Ji Woo entered their inner chamber and saw the girl's body lying lifeless on the stone floor, Fang Leng's lips still stained with blood. For the first time in days, Ji Woo finally had cause to smile.
Fang Leng looked at her and said, "You really know how to settle discord." He rose and gently drew her to his side.
"Why are you dragging me now?" Ji Woo's voice trembled with anger. "Do you expect me to believe you were completely unconscious—that you had no idea what Hei Xiezhi was doing? You lay there so still, enjoying every moment, pretending to be asleep. Don't test me, Fang Leng. Remember—you belong to me, only me. I, Ji Woo, will never share you with another woman. Do you think it's only your vampire blood that keeps you young and handsome? Any woman who crosses my path will meet the same fate as her." She pointed sharply at the lifeless body on the floor, her eyes burning with venom.
Her fury only made Fang Leng laugh aloud, the sound low and dangerous. "Do you even understand that I am still a man? You bury yourself in your spells and forget about me," he said, his tone laced with mockery as he pulled her closer.
She stepped over the corpse, her body trembling with both rage and longing, then collapsed against him. With a sweet, poisonous smile, she whispered, "Don't you crave power? Don't you dream of killing your nephew and becoming immortal? If you are patient with me, I can give you all of that. Only I, Ji Woo, can make you eternal."
Her face lingered near his, her breath ghosting against his lips. The softness of her words and the fire in her eyes made his heart pound faster, despite himself.
With a heated voice, he murmured, "You are a beautiful devil, Ji Woo."
That only drew a dark chuckle from her lips before their mouths crashed together, kissing like two ravenous beasts. Hands tore desperately at fabric, casting aside layers between them, until nothing was left. Amid the shadows of the chamber, with a corpse lying at their feet, the two devils gave themselves over to their hunger—twined by lust, power, and madness.
---
It was almost evening when Leng Yue returned home. Mei was seated outside, as if she had been waiting all day. The moment her eyes caught sight of him, she leapt to her feet and ran toward him.
Seeing her so happy just because of his return stirred something in him. It reminded him how many days had passed since they last saw each other.
"Have you been waiting for me?" he asked softly as he pulled her into his arms.
"I haven't seen you for days," she replied, her voice shy, almost a whisper, carrying a joy she couldn't hide.
They walked together into his chamber. Once inside, Mei stopped a few steps away, her cheeks tinged pink. "I've prepared your bath," she said.
Leng Yue raised a brow. "Did you know I was coming today?"
She quickly shook her head. "No… but I was hoping. And this is how it has been every day since you left—I prepared it anyway, waiting."
Her words stunned him. In a few strides he closed the distance between them, his presence overwhelming. His face was so close to hers that she swallowed hard, her heart racing.
"Did you miss me?" he asked, his gaze holding hers, steady and searching.
Her legs felt weak under the weight of his stare. "I… I…" she stammered, but no words came. At last she managed a whisper: "Go and bathe," she said, giving him a little push toward the bathroom.
The brief contact of her hands against his chest sent a shiver down her spine. Leng Yue chuckled softly at her reaction and turned toward the bath.
"I have something very important to tell you," he said before disappearing inside.
Mei remained where she stood, her lips parted as though she wanted to call him back. Her face was flushed and her chest was rising and falling with uneven breaths. She bit her lower lip unconsciously, caught between excitement and nerves, she stood there looking at him as he entered into the bathroom.
As the bathroom door closed behind Leng Yue, Her face still burned more from his closeness, and her fingers tingled as if they still touched his chest.
Why does he always look at me that way? Why does his voice make my knees feel so weak? She pressed her hands together, trying to steady herself, but her heart only beat faster.
She lowered herself and sat on the bed. "Every day since he left, I waited like a fool, preparing his bath as if he might walk in at any moment. And now that he's here, I can't even say the words I've carried in my heart. Am I truly this cowardly"?
Her breath caught when she remembered his question: Did you miss me?
"Of course I missed you, more than I should have, more than I can admit, but if I say it, what then? What if you laughs? What if you pulls away and hate me for that?" Her own thoughts send shivers down her spine.
She touched her lips unconsciously, recalling how close his lips had been to close to hers. Her chest tightened. What is this feeling? Am I… falling too deep?
And then his words returned to her: I have something very important to tell you.
Her pulse quickened. Important? What could it be? Is it about me? About us? Or is it something I'm not ready to hear?
She bit her lip, staring at the closed door, her heart trembling with hope and fear all at once.
Inside the bathroom, Leng Yue leaned against the bath's stone edge, the warm steam rising around him. Yet the heat did nothing to calm the storm in his chest. His jaw tightened as he stared at the rippling water.
Why does she always do this to me? he thought, closing his eyes. The moment she smiled and ran to me, I almost lost control. I wanted to hold her longer.
His fists curled beneath the water. She is too pure, too unguarded. If I reach for her now, if I speak my heart before the right time, I may taint what is precious between us. I cannot allow that. I must wait until the moment I can protect her fully, until I am certain I can give her the place she deserves at my side.
He pressed his hand against his forehead, breathing hard. But when she looked at me with those eyes, shy yet full of trust, how can I stop myself? Every day apart felt like an eternity. And now, being this close to her, it is almost unbearable.
Her voice lingered in his memory, soft and hesitant: I have not seen you for days. Such simple words, yet they pierced him deeply. She was waiting. For me. She has been waiting, preparing my bath every day as if hoping I would walk through the door. Does she not realize what that does to me?
His chest tightened, torn between restraint and longing. I have told her I have something important to say. And I will. She has to know my fear. But as of the longing and the desire to have her, I will hold it in until the time is right… and when that day comes, I will not let her go.
Leng Yue exhaled slowly, his heart pounding. Soon, tonight, I will tell her the truth. Everything she needs to know about me. And patiently wait until I am certain I have a future to share with her.