Chapter 39 How Long Do You Want to Live?

Chapter 39: How Long Do You Want to Live?

The wind blew through Chen Su's wispy bangs, his hands in his pockets as he quietly watched Zhao Jinzong.

He didn't know what Zhao Jinzong would say.

He didn't know why Zhao Jinzong would still come to find him...

They stood a little over a meter apart, the chilly wind passing between them. Zhao Jinzong stepped forward, his breathing heavy and extended, a strong smell of tobacco coming from him. When the wind blew toward him, Chen Su also caught a faint scent of incense-scented pheromones.

Zhao Jinzong's voice was hoarse, “Why aren’t you eating at regular times?”

Chen Su's eyes showed surprise, “...”

It seemed Zhao Jinzong never saw this morning's message.

Chen Su smiled and said, “General Director Zhao, actually, my eating habits have always been irregular. I'm just used to it.”

“I'll fix that.”

“...” Chen Su added, “I don’t plan to change.”

Zhao Jinzong frowned, “Chen Su, how long are you planning to live?”

“...”

“Not eating at regular times, not needing rest—how have you managed all these years?”

“...”

Chen Su saw Zhao Jinzong's cold expression and sharp words—he was worried, angry on his behalf.

Chen Su’s fingers, hidden in his pocket, gripped the cigarette pack tightly, crushing it.

Zhao Jinzong asked, “Is it because you’ve been let down before, so you don’t dare trust anyone easily?”

Chen Su’s husband hadn't been good enough.

“If that’s the case, I should never have allowed you to marry him in the first place,” Zhao Jinzong said, his words thick with lasting regret.

Chen Su didn’t understand, “What?”

“Chen Su, with me, you can take your time, observe a little longer. I’m not asking you to give me an answer right away,” Zhao Jinzong said. “You can evaluate me as long as you need.”

“Zhao Jinzong...”

“My stomach hurts, keep me company and have something to eat.”

“... I still have stuff to do at the lab.”

“I'll see you back.”

“No need.”

Zhao Jinzong didn't take no for an answer and escorted him all the way back to the research base. At the entrance, Chen Su noticed Enigma's slightly pale face and couldn't help worrying a little—Zhao Jinzong was probably really uncomfortable.

Based on what he'd learned over the past three months, Zhao Jinzong might not have eaten tonight either, just like Chen Su. Zhao Jinzong was too good at treating himself the way Chen Su treated himself—it worked, and that's how he found Chen Su's weak spot.

Chen Su frowned, said nothing, and went up to the research base.

Half an hour later, Uncle Wen arrived, holding a bowl of hot porridge.

Uncle Wen couldn’t enter the research base, but he had a card—a General Administration card—that got him anywhere in the Four Bureaus without trouble.

Uncle Wen placed the porridge in Chen Su’s office and didn’t leave. He looked at Chen Su, nodded, stepped back to the side, and waited patiently. Uncle Wen said nothing, but his meaning was clear: Zhao Jinzong had ordered him to leave only after seeing Chen Su eat.

Uncle Wen really wanted to plead with Chen Su to eat.

If Chen Su didn’t eat...

Zhao Jinzong’s stomach would be the one to really suffer.

Uncle Wen’s eyes were too expectant.

Chen Su pushed the porridge aside, “Sorry, I’m not very hungry, and I’m not used to eating in the middle of the night.”

Uncle Wen coaxed quietly, “Mr. Chen, I brought it all this way. Please try it, just one bite, or I won’t be able to give a good report.”

“No, thank you. Please tell General Director Zhao not to send anything in the future.”

“...”

Uncle Wen watched Chen Su leave the office and let out a long sigh.

In the end, he didn’t take the hot porridge away. He told a lie.

Lies never held up in front of Zhao Jinzong.

...

Around three in the morning, Chen Su was really sleepy. After finishing the experiment, he checked into a nearby hotel. He got up at eight in the morning, grabbed a bite, clocked in, and then threw himself into the research base.

At noon, when Chen Su came out of the lab, he saw a packed lunch on his desk.

In the evening, he also saw dinner on his desk.

Even though he had refused completely, leaving no room for hope, Zhao Jinzong still sent him meals, looked after what he ate and how he lived, and didn’t force Chen Su to do anything.

This was Zhao Jinzong's way—no interference, no pressure.

Chen Su didn’t eat any of it.

He pulled another all-nighter, and the next morning he got himself together and went with Meng Suizhi to the inpatient ward of the Federal Hospital. Security was tight; you had to sign in – only Four Bureaus personnel were allowed.

Meng Suizhi took Chen Su to a specially monitored area. Chen Su saw the Omega test subject, who was basking in the sun. Under the sunlight, the Omega’s face was pale, his body looked very weak, and his hair had been shaved off due to chemotherapy, but he had a cheerful smile on his face.

“Don't look sad when you see him,” Meng Suizhi reminded.

Meng Suizhi fixed his expression, smiled, and went in. “Xiao An, long time no see.”

Meng Suizhi set down the fruit and introduced Chen Su. “This is my new colleague, also from Huaicheng. You two come from the same place.”

Xiao An looked up at Chen Su’s badge, his eyes bright, and whispered, “Chen Su...”

“Yes.”

“Which part of Huaicheng are you from?”

“Ruiyan Village.”

“Oh, I'm from Wenchang. Ruiyan is really close to my home, about ten kilometers or so.” Xiao An asked, “Has Huaicheng changed much over the years?”

“A lot. Lately it’s been promoting tourism, so now people from outside come to visit Huaicheng.”

Chen Su sat down, peeled an apple for Xiao An, and chatted with him in a very friendly way. Meng Suizhi stepped out to take a call. Chen Su asked, “Have you been happy here all these years?”