Chapter 19
Pei Wang had always been in a position of power.
He was the youngest Vampire Prince, rarely defied, and certainly never in a position to be controlled by another.
Fu Xia figured that most people, when they had the energy, liked to try new things. If it were her, she would probably spend her free time studying, sleeping, or working. She definitely wouldn’t go out of her way to a place like this to be humiliated. To put it bluntly, the lives of these rich young masters were just too easy.
Even at a moment like this, Pei Wang was still making demands, as if the situation were entirely under his control.
Fu Xia suddenly felt a pang of jealousy.
She didn’t want to look into his eyes, so she rummaged through a cabinet by the sofa, found a black silk scarf, and slowly blindfolded him. As she did, his cool breath ghosted past her ear.
Fu Xia swallowed. She shifted her position on the sofa, making it easier to release the beast from its cage.
Surprisingly, the dream and reality weren’t all that different… Compared to what she had conceptualized, it was more like a work of art made of white porcelain.
The crimson ropes bound his body tightly. The young man’s hands were tied behind his back, his legs slightly parted.
—In truth, with a vampire’s strength, breaking free from the ropes would not have been difficult.
The black silk scarf over his eyes allowed him to see only blurry outlines. He couldn’t see her expression, but he could probably imagine it. Vampires pursued power. Humans, naturally, were the same. Once they tasted control, they would inevitably become addicted.
…Pei Wang hadn’t missed the occasional look of desire in her eyes when she looked at him.
Fu Xia, however, had no idea what the young master was thinking.
She tried to explore which areas would elicit a stronger reaction from him. After some experimentation, she discovered he particularly liked having his Adam’s apple kissed. Just one kiss, and his body would instinctively lean toward her; he would even tilt his head back on his own.
Eventually, his entire center of gravity shifted forward, and half his weight was resting on her.
Fu Xia’s clever mind went to work. She tried kissing his neck while touching him.
“How does it feel now?” she asked.
Pei Wang’s forehead rested on her shoulder. His only response was his heavy, ragged breathing.
Fu Xia was at a loss. She hadn’t learned much yet and could only stimulate him by varying the pressure. But a long time had passed, so long that her hand was starting to ache, and he was still holding back.
…Is he missing some crucial stimulation?
As she was thinking this, she pushed herself up.
He can’t see anyway…
She tugged on the red rope, wrapped it around a few times, and tied a bow near the base. Pleased with her handiwork, she gave the front a light, instinctive pat.
The blindfolded young man’s head shot up.
“It was just an impulse…” Fu Xia started. The rope was tied a bit tight, and the pat hadn’t been gentle. She had gotten a little carried away.
“…Hah,” Pei Wang gasped.
The ropes binding his hands had come undone at some point. He reached out and seized her ankle. He must have been holding back for a long time, because he didn’t restrain his strength.
Startled, Fu Xia instinctively tried to pull back, but his grip was too strong. Her center of gravity shifted instantly—
Fu Xia was sitting on the sofa.
Her butt hurt. She had lost her balance during the struggle and landed on the floor. Now her butt ached, and her ankle was uncomfortable.
Pei Wang was already dressed and was fastening the top button of his collar. He had taken off the blindfold and mask, and his black hair was slightly disheveled. The fire in his emerald-green eyes was clearly raging. Anyone could see the young master was in a foul mood. It was understandable; anyone would be annoyed if they were interrupted at a time like that.
Fu Xia couldn’t help but ask, “So, can my debt be forgiven now?”
Pei Wang smiled at her, his voice chilling. “What do you think?”
Fu Xia’s head drooped.
The two of them sat in the small room, Fu Xia’s posture a bit stiff. One moment they were being intimate, and the next, this. It was so awkward.
Fu Xia thought for a moment and decided to speak first. “Pei Wang, can I ask why you transferred classes?”
“To find someone.”
“Oh, and did you find them?”
No answer. Pei Wang looked at the red ropes scattered on the floor. The dim red light made it impossible for her to read his expression. Just as she was about to find another topic and make her escape, the young master suddenly spoke.
“The invitation to the Full Moon Ball. I’ll have it delivered to the person who wants it.”
Fu Xia had just let out a silent cheer when she heard him continue, “In exchange, you will go with me that day, as my date.”
“…But I don’t have a dress,” Fu Xia said.
“I’ll have one prepared.”
“I can’t dance either,” she whispered.
“You won’t have to dance.”
“But…”
Pei Wang glanced at her.
Fine. Fu Xia shut her mouth. At least she had completed one of her tasks. She had a faint feeling that his bottom line was much lower than she had imagined. Maybe she wouldn’t have to pay for the cufflink at all. If so, the hundred-thousand-plus she’d earned recently would be all hers.
It was getting late. When Fu Xia stood up, she felt a sharp discomfort in her ankle. As she was leaving the club, she asked Chen Wang for a crutch. Chen Wang gave her a complicated look, clearly thinking that Pei Wang had caused the injury. She was about to pull Fu Xia aside to ask what happened when she looked up and saw Pei Wang, standing behind her, staring at her with a haunting intensity.
It was strangely like an animal guarding its food.
“He said someone will give you the invitation, so make sure you look out for it,” Fu Xia whispered.
Chen Wang’s heart skipped a beat. “…Okay. I’ll transfer your salary later.”
Just before she left, Chen Wang called out to her again. “There’s an opening for a server at the first-years’ welcome party on the weekend. If you need the job, text me.”
The school was always generous with its funding. The work for a server at a party like this wasn’t much, and you could earn two thousand in one night. Fu Xia decided to forgive Chen Wang for her past bullying.
Chen Wang even added, with a hint of conscience, “…Contact me only if your foot is okay. Don’t push yourself if it’s sprained.”
“Okay,” Fu Xia said.
Although she knew none of them were good people, she had completed an important task for Chen Wang. There was nothing wrong with accepting a few benefits—it wasn’t like she was getting them for free.
Pei Wang had no sense of chivalry. Fu Xia hobbled behind him on her crutch, slowly making her way out. Her ankle was probably going to swell up. She hoped she could get through this period with fewer injuries.
She had thought Pei Wang had already left, but when she got outside, she saw he was still standing by the door. His posture was ramrod straight, the cold moonlight casting a faint halo around him.
Fu Xia paused. “If you’re going the same way, want to walk together?”
She was kidding. There was no way a scholarship student’s dorm was in the same direction as his.
“Keep up,” Pei Wang said.
Fu Xia: …
Is he going to walk me back to my dorm?
She thought it was unlikely; he clearly wasn’t the considerate type. The infirmary was still open at this hour. She wasn’t sure if the medicine in her dorm would work on a sprain, so she had been planning to get some. At that thought, she felt a little sad. In just a few short days, she had already been to the infirmary several times… If possible, she hoped she wouldn’t get hurt again.
The moon was high in the sky. The campus was nearly empty. Fu Xia followed slowly behind Pei Wang. As they were passing through the academic building area, he suddenly stopped.
Fu Xia walked right into his back.
“Ow,” she said, rubbing her head.
But Pei Wang didn’t speak or turn around.
Fu Xia stood on her tiptoes and peered over his shoulder, seeing a group of people up ahead.
“…?”
The group that had surrounded them was strange. There were about ten of them, all dressed in solemn black trench coats. Large hoods covered most of their faces, and the skin that was visible was a bizarre, deathly pale. In addition, they seemed to be holding weapons, like daggers.
They were blocking the path, their target clearly one of the two of them.
Recalling her earlier suspicion that he was the young master of some underground organization, Fu Xia tugged on his sleeve in terror. “Why don’t you have any bodyguards with you?”
Pei Wang glanced at her. “I don’t need them.”
Fu Xia silently counted their numbers—twelve. She leaned closer and whispered, “Should I call the police for you?”
Pei Wang sneered. “Who do you think I am?”
Fine. Still so arrogant even when surrounded. Fu Xia was now even more certain of his identity. If something happened to him, she wouldn’t have to carry the debt, but she didn’t know what she would tell Chen Wang. And what about her? Would she be killed to silence her?
The situation was so surreal that she felt a strange sense of calm. Pei Wang looked down at the people gathering in front of them. “Turn around and walk away. Don’t look back.”
“Okay, then you… good luck…”
Let’s just hope his face makes it out okay!
Fu Xia turned and fled. She knew the campus layout well. If it weren’t for her bad ankle, she would have been gone in a flash. The academic buildings were arranged in an arc, with a small, complex garden in the middle, and various exits connecting the walkways between the buildings.
She heard the sound of something crashing to the ground behind her but ignored it completely. She had just rounded a corner when she ran headfirst into a solid chest.
Scenes from various cop movies flashed through her mind. Was someone trying to circle around and stab Pei Wang from behind? Would she be killed for seeing them?
At that thought, Fu Xia raised the crutch in her hand and brought it down on the person in front of her. She used all her strength, striking several times. The person seemed dazed, and after a few seconds, they reacted, hastily grabbing the crutch.
“Ah, that hurts…”
She heard a clear, aggrieved boy’s voice. Fu Xia lifted her eyes and saw a head of brilliant blond hair.
The boy was clutching his hand, looking at her pitifully. “Senior, what are you doing here?”