MVCFO CH8

The back of Lin Xiangqi’s neck was once again caught—he was completely under Lu Cong’s control.

Even though Lu Cong said it wouldn’t hurt, Lin Xiangqi didn’t believe it. How could a bite not hurt?

He trembled all over, thinking Lu Cong was really going to bite down hard this time. So he shut his eyes tightly.

But several minutes passed, and he still didn’t feel any pain.

“Lu… Lu Cong,” Lin Xiangqi asked shakily, “aren’t you going to bite yet?”

Lu Cong continued gently kissing that soft, sensitive patch of skin. His voice was calm, as if he were doing a math test: “I am biting.”

“But you’re not using any force,” Lin Xiangqi grumbled a bit. “If it’s like this, I’ll still be nervous tomorrow.”

Lu Cong seemed to chuckle. “How exactly do you want me to use force?”

How else? Just bite down like it’s a temporary mark!

Lin Xiangqi bit his lip. He suddenly realized that Lu Cong didn’t seem to be seriously helping him.

So he yanked Lu Cong’s hand off him in one go.

Lu Cong silently let go. He didn’t dare to forcibly keep him there.

“Is it fun to mess with me?” Lin Xiangqi propped himself up on the desk beside him and tried to stand, almost stumbling from weak legs.

Lu Cong stood up with him, supporting his waist to keep him from falling, and said, “I wasn’t messing with you. That was the marking.”

Lin Xiangqi looked at him distrustfully. “No way. Marking involves biting down. It must hurt.”

“It doesn’t hurt.” Lu Cong gently stroked his back like smoothing out fur. “When marking, Alphas release pheromones to soothe the Omega. The gland doesn’t feel pain.”

Lin Xiangqi was delighted at first. “Really?!”

But then his expression froze. He glared at Lu Cong. “You knew this all along?”

Lu Cong: “Mm.”

“Then why didn’t you just tell me? Why did you have to…” Lin Xiangqi pouted, eyes flickering, “why did you have to nibble around the back of my neck?”

Lu Cong looked at him for a moment and noticed that Lin Xiangqi’s small earlobes had visibly turned red. A strange feeling welled up in him. He reached out and pinched them.

Lin Xiangqi slapped his hand away.

Lu Cong didn’t continue messing around. He answered the question with an upright tone: “I was afraid you’d think I was inexperienced. So I was practicing in advance.”

Lin Xiangqi: “?”

You’re afraid I’ll think you’re inexperienced, so you practice on me?!

How is this different from cheating on a test right in front of the teacher?!

On Saturday morning, according to Tang Luyu’s arrangement, Lin Xiangqi and Lu Cong went to her hospital for a full medical check-up.

This exam differed from the one Lin Xiangqi had done at the city hospital—it focused on determining the compatibility between the two of them, as well as assessing Lin Xiangqi’s gland condition before and after the temporary marking. This would help Tang Luyu create a more detailed treatment plan for him.

Although the fact that Lin Xiangqi could now smell Lu Cong’s scent was already a strong indicator that their compatibility met the minimum threshold and treatment would go smoothly…

…the actual level of compatibility would affect how well an Omega could absorb and resonate with an Alpha’s pheromones.

In simple terms, if their compatibility was too low, Tang Luyu would need to add other supporting treatments for safety.

“What?!”

When Tang Luyu saw the compatibility report, she almost lost her composure.

She thought she had prepared for everything. Even if the match was only 1%, she could use her expert medical skills to support Lin Xiangqi’s condition.

But the match between Lin Xiangqi and Lu Cong was an astonishing 100%!!

What did that even mean?

According to this year’s population census, there were fewer than 200 AO pairs with compatibility over 95%. Only three pairs had reached 99%.

100% compatibility? Zero.

Not only that—it had never occurred in the history of the Alliance.

From a genetic standpoint, even the most compatible glands should have at least a 0.01% deviation in bloodline. To date, the highest documented natural compatibility—“fated from birth”—had only ever reached 99.99%.

And that was a rumor from the last century. Whether it was even true remains unverified.

And now—this 100% perfect pheromone match came from two kids who were originally unrelated and just happened to become neighbors?! That was impossible!

Tang Luyu rubbed her eyes hard. She would rather believe the machines were malfunctioning today than accept this blinding “100% compatibility.” “There’s no way something this coincidental could happen—it’s not like we’re in some pure romance novel!”

Although she was a romantic and believed in all the coincidences love might bring…

…she was also a doctor, and she needed to professionally analyze where this compatibility came from.

Lin Xiangqi and Lu Cong waited in Tang Luyu’s office for a long time. Finally, just before lunch, she came rushing back in, full of energy.

She had figured out why the compatibility was 100%!

The analysis result was even more surprising than the “fated pair” theory she’d initially suspected. Because—

“Xiao Qi, your gland has started to develop again under the guidance of Lu Cong’s pheromones!”

That underdeveloped, previously dormant gland had been reactivated after absorbing a large amount of Alpha pheromones yesterday.

“This is unbelievable. I originally thought only a lifelong mark could trigger this effect. I completely overlooked one thing—Lu Cong’s pheromones are several times stronger than even those of a top-tier Alpha. Naturally, the influence he has on you would far exceed my projected treatment effect!”

Tang Luyu was already so excited that she had started sweating. Pointing at the various indicators on the report, she rattled off a string of professional terms without caring whether Lin Xiangqi could understand. It wasn’t until she noticed Lin Xiangqi looking confused that she calmed down and switched to a simpler explanation.

“To put it plainly, your gland has been ‘ripened’ by Lu Cong’s pheromones. It had originally lost vitality and couldn’t differentiate, but now, having received enough ‘nutrients,’ it’s begun a new developmental phase at a remarkable pace.”

This was practically a perfect state of mutual integration—no wonder it measured 100%!

Tang Luyu swallowed back the more unprofessional remark she’d almost said, then added, “Originally, my plan was to use a temporary mark to first neutralize the pheromones in your body, observe the state of your gland, and then see if a surgical procedure might help you complete differentiation… But now, it seems that won’t be necessary at all.”

Afraid of overwhelming Lin Xiangqi again, she simply summarized the conclusion for him:

“Your gland might complete natural differentiation in the coming months.”

The news Tang Luyu brought was undoubtedly astonishing—a medical miracle even in the history of the Alliance.

But Lin Xiangqi didn’t show overwhelming joy. His only wish when it came to treatment was just to survive.

He’d already been happy enough when Tang Luyu first said that Lu Cong’s pheromones could save him. Now, hearing that he could even go through a second differentiation—it didn’t quite feel real.

There was, however, one detail that piqued his interest. Curiously, he asked, “So does this mean it’s like sowing a seed and reaping the fruit—since my gland was ‘raised’ by Lu Cong, will my pheromones smell like his?”

Lu Cong gave a cough beside him.

He’d been coughing randomly for the past couple of days. Lin Xiangqi, without even turning around, said, “Remember to drink cold medicine.”

Lu Cong: “…Yeah.”

Lin Xiangqi was just ignorant about the matter, hence the question. And he didn’t exactly dislike the scent of Lu Cong’s pheromones.

Thinking about it, it was kind of cool—his pheromones, as an Omega, would smell like gunpowder, bullets, and smoke.

But Tang Luyu shattered his fantasy and said, “You don’t need to worry about that. The pheromones secreted by a gland are determined by your own genes. Unless you undergo a lifelong mark that causes cross-contamination of pheromones, then even with a 100% match, the scent will still be completely different.”

Lin Xiangqi: “Aww, that’s a shame. I really like Lu Cong’s pheromones. Very powerful.”

This time, Lu Cong abruptly stood up with a loud “huff.”

He was already tall, and standing right under the light, his figure completely blocked the beam. Lin Xiangqi found himself practically swallowed by his shadow.

Lin Xiangqi blinked. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Cong gave him a deep look, then averted his gaze and pressed a hand to his brow. “Give me a packet of cold medicine,” he said to Tang Luyu.

Tang Luyu: “…”

The first formal temporary mark wasn’t nearly as nerve-wracking as Lin Xiangqi had expected.

Probably thanks to the “drill” they’d done the previous afternoon.

Tang Luyu had prepared a spacious, sterile observation room with monitoring equipment in case any emergencies arose during the marking process, allowing doctors and nurses to intervene immediately.

As soon as Lin Xiangqi entered, he started taking off his clothes.

Lu Cong held his hands down. “Keep it on.”

Lin Xiangqi reasoned with him, “This hoodie has a big hood. It’ll be hard for you to bite.”

“It’s fine.”

Lu Cong’s gaze flicked—intentionally or not—toward the surveillance camera, and a strange, unprovoked irritation bubbled in his chest.

Perhaps the aftereffects of his susceptibility period hadn’t fully worn off. Right now, everything about Lin Xiangqi made him overly sensitive.

“Alright then.”

With yesterday’s practice under his belt, Lin Xiangqi was now calm and confident. Like second nature, he climbed directly onto Lu Cong’s lap and even urged him, “Don’t dawdle—this time, you have to bite all at once.”

Lu Cong’s eyes settled on the nape of the person in his arms. His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly, though his tone remained cool: “In such a rush?”

“I’m afraid that if you take too long, the pain-relief effect of your pheromones might wear off,” Lin Xiangqi explained, as if that was perfectly logical.

Lu Cong said, “It won’t.”

“How do you know? We’re both first-timers. Wait…”

Lin Xiangqi suddenly turned to look at him and asked, “Don’t tell me you’ve marked someone before?”

“No.” Lu Cong encircled him and gently turned his head back.

But Lin Xiangqi insisted on turning again. In this position, their noses were almost touching. He stared and asked, “Then how can you be sure it won’t hurt?”

“I’m not,” Lu Cong murmured, lowering his head until his lips nearly grazed Lin Xiangqi’s cheek.

He repeated Lin Xiangqi’s words deliberately, “It’s my first time.”

Lin Xiangqi: “…”

He had originally said it in a teasing, flirty tone, but hearing it repeated so solemnly by Lu Cong made it feel heavy, serious, and hard to respond to.

“Relax,” Lu Cong gently coaxed him back, “I won’t let it hurt.”

It sounded too tender—too much like empty reassurance.

But soon after, Lin Xiangqi believed him.

Lu Cong really hadn’t lied.

In the thick, pheromone-filled air, he felt nothing but pleasure—no pain, no discomfort.

He didn’t even notice when the marking ended.

The most intense moment was when Lu Cong’s teeth finally pierced his skin, breaching the gland.

The Alpha’s fierce, potent pheromones flooded into his body. He couldn’t help but cry out—but quickly realized how embarrassing it was and tried to stifle it.

Suddenly, Lu Cong grabbed both his wrists and pinned them in front of him. Just as Lin Xiangqi bit down on his lip to hold back his voice, Lu Cong’s other hand softly brushed across his mouth.

“No need to hold it in.”

That low, raspy voice carried a burning heat as it entered his ear, the tone gentle, soothing his unease.

Lin Xiangqi was still new to being an Omega and didn’t understand much about these things.

In such helpless moments, he only wanted to surrender and follow the lead of the one guiding him.

So he obeyed, letting himself go, allowing the sounds to escape.

The Omega curled up obediently in the Alpha’s arms, panting and crying softly as the mark deepened, his body trembling pitifully.

Meanwhile, the Alpha holding him remained calm and composed throughout. It really did look like he was just helping an ill friend receive a necessary treatment—no one could guess what he was actually thinking.

Only the scent of gunpowder and smoke—the Alpha’s pheromones—had subtly shifted at some point, shedding their former violence, now radiating an unmistakable, uncontainable tenderness and joy.