Can Alpha Also Be A Wife? - Chapter 15
Chapter 15: I Want To Kiss You
“Shen Muxing?”
Hearing the name, Fu Mingxi frowned instinctively.
Shen Muxing came from a long line of doctors. Following his family’s path, he pursued medicine and excelled, particularly in neurology and psychology. He was one of the rare people they could completely trust.
If they truly wanted Lin Ling to regain his memory, Lu Shihuai’s instinct to seek out Shen Muxing made sense.
But—
“He’s currently traveling the galaxy, attending a lecture tour hosted by the Imperial Medical Association,” Fu Mingxi explained, shaking his head. “They’ve enlisted the military for security. If we try to approach him, there’s no way we won’t get spotted.”
“And I doubt you want anyone to know you’re taking Lin Ling for memory treatment, right?”
After all, anyone chosen by the association would be among the top minds in the Empire — and guarded accordingly. The security wouldn’t be average.
But their team?
One had lost his memory, one was suspended, one had limited clearance, one was… practically useless. And Lanlos? Mentally unstable at best.
Not exactly subtle.
With this ragtag group, even trying to get near Shen Muxing would risk exposure.
And right now, secrecy was everything — especially for Lin Ling’s safety.
They couldn’t return to the Imperial Capital until after the elections ended. The political scene was too volatile. If Lin Ling got swept up in any scandal or incident, they’d all be in trouble.
Fu Mingxi analyzed the situation again, then firmly rejected the idea. “We’ll wait. Once Shen Muxing wraps up his tour, we’ll go.”
“And anyway… the Little Garden is about to open. We don’t have much time.”
At the mention of the Little Garden, Fu Mingxi yawned uncontrollably.
Resisting the pull of sleep, he grabbed a packet of instant coffee, preparing to power through the night.
Just as he stirred the coffee, Lu Shihuai reached out to stop him.
“Take a break. You’ve done enough.”
Fu Mingxi blinked, stunned. Then he teared up dramatically. “You do care about me after all, Huai!”
“Save it,” Lu Shihuai said flatly, unimpressed.
“Fine, fine, I’ll behave.” Fu Mingxi sobered up instantly. “On a more serious note — the signal I decoded earlier? It’s tied to rare energy resources.”
He paused, letting the words sink in. “That government official really is colluding with the aliens.”
In short, the Hiller Star government had discovered a rare form of energy in the northern ice fields. They were extracting it — and planning to sell 80% of the yield to the Alliance.
Fu Mingxi added coldly, “Without a license.”
Even though the Empire and Alliance had established trade channels long ago, cross-border transactions — of people or goods — required licensing.
Unlicensed trade was illegal.
Lu Shihuai narrowed his eyes. “Any proof?”
“No hard evidence. Just that bit of intel.” Fu Mingxi looked up, expression thoughtful. “Want to investigate anyway?”
Of course, “checking it out” wouldn’t just be a casual glance.
Some things had nothing to do with titles or roles — just a citizen’s responsibility to act.
“Another time,” Lu Shihuai said abruptly, standing up.
His chair skidded back with a loud scrape, revealing his urgency.
“Hey—where are you going?” Fu Mingxi shouted at his back. “What about your next life, huh?!”
Lu Shihuai didn’t answer. He closed the door behind him and was gone.
Fu Mingxi grumbled, “Tsk, heartless jerk…”
Still half-asleep, he rested his head on the table and finally nodded off.
Dawn broke. Light crept into the corridors.
Lu Shihuai didn’t check the time. He simply teleported straight to Lin Fansheng’s door.
Just as he arrived, the door burst open.
A figure stumbled out — into his arms.
He caught Lin Fansheng mid-fall and held him close.
Without hesitation, he lifted him off the ground and carried him back inside.
The bedroom was still dark, curtains drawn. Only a few slivers of light slipped through.
Lin Ling buried his face in the curve of Lu Shihuai’s neck, silent.
Lu Shihuai wanted to put him down, but sensed something off. Lin Ling clung to him, refusing to let go.
He sighed quietly, gently brushing the damp hair away from Lin Ling’s forehead, offering wordless comfort.
After a long while, Lin Ling stirred.
He stepped back, his gaze still clouded.
Lu Shihuai looked at him with concern. “What happened?”
His voice was soft and calm, like a stream in the forest — clear, steady, and inviting trust.
Lin Ling met his eyes for a few silent beats.
Then his eyes reddened.
“I… I killed them,” he choked out.
Had the memories returned?
Lu Shihuai didn’t ask. He wrapped his arms around Lin Ling and whispered, “It was their fault. None of this was on you.”
His voice turned colder.
They were the ones who betrayed their oath, who left Lin Ling alone to bear it all.
If only he hadn’t been on the battlefield, if only he’d gotten back sooner… maybe things would have been different.
He regretted not being there when Lin Ling made that decision.
“. . . If I let Yan go… will you leave too?” Lin Ling asked, barely holding back a sob.
Lu Shihuai answered immediately. “No. I’ll never leave.”
“I’ll always be with you. I’ll never betray you.”
Yanli… It had to be around two years ago.
It was when Lin Ling was hailed as a hero by the public — but privately, it was his lowest point.
“Lu Shihuai,” Lin Ling whispered. “You’re all I have.”
He clung to him tightly. His tears didn’t fall — but they trembled on the edge.
“I’m here,” Lu Shihuai murmured.
He held Lin Ling until he drifted off to sleep. Then he tucked him into bed, gently pulling the covers over him.
He stood there for a while, staring at Lin Ling’s sleeping face.
His chest ached.
He remembered that day two years ago, when he’d rushed back from the front lines — just in time to hear the news.
Lin Ling, now Marshal, had personally judged and executed four of their former comrades. The last was exiled.
By the time Lu Shihuai arrived, it was already over.
He didn’t even change out of his battle gear. He just ran, desperate to find Lin Ling.
He knew exactly where he’d be — that quiet hillside where he always went when things got too heavy.
He was sitting there alone, bathed in the last rays of sunset, wrapped in a white-and-gold uniform like armor.
He looked like a statue carved from light — radiant, yet impossibly alone.
Lu Shihuai approached slowly, quietly. Sat down beside him.
They didn’t speak.
The sun dipped below the horizon. Stars emerged overhead.
Finally, Lin Ling broke the silence. “You’re back?”
His voice was hoarse, dry — not like usual.
“Yeah,” Lu Shihuai replied gently.
He looked over at Lin Ling’s tired profile. There was so much tenderness in his gaze, it hurt.
“I made the right call… didn’t I?”
“You’re doubting yourself?” Lu Shihuai asked.
Lin Ling turned toward him. “They say I’m heartless. Cold. Dictatorial.”
“They don’t know the truth,” Lu Shihuai said. “And you won’t explain.”
“But the Empire doesn’t need a soft-hearted Marshal.”
“You’re right,” Lin Ling said with a soft smile.
His eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “They betrayed me. Betrayed the Empire. I was the one who delivered justice. So why am I still doubting myself?”
Because it still hurt.
Because he didn’t want to believe that the people he’d fought beside, the ones he trusted with his life — had all turned on him.
“Would you ever betray me?” Lin Ling asked quietly.
“Never,” Lu Shihuai said.
“I’d stay with you forever. I’d do anything for you.”
And he meant it.
He looked at Lin Ling’s sleeping face now, and finally acknowledged the truth he’d been burying.
He didn’t just care for Lin Ling.
He loved him.
He wanted to hold him close, to kiss those trembling lips, to wipe away every trace of pain from his eyes.
He’d loved him for a long time — he just hadn’t admitted it.
But would Lin Ling ever love him back?
Lu Shihuai didn’t know.
This wasn’t the time to find out. Not yet.
Since that day, Lin Ling had only become colder. More withdrawn.
He was a sword now — the Empire’s blade, cutting through its rot with brutal efficiency.
Lu Shihuai had followed him through it all. He was the edge to Lin Ling’s steel.
They called Lin Ling a tyrant. Called Lu Shihuai his loyal hound.
Lu Shihuai didn’t care.
Let the weak bark all they want before they’re wiped away.
But time was too short. Two years weren’t enough to cleanse it all.
So Lin Ling chose another path.
He left the Empire and entered the Alien Alliance alone.
No one knew what he was planning — not even Lu Shihuai.
But he believed in him.
Every day, he stared at his communicator, waiting for news.
Then, out of nowhere, came his suspension — ordered by Lin Ling himself.
Lu Shihuai knew immediately: He’s coming back.
He handed over all responsibilities and followed Lin Ling’s trail to this star.
He’d imagined how their reunion would go.
He hadn’t expected… this.
But maybe it was for the best.
Lu Shihuai gently brushed Lin Ling’s cheek.
Then, with a soft breath, he leaned in and pressed their foreheads together.
His voice barely a whisper.
“I want to kiss you.”
I’ve wanted to for a long time.