Aren't You Angry?

Shi Sheng's heart gradually sank as his amber eyes turned to Elaine.

He wondered if this would be the last time he saw Elaine.

But Elaine merely reached out and smoothed his messy bangs. "Are you all right?"

Shi Sheng stared blankly at him.

Elaine's hand moved, and Shi Sheng thought he was about to take his hand, only to see him slowly withdraw it again.

"Come with me." Elaine led Shi Sheng toward the head of the security department.

When everyone saw Elaine, they hurriedly stood at attention.

"Marshal!"

As students of a military academy, who did not aspire to join the Empire's legendary military force—the Galaxy Knights?

Ordinary civilians mostly feared Elaine's less-than-merciful methods, but at the military academy, quite a few students revered the Empire's highest marshal.

Elaine looked at the head of security. "Has the accident assessment been completed?"

The man hurried forward. "Marshal, here's the situation. We called student Shi Yi over to first understand what happened..."

Elaine repeated calmly, "Has the liability report been issued?"

"N-No, we're still waiting for notification from the Capital Police Bureau." The man wiped his sweat.

Elaine said, "Since the case has already been handed over to the Capital Police Bureau, we will cooperate with their investigation."

In everyone's eyes, the Carlos family and the Shi family were merely joined by marriage.

But when the Shi family's Omega got into trouble, Elaine not only came immediately, but also said "we."

They could not help but speculate that perhaps the gossip forum had not been making things up when it said the two had fallen in love after marriage.

Elaine's words made the head of security break out in a cold sweat. Strictly speaking, once the accident had been handed over to the Capital Police Bureau, the school's security department had no authority to summon the parties involved.

It was just that the students had been extremely agitated on their way to the hospital. Shi Yi was a student at the military academy, and his cousin was there too, so the man had not thought much of calling him over.

Suddenly, someone touched Elaine's wrist.

He lowered his head and saw Shi Sheng staring at him.

Shi Sheng pressed his lips together and picked up his voice device. "Elaine, I... want... to understand... this matter... clearly."

"If... it... is... my... responsibility... I will... take responsibility."

"All right." Elaine glanced over the crowd. "Once the injured person is out of danger, we will go to the Capital Police Bureau."

His gaze landed on the head of security. "If there are any issues, you may have Hovis notify me at the military department. Thank you all for your hard work."

The man hurriedly agreed.

The surgery did not take long. Soon, the light outside the operating room turned green.

The injured student was wheeled toward a ward, and the military academy students swarmed around him.

Shi Sheng hurriedly asked the doctor about his condition. When he learned that the student was temporarily out of danger, he finally let out a breath of relief.

No matter what, the injured person was innocent.

Just then, Elaine's adjutant Alrid hurried over. "Marshal, Director Hovis of the Capital Police Bureau is requesting a call."

Shi Sheng immediately turned to look at Elaine.

Elaine reassured him softly, "It's fine. It's just standard procedure."

Then he turned to Alrid. "Put it through."

Alrid transferred the call to Elaine's private Star Network.

A gritty Alpha voice came from the other end. "Marshal, sorry to disturb you."

Yumian was walking in from outside with Lindsay, each holding a hot drink. Hearing the voice, he looked over.

Elaine's tone remained calm. "Director Hovis, I understand the situation. Shi Yi will come to the Capital Police Bureau shortly to cooperate with the investigation."

"Then I'll await your arrival." Hovis sounded the same as he had that day—his words polite, his voice lazy. "However, please have your spouse come as soon as possible to review the assessment results."

Their conversation was brief, and both sides ended the call decisively.

Elaine took a cup of hot water from Lindsay. After testing the temperature against the back of his hand, he handed it to Shi Sheng. "Have some water. Don't be afraid. The Capital Police Bureau's procedures have always been rigorous and fair."

Shi Sheng took it and drank a sip. It was hot cocoa.

Only after the warm drink entered his stomach did he realize that he had been trembling slightly the entire time.

He had stayed at home for too many years and almost never saw outsiders. Suddenly facing such an emergency, even his body's reactions were beyond his control.

Shi Sheng took several deep breaths to calm himself and sorted through his thoughts.

When everything around him quieted down, he no longer dared to look Elaine in the eyes.

He could not stop wondering whether Elaine had heard what Ji Sui said. If he had, why did he not seem angry?

And if he had not... was that possible? They had only been a few steps from the corner. With Elaine's hearing, there was no way he could have missed it.

The anxiety and all the rushing around left Shi Sheng with a faint stomachache.

Just as he was thinking about it, Elaine's gentle voice came from above him. "Go eat something."

Shi Sheng hesitated, then shook his head. He did not feel hungry.

"We don't know when we'll be done at the Capital Police Bureau," Elaine said. "Eat at least a little."

Shi Sheng felt slightly dazed. How could Elaine still be so gentle?

From their first meeting that year until their brief time together now, Elaine had never gotten angry with him, much less spoken harshly to him.

His thoughts drifted so far that he did not notice Elaine approaching.

The Alpha's golden eyes suddenly filled Shi Sheng's vision, so close that their foreheads seemed almost about to touch.

"What's wrong?" Elaine bent down so Shi Sheng could look him in the eye.

Shi Sheng's heart suddenly beat faster.

He quickly shook his head. All at once, his mind went blank, leaving only Elaine's face.

After a long while, he finally freed one hand to pick up his voice device. "Let's... go... now."

He still did not dare meet Elaine's eyes and could only let his gaze wander everywhere else.

Elaine said, "Then eat something on the way. Merico said you didn't have breakfast."

Shi Sheng nodded haphazardly.

"I'm coming too." Yumian followed after them.

Elaine did not stop him. He merely glanced at his younger brother. "Keep up yourself."

But Lindsay grabbed Yumian's arm. "Why are you going? This is serious business, Yumi."

Yumian said, "Is there some law saying I can't go?"

"But that's..." Before Lindsay could finish, Yumian had already lightly shaken off his hand and chased after them.

Lindsay swallowed the rest of his words and could only sigh softly.

There were only Shi Sheng and Elaine in the aircraft headed for the Capital Police Bureau. Yumian had been sent off to his own vehicle.

Shi Sheng held the hot cocoa with no expression on his face, though he was actually lost in thought.

Elaine opened the food his adjutant had just brought over and placed it beside Shi Sheng's hand. "Eat something."

Shi Sheng was still distracted and reached for it unconsciously.

His fingertips touched something cold. He suddenly snapped back to his senses as if shocked, turning toward the Alpha beside him.

What he had touched was Elaine's gloved finger.

Shi Sheng's gaze moved from Elaine's hand to the black beast-bone bite guard, and he subconsciously touched his own neck.

He had left in too much of a hurry that morning and forgotten to put on his neck ring.

The amber neck ring Elaine had given him, with a gem the same color as his eyes—he probably would never have another chance to wear it.

Shi Sheng looked away and lowered his eyes.

The pain in his stomach became more apparent. He tightened his grip around the cup.

"Are you afraid?" Elaine suddenly asked.

Shi Sheng froze for a moment, shook his head, then slowly nodded.

He thought Elaine meant the accident. Compared to being exposed as a substitute spouse and driven out of the Carlos family, that did not frighten Shi Sheng at all.

A light weight settled on top of his head.

He heard Elaine say softly, "There's nothing to fear. I'm here for everything."

"Shi Sheng."

Shi Sheng abruptly lifted his head.

His already racing heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

But strangely, even with his thoughts nearly frozen, he still noticed that Elaine had taken off his glove.

He could feel the warmth of Elaine's palm.

"Don't look like that. You didn't do anything wrong." Shi Sheng saw a gentle smile in Elaine's eyes. "Don't worry about what I heard. It doesn't mean anything."

It took Shi Sheng a long time to react. He even forgot to pick up his voice device and unconsciously signed.

You're not angry?

Elaine actually understood. Lowering his eyes, he placed the food from the tray into Shi Sheng's hand. "Why would I be angry? I knew who you were from the beginning. All right, eat something first. We're almost at the Capital Police Bureau."

The Alpha's tone was so ordinary, just like every morning they had eaten breakfast in the Carlos dining room.

But Shi Sheng's heart was still beating wildly.

Elaine said he knew. He had known from the very beginning!

Shi Sheng quickly picked up his voice device and asked as if seeking confirmation, "You... knew... I... was... Shi Sheng... right?"

Seeing that he would not eat until he had a clear answer, a trace of helplessness appeared on Elaine's usually cold, stern face.

"Yes. I knew who you were before you got into the wedding car."

Shi Sheng stared at him in shock.

The Shi family had worried themselves sick for so long, yet Elaine had known from the beginning—and had still treated him so well.

It was not because he was Shi Yi. He had been kind to Shi Sheng.

Elaine took out a handkerchief and lowered his eyes to wipe away the hot cocoa Shi Sheng had sloshed from his cup with his sudden movement.

"All right. Don't worry about this anymore." The Alpha's voice was reassuring. "If you find life in the Carlos family tolerable... then stay here peacefully. No one will make things difficult for you because of your identity."

Shi Sheng's eyes reddened, and his nose stung.

He wanted to tell Elaine that life in the Carlos family was far more than merely "tolerable." In fact, it had been happier than all the time he had lived before combined.

Seeing the tears quickly gathering in Shi Sheng's eyes, Elaine thought his tone had not been gentle enough and that he had frightened him. Rarely, he seemed a little at a loss.

He could only make his voice as gentle as possible. "Since you've come to the Carlos family, you are one of the Carlos family. The family will keep you safe."

Shi Sheng keenly caught Elaine's choice of words.

He had said Carlos family, and the family.

Shi Sheng gathered a little courage. "Then... Elaine?"

His eyes were full of nervousness as he carefully pressed the voice device. "Can... I... be... protected... by Elaine... for... the rest... of my life... too?"

After that, he no longer dared to look Elaine in the eyes.

After an unknown amount of time, Shi Sheng heard the Alpha's voice.

"I will protect you."

"Until the day you wish to leave."