Crisis Approaches

“Mom, has big sister not come home yet today?” As soon as Qiao Wei stepped into her family’s garden, a childish voice echoed from the house. Her heart tightened. She tiptoed beneath the windowsill, listening to her mother and Qiao You’s conversation. Luo Chen, who had followed her, quietly approached as well. Qiao Wei frowned and refused to look at him.

“Your sister has things to do and won’t be coming home for now, alright? Don’t keep asking the same question every day. Let me make you something to eat.” Her mother’s voice was a little hoarse, and soon the sound of chopping vegetables came from the kitchen.

“But sister hasn’t come home for a long time, for…for… anyway, it’s been ages. My birthday is next week, and I don’t know if she’ll come to see me.” Qiao You’s innocent words made Qiao Wei’s eyes rim red. She pressed her hand over her mouth, stifling any sound, and listened in silence.

“Maybe your sister will come. I wonder how she’s doing. It’s been half a year since she was last home….” Her mother sighed. The movement of her hand paused, and the knife sliced into her finger. A drop of bright red blood welled up from the wound. “Oh, it hurts so much! Youyou, hurry and get a band-aid from the drawer for me.”

Immediately, the hurried response and small footsteps of Qiao You could be heard.

Qiao Wei stood up, tears streaming down her face. She was about to enter the house when Luo Chen grabbed her, lowering his voice: “Don’t go inside. If you see blood, you won’t be able to control yourself. Let’s go back!”

Without regard for her struggle, he led her back to the rose field. Before Luo Chen could comfort Qiao Wei, whose face was streaked with tears, a pack of frenzied prisoners lunged at her. The icy light in Luo Chen’s eyes flashed, and they were instantly frozen into blocks of ice, which then shattered and melted into filthy puddles.

No sooner had he dealt with these vampires than Luo Chen saw Su Mo, disheveled and standing nearby, clutching a broken arrow stained with blood. Her arm bore several wounds, clearly inflicted during a struggle with the vampires.

When Su Mo saw Luo Chen, she staggered over. Her sweet voice trembled: “Chen, you’re finally here. If you hadn’t come, I might have died here. When we reached the villa, we sensed countless vampires and the heavy stench of blood in the castle. Luo Xuan told me to find you—and he asked you to protect Qiao Wei.” At the mention of Qiao Wei’s name, Su Mo’s tone soured, but she pouted and finished her sentence.

“I’ll head over. Can you protect Qiao Wei?” Luo Chen glanced complicatedly at Qiao Wei, who had wiped her tears, then spoke to Su Mo.

Su Mo’s heart chilled, and her smile was mournful: “Luo Chen, the curse is lifted. I’ve lost my angelic abilities. I’m already injured and can barely protect myself—how can I protect her?”

Only then did Luo Chen notice Su Mo’s wounds. Feeling guilty, he bit his wrist and fed her his blood. In moments, her injuries healed.

Qiao Wei spoke softly from the side: “I’ll help Brother Luo Xuan. After all, this life was given by him. Besides… my strength and speed have improved. As long as the stake doesn’t pierce my heart, I’ll be fine.”

“No!” Luo Chen objected without thinking, but Qiao Wei ignored him and darted toward the villa. Luo Chen wanted to settle Su Mo elsewhere before helping Luo Xuan, but Su Mo insisted on staying with him. Helpless, he carried her and hurried after Qiao Wei.

“In the end, she weighs more in your heart than I do. Luo Chen, how much space is there for me, Su Mo, in your heart?” Her quiet question, carried by the wind, reached his ears. He froze and pretended not to hear, but his heart ached fiercely.

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Yu Ning: The stars tonight are bright and round~

Friend (after a long pause, speaking coolly): Are you talking about the moon?

Yu Ning: …