Chapter 58: Blood-Stained Crescent Moon

“I borrowed some paints and tools from Huangwei.”

Noah carried a plastic bag into the living room. “She said these paints don’t fade easily. I figured that’s what you need, right?”

Luoyao took the bag from Noah, checking the tools and paints inside. “Yup, lasting longer makes it more meaningful.”

Noah thought for a moment, then asked, “If you wanna paint your name or something, wouldn’t a tattoo be better?”

She paused, adding with a smile, “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t mind.”

“No, no, not a name tattoo.”

Luoyao waved her hands, explaining seriously, “I just think, since you left a mark on me… It’s only fair I leave something on you too. Otherwise, no one’ll know you’re mine~”

Noah froze.

Did this little dummy realize what she just said?

Did she say “you’re mine”?

Woo~~~hoo~~~~~~~

Noah’s heart soared!

If she remembered right, this was Luoyao’s first time so boldly showing possessiveness toward Noah.

Before, it was soft-girl stuff like “want to be with you” or “want to stay by your side.”

This time, her human miss was so direct!

Noah couldn’t contain her excitement.

But amid the thrill, Noah felt a tiny, tiny worry.

Luoyao wanting to paint on her, saying “you’re mine”—all signs she was starting to show traits beyond her soft side…

Oh no.

Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!

To avoid that, what to do…

“I don’t need mind-reading to know what you’re thinking.”

Luoyao mimicked Noah’s classic line again.

Noah waved awkwardly. “Hey~ What’re you doing~ Alright, alright, serious now. So what exactly do you wanna paint?”

Luoyao looked down at the bag, mostly red paints.

She pondered, then said, “A… blood moon.”

Huangwei wasn’t like Doraemon, granting every wish.

These paints were what she scrounged up, leftovers from painting Mother’s portrait.

Limited colors, mostly red—so the design had to feature red.

In popular lore, the moon symbolized vampires.

A crimson blood moon was the perfect choice.

“Blood moon, sure. Sounds edgy and cool.”

Luoyao pouted. “Not edgy!”

“Fine, fine, not edgy.”

Noah chuckled. “So where’re you painting it?”

Luoyao nibbled her pen, eyeing Noah up and down.

Hmm… this silver-haired goof’s proportions were perfect, a true nine-head body.

Anywhere would work.

Finally, Luoyao decided on Noah’s left back.

Noah agreed readily.

Luoyao mixed the paints, chose a soft-bristled brush, and sat behind Noah.

She began sketching on this flawless “canvas.”

She planned a incomplete blood moon, or rather, a crescent.

A full moon lacked beauty, too round, too abrupt.

But a crescent allowed space for imagination—for whoever saw it.

Well, the only one seeing Noah’s back would be Luoyao anyway.

Luoyao hummed a nameless tune, focused on the draft.

Drawing with company made it less boring than usual.

She chatted idly while working.

Occasionally reminiscing about the past, time slipped by in memories.

Past midnight, the ‘blood-stained crescent moon’ was done.

On that tender, fair back, a crimson crescent rose starkly.

Paired with Noah’s radiant silver hair, like the Milky Way cascading to earth—it was mesmerizing.

She rushed to the mirror, twisting to admire her little dummy’s work.

“Gorgeous, super satisfied.”

Luoyao grinned, packing her brushes and paints. “Glad you like it.”

Suddenly, Luoyao recalled those cheesy K-dramas she’d watched.

She smiled. “If I ever get amnesia and forget you… Maybe seeing the blood moon on your back would jog my memory.”

“What nonsense, spit on that.”

“They always do that in K-dramas.”

Noah slipped her T-shirt back on, pulling her silver hair through the collar.

She tidied her strands. “Korean love dramas are boring and long to us vampires. Can’t figure why humans binge them.”

“That’s because you vampires live forever. You’ve seen everything, so two humans dragging out a romance seems boring. I’m different—I’m only twenty-one. I haven’t experienced much romance. Of course I yearn for beautiful love.”

Noah paused at that.

She sat beside Luoyao, gazing into her eyes, smiling. “So do you think our love is beautiful?”

Luoyao’s finger tapped her lips, pondering.

Her answer: “Beautiful is objective, right? I’m not sure if our love is beautiful, right, or worth envying. But—”

She squinted, smiling, her eyes curving into cute crescents.

“But being with you makes me happy, fulfilled. So I think it is beautiful.”