Chapter 4: Darling
In fact, deep down, Shen Zhuo hadn't really registered that his saying he wanted to get married to Du Xun would actually happen.
So after getting the marriage certificate sorted out for Du Xun and himself, Shen Zhuo felt like he was walking on air while holding the certificate.
"Stand steady."
Du Xun steadied Shen Zhuo's wavering arm, preventing him from missing a step on the stairs.
"Supreme Commander Du - no, I should now call you..."
The young man stood in front of the car, recalling how his fathers addressed each other, estimating he would need to start calling the other that way after the marriage.
So he tentatively tried, "Darling?"
Du Xun stiffened.
"Mm."
Shen Zhuo was really uneasy, always feeling that Du Xun must not be willing to marry him either.
After all, someone like Du Xun could have any omega he wanted.
Perhaps there was some unavoidable reason.
[Tsk.]
Shen Zhuo had wanted to use his ability to listen to Du Xun's thoughts.
But who would have thought he would hear such an impatient voice, immediately making him retreat in fear and cutting off [Hear the Heart].
It seems there really was an unavoidable reason.
Was Du Xun still a bit disgusted with him?
"Just joking, Commander Du."
Shen Zhuo restrained himself:
"I didn't want to marry Feng Ming, so I accidentally ended up marrying you. The imperial law states we can divorce after a three-year marriage period, so we can..."
"After three years, you want to divorce?"
Du Xun looked down at him casually.
Shen Zhuo lowered his head and kicked a small pebble on the ground:
"If you have someone else you like..."
Du Xun interrupted him: "No."
Shen Zhuo doubted he had heard correctly: "...What?"
"I won't have anyone else I like." Du Xun supplemented.
Shen Zhuo nodded: "...Oh."
"Then will you have someone else you like?"
Shen Zhuo paused, expecting he would immediately think of Feng Ming.
But no, no face came to his mind.
"I don't think so."
The grip on Shen Zhuo's arm tightened slightly from Du Xun, controlled just enough not to let Shen Zhuo feel pain, yet effectively restraining him.
"Then why divorce."
Shen Zhuo thought about it.
Du Xun was not the type to be obsessed with love. And right now, he just needed someone who could immediately register their marriage.
Often at the military department, no interest in romance, high status, no scandals...
In terms of conditions, Du Xun was the best marriage candidate for him.
[Some audience members are interested in your new marriage, viewership has increased]
Hearing the system's broadcast, Shen Zhuo had a hunch, until Du Xun said:
"Do you want to stay at my place, or at your home?"
Du Xun shoved him into the car, the engine roaring to life.
The Alpha drove one-handed, glancing at the young man who still seemed lost, reaching over to help him fasten the seatbelt:
"I'll need to go back to the military department for about two months, and there's only the housekeeper at home. If you don't want to be away from your family, you can stay at home for now."
"No, thank you." Shen Zhuo said softly.
The man's lowered gaze was no longer overly frigid, the lowered lashes obscuring his pupils, giving an illusion of tenderness.
As he drew closer, Shen Zhuo caught a very pleasant, pungent yet bitter scent.
It almost immediately soothed his agitated mood.
"Rosemary?"
Du Xun hummed in affirmation.
So it wasn't the cold pine scent of pheromones, Shen Zhuo mused silently.
Rosemary didn't smell particularly comfortable, even a bit irritating.
But inexplicably, Shen Zhuo loved it.
He felt a sense of security.
He even secretly sniffed it a few more times when Du Xun buckled his seatbelt.
Only when the man returned to the driver's seat did Shen Zhuo come to his senses, blinking his eyes in a fluster.
"What's wrong?"
*********
Chapter 5: Marriage Certificate
"I'm planning to apply to the Ares Military Academy next month and take the entrance exam."
Du Xun kept his eyes on the traffic ahead, sparing a glance to the side at him:
"You seem more suited for the Themis Military Academy, your differentiated ability is very suitable for interrogation."
"I know." Shen Zhuo asked instead, "If I hadn't differentiated any abilities, would I not be able to get into the Ares Military Academy?"
Du Xun fell silent.
The gap between Alphas and Omegas in this world was too great.
Whether in physique, strength, or the abilities that differentiated, there were virtually no Omegas who had developed direct combat abilities.
Therefore, everyone believed that Omegas on the battlefield could only exist as rear support.
Shen Zhuo stroked the six-winged eagle on his hair accessory: "I will pilot a mecha and go to the frontlines, not as rear support."
The young man had already prepared to be mocked or denied, even having responses ready.
But after a long while, Du Xun, as if he hadn't heard Shen Zhuo's words, just kept driving the car.
The afternoon traffic on a weekday was not congested, the car stopping at a red light.
Shen Zhuo saw a flower shop by the side of the road, the store filled with various fresh flowers, a leisurely Omega elderly woman tending to the soft petals of the roses.
It was then that the Supreme Commander spoke up, his deep-colored eyes taking on a greyish-blue hue in the sunlight:
"Omegas can also go to the frontlines, as long as their abilities are strong enough."
"Ares Military Academy will not bury any talents."
Shen Zhuo recalled that there was indeed an Omega general in history, also a legendary figure from the Ares Military Academy.
That Omega's differentiated ability was the least offensive [Night Vision], yet they still led a team to wipe out a large Insect Race base.
Previously, he had mentioned something similar to Feng Ming, and the other's response was -
"Aren't you uncomfortable enough without having to do anything? Why do you want to go to the battlefield and make me worry?"
He had thought all Alphas thought that way, but Du Xun seemed different.
"However, there is one important thing."
They had steadily arrived at the manor, and after opening the car door, Shen Zhuo closed it again and sat back down.
"Tomorrow is the wedding."
"How do you want to handle it?" Du Xun asked him, "We can make it public."
Shen Zhuo thought for a moment, but still shook his head:
"Can we keep it private for the time being?"
"Why?"
It was obvious the Supreme Commander's expression was starting to worsen again.
"If the Ares Military Academy knows I'm your wife, they'll surely pull strings. I don't want to be a vase, I don't want to rely on anyone, including my father."
The young man's eyes were very large, his skin pale, dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, making him look like he had been crying.
He had yawned a few times on the way, his eyes glistening, his face flushed with a rosy pink, seeming even more pitiful.
Du Xun lost his temper: "Alright."
Shen Zhuo smiled a little: "Thank you."
Just as the young man was about to push the door and leave, Du Xun called out to him.
Shen Zhuo thought there was something else, meeting the man's deep, grey-blue eyes.
"You look very nice today." The Supreme Commander said.
Shen Zhuo: ?
What?
"Goodbye, I hope to see you at the Ares Military Academy."
"Oh...okay, goodbye."
Watching the small Omega walk into the manor dazedly behind Xia Dou, Du Xun only retracted his gaze.
He picked up the marriage certificate bearing the seal, staring at the smiling young man in the photo for a long time.
Finally, he placed the red book back in the inner pocket of his military uniform, over his heart.
************
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