Chapter 48: Marking My Wife

Chapter 48: Claiming His Wife

The sky outside hadn't fully darkened yet.

When Chu Lanting returned home, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't nervous.

He didn't know much about things like "mental energy" that completely exceeded his understanding of human cognition.

If things really were as Uncle Tian said—that Pei Du's mental energy was currently in chaos and he desperately needed a release—then what could he possibly do for him?

His throat felt tight, and he swallowed hard.

Just as his fingers touched the handle of the courtyard gate, the loud crash of something falling over inside the house made him push the door open and rush in.

"A Du? How are you? Uncle Tian said your condition isn't good—are you in pain anywhere?"

The courtyard door wasn't fully closed.

When Chu Lanting pushed it open and walked in, he saw the room's door wide open.

Because the room was small, the head of the single bed faced the door directly.

As soon as he stepped inside, even though the dim light made it hard to see, he spotted a tall, familiar figure collapsed on his bed.

Not only that—he also saw the man clutching a pile of clothes to his chest, and looking closer, he realized they were all his.

Having never seen such a scene before, Chu Lanting furrowed his brows tightly.

Afraid of startling the man on the bed, he carefully closed the door behind him. The moment he looked up again, his eyes met a pair of pitch-black eyes.

In that instant, Chu Lanting felt his scalp prickle and goosebumps break out all over his body. Driven by a primal instinct for danger, he almost instinctively had the urge to turn and flee.

Unfortunately for him, the other person in the room wasn't about to give him that chance.

"Wife, wife... are you gonna leave me?"

"I feel so bad, so bad I'm dying... wife..."

Like the anguished howl of a wounded beast, the moment Pei Du saw the figure he had been longing for, his mind completely blank, he swayed unsteadily as he got up from the bed.

As he stood, the pile of clothes he had been clutching fell to the floor.

He didn't care. He just lurched toward the person he'd been longing for.

"Wife, my head hurts so much, my eyes hurt too, I'm gonna die... waaah..."

"Wife, hold me, just hold me and I'll be okay."

Chu Lanting had seen Pei Du act like a spoiled brat before.

But back then, Pei Du was at least sound in body and mind.

Not like now.

Just seeing him struggle to walk, his eyes bloodshot, and his face suddenly haggard after barely ten minutes apart—Chu Lanting felt like his heart was being crushed in a giant fist.

Ignoring his gut instinct's warning, he raised his arms and yanked the man, who was still two steps away, into his arms.

Gently rubbing the head that he said hurt, Chu Lanting whispered, "Does it still hurt when I press like this?"

The moment their bodies pressed together, he was alarmed by the scorching heat radiating from the other man.

"So hot. I think we still have some of that anti-inflammatory medicine left from last time. A Du, let's go take some medicine first, okay?"

He gave the back of the young man who had been clinging to him since he walked in a pat.

He felt the arm around his waist move slightly.

Just when he thought he was about to let go, the arm around his waist suddenly tightened like a vice.

"Ugh... A Du, don't squeeze me so tight, I'm going to suffocate."

It was so tight—even when they'd hugged while kissing not long ago, they'd never held each other like this.

Chu Lanting gasped for air. Just as his words faded, a damp, cool liquid suddenly slid down his collarbone.

His hand, which had been about to push the man away, froze mid-motion. Chu Lanting looked down at the fuzzy head buried against him and said in surprise, "A Du, why are you crying?"

The moment he saw Chu Lanting, held Chu Lanting, and smelled that familiar faint jasmine scent on him, Pei Du's rationality had completely vanished.

All that filled his mind now was how to completely possess the person in his arms. But as he thought, he clearly felt the person pushing against him.

The irritation and agony inside him collapsed completely in that moment.

Tears streamed down his face as if they were free. Hearing the questioning voice by his ear, he acted on instinct and sank his teeth into the slender neck before him.

He had to claim his wife by marking her, make his wife belong only to him, so no one else would ever dare to covet his wife.

Even though Chu Lanting wasn't afraid of pain, he still couldn't help but gasp when he was suddenly bitten.

His hands, which had been on the other's shoulders to push him away and get the medicine, froze in place.

"A Du, I won't leave. I'll stay by your side. Just loosen your grip a little first, okay? I really... can't breathe."

It wasn't just because Pei Du was holding him too tightly—it was also because Pei Du's body temperature was so high that the overwhelming scent of his masculine pheromones almost made him faint.

The moment Pei Du heard that he would stay by his side and never leave, the pained look on his face froze, and then he slightly loosened his grip around him.

The loosening of his grip made Chu Lanting feel much better.

But by now, the sky outside had grown quite dark. With the lights off, the room was so dim you could barely make out the furniture, let alone each other's expressions.

Afraid that the high fever might fry what was left of Pei Du's already addled, amnesiac brain—he still remembered how, when he first crossed over, he'd just helped him through a crisis where he nearly got cooked into a fool. He'd barely survived that crisis; he couldn't let it happen again.

"I'll go turn on the light, then we'll take some medicine and get some sleep, okay? After you sleep, your head won't hurt anymore, and you'll get better."

Chu Lanting's soft, soothing words wouldn't have worked on the Pei Du who used to act spoiled and clingy.

But right now, Pei Du was sick. If he was harsh with him, he'd probably have to soothe him for ages afterward.

A look of helplessness flickered across his face.

After finishing his words, Chu Lanting closed his mouth and waited for the man in his arms to respond.

But he waited and waited without hearing a single word. Thinking the high fever had made him pass out, a look of panic immediately spread across Chu Lanting's face.

"A Du? Are you still awake?"

"Doesn't my wife want me anymore? Why do you keep thinking about leaving me? Don't leave me, please..."

A plaintive, tearful voice sounded by his ear once again.

Chu Lanting let out a sigh of relief while the corners of his lips curled up slightly: "I don't..."

"All I need to do is mark my wife, then my wife can only be mine alone. My spiritual power level is very strong—once I mark her, no one will dare to have designs on my wife."

Chu Lanting had no idea what 'marking' meant, but upon hearing Pei Du's self-proclaimed 'spiritual power level,' his expression shifted from panic to surprise in an instant.

Before he could ask, he felt his body being lifted, and instinctively raised his arms to grab the other's collar.

"A Du, what are you doing?"

"Marking my wife. My wife can only be mine, she's mine."

A voice devoid of feeling echoed by his ear. Sensing something strange beneath him, Chu Lanting immediately jolted upright in shock: "Pei Du!"

"Pei Du, you can't... you bastard, mmph..."