Chapter 58: The Sweetheart’s Secret and the Vampire’s Dilemma

The class bell rang, and Su Mian swiftly exited the classroom.

Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions.

There was a faint anticipation for tomorrow’s date, an urgent need to prevent Xiao Moyuan and Shen Zhixia from growing closer, and a pervasive sense of bewilderment regarding the changes she couldn’t control within herself.

Returning to dormitory 304, she was fortunate to find it completely empty.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips, and she immediately sprang into action.

Opening her wardrobe once more, she began to pack her suitcase.

Her JK uniform, stockings, a wig, and a complete set of cosmetics were all carefully folded and tucked into the hidden compartment of her suitcase.

With each item she picked up, each piece of ‘Sweetheart Marshmallow’ attire, her heart quickened.

An unnatural blush spread across her cheeks.

All of this was for Xiao Moyuan, for tomorrow, and the day after…

Just as she zipped up her suitcase, letting out a small breath, the dorm room door burst open with a ‘clang’.

Lu Yang, radiating youthful vigor and still damp with sweat, walked in, cradling a basketball.

“Yo, Mianzi! What happened last night? You didn’t come back to the dorm!”

Lu Yang wiped sweat with a towel, asking boisterously, his face alight with pure curiosity.

“Perfect timing, actually. Tomorrow’s the weekend. Should we brothers in the dorm find somewhere to have some fun? We can’t just study all the time, right!”

At that moment, Xia silently pushed the door open and entered.

He always seemed to appear at such opportune times.

Hearing Lu Yang’s suggestion, he offered his own, his face adorned with that impeccable, gentle smile. “If everyone wants to go out, I have a suggestion.

I own an unused villa near the coast. The environment is quite nice; we could stay there for a night. We could even have a barbecue on the beach in the evening. It should be quite enjoyable.”

His proposal sounded incredibly tempting.

Lu Yang’s eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this, and he clapped his hands excitedly. “That’s a fantastic idea! Beach barbecue! It sounds absolutely delightful! Mianzi, what do you say? Want to come along?”

Faced with Lu Yang’s enthusiastic invitation, and Xia’s seemingly gentle yet subtly discomfiting light blue eyes, Su Mian found herself internally conflicted.

She yearned for that relaxed, joyful group atmosphere, a chance to temporarily forget the vexations of Xiao Moyuan, Shen Zhixia, and her body’s changes.

However, tomorrow… she had a far more crucial ‘mission’.

She offered an apologetic smile, interrupting Lu Yang’s excitement with a touch of regret. “Um… Boss Lu, what bad timing. I might not be staying in the dorm this entire weekend.

I have… some family matters to attend to, so I need to go back home.” She trotted out this all-purpose excuse once more, feeling a little guilty inside.

Though a bit disappointed, Lu Yang was broad-minded and didn’t dwell on it.

He waved a hand. “No worries, no worries! You do your thing! Important matters come first!”

Su Mian, not wanting to dampen their spirits, quickly added, “You guys should still go, though. Don’t wait for me. Xia’s villa sounds amazing.”

Lu Yang, however, insisted, “Hey, the more people, the merrier! There’s no rush for this particular time. Anyway, the National Day holiday is next week. We can pick another time then, and have a proper barbecue party at Xia’s villa, how about that?

Even if it’s not a barbecue, us dorm mates can find somewhere else to gather and discuss the specifics later, okay?”

Upon hearing ‘National Day holiday,’ Su Mian’s heart stirred slightly.

Yes, there was still time.

Lately, her nerves had been constantly taut from ‘capturing’ Xiao Moyuan; she truly needed an opportunity to relax.

Being with her roommates meant she wouldn’t have to pretend or be constantly on edge.

“Mhm, sounds good. We’ll see how it goes then.” Su Mian nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips.

After a few more casual remarks, Su Mian dragged her suitcase, laden with secrets, and left the dorm once again.

Watching her hurried departure, Xia leaned against the doorframe, his light blue pupils slightly narrowed.

A hard-to-read glimmer flickered within them.

His nostrils flared almost imperceptibly, as if a faint, unique sweet scent of Su Mian still lingered in the air.

‘So late, dragging a suitcase—where could she be going? That ‘going home’ excuse is probably not the truth…’

Su Mian stepped out of the school gates, the cool evening breeze invigorating her.

Considering the safety of staying alone outside and the need to maintain ‘Sweetheart Marshmallow’s’ perfect image for an extended period tomorrow, she opted against a cheap inn.

Instead, she booked a well-regarded, mid-to-high-end hotel with relatively robust security.

After checking in and entering the clean, tidy room, she locked the door from the inside, finally allowing herself to truly relax.

Placing her suitcase by the bed, she sat down wearily and took out her phone, opening the chat window with ‘Yuan’.

Her fingertip hovered over the screen for a moment, then she took a deep breath and began composing a message.

She had to set the meeting place for tomorrow, and it needed to be far from N University to ensure absolute safety.

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: Big Brother, how about we meet directly at the Xingyue City Cinema tomorrow? The mall there is huge; we can grab a bite and then head straight to a movie~ (cute cat head.jpg)]

She had chosen a large commercial complex on the other side of the city, ensuring she wouldn’t encounter anyone she knew.

After sending the message, she waited anxiously.

Fortunately, Xiao Moyuan seemed to be on his phone, replying quickly.

[Yuan: Alright. Just send me the specific location once you arrive tomorrow.]

His reply was concise and didn’t press for more details, which eased some of the tension in Su Mian’s heart.

[Sweetheart Marshmallow: Okay~ Good night, Big Brother, see you tomorrow~ (heart-shooting.gif)]

Sending that message, Su Mian put down her phone and collapsed onto the soft hotel bed.

Tomorrow… would be a pivotal day.

***

Meanwhile, in a secluded, empty classroom on the top floor of a teaching building deep within N University campus, a scene unfolded that was starkly at odds with the tranquil night.

Under the dim lights, a girl leaned against a desk, letting out a pleasant yet suppressed moan.

“Yes… right there, Xia…”

Her eyes were hazy, her face flushed with an unnatural redness, and her voice trembled. “Tonight… tonight, to be able to meet you, I’m truly fortunate…”

Xia stood before her, his handsome face still wearing that captivating smile.

Yet, deep within his light blue eyes lay an icy indifference.

For a vampire of his centuries-long existence, this vibrant university was akin to a high-class restaurant offering ‘drinks’ of varying quality.

His meticulously maintained facade, coupled with centuries of precise insight into human hearts, allowed him to effortlessly manipulate young women who were restless, craving excitement or attention.

His long fingers elegantly and rhythmically stroked the exposed skin of the girl’s neck and shoulders, as if soothing a pet cat.

His movements possessed a seductive magic, making the girl even more infatuated.

She comfortably narrowed her eyes, her body instinctively pressing closer to him.

“Xia… you can…” The girl’s eyes were unfocused, her voice slurred, filled with suggestion. “You… whatever you want to do… you can do it…”

Her desire had been thoroughly ignited by Xia, escalating to its peak.

The time was ripe.

A faint red glint flashed in Xia’s eyes, imperceptible to others.

He lowered his head, drawing intimately close to the girl’s neck like a lover, then his sharp canines instantly pierced the warm skin.

Sweet blood surged into his throat, carrying the vibrant life force of youth.

The quality of this blood, among ordinary humans, was considered excellent, sufficient to alleviate his hunger and sustain his power.

However…

After only a few sips, Xia’s movements ceased.

He frowned slightly.

The taste of the blood in his mouth remained sweet, but for some reason, after having savored Su Mian’s unparalleled, enticing scent—like a grand feast—this ‘premium drink’ now seemed so… ordinary and bland, even stirring a hint of weariness within him.

It was like tasting nectar and then finding even fine wine utterly insipid.

Sensing his pause, the girl regained a sliver of clarity from her intoxication.

A bewildered look, and a trace of imperceptible disappointment, flickered in her eyes. “Xia… you… you’re not continuing?”

She was still immersed in the extreme pleasure she had just experienced, yearning for more.

Xia quickly reined in all outward emotions, his face once again donning its gentle, detached mask.

He gently wiped away the tiny blood droplet on the girl’s neck with his fingertip, the small wound healing almost instantly.

“My apologies,” his voice remained pleasant, yet carried an undeniable finality. “Let’s end it here tonight.”

Although the girl was somewhat disappointed, she was captivated by his charming demeanor and dared not ask more.

She merely blushed, softly saying, “Then… alright. If you… if you need anything next time, Xia, you can… you can still come find me.”

She was utterly unaware that she had just walked a tightrope between life and death, even perceiving this as a special kind of ‘intimacy’.

Xia nodded slightly, saying no more.

As a prince-level vampire, precisely controlling the amount consumed and skillfully using his abilities to conceal hunting traces was no difficult feat.

Unless he sought to vent violent emotions, he typically would not easily take a prey’s life.

This was also one of the important reasons why high-ranking vampires could long remain hidden in human society without being easily detected by demon hunters.

However…

The thought of Su Mian darkened Xia’s gaze.

That incredibly pure and potent alluring scent, detectable merely through the skin, effortlessly stirred the most primal and surging possessiveness and hunger deep within him, repeatedly challenging his vaunted self-control.

He walked to the window, gazing out at the scattered lights of N University campus.

His eyes seemed to pierce through the night, locking onto a specific direction.

“Little cupcake, little cupcake…” he murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the windowpane, a smile curving his lips—a blend of anticipation and cruelty.

“Tell me, should I let you ‘ferment’ to become even sweeter, or… should I savor your current flavor directly?”