Chapter 96 Reunion

Chapter 96 Reunion

Xiao Li went to the Drug Supervision Bureau to pack Chen Su’s belongings. From between the pages of a document, a piece of paper fell out. The content was brief—it was the "burial site" Chen Su had chosen for himself.

Huaicheng Bridge.

When Zhao Jinzong returned from Antarctica, he brought back a bottle of water.

Xiao Li brought "Chen Su" back to Huaicheng.

The Jiang family was imprisoned and sentenced to death. Their assets went to the national treasury, part of which was used to rebuild Huaicheng. The tulips that bloomed over New Year's had died from lack of care after the recent rainstorms, and now shrubs were being planted instead.

Xiao Li took a night boat ride on the Huai River and also visited Chen Su’s father.

As for Zhao Jinzong, on the third day after seeing that suicide note, he finally left the Chen family.

When he left, he took the two invitation letters with him.

Xiao Li moved back into the Chen residence and continued his studies. The Drug Supervision Bureau gained a heroic martyr. In Meng Suizhi’s office, there was only one person again.

Everything seemed to have gone back to normal.

Chen Su’s existence appeared to have been erased just like that.

...

When Chen Su woke up, he had lost his voice and couldn't speak.

Water had choked his throat, fluid had built up in his lungs, his throat was inflamed, and his hand was infected. The alpha rescued with him had his face destroyed.

Before passing out, Chen Su saw a figure rushing toward him. The figure grew closer, and Chen Su finally recognized him—it was Han Yu.

Han Yu put a lifebuoy around him and said, "Try to survive."

Han Yu pushed Chen Su while swimming outward. The shockwaves from the explosion stirred up the sea, and rain began to fall. They drifted with the current until fishermen out at sea rescued them.

Both of them were gravely ill. The fishing island was isolated from the city, with no residents. Heavy rain made sailing dangerous, so they could only go ashore. The fishermen had a temporary shelter they used during fishing trips, and being experienced fishermen, they gave the two men basic first aid.

The rainstorm lasted for days. Antarctica was already extremely cold, and soaking in the freezing seawater gave Chen Su a fever.

His already weak body seemed about to give out from that minor illness.

But Chen Su miraculously survived.

Han Yu was in way worse shape. He had crashed into a reef and his face was disfigured. When he woke up, he only remembered two things: find Meng Suizhi, and Meng Suizhi's home address.

After Chen Su thanked the fishermen, he found Dr. Liu and borrowed Dr. Liu’s son’s ID to board a civilian ship. He brought Han Yu back to the country. Dr. Liu met them at the coastal city where the ship docked and took Han Yu away.

Dr. Liu checked Chen Su’s gland condition.

Chen Su had truly become an alpha.

He became the first-ever dual gland case—both omega and alpha.

Chen Su coughing up blood was probably from the glands changing.

Dr. Liu asked Chen Su to come back to the capital with him.

Chen Su refused.

Back in the capital, there was someone who didn't want to see him.

And that person was his lover.

How could Chen Su go back?

He had hurt Zhao Jinzong, and he had no reason to appear before Zhao Jinzong again.

Before Chen Su ever thought of tricking Zhao Jinzong, before he took those suppressants, before his mother found him—back when he and his father were all each other had—Chen Su had only wanted to be a teacher.

Dr. Liu used his connections to get Chen Su a teaching job in a remote town.

Huazhen was small and remote, with winding mountain roads. Life there was tough but still satisfying.

Chen Su stayed for a year. He was always surrounded by children. He taught them lessons, told them how amazing the outside world was, and helped them find a way out of the mountains. They would always pester Chen Su, asking why he always wore that watch, and why it was black and never glowed.

Chen Su said his watch was broken.

Ever since he nearly drowned, Chen Su's watch had been broken and never glowed.

But Chen Su never took it off. It was the only thing he had that belonged to Zhao Jinzong.

Chen Su often watched the news to follow personnel changes at the General Bureau. Occasionally, he would catch a glimpse of Zhao Jinzong—always so commanding and quiet.

Only then did Chen Su finally understand what the Zhao family butler meant when he said, "The General Director doesn't talk much either."

Recently the city was holding a Youth Innovation Competition. One of Chen Su’s students had been selected. It was rare for children from the township to have a chance to go out, and Chen Su was happy for them. But he let his colleague lead the team instead. The competition was in the city center, and Chen Su didn’t want to go.

Chen Su never went anywhere that meant leaving Huazhen.

The school principal knew Chen Su’s abilities and asked why he didn't think about working somewhere else. With Chen Su’s skills, he could definitely enter a good private school. Huazhen was so behind that it wasn't even worth mentioning.

Chen Su just shook his head and said "forget it," he didn't have the drive anymore.

Three days before the competition, the teacher in charge called back to tell Chen Su that the student from his class, Shi Xiangyang, had a bad case of stomach flu and was puking and having diarrhea.

Shi Xiangyang was the best-behaved kid in Chen Su’s class. His parents died when he was young, and he lived with just his grandfather. During this year's spring field trip, Chen Su noticed he was the only one without any pocket money. He had steamed potatoes hidden in his pocket and would sneak away to eat them.

Chen Su paid special attention to him.

Putting everything else aside, he immediately rushed to Li City.

When Chen Su arrived at the hospital, the teacher said they'd all been eating at the hotel, and the other kids were fine. They didn't understand why Shi Xiangyang had suddenly gotten stomach flu.

Chen Su thought for a second. "Maybe the change in food was too drastic for his stomach."

"Ah..." the teacher sighed.

"It's alright. I'll take care of it here. You go back first. Send me the hotel address. After his IV finishes, I'll bring him over."

"Okay." The teacher left first.

Chen Su gently patted Shi Xiangyang on the head. The boy was burning up with fever and felt like he was causing trouble, so he kept his head down and didn't dare say anything.

"It's okay. Teacher is here with you." Chen Su took off his coat and covered Shi Xiangyang with it. "Are you hungry?"

"No." But Shi Xiangyang’s stomach betrayed him the next second.

"I'll go buy you something to eat. You stay here and finish the IV. Don't wander off."

Chen Su got up, asked the nurse to keep an eye on the child, left the hospital, and went to a nearby congee shop to buy something light, like plain congee or soup.

It was late autumn, November, almost December. He'd taken off his coat, so he was freezing. When the wind blew, Chen Su shivered slightly. He bought the congee, and while waiting, he went next door to buy a pack of cigarettes.

Chen Su couldn't stop smoking.

When he was anxious, he would want to smoke.

This past year, the urge had been especially bad.

Shi Xiangyang wasn't feeling well, so Chen Su didn't smoke. He just put the cigarettes in his pocket and carried the congee back to the hospital.

As he reached the hospital entrance, Chen Su saw a familiar license plate that absolutely should not have appeared in Lishi.

Chen Su's eyes widened slightly.

The rear door opened, and Zhao Jinzong stepped out with his long legs — combat boots, the uniform of the General Bureau, a black coat draped over his shoulder. His handsome, chiseled face was no different from a year ago, except that his brows were knitted with an extra edge of coldness.

Zhao Jinzong put a cigarette between his lips, and with a click, lit it.

The dark blue flame lit up Zhao Jinzong's lips. He lazily exhaled a puff of smoke, shrugged off his coat, and Uncle Wen took it from him.

"Splat——"

The congee in Chen Su's hand fell to the ground, hot porridge splattering.