Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Slowly, Lin Ze's eyes widened, then his cheeks flushed with happiness.

"I will too..."

"You will too what?"

"I will also... love you forever."

Li Xiujin swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. He cupped Lin Ze's face, his lips slowly drawing near before capturing Lin Ze's in a deep, sucking kiss...

Lin Ze responded shyly.

Li Xiujin's hand slipped inside his shirt, but for a long moment, nothing came out...

Li Xiujin made a soft smacking sound as he separated their lips and tongues. He pulled open Lin Ze's pajamas, revealing the full, swollen flesh, flushed the vivid red of lactation.

"Nothing left?"

Lin Ze felt a wave of shame. He had been busy these past few days and hadn't nursed much. Li Chongyi couldn't finish it all alone, and the excess had simply...

Li Xiujin's fingers found a hardened lump. "Blocked."

"...Mmm... mmm..."

Li Xiujin's eyes darkened. He pulled the pajamas open wider and began to knead gently.

Lin Ze lay against his chest, trembling, biting down on the back of his hand.

The hard lump slowly softened, then a trickle began to seep out...

The sensation of the blockage clearing made Lin Ze shiver. Sensing something else, he clenched his thighs together in shame...

Seeing the steady flow, Li Xiujin's lower belly tightened. He nuzzled against Lin Ze, like someone starving, and took him into his mouth, sucking greedily...

*

"General, a soldier came by earlier and gave me this sealed file. He said it's photos from Su Wang for you." Yang Yu placed a document envelope on Li Xiujin's desk.

Li Xiujin broke the seal, poured the photos onto the desk, sifted through them for a moment, picked one up, studied it for a long while, then tossed it back onto the desktop. He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head back and closing his eyes.

Seeing this, Yang Yu picked up the photo. Recognizing the person in it, his face changed dramatically.

"General, isn't this General Liu, the one who's always by the Prime Minister's side?"

The Prime Minister's two most trusted generals were Li Xiujin and Liu Cheng. Because Liu Cheng needed to serve the Prime Minister closely, most of his actions were taken under the Prime Minister's directives.

But this photo showed Liu Cheng with an overseas syndicate. The two parties appeared very familiar with each other.

"General, where did these photos come from?"

"Zhou Dingshan is also investigating the incident from seven years ago."

"So, is General Liu secretly contacting the overseas group behind the Prime Minister's back? Or is it..." Cold sweat instantly broke out on Yang Yu's back. Voicing the next speculation might get him shot on the spot.

The real mastermind behind this had to be someone with immense power. Liu Cheng held the same rank as Li Xiujin, but as the Prime Minister's confidant, he sometimes had even greater operational authority than Li Xiujin. If it were him, it would make sense. But was he acting behind the Prime Minister's back, or was he following the Prime Minister's orders?

Li Xiujin tapped his fingers on the desk. If it were the former, things would be simpler. But if it were the latter...

That afternoon, Li Xiujin went out on a secret trip.

In a teahouse, Zhou Dingshan poured Li Xiujin a cup of tea.

"It was precisely because of my suspicions that Su Wang and I discussed having Lin Ze participate again. Sure enough, it flushed the culprit out once more. But I never expected he would try to frame Lin Ze again. Fortunately, General Li acted swiftly, sparing Lin Ze from a second frame-up..."

Zhou Dingshan had actually been quietly observing Li Xiujin and Lin Ze during this time. He discovered that while Li Xiujin was notoriously cruel and ruthless to others, he was extremely devoted to Lin Ze. One could even say that without him, Lin Ze might be in prison now, or worse, already executed.

That's why Zhou Dingshan felt safe enough to reveal his whereabouts to him.

"General Li's original suspect was Su Wang, so your people have been monitoring him. But Su Wang and I suspected Liu Cheng from the start, so our eyes and ears have been on him. There are no walls without cracks; if you don't want people to know, don't do it. We indeed found photos of Liu Cheng meeting with the leader of the overseas syndicate..."

Li Xiujin frowned. Setting aside personal feelings, what Zhou Dingshan said made sense. They had been looking in the wrong direction from the beginning. He then turned his gaze to Su Wang. Su Wang broke into a cold sweat under his sudden scrutiny. "General Li, what he says is true. We really wouldn't dare deceive you again."

"What about your brother? Before he died, wasn't it your people who met with him?" Li Xiujin asked.

"He wasn't one of my people. He was the Prime Minister's man, planted beside me. He was also in close contact with Liu Cheng," Su Wang explained.

That could also explain things.

Li Xiujin withdrew his gaze. "So, what do you plan to do next?"

"The second-in-command of the overseas syndicate, wasn't he captured by you?" Zhou Dingshan said. "Liu Cheng might lay low for a while. We can only wait and see for now."

"Second-in-command?" Li Xiujin countered. "There's someone above him."

"Yes. The person Liu Cheng liaises with is the group's true leader."

"From now on, we must be extremely careful when we meet. We absolutely cannot let Liu Cheng or the Prime Minister become aware. If they do, it would put us in a very bad position."

Li Xiujin nodded.

Su Wang checked his pocket watch. "I have a meeting to attend soon. I'll take my leave."

After Su Wang left, Li Xiujin also prepared to leave, but Zhou Dingshan called him back.

"How did you and Xiao Ze meet?" Zhou Dingshan asked.

"My relationship with Lin Ze seems to have nothing to do with you," Li Xiujin said coldly. "Moreover, given your current position, I suggest you refer to him as Colonel Lin."

Deep remorse showed on Zhou Dingshan's face. "I know I failed him. But at that time, I had disagreements with the Prime Minister and could have been killed at any moment. So after his parents passed away, I could only have his teacher adopt him. Actually, I was very opposed to him entering the military academy. And then, sure enough, something happened..."

"You had disagreements with the Prime Minister back then?" Li Xiujin asked.

"Yes. It was also about the energy resources. When this resource was first discovered, there were two schools of thought. One was for state control, the other for control by private merchants. If left to the merchants, while military costs would be significantly reduced, the common people would suffer. Given the nature of those businessmen, once they controlled the resource, they would only keep raising prices, sucking the people dry. So I disagreed. The Prime Minister initially also wanted to give control to the merchants, simply collecting exorbitant extraction fees annually..."

"Not long after, I was removed from my position over some matters."

"That was even earlier than seven years ago. Lin Ze had probably just entered the military academy then, and you likely weren't even of age yet," Zhou Dingshan recalled.

Li Xiujin stared at him, then suddenly laughed. "I never thought someone capable of forcing others to bear children could also be a military officer who cares about the people."

Zhou Dingshan paused for a moment. "I just believe that once you reach a certain position, you cannot betray the trust of those who believe in you."

Li Xiujin stood up to leave. Zhou Dingshan quickly added, "Xiao Ze... I heard from Su Wang that Colonel Lin had a child. How is the child?"

"They are both well. No need for your concern."

*

Li Xiujin left through the villa's underground passage, not returning to the military headquarters, but going straight home.

Once home, he asked a servant to bring out the gift money envelope without a name on it, then returned to his room.

But then he saw Lin Ze in an open robe, holding Li Chongyi, who was nursing contentedly at one breast.

Caught off guard by his sudden return, Lin Ze panicked and tried to detach Li Chongyi. “Xiu Jin…”

Li Xiujin frowned. “Didn’t you say you’d only feed me? What are you doing now?”

Lin Ze was overwhelmed with guilt.

Judging by Li Chongyi’s contented expression, he must have been secretly fed many times—no wonder the baby didn’t drink much formula yet hadn’t become thin or small.

After all, Li Chongyi was also his own child. No matter how angry he was, he couldn’t let the baby go hungry.

He watched as Li Chongyi’s belly slowly rounded, full but still reluctant to release the nipple, closing his eyes as if ready to fall asleep just like that. Li Xiujin pried his mouth open and, before he could start wailing, slipped a pacifier inside, then had the maid carry him out.

Fortunately, Li Chongyi was full and quieted down after a brief fuss, soon drifting into a deep sleep.

“Xiu Jin, I’m sorry… I just couldn’t bear it when Chong Yi cried…”

“But you could bear to lie to me?” Li Xiujin said coldly.

“I…” Lin Ze quickly shook his head.

“Seems to me you’re quite capable of bearing it.”

“This wasn’t the first time, was it?”

Lin Ze hung his head in shame.

Li Xiujin gripped his chin, stared into his eyes, and said pointedly, “After feeding the baby, you can still satisfy me. Colonel Lin is so capable at work, and just as naturally gifted at nursing both child and husband.”

Lin Ze trembled lightly.

“Feed me.”

After a pause, Lin Ze shamefully cupped his breast and offered it to him.

Once finished, Lin Ze thought he might initiate sex, but instead, Li Xiujin nuzzled his neck and said, “We received an anonymous gift for Li Chongyi’s full-month celebration.”

“Anonymous? Was it your grandfather?”

“No.”

“Probably not any of my friends either.”

“It was from Zhou Dingshan.”

Lin Ze fell silent.

“Zhou Dingshan is also investigating what happened seven years ago.”

Lin Ze only hummed in response.

“Do you want to see him?”

After a moment, “To me now, he’s just a stranger.”

“Mm. Then you don’t have to see him.”

Li Xiujin began kissing his neck, then trailed downward, licking and sucking…

*

Afterward, Li Xiujin followed Zhou Dingshan’s advice, laying low for the time being. He went about his daily work normally and spent his evenings tangled up with Lin Ze.

Though only two months old, Li Chongyi was clearly an active and lively child—quiet only while asleep, and restless the rest of the time. Only when taken outside would he be captivated by the scenery, wide-eyed and quietly observing everything.

Li Xiujin took a day off, planning to take Lin Ze out.

When Lin Ze heard, his cheeks flushed slightly, looking very happy.

But he soon remembered they had a baby.

“What about Chong Yi?”

“The maid can look after him.”

“If he doesn’t see me for too long, he might cry.”

“I wonder who said they loved me more than the child,” Li Xiujin said, his expression cooling.

“Of course I love you more than the child, but Chong Yi…” Noticing Li Xiujin was already upset, Lin Ze quickly added, “Then we’ll leave Li Chongyi at home for just one day.”

Li Xiujin’s expression softened slightly.

However, on the day of the outing, Li Chongyi clung to Lin Ze and wouldn’t let go. Even after being fed, he refused to be held by the maid. Lin Ze looked helplessly at Li Xiujin.

In the end, they had to bring Li Chongyi along—and since he was harder to handle than most babies, they brought the maid too.

So Li Xiujin’s planned romantic date with Lin Ze turned into a party of four.

Instead of going to an adult-oriented spot, they drove to a quiet, scenic park.

It was spring, the season of renewal. Many flowers were blooming in the park, and thanks to the lush greenery, there were plenty of small animals around. Li Chongyi watched, mesmerized, not even reacting when the maid took him from Lin Ze’s arms.

Meanwhile, Lin Ze, while keeping an eye on Li Chongyi, also admired the surrounding blossoms. A warm breeze lifted the hair from his forehead, revealing his increasingly fair and delicate face…

Suddenly, Lin Ze paused, then blushed and reached back to hold the hand that had taken his.

Taking advantage of the sparse crowd, Li Xiujin cupped Lin Ze’s face with one hand and kissed him.

Though shy in public, Lin Ze obediently parted his lips, allowing Li Xiujin’s tongue to slip inside and explore…

After the kiss, Lin Ze tried to mask his embarrassment. “Chong Yi needs to be fed.”

They found a resting spot, took out the bag, and prepared the formula. Lin Ze didn’t tighten the lid properly, and when he shook it, the milk powder spilled all over his pants.

Li Xiujin quickly wiped him down. “Did it burn you?”

Lin Ze shook his head. “I’m fine.”

The spill happened to be on his trousers, making it look like he’d wet himself. Lin Ze, being thin-skinned, couldn’t ignore it, but Li Chongyi was lying on the seat, engrossed in watching a squirrel in the tree, showing no desire to go home.

A glint flashed in Li Xiujin’s eyes—finally, a chance to be alone with Lin Ze. “I’ll take you to a nearby mall to buy new clothes.”

Lin Ze thought it over and agreed.

They drove to a nearby mall and entered a store at random. Li Xiujin had the store cleared, letting Lin Ze pick something. Lin Ze quickly chose a pair of trousers in his size, but just as he was about to try them on, Li Xiujin handed him a soft pink dress.

“Try this too.”

Feeling guilty for not having a proper date alone with him today, Lin Ze, though embarrassed, put it on for him.

But instead of just trying it on, Lin Ze ended up wearing it to a themed room in a nearby hotel. In the dim light, Lin Ze’s whole body trembled, his handsome face flushed a deep red.

His husband was nowhere in sight, but the dress bulged with the outline of a head beneath it, accompanied by the sound of lapping water…

Before long, Lin Ze was sitting on his face, still in the dress.

Then, noticing how aroused he was and worried he might be uncomfortable, Lin Ze leaned down and, blushing shyly, began to lick him as well…