Chapter 40 I’ll Get Angry, and I’ll Also Be Sad

Chapter 40: I Will Be Angry and I Will Also Be Sad

Xiao An froze, "Do you know me?"

Xiao An studied Chen Su very seriously. In his memory, the last time he had contact with someone from Huaicheng was ten years ago... and that was not a good memory.

Xiao An came from a well-off family. His parents were still alive, and he had an older brother. Over the years, Xiao An's family had never visited him, and had even announced his death to the outside world early on, all because he was an omega. Xiao An's parents had always treated their omega son as someone they could take or leave.

When Xiao An was kidnapped for the experiments, his parents only reported it to the police, and then life at home went back to normal, revolving around their alpha son, whom they worked hard to raise.

Chen Su smiled and said, "Yeah, I've been to your house. I worked as a tutor there."

Chen Su was a year older than Xiao An's older brother and had tutored his brother.

Xiao An's whole body stiffened. After a long while, he asked, "Are my parents doing okay?"

"They're fine."

"...That's good to hear. That's good to hear."

Chen Su handed him the peeled apple. "Are you happy here?"

"Yeah, Deputy Meng and Director Tan have been good to me... they visit often. I'm much happier here than at home." Xiao An smiled and took a bite of the apple.

Meng Suizhi had been standing at the door for a while, watching the harmonious scene between the two, but he didn't interrupt. After visiting Xiao An, Meng Suizhi called Chen Su out to ask the attending doctor about Xiao An's condition.

The doctor shook his head. "Although we performed the gland replacement surgery years ago, the situation is still not optimistic... His gland is atrophying at an abnormal rate. He probably has about a year left, at most a year."

The doctor walked them out while speaking, seeing them out of the special area.

The doctor asked, "How's the drug development going?"

Meng Suizhi smiled. "We've made a little progress."

The doctor sighed with emotion. "Over the years, I've watched the number of test subjects go from eleven to just one... Only you and Director Tan are still holding on."

"Now there's one more." Meng Suizhi looked at Chen Su. "Whether it's eleven patients or just one, the Drug Supervision Bureau will keep at it until the very end. We'll leave him be for today. We'll be going now. We'll contact the hospital when there's good news."

"Alright, take care."

When Chen Su and Meng Suizhi got into the car, Chen Su looked pale. Meng Suizhi asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

"A little."

"Since we're at the hospital, go get checked out if you're not feeling well. I'll wait for you and we can go back to the lab together."

Chen Su touched the hot gland at the back of his neck. "It's an old problem. I need to go to my usual hospital."

"Alright, I'll drive you."

"No, I'll go myself."

"Then be careful. Don't bother asking for leave. If you can't make it back this afternoon, that's fine. I'll clock you in."

"Thanks."

Chen Su took a taxi, but he didn't go to the hospital. Instead, he went home first. He changed out of his Drug Supervision Bureau uniform and went to a private clinic for a consultation. As he waited for the gland test results, his palms were sweating.

He got the gland report, and his face darkened. He didn't even need to go back to the clinic for a consultation. He tore up the report, took a taxi back to the lab, and went back to work.

Chen Su buried himself in his experiments again.

In the evening, when Meng Suizhi was about to go out for dinner, he saw that Chen Su had returned. He waved to him through the glass window and shared a new research direction with Chen Su.

Chen Su gave a nod.

Meng Suizhi leaned against the window and asked, "Not going to get some food?"

"Not yet. I'll go in a bit."

"Alright, take care of yourself. Don't burn out again."

"Yeah, I know."

Meng Suizhi left, and Chen Su sat in the lab, working over and over again.

At 8 p.m., Xiao Li called, and Chen Su finally came out of the lab.

"Brother, haven't you been home in a long time?" Xiao Li sounded worried.

Xiao Li had been busy with studying recently, with finals coming up and the New Year approaching, so he hadn't been back. But when he came home this time, he saw dust and signs that no one had lived there in a long time. He knew Chen Su must be working around the clock at the base for him.

"Yeah, I've been staying at General Director Zhao's place for a while. I've been getting enough rest, don't worry."

"Brother... are you two together?"

"We've split up."

"...Are you sad?" Xiao Li asked cautiously.

Chen Su smiled. "I don't have time to be sad."

"You don't have to push yourself so hard for me..." Xiao Li had been raised by Chen Su for eight years, and this was the first time he saw Chen Su so close and in such regular contact with someone. He knew Zhao Jinzong was different for Chen Su.

Chen Su said he was hiding things from Zhao Jinzong and that he wasn't good enough for him.

But Xiao Li felt that Chen Su was the best, and that he deserves anyone.

Seeing that Chen Su wasn't speaking, Xiao Li asked again, "Brother, has your gland been hurting lately? I've looked up a lot of information. They all say that once an Enigma marks you, even if you wash off the mark, it can easily come back. If General Director Zhao marks you again... could you please not wash it off? Washing off the mark really hurts."

"The mark's gone. He won't mark me again." Chen Su changed the subject. "You've got exams coming up soon?"

"Yeah."

"How's your studying going?"

"It's going well. I'll definitely get a scholarship!"

"Good. After the Spring Festival, I'll take you to Yancheng."

"Okay, brother. Remember to come back tonight. I'll wait for you at home."

"Yeah, you go to sleep. I still need a little more time here."

"I'll wait for you." Xiao Li insisted.

Xiao Li was in poor health and would often fall asleep while waiting. Whether Chen Su came back early or late didn't really matter—Xiao Li wouldn't know.

Just as Chen Su hung up, the lab door swung open. The Enigma ducked his head slightly to come in. Chen Su turned around and met his eyes.

Chen Su froze.

Zhao Jinzong said quietly, "Eat."

"..."

Chen Su's refusal was futile—the Enigma had the power to exert dominance. This was the first time Zhao Jinzong exercised his dominance over Chen Su, just to make him eat properly.

Chen Su and Zhao Jinzong sat down in the office. Zhao Jinzong picked up the files from Chen Su's desk, stacked them to the side, placed the dinner on the table, opened the meal box, and pressed Chen Su down onto the chair, ordering him to eat.

Zhao Jinzong leaned against the desk, his long legs stretched out, poured two glasses of water, and as he drank, he glanced at the experimental report.

Zhao Jinzong asked, "Why?"

Staying out all night, skipping meals—why?

The inquiry under Zhao Jinzong's dominance felt like an interrogation that could force the truth out.

Chen Su's lips moved slightly. "My brother is sick. He doesn't have much time left."

"So you work day and night to save him?"

"Yes," Chen Su said. "Zhao Jinzong, I don't have time to fall in love."

A pair of warm, calloused hands covered Chen Su's head, stroking his hair. "Was it all for him, even using me?"

Chen Su froze. His gaze was dull, and he lifted his head slowly to look at Zhao Jinzong.

Zhao Jinzong knew everything, could guess it all, yet he still cleaned up after Chen Su time and again.

Of course. How could the brilliant General Director Zhao fail to see through his schemes?

What surprised Chen Su was that Zhao Jinzong didn't reproach him, didn't get angry...

He thought that anyone who had been used would be angry.

But Zhao Jinzong never seemed to be angry with him.

Chen Su nodded slightly.

Zhao Jinzong's large hand, still gentle, caressed Chen Su. His words were even gentler, free of any dominance: "Why don't you think more about yourself?"

"…………"

"How long can you last in this state? A month? Or half a year?"

Zhao Jinzong touched the side of Chen Su's neck, leaned down, and gently kissed his forehead. "Think more about yourself."

Chen Su's eyelashes grew wet, and he instinctively turned away. His throat tightened, and he couldn't utter a single word.

Zhao Jinzong gently stroked the corner of Chen Su's eye with his rough thumb. "Eat a bit more."

"Zhao Jinzong, you never seem to get angry."

Zhao Jinzong corrected him, "I do get angry, and I do get sad."

No one can discard their emotions—not even the Enigma, not even Zhao Jinzong.

"Then..."

"I told you, I'll always take care of you."

"..." Chen Su smiled bitterly. A tear dripped from the corner of his eye onto Zhao Jinzong's thumb.

Zhao Jinzong bent down, pulled a chair over, and sat beside Chen Su. "I'll feed you."