Feed Me, Husband - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

On weekends in T City, it was rare to find a public place that wasn’t swarming with people.

After Gu Xiaonuan parked the car, she and Lu Yichen emerged dressed in simple attire: jeans and plain white T-shirts.

“Miss Gu, Teacher Lu, you’re here.”

Gu Xiaonuan nodded and smiled at the woman walking toward them. Her gaze then shifted to the young girl standing behind her. “And this is…”

“Oh, this is the artist I mentioned to you, Taohua.” Xiao Wu looked at Lu Yichen with a beaming smile. “Teacher Lu, don’t let Taohua’s youth fool you; her skills are top-notch.”

Standing in the back, Taohua wore a conservative long dress. She looked very well-behaved and quiet, with her unstyled black hair cascading down her back.

“Taohua, say hello,” Xiao Wu urged.

Taohua looked up timidly. While her features weren’t immediately striking, her face was fair and clear. Combined with her petite stature and overall gentle aura, she gave off the comfortable vibe of the girl next door.

“Hello, Editor Gu. Hello, Teacher Lu.” Her cheeks flushed crimson as she spoke, and after catching a glimpse of Lu Yichen’s face, she quickly lowered her head.

Watching her, Gu Xiaonuan felt as though she were looking at a panicked little rabbit.

“Hello,” Lu Yichen said with a smile. Taohua’s face turned even redder. She murmured a soft greeting and didn’t dare look up again.

“Teacher Taohua is a real homebody and a bit socially anxious. She’s just too shy,” Xiao Wu explained cheerfully. “Let’s head into the park then. Even though it hasn’t officially opened yet, there are already many people entering early.”

Xiao Wu took Taohua’s arm and led her forward. Lu Yichen pulled Gu Xiaonuan into his arms, lowering his voice. “You seem quite interested in that girl, Taohua? You’ve looked at her several times.”

Gu Xiaonuan pulled up a few saved images on her phone. Lu Yichen glanced down. “The drawings are indeed very good.”

“I’ve been in contact with several other artists, but none of them have skills as solid as Taohua’s. I’m planning to give your manga rights to them.”

Lu Yichen arched an eyebrow. “Are you sure it’s not because of the artist herself?”

“No. I have no interest in her blood.”

This caused Lu Yichen to let out a soft chuckle, his body leaning slightly against hers. “I’ll follow your lead.”

Walking ahead, Xiao Wu glanced back and saw the intimate posture of the two behind them. She couldn’t help but sigh. “Taohua, you don’t stand a chance.”

Taohua looked back and saw them leaning against each other. “An editor being with her own author… isn’t that just a rabbit eating the grass near its own burrow?”

“The point is they look so well-matched. Their visuals are just too high.” Xiao Wu looked at her. “Sigh, I don’t know if Editor Gu will give us the manga rights. I was thinking of using a ‘honey trap,’ but I didn’t expect Editor Gu to be so beautiful herself.”

Xiao Wu couldn’t resist looking back again. “Those two… I think they could easily debut as celebrities.”

Taohua tugged on Xiao Wu’s arm. “I don’t think so. Don’t people say it’s better to have someone domestic, quiet, and well-behaved? Editor Gu… she’s too beautiful. She’ll only cause trouble.”

Xiao Wu was stunned. “No way, are you planning to steal someone’s man?”

Taohua bit her lip slightly. “They’re only boyfriend and girlfriend, why not? Besides… I’m not bad myself.”

Xiao Wu felt a bit helpless. “Don’t think about that for now. Getting the manga rights is the most important thing. I said-watch out!”

The two had been so preoccupied with their hushed conversation that as they reached the early entry lane at the park entrance, several figures approached from the side. If Xiao Wu hadn’t pulled her back, Taohua would have collided with them.

“I’m sorry.” Taohua immediately lowered her head in apology, her face flushing. All she saw was a pair of clean leather shoes and dress pants.

“It’s alright. Just take it slow.”

The pleasant-sounding Chinese, spoken with a distinct foreign accent, made Taohua look up. She saw a shock of gold and a pair of deep blue eyes.

“Boss Li, please this way,” a park staff member said from the side. Li nodded with a smile. He glanced at Taohua, his gaze lingering on the flush on her cheeks.

The sound of that heartbeat… so fast.

Just as Li was about to walk inside, his eyes swept across the crowd and landed on Gu Xiaonuan.

Gu Xiaonuan’s first instinct was to grab Lu Yichen and run, but under the pressure of those blue eyes, her body froze in place.

“Xiaonuan?” Lu Yichen raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

“The little one is actually here.” Li stared at Gu Xiaonuan, walking over with a smile on his lips. Lu Yichen heard the footsteps and looked up. Eyes of different colors met in the air.

“Boss Li?”

The staff member hurriedly followed. Li kept his smile. “I’m just saying hello to an acquaintance.”

Xiao Wu watched the three of them and whispered, “‘Little one’? Isn’t that address a bit too ambiguous?”

Taohua watched with a reddened face. “What ‘little one’? I bet they’re all just fish in her pond.”

“Mr. Li.”

Gu Xiaonuan reached out and gripped Lu Yichen’s hand, struggling to control her fangs so they wouldn’t make an embarrassing appearance right now.

“So this is… Xiang Nan’s?”

Li looked at Lu Yichen and took a light sniff. “It’s the exact same scent I smelled on you that day. Not bad at all.”

Lu Yichen’s brow furrowed at the words. He squeezed her cold little hand in return.

“Boss Li, let’s enter the park first,” the staff member said softly. A flash of impatience flickered in the depths of Li’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.
“I’ll see you later when there’s a chance.” Li gave Lu Yichen a deep look before reaching out to gently pat the top of Gu Xiaonuan’s head.

He turned and followed the staff members away.

Gu Xiaonuan spun around instantly, burying her face in Lu Yichen’s chest. She gripped his lapels tightly with both hands, not daring to lift her head.

“Xiaonuan, what’s…”

“My fangs are showing,” Gu Xiaonuan said in a muffled voice. Lu Yichen understood immediately. He couldn’t help but hold her tighter as he called out to Xiao Wu and Taohua, “You two go on ahead.”

Xiao Wu agreed with a smile and quickly pulled Taohua into the park, though she couldn’t resist looking back at the two still embracing outside.

“This love triangle is so intense.”

“Teacher Lu is so outstanding; does he really only care about looks?” Xiao Wu looked back once more. “That foreigner just now was also very handsome. If it were me… I’d honestly want both.”

Taohua couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Lu Yichen holding Gu Xiaonuan. Her hands slowly tightened into fists.

After seeing Li, Gu Xiaonuan was in no mood to play. She was like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow, looking around at every slight movement.

Sensing her tension, Lu Yichen whispered, “Maybe we should go back.”

Gu Xiaonuan shook her head. Li had already seen her. No matter what she did, she couldn’t hide from an eight-hundred-year-old vampire. Rather than running away halfway and being intercepted in some deserted place, it was better to stay inside the theme park.

“Teacher Lu, these are the chibi avatars I drew for the characters in your new book.” With a timid voice and a shy posture, Taohua carefully handed over a tablet.

The chibi characters were very distinctive. Combined with her sophisticated and delicate art style, Lu Yichen raised an eyebrow slightly. “You’ve drawn these very well. You captured the traits of the characters I wrote very accurately.”

He tapped on a detailed image. “This small accessory on the clothes-I only mentioned it once in the text, yet you actually remembered it.”

“I’m a fan of your books.” Taohua blushed, her eyes full of admiration. “I won’t forget any detail you write.”

“Is that so? Then I’m truly grateful for your love of my books.” Lu Yichen offered a polite smile. “Thank you.”

“Oh, Teacher Lu, you have no idea. Ever since Taohua first read your award-winning book, she hasn’t stopped talking about how much she likes it. My ears are growing calluses from hearing it,” Xiao Wu said, glancing at Taohua. “She was thrilled when she found out she’d be working with you this time.”

Taohua’s cheeks grew even redder. Gu Xiaonuan listened to the girl’s accelerating heartbeat and instinctively glanced at her neck, where the artery was pulsing much faster.

“Then I’m truly honored,” Lu Yichen said. He playfully placed his hand over Gu Xiaonuan’s eyes and pulled her into his arms.

“Do you want to visit the haunted house?”

“The haunted house?” Gu Xiaonuan moved his hand away and looked where he was pointing. “You want to go?”

Lu Yichen smiled at her and took her hand as they walked over. “Since we’re already here, we should try everything. What about you two? Want to join us?”

“Sure, okay!” Xiao Wu quickly pulled Taohua along and followed them.

The haunted house was large, with each walkthrough lasting thirty to forty-five minutes. Only six people were allowed in at a time.

Although there weren’t many tourists in the park, the line for the haunted house was quite long.

The four of them stood at the back of the queue. Screams echoed from inside from time to time, and the tourists walking out looked terrified yet exhilarated, which only increased the anticipation of those waiting.

Xiao Wu and Taohua stood in front, while Gu Xiaonuan and Lu Yichen stood behind them.

Taohua was drawing something on her tablet every now and then. Xiao Wu glanced over; she was sketching Lu Yichen.

“Boss Li, would you like to try the haunted house?”

A voice made Gu Xiaonuan’s entire body tense up instantly. Her grip on Lu Yichen’s hand tightened so much that she left clear fingernail marks on the back of his hand.

Lu Yichen frowned slightly as he heard his own bones let out a faint crack.

“I’m sorry.” Gu Xiaonuan let go immediately. She was so nervous she had nearly injured him.

Li looked over. Seeing Gu Xiaonuan’s black eyes fixed intently on him, he flashed a smile.

“Sure, it looks like it might be fun.”

“Boss Li, let me take you through this passage.”

“No need, I’ll just wait in line.” Li strode into the queue and stood directly behind Gu Xiaonuan, with only two people between them.

“That’s not right. You’re here for an inspection, how can you…”

“It’s nice to experience waiting in line once in a while. That’s final,” Li said. His subordinates could only shut their mouths and stand to the side.

With a smile, he playfully arched an eyebrow at Gu Xiaonuan. He even pressed a finger to his thin lips and blew her a kiss.

Gu Xiaonuan turned away, covering her mouth with her hand.

Her fangs were starting to peek out again, and she was desperately trying to force them back in.

Lu Yichen looked back, meeting those blue eyes once more.

Li curled his lips. Under Lu Yichen’s dark gaze, and as if no one else were around, he bared his own sharp fangs.

To the Vampire Clan, this behavior was a way of taunting one’s food.

Lu Yichen turned back, his dark eyes downcast.

He really had come.