Chapter 72. Lang Li and Wei bond mark

Chapter 72: 72. Lang Li and Wei bond mark

AT THE SAME TIME

XAVIER

The temple had finally fallen silent. Everyone else had gone to their rooms, leaving me alone with Lang Li and Song Hue nearby in case I needed help. I tried to sleep, I really did, but the warmth in my lower belly slowly began building again, at first, I ignored it then it grew stronger.

"Ngh."I shifted beneath the blankets.

A tiny whimper escaped before I could stop it. I immediately covered my mouth. No, no, no, no. The heat pulsed again, making me curl slightly around myself.

"Mm..."I groaned.

"Wei?"Lang Li stirred from the chair beside the bed.

"I am fine."I squeezed my eyes shut.

He clearly didn’t believe me. Song Hue also sat up.

"You’re whimpering."He said.

"I’m not."I said.

Another uncomfortable wave made me make the tiniest sound.

"...Ah."I gasped as I wanted the floor to swallow me.

Lang Li approached the bed but stopped at a respectful distance.

"Is the heat getting worse?"Lang Li said.

"A little."I nodded reluctantly.

"Here."Song Hue brought the cool water from the table.

I took it with shaky hands and drank. Mom had said I could wait it out, so I would. I just hadn’t realized waiting would be this uncomfortable. I pulled the blanket tighter around myself.

"I hate this."I said.

"You don’t have to endure it alone."Lang Li’s expression softened.

"I know."I said.

Another wave of warmth spread through my lower belly. I whimpered again despite trying not to.

"Do you want another pillow?"Song Hue immediately looked concerned.

"Yes." He carefully placed one beside me.

Lang Li adjusted the blankets so I wasn’t overheated. Neither of them teased me, that somehow made me feel safer. I curled against the pillow and whispered,

"Just stay here for a while."I groaned.

"We will." Lang Li said quietly.

"Until you fall asleep."Song Hue nodded.

For the first time since the heat started rising again, I managed to relax, the warmth was still there, but at least I wasn’t facing it alone.

One hour later, I had tried everything, cool water, fresh blankets, pillows, breathing exercises. Even staring at the ceiling and pretending the heat in my lower belly didn’t exist. None of it worked. Another wave rolled through me, stronger than before, and I curled into the blankets with a quiet whimper.

"Lang Li..."I gasped.

"I am here."He immediately looked up.

"I don’t think waiting is going to work anymore."I swallowed, embarrassed.

His expression became serious.

"Are you certain?"He asked.

I nodded slowly.

"The heat can eventually pass naturally... or a genuine mating bond can complete it."Isolda’s words echoed in my mind.

I looked between Lang Li and Song Hue. For once, neither of them joked.

"I think..." I whispered, face burning, "I need the other option."

Lang Li understood immediately. He didn’t move closer until I reached for his hand.

"Then we’ll take this slowly."He said softly.

"I will give you privacy."Song Hue quietly stood.

"Thank you."I caught his sleeve before he could leave.

"Rest well, Wei."He smiled faintly.

He stepped outside and closed the door as the room became quiet.

"Are you afraid?"Lang Li sat beside me.

"A little."I said.

"You can change your mind at any moment."He gently squeezed my hand.

"I know."I nodded.

The warmth pulsed again, and I instinctively leaned closer to him.

"Then..." I whispered, "Stay with me."

"I will."Lang Li’s golden eyes softened.

He pulled the blankets around us, shielding me from the cool night air. The temple candles flickered softly as the door remained closed, and outside, the ancient Moonflower bloomed beneath the moonlight.

"Lang Li." I gasped softly.

"I am here. Enjoy it." Lang Li whispered.

As I felt his soft kiss on my lips, I knew that the rest of the night belonged only to us. Several hours later, the room was quiet again. The oppressive heat that had tormented me for hours was finally gone. I slept peacefully beneath the blankets, completely exhausted, and somewhere beneath my skin, a faint silver Moonflower mark shimmered once.

"MATING BOND STATUS: CHANGE DETECTED. BOND COMPLETION: PROCESSING. HOST WILL HAVE QUESTIONS WHEN HE WAKES UP."A system said.

I woke up slowly. For the first time since the heat began, the burning warmth in my lower belly was gone. Completely gone. I blinked at the ceiling.

"Finally." I shifted beneath the blankets and stretched.

Then I felt something tender near my neck as my hand immediately went there. I paused as there was a faint soreness beneath my fingertips. Slowly, I sat up and turned toward the silver mirror beside the bed. My eyes widened. A distinct bite shaped mark rested just below my collar.

"..."I stared at it as my face slowly turned red. "Oh."

The memory of last night came rushing back. My face became even hotter.

"OH." I grabbed the blanket and pulled it over my head.

"GOOD MORNING, HOST."The system appeared.

"No."I said.

"HOST HAS DISCOVERED THE COMPLETED MATING BOND MARK."A system said.

"I KNOW!"I gasped.

"SYSTEM: HOST EMBARRASSMENT LEVEL: 100%."A system said.

"Stop measuring it!"I goaned.

"HOST WOULD LIKE TO HIDE UNDER BLANKET."A systme said again.

"I AM ALREADY DOING THAT!"I groaned.

A quiet laugh came from across the room. I froze as saw Lang Li. He had apparently been awake for some time. I slowly peeked over the blanket. He was sitting beside the window, looking far too amused. His golden eyes met mine.

"You’re awake."He smiled.

"Don’t look at my neck."I narrowed my eyes.

"I wasn’t."He said.

"You were."I said.

"I was looking at you."He said.

"That’s worse!"I gasped.

"Are you feeling better?"His smile widened.

"Yes."I hesitated.

"Good."He nodded.

"So this is..."I touched the mark again.

"A bond mark."Lang Li said.

"I know what it is."I nodded.

"Then why are you asking?"He asked.

"Because I was hoping you’d tell me it magically disappeared."I said.

"It won’t."He said.

"Wonderful."My face fell.

Before I could hide again, the door suddenly opened.

Ana walked inside carrying breakfast.

"Good morning, Wei! I brought-" She stopped as her eyes went straight to my neck.

Her mouth slowly curved upward.

"Don’t."I immediately pointed at her.

"I haven’t said anything."Ana said.

"You don’t need to."I said.

"Is that..."She put the tray down.

"No."I said.

"I didn’t even finish."She sighed.

"No."I said.

"That definitely looks like a bond mark."Ana leaned closer.

"Ana!"I pulled the blanket over my face.

"I knew it!"She started laughing.

"You knew nothing!"I groaned.

"I knew something was going to happen!"She smirked.

"You knew I had a heat!"I gasped.

"Exactly!"She nodded.

"That’s not the same thing!"I groaned.

"I’m telling Hin!"She ran toward the door.

"NO!"I ordered.

Too late.

"HIN!"Ana shouted.

A moment later, Hin appeared.

"What happened?"She asked.

"Wei has a bond mark."Ana pointed toward me.

Hin stared then he slowly looked at Lang Li, then back at me.

"Congratulations?"She said, almost asking for permission.

"Why does everyone keep congratulating me?!"I groaned.

"Because you’re blushing."Hin grinned.

"I’m not."I said.

"You are."She said.

"I am not."I said.

"He’s practically glowing."Ana nodded enthusiastically.

"I hate both of you."I pulled the blanket tighter.

"Love you too, little brother."Hin laughed.

"What’s everyone laughing about?" I recognized mom’s voice immediately.

"No."My soul left my body.

Mom entered as her gaze landed on me, then the blanket, then Lang Li, then the bond mark.

"Ah."She smiled.

"Please don’t."I covered my face.

"So the heat has settled."Mom calmly walked over.

"Yes."I nodded.

"And the bond is complete."She said.

"Yes."I nodded.

"Good."She nodded.

"That’s it?"I looked at her cautiously.

"For now."She smiled. "Your father will probably want to see the mark."

"Mom!"My eyes widened.

She laughed as Ana nearly collapsed against the doorway, Hin covered his mouth, even Lang Li looked amused.

"This isn’t funny!"I groaned.

"I’m sorry!"Ana wiped her eyes.

"You aren’t!"I shouted.

"No." Hin nodded. "She’s definitely not."

"This family has no mercy."I glared at them.

"You’ll survive."Mom smiled.

I sank into the pillows.

"SYSTEM: MATING BOND CONFIRMED. LANG LI and WEI: 70% to 88%."Then the system appeared.

"Wait."My eyes widened.

"What?"Lang Li looked over.

"The system changed your affection percentage."I said.

"It went up?!"Ana immediately leaned into the room.

"ANA, GET OUT!"I gasped.

"How much?"Hin joined her.

"GET OUT!"I ordered.

"Seventy six?"Mom raised an eyebrow.

"Mom!"I stared at her.

"Interesting."She smiled.

"Nobody is supposed to be interested!"I groaned. "And it’s 88!"

"What happened?"Song Hue suddenly appeared at the end of the corridor.

"Wei has a bond mark."Ana immediately answered.

Song Hue’s expression went completely blank, then his eyes moved toward me, I saw him notice the mark. His expression tightened for half a second, then he smiled faintly.

"Congratulations, Wei."Song Hue smiled.

"You’re not going to tease me?"I stared at him.

"No."He said. "Although I suppose Lang Li won the morning."

"SONG HUE!"I gasped.

Ana burst into laughter, Hin followed, even Mom looked like she was struggling not to smile. Lang Li simply raised an eyebrow.

"EVERYONE OUT!"I grabbed a pillow.

"HOST HAS ENTERED ’EMBARRASSED NEWLY BONDED PUP’ PHASE."The system appeared one final time.

"AND SYSTEM, YOU TOO!"I threw the pillow toward absolutely nothing.

"SYSTEM CANNOT LEAVE."A system said.

I buried my face in the blanket. This was going to be a very, very long morning.