Chapter 38 Sounds Like Madness

Chapter 38 Sounds Like Crazy Talk

The car arrived at the Drug Supervision Bureau, and before Uncle Wen could hand Chen Su an umbrella, Chen Su pulled open the door and got out, striding toward the office building. Fifteen days was hard to endure even for an alpha, but fortunately, his trench coat offered some cover, so he didn’t look too disheveled.

A fine drizzle fell, and Chen Su walked without an umbrella, his thin silhouette tinged with a touch of sorrow.

As Chen Su walked, a black umbrella appeared above his head.

“Senior.” Ning Congnan lowered his gaze, quickly drawn to Chen Su’s neck. On the fair skin, the hickeys were very obvious. Even though the collar of his shirt was buttoned meticulously, a strip of skin was still exposed.

Ning Congnan was more than a little shocked.

Chen Su had taken fifteen days off.

Fifteen days. No alpha’s rut would last this long.

Ning Congnan knew people at the Detection Bureau, and after asking, he learned that in the over a year since Chen Su married Sheng Beiqing, he had never taken leave because of an alpha’s rut. But now, just three months after Sheng Beiqing’s death, Chen Su had suddenly taken fifteen days off—utterly absurd.

Ning Congnan held the umbrella and escorted Chen Su part of the way, but Chen Su’s pace never slowed, nor did he speak to Ning Congnan. His expression was cold.

Chen Su clocked in, went to the Tanzhou office to cancel his leave, and when he came downstairs heading for the experimental base, Ning Congnan was still waiting at the entrance. “Senior, the rain’s pretty heavy. I saw you didn’t bring an umbrella, so I’ll walk with you.”

“Mm.” Chen Su finally responded, his voice hoarse.

Ning Congnan escorted Chen Su back to the experimental base. Before he could say anything, Chen Su said, “Thanks.”

With that, Chen Su turned and walked away, leaving Ning Congnan standing outside the base, wanting to speak but holding back.

Chen Su returned to the lab room, changed his clothes, and when he pulled open the drawer to look for the experimental manual, he saw the green apple candy. His back stiffened, and he stared at the candy for a long moment.

Three months ago, the accidental marking had entangled Chen Su with Zhao Jinzong. Now, it was settled. The weight pressing on Chen Su’s heart had finally been lifted, but he wasn’t happy at all—only relieved… relieved that everything was back on track.

Chen Su stopped thinking about anything unrelated to the experiment and got busy.

At noon, Chen Su instinctively walked out of the lab room, ready to go eat. Holding his phone, he reached the door before realizing something was off. Normally, he would wait until after the peak meal time to grab a quick bite, so he wouldn’t have to wait.

Chen Su had already reached the door and was about to turn back when Meng Suizhi came out of the lab.

“Chen Su.”

“Want to grab a meal together?”

“Mm.” Chen Su and Meng Suizhi went to eat together. Both were experiment fanatics, so they packed food and ate in the office.

During the meal, Meng Suizhi’s phone rang, but Chen Su instinctively picked up his own phone. The message bar was empty.

Zhao Jinzong hadn’t replied to him.

Meng Suizhi watched Chen Su’s movement. “Break up?”

“…” Chen Su gave a faint smile. “Not really.”

“Something to do with General Director Zhao?” Meng Suizhi guessed easily.

“Yeah.”

“Did he mark you a second time?”

“No.” Chen Su said, “He didn’t mark me.”

Meng Suizhi’s eyes showed surprise. “That’s practically a miracle.”

“There are no feelings between Zhao Jinzong and me. You might not know this, but our compatibility is extremely high—99%. No Enigma can refuse that.”

“Did he say that?”

“I did.”

“You should ask what he thinks.” Meng Suizhi said. “Of course, that’s just my suggestion.”

Chen Su’s eyes darkened. “There’s no need. Whether or not there are feelings between us, we won’t become partners.”

“Why?”

“I’m keeping things from him.” It was big, complicated.

Chen Su paused for a moment, then added, “I also used him.”

Meng Suizhi found it strange. “Used?”

The word “use” applied to the brilliant Zhao Jinzong was unheard of.

“Three months ago, during the Drug Supervision Bureau selection, there was originally some shady business. I went to him for help, and that’s how I got the opportunity.”

“That… maybe it’s not really using.”

“The person who was supposed to get into the Bureau was from the Sheng family. The Sheng family and the Zhao family have been friends for generations. When I went to see him, I already guessed he would help me.” That was using.

“You were so certain?”

“Mm. He needs my pheromones.”

Meng Suizhi frowned. According to research, after an Enigma marks someone, they need their partner’s comfort; otherwise, their rut is extremely painful. On this point, he couldn’t argue—Zhao Jinzong indeed needed Chen Su’s pheromones to calm down.

After a long moment, Meng Suizhi asked, “So you’re… done now?”

“Mm. The mark has faded.”

Chen Su said, “I don’t have to come home early anymore.”

“Why does that sound like crazy talk?”

“No.” Chen Su changed the subject. “Did you find him?”

Meng Suizhi’s face darkened slightly, and he shook his head. “No.”

A full half month had passed, and Han Yu still hadn’t come back.

Meng Suizhi couldn’t deny he was worried and regretted it a bit, but he was genuinely angry.

In his anger, he threw down harsh words. “If he dares come back, I’ll break his legs.”

Meng Suizhi was reluctant, but he always spoke fiercely and harshly, with a terrible temper.

“By the way.” Meng Suizhi said, “In a couple of days, I’m planning to visit that omega test subject. Do you want to come along?”

“Sure.”

Chen Su took a couple of casual bites and then returned to the lab. He skipped dinner entirely, working straight through till midnight. While waiting for the data results, he threw on an overcoat, left the experiment base, and went to a nearby 24-hour convenience store to buy a pack of cigarettes.

After buying the slim cigarettes and stepping out of the convenience store, Chen Su saw in the darkness a tall, long-legged Enigma, legs crossed, leaning back against a streetlight and smoking—the same slim cigarettes Chen Su had just bought.

The same cigarette looked much slimmer in Zhao Jinzong's hand. The cigarette dangled from his lips, and the ember's glow caught the corner of his eye, illuminating his cold, sharp features. With one hand in his pocket and silver tassels swaying in the wind, as if sensing Chen Su's gaze, he slowly lifted his eyelids and glanced at Chen Su.

Chen Su's heart tightened.

He clutched the cigarette and shoved it into his pocket, then walked past Zhao Jinzong coldly, his legs feeling oddly stiff.

Zhao Jinzong frowned slightly. "Come here."

"..."

There was no one around. Those words were directed at Chen Su.

Chen Su had no way to avoid it.

He looked up to meet Zhao Jinzong's gaze, his expression restrained, his brows lightly furrowed, looking cold and unfeeling.