Chapter 105: Leaving You a Mark to Remember Longer

It was almost as if he’d said that just getting up casually made him less than human! But Zhang Can didn’t dare to joke around with Zhou Nan at a time like this—she was so tense that even a spark could set her off. Frowning, he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and said earnestly, “Zhou Nan, heaven is my witness, I absolutely did not do... that thing. I swear it!”

“I knew you wouldn’t admit it! Fine, then I’ll ask you!” Zhou Nan sneered coldly. “When you were delirious with fever up on the mountain, you kept saying you were thirsty. Later, did you feel like you actually drank some water?”

Zhang Can thought for a moment, then nodded. “Yes, it seemed like I drank water. I was burning up, but then my mouth and throat felt cool, like I had been drinking water. But I thought it was just a dream.”

“Hmph, a dream? There was nothing then—I was the one who used my mouth to feed you water back and forth!” Zhou Nan said bitterly. “Even though times are more open now, I’m still traditional. You took my first kiss, and you won’t even admit it?”

Zhang Can was truly embarrassed. He hurriedly opened the door and slipped inside. Naturally, Zhou Nan followed him in. Zhang Can quickly shut the door tightly. If the neighbors saw this, or worse, Su Xue caught sight of it, he’d surely be ridiculed.

“Are you scared? If you’re afraid, that means you feel guilty. Feeling guilty means you have something to hide!” Zhou Nan pressed relentlessly, not letting up on Zhang Can.

But once inside the room, with no one else around, Zhang Can grew bolder and paid little attention to Zhou Nan. He said, “Zhou Nan, I really don’t think I did that because I have no memory of it. And without memory, it doesn’t count.”

As he spoke, Zhang Can busied himself packing their clothes into three large suitcases.

Zhou Nan watched him work intently. Zhang Can gave a wry smile and said, “Zhou Nan, you better leave. I’m moving out of this place.”

Seeing Zhang Can’s resolute stance, Zhou Nan’s face suddenly went pale. For someone as proud as her, being rejected so coldly shook her deeply. She said nothing but trembled.

Zhang Can glanced over and saw her pale face and heaving chest. She was clearly furious, but truthfully, he also felt some pity. She was a woman who had risked her life to protect him—how could he not feel some tenderness for her?

Though his identity and family circumstances prevented him from being with her, it didn’t mean he couldn’t protect and care for her. But Zhou Nan was both clever and sensitive, so Zhang Can had to hide his feelings. Whether his rejection hurt her, he couldn’t fully prevent. After all, rejection itself is a kind of pain.

He also knew that if he truly tried to be with Zhou Nan, he would hurt even more people—and perhaps himself. The powers behind her family could easily crush him with any force they wielded.

Even a small town mayor could rule his people harshly; a major city’s top figure was far more formidable. Zhang Can didn’t dare assume that all opposition came from Zhou Nan’s father alone. Any member of her family could use their connections to make his life unbearable. To bring him down would be easier than threading a needle—sometimes just a glance or a subtle sign could mobilize countless people against him.

Even if he ignored himself, he had to consider his family. His sister and Liu Xiaoqin’s family were here. Besides, how could he now harm Liu Xiaoqin?

After placing the suitcases in the living room, Zhang Can finally invited Zhou Nan to sit down and spoke gently, “Zhou Nan, I believe you are very smart. I only need to hint a little, and you’ll understand. We don’t match. It’s not that I don’t like you—it’s because of our different education levels, tastes, and everything else. There’s a big gap between us. If I insisted on being with you no matter what, it would actually hurt both of us. If I were truly with you, it would also hurt Liu Xiaoqin. Do you think I’d be someone you admire if I dumped her to be with you? And if I did that, what happens when I meet someone better or stronger than you? Would I dump you then?”

Zhou Nan had begun to calm down and think clearly. Hearing this, she tried to keep her tone even as she answered, “Hmm, you’re more old-fashioned than I thought. Let me tell you some facts. First, I’ve investigated a bit. When we were kidnapped that time, you and Liu Xiaoqin weren’t as close as you are now. She hadn’t come here yet. And although you had an engagement with her back home, you had already rejected her when you left. Before coming to Jin City, you didn’t know you’d ever be involved with her again, right?”

As she spoke, Zhou Nan thought carefully, analyzing more clearly the more calm she became.

Zhang Can was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to have investigated him so thoroughly. No wonder she hadn’t shown up these days—she was prepared.

Zhou Nan thought for a moment, then added, “Actually, you think you and Liu Xiaoqin are the most suitable for each