MVCFO CH31.2

LSuch a Lu Cong was completely transparent before Lin Xiangqi.

And so, Lin Xiangqi was surprised—but not really—that all those emotions he’d never been able to read on Lu Cong’s face in the past had, in fact, been about him.

But Lin Xiangqi was a cowardly turtle.

Before he could figure things out, he wanted to shrink back into his shell once more.

Maybe Lu Cong was right. He was best at pretending he knew nothing—because that way, he wouldn’t have to respond to anything.

Facing problems made Lin Xiangqi afraid.

Because the answer to a problem was usually either “right” or “wrong.”

And Lin Xiangqi was bad at that—he didn’t read the questions carefully, his logic was sloppy, his attention wandered, his mind ran wild. So most likely, he’d choose the wrong answer.

But if he just kept running away, if he kept convincing himself he never really saw the question clearly—then he’d never have to risk getting it wrong.

So when his rut period ended and his pheromones were no longer leaking, Lin Xiangqi quietly packed his things and sneaked out of the hospital a day early to go home.

…

Lin Xiangqi thought that if he didn’t tell Lu Cong, Lu Cong wouldn’t know.

But not long after he got home, when he stepped out of the bathroom freshly showered, he saw Lu Cong sitting there at his desk, propped on an elbow, watching him leisurely.

Lin Xiangqi’s mind went blank, exploded like a bomb, and he hurriedly ducked back into the bathroom—bang—slamming the door shut.

Lu Cong’s light voice drifted in from outside. “I ordered takeout.”

Lin Xiangqi didn’t reply. He hid inside and pretended he didn’t hear.

Lu Cong said again, “You’ve been avoiding good food for days. Don’t you want to eat something nice?”

Inside the bathroom came the faint shuffle of slippers.

Lu Cong stood up and walked to the door but didn’t try to force it open. His voice softened, coaxing like talking to a child: “There’s coconut jelly. Want some?”

“From where?” Lin Xiangqi asked softly through the door.

“Something like… ‘Doggie in the Alley’? I remember you liked going there.”

Lin Xiangqi let out a quiet laugh, but then felt this atmosphere wasn’t right for laughing and cleared his throat, saying properly, “It’s called ‘Alley Cat.’”

Lu Cong curved his lips. “Oh. I remembered wrong. So… want some?”

“…Yeah,” Lin Xiangqi said carefully, “But only eating. No talking.”

“Alright,” Lu Cong agreed easily.

Only then did Lin Xiangqi open the door. He saw Lu Cong step back half a pace to make space for him.

Lin Xiangqi trusted Lu Cong deeply. He believed if Lu Cong promised not to talk, he wouldn’t break his word. So he gave Lu Cong a pleased look and headed straight for the coconut jelly.

He’d always loved anything coconut—coconut milk, candy, jelly, chips. He’d thought it was just a personal taste, until he found out what his pheromone smelled like—and suddenly it all made sense. Heroes treasured heroes… no wait, coconuts recognized coconuts.

Lu Cong, true to his word, didn’t make any jokes—just stood quietly by, watching him.

Lin Xiangqi had big eyes but a small stomach. He wanted to eat both coconut jellies himself, but by the second one, after just one bite, he was already staring blankly.

Lu Cong suddenly leaned down close.

Lin Xiangqi looked up, confused. “Hm?”

Lu Cong took a bite of the jelly straight off his spoon.

Lin Xiangqi had been about to give up anyway, so he pushed the whole thing over. “You eat it. I’m sharing.”

Lu Cong saw through this little act but didn’t expose him. With a smile of great honor, he said, “Thanks, Yan Yan.”

The tension and awkwardness of the past few days completely melted away in that moment.

Lin Xiangqi thought that things between him and Lu Cong should always stay this simple. That would be best.

Love, marriage—those things had never crossed Lin Xiangqi’s mind. He didn’t dare think of them.

Changing their relationship meant changing everything else.

And change meant uncertainty.

Perfection and completeness felt forever distant. All Lin Xiangqi wanted was the comfort of muddling through happily. He didn’t want to risk disrupting that.

After Lu Cong finished the leftover jelly, Lin Xiangqi gathered his courage to say something he’d rehearsed in his heart for a long time.

He said softly, “Lu Cong, you’re really great. So… let’s just be best friends forever, okay?”

Forever this good—that was enough.

No changes, no mistakes.

There was a faint tap as Lu Cong set down the little plastic spoon. He didn’t look at Lin Xiangqi and didn’t answer.

He was very quiet—but not like he was upset. More like he was thinking. Or waiting for the right moment…

Lin Xiangqi suddenly felt nervous. He bit his lip, heart racing, wondering what Lu Cong would say.

Would he agree?

If he were the gentle and considerate Lu Cong of the past, he surely would.

Because Lu Cong never refused Lin Xiangqi. He couldn’t bear to make him uncomfortable.

As long as Lin Xiangqi made things clear, Lu Cong would definitely accept. Even if some things stayed unfinished, Lu Cong wouldn’t push.

But this Lu Cong… was different.

He was more direct. More determined. More stubborn.

Lin Xiangqi thought there was a real chance he’d refuse. And who knew what shocking words he might say?

His heart pounded wildly, and his glands began to throb.

Lu Cong slowly lifted his gaze. His lips parted.

He was about to speak.

Lin Xiangqi instinctively sat up straight, clasping his hands on his knees, bracing for the answer.

“…It hurts.”

Lin Xiangqi thought he’d misheard. “What?”

Lu Cong lowered his head tiredly, hand pressing over his gland through the collar. His voice was hoarse, weak: “It hurts… so much.”

This time Lin Xiangqi heard clearly. His heart jumped, and he shot to his feet, reaching for Lu Cong’s collar. “It hurts? Why? Is your gland inflamed?”

He remembered Tang Luyu had warned him—this metal collar was crude suppression gear, not medical-grade. Lu Cong was only wearing it because of his unusual condition. Plus, he’d injected suppressant directly into his gland before, and now with prolonged pressure, it could easily cause inflammation.

Lu Cong leaned weakly on his shoulder, eyes half-lidded. “Sorry… I knew you’d be soft-hearted, but I still used my rut as an excuse to make you stay. I wanted to use this reason to keep you by my side. I’m sorry…”

But the look on his face wasn’t fake. Lin Xiangqi panicked. “Don’t say that—what forcing? I wanted to help you anyway! Stop talking, take it easy, I’ll ask Dr. Tang how to unlock this collar.”

“Yan Yan, I’m sorry.” Lu Cong pressed close, breathing in his freshly showered scent. “But I… can’t help it…”

“What can’t you help?” Lin Xiangqi said urgently. “Hold on, I’ll call Dr. Tang—don’t put your hand there, it tickles!”

Lu Cong’s arm snaked around his slender waist, fingers restless.

“You—” Lin Xiangqi swallowed hard. Just then, the call connected. He had to focus. “Dr. Tang, Lu Cong says his gland hurts badly! Is it inflammation?”

Tang Luyu sounded surprised. “Now? But I just checked him last night… Could it be he’s entering rut early? But the suppressant shouldn’t have worn off yet…”

“He looks really bad—can I unlock the collar first?” Lin Xiangqi looked at Lu Cong’s pale lips, aching with worry. “I’ve completed my differentiation now—I can give him pheromones, right?”

There was a pause, then: “Of course. I’ll send the remote unlock signal, you just need to enter the code. But if he gets worse, take him to the hospital immediately.”

“Got it. Thanks, Dr. Tang.”

After hanging up, Lin Xiangqi unlocked the collar successfully.

The moment he took off the metal ring, his nose stung. His hand trembled as he touched Lu Cong’s neck. “Why… why are there so many needle marks? You did this to yourself?”

He’d only heard from Qi Ye that Lu Cong injected suppressants—but seeing the damage with his own eyes was another matter.

Lu Cong’s reply was calm. “First time hitting the gland… I missed a few times.”

That was his gland—an Alpha’s most fragile spot. Lin Xiangqi had fainted just from a single puncture during testing. But Lu Cong had stabbed himself repeatedly.

No wonder no suppressant worked anymore. He’d wrecked his gland this badly—it was only his genes that kept it functioning.

Lin Xiangqi wanted to hit him out of anger—but this weak-looking Lu Cong was so fragile right now, he couldn’t bear to.

“Bear with it—I’ll give you pheromones,” Lin Xiangqi murmured, gently holding him. “Take it slow. Dr. Tang said your gland hasn’t fully recovered. You need to absorb it gradually.”

Lu Cong buried his face in Lin Xiangqi’s chest, arms wrapping around his waist. “Okay.”

A perfect 100% pheromone match—far more overwhelming than theory.

The visible wounds on Lu Cong’s gland quickly began healing. His pale complexion flushed with color.

At first, he quietly, passively absorbed Lin Xiangqi’s pheromones—but then something shifted. Lu Cong began releasing his own, their scents intertwining.

When Lin Xiangqi came back to his senses, Lu Cong had already pinned him to the bed. Panic surged—this Lu Cong was dangerous. Not the controlled Lu Cong he knew.

His first reaction was to suppress his pheromones and push at Lu Cong. “You’re not hurting anymore, right? Good. Then let me up.”

“Yan Yan,” Lu Cong murmured, nuzzling his chest, rubbing against his neck, greedily needy. “Help me…”

“I am helping—I gave you pheromones already, didn’t I?” Lin Xiangqi wasn’t unwilling to help—he just didn’t understand what Lu Cong meant.

Pheromone comfort was done. Lu Cong looked better than ever—flushed, healthy, almost too healthy.

What else did he need help with?

Until Lu Cong’s body pressed tight against his—and the heat burning through their clothes made Lin Xiangqi shudder.

Then he understood.

So this was the help he wanted.