The General's Love Glitch - Chapter 26

Ruan Wei hurried off to work, and at the door, Jiang Lan, who had been waiting, gave her a slight bow, a gesture of recognition and respect for her status as the General’s wife.

Excluding the two guards who had sacrificed their lives on planet G30, Jiang Lan was one of the few remaining guards General Jun Jue could trust. There were originally five guards in total, all of whom had served under the previous General Jun Jue’s father during wartime.

Unaware of this backstory, Ruan Wei nodded back at Jiang Lan with a friendly smile and said, “Sorry to trouble you today.” Jiang Lan, unused to interacting with people outside the military, kept a stiff expression and replied, “No trouble at all.”

Ruan Wei didn’t press further, assuming Jiang Lan was just a bit reserved because they weren’t familiar with each other.

“Could you take me to Second Citizen Hospital, please?”

Jiang Lan had already started the hovercar and, without looking away from the road, said, “Rest assured, Madam. The General has already given me these instructions.”

Ruan Wei studied Jiang Lan. This short-haired woman seemed older than Jun Jue, yet Jun Jue held the highest military rank. Over the past few days, staying by Jun Jue’s side and accompanying her on outings, Ruan Wei had noticed how all the citizens of the Federation revered Jun Jue and by extension, her. She didn’t fully grasp the horrors of war, but she had heard from her hospital colleagues how Jun Jue was risking her life to protect the Federation.

When they first met, Jun Jue had been critically injured and on the brink of death after single-handedly eliminating a group of space pirates. If not for that, Ruan Wei would never have had the chance to get close to Jun Jue, find someone to bond with, or save her. Without Jun Jue, she wouldn’t be where she was today.

Becoming a Federation citizen, no longer imprisoned, was something that made her smile in her sleep, a dream come true. But sometimes, even in her dreams, her subconscious reminded her that she was a vampire, a creature despised by all Federation citizens, including Jun Jue.

Sweet dreams would turn into nightmares. Jun Jue had given her this stable, happy life, and it was only right that Jun Jue would be the one to end it.

After waking, the only thing she could do was hide the fact that she was a vampire, ensuring neither Jun Jue nor anyone else would find out.

“Madam.”

“Huh?” Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Ruan Wei jolted in the passenger seat.

“Are you alright?” Jiang Lan asked, sounding apologetic.

“It’s nothing. I just zoned out for a moment,” Ruan Wei said nervously.

“Are we at the hospital?”

“Yes.”

After thanking Jiang Lan, Ruan Wei got out of the hovercar. Jiang Lan informed her she would return to pick her up at 6 p.m. before taking off.

Ruan Wei stood frozen, staring at the spot where the hovercar had just been. Soon, another vehicle descended in the same place, and two people stepped out: Lin Qiyue and Zhuo Hanjun.

The moment Lin Qiyue spotted her, she stormed over with quick, determined strides. Ruan Wei curiously eyed the sparkling high heels on Lin Qiyue’s feet.

The heels were so thin and high, yet Miss Lin could run as if she were walking on flat ground, how fascinating. She remembered trying on her mother’s high heels as a child. They had been beautiful too, though nowhere near as extreme as Miss Lin’s. She had fallen over back then, concluding that high heels just weren’t for her.

The flat white sneakers the General had bought her recently were soft and comfortable, she loved them.

“Ruan Wei, what are you doing here?” Lin Qiyue, her face flushed from running, sounded furious as she approached.

“I came to work,” Ruan Wei blinked her clear eyes, shimmering with a watery light that reminded one of a calm lake gently brushed by a breeze.

Seeing her like this, Lin Qiyue grew even more furious.

“Ruan Wei, do you even have a heart? Jun Jue is at home in her rut period, just one day, and you actually chose to come to work instead of staying with her. And you call yourself her girlfriend!”

Not being able to help Jun Jue in time did make Ruan Wei feel a bit guilty, but she had asked Jun Jue, and Jun Jue had wanted her to go to work first.

“The general and I agreed that I’d take care of her after I got back.”

“Hmph.” Lin Qiyue snorted mockingly. “Do you even like Jun Jue? Or are you just with her for money and fame?”

“Of course not!” Ruan Wei was also stung by Lin Qiyue’s words, but she wasn’t good at arguing. With her gentle and pretty appearance, even when she bristled, it didn’t seem intimidating to others.

“If not, then why aren’t you at home taking care of Jun Jue? Or are you saying Jun Jue isn’t as important as your lousy hospital job that only pays 5,000 star coins a month?”

“This isn’t a lousy job!” Ruan Wei retorted, her face flushing red.

She couldn’t deny that her initial motivation for working at the hospital had been ulterior, but after a few days there, she found her work meaningful. Though her medical knowledge wasn’t enough to perform surgeries like her father, accompanying children with congenital illnesses and helping them stay mentally healthy was just as valuable, something no amount of star coins could measure.

Lin Qiyue was momentarily stunned by Ruan Wei’s words. She felt a pang of guilt, faintly realizing she might be in the wrong. She glanced at Zhuo Hanjun beside her, who always wore a gentle smile in her presence, much like her father, the Chief Executive.

A warm hand landed on her shoulder.

Zhuo Hanjun said to her, “Qiyue, it’s time to go in for work.”

Lin Qiyue rushed into the hospital ahead of Ruan Wei, the clicking of her high heels fading into the distance. Ruan Wei was about to enter and clock in when Zhuo Hanjun suddenly stopped her.

“General’s wife.”

Ruan Wei, assuming Zhuo Hanjun and Lin Qiyue were of one mind, kept her distance warily, taking a step back before asking, “What do you want to say? I’m about to be late.”

“My apologies, General’s wife.” Zhuo Hanjun stepped forward with gentlemanly grace, giving a slight bow. “I’d like to apologize on Qiyue’s behalf. She’s too fond of General Jun Jue, which is why she’s hostile toward you. Please forgive her.”

Ruan Wei looked at Zhuo Hanjun in confusion. She’d heard some gossip about Lin Qiyue, rumors that the Chief Executive intended to marry his daughter to Zhuo Hanjun, the future general.

“Aren’t you angry?” Ruan Wei asked.

Zhuo Hanjun shook her head with a smile, her expression as warm and pleasant as a spring breeze yet somehow unreal.

Ruan Wei thought perhaps Zhuo Hanjun didn’t like Lin Qiyue at all, or at least not in the way Lin Qiyue liked Jun Jue.

Zhuo Hanjun took another step closer, even raising a hand toward her. Ruan Wei recoiled in alarm.

A sharp gust of wind grazed Zhuo Hanjun’s fingertips. Ruan Wei saw her wince and pull her hand back. Without another thought, Ruan Wei dashed into the hospital.

Just then, she had sensed danger emanating from Zhuo Hanjun.

Zhuo Hanjun withdrew her hand, which had been grazed by the particle cannon’s airflow, hiding it beneath her military-green sleeve. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she looked up at the sky, her gaze settling on a thick cumulonimbus cloud. Suddenly, the corners of her lips curled into a smirk.

General Jun Jue finally had a weakness.

Above the cumulonimbus cloud, Jiang Lan piloted a hovercraft, concealed within the dense vapor, as she reported to Jun Jue.

“General, I just witnessed Zhuo Hanjun preparing to harm Madam. She used a weapon, but it didn’t cause any disturbance or panic. Madam has safely entered the hospital for work.”

“Good. Keep watching.”

“Yes.”

…

After clocking in, Ruan Wei slipped into her white coat and headed straight to Ward 302 to begin her duties. The moment she saw Lin Qiyue, a shiver of unease ran through her.

What had Zhuo Hanjun been planning when she suddenly approached earlier?

And where had that powerful, weapon-like airflow come from?

“Sister Weiwei,” a hearing-impaired little girl tugged at her white coat.

Ruan Wei crouched down, and soon, several children gathered around her, all calling out “Sister Weiwei” and begging her to continue the story she hadn’t finished the day before.

Lin Qiyue sat alone in the corner, leaning back. She hadn’t changed into a white coat, her top was already white, paired with a brand-new velvet coat and a matching midi skirt. Below that, she wore a pair of high heels that sparkled even more brightly than Cinderella’s glass slippers, the pointed tips aimed directly at Ruan Wei.

Ruan Wei took in her dazzling and beautiful outfit but felt an underlying sense of danger. She didn’t invite Lin Qiyue to join them, worried that one of the children might accidentally bump into her. She already knew Lin Qiyue wasn’t here to work.

Lin Qiyue made no effort to hide her intentions. She pointed her optical device straight at Ruan Wei and the children, recording a video before sending it directly to Jun Jue.

A flicker of tension crossed her face, but she exhaled in relief once the video was sent.

Even though Ruan Wei had made such a scene that day and had probably badmouthed her endlessly afterward, Jun Jue hadn’t blamed her, hadn’t even blocked her. That was proof enough that nothing had changed between them.

With renewed arrogance, she sent Jun Jue a voice message, her tone dripping with undisguised disdain.

“See? This is the person you like? So fake. I refuse to believe Ruan Wei genuinely cares about these weird little kids.”

As usual, Jun Jue would likely take a long time to reply, if she replied at all. Lin Qiyue exited the chat and browsed the latest designer bags and shoes. Ruan Wei had stared at her heels for a long time today, probably out of envy. She wanted Ruan Wei to keep feeling that way.

Ruan Wei’s salary could never afford these luxuries. Once she started constantly begging Jun Jue for money, Jun Jue would finally see her true colors. Pleased with her plan, Lin Qiyue smirked.

Beep.

The short notification sound told her Jun Jue had replied. She immediately switched back to the chat.

[Unauthorized recording and dissemination of images of sick children is illegal, Miss Lin. Please refrain from further distribution.]

Furious, Lin Qiyue bombarded Jun Jue with a flurry of angry voice messages, only to receive a series of automated replies: “The recipient has not listened to your message. Please try again later.” Undeterred, she kept sending more.

Meanwhile, Ruan Wei’s storytelling session paused when a little boy tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “Sister Weiwei, that Sister over there is saying bad things about you.”

“?” Ruan Wei initially didn’t want to listen, but when she suddenly heard Lin Qiyue mention Jun Jue’s name, she was actually badmouthing her to Jun Jue, Ruan Wei couldn’t stay seated any longer. She and a few children tilted their ears to eavesdrop, hearing only Lin Qiyue ranting alone, growing angrier by the minute.

It seemed Jun Jue hadn’t responded.

The children were listening intently, itching to step forward and argue on her behalf, but they found Lin Qiyue too intimidating and held back, clenching their little fists in frustration.

Seizing the moment, Ruan Wei sent Jun Jue a message.

[General, what are you doing?]

Jun Jue had just downloaded the video Lin Qiyue sent her. After injecting herself with another high-potency inhibitor, she was watching Ruan Wei work with great interest when suddenly, a message from Ruan Wei popped up on the holographic screen of her neural interface. Her heart raced instantly, rendering the inhibitor useless.

She opened it, just an ordinary question from Ruan Wei, asking what she was doing.

Jun Jue felt her erratic heartbeat. Unaccustomed to lying but unwilling to tell the truth, she tossed the question back, asking Ruan Wei what she was up to.

Ruan Wei rubbed the tip of her nose, a little embarrassed as she typed:

[I’m slacking off, and missing you.]

…

Author’s Note:

Weiwei: First time slacking off at work, feeling a bit nervous (._.)