Chapter 48
This residence was usually off-limits to other vampires. Xie Yan disliked outsiders and typically lived alone, only occasionally allowing people in to clean.
…Oh, and when his eccentric younger brother was grounded, the house would be slightly more populated.
The affairs of his family and the corporation were so numerous that they left Xie Yan feeling exhausted. At the twilight hours between dawn and dusk, he was in a state where he could collapse at any moment.
So tired.
Most of his kind had something wrong with their heads. They practically wore their wickedness on their faces and couldn’t go a single day without causing trouble. In comparison, communicating with humans was easier. But the backstabbing in a large corporation was no less intense; those people would use a hundred different schemes for the slightest profit.
Xie Yan’s days were consumed by such matters.
But the weariness was only an internal thought; Xie Yan never showed these emotions to outsiders. A mature, cold, decisive, and unapproachable man of power—that was how others defined him.
The Progenitor’s death had been an accident. No one knew how that old bastard had fallen, only that he had left behind a colossal mess. To ensure his peaceful life wasn’t disrupted, Xie Yan had been forced to investigate.
In the initial reports, Fu Xia was just an ordinary person. Not dangerous, unaware of the existence of vampires, and clueless about the storm she was caught in. When Xie Yan saw her family background, he had considered bringing her into his circle of protection through financial aid. After all, the legacy falling into the hands of any of his peers would be a headache. But then he felt it would just bring trouble to his own doorstep and temporarily shelved the idea.
Not long after, Xie Rin, like a wild horse, had plunged headfirst into the competition. And not only that, he had stirred up trouble everywhere, coming home to wreck the place whenever he was upset, only to leave in a huff afterward.
Xie Yan, looking at the wreckage in his library: “…”
Tutorial on how to make your younger brother die.
He had coldly begun to deal with the potential fallout, only to discover that it wasn’t just Xie Rin. Pei Wang, Yan Zhu—and now Song Yingxi—had all gathered around the human girl. At first, it was about winning her heart to get the legacy, but now they were stuck to her like glue.
…Ah, and there was also a young, uncontrollable half-breed.
At this chaotic juncture, Xie Yan’s head ached.
He once again felt a gaze on his back. The Prince stopped and turned to look at the corner he had just passed.
“Is there something you need?”
No one answered. Only a faint breeze blew through the corridor.
Xie Yan sighed. “If there’s nothing, then stop following me.”
Just as he was about to leave, a head peeked out from around the corner. The girl’s dark, tied-up hair swayed in the air. Fu Xia offered a friendly smile. “Excuse me, can I talk to you?”
Xie Yan instinctively sensed trouble. “About what…?”
The girl, likely thinking she had a chance, immediately straightened up and rushed over to him. Fu Xia snapped to attention, almost like a soldier. “Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
…
When it came to her own life and death, Fu Xia was very serious.
However, Yan Zhu had said that if she were to be direct with Xie Yan, this guy would likely refuse immediately and run away, then find a hundred different ways to disappear from her sight. So, it was best to get familiar with him first.
Fu Xia calculated the number of days left until the Full Moon Ball. The turning process was quick; if she didn’t die, she would be up and about the next day. But after the First Embrace, there would be an adjustment period of about a week. An adjustment to a cold body and the thirst for blood. The worst-case scenario was that Fu Xia might indiscriminately attack those around her. Only after she had completely calmed down and regained her sanity could she drink the heart’s blood of another vampire.
All in all, she had less than half a month of free time. Who wouldn’t be anxious?
It’s all Song Yingxi’s fault!
The man in front of her was still waiting for a reply. Fu Xia thought for a moment and decided to start the conversation with Xie Rin.
“I wanted to ask if Xie Rin is doing okay.”
Xie Yan probably hadn’t expected that to be her opening question. His refusal was caught in his throat.
“He’s fine.”
Aside from his chaotic schedule and occasionally smashing things—the items in the library were all antiques from centuries ago. At first, Xie Yan had been speechless, but now he didn’t care. …Anyway, in a few hundred years, the things from today would be antiques too.
Fu Xia wracked her brain for another topic. “Can I go see him?”
Xie Yan paused. “He’s very dangerous. I wouldn’t advise you to seek him out.”
He looked down and saw Fu Xia staring at him with a very strange expression. The girl couldn’t help but exclaim, “…You’re actually a really nice person.”
“…Thank you.”
Silence.
Ten seconds into their staring contest, Fu Xia realized that this man would seize any opportunity to end the conversation and retreat into his shell like a turtle.
It seemed the slow approach wasn’t going to work either.
Fu Xia quickly changed her strategy. She took a step forward, blocking his path as he tried to sidle away.
“Do you and Yan Zhu know that I want to be turned into a vampire… I’d like to ask you to help me with it,” Fu Xia said.
Xie Yan: “…”
“Because your ability can ensure that I won’t die, so…”
Xie Yan turned on his heel. “I’m sorry.”
…Unimaginable.
Intimate contact, drinking blood—Xie Yan couldn’t imagine himself doing such a thing.
Fu Xia watched as the composed-looking vampire practically fled.
Fu Xia: “…”
How am I supposed to forcefully claim this guy?
That night, when Fu Xia dreamed of Xie Rin again, the young man was lying flat on his back, sulking. His long hair was spread out like satin on the white sheets, his overly pale, beautiful face expressionless. He didn’t even acknowledge her presence.
Fu Xia was used to it. “What’s wrong now, my dear young master?”
Xie Rin’s words were sour. “Ha, so you still remember me.”
“Of course. I was just asking your brother about you today.”
The beautiful, doll-like vampire on the bed sat up, his already open collar slipping further, revealing a large expanse of pale skin.
“You saw Xie Yan?”
“Yes, I’m at your house right now.”
Xie Rin let out a soft “tsk.” “Don’t hang out with him. I hate him.”
A question mark appeared over Fu Xia’s head.
“Where is your brother’s room?”
Xie Rin stared at her resentfully. “Why do you need to know about him?”
Fu Xia told him the truth. “I need his ability to help with the turning.”
Xie Rin instantly thought of what that entailed. “Don’t even think about it!”
“Fine, then I’m leaving.”
“Wait!”
A clear look of jealousy and resentment flashed in his eyes, but in the end, he reluctantly told her about his brother. Including, but not limited to, the fact that the guy looked glamorous on the outside, a mature and reliable adult, but was actually a shut-in who liked to hide in the dark.
“If you have any extra contact with him, I won’t let you go, even as a ghost,” Xie Rin said sinisterly.
Fu Xia agreed verbally, but thought to herself, Aren’t you already a ghost?
…
Fu Xia had always been a person of action.
But catching Xie Yan was proving to be difficult, especially since he was actively avoiding her. She had never thought she’d be the one chasing after a vampire. He looked calm and composed, but the moment she made contact, he was like a startled black cat. The second he sensed her gaze, he would start walking faster.
Yan Zhu and Pei Wang weren’t always with Fu Xia; they had to go out and handle things from time to time. Apparently, the lower-ranking vampires, frustrated by the Princes’ lack of progress, were planning to make a move on the Progenitor’s target themselves.
This sense of urgency radiated to Fu Xia.
She began to track Xie Yan more frequently. He must have really liked his current residence, because even though she was chasing him, he still came back every day.
Her efforts paid off. On the third day of her pursuit, Fu Xia found an opportunity.
The door to Xie Yan’s room was not completely closed.
Fu Xia quietly peeked inside and saw that in the office-like room, almost all the lights were off, with only the glow from a large computer screen.
She tiptoed inside. In the past, Fu Xia would never have done this. But now, she didn’t have time to worry about it.
Xie Yan must have been really tired. A game was open on his screen, but he was slumped over the desk, asleep.
Is he that tired?
A page was open on the screen, a globally popular two-player co-op shooter that was currently holding a tournament. Someone was spamming Xie Yan in the chat.
Fu Xia didn’t mean to look, but the person was typing so fast that she had read it all before she realized.
[Player]: can u even play?
[Player]: u play worse than my grandma’s stewed pork knuckles
[Player]: do u get it? is there anything in your house with fizz besides coke?
[Player]: scrub, 1v1 me if you dare
Fu Xia: “…”
Who is this guy? Careful or a vampire will come find you offline.
Fu Xia looked at the constantly popping up friend requests, then at the seemingly deeply asleep Xie Yan.
She moved the equipment a little, wanting to give it a try. As a poor student, Fu Xia hadn’t had much contact with this kind of setup, but she had played games before. When her stepbrother couldn’t beat someone and threw a tantrum, she had been forced to master many gaming skills.
First round, Fu Xia was easily killed.
Second round, Fu Xia got her revenge.
[Fu Xia]: u mad?
The other player wouldn’t give up and sent another request. After Fu Xia killed him ten times, he finally behaved.
[Fu Xia]: talk.
[Player]: i’m sorry my lord, i was blind
Satisfied, Fu Xia took off the headset. She had been so engrossed that she only just realized the person who had been sleeping was now awake.
“…What are you doing here?” Xie Yan asked.
She looked at the game on the screen. “I saw someone trash-talking you, so I stepped in.” She acted as if she didn’t need to explain why she had barged into his room.
Xie Yan had actually seen her thrash her opponent. He ran a hand through his sleep-mussed hair, pushing it back to reveal a smooth, pale forehead.
“…I know you want to be turned. Yan Zhu and the others should be happy to help you.”
“But it’s not safe,” Fu Xia said. “They said I’m a Lighthouse. The probability of losing control is high.”
Xie Yan paused. They even told her that?
If Xie Yan had initially thought they were just acting, he now fully understood that those guys were completely smitten with her.
Just then, he heard her say, “This game, you don’t have a teammate?”
Xie Yan: “…”
Alright, so he clearly didn’t have a teammate.
“If you don’t mind,” Fu Xia said, “once I get the hang of it, I can help you.”
Xie Yan was silent for a few seconds. His rationality told him not to have too much contact with this human, but for some reason, he nodded.
…What kind of charm does she possess?
After getting his permission, Fu Xia practiced in the training grounds for about half an hour. Once she had mastered the basics, she had Xie Yan, who had been watching quietly, start a match.
Ten minutes later, the screen displayed [VICTORY].
Xie Yan’s gaze shifted from the screen to Fu Xia’s face. The human girl’s expression was calm, her eyes reflecting the colors of the screen.
“That was fun,” she said.