Into The Sea

Lan Wu blinked, her gaze suddenly drifting. “Y-you’re overreacting. I’ve just been a little picky lately, that’s all. I just prefer her blood right now. Remember when you went through that phase where you only drank that one brand of blood? If you can be picky, why can’t I? We’re the same, aren’t we?”

Lan Yuan hummed. “If that’s how you feel, I’m sure you won’t mind if I have some of her blood too?”

Lan Wu froze, her voice rising in shock. “What?!”

“What do you mean, ‘what’?” Lan Yuan smirked, pointing at Ji Lingyue. “I want to drink her blood. Are you okay with that?”

“I…” She glanced at Ji Lingyue, who returned her gaze. Feeling flustered by those dark eyes, Lan Wu quickly looked away, stammering, “You… you already have someone you caught. Why don’t you just drink her blood? Why do you need to drink from my blood slave?”

“Because I’m tired of her. I want to try something new. Is that a problem?” Lan Yuan tilted her head, feigning nonchalance. “Besides, she’s just your blood slave. If I take a sip, it shouldn’t be a big deal, right?”

Lan Wu hesitated. “Uh… that… there might be a problem…”

“What problem?”

She racked her brain. “She’s… she’s very fragile. She can’t handle two vampires. I just drank her blood, so if you drink any more, she’ll… she’ll faint!”

“I’ll just take a sip.”

“Even one sip is too much!”

“Oh come on. I’ve shared so much with you growing up, and you won’t even let me have a taste of your blood slave?”

Lan Wu exclaimed, “You can have anything else, but… but not her!”

“Why not?” Lan Yuan narrowed her eyes, pressing, “Is she that important to you?”

“She’s not!”

“Then why won’t you share?”

“I… this isn’t about that…”

“Then I’ll go drink from her now.”

“No!”

Lan Yuan hissed, crossing her arms and studying her with a knowing smirk. “You’re acting really weird, Lan Wu. Why are you so protective of her? Do you… like her?”

Lan Wu’s eyes widened. “What? No way! How could I possibly like her!” Afraid Lan Yuan wouldn’t believe her, she clenched her fists, rambling, “I’m a noble vampire, and she’s just a human! Why would I ever like a human? If I ever liked someone, it would be another noble vampire!”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Of course!”

By the time she finished speaking, her face was flushed red. Lan Yuan chuckled, giving her a disdainful look before lazily turning her head. “Well, you said it yourself.”

Lan Wu froze, instinctively following Lan Yuan’s gaze, only to meet Ji Lingyue’s dark eyes.

“…”

She froze, staring blankly at Ji Lingyue. The heat of the argument began to dissipate. Ji Lingyue gave her a long, deep look, then turned and walked into the bedroom without a word.

Lan Wu hurried after her. “Ji…”

Slam!

The door slammed shut. Lan Wu stopped just in time to keep her nose from getting caught in the door. She opened her mouth, looking helplessly at the closed door, then back at Lan Yuan. “You…”

Lan Yuan’s expression was blank. “What? I didn’t do anything.”

Lan Wu’s eyes reddened with anger. She took a few steps toward Lan Yuan but stopped, grabbing her own hair in frustration. “Aaaaaaah! Why are you doing this? Why would you do that?!”

“What did I do?” Lan Yuan replied, annoyed. “You were the one who said all that. If you’re mad, blame yourself.”

“But if it wasn’t for you… you deliberately provoked me…”

Lan Yuan interrupted. “Even if I did, you were the one who said those things. So why are you angry?”

“I…” Lan Wu’s head snapped up, glaring at Lan Yuan with a mix of anger and hurt. After a moment, her shoulders slumped in defeat. “I don’t even know.”

“Then figure it out.” Lan Yuan’s voice was cold. “Don’t forget about your collar. You still need her to take it off.”

Knock, knock.

In the dark, silent night, rhythmic knocks sounded on the door. A muffled voice spoke through the wood. “Hey, Ji Lingyue, can you open the door, please?”

Ji Lingyue rolled over, pulling the covers over her head.

Outside the door, Lan Wu bit her lip, persistent. “Can we talk? I didn’t mean what I said earlier.”

After a while, there was still no movement inside. She sighed, looking at the zombie standing beside her.

“Your daughter’s really stubborn.”

The zombie shook its head and growled at her.

Meanwhile, Lan Yuan lounged lazily on the couch, the chain in her hand still attached to the tall woman beside her. Meng Changge knelt on the floor, her face stern as she massaged Lan Yuan’s legs, clearly playing the role of a humiliated servant.

Since Lan Yuan only had Meng Changge to talk to, she glanced at Lan Wu’s dejected figure and muttered unhappily. “She didn’t actually fall for her, did she?”

It pleased Meng Changge to see her unhappy. “Of course, she did. Everyone can see it.”

Lan Yuan glared at her. “No one asked you.”

“…” Meng Changge swallowed the insults and mumbled, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you enjoyed talking to yourself.”

The hushed whispers outside didn’t reach the bedroom. The knocking faded, then stopped. Ji Lingyue bit her lip, turning to face the door. When she was sure there was no sound, she muttered with disappointment. “Damn vampire.”

No patience at all. Gave up halfway. Couldn’t even last ten minutes. She’s just stupid vampire who couldn’t even lower herself to comfort someone.

Knock knock.

Suddenly, the crisp sound of knocking returned, but this time, it was eerily close. Ji Lingyue jumped, turning around to find the source of the noise. She yanked open the curtains, only to see Lan Wu’s bruised face pressed against the window, staring at her with pleading eyes.

This was the seventeenth floor.

Even though she knew vampires could scale walls, Ji Lingyue was still stunned for a moment. “Seriously? You’re at the window now?”

Lan Wu clung to the window, her messy hair damp from the light rain. She looked miserable. “If I used the door… would you even let me in?”

Ji Lingyue replied coldly. “No.”

Lan Wu’s shoulders slumped. “Then if I come through the window, will you let me in?”

“No.”

Hearing this, the vampire sniffled, her long lashes fluttering as if she were about to cry. “Okay, then I’ll just talk to you like this.”

Ji Lingyue couldn’t help but say, “If you want to talk, just talk. Why are you acting so pathetic?”

“I’m not acting,” Lan Wu sniffled again, raising her teary eyes with a look of forced bravery. “It’s just… my wounds hurt, and the rain makes it worse. But it’s fine. If you don’t want me inside, I won’t come in. Even if it hurts, I can endure it. It’s okay.”

Ji Lingyue was speechless.

She could not bear it any longer, and she flung open the window, “Hurry and come in!”

Lan Wu’s plan succeeded, and she quickly climbed through the window, dripping rainwater as she tried to hug Ji Lingyue. “Ah Yue…”

Ji Lingyue quickly retreated backwards, “Don’t touch me with your wet hands. And stop calling me that.”

Lan Wu honestly stopped, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things earlier.”

“What things?”

“You know… those things.”

“What things are you talking about?”

Lan Wu bit her lip, mumbling, “The things about you being a human, and how I couldn’t possibly like you…”

“And is there something wrong with that?” Ji Lingyue asked coldly. “It’s not like it’s untrue. You’re a noble vampire. Shouldn’t you be with another noble vampire instead of me?”

“…Exactly.”

“Why? Do you like me?”

Lan Wu hesitated, then nodded. “I think so.”

Ji Lingyue was stunned for a moment before frowning. “Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“I do.”

Ji Lingyue let out a sarcastic laugh. “You do? Then why did you say those things earlier? Why didn’t you say this in front of your sister?”

Lan Wu opened her mouth but then looked down. “I don’t know… It just felt… embarrassing to admit it in front of her…”

“Embarrassing? Is liking me something to be ashamed of?”

“Of course not!”

“Then why did you feel embarrassed?”

“I…” The vampire frowned in frustration, shaking her head. “I don’t know.”

Ji Lingyue was silent for a while, “If that’s the case, then I don’t need your so-called feelings.”

Lan Wu was stunned. “But…”

“I’ll take off your collar. You can go home with your sister.”

Lan Wu was shocked. “What do you mean? Aren’t you coming with me?”

“Why would I? There’s nothing between us.”

“That’s not true!” Lan Wu instinctively grabbed her hand. “You’re my…”

“Blood slave?” Ji Lingyue stared directly at her, “You need me because you’ll get hungry on the road, right?”

Lan Wu stared at her, speechless. Ji Lingyue waited for a response but, receiving none, bit her lip in disappointment and tried to pull away. “Let go of me! Since you think liking me is embarrassing, and I don’t like you either. So let’s just end it here.”

Lan Wu’s eyes shifted, and she sensitively said, “You don’t like me?”

“That’s right,” Ji Lingyue said bitterly. “I told you when we first met that I already like someone else. Why would you think I like you?”

Lan Wu couldn’t help but tighten her grip on Ji Lingyue’s wrist. “Then tell me, who do you like?”

“What does it matter to you?”

“It matters! What if you’re lying, just to push me away…”

“Ha!” Ji Lingyue laughed bitterly, “You’re really full of yourself, aren’t you? Why would I lie to you about this? Let me tell you, the person I like is more beautiful, braver, and perfect in every way. Everyone loves her! And you? You can’t compare to her in any way. Are you satisfied now?”

Lan Wu said angrily, “Ji Lingyue!”

Ji Lingyue glared back without showing any weakness, “What? Are you going to bite me?”

Lan Wu’s breathing grew rapid, her face flushing red. “I’m not going to bite you…”

She tightened her grip on Ji Lingyue’s wrist, suddenly stepping forward and pulling her onto the bed. She leaned down, capturing Ji Lingyue’s soft lips with her own. Ji Lingyue let out a muffled sound, struggling to push Lan Wu’s shoulders, but she couldn’t budge her.

Lan Wu’s cold tongue swept through her mouth, stirring up wet, messy sounds. Ji Lingyue’s face turned red, her head spinning with anger as she bit down hard.

“Mmm…”

Lan Wu froze, then pinched Ji Lingyue’s chin, forcing her to release the bite. The taste of blood, different from a human’s, spread in her mouth, swallowed in the chaos. After a while, Lan Wu finally pulled back, her face hidden in the dim light.

Ji Lingyue, panting, raised her eyes, and angrily glared at her.

Plop…

A drop of cold liquid landed on her cheeks.

Ji Lingyue froze, her eyelashes fluttering as she looked up in surprise at the girl on top of her.

The vampire lowered her eyes, her face covered in wounds and exposed to the pale moonlight. A drop of tears fell from those beautiful eyes that were right in front of her.

“Ji Lingyue,” she whispered, “You make me so sad.”