Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Ning Qiuyan wanted to wait until Guan Heng landed before going to sleep, but he couldn’t hold out that long and fell asleep.

When he woke up the next morning and sent Guan Heng a message, Guan Heng didn’t reply. He could already imagine that their completely different schedules would make “temporary loss of contact” a norm in their relationship.

However, neither of them was the type to want to be glued to each other’s side at all times.

Ning Qiuyan even felt that this way of interacting was the most suitable for a relationship between a human and a vampire. Guan Heng loved tranquility and yearned for nature; it was impossible for him to live in the human world for long. Meanwhile, Ning Qiuyan’s own life was just beginning, and it was impossible for him to never go to school. Although every separation made his days a struggle, Ning Qiuyan liked a relationship with a balanced rhythm. He also enjoyed the process of longing slowly accumulating when things were left unsaid.

Ning Qiuyan packed up all the things he had left at the hotel, called a car, checked out, and moved into the newly assigned school dormitory.

Rong Qi and two other classmates had already moved in.

Because he wasn’t familiar with the others, Rong Qi hadn’t stayed overnight in the dorm yet, saying he would move in at the same time as Ning Qiuyan.

“Your boyfriend left?” Rong Qi asked.

The two were walking along a small path on campus. Ning Qiuyan’s backpack was slung casually over one shoulder, and he was wrapped in a thick down jacket. Beneath his slightly long hair, a Ruby Earring was now visible.

Rong Qi thought that this seemingly well-behaved roommate of his appeared to have a penchant for tattoos or piercings.

Once, Rong Qi had even caught him smoking. The way he smoked wasn’t unpleasant; he would write things while loosely holding a slender cigarette between his fingers, occasionally humming a few notes.

A person like Ning Qiuyan… it was only normal for him to be in an unconventional relationship.

Ning Qiuyan was stunned for a moment by the question before realizing Rong Qi was referring to Guan Heng.

Boyfriend?

He had never associated those two words with Guan Heng. Thinking about it carefully, he actually couldn’t find any title to summarize the relationship between him and Guan Heng. If he had to say, he was perhaps not just a Blood Bag, but also Guan Heng’s “Blood Contract Partner.” There was no doubt this was special, yet he inexplicably felt that his relationship with Guan Heng was more than just that-it was much deeper.

Not knowing how to answer, Ning Qiuyan simply nodded, accepting the label by default. “Yeah.”

“Where is he from?” Rong Qi asked.

Ning Qiuyan thought for a moment and said, “He’s also from Wutong.”

Even Rong Qi had heard about Du Island being bought by a mysterious billionaire. The fact that Guan Heng lived alone on Du Island was something he couldn’t talk about.

“It’s rare to see a guy with long hair.” Rong Qi recalled the scene of their meeting that night, having been deeply impressed by the man’s appearance and aura. “What does he do? Is he also an art student?”

“Sort of,” Ning Qiuyan said. “He paints and plays the piano. He’s very talented.”

“He looks a bit older than us,” Rong Qi said. “How did you two meet?”

Not just a bit older.

He’s over a thousand years older, Ning Qiuyan thought.

He told Rong Qi, “We met when I was donating blood.”

Rong Qi gave an “oh” and didn’t ask further.

He wasn’t a gossipy person by nature; he only asked these things out of concern for Ning Qiuyan.

Ning Qiuyan paused his steps. “Rong Qi, if you’re not used to it or if you mind, I can explain it to the other roommates or apply for a room change.”

Rong Qi was speechless. “You’re overthinking it. Having a different sexual orientation doesn’t make you a monster. Why would I mind? Besides, this is your private business; there’s no need to explain it to anyone.”

Rong Qi’s attitude was consistent with Su Jianzhou’s. Ning Qiuyan was startled for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Okay.”

Thinking of Su Jianzhou, Ning Qiuyan realized he hadn’t contacted him for several days. After finishing organizing his things in the dorm, he gave him a call. It happened that Su Jianzhou was free, and the two chatted for a while. Ning Qiuyan hesitated for a bit but decided not to tell him about the fire or Guan Heng for the time being, opting to wait until he went back for winter break.

“Are you coming back for winter break?” Su Jianzhou asked. “I recently switched departments, and the work here is a bit easier.”

Ning Qiuyan said, “Probably not. I might have other things to take care of.”

“Alright.” Su Jianzhou didn’t ask further but said, “I’m coming to Sujing for training early next month. I’ll see you then.”

Ning Qiuyan agreed.

And so, life returned completely to its normal track.

In the afternoon, Ning Qiuyan officially returned to class. To make up for the missed lessons, he asked his classmates for course notes and outlines.

Winter in Sujing turned dark very early. At 7:30 PM, Ning Qiuyan received a message from Guan Heng. At that time, he was sitting on his bed. Because there was no heating, he was huddled under his quilt, leaning against his pillow while listening to music and studying.

The moment he saw Guan Heng’s name appear after the phone vibrated, his heart skipped a beat. He immediately picked it up and swiped to unlock it.

Guan Heng: [The flight was delayed. I only arrived on the island at five this morning.]

It was later than the estimated time. In another hour, Du Island would enter daylight.

Ning Qiuyan could almost imagine the situation at the time.

Guan Heng would have arrived at the dock, and Uncle Kang would have sent a car to pick him up. The car would drive across Du Island in the early hours of the morning, and it wouldn’t be until he reached the third floor of the mansion that his phone would have a signal. At that time, Ning Qiuyan was fast asleep, so Guan Heng hadn’t woken him.

As if they were telepathic, just as Ning Qiuyan finished reading this message, another one followed immediately.

Guan Heng: [What are you doing?]

Ning Qiuyan replied immediately: [In my new dorm.]

Guan Heng: [Is it convenient to video call?]

The others hadn’t returned yet, and Ning Qiuyan was the only one in the dorm. He naturally said “yes” immediately.

Guan Heng was always the one to take the initiative in this regard; if he wanted to see him, he would directly request a video call. However, video calling so soon gave Ning Qiuyan the bold illusion that “Guan Heng is also missing me.”

The video connected.

Ning Qiuyan’s face appeared on the screen, and he immediately switched the view to see Guan Heng clearly.

Guan Heng seemed to be in his room. The light was very dim, and Ning Qiuyan could see the flickering shadows of the flames from the electric fireplace on the floor. Guan Heng was wearing the familiar dark gray dressing gown. Because of the change in their relationship, Guan Heng seemed more relaxed; the gown was loosely tied, and his pale chest was faintly visible, making him look more indolent than before.
Coincidentally, Ning Qiuyan was also wrapped in a dark gray quilt, though he was fully dressed inside his dormitory. Wearing a thick sweater, he looked cold and as if he were struggling through a difficult time.

They had only been apart for a day, yet it felt like a long time.

“How do you like the new dorm?” Guan Heng asked.

“There are more people than before. Four of us live here now.” Ning Qiuyan’s side was also a bit dim; he had only turned on the clip-on lamp at the head of his bed, giving the video a moody, dark tone. “We have loft beds with desks underneath. Look, I’m up on top right now.”

As he spoke, he adjusted the angle of his phone, giving Guan Heng a tour of the room.

The camera panned past the glass window, catching a fleeting glimpse of the night sky.

Guan Heng asked, “Are you sleeping by the window?”

“Yeah.” Ning Qiuyan had arrived a bit late, so this was the only spot left.

Guan Heng: “Is it cold?”

“It’s a little cold if I open the window, but it’s okay. It didn’t rain today,” Ning Qiuyan said. “Is the snow on Du Island very thick already?”

“Yes,” Guan Heng replied. “Just like last year.”

Last winter was the first time Ning Qiuyan had visited Du Island. At the first sight of it, he had been completely captivated by its beauty. Calculating the time, the snow there should be deep enough to reach one’s knees by now.

“Is the lake frozen?” His eyes were bright.

“It is,” Guan Heng said. “They cut a hole in the ice yesterday and caught some fish.”

Ning Qiuyan said, “Then there must be ice crystals on the treetops too.”

Guan Heng answered, “They’re all around the house, and the fountain has frozen over as well.”

“It must be beautiful. It’s a pity I can’t see it,” Ning Qiuyan said regretfully. “I really want the holidays to come sooner.”

Neither of them spoke for a moment.

There were still nearly two months left, and time could not be fast-forwarded.

Ning Qiuyan shifted back to his own life in a lighthearted tone. “Actually, this dorm design is quite nice. I’ve never slept in a top bunk before, so it’s like fulfilling a small wish.”

He told Guan Heng about how he had fantasized about living at school during middle school to escape piano practice, only to be found out by his mother. He mentioned that he had classmates now who lived locally but preferred staying at the dorm for the same reason.

Then, he pulled back his quilt and climbed down to find his bag, rummaging through it to pull out a small notebook. He told Guan Heng that he had written a list of personal movie recommendations.

“I wrote it today. I’ll take a photo and send it to you in a bit,” he said. “If you’re bored, there are a few I haven’t seen yet. Based on the ratings and my friends’ opinions, we could watch them together.”

For nearly ten minutes, Ning Qiuyan talked incessantly, trying his best to prevent any awkward silences in the video call.

Guan Heng would chime in occasionally, showing no signs of impatience or lack of interest.

It wasn’t until Ning Qiuyan started talking about a technical failure during a screening at the cinema that Guan Heng suddenly called his name.

“Ning Qiuyan.”

His tone was gentle.

Ning Qiuyan stopped, his dark, grape-like eyes looking at the screen. “Yes?”

“You don’t need to force a conversation,” Guan Heng said. “Just be yourself.”

Ning Qiuyan: “…”

He braced himself and said, “I’m not forcing it. I just don’t want you to think I’m boring.”

That day at Wencui Park, he had made a promise to Guan Heng-a promise for the future.

He didn’t want to break his word.

Guan Heng rested his fingers against the side of his face, meeting his gaze across the distance. He said calmly, “You aren’t boring.”

Ning Qiuyan opened his mouth, feeling that Guan Heng was just comforting him. He couldn’t find any words to convince himself otherwise.

“At least to me…” Guan Heng continued, “you are already very interesting.”

Ning Qiuyan immediately remembered something, and his face quickly flushed a deep red.

Perhaps Guan Heng didn’t mean it that way, or perhaps he was being subtle, but either way, Ning Qiuyan instantly turned into a blushing mess, shrinking back into his quilt.

Yesterday afternoon, in a hotel room with heavy, light-blocking curtains.

Guan Heng had held him from behind, asking in his usual cold, indifferent tone, “So soon?”

At that moment, Ning Qiuyan’s eyelids were trembling, his body was shaking, and his mind had gone blank for a split second. He guessed that he must have seemed very “interesting” to Guan Heng then. After all, he had surrendered so quickly after just a touch.

Although Guan Heng hadn’t mentioned it again or teased him about it, the memory was deeply etched into Ning Qiuyan’s mind. It was the kind of memory that made him want to crawl into a hole every time he thought of it.

They didn’t talk for much longer; someone knocked on Guan Heng’s door, forcing the video call to an end.

At this hour, Ning Qiuyan guessed it must be Uncle Kang.

Guan Heng simply said, “I’m hanging up now,” and ended the call.

Ning Qiuyan collapsed onto his pillow with a hint of reluctance. One of his earbuds slipped out, and his earlobe felt burning hot.

In truth, he could feel Guan Heng too.

He had been wrong about one thing before: even though Vampires were eternal and unchanging, they were not creatures without desires.

Even when he had been completely bare and Guan Heng was impeccably dressed.

While they were embracing and kissing, Ning Qiuyan had felt a strong sense of crisis several times, as if he would be violently invaded the very next second.

It was just that Guan Heng’s desire was too complex and intense, mixed with the predatory killing intent of an apex predator wanting to swallow him whole. It was hard to say which would have taken over and drowned out his reason if he had actually acted on it.

Afterward, in the hotel bathroom, Ning Qiuyan had seen the marble sink, which had been cracked in several places.

Only he knew what had happened then.

After Ning Qiuyan had proactively offered a kiss, Guan Heng had lightly licked Ning Qiuyan’s earlobe. His fangs had brushed against it even more gently, intentionally avoiding the artery below.

Then he had stepped back.

“Unless I allow it.”

“Do not touch me at a time like this.”

The showerhead hadn’t been turned off. Water droplets slid down Guan Heng’s pale face, and a hint of red simmered in the depths of his dark eyes.

His wet hair clung to his neck, where a slight heaving could be seen.

“Do you understand?” he asked commandingly.

Ning Qiuyan didn’t remember how he had answered. He only remembered Guan Heng leaning in again, hands braced on either side of the sink, leaving a cold kiss on his forehead. “Good boy.”

Passion walked hand-in-hand with danger, a fall into an intoxicating trance.