Chapter 34

Chapter 34

People in the military academy all valued a robust physique, but Lin Ze was an exception. He was slender and lean, and unlike others with tanned skin, his was pale and smooth, especially since he was the type to keep himself bundled up year-round.

Li Xiujin held his ankle, gently kissing and licking his calf, finally biting his snow-white, blushing pink toes.

Lin Ze closed his eyes, as if truly asleep, but a flush slowly rose on his face, his fingers secretly clutching the bedsheet. He had only thought Li Xiujin would quickly get to the main event, never expected he would be kissing and licking his calf and toes.

Even though his feet were clean, Lin Ze still felt embarrassed, but he had already agreed to pretend to be asleep and couldn't speak.

Soon, Lin Ze's face turned pale again...

And as if deeply attracted to him, Li Xiujin grew restless upon sensing his scent.

Lin Ze didn't know how much time had passed. His mind was foggy. He opened his eyes in embarrassment and whispered, "Xiu Jin, Xiu Jin..."

"You're already asleep, how can you make a sound?"

"I'm sorry, I..." Lin Ze shivered slightly, "I feel like I'm about to... die..."

Li Xiujin's breath hitched, pulling him tightly into his arms, "Out of strength?"

Lin Ze grew embarrassed: "Mmm..."

"I'll let you sleep soon."

"Mmm..."

Li Xiujin had him sit up. Lin Ze's mind was foggy. When Li Xiujin nuzzled his nose affectionately, Lin Ze's eyes were locked on his cold lips.

He wanted to kiss them...

When he realized what he had done, Lin Ze retreated in embarrassment, but Li Xiujin stared at him, his gaze growing increasingly intense, and he cupped the back of Lin Ze's head, turning the tables.

Lin Ze's face was flushed crimson, clamping his teeth down on the back of his hand...

He had lost count of how many times...

But this time, he truly wanted to bear him a child...

*

Two days later, Li Xiujin officially resumed his duties and, together with the Prime Minister, gave an interview at the Central Headquarters. On the news screen, he was dressed in an immaculate military uniform, his hair combed back, with deep-set eyes, a high nose bridge, stern, dignified and imposing.

Compared to this handsome, brooding face, what stunned the audience more was the wedding ring on his ring finger.

Although the negative press had grown, people's admiration for power remained. Most people stayed in front of their screens to watch. Seeing that he was not haggard due to the scandal, but instead looked even more resolute and his eyes sharper.

"After causing such a big stir, he didn't divorce that vicious person, and even deliberately wore his wedding ring during the interview with the Prime Minister?"

"This wedding ring is for us to see, a warning to us, right?"

"Overthinking it. How could he possibly care about us? I think it's simply showing off his good relationship with his wife."

After the interview ended, Li Xiujin made to leave without delay. The Prime Minister called him back, issuing several instructions before Li Xiujin could finally extricate himself. He went to the back door of the Central Headquarters.

A car was parked at the back door, and in front of it stood a handsome, fair-skinned young man.

Li Xiujin quickly walked over, wrapping him up in a hug, his forehead pressed against the other's. "Why didn't you wait in the car?"

"It's the same waiting outside..." Lin Ze felt ashamed. Actually, he wanted to see him the moment he appeared.

"Did you see me on the news just now?"

"...Mmm."

"Handsome?"

"Mmm... "

"What does 'mmm' mean?"

"...Very handsome."

Li Xiujin's eyes darkened, biting his earlobe:

"Did it turn you on?"

Lin Ze flushed with embarrassment, shaking his head hurriedly.

Li Xiujin chuckled softly, thinking to himself that back when he saw him being interviewed on screen, he had gotten turned on.

"Kiss me."

"Here... can we go home?"

"We have things to do at home, too."

When Lin Ze had come to the Central Headquarters before, it was always in military uniform to handle official business. He never imagined that one day he'd be doing *this* here.

Enduring his shyness and the guilt of defiling the palace of supreme authority, Lin Ze stood on tiptoe, clinging to Li Xiujin's shoulders, and gently kissed him.

With sharp awareness, Li Xiujin noticed something, turned Lin Ze around so that he himself was facing the camera flash in the bushes, lifted his gaze, revealing a brooding, warning look.

A few days later, Li Xiujin saw the photo of himself kissing Lin Ze published in the news. He examined it carefully; only his own face was visible, Lin Ze only showed some of his soft black hair.

"It was probably taken right after your interview ended, General. Should we contact them to have this photo removed?" Yang Yu asked.

"No need." Li Xiujin said calmly, "Let them continue publishing it."

Yang Yu was slightly taken aback, then also smiled. "I'll go handle it right away."

After handling it and returning, Yang Yu had an additional document in his hand.

"According to your instructions, we investigated several donors of the Regeneration Plan. Your grandfather is indeed among them, but that's not surprising. Actually, every year he personally provides funding and subsidies to the military, quite a principled and philanthropic old entrepreneur."

That is, if one sets aside his abuse of Li Xiujin.

"And the year Lin Ze participated in the Regeneration Plan, his donations actually started to decrease."

Li Xiujin sneered. The decrease was because he had grown up by then, and Li Tingyuan was busy contending with him, having no time to care about other things.

"There's nothing wrong with these funds either. It probably has nothing to do with your grandfather."

"Best if it doesn't."

"However, we also looked into the other donors. We found that not long after they donated to the Regeneration Plan, a large sum of money was transferred out."

"Their transfers were to the same person. Although the other party had layered themselves with multiple shells of obfuscation, we still managed to trace some clues."

"Who?"

"The wife of the deceased Su Jingyuan?"

"It seems this Su Wang not only used his own brother, but didn't even spare his sister-in-law." Li Xiujin said with a sneer, "Don't act rashly. Protect her first."

"Yes, the situation from last time will not be repeated."

"By the way, General, the Prime Minister has approved your request to reinvestigate the Regeneration Plan. Should we inform Colonel Lin about this?"

"Do you think we should tell him?"

"Of course, such great news."

Li Xiujin gave an inscrutable smile. He could sense that Lin Ze didn't want him meddling in this. Whether to tell him or not, he needed to think it over.

"You and Fu Zhi, keep your mouths shut."

*

Lin Ze looked at the photo in the news—it was the one taken of that kiss with Li Xiujin. Although only Li Xiujin's face was visible, everyone knew who the other person was.

He had thought the photo would be quickly deleted, but not only was it not removed, more and more media outlets were publishing it.

His marriage to Li Xiujin was now publicly cemented.

Fortunately, it didn't affect his work. He continued his routine as usual, teaching classes and going about his duties. That day, after training the children and preparing to leave with his lesson plans, Li Xiaoyang suddenly stopped him.

Lately, Li Xiaoyang would come to ask him things whenever he had free time, seemingly trying to improve their relationship.

"I told Li Xiujin about what my grandfather and mother said to you last time," Li Xiaoyang said.

That time...

"You... didn't add anything, did you?" Lin Ze asked nervously.

"No, I just told Li Xiujin what my grandfather and mother said to you and how you responded to them."

Lin Ze returned home feeling anxious. So he'd been told everything. That meant Li Xiujin knew what he had said too. He had only dared to speak that way because Li Xiujin wasn't there, but in the end, it had still gotten back to him.

Sometimes he felt Li Xiujin liked him, but he had never heard Li Xiujin express love for him. What Li Xiujin seemed to enjoy more was just sleeping with him...

Lin Ze didn't know if saying those things would make things awkward for him...

Lin Ze had originally intended to wait for Li Xiujin to come home before sleeping, but lately, he had been feeling very sleepy. He waited until he dozed off.

When he woke up again, it was already daylight outside. There was still no one beside him, but his lips felt slightly sore and numb, as if someone had kissed and nibbled on them.

Lin Ze felt embarrassed. Had Xiu Jin come back during the night?

During breakfast, he learned from one of the servants that Li Xiujin had returned late at night and left before dawn.

He *had* come back. Why didn't he wake him up...

During his lunch break, Lin Ze suddenly received a text message from Lu Mo.

-Colonel, are you free? I have something to report.

Half an hour later, Lin Ze met with Lu Mo and Ji Ran.

After arriving, Lu Mo and Ji Ran didn't immediately get down to business but instead teased him about that photo with Li Xiujin.

"Colonel, you've been having a great time lately, haven't you?"

"When the news broke, Lu Mo and I were almost worried to death. We thought you two might really get divorced. Who knew not only did you not divorce, but you're also flaunting your relationship so publicly."

Lin Ze felt slightly uncomfortable. "Let's talk business."

Lu Mo didn't join Ji Ran in the banter and became serious. "After Su Jingyuan's death, you told us to keep an eye on his family, right? His son, Su Chengjun, still goes to Lin Zhuo's house every day to game. Aside from being a little thinner, there's nothing unusual. But Su Jingyuan's wife, Li Tong, has been selling her jewelry and valuables everywhere lately."

"Her husband died, she's alone with a child. Selling her valuable belongings and leaving here doesn't seem unusual."

"That's true, but she's also been selling off her stocks, even at a loss. That doesn't seem like simply leaving a place of bad memories; it seems more like making a run for it."

That did sound like someone preparing to flee. Lin Ze frowned. "Did you investigate her further?"

"We did, and then we found something strange. She's actually connected to the Regeneration Plan from seven years ago too." Lu Mo pulled up some documents for Lin Ze to see.

"Back then, the Regeneration Plan received a lot of attention. Some more public-spirited entrepreneurs made donations and provided subsidies to the military. After making these donations, those entrepreneurs all transferred a large sum of money to Li Tong."

"If it was just one person, it might be understandable, but several people did it, and soon after their donations. It feels like they were participating in some kind of scheme."

"Could they have had some business dealings?" Lin Ze pondered. "It seems we need to meet her."

Lu Mo looked troubled. "That might be a bit difficult right now."

"Why?"

"Because someone already has Li Tong under protection." Lu Mo said. "It's Li Xiujin's people."

Lin Ze was taken aback. How was he a step ahead? What does he intend to do by protecting Li Tong? Has he also discovered her connection to the events seven years ago? But he just returned to his post; he should be busy with other matters. Why would he get involved in something like this?

"Probably to prevent a repeat of Su Jingyuan's tragedy. The protection is very tight. Ji Ran and I haven't found a way in yet."

Lin Ze nodded absentmindedly. "Then I'll think of a way."

As Lin Ze was about to leave, Lu Mo hesitated. "There's one more thing... I'm not sure if I should tell you, Colonel."

"Lu Mo, we can't keep secrets from each other." Lin Ze said seriously.

"Actually, among those entrepreneurs... is General Li's grandfather, Li Tingyuan." Lu Mo said. "Li Tingyuan seems to have been on good terms with the Su family. Now that the Su family is a key suspect in the events of that year, do you think Li Tingyuan might also be involved?"

Lin Ze's expression changed slightly. "Noted."

*

When Lin Ze arrived home, he saw the she-wolf sleeping in a sunny spot. He hesitated for a moment, then gently approached her. Her ears and nose twitched. Sensing he meant no harm, she continued to rest comfortably with her eyes closed.

Lin Ze looked at her abdomen. In such a short time, this was already her second pregnancy. Her bare belly was slightly swollen, with several little lives moving inside.

Lin Ze looked down at his own abdomen. Even though he had been knotted in his reproductive cavity many times, it remained flat. He began to wonder if he could really conceive Xiu Jin's baby.

Xiu Jin seemed to really want a child. If he couldn't conceive, he would surely be very disappointed...

And with more and more people getting involved in the events of seven years ago, his own life could be taken at any moment. If he didn't conceive soon, he might never have the chance again...

Lin Ze returned to his room without eating dinner.

On his way home, Li Xiujin received a text message from Yang Yu. The message stated that Lin Ze's two subordinates had also uncovered the lead involving Li Tong.

So Lin Ze knows. He must know that his grandfather is also connected to the events of seven years ago.

Li Xiujin gazed out the window with a somber expression.

Upon returning home, the servant informed him, "Sir seems to be in a bad mood today. He went to bed without eating."

Li Xiujin nodded, took a shower, and returned to the bedroom. Just like the past few nights when he'd returned, Lin Ze was already asleep.

Li Xiujin quietly watched him for a long time, then bared his long, snow-white legs...

Lin Ze woke up, feeling one of his feet resting on something scorching hot. Slightly embarrassed, he continued to feign sleep.

Seemingly fascinated by his foot, Li Xiujin kept touching it, back and forth. Only after a long while did he finally embrace him. Lin Ze thought he was going to take him from behind...

But after waiting for what felt like an eternity, nothing happened. It seemed Li Xiujin was about to fall asleep. Clutching the bedsheet, Lin Ze asked in embarrassment, "Xiu Jin... you don't want to anymore?"