I Heard You Only See Me as a Friend - Chapter 20

The smile was so grotesque that even with Ji Wan’s currently sluggish mental processing, he could easily tell something was wrong.

Ji Wan remained silent as the Alpha walked toward him, still grinning.

“It’s great that you’re still here,” the Alpha said with a laugh. “I was worried I’d come out too late and wouldn’t be able to catch up with you.”

Ji Wan said nothing. The Alpha didn’t seem to care; without another word, he bent down to grab Ji Wan’s shoulder. “Feeling sleepy? Come on, I’ll take you back to sleep. It’ll be very comfortable.”

Just as those hands were about to touch his shoulders, Ji Wan spoke.

“Wang Wei. When you guys went to get the drinks… you added something to mine.”

That was why he was so unnaturally exhausted. Thinking back, that was the only moment today where someone could have tampered with his drink.

Surprise flashed through Wang Wei’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a smile. He didn’t answer the question directly. Instead, he sat down next to Ji Wan and asked affectionately, “You’re a top student, so I want to ask you something… Permanently marking an Omega can get you life in prison. Rape without a permanent mark carries a sentence ranging from five to dozens of years. But do you know… how many years you get for raping a Beta?”

Ji Wan remained silent. His hand was in his pocket, fumbling by feel to turn on his phone’s voice recorder.

Wang Wei continued, “I guess the ‘Study God’ hasn’t researched this area… That’s fine, I’ll tell you. Betas can’t be marked, and their conception rate is low. If they do get pregnant, the perpetrator gets five to ten years. If there’s no pregnancy and only superficial injuries, it’s only one to three years.”

The implication was crystal clear.

Wang Wei waited to see Ji Wan break, but Ji Wan’s expression didn’t change much. He kept his eyes half-lidded, his fan-like lashes casting a shadow over his face.

“You have the Gaokao next year,” Ji Wan said.

“Thanks for the concern, but it doesn’t matter. That stuff is irrelevant,” Wang Wei laughed. “I’ll be careful not to leave evidence; I’ve already prepared the protection. When you wake up, it’ll all be over. Just consider it a bite from a stray dog.”

In his mind, he wasn’t doing anything heinous. He simply wanted to completely possess the person who had dazzled his youth. When driven by passion, what could be wrong?

“Why did you have to transfer schools so suddenly? If you hadn’t moved, I wouldn’t have had to rush and strike so soon,” Wang Wei murmured. He didn’t care if Ji Wan understood. Now that the mask was off, Wang Wei didn’t intend to hold back any longer.

He covered Ji Wan’s mouth with one hand to prevent him from screaming and used the other to drag him up, heading toward a secluded corner where the lights were dim, there were no pedestrians, and no surveillance cameras.

He knew the drug he had used better than anyone. He knew exactly when it would take effect and when the victim would be unable to resist. He had been talking earlier just to stall for time, waiting for the drug to sink deeper into Ji Wan’s system.

By now, Ji Wan should have no strength left and be on the verge of falling asleep.

As the goal he had craved for so long was finally within reach, the Alpha’s movements became crude. Once they reached the secluded corner, Wang Wei immediately pushed Ji Wan to the ground. He hungrily grabbed Ji Wan’s slender ankle, intending to spread his legs and pull him into a suitable position.

However, the skin in his grip was slightly cool and as smooth as warm jade. For a moment, the sensation made him daze, and he instinctively squeezed tighter.

By the dim light, Wang Wei saw Ji Wan’s eyes half-open. His long lashes fluttered, and his usually cold face was now tinged with pain, his eyes shimmering with moisture.

“Gentler… it hurts,” Ji Wan whispered.

No one could bear to refuse a small request from a beauty. Wang Wei stared at Ji Wan’s face, lost his focus for a split second, and loosened his grip.

In the next heartbeat, a surge of agonizing pain erupted from his crotch.

The pain shot straight to his skull. Wang Wei let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed, curling into a ball on the ground while clutching himself.

Ji Wan had been quiet and cooperative for so long just… waiting for the perfect moment to strike?

Livid, Wang Wei tried to grab Ji Wan again, but the kick had been merciless. The heart-wrenching pain made it impossible for him to get up.

Ji Wan scrambled to his feet, delivered another kick to the curled-up man’s injured area for good measure, and staggered away.

He couldn’t stay here. Only Wang Wei had appeared so far; he didn’t know why the other one hadn’t shown up. If the second Alpha arrived, his chances of escape would be truly microscopic.

However, life often brings exactly what one fears most. In the distance, Ji Wan saw the silhouette of the second Alpha.

That Alpha clearly hadn’t expected him to be running. Once he realized what was happening, he immediately sprinted toward Ji Wan.

“Stop right there!” the Alpha shouted.

Ji Wan obviously wouldn’t stop, but the drugged drink left him weak and his vision was blurring. Was he really going to be bitten by a ‘dog’ here?

Ji Wan closed his eyes. As he rounded a corner, he slammed into a solid chest.

He couldn’t see the person’s face clearly, but he recognized the familiar scent of laundry detergent on the clothes.

“Why are you running so fast—” Feng Jin was knocked back a step. He instinctively caught Ji Wan in his arms. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, he sensed something wrong.

On Ji Wan’s body, there was the scent of another Alpha’s pheromones.

That Alpha must have been in very close contact with Ji Wan and been in a state of high agitation to smear such a large amount of pheromones onto him.

As an Alpha, Feng Jin knew exactly what circumstances would cause one to release such a heavy dose of pheromones.

Feng Jin’s heart tightened. He locked eyes with Ji Wan, who had just looked up. Those beautiful eyes were still wet with unshed tears.

Ji Wan gripped Feng Jin’s clothes, fighting the urge to pass out. “There are people behind… they…”

Feng Jin saw the person chasing them. He narrowed his eyes, a layer of frost filling his dark pupils, but he still reached out to pat Ji Wan’s back soothingly. “It’s okay. Leave it to me.”

Those words acted like a key, unlocking Ji Wan’s tensed nerves. He closed his eyes and instantly fell into a deep sleep.

When Ji Wan woke up again, he saw a vast expanse of white.

He blinked and realized he was in a hospital. He was lying on a bed, an IV needle in his hand, receiving fluids.

“You’re awake?”

Ji Wan startled and looked to the side. He found Feng Jin sitting by the bed.

Feng Jin’s expression was terrifyingly grim. Uncontrollable pheromones were flowing slowly through the air. If anyone else were in this room, they might have been scared weak by his presence. But Ji Wan was still a bit slow; he just blinked and nodded.

Feng Jin had a dozen angry questions at the tip of his tongue, but he eventually just crossed his arms. “You were drugged. I brought you to the hospital.”

“Thank you.” Ji Wan looked down at his hand resting on the quilt. He paused, then repeated, “Thank you.”

If Feng Jin hadn’t arrived in time, he wouldn’t be lying here safely. A crime committed by acquaintances… I was too careless after all.

Ji Wan asked, “Those people—”

“They’re at the police station,” Feng Jin sneered. “I won’t let them off easy.”

Ji Wan was surprised. Logically, there shouldn’t have been enough grounds to send them to the station since they hadn’t actually caused him physical harm yet.

Feng Jin seemed to read his confusion and explained, “I checked the surveillance from when you were eating. The two of them putting things in your glass was caught on camera.”

Ironclad evidence. One sweep, and they were gone.

Ji Wan: “…That fast? You can access that footage?”

Feng Jin: “The restaurant is under my family’s group.”

Ji Wan went silent. Drowsiness began to wash over him again.

Feng Jin said expressionlessly, “The doctor said you’ll still be sleepy. If you’re tired, sleep. I’m leaving.”

Ji Wan didn’t force himself to keep talking. In truth, Feng Jin looked like he didn’t want to talk at all right now. Ji Wan closed his eyes and soon fell back into a deep sleep.

However, Feng Jin didn’t leave as he had said. In the quiet hospital room, his gaze fell silently on Ji Wan.

Perhaps feeling hot, Ji Wan hadn’t covered himself completely. One leg was poking out from the quilt, his loose trousers pushed up by friction to reveal a slender ankle.

The skin there was originally flawless, but now it bore a bruise a distinct mark of a handprint.

Feng Jin’s eyes lingered on that handprint for a moment before he finally closed his eyes, unable to bear it. His chest heaved several times. He stood up, gripped Ji Wan’s ankle, and placed his own hand exactly over that bruised print.

Ji Wan let out a soft moan in his sleep, but Feng Jin didn’t let go. He held the ankle firmly but without force until the skin there was warmed by his own body heat and stained with his pheromones. Only then did he release his grip and tuck Ji Wan back under the quilt.