Chapter 10 Do You Like Beiqing Very Much?

Chapter 10: Do You Really Like Beiqing?

Chen Su took a shower, but in truth, his condition had flared up.

Chen Su's skin hunger disorder first manifested during his college years, when Zhao Jinzong returned to the campus to give a speech. As the crowd dispersed, Chen Su stumbled, and Zhao Jinzong reached out to steady him. Chen Su's body burned with an abnormal heat, sending him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with—skin hunger disorder.

It was from that moment onward that Chen Su always wore gloves, to avoid physical contact with others.

On the day of his diagnosis, Chen Su spent a long time in the dormitory's bathroom. After that, he became extra cautious, never touching anyone and never suffering another episode—until that recent incident in the study... When Chen Su delivered medicine to Zhao Jinzong and accidentally brushed against him, the disorder triggered again, even pushing him into an early heat.

Chen Su had tried taking medication to ease it, but the effect was negligible. The doctor said his condition was somewhat different and there was no other solution for now.

Chen Su could only wear gloves year-round to minimize contact.

But today was especially torturous. The past two days had been too outrageous, and now he simply had nothing left to draw upon—it was driving him insane. He spent half an hour in the bathroom without finding any relief, and finally had to return to the bedroom with a neck slick with hot sweat.

Only a single lamp was lit in the bedroom. Zhao Jinzong had his eyes closed, his features deep and sculpted. He raised a hand and patted the bed. "Come."

The original heat surged up again.

Chen Su had no excuse left to retreat to the bathroom.

He braced himself and lay down beside Zhao Jinzong. The dim light made the sweat droplets on his skin gleam.

Zhao Jinzong watched Chen Su's trembling lashes. "Chen Su, are you afraid of me?"

"No." Chen Su wasn't lying.

He wasn't afraid of Zhao Jinzong.

He liked Zhao Jinzong—for many years.

Chen Su simply dared not get too close. He understood that a 99% compatibility rate was far too easy for an Enigma to lead to a mistake.

Chen Su didn't want to be chosen by pheromones. He didn't want Zhao Jinzong to choose him.

Zhao Jinzong raised his hand, brushed past Chen Su, and switched off the lamp. In the darkness, the silence made the rain sound especially loud, and their breathing seemed magnified many times over.

Zhao Jinzong took a breath and asked, "Have you ever regretted it?"

Marrying Sheng Beiqing, rejecting Zhao Jinzong's marriage proposal—had he ever regretted it?

Chen Su hadn't fared well in the Sheng family. All he got was a marriage certificate; nothing else. If it had been Zhao Jinzong, even in divorce or widowhood, Chen Su would have received a massive fortune.

"No." Chen Su only had some regrets.

Zhao Jinzong gave a soft "Mm" and said no more.

Chen Su couldn't sleep. He didn't dare turn over, afraid of disturbing Zhao Jinzong. As his condition flared, he could only bite his own arm, trying to endure it by force.

Suddenly, a hand reached over, grasped his wrist, and gently pulled it away. A rough palm brushed over Chen Su's shirt, and Zhao Jinzong felt several deep tooth marks.

Even if he bit himself bloody, Chen Su would never ask him for pheromones.

In his lucid moments, Chen Su was skilled at drawing a clear line between them.

Zhao Jinzong's voice was low. "Do you really like Beiqing?"

Like Sheng Beiqing enough to get a tattoo.

Like Sheng Beiqing enough to avoid human contact.

Like Sheng Beiqing enough to go through the agony of having the mark cleansed.

Every move Chen Su made only provoked Zhao Jinzong.

Chen Su: "..."

Zhao Jinzong asked again, "What do you like about him?"

"..."

"Chen Su, if you don't want to come in the future, you don't have to. You have the right to refuse."

Zhao Jinzong didn't need Chen Su to force himself through the pain, using his pheromones to soothe him and ending up covered in wounds.

Chen Su finally spoke. He lifted his head, unable to see Zhao Jinzong clearly, his voice slightly trembling. "Okay."

Zhao Jinzong offered his arm for Chen Su to bite.

Chen Su leaned into the crook of Zhao Jinzong's arm, his wrist held immobile. The room was thick with the pheromones of burning incense. Zhao Jinzong was soothing him, stopping him from hurting himself.

Chen Su thought the imposing General Director Zhao was a gentleman.

What Chen Su didn't know was that Zhao Jinzong had already taken a suppressant long before he arrived.

Zhao Jinzong had never been a gentleman.

He, too, was afraid of acting on impulse—afraid of marking Chen Su and making him suffer the pain of having the mark cleansed again.

...

The next morning, when Chen Su woke up, Zhao Jinzong was already gone.

The servants had prepared breakfast and told Chen Su that Zhao Jinzong had left early.

Chen Su hummed in acknowledgment. As he headed downstairs, he passed the living room trash bin and caught sight of many used suppressant syringes.

Chen Su ate breakfast. The house manager smiled as she saw him to the door, passing along Zhao Jinzong's words: "The General Director said that if you don't wish to come in the future, Mr. Chen, you don't have to."

"Okay."

Chen Su got into the car and started the engine. He lingered without stepping on the gas, looking up at the Zhao family residence for a long moment before finally driving away.

Zhao Jinzong was probably mindful of his status. Even at 99% compatibility, he hadn't acted impulsively during Chen Su's heat.

Chen Su left, determined not to return.

Old Master Sheng was right. Getting too close to Zhao Jinzong would only tarnish Zhao Jinzong's good name.

Zhao Jinzong chose him only because of their pheromone compatibility.

Chen Su wasn't someone who only had eyes for love and romance. Ever since he married Sheng Beiqing, he knew that he and Zhao Jinzong could never be together. There were still many things he needed to do—he wanted to enter the Drug Supervision Bureau, Xiao Li's illness wasn't cured yet, and the situation of omegas in society still needed improvement.

Chen Su left Zhao Jinzong's private residence.

Until his heat ended, Zhao Jinzong never contacted him again.