Chapter 26 Aftereffects

Chapter 26: Aftermath

"Mm..."

Chen Su lifted his hand, and Zhao Jinzong took it, bending down to rub it against his cheek before giving it a light kiss. He placed Chen Su's hand back under the covers and left for the General Bureau.

9:30 AM.

Tan Zhou pushed the door open hurriedly, "Liang Yuan came to me demanding someone, saying Chen Su laid hands on his son, and hit him pretty hard. The guy's still in the hospital. What's going on?"

Tan Zhou had been confronted by an irate Liang Yuan early that morning. Tan Zhou just smiled and said he'd look into it—a dismissive answer at best. He didn't say that investigating would lead to Chen Su being dealt with according to Four Bureaus regulations.

Within the Four Bureaus, Zhao Jinzong of the General Bureau kept public and private matters separate. The new head of the Detection Bureau was eager to make an example of someone. The Information Bureau would let someone go if you had the proper approval paperwork—as long as it was compliant. But if there was one bureau chief who truly protected his own, it was Tan Zhou of the Drug Supervision Bureau.

When someone came to Tan Zhou with a complaint, he'd say: "Alright, alright, I'll hand him over. But you'd better get me two more geniuses to replace him, and I'll deliver him to you myself, to do with as you please."

Only those who attempted to join the Drug Supervision Bureau understood just how hard that was.

Zhao Jinzong said lightly, "Mm, just a minor scuffle."

...Minor scuffle?

Tan Zhou looked at the photo of Liang Xiao's injuries—his head was swollen. That must be a concussion...

After a moment of silence, Tan Zhou asked suspiciously, "You knew about this?"

"I knew."

"Judging by how Liang Yuan is making a big deal out of it, I doubt he'll accept 'minor scuffle.' Private fighting, per Four Bureaus regulations, is grounds for dismissal. It won't be easy to just brush this off."

"Mm." Zhao Jinzong sipped his tea slowly.

"Your man—aren't you worried?"

Zhao Jinzong pulled out a file and placed it on the desk. "Tell Liang Yuan to come see me."

Tan Zhou picked up the file curiously, raised an eyebrow, huffed a mocking laugh, and left.

So he had been prepared all along—he just didn't expect Liang Yuan to be the one to strike first with an accusation.

Soon, Liang Yuan arrived.

Liang Yuan feigned nonchalant respect. "General Director Zhao, you wanted to see me?"

Liang Yuan was from the General Bureau, so he knew the cold-faced demon's temperament well. He had found out that Chen Su got into Zhao Jinzong's car the night before, but he only dared to go after Tan Zhou this morning, hoping to bypass Zhao Jinzong and deal with Chen Su.

To his surprise, Chen Su wasn't even there—and hadn't been for several days; he was on a week's suspension.

Liang Yuan had no outlet for his anger, and after hitting a wall with Tan Zhou, he was summoned by Zhao Jinzong before he could let off steam... He had no choice but to swallow his anger and act humble.

Zhao Jinzong raised his eyes. "Is Liang Xiao badly injured?"

"Thank you for your concern, General Director. Liang Xiao is quite seriously injured. I've already found the culprit—and he's even a member of the Four Bureaus..."

Zhao Jinzong cut him off. "Liang Xiao has been getting a little too bold lately. As his father, you need to keep a tighter rein on him."

Liang Yuan: "...?"

Zhao Jinzong pushed forward the file that had been resting under his hand, gesturing for Liang Yuan to take a look.

Liang Yuan picked up the file with trepidation. After reading it, he was drenched in sweat, his back soaked through.

"General Director... what does this mean?"

The file contained all the evidence of Liang Xiao's bullying, fighting, and abuse of power over the past two years.

Zhao Jinzong raised an eyebrow.

Liang Yuan felt a pang of guilt. "I'll discipline him properly. It won't happen again..."

Zhao Jinzong gave a cold smile. "Chen Su is my man."

Liang Yuan's eyes widened in shock: "???"

Chen Su was Zhao Jinzong's man?

Liang Yuan had actually considered before coming that Chen Su might have some connection with Zhao Jinzong, but as far as he knew, the only connection between Chen Su and Zhao Jinzong was the Sheng family. The Sheng family had inserted someone a couple of days ago, and there was no reason for Zhao Jinzong to do favors for the Sheng family at every turn. Besides, after Sheng Beiqing passed away, Chen Su had left the Sheng family...

Liang Yuan would never have dreamed that Chen Su was actually Zhao Jinzong's man.

Zhao Jinzong's words were laden with meaning, but Liang Yuan didn't dare to ask more.

His legs buckled, and he knelt on the floor.

"A son's misdeeds are the father's fault. Will you leave on your own, or should I see you out myself?"

Zhao Jinzong stood up, the silver tassels on his uniform swaying slightly as he moved.

Liang Yuan left the office, his face deathly pale.

-

At the Chen residence.

Xiao Li had come back. Since Chen Su wasn't home, he called him anxiously. Two hours later, Chen Su returned.

A black Rolls-Royce dropped him off.

The shirt beneath Chen Su's trench coat was very loose.

He had been the more submissive one last night, but when they lay down to sleep, Zhao Jinzong had climbed onto his back, his even breath falling on Chen Su's nape. Zhao Jinzong had left a hickey on Chen Su's neck.

Beneath the loose trench coat, the hickey on Chen Su's neck was painfully obvious.

Of course, Xiao Li knew what sort of mark that was.

Once they were inside, Xiao Li said, "Brother, you..."

"Nothing."

Chen Su's voice was hoarse; he touched his neck and realized one of his gloves was missing. The bare fingertips felt odd against his neck.

Xiao Li poured him a glass of water.

"Brother, are you seeing someone?"

Chen Su hesitated. "No."

"Why not? You never liked Sheng Beiqing. He's gone anyway. You can live your own life, date whoever..."

"You're too young to understand."

"I'm not a kid anymore."

"Do you know what a normal romantic relationship means?"

"Trust, loyalty, and love."

"No, it's honesty. I can't do that." Chen Su changed the subject: "No class today? Why are you back?"

"Liang Xiao dropped out."

"Mm." Chen Su wasn't surprised.

Xiao Li looked at Chen Su's pale face. "Bro, are you sick? Why did you... cough up blood?"

"A side effect of having my mark cleaned."

"Bro, why would you rather inject three doses of the special agent than go to the hospital to have the mark cleaned?"

Xiao Li didn't understand. Chen Su never went to the hospital, no matter the illness—even just a cold.

Chen Su lifted his head slightly, his eyes were teary. "He's an Enigma, Xiao Li. The Federation won't let me clean the mark. I don't want to get too tangled up with him."

"Is it General Director Zhao?"

"Mm."

"He marked you but doesn't want to take responsibility?" Xiao Li said angrily. "He's a bad Enigma, even worse than an alpha."

"No, he's a good person. I marked him voluntarily. He's willing to take responsibility."

Chen Su lowered his head. "I'm not good enough. I don't deserve him."