PUAA Chapter 7

“He’s lost his memory, that’s all. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t love you.”

“He doesn’t love me either. He often looks through me at others.”

Gentle Widow Omega consoled the young officer like this.

Widow Omega was such a person, always considering others, clear-headed and rational, not as frail as he seemed. Perhaps they had a bit in common.

The young officer held the general’s hand, sleeping by the hospital bed all night. He was finally able to sleep, even though in his dreams the general was still leaving him. But this time it was different; the general turned back and said goodbye.

The warmth in his hand suddenly broke free, and the young officer immediately opened his eyes. The hospital room was dimly lit, and he met the general’s somber eyes.

“You’re awake.” The young officer got up and poured a glass of water, attempting to hand it to the general, who predictably did not take it.

He had administered an injection to the general and forcibly brought him back against his will, so he wasn’t expecting a warm reception.

“Where’s Du Ruo?” The general’s voice was parched, so the young officer insisted on helping him sit up and drink some warm water.

“He’s fine. He’s actually my sister-in-law and probably already left with my brother.” The young officer’s tone remained steady with a subtle coldness, youthfulness pressed down deliberately, making him seem a bit harsh and distant.

It was his guise, now a habit.

The general frowned, silent for a long while, clearly displeased.

“What do you mean, his husband wasn’t dead? Then why leave him all alone in such pitiful solitude? What’s the point of having such a person?”

True heartbreakers have a sense of justice bursting at the seams, still blaming others. The young officer didn’t want to deal with the general’s complaints, so he silently turned on the light and used an ear thermometer to check the general’s temperature, recording the number on the chart hanging by the bed.

Whether being fed water or having his temperature taken, the general was cooperative. He seemed not to mind the young officer’s proximity, which was odd because he was a person with a strong sense of boundaries.

When he was first picked up by Widow Omega, he couldn’t stand, and his wounds couldn’t touch water. Widow Omega would wring out towels for him, simply wiping him down. Even without direct physical contact, the general was stiff and awkward. After a few days, when his wounds had somewhat healed, he began to do it himself.

“I heard from the deputy, we’re married now.” The general began speaking again, this time observing the young officer’s expression, tentatively saying, “As your husband, it was inappropriate of me to mention someone else. I apologize for that. However, several deputies mentioned that there is no sentiment between us. No wedding, no joint photos, separate sleeping arrangements, you are an unmarked omega, I think their assessment is trustworthy.”

“I haven’t marked anyone, I don’t wear a wedding ring, so when I realized I liked Du Ruo, I confessed to him. I think I should be honest with you.”

“Okay.” The young officer lowered his gaze, unlike his usually timid self, the general was always proactive in expressing his feelings.

He didn’t blame the general for his honesty, but logic couldn’t fully dominate his thoughts, and he just felt pain.

“But he rejected me. He told me, since I had lost my memory, if I had a lover, they should be waiting for me to come home.” The general stared into the young officer’s eyes, asking, “Were you looking for me, waiting for me to come home?”

Looking for someone who might or might not be alive is exhausting, like standing on a cliff waiting for a familiar bird.

Flocks come and go, none stopping for him, so the wind blew long and hard, making him sway, yet he had to stand firm, believing without doubt, for any carelessness would plunge him into despair.

“I’m always waiting for you to land on my shoulder, always waiting for you to come home.”

The young officer nodded, his tears uncontrollably starting to fall. He felt wronged and sad, yet countless disappointments had never made him shed a tear before.

“I’ve always been looking for you.”

“But I could never find you.”

The person before him cried calmly, large tears continuously falling, staining the white sheets with damp spots. The general suddenly felt a heaviness in his chest,

He had lost his memory, but he felt instinctively that the person before him was never meant to cry. So, he hurriedly got up, wanting to wipe the young officer’s tears.

“I’m sorry.” The general began to apologize, looking at the young officer trying hard to hold back tears but blushing from the effort, a mix of sourness and strangeness made it impossible to ignore.

Because the source of his emotions was missing, the general could only perceive emotions without being able to make any judgments.

“Don’t cry, I’m sorry.” He apologized again.

His leg still hadn’t fully healed, so the general had his leg re-splinted. After that day, the young officer came every noon to deliver food and stayed by the bed at night, visibly tired but mentally still sharp.

“You’re working too hard.” The general observed the young officer unscrewing a thermos, noting a newly healed scar on his hand, frowning unhappily, “How can you sustain this daily effort?”

“I don’t have any leave left.” The young officer’s voice dropped when reprimanded.

“I’m not criticizing you.” The general realized his tone was too harsh and softened his expression, hesitantly asking, “Did I often scold you before?”

“No, you were the same with everyone, not just scolding me.” The young officer set up a small table, handed over chopsticks, and sat on the bed to eat with the general.

He pushed the beef the general liked towards him and quietly ate his vegetables, occasionally stealing glances at the general.

The general suddenly thought of Widow Omega, although he had rarely thought of him recently. Previously, stuck in a small room unable to go out, his mind empty and restless, he found talking to Widow Omega in the evenings very calming.

That gentle omega would apologize while serving a not-so-pretty plate of beef, “My husband cooked steak well, I’m just not good at meat dishes, please eat more,” and would softly laugh when he complimented it as “tasty.”

He suddenly recognized the difference between Widow Omega and the young officer. Widow Omega looked at him like a calm bystander, while the young officer’s gaze carried a careful cherish.

“You should also eat well, maintain a balanced diet. I won’t eat you up, why aren’t you eating?” The general picked up a piece of meat for the young officer, his tone unknowingly familiar.

“I am eating well.” The young officer suddenly felt warmth in his eyes; the first time they had lunch together in the general’s lounge, the general had said the same thing to him.

Perhaps the young officer’s compliance encouraged the general to lecture more. He began to say habitually, “You’re too thin, omega beauty isn’t about being skinny, healthy is beautiful.”

“I have abs.” The young officer’s ears quickly turned red, recalling that chaotic afternoon when the general’s hand had rested on his waist.

“You shouldn’t be picky then.” The general finally noticed he was unconsciously lecturing and deliberately softened his voice to add, “Of course, I’m just suggesting.”

“Got it.” The young officer stole another glance.

The general’s memory loss stemmed from a severe head injury; he had hit his head against a ship railing during a fight, and the lack of timely treatment caused a cerebral contusion.

He could rest easy and recover slowly, or he could undergo surgery to remove the contusion. The latter wasn’t necessary; craniotomy should be approached with caution, and there wasn’t any pressing need to recover his memory soon.

After the young officer left, the general called in the military doctor and requested the surgery. Three days later, all pre-surgery checks were completed, and while the young officer was on duty, the general was wheeled into the operating room.