Chapter 116 Can We Not Wash Off the Mark?

Chapter 116 Can We Not Wash Off the Mark?

Chen Su ventured, "Zhao Jinzong, are you unhappy?"

Zhao Jinzong said, "Mm, from now on, no more sleeping together."

Chen Su was speechless. "..."

Oh... having regrets? That's normal; it's normal to be impulsive during rut.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Su said, "Then next time you're in rut, I'll stay with you."

Zhao Jinzong replied, "No need."

Chen Su's heart clenched. "Are you going to wash off the mark?"

Chen Su unbuttoned his shirt, eager to show Zhao Jinzong he hadn't washed off the mark.

Zhao Jinzong finally raised his eyes. "Isn't that what you did?"

Chen Su denied it, "No, I didn't..."

The moment the words left his mouth, he remembered what had happened before... His whole body stiffened, and his eyes meeting Zhao Jinzong's grew shakier.

He had once washed off the mark without even consulting Zhao Jinzong.

"You..." Chen Su's throat was hoarse, his nose tingling, his voice caught, unable to go on.

Chen Su's eyes traveled down Zhao Jinzong's cold, handsome face and stopped at Zhao Jinzong's neck.

Enigma wore the Federation uniform, the black collar hiding his gland and some hickeys.

Even if Chen Su stood behind Zhao Jinzong, he couldn't see Zhao Jinzong's gland, let alone whether Zhao Jinzong had washed off the mark.

Chen Su dropped his gaze.

Zhao Jinzong asked, "Nothing to say?"

Chen Su's face paled. "I was just scared... scared you'd hate me for being an omega."

Zhao Jinzong pressed, "And then?"

Chen Su was confused. "..."

Zhao Jinzong stacked the documents in front of Chen Su and moved them to his right side, reminding him, "You always act on your own, never bothering to ask what I think."

Chen Su always decided things for him, for everything, without ever consulting Zhao Jinzong. He was too domineering.

"Sorry..."

Chen Su felt this apology came too late and that he had said it too many times.

Sure enough, Zhao Jinzong let out a light laugh. "You've said that many times."

Chen Su kept apologizing but never actually changed.

Zhao Jinzong had taught him, guided him, but nothing worked.

It's hard for one person to teach another.

Only experience can teach.

Zhao Jinzong didn't want to be cruel to Chen Su, but if he wasn't, Chen Su would never learn.

Zhao Jinzong was treating Chen Su the same way Chen Su treated him.

Zhao Jinzong continued working, and Chen Su sat across from him in silence, staring blankly at the tulips on the desk.

They were the purple tulips he'd bought that day. Chen Su reached out to stroke the tulips, lost in thought.

Every time Zhao Jinzong took a sip of water, Chen Su would shift his gaze to look at Zhao Jinzong's cup and top it off.

After who knows how long, Chen Su looked up. "Zhao Jinzong..."

His expression was grave and serious. "Washing off the mark hurts."

Zhao Jinzong said, "Mm."

Chen Su tentatively asked in a low voice, "Are you... going to wash off the mark?"

Chen Su hadn't been to the hospital, had no medical data to support it, but he could clearly feel his increased need for Zhao Jinzong's pheromones. This mark was definitely more thorough than the last time.

And Zhao Jinzong hadn't worn...

Chen Su couldn't imagine how much it would hurt to wash off the mark.

Would it need surgery?

Two years, two cleanings—could the gland really withstand that?

Chen Su looked at the silent Zhao Jinzong and pleaded, "Can we not wash off the mark?"

Zhao Jinzong glanced at his watch, tapped the table with his knuckles, unreadable in mood, and replied with just three words: "Go back to sleep."

"Alright, I'll take that as a yes..."

Chen Su stood up and obediently left. Before leaving, he refilled Zhao Jinzong's glass with water and reminded him, "Get some rest early."

When Chen Su reached the door of Zhao Jinzong's room, he paused for a moment, recalled Zhao Jinzong's words about no more sleeping together, sighed softly, and went downstairs.

The next morning, Chen Su went out early to buy flowers. After arranging them and having a quick bite, he drove to the Drug Supervision Bureau.

Meng Suizhi didn't come in.

Meng Suizhi called in sick with a fever. Tan Zhou told Chen Su to go check on him, but Chen Su didn't go. He figured Meng Suizhi probably didn't want to be disturbed right now.

Chen Su's lab in Experimental Base No. 5 was not far from the entrance of the Drug Supervision Bureau, and his lab just happened to face the street, allowing him to see the cars on the road.

From time to time, Chen Su looked out the window to see if Zhao Jinzong had gone to the hospital, if he had gone to wash off the mark.

If Zhao Jinzong didn't want any further ties with him and planned to go to the International Federation and never come back, he would probably get the mark washed off—that would be the best way, a one-and-done solution, sparing him the pain of seeking a partner during the rut.

Today, Chen Su didn't see Uncle Wen's car leave without permission.

The knot in his chest finally loosened.

In the evening, Chen Su clocked out on time, but instead of heading straight to the Zhao residence, he bought a tracking device from someone.

After Zhao Jinzong got back and ate dinner, he went upstairs to work.

Chen Su also bought a new blanket today. He took the blanket into the study and continued lying on the sofa.

When Chen Su was asleep, he always curled up.

Zhao Jinzong finished work at nine today.

Chen Su was woken by the sound of Zhao Jinzong tidying documents, stood up, took the blanket, and went to Zhao Jinzong's room.

Chen Su lay on the bed, quietly waiting for Enigma.

Zhao Jinzong came back after showering, and as soon as he lay down, Chen Su turned off the light.

He turned on his side to look at Zhao Jinzong, his hands unusually well-behaved, resting on his own waist without embracing him.

Chen Su said, "I don't want to wash off the scent mark this time. Can I come to you during heat?"

"No."

"..." In the dark night, a hot, glistening tear rolled down Chen Su's cheek.

The tear fell on the pillow and vanished without a trace.

He composed himself and asked again, "Lu Xun, what pheromone is it?"

"I don't know."

"...Oh." Chen Su reached out, placed his hand on Zhao Jinzong's waist, and gently hugged him through the robe.

Zhao Jinzong's breathing was heavy. "Chen Su."

"The New Year holiday starts the day after tomorrow. I plan to go back to Huaicheng for two days and then return." Seeing that Zhao Jinzong didn't remove his hand, Chen Su hugged him tighter. "I wonder if the tulips near Huaicheng Bridge are still there."

"..."

The tulips near Huaicheng Bridge died from lack of care, and now shrubs are being planted there.

Chen Su didn't get an answer and wasn't angry, but he realized even more how unbearable his own past silence must have been.

Zhao Jinzong, on the other hand, was always even-tempered and never lost his temper with him.

"Zhao Jinzong, has the Federation's transfer order come down? Has it said when you're leaving?"

"Yeah."

Zhao Jinzong only said "yeah," without specifying the time.

Chen Su didn't ask either. As long as he stayed here, he would surely know when Zhao Jinzong was leaving.

When he left, Chen Su could see him off, could follow him, and could get Zhao Jinzong's address.