Chapter 29 - The General's Wife is an Illegal Resident in the Star System

Translator's Note:

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Here you go, and I wish you a good read.

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Qin Yu Returns

 

 

The unexpected voice startled Madam Qin and An Ming. They turned to see Marshal Qin stepping inside from the front door, his figure outlined by the light behind him, making his expression hard to discern.

 

While An Ming's heart pounded with anxiety, Madam Qin relaxed somewhat when she saw it was him.

 

"You're home early today. I haven't even instructed the cook to start dinner yet," she said, promptly going over to take his coat.

 

"I finished early. What were you just discussing?" Marshal Qin didn't fall for her nonchalant response, pressing again.

 

"Oh, nothing," Madam Qin replied lightly. "An Ming is new here, so I was reminding him about the household rules and asking him to pay a bit more attention."

 

Nothing sounded amiss, and Marshal Qin was inclined to drop the subject, when just at that moment, Lu Li came out of the kitchen, revealing the freshly treated burn on his arm.

 

"What happened?" Marshal Qin walked over, frowning at Lu Li's arm. Though the wound had been tended to, the sight of it was still shocking, suggesting how painful it must have been.

 

"He accidentally burned himself while pouring hot water," Madam Qin interrupted hastily, anxious that Lu Li might reveal the truth. "I already told him to be more careful."

 

Marshal Qin, however, was not so easily placated. Otherwise, he wouldn't be the esteemed Marshal of the Empire, wielding considerable authority. The timing of Madam Qin and An Ming's conversation, coupled with Lu Li's burn, deepened his suspicions. His face darkened.

 

"Lu Li, tell me yourself—how did you get burned?"

 

Madam Qin shot Lu Li a warning glare.

 

Lu Li raised an eyebrow and met her gaze, his eyes calm and unwavering.

 

For a moment, Madam Qin faltered, then turned to see the unmistakable anger in Marshal Qin's eyes as he just realized. Knowing her charade had been exposed, she scoffed defiantly. "Fine, I did it. So what? I don't like him, and I don't want him setting foot in the Qin family. I will never accept him as my daughter-in-law."

 

"You're being completely unreasonable!" Marshal Qin's lips quivered with anger.

 

"Even if I could go back, I'd do it again," she snapped defiantly and stormed off.

 

An Ming dared not follow her lead. He stood there, trembling slightly.

 

Marshal Qin sighed in frustration; there was little he could do about his wife's behavior, even after raising five children together. Looking at Lu Li, his gaze softened with regret. "I never expected her to go this far. I apologize on her behalf. She's always wanted Qin Yu to marry someone of her choosing, and you're different from what she imagined. Over time, she'll come around. Please, try not to hold it against her. I assure you, this won't happen again. Can you forgive her?"

 

"I forgive her," Lu Li replied, though he couldn't hide a hint of resignation. "If there's nothing else, I'd like to return to my room."

 

"There's one more thing," Marshal Qin added, looking slightly awkward.

 

"I won't tell Qin Yu," Lu Li said, already guessing what he was about to ask, providing the answer he sought.

 

Marshal Qin sighed in relief.

 

An Ming, who had thought the Marshal might address him too, realized otherwise when he left without a word. Marshal Qin's stance was clear.

 

As long as no one spoke of it, this incident would remain a secret among the four of them. Fortunately, the Marshal ultimately stood by his wife; otherwise, if the General knew, the fallout could be unpredictable.

 

Back in his room, Lu Li didn't immediately treat his burn with the medical device. Instead, he lay on the bed, feeling exhausted. With the Empire's advanced technology, as long as an injury wasn't too severe, it could be healed quickly. He'd already treated it briefly in the kitchen, and though his arm was still red and swollen, it no longer hurt as much.

 

Since he'd promised the Marshal to keep it from Qin Yu, Lu Li finally picked up the device. After a few minutes, the pain disappeared entirely, leaving only a faint pink mark.

 

This was just due to his sensitive skin; the device couldn't completely erase it. Qin Yu was still at the military base and would likely be there for a few days, so Lu Li decided not to worry about it.

 

A knock on the door brought him back to the present. "Young Madam, it's time for dinner. The Marshal requests your presence," said a staff member filling in for the regulars who had taken the day off.

 

"I'll be there," Lu Li answered, stepping out of his room.

 

The Marshal and Madam Qin were already at the table. Madam Qin looked displeased, as though she hadn't been the one at fault. Lu Li didn't feel inclined to speak with her.

 

"How's your arm?" the Marshal asked with concern.

 

"I used the treatment device; it's fine now." Lu Li paused, understanding the hidden meaning behind his words—it was likely a reminder to avoid leaving any scars that Qin Yu might see.

 

Dinner was strained. Lu Li didn't linger at the table, eating quickly as he usually did. After a polite word to the Marshal, he excused himself and returned to his room.

 

Madam Qin remained silent throughout, probably restrained by the Marshal's earlier reprimand. Though her expression stayed sour, she refrained from any more unpleasant comments.

 

Back in his room, Lu Li accessed the Cosmic Net to do some research. Since coming to Glory Star, he hadn't intended to stay idly at the Qin estate, so he was exploring a few ideas. Aside from occasional visits to the mech training center, he spent most of his time on this. Only after realizing how late it had gotten did he log out.

 

The clothes Qin Yu had sent him arrived the day before, filling nearly all the remaining space in the closet. Typically, Lu Li would wear only a couple of outfits for years, but now he found himself with half a closet full of clothes. He wondered if Qin Yu had emptied an entire boutique into his wardrobe.

 

The fabric of his new pajamas was incredibly soft and warm. After washing up, he lay down in bed. He thought he might have trouble sleeping after everything that happened that day, but the warmth of the bedding soon lulled him to sleep. He didn't notice when someone entered in the middle of the night.

 

The faint morning light streamed through the window, chasing away the darkness.

 

When Lu Li woke, he found another person beside him. A solid, steely arm wrapped around his waist—not too tightly, but enough that he couldn't easily slip free. His back rested against a warm, muscular chest, radiating a sense of stability like an unbreakable fortress. The familiar presence kept him from startling; otherwise, he might have delivered a quick strike.

 

"When did you get back?" Lu Li's tense body relaxed as he recognized Qin Yu, feeling a warmth radiate from where their bodies touched.

 

"Middle of the night," Qin Yu's deep voice murmured in his ear, his breath sending a warm tingle over Lu Li's skin.

 

Lu Li had already guessed as much. Though he had experienced this several times, it still took him by surprise. As a trained soldier, he prided himself on his alertness, yet Qin Yu always managed to slip into bed beside him without a single stir. At first, Lu Li had thought it was due to his own lack of vigilance, but later realized that he had subconsciously allowed Qin Yu's close presence.

 

"Are things all sorted at the base?" Lu Li sat up, yawning as he ruffled his messy hair. The sky outside was still dim, with dawn yet to break.

 

"Not quite." Qin Yu sat up as well. He had only slept for three hours, yet looked more refreshed than Lu Li.

 

As Lu Li noticed Qin Yu's bare torso, the faint outlines of his well-defined muscles and abs showed beneath the pristine white sheets. He had seen that powerful figure countless times before, even felt its strength up close. The image rose unbidden in his mind, and his face immediately flushed.

 

Sensing Lu Li's heated gaze, Qin Yu, unfazed, got out of bed and went to the wardrobe to retrieve his uniform. His bare frame, quickly dressed in the neatly pressed military attire, still managed to reveal the fit, powerful lines beneath—a physique brimming with latent strength.

 

Snapping out of it, Lu Li wiped his face and got out of bed to change. He never thought he'd find himself openly staring at another man's body. Yet, there he was, proving that anything was possible.

 

"What's this?" Qin Yu's hand suddenly reached out, firmly grasping Lu Li's wrist just as he took off his shirt. Lu Li followed Qin Yu's gaze to the faint burn mark on his arm.

 

"It's nothing, just a little scar," Lu Li replied, surprised that Qin Yu had noticed. The reddened skin was hard to miss, though. He tried to pull his hand away, but Qin Yu's grip didn't loosen in the slightest. Lu Li raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

 

"How did this happen?" Qin Yu's fingers brushed the scar, the rough calluses of his thumb gliding over the tender skin.

 

Lu Li frowned slightly. "Just bumped into something."

 

"When?"

 

"Yesterday."

 

"You're lying."

 

Lu Li looked at Qin Yu's unreadable expression, feeling a bit cornered by his blunt response.

 

"A burn and a bruise are different. Do you really think I wouldn't notice?" Qin Yu's steady gaze held a commanding intensity, his face cold and unyielding.

 

"All right, it's a burn," Lu Li admitted. "I accidentally spilled hot water yesterday. I didn't want you to worry, so I said it was a bruise. I've used the treatment device—it doesn't hurt anymore." He hadn't expected Qin Yu to be this observant, but a promise to the Marshal was a promise.

 

"With all the staff in the Qin household, does the Young Madam himself need to pour hot water?" Qin Yu wasn't so easily convinced.

 

"I was bored," Lu Li shrugged.

 

Qin Yu watched him for a long moment before finally releasing his wrist. His face remained impassive, and Lu Li couldn't tell if he believed him or planned to pursue the matter. Either way, he had kept his word not to say anything.

 

They went down to the dining room. It was still early, so Madam Qin had not yet risen. Marshal Qin, accustomed to rising early, had already finished his morning exercises and looked slightly surprised to see Qin Yu at the table.

 

"What brings you back so suddenly? Weren't you supposed to stay a few more days at the base?" The Marshal asked casually as he approached.

 

"Are you surprised to see me, Father?" Qin Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, catching his father's brief look of astonishment with a sharp gleam.

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