Feed Me, Husband - Chapter 73

Chapter 73

The answer, of course, was-

“No.” Gu Xiaonuan refused immediately without a second thought. She had established her identity as a middle-aged, widowed librarian; why would she pretend to be a young man’s girlfriend?

“Not even if it’s just pretend? It’s just for a photo.” Lu Yichen blushed and took another step closer. “When Teacher Gu takes off her glasses and lets her hair down like that… you look like a completely different person from your actual age. No one will find out.”

Gu Xiaonuan frowned. Did he think of this only after seeing her face?

“You don’t even have to show your face, Teacher Gu. I just need a photo of us in the same frame.” Seeing Gu Xiaonuan’s cold expression, Lu Yichen sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m overstepping.”

He turned to leave, but Gu Xiaonuan’s voice came from behind him. “If it’s just one photo, fine.”

The sound of a hair clip opening echoed behind him.

Lu Yichen turned back and saw her removing the large-framed glasses from her face, letting her pinned-up hair cascade down.

He stared at that small face, his palms tightening slightly.

“Teacher Gu, the clothes you’re wearing… it would be best if you took them off.”

Gu Xiaonuan looked down at her work jacket and proceeded to take it off, leaving her in only a white shirt. The color of her undergarments was faintly visible through the fabric.

His youthful face was flushed red. “Let’s take it by the window. It wouldn’t be good if the books here were caught in the shot.”

Gu Xiaonuan nodded and walked to the window with him.

With his clean, handsome hands braced against the edge of the windowsill and his back to the window, Gu Xiaonuan stood by his side.

“Teacher Gu, could you stand a little closer?”

He held his phone, looking at Gu Xiaonuan in the frame. There was a clear distance between them. “You’re standing a bit far. It doesn’t look convincing.”

Gu Xiaonuan moved closer until her body was pressed against his arm.

Lu Yichen raised his phone, only to realize there was a glare; their faces weren’t clear at all.

“There’s a reflection here. Let me think…” Lu Yichen lowered his phone. “How about… I hold Teacher Gu gently? It’ll be better if Teacher Gu doesn’t show her face at all.”

Leaning against the windowsill, Lu Yichen lightly raised his arm. “Just a light embrace like this. I won’t actually touch you, Teacher Gu.”

Gu Xiaonuan gave a hum of affirmation and stood directly in front of him. His warm aura surrounded her, carrying a faint scent of sunlight.

“Sorry to trouble you, Teacher Gu.” His breath brushed past her ear, and his heartbeat quickened significantly. He extended his arm and raised it gently, circling her body while maintaining a subtle distance.

“I’m sorry, Teacher Gu… I can’t take the photo like this.”

After a long moment, he lowered his arm. “Forget it. I give up.”

Gu Xiaonuan arched an eyebrow. It was just a photo. If she hadn’t been worried about exposing her identity as a vampire, she could have taken it in a second.

The face before her was a ninety percent match for the Lu Yichen she remembered. Gu Xiaonuan reached out and gently wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling his warm body tremble slightly.

“Hurry up and take it.” She buried her face against his chest, hearing his heart suddenly hammer against his ribs.

“O-okay.”

The camera was raised once more, and his other arm came around. This time, it actually settled against her body.

He pulled her close, holding her gently in his arms.

*Click.*

The sound of the camera shutter rang out. In the image, the girl in his arms was faceless, but the sight of them snuggled together exuded an intimate atmosphere.

Once the photo was taken, Lu Yichen immediately released his arms. His face was beet red as he spoke. “Thank you, Teacher Gu.”

Gu Xiaonuan gave a brief nod and stepped out of his embrace. For a fleeting moment, she had dizzily imagined that the person holding her was the Lu Yichen from her memories.

Gu Xiaonuan pinned her hair back into a bun, put her glasses back on, donned her work jacket, and went back to organizing books.

Lu Yichen glanced at the photo on his phone, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

In the afternoon, Lu Yichen didn’t stay in the storage room. Perhaps the photo had given him the confidence to refuse; he reappeared in the reading room.

Ruan Beibei bravely rushed up to him again, and Gu Xiaonuan overheard their conversation.

“Here’s the photo you wanted. Junior, I’ll thank you once more for your feelings, but my girlfriend and I are very happy together.”

This time, Ruan Beibei didn’t say anything. She simply said she understood and turned to leave.

Gu Xiaonuan watched her walk out of the reading room with reddened eyes. Human emotions were quite fascinating-some were barren, while others were incredibly abundant.

She heard Lu Yichen sigh, sounding as if he were relieved.

When it was time to get off work, Lu Yichen left the library first. Gu Xiaonuan finished her final filing checks, changed her clothes, and walked out of the library doors.

To her surprise, Lu Yichen had been cornered outside by Ruan Beibei.

The girl was holding her phone, a strange expression on her face. “Senior, you said before that your girlfriend was long-distance, but this photo was taken in the library’s storage room.”

Gu Xiaonuan raised an eyebrow. Caught so soon?

“Someone from my dorm used to volunteer at the library. She recognized that it’s the storage room.” Ruan Beibei wrinkled her nose slightly. “Senior, do you dislike me so much that you’d just grab anyone to take a fake photo?”

Lu Yichen stood there, a hand to his forehead. “Junior, I…”

“Senior, you haven’t really spent time with me, so how do you know I’m not right for you? If you’re unwilling now, I can wait. I’ll wait until you want a girlfriend, until you turn around and see me.”

Listening to these words, Gu Xiaonuan thought-wait…
Lu Yichen’s expression darkened significantly. “I have a girlfriend. That’s the truth.”

“But this photo clearly…”

“The person in the photo is my girlfriend.” Lu Yichen frowned. “Am I the kind of person who would strike such a pose with just anyone?”

“Maybe a close friend was helping you out…”

“I wouldn’t ask someone of the opposite sex for that kind of help.” Lu Yichen looked at her. “She isn’t long-distance. I did lie to you about that part.”

“Not long-distance?!” Ruan Beibei lifted her head. “Does that mean she’s been to our school?”

“Yes, she has.” Lu Yichen rubbed his forehead. “This is my private life. I appreciate that you like me, but don’t take things too far.”

Ruan Beibei looked at Lu Yichen with tearful eyes. Just as his face hardened, ready to say something even harsher, Gu Xiaonuan walked over quickly. “Lu, haven’t you gone home yet?”

“Teacher Gu.”

Lu Yichen nodded immediately. “I’m heading back now.”

Seeing Gu Xiaonuan appear, Ruan Beibei managed a quick “Hello, Teacher,” before turning and hurrying away. Lu Yichen watched her retreating back and sighed again.

“Don’t say anything too cruel. She has plenty of suitors, and it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings.” Gu Xiaonuan watched Ruan Beibei’s pretty figure. In the past five years, she had witnessed too many inexplicable human dramas.

“I don’t want to be cruel, either. I just want her to give up.” Lu Yichen sighed once more. “There are so many outstanding people at this school; there’s no need for her to fixate on me.”

“You can’t control how other people feel about you,” Gu Xiaonuan said. “Perhaps with time, her feelings will naturally fade.”

“I hope so. I’d prefer fewer incidents like this; I really can’t handle it.” Lu Yichen walked beside Gu Xiaonuan. “Teacher Gu, let me treat you to dinner tonight as a thank you for helping me.”

“No, I want to go home and rest.”

“I didn’t mean going out to eat. I’ll cook.”

Gu Xiaonuan looked into his clear, smiling eyes. She always felt that no matter what she said, he always found a way to bypass her rejections.

That evening, Gu Xiaonuan curled up on her sofa watching a variety show on TV. Next door, the faint aroma of food drifted through the walls.

Laughter erupted from the variety show from time to time, but Gu Xiaonuan remained expressionless.

She had been trying to relearn human emotions, but she had failed every time.

She couldn’t empathize. She couldn’t feel the joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness she once knew.

She pressed her hand against her heart. Only when Lu Yichen died had she experienced the sensation of heartache.

“Teacher Gu, it’s ready. Come on over.”

Lu Yichen’s voice sounded from outside. Gu Xiaonuan stood up and pushed the door open. Since he had already seen her face, she didn’t bother pretending anymore.

He was a good cook.

Gu Xiaonuan looked at the three dishes on the table; they were in a completely different style than Lu Yichen himself.

“Teacher Gu, try some.”

He handed her a bowl and chopsticks, along with a glass of yellow juice that smelled like mango.

Gu Xiaonuan took a few bites and offered no critique other than saying it was delicious.

As they ate, Lu Yichen started a conversation about history. When Gu Xiaonuan felt she had eaten enough, she drained her juice. She had drunk three glasses; that should be plenty.

After a short while, Gu Xiaonuan began to feel that something was wrong.

Why did she feel like the alcohol was going to her head?

“I’ll… go back now.” She stood up, her body swaying slightly. “Is there alcohol in the juice?”

“Yes, but the percentage is very low. Can you not handle alcohol, Teacher Gu? Here, let me help you back.”

A warm hand reached out to support her arm. As he opened the door, a burst of laughter came from the variety show on the TV.

“Do you watch this show too, Teacher Gu? I think it’s pretty good. The recurring guests are hilarious and they have great banter. For example…”

Gu Xiaonuan gave a dazed hum. “You go back now. I’m going to rest for a bit.”

“Alright then, Teacher Gu. Get some rest.”

Lu Yichen carefully placed her on the sofa. “Do you need me to turn off the TV?”

Leaning against the sofa, Gu Xiaonuan opened her eyes and looked at him blurrily without speaking.

Lu Yichen smiled. She was drunk.

He walked to the door and closed it, but he didn’t leave.

He turned around, walked over to her, and slowly knelt down.

Those misty eyes began to slowly glow red.

Lu Yichen narrowed his eyes. These eyes were even more beautiful than before.

His warm breath drew close as his thin lips lightly pressed against the small cut on her cheek, his tongue gently licking the tiny wound.

Gu Xiaonuan murmured something and started to move, but her hands were pinned down.

He pressed both of her wrists behind her back with one hand. Her cold, petite body arched slightly, pressing against his chest.

“This time, I’m going to make you come to me of your own accord.”

Lu Yichen kissed her cheek softly. “To want me, to approach me, all on your own.”

He looked down at the little Vampire in his arms, her fangs already showing, and at the Cross Mark flashing on her neck.

“Crave me, seek me, come to me…” Lu Yichen pressed her body into the sofa. “…And fall in love with me.”