the night before

"Next week is the bone marrow donation surgery. I'll have a full physical exam tomorrow, and I need to start paying attention to my diet." Chen Chao leaned back in his seat, his eyes slightly closed, his voice filled with deep fatigue.

Without realizing it, he had gotten used to letting his guard down in front of Steve, not pretending to be perfect, and showing his most authentic self.

"Okay, boss, I'll go to the hospital tomorrow."

"Why don't you take a break from my security duties and get some rest?" Chen Chao kindly suggested.

"No need. I only pick you up and drop you off at get off work every day. You don't usually go out, so I don't have much to do. If I don't work as your security guard, I'll feel even more bored and uncomfortable."

"Okay, you can decide for yourself."

Seeing Steve's insistence, Chen Chao didn't say anything more.

The following day, several teaching assistants involved in the Soka Lab theft suddenly committed suicide by jumping from a building, causing a public uproar. People couldn't help but speculate whether there were problems with the police investigation methods, leading the teaching assistants to jump off the building due to unbearable pressure.

Some speculate that the experiment was ruined due to a power outage at the ultra-low temperature freezer, which led to the person's momentary despair.

However, some people argue that the experimental samples were destroyed immediately after the theft, so why would they only be thinking about it now? There must be some hidden story behind this.

While the college theft incident was already generating considerable buzz, it wasn't high enough to top the trending searches. Now, with this commotion, it's become the talk of the town for everyone.

The person is dead, and the trail goes cold. Chen Chao knew what Song Zifeng was up to. But he was remarkably calm and cared nothing for public opinion.

On the third day, the project leader and professor involved in the theft case all disappeared, leading some to speculate that they had been secretly summoned for questioning. However, the authorities have not responded to this speculation.

On the fourth day, lecturers from the top ten universities in the country jointly wrote a letter demanding the restoration of the personal freedom of the missing project leader and professor.

Only now has the police issued their first official response, stating that they have not detained any researchers and are investigating why the individuals in question have suddenly disappeared.

Public opinion was in uproar again. People speculated whether the people involved had fled to avoid punishment, while others felt that the police were lying.

While chaos reigned outside, Chen Fei and Song Qin were leisurely enjoying tea in a quaint teahouse in the central district.

"You're not going to do anything about Zifeng's reckless behavior?" Chen Fei looked at the scenery in the garden and took a leisurely sip of tea.

“I’m too old to manage the affairs of young people. If I could, things wouldn’t have escalated in the first place.” Song Qin looked at the white cranes on the water and shook her head slightly.

"Zifeng has his own ideas, and it's a good thing that young people have many ideas."

"He was just too stubborn and misdirected his energy."

Chen Fei put down his teacup with slight surprise and saw a water bird in the distance swoop down to the river and snatch a fish.

"Chen Chao is taking this too seriously. It would be better for the Song family to handle it internally than for him to intervene," Chen Fei kindly suggested.

Song Qin shook her head at Chen Fei's suggestion.

“If Zifeng can resolve this matter on his own, that’s his skill. If he can stop now, the Song family will still be his. But if he can’t, he should give way to Canglan.”

"You really are heartless. Zifeng is your only son, after all." Chen Fei couldn't help but smile.

"Don't talk like you're so kind-hearted. If Chen Chao made a mistake, wouldn't you be the same? What does family ties mean to people like us?"

"Chen Chao won't." Chen Fei subtly avoided the topic.

But indeed, family ties mean nothing to people like them.

Their decisions were too significant to allow for personal relationships.

“Yes, Chen Chao wouldn’t. I can’t help but admire the family traditions of your Chen family. I’m leaving now, or I’ll miss the afternoon tea at Banchunzhai if I keep chatting with you.” Song Qin waved her hand and got up to leave.

Chen Fei saw the carp in the pond leap out of the water and then dive back down, this time without being caught by the water birds.

Chen Chao has been very busy these past two days, often working overtime until late at night, and his temper has become increasingly irritable when he gets home.

Several times, Steve saw the intense longing in Chen Chao's eyes. But Chen Chao would always take a few deep breaths before withdrawing his hand from choking him and turning to go to the bathroom to turn on the cold water.

Steve felt extremely uncomfortable seeing Chen Chao like this. He knew how difficult it was for a man to control his impulses, and he didn't want his boss to suppress himself for him.

“Boss, I’m fine.” Just as Chen Chao was about to turn around and go to the bathroom again, Steve grabbed Chen Chao’s hand.

“No, you’re about to donate bone marrow and need to rest.” Chen Chao refused without hesitation.

"But boss, the doctor said it's a minor surgery, nothing serious, and I'm in good health..."

"That's not how you use your good health." Chen Chao stroked Steve's hair, took a deep breath, and forcefully suppressed the throbbing within him. Heaven knows how much he was suffering!

He didn't feel this way when he was single; he would just take care of himself when he had time. Now that he's had sex, and with all the pressure he's under these past few days, he feels like he could skin Steve alive and devour him whole.

But he couldn't; he was afraid of hurting Steve.

Normally it would be fine, but a bone marrow donation a few days later would cause some damage to his body, and he couldn't indulge himself at this time.

“But boss, I want one too.” Steve looked into Chen Chao’s eyes, his face as red as burning coals.

"You..." Chen Chao's last bit of self-control was burned away by Steve's longing gaze. He pressed Steve against the wall and kissed Steve's lips.

Steve was confined within the small space of Chen Chao's arms. He could feel Chen Chao's hot breath brushing past his ear, and Chen Chao's burning body temperature transmitted through his skin.

Their restrained actions left neither of them feeling fully satisfied, but Chen Chao refused to go any further no matter what.

After taking a shower, Chen Chao sat on the sofa in the bedroom wearing his pajamas, reading documents. Steve knelt at Chen Chao's feet and rested his head on Chen Chao's lap.

"Boss, I thought my strength could help you bear the burden."

Chen Chao's hand, which was flipping through documents, paused in mid-air. He put the documents down and gently stroked Steve's back.

"You've helped me with my burdens, but I also have things I have to take care of myself."

"But I don't want you to suppress yourself for my sake. I can handle it."

"I know you can handle it, but I can't really hurt you, after all, I like you."

Steve closed his eyes and rubbed against Chen Chao's thigh, feeling a warm feeling in his heart.

His boss said he likes him, that's great!

"Go to sleep early." Chen Chao gently patted Steve's back, urging him to go to bed. If Steve lingered any longer, he would have to take a shower again.

"Okay, boss."

Steve stood up, took off his pajamas, and lay down on one side of the bed.

After a while, Chen Chao finished processing the documents and went to bed.

Hearing the breathing beside him gradually become steady, Steve turned over slightly. He placed his hand on Chen Chao's waist and fell into a deep sleep, warmed by Chen Chao's body temperature.

Chen Chao and Steve both felt that they wouldn't encounter any real danger in the capital, Gailalle. This is why, even with the bone marrow donation surgery approaching, Chen Chao didn't refuse to let Steve serve as his security guard.

So when the tour bus came straight toward them, both of them went blank for a moment.

But Steve immediately snapped out of it.

At the critical moment, Chen Chao's driver professionally ensured that the cab absorbed the majority of the impact, sacrificing himself in the process.

In a split second, Steve opened the car door and pushed Chen Chao out, but he didn't have time to get out and his leg got stuck in the deformed car door.

Ignoring his trapped leg, Steve didn't hesitate to pull out the pistol tucked into his back pocket. Seeing the bus driver attempt to reverse and try to overtake him again, he fired three shots into the driver's cab. All three bullets landed at the same point, shattering the glass instantly. A bloodshot wound appeared on the bus driver's forehead, and he fell still.

"Steve, how are you?" Chen Chao asked anxiously, checking Steve's injuries.

"Boss, don't worry about me. It's too dangerous in the middle of the road. Get into the building next door right now and don't go near any windows. Hold your gun and don't let anyone get close to you until our people arrive," Steve said calmly, pushing Chen Chao aside.

Chen Chao looked at Steve, gritting his teeth, clearly unwilling to abandon him.

"Boss, you go, I'm fine." Steve urged again, constantly observing the situation up high, his eyes filled with anxiety.

"You must stay alive." Chen Chao finally made up his mind to leave.

He knew he had a responsibility to live.

Being the capital city, the emergency response was swift. Police and firefighters arrived within minutes.

Firefighters sprayed foam all over the car body to prevent the gasoline from exploding, then removed the deformed door and rescued Steve.

The deformed car door slashed a blood vessel in Steve's thigh, and by the time the ambulance arrived, Steve was already unconscious due to blood loss.

Just as the ambulance was about to give Steve a blood transfusion, another ambulance came speeding by, and paramedics in different uniforms stopped the transfusion.

"I'm sorry, we'll take over the treatment of this injured person, and there are strict restrictions on the use of blood for him."

The paramedics in the first ambulance glanced at the license plate of the vehicle involved in the accident, silently withdrew their hands, and handed Steve over to the other party.

The second ambulance belonged to Te'an. Knowing he couldn't stay at the scene for long, Chen Chao immediately notified the medical institutions directly under Te'an to come and meet him.

In theory, TASS agents should not have medical records left in ordinary hospitals.

The medical staff at Tean Hospital gave Steve a specially treated irradiated blood dressing. Steve, clinging to his last shred of consciousness, asked, "Minister Chen, how are you?"

"Minister Chen is fine and has been escorted back to Te'an," the doctor replied.

Very good!

Steve's consciousness eased, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.