Noctar stood a few steps away from the shattered remains of the crystal prison.
His sharp gaze fixed on the black fox before him.
The creature was large, graceful—and terrifying at the same time.
Yet as a soldier who had spent years on the battlefield, Noctar quickly realized something.
This fox… was not stable yet.It had not reached its true size.
If a Nine-Tailed Fox truly entered its mature phase, the aura it emitted alone would be enough to suppress an entire battlefield.
The one standing before him now…
was still in its early stage.
A cold thought surfaced in Noctar's mind.
Perhaps…
If I subdue it now…
this creature could become the strongest weapon in my hands in the future.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Across the damaged cabin, the black fox stared back at him.
Her crimson eyes burned like embers in the middle of the night.
A sharp contrast to her sleek, glossy black fur.
The nine long tails behind her swayed slowly.
Thin white mist surrounded each tail.
The mist looked like fire—calm, sacred white flames.
Yet strangely…
there was no heat at all.
When one of those tails brushed against a metal seat beside her—
the metal melted instantly.
Not burned.
It dissolved like wax touching corrosive acid.
Noctar's eyes narrowed.
"Sacred flame…?" he murmured softly.
If that was true, then this creature was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
The aircraft shook slightly. The cabin lights flickered.
The chaos within the confined space was beginning to affect the aircraft's balance.
System alarms began to sound.
Several soldiers exchanged pale glances.
"Commander… the aircraft is going to crash soon!"
"The cabin structure isn't designed to withstand energy pressure like this!"
But Noctar did not even glance at them.
His attention remained fixed on the fox before him.
This creature was far too valuable to let go.
The Taigu aura within his body slowly rose.
The air inside the cabin grew heavy.
Noctar raised one hand.
His mental power spread like an invisible wave.
Transparent energy began gathering in the air.
Forming walls.
Then a curved structure.
Within seconds—
a transparent energy dome formed around the black fox.
The dome was like a massive cage pressing inward from every direction.
Noctar's mental power was famous even among the rebel commanders.
If the creature was still in its early stage—
he might still be able to suppress it.
The black fox let out a low growl.
Her nine tails flared outward.
The white flame-like mist around them spun faster and faster.
Noctar looked at her coldly.
"You will belong to me," he said calmly.
The energy dome began slowly tightening.
Layer upon layer of mental force closed in like an invisible cage pressing from all sides.
This energy was not merely a prison.
It also seeped inward like thin fog, trying to infiltrate the consciousness of the black fox.
Suppressing.
Calming.
Manipulating.
A high-level mind-control technique that had subdued countless beasts before.
But—
there was no response.
His mental force seemed to crash against an invisible wall.
It could not enter.
It could not touch.
It could not influence her at all.
Noctar's brows slowly furrowed.
His cold face darkened.
What exactly is this girl…?
Inside the dome, the black fox slowly opened her eyes.
Her crimson gaze burned brighter.
The next second—
an explosion of energy erupted from her body.
White flames burst outward like a storm.
The air inside the aircraft surged violently with heat.
Metal began glowing red.
Wall panels melted.
Emergency lights shattered one after another.
The soldiers panicked.
"Get out! Get out of the aircraft!"
"The plane is going to explode!"
Without waiting for orders, they ran toward the emergency hatch.
One by one, soldiers leapt into the night sky with their parachutes deployed.
But Noctar remained where he stood.
Calm.
He raised his hand.
An energy shield formed before him.
A thick transparent barrier condensed from Taigu energy.
The fox's white flames crashed against it like a raging storm.
The fox seemed to be rampaging now—her energy chaotic and unstable.
BOOOOM!
The shield trembled violently.
Fine cracks began to appear.
Noctar immediately poured more power into it.
Dense spiritual energy flowed from his body, reinforcing the barrier.
But the flames—
did not stop.
The sacred fire continued to burn.
The cracks widened.
Meanwhile, behind the blazing flames—
the black fox growled.
Her nine tails swept through the air.
The white mist around them spun faster and faster.
Then—
blades of light appeared.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
White spiritual swords formed in the air around her.
Pure spiritual energy.
Sharp.
Deadly.
In a single second—
all the blades shot forward.
Like a meteor shower.
BOOOOM!
Noctar's shield shattered.
Fragments of energy exploded outward.
Noctar's body was thrown several meters back, slamming into the cabin wall.
One of the white blades pierced through his abdomen.
Fresh blood seeped from the wound.
The scorching air inside the aircraft had become unstable.
The engines roared violently.
Flames spread toward the fuel chamber.
The aircraft began to lose control.
Noctar slowly stood up.
One hand pressed against the wound in his stomach.
His eyes stared at the black fox with a dark expression.
He had not expected—
that little girl possessed such terrifying power.
Even as a newly advanced Taigu cultivator—
fighting her now was a bad decision.
Noctar took a deep breath.
Then made a swift decision.
With a single motion of his hand—
his vast spiritual power erupted.
The aircraft exploded.
BOOOOOM!
A massive explosion shook the night sky.
Flames burst through the clouds.
But before the explosion destroyed everything—
Noctar had already wrapped himself inside a spherical energy shield.
His body floated out of the explosion.
From a distance, he watched.
The burning aircraft shattered into debris in the sky.
Red flames licked through the air.
But—
a few seconds later—
the color of the fire changed.
Red turned into white.
Pure white flames ignited among the wreckage.
Among the falling metal fragments—
the silhouette of a massive female fox appeared.
Graceful.
Her nine tails drifted slowly in the night sky.
White flames encircled her body like a sacred crown.
Noctar's face darkened.
His jaw tightened.
She's still alive. Good.
For now—retreating was the best choice.
But this was not over.
He had already seen the value of that girl.
His heart beat faster with excitement.
He wanted that fox girl—
more than anything in the world.
And of course, he would not let her go so easily.
Perhaps…
he would need to ask that person for help.
Noctar raised his hand.
A teleportation rune lit up beneath his feet.
In an instant—
his body vanished from the night sky.
Leaving behind a sky filled with white flames…
and a Nine-Tailed Fox floating among the burning wreckage.
-----
Lu Xiao managed to track Xue Yunxue's energy signature from afar.
His body shot through the night sky like a streak of black shadow. Bat-like wings formed from blood energy spread wide behind his back, dramatically increasing his speed as he cut through the wind.
Then suddenly—
BOOOOM!
A massive explosion blossomed in the sky several kilometers ahead.
An aircraft shattered like a firework in the heavens.
Flames and smoke curled into a massive burning sphere glowing red among the clouds.
Lu Xiao's face paled. His heart pounded violently.
Was that… the aircraft carrying Yunxue?
Without hesitation, he accelerated.
The night wind roared in his ears as he pierced through clouds filled with smoke and sparks.
"Yunxue!" he shouted.
His crimson eyes scanned the chaotic sky, searching for a familiar trace of energy.
Then—within the swirling smoke—something moved.
A massive figure slowly appeared in the air.
A black fox.
Its body was enormous and elegant, nine long tails fluttering like ribbons of shadow in the night sky. White light glowed at the tips of those tails, creating a sharp contrast against its jet-black fur.
The fox's eyes—
burned crimson.
But not calm crimson.
It was a wild, uncontrollable red.
It looked like an ancient fox spirit awakened from legend.
Lu Xiao halted midair.
His eyes narrowed.
A Nine-Tailed Fox!
"Is that… Xue Yunxue?" he murmured in disbelief.
The fox turned its head.
Its crimson eyes met Lu Xiao's.
In the next second—
flames exploded from its body.
White fire swept through the air like a storm.
Waves of heat surged downward, striking the forest below them. Trees began to burn, and mutant beasts hiding within the woods fled in panic from the spreading flames.
Lu Xiao stared at the creature, his heart in turmoil.
A black fox with white tail tips was indeed the signature of Xue Yunxue's true form.
But Xue Yunxue clearly only had one tail, not nine!
Yet this fox…
was far beyond anything he had imagined.
He raised his hand.
Thin crimson spiritual threads emerged from his fingertips—fine as silk yet strong as steel.
The threads spread through the air.
Forming a net.
With a swift motion—he cast it.
The crimson net wrapped around the raging black fox in the sky.
The threads vibrated violently.
The fox roared in fury, its tails whipping through the air with power strong enough to make the sky tremble.
But then—
something shone.
A crimson mark shaped like a rose appeared at the fox's neck, just beneath its jaw.
The symbol glowed softly.
Lu Xiao recognized it instantly.
His soul-binding mark.
The mark that connected them.
Lu Xiao's gaze softened.
"So it really is you, Xue Yunxue…" he murmured quietly.
"But what happened to you?"
He did not tighten the net further.
Instead—he closed his eyes briefly.
His mental power flowed outward like a warm wave.
Unlike the rough pressure Noctar had used earlier.
Lu Xiao's mental energy was gentle.
Calm.
Like a whisper within a storm.
His consciousness touched Xue Yunxue's mind effortlessly, as if the door had always been open to him.
Slowly—
the fox stopped rampaging.
The white flames surrounding it began to fade.
Its breathing slowed.
The red glow in its eyes gradually dimmed.
The crimson color faded—
returning to clear black.
Moments later—
the massive fox body began to shrink.
Black fur faded.
The long tails disappeared one by one.
The white glow vanished from the air.
Within seconds—
the figure returned to human form.
Xue Yunxue's small body appeared in the night sky.
But she had already lost consciousness.
Her body began falling freely from the height.
The night wind whipped through her long black hair.
"Yunxue!"
Lu Xiao shot downward like lightning.
In a single motion he caught the girl before she could hit the ground.
Yunxue's body felt light in his arms.
Warm.
Soft.
And unclothed.
Lu Xiao looked at her for a moment.
His usually cold face showed a faint tension.
Without saying anything, he removed his black cloak and carefully wrapped it around her body.
Then he held her tighter.
With one powerful burst of speed, he flew away from that place.
--------
Lu Xiao carried Xue Yunxue across the night sky until he reached his private seaside villa.
Waves rolled quietly in the distance, the deep sound of the sea blending with the cold night wind.
The girl in his arms was trembling.
Her breathing was thin and unstable, as if all her energy had just been completely drained.
Lu Xiao tightened his hold.
He pressed Yunxue closer to his chest, trying to warm her with the steady temperature of his vampire body.
Moments later he landed on the villa balcony.
The glass door opened with a gentle push.
He carried Yunxue straight to the master bedroom.
The room was spacious, illuminated by soft dim lights. White curtains swayed gently in the sea breeze.
Lu Xiao carefully set Yunxue down in the large bathroom.
With slow movements, he cleaned her body.
Dust from the explosion.
Dried blood.
Ash and dirt clinging to her skin.
Warm water flowed gently, washing away every trace of the battle.
Her long black hair was cleaned carefully, Lu Xiao's fingers moving slowly so he wouldn't hurt her.
After finishing, he wrapped Yunxue in soft cloth and carried her to the large bed in the center of the room.
He laid her gently on the soft mattress.
A thick blanket covered her body.
Xue Yunxue remained fast asleep.
Her usually bright face looked pale from exhaustion. Her eyelashes trembled faintly, as if she were still trapped in a deep dream.
Lu Xiao stood beside the bed.
His gaze did not move away.
He looked at the girl's face from very close.
So close he could feel Yunxue's warm breath brushing his skin.
Lu Xiao's Adam's apple moved slowly.
The blanket covering Yunxue shifted slightly as she breathed, revealing the soft curve of her shoulder and neck.
Her pale skin glowed faintly under the bedroom light.
The sight darkened Lu Xiao's crimson eyes.
The desire he had suppressed for so long stirred again.
For two years he had endured the Gu poison.
Suppressing his strength.
Suppressing his vampire instincts.
Now the poison was gone.
His body was in its best condition.
And the girl bound to his soul…
was lying so close before him.
Lu Xiao closed his eyes for a moment.
He took a deep breath.
Then slowly raised his hand and pulled the blanket back over Yunxue's shoulders, covering her properly.
He did not touch her further.
Instead, he simply sat beside the bed.
Guarding the girl.
Like a silent night watchman.
After that, he sent a message to Luo Shixin and the others, informing them that Xue Yunxue was safe with him and that they did not need to worry.
------
Xue Yunxue slowly opened her eyes as the midday sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of the room.
The ceiling above her looked unfamiliar.
Pure white, with delicate carvings in the corners. A gentle sea breeze slipped through the half-open window, carrying the faint scent of salt.
She blinked several times.
Her head felt slightly heavy.
A few seconds passed before her awareness gradually returned.
Where am I…?
The last memory that surfaced in her mind was Noctar's cold face, the crystal prison, and the aircraft that had been carrying her toward the rebel fortress.
Her brows furrowed slightly.
But before she could think further—
a very familiar scent brushed against her senses.
The scent of night, cold blood, and something strangely comforting.
Xue Yunxue slowly turned her head.
Beside her—
Lu Xiao was sleeping.
The vampire lay very close to her.
His long eyelashes hid his crimson eyes, making his face look far more peaceful than usual. His smooth black hair spread across the pillow, a few strands falling over his cheek.
Under the gentle sunlight, the faint red lines near his eyes looked even more mysterious, like ancient markings brought to life.
His slender yet muscular arm rested loosely around Xue Yunxue's waist.
As if making sure she could not go anywhere.
Xue Yunxue stared at him for several seconds.
Her heartbeat quickened slightly.
Then—
her attention fell on something else.
The blanket covering her body felt… far too light.
She looked down.
And froze.
She was not wearing any clothes at all.
Her body was covered only by a thick blanket carefully wrapped around her.
Xue Yunxue's face instantly flushed red.
What… happened?
Her mind began working quickly, trying to piece together fragments of her scattered memories.
She remembered being captured by Noctar.
She remembered being inside the aircraft.
And then—
nothing.
Her gaze fell again on Lu Xiao, who was still asleep beside her.
His expression looked incredibly calm.
As if nothing in the world could disturb his rest at this moment.
Xue Yunxue's thoughts began running wildly.
Could it be…
Did we… already do something?
Her cheeks burned.
But confusion quickly replaced the embarrassment.
No…
Wasn't I captured by Noctar? Then how did I end up here?
Her eyes returned to Lu Xiao's face.
A possibility slowly formed in her mind.
Did… he save me?
Lu Xiao felt the person in his arms move slightly.
His eyelids opened a little.
"You're awake?" His voice was low, still hoarse with lingering sleep, yet gentle.
Xue Yunxue tried to sit up.
But before she could straighten herself, Lu Xiao's strong arm held her and pulled her back into his warm embrace.
"Lie down a little longer," he murmured softly near her ear.
"I want to hold you a little longer."
His voice sounded calm, yet there was something fragile hidden within it—something rarely seen in the elegant and controlled vampire.
Xue Yunxue stopped moving.
She allowed herself to remain in Lu Xiao's arms.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The sea breeze moved the curtains gently, and warm daylight filled the room.
"Do you know what actually happened to me?" Yunxue finally asked.
Her voice was still slightly hoarse.
"I can't remember anything at all. The last thing I recall was when Noctar captured me and took me onto the aircraft. After that… I think I fainted."
Lu Xiao's embrace suddenly tightened.
His crimson eyes narrowed sharply.
Noctar…
The name was familiar to him.
One of the commanders of the rebel army.
His gaze darkened.
But what troubled him more were Yunxue's earlier words.
She didn't remember…
The girl didn't even realize that she had transformed into a nine-tailed fox.
What exactly had happened inside her body?
"Why do you always throw yourself into danger like that?" Lu Xiao's voice suddenly deepened.
There was tension within it.
"You always make me almost go crazy worrying about you."
His expression turned slightly grim.
Xue Yunxue lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"
But she never finished the sentence.
Lu Xiao suddenly pulled her closer and kissed her.
The kiss was gentle.
Yet deep.
As if all the worry, anger, and longing he had been suppressing for so long spilled out at once.
"Xiao…" Yunxue whispered softly.
She raised her hand, trying to push lightly against Lu Xiao's chest.
That small movement caused Lu Xiao's crimson eyes to flash.
The emotions he had been suppressing finally broke free.
"Why do you always reject me?" His voice was louder than usual.
"But you willingly spent the night with that damned eagle!"
His chest rose and fell as he struggled with his emotions.
"Do you think I'm not worthy enough for you?"
Xue Yunxue froze.
This was the first time she had heard Lu Xiao speak in such a tone.
Normally he was always calm, cold, and controlled.
But now—
he looked… jealous.
Truly jealous.
A few seconds later, Lu Xiao himself seemed to realize it.
The flash of anger in his eyes faded.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
He released her and moved as if to get off the bed.
But—
a small hand grabbed his wrist.
Lu Xiao turned back.
Xue Yunxue looked at him seriously.
"I never rejected you," she said softly.
"I was just worried about your condition. You had just survived the Gu poison."
Lu Xiao's red eyes widened slightly.
A glimmer of hope appeared in them.
"Really?" he murmured.
All this time he had believed Yunxue was closer to Luo Shixin.
That he was only her last choice.
But her words made his heart tremble.
Xue Yunxue took a slow breath.
Her face flushed slightly.
However, she still held Lu Xiao's gaze.
"If you truly want me…" she said softly,
"I won't refuse you."
Her hand still held Lu Xiao's wrist gently.
Their eyes met beneath the warm daylight.
A few silent seconds felt far longer than usual.
Hearing Yunxue's words, something inside Lu Xiao finally collapsed. For so long he had restrained himself—holding back his desire, suppressing his jealousy, burying his fear of losing the girl in front of him.
Now he could no longer hold any of it back.
He pulled Xue Yunxue into his arms.
His movement was swift, yet careful, as if afraid she might disappear if he held her too tightly.
His hand slowly lifted her chin.
Then he kissed her.
The kiss was deep.
Filled with a longing that had been suppressed for far too long.
Their lips met, the heat between them growing with every passing moment. Their breathing gradually became uneven, their chests rising and falling as the kiss continued.
Xue Yunxue barely had time to breathe when Lu Xiao finally pulled back slightly.
But before she could say anything, Lu Xiao's lips captured hers again—this time deeper.
More demanding.
As he drew Yunxue closer to him, the blanket covering her body slipped unintentionally from her shoulder.
Her pale skin was exposed beneath the sunlight.
The sight made Lu Xiao's breath pause for a moment.
His Adam's apple moved slowly.
The desire he had suppressed for so long finally surged forth.
Without hesitation, he tore open his own shirt.
The fabric fell to the floor.
The vampire's body was revealed—lean yet powerful, broad shoulders with defined muscle lines. His firm chest tapered down into a perfectly sculpted abdomen, forming a sharp V-line toward his waist.
His crimson eyes looked at Yunxue with a darker glimmer.
He slowly laid the girl down on the soft bed.
Unhurried.
As though he wanted to savor every second he had with her.
Lu Xiao lowered his head.
His kisses moved from Yunxue's lips to her cheek, then to the corner of her jaw.
Each touch felt warmer than the last.
When his lips reached Yunxue's neck—
the soul-bond mark there suddenly glowed.
The red rose blooming on her pale skin shone softly.
The crimson light pulsed gently, as if responding to their closeness.
Yunxue's breathing quickened.
Her hand unconsciously grasped Lu Xiao's shoulder.
She no longer tried to stop him.
Instead—she allowed him to take control.
Lu Xiao moved with a gentle dominance. At first his touches were careful, almost as if he feared hurting her.
But as time passed—
his movements changed.
Deeper.
Hotter.
The desire he had suppressed for so long had finally found its path.
And in the room filled with daylight—
their closeness slowly turned into something far more intimate.
Their intimacy lasted a long time.
The sunlight that once filled the room gradually softened into the glow of evening, then slowly gave way to the calm darkness of night.
Outside the window, the ocean waves rolled gently beneath the moonlight.
The phase of the Blood Moon had already passed.
Yet the moon in the sky still carried traces of its crimson energy—an energy that felt incredibly powerful to a vampire like Lu Xiao.
That energy flowed through his blood.
Awakening instinct.
Intensifying desire.
And sharpening his senses far beyond normal.
Lu Xiao held Xue Yunxue tightly, his breathing still slightly heavy after everything that had happened. His black hair was disheveled across his face, while his crimson eyes looked deeper than usual.
Yunxue's body rested in his arms, exhausted but warm.
Her skin held a faint blush beneath the moonlight streaming through the window. Several faint red marks remained on her body—the remnants of their passionate struggle.
Lu Xiao gazed at her for a long moment.
His large hand slowly stroked Yunxue's back, almost like a soothing gesture.
"Xue'er…" his voice was low and slightly hoarse.
He gently kissed the girl's hair.
Yet even after so much time had passed, the lingering energy of the Blood Moon still pulsed within his body.
As a vampire, that instinct was difficult to completely suppress.
He closed his eyes briefly, trying to control himself.
But when Yunxue shifted slightly in his arms, her warm breath brushing his skin, her lips almost touching his chest, the vampire's body tensed once more.
Xue Yunxue slowly opened her eyes.
She saw Lu Xiao still looking at her.
"Xiao…" she whispered softly.
Her dark eyes were still slightly hazy with exhaustion.
Lu Xiao let out a slow breath.
There was something almost wild in his eyes now.
Yet when his hand touched Yunxue's face, the gesture remained gentle.
"I'm sorry. I tried to restrain myself," he said quietly.
"But the energy of the Blood Moon… makes it much harder."
His voice was low, almost like a confession.
Xue Yunxue looked at him for a moment.
Then, without saying anything, she lifted her hand and touched Lu Xiao's cheek.
That small gesture was like a spark falling onto embers that were still burning.
Lu Xiao's red eyes darkened.
He pulled Yunxue back into his arms and kissed her again—this time deeper, slower, as if savoring every second of their closeness.
Outside the window, the moon hung high in the night sky.
"Xue'er… I like you. Very much," Lu Xiao murmured.
And inside that quiet room, time seemed to flow much more slowly.
The two of them soon lost themselves in each other once more.
-----
When everything finally settled down, the sky outside the window had already begun to change color.
The night slowly faded into dawn. Pale morning light started to touch the distant line of the sea.
Xue Yunxue lay on the bed, exhausted. Her body felt heavy, yet warm. She had just begun to close her eyes again when—
grrr…
Her stomach growled rather loudly in the quiet room.
Xue Yunxue froze.
A few seconds later, a low chuckle sounded beside her.
Lu Xiao looked at her, his crimson eyes still softened by the lingering warmth of the night.
"It seems someone is very hungry," he said with an amused tone.
Yunxue's face immediately turned red. She quickly got up from the bed.
"I'll just take some food from my storage space—"
But before she could take another step, Lu Xiao's hand caught her wrist.
"I'll cook for you."
His voice was warm.
Without waiting for an answer, he walked toward the kitchen.
A moment later, Xue Yunxue witnessed a rather surprising sight.
Lu Xiao stood in the villa's kitchen wearing only black shorts. His upper body was bare, revealing lean yet powerful muscles. His back was broad, his shoulders firm, and the V-line of his body was clearly visible as he moved in front of the stove.
His hands worked skillfully. The knife sliced ingredients with neat precision.
Seasonings and spices were sprinkled with confidence. Soon, the fragrant aroma of seafood filled the kitchen.
Xue Yunxue stood near the kitchen doorway, quietly watching him.
She herself was only wearing Lu Xiao's white shirt, the hem nearly reaching her thighs. The sleeves were far too large for her, making her appearance look slightly messy.
She had originally wanted to take clothes from her storage space.
But the vampire had insisted she continue wearing his shirt.
So now Xue Yunxue could only sit on a kitchen chair, watching Lu Xiao cook.
The vampire's face was slightly flushed from the heat of the pan.
For some reason, the sight felt… calming.
And the man looked dangerously attractive.
A while later, the food was ready.
They carried the plates to the balcony overlooking the sea.
The morning breeze blew gently.
The beach stretched wide before them, the blue ocean shimmering under the light of the rising sun.
Xue Yunxue took a bite of the shrimp on her plate.
Her eyes immediately widened.
"This is delicious."
The flavor suited her taste perfectly.
She quickly took a second bite.
"Did you learn how to cook?" she asked while looking at Lu Xiao.
The vampire's crimson eyes dimmed slightly.
As if an old memory had resurfaced.
"Yes," he answered quietly.
"I learned from a famous chef."
"Really?" Yunxue looked surprised. "Why would a noble vampire like you want to learn how to cook?"
Lu Xiao fell silent for a moment.
The sea breeze moved his black hair.
"Once, I knew a girl," he said slowly. "She loved eating shrimp and squid."
Lu Xiao's gaze fell to the plate in front of him.
"At that time, I was a terrible cook."
"So I went to a famous seafood restaurant. I asked the chef to teach me how to cook."
Xue Yunxue raised an eyebrow.
"And he just agreed to teach you like that?"
Lu Xiao gave a faint smile.
"No."
"I had to wash dishes there for two months in exchange."
"Unfortunately, I never got the chance to cook even a single meal for her."
"We separated… and she disappeared."
Lu Xiao's voice became quieter.
Xue Yunxue suddenly put down her chopsticks.
Her appetite vanished instantly.
An odd feeling rose in her chest.
Did this vampire have another girl he liked?
Just moments ago, he had said he wanted her and liked her.
And now he was talking about a woman from his past.
Xue Yunxue turned toward the sea with an annoyed expression.
Lu Xiao watched her.
"Why aren't you finishing your food?" he asked.
"I'm full," Yunxue replied shortly.
Her tone was noticeably colder.
Lu Xiao's eyes widened slightly.
He tilted his head, looking at the girl with curiosity.
"What's wrong with you?"
He leaned a little closer.
"Why is little Xue'er angry?"
"Tch. I'm not."
Xue Yunxue crossed her arms.
She was too proud to admit that she was… jealous.
But Lu Xiao seemed to realize it.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Are you angry because I mentioned another girl?"
Yunxue's face grew even redder.
Before she could answer, Lu Xiao pulled his chair closer and lifted Yunxue onto his lap.
"Hey—!"
Xue Yunxue was startled.
Lu Xiao touched her slightly puffed cheek.
"Why would I be angry?" Yunxue muttered. "I don't even know that girl."
Lu Xiao chuckled softly.
His laughter was low and warm.
"How could you not know her?"
He looked deeply into Yunxue's eyes.
"You are that girl."
Xue Yunxue froze.
"What do you mean?"
"We only met not long ago."
And she was certain she had never seen Lu Xiao's face in the past.
Lu Xiao's gaze became much gentler.
"Do you still not recognize me?"
He leaned his face closer.
"I am Jun Hao."
The name fell like a stone into Yunxue's memories.
Xue Yunxue's eyes widened.
"Jun Hao…?"