Chapter 69. ’Help’ to feel better

Chapter 69: 69. ’Help’ to feel better

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER

The warmth kept building, and I shifted uncomfortably beneath the blankets.

"I really don’t like this."I groaned.

"Come here, Wei."Lang Li’s expression immediately softened.

Before I could ask what he meant, he gently pulled me onto his lap, supporting me carefully so I wouldn’t lose my balance.

"Lang Li!"I gasped.

"You’re uncomfortable. Sit still for a moment."He said.

His arms remained securely around me, more protective than anything else. My face immediately became hot.

"DING." The system appeared. "RELATIONSHIP STATUS UPDATED. LANG LI and WEI: 70%. SONG HUE and WEI: 35%. EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT: RAPIDLY INCREASING."

"SEVENTY?!"I stared at the screen.

"Is that important?"Lang Li blinked.

"No!"I yelled.

Across the room, Song Hue stared at Lang Li.

"Why did his increase so much?"He asked.

REASON: PROTECTIVE BEHAVIOR + TRUST + PROXIMITY." The system answered immediately.

"That seems unfair."Song Hue’s expression became extremely displeased.

"Life isn’t fair." Lang Li calmly replied.

"Neither is that system."Song Hue frowned.

Before they could start arguing, the doors opened. Mei Lin walked in carrying a large tray.

"Emergency food delivery!"She said.

"I told her Wei probably wouldn’t want a banquet."Han Jin followed behind her with another tray.

"It’s not a banquet." Mei Lin protested. "It’s snacks."

She placed the trays on the table. There were steamed buns, fruit, sweet rice cakes, pastries, warm soup, and several little honey filled sweets.

"Those are for me?"My eyes immediately brightened.

"Obviously." Mei Lin smiled. "You looked miserable earlier, so I brought reinforcements."

"You’re officially my favorite person."I reached for a sweet.

"I thought I was."Han Jin raised an eyebrow.

"You are."Mei Lin immediately handed him a pastry.

Han Jin smiled, Song Hue watched them, Lang Li looked at the food. I happily ate the sweet while sitting safely against Lang Li.

"HOST COMFORT: INCREASING. SNACK EFFECTIVENESS: 94%. SYSTEM CONCLUSION: FOOD REMAINS SUPERIOR TO ROYAL DRAMA."The System appeared again.

"For once, you’re absolutely right."I nodded.

I was still sitting on Lang Li’s lap, trying to pretend my face wasn’t burning, when another wave of warmth made me shift uncomfortably.

"Your shoulders are tense."Lang Li noticed immediately.

"I am fine." I said.

"You have said that several times." Lang Li said.

"And I mean it every time." I sighed.

He gave me a skeptical look before gently placing his hands on my shoulders.

"Relax." Lang Li said.

"What are you doing?"I blinked.

"Helping." His thumbs carefully worked over the tense muscles near my shoulders.

The pressure was gentle, and after a few seconds, I felt myself relax despite my embarrassment.

"Oh..." Mei Lin watched from the table. Her cheeks slowly turned pink. "That’s... surprisingly sweet."

"You are blushing."Han Jin glanced at her.

"I am not!" Mei Lin said.

"You are."Lang Li said louder.

"I am not!"Mei Lin gasped.

Across the room, Song Hue watched Lang Li for several seconds before walking over.

"Move."He said.

"No."Lang Li looked up.

"I can help too."He said.

"I didn’t ask."Lang Li shook his head.

Song Hue ignored him and carefully began massaging one of my shoulders.

"Are you two seriously competing over who can give me a shoulder massage?"I stared between them.

Neither answered. Mei Lin covered her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh.

"This is ridiculous."She laughed.

"Very."Han Jin nodded.

"DING. LANG LI and WEI: 70%. SONG HUE and WEI: 35%. CURRENT ACTIVITY: COOPERATIVE COMFORTING. SYSTEM: Unexpectedly wholesome."The system suddenly appeared.

"Please don’t describe everything."I groaned.

"Sorry, Wei."Mei Lin finally burst out laughing.

"This is officially the most embarrassing day of my life."I sank deeper into the blankets.

"At least you’re comfortable."Lang Li smiled faintly.

"That’s what matters."Song Hue nodded.

For once, neither prince argued, and somehow, that was even stranger.

For several moments, nobody said anything. I sat there surrounded by blankets, cushions, sweets, and two princes who had apparently decided that competing over who could make me more comfortable was a perfectly reasonable way to spend an evening. Lang Li’s hands remained gently on my shoulders, his thumbs slowly working away the tension there. Song Hue was on my other side, carefully massaging my shoulder as well.

"This is strange."I closed my eyes.

"Why?" Lang Li asked.

"Because you’re both being unusually cooperative."I said.

"Don’t ruin it."Song Hue gave him a sideways glance.

"I wasn’t planning to."Lang Li said.

"Are you two actually agreeing?"I opened one eye.

"No." They said simultaneously.

"Of course."I sighed.

Mei Lin was sitting across from us with a cup of tea. She had been watching the entire situation for several minutes, and her cheeks were still faintly pink.

"You are staring."Han Jin leaned toward her.

"I am observing."Mei Lin said.

"Very intensely." Han Jin said.

"I am making sure Wei is comfortable."Mei Lin said.

"Of course."Han Jin smiled.

"Don’t start."Mei Lin immediately looked away.

I couldn’t help laughing. The sound made both princes pause.

"You laughed." Lang Li said quietly.

"So?"I asked.

"It’s good."Lang Li said.

His voice had become softer as I looked at him. There was no teasing in his expression now. His golden eyes were simply watching me with concern. The warmth inside me hadn’t disappeared, but the massage and the food had made it much easier to tolerate.

"Thank you." I murmured.

"You don’t have to thank me."Lang Li’s expression softened even further.

"He’s right."Song Hue nodded.

"Did the two of you just agree again?"I looked between them.

"No."They immediately looked at each other.

I laughed again.

"This is ridiculous."Mei Lin covered her mouth.

"I think it is entertaining."Han Jin calmly ate another pastry.

"You aren’t helping."Mei Lin said.

"I am aware."Han Jin said.

"DING. HEAT STATUS: ACTIVE. HOST COMFORT: 76%. EMOTIONAL DISTRESS: DECREASING. CURRENT COMFORT SOURCES: FOOD, REST, SAFE COMPANY."The system suddenly appeared above the table.

"That’s actually useful."I nodded approvingly.

"ADDITIONAL DATA: LANG LI COMFORT. CONTRIBUTION: HIGH. SONG HUE COMFORT CONTRIBUTION: MODERATE."The system flickered.

"Why is his higher?"Song Hue immediately frowned.

"Perhaps I’m better at it."Lang Li’s mouth curved upward.

"Don’t get arrogant."Song Hue said.

"I wasn’t."Lang Li said.

"You were."Song Hue said.

"Please don’t turn my recovery into another competition."I groaned.

Both princes immediately stopped.

"Sorry." Lang Li said.

"Understood."Song Hue nodded.

"Good."My mother, who had been standing nearby, smiled faintly.

She approached and adjusted the blanket around my shoulders.

"Remember, Wei, your heat isn’t something you need to fight through. Rest when you need to. Eat when you’re hungry. Drink plenty of water. And if you become uncomfortable, tell us." Mei Lin said.

"Okay."I nodded.

"And if you want everyone to leave..."Mei Lin began.

"I will make sure they leave."I looked at the two princes.

"Do you want me to go?"Lang Li immediately looked alarmed.

I hesitated. The warmth made me tired, and despite my embarrassment, having someone nearby was comforting.

"No."I said.

Lang Li’s shoulders relaxed as Song Hue looked at me.

"And me?"Lang Li said.

"You can stay too."I stared at him.

He smiled faintly. My mother raised an eyebrow.

"Both?"She asked.

"Yes."I said.

"Interesting."She said.

"Mom."I said.

"I said nothing."She laughed.

"More sweets?"Mei Lin suddenly stood and brought another plate toward me.

"Yes."My eyes brightened.

"These are from the temple kitchens."She placed honey cakes beside me.

"This place is dangerous."I took one.

"Why?"Han Jin looked confused.

"The food is too good."I sighed.

"You say that like it’s a bad thing."Mei Lin laughed.

"It means I will never want to leave."I said.

"You are welcome to stay as long as you wish."Isolda’s voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned. She was standing there with a calm smile.

"Thank you."I smiled awkwardly.

Her eyes briefly rested on me, then on the two princes sitting beside me.

"I see you have already made yourself comfortable."She said.

"I didn’t exactly do this."I looked around at the enormous nest of pillows.

"CORRECTION: HOST PARTICIPATED IN NEST CONSTRUCTION."The system appeared.

"Traitor."I stared at it.

"Wei!"Ana’s voice came from the corridor.

"We brought more blankets!"She appeared with Hin behind her.

"More?"I stared in horror.

"Apparently you need them."Ana nodded enthusiastically.

"I already have enough!" Hin looked around.

"You have forty seven."Ana said.

"Forty seven?"I blinked.

"Forty eight now."Ana counted silently.

She placed another pillow beside me.

"I am becoming a pillow hoarder."I slowly lowered my head.

"You are comfortable."Lang Li quietly smiled.

"I am." I said.

"Then that’s all that matters."Lang Li said.

His hand briefly rested over mine. The simple gesture made my face warm again. Song Hue noticed, his expression tightened, then he sighed and reached for another honey cake.

"I will just eat." I said.

"Probably the safest choice."Mei Lin laughed.

"Finally, someone understands me."Song Hue nodded solemnly.

"RELATIONSHIP UPDATE. LANG LI and WEI: 70%. SONG HUE and WEI: 35%. SYSTEM NOTE: BOTH PRINCES REMAIN HIGHLY ATTENTIVE TO HOST. SYSTEM RECOMMENDATION: MAINTAIN CURRENT PEACEFUL CONDITIONS. SECOND RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT LET THEM START COMPETING AGAIN."The system suddenly flashed again.

"For once, I completely agree."I stared at the screen.

"NEW WARNING: COMPETITION DETECTED."The system flickered.

I slowly looked up. Lang Li and Song Hue were staring at the last honey cake.

"You’re kidding."I closed my eyes.

And then both princes reached for it at exactly the same time.