Chapter 43 Invitation

Chapter 43 Invitation Letter

Zhao Jinzong hadn't come to the General Bureau for two weeks straight, and no one knew what had happened.

Chen Su had been doing research and development for the past two weeks and finally achieved results. He took a new drug research report to Tan Zhou's office and spoke confidently about the experimental data verifying the drug's safety.

As far as he knew, because the omega experimental subjects' glands deteriorated quickly, it was difficult to measure the drug's efficacy. The current treatment drug was the final phase of the eighth generation, and he hoped his newly developed drug would pass testing and be tried on omega subjects.

Tan Zhou's face was grim, barely containing his anger. He made a phone call and coldly called over Meng Suizhi, "Take this and test the feasibility and safety of the drug."

"Okay." Meng Suizhi looked at the signature on the report—Chen Su—and raised an eyebrow slightly, showing appreciation and surprise. Lowering his gaze, he saw Tan Zhou's dark expression.

Meng Suizhi had been in the Drug Supervision Bureau for a long time but had never seen such an expression on Tan Zhou's face.

Meng Suizhi asked, "Director Tan, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. You can go now. I need to talk to Chen Su."

Meng Suizhi glanced at Chen Su and gave him a look that said "good luck."

After the door closed, Tan Zhou lit a cigarette in his office and said with a smile, "You're pretty into drug research."

As the project leader, Tan Zhou should have been happy about this, but now he was more frustrated.

Chen Su said flatly, "Yeah."

"If you gave even a fraction of your attention to Jinzong, you should have come to ask me about his situation today."

As an outsider and Chen Su's superior, Tan Zhou shouldn't have brought up personal matters at this time, but he couldn't stop himself.

Zhao Jinzong hadn't come to the General Bureau for half a month, and Chen Su hadn't sent a single message or asked about him, as if he wished that person would just disappear.

So cold-blooded. So heartless.

"Given General Director Zhao's status, many people will care about him. It's not like I'm needed," Chen Su said. "I've been very busy lately."

"Are you busy, or do you just not care?"

Chen Su had been leaving work on time during this period. Even if he was busy, he had time to make a phone call or send a text message.

Chen Su smiled and said, "Caring about the General Director is not within the scope of my work duties."

"Chen Su, do you like Sheng Beiqing that much?"

"Yes," Chen Su said. "So I have to keep my distance from General Director Zhao."

"Fine, keep your distance." Tan Zhou let out a bitter laugh.

Chen Su kept addressing him as "General Director Zhao," keeping things formal.

"If there's nothing else, I'll get going."

Chen Su left the office, his face grim. He leaned against the wall and walked back to the experimental base. As soon as he entered and before the door was closed, he coughed up blood splattering all over the floor. He frantically grabbed some tissues to wipe it up, accidentally knocking over a beaker. The glass shattered, startling Meng Suizhi, who was passing by the door.

Meng Suizhi saw the blood and asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just cut myself."

Meng Suizhi watched Chen Su pick up the glass shards and warned, "Watch out. Make sure to clean it up later. Don't get it on your shoes—dangerous stuff."

"Okay."

Meng Suizhi didn't come in. Chen Su cleaned up with his back to him.

That evening, Meng Suizhi came to find Chen Su with the data report, saying the drug had passed the test. The research direction was very novel, and he'd push for the new drug upstairs.

"Thank you."

"Yeah." Meng Suizhi looked at Chen Su's deathly pale face and remembered when they went to visit the experimental subjects last time—Chen Su's face had been exactly the same. "Are you... feeling unwell?"

"I had some aftereffects from getting my gland removed, so I look a bit pale."

"...Have you had your gland rechecked?"

"Yeah, the doctor said the gland's damaged, and the pheromone concentration has dropped. It hurts sometimes, but it's not permanent. It can heal with rest, no big deal."

"That's still nothing? I'll write you a sick note tomorrow, and you can properly—"

"No need. If I'm not feeling well, I'll take time off myself."

"...Sometimes I really don't get why you push yourself so hard."

Meng Suizhi told Chen Su to take care of himself and then left.

Chen Su also drove home. As soon as he entered, he endured the pain in his gland and went upstairs. But everything went black before he made it to the sofa. He just managed to stumble toward the sofa.

He blacked out on the carpet.

In the middle of the night, Chen Su woke up. He went to the study to give himself a shot, then went downstairs to boil some noodles. After eating, he went back upstairs to flip through some books without sleeping.

As dawn was breaking. Chen Su put the book down and was about to put it away in the drawer and lock it.

As soon as he opened the drawer, he saw an invitation letter.

It was the marriage invitation sent to him by the Alpha Federation two years ago.

On it was a self-intro from Zhao Jinzong:

"I am currently serving in a high-ranking position in the International Federation. I have no bad habits, no relationship history, and a clean private life. I hereby promise that after marriage, I will put my partner first in all matters. I will never suppress my partner with pheromones, nor will I use my alpha dominance to make my partner do anything against their will. If I violate this, I'll willingly resign from my high-ranking position in the International Federation.

Note: No need for property notarization. If we divorce, I will be the at-fault party, and all my property will belong to my alpha.

— Affiliated with the International Federation, Zhao Jinzong."

Chen Su remembered every single word on it.

No alpha would turn down an invitation like that.

When Chen Su received this invitation, he couldn't sleep for a whole month, constantly double-checking the name on it.

This was more perfect than any dream he'd ever had.

Chen Su did not accept it. Dreams eventually end, and the letdown after waking would only affect Chen Su alone. But accepting Zhao Jinzong's marriage invitation would hurt both of them.

Zhao Jinzong's invitation was sent because the system indicated their pheromone compatibility was very high. It had nothing to do with feelings. Even if Chen Su refused, it wouldn't cause anyone any heartache.

So Chen Su refused.

Chen Su picked up the invitation, read it again, and then with great care put it back, pressing it under the book. He put a candy next to it and spaced out for a long time before slowly shut the drawer and locking it.

Chen Su slept for an hour before heading to the Drug Supervision Bureau.

The weather was particularly gloomy this morning. As Chen Su clocked in, he overheard colleagues whispering that Zhao Jinzong’s gland had been injured, and that the alpha Old Master Zhao had arranged for the marriage was using pheromones to soothe Zhao Jinzong every day. It seemed a happy event was truly imminent at the General Bureau!

Chen Su was not surprised.

Unanswered calls, doors that stay shut—eventually, you give up.

But thinking back to not long ago, when Zhao Jinzong—an Enigma who had rewarded him with sweets for eating and sleeping on time and promised to spend the New Year with him—might now be showing kindness to another alpha, Chen Su’s heart ached faintly.

When his heart ached, his gland throbbed even more.

For Chen Su, love could never come first. He had long anticipated this outcome, so it didn’t sadden him too much, nor did he have time to dwell on it.

Zhao Jinzong would no longer concern himself with him, so he no longer needed to pretend to be obedient just to maintain the fragile balance of avoiding each other.

Chen Su began living in the lab again, day and night.