Chapter 53

Chapter 53

"During his interrogation, we found a photo of him with you."

"A photo? How could that be..." Lin Ze looked at the picture and was momentarily stunned. "It's him? Isn't he a colonel from Country F?"

"Yes. It's unclear if it's a coincidence or part of a larger scheme. If this photo had been made public before he confessed..."

Li Xiujin didn't need to finish; Lin Ze understood. If that had happened, the accusations of him killing his comrades and colluding with foreign groups would have been solidified, likely condemning him to spend the rest of his life in prison.

The two of them had already returned home. Li Xiujin had Lin Ze pinned against the innermost corner of the sofa, nuzzling against his chest and neck. The stubble on his chin, left untrimmed for days, prickled Lin Ze's skin, sending faint tingles through him.

"Did he say who was behind it?"

"The other party was very cautious, using an untraceable number and a voice changer to communicate."

Lin Ze nodded. At this point, it seemed the perpetrator wasn't targeting the Regeneration Plan itself, but rather him personally...

"He won't be given a chance to commit suicide. His wife and daughter have also been temporarily detained by me. I will interrogate him thoroughly until he remembers something."

"Mhm..." Lin Ze absentmindedly stroked his head.

Li Xiujin suddenly lifted his head from Lin Ze's embrace, pinched his chin, and captured his lips in a deep kiss, sucking on his tongue until it went numb before finally releasing him...

Then, leaning in close until their foreheads touched, he asked, "Colonel, do you remember what you said in the office?"

Lin Ze was dazed for a moment before nodding, his ears turning red.

"I remember..."

Not long after, Lin Ze was kneeling on a soft cushion, gently licking with his tongue, then trying his best to open his mouth wide to take it in...

Li Xiujin watched him, his pregnant belly prominent, looking both shy and sacred. A wave of tension tightened Li Xiujin's scalp.

"Swallow it," he commanded hoarsely.

Lin Ze swallowed it bit by bit. This time, without being told, he opened his mouth for inspection. The pink interior of his mouth had turned into an alluring, deep red. Just the sight of it was enough to make Li Xiujin swell again.

"Do you like the taste?"

Lin Ze trembled slightly. "...Mhm."

Li Xiujin's eyes darkened. He gripped Lin Ze's chin, thrusting his tongue deep into his mouth, reaching the back of his throat, moving wantonly inside before slowly grinding against him through their clothes...

Lin Ze's shirt slipped from his shoulders. His two pale arms wrapped tightly around Li Xiujin's neck as he opened his mouth, obediently accepting his tongue...

In the end, he was carried back to the bedroom like this, only to discover he was already soaked through—just from being rubbed against like that...

Lin Ze was utterly ashamed.

Seeing this, Li Xiujin ordered coldly, "Sit on your husband's face. I'll help you stop the flow."

*

"General."

"General."

The two soldiers guarding the door saluted respectfully upon seeing Li Xiujin.

Li Xiujin, a cigarette between his teeth, glanced at the person detained inside before returning to his office.

"The Prime Minister didn't try to take the person away like last time. However, Su Wang seems restless. He came once yesterday morning and again in the afternoon, saying he was too angry and wanted to see who had such audacity," Yang Yu reported.

Li Xiujin crossed his legs, frowning deeply. "Keep watching Su Wang."

He had been under surveillance before, but nothing was found, so Li Xiujin had called it off.

After Yang Yu left, Li Xiujin sank into thought.

Seven years ago, everyone involved in the Regeneration Plan had either died, been injured, or lost their minds. Eliminating them left only Su Wang. Although he wasn't a participant, he was the one who knew the most. But this man, despite being timid, was very cautious. Li Xiujin had never been able to find any concrete evidence against him.

Lei Wen's confession also seemed unrelated to him. However, Li Xiujin became more convinced of one suspicion: Su Wang's actions likely weren't solely his own will but were also influenced or controlled by someone else...

In the afternoon, Lu Mo contacted Li Xiujin remotely. Lu Mo was now fully responsible for overseeing the work at the snow mountain on Lin Ze's behalf. After reporting the overall progress of the excavation, Lu Mo asked, "Can I contact the Colonel now?"

"Your Colonel has been reinstated. He's unable to continue work due to the pregnancy. From now on, regarding matters at the snow mountain, you decide for yourself which issues should be reported to me and which should be reported to your Colonel."

*

Lin Ze, who was learning to make baby food, received Lu Mo's call.

After Lu Mo reported the overall progress of the excavation, Lin Ze thought for a moment and gave him a few more instructions.

Once work matters were concluded, Lu Mo said with deep remorse, "Colonel, I didn't mean to hide things from you intentionally."

"Yes, I know." Lin Ze smiled. "General Li is someone trustworthy. If you were following his orders to keep things from me, I won't blame you."

"Colonel..." Relieved, Lu Mo then hesitantly asked, "Are you... pregnant?"

Lin Ze, who had originally planned to tell him after giving birth, felt slightly awkward. He paused for a moment. "Yes..."

"Really? I thought I heard wrong."

"It's been nine months already."

"Then once I finish the work here at the snow mountain and return, I'll be able to meet him just in time," Lu Mo said cheerfully.

"Mhm."

"Can he call me godfather?"

Lin Ze couldn't help but chuckle. "Of course."

"Will General Li agree?"

"If you really want to, I'll discuss it seriously with him."

Someone called for Lu Mo to attend to work. Concerned, Lin Ze added, "Be careful."

"I know."

"When you return, I'll help you apply for a position in the military department."

After hanging up, Lin Ze continued learning to make baby food. Once finished, as he turned to put it in the refrigerator, he saw Li Xiujin.

Li Xiujin was wearing his military uniform, standing there for who knows how long, his deep eyes fixed intently on him.

"Is this for me?"

"It's for the baby..."

"He hasn't even been born yet, and you're already neglecting your husband?" Li Xiujin frowned.

Lin Ze hurriedly shook his head, "No... What would you like to eat? I can make it for you now... I just didn't expect you back so early..."

Li Xiujin chuckled, sweeping him up into a carry. Lin Ze's body had become heavy, making him afraid, so he clung to Li Xiujin's neck, past caring about shame.

After being placed on the bed, Li Xiujin first unbuttoned Lin Ze's loungewear, revealing his pregnant belly.

The belly, almost ready to deliver, was as big as a watermelon. Lin Ze felt strange and slightly embarrassed, trying to cover it.

"Xiu Jin, don't look... You can look after I give birth, okay?"

"After giving birth, it'll be flat. What would there be to look at then?"

"But it's so big and ugly..." Lin Ze covered his face.

Li Xiujin gathered Lin Ze into his arms, his voice slightly hoarse, "I really like it. Every time I look at it, I..."

Although Lin Ze guessed Li Xiujin liked his pregnant appearance, hearing him say it out loud still made him feel ashamed. He changed the subject:

"Xiu Jin, have you thought of a name for the baby?"

"You decide."

"Then I need to think carefully."

"Mhm."

"Do you want an alpha or an omega?"

"I want one just like you."

Lin Ze's cheeks slowly flushed red.

After saying this, Li Xiujin nuzzled his warm head against Lin Ze's chest, rubbing for a while before closing his eyes and suckling intently.

Lin Ze looked at him affectionately, feeling as if Li Xiujin were also a baby he had given birth to. He gently held Li Xiujin's head and softly patted his back...

The next morning, Lin Ze woke up first. Opening his eyes, the two of them were still in the same position as last night...

Feeling the evidence of Li Xiujin's arousal, Lin Ze's ears grew hot. At only 24, he was in his prime, yet because of the pregnancy, he had to hold back so much...

Lin Ze hesitated for a moment, trembling, he grasped it, then opened his mouth and took it into his mouth...

Li Xiujin woke from an erotic dream to find Lin Ze's face flushed, his lips swollen and red, as if guilty of something and unable to meet his gaze.

"Xiu Jin, are you going to work today?"

Li Xiujin, still groggy from the dream, nodded mechanically.

"Then let's get up."

While helping him tie his tie, Lin Ze was also acting a little off.

Li Xiujin took his face in his hands and said coldly, "Keeping secrets from your husband again?"

"No, no..."

"Better not be."

*

As soon as Li Xiujin arrived at headquarters, Yang Yu came to report.

"General, the soldiers on the stakeout for Su Wang yesterday discovered he drove to a house in the middle of the night and stayed for two hours before leaving."

"The one who let him out was a young omega. We checked and found she's still a university student. She's posted intimate photos with Su Wang on social media, apparently his lover."

People in power face more temptations than ordinary folks, and having a lover or two isn't unusual. However, based on Li Xiujin's understanding, Su Wang wasn't a lustful person. This female omega seemed more like a smokescreen.

Li Xiujin ordered him to continue surveillance.

After a week, Yang Yu finally picked up a trail.

"We checked the trash thrown out from inside. The food and place settings were for two."

"We've been watching for so long, and Su Wang only went once. That means the utensils and food for two don't include Su Wang. There should be another person living there."

It seemed the one behind all this was about to be revealed. Li Xiujin's expression darkened, "Hold your position. Don't spook them."

With nothing to do during pregnancy, Lin Ze grew fond of going to the supermarket with the housekeeper. He still presented publicly as an alpha, so Lin Ze would cover himself tightly, only showing his face. Fortunately, it was winter again, so no one thought it was odd.

He bought a lot of food Li Xiujin liked and also wandered through the kids' section. The mini-sized clothes and shoes were so adorable Lin Ze's heart melted, making him look forward even more to the baby's birth.

After shopping, the housekeeper went to park the car while Lin Ze waited outside. However, two men in suits approached him. Lin Ze instinctively tensed, gripping the gun he'd carried since his pregnancy began.

"Mr. Lin, General Li's grandfather wants to see you."

Lin Ze eyed them warily.

"Don't worry, the General's grandfather won't harm you."

Lin Ze thought for a moment and followed them.

This was his third time meeting this old man, and each time he appeared frailer.

Li Tingyuan stared intently at his belly and had someone bring out a contract.

"Take a look."

Lin Ze didn't move, "What do you want from me?"

"I want you to give me the child in your belly," Li Tingyuan said weakly. "If you do, I'll give you more than you've ever gotten from Li Xiujin."

Lin Ze smiled, "Let me guess why you want this child. You think Li Xiujin grew up with his own will and is no longer under your control, so you want to raise another child to abuse and manipulate, right?"

Li Tingyuan snorted, "Sentimental nonsense."

"If I hadn't strictly disciplined him, would he have achieved what he has? He should be grateful, but he's an ingrate."

Lin Ze didn't expect him to show no remorse, only such thoughts. He sighed and laughed softly, then said, "I won't give you the child."

Li Tingyuan stared at him and suddenly smiled strangely, "What if I told you who killed your teammates and teacher?"

Lin Ze's eyes widened in shock.

The housekeeper had only gone to park the car, but when she returned, Lin Ze was gone. Cold sweat instantly broke out on her, and she was about to call Li Xiujin when Lin Ze reappeared, completely unharmed.

"Sir, where did you go? I was almost scared to death!"

"I went to buy a drink."

"Next time, wherever you go, you must tell me."

"Mm." Lin Ze gave an apologetic smile, then turned to stare blankly out the window.

When Li Xiujin returned and heard from the servants about Lin Ze's sudden disappearance, even though Lin Ze explained he had gone to buy a drink, Li Xiujin didn't believe it.

He found Lin Ze in the study, held him, pressed their foreheads together, and said coldly, "Have I not told you countless times not to hide anything from me?"

"Mm."

"Did something happen when you went to the supermarket this afternoon?"

Lin Ze paused for a moment, then confessed, "Your grandfather sought me out."

Li Xiujin's eyes darkened dangerously almost instantly.

"Xiu Jin, he's afraid of you now. He wouldn't dare hurt me. He just wanted me to give the child over to him..."

Li Xiujin let out two cold, consecutive laughs.

"I didn't agree. This is our child. I won't give him to anyone..."

"Don't be angry because of him. He's not worth it." Lin Ze gently stroked his face.

Li Xiujin's expression softened a little.

"In the future, with matters like this, you must tell your husband honestly, just like you did today."

"Mm."

Seeing he was still somewhat angry, Lin Ze said, "Today I saw lots of baby clothes and shoes. They were so tiny, really cute."

"Why didn't you buy them?"

"I wanted to go buy them with you." Lin Ze's cheeks flushed slightly.

Li Xiujin's voice grew hoarse. "We'll go first thing tomorrow."

However, the very next day, as soon as the car set off, Lin Ze felt a series of contractions in his abdomen. Having read many books on the subject, his face paled slightly. "Xiu Jin, I think the baby is coming..."