AIDDPD Ch1

On the day of Lu Zhao’s wedding, most of the Empire’s nobility attended the ceremony.

The topic of this Major General’s wedding had been trending on the entertainment section of the Empire’s forum for quite some time. Omegas were sighing that even someone as powerful as Major General Lu Zhao couldn’t avoid succumbing to their gender, having to marry an Alpha with no emotional foundation. Meanwhile, Alphas were bitterly commenting that no matter how high Lu Zhao climbed, he was still an Omega, and marrying an Alpha was his inevitable fate.

These condescending Alphas naturally sparked resentment from the Omegas, leading to fierce arguments on the forums. Compared to the heated debates between these two groups, some Betas were more curious about the lucky Alpha who would be marrying Major General Lu Zhao, wondering how many steps he could climb in status thanks to his connection with Lu Zhao.

The entire marriage seemed shrouded in secrecy, with Lu Zhao himself remaining silent, and even the identity of the lucky Alpha remained unknown. This only made the speculative post on the entertainment forum even more popular. Netizens speculated about all the young Alphas from noble families, but no conclusion was universally accepted.

It wasn’t until half a month ago that the Empire’s forum officially announced the date of Lu Zhao’s wedding.

The celebratory post displayed two names in joyous red characters: one was Lu Zhao, and the other shocked everyone.

No one expected that the famous “Eagle of the Empire,” Major General Lu Zhao, would end up marrying into the Bai family, becoming the legal Omega of Bai Li, a playboy who had long retired from the public eye.

It was like forcing a beautiful flower into concrete.

Not only was there no beauty in it, but it didn’t even have the nutrients of manure.

Overnight, Bai Li’s personal information was dug up. His early life was exposed, showing that the Bai family had fallen into decline by his generation, with no one left but him. Bai Li himself had been injured in a battle years ago, with his left leg nearly crippled, preventing him from piloting mechas and serving on the front lines. Since then, the Bai family had lost its place among the elite military units.

This playboy was once notorious for his many romantic scandals with Omegas. Rumor had it that when the Empire asked him to leave the First Corps, he agreed almost immediately, packing his personal belongings and driving his flashy hovercar to an Omega’s private residence that very night.

Bai Li’s life was laid bare on the forums, infuriating the Omegas. Major General Lu Zhao, an Omega who had achieved the rank of Major General in the First Corps at a young age through strength that rivaled any Alpha’s, was a role model and dream for countless Omegas.

Marrying an Alpha like Bai Li meant Lu Zhao could expect no support from his husband’s family. Bai Li himself, due to his injuries, was destined never to return to the front lines, let alone earn any military merits.

The Bai family might still hold a noble title, but they had long since fallen into ruin.

How could Major General Lu Zhao marry such an Alpha?!

Many Omegas were moved to tears in frustration, and even most Alphas found it hard to accept that someone inferior to them was marrying Lu Zhao. Some were outraged, others burned with jealousy, flooding Bai Li’s Imperial blog with comments, demanding that he step aside.

The forums were in chaos. Lu Zhao’s name had become a symbol of honor and valor, representing glory and bloodshed. With no family background, he had fought his way to his current position, showing many Betas and Omegas that they didn’t have to live under the rule of Alphas.

As for Bai Li, his records showed some achievements, but they paled in comparison to Lu Zhao’s dazzling battle record. What people saw more of was his tabloid history. To be honest, the only thing Bai Li had going for him might be his looks.

Bai Li was well aware of this.

He sat casually on the sofa in the lounge, his long legs propped up on the coffee table, fiddling with his personal terminal and browsing the web. He was amused by the posts discussing his marriage to Lu Zhao on the forums, laughing heartily.

Although forcing a flower into concrete was indeed a tragedy, from the perspective of the concrete, it wasn’t such a bad deal.

Bai Li laughed so hard his stomach hurt, thinking this whole thing could get even more interesting.

Boldly, he used his own account to post a selfie on the forum, with the caption: “I’m definitely the most handsome concrete.”

He hit send.

A few seconds later, his terminal began beeping incessantly with notification alerts.

Bai Li’s post received countless insults in return.

Unbothered by the commotion, he slapped his leg and laughed even harder.

Two knocks sounded at the door. Lu Zhao pushed it open and was greeted by the sight of Bai Li collapsed on the sofa, clutching his stomach and laughing like he had lost his mind.

Seeing Lu Zhao, Bai Li wiped away the tears from laughing too hard and greeted him, “Flower, you’ve arrived.”

Lu Zhao didn’t get it, but he didn’t bother to ask either. His gaze swept over Bai Li, and he said calmly, “Don’t mess up your hair.”

The smile on the man sitting on the sofa didn’t fade, though he managed to stop laughing like a madman. He stood up, casually adjusted his black suit, and shot Lu Zhao a playful wink. “Flower, how do I look?”

Lu Zhao acted as though he didn’t catch the teasing tone, seriously looking him over before walking up to smooth a wrinkle on his sleeve. “The Marshal wants to see us.”

“Us?” Bai Li looked at himself in the mirror on the wall, his hair perfectly in place. “He wants to see me too?”

Lu Zhao replied, “To congratulate you.”

Bai Li thought for a moment and understood that Lu Zhao meant the Marshal wanted to congratulate them both, so of course, they needed to be seen together.

He shrugged. “Sure, let’s go.”

He started to head out the door.

Lu Zhao didn’t move.

Bai Li turned back to him and met Lu Zhao’s calm gaze, suddenly realizing. He quickly extended his arm. “Oh, right! We need to coordinate. How about you link your arm with mine?”

Lu Zhao still didn’t move. After a few seconds, he finally spoke, “What did you mean by ‘flower’ earlier?”

“Ah?” Bai Li was taken aback for a moment before he couldn’t help but laugh again. “They all say you’re the flower that’s been planted in concrete.”

Lu Zhao found this answer a bit dull. He swatted Bai Li’s arm away and opened the lounge door, telling him, “Stop looking at all that nonsense.”

“Understood,” Bai Li said, cheerfully walking over. “Major General Lu Zhao.”

Bai Li was tall and well-built, and he indeed had a good appearance. When he smiled, it came off as somewhat carefree, though his handsome features masked the roguishness in his smile to a large extent.

Standing next to him, Lu Zhao was nearly the same height, and just from their physiques, it was hard to tell he was an Omega. His back was straight, and his brow was firm. Years of military life had dulled the softness and roundness typical of an Omega’s features, giving him a sharp and decisive air.

“Major General Lu Zhao, Mr. Bai Li,” Lu Zhao’s aide, Huo Cun, stood outside leaning against the wall in a daze. When he saw the two emerge, he straightened up. “The Marshal is already in the main hall.”

Lu Zhao nodded slightly and headed in the direction of the main hall.

After taking a couple of steps, he stopped and waited for Bai Li to walk alongside him before saying, “Do I need to link my arm with yours?”

Bai Li was taken aback. “Why are you asking that?”

Lu Zhao explained, “I don’t know if other Omegas need to link arms with Alphas at their weddings; this is my first marriage.”

Bai Li pointed to his own face. “Do I look like someone who would have a second marriage?”

Lu Zhao glanced at his face and stated objectively, “You look like someone who would know whether to link arms.”

Bai Li: “…” You really know how to flatter.

The two slowed their pace, caught up in their discussion about linking arms, which forced Huo Cun to walk slowly behind them, listening to their conversation.

Lu Zhao asked, “Haven’t you attended weddings before?”

Bai Li thought for a moment. “I have, but I didn’t care about the Omega getting married; I was only concerned about those who wanted to hit on me.”

Lu Zhao inquired, “So is one arm enough to link?”

Bai Li replied, “Your curiosity is quite strong. Let me tell you, not only do I have two arms, but I also have two legs. Do you think that’s enough?”

Huo Cun, who was following behind, couldn’t help but interject, “Mr. Bai Li, Major General Lu Zhao hits quite hard.” Just a reminder in case you didn’t know—if you get hit, don’t come crying to me.

Lu Zhao didn’t get angry; in fact, he didn’t care much about Bai Li’s past either. He steered the conversation back to the main topic. “Let’s talk business.”

“Linking arms is business?” Bai Li laughed, finding Lu Zhao amusing and not at all as cold and rigid as he had been led to believe. “Alright, do you want to link?”

Lu Zhao paused. “Are you asking me?”

“Uh, who else?” Bai Li responded. “If you want to, then link. If you don’t, then don’t. It’s just one arm; it’s not that big of a deal.”

Lu Zhao remained silent for a few seconds. “I’ve just heard that Omegas are better off appearing more submissive.”

Bai Li shot him a glance. “Do you want to?”

Lu Zhao shook his head. “I don’t want to.”

Bai Li said, “Oh, then let’s not link arms.”

Huo Cun, trailing behind, looked at Lu Zhao and then at Bai Li. The two newlyweds seemed quite comfortable, rationally discussing trivial matters. Aside from not looking like a couple, there really were no faults to find.

Yet they were about to become legal partners.

Huo Cun found this quite interesting; he really hadn’t expected Lu Zhao’s partner to be like this.

Just then, Bai Li added, “How about this? To make it look like we have a good relationship, we can throw our arms around each other’s shoulders.”

With that, he draped his arm over Lu Zhao’s shoulder. “Good buddy!”

Lu Zhao twisted Bai Li’s wrist, nearly breaking it.

Bai Li grimaced in pain. “Let go, let go! I won’t do it again!”

Lu Zhao kept his grip for a few more seconds before calmly telling Bai Li, “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.” It was hard to resist the urge to hit.

Bai Li felt wronged. “I’m just trying to communicate feelings with you!”

Lu Zhao couldn’t be bothered to reply.

Huo Cun, following behind, felt awkward for Bai Li and could only lower his head, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.

They continued to the main hall, where the nobles there to offer their congratulations filled the entire venue. The ceremony of exchanging rings had long been completed, and it was now free time for the nobles to mingle. Bai Li and Lu Zhao’s wedding scene resembled a gathering for networking between the aristocracy and the military.

The Marshal stood in a conspicuous position surrounded by several heads of noble families. When he spotted Lu Zhao and Bai Li, he smiled, “See? I told you two would make a great match.”

Bai Li and Lu Zhao walked side by side, the bright lights of the main hall casting their silhouettes in sharp relief.

Since the end of the ceremony, it was the first time the two had appeared together in close proximity in the main hall. Major General Lu Zhao rarely appeared in public due to work obligations, making it rare for nobles outside the military to see him in person. He was indeed not the type with a soft, delicate appearance that the public adored; his figure, dressed in a white suit, was far from petite. His features and temperament were as rugged and steady as any Alpha’s.

He slowly approached from a distance, and the nobles and officers who attended the ceremony couldn’t help but recall the unmentionable discussions from the forums. No one could imagine what expression would appear on the face of this Major General when he was submissive.

This topic had stirred countless Alphas, igniting their desire for conquest, but they had to yield to Lu Zhao’s untarnished achievements.

Today, this eagle of the Empire finally had a legal partner.

“Bai Li, we haven’t seen each other in several years, have we?” The Marshal was no longer young, but his words still carried the youthful vigor of his earlier days. He strode over to the man walking alongside Lu Zhao, “You still look so… um… eye-catching.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the Marshal’s description was already quite euphemistic.

Bai Li had a face that attracted attention.

It was said that the Bai family had good looks for generations, but as the family declined, these good looks gradually became known as “noble vases,” as they had little else to show beyond their appearances.

Bai Li undoubtedly inherited the family’s strengths, possessing an exceptionally strikingly handsome face. With his sword-like brows and bright eyes, and a thin-lipped smile, he was indeed a man who had rolled around in the military in his younger years. He was tall and strong, showing no signs of the lethargy common among today’s noble Alphas. This temperament added an aggressive beauty to his face. He walked leisurely and confidently, and the left leg that had nearly been crippled was hardly noticeable.

From an outward appearance, Bai Li was undoubtedly one of the top figures among this batch of noble-born Alphas.

It seemed he was well aware of his good looks, not at all hiding his pride in his appearance, smiling at every Omega who looked at him with a dazed expression, and casting flirtatious glances, completely disregarding the angry warnings from other Alphas, his attitude was bold, arrogant, and self-satisfied.

“You should at least tone it down a bit,” the Marshal muttered softly when he gave Bai Li a friendly hug.

Bai Li appeared very innocent: “I just wanted to seem approachable and friendly.”

“You only need to be friendly and approachable to your Omega.” The Marshal laughed joyfully, patting Bai Li’s arm, looking quite fond of him. That hand remained on Bai Li’s arm for several seconds before moving to shake hands with Lu Zhao.

If the Marshal’s friendliness towards Bai Li was due to the relationship between their families while Bai Li’s grandfather was still alive, then the Marshal’s kindness toward Lu Zhao was undoubtedly genuine admiration.

His appreciation for Lu Zhao had been evident early on, much more sincere than his attitude towards Bai Li. While he advised Lu Zhao to enjoy his honeymoon and rest well, he also patted his chest, assuring Lu Zhao that if Bai Li dared to make any outrageous moves, he would be the first to step up and beat the young man to a pulp.

As Lu Zhao dealt with the congratulations from other nobles, he felt Bai Li lean closer and whisper in his ear, “Major General, that old man must have already concluded that I won’t be able to control myself and will do something despicable to you.”

Lu Zhao glanced at Bai Li, noticing the subtle expression on his face, with the corners of his mouth seemingly smiling but appearing somewhat restrained and helpless. Lu Zhao quietly asked, “Why do you say that?”

“He nearly broke my arm just now,” Bai Li rubbed the spot where the Marshal had patted him, “I almost cried out in pain.”

Lu Zhao recalled the Marshal’s hand lingering on Bai Li’s arm for those few seconds and couldn’t help but laugh. He had known that Bai Li and the Marshal had some friendship due to their family backgrounds, but he hadn’t expected this friendship to prevent the Marshal from being rough-handed.

Seeing Lu Zhao not respond, Bai Li looked particularly aggrieved, nudging Lu Zhao with the arm that had almost been broken: “It really hurt.”

Lu Zhao turned his head, “It really hurt?”

Bai Li nodded repeatedly: “Really, really.”

Lu Zhao raised his hand and gave his arm another hard smack.

Bai Li: “…”

Lu Zhao whispered, “Then I can rest easy.”

Before Bai Li could respond, the Marshal’s aide rushed over, informing them that the Marshal wanted to introduce them to a few new noble talents and invited them to drink and chat together.

Bai Li swallowed the words he had been about to say, and Lu Zhao smoothed out the wrinkles in Bai Li’s suit where the Marshal had gripped him.

The two exchanged glances, each revealing their best social faces, walking side by side amidst the clinking of glasses during the ceremony.

On this day, Lu Zhao and Bai Li’s wedding made waves in the Empire’s forums. Photos from the ceremony occupied the homepage of the Empire’s forums, where the two appeared like long-time companions under the brilliant, bright lights. In the photos, Bai Li slightly bent over, whispering to Lu Zhao, while Major General Lu Zhao’s typically stern expression seemed to soften a bit, appearing particularly earnest as he listened.

Even the most critical forum netizens had to admit that, at least in this moment, Bai Li’s face could barely match up to Major General Lu Zhao.

Now that the marriage was official, the Empire’s residents, who had been dissatisfied with the union, had to confront reality: the eagle soaring high above the Empire had indeed landed in the Bai family’s courtyard. Since that was the case, they could only wish for this damn trash Alpha to be beaten to a pulp by Major General Lu Zhao.

Many noble ladies and young masters present at the ceremony contributed photos taken from various angles. Amid the enthusiastic discussions, someone finally started to acknowledge, “I have to say, Bai Li might really be the most handsome concrete block.”

Bai Li’s outrageously arrogant selfie post was once again brought to the forefront. Facing the unrestrained yet flawless face in the photo, the netizens of the Empire generously bestowed upon him a new title: “The Empire’s Concrete.”