Chapter 74: To Accept And Refuse

“I regret it. Babe, you really drank when I told you to! I’m numb. I feel like I can’t stay awake now. You’re still laughing over there! Stop it! Stop laughing!”

The drained little fool tried to kick the silver-haired vampire’s backside.

But she was even weaker than when she woke up, barely able to lift her leg.

She gave up entirely.

Noah buried her face in the pillow, stifling giggles.

Recalling how Luoyao, desperate to avoid being undone by her own morning bravado, stubbornly let Noah feed despite nearly fainting—it was both heart-wrenching and hilarious.

Really, she used to be soft as a marshmallow.

How’d she get so stubborn, like a little donkey?

Luoyao lay on the bed, hands covering her face.

“Ugh, stop laughing, stop! I admit I got cocky, okay?”

Noah pulled the pillow away, taking a deep breath of fresh air, trying to manage her expression.

But within a second, she cracked, unable to stop laughing.

Luoyao gave up.

She grabbed the Miffy rabbit plush, plastering it over her face.

Out of sight, out of mind; out of earshot, at peace.

Moments later, Noah tugged her wrist. “Alright, alright, don’t sulk. I’m done laughing.”

Luoyao turned over, ignoring her in a huff.

Noah pouted, poking Luoyao’s waist.

As expected, that spot was her switch— one poke, and she overreacted.

“Hey, you’re the worst! Don’t touch me!”

“Gonna touch, gonna touch.”

“You jerk! Don’t come closer— don’t kiss me! Ugh, you’re the worst~”

Luoyao’s push-and-pull game was masterful.

The exhaustion in her body melted away in this playful intimacy.

But before she could fully lean into it, a voice came from the bedroom door.

“Ahem, nice kissing skills. When’d you practice those?”

At the sound, Luoyao and Noah sat up like they’d been shocked.

Luoyao, barely clothed, instinctively pulled the blanket to her chest, leaving only her round shoulders and delicate collarbone exposed.

Noah, in a loose nightgown, looked up at the intruder.

“Huangwei, don’t you know to knock?”

Huangwei raised a brow, stepping back to glance at the doorway, then back.

“Your house… doesn’t have a door anymore.”

Noah froze, remembering two days ago when she brought an unconscious Luoyao home.

The door was shattered to bits.

She’d asked Anna what happened.

Anna said it was broken the night of the Broken Moon Platform, when she let Luoyao out to stop Noah from fighting Yelan.

Noah hadn’t fully believed it.

Anna, a vampire who rarely used force, with below-average physical strength among their kind—how could she smash that sturdy door?

Was her serum that potent?

But Anna insisted she did it, even patting her chest to swear.

Noah didn’t press further, letting it go.

The new door hadn’t been replaced yet, so their home had been “open-door” for days.

No need to worry about theft in the castle anyway.

“Fine, what’re you doing here?” Noah asked.

“Mother wants to see you.”

“Again? Didn’t we already survive the Well of Atonement?”

Huangwei shrugged. “You did, but there’s got to be a debrief, right? Don’t worry, it’s probably just a chat this time. No trouble.”

Noah got out of bed, grumbling, “Ugh, such a hassle.”

“Wait, Noah.”

Luoyao’s voice stopped her.

Noah turned, smiling, patting Luoyao’s hand gently. “It’s fine. I’ll go alone. You rest.”

“No way. Who knows if you’re off to fight Yelan again? I’m coming with you.”

Once bitten, twice shy.

Last time, Noah said she was just “going for a walk” and ended up battling Yelan on the Broken Moon Platform.

Even with Huangwei there, Luoyao wasn’t taking chances.

She had to go.

Seeing Luoyao’s determined eyes, Noah gave a helpless smile, nodding. “Alright, we’ll go together.”

“Okay, I’ll change.”

Luoyao started to lift the blanket but froze halfway, shrinking back.

She glanced at Huangwei by the door, shouting, “Huangwei! Teacher, can you step out? I’m changing!”

Huangwei crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe with a teasing smirk. “We’re all women. What’s there to be shy about?”

“Noah, she’s so annoying!” Luoyao whined, seeking help.

Before Noah could speak, Huangwei raised her hands in surrender. “Fine, fine, I’m going. Don’t want your wife to come after me.”

“Who—whose wife?! Don’t talk nonsense, Teacher!” Luoyao clutched the blanket, face flushed.

Huangwei spread her hands, turning to the living room.

Noah closed the bedroom door.

“Teacher, my foot. Her head’s full of dirty thoughts,” Luoyao muttered, pointing at the scattered clothes on the floor. “Noah, toss me my clothes.”

Noah stood by the door, unmoving.

“Noah? Hello?”

“Call me wife.”

“Crazy!”

About ten minutes later, both were dressed and headed to the clock tower.

Vampires in the castle stepped aside respectfully as Noah passed, like a city official on an inspection.

Noah’s strength was well-known, but this level of deference was new.

Vampires typically bowed to ancient bloodlines and seniority.

For peers, even the strongest were merely feared, not revered.

Today’s respect toward Noah felt… eerie.

“Noah, you’re famous now,” Luoyao teased from behind.

“Thanks. Your wife’s famous even without fighting.”

“Stop saying ‘wife’!”

‘Huangwei, that big mouth of yours is a crime!’

Amid their banter, they reached the clock tower’s entrance.

Noah pressed a finger to her lips, signaling Luoyao to hush.

Luoyao nodded, following quietly behind.

They entered the clock tower one after the other.

Yelan sat behind a long table, clearly waiting for some time.

“Well, the little one’s here too,” Yelan said with a smile.

Yelan’s commanding presence and aura, even seated, made Luoyao feel breathless.

Days ago, to protect Noah, she’d faced Yelan and even shouted at her.

But now, meeting that coldly stunning face again, Luoyao couldn’t muster a single word.

She instinctively ducked behind Noah.

Noah understood, quietly taking her hand, whispering, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

“Mm…”

Yelan studied Luoyao, rabbit-like and timid, with interest.

‘So this soft, meek side is her true self? Interesting little girl.’

“Come, sit. Let’s have a proper chat.”