Can Alpha Also Be A Wife? - Chapter 2
Chapter 2 – Free Eagle
Was this man’s crash just an accident—or something more deliberate?
Lin Fansheng squinted at the unconscious figure. If it was intentional, it spelled trouble—especially for two men with no memories of who they truly were. But if it was just coincidence… he pressed a palm to his head, still empty of memories, and sighed.
There was no point in jumping to conclusions. Best to wait until the man woke up before guessing further.
The man had clearly lost a lot of bl00d. Digging through the storage box in the pod, Lin Fansheng pulled out a medical kit. He methodically cleaned the wounds, applied medicine, and bandaged everything tightly—perhaps too tightly. By the time he was done, the man resembled a neatly wrapped rice dumpling.
Just to be cautious, Lin Fansheng bound the man’s wrists with a tight knot. He didn’t know who this person was. Better safe than sorry.
Once the preparations were done, he found a corner to rest in.
As evening fell, the familiar forest chill returned. Lin Fansheng fiddled with the controls on the pod and managed to close the hatch—after a few incorrect button presses, that is. Thankfully, while he’d lost his memory, he could still read.
Satisfied, he glanced toward the sleeping man.
He had to admit—this guy had a striking face. Angular, finely chiseled features, dark hair falling loosely across his forehead and lashes. Even unconscious, the man exuded a quiet coldness.
Leaning on his hand, Lin Fansheng murmured, “…Pretty handsome.”
He shook the thought away and refocused.
The man’s frame was lean but built, a clear indication that his strength didn’t just come from looks. Judging by the tattered uniform, this one wasn’t some civilian. Lin Fansheng couldn’t tell the exact affiliation, but it looked like some form of military gear.
The similarity between their appearances when they woke up—even down to the state of their clothing—made Lin Fansheng joke inwardly: What’s next, gods fighting in the sky?
Still… how had he arrived here? Some protective capsule maybe?
And if so, where was it now?
A faint sound stirred the quiet.
When Lu Shihuai opened his eyes, he immediately realized something was wrong—he couldn’t move. Every limb felt restrained.
A sharp glint flickered in his eyes. Had they captured him? No… not yet.
Then a voice cut through the silence.
“You’re awake?”
Footsteps approached, slow and steady. A shadow blocked out the pod’s dim light.
Lu Shihuai couldn’t see the figure clearly at first, but as the man leaned closer, recognition sparked in his gaze.
“Lin…”
His voice was hoarse, barely audible.
Lin Fansheng tilted his head, not catching what was said. “Tsk, troublesome.”
He sat beside the man, propped him up, and offered water, which the man drank stiffly—his whole body tense. Afterward, Lin Fansheng quickly pulled back, not used to close contact.
“Tell me,” he asked directly, “Did you come here because of me?”
Lu Shihuai blinked, startled.
That reaction told Lin Fansheng everything he needed to know. He frowned slightly. “Wait… you know me?”
The bound man took a moment, then replied quietly, “Lu Shihuai. My name is Lu Shihuai.”
“Oh. Hello then,” Lin Fansheng said casually. Relieved that this person likely hadn’t come to harm him, he untied the restraints. “I’m Lin Fansheng. ‘Fan’ as in flowers blooming, ‘Sheng’ as in songs rising.”
As expected, once freed, the man grew tense again.
Lin Fansheng rolled his eyes and gave him a light pat. “Relax. I just saved your life. When you recover, don’t forget to repay the favor.”
Lu Shihuai said nothing, but gave a faint nod.
Seeing that, Lin Fansheng felt reassured. The man didn’t seem dangerous—not at the moment anyway.
Besides, in his current condition, he wouldn’t be much of a threat.
After a moment, Lin Fansheng asked, “You good to move?”
Lu Shihuai tried to sit up, rotated his limbs, and gave a nod. “I’m alright.”
Pleased, Lin Fansheng tossed him a canned ration. “Eat up. You’ll need strength.”
As the man quietly ate, Lin Fansheng updated him on the situation. “We’re stuck in this forest. I’ve been here for three days now, trying to find a way out.”
“I saved you, so now it’s your turn. Help me get home.”
Lu Shihuai glanced up. “This planet is called Hillier—a former Alinas system colony. After a series of natural disasters, its habitability rating dropped. Now it’s just a marginal star under imperial registration.”
Lin Fansheng raised his brows at the sudden flood of information. “You know this place?”
Lu Shihuai nodded. “There are a few scattered settlers here. Not many. But my communicator and spatial drive are both damaged. If we want to leave, we’ll have to contact local authorities.”
“Let’s wait till morning.”
Empire, galaxies, subspace tech, comm devices… Lin Fansheng tried to keep up. It was a lot to take in. If this man knew all that, maybe he could help him find his identity too.
Reading his expression, Lu Shihuai offered, “In the Empire, everyone is assigned a unique identity chip at birth. Yours should be in the bracelet you’re wearing. Activate it, and you may be able to contact your family.”
“Oh, so it’s like a personal tracker.” Lin Fansheng glanced at his bracelet.
Curious, he tapped the surface. A virtual blue screen flickered to life.
“Identity confirmation: please enter second-level password.”
Lin Fansheng: “…”
He muttered, “What if I forgot the password?”
“Password incorrect. Please enter second-level password.”
“I said I forgot!”
“Password incorrect. Please enter second-level password.”
“…Can I reset it?”
No response. The machine repeated the same message over and over.
Frustrated, Lin Fansheng groaned and dropped his arms. “What now? I really don’t remember it.”
His voice fell quiet under the monotonous error message. The light in his eyes dimmed slightly.
Lu Shihuai watched him, a subtle smile tugging at his lips. “It’s okay. Once I fix my comm, I’ll contact someone who can help recover your ID.”
Relieved, Lin Fansheng nodded. “Great. Then I—wait…”
His fingers had instinctively pressed a familiar sequence.
“Password accepted. Please enter third-level password.”
“…What.”
He immediately closed the interface and stared at Lu Shihuai.
“Bro, you’re my only hope now.”
Seeing Lu Shihuai’s amused smile, Lin Fansheng gave him a playful slap. “What’s so funny?”
“It just is.” Lu Shihuai’s eyes twinkled with laughter.
The atmosphere felt… strange. Lin Fansheng looked away, tugging awkwardly at his shirt.
“You done eating?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool. Then scoot over—I want to sleep.”
“Sure.”
Lu Shihuai shifted silently, making space. The pod had clearly been modified; it was roomy enough for two.
Both lay down in silence. Only the sound of their breathing filled the pod.
Lin Fansheng wasn’t actually tired—he just wanted an excuse to stop talking. The tension in the air made him restless. Eyes wide open, he started counting sheep in his head.
“Lin Fansheng,” Lu Shihuai said suddenly.
He turned toward the voice. Lu Shihuai had leaned closer, his eyes serious.
“My name is Lu Shihuai.”
“…Yeah, I know that,” Lin Fansheng replied, a bit thrown.
“You got it wrong earlier,” Lu Shihuai added quietly. “It’s Shihuai, as in ‘Huai for memory.’”
Lin Fansheng blinked, then laughed. “What are you, five? Trying to correct your name now?”
“No one’s ever said I act like a kid.” Lu Shihuai chuckled, soft and unhurried.
“They usually call me a wolf… or a hound.”
Wolf for fierceness, dog for loyalty, Lin Fansheng thought. “That’s… one way to be known.”
He leaned closer, studying the man’s face. For the first time, he noticed a flicker of nervousness.
“You’re not a wolf,” Lin Fansheng said thoughtfully. “You’re more like an eagle. Free, and meant to soar.”
The words felt strangely familiar. Like something he’d said to someone else before. Or meant to.
Lu Shihuai’s smile softened. “Thanks.”
His gaze stayed steady—warm, focused. No mocking, no sarcasm.
Lin Fansheng stared back, confused. Was that a compliment? Or something more?
He couldn’t read Lu Shihuai at all. The man was calm, composed, hiding his thoughts behind dark eyes.
Just as he wrestled with the silence, Lu Shihuai answered: “If you’re wondering—I liked what you said.”
“…Can you read minds or something?” Lin Fansheng blurted. “You always know what I’m thinking.”
“I can’t.” Lu Shihuai shook his head. “You just think clearly enough to read.”
“Do I wear my thoughts on my face?”
“No,” he said again, steady as ever. “I’m just lucky.”
There wasn’t much logic in that response, but Lin Fansheng found himself believing it anyway.
Well—unless Lu Shihuai had been secretly in love with him for years and could predict his every move.
…Which sounded completely ridiculous.
And yet—part of him wasn’t so sure.