Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Spring Festival on Du Island carried on certain traditional customs. In addition to preparing lavish feasts and setting off fireworks and firecrackers, people also hung red lanterns and wrote Spring Festival couplets. Those who lived scattered across the ranger cabins, the power station, the agricultural fields, and the farm all gathered together, and the great house was brimming with festive cheer inside and out.

On New Year’s Eve, Uncle Kang called Guan Ziming, Gu Yu, and two other juniors into the side hall to cut paper window decorations with him.

He called Ning Qiuyan over as well.

At the time, Ning Qiuyan was standing in the snow with both hands in his pockets, looking up at the third floor for a while, then lowering his head to kick at the snow on the ground, as if lost in thought.

When he heard Uncle Kang calling him, he lifted his head, but his expression had already turned relaxed again, and he even flashed a bright smile.

By the time he ran into the side hall, everyone had already picked up red paper and gotten started.

Gu Yu had saved Ning Qiuyan the seat beside him, with Guan Ziming sitting on the other side.

Uncle Kang was kind and modest, usually never showing off, but the moment he picked up paper and scissors, the exquisite skill in those deft hands drew admiring exclamations from everyone.

With a few quick snips, he finished cutting, then smiled as he shook the paper open. A magpie perched on a branch appeared, vivid and lifelike.

Gu Yu had never joined the paper-cutting activities in previous years. This time, he was so pleasantly surprised that he cried out in excitement, grabbed the scissors, and shouted impatiently, “Uncle Kang, teach me!” Guan Ziming had only just arrived on the island last year and had been too busy sulking to take part, but he looked fairly composed. He simply passed Uncle Kang’s work around with the two young people beside him so they could examine it.

This was Ning Qiuyan’s first time staying on the island for the New Year, and everything felt new to him.

Because he came from a single-parent family and was not close with his relatives, in his memories growing up, Spring Festival had always been a holiday that seemed grand but was actually rather ordinary. Last year, after his mother passed away, Spring Festival had become even lonelier for him.

Back then, he had messaged Guan Heng to wish him a happy New Year. Guan Heng had said, “They’re celebrating. The firecrackers are too loud.” Ning Qiuyan had once imagined what Spring Festival on Du Island might be like. As it turned out, it was livelier than he had pictured-even more full of New Year atmosphere than the human world on the other side of the ocean.

Uncle Kang first taught everyone how to cut the character for fortune.

Ning Qiuyan cut his first one wrong. Guan Ziming handed him a finished one. “Here.”

“For me?” Ning Qiuyan asked, puzzled.

Guan Ziming had some basic skills and cut very quickly. A little awkwardly, he said, “I didn’t prepare a New Year’s gift. Consider this fortune character my gift to you. Next time you’re giving someone something, say so in advance, so they can prepare a return gift.”

Ning Qiuyan understood what he meant and accepted it coolly. “OK.”

After they finished cutting the fortune characters, they moved on to the advanced lesson. Uncle Kang taught everyone how to cut carp.

Gu Yu gave up on learning something so complicated and became absorbed in cutting fortune characters and free-form creations instead. Ning Qiuyan, on the other hand, followed the lesson methodically, asking questions and discussing along with everyone else, then carefully cutting step by step under Uncle Kang’s guidance.

He was cutting with complete focus when the side hall suddenly fell silent for an instant.

It was like a noisy classroom back in school suddenly dropping into a brief hush.

Ning Qiuyan was just about to look up when he felt a slightly cool hand gently pinch the back of his neck. His heart gave a violent jump.

Everyone had stopped talking, as if none of them dared so much as glance this way. Even Guan Ziming showed a trace of unnatural fear and stiffness.

“Sir.”

Standing at one end of the table, Uncle Kang inclined his head.

Ning Qiuyan looked back. Guan Heng was standing behind him, lowering his eyes as he said, “Come.”

Just one very brief word.

After saying it, Guan Heng turned and headed toward the corridor first, even giving Uncle Kang a specific nod.

Ning Qiuyan quickly put down the scissors, stood, and followed in Guan Heng’s footsteps.

When they entered the corridor, Ning Qiuyan glanced back. Everyone was already chatting and laughing again. Uncle Kang, having received instructions, called over several servants, who drew open the heavy curtains, instantly brightening the side hall.

Du Island’s active hours were the opposite of other places.

This was the sign that the great house was about to officially begin its night.

It also indicated that guests from all over would arrive on the island after nightfall.
Ning Qiuyan followed Guan Heng through the corridor and onto the stairs. With every place they passed, curtains and shutters were pulled open behind them. The evening light was no longer as bright as the lamps, but the gray-blue dusk mingled with the warm glow, adding a magnificent, dreamlike layer of color.

They went all the way up to the third floor and entered the bedroom.

Beside the large bed stood an extra rolling garment rack, with a freshly ironed formal outfit hanging from it, neat and crisp.

Judging by the size, that set of clothes should be Ning Qiuyan’s.

It was not the set he had worn last time, but a new one Li Tang had just finished and had specially delivered to Du Island.
“Take off your clothes,” Guan Heng said. “Put this on.”

Ning Qiuyan gripped the hem of his hoodie and pulled it off in one smooth motion. He was still wearing a thin T-shirt underneath. Before taking that off too, he glanced at Guan Heng on instinct. Their eyes met. Guan Heng’s phoenix eyes were dark and inscrutable, his expression calm, without the slightest trace of discomfort.

So Ning Qiuyan took off his T-shirt and his trousers as well.

His skin was exposed to the air, which was not exactly cold, and a fine layer of goose bumps rose over him.

Only when he walked to the clothes rack to take down the outfit, peeled open the suit jacket, and began unbuttoning the shirt did he regret not preparing everything first before undressing.

Though he had already bared himself completely before Guan Heng, Ning Qiuyan’s ears still warmed because of it.

Even so, he put on the shirt slowly and carefully.

Even knowing Guan Heng was watching.

He belonged to Guan Heng.

Every part of his body included.

This formal outfit did not come with a bow tie, but it did have a necktie.

Ning Qiuyan slipped the tie around his neck and tried to imitate the way he had seen people knot one in films and TV dramas. Guan Heng sat on the bed and said, “Come here,” once. Then he extended his long arm, caught one end of the tie, and pulled him in front of him.

With just a little force from Guan Heng, Ning Qiuyan ended up straddling him, knees pressed against the soft edge of the bed, his hands resting lightly on either side of Guan Heng’s neck.

Guan Heng had not changed yet. His long hair fell loose, draped lazily over the collar of his loose shirt.

His shoulders were broad, and at any moment he carried an oppressive presence that was impossible to ignore, making people afraid to approach him, yet also want to submit to him unconditionally.

Their breaths brushed together as Guan Heng personally tied Ning Qiuyan’s tie and straightened his collar.

“Done,” Guan Heng said coolly.

“…Thank you.” Ning Qiuyan should have moved away, but for a long while, he did not.

For some reason, Lu Qianque’s words kept echoing through his mind, along with the puzzle that Guan Heng had completed for him, and the pot of hydrangeas Lu Qianque had left behind.

So he still did not move.

He kept his arms around Guan Heng’s neck, lowering his head to look at him.

After that incident ended, Ning Qiuyan had been resting the entire time. Guan Heng had not done anything else, and they had not kissed again. Ning Qiuyan knew he should not be the one setting the pace, because Guan Heng had his own arrangements. All he needed to do was wait and obey.

But he wanted to be touched, too.

He did not want anything more. He only wanted to feel Guan Heng’s caress and body heat, to feel that he was still needed.

Guan Heng’s large hand slipped beneath the hem of the shirt, moving upward along his slender waist.

His face turned slightly to the side, his lashes concealing every emotion in his eyes. The tip of his nose touched the warm side of Ning Qiuyan’s neck, and his thin lips brushed lightly against the pristine white collar of the shirt.

Ning Qiuyan could not feel Guan Heng’s breath. He could not hear Guan Heng’s heartbeat. He could only hear his own, growing heavier and louder by the second.

This was something Guan Heng often did before drinking his blood.

Breathing unsteadily, Ning Qiuyan closed his eyes and prepared himself.

But in the next moment, Guan Heng’s arm came around him. Ning Qiuyan was forced forward, falling heavily into Guan Heng’s embrace.

“Do you still want to eat New Year’s Eve dinner this year, Ning Qiuyan?”

The voice sounded beside his ear.

Hearing Guan Heng ask that, Ning Qiuyan instantly understood that what Guan Heng wanted was not as simple as drinking blood. Startled, he immediately remembered that he did still want to go eat New Year’s Eve dinner with everyone, and he also wanted to ring in the New Year with Guan Heng.

He instinctively tried to retreat, but Guan Heng did not let him go right away. Only a few seconds later did he stroke the back of Ning Qiuyan’s head and order, “Go inside and find me a set of clothes.”

Ning Qiuyan went at once.

Once they were both fully dressed, Ning Qiuyan asked how to tie a tie. Following the same method, he tied Guan Heng’s tie with his own hands.

This seemed to put Guan Heng in a good mood.

Ning Qiuyan looked at him and, without realizing it, smiled as well.

After night fell, the area around the mansion was brilliantly lit, and the guests arrived one after another. Lu Qianque was in charge of socializing, moving among them with effortless ease.

Ning Qiuyan stood by Guan Heng’s side, accompanying him as he spoke with the guests. Occasionally, Lu Qianque would say a few words to a newly arrived guest, after which that person would look in Ning Qiuyan’s direction, making Ning Qiuyan’s heart tighten.

The guests all had fairly deep relationships with Guan Heng. This was already their second time being invited to the island within half a year. Among them were Vampires as well as humans. Ning Qiuyan did not know most of them; only a very small number were people he could exchange a few words with, such as Li Tang, and Sheng Huan, whom he had met last time at Camellia Night.

This New Year’s Eve dinner was not so much a banquet as a gathering, completely different in nature from Camellia Night, and the guests were much more relaxed as well.

One of the guests looked very familiar. Ning Qiuyan thought about it for quite a while before realizing with a start that the man was a professor at Sujing Conservatory of Music, surnamed Yu, who had once been one of the examiners at his interview.
Sheng Huan had her arm linked through Professor Yu’s, making it clear that she was this Professor Yu’s Blood Contract Partner.

In that case, Sheng Huan was very likely Professor Yu’s Golden Blood as well. Otherwise, how could he have blended into human society without leaving the slightest trace?

Li Tang came over to talk to Ning Qiuyan and leaned in to whisper by his ear, “So? Are you satisfied with the things I made for you?”

Ning Qiuyan: “…”

“Say something.” Li Tang nudged him with an elbow. “I’ve always thought Mr. Guan was top-tier… Come on, share a little. Don’t be so shy.”

Ning Qiuyan had never been the kind of person who wore his feelings on his sleeve, and he certainly would not casually bring up private matters. Embarrassed, he could only say, “…You got it wrong.”

It was rare for Li Tang to be dressed in formal men’s clothing, but he still had makeup on. At that, he arched an eyeliner-sharp brow. “How could I have gotten it wrong? I’m telling you, based on my experience, there are only two reasons anyone would need a bite restraint. One, they want their partner to stay conscious the whole time. Two, it adds to the fun and draws out the time you spend together. That thrill of only tasting the feast at the very end is, of course, the most exquisite part. People like that usually have a very strong desire for control, so how could I not pair it with a few other things-”

“It really isn’t.” The more Ning Qiuyan listened, the hotter his face became. “It wasn’t for that.”

Li Tang looked at him and asked in return, “Xiao Ning, oh Xiao Ning. Are you trying to tell me you two haven’t used it yet?”

Ning Qiuyan: “…”

“Xiao Ning.”

Sheng Huan arrived at just the right time, rescuing Ning Qiuyan from his predicament.

She was with Professor Yu.

“Let me introduce you. This is Professor Yu.” Dressed in a black gown and white fur, she looked graceful, elegant, and perfectly at ease. “I think you may have an impression of him.”

Professor Yu nodded to Ning Qiuyan with a faint smile. “Hello.”

He looked to be around forty or fifty, no different from the other professors at the academy at first glance. His bearing was refined and scholarly. Aside from his skin being paler than an ordinary person’s, it was hard to believe he was also one of the Vampires.

“Hello,” Ning Qiuyan greeted him politely, still a little uncertain.

The other man seemed to see what he was thinking and said, “When you came for your interview, I didn’t know you were Mr. Guan’s Blood Contract Partner, so there was no question of me opening a back door for you. You should have confidence in your own talent.”

Ning Qiuyan nodded. “Thank you.”

The people from the mansion had taken Gu Yu outside to play with fireworks and firecrackers.

A firework suddenly shot up into the night sky and burst open, scattering into brilliant points of light.

Everyone looked up.

When Ning Qiuyan lowered his gaze, he instinctively searched for Guan Heng. He saw Guan Heng and Lu Qianque surrounded by three or four guests in conversation. As if their hearts were connected, Guan Heng happened to look toward Ning Qiuyan at the same moment.

Ning Qiuyan raised his glass to him.

The guests who had come to the island this time had brought specially brewed liquor. Guan Heng had poured himself a glass as well, and from across the distance, he lifted the rim of his glass in response.

A short while later, Lu Qianque came over to speak with Professor Yu.

Ning Qiuyan faintly heard them discussing Lu Qianque’s upcoming departure from Luochuan after the New Year to go to Sujing. In between, they mentioned “Huanle” and “Newborn.” Their voices were very low, though they did not avoid the others.

Lu Qianque had mentioned these things to Ning Qiuyan before. Ning Qiuyan wondered if it was because of them that, in order to ensure Gu Yu’s safety, Lu Qianque had been forced to send Gu Yu away to study elsewhere.

“What about Mr. Guan?”

Professor Yu brought up Guan Heng.

“Sir will also be going to Sujing for a while,” Lu Qianque replied. Then he glanced at Ning Qiuyan and smiled faintly, saying to Professor Yu with a pointed implication, “Of course, not because of that matter, but because he wants to take care of his beloved Little Puppy.”

Professor Yu had no idea what Little Puppy meant and was about to ask when another guest came over, slung an arm around Lu Qianque’s shoulders, and led him away.

Ning Qiuyan stood there for a few seconds. Beside him, Li Tang was chattering noisily with someone else.

Music began to play. Professor Yu walked over and naturally took Sheng Huan’s hand. “Darling, may I have this dance?”

Sheng Huan moved closer to him. The two shared a tender kiss. She gazed at him, her eyes filled with lingering affection. “Of course.”

The two of them held each other and swayed to the music.

The ruby ring on Sheng Huan’s hand glowed with a soft, lustrous light.

Ning Qiuyan felt he might be a little drunk. Otherwise, why would he suddenly feel that being a Blood Contract Partner seemed to carry a meaning he had never considered before?