Chapter 14: Meeting of Mountains and Rivers

In a way, Noah and Luoyao were truly made for each other.

One, a vampire who respected her “prey,” cared for her tenderly, and sought her opinion on important matters.

The other, a human who asked a vampire to mark her, ensuring proof of their warmth if they never met again.

Noah looked at Luoyao in surprise.

Such a request was unheard of.

Luoyao… was truly a special girl.

After a brief moment of thought, Noah nodded. “Okay.”

“Alright… go ahead.”

There was no need for more words.

The more said, the harder it would be to part after the mark.

Noah carefully climbed onto the bed, settling beside Luoyao.

One hand held Luoyao’s wrist, the other gently cradled her head.

Her pale neck was inches from Noah’s lips.

Fragrant.

So fragrant.

The sweetest, most delicious blood Noah had ever tasted.

But she knew she could only mark Luoyao’s neck now, not drain her blood.

“It might hurt a bit,” Noah said.

“You’ll be gentle, right?”

Noah’s red lips curved. “Yes, gentle.”

“Okay.”

Luoyao closed her eyes, waiting for Noah’s next move.

She heard the soft inhale of breath.

Then, a warm sensation brushed her neck’s skin—smooth, comforting.

But the comfort vanished quickly.

Sharp fangs pierced her tender skin.

Blood seeped from where lips met flesh, a thin “blood line” trailing down her neck.

Unlike feeding, marking required deeper penetration and more damage to the skin.

Only then would the mark last a blood s*ave’s lifetime.

The sharp pain made Luoyao wince.

She instinctively raised her arms to struggle but only gripped Noah’s back tightly.

Her hands felt the silky touch of Noah’s silver hair.

Gradually, Noah injected numbing saliva into the wound to ease the pain.

Luoyao’s struggles calmed, her grip on Noah’s back loosening.

The saliva flowed through her veins to her brain, replacing pain with a “comfortable” sensation.

In a hazy state, the “kiss mark” ritual reached its final step.

Noah’s fangs withdrew, blood splattering lightly.

Luoyao slowly closed her eyes, murmuring Noah’s name.

***

When she woke again, it was dawn.

The sun and moon shared the sky in that delicate moment.

Her body had recovered slightly, less weak than before.

Luoyao tried to sit up, but the effort tugged at her neck’s muscles.

A piercing pain hit, making her grimace.

Instinctively, she reached to touch the wound.

Her fingertips brushed a bandage.

She froze. ‘Did she bandage it for me…?’

“Noah, Noah?”

Luoyao called twice, but silence answered.

“You… already left?”

She sat dazed on the bed, staring at the bandage on her left wrist.

For ten minutes, she remained still, then sighed as if waking from a dream.

The familiar loneliness, like the sunlight outside, flooded back into the room, enveloping her.

She gently lifted the blanket and got out of bed.

Her peripheral vision caught a note on the nightstand.

Luoyao picked it up.

The handwriting was unfamiliar but neat and elegant.

A single line read:

[I made you some meals, stored in the freezer.]

No doubt, it was from Noah.

When Luoyao was still awake, Noah had promised to prepare meals for the next few days.

Until Luoyao recovered enough to cook herself.

Some people kept their promises, even when parting.

Noah had said she would, and she did.

Luoyao stared at the graceful handwriting, her eyes welling up.

She sniffled, carefully tucking the note away.

She went to the kitchen and opened the freezer.

Inside were neatly arranged meal boxes.

Each was labeled “breakfast,” “lunch,” or “dinner.”

The variety was impressive—red date cakes, mango pudding, handmade dumplings, and more.

Luoyao took out the dumpling box, gazing at the delicate dumplings.

She pictured Noah in the kitchen, carefully shaping each one.

She must have looked beautiful cooking.

Luoyao put the dumplings back, about to close the freezer.

Then she noticed a note on the inside of the door.

[Open the fridge above—you might find a surprise.]

“Surprise… what surprise?”

Muttering, Luoyao opened the refrigerator.

A cool breeze carried the scent of flowers.

Under soft orange light, the fridge was filled with blooms.

Roses, carnations, baby’s breath, blue enchantresses…

Packed to the brim.

Noah’s final gift—a refrigerator full of flowers.

Luoyao covered her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably.

She buried her face in the roses, her shoulders trembling with soft sobs.

A creature of the night, yet Noah’s romance shone warm and bright like the sun.

In the small apartment, only the crying girl and flowers remained.

At that moment, on the rooftop across from Luoyao’s apartment, a tall, graceful figure stood.

Behind her was the moon, not yet fully eclipsed by the sun.

This was one of the rare times she could be out in daylight.

She watched the crying girl in the apartment.

They were like the sun and moon at dawn—

In twenty-four hours, they had only a fleeting ten minutes to share the sky.

She and Luoyao were much the same.

“We’ll meet again, my dear.”

Noah turned, her figure vanishing into the darkness.