Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 49.1
The clinical trial documentation for the Z-serum had been shelved—it would have to wait until representatives from the Three Institutes and the Fifth Research Institute arrived to jointly review and deliberate.
But for Team 2, once the documents were submitted, their job was essentially done.
Done.
They could finally breathe.
At least, that was how Song Zhen understood it.
Before reaching the clinical trial phase, they’d run repeated experiments, confirmed eligibility for trial applications, and then plunged into an avalanche of paperwork. Song Zhen had been stretched to her limit.
The sudden opportunity to rest felt like a long-overdue relief.
And in that breath of ease, Zhu Sui discovered a new side to Song Zhen—lazy.
Quite literally, a different side of her: slow and relaxed.
It was as if all her energy had been drained during the Z-serum project. From the moment she learned they would be waiting for further instructions, she stopped working overtime. Not only that, she began arriving exactly on time and leaving the lab earlier than anyone else.
At home, she barely spoke. She’d eat quietly, watch some lighthearted dramas or variety shows, then wash up and sleep—falling asleep almost the moment her head hit the pillow, long before Zhu Sui could get a word in.
Like a robot that had run out of charge, now finally plugged in to recharge.
Song Zhen said little; her entire expression had relaxed into exhaustion. Knowing how hard she had overworked before, Zhu Sui didn’t interrupt—she simply let her rest and recharge in peace.
The other major event in the Adrenaline Department happened shortly after news of the Z-serum’s clinical entry was released. Team 2 had just begun submitting documentation when Cheng Lang, who had been on extended medical leave, finally returned.
Her first stop was Zhu Sui’s office to formally end her leave.
Upon seeing her, Zhu Sui almost didn’t recognize her. In just over two weeks, Cheng Lang had lost a noticeable amount of weight.
She looked sickly—pale lips, dull eyes, a general air of weariness.
She handed Zhu Sui the end-of-leave form. Zhu Sui signed it with her fountain pen, offered a few polite inquiries—What illness? Fully recovered?—but the questions were formalities, and Cheng Lang didn’t respond to a single one.
Just as Zhu Sui finished signing her name with a flourish, Cheng Lang suddenly said,
“Director Zhu… I assume your family doesn’t know about you and Song Zhen yet?”
Zhu Sui raised an eyebrow, glanced up at her with an amused, almost taunting smile.
“Which matter are you referring to, Dr. Cheng? Our marriage?”
It was a deliberate provocation—like rubbing salt into a wound.
Cheng Lang went quiet for a long moment, her expression darkening.
“There’s only one thing we could possibly be referring to here, isn’t there?”
Zhu Sui smiled faintly, her tone still polite but with an unmistakable edge.
“Well, you and I could always talk about the Z-serum instead. I’ve read a lot of the research literature lately. I’ve been brushing up on the development history. Given my rate of self-study and general intelligence, I doubt I’d be at a loss for conversation.”
Cheng Lang knew better than to argue with Zhu Sui’s eloquence. She stayed silent, simply staring at her, refusing to back down.
Zhu Sui was used to all kinds of stares—this faintly hostile one didn’t even faze her. She handed back the signed form with a blank, unbothered expression, acting as if she truly didn’t understand the subtext. Her faux ignorance only made Cheng Lang’s suppressed frustration swell further.
Cheng Lang repeated her question.
Zhu Sui, unruffled, responded coolly,
“That would fall under my personal affairs. Whether my family knows or not—it has nothing to do with you, does it?”
Cheng Lang’s eyes darkened. She stared at Zhu Sui with a penetrating intensity. Zhu Sui simply kept smiling.
Unable to extract anything from her, Cheng Lang eventually left.
Back in Team 1, she threw herself into harmonizer research with single-minded determination, leading her team as if trying to reclaim the glory of the Z-serum’s authorship from Team 2.
Whether she could catch up to Team 2’s progress, Zhu Sui couldn’t say—she wasn’t a scientist. But the effort was obvious. She saw it clearly.
Cheng Lang’s return came not long after Song Zhen’s. Team 1’s lab lights began burning late into the night again. Overtime was back.
At the time, Song Zhen was still buried in endless clinical trial reports, complaining daily alongside Zuo Tian, too busy to notice what Team 1 was doing. Since she didn’t ask, Zhu Sui didn’t say a word either.
After the reports were submitted, Cheng Lang and Song Zhen ran into each other in the hallway.
Team 1 and Team 2 were separated by Zhu Sui’s office. The office had a glass wall with interior blinds. That day, the blinds were partially open, so Zhu Sui saw it all. She looked up just in time to see Cheng Lang
standing in front of Song Zhen, hands in the pockets of her lab coat.
They must’ve just met—Cheng Lang seemed to have stopped her.
Zhu Sui paused what she was doing.
Cheng Lang stared at Song Zhen for a long time. Her eyes said she had a lot to say, but the words never came.
Song Zhen, bleary-eyed from too many reports, couldn’t even process Cheng Lang’s expression. Her mind was a whirl of data and deadlines. She had no energy left to interpret anything beyond the surface.
“I heard your harmonizer experiment succeeded… That the Z-serum has officially completed its R&D phase?”
Cheng Lang’s voice was hoarse.
Song Zhen nodded calmly. “Yes.”
It wasn’t news—everyone in the institute knew.
Cheng Lang’s throat moved slightly as she swallowed. Then she finally said,
“Congratulations.”
Song Zhen didn’t react much. Her tone remained polite and distant:
“Thank you.”
Completely professional. Just like talking to any other colleague.
As they passed each other, Cheng Lang stood there, staring at the spot where Song Zhen had just been. She looked dazed.
When she lifted her head again, her gaze collided with Zhu Sui’s from inside the office. Zhu Sui smiled at her.
Cheng Lang’s eyes quickly turned guarded, the vulnerability vanishing behind a layer of icy defense. She turned back into Team 1’s lab.
________________________________________
Second Monday of July.
Word came that District Three would be sending Tong Yun and Tong Xianglu to the First Research Institute to participate in the clinical trial discussions on the Z-serum.
The Fifth Military District’s representatives were still being finalized—it might take a few more days.
After a week of mental rest, Song Zhen was starting to recover. Her eyes regained their brightness.
By Wednesday, the full delegate list from the Tong family was confirmed. In addition to the two sisters leading the team, most members were veteran researchers with over a decade of experience in stabilizer development—more than qualified to criticize the Z-serum.
On Thursday, Vice President Rong came to the Adrenaline Department to inform them that the Tong sisters’ team would arrive Friday via military transport. The First Institute would organize a formal welcome at the airport.
That afternoon, the department held a quick internal meeting. Since Team 2 developed the Z-serum, they would handle the reception. Zhu Sui approved Cheng Lang’s request that Team 1 sit out the proceedings and focus solely on their own experiments.
“They could’ve arrived any day—why Friday? Interesting timing,” Zhu Sui mused on the drive home.
On Friday morning, she put on her full military dress uniform—decorated with shoulder boards and medals.
As a military officer, it was routine.
Song Zhen wasn’t, so she stood hesitating in front of her wardrobe for a long time. Eventually, she let Zhu Sui choose for her—a white formal dress that matched the military aesthetic.
They drove to the institute, joined the leadership team, and then departed for the airport.
Song Zhen had seen Tong Yun once, back when Mrs. Brown had visited. Tong Xianglu, though—she’d only glimpsed her once in the chaos of Cheng Lang’s apartment. She barely remembered what she looked like.
At the airport, the dean stood in front, with the vice-deans lined up beside him. Behind them, Zhu Sui led the Adrenaline Department’s Team 2. They waited at a special terminal for the delegation’s arrival—the guests were national-level researchers flying in via military aircraft.
The weather was beautiful.
Just like the day Cheng Lang returned.
The plane landed. The hatch opened. Tong Yun led the team off the aircraft.
Among the sea of white uniforms, a single splash of red stood out—bright and elegant.
As they stepped into view, Song Zhen saw Tong Yun clearly for the first time up close. She resembled Tong Rou, though without her gentle aura. She had a cold, cerebral air—a scholar’s composure.
And beside her was that flash of red—a form-fitting gown that, despite its bold color, still managed to look formal.
Confident steps brought her closer. The playful color was balanced by her poise.
She was… stunning.
That was Song Zhen’s first thought.
Peach blossom eyes, high nose bridge, delicate cherry lips, soft waves of long hair resting on her shoulders.
Up close, she was undeniably beautiful. Her gaze was lively, unrestrained.
Song Zhen’s own features were round and soft, giving her an intellectual and pure appearance. Zhu Sui’s were sharper—angular, cool, distant when unsmiling.
Tong Yun looked serious, refined.
Tong Xianglu, however, was something in between. She had sharp elegance, gentle warmth, and a sparkle of mischievous energy. She had a touch of spoiled heiress about her—but not the kind that annoyed.
Rather, it was oddly endearing.
On the drive over, Song Zhen had been wondering how she’d feel seeing Tong Xianglu again.
Anger? Bitterness? Sadness?
Yet in that moment… she felt nothing.
A strange, detached calm.
She exhaled softly.
Whatever had happened before, she had truly let it go.
She smiled alongside Zhu Sui. The dean greeted Tong Yun and introduced Zhu Sui and Song Zhen to the visitors.
Tong Yun was formal and composed—every inch the professional.
It was Tong Xianglu who stared at Song Zhen for a long moment before turning to Zhu Sui with a surprising first question:
“Director Zhu is already a lieutenant colonel? How old are you this year?”
Her eyes flicked over Zhu Sui’s epaulettes.
Zhu Sui gave her age, and Tong Xianglu’s gaze warmed with admiration.
“So young and accomplished!”
Vice President Rong beamed with pride, interjecting,
“She’s one of the most outstanding peers in our entire First Military District.”
“Oh? Your surname is Zhu—what’s your full name?”
Tong Xianglu tilted her head, as if she hadn’t heard a single word of the earlier introductions.
Zhu Sui’s smile didn’t waver as she calmly repeated her name.
Tong Xianglu nodded. “Got it.”
Vice President Rong stepped in to ease the atmosphere. “Since everyone is here because of the Z-serum, and Director Zhu will be hosting the visiting researchers from Districts Three and Five, it’s good to get familiar with one another.”
When the conversation shifted to Song Zhen, Tong Yun greeted her and offered a handshake.
Song Zhen responded politely and formally.
Then it was Tong Xianglu’s turn. She didn’t shy away in the slightest. “I know her. Team Two’s lead researcher from the Adrenaline Division—Teacher Song Zhen, right? I’ve heard of her.”
Her gaze was frank, with no hint of awkwardness.
Vice President Rong looked surprised. “Oh? You two know each other?”
Song Zhen met his gaze coolly and replied, “No, we don’t.”
She paused, then added, “But I’ve been in the spotlight lately, and I’m the team lead for the Z-serum. It’s not unusual for Miss Tong to know of me.”
Zhu Sui raised her eyebrows—after knowing Song Zhen for so long, this was the first time she’d seen her speak so boldly.
There was a distinct chill behind those words. Tong Xianglu didn’t seem offended. Tong Yun shot her a warning glance, and she quieted down. The introductions resumed without further incident.