Chapter 81

Chapter 81

The festivities lasted until midnight. When the fireworks were burning at their most brilliant, Du Island began another traditional event-a commemorative photo.

Guan Heng had settled on Du Island, cut off from the rest of the world, and had gone through several periods of slumber of varying lengths. At first, after waking up on one occasion, he discovered that the old mansion had long since changed beyond recognition, its people no longer the same. So he agreed to a younger generation’s wish to take a photo together as a keepsake. Vampires could sleep for ages, but humans needed something to remember them by. From then on, every time Guan Heng woke, he never refused such a request.

For nearly the past decade, Guan Heng had been awake. With transportation in modern society so convenient, old friends had come to visit more and more often. Gradually, this tradition expanded, until every New Year, the island would arrange a moment like this.

In the great hall, with its vintage patterned carpet and hanging crystal chandeliers, the tables and chairs had all been moved aside. A large open space had been cleared in front of the staircase, and everyone on Du Island followed the arrangements, finding their places on the steps.

As the guests walked over, they naturally moved to either side, leaving the central spots to the elders of Du Island. Ning Qiuyan noticed that not every guest needed to be in the photo. At the very least, the blood slaves who had accompanied the guests onto the island did not. The ones they could bring with them were all their own Blood Contract Partner.

The crowd pressed close together.

Amid the brilliant lights, Guan Heng stood not far away, gazing in Ning Qiuyan’s direction through the shifting silhouettes of the people between them.

He was waiting for him.

Ning Qiuyan hurried his steps. Halfway there, he paused to let others pass, doing so two or three times before finally arriving in front of Guan Heng.

Guan Heng had been waiting the entire time. He offered his arm and said mildly, “Come.”

Dressed in formalwear, Guan Heng looked so elegant, so noble. The night made him seem full of life, so dazzling that it was almost impossible to look away. He was the master of Du Island, and the undisputed center of the crowd-the one whose long years had helped bring about this beautiful night.

Ning Qiuyan automatically took Guan Heng’s arm and leaned lightly against him, feeling a little dizzy.

The only place beside Guan Heng belonged to him.

The matter that had puzzled him, the explanation he had not dared to believe-it seemed there was no need to spell any of it out anymore.

They walked all the way to the very center of the first row. Beside them were Uncle Kang, Granny Bai, Lu Qianque, and Gu Yu. Ning Qiuyan had no attention to spare for where Guan Ziming, Li Tang, and the others were standing.

In the hall, the violinist from the band played a soft, lingering melody.

People spoke in low voices. The room was lively, surrounded by flowers and refracted light. Ning Qiuyan’s heart was beating terribly fast. It was as if his life had suddenly found a place to land, and his future was tied to everything here. When the photographer pressed the shutter, he could not even remember whether he had smiled as instructed.

They took several group photos in a row. Then the crowd dispersed into smaller groups for the photographer to continue shooting.

Guan Heng turned his head and lowered his eyes to look at Ning Qiuyan. “Nervous?”

Ning Qiuyan shook his head. His dark pupils were slightly dilated. “I just… It feels like it’s been many years since I last took a photo like this.”

Not even at high school graduation.

He had not been able to go on the graduation trip, nor had he been able to take the graduation group photo.

Guan Heng understood. He lifted a hand and touched Ning Qiuyan’s face. “Did you drink?”

“A little,” he said. “I’m not drunk.”

Guan Heng gave a soft “Mm.”

A sudden surge of courage rose in Ning Qiuyan. “Sir, I-”

The New Year’s countdown began. The roar of voices counting down swallowed half of Ning Qiuyan’s words.

But Guan Heng still heard him.

What Ning Qiuyan said was, “I have a very important question I want to ask you.”

“Guan Heng!”

One of the guests called Guan Heng’s name and waved at him.

Guan Heng glanced over faintly, but he did not seem inclined to go right away. Just then, Lu Qianque found the two of them and said, “Sir, it’s time for you and Xiao Ning.”

Guan Heng said, “All right.”

Lu Qianque looked at Ning Qiuyan, smiled, and straightened his collar for him. Then he plucked a tiny bit of confetti from his hair. “There.”

When they reached the photo area, Lu Qianque told the photographer to wait a moment. He took a bouquet from some table and stuffed it into Ning Qiuyan’s arms, telling him to hold it properly. White roses paired with jasmine were not flowers suited to this season, yet they suited Ning Qiuyan’s air perfectly.

Ning Qiuyan looked up at Guan Heng, wanting to say that this seemed far too formal, but Guan Heng only said to him in a low voice, “Stand still. Look at the camera. There will be plenty of time for you to ask your question.”

By reflex, Ning Qiuyan straightened his back and turned his head toward the lens.

People were shouting, “Happy New Year!” and “Good fortune and all the best!”

The sound of firecrackers rose again.

The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder. Ning Qiuyan held Guan Heng’s arm, and amid the crisp click of the shutter, the moment froze into a photograph.
Ning Qiuyan’s coat had disappeared. His tie had been tugged loose, two buttons of his shirt were undone, and he sat tipsily in Guan Heng’s bedroom.

The party had been too much fun. He had gone outside with Guan Ziming and Gu Yu to set off fireworks, and when he came back, Li Tang had plied him with two more glasses of alcohol. Fortunately, his tolerance turned out not to be too bad. Later, he even sat at the piano with Sheng Huan and played a four-hands piece with her.

At two in the morning, the guests who needed to return to shore before sunrise left one after another. Only then did the noisy, bustling mansion gradually fall quiet.

Spring Festival. The new year had officially arrived.

Ning Qiuyan wanted to stay with Guan Heng.

Guan Heng had to see the guests off, so he returned later than Ning Qiuyan. He had thought Ning Qiuyan, unable to hold his liquor, would have already given in and fallen asleep. But when he went upstairs, he found Ning Qiuyan still sitting by the fire, arms wrapped around his knees, eyes open.
Guan Heng took off his jacket and tossed it aside, followed by his tie. He walked over as if he had finally had enough of the constraints of all that tedious formality, undoing his cuff links as he went and rolling his sleeves up high, revealing pale, firm forearms.

The first thing he did was touch Ning Qiuyan’s forehead. His cool palm felt extremely comfortable against burning skin, and Ning Qiuyan’s cheeks flushed a drunken red as he couldn’t help closing his eyes for a moment. Soon, riding the momentum of the alcohol, he stood up and wrapped his arms around Guan Heng’s waist.

This was the first time Ning Qiuyan had ever done anything so close to acting spoiled, regardless of whether Guan Heng had permitted it or not.

The human in his arms was warm, soft, and fragrant, carrying the faint scent of alcohol.

Guan Heng paused for a few seconds, then held him and pressed him down. In the blink of an eye, they were on the large bed, and Ning Qiuyan was pushed into the soft bedding. The moment he looked up into those deep crimson phoenix eyes, the kiss came down.

Guan Heng had drunk a little too.

Liquor made specifically for Vampires, one that numbed their nerves, teased their senses, and eroded part of their reason and self-control.

After days of deliberate restraint were brushed aside, Guan Heng’s kiss was very deep.

Ning Qiuyan’s blood was rushing wildly through his veins.

Unconsciously, he grabbed Guan Heng’s arm, fingers brushing over the raised blue veins beneath his skin. Very soon, pain flashed through his throat.

Guan Heng’s large hand closed around his neck, forcing him to lift his head and lean back against Guan Heng’s shoulder, placing him in a posture of complete control.

He felt Guan Heng’s damp lips, and the sharp fangs pressed against his blood vessels.

The layer of water that had risen over his head receded.

Guan Heng did not go put on the bite restraint. Everything gradually died down.

In the quiet bedroom, only Ning Qiuyan’s heavy breathing remained.

Ning Qiuyan hurt a little. He felt emptied out. For the near future, he probably would not be able to continue. The accumulation from the past few days meant that his current reactions were not only physical, but even more psychological. It was not good for the first time to end up producing this kind of result, and that was also why Guan Heng had brought up setting a safe word.

Young humans were easy to nurse back to health, and they were also highly adaptable. With guidance, sooner or later their range of tolerance would expand.

It simply required time.

Guan Heng’s thumb rubbed heavily over Ning Qiuyan’s lips, then his jaw, leaving behind a hot, stinging ache.

After that, he gently released him.

“You’re a little drunk.”

Nothing happened.

Ning Qiuyan lay on the bed for a while before sitting up and taking off the ridiculous tie hanging around his neck. Then he removed his shirt, only to look up and see Guan Heng walking naked from the bathroom into the wardrobe. His face reddened unnaturally.

After thinking for a moment, he picked the shirt back up from the floor, slid his arms into the sleeves, and draped it over himself.

After everything that had just happened, most of his intoxication had faded as well.

Guan Heng came out wearing a robe. His hair was half-dry, and a drop of water slid down his cold, pale chest. His eyes had returned to an inky black, his lips were very pale, and his entire body seemed icy, carrying almost none of the breath of a living person.

“Can I stay here and sleep tonight?” Ning Qiuyan asked.

Guan Heng sat down on the edge of the bed. “Is that what you wanted to ask?”

Only then did Ning Qiuyan remember what he had meant to ask, and he shook his head.

Guan Heng had always been patient with him. Even back when their relationship had not been like this, he had never shown impatience. Seeing that Ning Qiuyan seemed to care a great deal, he said, “Come here.”

Ning Qiuyan crawled over and sat on Guan Heng, tucking himself into the other man’s embrace. He asked, “Sir, that reward you said you would give me before… what exactly is it?”

Guan Heng did not answer right away.

Ning Qiuyan did not dare look at Guan Heng’s expression. He only gathered his courage and asked again, “Is it you?”

Ning Qiuyan felt like he had gone mad.

Because when he heard Guan Heng ask in a low voice, “What do you want?” he answered in one breath, “I want you.”

Ning Qiuyan had thrown caution to the wind. He had made up his mind completely, and after saying those words, his face, his neck, and even the backs of his hands flushed red.

With his own hands, he had torn through that thin sheet of paper between them and presented his scorching heart so nakedly before Guan Heng. Whether it was an extravagant wish, greed, or delusion, there was no hiding it anymore.

“We made an agreement. I am your Blood Contract Partner.”

“I belong to you completely.”

Even his eyes had grown wet as he stared straight at Guan Heng.

“I am yours.”

“Then… I want to have one condition too,” he continued. “I don’t want anything else. I only want you. I want you to belong only to me too.”

Guan Heng’s phoenix eyes were dark and deep, his emotions profound and, as always, difficult to fathom.

He simply looked at Ning Qiuyan like that. After hearing Ning Qiuyan’s words, there seemed to be a storm brewing in his eyes.

Just as Ning Qiuyan was so embarrassed that he wanted to find a hole to crawl into, Guan Heng finally spoke. His voice was actually lower than usual. “Ning Qiuyan, you still haven’t understood what I meant.”

“Huh?”

Ning Qiuyan thought he had misunderstood. He parted his lips in a daze, letting out a hoarse syllable. The faintly visible teeth and tongue were clean, wet, and vividly alive in color.

Guan Heng needed to use action to explain it to Ning Qiuyan.

He pinched Ning Qiuyan’s chin, making it impossible for him to close his lips. Then he used one finger to touch those soft lips before sliding it into the damp warmth inside.

“You don’t need to ask me for it.” Guan Heng’s attitude was mild, yet the way he pressed against that small, slippery tongue was not particularly gentle, carrying lingering desire. “As your Blood Contract Partner, I will naturally give you loyalty in both mind and body.”