Admiral, Your Wife Is Gone ABO - Chapter 9

This is great, Brother Le! I can see you every day now, train with you, eat with you… Just thinking about it makes me so happy. Oh, right, Brother Le, that mecha you built yesterday… can I buy it?

If the organizers don’t mind, go ahead.

Awesome! Thanks, Brother Le!

No problem.

Luo Le sat up briefly but felt unwell and lay back down.

Hey, Brother Le, are you sick? Why does your voice sound so hoarse?

Luo Le nearly choked on his own spit. Cough, cough… It’s nothing. It’s just like this.

He hung up the call immediately.

Young Master, it’s time to get up and eat something.

Luo Le hid his burning cheeks behind his hands, propping his chin on his palms. I’m not hungry.

Get up.

That voice sounded so, so much like Huo Yuanjing’s.

As Luo Le sat up, he saw Xiao Yuan’s red-rimmed eyes glowing in communication mode.

Husband?

I won’t repeat myself.

Recalling Huo Yuanjing’s lack of restraint the previous night, and now seeing his cold demeanor…

Luo Le was in a foul mood, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Whose fault is it I’m like this? You’re such a cold-blooded, heartless man… and you even…

A vein throbbed at Huo Yuanjing’s temple. Shut up.

Luo Le tugged the blanket down, fixing Xiao Yuan with a piercing stare, as if Huo Yuanjing himself were on the other end of the line. He was showing the culprit the evidence of his crimes.

Huo Yuanjing …

Why did I even answer this call?

Fine, I’ll get up, Luo Le said, seizing the opportunity to end the conversation. He threw back the blanket and rose, completely unconcerned about being seen naked by whoever was on the other end.

But as soon as he stepped off the bed, he noticed Xiao Yuan’s eyes had returned to their usual blue.

Xiao Zhu, do you require assistance?

Not here. I’m hungry. Go prepare something.

Luo Le clutched his aching waist as he shuffled toward the closet.

The clothes he’d worn yesterday were crumpled into a ball and tossed into the car. Their final destination the trash.

Gazing at the uniform rows of clothes in the closet, Luo Le sighed.

He had arrived empty-handed.

Looks like I’ll need to buy some clothes tomorrow, he thought. I can’t keep wearing Huo Lanjing’s.

Besides, these clothes were so stiff and oversized, completely unsuitable for him.

As Luo Le changed and washed up, he noticed someone still sitting at the table downstairs.

Husband? What are you doing back?

Didn’t he practically live at the military headquarters? Why would he come home for lunch?

Huo Lanjing watched Luo Le approach with an awkward gait and averted his gaze uncomfortably.

He patted the document folder beside him. Just picking up some things.

Luo Le sat down beside Huo Lanjing, staring intently at him.

He reached out to take Huo Lanjing’s arm, resting his head against it. Husband, since you’re already here, why not stay for lunch before you leave?

Huo Lanjing calmly brushed off his hand. I’ve arranged accommodation for you. Captain Lin will take you there tomorrow.

Take me there…?

Did Huo Lanjing really see him, Luo Le, as just a guest staying temporarily?

Did he hate living under the same roof with him that much?

Luo Le felt a pang of bitterness.

Seeing Luo Le offer no rebuttal, Huo Lanjing tilted his head in slight confusion.

He saw Luo Le, wearing an ill-fitting shirt, head bowed and shoulders trembling slightly, his expression hidden from view.

Had he been too harsh?

But this was a restricted military zone, where even family visits were prohibited. As an Admiral, he had to set an example.

With this thought, Huo Lanjing steeled his resolve and averted his gaze.

Luo Le’s eyes flickered slightly behind lowered lids.

Was Huo Lanjing so eager to send him away because he feared the person he liked might misunderstand?

No. After finally getting this chance, he wouldn’t leave no matter what.

Luo Le straightened his posture and gazed at the man beside him with wide, starry eyes.

In a soft, gentle voice, he said, Husband, we’re married now. If you make me move out, what will people think of the Huo-Luo families? What will they… think of me?

Huo Lanjing’s eyes flickered, his brow furrowing in contemplation.

Luo Le was right. This wasn’t the Empire anymore.

But military discipline was strict.

Huo Lanjing had intended to stand firm, but when he caught sight of the faint bruise on Luo Le’s wrist, the claw marks on his back began to burn faintly.

The words caught in his throat.

Luo Le remained silent, patiently waiting for him to speak.

After hesitating for a long moment, Huo Lanjing decided to postpone the matter and bring it up again in a few days.

Then I’ll have a bedroom prepared for you.

Luo Le nodded eagerly.

The immediate priority was to smooth things over with Huo Lanjing.

After that, neither spoke again, and the room fell silent.

Before long, Huo Lanjing finished eating, grabbed his document folder, and headed out.

As he reached the door, he couldn’t resist turning back.

Noticing Luo Le’s ill-fitting clothes, he said in a low voice, The Star Need Card is linked to my Star Brain. The Huo Family can certainly afford to clothe you properly.

He blurted out the words and left, leaving Luo Le utterly bewildered.

Luo Le looked down at the shirt he was wearing.

Was Huo Lan telling him to use the Star Need Card to buy clothes?

Could this be considered a form of concern?

Young Master, would you like me to switch to nutrient solution?

Xiao Yuan’s voice snapped Luo Le back to reality. He suddenly remembered that Xiao Yuan had a program that scanned the curvature of human lips to detect tasks.

Luo Le paused. This command… had he been smiling just now?

What was there to smile about?

Huo Lanjing was probably just worried about him losing face by wearing ill-fitting clothes.

Young Master, would you like me to switch to nutrient solution?

Hearing Xiao Yuan’s voice, which had sped up by half, Luo Le replied, No need.

He genuinely didn’t want to go out, but since Huo Lanjing had already said so, he decided to make an exception for today.

After asking the guard at the main gate for directions, he learned the location of the military district’s shopping center.

Wearing an ill-fitting shirt and a hat to cover his stray hairs, Luo Le left the base.

The shopping center was five kilometers north of the base—not exactly a short distance.

Luo Le decided to take a hovercar.

The garage was just across the street, a short walk away.

Inside, rows of hovercars gleamed in uniform black and white.

Luo Le’s peripheral vision involuntarily drifted to the white car on the far left. Feeling uneasy, he deliberately bypassed it and chose a black one in the middle.

With just a slight turn of his head, he could see two crumpled garments on the back seat through the locked door.

Ten minutes later, inside the shopping center.

Most of the patrons were dressed in uniform deep black or varying shades of green military attire.

Perhaps because it was training hours, only a handful of people were present.

Luo Le entered the men’s clothing store, where a man in a suit greeted him with a polite smile.

Sir, welcome. Please feel free to browse. If you need assistance, just call for me. My code is D.

Luo Le gestured for D to follow him.

He then settled onto the sofa with practiced ease.

The sofa was piled with shirts and suits, with only a few trench coats and casual sportswear mixed in.

Luo Le scanned the selection before finally making his choices.

That set, that set, and this one too. Get them in my size and take them to the fitting room. Where’s your fitting room?

D was pleasantly surprised. This looked like a major client.