Chapter 6 I Know You

Chapter 6: I Know You

"A politician's words—if you can believe nine out of ten, he's being honest. That Jiang Huaiyan doesn't have a single sincere word in his mouth. What did he say to you that made you so upset you couldn't even eat?"

"No, Representative Jiang, he..."

"You've only met him once, and you already think he's a good person," Gu Zhen said, somewhat dismissively. "What did he say? You believed him without any proof. I never knew you were so gullible."

"He said..." Zhu Shinian couldn't finish. His nose suddenly started to sting. "He said you were getting engaged."

Gu Zhen froze, as if the statement was utterly preposterous.

He had clearly warned Jiang Huaiyan never to bother Zhu Shinian, so how did Zhu Shinian find out?

"He said it, and you just believe it?" Gu Zhen asked calmly, his expression unchanged. "Who would I get engaged to? Which omega's family would let him marry me? Everyone knows I've been fighting with my family for two or three years because of you—would an omega marry into that and be left alone? Anyone can spout empty words. He's just picking a fight with me. I might as well say he's colluding with the rebels as a traitor. Could I have him arrested?"

"You were wronged by someone else, and now you're taking it out on me. Zhu Shinian, tell me, haven't I spoiled you too much?"

Zhu Shinian stared at him blankly, but the tears that had been welling up in his eyes still fell without him noticing.

Gu Zhen had given an answer completely opposite to Jiang Huaiyan's, and Zhu Shinian... didn't know who to believe anymore.

Whether rationally or emotionally, he ought to trust Gu Zhen.

He had known Gu Zhen for years. He knew Gu Zhen wouldn't stoop to lying. Even if Gu Zhen really was engaged to someone else, there was no need to hide it from Zhu Shinian.

And Jiang Huaiyan had met him for the first time, offering nothing but empty words and no proof.

But why would Jiang Huaiyan lie to him? Jiang Huaiyan clearly wasn't the type to sow discord.

"Why are you crying... Is it because I never made any promises to you, leaving you feeling insecure?" Gu Zhen frowned. "I just didn't think there was any point in saying things I hadn't accomplished yet."

"Then, two months from now, after your 22nd birthday, let's go register our marriage."

The Empire enforced the most traditional AO matching system. Alphas and omegas needed to register their pheromones at the matching bureau at age 18 and undergo matching. If they were compatible, they could marry soon after. Alphas and omegas in free love could also choose to forgo matching and marry the person they loved.

But for two alphas, they had to wait until both were 22 to register their marriage, ostensibly to give enough time for consideration and avoid lifelong regrets.

People in the Empire married young. Most couples during this process watched their peers marry and have children while their own conflicts deepened, eventually parting ways and marrying the partner assigned by the Empire.

"Marry?" Zhu Shinian was stunned.

Tears still clung to his face, and his eyes were red from exhaustion. Gu Zhen reached out and gently wiped away his tears with the back of his fingers.

Zhu Shinian couldn't help but rub his cheek against Gu Zhen's hand, as if it were a subconscious reflex.

"Now do you believe I'm not looking for someone else?"

Zhu Shinian hesitated, then nodded slightly.

"If you don't believe me, then you can't eat my fish anymore," Gu Zhen said with a faint smile. "I don't cook fish for subordinates."

"Go wash up and get in bed. Don't get the wound wet. I know you like to be clean, so I'll wipe you down. You've had a long day, get some rest early."

Zhu Shinian obediently sat by his bed and took off his clothes. Gu Zhen went to the bathroom to get a towel.

When the towel touched him, Zhu Shinian subconsciously flinched. Gu Zhen immediately pulled the towel back. "What's wrong? Does the wound hurt?"

"Nothing, I can do it myself." Zhu Shinian reached for the towel, and only then did Gu Zhen notice that the spot the towel had touched was already red and hot.

His hands were calloused—what felt like the right temperature to him was too hot for Zhu Shinian.

"Does it hurt? I'm sorry, I forgot to let it cool a bit..."

Zhu Shinian shook his head, saying it was only a little hot.

He said it slowly, almost as if he was being coy. As Gu Zhen leaned down to wipe his back, he couldn't resist leaning in and kissing him.

"General, if... if you ever fall for someone else and really have to marry them, you must..." Zhu Shinian suddenly seemed to think of something, but as he spoke, his voice trailed off. Just thinking about it made him want to disappear.

He truly loved Gu Zhen. But if there was even the slightest chance that what Jiang Huaiyan said was true, what would he do?

Jiang Huaiyan was too perfect—young and accomplished, handsome, sharp-edged yet never abusing his power, genuinely kind and considerate of the poor.

If he ever wronged such a person, every moment with Gu Zhen would be agonizing.

Zhu Shinian didn't want to doubt Gu Zhen, but he also didn't want to believe that Jiang Huaiyan was spreading lies to cause trouble.

If what Gu Zhen said was true, then Representative Jiang must have made a mistake, maybe confused him with someone else.

He was so busy—with the Jiang Corporation, the Parliament, and even teaching as a guest professor at Imperial Capital University.

With so much on his mind and so many people to meet, it wasn't impossible for him to misremember something like this, right?

"I've told you, it's only you, and I'll only marry you. Alright, I'm going to take a shower first."

The small house meant Zhu Shinian's bed was also a bit cramped. Usually, when they slept together, Gu Zhen would hold him, and they wouldn't notice how narrow it was. But today, with Zhu Shinian's shoulder injury, Gu Zhen couldn't help complaining.

"I'm the one paying your grandmother's medical bills, and I've given you plenty of money. Your military pay isn't low either. Why don't you treat yourself better? You eat at the mess hall all the time, and you can't even get a bigger, more comfortable bed. I really don't know where your money goes."

Lying so close to Gu Zhen, Zhu Shinian's body stiffened. It took him a moment to realize Gu Zhen hadn't noticed anything—he was just grumbling.

"I've been... poor since I was young, so I don't have any particular desire to spend money. I just want to save it up. You don't like this bed? I used to stay at your place more often, so I didn't know. I'll go buy a bigger one next time."

Gu Zhen had only been speaking casually. He didn't actually want to control how Zhu Shinian spent his money; he just didn't want Zhu Shinian to be so frugal all the time. He wanted him to enjoy himself like his peers—eat out, watch ball games, play billiards.

Zhu Shinian was only 21. He shouldn't live like an ascetic.

Hearing Zhu Shinian's response, Gu Zhen was lost for words. After a long pause, he forced out, "No need."

"I'm not trying to dictate how you spend your money. I'm just afraid you might need it for something and not ask me. If you like saving, then save... Get some rest early. You've had a tiring day."

It felt strange lying in the same bed with space between them. In the dark, Zhu Shinian could sense Gu Zhen trying to avoid crowding him, edging farther away.

He wanted to tell Gu Zhen that he didn't need to keep so much distance, but he was too tired. Before he could figure out how to say it, he fell asleep.

The next day, Zhu Shinian was woken up by his communicator.

He answered it. Fu Cheng said a student protest had broken out in the city center and needed him to assist in controlling the situation immediately.

Gu Zhen was already up, brushing his teeth in the bathroom. When he came back and saw Zhu Shinian fully dressed, he asked what happened.

"A protest? Can't Fu Cheng, as a major, handle that himself?"

Student protests were too risky—one misstep caught on camera could become a major scandal. Even Gu Zhen didn't dare take it lightly. He made a call to his superior and went with Zhu Shinian.

By the time they arrived, the situation was already under control. The streets were in disarray, banners torn down and piled by the roadside, flags with slogans confiscated, and scattered flyers trampled with footprints.

Zhu Shinian glanced and could vaguely make out the words “We want passes” and “We want work IDs.” The students were gathered at the street corner, separated by military police, but the crowd that had gathered to watch had not yet dispersed.

“Pariahs from District Twenty-six...”

Someone muttered an insult under his breath, but not quietly enough.

“They really shouldn’t have brought in students from District Twenty-six to the capital’s universities. It’s always them, day in and day out, causing trouble.”

Zhu Shinian stood by the car, his expression calm as if he’d gotten used to it.

Fu Cheng, wearing his military uniform, walked over. “Watch your language. Don’t say things that create division.”

The few people faltered for a moment, then muttered as they walked away, “That’s how it is... Even the military looks down on those pariahs, but they pretend otherwise.”

The people had already gone far. Fu Cheng couldn’t exactly chase after civilians, so he turned back and gave Zhu Shinian an awkward look.

Zhu Shinian’s expression remained calm, as if he hadn’t heard what they said at the end. Only then did Fu Cheng breathe a sigh of relief.

The students were being loaded onto the vehicles one by one. Perhaps because he’d shouted himself hoarse and on top of that had low blood sugar, one student suddenly swayed and pitched forward.

“Hey——”

Before anyone else could react, Zhu Shinian stepped forward and steadily caught the person.

The student’s face was pale, his lips almost bloodless, and his breathing was rapid.

Zhu Shinian took out a piece of candy from his pocket and gave it to him. The student forced his eyes open and slowly steadied himself with the help of Zhu Shinian and a companion.

“Thank you, sir. My friend must be having a low blood sugar spell...” The student’s companion quickly thanked Zhu Shinian.

“It’s nothing,” Zhu Shinian shook his head. “It’s what anyone would do.”

Unlike the military academy, Imperial Capital University’s motto is “inclusiveness, innovation, and freedom,” and it has always been very tolerant of students participating in political activities.

Because this kind of protest doesn’t actually produce any substantial effect, before long their teachers would come to the police station and successfully get them out.

“Tell your friend to hold on a little longer,” Zhu Shinian comforted, seeing how timid the student looked, “your professor should be picking you up any minute now...”

“You’re Zhu Shinian. I recognize you.”

Once he got a clear look at Zhu Shinian’s face, the student with low blood sugar suddenly said.