Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Guan Heng walked toward the far end of the reception hall. Ning Qiuyan noticed that everyone except the white-haired foreigner stood up to greet him.

The waiter had already withdrawn. Standing alone and staring blankly at them would have been impolite, so Ning Qiuyan turned back to appreciate the piano music. He recognized it as a piece by Beethoven, though he couldn’t recall the exact title.

The performer was highly skilled and deeply immersed in the music.

Looking at her silhouette, Ning Qiuyan suddenly noticed a ruby ring on her slender, jade-like finger, which complemented her long red dress perfectly.

The ruby on the ring glittered with every movement of her fingers as she played.

It revealed the performer’s identity; she, too, was a human who had signed a Blood Contract with the Vampires.

Ning Qiuyan looked away and began to observe the decor. Keeping Guan Heng’s words in mind, he tried to stay within Guan Heng’s line of sight.

The left wall of the reception hall was covered in niches made of white travertine. It was rugged yet blended seamlessly with the wooden tones of the interior. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of niches arranged in neat rows, reminding Ning Qiuyan of the Temple of a Thousand Faces from a certain American TV show.

He stepped closer and found a bizarre variety of items on display: English manuscripts, ancient zithers, cups, fabrics, combs, and even a toothbrush. These items weren’t all valuable, but each one was accompanied by a small date plaque. As he looked through them, he realized they were quite old, dating back at least three or four hundred years.

The piano music reached its finale and then came to an abrupt halt.

Ning Qiuyan was focused on the niches when he suddenly heard someone beside him say, “These are all Mr. Jones’s mementos.”

The speaker was the piano player from a moment ago.

She had left the piano and was now standing beside him. Seeing Ning Qiuyan turn around, she smiled and said, “Hello, I’m Sheng Huan.”

Up close, Ning Qiuyan realized she was significantly older than him, roughly around the same age as Qu Shu. He responded politely, “Hello, my name is Ning Qiuyan.” He looked back at the niches. “These mementos are very unique. What are they commemorating?”

“Some important people,” Sheng Huan said. “I asked the same question the first time I came here.”

As a fellow human under a Blood Contract, Ning Qiuyan felt a sense of kinship with her. He asked, “Are banquets held here often?”

“Not often,” Sheng Huan replied. “They are usually only held when a new Blood Contract Partner appears, just like tonight.”

Ning Qiuyan was somewhat puzzled.

“You don’t know yet?” Sheng Huan gave a charming smile. “We’ve gathered here because Mr. Guan has confirmed his Blood Contract Partner… because of you.”

In his surprise, a sudden realization dawned on Ning Qiuyan.

He had asked Guan Heng why everyone was looking at him, and Guan Heng’s answer had been, “Because this is your first public appearance.” He had known he was drawing curiosity, but he hadn’t realized the banquet itself was held for that very reason.

Guan Heng had brought him here specifically for this.

“You are wearing the Mark of the Vampires. Mr. Guan will announce his exclusivity over you in public, and no other Vampires will be allowed to touch you,” Sheng Huan said. “Holding a banquet for this is a customary tradition.”

Ning Qiuyan asked, “A tradition? Like the ‘Camellia Night’ written on the card?”

“Yes, Camellia Night,” Sheng Huan nodded. “Mr. Jones’s Blood Contract Partner adored white camellias. To introduce him to everyone back then, Mr. Jones specially held a banquet with camellias as the theme. That night became known as Camellia Night. Later, other Vampires began to follow suit. Mr. Jones was entrusted to host many similar banquets, and it gradually became a formal event. Now, prominent members of the Vampires are invited whenever they have a new Blood Contract Partner.”

To the Vampires, perhaps holding such a banquet was a romantic gesture.

But as a human, attending and being introduced to everyone as a specific vampire’s exclusive Blood Bag was, undeniably, very eerie.

No wonder Guan Heng disliked such occasions.

And yet… Guan Heng had attended anyway.

A wave of warmth filled Ning Qiuyan’s heart. He knew that although they were only there to make an appearance, the fundamental reason Guan Heng had compromised was for his safety.

After tonight, even if Guan Heng returned to Du Island, Ning Qiuyan would not be harassed by other Vampires while living in Sujing-even if his life was so monotonous that he never had the chance to meet another vampire anyway.

Sheng Huan said, “I heard you’re a student at the Sujing Conservatory of Music.”

Ning Qiuyan nodded.

“I’ve been to your school a few times,” Sheng Huan said. “The giant redwoods there are beautiful.”

“Yes,” Ning Qiuyan said. “I like them very much, too.”
Meeting a human who was easy to talk to in a place like this was a relief. Sheng Huan was poised and gracious, and Ning Qiuyan felt comfortable chatting with her.

They browsed the memorabilia, speculating on what each item commemorated, while Ning Qiuyan occasionally glanced toward Guan Heng.

A waiter approached Guan Heng with a tray, kneeling on one knee to place a glass on the low table in front of him.

The distance was a bit too far for Ning Qiuyan to see clearly what was in the glass, but he was certain it wasn’t blood because the color was very pale.

It wouldn’t be until much later that Ning Qiuyan learned it was a specially crafted “wine.” Certain components were similar to blood, allowing Vampires to experience a sensation akin to alcohol. It was a luxury reserved only for those of high status among the Vampires.

But Guan Heng didn’t give it so much as a glance.

Ning Qiuyan could see Guan Heng’s cold profile.

Sheng Huan followed his gaze, then suddenly said to Ning Qiuyan, “Actually, I’ve seen you before.”

“Seen me?” Ning Qiuyan asked, puzzled. “Where?”

“To be precise, I’ve seen your portrait.” She made a “quiet” gesture, signaling for Ning Qiuyan to lean closer. “In the studio on Du Island, Mr. Guan’s studio.”

Ning Qiuyan froze for a moment, his eyes filled with surprise.

Sheng Huan told him, “…Mr. Guan painted a portrait of you. In the painting, you looked like you were on the verge of tears.”

“As soon as I noticed you just now, I felt you were completely different.” Sheng Huan stepped back, tucking a curl behind her ear and smiling. “You look much more composed and bright than you did in the portrait.”

As expected, Guan Heng did not stay long at this “Camellia Night” and soon prepared to leave.

Mr. Jones, who had been catching up with him, personally saw him off, leading to Ning Qiuyan coming face-to-face with the man.

He was a white Westerner with white hair and eyes that were actually silver. Combined with his pale complexion, he looked like a walking statue. Compared to Guan Heng or Lu Qianque, his aura was much more gloomy and cold.

When he looked over at Ning Qiuyan that day, Ning Qiuyan felt as if he had brushed against a cold snake.

Sheng Huan greeted him first. “Mr. Guan.”

“Miss Sheng.” Guan Heng indeed recognized her, but they didn’t seem close; he merely gave her an elegant nod.

Mr. Jones looked at Ning Qiuyan, making no effort to hide his scrutinizing gaze. He was observing this human.

Ning Qiuyan looked back nervously, but before he could speak, the other man leaned forward slightly and extended a hand. “Hello, my young friend.”

Mr. Jones spoke fluent Chinese without any accent.

Ning Qiuyan reached out and shook his hand. “Hello.”

Their fingertips touched.

They let go quickly.

The man’s hand was as cold as ice, completely different from Guan Heng’s.

“I am Wagner Jones, an old friend of Mr. Guan. You can call me V, just like the others do,” Mr. Jones said. “I heard you suffered quite a bit previously. Fortunately, Mr. Guan arrived in time and handed the Monster over to the Blood Supervision Council. Don’t be afraid; even after Mr. Guan returns to Du Island, feel free to come to me if you need anything in Sujing. Mr. Guan and I share a special friendship.”

As he spoke, Mr. Jones pulled out a black business card.

Guan Heng glanced at them, his expression giving no hint of whether he approved or not.

Ning Qiuyan hesitated for only a second before Mr. Jones pulled open the pocket of his suit jacket and tucked the card inside.

“Enough,” Guan Heng finally spoke, addressing Mr. Jones. “There is no need to see us out.”

Mr. Jones instantly reverted to his polite demeanor and gave an elegant bow.

Ning Qiuyan followed Guan Heng back the way they came. For a long time, he could still feel that scrutinizing gaze behind him.

They passed through the corridor leading to the banquet hall again, returning to the original party. The music played by the band had changed once more, and the lighting was even more hazy, making it almost impossible to see anyone’s face clearly.

Guests were gathered in groups of two or three, some sitting and some standing. There were even people lying on the carpet and the dining tables. Their bodies were embraced, limbs entwined, engaged in a dangerous cycle of taking and giving.

No one screamed or fled. The air was thick with an inseparable scent of desire and ambiguity.

This banquet, exclusive to the Vampires, had reached its climax at this moment.

A man in an elegant tuxedo looked up, fresh red blood dripping from his fangs.

Caught off guard, Ning Qiuyan met his eyes, and his body gave a violent shudder.

By then, they had already stepped onto the spiral staircase. Guan Heng was two steps ahead of him.

As if sensing something, Guan Heng stopped and turned around, looking down at Ning Qiuyan who followed behind him. In the dim light, a faint blood-red hue appeared in those dark, phoenix-like eyes.

Vampires were extremely sensitive to blood. If even a human like Ning Qiuyan could smell the metallic scent in the air, there was no way Guan Heng hadn’t noticed it.
Ning Qiuyan knew he shouldn’t linger here, and he knew that Guan Heng was just as dangerous at this moment.

Yet his body reacted faster than his brain. As soon as Guan Heng turned around, Ning Qiuyan hurriedly stepped up a stair and subconsciously grabbed Guan Heng’s hand.

He knew that as long as he was by Guan Heng’s side, he was safe.

The blood-red tint in Guan Heng’s eyes deepened, but the moment their hands touched, he gently closed his fingers around Ning Qiuyan’s in return.

In the dim light, they held hands with fingers interlaced and returned to the original corridor.

They remained silent the whole way.

Ning Qiuyan’s heart was racing, not just because he had finally left that non-human banquet, but also because of what Sheng Huan had revealed.

He never knew that Guan Heng had painted a portrait of him, and he couldn’t imagine the scene of his own features being meticulously traced by Guan Heng’s brush.

Sheng Huan said he looked like he was about to cry in the painting. Had he ever cried in front of Guan Heng?

Why would Guan Heng paint him looking so sad?

And when exactly was that painting made?

Ning Qiuyan tried to recall, confirming that he hadn’t seen the painting while he was still on Du Island. So, was it after their agreement ended?

Could he assume that after he left, Guan Heng had thought of him too?

The night was thicker than when they arrived.

It was cold outside, and the greenery in the manor cast flickering, indistinct shadows.

Ning Qiuyan put his down jacket back on. He waited for the driver to bring the car around and only took it off again once he was settled in the warm cabin.

Once he was removed from the high-tension environment, his newly pierced ears began to ache.

Beyond that, the shirt stays were making him very uncomfortable. Somehow, they seemed to have slid toward the base of his thighs, feeling tight and itchy, making even the act of sitting down feel unnatural.

Unfortunately, it was still over an hour’s drive from here back to the hotel.

Guan Heng was taking a phone call. The person on the other end seemed to have just arrived at the banquet, having missed their meeting with Guan Heng. Guan Heng dealt with them indifferently but without showing impatience; the other party must truly be an old friend.

“Mhm, I won’t be staying in Sujing,” Guan Heng said. “The flight is the day after tomorrow.”

Outside the car window, the streetlights lining the road from the mountains to the city were bright, and the road surface was wet and muddy. In the distance beyond the mountain shadows lay the bustling scenery of the city, receding rapidly with the speed of the car.

A flight the day after tomorrow.

Guan Heng was going back.

After tonight, everything Guan Heng needed to handle in Sujing was finished, even though Ning Qiuyan’s sudden appearance at the hotel entrance had disrupted Guan Heng’s plans and delayed him for a few days.

Ning Qiuyan leaned against the window glass, his thoughts drifting far away. As they passed through a mountain road, he saw Guan Heng in the reflection of the glass.

Guan Heng was looking at him.

Ning Qiuyan turned his head, realizing the call had ended at some point.

He asked, “You’re leaving the day after tomorrow?”

Guan Heng replied, “Mhm.”

“Is it an evening flight?” Ning Qiuyan asked, adding, “Lu Qianque left in the evening too.”

“Yes,” Guan Heng said. “11:15 PM.”

A flight after eleven would land in Wutong around two in the morning. Once the driver picked Guan Heng up, if the weather was good, the journey back to Du Island would only take two or three hours, arriving before sunrise. Ning Qiuyan calculated the time in his head, wondering if he should suggest that Guan Heng drink some of his blood, when he suddenly froze.

-“Silly boy, we never take boats.”

Vampires were afraid of large bodies of water.

Lu Qianque was so afraid that every time he went to the island, he took his helicopter. But Ning Qiuyan knew that there were no helicopters on Du Island, because Guan Heng had never intended to leave the island.

So, how did Guan Heng, upon receiving the news of Ning Qiuyan’s trouble, manage to reach the airport at the first possible moment?

Even without asking the question, the answer was obvious.

“What is it?”

Guan Heng reached out and lightly touched Ning Qiuyan’s face.

It was like teasing a small animal.

“Still scared?”

Ning Qiuyan shook his head.

This was no longer the banquet scene that humans feared, but he still held onto Guan Heng’s hand and didn’t let go.

This was the first time they had such contact under non-exceptional circumstances, and it was the first time Ning Qiuyan had summoned the courage to do so.

Guan Heng’s fingers were long and slender, and like the impression he gave off, they were cold.

Ning Qiuyan’s hand was very warm.

They looked at each other, and in the fleeting glow of the passing streetlights, a hint of moisture in Ning Qiuyan’s eyes flickered in and out of sight.

Guan Heng applied a bit of pressure, pulling Ning Qiuyan closer to him.

Then, with lowered eyes, Guan Heng tilted his head slightly and touched Ning Qiuyan’s lips.

Breath hitched, but the lips parted as soon as they touched.

Guan Heng’s lips were slightly cool.