Chapter 114 But Which One to Say?

Chapter 114: But Which Secret Should I Tell?

"Do you like this one?"

Fu Zhangzhou nudged the takeout container of grilled skewers towards him.

"No…"

Fang Ran instinctively reached out to stop it but accidentally knocked over the coffee cup in front of him.

The cup instantly toppled, spilling coffee all over the table and splashing a good deal onto his own clothes.

"......"

The two exchanged a silent glance.

At moments like this, the news broadcast from the side seemed particularly loud.

The anchor's articulation remained perfectly clear.

"According to data, an increasing number of young Sentinels and Guides are choosing direct marking. While marking, as a method of permanent bonding, carries certain risks, it also…"

Marking.

Marking again.

Fang Ran felt his throat go dry, a sudden surge of irritation flaring within him.

"I'm going to change."

Without waiting for Fu Zhangzhou's reaction, he stood up, grabbed the T-shirt from the bed, and hurried into the bathroom.

After hanging up the clothes, he locked the bathroom door.

A faint mist still lingered in the bathroom, and the mirror above the sink was covered with a thin film of condensation.

Fang Ran wiped it with his hand, and a slightly flushed face gradually appeared in the reflection.

"......"

He thought with a touch of annoyance.

Why did I even try to block it? It only made things more obvious.

Fang Ran sighed, turned on the faucet, bent down to splash cold water on his face, then closed his eyes and reached for the towel on the rack.

Just as he was about to wipe his face, a distinct Sentinel scent enveloped him.

His eyes snapped open.

For someone as sensitive to scents as Fang Ran, he could clearly distinguish everyone's unique aroma.

Besides, half the towel was damp, and Zhong Wan wasn't around, so it was obvious who had just used it…

"......"

*This* is what "accidental" truly means, unlike someone who always spouts nonsense and lies without a second thought.

It was only then that he realized, perhaps because the Sentinel had just showered, not only was his scent strong on the towel, but the entire bathroom was permeated with it, mingled with Fang Ran's own pheromones.

The two scents blended together, creating an ambiguous, somewhat disorienting atmosphere.

Fang Ran felt his face heating up again.

And it wasn't just his face… He instinctively touched the slight bulge at the back of his neck.

His gland was also feeling warm…

This isn't right.

Isn't it still too early?

Could it be that the earlier atmosphere was so ambiguous it caused him to imagine things? After all, Omegas are easily influenced by their partners.

But then he remembered what Fu Zhangzhou had said in the garden earlier that day.

"That night, you told me a secret."

What secret?

It couldn't be that he was so delirious with fever that night that he told Fu Zhangzhou… that he was an Omega, could it?

The more he thought about it, the more flustered he became. He quickly changed his clothes and opened the bathroom door.

The temperature outside was slightly cooler than in the bathroom, and Fang Ran took a deep breath.

He was wearing his sleeping T-shirt—thin, with a somewhat loose neckline.

His dog had seen him like this countless times, but Fu Zhangzhou hadn't.

He wasn't in his spiritual body form now.

Although strictly speaking, they were the same person, Fang Ran always felt there was a subtle difference. Besides, with just the two of them here now… it was far too ambiguous.

Fu Zhangzhou had already cleaned up the table, putting lids on all the takeout containers, seemingly waiting for him.

Hearing the footsteps, he turned around and looked at the slightly flustered Fang Ran.

"Come over quickly, the food is getting cold."

The Sentinel's expression was perfectly normal, and he didn't ask why it had taken so long to change clothes.

Fang Ran breathed a quiet sigh of relief, slowly walked back to his side, and sat down.

Just then, the terminal on the table vibrated.

Fang Ran's gaze shifted to the screen.

It was a message from Zhong Wan!

His heart leaped—were Zhong Wan and Lu Wenchuan coming back?

Perfect! The atmosphere tonight was far too ambiguous; he desperately needed someone to help break the tension.

But when he opened the message, the content wasn't what he had hoped for.

At the top of the message was another large photo—a selfie of Zhong Wan and Lu Wenchuan.

Behind them, the night market was brilliantly lit and bustling with crowds, as if some event was taking place.

Lu Wenchuan's expression was not as cold as usual, and beside him, Zhong Wan was laughing heartily.

"Fang Ran, Lu Wenchuan and I will be back later."

"We lucked out and caught a local event here—so lucky!"

Lucky?

But he wasn’t feeling lucky at all…

He couldn’t shake the feeling that someone nearby was eyeing him like a hawk. Maybe… he could bluff this guy into thinking Zhong Wan and Lu Wenchuan were about to return, so they’d cool it a bit.

But just as he was about to speak, the Sentinel said:

"Oh, so they went to the night market?"

Fu Zhangzhou actually leaned in closer. "This photo is pretty well taken. It seems the night market in District 5 has some cool stuff too."

"......"

This person smelled just like he did in the bathroom earlier.

He was too close.

"Fu Zhangzhou," Fang Ran nudged him, "let’s eat first."

"Alright."

The Sentinel quickly unpacked all the takeout containers and arranged them neatly, then unwrapped two sets of disposable utensils. Besides the sandwich and grilled skewers from before, there was also a salad, a fried pork cutlet, and two portions of creamy baked rice.

It was quite a spread, but the half sandwich he had put back earlier was missing.

Fang Ran automatically looked at the trash bin nearby—it was empty.

The Sentinel seemed to guess what he was thinking and grinned, "I ate the other half of the sandwich you left earlier."

He said casually, "Can’t let it go to waste."

"Oh." Fang Ran responded, not sure how to respond, and could only add, "Dig in."

"Alright."

For a moment, the only noise in the room came from the TV.

The news broadcast had ended, and surprisingly, an art-house film was now playing on the screen.

Amid the melancholic music of the movie, Fang Ran and Fu Zhangzhou finally began their dinner.

The food from the District 5 restaurant was pretty decent.

Fang Ran ate his creamy baked rice while keeping an eye on the man beside him.

The Sentinel’s table manners were rather elegant—unhurried and very proper, quite different from his usual demeanor.

He couldn’t help but steal a few more glances.

Fu Zhangzhou immediately caught him looking and asked with a smile, "What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?"

"No."

Fang Ran shook his head.

The atmosphere seemed okay now—should he bring up that question again?

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to ask.

"Fu Zhangzhou, earlier today in the garden, you said that on the night I had a fever… I told you a secret."

"What was it, exactly?"

Fu Zhangzhou seemed to have seen this coming. Unhurriedly, he set down his utensils and wiped his mouth.

"Didn’t I say…" he said with a sly grin, "I have conditions?"

Fang Ran locked eyes with the Sentinel for a moment, getting uncomfortable under his gaze.

"Stop teasing me, just tell me."

"Mhm." Fu Zhangzhou nodded. "I can tell you—I’m all ears for my Guide."

"But which one should I tell?"

"Fang Ran, that night, you spilled more than one secret."