Chapter 32 Zhao Jinzong Is Pretending

Chapter 32: Zhao Jinzong Playing Dead

In winter, the capital’s sky darkens quickly.

After work, Chen Su headed to the underground garage, then realized he forgot his keys and went back to the lab to get them. Passing by Meng Suizhi's lab, he saw two people arguing.

There weren't many people in this experimental base; they were all from special project teams.

Chen Su and Meng Suizhi occupied an entire floor.

Meng Suizhi slapped the alpha. "Han Yu, I told you not to come to the experimental base with that face!"

Han Yu licked his molars. "You haven't been home for a long time."

"If you come to the experimental base without permission again, either you get out of my house and never come back, or I'll leave and never come back!"

Meng Suizhi was completely inflexible.

Han Yu frowned. He looked at Meng Suizhi in front of him and was silent for about two minutes. Then he said, "You've changed."

"……………"

Han Yu turned around, pushed the door open, and left. He ran into Chen Su, who was coming out after grabbing his keys.

The door to Meng Suizhi's lab was wide open. Inside, he was so angry that he smashed a beaker. After cleaning up, he came out slowly.

Meng Suizhi saw Chen Su. "About today..."

"I'll keep it a secret for you."

"Thanks." Meng Suizhi and Chen Su walked out of the experimental base together. He handed Chen Su a cigarette. As the smoke rose, Meng Suizhi let out a long sigh. "I picked him up. After raising him, he turned out like this—very bad-tempered. I spoiled him."

"You two look..."

"He's just a madman. I didn't keep an eye on him, and he did this to himself (changed his face)."

Chen Su lit his cigarette and looked at the departing car. "Not going after him?"

Meng Suizhi said confidently, "He throws these fits all the time. He'll come back."

Meng Suizhi drove off first.

Chen Su put out the cigarette he had been holding to his lips. Meng Suizhi's cigarettes were high in nicotine and highly addictive. He lit a slim cigarette instead, finished it, and then drove to the restaurant.

Chen Su arrived at the private room first. He sat down with a smile and took off his right glove. Soon, Supervisor Ning and Ning Congnan arrived together.

Supervisor Ning smiled and patted Chen Su on the shoulder. "It's been so long, and you never come to see your teacher."

Chen Su smiled. "I've been busy lately. What would you like to eat? Any dietary restrictions?"

Supervisor Ning looked at the menu. "There aren't many of us, so don't order too much and waste. Tonight, have a few drinks with your teacher."

Ning Congnan sat down next to Supervisor Ning. "Dad, the doctor said you can't drink! You absolutely can't!"

"You're telling your old man what to do? No respect for your elders!"

"...Dad."

Ning Congnan turned his gaze to Chen Su, his eyes pleading for help.

Chen Su: "Teacher, I drove here. I still have to go back to the lab to work later."

"...Fine." Supervisor Ning was a bit reluctant. "Work demands precision. I'll just drink a little myself."

Supervisor Ning was good in every way except for a bit of a drinking problem. Especially when drinking with others, he'd drink like there was no tomorrow—no amount of persuasion could stop him, and he would even get others drunk too. That's how he ruined his stomach over the years.

But drinking alone was boring; he'd stop after a cup or two.

During the meal, Supervisor Ning asked Chen Su about his recent life over the past two years. After taking a couple of sips of wine, he also asked about Chen Su's marriage.

Supervisor Ning knew about Chen Su's divorce.

Chen Su smiled faintly. "I'm not considering marriage for now."

"Ah... Beiqing's passing, don't be too sad. You have to look forward. If you feel bad, let my boy here have a couple of drinks with you."

"No need, I've moved on."

"That's good... that's good..." Supervisor Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

After the meal, Chen Su saw Supervisor Ning into Ning Congnan's car and told them to be careful on the way home. After they left, his phone rang. It was the butler.

"Mr. Chen, do you know if the Director General is coming back tonight?"

"I don't know. What's wrong?"

"Oh... nothing. He has a drinking party tonight. I was thinking if he comes back, I'll make him some hangover soup, or else his stomach will hurt again."

"Didn't you call?"

"I did, but no one answered. Probably busy."

"Alright... I'll try calling." Chen Su hung up and called Zhao Jinzong. He only got through on the second try.

Zhao Jinzong's voice was hoarse. "Hmm?"

"Did you drink?"

"Mm."

"Is the party almost over?"

"Mm."

"I'll come pick you up."

Zhao Jinzong didn't answer. His breathing was heavy. Even through the phone, Chen Su's ear grew hot. "Are you listening?"

"Don't bother."

"..."

This morning's words were thrown right back at Chen Su.

Chen Su didn't need Zhao Jinzong to come get him.

Zhao Jinzong felt the same way.

"Chen Su, if there's nothing else, I'll hang up."

"Zhao Jinzong." Chen Su called out to Zhao Jinzong. "I've had a little to drink."

Zhao Jinzong's voice lowered. "Address."

Chen Su gave Zhao Jinzong the address, bought some liquor casually, poured it down his throat, and splashed a little on his collar, the smell of alcohol spreading.

Ten minutes later, Uncle Wen drove up. The rear door opened, but no one was inside.

Only Uncle Wen, no Zhao Jinzong.

Uncle Wen didn't ask. He closed the door and drove Chen Su to Zhao Jinzong's private residence.

When they arrived, the villa was brightly lit.

The butler had prepared hangover soup. Seeing Chen Su enter, he immediately set it on the table.

The butler noticed the strong smell of alcohol on Chen Su. "Did you drink a lot?"

"No."

"Drink some hangover soup. It'll help."

"Mm. Has Zhao Jinzong come back?"

"Oh... the Director General and Chief Tan are chatting upstairs. I'll bring the soup up later."

Chen Su took a few casual sips, set down the bowl, and said, "I'll do it."

"It's a bit hot. I'll get you a tray. The Director General is in the study on the third floor."

"Thanks."

Chen Su carried the hangover soup and knocked on the study door. Zhao Jinzong's voice was rich and magnetic: "Come in."

Chen Su pushed the door open. When Tanzhou saw Chen Su, he raised an eyebrow and immediately turned to look at Zhao Jinzong, his expression saying: Are you insane?

He'd called him over late at night, and within three minutes, Chen Su was already here?

Tanzhou felt something was off. In the first year of Sheng Beiqing's marriage, Tanzhou, representing the Tan family, had visited the Sheng residence during a holiday. At the time, Sheng Beiqing was dead drunk, collapsed on the sofa. Chen Su came in, passed by the sofa, and didn't even spare a glance before leaving.

And now he was bringing hangover soup to Zhao Jinzong?

How did Zhao Jinzong manage that? Had Chen Su fallen for someone else?

Was an alpha-alpha marriage that fragile?

Zhao Jinzong's expression was indifferent, as steady as a mountain.

Chen Su set the hangover soup on the table and reminded him, "It's a bit hot."

Zhao Jinzong raised a hand and touched the rim of the bowl. "Mm."

Zhao Jinzong picked up the soup, blew on it, took a sip, and furrowed his brow slightly. He rubbed his temples with his slender fingers.

Chen Su asked, "Headache?"

Zhao Jinzong unbuttoned his suffocating collar. "It's fine."

"If you don't mind, I can massage it for you."

"No need." Zhao Jinzong refused Chen Su once again.

Tanzhou: "……………………?"

Tanzhou felt he might have had too much to drink, hallucinating. He stood up. "I'll head back first."

Before leaving, he looked at Chen Su's face—a mix of disappointment, regret, and concern. He seemed to want to say something but stopped himself. Only at the study door did he mutter softly, "A thousand-year-old fox, with ten thousand years of cunning."