MVCFO CH9

Lin Xiangqi didn’t know when he had lost consciousness.

He wasn’t even sure whether he had passed out because his glands were too weak or because Lu Cong’s marking was too intense.

By the time he woke up, it was nearly dark outside.

Which meant—after being temporarily marked and fainting, he had been lying in the hospital bed for five hours!

The moment Lin Xiangqi opened his eyes, Lu Cong got up from the companion’s sofa and walked over to take his temperature. “How are you feeling?”

Lin Xiangqi scratched his cheek a little shyly. “Not bad. The marking was more comfortable than I expected.”

“…That’s not what I meant.” Seeing his carefree attitude, Lu Cong looked a bit helpless. “You had a fever just now.”

“Oh, right.”

Lin Xiangqi had already heard from Tang Luyu that it was common for an Omega to develop a fever after receiving a temporary mark for the first time.

If it had been a fully-developed Omega, they might have gone into heat. But his glands were special, so that was unlikely. The high fever, however, was inevitable.

Thankfully, he didn’t feel too bad. “I think I’m fine now. I’ll say hi to Dr. Tang and head home.”

“Mm.” Lu Cong reached out to brush away a strand of hair that had fallen in front of his eyes. His gaze lingered on Lin Xiangqi’s neck for a moment—dark and unreadable—before quickly looking away. “You got a few calls this afternoon.”

Lin Xiangqi was quite popular at school. Since he hadn’t attended class all day on Friday, it was normal that someone would call to check in. So he didn’t think much of it and got out of bed, putting on his jacket. He casually asked, “Who was it?”

He thought it would be his desk mate, Chen Qiutian, who was always chatting with him, or maybe those “war gods” from the back of the classroom who loved copying homework with him and then getting punished together.

Until Lu Cong replied flatly with a name: “Shen Qiaolan.”

Lin Xiangqi froze.

His surprise was written all over his face.

Even though he already knew from the original story that Shen Qiaolan had feelings for him early on, Lin Xiangqi clearly remembered that at this point in the timeline, Shen Qiaolan hadn’t realized his own feelings and was still too prideful to call and show concern.

Of course, he couldn’t ignore what had happened the previous morning—while he was at the hospital for a checkup, Lu Cong and Shen Qiaolan had released pheromones at each other at school in a standoff. That episode was already a deviation from the original plot.

Maybe that change in the story caused a shift in Shen Qiaolan’s personality too? Had Lu Cong’s pheromones knocked something loose, prompting him to show concern for Lin Xiangqi?

Unless Shen Qiaolan had lost his mind, Lin Xiangqi really couldn’t think of another reason why he would randomly call on such a lovely Saturday.

But Lin Xiangqi’s opinion of Shen Qiaolan could now be summed up in one sentence: fake and messed up.

He had no interest in why Shen Qiaolan had called and didn’t intend to respond. He took the phone from Lu Cong without even glancing at the screen and shoved it into his pocket.

Lu Cong raised an eyebrow at him. “You’re not calling back?”

Lin Xiangqi nodded. “Nope.”

Lu Cong said nothing more.

No matter what Lin Xiangqi’s reasons were for not returning the call, to Lu Cong, it was already a form of progress.

Because not long ago, Lin Xiangqi had been asking him for advice on writing love letters—and would even run every message he wanted to send Shen Qiaolan past Lu Cong first.

Even though Lu Cong had zero experience with romance and never actually offered helpful suggestions, Lin Xiangqi insisted on dragging him into discussions about Shen Qiaolan.

By comparison, this change was already heartening.

Before they left the hospital, Dr. Tang Luyu applied an Omega-specific blocking patch to Lin Xiangqi’s neck and gave him a whole new box of them.

This particular model was expensive because it was multi-functional—it could be used immediately after a marking, offering disinfection, cooling, rapid healing, and fading of bite marks.

Tang Luyu gave them generously—but, of course, charged Lu Cong.

Lin Xiangqi felt like it was a waste to use such high-end products. “My glands haven’t differentiated yet, and I don’t release pheromones. I probably don’t need them, right?”

Tang Luyu and Lu Cong both looked at him.

Lin Xiangqi blinked. “What?”

Tang Luyu said, “Haven’t you noticed that you smell completely like Lu Cong’s pheromones?”

“Oh.” Of course Lin Xiangqi had noticed, but he’d almost gotten used to being wrapped in Lu Cong’s scent, so he’d stopped thinking about it.

“For about 24 hours after a temporary mark, you’ll carry the Alpha’s scent. And you know Lu Cong’s pheromones are… unique. Other people will feel uncomfortable if they catch a whiff. Besides, do you really want everyone who passes by to know…”

Tang Luyu lowered his voice and leaned in to whisper, “That you’ve been marked by a very aggressive Alpha?”

It was supposed to be a normal reminder, but coming from Tang Luyu in that ambiguous tone, Lin Xiangqi’s ears instantly turned red. He took a small step back.

And ended up right in front of Lu Cong, who steadied him with a hand on his back.

“So…,” Lin Xiangqi cleared his throat and nodded. “I’ll put on a patch every time after I get marked.”

He even turned to remind Lu Cong, “If I forget, you have to remind me.”

Lu Cong didn’t reply, but his hand rested on Lin Xiangqi’s shoulder, and his slender fingers brushed lightly over the gland under the patch, circling it gently.

Lin Xiangqi poked his arm. “Did you hear me?”

Lu Cong withdrew his gaze from Lin Xiangqi’s gland and responded obediently, “Okay.”

By the time they got home, the sky was completely dark.

The two of them walked to the door and, without needing to discuss it, headed into Lu Cong’s yard together.

Lin Xiangqi and Lu Cong lived in two small adjoining houses on an old street. From the outside, the buildings looked nearly identical—homes built collectively by the older generation.

With the city’s rapid development, many neighbors had moved away over the years. The self-built houses had been torn down or renovated—some turned into small shops, others made into green spaces.

Only three or four households still remained on the street.

Among them were Lin Xiangqi and Lu Cong.

Lu Cong’s parents were both high-ranking officials and had been busy with work for as long as he could remember. When he was young, they sent him back to live in the old family house. His maternal grandparents were still alive then and took care of him, so the house didn’t feel empty.

Later, after the grandparents passed away, a series of urgent military conflicts broke out among the alliance nations. As a lieutenant general, Lu Huo naturally rushed to the frontlines, and Qi Ye often had to travel as well.

The couple considered moving Lu Cong to the capital, where his paternal grandparents lived in a military compound. The idea was that the elderly couple could help look after him while they were busy.

But for some reason, they never followed through.

After much discussion, they ultimately allowed fourteen-year-old Lu Cong to stay behind alone in the old house.

Some believed this was the parents’ way of fostering his independence, but others had heard that it was Lu Cong himself who insisted on staying. The exact reason was unknown.

As for Lin Xiangqi—he lived there simply because he had nowhere else to go.

When he was fourteen, both his parents died in an accident, leaving behind a substantial inheritance and a house.

In the beginning, quite a few relatives, eyeing the inheritance, claimed they could adopt and take care of Lin Xiangqi. But Lin Xiangqi refused them all. With the help of Lu Cong’s parents, he successfully secured both the inheritance and the house.

In the years since, he had lived alone, guarding the old house.

It sounded lonely, but Lin Xiangqi wasn’t the least bit lonely.

Because next door lived someone in a similar situation—Lu Cong.

They were both just boys, guarding homes far too big for them.

So over the years, they kept each other company and were never truly alone.

Lin Xiangqi stepped through the courtyard gate before Lu Cong, moving about the place like he had returned to his own home.

As if by habit, he reached up and plucked the last withered autumn leaf from one of the old trees in the yard, planning to take it back and use it as a bookmark. Lu Cong was long used to his behavior.

Lin Xiangqi entered the house, happily changed his shoes, and the first thing he did was turn on the TV. Then he tore open all kinds of snacks laid out on the coffee table—his favorites—and began to indulge.

He had napped the entire afternoon and clearly wasn’t going to feel sleepy tonight. Since that was the case, he might as well enjoy himself.

After finishing a pack of popping candy, he pulled out his phone to start playing a game.

But the fun didn’t last two minutes.

Lu Cong appeared behind the sofa and handed him a stack of test papers.

Lin Xiangqi: “?”

Lu Cong: “Weekend homework.”

Lin Xiangqi’s vision darkened: “Where’d you get these papers? Didn’t you also go home early on Friday?”

“I stopped by the office before I left,” Lu Cong said, stuffing the papers into Lin Xiangqi’s arms. “They’re from all the teachers. I grabbed a set for you too.”

Lin Xiangqi fell back onto the sofa in frustration, the test papers spreading across his face: “Such kind intentions… keep them for yourself.”

“It’s our final year, Yan Yan.” Lu Cong leaned down, resting his elbow on the back of the sofa as he looked at him leisurely. “Don’t you still want to get into Capital University?”

Catching him off guard, he’d used his childhood nickname. Lin Xiangqi suddenly felt like he was being pampered and couldn’t stay angry.

But he still didn’t want to give in.

He hated doing worksheets!

“Tomorrow, I’ll do them tomorrow.” Lin Xiangqi peeked out from beneath the papers with wide, mischievous eyes and spoke in a soft, coaxing voice, “You just marked me, I’m so tired, so sleepy, my whole body’s sore. Let me rest, and I promise I’ll do them tomorrow…”

But Lu Cong exposed him with one line: “I’m marking you again tomorrow.”

His ruse uncovered, Lin Xiangqi glared resentfully: “You wicked thing.”

Lu Cong coaxed, “Do them tonight. If you get stuck, I can explain.”

“What if I don’t understand anything?” Lin Xiangqi tried to weasel his way out.

Lu Cong said patiently, “Then I’ll explain everything.”

There was no getting out of it now—Lu Cong was clearly doing it for his sake.

Lin Xiangqi didn’t have Lu Cong’s grades, nor his family background. He was all alone. Everything he had, he had to fight for himself.

Given all that, if he didn’t work hard, his future would be bleak.

Lin Xiangqi let out a heavy sigh, sat up abruptly with the worksheets in hand.

But just then, something struck him. He looked at Lu Cong.

Feeling his gaze, Lu Cong raised his eyebrows: “Hmm?”

“Lu Cong, do you really want to apply to Capital University with me?”

The question came out of nowhere.

Years ago, they had made a promise to go to Capital University together. Lu Cong had always supported this idea, showing full commitment and consistently excellent grades—though truthfully, he probably would’ve had those grades with or without the promise. At least his attitude had always been serious.

But suddenly, Lin Xiangqi remembered that in the original plot, Lu Cong never even took the college entrance exam. Instead, he accepted an invitation from a military academy and left the city. If nothing went wrong, he was destined to become the youngest general in the alliance’s history—gaining fame, power, and a brilliant future that most people could only dream of.

Lin Xiangqi knew that Lu Cong missing the entrance exam was due to a tangled mess of misunderstandings and interference from that lunatic Shen Qiaolan.

Still, no matter the reason, the story made it clear that Lu Cong was much better suited for the military academy.

He had physical strength far beyond that of the average Alpha, an extraordinarily powerful pheromone, and a father who was already a general to guide him. Staying behind to take the exam just didn’t seem like the smart choice.

“Why not?” Lu Cong asked in return. “Capital University is the best option right now.”

“It’s the best option for me,” Lin Xiangqi didn’t let him deflect. He leaned closer, resting on the sofa and tilting his chin upward, studying Lu Cong intently. “But for you, there are much better choices.”

Lu Cong said, “Is that so? I don’t think so.”

Lin Xiangqi narrowed his eyes and abruptly changed tactics: “If you weren’t aiming for Capital University, where would you want to go?”

“You first,” Lu Cong replied quickly, but didn’t answer.

Lin Xiangqi said, “Don’t answer a question with a question.”

“I don’t really have any other thoughts,” Lu Cong replied.

“Uncle Lu is a general, and Aunt Qi is a top scientist,” Lin Xiangqi pressed. “Don’t you want to follow in their footsteps? You’ve got a promising future ahead.”

Lu Cong looked at him and suddenly gave a soft laugh. Lin Xiangqi, annoyed, grabbed the front of his shirt and demanded, “Say it!”

“You just said it yourself—that’s their path,” Lu Cong raised his hand and placed it gently over Lin Xiangqi’s, not pushing him away. “I have my own path to follow.”

Hearing that, Lin Xiangqi was struck with admiration. He immediately looked at Lu Cong in a new light and asked, “Then what’s your path?”

Lu Cong said, “Now it’s your turn to answer.”

Lin Xiangqi: “Huh?”

Lu Cong: “If you weren’t aiming for Capital University, where would you go?”

With Lin Xiangqi’s current grades, Capital University was still a bit of a stretch. Lu Cong believed he was smart—if he studied seriously, he’d definitely get in.

Still… it never hurt to have a backup plan.

“I think I can get in,” Lin Xiangqi said, confidence fueled by his knowledge of the original story.

He had received an admission letter from Capital University—only to drop dead shortly before registration.

But now he couldn’t help wondering: What if he didn’t get in?

Suddenly, inspiration struck: “If I flunk the exam, I’ll sell egg pancakes.”

Lu Cong was stunned: “What?”

That really was a dramatic shift from Capital University.

“You know the guy selling egg pancakes at the school gate with his little cart? He told me that on good days, he can make tens of thousands a month.”

Lin Xiangqi was completely immersed in his fantasy. “I’d push a cart out, eat half the batch myself, and still turn a profit.”

Lu Cong: “……”

He concluded that Lin Xiangqi clearly had no backup plan besides Capital University.

Then Lin Xiangqi, undeterred, threw the question back at Lu Cong: “You still haven’t said. If you didn’t go to Capital University, what would you do?”

Lu Cong looked at him with a serious expression.

Lin Xiangqi thought he was speechless—probably because the conversation had derailed completely and made no sense.

And given Lu Cong’s background, even if he made no plans at all, the Lu family had enough resources to support any path he took.

Lin Xiangqi waved it off and was about to drop the subject.

Then he heard Lu Cong reply solemnly—

“I’d sell roasted sweet potatoes next to your cart.”