A Fatal Attraction from Lawyer A - Chapter 72

“As long as it helps the Galaxy Group and helps Luo Panzhi, I’m willing to do it. But… don’t tell him yet.”

Silence lingered on the other end of the line, as if President Luo were weighing the gravity of the request.

Sensing his father-in-law’s hesitation, Gu Yuxi continued, “If we tell him, he won’t let me go. He would rather shoulder the entire burden himself. But I am his partner now; if he worries for me, I worry for him too. Besides, I am an Alpha. I am not some fragile victim in need of constant protection. I am fully capable of sharing this burden with him.”

“Yuxi, I still think you should discuss this with Youpan first,” Luo Qingye replied. “He might not necessarily disagree.”

Gu Yuxi looked at the tall shadow cast by the bathroom door. “Even if it’s safe, he won’t agree. I’ll tell him immediately after it’s done. Big Dad, please find a way to get Luo Panzhi away from the house tomorrow. I’ll meet you at the Galaxy Research Institute.”

Rather than watching Luo Panzhi stay by his side while being crushed by pressure—forcing a smile in front of him only to be filled with anxiety the moment he turned away—Gu Yuxi preferred to take this step for him.

“Getting Youpan away for a while is easy enough. I can call him back for an ’emergency meeting.’ I’m just worried the brat will lose his temper. You know he has a very foul disposition when provoked.”

Gu Yuxi knew exactly how fierce Luo Panzhi could be, but he would rather face his husband’s anger than watch him suffer in silence. “I can handle him. It’ll be fine.”

“Tomorrow morning, then. I’ll have Youpan come to the headquarters for a meeting, and I’ll send a driver for you.”

“That’s okay, I’ll drive myself,” Gu Yuxi said. “It’s more convenient.”

Luo Qingye added, “Yuxi, I can personally guarantee this check will have no impact on you. But I’m still worried Youpan will snap. If he truly gets too aggressive with you, come to me. Your Papa and I will back you up. We won’t let him bully you.”

Gu Yuxi smiled softly. “Alright. If he’s really that scary, I’ll come looking for you two.”

“Get some rest, then. If he asks why I called, just tell him I need him back for a meeting tomorrow.”

The call ended just as the bathroom door swung open. Luo Panzhi stepped out, his silk robe hanging loosely open. His long legs carried him through the steam as he pushed his wet hair back, revealing a high, clean forehead and eyes that looked sharp and commanding.

As he tied the belt of his robe, he caught sight of Gu Yuxi sitting up in bed. He looked surprised. “I thought you were asleep.” Didn’t I just spend all that time coaxing him to bed? How is he awake again?

Gu Yuxi held up the phone. “It was Big Dad.”

Luo Panzhi sighed and rubbed his temple. He straightened his robe and walked to the bedside, thinking that all his hard work had been undone by his father’s single phone call.

“I’ll stay with you while you sleep now.”

As the mattress dipped, Gu Yuxi reached out to touch Luo Panzhi’s damp hair. “Go dry your hair first. You didn’t even use a towel.”

“Mm.” Luo Panzhi obeyed and went to fetch the hairdryer.

Watching his husband’s compliant behavior, Gu Yuxi tucked himself back into the covers. He stared at the ceiling, thinking to himself that the man probably wouldn’t have the heart to be that mean to him. After all, what he was doing was for the good of the Galaxy Group and research into re-differentiation genetic defects. Once Luo Panzhi knew the truth, he would surely see it was the right decision.

It’s fine, he reassured himself. He won’t actually scold me.

A few minutes later, Luo Panzhi returned with dry hair. Seeing Gu Yuxi tucked in neatly, his mood brightened instantly. He slid under the covers and pulled him into a hug. “Wife, let’s sleep.”

Gu Yuxi leaned into the embrace, smiling at the affectionate tone. “Panpan, I need to tell you something.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“Big Dad called just now. Since you were busy, I answered,” Gu Yuxi said truthfully.

Luo Panzhi didn’t think much of it. “That’s fine. You can answer any of my calls.”

“Big Dad said he needs you back at the headquarters for a meeting tomorrow morning.”

The hand stroking Gu Yuxi’s belly stopped mid-motion. Luo Panzhi’s expression darkened immediately. He shouldn’t have answered. Another meeting—undoubtedly about the re-differentiation neutralization reports.

Hiding his irritation, he forced a smile. “Alright, I understand. Do you want to come with me to the office tomorrow?”

“No,” Gu Yuxi replied instantly.

Luo Panzhi arched an eyebrow and playfully nipped at Gu Yuxi’s nose. “Such a blunt rejection? You don’t want to be with me?” In truth, he was worried about leaving Gu Yuxi home alone. Despite Gu Yuxi being a grown man, Luo Panzhi felt a constant, underlying anxiety—likely a lingering effect of previous scares.

“Because I want to sleep in,” Gu Yuxi explained.

Luo Panzhi laughed dotingly and pulled him closer. “Fair enough. Sleep in at home and wait for me. By the time you wake up and open your eyes at noon, I’ll be back.”

“Okay. I’ll wait for you.”

As the night grew still, the two fell into a peaceful sleep in each other’s arms.

The Following Morning

Luo Panzhi was fully dressed and ready to leave. He returned to the bedroom one last time, leaning over the sleeping Gu Yuxi to press a kiss to his forehead. “I’m leaving now. Wait for me to come home.”

He tucked the duvet around him and gave the slight bump of the belly a gentle pat before departing.

The moment the front door clicked shut, Gu Yuxi opened his eyes. He felt the residual warmth on the other side of the bed and sat up. Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit him, and his face turned deathly pale.

He scrambled to the bathroom.

He doubled over the toilet, retching violently. His stomach cramped painfully, and the hand gripping the toilet seat trembled. Tears pricked his eyes from the physical strain. While his morning sickness had improved during the second trimester, it still flared up if he hadn’t eaten or if he moved too quickly.

After a while, the nausea subsided. He flushed, washed up, and changed into a camel-colored overcoat. He grabbed his keys and left.

Outside, the snow was falling, shrouding the world in a hazy mist.

Gu Yuxi steered his Moonlight White sedan out of the parking garage and toward the Galaxy Research Institute, completely unaware of the vehicle trailing behind him.

The nine o’clock rush hour was in full swing. Traffic was heavy, and the short traffic lights made every second feel urgent. The white sedan stood out as it wove through traffic; the driver was bold and calm, overtaking a car on the left with decisive precision.

To an observer, it looked like someone running late for work. To the bodyguards following him, it was a pregnant man on leave—they just didn’t know where he was going in such a hurry.

The bodyguards were stopped at a red light, watching the car disappear into the distance.

“Lawyer Gu is quite brave, driving like that. Where is he headed?”

“I don’t know, but he seems to be in a rush.”

“Should we notify Young Master Luo?”

“Yeah, let him know.”

The white sedan pulled up smoothly in front of the Galaxy Research Institute. Gu Yuxi stepped out, looking up at the “Galaxy” logo on the building. A powerful sense of belonging washed over him. He had spent three years here receiving treatment—the most secure and fulfilling three years of his life.

Now, he was back with a new identity to do something meaningful: to let the world know the true nature of re-differentiation genetic defects.

As the doors opened, he was met by President Chu (Chu Yiqiao).

“Papa,” Gu Yuxi greeted with a smile.

Chu Yiqiao walked toward him and nodded. “You look like you rested well. Your Big Dad told me everything. You’re doing this behind Youpan’s back? You really aren’t afraid of him getting angry, are you?”

Gu Yuxi glanced around the familiar environment. “I have faith in you and Big Dad.” He knew Luo Panzhi would be furious, but he also knew that as long as he was at the Galaxy Research Institute, nothing would go wrong. That was the source of his confidence.

Chu Yiqiao patted his arm. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him be too hard on you. He’s lucky to have such a courageous partner. We’ll start with a pheromone concentration test. We can only do the report when it hits the peak. Since it takes a while and you need to be on an empty stomach, can you hold out?”

“No problem.”

Galaxy Group Conference Room

There was no “emergency meeting.” While the topics were professional, the atmosphere was tense.

Luo Panzhi stared at his father across the table, his voice calm but firm. “I’ve said it before: I will not let Yuxi do the neutralization report.”

“Youpan, the Institute has run repeated tests. This won’t harm him.”

Luo Panzhi leaned back, his posture casual but his eyes unyielding. “Even if it’s safe, it requires his pheromones to reach a peak. Do you know what that entails? It requires a forced increase in his concentration. He’s pregnant; it will make him uncomfortable. I can handle the pressure from the Health Bureau. I just need time. We don’t need Yuxi for this.”

Luo Qingye was slightly taken down by the depth of his son’s obsession. It bordered on paranoia, especially regarding Gu Yuxi’s safety.

“Youpan, Yuxi is an Alpha. He isn’t as fragile as you think. If I treated your Papa the way you treat him, he’d be furious with me.”

Luo Panzhi remained expressionless, twisting the ring on his finger. “I know he’s an Alpha. That doesn’t mean I want him to get hurt. No one says an Alpha must be the one to charge onto the front lines. I don’t need him to do anything right now. I just want him safe and sound.”

Luo Qingye realized he couldn’t move his stubborn son. His concern shifted to how the boy would react once he found out Yuxi was already at the lab. “What if Yuxi wants to do it?”

Luo Panzhi’s fingers stilled. He flicked his gaze up to meet his father’s. “I know he would want to. That’s exactly why I will never let him find out about this.”

Just as the words left his mouth, his phone vibrated. Seeing it was the bodyguard assigned to Gu Yuxi, his heart skipped a beat.

“I need to take this.” He stood up and walked to the window. “What is it?”

“Young Master Luo, Lawyer Gu has left the house. He’s headed to the Galaxy Research Institute. We aren’t sure why, but we thought we should inform you.”

In an instant, Luo Panzhi’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white.

He turned around slowly, his face clouded with a terrifying shadow—the calm before a devastating storm.

“…Big Dad, you told him last night? You two teamed up to trick me into coming here?” His voice trembled slightly, a vibration born of pure, raw fear.

Luo Qingye remained silent.

Luo Panzhi let out a cold, hollow laugh. He nodded, his sharp jawline tight with fury. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the conference room.

No one could understand the sheer terror he felt at the thought of Gu Yuxi being in danger. One incident of massive blood loss, one car accident… he had stood outside operating rooms staring at red lights, breaking down and begging for a miracle. Because he loved so deeply, he feared just as deeply. That fear had become a permanent scar on his soul.

He would not allow anything—not even a sneeze—to happen to Gu Yuxi.

The laboratory door slid open. Gu Yuxi walked out, holding his arm. Aside from a bit of paleness from the lack of breakfast, he looked fine.

Chu Yiqiao stood beside him. “It was hard work for those two hours. I’ve had breakfast prepared; let’s go eat.”

Just as Gu Yuxi was about to nod, the sound of heavy, rhythmic footsteps echoed down the corridor. They were steady, chilling, and rapidly approaching.

Gu Yuxi froze, staring blankly at Luo Panzhi as the man came to a halt in front of him. “…Weren’t you at a meeting?”

“Gu Yuxi,” Luo Panzhi said, his voice tight. “Do you really think I don’t have the heart to scold you?” He looked at the man’s pale face, the suffocating pressure in his chest finally boiling over. His fingers were shaking.

“Panpan, I didn’t mean to… I just didn’t want you to be under so much pressure. This isn’t a big deal, I feel fine—”

“GU YUXI!!!”

The roar of his name echoed through the entire floor, sharp and authoritative. Gu Yuxi flinched instinctively, looking at Luo Panzhi in utter shock.