He Xingzhou was stunned. “You saw him?”
“He saw me!” Xiao Can was very anxious yet felt guilty. Afraid that shouting too loudly might be heard, he had to lower his voice. “We bumped into each other in the living room!”
Upon hearing this, He Xingzhou immediately frowned, raised his hand, and reached for Xiao Can’s collar.
Xiao Can stiffened immediately.
He Xingzhou, with an unpleasant expression, straightened Xiao Can’s collar, hiding the exposed skin of his neck and shoulders due to the vigorous movement. “Your clothes are disheveled.”
Xiao Can pushed his hand away. “Is that the point? Why is there someone in the house? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“You stayed overnight unexpectedly, and I forgot he was coming today,” He Xingzhou explained, “He’s leaving soon, and I saw you were still asleep, so I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“What do we do now?” Xiao Can asked.
He Xingzhou pondered for a moment and replied, “It’s okay, I’ll handle it.” Then he added, “You go change your clothes first.”
“Handle it? How?” Xiao Can felt uneasy.
“He’s not the kind of person who talks recklessly; he keeps his mouth shut,” He Xingzhou said reassuringly. “You can rest assured.”
Xiao Can, unfamiliar with the situation, could only rely on He Xingzhou’s assurance, but he still felt uneasy.
“Go change quickly,” He Xingzhou urged, staring at Xiao Can’s loose collar. “Don’t bump into him again.”
Xiao Can’s clothes were still in the bathroom.
He hurriedly changed, and before he could even tidy himself in the mirror, there was a knock on the bathroom door.
He Xingzhou’s voice came from outside, “Are you in there?”
Xiao Can opened the door. “What’s up?”
“Do you want sunny-side-up eggs or poached eggs?” He Xingzhou asked.
Xiao Can, thinking he had urgent matters to discuss, was momentarily speechless. He shook his head and said, “I’m not hungry, I’ll just go back.”
He Xingzhou was surprised. “In such a hurry?”
“I’m embarrassed to death!” Xiao Can said, glancing behind him. “Did you see him? What was his reaction?”
“I’ve already explained to him,” He Xingzhou said.
“So fast!” Xiao Can was surprised.
He Xingzhou smiled. “It’s not a big deal.”
“You didn’t tell him everything, did you?” Xiao Can was uneasy.
He Xingzhou shook his head. “Of course not.”
Xiao Can breathed a sigh of relief and asked, “What did you say to him?”
He Xingzhou hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Stayed overnight.”
“… That’s it?”
It was surprisingly convincing.
“No problem,” He Xingzhou said.
Xiao Can covered his face. “I hope so.”
“Then do you prefer sunny-side-up or—” He Xingzhou brought up the old topic.
“I’m going home,” Xiao Can said firmly.
He wrapped himself up tightly as before and didn’t even say goodbye to Charlie, bypassing the living room and heading straight for the entrance.
As he was changing shoes, He Xingzhou called out to him.
“Wait for me for two minutes,” He Xingzhou gestured with his hand and ran off.
In no time, he came back carrying a bag and handed it to Xiao Can.
“What’s this?” Xiao Can asked, puzzled.
“Shrimp cakes,” He Xingzhou said, “Remember to freeze them when you get home. I’ll send you the recipe later.”
Xiao Can took it. “…Thank you.”
He turned to leave, already opening the door, but suddenly remembered something and turned back.
He Xingzhou immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”
“About Tan Zhen,” Xiao Can remembered the promise he made, “If you have to confront him… call me.”
He Xingzhou nodded. “Okay.”
“…It’s better not to confront him,” Xiao Can muttered without hope.
He Xingzhou hesitated for a few seconds, then nodded again. “Okay.”
Xiao Can was surprised. “Huh?”
“I won’t do anything to him, don’t worry,” He Xingzhou said.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, standing in the same place, He Xingzhou had an attitude of being indifferent.
Overnight, he unexpectedly softened his stance so easily.
Seeing Xiao Can’s incredulous expression, he emphasized, “I keep my word.”
“In that case, let me thank you in advance,” Xiao Can said, “…I’m leaving, goodbye.”
After saying that, he turned around again, but He Xingzhou spoke up, “Um…”
“What?” Xiao Can turned back.
“Should I see you off?” He Xingzhou said.
“You still have a guest at home!” Xiao Can shook his head. “Besides, I drove here.”
Reluctantly, He Xingzhou nodded.
The two looked at each other for a few seconds, and Xiao Can lowered his head. “I’m really leaving.”
“Call me when you get home,” He Xingzhou said.
Xiao Can lightly responded and quickly walked out.
He Xingzhou’s voice came from behind, “Be careful on the road.”
On the way downstairs, Xiao Can kept recalling He Xingzhou’s expression when they parted.
His lips were slightly pursed, looking very kissable.
In the moment before leaving, Xiao Can had a ridiculously absurd idea, feeling that they should have kissed goodbye.
When he came to his senses, he fled in embarrassment.
Once in the car, Xiao Can glanced at the bag in his hand before starting the engine.
He Xingzhou had packed it very carefully, placing the shrimp cakes in separate bags of five, with ice packs in between.
Two minutes couldn’t accomplish so much, Xiao Can guessed that He Xingzhou had prepared it before he even woke up.
How much did this person love feeding others?
Today, he would probably specially prepare a table of food for Teacher Xia.
Xiao Can placed the bag on the passenger seat and started the car.
By the time he arrived home, it was already past noon.
As soon as he entered, he bumped into Mu Nianwen.
Mu Nianwen was holding takeout boxes and as soon as he saw Xiao Can, he exclaimed, “You’re back so early!”
Xiao Can felt embarrassed instantly, stepped forward quickly, and raised the bag in his hand, “Do you want some shrimp cakes?”
“Bringing gifts too, huh,” Mu Nianwen said sarcastically, “How thoughtful of you.”
Xiao Can smiled awkwardly as he took off his mask and hat, “These are really delicious. Let me tidy up first, and I’ll fry two for you. I guarantee you’ll like them.”
Mu Nianwen was initially teasing, but when he saw Xiao Can’s face, his expression suddenly became surprised.
“What’s… what’s wrong?” Xiao Can felt nervous. “Is there something on my face?”
Mu Nianwen’s gaze shifted slightly downward and lingered on his neck. “Did you not look in the mirror?”
Xiao Can suddenly realized what was wrong and covered the spot on his neck with his hand.
Mu Nianwen frowned. “This is too exaggerated.”
Xiao Can stuffed the bag into Mu Nianwen’s hand and then rushed to the bathroom.
When he saw the faint marks on his neck in the mirror, he felt utterly helpless.
No wonder Teacher Xia’s gaze was so ambiguous at the time.
He Xingzhou had been very gentle with him throughout last night, except for being dominant and aggressive when biting his gland. Xiao Can had expected there might be some marks left, but he never imagined it would be so exaggerated.
Anyone who saw these marks would immediately realize that he had been intimate with an Alpha with a strong possessive desire.
Xiao Can’s schedule for the next few days was full, and he couldn’t afford to expose such marks.
As he was worrying, he heard Mu Nianwen’s voice from behind.
“What’s the situation between you and him now?”
Xiao Can covered his ears and turned to hide the ambiguous marks on his neck. “It’s not what you think!”
“I dare not think too much,” Mu Nianwen said.
“In fact, it’s nothing…” Xiao Can licked his lips nervously, “It’s just what I said before, I need him to complete the mark for me.”
“Completed it?” Mu Nianwen asked.
Xiao Can blushed and nodded.
Mu Nianwen made a sound of surprise and then asked, “So what’s your relationship now?”
“We don’t have a relationship,” Xiao Can said, “It’s just like before… right?”
“Did you tell him the reason?” Mu Nianwen asked.
Xiao Can nodded, “I told him everything, and he felt very sorry. So I mentioned needing the mark, and he… he agreed.”
Mu Nianwen frowned with a strange expression.
“I’ve told you it’s not what you think, we just… we just…” Xiao Can’s smile stiffened as he awkwardly explained, “We just went through the process very officially.”
“Meaning, after he heard about it, he said he was really sorry, and since you needed it again, he didn’t hesitate?” Mu Nianwen summarized.
“You can’t say that, he… he sincerely wanted to make amends,” Xiao Can subconsciously wanted to explain for He Xingzhou, “You’re making it sound like he intentionally took advantage of me.”
“Isn’t that what happened? Xiao Can, Xiao Can,” Mu Nianwen shook his head repeatedly, “You’re really clueless!”
“…”
“I’ve known you for so long, and it’s the first time I’ve seen you so… so…” Mu Nianwen struggled for words, finally finding the right one, “foolish.”
Xiao Can didn’t know how to explain for a moment, feeling extremely helpless. “Anyway, the mark is completed now. There’s nothing between us, so don’t overthink it.”
“I won’t overthink it,” Mu Nianwen shook his head in pain, “If I think too much, I’m afraid I’ll be angry with you.”
Xiao Can understood what he meant.
Mu Nianwen thought He Xingzhou was not a good person, and Xiao Can was too naive and easily deceived.
“We’ve known each other for so long, you should know I’m not the kind of person who can be easily fooled by an Alpha’s sweet words, right?” Xiao Can said.
Mu Nianwen hesitated.
Xiao Can was resolute, “I’m very clear-headed!”
“You had the same expression yesterday when you said you’d come back in the evening,” Mu Nianwen said.
Xiao Can’s face flushed again.
“How could you like someone like him?” Mu Nianwen shook his head.
“What… what do you mean!” Xiao Can almost panicked, raising his voice in an instant, “I don’t! Don’t talk nonsense!” Xiao Can’s words became disjointed, “I have nothing with him, he… he doesn’t mean anything to me!”
“Calm down,” Mu Nianwen stepped back, “If there’s nothing, then there’s nothing, don’t get agitated.”
Xiao Can felt dizzy, touched his neck, pushed past him, and walked out, “I’ll go back to my room first.” After taking two steps, he turned back, “Put the shrimp cakes in the fridge. You can take them whenever you want.” Then he added, “They’re really delicious.”
