Admiral, Your Wife Is Gone ABO - Chapter 22

A dull ache throbbed in his ankle. Lifting his pant leg, Luo Le saw a large, swollen lump, its edges flushed red.

Staring at his mud-caked hand, Luo Le felt utterly dejected.

It’s just like they say when misfortune strikes, even drinking water can choke you.

After receiving Huo Lanjing’s message, Colonel Lin returned with his men.

Finding no one on the wall, they assumed Luo Le had gone back on his own.

Just as they were about to turn away, Colonel Lin’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a slender figure lying on the ground.

A closer look revealed it was Luo Le.

He lay there, covered in mud, staring blankly at the sky.

Colonel Lin followed his gaze upward. The sky seemed perfectly ordinary.

He approached cautiously, asking hesitantly, Madam? What are you looking at?

Look, Luo Le said in a flat tone, the sunset stretches endlessly, dyeing the sky crimson. Isn’t it beautiful?

Colonel Lin …

It is quite beautiful, Madam, but you really don’t need to lie down for it, do you?

Luo Le’s body felt sticky and damp. The wind sent a chill through him, making him shiver.

Colonel Lin belatedly glanced up at the wall, then back at Luo Le.

Madam… you’re injured. I’m so sorry I didn’t notice sooner. Someone, quickly carry Madam to the infirmary!

Luo Le remained motionless as they carried him to the infirmary. After a brief examination and treatment, they returned him to his quarters.

Xiao Yuan bathed him and helped him lie down on the bed.

Colonel Lin placed the medicine on the table, glancing at Luo Le’s leg with unspoken concern. The warning he wanted to deliver about General Huo’s orders seemed impossible to voice now.

With Madam’s leg in this state, there’s probably no need to relay the Admiral’s message anyway.

Madam, I’ll take my leave now. Please call me if you need anything.

Luo Le nodded absently, his attention already drifting back to the forum.

By the time he finished browsing, it was already bedtime.

He glanced at the tightly cast on his leg and called out, Xiao Yuan!

I’m here, Master. What do you need? Xiao Yuan glided over from the kitchen.

I want to sleep. Help me upstairs.

Understood.

Xiao Yuan extended a mechanical arm and pushed Luo Le upstairs.

As soon as he sat down on the bed, a video call request popped up on his Smart Brain.

The name Huo Lanjing blazed across the screen.

Luo Le pressed the accept button on his wrist with unnecessary force, wincing at the pain. He rubbed the spot.

The screen gradually brightened.

Only Huo Lanjing’s jawline was visible, angled downward. He seemed to have washed up, wearing only a thin inner robe.

His sharp jawline and slender fingers gripping a pen as he wrote something were clearly visible.

Huo Lanjing didn’t speak, as if unaware the connection had been established.

Watching the slightly moving figure, Luo Le unconsciously propped himself up on one hand and gazed silently.

Huo Lanjing came from a prestigious family, was handsome, wealthy, and capable—for years, he had been the Empire’s most coveted Alpha for marriage.

This marriage was something countless others would kill for. Luo Le should be content.

But he couldn’t shake his resentment. Why couldn’t they understand each other’s hearts? Why couldn’t Huo Lanjing love him?

Just as he was thinking this, the video feed shifted.

Huo Lanjing’s face filled the entire screen. Startled, Luo Le snapped back to attention.

Remembering Huo Lanjing’s earlier words, a surge of anger still simmered within him.

What do you want?

Huo Lanjing lazily lifted his gaze. Your leg.

Luo Le lifted his injured leg. See? It’s fine. No amputation needed.

Huo Lanjing paused, staring at the sudden appearance of a heavy plaster cast on the screen.

Luo Le quickly pulled his leg back and tucked it under the covers.

What, is that all you wanted to ask?

Huo Lanjing didn’t answer, instead fixing him with a sharp gaze. Before training ends, don’t cause any more trouble.

Luo Le looked up at the sound of his voice, only to meet Huo Lanjing’s piercing stare. He instinctively shrank back.

So, this was Huo Lanjing’s real motive.

Of course. He’d never cared before, why would he suddenly start now?

Oh.

Suddenly, a violent coughing fit erupted from Huo Lanjing’s end of the call, sounding like he was about to cough up his lungs.

Luo Le frowned, his voice filled with concern. What’s wrong?

Huo Lanjing coughed again, then pressed a finger to his lips. It’s nothing.

Luo Le could hear him struggling to suppress the coughing.

Are you hurt—

That’s all for now.

Without letting Luo Le finish, Huo Lanjing abruptly ended the call.

Frowning, Luo Le stared at the Smart Brain screen, now back to its normal display. A wave of anxiety washed over him.

Huo Lanjing seems injured.

I don’t even know how serious it is.

The urge to go to him grew stronger.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Luo Le opened the forum and began searching.

He pulled out the newly purchased chip and motherboard and started examining them.

For the next two days, Luo Le was confined to his room due to his limited mobility.

This gave him the perfect opportunity to work on his programming and improve the motherboard.

He spent his days locked in his room, drinking nutrient solution whenever he felt hungry.

Every day, he made video calls to Huo Lanjing at precisely the same time, though the calls were always cut short after just a few words.

He didn’t mind at least Huo Lanjing was answering.

One evening, however, he couldn’t reach Huo Lanjing no matter how hard he tried.

Panicked, Luo Le called Colonel Lin.

But no matter how he pressed, he couldn’t extract any information.

He wondered if Huo Lanjing had given specific instructions before leaving.

Luo Le clenched his fist, his pupils narrowing as he stared coldly at Colonel Lin.

I’ll ask again where did he go?

I’m sorry, Madam, but I cannot disclose that information.

Colonel Lin kept his head bowed, avoiding Luo Le’s gaze, yet remained steadfast in his refusal.

Luo Le suddenly laughed. Very well. General Huo’s subordinates are indeed loyal. I’ve seen it for myself.

With that, he hung up without hesitation.

Had he been too accommodating lately, causing them to forget his true nature?

Luo Le slammed the crutch against the floor and steadied himself against the table, taking a few steps.

It still hurt a little, but it was manageable.

Luo Le went straight upstairs to pack his belongings.

Just as he finished storing his things in his storage ring and came downstairs, he saw Colonel Lin standing respectfully by the sofa, waiting for him.

Luo Le slowed his pace, his gaze sweeping past Colonel Lin to the two soldiers standing rigidly at attention by the door.

What’s the meaning of this? I don’t recall inviting you in. His tone was icy.

Colonel Lin removed his cap, pressed it against his chest, and bowed his head in a salute.

Madam, I apologize for the intrusion. From today onward, you are forbidden from stepping outside this residence.

Luo Le moved awkwardly to the sofa and sat down with deliberate, languid movements.

He scoffed. Tell me, what do you think you can do? Even Huo Lanjing can’t control me. Do you really think you can?

Madam, you flatter me. I am merely following orders. If I have offended you, I will gladly accept punishment when Admiral Huo returns.

Then I will take my leave now and not disturb your rest. Let’s go.

Colonel Lin retreated, closing the door behind him as he left.

Luo Le glanced sideways through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows and saw guards stationed every three meters outside.

He glanced back at the tightly closed door, his frustration growing with each passing thought.

Rising abruptly, he grabbed a glass object from the table and hurled it at the door, shattering it into pieces.

His hand trembled slightly.

He sank back into the soft sofa, staring up at the high-hanging chandelier. Anger and resentment washed over him, threatening to drown him.

Why does Huo Lanjing always do this?

Why does he keep everything from me?

Why does he always treat me with suspicion and distrust?

A mist gradually gathered in Luo Le’s eyes.

He could easily walk away and abandon everything, but…

He couldn’t.

He just couldn’t…

Time passed unnoticed. The bright sky gradually turned crimson, then faded to a dull gray.

Luo Le clenched his fist, dragging his exhausted body step by step up the stairs.

He retrieved his belongings one by one from his storage ring.

He neatly folded his clothes and arranged the other items on the floor before him.

He stared blankly at the scene, lost in thought.

Suddenly, he heard a rhythmic tapping outside the window.

Turning, he saw a pair of large hands waving gently, then softly landing on the glass.

Puzzled, Luo Le approached the window. Below the windowsill stood a figure so familiar it was almost second nature.

He hurriedly opened the window, and Feng Cheng swiftly leaped inside.

Luo Le glanced around, and when he was sure no one was watching, he quickly closed the window and drew the curtains.

He lowered his voice and asked, How did you get here?

Feng Cheng grinned. Brother Le, I came to see you.

Luo Le pointed behind him. That’s not what I meant. I’m asking how you managed to get in here?

Feng Cheng scratched his head. Oh, that’s what you meant, Brother Le. Actually, I’ve been trying to get in for days. Before, they were all outside, heavily guarded. Maybe they just moved inside today and haven’t fully reorganized yet. There’s a gap during the shift change—that’s how I got in.

Luo Le’s lips twitched. So they’d been guarding him all along, just moved to the inner courtyard.

He pointed behind him. How will you get out later? Can you take me with you? I have something important to do.

Feng Cheng glanced at the messy pile behind Luo Le and curled his lip. Brother Le, are you going to see Huo… General Huo?

Yes.

Feng Cheng fell silent, then slowly looked up. But Brother Le, the Ninth Planet is a war zone now. It’s too dangerous. Maybe you shouldn’t go. General Huo will be fine.

Since Huo Lanjing first stepped onto the battlefield at the age of fourteen, he had never suffered a single defeat.

The citizens of the Empire revered him as the strongest man in the entire Empire.

Everyone believed he was invincible.

If Luo Le hadn’t seen Huo Lanjing looking so exhausted these past few days, he too would have believed victory was assured.

But the memory of Huo Lanjing’s deathly pale face kept Luo Le’s mind restless.

No, I’m going. Or tell me when the guards are weakest and where to slip out. I’ll go alone tomorrow if I have to.

Feng Cheng lowered his gaze to Luo Le’s determined face and sighed.

Brother Le, I can take you, but I’m coming with you. I can’t let you go alone.

This was the first time Luo Le had seen Huo Lanjing in such a state. It was clear now that the Ninth Planet was riddled with danger, and their safety couldn’t be guaranteed.

He shook his head, meeting Feng Cheng’s gaze directly. No, you need to focus on your training. If you come with me, you’ll never be able to return. It’s not worth it. I’ll be fine.

Feng Cheng I…

Stop with the ‘I, I, I.’ You said before that you joined the First Legion because of me, but if we rank last in combat, we won’t get first place. You’re a natural soldier, strong and capable. Don’t underestimate yourself.

So you don’t need to keep treating me like your benefactor. We’re partners, aren’t we?

Luo Le had long considered Feng Cheng a friend. He truly hated the way Feng Cheng had changed recently.