The Gloomy Paper-Man Came to My Door to Pursue His Love - Chapter 24

Several military doctors were driven out by Xi Li, leaving only him and Qin Fei alone in the cabin. The doctors’ treatment had not made Qin Fei feel any better. His face still bore an expression of agony as he curled up in the single armchair, causing Xi Li to frown incessantly. He wanted to make Qin Fei more comfortable.

He leaned over, intending to carry Qin Fei to the bed, but when he reached out to embrace him, his arms met nothing. His outstretched arms passed right through a mass of scalding air. Xi Li froze in place, maintaining his posture. With a delayed realization, he remembered that he was currently nothing more than an ethereal projection.

In his daze, a wave of scorching air brushed past, rushing urgently against his face and causing his own cheeks to heat up. Xi Li lifted his gaze to look at Qin Fei. They were inches apart, so close that it seemed their noses might collide.

At such close range, Qin Fei’s mouth was slightly agape, and his rapid breathing caused his chest to heave. Every exhaled breath hit Xi Li’s face like sparks on a prairie, ruthlessly igniting a fire around him.

A fever is a prominent symptom of the sensitive period. Qin Fei was drenched in sweat, and his hands unconsciously reached to unbutton his clothes. Xi Li caught sight of Qin Fei’s wrist; Omegas were truly delicate. In his struggle just now, he had actually managed to injure himself. Xi Li looked down at Qin Fei’s wound. It was a red mark rubbed raw by the sofa fabric, appearing quite startling.

“Does it hurt?” Xi Li asked in a hoarse voice as he looked up.

Just then, Qin Fei raised his head, and their eyes met. Qin Fei bit his broken lip, and a bead of crimson blood bloomed on the petal of his mouth. A few ethereal syllables escaped from between his teeth. “I feel terrible. Help me.”

It was as if an accelerant had been poured onto a bonfire; the flames spread uncontrollably throughout his body. Xi Li’s Adam’s apple bobbed heavily. His heated gaze swept over Qin Fei’s face, looking again and again at the flushed countenance of the Omega before his eyes finally settled on the Omega’s neck.

What a fully sensitive Omega needed for help was an Alpha’s consolation. Xi Li could clearly see the Omega’s fair, slender neck. He could see the beautifully shaped gland throbbing, and he could see the pheromones screaming frantically inside that gland. Undoubtedly, the scent of pine must have filled the entire cabin.

Xi Li’s dark gaze remained glued to Qin Fei. The Omega’s exposed skin was flushed red, and the swollen gland looked like a ripe fruit waiting to be plucked. Xi Li thought that if he had a physical body, he would have surely bitten down on that ripe fruit at this moment, using his canines to pierce the thin skin and taste the sweetness of the flesh. It was not that he still possessed rationality; in fact, he could hardly restrain himself. But he could not bite it.

Xi Li’s face turned ashen. In a fit of rage, he used his consciousness data to send a message to Song Yun.

Take the ring away right now.

Very quickly, Xi Li received a reply.

Your Highness. I have consulted the military doctors. Your pheromone compatibility with Mr. Qin Fei has reached 100%. Although it was your pheromones that triggered Mr. Qin Fei’s full sensitivity, we cannot rashly withdraw them. On the contrary, Mr. Qin Fei needs more of your pheromones. You can try to have Mr. Qin Fei wear the ring or let him come into contact with your ring; perhaps this can alleviate some of Mr. Qin Fei’s pain.

100% compatibility. Xi Li clenched his hands into fists. He was currently so angry he wanted to kill someone. He could not even touch Qin Fei, let alone put a ring on him.

Hurry up and call someone in here.

After sending this message, Xi Li looked at Qin Fei. “Endure it for a bit,” Xi Li said in a lowered voice. “It will not be this painful for much longer.”

Qin Fei looked up at him. “Mhm.”

Xi Li took a deep breath and sent another message to urge them. Soon, a Beta military doctor entered the cabin. Wearing medical gloves, he found the ring in a concealed location. Xi Li stared at him throughout the entire process.

Because Qin Fei had been emotionally agitated earlier, the doctor did not dare touch him again and said to Qin Fei, “Sir, you need to hold this ring. It can alleviate your physical discomfort.”

Qin Fei did not respond, only lifting his head to look at Xi Li. Xi Li’s heart softened, and he gave Qin Fei a nod. Only then did Qin Fei slowly reach out his hand, tentatively taking the ring from the doctor’s grasp.

Under the watchful eyes of Xi Li and the doctor, the moment Qin Fei’s fingertips touched the ring, he seemed to sense the pheromones lingering upon it. He immediately realized who the owner of the ring was and recoiled his hand as if he had been electrocuted. “I do not want it.”

The doctor advised, “You need to be close to the Little Prince’s pheromones right now to ease your pain.”

Qin Fei insisted, “I do not want his things.” His tone did not hide his resistance.

The doctor said, “But,” before Qin Fei snapped, “I do not want it.” He swept the ring aside with his hand. The ring fell to the floor, clattering and rolling a few times before stopping right at Xi Li’s feet.

The doctor turned back helplessly to look for the ring, only to see Xi Li frozen in place, his face looking terrible to the extreme. Although the doctor did not know Xi Li’s identity, he keenly sensed that the atmosphere was wrong. He picked up the neglected ring from the floor, placed it to the side, and quickly found an excuse to withdraw.

He hurried all the way to the tail cabin of the starship to report the situation to Song Yun. “Mr. Qin Fei is unwilling to accept the Little Prince’s ring.”

Song Yun asked, “Then how did the other person besides Mr. Qin Fei react?”

The doctor recalled, “He was stunned.” At least before he left, the projected person had not yet snapped out of his state of shock.

Song Yun seemed to realize something. Rubbing his aching temples, he waved his hand to dismiss the doctor but kept him on standby. When they received the first encrypted message from the Little Prince, no one dared to take it at face value, yet no one dared to ignore it either.

Exclusive ABO was a Federation game; it was difficult for them to go deep into the game servers to verify the authenticity of the messages. Then Song Yun thought of the optical computer designated solely for the Little Prince’s use. The key to this computer was known only to the Little Prince; they could perhaps use this point to verify the truth.

Later, they received the digits of the secret key: 3230823.

In the bedroom still reserved for the Little Prince in the First Military District, the right-hand men of the Imperial Little Prince gathered, their expressions grim. Among them, Admiral Song Yun stepped forward and activated the optical computer in the Little Prince’s quarters.

The screen lit up: Please enter the secret key.

Song Yun looked up and asked, “What is it?”

Someone replied, “The message said it is 3230823.”

Song Yun felt this number was strangely familiar for some reason. “What date is August 23, Year 323 of the Star Calendar?”

Someone else recalled, “It seems to be the day the Little Prince got engaged.”

As the memory solidified, Song Yun wordlessly covered his forehead. “Oh, Your Highness.”

At this time, several more people arrived at the tail cabin. They were also from the First Military District, but they were not in uniform; they were dressed as travelers.

“Admiral Song Yun,” they greeted in unison. Then, one person asked, “Admiral, we saw that you surrounded Mr. Qin Fei’s cabin. Has something happened? Is Mr. Qin Fei alright?”

Song Yun glanced at them. “What are you doing here?”

The group hesitated. From their concern for Qin Fei, Song Yun sensed something. “Your sudden departure from the Military District back then was by the Prince’s orders to protect Mr. Qin Fei, was it not?”

The group remained silent, which served as a tacit admission. Song Yun covered his forehead again.

Inside the first-class cabin, Xi Li finally spoke up. “It will make you feel better.”

Even the words of his 2D character were of no use; Qin Fei still shook his head in refusal. “No.”

Xi Li fell silent for a moment before asking in a raspy voice, “Do you plan on suffering like this?”

Qin Fei looked up. He still remembered the warmth of his character’s pheromones. “Can you help me?”

Xi Li looked at him and said in a deep voice, “I cannot help you. I have no way to touch you.”

It took Qin Fei a moment to process Xi Li’s words. He looked at his surroundings, then at his character. Then, he slowly raised his hand and pointed behind the character. Xi Li turned around and saw the game pod that had not yet been closed.

The game pod was still some distance away from Qin Fei. Xi Li estimated that Qin Fei no longer had the strength to walk those few steps. However, when he turned back, he saw Qin Fei forcing himself to stand up.

The man’s gait was swaying, making Xi Li’s heart tighten for fear that Qin Fei would take a fall. He instinctively went to support him, but his hands once again caught nothing but air through Qin Fei’s body. Qin Fei passed through his body. Those few steps seemed to have exhausted all of his strength. He practically collapsed into the game pod.

Xi Li followed him anxiously. Fortunately, the interior of the game pod was soft. Qin Fei looked at him through the glass cover. His voice, muffled by the cover, sounded even weaker. “Come back quickly,” Qin Fei said.

Xi Li took a deep breath and logged out of the terminal, returning to the game world. As soon as he returned, he met Qin Fei at the doorstep of their home. The moment he saw Xi Li in person, Qin Fei could no longer hold on. His body went limp, and he fell firmly into Xi Li’s arms. After catching nothing but air twice, he finally felt Qin Fei realistically within the game.

Xi Li’s entire body stiffened. He swallowed silently, his Adam’s apple bobbing several times. “Help me,” Qin Fei said into his ear, his chin resting on Xi Li’s shoulder.

The game pod simulated the player’s physical state. Xi Li clearly felt the scalding temperature of Qin Fei’s body. He carefully tilted his head and saw the swollen gland on the back of Qin Fei’s neck.

“You,” Xi Li asked hoarsely. “How do you want me to help you?”

A soft inquiry came by his ear. “What is the intimacy level?”

Hot breath and soft hair brushed against his earlobe. Xi Li closed his eyes. “100%.”

“That much?”

“Mhm.”

“It rose so fast.”

“Mhm.”

“Will it drop?”

“No.”

“Then help me.”

Xi Li picked him up horizontally and closed the door. He carried him to the bedroom and placed him on the soft bed. Xi Li released his pheromones, just like that night in the main storyline. But his pheromones were no longer the Mimicry Deep Sea that had 100% compatibility with Qin Fei; the scent of pine he smelled was merely a flavor simulated by the game.

He watched Qin Fei closely and asked, “Do you feel any better?”

After all, the pheromone Qin Fei had chosen for him was Mimicry Scorching Sun, and Qin Fei himself was already feverish.

Qin Fei answered, “Mhm.”

Seeing Qin Fei’s brow relax slightly, Xi Li finally let out a sigh of relief. “If you feel sleepy, sleep for a while.” Xi Li saw the exhaustion between Qin Fei’s brows.

“Okay,” Qin Fei replied.

Xi Li did not speak again, quietly watching Qin Fei. He saw that Qin Fei had not closed his eyes, but instead turned his head to look at him. He must have felt better; his brow was no longer tightly furrowed.

“The reason I suddenly left the game before was because I mistook you for another person,” Qin Fei said.

Xi Li’s fingers curled slightly. Qin Fei had always been like this; he had explained his reasons for not logging into the game before, and now he was explaining his reasons for suddenly leaving. But Xi Li did not know how to answer.

Qin Fei promised with certainty, “I will not mistake you again from now on.”

Xi Li could not help but ask, “Why?”

Qin Fei said, “Because you will protect me, but that person will not.”

Xi Li felt as though another knife had been plunged into his heart, falling into a long, stunned silence.