Nighttime, Victoria Housekeeping.
Corin was clattering around in the kitchen, while Ellen stood nearby, scrolling through her phone. Phaga had finally found a free moment. Hugging his laptop, he sat in the dining room, eyes quickly scanning the chatter online.
As time passed, his frown only deepened. The current tide of public opinion left him puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
Ellen leaned over, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"Nothing... just a bit confused."
Phaga shook his head lightly—then unconsciously stopped.
Because they were so close, he could clearly see the natural lines of Ellen's face. Her eyes were like clear springs in an ancient well, her lashes half-veiling them, only making the tenderness in his chest stir higher.
Peck~
Without thinking, Phaga leaned in and stole a quick kiss.
When he came back to his senses, he saw Ellen's expression freeze in shock for a moment, then flush a deep red. A quiet warmth rose from her heart and spread across her cheeks.
"What are you doing!"
Ellen raised her small fist and thumped his shoulder, lightly biting her lower lip as she sprang back as if shocked by electricity. She stared at him from across a single chair's distance—neither too near nor too far—her face so red it looked like it might drip blood.
No way. Backing off just made her angrier!
Besides, Rain and Ruby were already gone, and Lycaon and Rina still hadn't returned yet. As for Corin, she was cooking.
In this spacious Victoria Housekeeping, there was no one left who could stop her and Phaga from getting all lovey-dovey.
So in the next instant, Ellen lunged at him, moving so fast she kicked her slippers off in disgust. Her crystal-clear toes tapped the floor several times, then she sprang up. Under Phaga's stunned gaze, Ellen flashed past the edge of his vision like lightning—
Then crashed straight into the center of it, domineering and unstoppable, crimson hair falling like a rain of red.
"You..."
Phaga didn't even finish the word before Ellen cut him off hard. All the worries from before had piled up like dry kindling, needing only a single spark to ignite and sound the charge.
Without a doubt, that impulsive kiss of Phaga's was basically waving a flamethrower around beside a field of tinder.
Her arms, pale as carved lotus root, flared like they were on fire. Heart blazing, Ellen wrapped herself around the only person here who could share that heat with her.
Pinning him tight against her chest, she lowered her head and gently kissed the whorl at the crown of his hair. Her cheek brushed down through his soft locks, and her sharp little teeth grazed his collarbone.
If it were just some weak little predator, it would use bright colors and sweet fragrance to lure its chosen prey in, then, while they were dazed, devour them in a flash.
But a vicious shark didn't need any of that.
Its prey was nothing more than a vampire, someone who just happened to look very similar to a human.
A big shark only needed to bite down on his collarbone and lock his body rigid, then tear off the first button of his shirt with its teeth.
If the shark was in a good mood, it might lean closer and use its tongue to flick the button into the prey's mouth, then parade around proudly. In that moment, the enemy would definitely be filled with fear, forced to let the shark do whatever it wanted.
But if the shark was impatient, it could just use its powerful fins to tear the vampire's shirt to shreds, then wrap him in its arms, rip open its jaws, bare its fangs, and start eating the vampire bit by bit from the head down.
Or, if the shark wanted to savor it, it could let the vampire bite it first.
Just like how bananas seem to be born with a handle, as if meant to tempt people into eating them—vampires were born specifically to serve big sharks.
Otherwise, why would the shark always feel joy, that heavy, overflowing happiness slamming into its heart, every time the vampire bit down?
Of course, all of that was what an inexperienced shark would do.
So why not try everything?
No one was stopping the shark anyway.
And so, the vampire's shirt was torn to pieces.
The ferocious big shark clutched him tight and sank its teeth into his collarbone. At the same time, as if on purpose, the big shark bared its own collarbone.
Fine wine and delicacies. Nectar and jade dew.
The vampire could no longer restrain the impulse surging in his chest. Before he even had time to swallow his saliva, his pounding heartbeat shoved him forward. He buried his face in her hair, and his teeth sank into her skin.
He could feel the big shark jolt for an instant, her whole body going stiff.
But she quickly recovered—and bit down even more savagely.
She bore down on him with everything she had. The chair beneath them creaked in agony, but she didn't hear it. The volcano erupting in her chest being crushed by the vampire's weight—she didn't notice that either.
All she felt was a blazing heat rushing through her mind, driving her to hold the vampire's head tight, her tail metaphorically raised high.
Snap~
Snap~
Thud!
The groaning chair finally reached its limit and collapsed into a mess of splinters.
But that was fine. Once they were on the floor, there was even more room to move.
Ellen gave a dazzling, sultry smile, then slowly lowered herself.
Their blood mingled at the corner of their lips...
No one was going to stop them.
Because Corin was cooking.
(Cosmic-level disclaimer: I only described the normal methods by which a shark in nature preys on a vampire. There is absolutely no insinuation or disparagement intended.)
...
"Um... Miss Black-and-White Doll, isn't it kind of wrong for us to just secretly watch like this?"
A cute, green-haired little head peeked out from the kitchen doorway. Though she said it wasn't right, her eyes never left the scene.
Compared to little Corin, however, the one perched on top of her head was even more shameless. Corin was just peeking, but it had already grabbed her phone and started recording.
[If you don't feel good about it, you can stop watching, Corin. You could go stir-fry the dishes instead. I'm not about to vouch for those two water snakes' cooking.]
The Black-and-White Doll wore a doting auntie-like smile, only regaining a bit of seriousness when Corin cut in. But it didn't last long. After scolding Corin twice, it slipped right back into that smitten look from before.
At its words, little Corin instinctively glanced back.
Over there, two water snakes were "cooking"—one biting down on a spatula, the other coiled around a cleaver. The whole kitchen was dripping wet, a complete disaster zone.
This...
Corin hesitated for half a heartbeat, looking from the kitchen to the shark and vampire biting each other in the dining room. Then she straightened up, pumping her tiny fist to cheer herself on.
It's okay, Corin!
Worst case, Mr. Phaga and Miss Ellen will just scold me later if dinner turns out bad.
But if I miss a chance to learn how to become an adult, that would really be a shame!
Her cheeks flushing a little, Corin tightened her grip on the doorframe and continued peeking out.
She wasn't worried about being discovered—the kitchen was full of clanging and banging. As far as the shark and vampire were concerned, Corin was busy cooking.
[Oh, right. Little Corin, where did the grown-ups go?]
After recording Phaga and Ellen for a good while, the Black-and-White Doll suddenly realized Victoria Housekeeping seemed to be missing two people.
"Them?"
Corin tapped her lips and thought carefully. "They probably went to look for Mrs. Meilin."