“A beta marrying General Pei You is your good fortune. If you publicize this matter, you know full well what the consequences will be,” the Su family’s steward said sarcastically.

Su Ling kept his head lowered. His overly long hair half-covered his face, revealing only the sharp tip of a thin chin. He wore a new white suit that was too large for him, making his already slender frame look even smaller.

“I’m talking to you! Behave yourself! Did you hear me clearly?” The steward spoke arrogantly, not taking Su Ling seriously at all.

“I know,” Su Ling replied in a soft voice that sounded a little muffled.

The steward looked at him with pure disgust and waved his hand impatiently. “Go on, go on.” Useless trash.

Su Ling walked toward the hover car. The only thing accompanying him as a dowry was a single household robot.

No ceremony. No guests. No wedding gifts. No wedding blessings… On a pitch-black night, Su Ling married quietly.

Not a single member of the main family came. Only a few servants “saw him off.”

“General Pei You is the strongest alpha, young and handsome—the dream lover of so many people.”

“Yeah, so what if he’s paralyzed? Maybe that little slut Su Ling can climb on top of him himself.”

“Hahaha, they call him a general, but who knows if he can even still use it!”

“Looks good but useless. Afraid someone’s going to grow grass on his head. Hehehe.”

“Look at the way he walks, striding so fast, like he’s eager to get married. Shameless little bitch, already craving a man.”

The car door closed, cutting off the servants’ mocking laughter. Su Ling clenched his fists tightly, his face flushed red with anger.

Sitting alone in the hover car, he felt he could somewhat understand the original owner’s actions.

That’s right—Su Ling was one of the transmigration army.

He had just graduated high school and gotten into a good university, full of hope and expectations for the future. Then an accident killed him, and somehow he had transmigrated into a book.

Getting a second life should have been a good thing, but transmigrating on the original owner’s wedding day made Su Ling feel his life was in serious danger. The original owner had died at the hands of the male lead, the general!

Not long ago, General Pei You had been injured in a battle and was completely paralyzed. Apart from being able to move his eyeballs, he couldn’t move at all.

His original fiancé—the omega most compatible with him, Su Qingluan—was unwilling to marry a cripple and wanted to call off the engagement. But Pei You had repelled the invading insectoids and protected the safety of the entire interstellar space. He was hailed as Nalan Star’s God of War. Online public opinion was flooded with prayers for his recovery.

At this time, the Su family didn’t dare cancel the engagement. After several discussions, they decided on a substitute marriage. They chose the least popular original owner—a beta—and secretly married him off under cover of night.

The original owner had a gloomy personality, was jealous and vain. He didn’t dare resist the suffering he endured and could only curse endlessly in his heart. After unwillingly marrying the male lead Pei You, he used every vicious method he could think of on Pei You.

In the end, the true male lead appeared to redeem Pei You, and the original owner died a miserable death.

Su Ling felt a little guilty. Of course he wouldn’t humiliate the general or commit all sorts of evil, but he couldn’t guarantee he could change the original owner’s fate. He had to divorce before the general recovered!

He turned to look out the window. Towering buildings, hover cars coming and going—not a single bit of greenery in sight. Everything was so strange and cold.

Fewer and fewer buildings entered his field of vision.

The hover car landed in front of a heavy metal gate.

“Madam of the General, YD3571972408 greets you,” a mechanical electronic voice said from the mouth of a square humanoid robot. “Please follow me.”

Hearing that form of address, Su Ling shuddered, but he still politely thanked it and followed.

The house was nearly two thousand square meters. Silver-gray metal walls paired with black metal furniture gave off a cold and solemn feeling. There was not a single decoration to indicate that the master of the house was newly married.

It didn’t feel like a home. It felt like an iron coffin. Following behind the robot, Su Ling muttered inwardly that living in a place like this might turn someone even more mechanical than a robot.

He had thought the bedroom would be better. Unexpectedly, it was even colder and more austere. A deep-gray sheet covered the silver-gray bed. The general lay on it wearing black pajamas—pure black with not a single pattern, looking for all the world like a corpse.

The general had a large frame. Even lying down, one could see the faint outline of his chest muscles. His figure was excellent.

Suddenly meeting a pair of cold eyes, Su Ling jumped in fright.

Those pitch-black pupils seemed not to see Su Ling at all. They glanced at him once, then turned away again to stare at the ceiling.

Su Ling didn’t know how to react. Thinking that he might die at this man’s hands left him uneasy. But the man was indeed handsome—sharp features, a high nose bridge, even his eyelashes long and curled. A face carved finely by God, so perfect it made one feel inadequate.

The male lead, after all—it was only natural. Su Ling felt a flicker of envy for a second, then rubbed his nose. “General.”

The general gave no reply and slowly closed his eyes.

Su Ling glanced awkwardly at the robot; it showed no reaction.

“I’m sleepy,” Su Ling said with his head lowered, not sure whom he was addressing.

“Madam of the General, please follow me.” The robot’s faint light screen flickered.

Once outside the general’s room, Su Ling let out a breath of relief. Even lying in bed, that man still radiated pressure.

“What’s your name?” Su Ling asked the robot.

“YD3571972408,” the robot answered stiffly.

Su Ling really couldn’t memorize such a long string of numbers. “Does the general call you that too?”

“Master calls me D3.”

“That’s a nickname.” Su Ling smiled slightly, revealing a touch of liveliness. “Can I call you Fang Fang?”

He pulled the robot along and talked for quite a while.

There was no real meaning or purpose—he just wanted someone to talk to, and Pei You’s household only had all kinds of robots.

“Madam of the General, it is time to rest. Please go to sleep.” Even the robot wouldn’t keep him company chatting anymore.

Su Ling looked at the ice-cold room with its pure-white sheets and felt as if he were in a morgue.

Stop thinking about useless things! He flopped onto the bed.

Bang—a dull thud. The sound of a head colliding with something hard. Su Ling sucked in a sharp breath. The bedboard was hard as iron. In the interstellar age, did they not even have mattresses?

Rubbing the back of his head, Su Ling thought: all alone in a strange world, with nothing to his name—he had to work hard to stay alive.

Actually, the general hadn’t had it easy either. An orphan from the slums who fought his way up to become a general alone. After being diagnosed with permanent paralysis, the applause and flowers surrounding him had all faded away. It was precisely because the general had no family backing that the Su family dared to treat him this way, without the slightest respect.

Although the general acted arrogant and cold, he wasn’t a bloodthirsty killer. If Su Ling took good care of him and divorced him before the protagonist returned, handing the general back to protagonist, he should be able to keep his little life, right?

This period could just be treated as working for the general. It would also let him get familiar with this strange world. No matter what, surviving came first.

Better draft a contract—give himself a little security! Su Ling rummaged around the room and finally found paper and pen. He wrote: Contract Marriage.

Early the next morning, Su Ling got up. He tied his overly long bangs into a little tuft, revealing a clean forehead and apricot-shaped eyes. Gone was the gloomy aura of the original owner. The whole person looked completely renewed—a fair, clean youth who made people feel comfortable at first glance.

Rubbing his stiff back, Su Ling greeted the robot with a bright smile. “Morning, Fang Fang. Is the general awake?”

“Good morning, Madam of the General. Master is awake.”

Su Ling’s eyes lit up. He couldn’t wait. “I’m going to find him.”

“Master has instructed that Madam of the General is not to look for him unless there is something important.” Fang Fang did not know how to be tactful.

Su Ling stared at the mechanical arm blocking his path for a second, then quickly recovered. “There is something. Something very important. A matter of life and death!”

Fang Fang never doubted the truth of human words. Master had not instructed that even important matters were forbidden. Fang Fang withdrew its arm. “Madam of the General, shall I lead the way?”

Su Ling declined. Holding the contract he had drafted, he knocked on the general’s door.

No response came. Su Ling pretended he was applying for a job and said in a businesslike tone, “General, I have something to discuss with you.”

After waiting a while with still no reply, Su Ling opened the door.

The general’s eyes were closed. Su Ling knew he was awake—robots didn’t lie. He also knew the man could speak; he simply didn’t want to.

Su Ling stood ramrod straight, unfolded the contract, and spoke with a serious attitude and earnest tone. “Hello, General. I am Su Ling. I know you don’t want this marriage, so how about we make a contract? From now on I will take care of you, and you will pay me a salary. After seven months we divorce. What do you think?”

When he finished, the general finally reacted. He opened his eyes, glanced at Su Ling once, then looked away again.

That cold gaze left Su Ling a little hollow inside. What did that mean? Agree or disagree? No matter what I do, will he still despise me and eventually kill me?

Su Ling swallowed. Suddenly he noticed the general’s lips were cracked and dry, so dry that blood threads had appeared. It looked rather painful.

Excess energy had accumulated in the general’s body, causing the full-body paralysis. For a powerful person to be unable to control even his own body must be extremely uncomfortable, right?

That energy repeatedly destroyed his body and then repaired it. The book said the process was like being subjected to lingchi over and over again, yet this man had always kept a blank expression. Not a single trace of pain could be found on his face.

He was very strong, and very brave. He had never thought of giving up on himself.

Su Ling decided to be a bit braver too. He cleared his throat, recited the entire contract aloud, and explained, “You see, I’m only responsible for taking care of you—just like hiring a caregiver. Room and board included. You can pay me whatever small amount you like.”

This time the general didn’t even give him a glance, staring at the ceiling instead.

“General, if you don’t speak, I’ll take it as agreement, okay?” Su Ling edged forward carefully, step by step. “I guarantee I won’t do anything that harms you.”

He tentatively touched the general’s hand, both eyes fixed tightly on him. If the general showed even the slightest look of resistance, he would pull back at once.

But the man apparently didn’t care what he did and gave no reaction at all. Su Ling gritted his teeth, grabbed the general’s hand, and pressed a fingerprint onto the contract.

It felt like he had obtained a life-saving talisman. The taut string in his heart finally relaxed, and only then did he realize he had been holding his breath.

After recovering for a moment, Su Ling entered work mode. “Your lips are dry. Shall I get you some water? Plain water, tea, coffee, honey water, or juice—which would you like?”

Su Ling waited eagerly for a response. The general glanced at him indifferently and still said nothing.

Silence proved the general did not trust him. Su Ling sighed inwardly. He knew the general liked honey water—very sweet honey water—and also liked rich, fragrant cake.

Su Ling offered a faint smile. “How about some honey water? I’ll go prepare it.”

Just as he was about to leave, a mechanical electronic voice came from behind him: “Madam of the General, YL7429620421 greets you. It is now Master’s washing time. Please make way.”

Su Ling immediately stepped two paces to the side and turned his head. The robot that had suddenly spoken had a body even more human-like than Fang Fang’s—like a bronze figure coated in black lacquer. It must be the general’s medical robot.

The medical robot stood two meters tall, its arms thicker than Su Ling’s thighs. Standing next to it, Su Ling looked like a child.

The medical robot’s blue eyeballs flickered. It extended a mechanical arm, undid the buttons on the general’s chest, and revealed a stretch of honey-colored skin. The solid chest muscles carried a wild kind of sexiness.

Su Ling rubbed his nose and stammered, “I–I’ll go out first.” His footsteps were hurried, almost as if he were fleeing in defeat.

He had only wanted to see how the medical robot usually took care of the general. He really hadn’t meant anything else.

Su Ling’s ears were a little red. Why didn’t he have such a robust physique? With his thin arms and thin legs—it was unfair!

In a daze, he was led by Fang Fang to the dining room. On the white dining table sat a bowl of congee, five small cakes, two cold dishes, a cup of honey water, and a small portion of fruit.

Su Ling sat down. Fang Fang’s faint light screen flickered, and a holographic projection appeared before his eyes, broadcasting the news.

Su Ling knew these were all the general’s previous breakfast habits. Robots had no autonomous consciousness; arranging things this way could only mean the general had instructed it.

But the original owner hadn’t received such treatment, had he?

Su Ling pondered. On the night the original owner arrived at the general’s house, he had thrown a huge temper at the general, cursing him as a scourge who, even after being paralyzed, still insisted on marrying a wife to ruin him, and that it would be better if he just died early. Su Ling himself had shown no resistance, so he got breakfast?

Although the general remained silent, he had never intended to target the substitute spouse. Looking at it this way, his little life should be safe.

Su Ling happily took a sip of the honey water and was immediately choked by how overly sweet it was, his throat itching. “Fang Fang, can I have a cup of plain boiled water?”

“Please wait a moment, Madam of the General.” Fang Fang did not refuse. Master had instructed it to satisfy Madam’s daily needs.

While eating breakfast, Su Ling asked Fang Fang about how to use the optical brain. The optical brain, shaped like a wristband, recorded all of a person’s information. It was equivalent to an all-in-one ID card, phone, and bank card—an indispensable item in daily life. Fortunately, it was highly intelligent and quite simple to learn.

“Welcome, everyone, to the Su family’s press conference.”

Hearing the voice in the news, Su Ling put away the optical brain and looked up.

The head of the Su family, Su Mingfeng, wore a black suit and had his hair combed back. Though over sixty, he looked only about forty. “Thank you all for your concern during this time. The younger generation of our family and General Pei were married yesterday.”

He clasped his hands, lowered his head slightly, eyes carrying sorrow, tone sincere: “Due to General Pei’s physical condition, we held this wedding very low-key. We hope everyone can understand.”

Su Ling felt uncomfortable listening. Low-key? It was sneaky, all right! They were terrified of people finding out a beta had been substituted in marriage.

“We, like everyone else, are deeply concerned about General Pei’s health. In order to protect our homeland, General Pei disregarded hardships and personal danger, always standing on the front line against the insectoids. For the safety of all the people of Nalan Star, he slew the mother insect, yet suffered severe injuries himself! He is our God of War! He is our hero!”

Su Mingfeng spoke with passionate intensity, and the bullet comments frantically scrolled up.

“General Pei You, you are our God of War! We will always love you! You must get better!”

“Prayers, prayers, prayers—hero, we are waiting for you!”

“Young Master Su must take good care of the general!”

“Young Master Su and the general must be happy!”

“I will pray for you every day. General Pei, you will definitely recover! Never give up!”

Living in an era of peace, Su Ling didn’t fully understand this kind of emotion, but he couldn’t help getting excited along with them, an inexplicable feeling of hot blood surging through him.

He won’t let down your expectations. He will stand up. He will become even stronger! And I will definitely take good care of him.

Su Mingfeng’s eyes reddened. His tightly clasped hands couldn’t help trembling. “Our Su family will do everything in our power to treat General Pei. No matter what the cost, we will spare no expense!”

Anger flared in Su Ling’s heart. What a performance of sincere hypocrisy—truly disgusting! If they cared about the general, why hadn’t they come to see him? Why hadn’t they arranged doctors? They had done something as humiliating as a substitute marriage, yet still had the face to talk about concern? They were simply bullying the general for having no background. Hmph. Just wait until the general recovers—the Su family will be infamous! Thinking about it, he was actually looking forward to it. Watching a live face-slapping would definitely be more satisfying than reading about it in a book.

“Our Su family is equally grateful to and admires all the soldiers. For their safety and victory, the Su family has developed a new single-person combat vehicle.” A deep-blue combat vehicle appeared before their eyes, with elegant lines, understated luxury. The product manager took over, giving a detailed introduction and demonstration of the new product.

Although Su Ling was very interested in the high-tech products of the interstellar world—and combat vehicles even more so—he immediately changed the channel.

Not only had they belittled and humiliated the general, they were also using his name to release a new product! How could the Su family do something like this? In the eyes of the Su family, was money everything? Could they ignore their conscience, lie, put on acts, and stop at nothing? It truly made one’s skin crawl.

After complaining inwardly for a while, Su Ling suddenly thought of a question. “Fang Fang, does the general watch this news?”

“Yes.”

Su Ling’s chest felt a little blocked. Even he, an outsider, found it hard to bear. What must the general be thinking?

Su Ling finished the congee in a few large mouthfuls and had Fang Fang take him to the kitchen, where he mixed a cup of lightly sweet honey water—too sweet was bad for the body.

Holding the honey water, he knocked on the general’s door. After waiting a few seconds, he pushed the door open.

He saw the medical robot injecting nutrient solution into the general. The general lay with his eyes closed, without the slightest sign of life. The scene made Su Ling feel a little heartbroken.