Marked by My Scummy Ex-Wife’s Boss (GL) - Chapter 49.2
At lunch, Tong Xianglu appeared particularly interested in Zhu Sui after learning she was an S-class Alpha. She kept trying to draw her into conversation. Zhu Sui responded politely at first, then gradually redirected the small talk to others.
Since only District Three’s team had arrived, and District Five’s delegates were still pending, the meeting couldn’t proceed. The District Three team planned to check in at their hotel that afternoon.
After lunch, the two sides parted ways.
As they were leaving, Tong Xianglu glanced at Zhu Sui and suddenly remarked with a bright smile, “You’re quite something.”
Then she added, “High rank and good looks, too.”
That was a rather forward comment.
Tong Xianglu had always been flamboyant in her personal life. Everyone in District Three knew she changed romantic partners frequently, so they weren’t surprised—just assumed Zhu Sui had caught her eye.
Zhu Sui replied with a cool edge, “Thanks for the compliment. I know.”
Tong Xianglu arched a brow.
Tong Yun, visibly displeased, called her name. Tong Xianglu merely laughed and said, “Zhu Sui, was it? I’ll remember you.”
She cast one last sly look at Zhu Sui, took a few slow steps backward, then turned and left with Tong Yun.
As soon as she was gone, Zhu Sui’s smile faded, replaced by a layer of icy indifference.
Song Zhen commented earnestly, “Didn’t expect her to be that kind of person.”
Zhu Sui gave a humorless smile and nodded. “Yeah, seems pretty messy in private.”
Song Zhen: “…”
She turned away, then glanced back, a little surprised. “You gossip about people behind their backs now?”
“I just don’t like her. That’s an honest opinion.”
Song Zhen blinked, hesitating. “You… don’t like her?”
Zhu Sui gave her a meaningful look and countered, “Should I?”
That look carried weight. Song Zhen fell silent.
When the others had dispersed, Song Zhen finally spoke again, “Well… everyone’s personal life is their own business. When dealing with people, we should stick to the matter at hand.”
She paused and added, “No need to take my feelings into account. Besides, I’m not that petty…”
She said it delicately, but the implication was clear—whatever had happened between Tong Xianglu and Cheng Lang might have involved Song Zhen, but it had nothing to do with Zhu Sui. There was no need for her to harbor resentment on Song Zhen’s behalf. Just be herself.
Zhu Sui dragged out an “Ohhh” and nodded. “Of course I know that. Such a simple truth.”
Then she added with a hint of teasing, “But you didn’t force me. What if I want to be influenced by you?”
Song Zhen was caught off guard.
Zhu Sui smiled, leaned close, and whispered, “I’m just biased. I insist on disliking her. Can’t I?”
“…”
Song Zhen didn’t even know how to respond.
Under that gaze and playful smile, hearing her say she was “biased toward her,” in a tone both joking and not, Song Zhen felt a strange warmth in her chest. She went quiet, pretending to be mute.
________________________________________
On Saturday, Zhu Sui was summoned home by the Zhu family.
Song Zhen drove her to the entrance of the military compound. After saying goodbye, she turned the car around and left.
The moment Zhu Sui stepped inside, to her dismay, she saw Tong Yun and Tong Xianglu sitting in the living room, chatting cheerfully with the old man of the Zhu family.
She was genuinely stunned.
After a moment of frozen shock, she took a page from Director Rong’s playbook—quietly retreated a few steps, calmed herself outside, then reopened the door and stepped back in like nothing had happened.
This time, the whole family looked at her. Tong Yun and Tong Xianglu were still seated. Zhu Sui rubbed her forehead and gave a forced smile. Was this… not a hallucination?
This was absurd!
The moment she stepped back inside, the old man scolded her, “You never come home, and now that you do, you’re going in and out like a child. What kind of behavior is this!”
The old man had long wanted to introduce Zhu Sui to potential Omega partners. She had avoided home for that very reason. Now, seeing her back and still heading for the door, he couldn’t help but reprimand her.
But mindful of the guests, he cleared his throat and made formal introductions between the Zhu and Tong sisters.
From bits and pieces of the conversation, Zhu Sui gathered that these sisters were here as representatives of the Tong family to visit theirs.
Well, that made some sense. They were both prominent families. A short stay wasn’t unusual. Socially acceptable.
Still, something about it felt off.
Then the old man stroked his beard and said righteously, “Aren’t you the one handling reception at the research institute? You’ve already met them, haven’t you? What’s with the surprise?”
Then he added meaningfully, “You’re excellent, but so are Xiao Yun and Xiao Lu. All of you are researchers, and you’re peers—you’d have way more to talk about than with us old folks. Why hide?”
After a pause, perhaps realizing his past matchmaking attempts were why she never came home, the old man awkwardly added, “Ahem. Well, they were supposed to meet you anyway since you’re handling their
visit. Coming to the house is only proper—of course you should be here too. It’s part of your duty.”
Eating with peers at home and calling it “work” only made it more suspicious. Zhu Sui couldn’t tell if her grandfather still had matchmaking plans or not.
Especially under Tong Xianglu’s probing gaze, she felt completely thrown and just wanted to flee.
But under the old man’s watchful eyes, she held it in. Sneakily, she pulled out her phone and called someone. The call was rejected.
Seconds later, her phone rang. She had never found her ringtone more beautiful than now.
In front of the whole family, she answered brightly, “Teacher Song! Thank you so much for driving me home. So kind of you! Are you sure you don’t want to come in for a meal? Oh no, this isn’t a family gathering—it’s just a casual get-together with some guests. One more guest won’t hurt at all…”
The only part delivered with true passion and volume was the “Teacher Song,” loud and clear enough to catch the old man’s attention.
He asked curiously who she was talking about. Zhu Sui immediately launched into a rapid-fire explanation: Song Zhen had driven her home, but was too shy to come in for fear of intruding.
Song Zhen had saved Zhu Yi before—the old man knew that.
The Zhu family valued manners, so naturally, upon hearing this, the old man scolded Zhu Sui again: “She came all the way to our doorstep—out of respect for her past help, you should have invited her in! How could you let her leave? Ridiculous!”
He ordered her to go get Song Zhen back immediately.
Zhu Sui gladly accepted the scolding, practically gleeful.
As soon as he finished yelling, she stepped aside to call Song Zhen again and apologize.
Once the call connected, Zhu Sui said, “Teacher Song, please come back. Why did you leave like that? My grandfather would love to meet you… Okay, great! I’ll wait for you at the gate! Promise you’ll come back—we’ll be right here at the entrance!”
After hanging up, she ran outside again to wait.
Meanwhile, back inside, Tong Xianglu hadn’t even gotten a chance to speak. Zhu Sui had fled?
Tong Xianglu was stunned.
Tong Yun, on the other hand, didn’t mind. This was a courtesy visit, after all.
And over at the other end, Song Zhen, who hadn’t been able to say a word during those three chaotic calls, stared blankly at her phone.
She had no idea what Zhu Sui was talking about—going to work that morning? Running into each other at the institute? Driving her home? Refusing to come inside for fear of disturbing a private gathering?
Had any of that actually happened?!!
She began to doubt her own memory.
Just then, a new message popped up on her phone:
【SOS, big jiejie!!!】