Chapter 103 Can I Tell You a Story?

Chapter 103: Can I Tell You a Story?

The windshield wipers worked tirelessly, but the visibility grew worse and worse. The rain was like a curtain of water; Chen Su could only slow down. The journey that usually took half an hour stretched to nearly an hour before he arrived.

When Chen Su arrived, the sky was dark. The lights were on in the Zhao private residence, and a car with its taillights still lit was parked at the entrance.

Chen Su opened the car door, picked up a bag of medicine, grabbed an umbrella, and stepped out.

He had just taken two steps toward the gate of the Zhao private residence when someone else got out of a car with its taillights still lit ahead of him. The person was also holding cold medicine, and Chen Su spotted it at once.

He froze on the spot.

It felt as though all the sounds around him had gone silent—even the patter of rain on the umbrella seemed to vanish, leaving only his own long, slow breathing.

The alpha reached the door of the Zhao private residence a step ahead of Chen Su and rang the doorbell.

Chen Su remained where he stood.

Director Zhao wouldn't be lacking in cold medicine, nor in suitors.

Chen Su watched the alpha enter the private residence, then went back to his car. He smoked one cigarette after another, occasionally glancing at the time on his phone screen. Only five minutes had passed, but to Chen Su, it felt unbearably long.

He had no idea if the alpha had other business with Zhao Jinzong, or what their relationship was.

Too many unknowns piled up like a mountain before Chen Su.

He looked up at it, unsure how to scale it.

Unsure if he should even try.

-

At the Zhao residence, in the study.

Lu Xun sat on the sofa, while the Enigma worked without a word. His medicine was casually set aside, clearly not needed.

The Enigma hadn't spoken a single word to him, nor even looked up.

Lu Xun sat there for a full five minutes.

The butler brought in some prepared cold medicine and quietly informed, "Engineer Chen is here, at the door."

"Hmm." Zhao Jinzong drank the cold medicine.

The butler hesitated, as if wanting to say more, then glanced at Lu Xun, who sat there nervous yet hopeful.

Finally, Zhao Jinzong spoke, "Grandfather sent you?"

"Hmm... Elder Mr. Zhao said you weren't feeling well and told me to come check on you."

"..."

Zhao Jinzong gave no response.

Lu Xun was left in the cold again.

Outside, the rain grew heavier.

Chen Su smoked four or five cigarettes and waited over ten minutes before getting out of the car again. He pressed the doorbell, and soon the door was opened.

The butler opened the door. "Mr. Chen, is something the matter?"

"I saw Zhao Jinzong this afternoon, and he seemed to have a cold. I bought some medicine for him." Chen Su made no move to hand over the medicine.

"I see... please come in, then." The butler opened the door. "The Director is in the study."

"Thank you."

Chen Su went upstairs with the medicine. Before knocking on the study door, he took a moment to mentally brace himself. The alpha who had come earlier was probably still inside—Zhao Jinzong rarely received guests at his home, and rarely let anyone stay this long.

If he walked in and saw Zhao Jinzong being intimate with someone else, his presence would only make him look foolish.

Nevertheless, Chen Su knocked.

He had treated Zhao Jinzong badly and deceived him repeatedly, and Zhao Jinzong had no reason to love him back.

It was Chen Su who had come eagerly seeking him out, to atone, to make up, to pursue.

He had no right, no standing, to meddle in Zhao Jinzong's personal matters.

"Come in," Zhao Jinzong said in a low voice.

Chen Su pushed the door open.

The study was filled with the aroma of incense along with a faint smell of medicine. The alpha he'd seen earlier was sitting on the sofa, while the Enigma was busy working, the two of them sitting far apart.

The alpha's medicine was on the desk.

There was a lot, too. The Enigma was in good health and rarely caught a cold—this medicine could probably last a whole year.

With Chen Su's medicine added, there was too much altogether.

Chen Su set his medicine down next to the other bag. "I noticed you weren't feeling well today, so I got you some medicine."

"Hmm," Zhao Jinzong replied flatly.

"It's raining quite hard. Could I stay here for a bit and leave a little later?"

"As you wish."

"Thank you." Chen Su looked at the sofa. Having two alphas show up with medicine and sit together like this was awkward.

If he didn't sit on the sofa, his only options were either sit across from Zhao Jinzong or leave the study.

Leave the study...

Forget it.

Chen Su pulled out a chair and sat across from Zhao Jinzong.

He studied Zhao Jinzong's deep-set features, his straight nose, the slight frown on his sword-like brows as he read documents... Everything looked exactly as he remembered, yet somehow it all felt different.

Zhao Jinzong had always been a man of few words.

Lu Xun, sitting on the sofa, was no fool. The way Chen Su looked at Zhao Jinzong—the affection in his eyes was obvious.

Lu Xun asked with a smile, "Director Zhao, tomorrow is Elder Mr. Zhao's birthday. I'm not sure what gift I should bring. What does Elder Mr. Zhao usually like?"

Zhao Jinzong's frown deepened. "Golf and Go."

"Got it. I'll go pick out a golf club tomorrow."

"..."

Zhao Jinzong was a man of few words—he didn't even say "mm."

Chen Su sat there quietly, listening like an outsider.

First of all, a year ago he had left all his money to Zhao Jinzong, so naturally he didn't have much money to buy a gift. Nor would Chen Su be invited to Old Mr. Zhao's birthday.

He didn't know anything about golf or Go.

Chen Su knew nothing besides chemistry and medicine.

He had no sports-related hobbies.

He normally just liked to read a little and focused on research; only now did he see the vast gap between him and Zhao Jinzong.

Because Chen Su had never tried to get close to Zhao Jinzong.

For Chen Su, simply living was the hardest thing.

Chen Su and the alpha sat in a deadlock, neither showing any intention of getting up, until the butler entered to remind them, "Chief, it's time to rest."

Only then did Chen Su stand up, and Lu Xun also rose.

Chen Su knew that the alpha would go to the Zhao family estate with Zhao Jinzong the next day.

He always had one less opportunity.

Chen Su asked, "Zhao Jinzong, are you free the day after tomorrow?"

"No."

"What about the day after that?"

"No."

"Then..."

Zhao Jinzong interrupted, "No."

"Oh." Chen Su paused for two seconds, then asked again, "Do you have any hobbies?"

"No."

"..." Chen Su knew that Zhao Jinzong probably didn't want to deal with him. There was a hint of mockery in Lu Xun's eyes as he looked at Chen Su.

Chen Su pressed on, "Got a favorite alpha?"

"No."

"Okay, thank you." Chen Su left.

As Chen Su was leaving, the butler reminded him, "Mr. Chen, the rain is still heavy. Be careful on your way back."

"I'm fine."

Chen Su returned to his car, finished the last half pack of cigarettes before starting the engine.

The butler looked at Zhao Jinzong, who was staring vacantly at the medicine bags on the table, and asked, "Chief, aren't you going to ask Mr. Chen to stay? It's really pouring."

Zhao Jinzong stood up, "No."

Chen Su drove home and as soon as he got there, he texted Zhao Jinzong to say he'd made it home safely.

Chen Su: "I'm home."

Zhao Jinzong didn't answer.

Chen Su called him; someone answered after a moment, and Zhao Jinzong's voice was tired, "Something wrong?"

Chen Su said, "It's raining out."

"I know."

"Having trouble sleeping?"

"..." "Want me to tell you a story?"