Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 14

Cheng Lang was speechless for quite a while. When she finally managed to smile again, it no longer held the sincerity it had when she arrived.

“Director Rong, this… this is…?”

Director Rong had been at the research institute for years. He’d seen every kind of situation and simply offered a gentle response:

“Xiao Cheng, you’ve always been excellent. Your achievements haven’t gone unnoticed. But the state has its considerations. Since the decision was made to appoint Zhu Sui as the new head of the Adrenaline Department, there are reasons for it.”

Cheng Lang couldn’t even force a smile anymore.

Zhu Sui… Zhu… The commander of their military zone had that surname, didn’t he? She didn’t even need to guess—the connection was obvious.

And although Director Rong’s words sounded like comfort, they were really a subtle reminder: the decision was final. Whatever objections she had, nothing would change.

That’s right. The order was on official red-letterhead, stamped and sealed. It was set in stone.

Director Rong continued, “Don’t take it personally. I know Zhu Sui—she just returned from an overseas post. Very capable. This might be to help her get familiar with the domestic landscape. In any case, this is a temporary assignment. Don’t worry—her field isn’t even in this area. She won’t stay long.”

“…”

Then something clicked in Cheng Lang’s mind. “Was she assigned now because the project is entering clinical trials?”

Her research project had been classified as an A-grade initiative from the beginning. Once the drug entered clinical trials, she’d be eligible for a first-class merit citation. And now a well-connected heir just happened to parachute into her program? Who wouldn’t see through that?

There were plenty of capable descendants from prestigious families, but also plenty who were mediocre. Piggybacking on others’ military merits was common in the military system. Cheng Lang just never expected she’d be the one stepped on.

Director Rong gave her a benign smile but didn’t say more. “That’s all for today, Xiao Cheng. Since you’ve acknowledged it, I’ll move forward with the announcement.”

Cheng Lang: “…”

The paperwork was all there. Did she even have a choice?

Despite her growing frustration, Cheng Lang kept her face calm and exchanged a few polite words before leaving.

As she was about to go, Director Rong suddenly asked,

“By the way, your project’s intermediate results—are they applicable to patients?”

Cheng Lang was taken aback. Technically, advanced research’s intermediate findings could be used on patients, though the conditions were strict. And such cases were usually handled through affiliated labs for real-time feedback—which inevitably brought up Song Zhen.

Director Rong sighed,

“My daughter-in-law went for treatment in the Third District and finally got pregnant again. It’s been over three months, but lately she’s been feeling unwell. She had issues before too… Would you mind letting her visit your lab for a check-up?”

Cheng Lang’s smile stiffened. Song Zhen had handled cases like this in the past, but now that Director Rong had personally asked…

She agreed—but only to a check-up. She made no further promises.

—

Song Zhen had just been dragged into the car by Zhu Sui. She was still groggy.

Zuo Tian had been calling in a panic, and it was only once they were on the road that Zhu Sui had time to explain.

After listening, Song Zhen paused. “You’re saying the project has been elevated to S-class, and for confidentiality reasons, the affiliated lab is being shut down?”

“Correct.”

With confirmation, Song Zhen fell unusually quiet. “Got it.”

Zhu Sui looked at her. Song Zhen smiled faintly and asked, “That look—were you expecting me to be shocked?”

Before Zhu Sui could answer, Song Zhen continued,

“It’s not that surprising. I know Cheng Lang. I forced her into a divorce like that—she must’ve felt humiliated. It’d be strange if she didn’t try to retaliate somehow.”

But Zhu Sui didn’t look away. With a hint of amusement, she said,

“I did want to ask something, but not that.”

“I wanted to know—have you still been sleeping badly, jie?”

Only then did Song Zhen realize Zhu Sui’s gaze had been fixed on the dark circles under her eyes.

She turned her head to the side, silent.

But her silence said everything.

This break she was on—it had been Zhu Sui’s suggestion. Not because of work, but because Song Zhen’s insomnia had been worsening.

With an Alpha’s heightened senses, Zhu Sui had heard her tossing and turning late into the night, even while working international hours.

Since Song Zhen didn’t want to talk about it, Zhu Sui didn’t press. She moved on.

“Shutting down the lab was only part of the issue. What’s got Zuo Tian frantic is that a patient went to the lab today feeling unwell, but the research staff refused to provide medication, citing the lockdown…”

“I think the patient’s name was Miss Ning.”

Song Zhen remembered. Yes—Miss Ning. Her pheromones had been unstable ever since her pregnancy.

It was well known that early-stage pheromone imbalance could be treated and suppressed, but no mass-produced medication existed yet. Patients had to detect the symptoms early, get tested, and have stabilizers custom-mixed on-site.

But ordinary hospital formulas weren’t very effective. Miss Ning’s case was complex, so she’d been transferred from the general clinic to Song Zhen’s lab, where prior interventions had gone very well.

In fact, none of the pregnant patients who’d been treated at Song Zhen’s lab had miscarried. Word had spread among high-ranking families. Miss Ning was one of them.

She was from the Fifth Military District and had come all the way to the capital just to seek Song Zhen’s help.

Realizing this, Song Zhen immediately said,

“She can’t wait—this could be critical!”

Zhu Sui smiled. “Exactly why I pulled you into the car as soon as I heard. Don’t worry—we’re almost there.”

Her voice was calm, but the car sped ahead smoothly and quickly. Less than twenty minutes later, they reached the military hospital.

Song Zhen rushed to the lab the moment they arrived.

By the time Zhu Sui parked and caught up, the lab was already in the middle of a heated dispute.

A staff member from the institute stood firm:

“Sorry, the lab has been decommissioned. All drugs and data must remain untouched.”

Song Zhen was clearly anxious.

“She’s a pregnant woman in distress! If we don’t act fast, her imbalance could cause a miscarriage!”

“We’re just following regulations—”

Zuo Tian snapped,

“What regulations?! Are you seriously playing games with someone’s life?!”

Zhu Sui listened briefly and thought Song Zhen and the others were still too polite. Then she looked up—

Well, what do you know? The patient was someone she knew.

She spoke up. “Miss Ning San?”

The woman blinked in surprise. “Miss Zhu?”

“How’s Uncle Ning doing?”

“He’s fine. He…”

While they exchanged brief pleasantries, the institute staff were still refusing to budge. Song Zhen, not one for arguments, was red in the face trying to reason with them. Just as she was about to speak again, a hand lightly tapped her shoulder.

She turned. It was Zhu Sui, smiling—but not warmly.

“Let me handle this,” she said.

Before Song Zhen could respond, Zhu Sui added,

“Come on now—we’re not exactly lacking family resources here, are we?”

Song Zhen froze.

Zhu Sui stepped forward.

“If this is a lockdown, then I’d like to see the official project upgrade paperwork, the formal notice for decommissioning signed by the project lead, and your staff credentials.”

The institute personnel weren’t breaking any rules, so they complied.

Zhu Sui calmly took photos of their IDs and then turned to explain:

“This is Miss Ning from the Fifth Military District. You might not recognize her, but you’ve heard of Chief of Staff Ning, haven’t you? That’s her uncle.”

“And right now, Miss Ning is experiencing severe discomfort. If she’s denied treatment, there’s a high risk of pheromone destabilization—leading to miscarriage.”

Then she turned toward Miss Ning.

“You see, Miss Ning? It’s not that Professor Song doesn’t want to help. It’s just that… well, as the saying goes: follow the chain of command. I’ll send you their credentials. If anything does go wrong, you can report it directly to the military tribunal.”

Song Zhen was stunned. Meanwhile, Zhu Sui, still smiling, actually sent the credentials to Miss Ning’s phone.

The two staff members instantly paled when they saw Miss Ning glaring at them with fury and disbelief.

One quickly waved his hands.

“N-no, we’re just following procedures—”

Zhu Sui’s voice turned cold.

“The military tribunal also follows procedures—for those who deliberately cause a miscarriage.”

Given global birth rates were plummeting, punishment for malicious interference with pregnancy was severe.

At her words, the two men broke into a cold sweat. Glancing at Miss Ning, then at Song Zhen, the lead staffer tried to say something, but his colleague—more perceptive—tugged at his sleeve.

“We—we’re just following orders. But this is special. We’ll call the Adrenaline Department for approval…”

Zhu Sui raised her hand.

“Go ahead—”

Before she could finish, her phone chimed. She glanced at it, then said:

“Wait.”

She smiled, slow and cool.

“No need to call. I’ve already approved it.”

She turned her phone for all to see. Song Zhen, nearest to her, looked down.

It was the official notice from the institute—

Zhu Sui has been appointed as the new head of the Adrenaline Department.

The announcement was public.