Seeing Xiao Can’s low spirits, Mu Nianwen worried but didn’t dare to ask too much, feeling anxious all the way.
After arriving home, he couldn’t help but ask, “Can you remove this mark?”
“In theory, it’s possible,” Xiao Can said.
Mu Nianwen breathed a sigh of relief, “Then practically? Is there any difficulty?”
Xiao Can’s heart felt like ashes, he turned to look at him, “The doctor said the best way is to first complete the mark, and then proceed with the surgery.”
Mu Nianwen blinked, then suddenly realized something, stepping back, “Huh?”
In extreme helplessness, Xiao Can felt like laughing, “It’s absurd.”
“What are you going to do?” Mu Nianwen asked.
“I don’t know,” Xiao Can said, “Chill out, let’s take medicine first.”
Mu Nianwen hesitated.
Xiao Can walked towards his own room, “I’m going to take a nap.”
“Go ahead, go ahead,” Mu Nianwen said, “Don’t think too much, rest well.”
Xiao Can entered the room, lay down on the bed, but couldn’t fall asleep with his eyes closed.
The discomfort caused by hormonal imbalance kept him in a daze, unable to think clearly.
According to the doctor, if the surgery failed, there was basically no remedy. That meant he would have to live with He Xingzhou’s mark for the rest of his life.
So, the only real choice left to him was actually just one.
Turning over in bed, Xiao Can suddenly became angry, wanting to make a phone call to scold He Xingzhou.
At this moment, accompanied by a slight vibration, familiar music sounded in his ears.
He immediately picked up his phone, but when he saw the caller ID on the screen, he felt a sudden sense of loss.
It was a call from Xiao Yi, whom he had ignored for a long time.
The last time he had casually said he would contact Xiao Yi again, he had been ignoring him ever since. Xiao Yi had actively contacted him several times, but he always ignored him until the next day when he would reply with a “Sorry, just saw your message,” and then continue to ignore him.
After pressing the mute button, he threw the phone aside.
The last time they ended the call on bad terms, He Xingzhou must have concluded that he was untrustworthy and wouldn’t contact him again, right?
Realizing the vague sense of loss in his heart, Xiao Can guessed that it was probably because he wouldn’t be able to see Charlie again.
He heard that Charlie had learned how to insert coins. It would have been nice if he could see it.
Xiao Can sighed deeply under the covers.
Completing the mark wasn’t just a problem with his subjective willingness.
With He Xingzhou’s stubbornness, he definitely wouldn’t agree to do such a thing with him.
Unless he found out what had really happened between them back then. But if he did, He Xingzhou might develop unnecessary thoughts, which would also be troublesome for him.
What kind of drugs was He Xingzhou drugged with back then?
He might as well go and drug him once, take advantage of his confused state, finish the job, and then run away. After the surgery goes smoothly, he can pretend nothing happened.
Xiao Can was amused by his absurd thoughts.
After a while of daydreaming, he finally drifted off to sleep. Unfortunately, he didn’t sleep for long before being awakened by the ringing of his phone.
This time, the call came from one of Bai Tao’s staff members.
They were reminding him to cooperate with publicity.
The song had already been released, and Bai Tao’s people had messaged him online several times without him responding, prompting them to call.
After agreeing, Xiao Can passed Cai Yawen’s contact information to them.
He now had an assistant and shouldn’t be subjected to such torment anymore.
After discussing the promotion, the other party asked if he was interested in participating in a variety show called “Fearless Youth: Blood Challenge” to promote the song and the entire charity project.
This was also written in the contract, with fees separate.
“Fearless Youth” was a popular variety show with high ratings, and Xiao Can couldn’t be happier as he naturally wouldn’t refuse.
Originally, Bai Tao’s plan was to record the variety show first, and when the song was released, the program would air, maximizing the effect. But now that the song had been released first, there was a time gap, so the focus would be on promoting the charity event.
They intended to invite Xiao Can as the spokesperson for the entire event and hoped to arrange a meeting.
Xiao Can was overjoyed and felt rejuvenated.
After hanging up the phone for a while, he finally realized that this series of twists and turns had not brought any negative impact on himself but had instead become a boost.
He excitedly went to share the good news with Mu Nianwen, but Mu Nianwen’s expression was meaningful.
“Do you notice, every time your career takes off, it’s because of He Xingzhou,” he said.
Xiao Can couldn’t refute.
Mu Nianwen shook his head as he spoke, “If it weren’t for your current condition, he could almost be considered your sponsor.”
Xiao Can thought to himself, I really don’t want to thank him at all.
“But your current condition is a big problem,” Mu Nianwen said, “Since he’s impotent, it’s like a terminal illness.”
Xiao Can paused, wanting to explain but fearing Mu Nianwen would ask how he knew.
This matter was too complicated, involving other people’s privacy. After much hesitation, he decided to hold back.
Whether or not to ask He Xingzhou for another marking was ultimately not a problem suitable for consultation with others.
The next day, Xiao Can received a message from Tan Zhen, asking if he also wanted to participate in the recording of “Fearless Youth.”
Xiao Can eagerly chatted with him for a while, and then Tan Zhen’s tone suddenly changed, saying he had something to tell him.
“It’s about He Xingzhou,” he said in a lowered voice, sounding mysterious.
Xiao Can became highly alert. “What happened to him?”
“He wants to participate too,” Tan Zhen said.
Xiao Can was greatly shocked. “How much did Bai Tao offer to be able to persuade him?”
“Here’s the point I want to make,” Tan Zhen said, “Bai Tao didn’t approach him at all. Unexpectedly, after hearing that both of us were participating, he took the initiative to contact them, asking why he wasn’t invited.”
“…?”
“He strongly insists on going.”
Xiao Can frowned. “Does he really like this show?”
“No, he has no idea about it,” Tan Zhen said, “He only asked me what he should do when the time comes.”
“…?”
Tan Zhen mysteriously continued, “I have a guess…”
Xiao Can keenly sensed something and stopped him. “Stop thinking about it.”
Unfortunately, Tan Zhen didn’t listen to him and continued, “He definitely wants to see you! He likes you!”
“Impossible,” Xiao Can said weakly, “Last time he misunderstood me for trying to seduce him; he almost accused me of being shameless.”
Tan Zhen fell silent for a moment and then said, “Is it because of me?”
“Uh…”
“You tell me, what reason can ensure a smooth breakup between us and guarantee that he won’t immediately make it public?” Tan Zhen asked, “Otherwise, he might think I’m rejecting him because of his impotence.”
Xiao Can thought for a moment and said, “Tell him it was a misunderstanding at first, and you didn’t have sex with him?”
“I can’t bring myself to say it,” Tan Zhen clearly didn’t want to, “It’s not that I’m afraid he’ll get angry and retaliate against me…He’s actually a good person, and the better he is, the harder it is for me to say it.”
“You’ve taken advantage of the situation,” Xiao Can said, “What can you do? Everything comes with a price.”
“Do you think I’m being too shameless?” Tan Zhen asked with a tone of remorse.
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Can replied, “If I were to judge right from wrong, then you’re definitely on the wrong side, I can’t lie to myself and say you’re right. But… I can understand to some extent, and even I might do the same.” He paused and asked, “Do you regret it?”
“If I hadn’t lied to him, I’d still be at home picking my toes, unable to get any work, let alone meet you,” Tan Zhen said.
“Well then,” Xiao Can said, “This is your own choice, so you have to endure it.”
Tan Zhen sounded plaintive, “Sigh, I feel terrible.”
“Is pretending to be with him making you so miserable?” Xiao Can asked, “Didn’t you say he didn’t have any intimate intentions toward you?”
“It’s not about that,” Tan Zhen’s voice lowered a bit, “Mainly… I really think you two are a good match… and it turns out I’m the one in the middle…”
Xiao Can was speechless.
“If you tell me this again, I’ll go confess to Fei Zi,” he threatened.
Tan Zhen was startled. “No! I won’t say it anymore, okay!”
Two weeks later, Xiao Can met He Xingzhou again, at the Kelso Hotel where they first met.
When he heard the name of the hotel, Xiao Can instinctively felt a strong unease.
What was even more terrifying was that the room the production team booked for him was on the fourteenth floor.
As he followed the room number on his key card to find the corresponding room, he was surprised to discover that it was the same room he had mistakenly entered before, the one where He Xingzhou stayed.
He entered, took a turn, and quickly ran out, calling Tan Zhen, who hadn’t arrived yet, to ask if they could switch rooms.
“I’ll only arrive late at night, can you wait until then?” Tan Zhen pondered for a moment. “He Xingzhou is there, why don’t you switch with him?”
Just as he was speaking, a familiar tall figure appeared at the other end of the corridor.
The moment he saw him, He Xingzhou visibly hesitated in his steps, then turned his head awkwardly and looked at the wall beside him, clearly avoiding him.
“No need,” Xiao Can said softly, lowering his head, “I’ll ask the staff.”
“What’s wrong with that room?” Tan Zhen asked.
“Someone I really dislike stayed there, and I have psychological shadows,” Xiao Can said, turning away from He Xingzhou, who had already walked up to him, opened the door, went in, and then forcefully closed the door.
“Huh?” Tan Zhen was completely clueless. “Who?”
“Never mind, I’ll bear with it,” Xiao Can said, “Let’s leave it at that. Take care on your way.”
After hanging up, Xiao Can looked at the carpet in front of him, and his ears quickly turned hot.
He was marked by He Xingzhou here initially.
With the memories came a slight fever in his body.
Tan Zhen had also been to this room. Would he guess who the person he mentioned was?
It seemed like he was being foolish again.
Xiao Can sighed and was about to pack his luggage when there was a knock on the door.
Opening it, he found He Xingzhou outside.
Xiao Can tensed up. “What’s the matter?”
“Tan Zhen said you wanted to switch rooms,” He Xingzhou said, walking past him and looking inside, “Because someone you really dislike stayed in this room.”
“…”
He Xingzhou’s gaze moved to his face, but only stayed for a second before shifting away. “Who was it?”
Xiao Can thought, Is this person completely unaware?
He tilted his head slightly, staring at He Xingzhou, and said, “It’s you.”
