As Liu Lei strolled through the streets, gazing up at the gently falling snowflakes, he wrapped his coat tighter around himself, lost in a nostalgic reverie. The verdant mountains he had left behind seemed as though they might still hold secrets, their lush scenery vivid in his mind. Two years had passed since he had returned to Xi'an, and he felt an undeniable urge to revisit the mountains. How was his master faring? Had he devised any peculiar schemes recently? Was Elder Dasha still restlessly pacing, longing for companionship, ever voicing his boredom? And the Blood Head, forever stifling his own strength, unwilling to face the trials that awaited him—this could not be a sustainable path.
Returning home, Liu Lei found his father immersed in a game of mahjong, leaving only his mother alone. After a brief greeting, Liu Lei retreated to his room. His mother soon entered, concern etching her features as she asked, "Xiao Lei, have you and Yunyi had a falling out? She hasn't been here in two weeks." Liu Lei had never really placed much importance on Qin Yunyi. Her visits to his home had been part of a mere arrangement. As he thought back, he realized she hadn't come last week, and yesterday, when she was supposed to, she hadn't appeared either. He hastened to explain to his mother, "It's nothing, really. She's been busy expanding her company's business—she's the vice president, after all. I'll ask her to come tonight if you miss her."
However, Liu Lei couldn't help but wonder why Yunyi had suddenly stopped coming. They had made an agreement, after all.
Qin Yunyi stared at the number on her phone, uncertain of what to do. There was a flicker of joy, mingled with confusion. She understood the nature of their relationship—a transaction. In exchange for him withdrawing his company's acquisition offer, she had agreed to pretend to be his girlfriend to placate his mother. Yet, recently, she found herself increasingly preoccupied with that man's face. Confident in herself, bolstered by the admiration of the boys who had surrounded her since childhood, she could not fathom why this man, whom she had been so generous to, seemed entirely indifferent. Last week, she made a decision—she would no longer tolerate this ambiguity. If he truly cared, he would seek her out. But when Wednesday came and went without a word from him, she had her answer. It seemed he had finally remembered her, but perhaps it was his mother who had prompted him. Thinking of his mother—a kindly, gracious woman—she imagined what it would be like if she were to become her mother-in-law, a thought that made her momentarily uneasy. She quickly dismissed it. The phone rang again, and with a sigh, she pressed the answer button.
"Hello, Qin Yunyi? What's going on? I've called you several times, but you never pick up."
"It's nothing. Is there something you need?"
"Are you free tonight? My mother misses you—could you come over?"
Disappointment surged through Yunyi as she coldly refused, "I'm too busy. Don't call me again in the future. Goodbye."
On the other end of the line, Liu Lei cursed under his breath, "Women and children, always so difficult to deal with! What happened? We had an agreement. Why does it now feel like I owe her something?" The thought of his painful experience with blind dates made him shudder, and he quickly dialed her number again.
The pleasant ringtone chimed once more—its sweet tone now sounding harsh in his ears. She pressed the button and answered tiredly, "Hello."
"Hello, it's me. Please help. If you don't come, my mom will make me go on another blind date. Didn't we agree on this?"
"Alright, I understand. This is our deal, and I'll come tonight."
"Hello?"
After hanging up, Qin Yunyi felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. Yes, this was just a transaction in his eyes. But why had she developed feelings for him? She couldn't explain it. Liu Lei was a bloodline beyond the nobility, and while he could not disguise himself, the innate charm of his vampire nature easily drew the attention of those around him.
At 8 p.m., as agreed, Qin Yunyi arrived. Liu Lei exhaled in relief but sensed something was off. Reflecting on the phone call earlier, he wondered what was wrong. By 10 p.m., when it was time for her to leave, Liu Lei had nearly figured it out. Seeing her about to leave, he quickly offered, "I'll see you out."
Without a word, she bid his parents farewell and walked out, ignoring him entirely. Liu Lei hurried to catch up with her.
"What's wrong?" he asked once they were downstairs.
"It's nothing."
"I know."
Qin Yunyi froze, her body tensing. "You know what?"
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Liu Lei asked.
She was momentarily stunned. "What?"
"You have a boyfriend, don't you?" Liu Lei repeated. "You have a boyfriend, yet you're pretending to be my girlfriend. It's a contradiction, and you can't just abandon me because of our agreement, which makes you miserable, doesn't it? Don't worry, I won't force you into anything."
Her anger flared as she heard his words. "You just 'know' this?"
"Go to hell!" Qin Yunyi shouted, throwing her handbag forcefully at his head before walking away without looking back.
"Hey, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" Liu Lei dodged the bag and ran after her, grabbing her arm. She struggled briefly before bursting into tears.
Liu Lei panicked and quickly released her, "Don't cry, don't cry, I won't hold you anymore."
Her sobs grew louder. Liu Lei, desperate, paced beside her. She looked up at him, still crying, "I work every day, with Wednesdays off. I don't have time for a boyfriend. We made an agreement, but it's been half a year. We never set a time limit, and I've long stopped pretending to be your girlfriend. But I still come every week. Don't you understand what I mean?"
Liu Lei fell silent, his gaze fixed on her. She wept like a delicate flower in the rain, utterly heart-wrenching. Truly, a rare beauty, Liu Lei thought. But how could he tell her his truth? Amid his inner conflict, he recalled the old count, who had often urged him to try. He decided to take a chance—whatever happened, at least he would not have regrets.
He hailed a taxi and took Qin Yunyi to the "Yalin" headquarters. The entire eighteenth floor of the building was dark and empty, as no one was working late. He left the lights off, leaving her at the entrance while he walked slowly to the center of the hall. Turning to face her, he said, "Trust me, I won't hurt you." With that, he slowly levitated into the air, spreading his wings and revealing his fangs.
"I'll give you time to think. If you're willing, I will grant you eternal life. If you refuse, then everything connected to me will cease to exist," Liu Lei said, before silently reverting to his original form.
Qin Yunyi stood frozen in shock, having watched her fair share of vampire movies, but never imagining she would one day encounter a true vampire. The realization slowly dawned on her, and she was filled with terror. She had heard his words, but could she truly accept them? Eternal life—such a tempting offer—but what would others think of her? How would she explain it to her parents? She would have to live in darkness, subsisting on blood, forever hunted by demon slayers and the clergy. Could she endure such a life?
"I'm sorry…" she whispered softly.
"It's alright. It's the right choice," Liu Lei responded hoarsely.
"Loss," Liu Lei murmured, as a black mist rose between his hands. The mist slowly drifted toward her, enveloping the beautiful girl. In her eyes, he saw unmistakable fear.
"What you've lost is but a memory, while I've lost the very essence of my existence," Liu Lei thought silently. Even those who loved him could not accept his true nature, and a wave of despair washed over him.