Xiao Can was obviously unwell, and Mu Nianwen was worried, so he took the initiative to drive him.
On the way, Xiao Can explained everything that had happened between him and He Xingzhou during this period.
He had originally wanted to conceal the experience in the hotel, but when asked why he had arranged to meet He Xingzhou so late at night, Xiao Can couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation and had to tell the truth.
Mu Nianwen was extremely shocked and almost rear-ended the car in front of him.
“So, the Alpha who targeted you was He Xingzhou?!” he turned to look at Xiao Can, “You two?”
“Don’t look at me, look at the road!” Xiao Can panicked, “Car!”
Mu Nianwen couldn’t calm down, “He said in his statement that he was drugged… is it related to this?”
“Yes,” Xiao Can said, “After being drugged, his pheromones went out of control, I smelled the scent and went to his room, and then… it happened…”
Mu Nianwen shook his head repeatedly and asked, “What’s his attitude towards you now? Doesn’t he intend to take responsibility?”
“He doesn’t remember, he doesn’t know we had sex,” Xiao Can said.
Mu Nianwen was continuously shocked, and after a moment, he asked, “Could it be an act?”
“Impossible,” Xiao Can said, “He’s not that kind of person.”
“You really trust him…” Mu Nianwen couldn’t understand, “Then why did you meet him?”
“His pheromones make me feel better,” Xiao Can said.
After listening, Mu Nianwen furrowed his brows and drove silently for a while before saying, “Why don’t you tell him?”
“It’s not necessary,” Xiao Can said, “What good would it do to know? I don’t want to be with him anyway. Should I ask him to compensate for medical expenses?”
Mu Nianwen scoffed, “But he shouldn’t be let off the hook completely. Feels weird to let him go scot-free.” He glanced at Xiao Can again. “If it were me, I’d definitely speak up. Why should I suffer so much while he gets off scot-free after having his fun?”
“You’re not me,” Xiao Can said, “I wouldn’t do something without practical benefits just to vent my anger. The fewer people who know about this, the better. Besides you, I haven’t mentioned it to anyone.”
Mu Nianwen sighed, “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
There was silence in the car for a while, then Xiao Can took out his phone and browsed Weibo.
His name was still trending, and when he clicked on it, the content was mixed, but most of the negative comments were not directed at the incident itself.
Some said, “Who is this guy? Does he have any work? Can’t he stop being on the hot search all the time, so annoying,” some said, “I just think Xiao Can doesn’t look like a good person,” and some said, “Am I the only one who thinks Xiao Can is ugly? So many people praise him for his beauty, thinking he’s a celestial being, but isn’t he just average?”
The most outrageous comment was someone expressing, “Zhou Zhou is so innocent, could he have been deceived by Xiao Can?”
Unexpectedly, there were quite a few people saying they became fans of him, citing his outstanding writing style, clear logic, and well-founded arguments, which appeared refreshing and elegant compared to many illiterate idols who couldn’t express themselves clearly.
His account’s number of followers skyrocketed, and the backend showed that the video views had reached an unprecedented peak within twelve hours.
As he was reading, Mu Nianwen, who was driving, asked again, “What’s your relationship with him now?”
Xiao Can looked up, “Who?”
“You and He Xingzhou,” Mu Nianwen said, “He doesn’t know the details, but he was willing to come out when you invited him and even issued such an exaggerated statement. Does that mean he considers you a friend?”
Xiao Can thought to himself, probably not.
“I don’t know, I can’t understand his mindset,” he replied.
“I still find it strange. Did he really not pretend to be ignorant and deceive you?” Mu Nianwen said, “Didn’t he report it to the police? And they caught the person who drugged him, right? When the police were investigating, they must have checked the surveillance footage. Didn’t they find out that you went to his room?”
Xiao Can suddenly widened his eyes, “Right!”
“How could he be completely unaware?” Mu Nianwen continued, “Are you sure you’re not being fooled by him?”
Xiao Can fell into thought, shook his head after a moment, “It’s impossible.”
Mu Nianwen had never had direct contact with He Xingzhou and had limited knowledge of him.
Although Xiao Can and He Xingzhou didn’t have a deep friendship, Xiao Can was quite certain that He Xingzhou was not that kind of person. Besides subjective trust, Tan Zhen’s existence was also evidence. If He Xingzhou knew the truth, he wouldn’t avoid the issue.
“This is not like you, Xiao Can. You’re so easily fooled and believe people so easily,” Mu Nianwen worried, “Are you sure you’re not attracted to him…”
“How is that possible!” Xiao Can said, “I just feel…”
“Feel what?” Mu Nianwen interrupted him, “Then tell me, what reason does he have not to know that you went to his room?”
“The police didn’t tell him?” Xiao Can guessed.
“Why wouldn’t they tell him?” Mu Nianwen asked again.
“How should I know!”
“It’s simply impossible!” Mu Nianwen concluded, “You’ve been deceived!”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Mu Nianwen glanced at him, “Do you think I’m unreasonable? I think you’re just confused.”
“It’s really impossible. He… he…” Xiao Can licked his lips, “He’s an idiot, you know? He doesn’t have that kind of cunning.”
Mu Nianwen “hmphed,” shook his head, and remained silent.
Xiao Can knew what he meant. He was thinking: You look like a fool to me.
This issue couldn’t be explained clearly.
Although there was an existing example in Tan Zhen, it was still someone else’s privacy, and it wasn’t appropriate to casually tell others.
“Let’s just assume he intentionally hid it,” Xiao Can said to Mu Nianwen, “Anyway, I’m not going to pursue it further. It’s fine like this.”
“Don’t you have any desire for revenge at all?” Mu Nianwen asked, “Have you changed?”
Xiao Can thought, better not mention revenge.
He had just seen his post from before being dug up and reposted thousands of times after someone tried to analyze from the IP address and writing habits that the author was Xiao Can himself, which was terrifying.
After a while, Mu Nianwen suddenly said, “In those melodramatic novels, it’s often written like this. After an Omega is marked, they develop Stockholm syndrome and fall in love with the Alpha.”
Xiao Can sighed helplessly, “You should read less of that nonsense.”
“And then the Alpha is cold-hearted, takes out a wad of cash to make them leave, or just sleeps with them without acknowledging the relationship. Oh, and there’s also the possibility that the Alpha harbors unrequited love for someone else and treats the Omega as a substitute,” Mu Nianwen said.
“What kind of nonsense is this…”
“These kinds of plots where the mark causes amnesia can only appear in melodramatic novels,” Mu Nianwen was very sure, “The Alphas in there are not good people at all. They at least harm either the body or the mind of the Omega, and sometimes both. Look at He Xingzhou, doesn’t he look like—”
Xiao Can interrupted, “He Xingzhou is impotent.”
Mu Nianwen was taken aback, “So what?”
“Is there a protagonist Alpha who is impotent?” Xiao Can said, “He’s not worthy, OK?”
Mu Nianwen furrowed his brows in deep thought and said, “Maybe you’re living in a comedy.”
“You’re sick,” Xiao Can retorted angrily, “I think you’re the comedy.”
Finally arriving at the hospital, after a check-up, Xiao Can received some bad news.
Despite the medication treatment during this period, his mark not only didn’t fade, but it became even more stable.
“This shouldn’t be happening,” the doctor looked at the report in disbelief, “According to reason, as long as there’s no further contact, and with these medications…”
“Wait a moment,” Xiao Can interrupted uneasily, “Not have contact again? Contact with what?”
“The Alpha who marked you,” the doctor replied, setting down the form. “You mentioned during your first visit that you wouldn’t have any further interaction with him, right?”
“…”
The doctor sensed something amiss. “You two have had contact again?”
“No, no,” Xiao Can hurriedly shook his head. “Just… met a few times, that’s all.”
“That’s still not good,” the doctor said. “It will have an impact. He marked you, and your body recognizes his pheromones, which is very sensitive.”
“What should I do then…” Xiao Can felt despair. “Is it okay if we don’t meet in the future?”
The doctor’s expression turned grave as he shook his head. “It’s too late.”
“The mark won’t go away?” Xiao Can panicked.
“It’s been too long,” the doctor said. “At this stage, it’s difficult to remove the mark just by taking medication.”
Xiao Can’s mind buzzed. “Then is there any other way?”
“Perhaps only surgery,” the doctor said, operating the computer. “Go for these two tests again, and bring me the results when they’re ready.”
“What are these tests for? Why do I need them?” Xiao Can grew more anxious.
“To see if you’re eligible for surgery,” the doctor said.
“What if I’m not eligible?” Xiao Can asked.
The doctor hesitated for a moment before waving his hand. “You should go.”
An hour and a half later, Xiao Can returned to the consultation room, looking at the doctor’s serious expression, he nervously held his breath.
“Am I eligible or not?” he asked.
The doctor shook his head.
Xiao Can’s heart sank, his palms turning cold.
“Your mark is torn and messy,” the doctor said. “If we have to perform surgery, the risk is too high, we don’t recommend it.”
“Is there any other way?” Xiao Can asked.
“The simplest way…” the doctor awkwardly smiled, “is to make it complete again, then undergo surgery to remove it, which is relatively safe.”
“What do you mean?” Xiao Can asked.
His expression and tone were both dull, as he already had a vague understanding of the doctor’s meaning, but was unwilling to face it.
“It means marking again,” the doctor said.
Exiting the room, Mu Nianwen immediately approached. “How did it go? What did the doctor say?”
Xiao Can opened his mouth, then forced out a smile and said, “Let’s go get the prescription first.”
“Just medication?” Mu Nianwen asked.
“I guess so, only medication,” Xiao Can said.
Then, he would leave it up to fate.
The doctor told him that at this stage, the medication’s effects were minimal, but it was better than nothing. He had three options now.
First, continue taking medication and hope for a miracle.
Second, undergo a surgery with a very low success rate, which could leave lifelong effects. Not only would the broken mark never be removed, but he also couldn’t accept a new one.
Third, let He Xingzhou mark him again.
In other words, the safest and most reliable method for him at this stage was to go to bed with He Xingzhou again.
Such absurdity existed in this world.
