novelraw Chapter 5 They're such a perfect match!
Chapter 5 They're such a perfect match!
Allison knocked on the study door, and after receiving permission, pushed the food cart in to bring tea and snacks to the Marshal and his wife.
As he poured the tea, he caught a glimpse of the marshal's expression out of the corner of his eye, and his hand trembled slightly, almost spilling water onto the expensive solid wood desk.
This is really not the behavior of a professional butler.
Fortunately, the marshal only glanced at him briefly before looking at the lady opposite him with an extremely gentle gaze that he had never seen before.
She was completely different from the aloof person she was yesterday.
I don't know what happened last night that caused the marshal to change so much.
As he left the room, Allison thought: If those guys in the military saw this, they'd probably all stare at me with wide eyes.
It's just... I always felt that the marshal's gaze wasn't like he was looking at his wife; it carried a hint of relief and concern, more like he was looking at a junior from his military academy...
Allison shook his head; he must be getting old and misread it.
Should I get reading glasses?
Ling Suyu had already put away the divorce agreement, placing it in a drawer along with the letter the little one had left for him.
Thinking of that letter, Ling Suyu asked, "Was the letter you left behind written by your grandfather?"
Wen Shumu shook his head slightly: "Grandpa was sick at that time and had difficulty moving around. It was the person he sent to find me who wrote it."
"At that time... I originally wanted to wait for you to come back, but they said that if we didn't leave soon, it would be too late. I was afraid you would worry, so I had to ask one of my uncles to write a letter and leave it with me."
However, I still didn't make it to see my grandfather one last time.
Wen Shumu smiled wryly and said, "Just like the letter said, I was thinking of going back with Grandpa's people first, and then coming back to find you in a few days."
Who knew that after his grandfather passed away, his father forbade him from going out and even from seeing any outsiders.
He was surrounded by guards, ostensibly for protection, but in reality, he was under house arrest.
Soon, his stepmother arrived at the Wen family home with his younger brother, who was only two years younger than him.
His life was turned upside down from that point on, plummeting from the clouds to the mud, from which he could never escape.
From then on, everyone knew that the new head of the Wen family had an extremely beloved Omega son named Wen Boshuang, but few people knew about Wen Shumu.
Even with this marriage alliance with Ling Suyu, Wen Shumu only learned about it after leaving the Wen family and seeing it on the Star Network. Many people at the time thought that Wen Boshuang would marry Marshal Ling...
Ling Suyu's cool, deep voice interrupted Wen Shumu's recollection: "The letter didn't say you were coming back."
Wen Shumu paused for a moment, then took the letter Alpha handed him.
After reading it, his hands trembled slightly.
He had written a long speech, but the letter contained only a very short sentence, merely expressing his gratitude for Ling Suyu's care without mentioning that he would return.
Wen Shumu returned the letter, pursed his lips, and explained, "I didn't know it wasn't written in the letter... Grandpa was in critical condition at the time, so the person who wrote the letter must have been in a hurry to take me away and only wrote down part of it."
He spoke faster and faster, afraid that the Alpha would misunderstand him: "Brother, I didn't want to leave you at all. Later, I even thought about coming back to find you, but Father wouldn't let me go out. He said that he sent someone to the desolate planet to check and said that you were no longer... in this world."
Just thinking about the scene when he learned the news made Wen Shumu's heart ache, and his eyes reddened.
Upon hearing Wen Bin's name, Ling Suyu's eyes immediately turned cold: "I later went to military school, so I'm definitely not on the desolate planet anymore. But to say I'm dead just because they can't find me is nothing but a perfunctory excuse."
With her long eyelashes drooping, Wen Shumu nodded dejectedly.
He had long known that his father disliked his mother and, by extension, loathed him, never taking him seriously.
Ling Suyu's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he asked softly, "Over the years, how has the Wen family treated you...?"
After a long silence, Wen Shumu shook his head slightly.
He didn't know where to begin, nor did he really want to recall that dark and hopeless past in front of Ling Suyu, so he could only express himself through gestures.
Ling Suyu's expression suddenly turned gloomy, even somewhat terrifying. The veins on the back of his hand gripping the armrest bulged, and the force was so great that he could almost crush the armrest.
If the little one doesn't want to talk now, then we'll wait until he's willing to.
At that time, he will repay the Wen family a hundredfold or a thousandfold for the suffering Wen Shumu endured.
Alpha exuded a subtle anger, which would have deterred others from approaching, but Wen Shumu's mood gradually improved.
Ling Suyu was angry, but it was because of him.
His brother felt sorry for him.
This realization warmed Wen Shumu's heart. He lowered his head, took a sip of tea, and a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth behind the cup.
Just as he was about to speak, Ling Suyu's terminal suddenly lit up.
It was a phone call invitation from the emperor.
Wen Shumu quickly got up to avoid him, but he was called back by Ling Suyu after only taking a few steps out of the study.
On the projection screen displayed on the terminal, a refined man with medium-length hair sat upright in a luxurious leather chair. He looked to be about forty years old and wore gold-rimmed glasses. He did not look like a ruthless emperor at all, but rather like a leisurely and elegant artist.
This was not the first time Wen Shumu had met the emperor; the last time was at his brother's wedding.
However, since they did not have a close conversation at the time, the emperor's expression was not as gentle as it is today, but rather solemn and dignified, displaying the unique majesty of an emperor.
Unlike his languid demeanor, after Yi Hao ascended the throne, he acted swiftly and decisively, from expelling powerful noble families to concluding a peace treaty with the Federation, thus earning the deep love and respect of the empire's people.
Wen Shumu placed his right hand on his left chest, leaned forward slightly, and bowed his head in greeting.
When he was imprisoned in the Wen family, he had no opportunity to systematically learn court etiquette. It was only because of the marriage alliance, and to prevent him from disgracing the Wen family after his release, that his father temporarily found an etiquette teacher to give him intensive training.
Yi Hao keenly sensed that the atmosphere between the two was not as stiff as he had imagined.
He smiled faintly and nodded in return, saying, "Do you have time today? If so, please come to the palace."
In the emperor's words, entering the palace was as simple and casual as eating and sleeping.
Wen Shumu's eyes widened: "Me too?"
Yi Hao smiled and nodded: "I have something to tell you."
If it were anyone else being personally invited to the palace by the emperor, they would probably be overwhelmed with gratitude and immediately make grand preparations. But Ling Suyu asked instead, "Can't we say it through the terminal?"
Yi Hao's smile froze for a moment, then he said quietly, "No."
The emperor ended the call immediately after speaking, giving Ling Suyu no chance to refuse.
Wen Shumu said, "Brother, I'll go change my clothes right away."
Ling Suyu nodded, and after he left, he called Allison in and asked him to prepare the car for the trip.
Not daring to waste too much time, Xiao Jin worked very quickly and helped Wen Shumu choose clothes in just a few minutes.
She changed from simple loungewear into a court-style shirt with ruffled trim, and then put on a light-colored knee-length formal coat with vintage patterns outlined in gold thread.
Standard aristocratic Omega attire.
Wen Shumu seemed to be used to this style of clothing, but only he knew that it was the first time he had ever dressed like this.
This kind of formal attire was only worn by nobles who had turned 18 and entered social circles to attend formal occasions, and Wenbin never took him out.
After going downstairs, Ling Suyu had already changed into his standard military uniform, exuding a sharp aura and transforming back into the high-ranking and powerful marshal that the public was familiar with.
This was not the brother Wen Shumu knew.
Wen Shumu stopped three or four meters away from Ling Suyu, hesitant to approach.
Ling Suyu took a few steps toward the door and, finding no one following him, turned back to look at Wen Shumu.
Alpha stood backlit, the sunlight rushing in through the open door and shining directly on him, the golden warmth instantly melting away the coldness of his pure black military uniform.
In the hazy light, he extended a long, strong hand to Wen Shumu.
Looking at that hand, Wen Shumu couldn't help but take a few steps forward, then quickened his pace, finally arriving at Alpha's side.
According to the court etiquette he had learned, he should have taken Ling Suyu's arm.
But at this moment, Wen Shumu forgot all etiquette. He tremblingly raised his hand and carefully grasped that large hand.
At first, he held it loosely, but after two seconds, when he touched the warm palm and the rough calluses of the gun, Wen Shumu's eyelashes trembled. Unable to resist the temptation, he actually grasped it.
Ling Suyu paused for a moment, then looked down at their clasped hands.
It was soft and slightly cool, but it was quickly warmed up by his hands and became the same temperature.
After rigorous military training, Ling Suyu had a thorough understanding of his physical condition.
He clearly felt his heart skip a beat in that instant.
The little one seems to be even more attached to him than when he was a child.
Even back then, they had never held hands like this.
Before the wedding, Allison showed him a clip from a TV series where the older brother, as the younger brother, was acting cute and should respond.
Thinking of this, Ling Suyu grasped Wen Shumu's hand in return.
The little deer's eyes widened even more, and he stared blankly as the marshal led him out the door.
Watching the marshal and his wife leave hand in hand, Allison took out a handkerchief and excitedly wiped away non-existent tears from his face.
You should know that the Marshal is known for not letting anyone get close to him. He used to hold all kinds of beam guns, and he's never held an Omega's hand before!
They're a perfect match! They're such a perfect match!