Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 35.2

Except for the first night, when she had a USB with non-core data on her, she never shared anything important. She remained guarded. Tong Xianglu had never asked about the serum—not directly or indirectly—and the USB had no sign of tampering. Still, Cheng Lang instinctively kept her defenses up.

Tong Xianglu once mocked her for this, but Cheng Lang shot back that Tong Xianglu was even stricter—she never carried any data outside the lab. That argument ended with both storming off.

After that, Cheng Lang began seeing a therapist.

Later, Tong Xianglu made a request: to maintain their physical relationship until returning to China. She never explicitly threatened Cheng Lang, but there was something hidden in her tone… and Cheng Lang picked up on it. So she agreed.

She told herself: once they were back in China and stationed in separate regions, distance would make it easier to cut things off.

Once she was back, she would spend time properly with Song Zhen. If the affair was exposed, Song Zhen would definitely want a divorce. Cheng Lang accepted that. She wouldn’t beg for forgiveness, nor would she oppose the divorce.

She just… hoped.

Hoped there might be another chance afterward.

Prideful and arrogant as she was, unwilling to lower her head, she still suspected this pride wouldn’t last long…

And then—before she was ready—everything exploded.

Cheng Lang braced herself on the sink, staring at her haggard face. She thought: I deserve this.

Her proud back, the image of a successful Dr. Cheng in the eyes of others, slowly curled in on itself…

She closed her eyes, recalling the words Song Zhen had spoken the day before. A sharp, invisible hand clutched her heart again, squeezing the air from her lungs.

“Do you have any evidence?”

In the National Security Bureau’s tactical training center, another bullet flew from the chamber—bullseye. Ten-ring.

“No,” Zhu Sui replied.

Right on cue, another shot from her gun hit the red center.

Standing beside her was none other than her direct superior—Captain You, You Chenxing.

You Chenxing, male, also an S-class Alpha. His pheromones were notably subtle. Not even thirty yet, he had already been fast-tracked into the role of Section Chief of Division Three at the NSB, making her the youngest division chief in the bureau’s history.

When Zhu Sui joined the NSB, You Chenxing had just taken over. Now, Zhu Sui herself was on the verge of a fast-track promotion. Most of You Chenxing’s recent achievements had Zhu Sui’s shadow behind them.

You Chenxing set his gun down and calmly disassembled it.

“The reason I sent you there in the first place was twofold: your background, and the Z-serum nearing clinical trials. With your identity, most people would assume I sent you there just to give you credit.”

With her prestigious family status, no one would suspect Zhu Sui of being involved in intelligence leaks.

Plus, her military record justified a pending promotion. You Chenxing always thought highly of her and wanted her as Division Three’s deputy chief—a trusted second-in-command.

“Should I be thanking you, then?” Zhu Sui scoffed, firing another shot. “Looks like nothing’s changed. Nobles still love leeching off the military for merit. When I first joined the Adrenaline Research Unit, you should’ve seen the looks the scientists gave me.”

Riding military achievements wasn’t exactly respectable.

You Chenxing chuckled. “That’s the effect I wanted. You know that. Don’t get snippy with me.”

“Besides, once this case is closed, your promotion will be complete. Consider it your trial by fire.”

Zhu Sui sighed. “Other people are grateful to their mentors. Me? I just feel like I chose the wrong person to follow.”

You Chenxing laughed for real this time. “Please. You found your wife during this mission. Don’t think I don’t know. An S-class Omega—first one in decades. You really didn’t waste any time, did you?”

Zhu Sui raised an eyebrow. Even this You Chenxing knew?

Well, it wasn’t surprising. The most powerful intel figure in China was You Chenxing.

Zhu Sui didn’t want to talk about Song Zhen anymore and went quiet.

Seeing she had nothing to add, You Chenxing returned to business.

“If this were only an issue with District One, it’d be easy. But investigating District Three… that’s a different story.”

“No rush. If it’s really them, they’ll show their hand again.”

You Chenxing looked at her, curious.

Zhu Sui narrowed her eyes and took another shot—dead center.

“Z-serum is about to enter clinical trials. It’s hard to trace the past, but moving forward, I’m stationed in the Adrenaline Unit. If District Three makes any moves, they’ll have to go through me. If the Tong family’s behind this, I’ll follow the trail straight to the end. Isn’t that your specialty, Captain You? Old tricks, right?”

You Chenxing smiled at her confidence. “You pick things up fast.”

Then, lifting his reassembled gun without sights or goggles, she casually pulled the trigger.

Bang—

Bullseye.

He clapped lightly. “Brush up your shooting. We’re in peacetime now, might as well learn.”

He turned and left.

Zhu Sui paused, then tried the same quick-draw style shot.

Eight rings. Off-center.

Looking at the empty sniper stalls around her, she shook her head and muttered, “Show-off.”

________________________________________

On the third day of monitoring Mrs. Brown, the Adrenaline Unit returned to routine.

If nothing unusual happened today, she’d be discharged tonight.

Song Zhen took the morning shift. In the afternoon, Zuo Tian—who had stayed up overnight—came in. Before discharge, they’d conduct a thorough exam.

They reviewed data and discussed Mrs. Brown’s condition. Everything seemed normal.

“Hmm? Where’s the department head?” Zuo Tian asked, file in hand.

“Oh, she said she was going back to her main unit. Should be back this afternoon. If it’s urgent, you can give it to Vice President Rong. He’s been following the Adrenaline Unit’s situation closely and will approve it.”

“No rush, it’s fine.”

Then she added, “Are you staying for the afternoon too?”

“I can’t,” Song Zhen replied, not looking up. “Vice President Rong needs my report. Technically, Mrs. Brown is assigned to Team Two. You were on night duty yesterday, so I asked Cheng Lang to cover. She agreed.”

Her tone was strictly professional. No emotion when mentioning Cheng Lang.

Zuo Tian scratched her head and hesitated before asking quietly, “Sorry if this sounds weird, but… you and her, are you really done for good?”

As in—no rekindling of old feelings during all this close contact?

Song Zhen’s pen paused. She suddenly recalled Zhu Sui telling her to eat more that morning—her caring tone.

She shook her head, amused. “Tiantian, what are you thinking? No way.”

Besides, she’d already asked for movie tickets—clearly had other people to go out with.

Zuo Tian smacked her forehead. “Don’t blame me for asking. Sleep deprivation really messes with your confidence!”

That got a chuckle out of Song Zhen.

After submitting her report to Vice President Rong, she went to check on Mrs. Brown. Everything looked fine.

She skimmed Cheng Lang’s afternoon notes and, through the glass, nodded. “Okay. Do another check at six, give her some vitamins and medication, then she’s good to go.”

Cheng Lang, standing beside her, glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking.

“You’ve been spending a lot of time with Chief Zhu lately.”

Song Zhen froze and looked up, her gaze calm and unwavering.

Cheng Lang faltered, but kept going.

“Is she pursuing you?”

The air turned awkward for several long seconds.

Trying to salvage the moment, Cheng Lang added, “I mean… you’ve always had a lot of admirers. I’m just asking because… I saw something last time…”

Before she could finish, Song Zhen cut in, voice cool.

“No.”

Cheng Lang, still trying to stay rational, followed up.

“Then… are you two dating?”

This time, Song Zhen looked at her—this look, was colder.

“I don’t know what identity you’re using to ask, but this is my final answer. I won’t answer further questions. So listen carefully, Cheng Lang—no, we are not.”

They were legal spouses. Of course they weren’t “dating.”

Cheng Lang opened her mouth, but Song Zhen didn’t give her the chance. She stepped into the ward to check on Mrs. Brown.

Just as Cheng Lang was about to follow, her phone rang.

It was her mother.

She’d already received several calls like this recently.

She knew what her mother was going to say. She stepped aside and answered in a low voice.

“Mom, what is it?”

“No, I’ve said this already—we can’t come home. It’s the Dragon Boat Festival, but we can’t leave—”

But this time, before she could finish, her mother interrupted.

“Yeah yeah, I know. You’re not coming back, fine! But what’s with the attitude?!”

Cheng Lang froze.

“Since you’re not coming back and school’s on break, we’ll come to you!”

Cheng Lang stiffened.

“I mean, I want to see you two. When I told Song Zhen’s dad, he said he wanted to come too. We bought the tickets yesterday—already at the airport. Plane’s boarding soon. See you tonight!”