After Accidentally Sending Empathy Dolls to My Four Top Donors - Chapter 22

“You, get out. Let him come in.”

Pulled between two opposing forces, Wen Leling felt a continuous chill seeping into his skin, yet it could not extinguish the uncontrollable restlessness surging in his heart.

He exhaled two shallow breaths, shivering as he curled up under the quilt. With one hand gripping the corner of the blanket, he used the other to check his phone for new messages.

Xia Congmian: [Guide Wen, why don’t you consider a temporary marking? It will certainly make you feel more comfortable than enduring this, and you will recover faster.]

Xia Congmian: [Furthermore, a temporary mark only affects the Sentinel; it makes them dependent on the Guide. For you, it is just like being bitten once; you will be fine in a few days. Why put yourself through such suffering?]

Xia Congmian: [File.]

Xia Congmian: [This is the information on all Sentinels currently in the Tower who have a compatible matching rate with you. You can take a look and choose who you want to help you.]

Temporary markings are an option!

Just moments ago, Wen Leling had been groggy, his vision blurring. But the moment he saw Xia Congmian’s message, it was as if a cup of ice-cold water had been poured over his head. His brain cleared with a “buzz,” and a faint glimmer of focus returned to his eyes.

That doctor might have been a rookie. Not only had he failed to mention temporary marking, but he had also insisted that a permanent marking was the only way to save his life. Wen Leling did not buy it, so he had asked Song He to take him home, intending to endure it alone.

Thank goodness he held out. Otherwise, he would have been tied to a complete stranger for the rest of his life.

Wen Leling replied with an “OK” emoji and opened the file to screen the Sentinels. Skimming through the lines with a clear goal in mind, his eyes stopped at Min Chi’s information. He took a screenshot and sent it to Xia Congmian:

[Him.]

With Min Chi’s temporary mark, he would be able to control Min Chi more easily, which would help him get his doll back.

Min Chi had been ordered back from the hospital to the dormitory. Expecting the room to be empty, he cursed the freeloaders at the White Tower under his breath for having the audacity to let a sick Guide go home alone. He hurried toward Wen Leling’s room, his breath coming in short bursts.

Detecting a faint scent of food, he paused mid-staircase and looked down suspiciously. A man’s voice drifted down from above:

“What are you looking at down there?”

“Guide Wen has been waiting for you for a long time.”

Min Chi looked up, his expression darkening. “Why are you here?”

The small snake perched on his shoulder hissed in warning at the intruder. Its body began to swell as it raised its head, displaying a threatening posture to force the intruder to retreat.

Song He, however, remained calm. Holding a dining tray, he did not counter the pressure. Instead, he offered a kind smile. “I am the one who sent Guide Wen back. Follow me; I will take you to see him.”

Sensing something was off, Min Chi reacted instantly, snapping back: “This is our dorm. Why do I need you to lead the way?”

With that, he lunged forward, overtaking Song He. He glanced back at Song He’s faint, knowing smile and let out a disdainful “Tch.”

Acting like he is some doting husband when, in reality, he has not even gotten a ticket to the show yet. Otherwise, why would they need me to make this trip?

With another mocking snort, Min Chi opened the door, stepped inside, and slammed it shut. As the lock clicked into place, a pair of slender arms wrapped around Min Chi’s neck, forcing him to lean down.

“Mm.”

Wen Leling let out a low murmur. His small face was pale as he pulled back slightly to look at Min Chi. His elegant, long eyes curved into a lake of smiles. Without saying a word, he stood on his tiptoes and rubbed his lips against Min Chi’s jaw. After a few rubs, he suddenly gave a gentle bite and a lick.

Min Chi felt a slight sting of pain. A thought crossed his mind: Until I am sure whether Wen Leling is Lele or not, I must push him away!

But an inexplicable urge surged within him, turning the gears of his internal conflict and locking onto the conviction that Wen Leling was Lele. He could not bring himself to push him away. Wen Leling’s face was so close, his smooth clothes rumpled and messy, blurring Min Chi’s vision. His lips were so vivid and moist. Every inch of him provided Min Chi with a new kind of stimulation.

“Wait. Wait.”

Noticing Wen Leling was still barefoot, Min Chi intended to carry him to the bed, so he gave a slight push of resistance.

“?”

Pushing me?

Wen Leling took a small step back, his arms hanging mid-air as he froze. He stared blankly at Min Chi, his eyes seemingly asking: You are actually pushing me?

Various images from the livestream overlapped in his mind. Realizing eight beats too late that his actions might cause a misunderstanding for a confused and sensitive Wen Leling, Min Chi hurriedly reached out to pull him back into his arms to coax him.

Wen Leling frowned and coldly slapped his hand away.

“Cold.”

His sudden change in attitude was like an icicle falling and piercing Min Chi’s heart.

“Just mark me already.” Wen Leling staggered back to the edge of the bed and sat down. For convenience, he was only wearing a loose bathrobe. He turned his back to Min Chi, leaving his jade-white nape completely exposed, like a small cake that had gained consciousness, waiting and enticing the right person to taste it.

Feeling the gaze behind him turn burning hot, Wen Leling did not even have time to turn his head before cold fingertips touched his nape.

He shivered. Suddenly remembering something, he turned around quickly, his hands flailing against Min Chi’s chest before finally pressing down. He slurred, “Temporary mark. Not permanent. Do you understand?”

Min Chi, full of suppressed desire, felt it being forced back down. Though frustrated, he did not dare speak up, suppressing his fire to obey Wen Leling’s request. “I understand.”

Wen Leling tremblingly relaxed his tensed shoulders, but retracted them an instant later. He still did not quite trust Min Chi. It was not that he feared Min Chi would promise a temporary mark and give him a permanent one instead; he was afraid Min Chi would bite him to death.

Furthermore, after a temporary mark, the Sentinel’s dependence on the Guide was conditional. If they did not see each other for seven days, the dependence would naturally vanish. Would Min Chi try to save himself the trouble and just kill him to avoid future consequences?

Besides, he had a boyfriend; he had to stay pure for that person. Regret—Wen Leling felt immense regret. Why had he been so light-headed as to choose Min Chi just for the sake of convenience?

Is it too late to change his mind? Song He was also on the list, and he was right outside. It was still in time.

Wen Leling dragged his heavy head. Just as Min Chi was about to lean in again, he muttered, “You leave. Call Song He in.”

The moment the words fell, the air seemed to solidify, frozen by the overwhelming chill that suddenly erupted from Min Chi. The hand Min Chi had lightly placed on his waist suddenly tightened. After a moment of stunned silence, Min Chi looked up, his eyes meeting Wen Leling’s. Those eyes were now bloodshot and exceptionally fierce, striking fear into Wen Leling’s heart.

Pinned down firmly by Min Chi’s gaze, Wen Leling heard him squeeze the words out of his throat: “What did you say?”

“I. I said.” Wen Leling turned his head away, not daring to meet his gaze. His voice carried a sob, though it was unclear if it was from fear or the torture of the strange sensation. “You, get out. Let Song He come.”

” ”

Min Chi said nothing. He neither advanced nor retreated, allowing the awkward, dead silence to ferment endlessly in the room. Losing his support, Wen Leling soon collapsed among the tangled quilts under the erosion of the poison. His racing blood felt like it was being ravaged by red flames, burning a faint crimson onto his jade-like skin.

Fine beads of sweat soaked the hair on his forehead, sticking to his damp cheeks. His unfocused eyes brimmed with shimmering light, the corners flushed red, as if he had just been ruthlessly bullied by Min Chi.

Hearing him cry out for Song He again, Min Chi paused and narrowed his eyes. He felt a strange illusion, as if in a relationship of three, he was the third wheel, the intruder forcing his way in, while Wen Leling and Song He were the true lovers.

He could not wrap his head around it and was consumed by indignation. He said coldly, “Song He is gone.”

“There is only me. Do you want it or not? If not, I am leaving too.”

The forceful threat hid an undetectable disappointment, like a puppy waiting to be abandoned by its master, making a final farewell.

Wen Leling clutched the quilt and shook for a while, whispering in a barely audible voice, “No. You get out.”

It was as light as a wisp of smoke in a mist; if one did not listen closely, it would be missed entirely.

Min Chi seized upon this cautious resistance and persisted in leaning close. “Why? Did you not ask me to come?”

Lighting the fire and refusing to put it out, how irresponsible.

“You will bite me to death.” Wen Leling’s body temperature rose rapidly. His brain had stopped functioning, and he blurted out whatever was in his heart without the energy to think about the consequences.

Min Chi was completely baffled. Bite him to death? When did he ever say that?

Min Chi believed his attitude had been quite good since entering the room, fueled by his intuition that Wen Leling was Lele. Besides, he had not lived long enough yet. Even if he were to die decades early, he at least had to see Lele’s true face in person; then he could die without regrets.

He had no idea what was going on in that little head of his all day.

“Wen Leling, wake up.” Min Chi gently nudged Wen Leling’s head and repeated the question: “Are you sure you want me to leave?”

Suddenly, as if startled, a pair of furry ears sprouted from Wen Leling’s thick hair and stood straight up. His eyes, which had been forced open by sheer will, snapped wide. His pupils dilated as he scrambled up, clutching his pillow and grabbing the quilt to hide at the foot of the bed, covering his head with the blankets.

From Min Chi’s perspective, it was airtight. He would suffocate himself to death before Min Chi ever got the chance to bite him.

Min Chi reached out to pull the quilt away, but as soon as his hand moved, a terrified, panicked sob came from inside:

“I. I am not Lele.”

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