Chapter 145 Stop Making Sarcastic Remarks

Chapter 145: Cut the Sarcasm

Tan Zhou took the elevator to the 31st floor and pressed the doorbell several times, but there was no response from inside.

He figured no one was home.

Chen Su probably couldn't open the door either.

Tan Zhou called Zhao Jinzong, but no one answered.

Chen Su had to eat three meals a day at home. Tan Zhou checked his watch—dinner time was almost here. Transfer application form in hand, he leaned against the wall, settled in to wait.

After waiting ten minutes, he didn't see Zhao Jinzong come back, but he saw Chen Su instead.

Chen Su got out of the elevator, phone in one hand, groceries in the other.

Tan Zhou was speechless.

Chen Su looked up and met Tan Zhou's startled gaze.

Chen Su paused briefly, then greeted him: "Director Tan, what brings you here?"

He was a little surprised to see Director Tan.

"Xiao Li said you were… uh… you doing okay?"

Director Tan looked Chen Su up and down. Chen Su was free to go out, obviously not under the house arrest Xiao Li had described.

"I'm fine. I already told Xiao Li I'm fine, but he didn't believe me. Sorry for making you come all this way for nothing…" Chen Su stopped at the door, hesitating to unlock it. "Is there anything else, Director Tan?"

"Yeah, I've got something to talk to Jinzong about."

Chen Su's hand on the door hesitated…

He frowned, then opened the door. "Come in."

Chen Su changed his shoes at the door. Tan Zhou peered inside and saw Zhao Jinzong emerge from the bedroom. He leaned against the far wall of the living room, looking toward the entrance, one hand in his pocket, the other hanging at his side.

A handcuff dangled off his wrist, clinking against the wall.

Tan Zhou was dumbfounded.

"Director Tan wants to talk to you," Chen Su reminded him.

"Yeah."

Zhao Jinzong said flatly, walking into the study.

Tan Zhou changed his shoes and quickly followed him in.

Zhao Jinzong sat on the edge of the desk. Tan Zhou tossed the document in front of him.

Zhao Jinzong lowered his eyes.

Director Tan asked sharply, "I just rang the doorbell. Were you asleep?"

Zhao Jinzong was drinking water—it had already gone cold. "I heard it."

Tan Zhou: "…" Heard it and still didn't open the door?

When Zhao Jinzong drank some water, the bruise on his wrist was especially noticeable.

Tan Zhou paused for a moment and asked, "What's this now?"

Zhao Jinzong laughed, "Nothing."

Tan Zhou: "…"

Tan Zhou took a breath, "Xiao Li said you locked Chen Su up."

Zhao Jinzong grinned teasingly, "What do you think?"

Tan Zhou: "From what I can see so far... no."

Zhao Jinzong gulped, "Mm."

Chen Su came in with two cups of hot water, took away the cold water Zhao Jinzong had just taken a sip from, and asked, "Did you drink it?"

Zhao Jinzong: "Mm, one sip."

Chen Su said, "It's cold now. Next time don't have that much."

Tan Zhou quietly watched this scene, feeling a bit annoyed.

Tan Zhou and Zhao Jinzong were each the only son of their powerful families, used to the finest things, but they were never this fussy.

Drinking a glass of cold water wouldn't hurt.

Chen Su treated Zhao Jinzong too well.

Zhao Jinzong nodded, "Okay."

Chen Su looked at Zhao Jinzong's wrist, intending to check his wrist. Zhao Jinzong said with a laugh, "It's fine."

Tan Zhou: "…"

Chen Su clenched his jaw, "Mm, I'll go cook first."

Chen Su looked at Tan Zhou, as if to ask if Tan Zhou was staying for dinner.

Tan Zhou didn't give him a chance to ask and said, "No need. I've got some things to discuss, then I'll head out."

"Mm."

Chen Su left the study.

Tan Zhou's eyes landed on the transfer order left in front of Zhao Jinzong.

Zhao Jinzong asked, though he knew perfectly well, "What is it?"

Tan Zhou: "A transfer order. I sent you eight emails and twenty texts—didn't you see them?"

Zhao Jinzong: "I saw them." The emails were already marked as read.

Tan Zhou frowned, "Then why didn't you sign?"

Zhao Jinzong said pointedly, "I thought you weren't in a hurry."

Tan Zhou was only starting to get worried now—and indeed, it was too late. During the five years of his marriage to Tang En, Zhao Jinzong had reminded Tan Zhou more than once not to neglect Tang En too much; time waits for no man, don't end up regretting it for the rest of your life.

Tan Zhou didn't buy it.

Even when they were divorcing, Zhao Jinzong asked Tan Zhou if he was sure. Tan Zhou said there was never any love between them, signed without a second thought, and sent the papers to Tang En.

For a whole year after the divorce, Tan Zhou never made an effort to see Tang En.

But now he's in a rush.

After a whole year, he's finally panicking.

It's been a year—what's the rush?

It was like Tan Zhou hit a nerve; he couldn’t utter a single word, his face going dark. “I'm in a hurry.”

Zhao Jinzong flipped through Tan Zhou’s transfer request. “What are you going to Huaicheng for?”

Tan Zhou was quiet for a second. “Tang En is going to work in Huaicheng.”

Zhao Jinzong: “Mm, so what?”

Tan Zhou: “I want to get Tang En back.”

Zhao Jinzong laughed. “How? By bugging him nonstop?”

Tan Zhou: “Jinzong, cut the sarcasm.”

Zhao Jinzong opened the document and signed it. “Grab a bite before you go.”

Tan Zhou said flatly, “No need.”

Tan Zhou took the signed document from Zhao Jinzong but didn’t leave immediately. He stared at the cuffs on Zhao Jinzong's wrist for a long time. “…Chen Su is young and talented; the higher-ups want to fast-track him. He's the future of the Drug Supervision Bureau.”

Tan Zhou was trying to say Zhao Jinzong shouldn't hold Chen Su back, at least… not drag him into this kind of debauchery. As his superior, even if not his direct boss, Zhao Jinzong should be more careful.

Zhao Jinzong’s face darkened. “Wait till he's back in the capital before you leave.”

Tan Zhou: “…”

Zhao Jinzong added, “Huaicheng is too far. When we get married, I'll let you know ahead of time.”

Tan Zhou was pissed: “…When are you gonna let him go back?”

Zhao Jinzong: “It’s up to him.”

Tan Zhou: “…”

Zhao Jinzong never restricted Chen Su's freedom.

Chen Su chose to stay himself.

Tan Zhou clenched his jaw. “Huaicheng is too far, and I’m busy with work. I probably won't come to your wedding.”

“Mm, the invitation will go to the Tang family.”

“… …”

Zhao Jinzong took a couple sips of warm water, looking totally unbothered.

Tan Zhou took a deep breath. Now he was sure Chen Su was a lamb walking into a wolf's den and didn't even know it.

When Tan Zhou left, Chen Su was looking for something on the sofa. He exchanged a glance with Tan Zhou, who reminded him, “Come back to the capital soon. I’ll be traveling for work, and there are tasks that need to be handed over to you.”

“Mm.”

Tan Zhou stormed out furiously.

Chen Su didn’t dare ask further. As Zhao Jinzong's childhood best friend, it made sense Tan Zhou was pissed seeing his friend in this situation.