Chapter 44 Doesn’t Yield to Softness, Only to Force

Chapter 44: Not Yielding to Softness, Only to Hardness

Chen Su spent so much time in the lab that Meng Suizhi was amazed. When he arrived at the experimental base in the morning, Chen Su was still running experiments, and when he left in the evening, Chen Su was recording data, as if the white lab coat on him could never be taken off.

Meng Suizhi had heard a little about Zhao Jinzong and his arranged alpha marriage at the base.

He watched Chen Su push through two days, and on the evening of the third day, he invited Chen Su out for a meal.

Chen Su initially didn't want to go, but since the data hadn't come out yet and required waiting time, he went along.

Meng Suizhi picked a light, mild restaurant. Once they entered the private room, he let Chen Su order. After the waiter served the dishes, he closed the door behind him.

Meng Suizhi waited for Chen Su to pick up his chopsticks and eat for a while before speaking. "Has General Director Zhao's situation hit you hard?"

Chen Su shook his head. "It's fine."

"Your state looks really bad lately. It's easy to have accidents doing experiments like this."

"Not at all. I know my limits." But saying he knew his limits, Chen Su's hands had been burned by instruments and chemicals many times. He just always wore leather gloves, so no one had ever seen his bare hands.

Meng Suizhi noticed Chen Su's leather gloves and gave them an extra look.

Chen Su said, "There are injuries on my hands, not nice to look at, so I always wear them."

Meng Suizhi was silent for a moment. "You always say there's no affection between you and Zhao Jinzong, but you actually like him a lot."

Chen Su's body stiffened. "…"

Meng Suizhi's gaze remained fixed on Chen Su's hands. "Chen Su, it seems like you have a lot of secrets."

Chen Su lowered his head and smiled faintly. "Yeah."

Chen Su indeed had many secrets: Xiao Li's background, the tattoo on the back of his left hand, the reason he kept his distance from Zhao Jinzong, and his current gland condition.

"You like him, yet you always deliberately keep your distance from General Director Zhao. Even knowing that there's another alpha by his side now, no matter how painful it is, you don't fight for him."

"Yes," Chen Su couldn't deny it.

Meng Suizhi was an outsider and saw it too clearly.

Meng Suizhi couldn't understand what could be so monumental that it made a person keep their beloved at arm's length.

"There are still many things I haven't finished. Like developing a drug that can allow omega test subjects to survive…" Chen Su listed several grand ambitions in one breath. "No one will remember me forever, but history will."

"That's very difficult."

"I have to try anyway."

Under Meng Suizhi's strong persuasion, Chen Su still returned to the experimental base.

The experiments went on until midnight. Chen Su came out of the lab and leaned against the rest area by the door, waiting for data. The base was always temperature-controlled, so it wasn't cold. Chen Su propped his chin on his hand and unknowingly fell asleep.

He didn't even notice when the lab door opened.

Zhao Jinzong stooped to enter. Seeing the sleeping Chen Su, he took off his trench coat, draped it over Chen Su's shoulders, and casually placed a cup of congee on the table.

Chen Su was too sleepy. The hand under his chin gradually lost strength, and his head was about to drop forward when a large hand caught his chin, saving him from disaster.

"Mm…"

Chen Su moved drowsily, rubbing his cheek against the Enigma's palm.

Zhao Jinzong held Chen Su's chin, pulled a chair over with his other hand, slightly bent down, lifted the man up, and sat him in his lap. He wrapped one arm around Chen Su's waist to keep him from falling.

Chen Su's head rested against Zhao Jinzong's chest. The Enigma was very warm, with a faint incense pheromone, and not a trace of any alpha's scent. He slept peacefully.

Zhao Jinzong lowered his eyelids, stroking the alpha's cheek, jaw, and neck. He sighed softly. "You've lost weight."

Chen Su blurredly pressed closer to the Enigma's neck. "Mm…"

Zhao Jinzong gave a brief, quiet smile. His thumb traced Chen Su's brows and eyes. After a while, Chen Su frowned, cold sweat beading on his forehead. "It hurts…"

Zhao Jinzong's eyes darkened. "Where does it hurt?"

Chen Su didn't answer, just kept saying it hurt.

Zhao Jinzong didn't see any wounds on Chen Su's exposed skin. Ignoring Chen Su's wishes, he unfastened the buttons on his shirt and slipped his hand inside.

Chen Su hadn't rested for too long, trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake, difficult to wake.

From chest to waist, hidden under the trench coat, Chen Su was stripped bare by that large hand. The sensation made Chen Su crave more. Even in the nightmare, his condition flared up.

He uncontrollably released submissive pheromones.

The monitoring watch lit up, and Zhao Jinzong finally looked at the gland.

Chen Su's gland was swollen. Usually, this only happens when entering a heat cycle or when the gland is damaged.

To erase the mark, Chen Su's gland had been damaged.

A look of pity crossed Zhao Jinzong's face. He touched the back of Chen Su's neck, releasing soothing pheromones. The man in his arms gradually quieted down and stopped crying in pain.

The next second, Chen Su called out Zhao Jinzong's name.

"Zhao Jinzong…"

Zhao Jinzong's brows relaxed. "Mm."

Chen Su didn't speak anymore, but the name he uttered in his nightmare brought a rare comfort to the Enigma.

The one who says cold words calls out his name in dreams.

Zhao Jinzong chivalrously buttoned up Chen Su's shirt.

The alarm on the phone on the table went off. Chen Su was jolted awake. When his vision cleared, Zhao Jinzong was fastening his shirt buttons.

Chen Su's chest was wide open, his skin slightly flushed. The scorching heat made him painfully aware that Zhao Jinzong had touched him, and his condition was about to kick in.

Chen Su's breathing quickened.

Zhao Jinzong calmly did up one button, leaving two undone, exposing a pair of collarbones. The Enigma's grip on his waist was strong, not allowing him to stand, keeping him tightly trapped in his arms.

Zhao Jinzong's tone was gentle. "Were you dreaming?"

"…" Chen Su frowned. "General Director Zhao is in such a fine mood tonight."

He couldn't escape, so he bristled and vented his frustration. As for what he was angry about, Chen Su only realized his overreaction after he had snapped.

Zhao Jinzong asked with a smile, "Did you smell the alpha's pheromones?"

"...No."

There were no alpha pheromones on Zhao Jinzong. If anything, they were Chen Su's.

Zhao Jinzong continued, "What did you dream of me?"

"Nothing." Chen Su struggled to get up, but his hands were firmly pinned behind his back. The Enigma was too strong for him to move.

"Record the experimental data properly and come home with me." Zhao Jinzong didn't phrase it as a question.

"I..."

"Then I'll stay here with you."

Zhao Jinzong's eyes were slightly cold, fixed on Chen Su.

Chen Su took a moment before replying, "My wrists hurt."

Zhao Jinzong released Chen Su's wrists, massaged them, and said, "Hurry up."

Chen Su responded only to force, not to gentleness. He had to be dominated and left with no option before he would obediently follow the only path. Occasional threats were also quite effective.