The General's Love Glitch - Chapter 28

“…The gland?” Ruan Wei hesitated for a moment, and Jun Jue withdrew her hand from Ruan Wei’s gland.

“Weiwei, you hesitated.”

“I…”

“It’s alright.” Jun Jue pulled Ruan Wei up from the bed, gently pushed her out of the room, and as she closed the door, she said, “Goodnight, Weiwei.”

Ruan Wei stood dazed in front of the tightly shut door.

Had Jun Jue wanted to bite her gland?

Was that how an alpha marked an omega? By biting the gland on the back of the neck?

The virtual screen of Ruan Wei’s light brain was still glowing. She reread the document: indeed, an alpha marked an omega by biting the gland on the back of the neck.

She raised her hand to cover her gland, but it didn’t tingle or itch the way it had when Jun Jue touched her.

How strange.

Ruan Wei glanced up at the closed door again. “General, aren’t you coming out for dinner?”

“Hmm.” Jun Jue was still leaning against the door. She hadn’t heard Ruan Wei’s footsteps retreat.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Hmm.”

“Won’t you be hungry?” Ruan Wei asked worriedly. She knew the feeling of hunger and didn’t want Jun Jue to endure it.

“No.”

Ruan Wei wanted to persuade her further, but Uncle Zhang came upstairs to call her down for dinner.

As they descended the stairs together, Ruan Wei asked, “Does the General always skip meals during her rut?”

“Yes, Madam. The General always shuts herself away during her rut and refuses to see anyone. Did you manage to see her just now?”

“I did.” Ruan Wei felt a little embarrassed, she had forced her way in.

“How is the General doing in there?”

Ruan Wei thought carefully, recalling Jun Jue’s scorching body temperature and those two lingering kisses. Lowering her head, she mumbled, “She’s… alright…”

Uncle Zhang’s aged, slightly clouded eyes gleamed with relief. “That’s all thanks to you, Madam.”

…

Eating alone felt unfamiliar to Ruan Wei. Though she had breakfast by herself too, she had been in a hurry to get to work and hadn’t dwelled on it.

After dinner, Ruan Wei took a clean round porcelain plate and filled it with vegetables and meat. She also placed a steamed rice ball, made with taro and corn kernels, on it.

Uncle Zhang smiled kindly. “Are you taking that to the General, Madam?”

“Yes. I’m afraid she’ll get hungry. It’s hard to sleep when you’re hungry.”

Uncle Zhang wanted to say that even if she wasn’t hungry, the General wouldn’t sleep tonight, she was destined to suffer the torment of her rut. But seeing how happy Ruan Wei was to do this, and knowing the General would likely be happy too, he didn’t stop her.

After all, Madam was different. The General had never seen anyone during her rut all these years, yet hadn’t this very rule been broken for Madam?

Ruan Wei carried the plate of food carefully in both hands, afraid of dropping it. She didn’t run upstairs but climbed each step quietly and steadily.

…

Jun Jue was still leaning against the door, waiting for Ruan Wei to finish dinner and return upstairs to rest before she would go back to bed.

Very faint footsteps approached, not quite like Ruan Wei’s usual steps, but Jun Jue recognized them as hers nonetheless.

Knock, knock. Ruan Wei rapped on the door. “General, could you open the door again? I brought you some dinner.”

Jun Jue deliberately waited a moment before responding.

“Weiwei, just leave it by the door.”

Ruan Wei opened her mouth, about to urge Jun Jue to open the door, but then she remembered what Uncle Zhang had said, that Jun Jue never saw anyone during her rut.

She had already made an exception for her once today.

“Alright, I’ll leave it by the door then, General. Remember to eat a little.”

“Mhm.”

Hearing the sound of the door opening and closing on the other side, Jun Jue opened her own door and brought in the plate of food Ruan Wei had left for her.

Jun Jue sat at the desk in her bedroom and began to enjoy the dinner Ruan Wei had prepared for her. The green vegetables and the meat she usually ate were strictly separated, and the rice ball had been shaped into a cute little rabbit with a spoon.

Jun Jue stared at this rice rabbit for a long while, finding it increasingly adorable and almost too cute to eat.

As if sensing she hadn’t started yet, Ruan Wei sent her a voice message.

“General, you have to eat properly to stay healthy!”

Jun Jue replied with an “okay” and proceeded to finish the rice rabbit, vegetables, and meat. She then took a photo with her optical computer and sent it to Ruan Wei.

Ruan Wei opened the picture and rolled happily on her bed a couple of times.

“General, can I prepare meals for you during your future ruts too?”

“Mhm.”

“What did you like the most, General?”

A faint smile curled at the corners of Jun Jue’s lips as she replied in a low voice, “The rabbit.”

After some more casual chatting, the two bid each other goodnight, and Jun Jue got up to head to the bathroom.

[General, would you like a milk bath?]

“Mhm, cold milk,” Jun Jue said.

Xiao Ke filled the bathtub with milk as requested, then continued enthusiastically, like a seasoned salesperson.

[General, would you like to add some peony petals? They’re Madam’s second favorite.]

“…”

“Just a little.”

[Right away!]

Xiao Ke felt it had completely mastered the General’s preferences, anything prefixed with “Madam Weiwei” was nearly impossible for the General to refuse.

Jun Jue spent longer than usual soaking in the bathtub this time. Her skin became incredibly smooth, and with the peony petals added, the rich milky fragrance carried a hint of sweet aroma, just like Ruan Wei’s scent.

Thinking of scents, she couldn’t help but recall the soft gland at the nape of Ruan Wei’s neck. She wondered what Ruan Wei’s pheromones smelled like.

…

She endured in the bathroom until the early hours of the morning. Once her feverish symptoms began to subside, Jun Jue immediately stepped out of the bathtub, dried herself, and put on her robe.

Feeling slightly marinated in the scent, she clapped her hands as she left the bathroom. Xiao Ke activated the ventilation system, gradually diluting the dense pheromones lingering in the air.

Her pheromones carried the fragrance of sandalwood: calm, deep, and intense, like the burning of aged wood. It was rare for anyone to remain unaffected by them, yet Ruan Wei had stayed completely composed under their influence.

Most omegas would succumb to the suppression of her pheromones. She remembered one rut when Lin Qiyue had forced her way in, only to collapse at the doorway, immobilized by the pheromones seeping through the door. It had taken the intervention of the Chief Executive, another top-tier alpha like herself to carry Lin Qiyue away.

Why was Ruan Wei unaffected by her pheromones? Now that her rut had passed, Jun Jue couldn’t help but dwell on the question.

She also recalled Ruan Wei’s healing abilities and some of her other subtle peculiarities.

She didn’t dwell on it further. Instead, she turned on the bedroom light and sat at her desk. Yesterday, she had received news that some fragments retrieved from Planet GR03 had been tested and found to contain abnormal chemical substances. She hadn’t had the chance to review the report yet.

Now, she opened the report and read through it until 6:30 in the morning, only closing her eyes for a few minutes of rest afterward.

Seeing that it was about time, she went into the bathroom to freshen up, got ready, and prepared to go downstairs to wait for Ruan Wei so they could have breakfast together before sending her off to work.

Jun Jue opened the door and froze at the sight of the person standing before her.

“Good morning,” Ruan Wei said, tilting her head up with a sweet smile.

Jun Jue took her hand. “Weiwei, how long have you been waiting here?”

“I just came out,” Ruan Wei replied, yawning slightly before continuing, “I was a little worried about you.”

“Didn’t sleep last night?” Jun Jue noticed the faint shadows under Ruan Wei’s eyes.

“I slept for a bit,” Ruan Wei murmured, lowering her gaze to her toes.

“Let’s go down for breakfast.”

On the way downstairs, Ruan Wei, drowsy, missed a step and nearly stumbled. Jun Jue swiftly caught her and ended up half-holding her the rest of the way.

By the time they reached the first floor, Uncle Zhang had already pulled out their chairs. Ruan Wei was so exhausted that she slumped onto the table as soon as she sat down.

“Weiwei, if you’re too tired, eat something and then go back to sleep. I’ll ask the hospital director for leave on your behalf.”

“I’m not taking leave,” Ruan Wei insisted, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. She grabbed a cup of hot milk beside her and downed it in one go, her eyes still tightly shut.

Jun Jue shook her head helplessly, then picked up a bun shaped like a rabbit, one of Ruan Wei’s favorites and brought it to her lips.

“Weiwei, open your mouth.”

Obediently, Ruan Wei parted her lips and ate the bun with her eyes closed, even nibbling on Jun Jue’s fingers afterward while mumbling, “Delicious.” The sight made Uncle Zhang and the nearby attendants chuckle.

Jun Jue: “…”

By the time she finished feeding the half-asleep Ruan Wei breakfast, Jun Jue’s right index finger bore two neat rows of teeth marks.

After breakfast, Ruan Wei stood up and staggered toward the hovercar, where Jiang Lan had already opened the back door.

“Weiwei, are you sure you want to go to work?” Jun Jue asked, steadying her.

“Yes,” Ruan Wei answered firmly.

Jun Jue didn’t press further. When they reached the hovercar, she bent down, lifted Ruan Wei inside, and let her lean on her shoulder to sleep.

Jiang Lan, confused and concerned, asked, “General, is Madam feeling unwell?”

“No, Weiwei is just sleepy. Take us to Second Military District Hospital.”

Jiang Lan immediately understood, guessing that Madam must have been exhausted from taking care of the general the night before and hadn’t rested well. Even so, she still insisted on going to work, just as dedicated to her job as the general was.

With an hour left before work, Jun Jue deliberately told Jiang Lan to drive slowly. Jiang Lan had a can of energizing coffee on hand, and after the hovercar landed, she turned to offer it to Madam, only to see the general gazing at her wife with tender affection. Jiang Lan tactfully turned away, waiting to be called back.

After an hour of extra sleep in the hovercar, Ruan Wei felt slightly more awake. Jun Jue opened the coffee and handed it to her, saying, “Jiang Lan gave this to you. It’ll help you perk up.”

“Thank you!” Ruan Wei said gratefully to Jiang Lan before wrinkling her nose as she sipped the coffee in several gulps.

“Bitter.”

“Let me taste it.”

“I drank it all,” Ruan Wei said, holding up the empty can.

Jiang Lan was about to mention she had another can when she saw the general lean down and kiss the corner of Madam’s lips. Jiang Lan stiffened, along with the remaining can of bitter coffee in her hand.

You could taste it that way?

Truly an eye-opener.

Jun Jue licked her lips. “It is a little bitter.”

Ruan Wei was speechless. She glanced at Jiang Lan in the front seat, who quickly turned away again.

“It’s time to clock in for work,” Jun Jue reminded Ruan Wei as if nothing had happened.

Ruan Wei opened the car door and stepped out, with Jun Jue following her. At this hour, many colleagues were arriving at the hospital one after another. When they saw Jun Jue standing beside Ruan Wei, they couldn’t help but slow their steps, trying to catch a glimpse of how the general and her wife interacted.

“Why did you get out too?” Ruan Wei asked Jun Jue in a hushed voice.

She remembered that Jun Jue had never gotten out of the car when dropping her off at work before.

Jun Jue took her hand and led her into the hospital. Jiang Lan remained in the flying car, her mind a foggy mess.

“General, I’m not taking leave,” Ruan Wei said, thinking Jun Jue was about to take her to request time off.

Jun Jue pulled her along to see the hospital director. Ruan Wei considered another possibility and worriedly said, “I’m not resigning either. I really like this job.”

Jun Jue kept her in suspense. When she met with the director, she went in alone, and Ruan Wei had no idea what they discussed.

“General, when you spoke to the director just now, you weren’t…”

“No, go ahead and work.”

“Okay!” Ruan Wei brightened. “Then I’ll head off now. Bye, General!” Seeing she was about to be late, Ruan Wei hurried toward Ward 302.

The sixth child peeked out from the door and cheered when they saw her, “Sister Weiwei!”

Ruan Wei clocked in just in time and entered the ward. “Has Sister Qiyue not come today?”

“Sister Qiyue won’t be coming anymore,” a little girl said softly. Ruan Wei nodded. “Then let Sister Weiwei help you start a new day!”

“Yay!” The children clapped and cheered.

“General!” Amid the cheers, someone suddenly called out.

Ruan Wei turned and saw Jun Jue walking toward them.

“General, why are you still at the hospital?”

Jun Jue showed her the temporary work pass hanging around her neck. That was what she had discussed with the director earlier. Today was the last day of her leave, and since she was already at the hospital, she wanted to represent the military in visiting these unfortunate children.

Jun Jue was incredibly popular among the kids. There wasn’t a soul in the entire Federation who didn’t know General Jun Jue, even newborns would wave their tiny hands and feet excitedly at news reports about her.

Seeing how much the children adored Jun Jue, Ruan Wei handed her a fairy tale book and asked her to read them a story.

Jun Jue crouched down and asked the children what story they wanted to hear. In unison, they shouted, “Sleeping Beauty!”

Jun Jue had the children sit down and, following their lead, crossed her legs as well.

As she flipped through the table of contents to find the page for “Sleeping Beauty,” Ruan Wei leaned in and whispered, “General, you smell so nice.”

Jun Jue had thought Ruan Wei wouldn’t notice, but it turned out she was just a little slow to react.

Jun Jue found the right page and began reading the story in a gentle voice. Halfway through, one of the children in front of her said, “General, Sister Weiwei has fallen asleep on your shoulder.”

Another child added, “Sister Weiwei looks just like Sleeping Beauty! General, can you kiss her awake?”

Jun Jue’s fingers curled slightly around the book. She turned her head and saw Ruan Wei leaning trustingly against her right shoulder, her soft pink lips as delicate as flower petals.

…

Author’s Note:

Sleeping Beauty Weiwei: Sister Jiang Lan’s coffee doesn’t seem to work on vampires (._.)

General: Sleep well. I’ll cover your shift today.

Kids: Is the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale real? (Curious cat face jpg)