him to be favored by the Prime Minister and have such means?"

"The only pity is that he married an alpha of peculiar status."

*Who were they talking about? Xiujin? But because of him, the scandal was so intense. How could the Prime Minister possibly invite him back?*

A young, handsome Alpha walked over and greeted him. "Hello, are you here alone?"

"I'm waiting for someone," Lin Ze replied, coming back to his senses politely.

"Coincidentally, I'm waiting for someone too," the Alpha said, very forward. "You're not in a military uniform. Are you here as a family member?"

"Yes."

"Me too. I came with my father to join the excitement. Would you like a drink?"

"No, thank you."

Elsewhere, Li Xiujin changed into his formal military uniform, fastened the buttons, and examined himself in the mirror.

Yang Yu stood beside him. "General, you cut a dashing figure. When your husband sees you dressed like this later, he'll surely be utterly captivated."

Li Xiujin scoffed coldly but still straightened his shirt a bit more, smoothed out the slightest wrinkle on his jacket, and even combed his hair meticulously before leaving.

From the second floor, his eyes immediately locked onto Lin Ze. But soon, his face darkened slightly. There was another Alpha beside Lin Ze, and the two were chatting.

*Just a short while away from me, and he's already laughing and chatting happily with another man.* With a cold expression, he quickly walked downstairs.

The unfamiliar Alpha was too enthusiastic. Just as Lin Ze was thinking about how to get rid of him, he finally caught sight of that familiar figure out of the corner of his eye.

He was wearing the military uniform of a general for important occasions, his hair combed back, revealing deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, and an exceptionally handsome face.

Lin Ze stood in place, unable to hear the words around him, feeling as if time had stopped, staring at him blankly until his wrist was tightly grasped.

Li Xiujin looked at the Alpha with a warning gaze. "What were you chatting about with him? Why not chat with me too?"

After the Alpha hurriedly left, Li Xiujin pinched Lin Ze's chin, his expression dark. "So eager to find the next one?"

Lin Ze's eyes were fixed on him, shaking his head in shame. "No, it's not..."

Li Xiujin's expression softened slightly.

"Xiujin, what kind of banquet is this?"

"You'll know soon."

Lin Ze asked again, "Then what should I say, and what shouldn't I say?"

"Say whatever you want."

"Won't it affect you?"

Li Xiujin sneered. "No one here holds a higher position than your husband. They're the ones who should worry about saying the wrong thing."

"Hmm..."

The hand that had been holding his wrist slid down to grasp his palm. "Come with me."

Lin Ze stared at his hand, held tightly in the other's grip, then his gaze fell on Li Xiujin's broad, imposing shoulders. A wave of warmth flooded his heart, and his cheeks flushed crimson.

The moment he saw the Prime Minister, Lin Ze nervously tried to tug his hand free, but Li Xiujin only tightened his grip. Luckily, the Prime Minister simply smiled kindly at them. "I'm hosting this banquet specially for General Li's reinstatement. You and Xiujin should relax and enjoy yourselves. Once official duties become busy later, you won't even have the chance to relax."

After just a few words, he left with his subordinates.

As if still unable to believe his ears, Lin Ze asked softly and anxiously, "Xiu Jin, did I hear correctly...?"

"Yes."

Lin Ze's eyes widened. "That's... that's wonderful..."

He had thought he would be a burden to him, but it turned out he wasn't. A heavy stone weighing on Lin Ze's heart was finally lifted. His eyes grew hot, filled with a joy he had never felt before.

"Didn't I tell you not to worry about this? Why did you still overthink it?" Li Xiujin cupped his face, his voice low.

"You can't even have a child, yet you dare talk to me about divorce."

Lin Ze gave an embarrassed smile.

"If you mention it again in the future," Li Xiujin said sternly, "I won't do anything to you, but I won't let Lin Zhuo off. Thrown into the sea or riddled with bullets—you choose."

"No, I won't... I won't say it again..." Lin Ze's cheeks flushed red.

They left before the banquet ended. In the car, the privacy partition was raised. As soon as Lin Ze got in, Li Xiujin seized his wrist. His eyes were exceptionally bright in the dim carriage, surging with turbulent emotions.

Lin Ze's heart fluttered slightly. While afraid, he was also eager, his lips tingling slightly and feeling dry.

The sound of shameful, wet kisses filled the carriage.

Lin Ze's cheeks were flushed crimson as he tightly clutched the epaulets on Li Xiujin's uniform.

After who knows how long, Li Xiujin finally released his rosy lips. Lin Ze remained dazed, his mouth slightly agape. When he finally came to his senses and realized Li Xiujin was watching him like this, Lin Ze was utterly mortified. "Xiu Jin, are you still angry?"

"Yes."

Lin Ze was at a loss. Remembering something, he mustered his courage despite his shyness and said, "Then... I'll wear the clothes you like for you... okay?"

Li Xiujin's breathing instantly grew heavy. He teased deliberately, "The clothes I like? What clothes?"

Lin Ze was deeply flustered. "Pajamas..."

"Lingerie pajamas?"

"Yes..."

"That's not enough to get me to forgive you," Li Xiujin continued deliberately.

"Then... what else..."

"Pose yourself."

A light shudder ran through Lin Ze. After a moment, he still nodded shyly.

"Yes..."

However, upon arriving home, Li Xiujin's work phone rang. He glanced at it, his expression darkening slightly.

"I originally intended to give you this at the banquet, but when I arrived, you were already gone. I had no choice but to leave it with your assistant," Su Wang said, pouring him a cup of tea with an apologetic look.

*

Li Xiujin opened the file folder with an indifferent expression. It contained some minor details about the Regeneration Plan from seven years ago. He glanced at it and closed it.

"I recall asking you last time if you knew about this, and you said you didn't. What does this mean now?"

"I just found out about this myself. I originally intended to use it to save my own skin, but hearing that the Prime Minister has agreed to reinvestigate the events of seven years ago, I had to quickly confess everything I know to prove my innocence."

Li Xiujin's expression was inscrutable. "Quite sensible."

"To reach this position, one must have some sharpness."

Li Xiujin took the materials and left. Back in the car, Fu Zhi asked, "Why the sudden kindness? Is what he gave you even legit?"

Li Xiujin recalled a name he had just seen, his face clouding. He then ordered, "Back to the old mansion."

The car stopped at the old mansion. The previously dark villa suddenly lit up brightly.

"The old master has already retired for the night. Whatever it is, discuss it tomorrow."

Li Xiujin strode ahead, with Li Zhi and Meng Yang following behind. Ignoring them, Li Xiujin pushed open the door to Li Tingyuan's room. Li Tingyuan was sitting before a chessboard, not even looking up. "So you still remember to come back?"

Li Xiujin shut Li Zhi and his wife outside the door and demanded, "Did you personally donate to the Regeneration Plan seven years ago?"

Li Tingyuan was slightly taken aback. "What about it? I control such a large enterprise; of course, I should give back to the country and do charitable donations."

"Hopefully, that's all it was," Li Xiujin sneered. "You'd better be clean. If you're involved, I won't hold back."

"What do you mean? What are you implying?" Li Tingyuan roared angrily.

Li Xiujin stormed out. As he was about to get into the car, a voice called out to him. Turning, Li Xiujin saw it was Meng Yang's foolish son.

"A few days ago, Grandpa and Mom went to see Teacher Lin."

Li Xiaoyang said. He felt his mother and grandfather were foolish. Knowing full well that Li Xiujin was not to be trifled with, they still went to Lin Ze to spout nonsense. Once Lin Ze complained, they would surely suffer the consequences. It was better to confess proactively.

"What did they say?" Li Xiujin asked coldly.

"They said Lin Ze was a burden to you and that he should divorce you quickly..."

"But my mom and grandpa didn't succeed. Instead, they were infuriated because Teacher Lin said..." Li Xiaoyang recalled, "Teacher Lin said he really likes you, wants to build a family with you, and have children with you..."

Li Xiujin's breath hitched slightly. "He really said that?"

"Absolutely true."

Li Xiaoyang watched his expression. "You won't blame my mother now, will you?"

Li Xiujin didn't answer, just waved his hand dismissively.

Returning home, Li Xiujin first went to the bedroom and found Lin Ze already asleep. He took a shower and quietly gazed at Lin Ze. The two sentences kept replaying in his mind: 'I really like him, I want to build a family with him, I want to have his children.' Emotions he hadn't felt since losing his parents surged within him.

Even if he were shot dead right now, he would die happy. Thinking this, Li Xiujin gently embraced Lin Ze—the young man he had decided at fifteen should be his wife.

But soon, Li Xiujin sensed something amiss. Pulling back the covers, his eyes immediately darkened. Lin Ze wore pajamas that were as good as wearing nothing, snow-white skin tinged with pink, and a pair of long legs.

When Lin Ze opened his eyes, he found Li Xiujin holding his waist, gently kissing his neck.

Lin Ze flushed with embarrassment: "Xiujin, when did you get back?"

"Why didn't you wake me up?"

"I wasn't even around. Why are you still dressed like this?" Li Xiujin cupped his face, rubbing his nose against his.

"So that... if I fell asleep, you could..."

"Oh? So you wanted me to have my way with you while you were sleeping." Li Xiujin's breath was scorching, his voice turning hoarse as he said: "Colonel Lin, so you like it this way?"

Lin Ze lowered his gaze. Truthfully, he didn't mind either way; he just thought Xiujin would enjoy it.

Li Xiujin gently kissed his flushed cheek: "Then close your eyes now. I'll pretend you're asleep, and then we'll..."