Chapter 41 Jealousy, Anger

Chapter 41: Jealousy, Anger

"No need."

Chen Su ate faster.

Zhao Jinzong slid the glass of water over and watched him silently.

Chen Su finished eating. "There's no need to make a special trip next time. I'll eat on time from now on."

"Mm."

Chen Su was silent for a moment. "Zhao Jinzong, I need space."

Zhao Jinzong's breathing grew heavier. "Am I pushing too hard?"

Chen Su lied: "A little."

"Have you thought about why?" Zhao Jinzong reminded Chen Su. "You don't take care of yourself."

"I'll pay more attention from now on."

Chen Su's meaning was clear: he would take care of himself and hoped Zhao Jinzong would give him space and appear less often.

Zhao Jinzong said nothing more, just stared at the still-damp tear streaks at the corner of Chen Su's eye for a long time before leaving.

Chen Su didn't know if he had been too harsh, too ruthless with his words.

All he knew was that the effect was good.

Zhao Jinzong didn't come to the experimental base for a month, during which Chen Su went home on time and ate on time. Zhao Jinzong gave him plenty of space, and they seemed to have reached some special, unspoken balance.

—As long as Chen Su lived well, Zhao Jinzong would no longer interfere.

Around the time of the Spring Festival, rumors circulated within the Four Bureaus about Zhao Jinzong's personal affairs.

Rumor had it that Old Master Zhao had found an alpha with an extremely high compatibility rate for Zhao Jinzong, and was planning an arranged marriage. The Federal Alpha Association had already started processing the paperwork. This time, that old house was finally catching fire—and as the saying goes, an old house burns fastest. Good, let it burn. The General Bureau would have an easier time.

Chen Su heard this news from Ning Congnan.

Chen Su was lost in thought as he listened.

Ning Congnan called out "Senior" several times before snapping him back to reality.

Ning Congnan asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Chen Su walked quickly toward the cafeteria. In the dining hall, he ran into Tanzhou, who looked haggard after several sleepless nights, wolfing down his food.

Ning Congnan greeted him, "Director Tan."

"Mm." Tanzhou saw Chen Su as if he had found a lifesaver. His eyes lit up, and he immediately handed the documents beside him to Chen Su. "Chen Su, can you deliver these documents to the General Bureau office for me later? You must deliver them in person. They're very important."

"I have something to do later..."

"Just do me this favor. If I don't go back now, my home will fall apart... Alright, I'm off." Tanzhou had been stuck in the lab for so many days that if he didn't go home soon, his household would be in chaos.

Tanzhou dropped the documents and hurried away.

Ning Congnan saw Chen Su's hesitation. "Senior, how about I deliver them for you?"

"Thanks."

After eating, Ning Congnan took the documents to the General Bureau. The alpha at the registration desk said Zhao Jinzong wasn't there and would have to come back later, but that Zhao Jinzong was very busy today and needed an appointment to see him.

Seeing that Ning Congnan seemed urgent, the alpha at the registration desk added that he could leave the documents with him, and he would forward them to the assistant. They would be handed up once Zhao Jinzong arrived.

Before leaving, Tanzhou had repeatedly stressed that the documents must not be handed over to anyone else.

Ning Congnan was uncertain, so he called Chen Su to ask for his opinion.

Chen Su said to bring the documents back; he would deliver them himself later.

For the past month, Chen Su had deliberately kept his distance from Zhao Jinzong. The Drug Supervision Bureau and the General Bureau were so close that work-related contact was inevitable.

Besides, Zhao Jinzong wasn't in his office right now, so they probably wouldn't run into each other.

Ning Congnan returned the documents to Chen Su, who personally went to the General Bureau to deliver them.

The alpha at the registration desk smiled and nodded when he saw Chen Su.

Chen Su asked an extra question: "Has General Director Zhao returned?"

The registration desk alpha: "Not yet..."

Chen Su breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Jinzong strode in with long legs, one hand in his pocket. The silver tassels on his uniform swayed slightly as he walked. He glanced at the alpha who had greeted him, nodded faintly, and then his gaze settled on Chen Su.

"Looking for me?"

Zhao Jinzong's voice was hoarse and magnetic.

Chen Su's steps faltered.

The alpha, who had been trailing further and further behind Zhao Jinzong, stopped his report and hurried forward. "General Administration."

Zhao Jinzong: "Mm."

Chen Su snapped back to reality and handed over the documents in his hand. "Director Tan asked me to deliver these files."

Zhao Jinzong's gaze dropped, stopping on Chen Su's gloved hand. He made no move to take them. "Bring them up."

Zhao Jinzong's arm brushed against Chen Su's chest as he stepped past him and strode toward the elevator with long legs.

The alpha who had been following was a bit stunned, looking from Chen Su to the registration desk alpha, wondering... Should he still give his report now? Should he go first, or should this person from the Drug Supervision Bureau go first?

The alpha followed and reached out to hold the elevator door, afraid of being left behind.

The alpha from the General Bureau watched the closing elevator doors and secretly felt pleased: Hehe, I'll give my report first. I can still take a nap later.

Chen Su walked over slowly, not particularly eager to get on that elevator.

Zhao Jinzong bent slightly and reached out to hold the elevator door open.

This action, this behavior, seemed utterly bizarre in the alpha's eyes.

Zhao Jinzong was always awe-inspiring in the General Bureau, born into an aristocratic family. For an Enigma like him, if a pen fell on the floor, someone would pick it up, wipe it clean, and present it to him. Yet he would barely glance at it; with a mere wave, or sometimes even without moving, just a look or expression would have someone discard the soiled pen to keep it from offending his sight.

Someone as high-ranking as Zhao Jinzong would actually take the initiative to bend down and gallantly hold the elevator door for someone.

Unfamiliar, so unfamiliar! Eerily unfamiliar! Outrageously unfamiliar!

The alpha took a deep breath and stepped back, pressing himself into the corner. Instinct told him that this comrade from the Drug Supervision Bureau, the one who made Zhao Jinzong stoop to wait at such a leisurely pace, was no ordinary figure.

He even suspected this might be the alpha match Old Master Zhao had lined up for the General Administration... for marriage.

Chen Su entered the elevator. Zhao Jinzong stepped half a pace to the right, his tall frame blocking the alpha from the General Bureau, placing himself between Chen Su and that alpha.

Chen Su pressed the button for the top floor, his breathing a little unsteady.

Zhao Jinzong reeked of tobacco, mixed with incense pheromones.

With their compatibility this high, even without doing a thing, just catching a whiff of those pheromones was enough to make your legs go weak and your whole body burn.

The elevator arrived, the doors opened. Chen Su stepped out first, with Zhao Jinzong following closely behind. When they reached the office door, the alpha attentively pushed it open.

Chen Su entered first and placed the documents on the table.

Zhao Jinzong poured a glass of water, raised it, and handed it to Chen Su, silently meaning: "Drink."

Chen Su wanted to refuse, wanted to leave.

Zhao Jinzong called out to stop him: "Keep it."

Chen Su pursed his lips.

Zhao Jinzong sat down and told the alpha to keep his report brief and get on with it.

After finishing his report, the alpha very tactfully closed the door and left.

Zhao Jinzong raised his eyes, pushed the glass another inch closer, and said, "Sit down for a bit."

"There are still things to do at the experimental base..."

"Are you avoiding me?"

"......"

Zhao Jinzong was about to say something when the doorbell rang. His face darkened, and with one big hand he grabbed Chen Su's wrist and forced him back down. His hand pressed down on Chen Su's shoulder, preventing him from finding an excuse to leave.

"Come in."

The door opened and in walked an alpha carrying a letter of recommendation. He had a delicate, youthful appearance, lacking the sharpness of a high-level alpha, and could even be described as pretty.

The alpha looked at Zhao Jinzong, then shot a glance at Chen Su, and ordered coldly, "Please step out for a moment. I have matters to discuss with Director Zhao."

"Director Zhao, I'll be on my way."

As soon as Chen Su finished speaking and tried to stand, the hand on his shoulder pressed down hard, not letting him up.

Inside his leather glove, Chen Su's fingertip dug in hard. He looked up at Zhao Jinzong, met the Enigma's gentle eyes, then looked away without saying a word.

Like he was angry.

Zhao Jinzong frowned slightly and looked at the alpha. "What do you want?"