The General's Love Glitch - Chapter 21

Ruan Wei’s eyelashes fluttered as Jun Jue’s bite roused her from sleep, her eyes slowly opening.

Jun Jue quickly withdrew, pressing her lips together imperceptibly.

“You… why did you…” Ruan Wei touched her own lips but didn’t finish her sentence. Instead, she turned over in bed, lying on her side with her back to Jun Jue.

Jun Jue quietly watched her for a moment before inadvertently noticing that Ruan Wei’s ears had turned red.

…

Early the next morning, Jun Jue woke Ruan Wei, who clung to her pillow, unwilling to get up.

“If you don’t get up now, you’ll be late. Who was it that insisted on finding a job yesterday?”

At the mention of “job,” Ruan Wei drowsily sat up and stretched.

“Go wash up.”

Jun Jue urged her, and Ruan Wei scrambled out of bed, rushing to the bathroom in a flurry, even putting her cotton slippers on the wrong feet.

Only after Ruan Wei had finished washing did Jun Jue point out the shoes. Ruan Wei didn’t bother switching them, naturally looping her arm through Jun Jue’s. “If I hold onto you, I won’t fall.”

Downstairs, Ruan Wei changed into rain boots while Jun Jue, driven by her perfectionism, swapped the slippers back to their correct sides. Uncle Zhang handed them two generously filled sandwiches, warm, layered with lettuce, cucumber slices, corn kernels, Cajun chicken cutlets, square ham, and drizzled with salad dressing.

“Seatbelt,” Jun Jue reminded Ruan Wei, who this time remembered where the button was and fastened it herself.

“Eat your breakfast quickly,” Jun Jue said as she started the hovercar.

Ruan Wei unwrapped her sandwich, and the sound of rustling plastic mixed with the breeze filled Jun Jue’s ears.

Focused on driving, Jun Jue suddenly felt something brush against her lips. She glanced down to see Ruan Wei holding the sandwich up to her mouth. She leaned down slightly and took a bite.

“Thank you.”

“No need.”

Jun Jue slowly chewed as the hovercar descended into the hospital parking lot. Ruan Wei didn’t offer her another bite.

“Did you eat enough?” Jun Jue turned to ask.

Ruan Wei shook her head sheepishly, prompting Jun Jue to hand over her untouched sandwich.

“Take it to work and eat it during your break.”

Ruan Wei reached out but hesitated before taking it. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I can eat when I get home.”

Hearing this, Ruan Wei accepted the sandwich. “Thank you, General.”

From the hovercar, Jun Jue watched Ruan Wei jog toward the hospital, the corners of her lips lifting slightly.

It was rare for Ruan Wei to willingly share the first bite with her.

Only when Ruan Wei’s figure disappeared from sight did Jun Jue finally drive away from Second Citizen Hospital. But she didn’t head straight home, instead, she went to the mall to buy Ruan Wei some new clothes.

…

Earlier, while waiting for Ruan Wei to finish washing up, Jun Jue had researched online and found that the shopping center in the Federal District was the most popular place for clothing.

Since it was a holiday, Jun Jue wasn’t in uniform today. Instead, she wore a long black down jacket, her dark mid-length hair tied into a low ponytail, softening her usual stern demeanor.

The mall wasn’t crowded. After parking the hovercar, Jun Jue headed straight for a store in the women’s section favored by young girls.

A sales assistant recognized her and eagerly approached, unable to hide her excitement. “General, you’re shopping in person! Let me recommend some styles that would suit you.”

“It’s not for me,” Jun Jue said, scanning the store’s inventory with a quick glance.

The assistant quickly realized, their shop specialized in sweet, girly styles. Finding something that matched the general’s aesthetic would be a challenge, with maybe five suitable pieces at most.

“Are you shopping for your wife?” The clerk’s voice grew even more excited.

Jun Jue nodded, pondering how to describe Ruan Wei to the clerk.

“I’ve seen some articles about your wife online and know her style. Would you like me to recommend a few options?”

“Mm.”

The clerk suggested three down jackets: one in beige, one in cherry blossom pink, and the last in a fresh green hue. Two were long coats, and one was short, exactly the styles Jun Jue had in mind. She asked the clerk to wrap them up directly.

Later, under the clerk’s guidance, Jun Jue also bought pants, a skirt, and a scarf.

“Does your wife need any undergarments?” the clerk asked warmly.

Jun Jue stiffly nodded.

The clerk smiled. “General, there’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s quite common in the Federation for partners to buy intimate wear for each other.”

“Do you know your wife’s measurements?”

Jun Jue thought for a moment. “Weiwei is very slim.”

The clerk brought out the most popular styles among young women and picked out the smallest size. “How about this set?”

Jun Jue shook her head.

“This one,” she said, selecting a more suitable size herself.

The clerk exclaimed in admiration, “Your wife has such a lovely figure.”

Jun Jue didn’t respond, lowering her gaze as she picked out a few more sets for Ruan Wei and asked the clerk to pack them. With both hands full of shopping bags, she left the store.

She wondered if Ruan Wei would like what she had bought. If not, she could always take her shopping on her next day off. At least now, Ruan Wei would have more options for changing clothes.

…

During her break, Ruan Wei took out the sandwich Jun Jue had given her and sat in the lounge, eating it slowly, bite by bite.

She hadn’t had any blood yesterday, would she get some today?

Staring at the damp, darkened ceiling, she chewed absentmindedly on the sandwich Jun Jue had shared with her, accidentally biting her tongue.

The wound healed instantly, but it suddenly reminded her of how Jun Jue had bitten her lip the night before.

Unconsciously, she licked her lips. Why had the general bitten her there?

Just as she was lost in thought, Tian Tian walked in. “Madam General, the sunlight is lovely today. Shall I open the curtains?”

Tian Tian strode into the lounge and pulled back the curtains without hesitation. Harsh sunlight poured in, and Ruan Wei immediately stood up from her chair, swiftly retreating to a shaded corner.

“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Tian Tian asked with concern.

“No. I just remembered something urgent. I need to see the director.”

Winter sunny days were rare, but when the skies cleared, the sunlight could be just as intense as midsummer. Ruan Wei feared this kind of brightness, avoiding the sun was one thing, but she did genuinely need to speak with the director.

“Director, may I request an advance on this month’s salary?” Ruan Wei stood before the director’s desk and asked.

The director, who had been sipping herbal tea, stood up as well. “Of course.” Though inwardly, he wondered why the esteemed general’s wife would need an advance.

Ruan Wei’s monthly salary was 5,000 star credits. The money was transferred to her digital account immediately, and after thanking the director, she hurried to the refrigeration room.

She had come to search for blood she could drink, but the moment she reached the door, she hesitated. The blood inside had been frozen for who knew how long, none of it smelled appealing, all of it stale and mingled with other odors.

Ruan Wei decided it was better to go home and coax Jun Jue into giving her blood. For now, she would return to work.

In the afternoon, Jun Jue estimated the time and went to the hospital to pick up Ruan Wei again, afraid of missing her once more. This time, she sent Ruan Wei a message in advance.

At the end of her shift, Ruan Wei replied: Wait a bit, I’ll be right out.

Jun Jue: No rush.

“Tian Tian, I won’t be taking the skybus today,” Ruan Wei said to Tian Tian before leaving.

“OK!” Tian Tian didn’t seem upset, in fact, she looked quite happy. Relieved, Ruan Wei left to find Jun Jue.

Jun Jue spotted Ruan Wei emerging from the hospital and rolled down the car window. Ruan Wei quickly ran toward her.

“Why the hurry?” Jun Jue asked as Ruan Wei sat in the passenger seat, catching her breath.

“Yesterday, Tian Tian and I almost missed a skybus. Luckily, we ran and made it.”

“How was lunch at the hospital? Was it good?”

“Not as good as home.”

As Ruan Wei said this, Jun Jue caught sight of her pouting reflection in the windshield and silently curved her lips into a smile.

…

Back home, they washed their hands together and began dinner. Watching Ruan Wei eat with such satisfaction, Jun Jue found her own appetite improving.

“Should we start packing lunch from home for you?”

Ruan Wei, still chewing, shook her head in response.

After the meal, they went upstairs together. Before parting ways to their respective rooms, Jun Jue said to Ruan Wei, “Remember to check the wardrobe.”

“General…”

Before Ruan Wei could ask why, Jun Jue had already closed her door.

Why did she tell me to check the wardrobe?

Puzzled, Ruan Wei entered her room and walked straight to the wardrobe, pulling it open with a surprised “Wow!”

How had so many beautiful clothes appeared all of a sudden? Had Jun Jue bought them all for her?

Giddy with excitement, Ruan Wei stood on tiptoe to count each new piece, not just tops, but also pants, skirts, and scarves.

Huh? What’s that?

She pulled down a few small bags from the upper shelf and opened them to find undergarments: pink, with delicate lace, cute and pretty.

After the initial joy, a question surfaced in Ruan Wei’s mind.

How did Jun Jue know my size?

…

Author’s Note:

Weiwei: Did the General’s previous investigation include this too? (._.)