MVCFO CH38

After returning home, it was still early.

Lin Xiangqi lay on the sofa, holding his phone, torn between studying and playing games.

He had been studying hard lately, and his grades had improved significantly. He really wanted to sneak in a break, but he was afraid that a single moment of relaxation might trigger a chain reaction, making it harder to focus later.

Just as he was struggling with this dilemma, Lu Cong suddenly sat down beside him, took his phone, and said, “Let’s talk?”

Lin Xiangqi’s heart skipped a beat.

In the past, when Lu Cong said something like this, it was almost always because Lin Xiangqi had something on his mind or was stuck in a difficult situation. Lu Cong would “talk” out all the things Lin Xiangqi wanted—or didn’t want—to say.

But lately, he hadn’t done anything bad, right?

What was there to talk about?

Lin Xiangqi wore a confused and nervous expression.

Lu Cong sighed helplessly and asked, “You really don’t know what I want to talk about?”

Lin Xiangqi nodded.

Lu Cong was speechless. He lightly pressed his fingers to his forehead and let out a silent laugh.

So, Lin Xiangqi had been acting so differently lately, doing so many uncharacteristic things, yet he himself thought it was completely normal?

Or was he deliberately pretending not to know to hide it from Lu Cong?

Lu Cong took out Lin Xiangqi’s phone and looked at him. “May I?”

Though Lin Xiangqi didn’t understand, he nodded anyway.

Lu Cong unlocked the screen and navigated to Lin Xiangqi’s chat history with Tang Luyu.

Before today, Lu Cong had never done something like this.

He respected Lin Xiangqi and wouldn’t pry into his privacy. But Lin Xiangqi’s behavior was often too transparent—it was easy to see through him.

At 8:26 that morning, Lin Xiangqi had sent Tang Luyu a message:

[Dr. Tang, are you busy today? I have some questions I’d like to ask about permanent marks and pheromone fusion.]

Even earlier, he had discussed things with Tang Luyu that were beyond Lu Cong’s expectations:

[How did you become a military doctor?]

[Is it only through invitations from the Alliance government or the military? If a high school student like me wants to become a military doctor in the future, what options are there?]

[Can military doctors choose which unit or base they’re assigned to? Is it possible to be permanently assigned to just one person?]

On top of that, Lu Cong was surprised to find that Lin Xiangqi had also chatted with his mother, Qi Ye. Qi Ye had never mentioned this to Lu Cong—though, to be fair, Lu Cong rarely initiated conversations with his mother.

Lin Xiangqi’s questions to Qi Ye were exactly what Lu Cong expected:

[Auntie, does the Research Institute have any collaborative projects with Capital University? What specific fields are they in?]

Qi Ye’s response was complex, and Lin Xiangqi, being straightforward, admitted:

[Could you tell me which major at Capital University would give me the best chance to work with the Research Institute?]

Qi Ye was sharp. She immediately understood his intentions and wasted no time sending Lin Xiangqi the relevant majors.

She asked Lin Xiangqi:

[Have you discussed this with Lu Cong?]

Lin Xiangqi replied:

[Not yet. I just want to prepare in advance. Please don’t tell him—I’m afraid he’ll misunderstand and think I’ve already decided. I’ll talk to him once I’ve figured things out.]

Qi Ye responded with:

[OK]

Lu Cong slowly finished reading and then handed the phone back to Lin Xiangqi, asking softly, “Why did you hide these things from me?”

Lin Xiangqi widened his eyes. “I wasn’t hiding them. I was planning to tell you once I had everything prepared.”

Lu Cong studied him for a long time, as if searching for any sign of guilt in Lin Xiangqi’s expression, but there was none. Lin Xiangqi seemed completely sincere.

Puzzled, Lu Cong asked, “Do you want to be a doctor? Or join the Research Institute?”

Lin Xiangqi said, “Either is fine.”

Lu Cong frowned. “Either?”

Lin Xiangqi nodded. “I’ve talked a lot with Dr. Tang lately, and I think being a doctor is great. Plus, did you know? Because I’m an Extremely Superior Omega, I get bonus points if I apply for medical programs.”

Lu Cong grew even more confused. He reopened the chat with Qi Ye and asked, “What about the Research Institute?”

Lin Xiangqi explained, “The Research Institute has a collaborative project with Capital University in pheromone-based medicine. I’ve looked into it—Capital University’s medical program also gives me bonus points. If I score above 620, I can get in. After graduation, Auntie Qi Ye can recommend me for this project.”

Lu Cong finally understood Lin Xiangqi’s intentions.

In short, he wanted to become a doctor. Whether as a military doctor or a researcher, Lu Cong wasn’t entirely sure.

But to Lu Cong, none of this was a problem.

If Lin Xiangqi wanted to be a military doctor, Lu Cong could attend a military academy—after all, the military sent him several invitations every year, ostensibly for “tours” but actually to persuade him to enlist.

And if Lin Xiangqi wanted to join the Research Institute, Lu Cong could try as well. Though, as an Alpha with highly aggressive pheromones, he might not fit well into a pheromone-based medical project, making it harder for him to get in.

But if Lin Xiangqi was going, he’d find a way.

Lu Cong quickly mapped everything out in his mind.

Then, Lin Xiangqi suddenly said, “Lu Cong, I asked Dr. Tang today. If we undergo a permanent mark, your pheromones will stabilize. It’s just that it might be a bit difficult right now. Wait for me a little longer—in a year, we can—”

But Lu Cong interrupted him. “You want to make all these preparations, and then what?”

Lin Xiangqi looked at him strangely. “Then we follow the plan, of course.”

Lu Cong’s brows remained furrowed.

For the first time, he felt stupid—unable to grasp the meaning behind Lin Xiangqi’s words.

What Lin Xiangqi truly wanted, what he intended to do, had become incomprehensible to Lu Cong.

Hesitantly, Lu Cong asked, “You already know, don’t you? That no university will accept me.”

Lin Xiangqi blinked, avoiding Lu Cong’s gaze. “Yes, I overheard it outside the office that day. I’m sorry—it’s because of me that you overdosed on suppressants, and because of me that you can’t go to university normally. I’ve wanted to apologize for a long time, but I felt like just saying sorry wasn’t enough. I had to do something.”

“So all your recent changes… were because you wanted to do something?” Lu Cong finally voiced the question.

The worst possible answer he could imagine was exactly this.

—All the affection, all the teasing, all the hugs and kisses were born out of guilt and obligation.

Because he couldn’t bear to see Lu Cong sacrifice so much for him, out of pity or soft-heartedness, Lin Xiangqi had decided to repay him as much as possible.

“Was I acting strange?” Lin Xiangqi said confidently. “I was just a little more attentive than before—it’s not that weird, right?”

Lu Cong couldn’t respond with his usual lighthearted teasing.

He thought he was maintaining his usual calm and composed demeanor as he said gently, “Yanyan, you don’t need to blame yourself for my sake. Taking the suppressants was my decision—you didn’t force me. I can take responsibility for my own actions. You don’t have to bear the consequences for me.”

Lin Xiangqi shook his head. “I’m not blaming myself. I just think you’ve already done so much. This time, it’s my turn.”

Lu Cong smiled bitterly.

So this was really Lin Xiangqi’s mindset.

It was obvious now. Lin Xiangqi didn’t like him—didn’t even need him anymore. He just felt that since Lu Cong had done so much, he had to give something in return.

Maybe, all this time, the reason Lin Xiangqi had tolerated Lu Cong’s intimate gestures was simply out of gratitude for saving his life.

Lu Cong decided to ask one final question.

He said, “So your plan is to undergo a permanent mark with me in a year and remove my neck ring.”

Lin Xiangqi frowned unhappily. “That’s just one possibility. I haven’t fully decided yet. Actually, I’ve made a lot of plans, but the groundwork isn’t solid enough…”

Lu Cong guided him patiently, “Assuming we really do mark each other in a year, what then?”

Lin Xiangqi said, “Then you’ll be a perfectly healthy Alpha, no longer troubled by rut cycles. Your pheromones will stabilize, and they might even become stronger than they are now!”

Lu Cong asked, “What about you?”

Lin Xiangqi: “I’ll be stronger too.”

If not for Lin Xiangqi’s utterly sincere expression, Lu Cong might have thought his ability to hide his thoughts had improved dramatically—how could he dodge the question so smoothly without revealing anything?

Lu Cong let out a slow sigh, took Lin Xiangqi’s hand, and said, “Yanyan, if you don’t want to marry me, don’t trap yourself with a mark. My situation isn’t as complicated as you think, and going to university isn’t some unavoidable necessity. You don’t need to overthink it.”

After speaking, he stood up, as if the conversation was over, and asked Lin Xiangqi if he wanted a drink or if he should start filling the bathtub for him.

Such trivial matters, yet Lu Cong spoke of them seriously, as if, at this very moment, he genuinely cared about a drink or a hot bath.

Lin Xiangqi suddenly threw a pillow from behind, hitting Lu Cong’s back.

Lu Cong paused mid-step and turned to look at him. “Yanyan?”

Lin Xiangqi said irritably, “You were the one who said we needed to talk, but now you’re leaving before we’re done. Do you think you’re so smart that you don’t even need me to explain before you figure me out?”

Lu Cong’s expression stiffened slightly.

Truthfully, in the past, he had been smart enough to accurately gauge Lin Xiangqi’s feelings every time.

But not this time.

It was only today that Lu Cong realized his supposedly flawless arrangements weren’t actually that comprehensive.

There were things he couldn’t understand, and answers he was afraid to hear.

Now he was doing something only fools did—avoiding the issue, refusing to face it.

“I don’t know why you’d interpret everything I’ve done as compensation or guilt,” Lin Xiangqi said, standing up from the sofa and walking toward Lu Chong with a slight pout. “Sure, I do feel a little guilty, but I’m not an idiot. I know the key to whether you can go to university isn’t your pheromones—it’s me.”

Lu Cong’s dark hair, which he hadn’t cut in a while, had grown longer, casting shadows that made his already dim eyes seem even darker.

He looked at Lin Xiangqi, not daring to speak for a long time. Afraid of saying the wrong thing again.

He had guarded Lin Xiangqi for so many years, always meticulous, never slacking. If something wasn’t foolproof, he would never casually bring it up to Lin Xiangqi.

But today, he seemed to have made a mistake. And he didn’t know how to fix it.

Lin Xiangqi looked upset.

Lu Cong wanted to hug him, to coax him, but all he could clumsily manage was, “I’m sorry…”

Lin Xiangqi laughed in exasperation. “What are you sorry for?”

Lu Cong answered honestly, “For clinging to you.”

He thought it was because he’d clung to Lin Xiangqi too tightly, leaving him no way out, forcing him to accept the idea of attending university together.

Lin Xiangqi picked up the fallen pillow from the floor and threw it at Lu Cong again. Lu Cong stood straight, letting him vent.

But Lin Xiangqi wasn’t actually angry—he was amused.

This was the first time he’d seen Lu Cong like this, acting like a complete fool, saying one stupid thing after another, utterly clueless. Where was the usual composed Alpha who had everything under control?

Lin Xiangqi lightly hit him, but Lu Cong looked as if he’d been sentenced to death, resigned to his fate.

Lin Xiangqi simply tossed the pillow aside and raised his hand.

Lu Cong still didn’t move. He thought, if Lin Xiangqi wanted to slap him, he’d take it. He was just worried Lin Xiangqi’s soft hands might hurt from the impact.

But the slap never came. Instead, Lin Xiangqi hugged him and said, “Lu Cong, you’re so stupid.”

Lu Cong’s heart raced wildly. He wrapped his arms around Lin Xiangqi, still not understanding, his brain seemingly frozen. Just as he was about to speak, Lin Xiangqi bit his shoulder and said, “Shut up. Let me talk first. Otherwise, you’ll just say the wrong thing again.”

Though Lu Cong didn’t know exactly what he’d said wrong, if Lin Xiangqi said so, it must be true. So he obediently closed his mouth.

This time, Lin Xiangqi didn’t give Lu Cong any room to overthink. He spoke quickly, “I wasn’t deliberately hiding things from you—I just wasn’t ready yet. If those plans weren’t feasible at all, telling you would’ve been pointless. I’m not as amazing as you, effortlessly handling everything, so I need a lot of time to prepare.”

“I know what you’re probably thinking: ‘What’s so important that you have to do it alone? Wouldn’t it be better to discuss it together?’ No, Lu Cong. Because every time, it’s never a real ‘discussion.’ If something goes wrong, it’s always you accommodating me. No matter how badly I mess up, you’re always there to clean up the mess. That kind of discussion is meaningless. I told you—you’ve already done so much. This time, it’s my turn.”

“This isn’t about making up for something. It’s because I want to know what I can do on my own, without relying on everything you’ve given me. What can I do for you?”

“Lu Cong, you’re amazing. So, so amazing. Sometimes, it makes me feel like your sacrifices for me are just… expected. I’ve forgotten what life was like without you. I rely on you too much, always thinking you can do anything. But I never realized that sometimes, everything I enjoy comes at the cost of your own sacrifices.”

At this point, Lu Cong stirred slightly, as if wanting to refute.

Lin Xiangqi glared at him. “No talking. Wait until I’m done.”

Lu Cong suppressed the urge and obediently stayed quiet.

Satisfied, Lin Xiangqi covered Lu Cong’s mouth and continued, “You’re always so good to me. I know that even if I turned into a pile of mud one day, you’d still pick me up and reshape me into something presentable. You spoil me more than my own parents, but you’ve never once thought about your own life.”

“Old Ban said I lack motivation in studying. That’s true, but it’s not because I’m lazy. It’s because… deep down, I might not even want to go to Capital University that badly. What I’ve always wanted was just the outcome of ‘being with you.’ And I knew that no matter what school I ended up in, you’d follow me. So I never really pushed myself.”

“But when I found out you couldn’t go to university normally, I realized—this can’t go on. It’s like I’m just dragging you down with me until there’s nowhere left to go.”

Lin Xiangqi finally reached his main point.

He hadn’t prepared a script because he hadn’t planned to tell Lu Cong all this today. He was just speaking as the thoughts came to him.

Lu Cong looked like he desperately wanted to say something but was holding back, watching Lin Xiangqi with a complicated expression.

Lin Xiangqi said, “You always say that wherever I am, you’ll be there too. But that’s not right, Lu Cong. Right now, neither of us even knows what we truly want. If I make the wrong choice, you’ll just follow me into that mistake.”

“Of course, you’d say, ‘It’s fine, even if we make the wrong choice, I’ll be there to fix it,’ right?”

“But Lu Cong, don’t underestimate me. I, Lin Xiangqi, am not so bad either. Once I set my mind to something, I can do it well.”

He lifted his chin confidently.

This time, Lu Cong couldn’t hold back. Defying Lin Xiangqi’s order, he spoke up, “Of course you can do it. I’ve never underestimated you.”

Lin Xiangqi: “Shh.”

“……” Lu Cong closed his mouth.

Lin Xiangqi took a deep breath and delivered his conclusion, “After figuring this out, I decided to change things—to stop lazily depending on you. This time, I’ll be the one to arrange everything. And you? You don’t need to think about anything. Just make any choice you want, and no matter what it is, I’ll support you.”

Lu Cong looked at him, already guessing what was coming. But hearing Lin Xiangqi say it out loud still shocked him—

“Lu Cong, if you choose the Research Institute, I’ll test into Capital University’s medical program. We might not see each other much for a few years, but after graduation, I’ll join the Research Institute immediately. We can work together in the future.”

“If you want to attend university normally, we’ll undergo a permanent mark. Dr. Tang said to wait a year, but that’s not long. We can consider retaking the exams or taking a half-year leave. Once we’re permanently marked, your pheromones won’t be so volatile anymore. Without that obstacle, Capital University would love to have someone as outstanding as you.”

“If you choose military school, I’ll apply with you. I asked Dr. Tang—getting into a military medical program might be tough for most people, but guess what? I’m an Extremely Superior Omega. If my scores are good enough, I get a lot of privileges. In military school, everyone has a higher resistance to pheromones than ordinary Betas. You won’t have to suppress yours anymore.”

Lin Xiangqi smiled at this point and added, “And if you ever go to the battlefield in the future, I’ll be your best doctor.”

Lu Cong stared at him. This was a statement shocking enough to leave him stunned, yet his expression remained calm. As if… as if he feared that any strong reaction might startle Lin Xiangqi into taking back his words.

Lin Xiangqi finished speaking in one breath, feeling much more at ease.

Though these plans were still in their infancy, and with his current grades, he couldn’t guarantee he’d get into military school or Capital University.

But the more Lin Xiangqi spoke, the more confident he became, as if this time, it would really be Lu Cong relying on him.

“Lu Cong, our relationship shouldn’t be about one person always accommodating the other, or one always following the other. We should set out together. We should leave this tiny, suffocating world behind and go farther, beyond. Believe me—this time, I won’t mess things up.”

“Right now, we might not have grand ambitions or lofty ideals. But that’s okay. Life is long—we’ll search for them. We’ll look as we walk. If we find them, we’ll climb our own peaks. If we don’t, we’ll just bask in the sun on our little path. That’s fine too!”

Honestly, this was already passionate enough. But Lin Xiangqi, as if struck by inspiration, added one last line:

“Lu Cong, this world didn’t write a happy ending for us from the start. So now, we’ll write it ourselves.”