Feed Me, Husband - Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Ji Xiangnan had no reaction to Gu Xiaonuan’s sudden departure, silently permitting her exit.

Since their last meeting, Mr. Li had not appeared again.

In those ten-odd days, Ji Xiangnan hadn’t contacted Gu Xiaonuan either; he hadn’t even sent a single message.

Thinking of that elder Vampire’s cold blue eyes, Gu Xiaonuan could vaguely understand why the Old Man wasn’t contacting her.

Lu Yichen’s new book was progressing steadily. Its online serialization had caused quite a stir, and by now, the story was nearing its conclusion.

Gu Xiaonuan looked at the data on her phone. To call him a dark horse newcomer might be an understatement.

This man’s stories didn’t rely on overly flowery prose or embellishments; it was the story itself that was breathtaking.

The narrative angles and plot twists were unexpected and thought-provoking.

Gu Xiaonuan looked at his manuscript on the computer. The ending of this new book was actually already written, and after reading it, she hadn’t been able to snap out of it for a long time.

If she hadn’t known for a fact that he was one hundred percent human, she might have thought the person who wrote this story belonged to the Vampire Clan.

It felt like something that had been refined and polished over a long period, carrying the heavy scent of time’s passage.

He was only twenty-six. How on earth did he write a story like this?

Gu Xiaonuan sighed. That publishing bigwig really had an eye for talent. Looking at the messages on her phone, even though the book hadn’t finished its run yet, the bigwig was already trying to reserve the next one.

However, Lu Yichen’s stance was that he didn’t want to write for a while; he wanted to let things settle and reflect.

Gu Xiaonuan didn’t object. The response to this new book was enthusiastic, with wave after wave of people coming to discuss copyright deals. Even if he didn’t write a new story for a long time, his popularity wouldn’t drop much.

“Still editing my manuscript?” Lu Yichen walked out of the bathroom, drying his hair with a towel before sitting down beside her.

He reached out, using his body and arms to circle Gu Xiaonuan between himself and the computer. He moved the mouse to click a few spots and tapped a few keys on the keyboard.

Gu Xiaonuan arched an eyebrow and unceremoniously leaned back into his chest. “A lot of people have already come to talk to me about your various copyrights. What are your thoughts?”

“I don’t have any thoughts. I’ll listen to whatever you say.” Lu Yichen smiled and kissed her forehead, the towel draped over his shoulder.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll sell you off and count the money?” Gu Xiaonuan reached out to grab the towel, turned around, and gently helped him dry his hair while sitting in his lap.

He chuckled, obediently letting her do as she pleased. He even lowered his head slightly and stopped typing.

“I’m curious how much I’d sell for. If it could ensure you never have to worry about food or clothing again, that would be fine too.”

Gu Xiaonuan rubbed his hair. “Forever? That’s impossible.”

His dark eyes dimmed slightly as he murmured, “Is that so…”

*Buzz, buzz.*

The phone rang. Gu Xiaonuan answered it, and an enthusiastic female voice came from the other end. “Miss Gu, I’m Xiao Wu, the one who contacted you last time! I’m the one who wanted to discuss the manhua rights!”

Gu Xiaonuan’s hand stopped rubbing his hair. Lu Yichen pressed closer with some dissatisfaction, deliberately rubbing his damp hair against her cheek.

Gu Xiaonuan glared at him, put the phone on speaker, and resumed drying his hair with the towel. Lu Yichen smiled and stopped moving.

“Xiao Wu, I remember you. Is something the matter?”

As Gu Xiaonuan spoke, Lu Yichen’s short black hair was rubbed into a mess, sticking up in all directions. She reached out to touch it; the black hair was soft and smooth, with a slight luster.

“It’s like this, Miss Gu. Teacher Lu’s story is just too brilliant. We can take our time discussing the manhua rights. I’m calling this time because I thought about how hard Teacher Lu works. You know how it is with authors-once they get into their writing, they lose track of day and night.”

Gu Xiaonuan looked up at Lu Yichen. Day and night? He had a very regular schedule, occasionally dragged her out for walks, slept soundly, and woke up early.

“A theme park near T City is about to open soon. I have early access passes here, and I’d like to invite Teacher Lu and Miss Gu to come out and relax.”

“It’s for two days. You can really unwind and stay at the park hotel. It hasn’t officially opened yet, so there won’t be many people.”

Gu Xiaonuan took the towel away and looked into Lu Yichen’s eyes, which were hidden behind his messy hair. She signaled with a look: *Do you want to go?*

Lu Yichen rested his head on her shoulder, his dark eyes watching the glowing computer screen. His fingers tapped the keyboard a few times as he whispered softly, “It might be good to go for a walk.”

Gu Xiaonuan gave an affirmative hum, turned to pick up the phone, and curled her whole body into his embrace, resting the phone on her knees.

“We’ll cover the expenses ourselves. We don’t want to cause you too much trouble.”

“Oh, please! You’re being far too polite! I’m the one inviting you, how could I let you pay!” The woman on the other end sounded delighted. “It won’t cost much at all! It’s not a burden! This weekend then? Miss Gu, if you give me an address, I can come pick you up?”

“No need. Just send the address. We’ll meet at the entrance and talk then.”

“Great, great. I’ll see you then.”

The call ended. Lu Yichen straightened up slightly. “I’ve finished the revisions, no need to look at it anymore.” He reached out and snapped the laptop shut. “My dear Miss Gu, I’ll be waiting for you in bed.”

Gu Xiaonuan hummed in response, took the towel, got up from his lap, and walked into the bathroom. Lu Yichen sat on the rug, picked up his own phone, and swiped a few times.

A news headline appeared.
“The most luxurious themed amusement park in T City has been completed and is set to open soon.”

Lu Yichen’s finger slid lightly down the screen, revealing pictures of the park along with several related news reports.

As he scanned the articles, his gaze came to a halt.

“The park’s primary investor is an overseas associate who has frequently participated in the investment of various key domestic projects.”

In the photograph, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreign man stood in the center, wearing a sharp suit and a smile.

The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom.

Lu Yichen’s lips curled upward. He tapped on a saved photo on his phone; the man who had been a blur in the news photo was now perfectly clear.

He lightly tapped the man’s face in the picture and chuckled.

An eight-hundred-year-old vampire had actually come here. Interesting.

Listening to the water, Lu Yichen leaned back into the sofa. Had the Church chased him so far that he had nowhere left to run?

The water stopped. He stood up from the floor, let out a yawn, and walked into the bedroom.

Just as he lay down on the bed, Gu Xiaonuan walked in wearing her pajamas. Before he could speak, her cold little body was already pulling him into an embrace.

Lu Yichen slowly closed his eyes. His little Vampire wasn’t dependent enough on him yet; she wasn’t used to him enough.

The man’s eyelashes fluttered as he wrapped his arms tighter around her.

He wanted his shadow to be in every corner of her life. Her habits had to include him, and his presence had to be in every drop of blood racing through her body.

She had to be his-his for all eternity.

***

Elsewhere.

Ji Xiangnan sat on a sofa. A glamorous woman sat in his lap, her body so supple it seemed as if she could be folded in half as she rubbed against him.

Ji Xiangnan remained expressionless, his arm resting on the edge of the sofa, letting the woman do as she pleased.

To the side, the blonde, blue-eyed foreigner was buried in another woman’s neck, greedily drinking her blood. Crimson liquid flowed down her throat, staining her white dress.

*Click.*

Fangs pulled out of her body, and the woman, her face flushed, pressed closer to him again.

With a soft chuckle, a glint flashed in his blue eyes as he reached out to pull her into his arms.

Without any further preparation, the woman let out a scream as things that couldn’t be described were done to her.

“Xiang Nan, is she not to your taste?”

He spoke even as he moved. The woman was in a trance, but there wasn’t a hint of lust in those blue eyes.

Ji Xiangnan looked at the woman burrowing into his chest. His fangs extended and pierced directly into her offered neck.

“Your little friend and your food used to live next door, right?” Li’s hand pressed against the woman as he looked up at Ji Xiangnan, his tongue licking his fangs. “I caught a nice scent-the same one I smelled on the kid that day.”

Ji Xiangnan looked up, licked the blood from his lips, and pushed the woman in his arms away. “They did live next door. She was merely looking after my food for me.”

“To share with a child like that… you must really dote on her.”

Li’s blue eyes fixed on the woman sitting on him, who was clearly drifting out of consciousness. “The last few times I saw you were over a century ago. You didn’t exactly have a personality that was friendly toward children.”

The woman let out a whimper and slumped over. Li reached out, pushed her off him, and stood up.

“Is my arrival bothering you?” Li arched an eyebrow. “You actually let the kid take your food away.”

“What, are you afraid I’ll steal it?”

*Whoosh!*

Li blurred across the room, appearing in front of Ji Xiangnan and clamping a hand around his throat. “Xiang Nan, killing you would be easier than crushing an ant.”

Ji Xiangnan raised a hand and lightly adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, his fangs still stained with blood. “Mr. Li, compared to the millennium-old vampires you’ve hunted, I am indeed insignificant.”

Ji Xiangnan looked up. “And then, of course, there are the humans you’ve hunted in violation of the rules.”

The blue eyes narrowed, and the hand released Ji Xiangnan’s neck.

“Being hunted by both the Church and other vampires isn’t a pleasant feeling, is it?” Ji Xiangnan cracked his neck. “When I went to see you before, I did say I would provide a safe haven, but there were conditions.”

Li’s tall frame stood in the darkness while Ji Xiangnan remained seated on the sofa, kicking away the woman who had fallen to the floor.

“Don’t touch my food.” Ji Xiangnan stood up slowly. He wasn’t as tall as Li, nor was he as old or strong, yet at that moment, Li retracted his fangs.

“And especially, don’t touch my little friend.”

Li gave a low laugh and lightly straightened his jacket. “Of course. For the duration of my stay, I will certainly comply.”

Ji Xiangnan frowned slightly as he watched the other man walk into the inner room.

He had traveled to Europe to investigate the human named Lu Yichen. Gong Lin’s words had put him on high alert; the previously killed vampires and the ambush Gong Lin encountered were all the work of the Church.

Ji Xiangnan walked to the glass window, looking out at the brightly lit T City under the dark night.

He had thought Lu Yichen was connected to the Church, but he was wrong.

He hadn’t found a single link between the two-not until he met the hunted Li.

Li had told him he had never heard the name Lu Yichen.

Ji Xiangnan’s hand brushed against his cheek. An eight-hundred-year-old vampire… he wondered what kind of fish this bait would catch.