The General's Love Glitch - Chapter 23.1

This was the first time Jun Jue had exercised the privilege granted to her by the Federation.

The hovercar sped unimpeded through the air. As she approached the Second Citizens’ Hospital, she slowed and descended.

The hospital showed no signs of chaos; most treatments were proceeding in an orderly manner. Only a handful of staff members who knew about Ruan Wei’s situation had gathered outside the storage room where she had locked herself in. Among them were Tian Tian, who was on good terms with Ruan Wei, and Lin Qiyue, who had deliberately come to antagonize her.

“General’s wife, what’s wrong? It’s Tian Tian. I’m right outside. If you need anything, just tell me.”

Lin Qiyue’s attitude was a stark contrast to Tian Tian’s. She stood with her arms akimbo, seething with frustration. She had merely scolded Ruan Wei a little, perhaps with a harsher tone, and given her a slight push. Yet Ruan Wei had reacted so dramatically, even summoning Jun Jue here. She wondered if this was all just an act to manipulate Jun Jue.

“Ruan Wei, are you actually sick or not? If you are, why come to work at the hospital? To boost your reputation early so you can stay with Jun Jue? If you’re not sick, then stop pretending. Jun Jue hates being lied to the most.” Lin Qiyue had once tried feigning weakness to deceive Jun Jue, but instead of winning her sympathy, it had only made Jun Jue despise her even more.

“Miss Lin, please don’t say such things,” Tian Tian mustered the courage to speak up. Though she hadn’t known Ruan Wei for long, she was certain Ruan Wei wasn’t the kind of person Lin Qiyue made her out to be.

“What did she promise you to make you defend her like this? Oh, I get it, you’re hired by her to sing her praises, aren’t you? To help her build a good image as the general’s wife as soon as possible.”

“Miss Lin, you-” Tian Tian was so angry she dropped the honorific. The hospital director, who had arrived unnoticed, pulled her aside and shook his head, signaling her not to engage further. Their small hospital couldn’t afford to offend the daughter of the Chief Executive. Clenching her jaw, Tian Tian could only hope General Jun Jue would arrive soon.

Crouched in the corner of the storage room, Ruan Wei hadn’t made a sound since her initial plea for help to Jun Jue.

She could feel her body changing. It had been over two days since she last drank blood. She had thought she could hold out until after work, then find a way to coax a little blood from Jun Jue. But Lin Qiyue’s appearance had disrupted her plans.

Lin Qiyue was in love with Jun Jue and believed Ruan Wei had stolen the position that rightfully belonged to her. Using her status as the Chief Executive’s daughter, Lin Qiyue had secured a job at the Second Citizens’ Hospital and insisted on working alongside Ruan Wei.

At first, things had been normal. But during playtime, when they were leading the children in a game of “Drop the Handkerchief,” Lin Qiyue tossed a red handkerchief behind Ruan Wei. When Ruan Wei got up to chase her, Lin Qiyue deliberately tripped. Ruan Wei went to help her up but was shoved away forcefully, knocking over a little girl who had also rushed to assist. The girl’s knee scraped against the ground, drawing blood.

Ruan Wei’s thirst for blood erupted instantly. Children’s blood was still pure and fresh, untainted by the complexities of adulthood.

Realizing her own abnormality, she fled immediately, terrified she might succumb to the urge to drink the little girl’s blood.

She wondered how the girl was doing now.

Leaning against the storage room door, Ruan Wei’s pink nails left scratch marks on the wood.

She felt parched, not the kind of thirst that craved water, but the kind that yearned for blood.

Her two small fangs could no longer stay hidden. They emerged, sharp and eager, desperate to sink into something.

The storage room was surrounded by a clamor of voices, indicating quite a crowd outside. If she stepped out, she could feed on those people, but she didn’t want to.

“General…” Ruan Wei murmured weakly.

“Weiwei.” Jun Jue arrived at the hospital and found the storage room.

Ruan Wei leaned against the door, hesitating whether to open it or not.

Just as Jun Jue was about to ask Ruan Wei to open the door, Lin Qiyue reached out to grab her arm. “Jun Jue, I didn’t mean to push her. She was trying to harm me. You have to believe me.”

Jun Jue subtly avoided Lin Qiyue and turned to the hospital director. “Director, Weiwei seems unwell. I’d like to request a day off for her.”

“No problem. Room 302 only needs one person anyway, and Miss Lin is enough.” It was originally a one-person job, but Lin Qiyue had insisted on inserting herself.

“It’s working hours now. Please have the staff disperse.”

“Of course, General.”

The director instructed everyone who was concerned about Ruan Wei or just there to gawk to return to their posts. Tian Tian left reassured once she saw Jun Jue had arrived. Lin Qiyue, however, refused to leave, wanting to see what tricks Ruan Wei was up to. The director couldn’t persuade her either and stood by helplessly.

Jun Jue completely ignored Lin Qiyue, treating her as if she were less noticeable than the air itself.

Lin Qiyue gritted her teeth in frustration, stomping her foot. What kind of spell had Ruan Wei cast on Jun Jue? Was it just because she was pretty? Lin Qiyue was also the Federation’s officially recognized top beauty.

Though many online voices now clamored that General’s wife Ruan Wei was even more beautiful, as long as the Federation’s beauty rankings hadn’t been updated, she remained the fairest of them all.

“Weiwei, open the door,” Jun Jue said gently from outside the storage room.

Lin Qiyue was fuming. She and Jun Jue had grown up together, not exactly childhood sweethearts, but at least close companions. Yet Jun Jue had never spoken to her with such tenderness.

Click.

The lock inside the storage room turned. Ruan Wei didn’t come out, so Jun Jue pushed the door open and found Ruan Wei with her head wrapped in a white lab coat, her face hidden from view.

Jun Jue didn’t ask what had happened. Instead, she took off her long black down jacket and handed it to Ruan Wei.

“General, could you please not look at me for now?”

Jun Jue turned her head away. Ruan Wei waited a moment before peeking out from the lab coat.

Hearing the rustling sounds, Jun Jue turned back to see Ruan Wei had zipped the jacket all the way up, leaving only her pale hands exposed, clutching the overly long hem.

Lin Qiyue, standing outside, could neither see nor hear anything and grew frantic. “Jun Jue, what are you doing in there with Ruan Wei? If you don’t come out soon, I’m coming in!”

Jun Jue frowned slightly and, without another word, scooped up the figure bundled like a black cylindrical dumpling in front of her. Ruan Wei instinctively wrapped her arms around Jun Jue’s neck.

Jun Jue carried the tightly wrapped Ruan Wei out of the storage room.

Lin Qiyue’s bravado instantly deflated. Her tone turned sour as she said, “Wrapped up like that, did something grow on your face, Ruan Wei? Too ugly to show yourself?”

Jun Jue shot her a cold glare, and Lin Qiyue immediately wilted. “I was just concerned about her.”

Jun Jue had no intention of indulging the young mistress. As the daughter of the Chief Executive, Lin Qiyue had been spoiled rotten since childhood, getting everything she wanted. The only thing that ever eluded her was Jun Jue’s affection.

“Director, I’ll take Weiwei with me now,” Jun Jue said in farewell.

“General, wait. I have something to say to the director too.” Ruan Wei lightly pressed her shoulder.

Jun Jue slowed her steps, hesitating to leave. Ruan Wei licked her lips, her hand involuntarily reaching for Jun Jue’s neck, her fingertips pressing against the strong pulse of Jun Jue’s carotid artery.

“I’m sorry, Director. I didn’t mean to ask for leave so soon after just starting work. I’ll make up for it by working an extra day on my day off.”

Lin Qiyue, who saw all this as a romantic rival, thought to herself: Why touch Jun Jue’s neck while talking to the director? She hadn’t even touched Jun Jue’s neck before! Not to mention being held by her! But no one cared about her thoughts at the moment, Jun Jue and the director’s attention were clearly focused on Ruan Wei.

The director was astonished by Ruan Wei’s work ethic. He had originally shared the same assumption as the Chief Executive’s daughter, thinking Ruan Wei was just here for fame, using their small hospital to gain goodwill among Federation citizens. To his surprise, Ruan Wei was genuinely dedicated to her work, and she hadn’t sought any media attention to hype it up. He felt deeply moved and gratified.

“No need. Employees usually have a day off between their first and second shifts. You started directly last time, so consider today’s leave as making up for that.”

“Thank you, Director.”

After Ruan Wei also bid farewell to the director, Jun Jue carried her away. Lin Qiyue called out from behind them, “Jun Jue, you came to the hospital and didn’t even ask how I was doing.”

Jun Jue acted as if she hadn’t heard, continuing to carry Ruan Wei away.

“General, don’t you like Miss Lin?”

“No.”

Jun Jue felt Ruan Wei’s fingers lightly caressing her neck, seemingly absentmindedly, and heard her swallowing again.

“Thirsty?”

“Mm.” Ruan Wei pressed her fingertips against the rhythmic pulse on Jun Jue’s neck, no longer hiding her hunger as she swallowed frantically.

“I’ll go buy some water,” Jun Jue said.

“No, I want to drink when we get back.” Ruan Wei licked her lips in the darkness of the down jacket.

If Jun Jue could see Ruan Wei’s face, she would have noticed her terrifyingly red eyes and the small fangs of a vampire now fully exposed.

But Jun Jue assumed Ruan Wei’s unusual behavior might be related to an omega’s heat cycle. A certain desire naturally rose within her, and she even began to wonder what Ruan Wei’s pheromones might smell like.

Jun Jue quickened her pace, carrying Ruan Wei toward the hovercar.

Twenty minutes later, the hovercar landed in the spacious courtyard of the villa. Jun Jue stepped out, holding Ruan Wei, who was wrapped up like a black silkworm cocoon.

“What’s wrong with Madam?” asked Uncle Zhang, who had come out to greet them, utterly confused.

“Weiwei isn’t feeling well. I’ll take her to her room to rest.”

“Should we call a doctor?”

Ruan Wei answered before Jun Jue could, “No need.”

“Do you need anything prepared?”

“No, thank you, Uncle Zhang. Just let the general accompany me to sleep.”

Uncle Zhang: It’s still daytime! Is this something an old man like me should be hearing?!

Jun Jue carried Ruan Wei upstairs while Uncle Zhang stayed behind in the living room, rubbing his hands excitedly. At this rate, the general and Madam would soon have a child! Ah, then this old man might even live to see the general’s offspring.

Ruan Wei had no idea her words had caused such a misunderstanding for Uncle Zhang. When she said she wanted to sleep with Jun Jue, she only meant to sneak a sip of her blood after Jun Jue fell asleep.

Jun Jue also misunderstood. She became even more convinced that Ruan Wei was going into heat. Although she found it strange that she couldn’t smell any pheromones, there was no better explanation.

As they went upstairs, Jun Jue’s breathing gradually grew heavier. By the time they reached the third floor, she didn’t hesitate, she carried Ruan Wei straight into her own room.

She gently laid Ruan Wei on the bed, treating her like an extremely precious, fragile object.

What should she do now? Should she just start?

Jun Jue had absolutely no experience. She had never imagined this possibility before and had no knowledge about how to handle an omega in heat. She was completely clueless.

Fortunately, she had her omni-computer. Jun Jue searched on the all-powerful device, and sure enough, it provided many answers, the key was to soothe.

Watching Ruan Wei squirm on the bed, Jun Jue leaned down to unzip her jacket.

Ruan Wei rolled over, lying face down on the bed.

“I don’t want to take my clothes off yet, General. Could you turn off the lights first?”

Click. Jun Jue clapped her hands, and the lights immediately went out.

Ruan Wei added, “Could you close the curtains too?”

Jun Jue got up from the bed to draw the curtains, mentally attributing Ruan Wei’s behavior to shyness.

With the curtains closed, the room plunged into complete darkness. Jun Jue relied entirely on her familiarity with her own room to find the bed again.

“Weiwei, you can come out now,” Jun Jue said.

Zzzip.

Ruan Wei pulled the zipper down herself. Peering through the gap, she confirmed the room was almost pitch-black, with only a sliver of light seeping in from under the door. But it didn’t matter, Jun Jue, being a pure human, definitely wouldn’t be able to see her. Reassured, she took off Jun Jue’s down jacket and set it aside.

Hearing Ruan Wei undress, Jun Jue approached the bed and sat on the edge. “Shouldn’t we shower first?”

“No need. General, hurry up and come to bed.”

Ruan Wei’s voice sounded urgent. Worried she might be uncomfortable, Jun Jue quickly lay down beside her. However, she couldn’t bring herself to follow the instructions her omni-computer had suggested earlier.

Those actions were too intimate. She and Ruan Wei hadn’t even officially confirmed their relationship. Ruan Wei probably still thought she was just using her as a shield to fend off Lin Qiyue’s relentless pursuit.

“Weiwei-”

Before Jun Jue could finish, Ruan Wei pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh, General, go to sleep. Don’t talk.”

Ruan Wei’s voice sounded even more urgent now. Jun Jue remained still, not daring to act rashly. Suddenly, Ruan Wei wrapped around her like an octopus, just as she had when asleep earlier.

Ruan Wei buried her face against Jun Jue’s neck, her lips brushing lightly against the skin.

To Jun Jue, this felt like an invitation. She had no idea that for Ruan Wei, it was merely a tentative taste, what Ruan Wei truly craved was the substance currently coursing through her veins.

Jun Jue wrapped her arms around Ruan Wei, her right hand sliding up her back to the nape of her neck, gently stroking the omega’s soft, enticing scent gland.

Ruan Wei felt a ticklish sensation and sat up abruptly. “General, what are you doing?”

Jun Jue sat up as well. In the darkness, she cupped Ruan Wei’s round head and leaned in to kiss her.

The sudden kiss flustered Ruan Wei. Instinctively, she pressed her lips tightly together, hiding her small fangs.

Jun Jue stopped, pressing her forehead against Ruan Wei’s, breathing slightly heavily as she said, “Weiwei, would you like to be with me, to be my girlfriend, not pretending, I want you to truly become my girlfriend.”

“Ah?” Ruan Wei was a vampire. She wouldn’t truly lose herself in the darkness; she was just accustomed to the light of the human world. Occasionally, she would get flustered and confused, like the last time when she couldn’t find her way home and needed the glow of a neural device to feel safe.

But right now, she could clearly see Jun Jue’s face, along with an expression she had never seen before, eager yet mixed with a hint of uncertainty.

Ruan Wei didn’t know how to respond.

Jun Jue kissed her again. This time, Ruan Wei didn’t have time to tightly close her lips, and Jun Jue brushed against her small fangs, the sharp teeth of a vampire, sharper than any dagger.

The fang grazed Jun Jue’s lip, causing a slight sting. She froze for a moment, but Ruan Wei began responding passionately, and she couldn’t help but continue the kiss. The brief touch of the fang seemed like just an illusion.

Ruan Wei got her wish, she tasted blood, and her body surged with strength. The first thing she did was try her best to retract her fangs.

After they parted, Jun Jue touched the spot on her lip where she had been cut. It had already healed. She pressed her lips together.

“Weiwei, your teeth are a little sharp.”

“Did it hurt?” Ruan Wei asked guiltily.

“A little.” Jun Jue wasn’t particularly sensitive to pain, she had suffered many injuries, big and small, on the battlefield but this was the first time her lips had been hurt. Maybe that was why she noticed it.

Once Ruan Wei was sure her fangs were fully retracted, she decided to heal Jun Jue. So she kissed her again. Her saliva also had some healing properties. Applying it directly would have been strange, but exchanging it through a kiss seemed more natural. Innocent as she was, she thought this way and acted accordingly.

Jun Jue only felt that Ruan Wei was being proactive. She held the back of her head and kissed her for a while before letting go.

“Weiwei, would you like to be my girlfriend?” Jun Jue asked again after releasing her. She didn’t want to continue in this ambiguous state. Since their actions had gone beyond pretending to be a couple, she needed to reexamine and redefine her relationship with Ruan Wei.

Ruan Wei clung to her tightly but said, “I don’t know.”

In the pitch-black darkness, Jun Jue let out a helpless laugh.

“Weiwei, do you like kissing me?”

Ruan Wei recalled the delicious taste of fresh blood and nodded emphatically against Jun Jue. “Yes!”

“Do you like being close to me?”

“Yes!” Ruan Wei even tightened her embrace.

Jun Jue hugged her back. “Then do you like me?”

Without hesitation, Ruan Wei followed along, “Yes.”

Jun Jue pressed her nose against Ruan Wei’s and said, “Then from now on, we’re really a couple.”

“Okay.” Ruan Wei agreed, though a little guiltily, because she felt her motives might not be entirely pure.

“From now on, don’t address me formally anymore.”

“Okay.” Ruan Wei obediently agreed. “Then what should I call you… you?”

“What do you want to call me?”

“General.” The word slipped out, she was already used to it.

Jun Jue felt a slight pang of disappointment, but her gaze in the dark was gentle as she looked at Ruan Wei. “That’s fine,” she said.

“Alright, General, let’s sleep now.”

Ruan Wei thought the darkness was perfect for sleeping. She didn’t let go of Jun Jue, now that they were a couple, she figured they could cuddle as much as they wanted.

Jun Jue, however, interpreted an entirely different kind of signal, one laden with deeper implications. She suddenly grew tense.

Wasn’t it too soon to be intimate so quickly after just confirming their relationship?

Her mind was a battlefield of conflicting emotions. Just as she steeled herself, she heard the soft, even breaths of Ruan Wei, who had fallen asleep on top of her.

It seemed Wei Wei hadn’t entered her heat cycle yet.

Jun Jue stroked Ruan Wei’s silky long hair and let out a sigh of relief.

Unable to sleep for a long time, she began silently chastising herself: Jun Jue, what exactly are you expecting?

…

Ruan Wei slept until evening.

Feeling the person in her arms stir awake, Jun Jue clapped her hands, and the room’s lights flickered on. Ruan Wei, unaccustomed to the sudden brightness, buried her face in Jun Jue’s chest.

“It’s already evening. Aren’t you hungry?” Jun Jue asked as she sat up. Ruan Wei leaned against her shoulder like a lazy cat.

“Hungry,” Ruan Wei lied. Having drunk Jun Jue’s blood, she was far more satiated than with any other food, but she didn’t dare tell the truth.

Jun Jue patted Ruan Wei’s back. “If you’re hungry, let’s get up and eat.”

She carried Ruan Wei off the bed, making sure she wouldn’t put her slippers on the wrong feet again.

Hand in hand, they walked downstairs together. Jun Jue asked, “Weiwei, did Lin Qiyue bully you this morning?”

Ruan Wei shook her head. “Miss Lin really doesn’t like me, but she didn’t do anything too extreme.”

“Pushing you isn’t extreme?”

“I wasn’t standing very steadily either.” Ruan Wei believed it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Lin Qiyue was the daughter of the Chief Executive even the warden feared her. She didn’t want Jun Jue to clash with Lin Qiyue again because of her.

“Worried about me?” Jun Jue asked with a smile.

Ruan Wei hesitated before nodding, then playfully blinked at her.

After returning in the morning, they had gone straight to bed, skipping lunch entirely. Uncle Zhang hadn’t disturbed them, quietly instructing the chef to prepare a lavish dinner, so lavish it could rival a state banquet.

Some dishes were particularly nourishing. Jun Jue pretended not to notice, while Ruan Wei, oblivious, ate with delight. Today, she discovered two new delicacies: crab-stuffed oranges and crispy fried bean curd rolls. Though her stomach wasn’t empty, her taste buds were thoroughly satisfied.

After dinner, Ruan Wei wanted to go for a walk, and Jun Jue accompanied her.

The moment they stepped outside, Ruan Wei let out a hiccup. Curious, Jun Jue touched Ruan Wei’s rounded belly. Ruan Wei giggled sheepishly. “I think I ate too much again. The food was just too good.”

“Even if it’s delicious, you should still pace yourself.”

Another hiccup escaped Ruan Wei. “It’s been so long since I’ve had such delicious food. I couldn’t help myself.”

Jun Jue asked, “What did you eat all those years before?”

The blood of death row inmates. Ruan Wei told the truth in her heart but had no choice but to lie. “Regular prison food. Enough to keep me from starving, but not very tasty.”

Jun Jue’s heart ached as she gently stroked Ruan Wei’s head. “There are plenty more delicious things to try. Take your time, no need to stuff yourself.”

“Hic-” Ruan Wei covered her mouth, embarrassed.

Jun Jue led Ruan Wei back home. “I want to go out and play,” Ruan Wei protested.

“In a moment.” Jun Jue brought her inside. Uncle Zhang looked puzzled. “Back so soon, General? Madam?”

Ruan Wei tried to voice her protest but hiccuped several times instead. Jun Jue asked Uncle Zhang to fetch some digestive tablets. After Ruan Wei took two and drank some water, she felt better.

“Will you eat so much next time?” Jun Jue teased, rubbing Ruan Wei’s belly.

Ruan Wei shook her head. Uncle Zhang stood by, brimming with excitement, thinking to himself, could this posture mean the madam was already pregnant?

“Let’s go.” Jun Jue extended his hand toward Ruan Wei.

“Where to?”

“To the place you wanted to go just now.”