Chapter 8 Separation

Chapter 8: Separation

"Major General Gu, are you blaming me for not teaching the students well and piling more work on you? If so, the military must be pretty useless if a single protest has you running around like headless chickens. If you're really angry, why don't you join me, Major General Gu? I'll treat you to breakfast too, as an apology."

"Looks like both the Council and Imperial Capital University have it pretty easy," Gu Zhen shot him a cold glance. "Leaving you free to invite my subordinate out to breakfast."

"What are you talking about? No matter how busy the military gets, surely there's time for breakfast? That would be mistreating your subordinates."

"Perhaps Major General Gu has some work matters to discuss with me," Zhu Shinian said, sensing Gu Zhen's displeasure. He quickly apologized to Jiang Huaiyan, "I'm sorry, Representative Jiang. I'm afraid I can't join you for breakfast. It's too cold outside—why don't you wait in the car for a moment, and I'll go buy some breakfast and bring it back to you..."

"Zhu Shinian," Gu Zhen interrupted sharply, "Does the military pay you to kiss up to random people?"

In front of Jiang Huaiyan, Gu Zhen was clearly acting out of character. Gu Zhen wasn't a hot-tempered man; he was easily riled up, but he rarely spoke harshly to Zhu Shinian like this.

They had known each other for seven years, and Zhu Shinian could hardly remember a time when Gu Zhen had ever reprimanded him so openly in front of others. Caught off guard by Gu Zhen's sudden outburst, Zhu Shinian was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

The last time—the last time Gu Zhen had spoken to him harshly in front of someone else was yesterday, when Jiang Huaiyan had come to Zhu Shinian's home and he had offered to grill steak for him. Gu Zhen had grumbled that his cooking was terrible.

Zhu Shinian knew he wasn't a great cook, but back when he used to cook occasionally, Gu Zhen had never said anything like that before.

Twice, and both times because of Jiang Huaiyan.

"Colonel Zhu was injured in the line of duty just yesterday," Jiang Huaiyan said, his face betraying no anger, his tone still gentle and calm. "Major General Gu, treating your subordinates like this doesn't exactly make you a good leader. If I were you, I'd definitely let Colonel Zhu rest at home."

Hearing this only made Gu Zhen angrier. If Jiang Huaiyan hadn't come to the military base demanding to see Zhu Shinian yesterday, Zhu Shinian wouldn't have been injured. If Jiang Huaiyan's precious students hadn't caused trouble, why would Zhu Shinian have had to get up early and come here to deal with this mess?

"Do you even know who's causing trouble today?" Gu Zhen sneered. "Stop bossing me around, Jiang Huaiyan. Who do you think you are to lecture me?"

"We're about to be engaged. As your future fiancé, I think I have some right to offer you a bit of advice," Jiang Huaiyan said with a smile, seemingly unbothered by Gu Zhen's sarcasm. "After all, our families will be in-laws in name only soon. If your reputation, Major General Gu, suffers, it could affect the Jiang Corporation's stock prices."

"What, can't even mention that?" The moment the words left his mouth, Jiang Huaiyan saw the furious expression on Gu Zhen's face and was certain that if Zhu Shinian weren't present, Gu Zhen would have immediately thrown a punch. "I hear Colonel Zhu has been with you for many years. He's hardly an outsider, is he?"

"I just met Colonel Zhu for the first time yesterday. I found him very agreeable. I trust Colonel Zhu won't go blabbing to the media."

"I won't. I won't," Zhu Shinian blurted out almost involuntarily.

His face had turned pale. Even Jiang Huaiyan, meeting him for only the second time, could tell that his reaction and state seemed somewhat unusual. He asked why he looked so pale, and if his injury was still bothering him.

Zhu Shinian quickly realized he had lost his composure. He forced a smile and said he was okay.

Jiang Huaiyan frowned slightly, as if bothered by the fuss, but he still reached out to touch Zhu Shinian's forehead to check for a fever.

But the moment he raised his hand, Gu Zhen reached out and forcefully slapped his hand away.

"If you know you're just making trouble, then get lost," Gu Zhen had lost all patience with Jiang Huaiyan. "Jiang Huaiyan, I'm warning you one last time. You know what I have on you. Don't think you can throw your weight around just because of the engagement. If you stay out of my business and my people's business, we can part amicably in two months, and I won't have to spill your dirty little secrets."

"I just find Colonel Zhu very agreeable. It was a coincidence we ran into each other, and I wanted to grab a meal and make a friend," Jiang Huaiyan said. "I don't see why that's such a heinous crime in Major General Gu's eyes."

"He's injured. It's inconvenient. Do I need to repeat myself?"

"I'm taking him home. Do as you please, Representative Jiang. You can go have breakfast at whichever five-star hotel you like. I can't understand what's so great about cold buns."

Not wanting to waste another word on Jiang Huaiyan, Gu Zhen shoved Zhu Shinian into the passenger seat of the off-road vehicle, floored the gas pedal with a scowl, and the Hummer sped away.

Zhu Shinian turned his face away, pretending to look out the window, and discreetly wiped the tears from his cheeks.

The empty street had long since lost sight of Jiang Huaiyan. Jiang Huaiyan's white business van had also turned on its headlights and was driving in the opposite direction.

He felt so sorry for Jiang Huaiyan, but he also couldn't defy Gu Zhen.

So Representative Jiang hadn't misremembered after all. They really were getting married.

Zhu Shinian had originally thought that someone as cautious and responsible as Jiang Huaiyan—who gave so many speeches, had so much work to do, and had never made a mistake all these years—could only have gotten his own future fiancé's name wrong.

It was Gu Zhen who had been lying to him.

Now he... had truly become the third party in the relationship between Jiang Huaiyan and Gu Zhen.

"Please... don't be angry," Zhu Shinian said cautiously, trying to soothe Gu Zhen.

"Representative Jiang wanted to have breakfast with me, maybe... to get to know you through me? He still cares about you, after all."

"What? What nonsense?" Gu Zhen frowned. His brain hadn't processed what Zhu Shinian was saying, and the question came out before he could think.

To Gu Zhen, Zhu Shinian's words sounded like a foreign language. Each word was recognizable, but strung together they made no sense.

"Major General," his throat felt dry. Just saying those two words seemed to take all his courage. "Let's end this... okay? You promised me. If you were going to marry someone else, you wouldn't make me... be the one kept in the shadows..."

Zhu Shinian wasn't a man with particularly strong pride. He could endure students from the 26th District cursing him to his face as a lackey. He wouldn't get angry at ordinary people who called him a pariah from the 26th District on the street. He didn't mind being an S-class alpha submitting to another alpha as his lover.

But that didn't mean he could accept being... the third party in Gu Zhen's marriage to someone else.

"I promised you. But I said it's not true, and it really isn't," Gu Zhen repeated with a frown. "Don't ask anymore. It's just an engagement. It'll be called off eventually."

"But..."

"I knew you'd be unhappy if you found out, that's why I didn't tell you."

Gu Zhen's tone was casual, as if he was genuinely considering Zhu Shinian's feelings.

But Major General... I feel really sad right now too.

If Jiang Huaiyan hadn't told me, how long were you going to keep it from me?

"Zhu Shinian, you're twenty-two now. Can you cut me some slack? Be reasonable for once. Stop making a scene," Gu Zhen frowned, a wave of inexplicable anger rising within him.

He knew he was in the wrong. Of course Zhu Shinian had every right to be upset.

But compared to the help the Jiang family could provide, letting Zhu Shinian endure a little hardship was a loss Gu Zhen could accept.

Zhu Shinian had always been the most obedient and understanding. He should understand his position.

"Then, Major General, let's separate for now," Zhu Shinian said with difficulty. "When the engagement is over, I'll return to you..."

After thinking it over, Zhu Shinian felt that a temporary separation from Gu Zhen was the best choice for everyone.

During this time, the soon-to-be-engaged Gu Zhen could get used to his actual fiancé without having to worry about the feelings of a secret lover.

If they truly couldn't stand each other, they only had to endure two months before they could break the engagement and regain their freedom.

If... if they actually fell in love during those two months... Zhu Shinian found it hard to breathe just thinking about it.

But if that were the case, it would be a match made in heaven, an unbreakable bond. For him to come between two such people would be like throwing an egg against a rock, utterly futile.

"Don't even think about it," Gu Zhen said angrily. "Zhu Shinian, are you deaf? How many times do I have to tell you to stop making a scene?"

How much could happen in two months? Zhu Shinian was already past the age for registering a marriage with an omega. If he and Zhu Shinian separated for even a week, the matching agency could force him to be matched with an omega with a very high pheromone compatibility. Even if Zhu Shinian didn't like that omega, who could guarantee that omega wouldn't fall for Zhu Shinian?

And alphas... It was Jiang Huaiyan who had offered to drive him home yesterday. When he and Zhu Shinian separated for those so-called two months, how many other alphas would appear?

Zhu Shinian was about to turn twenty-two. At twenty-two, he really could legally marry an alpha.

Author's note: