Le Zhuo hurried downstairs, intent on catching someone “in the act,” but found no sign of Bai Jiao in the living room.
Without hesitation, he sent a message to Bai Jiao’s communicator. A reply came quickly.
“Wait for me in the living room. I’ll be right out.”
Bai Jiao powered off the robot, leaving it posed like a mannequin to one side, then stepped out toward the living room.
Le Zhuo waited for a moment. When he finally saw him, his gaze flickered with hesitation as it swept up and down Bai Jiao’s figure.
“What’s wrong?” Bai Jiao raised an eyebrow.
“N-Nothing… I just missed you,” Le Zhuo said as he moved closer, clinging to him in a soft, almost sticky embrace. Yet his eyes couldn’t help but drift downward. “What were you doing just now?”
“Sorting out some deliveries,” Bai Jiao answered honestly.
“What did you buy?” Le Zhuo pressed a light kiss to the corner of Bai Jiao’s lips.
“A robot and some clothes.”
Seeing how vague the answer was, Le Zhuo felt a surge of jealousy rise in his chest. Of course, there was no way he would admit that he was jealous of a robot.
“Oh, I see…” he drawled, elongating his tone slightly as his fingers began to wander restlessly over Bai Jiao’s body.
It had to be said, Bai Jiao’s physique was truly exceptional. His muscles were firm yet aesthetically pleasing, like something deliberately sculpted for admiration. But Le Zhuo had seen Bai Jiao in a fight before; it was clear this body wasn’t just for show. There was nothing exaggerated about it, only a quiet, undeniable strength.
His fingers slipped stealthily beneath Bai Jiao’s waistband, grasping at a place that had shown little reaction just moments before.
The robot was capable of producing fluid. Bai Jiao had come out in such a hurry, there was no way he had cleaned up…
Bai Jiao narrowed his eyes, catching hold of Le Zhuo’s hand. “So you’re not hurting at all anymore?”
“…” Only then did Le Zhuo realize that what he held was completely clean and already reacting. A sense of impending doom hit him and he instinctively swallowed. “Jiao Jiao, if I say I just suddenly wanted to touch, nothing else, would you believe me?”
Bai Jiao let out a soft chuckle, his tone giving nothing away.
Now Le Zhuo didn’t know whether to pull his hand back or not. Awkwardly, the two of them stared at each other, wide-eyed.
“You like it that much? You came looking for me just to touch?” Bai Jiao withdrew his hand and stepped forward.
Le Zhuo instinctively leaned back, falling onto the sofa with a thump.
His throat bobbed as he tried to explain, “No, Jiao Jiao, I…”
“Don’t say anything. I’ll satisfy you.”
Bai Jiao bent down, reaching out to undo his thin sleepwear.
Le Zhuo felt that vibrant warmth and couldn’t bear to leave Bai Jiao uncomfortable, so he simply shut his mouth.
His thoughts drifted uncontrollably, since Bai Jiao hadn’t been with the robot, then why had it shown as being in use? Had he used his hands? But his hands were clearly clean.
“Still thinking?” Bai Jiao deliberately sealed his lips, not allowing him to argue.
“Mm…” A trace of coolness made Le Zhuo melt into the sofa, though his back tensed involuntarily. “Ah…”
Now Bai Jiao’s hands were no longer clean.
A sentinel was naturally tighter than an ordinary person and it took Bai Jiao quite some effort to open him up. Yet his movements were gentle and meticulous, entirely different from the first time, when it had only been to ease Le Zhuo’s guilt.
Little by little, Le Zhuo let go of all his defenses, allowing Bai Jiao to turn him into a pool of water.
“Zhuo Zhuo, does it hurt?” Bai Jiao lowered his head and kissed the corner of his eye.
“Mmm… it doesn’t,” Le Zhuo let out a muffled sound, hooking his arm around Bai Jiao’s neck as he lifted his head to kiss his lips. “Kiss me…”
Bai Jiao naturally granted his wish.
At the beginning, it was, of course, extremely difficult.
But as they gradually fell into rhythm, Bai Jiao revealed his truest self.
The sofa shook rapidly, creaking under the motion, the sounds echoing loudly in the otherwise quiet room.
The storm showed no sign of stopping. Le Zhuo couldn’t control the tears that slipped from his eyes, yet he never once begged for mercy. He felt that he ought to let Bai Jiao enjoy himself to the fullest, after all, he had been the one to provoke him.
Fortunately, Bai Jiao was someone who knew restraint and did not push things too far.
Later, Bai Jiao carried Le Zhuo to bathe. His arms hung limply around Bai Jiao’s neck, completely devoid of strength.
His gaze kept drifting, unconsciously settling on the faint scar at Bai Jiao’s neck, his fingertips gently tracing over it.
“Will this scar always stay?” Le Zhuo asked.
Bai Jiao’s neck was long and fair, elegant like a swan’s. The faint pink scar did not look unattractive, yet Le Zhuo couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache.
It was proof that he had once hurt Bai Jiao.
“It’ll disappear soon. But if you don’t like it, you can replace it with something else.” Bai Jiao placed him into the tub filled with water and sat behind him, enclosing him in his arms.
“How would I replace it? With a tattoo?” Le Zhuo turned to face him. “But I’ve heard tattoos hurt a lot. I wouldn’t want you to feel any pain.”
“Though I’m not afraid of that kind of pain, that’s not what I meant.” Bai Jiao pointed at the faint mark on Le Zhuo’s neck left by his kisses. “I meant something like this.”
He liked leaving all kinds of marks on Le Zhuo’s body. Before, he had been somewhat restrained, keeping them hidden beneath clothing. But now that Le Zhuo stayed home every day, he could leave them as freely as he pleased.
Le Zhuo lowered his head, thinking that it wasn’t just his neck that bore such marks. Still, he found Bai Jiao’s suggestion especially tempting.
“But if you leave them here, when you go to training tomorrow, won’t everyone see them?” Le Zhuo reached up to touch the spot, eager to try.
“Don’t you want others to know I already have a lover?” Bai Jiao’s voice carried a note of coaxing. “If you kiss me here, they’ll understand.”
“I do.”
Le Zhuo pushed Bai Jiao against the edge of the bathtub, only to be pulled by the waist and seated onto him instead.
The place that had yet to recover from before was once again met with that same overwhelming sensation.
Le Zhuo let out a soft sound, thinking that Bai Jiao truly had… boundless energy. As a sentinel, he couldn’t even keep up with a guide, it felt a little embarrassing.
He cast aside his scattered thoughts and lowered his head to kiss Bai Jiao’s neck, but Bai Jiao would never make it that easy, slowly lifting and guiding Le Zhuo’s waist.
“Jiao Jiao…”
Le Zhuo had no way to focus on leaving marks on Bai Jiao’s neck.
“Mhm?” Bai Jiao looked at him innocently, as if he wasn’t the one causing trouble at all.
“D-Don’t move…” Le Zhuo clung to his shoulders, feeling the water ripple and surge.
It was as if the water in the tub was rushing eagerly into his body, only to be forced out again by Bai Jiao.
Bai Jiao squeezed his hip, then gave him a light smack.
“You’re the one moving too slowly. How is it my fault?”
Faced with Bai Jiao’s unreasonable teasing, Le Zhuo had no choice but to continue what he had started.
What should have been a simple bath stretched into more than two hours. By the time they came out, Le Zhuo couldn’t even lift his hands anymore.
And Bai Jiao’s neck, at his own insistence, now bore several distinct marks left by Le Zhuo.
“Sleep.”
Bai Jiao held him with quiet satisfaction, rubbing his cheek against Le Zhuo’s, making no further moves.
“Jiao Jiao, good night.”
“Zhuo Zhuo, good night.”
…………
The next day, when Bai Jiao went to training, he was, unsurprisingly, met with the stares of his subordinates and the new recruits.
Every single one of them looked at the unmistakable marks on his neck, clear evidence of something intimate and hesitated to speak.
Damn it, what kind of bastard of a sentinel had managed to win over their young general? And even dared to leave marks like that on his neck!
If they ever found out who it was, they’d make sure to deal with that sentinel without mercy.
Because of the injuries he had suffered before, Le Zhuo’s mental power was weak in its entanglement. Around Bai Jiao, it was negligible to those sentinels, only those of lower rank than him could feel a slight sense of pressure.
However, the possessiveness and oppressive force released invisibly from Bai Jiao’s mental power were enough to strike fear into every guide.
For example, Xia Gu, who already knew that Bai Jiao’s true identity was that of a guide and that he was also his half-brother, had been ordered by Bai Jiao to go to his residence to retrieve something.
The moment Xia Gu saw Le Zhuo, he dropped straight to his knees.
Le Zhuo, of course, was already aware of Xia Gu’s real identity as well. Instinctively, he stepped forward to help him up. “No, no, there’s no need for such a grand gesture. I already know about what happened last time, it was just a misunderstanding.”
“No, no, no!” Xia Gu darted aside in a flash, retreating outside the doorway, looking as though he might cry. “Ge, ah no, brother-in-law, please just help me get the document that was just printed in Major General Bai Jiao’s study and bring it to me. Don’t come near me, just leave it at the door.”
A guide’s mental power was supposed to be humble and gentle, yet what coiled around Le Zhuo felt particularly terrifying to Xia Gu. It gave him the sense that if he got any closer, he would be torn to pieces.
Le Zhuo looked at him, utterly confused, scratching his head awkwardly. He thought that perhaps his recklessness last time had frightened the young man, so he tried to sound as kind as possible. “Wait a moment, I’ll go get it.”
He forced himself to walk as normally as he could, but the soreness in his waist and the trembling weakness in his legs betrayed him completely.
Xia Gu had experienced his fair share of romantic encounters before and could naturally tell what state Le Zhuo was in. Still, he wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
“Take your time, no rush!” Xia Gu didn’t dare approach, only calling out loudly from behind the door.
“…” Le Zhuo felt like a tottering old man being fussed over by a child.
He found the document that had just been transmitted and automatically printed on Bai Jiao’s desk, then carried it downstairs to hand it to Xia Gu, only for Xia Gu to retreat several meters away.
“Brother-in-law, please, just leave it at the door! I’ll pick it up myself. If you come any closer, the Major General will kill me!” Xia Gu felt uncomfortable all over.
Le Zhuo didn’t understand why he was reacting so strongly, but he still did as he was told and placed the document at the doorway.
“You can come get it now…”
It made it seem as though he were the one tormenting him.
Feeling a little embarrassed, Le Zhuo closed the door. After thinking for a moment, he sent Bai Jiao a message.
Yueyue Shop: 【That… your younger brother, Xia Gu… is there something wrong with his head?】
Then it hit him, he had forgotten to switch accounts!
Le Zhuo fumbled in a panic, trying to retract the message, but it was too late. Bai Jiao had already seen it and replied.
.:【 Mm, not very bright.】
Le Zhuo suddenly realized that Bai Jiao had probably known his identity all along and had been teasing him the entire time.
From the moment of that little bird he had caught…
Yet Le Zhuo couldn’t bring himself to feel angry at all.
He had been the one to hide things from Bai Jiao first, so he couldn’t blame Bai Jiao for teasing him.
Le Zhuo refused to admit that he had become someone hopelessly in love, but he couldn’t deny the sweetness swelling in his heart. He didn’t even feel like working anymore, instead rolling around on the bed filled with Bai Jiao’s scent.
They had only just parted for a short while, yet he already missed Bai Jiao terribly…
He wondered what Bai Jiao was doing at that very moment.
Bai Jiao, meanwhile, was in the middle of reprimanding people.
It had to be said, many sentinels really did have the mindset of guides.
Xia Gu had not only charmed Bai Xiuzhu and Lan Tingxue, but had also captivated all the new recruits.
In their eyes, the Major General was like a distant moon, someone they could only admire from afar. At such a young age, he already bore numerous medals, his years on the wasteland planet marked by both hardship and honor.
Xia Gu, on the other hand, was someone within reach. His rank was not high, his temperament gentle and he was also a soldier.
Like frost upon the ground, within arm’s reach.
Bai Jiao did not interfere with this. After all, it was he who had granted Xia Gu a new life. Of course, no one knew Xia Gu’s true identity.
Xia Gu could choose someone among the sentinels to spend his life with, or choose to remain alone.
Their agreement had only been for Xia Gu to deepen the conflict between Bai Xiuzhu and Lan Tingxue, giving those elders who still refused to yield a bit more trouble to deal with.
“If you’re normal people and want to fight for something, then do it openly. If that doesn’t work, then settle it with a fight. Acting petty in front of me, do you really think I’ll indulge you?”
Bai Jiao stood above, his subordinate relaying his words.
Bai Xiuzhu and Lan Tingxue, upon hearing this, felt their dignity crumble in front of him, yet they didn’t dare act out. They lowered their heads resentfully and endured the scolding.
Though the two were illegitimate children, they were undoubtedly the most favored by their parents. Spoiled beyond measure, only Bai Jiao could keep them in check to some extent.
“Report! The item has been retrieved. Requesting permission to return to formation.”
The moment Xia Gu appeared, he drew most of the attention, especially from Bai Xiuzhu and Lan Tingxue.
“Come here.”
Bai Jiao took the document from his hands and flipped through it, discovering that it was a promotion form and transfer order.
He had been promoted to lieutenant general and reassigned back to the wasteland planet as a commander, no longer personally participating in front-line operations. The former bureau chief had also been promoted and transferred back to the capital planet.
His parents were trying to remove him from the center, clearly determined not to change the arranged engagement.
In that case…
Bai Jiao glanced at Bai Xiuzhu and Lan Tingxue, who were still glaring at each other.
He wondered, once their favored illegitimate children were rendered useless, whether they would still want to transfer him away.
What a family lacked most was a capable heir to carry on its legacy. The original host had always been the first choice; his assignment to the wasteland planet had only been for experience and rapid advancement.
By sending their illegitimate children to stand before Bai Jiao, his parents had already revealed much.
Though he didn’t care for the Bai family, whatever belonged to him, no one else would take it away.
“Bai Feng, I’ve come to see the child.”
Le Shan had not been doing well these past few days.
The fragile barrier between him and Bai Feng had been shattered. He had fallen out of favor with Bai Jiao, faced pressure from his family and now appeared worn down and dispirited, with unkempt stubble.
“Do you intend to marry me?”
Holding the child, Bai Feng looked at Le Shan with cold eyes.
After all these days, he had already sorted out the situation clearly.
His younger brother, Bai Jiao, had not died and Le Zhuo was no longer a fool.
These developments were completely different from his previous life. Because he hadn’t wanted to marry a fool, he had used his pregnancy to force the situation, kneeling and knocking his head against the ground to beg Bai Jiao for fulfillment, casting aside all the dignity and pride he once possessed.
Yet Le Shan still held Bai Jiao in his heart. Though he acknowledged the child, his mind was elsewhere.
How had his life become such a mess?
Thinking of Le Zhuo’s clear, lively eyes… Le Zhuo was no longer a fool. He was no longer that simple-minded person who devoted himself entirely to him.
Bai Feng felt like a complete failure. He had even lost the only person in the world who had ever truly treated him with sincerity.
Why had he been brought back into this world at this moment? Why couldn’t he have returned to the very beginning of the original timeline…
Bai Feng’s heart churned with conflicting emotions. His mind was a tangled mess, thoughts jumping from one to another without any order.
Le Shan said stubbornly, “The one I love is Bai Jiao. I was originally your brother’s fiance…”
“My brother has a cleanliness obsession. You’re already tainted, he won’t want you.”
That single sentence from Bai Feng caused Le Shan’s eyes to turn bloodshot, the item in his hands slipping to the ground.
“Can’t we just get married and live a good life together?”
This world was different and that difference made Bai Feng still hold onto a trace of hope for Le Shan.
He couldn’t quite describe whether what he felt for Le Shan was love or obsession, only that it was something he couldn’t let go of. Moreover, they already had a child.
After giving birth, for three months, a guide’s body would secrete substances that made them deeply attached to both their child and their partner.
Le Shan fell silent.
He walked over to Bai Feng and looked at the small child in his arms, then reached out and took the baby.
Bai Feng froze for a moment. All the thoughts he had before Le Shan arrived vanished completely.
He gazed at Le Shan and the child with a radiant smile, his eyes holding nothing else.
This was his entire world.
Chaotic, unsteady, manipulated until only a single fixation remained.
He loved the child and he loved the child’s other father.
“He should be fed. Give him to me.”
Bai Feng removed his shirt, revealing the swollen fullness beneath, pale and prominent.
Le Shan crouched down halfway, looking at the tiny child, a surge of affection rising within him.
Bai Feng misunderstood his intent and asked, “Do you want some too?”
“…Alright.” Le Shan swallowed and agreed.
…….
“What? They were caught by the media doing that kind of thing in the hospital?”
When Le Zhuo received a call from home and understood what it was about, his jaw nearly dropped.
“No… the child is right there. What are they even doing in a hospital?”
After the shock came speechlessness.
“It’s already become headline news? With photos as proof?”
Le Zhuo opened a news app and sure enough, the top headline was about Bai Feng and Le Shan.
“Shocking scandal! A well-known second-generation military heir caught cheating, playing a ‘feeding game’ in a hospital with his own brother-in-law!”
Even the headline was astonishing. Even as someone involved, Le Zhuo felt stunned.
Clicking into the article, the accompanying image showed Le Shan leaning against Bai Feng. The photo even made it clear how swollen Bai Feng’s chest had become.
“So a guide’s body changes like this after pregnancy?”
It wasn’t the first time Bai Jiao had seen a man with such a developed chest, but he hadn’t expected a male guide’s body to develop this way after childbirth.
“This was covered in middle school biology class,” Le Zhuo said helplessly as he closed his communicator. “Jiao Jiao, we need to go to the hospital.”
“What for?” Bai Jiao had already blocked both his parents, so he naturally didn’t know about the situation. Even if he did, he wouldn’t care.
“My parents and yours, both want us to go.”
“To take the blame?” Bai Jiao raised an eyebrow. “I’m not doing that.”
Right now, the overwhelming coverage outside was all about Bai Feng and Le Shan’s affair.
“What do you mean, take the blame?” Le Zhuo looked confused.
“It means they cheated first, but for the sake of their reputation, they want us to admit that we were the ones who cheated first,” Bai Jiao explained.
“I see. But it’s fine, I have evidence that they were together even before we met.”
“So impressive?” Bai Jiao pinched his cheek.
Le Zhuo blushed slightly at the praise. “Not really. I just happened to record it by accident.”
In truth, he had spent several days climbing trees to obtain it. For something this important, he didn’t trust using robots or drones.
“So you watched the whole thing? I didn’t expect you to have that kind of hobby.”
“…” Le Zhuo averted his gaze guiltily.
Before long, their parents called again, urging them to come to the hospital.
Seeing how troubled Le Zhuo was, Bai Jiao sighed. “Fine, we’ll go. But we need to change clothes first.”
He called his subordinates, instructing them to gather at the academy gate in ten minutes.
“Change into what?” Le Zhuo asked. “Something special?”
“Wear whatever you like. I’ll go change first.”
Half an hour later,
Bai Jiao appeared in a crisp military uniform, the medals on his shoulders gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight, leading a group of soldiers marching in perfect formation to the hospital.
Le Zhuo, holding his hand, was dressed simply and plainly. He felt out of place, awkward in every possible way.
When the reporters at the entrance saw this scene, they didn’t dare rush forward immediately. It was only when Bai Jiao had them gathered together, so they wouldn’t block the normal flow of patients, that they approached.
“Hello, Major General Bai Jiao.”
The usually eloquent reporters found themselves at a loss for words in the face of his imposing presence.
“Ask whatever you want,” Bai Jiao said gently, the faintest smile curving his lips.
Even with his permission, the reporters didn’t dare be too bold.
“Major General Bai Jiao, may I ask, regarding the matter circulating online about your brother, Mr. Bai Feng and your fiance, Mr. Le Shan, what are your thoughts?”
“I need to clarify one thing, Le Shan is not my fiance. When the Bai and Le families arranged the engagement, no specific name was designated,” Bai Jiao said unhurriedly. “As for your question, my brother and my brother-in-law are mutually in love. They have already had a child and are living happily together. I wish them a lifetime of harmony and enduring unity.”
His calm and composed demeanor drew admiration from many and the reporters grew more enthusiastic in their questioning.
“Major General Bai Jiao, may I ask, regarding the images circulating online, showing them engaging in indecent behavior in the hospital, what are your thoughts? Do you consider it shameful or vulgar?”
“I’m sorry, I haven’t had the time to look at the images you mentioned,” Bai Jiao replied, his tone even. “As an unmarried and not-yet-pregnant guide, I’m not familiar with the specifics. However, I believe a decent person shouldn’t be staring at the chest of a father who has just given birth.” He met the reporter’s gaze and smiled faintly. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“…” The reporter was left speechless.
“Any other questions?” Bai Jiao still wore a slight smile, his composure completely unaffected.
Another reporter stepped forward. “Major General Bai Jiao, may we ask about your relationship with the gentleman beside you, Mr. Le Zhuo?”
Because Le Zhuo had once been considered a fool, the Le family had never allowed him to appear in public. That fact itself had been concealed and in the public’s eyes, Le Zhuo was Bai Feng’s fiance.
Now, Bai Jiao intended to correct that.
“This is my, Le Zhuo.” Bai Jiao turned his head, the tenderness in his eyes soft as water, his smile becoming more genuine. “We met rather late, but I’ve already made up my mind about him.”
Le Zhuo’s heart pounded violently. He instinctively tightened his grip on Bai Jiao’s hand, only for Bai Jiao to gently release it.
He froze, watching as Bai Jiao reached into his pocket and took out a red velvet box whose contents were obvious at a glance. His mouth parted in surprise. “Jiao Jiao…”
“Since so many people are here, please bear witness for me.”
Bai Jiao opened the box. Inside lay a diamond ring larger than a pigeon’s egg. He held it out before Le Zhuo. “Le Zhuo, will you marry me?”