(BL) Reborn as Lycan's Emperor's abandoned Beta concubine?!

Chapter 38: 38. I can’t love him, can I?

THE NEXT MORNING

XAVIER

By the following morning, I thought the palace had finally calmed down. I was wrong as I had barely stepped into the kitchen when Ana came rushing toward me.

"Master Wei!"She shouted.

"What happened?"I asked.

"Have you heard?"She grabbed my sleeve.

"Heard what?"I immediately became suspicious.

"The Emperor ordered the royal kitchen to make a special pastry."She said.

"That’s not unusual."I blinked.

"It is when the pastry is specifically for you."She added.

"For me?"I nearly dropped the basket I was carrying.

"Apparently His Majesty personally gave the instructions."Hin appeared behind her, already looking amused.

"Why?"I stared at them.

Nobody answered.

"Apparently he told the pastry chef that it must be something Wei would like."Ana leaned closer.

"How does he even know what I like?"I rubbed my forehead.

"Maybe he’s been paying attention."Hin giggled.

"Don’t say things like that."I groaned.

"But there’s more."She said.

"There is always more."I said.

"He apparently rejected the first three attempts."Ana lowered her voice dramatically.

"What?"I asked.

"He said they weren’t good enough."She said.

I stared at her.

"Three?"I asked.

"The fourth one was finally approved."Hin nodded.

"That’s insane."I sighed.

"It gets worse."She said.

"How?"I slowly looked at Ana.

"He ordered the pastry to have a moonflower design."She said.

My stomach dropped.

"Moonflower?"I asked.

"Yes."She said.

I immediately thought about the flute, the copper box, the wedding cloth, the strange memories then I shook my head.

"No. It’s probably unrelated."I said.

"Probably?"Ana raised an eyebrow.

"Definitely." I was lying to myself.

Then a palace servant entered carrying a small porcelain box.

"Chef Wei."He said.

"Yes?"I froze.

"His Majesty sent this." He placed the box in my hands and bowed.

I slowly opened it and inside was a single pastry. It was beautiful, a delicate moonflower shape, dusted with sugar and decorated with tiny edible silver petals. There was a small note beneath it.

"Eat this while it is warm."It said.

I stared at the handwriting as my face slowly heated.

"Oh."Ana and Hin leaned over my shoulders.

"Oh?" I repeated.

"That’s definitely romantic."Ana smiled.

"It is a pastry!"I shouted.

"A royal pastry."Ana added.

"It’s still food!"I said.

"The Emperor sent Chef Wei another gift."Behind us, another servant whispered to someone outside.

I closed my eyes. The rumors were already spreading.

"I heard His Majesty rejected four pastries before choosing that one."Then another whisper followed.

"Why would he do all that?"I looked down at the moonflower pastry.

"Maybe because he wanted you to like it."Hin smiled.

I didn’t know what to say. I took a tiny bite, and it was ridiculously good.

Ding. Emperor Lang Li affection: 25%."A system said.

I nearly swallowed wrong.

"Of course."I stared at the ceiling.

"What?"Ana laughed.

"Nothing." I looked at the pastry again.

For some reason, despite all my complaints I couldn’t stop smiling. I took another bite of the moonflower pastry. It was still warm and annoyingly delicious.

"Why does this actually taste this good?"I looked down at it.

"Because His Majesty apparently spent a ridiculous amount of time choosing it."Ana smiled knowingly.

"That doesn’t make me feel better." I took another bite anyway.

"Ding."Then the system suddenly appeared.

"Not again." I froze.

"Emotional response detected."A system said.

"What emotional response?"I asked.

"Host’s personal affection has increased."The system paused.

"What?"My hand stopped halfway to my mouth.

"Ding. Xavier’s affection toward Emperor Lang Li: 40%."A system said.

"FORTY?!"I nearly dropped the pastry.

Ana and Hin both jumped.

"What happened?" Hin asked.

"Nothing!"I gasped.

"Forty percent?!" I stared at the system.

"Confirmed."It said.

"That’s impossible!"I gasped.

"Current emotional attachment: 40%."A system said.

"No."I said.

"Host appears distressed."A system said.

"I am distressed!"I said.

"I’m straight."I put the pastry down like it had personally betrayed me.

The system remained silent.

"I am."I repeated. "I have always been straight."

Another pause.

"Host’s current emotional response contradicts previous statements."A system said.

"Oh, no."I covered my face.

"Master Wei?"Ana stared at me.

"I’m having a crisis."I said.

"What kind?"She asked.

"The worst kind!"I added.

"Should we call the healer?"Hin looked worried.

"No!" I stood up too quickly, then immediately sat back down. "Nope. Bad idea."

My heart was pounding. Forty percent. How had it reached forty percent? I had barely even noticed. It wasn’t like I suddenly wanted some dramatic romance. I just I liked when Lang Li remembered what food I enjoyed, I liked when he brought me breakfast, I liked that he worried when I fainted, I liked how he stayed beside my bed and apparently I liked him. My face became unbearably hot.

"No."I groaned.

"Ding. Emotional denial detected."A system said.

"STOP ANALYZING ME!"I gasped.

Ana and Hin exchanged confused looks.

"I am having gay panic."I buried my face in my hands.

Ana and Hin blinked.

"What is gay panic?" Hin whispered.

"Nothing!" I grabbed the pastry again and aggressively took a bite.

The system immediately appeared.

"Ding. Affection remains at 40%."A system said.

"Can eating the pastry lower it?"I glared at it.

"Negative."A system said.

"Can I throw the pastry away?"I asked.

"Possible."A system said.

I looked at the moonflower pastry. I couldn’t do it, it was too delicious.

"This is a disaster."I groaned.

"His Majesty’s special pastry made Chef Wei smile."And somewhere outside the kitchen, I heard a servant whisper.

"Then perhaps His Majesty should send another tomorrow."Another voice answered.

I slowly lowered my head onto the table.

"I am never surviving this palace."I groaned.

I stared down and sighed. I was not sure how I was going to look into Lang Li eyes again, knowing that I had begun liking him. Even more so, knowing that he also likes me too. He was supposed to like Mei Lin, but for some reason she also took his side, and I was not sure if it was for the better or worse.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!