Chapter 29 Sending Flowers

Chapter 29: Sending Flowers

Chen Su bent down and got into Zhao Jinzong's car.

Ning Congnan watched as the door slowly closed, still leaving a gap, when Zhao Jinzong calmly and skillfully placed his hand on Chen Su's left hand.

Ning Congnan frowned.

With Sheng Beiqing gone, Zhao Jinzong, as a friend of Sheng Beiqing, had been shining his shoes, eating together with Chen Su, and now even touching hands with his deceased friend's spouse—wasn't that... a little too intimate?

Inside the car, Zhao Jinzong noticed Ning Congnan's furrowed brow.

He raised his hand slightly, his arm brushing against Chen Su's. "Sss..."

"Your wound isn't healed yet?"

Chen Su grabbed Zhao Jinzong's wrist, signaling him to stay still, and unbuttoned his cuff for him. Afraid the fabric might chafe the wound again, he didn't dare roll up the sleeve, so he looked up at Zhao Jinzong.

Zhao Jinzong didn't react. "Chen Su, are you worried about me?"

"..."

Zhao Jinzong's gaze lingered on Chen Su's hand holding his arm. "Yes or no?"

Zhao Jinzong's eyes were full of aggression and probing.

If yes, then let him see.

If not...

Chen Su frowned and tried to pull his hand away. Zhao Jinzong's eyes darkened as he caught Chen Su's wrist, pulling him back into the seat. Chen Su's back hit the seat back hard, and he let out a muffled grunt. "Mm..."

Zhao Jinzong leaned slightly closer to Chen Su, his fingers naturally sliding into the leather glove on Chen Su's left hand.

Zhao Jinzong's sharp features and piercing gaze were overwhelming. Chen Su averted his eyes slightly, but the next moment his chin was turned back. Zhao Jinzong let go of Chen Su's wrist and said, "If you don't like this, push me away."

Zhao Jinzong's face grew larger in Chen Su's vision. Instead of pushing him away, Chen Su's hand, which had been pressed against the seatback, now curled its fingers and gripped the leather cushion. A button on his shirt popped open, and his well-tailored suit jacket wrinkled, creating enough space for a roving hand to fit.

Zhao Jinzong kissed Chen Su's lips. So close that the Enigma's silver tassel brushed Chen Su's collarbone.

Zhao Jinzong got what he wanted, his eyes even showing satisfaction at Chen Su's response.

Chen Su would not push Zhao Jinzong away.

He yielded to every demand.

Savoring the taste, Zhao Jinzong placed his large hand on Chen Su's neck, gently stroking as he kissed him passionately.

Until Chen Su made a motion to stop. Using the stretched leather glove, Chen Su pressed it against Zhao Jinzong's lips, turning his head away to catch his breath. "Let me look at it."

Chen Su had admitted his concern.

Zhao Jinzong smiled. "Sure."

Zhao Jinzong removed his uniform jacket, and Chen Su carefully rolled up Zhao Jinzong's shirt sleeve. Zhao Jinzong's arm was strong and muscular, with a deep, long wound that looked twisted and terrifying. It was alarming just to look at.

"This is going to leave a scar."

Zhao Jinzong said casually, "Mm."

"Do you get hurt often?"

"Occasionally."

"Have you got medicine?"

Zhao Jinzong glanced at the armrest compartment.

Chen Su took out the medical kit and carefully disinfected and applied ointment to the wound.

Zhao Jinzong watched him in silence. "Chen Su, did you update your marital status on your household registration?"

The marital statuses on a household registration are: married, widowed, single, or divorced.

"I've been busy lately."

"..."

Zhao Jinzong didn't push further, and Chen Su said nothing more.

The two sat down at the restaurant and ordered food. Zhao Jinzong picked up a piece of meat for Chen Su. "Try this."

"Mm."

After Chen Su finished, Zhao Jinzong served him more vegetables. His bowl was never empty. When Chen Su was nearly full, he stopped Zhao Jinzong. "Zhao Jinzong, I'm full."

Zhao Jinzong set down his chopsticks. "Why were you upset at lunch?"

"I wasn't upset."

"Yes, you were."

"..."

Zhao Jinzong always asked questions he already knew the answers to. Since Chen Su didn't answer, Zhao Jinzong didn't cross that line that might make Chen Su uncomfortable.

His eyes darkened.

Chen Su showed all sorts of concern about Zhao Jinzong, allowed Zhao Jinzong to do whatever he wanted with him, was willing to let him see, and revealed his physical ailments. These were all exceptionally special—some even Sheng Beiqing, his late husband, had never experienced. But... Chen Su refused to update his marital status.

"Chen Su, if anything I do while pursuing you makes you uncomfortable, you can stop me or refuse."

"Don't worry about an accidental mark."

"You always have the right to choose and make decisions."

Zhao Jinzong spoke calmly, but Chen Su knew how painful the susceptible period was, how intense an Enigma's mark could be, and even he himself would lose control... but Zhao Jinzong didn't.

Zhao Jinzong maintained perfect self-restraint, as if he would never lose composure.

After the meal, they headed downstairs. On their way to the above-ground parking garage, they passed a flower shop on the corner. A beautiful Omega was pruning flowers.

Zhao Jinzong stopped. "What do you like?"

"I don't like flowers."

"Are you allergic?"

"No."

Zhao Jinzong picked out a bouquet of purple tulips for Chen Su.

Zhao Jinzong said that not liking and not giving are two different things.

Chen Su frowned slightly and accepted them.

After getting into the car, Chen Su set the flowers aside, his expression expressionless, impossible to read—just as he had said, he didn't like flowers.

The Rolls-Royce dropped Chen Su off at home. After the car left, he ordered an exquisite vase to be delivered and carefully tended to the flowers.

This was the first bouquet Chen Su had ever accepted, from the Enigma he had long admired.

Someone like Chen Su—a research fanatic who lost track of day and night, entirely devoted to science—actually made time to nurture a bouquet of flowers. Even after it wilted and died, he never discarded it.

In the following days, Zhao Jinzong would invite Chen Su to go hiking, watch movies, drink coffee, and go for walks. He would send gifts every day, and when they were both busy, they worked or read together in the study.

Zhao Jinzong was serious about pursuing Chen Su.

Chen Su felt respected and loved.

But his expression was always expressionless—too calm, too restrained—and he offered no response.

As Chen Su had said before, when the three months were up, he and Zhao Jinzong would no longer be in contact.

It wasn't that Chen Su didn't want to respond; he simply couldn't deceive.