Mu Yang was taking a shower, while Jia Hao sat on the sofa reading a book.
It had been three days since they had returned home, yet it already felt as if they had been living together for much longer. Their relationship had grown deeper through the intimacy of everyday life, and for the first time, he felt truly at peace.
After congratulating him for his work and praising the compliments received from Christopher, Anthony had told him to take all the time he needed to recover—both for himself and his partner.
His wounds hadn't fully healed yet: he would need to feed on blood, and for that, he had to wait until Mu Yang was fully recovered and regained his strength.
But he wasn't in a hurry. He was enjoying this slower pace of life, made up of small things: talking, reading together on the sofa with the werewolf's head resting on his lap, cooking and eating together, sleeping, making love…
He had always seen himself as an action-driven vampire, but this domestic space was a warm, protective bubble that kept out the ugliness and the worries of the world—and he was learning to appreciate it, because Mu Yang was part of it.
The intercom rang. When he saw it was his parents, his body tensed.
He opened the main door and waited silently for the elevator to arrive.
His mother and father stepped out, both upright and impeccably dressed. It was the first time they had visited him at home.
He stepped aside to let them in and led them to the living room.
"Mother, Father. It's a pleasure to see you."
"We could no longer wait for you to come to us," his father replied coldly. "There's something important we need to discuss."
Jia Hao sat in the armchair across from them, waiting.
"We've heard you have a partner," his mother said icily. When her son didn't respond, she went on. "We would have expected you to tell us yourself, not to hear about it from others."
"I didn't think you were interested in my relationships."
"We are—when they involve us."
Jia Hao looked at his mother. "I don't see how they involve you."
"Because you're in a relationship with a werewolf." Her voice had grown colder and sharper.
"What's the problem with that?"
"Are you mocking us?" his father asked, his tone controlled but clearly strained.
"You come from a noble lineage of pureblood vampires," his mother said, her voice icy and full of repressed fury. "You cannot be with a…" her expression showed pure disdain.
"A wolf?" Jia Hao stood up, meeting her gaze with cold eyes.
His father stood as well. "You must end this relationship immediately. We'll say he was infatuated with you because you saved him and that you gave in temporarily. We'll silence the rumors—"
"I'm not doing any of that. Mu Yang is my partner. He's a respectable, honorable person who risked his life for me. It's an honor to be with him. You may not accept it—but I don't care. I won't give him up for you."
"How dare you?" his mother hissed, trembling with rage.
"Then we'll be forced to remove you from this family," his father said, voice flat.
"So be it," Jia Hao replied calmly.
His father stared at him, then took his wife by the arm. "Let's go."
Jia Xiu cast one final glance at her son, filled with disappointment and contempt, then followed her husband out of the apartment.
If it hadn't been for his scent, Jia Hao wouldn't have heard Mu Yang approaching—he was that quiet.
"You heard everything?" he asked, turning around.
"I'm sorry," Mu Yang said, stepping closer.
Jia Hao shrugged. "It's fine."
"No, it's not. You gave up your family for me."
"What I'm not willing to give up... is you," he replied, looking into his eyes.
"Then let me be your new family."
Jia Hao's eyes widened. Mu Yang smiled gently and took his hands.
"I know we haven't known each other long, but I have no doubt that I want you to be my partner for the years to come."
Jia Hao's lips curved into a smile, softening his expression.
"I have no doubt either."
---
Later that night, in the hushed silence of the apartment, a soft glow from the city filtered through the wide windows. Mu Yang was sitting on the sofa, his back slightly reclined, while Jia Hao lay with his head resting on his lap.
The werewolf's arm lay gently on the vampire's chest, and with the other, he ran his fingers through his hair in a slow, comforting motion.
Jia Hao closed his eyes, letting that gentle touch soothe him. His breathing slowed, falling into rhythm with the calm of the night.
Mu Yang gazed at his peaceful face, the faint smile on his lips, and felt his heart swell with quiet joy.
"What will your family say?" Jia Hao asked, lifting his eyes to study his expression.
"They'll be happy," the werewolf replied, his fingers continuing to play with his hair.
"Really?"
Mu Yang stroked his face and traced the curve of his lips with his index finger.
"Yes, I'm sure," he answered with a soft smile.
Jia Hao turned his gaze toward the city beyond the glass. He had imagined his parents wouldn't approve of his partner, but deep down, he had hoped to be wrong—that things would turn out differently.
When he had chosen to become one of Anthony's warriors, they had already criticized him, and their relationship had grown cold and distant.
Now, they had reached a breaking point.
But Jia Hao had no regrets. With Mu Yang, he felt truly seen and loved for who he was. Mu Yang brought him calm and balance, never asking him to be someone else. In fact, he made Jia Hao feel like a better person than he had ever believed himself to be.
He closed his eyes again, focusing on the fingers in his hair and the warmth of the arm resting on his chest.
A slow smile spread across his face, bringing with it a deep sense of peace and contentment.