Outside, thunder boomed and rain poured in sheets. Yet amid this deafening roar, Qin Han caught every word Xie Ling said.
It was like stagnant water touched by gentle sunlight, starting to flow again, bit by bit.
He didn’t know what his life would be like for the next few decades if he lost that sunlight again—even if he went to the United States and cured his body.
The chains rattled as Qin Han raised his hand and slowly caressed Xie Ling’s cheek. “You’re all wet…”
His fingertip trailed down the line of Xie Ling’s neck until it reached his collar. Xie Ling grabbed his hand in return. “I heard everything you said to Brother Qin Huai earlier.”
Qin Han’s eyelashes fluttered down. “Your hearing’s impressive.”
Xie Ling laughed. “Qin God, you can’t fix this today with a bit of sweet talk. What’s really going on? What are you hiding from me? Confess honestly.”
Qin Han paused for a moment. “How could I dare hide anything from you? Actually, just now…”
“Krofell Syndrome,” Qin Huai interjected.
“Second Brother!”
Qin Huai continued, “On a cold, stormy night like this, Little Ling climbed up here from the first floor for you. I think he at least deserves to know the truth.”
Truth be told, if his own brother hadn’t stopped him, he would have called Xie Ling long ago to explain everything. That included the time at the hotel and at the villa door—he’d held back out of concern that Qin Han might not want him to. But now…
He glanced at Qin Han’s pale face, then at Xie Ling’s conflicted expression, and suddenly felt like playing the villain.
Qin Han opened his mouth to say more, but the next second, Xie Ling clamped a hand over it.
“Be good and shut up,” Xie Ling said, his lips curving up as he borrowed the line he’d used to coax Yu Rong earlier. “Daddy will buy you something yummy later.”
Qin Han froze. He lowered his gaze and suddenly noticed the red mark between Xie Ling’s thumb and forefinger.
Earlier, after sensing something off with Qin Huai outside, Xie Ling had felt deeply uneasy. He’d simply gone to a nearby convenience store and bought some rope.
He didn’t actually know which room was Qin Han’s, but for some reason—even in this downpour, even with one of them inside and the other out—he could faintly detect Qin Han’s scent.
Guided by that inexplicable intuition, he’d zeroed in on the location and climbed up using the rope.
The abrasions from the rope ran from the web of his hand to his palm, left there in that moment.
Qin Han stared at the shocking red mark, his eyes darkening.
Seeing that Qin Han had really gone quiet, Qin Huai felt a complicated mix of emotions.
Well, no use trying to keep him quiet. He’d exhausted himself earlier trying to explain, but his brother wouldn’t listen. Now Little Omega just covers his mouth and tosses out a casual line, and suddenly he’s obedient as can be.
Before Qin Huai could feel too sour about it, he met Xie Ling’s pleading gaze and quickly recounted Qin Han’s condition from start to finish.
When he finished, the room fell into a silence so heavy it was unnerving.
Xie Ling’s other hand, hanging at his side, had clenched into a fist at some point. It trembled with extreme restraint.
He hadn’t failed to notice the oddities before—when Qin Han was treating his illness or helping him through his heat period. The chaotic, restless pheromones, the body drenched in sweat… But every time he’d asked, Qin Han had smiled and brushed it off as a natural physiological reaction from their pheromones intertwining. So Xie Ling hadn’t thought much of it.
From beginning to end, he’d accepted Qin Han’s help without realizing the kind of pain Qin Han endured while giving it.
The ache in his chest was so intense it nearly suffocated him. Xie Ling closed his eyes. “This illness… Do you really have to go to the United States for treatment?”
He didn’t know the exact reason, but he could tell Qin Han was extremely reluctant. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been at such a standoff with his brother for so long.
Qin Huai started, “No need, actually…”
“Mm—” Xie Ling was focusing hard when his palm was suddenly licked by Qin Han, startling him into letting go.
“You…”
Qin Han gazed at him innocently, as if he hadn’t done anything wrong. “You said if I behaved, you’d treat me to something yummy.”
Xie Ling hadn’t expected him to bring it up like that. Subconsciously, he rubbed the spot that had been licked with his fingertip. “I’ll get you some later.”
“No need,” Qin Han said with a smile. “I already got a taste.”
“Your hand is very sweet.”
Qin Huai coughed. “Ahem!”
Xie Ling’s ears heated up as he realized he’d almost been derailed by Qin Han again.
How could this guy… do something like that right in front of his brother…
But considering Qin Han was still in the midst of a flare-up, Xie Ling decided to let it slide for now.
“Brother Qin Huai, please go on…”
Qin Huai began, “Actually…”
“Actually, your pheromones are all it takes to treat it,” Qin Han blurted out quickly, right before Xie Ling could cover his mouth again.
He usually spoke at an even pace, so this rush was hard to miss.
Xie Ling narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment. “It requires marking, doesn’t it?”
It sounded like a question, but his tone was certain.
If it were just simple pheromone treatment, there’d be no reason for Qin Han to hide it or keep interrupting.
Thunder rolled outside, and lightning flashed, illuminating Xie Ling’s face intermittently. He looked at Qin Han seriously. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
Qin Han fell silent for a moment. He knew he couldn’t dodge it anymore.
“Because I promised I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t like again.”
Xie Ling’s heart trembled. “It’s just one bite. If I really can’t handle it, you could knock me out. Don’t mess around with your own body like this, you…”
He couldn’t finish. Frustrated, he let out a tsk and scratched his head hard.
“Don’t scratch so forcefully,” Qin Han said, catching his hand. “Your hair is so beautiful.”
“It’s not that simple,” Qin Han said, looking at him. “To cure this, I’d have to mark you continuously for at least three months. With marking that frequent, even if you’re unwilling at first, instinct might make you addicted by the end. Are you… okay with that?”
He desperately wanted to bind Xie Ling to his side forever, but if Xie Ling refused, there was nothing he could do. Once the frequent markings took hold, though, no matter where Xie Ling went in the future—even if his mind resisted—his instincts would drive him mad with the need to return.
It was intensely tempting for Qin Han. But for Xie Ling, it went against everything he valued.
He knew better than anyone how much Xie Ling cherished his freedom.
Xie Ling stayed quiet for a while, then suddenly released Qin Han and walked out.
The door clicked shut, and Qin Han’s heart sank with it.
He didn’t think Xie Ling would leave outright, but after hearing that, he was surely wrestling with a fierce internal battle.
Stepping out like this was probably so Qin Han wouldn’t see his turmoil.
Qin Han brushed his bangs back and said hoarsely, “Second Brother, take him home. Tell him I’ve decided to go abroad for treatment and that I’ll come back someday.”
Qin Huai frowned slightly. Deep down, he still clung to a sliver of hope. What if Xie Ling agreed?
Treatment abroad with physical therapy would cure Qin Han, but the process would be far more painful than temporary marks. And even if it seemed cured on the surface, encountering Xie Ling’s pheromones later could trigger a relapse.
That would mean Qin Han could never see Xie Ling again. But given how his brother felt…
Cure or no cure, it hurt either way.
Qin Huai secretly hoped Xie Ling would stay. He was hesitating over whether to follow Qin Han’s instructions when Xie Ling suddenly returned.
When he’d arrived earlier, he’d thrown on a coat over his clothes, but now it was gone, leaving him in just a high-neck cashmere sweater underneath.
“There was some dirt on my neck from the climb,” Xie Ling said briskly as he strode up to Qin Han. “I washed it off.”
With that, he yanked his collar down, turned his back to Qin Han, and squatted, fully exposing his gland. “Hurry up.”
Qin Han’s pupils contracted sharply. “…Do you know what you’re saying?”
“I know,” Xie Ling replied, closing his eyes. “I do have trauma about it, and I don’t want to be marked. But Qin Han… compared to your health, that’s nothing.”
“I’m more afraid of something happening to you.”
His words were so direct and sincere, like a blaze igniting straight into Qin Han’s heart.
The chains clanged loudly as his hands tightened.
Xie Ling listened to the sounds behind him and kept his eyes shut. “Come on. If you don’t bite, I’ll knock you out and grind your teeth into my gland.”
The line made Qin Han chuckle. “So fierce. But that wouldn’t count as a bite. It wouldn’t work.”
“Then hurry up and bite me now.” With that, Xie Ling leaned backward, pressing himself into Qin Han’s arms.
The warmth of his body momentarily dazed Qin Han. His mind and reason were locked in turmoil, but his body grew increasingly restless.
His beloved omega was in his arms, willingly baring his gland.
“Hurry,” Xie Ling urged.
Qin Han’s gaze darkened, and without thinking, he gripped Xie Ling’s waist.
Seeing this, Qin Huai quietly closed the door and slipped out.
Feeling Xie Ling trying so hard not to tremble in his arms, Qin Han’s heart ached. “How about… you take a sleeping pill first?”
“No way,” Xie Ling said firmly. “If I pass out, I won’t know if you marked me.”
“Just bite me like this.” He reached back, gripped the back of Qin Han’s head, and pulled his gland toward him.
Qin Han could no longer hold back. He clapped a hand over Xie Ling’s eyes and bit down on his gland.
The Summer Sea Breeze surged into his body, brushing against the faint rose floral scent emanating from within. The two pheromones tangled together, restless yet tender.
Once it truly began, things weren’t as frightening as he’d imagined. But the shiver of being perfectly matched and marked by an Alpha left his entire body numb.
Xie Ling tilted his head back, his expression dazed. Unbeknownst to him, tears welled up in his eyes and spilled over.
Yet his hand still clutched the back of Qin Han’s head tightly, urging him to mark even deeper.
~~~
An hour later, Xie Ling awoke on Qin Han’s bed, his consciousness returning.
A lingering tingle from the marking still coursed through his body. Xie Ling subconsciously reached back to touch the nape of his neck.
“Sorry.” Qin Han lay beside him. Seeing Xie Ling stir awake, he flicked on a small lamp atop the bedside table. “I bit you too hard.”
Whether it was because the completed mark had eased his condition for the moment, Qin Han looked far more normal than before—though a hint of dejection still clung to him.
“It’s fine. You think I’m made of paper or something?” Xie Ling flashed a careless smile. “Next time, you can bite even harder.”
“…Even harder?”
Xie Ling murmured his agreement. Noticing Qin Han’s eyelids droop slightly, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Qin Han savored the memory of that extreme satisfaction from marking Xie Ling and smiled. “Just thinking about how to make it even harder next time—so you feel as good as I did.”
“…” That tone suggested his body was temporarily out of the woods.
“It’s late.” Qin Han scooted a few centimeters closer to Xie Ling. “Stay with me tonight.”
Xie Ling paused. He knew Qin Han was in the midst of his Susceptible Period, still sick, and perfectly compatible with him to boot. Physiologically speaking, it was only natural for Qin Han to crave his presence.
Xie Ling nodded. “Sure.”
With that, he rolled out of bed.
“Where are you going?” Qin Han grabbed his hand without a second thought.
Only when Xie Ling turned to look did Qin Han realize his reaction had been a touch overzealous. He eased his grip slightly.
Luckily, Xie Ling didn’t seem to mind. He just smiled. “I was gonna ask Brother Qin Huai if I could borrow your bathroom. I got absolutely drenched outside earlier. You’re lucky you could even haul me up here. Look what I did to your bed.”
The bedsheet beneath where Xie Ling had lain was still damp. Qin Han stared at it, his mind drifting to something that made his lips curve into a pleased smile.
“Not dirty.” His voice was soft. “It’ll get way dirtier than this in the future.”
“What’d you say?”
“Nothing.” Qin Han chuckled. “I said I want to take a shower too.”
Xie Ling: “Then go for it. Your place has more than one bathroom, right?”
Qin Han’s eyelids drooped again. “Several, yeah. But look—I’m still in these handcuffs. Can’t exactly wash myself.”
He gave his hands a shake. His wrists dangled limply, weighed down by the heavy black shackles that looked both solid and unyielding.
Xie Ling blinked in surprise. “Then how about I ask Brother Qin Huai for the key and unlock them for you?”
Qin Han: “But I’m still in my danger period…”
“Isn’t the first marking supposed to stabilize things for a week?”
First month: once a week. Then every half month. Eventually down to once a month. He’d memorized every word Qin Huai had said.
“But accidents can always happen. What if I have a flare-up mid-shower? I might scald myself with the hot water, get shampoo in my eyes, or slip on the way out…”
Xie Ling felt a chill run down his spine. “Then have one of your family’s servants watch over you?”
“…I don’t want some stranger gawking at me.” Qin Han tugged at Xie Ling’s sleeve and gave it a little shake. “Help me wash instead, okay?”
