Chapter 73

Chapter 73

They talked about Guan Heng’s last night hunt.

Guan Heng had caught the fox’s prey, and then the fox itself. There were many kinds of creatures on the island, but foxes were few in number. Their pelts could be kept and made into scarves, earmuffs, or hats-things that were very useful for the elderly on the island. But when he held it upside down in his hand, Guan Heng had suddenly given up on killing it.

Canines all had similar eyes: large and round, damp-looking when they stopped resisting, innocent and pitiful.

They reminded Guan Heng of another pair of eyes.

“Are you saying… you think I’m like a puppy too?” Ning Qiuyan asked.

He wasn’t that slow.

Seeing that slightly unconvinced look on his face, a hint of amusement flickered through Guan Heng’s eyes.

Ning Qiuyan had only seen Guan Heng look this relaxed once or twice before. For a moment, he was stunned, standing there foolishly in the snow.

A squirrel darted through the branches as if playing a prank, sending snow tumbling down over his head and shoulders. He instinctively shook his head, and by the time he came back to himself, he saw that Guan Heng was still looking at him. Only then did he belatedly defend himself. “I’m not-”

Guan Heng raised a hand and deliberately ruffled his hair, making his meaning perfectly clear.

Then, unbelievably, he let go and ignored him, walking ahead on his own. Ning Qiuyan was left stumbling after him through the uneven snow, hurriedly trying to argue his case. “Sir, what exactly did you mean by that just now…”

Guan Heng could tease people too. Even though Ning Qiuyan had never seen it before, he wasn’t surprised by this side of him.

Of course, in the end, they still held hands again.

After all, puppies were very easy to lose in the Forest after a snowfall, and this one had a prior record.

They went to the lakeside first, and then, as Ning Qiuyan wished, Guan Heng took him to the farm, though they did not go inside.

Heavy snow was coming, and everyone at the farm was busy preparing feed and fodder for the livestock and reinforcing the sheds. They had to make all preparations before the snowstorm arrived. Standing outside the fence, Ning Qiuyan saw Guan Ziming’s busy figure.

Finally, they passed by the Lighthouse again.

By then, the sky was nearly completely dark. Snowflakes had already begun to mix into the wind, and the temperature had dropped until the cold bit even deeper.

The sea was very dark. Waves struck the sand, flashing a harsh white.

Ning Qiuyan buried his face in his collar and scarf. Ice crystals formed from his breath had gathered on his eyelashes, and he was grateful that Guan Heng had changed him into thicker clothes.

So they did not climb the Lighthouse. Instead, they chose to return the way they had come, ending this brief, cursory walk.

The Forest that day was quieter than last time. The animals all seemed to have gone into hiding, even the night owls. Aside from the wind and the sound of their footsteps, there was nothing at all. The road grew darker and darker; in places where the trees were denser and more luxuriant, even the snow on the ground reflected very little light.

Ning Qiuyan could not see where he was stepping, and he was so cold he could barely keep walking, so he ended up lying against Guan Heng’s back.

Only after they returned to the main road did the lit streetlamps illuminate the ground, casting their figures into long shadows.

Night had officially arrived.

Taking the place of day.

They had successfully crossed both of those spans of time and stayed together.

Ning Qiuyan asked Guan Heng whether he could maintain it for longer if he drank more of Ning Qiuyan’s blood.

“At most, it won’t exceed one day and night,” Guan Heng said, rejecting the idea. “It has nothing to do with the amount.”

Ning Qiuyan held on around Guan Heng’s neck, his arms tightening a little. He felt somewhat helpless and disappointed. “What about the number of times?”

He knew that in order to save Du Island and prepare for the meeting at the time, Guan Heng had specifically moved up the date of his arrival on the island, increasing the number of blood donations to as many as six. Could it be that the number of times improved the effect?

“The duration has nothing to do with the number of times either,” Guan Heng said. He had probably guessed what Ning Qiuyan was thinking, because he added, “The reason there were so many times was because I also needed to adapt.”

Ning Qiuyan said, “Adapt?”

Guan Heng’s answer was brief. “At first, walking under the sun was like an infant learning to walk.”

Vampires referred to humans like Ning Qiuyan as “Golden Blood” and “temporary antidote.” The former described how precious they were, while the latter represented another meaning.

Connecting Guan Heng’s words to that term, Ning Qiuyan immediately understood why he had needed to come to the island so many times.

Later, Dr. Ling also confirmed Ning Qiuyan’s thoughts. Every time Vampires consumed a “temporary antidote” like him, they had to undergo a process of restructuring their bodies.

To Vampires, that restructuring was akin to being reborn.

Their limbs and senses became closer to those of humans. When they first learned to accept those changes, they could not even move smoothly, and their eyes could not see under strong light. It made Vampires experience an unprecedented vulnerability.

The more times it happened, the better Vampires adapted to that convergence.

This was why most Vampires, after finding their own “Golden Blood,” would keep them by their side.

Dr. Ling had once suggested that Ning Qiuyan remain on the island long-term. As long as the dosage and dietary supplements were controlled well enough, the toll on his body would not actually be very great.

Guan Heng’s standards for himself were strict enough-and harsh enough.
He had rejected Dr. Ling’s suggestion and accepted the changes while maintaining as much control over himself as possible. He was adapting well.

Ning Qiuyan knew the most important reason was that Guan Heng had no intention of doing too much harm to an innocent human.

Sometimes, Ning Qiuyan felt he didn’t understand Guan Heng at all. Other times, he felt he understood him very well. As he handed himself over to Guan Heng, he was also truly drawing closer to him, step by step.
After returning home and immediately patrolling his “territory,” Ning Qiuyan was satisfied in both body and mind, and regained his happiness.

The moment they returned to the warm mansion, the snow began falling harder.

Ning Qiuyan took off his coat and brushed the snow from his hat. When he turned back, Guan Heng had already tidied himself up. Beneath his overcoat, Guan Heng wore a black shirt. With his long hair draped over his shoulders, he looked faintly androgynous, but there was a sharpness to him as well-young, handsome, and striking.

They walked together down the long corridor. When they reached the stairs, Ning Qiuyan hesitated. It was getting late. Should he go straight back to the guest room, or go upstairs with Guan Heng?

But Uncle Kang had said Guan Heng asked whether he wanted to stay in his original room or go to the third floor. Ning Qiuyan had been too embarrassed to choose directly, so by default, he had stayed in his original room. Guan Heng should already know that.

While his thoughts were still running wild, he heard Guan Heng say concisely, “Come upstairs with me first.”

That settled it. Ning Qiuyan no longer had to choose. He nodded hard. “Okay!”

Guan Heng’s gaze swept over his face, which had turned a little red from the cold outside. The look in his eyes was unreadable, as though there was something he wanted to say, but in the end, he said nothing.

The curtains of that window on the third floor were still open. By the lights outside the building, one could see the heavy snow arriving in thick, fluttering waves. After tonight, it would be difficult to move around the island. The roads would have to be cleared with considerable effort, and for the next few days, they probably wouldn’t be able to go out as they pleased. Ning Qiuyan couldn’t help feeling a little glad they had gone out earlier.

But when he saw the item on the floor, Ning Qiuyan’s heart gave a violent tremble. His mind buzzed, as though something had ignited in it.

The small black leather case was sitting there.

All at once, he seemed to understand what Guan Heng had meant by “there are other things next.”

Before seeing it appear in this room, Ning Qiuyan had almost never imagined Guan Heng would use it so soon.

Because everything had unfolded with such measured pacing. Guan Heng’s arrangements had been unhurried, from kissing to drinking blood, to embracing, then taking a walk around the island. Everything had been gentle and slow, with no sign at all that things would go in this direction.

It could only mean one thing-Guan Heng had everything under control.

Ning Qiuyan was still dazed when Guan Heng had already settled lazily onto the sofa, fingers propping up his temple in a posture Ning Qiuyan knew so well.

“Come here,” Guan Heng said.

Ning Qiuyan walked over and sat in front of Guan Heng the way he used to, holding Guan Heng’s knees and looking up at him. The bandage was still on his neck.

A strand of Guan Heng’s hair fell loose and brushed Ning Qiuyan’s cheek, making him close his eyes instinctively.

It was as if the scenes that had once happened here were repeating themselves.

Guan Heng reached out and touched his face. “Take off your earrings.”

Ning Qiuyan didn’t ask why. He took them off as told.

Then he placed them carefully on the carpet.

Guan Heng said again, “Rings.”

Ning Qiuyan liked these little accessories. His fingers were never bare, and he also liked layering rings. When he lowered his head to remove them, his lashes trembled the entire time, but he obediently listened to Guan Heng and took off every single one.

Once he was done, he looked up at Guan Heng again, waiting for the next instruction.

Guan Heng asked, “Anything else on you?”

He shook his head. “No.”

His heart was racing again.

Guan Heng heard his nervousness and told him, “I’m having you take these things off because I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Ning Qiuyan nodded.

“Earlier, I restrained your hands and didn’t let you move.” Guan Heng lifted his chin and asked, “Did it feel uncomfortable?”

Ning Qiuyan shook his head again.

Guan Heng asked, “If it were something else, could you accept it?”

This time, Ning Qiuyan didn’t answer immediately. After thinking for a few seconds, he nodded solemnly.

Those things were indeed a little beyond him. But the other person was Guan Heng. Ning Qiuyan felt he could trust him.

“Ning Qiuyan, I am not human. My methods and the process are different from ordinary people’s, and after these past few times, you already understand that. What I can guarantee is that I absolutely will not hurt you.” Guan Heng’s expression was earnest, his tone grave. “But if you feel uncomfortable, or if you can’t take it, even if it’s only the slightest bit, you need to tell me immediately instead of enduring it. Can you do that?”

Was this what Guan Heng needed him to prepare for?

Ning Qiuyan had already prepared himself countless times. At last, he said, “I can.”

Guan Heng watched him for a moment, then released his chin. “You’ve been in the bedroom once before. The bathroom is behind the walk-in closet.”