Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Their destination was in the center of Sujing, on the top floor of a skyscraper over eighty stories high.

The designer was a young man with tan skin, a high nose, and deep-set eyes, yet he spoke Mandarin with no hint of an accent. According to his own introduction, he was a quarter Chinese and had given himself the Chinese name “Li Tang.”

“Sounds like something a foreigner would pick, right?” Li Tang said with a laugh. “I had someone choose it for me at random the year I first arrived. My Chinese wasn’t very good back then, and by the time I realized I wanted to change it, it was too late-everyone already knew me by it.”

Li Tang possessed a distinct masculine aura, yet he wore exquisite makeup and stepped around in men’s heels that were several centimeters high. Surprisingly, this appearance, combined with his warm and cheerful personality, wasn’t off-putting; instead, one couldn’t help but be drawn to the unique flair and confidence in his every gesture.

Ning Qiuyan had never met anyone like Li Tang-or rather, one of the Vampires like Li Tang. He lived more vibrantly than any human.

This studio was neither a luxury brand nor an independent haute couture house; it was essentially a private tailoring service that only catered to clients Li Tang took a liking to. Li Tang did this purely as a hobby. Besides keeping his clients’ measurements on file and making them several sets of clothes every season, he also designed and produced some ready-to-wear pieces in various sizes. If someone liked them, they bought them; if not, they simply stayed on the racks.

Consequently, inside the studio sealed with black blackout curtains, Ning Qiuyan saw a spectacular amount of clothing. Various colors and styles hung densely on racks, resembling the backstage of a fashion show he had seen online.

Qu Shu had called ahead, so Li Tang had already pulled out several pieces that Ning Qiuyan might like.

After a quick measurement of his shoulders, waist, and leg length, Li Tang asked, “How tall are you? 178 centimeters?”

Ning Qiuyan nodded. He had just been measured during his university entrance physical, and the man had guessed it perfectly.

“So tall, yet your waist is barely sixty-three centimeters. You’re too thin,” Li Tang noted as he jotted it down. He then said to Ning Qiuyan, “Don’t move. I still need to measure your arm length, chest, neck, and armscye… Since I have some free time this winter, I’ll make a few more sets of clothes for you.”

“Oh? That’s not necessary,” Ning Qiuyan said quickly. “Thank you, but I rarely wear formal suits or overcoats.”

He almost never had occasions that required such attire.

Li Tang raised an eyeliner-rimmed eyelid and looked at Qu Shu. “That’s a shame. You’re a wonderful clothes horse.”

“Xiao Ning is right,” Qu Shu said politely. “He doesn’t have much use for formal wear, but if you’re interested in making a few sets of daily wear for him, Mr. Guan would be very pleased.”

Li Tang gave an “OK” gesture and went back to work.

Ning Qiuyan stood there and let himself be poked and prodded like a professional mannequin, though his mind was on Qu Shu’s words.

He wasn’t quite used to such arrangements, yet he felt a warmth in his heart.

Measuring, picking styles, and altering the clothes took over half an hour.

Upon hearing they were attending a formal banquet that evening, Li Tang had some criticisms regarding Ning Qiuyan’s slightly curly, messy hair. He called a stylist friend over, and the two of them worked together to get Ning Qiuyan fully equipped. They seemed to enjoy it immensely, remarking that they hadn’t seen such a good model in a long time and wishing everyone could be as cooperative as Ning Qiuyan.

To them, perhaps passion and hobbies were the only things that mattered; money and time were of no consequence.

The same was true for Guan Heng.

Lu Qianque had once told Ning Qiuyan something similar-that material wealth and money held no real significance.

Wealth was merely a tool the Vampires used to communicate with the human world; they didn’t consider themselves “tycoons” or “socialites.”

Of course, Ning Qiuyan also remembered another thing Lu Qianque had said: “Accept every arrangement he makes for you, and obey his every request wholeheartedly. To the Master, that is what truly pleases him.”

So, Li Tang and his stylist friend didn’t know that there was a reason for Ning Qiuyan’s high level of cooperation.

Finally, at dusk, as the last sliver of daylight vanished from the edge of the city, Ning Qiuyan was finally released and made his way down to the base of the building.

As if timed perfectly, Guan Heng’s car drifted slowly out of the night.

Ning Qiuyan stood on the curb wearing a black, slim-fit suit. Gone was his usual faint air of despondency; he looked much sharper now, fully revealing the youthful radiance of a young man.

There were many pedestrians on the street, and Ning Qiuyan undoubtedly drew many eyes. He knew he was decent-looking, but he had never been the center of attention like this before. The novel experience gave him an uncomfortable sense of self-consciousness.

The black car’s paint was polished to a high shine, reflecting the city’s neon lights like a mirror.

It pulled quietly to the curb. The rear window rolled down, revealing those familiar eyes. Ning Qiuyan hurried around the car and opened the door himself to get in.

Once inside where no one could see him, Ning Qiuyan regained his sense of security. He leaned back against the seat and let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Mr. Guan.”

When he looked up, Guan Heng’s deep, dark eyes were fixed on him.

His face instantly flushed, even more so than moments ago.

Guan Heng was also dressed in black. He asked, “Have you eaten?”

“I have,” Ning Qiuyan said. “Sister Shu ordered dinner.”

Qu Shu wasn’t attending the banquet, but she was meticulous. Worried that it might be inconvenient for Ning Qiuyan to eat once they arrived, she had specially prepared dinner, which they had just finished together.

Guan Heng then instructed the driver to go straight to the banquet venue. “Let’s go.”

This was the second time Ning Qiuyan had sat in the back of a car with Guan Heng, sharing the same relatively enclosed space. The last time was when he had gotten lost on Du Island, and Guan Heng had gone to the Lighthouse to pick him up.

The two were much more familiar with each other now than they were then. In fact, their relationship had grown significantly closer.

Yet for some reason, Ning Qiuyan felt even more pressure. Perhaps it was because Guan Heng’s presence felt more overwhelming than ever, or perhaps it was because of this unaccustomed attire.

Guan Heng seemed to notice his unease and asked, “Uncomfortable?”

“A bit. I’ve never had my hair done like this,” Ning Qiuyan said sheepishly. “I feel like it doesn’t suit me. It’s a bit strange.”

Ning Qiuyan’s hairstyle was indeed a complete departure from his usual style.
His long bangs were swept back, revealing his forehead and sharp brow bone. His facial structure was striking, and he actually looked quite handsome this way; paired with that Ruby Earring, he possessed an edge of aggression that was absent from his usual gentle appearance.

“You look good,” Guan Heng said. “There’s no need to feel self-conscious.”

Ning Qiuyan was momentarily stunned. Blushing, he let out a soft “oh” and told Guan Heng, “I’ve never dressed like this before. It feels like I can’t even breathe.”

“Is it because of this?” Guan Heng suddenly leaned in, reaching out to touch Ning Qiuyan’s bowtie. “I hate these things too.”

As that face magnified before his eyes, drawing very close, Ning Qiuyan’s breath truly hitched for a second. Then, he felt a looseness around his neck; Guan Heng had already removed the bowtie.

Guan Heng didn’t pull away immediately. Instead, he asked, “Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable?”

Ning Qiuyan answered involuntarily, “There are also the shirt stays on my legs…”

The small black clips gripped the edge of his shirt, secured to his mid-thigh by black elastic bands. Ning Qiuyan found them very uncomfortable, but Li Tang had said they were necessary to prevent the shirt from riding up and looking unrefined when he moved, so Ning Qiuyan had cooperatively put them on.

What he didn’t know was that shirt stays weren’t mandatory. Li Tang had done it out of a mischievous desire to play a small joke on Guan Heng, never imagining that the intimacy between Guan Heng and Ning Qiuyan was nowhere near the level he had envisioned.

“Shirt stays?” Guan Heng seemed slightly puzzled, but he quickly realized what they were. “Who helped you put them on?”

Ning Qiuyan replied, “It was Li Tang. He made them a bit tight.”

An unreadable emotion flickered in Guan Heng’s eyes. “If they’re uncomfortable, take them off.”

Ning Qiuyan asked, “Right here?”

“Mm,” Guan Heng responded indifferently, then raised the partition between the front and back seats.

The driver’s potential line of sight was instantly blocked, turning the rear into a private space for the two of them.

Startled, Ning Qiuyan said without hesitation, “Maybe I shouldn’t.”

“Take them off,” Guan Heng said, looking at him.

It was an imperative sentence, the tone Guan Heng used when giving an order or instruction.

While not aggressive-it could even be considered soft-it was still very commanding.

However, to remove the shirt stays, he would inevitably have to expose them first. Ning Qiuyan couldn’t imagine such a ridiculous scene, so he insisted, “It’s fine…”

Not quite daring to meet Guan Heng’s gaze, he lowered his eyes and said, “They don’t seem that tight anymore. I’m just not used to them. I can take them off when we get back.”

Guan Heng watched him for a few seconds before pulling back slightly, saying nothing more.

The banquet venue was located on the other side of Sujing, in a suburban area far from the city center.

The car drove into a lush, green estate. It was vast; it took a full ten minutes of driving after passing through the main gates to approach the primary building. No other cars were visible at the drop-off point. Attendants dressed as waiters came forward to receive them, leading them toward the venue.

The weather was cold, and it had rained lightly the day before. Ning Qiuyan put on his own down jacket when he stepped out of the car.

Guan Heng did not fear the cold.

Legend had it that a Vampire was a cold-blooded creature. Although the reality wasn’t exactly like that, Ning Qiuyan knew they didn’t fear the bitter cold; if anything, they detested the heat.

The moment he stepped into this environment, Ning Qiuyan knew this was the territory of the Vampires.

Dim streetlights dotted both sides of the path, and dense greenery as heavy as mountain shadows could be seen everywhere. Ning Qiuyan even spotted a labyrinth made of hedges. Much like Du Island, the first impression this place gave was one of beauty and tranquility.

However, the marble statues, the high stone steps, and the imposing, pristine-looking building all presented a temperament entirely different from Du Island: cold, somber, and unapproachable.

As they reached the first step, a waiter politely asked them to stop and gave them directions.

Guan Heng stepped up first. A red beam of light suddenly appeared, flashing across Guan Heng’s long hair and shoulders before scanning down to his feet. Then, it turned blue.

Ning Qiuyan had seen many movies and knew this was a security device; it was scanning them.

After ascending a few steps, Guan Heng turned back and said to Ning Qiuyan, “Come.”

For a split second, Ning Qiuyan thought Guan Heng intended to hold his hand, but as soon as he passed through the scanning zone, Guan Heng lowered his hand.

Once he was close, Guan Heng said with lowered eyes, “Follow me.”

“Okay,” Ning Qiuyan replied.

There were twenty-two steps in total. The moment they entered the building, someone came to take Ning Qiuyan’s jacket.

The interior wasn’t as magnificent as he had imagined. It was dim inside, with crystal chandeliers hanging above, refracting blurred light.

Aside from the staff who faded into the shadows to minimize their presence while serving guests, Ning Qiuyan didn’t see any other attendees.

Guan Heng seemed long accustomed to this, walking at the front without stopping. Ning Qiuyan didn’t dare fall behind, following closely in Guan Heng’s wake. The further they went inside, the more shadows there were. The scent of the Vampires grew thicker here; he could see little more than the carpet illuminated under the lamps and Guan Heng’s tall back before him.

Belatedly, Ning Qiuyan realized he had entered the heart of the Vampires’ domain-a mysterious world he knew nothing about, a world belonging to nocturnal creatures.

“Ah.”

Ning Qiuyan let out a cry of pain as his forehead hit something.

Guan Heng had stopped at some point and was standing right in front of him. Lost in his wandering thoughts, Ning Qiuyan had walked straight into Guan Heng’s chest.

“I’m sorry…” Ning Qiuyan apologized instinctively.

Guan Heng was standing right at the edge of the light. His skin was pale, and his ink-black eyelashes cast small shadows.

“Are you afraid?” he asked.

Ning Qiuyan’s heartbeat and pulse had quickened, his skin was clammy with sweat, and his breathing had grown heavy. Guan Heng could hear it all clearly.

When questioned, Ning Qiuyan nodded honestly. It was clear he was trying to remain calm, but his eyes betrayed a restlessness and panic he couldn’t hide. “I don’t know what it will be like inside…”

“Don’t be afraid,” Guan Heng said in a deep voice. “We’re only coming this once. We’ll only stay for a little while and then leave.”

“Okay.” Ning Qiuyan trusted Guan Heng enough.

Guan Heng remained unruffled at all times. He was indifferent toward this place, perhaps even a bit disdainful.

He touched Ning Qiuyan’s face and said softly, “Give me your hand.”