Chapter 16 Right Now, I’m Pursuing You

Chapter 16: I’m Pursuing You Now

Meng Suizhi brought Chen Su the data from the past two years, his gaze icy. “I don’t have time to explain this data to you.”

“No need.”

Chen Su put on gloves and entered the private lab, burying himself in research.

At mealtime, Meng Suizhi came out of his lab and passed by Chen Su’s, seeing the light still on. Through the frosted glass, he saw a figure mixing reagents. Meng Suizhi glanced at his watch. He despised nepotism, but… if someone unqualified didn’t wear a protective mask, toxic gas inhalation could cause poisoning.

Meng Suizhi pushed the door open.

Just as he was about to warn him, he saw Chen Su wearing his mask and gloves properly, strictly following experimental protocols to record data. Meng Suizhi paused for two seconds and withdrew from the lab.

Guess he didn’t need to worry after all.

Fine—he had to get back early anyway, or the “little maniac” at home would knock him out again.

Chen Su finished recording the last batch of data. His phone on the safe buzzed. He put the reagents away, and the phone stopped ringing. It was a message from Zhao Jinzong.

Inviting him to dinner.

Chen Su knew Zhao Jinzong needed pheromone soothing and that it was his responsibility to provide it.

Chen Su drove home first to give Xiao Li the injection.

“This is the seventh dose, the last one. Next month, I’ll try to develop a new formula,” Chen Su whispered. “It’ll sting a bit. Sleep well tonight.”

“Okay.”

As the injection went in, Xiao Li’s face turned pale.

Chen Su took a few orange candies from his pocket and placed them on the bedside table. “Eat one if it hurts.”

Xiao Li nodded. “Bro, are you not coming back tonight either?”

“Been busy lately.”

“Take care of yourself.”

“Mm. Get some rest.”

As Chen Su reached the door, Xiao Li suddenly called out, “Bro, how much longer do I have?”

“As long as I’m alive, you’ll live.”

Chen Su left and drove to the restaurant Zhao Jinzong had chosen.

As soon as he sat down, Chen Su released fir pheromones to soothe Zhao Jinzong.

The monitoring watch lit up.

Zhao Jinzong poured Chen Su a glass of water. “You don’t need to do that.”

“Yes, I do.”

Chen Su ate quietly for a long time, then looked up. “I asked the doctor. An Enigma’s temporary mark lasts three months. During these three months, you can call me anytime. If needed, I can move into the Zhao residence.”

Zhao Jinzong said calmly, “Eat first.”

Chen Su ate by the clock: half an hour later, he set down his utensils. Just as he was about to continue speaking, the Enigma wiped his hands with a handkerchief, his movements elegant.

“When are you coming home?”

“Huh?”

“What time are you coming back tonight?”

“…Anytime.”

“Chen Su, I go to bed before nine.”

“Okay.”

“I’m a light sleeper. If you return to the lab late at night, I’ll wake up.”

“…” Chen Su thought for three seconds. “I won’t go back to the lab at night for these three months.”

Zhao Jinzong gave a slight smile. “Good.”

“Then I’ll go do the experiment now.” As Chen Su stood, his chest badge tapped the table. Zhao Jinzong called out, “Chen Su.”

“Yes?”

“You might not understand something.”

“What?”

“Right now, I’m pursuing you.”

Zhao Jinzong spoke each word deliberately. His handsome face was calm and composed, his tone remarkably gentle. “I haven’t made myself clear until now.”

Chen Su was standing. From his elevated position, he looked down at Zhao Jinzong seated in the chair. An inexplicable warmth enveloped him. Chen Su’s legs weakened, his heart pounding wildly. He could hardly describe the emotion—jubilation, delight, turmoil, along with a dull, piercing ache deep in his bones.

Chen Su lowered his head. “Is it because of the compatibility? I…”

Zhao Jinzong interrupted. “No.”

“You don’t really know me,” Chen Su said. His past, his family, and the secret he couldn’t disclose—too heavy, impossible for anyone to accept, especially Zhao Jinzong.

“I’m waiting for you to let me get to know you.”

Zhao Jinzong’s voice was rich and magnetic, so pleasant to hear, as if he were uttering an earth-shattering love confession. Though the words were so simple, Chen Su felt his heart racing, racing fast.

His composure crumbled too easily in front of Zhao Jinzong.

Chen Su’s body went weak. He propped himself on the table for balance and turned Zhao Jinzong down.

“But I’m not looking to jump into a new relationship right now…”

Zhao Jinzong smiled. “Pursuing someone always requires sincerity. I’m not asking you to agree immediately.”

“Mm.” Chen Su’s eyelashes trembled.

He hurried out of the restaurant, as if escaping, as if fleeing.

Everything tonight caught him off guard. Zhao Jinzong pursuing him was even more absurd than when they had sex in Sheng Beiqing’s study.

Chen Su couldn’t make sense of it.

In the end, he could only attribute everything to the rut period of an Enigma.

An alpha or enigma in rut was probably prone to making promises too easily.

Chen Su was kidding himself. Although Zhao Jinzong tonight was in his rut period, every word he spoke and every look in his eyes was calm, as if unaffected by the rut.

Chen Su returned to the Drug Supervision Bureau to do experiments. His mind was wandering all night and left the lab early. The experimental base was already empty. As he was locking the main entrance on the first floor, a voice came from afar, "Wait a moment!"

Meng Suizhi was in a white lab coat and wasn't wearing his glasses. The night was dark, and Chen Su inexplicably felt that the person in front of him seemed a bit taller than he did during the day.

"I need to grab something. I'll lock the door later." Meng Suizhi pushed open the door. As he passed by Chen Su, Chen Su sensed a rich, mixed pheromone scent.

It was gin and rosemary, both alpha pheromones, so strong they felt like rut pheromones.

Chen Su left the experimental base. When he reached the underground garage, a Rolls-Royce's headlights blazed brightly. The driver got out and said, "Mr. Chen, the Director is waiting for you in the car."

Chen Su got into Zhao Jinzong's car.

Zhao Jinzong was sitting in the back seat, with documents on his lap.

Chen Su sat down. He looked at the lowered partition in the back, and after the driver started the car, he frowned and said, "Zhao Jinzong, once the temporary mark wears off after three months, let's... stop contacting each other."