Chapter 73: Wife That Stays By You Through Hardships

Luoyao slowly opened her eyes.

Her gaze no longer met broken well walls or piles of bones.

The air she breathed was no longer stale and sour.

Beneath her was a soft bed, the pristine white ceiling spotless.

It was unmistakably the style of a certain perfectionist vampire.

Her newly awakened mind couldn’t yet recall everything that had happened.

But Luoyao knew exactly where she was…

Her and Noah’s home.

She tried to sit up but lacked the strength.

This was an unprecedented weakness.

Even when Noah fed most deeply, it never left her this drained.

The three days in the Well of Atonement had taken a severe toll on her body.

A delicate, frail girl from the start, she’d never endured such hardship.

Surviving three days in that wretched well, fueled by her love for Noah, was nothing short of a miracle.

Even Yelan probably didn’t expect them to make it, Luoyao thought.

This time, what excuse could that old woman use to tear them apart?

After a brief rest, Luoyao opened her mouth, her dry throat producing a hoarse sound.

“Noah… Noah, are you home?”

At the first syllable, rapid footsteps echoed from outside the bedroom.

Noah rushed in, three steps merging into two, so fast she was a silver blur in Luoyao’s eyes.

Seeing that radiant face etched with worry, Luoyao gave a tired smile.

She reached out from under the covers, her fingertips grazing Noah’s cheek. “You were crying, weren’t you? Your eyes are all red.”

Noah clasped Luoyao’s hand in hers, voice thick with emotion but stubborn. “I wasn’t crying. Vampire eyes are naturally red.”

“Oh, I thought you’d be crying tears of joy.”

Noah gently caressed Luoyao’s arm, muttering, “What’s there to be joyful about? Seeing you like this breaks my heart.”

Luoyao’s smile turned bittersweet. Then she asked, “How long was I out?”

“Two days,” Noah said. “I thought you’d never wake up.”

“Hey, I’m not that fragile. Just exhausted, that’s all.”

Luoyao softly comforted her silver-haired vampire, then tried to lighten the mood with a joke. “My mouth’s a bit dry.”

“Oh, I’ll get you water.”

“Don’t want water.”

“Huh?”

Luoyao shook Noah’s wrist, playfully kicking the covers. “Ugh, how are you so dense? Don’t you get it? I want a kiss, a kiss~”

“Oh, oh, okay! Where?”

Luoyao sighed.

How did her vampire’s brain get so slow?

Three days in the well didn’t make her this dumb, did it?

Propping herself up with effort, Luoyao leaned against the headboard.

Noah moved to help, but Luoyao seized her wrist, pulling her close.

The unexpectedly bold human girl cupped Noah’s face. “Right here, obviously.”

She pressed a gentle kiss to Noah’s cool lips.

Instead of letting go, she held Noah against her chest, one hand stroking her cheek, the other running through her hair, speaking softly.

“We made it, Noah. It’s over. Don’t dwell on those three days. We look forward, right?”

The silver hair against her chest shifted—a nod.

“No more being lost in a daze.”

Nod.

“No more crying.”

Nod.

“When I say kiss me, you kiss me. Doesn’t matter where, just kiss.”

Nod.

Nod.

“Kiss me.”

Smooch.

After another sweet kiss, Luoyao finally released Noah, satisfied.

Then she said, “Once I rest for a day, I’ll let you feed fully tonight.”

Noah’s eyes softened. “I can go hungry for days without issue. You—”

Those words felt comforting.

But Luoyao pouted. “Hey, where’s that vampire swagger gone?”

“Huh?” Noah tilted her head.

“Isn’t tormenting blood slaves as easy as drinking water for you? No guilt at all? Why do you act like… like my…”

She coughed. “…My sweet little treasure, too scared to upset me in case I ignore you?”

‘Wife from the chaff.’

Her little fool sure knew how to pick words.

But the description was oddly fitting.

Noah’s current state with Luoyao was like holding her in her mouth, afraid she’d melt; cradling her in her hands, afraid she’d fall.

Even suppressing her vampire instinct to crave blood, Noah put Luoyao’s condition first.

This had always been true, but Luoyao felt it growing stronger.

If this kept up, would Noah go from aloof, commanding beauty to a lovesick fool muttering, “Hehe, my Luoyao, slurp slurp”?

Luoyao imagined it—

Shudder!

Too terrifying!

No way.

Absolutely not!

Noah didn’t want her to go from weak to dominant.

Luoyao wouldn’t let Noah go from cunning beauty to brain-dead romantic!

“Well… I’ve never been in love before, so of course I’d prioritize you in everything,” Noah said.

“No way. Some things are up to you,” Luoyao said seriously. “Tonight, you have to drink my blood.”

“Why’re you looking at me like that?” Luoyao asked.

Noah smoothed her hair, sitting on the bed’s edge, meeting Luoyao’s eyes. “I remember clearly what you said a few months ago when I first brought you here.”

Luoyao swallowed, her fingers instinctively gripping the blanket’s edge.

Not out of fear, but because whenever Noah mentioned those early days, she’d gleefully recount every bold claim Luoyao made.

Each time, Luoyao would blush with embarrassment.

Who knew which line her silver-haired vampire recalled now!

“W-What did I say?”

Noah grinned. “You said, ‘Begging a vampire to drink your blood? That’s impossible!’”

She reached out, pinching Luoyao’s nose. “Look at you now. Not so impossible, huh?”

Luoyao shook her head, swatting Noah’s hand away, then pulled the covers over her head.

From beneath came a muffled voice. “I forgot! I don’t know! I don’t remember anything! And I’m not begging you to drink my blood!”

“Oh? So what was that just now?”

“I was… I was ordering you to drink my blood!”

Noah raised a brow. “Oh, getting bold, huh? Ordering your master now?”

Luoyao paused, peeking out from the covers with a smile. “That’s the tone and attitude of my Noah. So cocky it’s practically sky-high. Ow—why’d you flick my forehead again?”

Noah made a face, standing. “I’m gonna make you some food to help you recover. Since my little blood s*ave’s ordering me to drink, guess I’ll just have to obey.”

Luoyao: “You better drink a lot.”

Noah: “You better not regret it.”