Chapter 19: Pure Soft Girl? Or A Scheming Bad Woman!

Wake up, get dressed, brush teeth, wash face, turn on the computer, draw.

Sometimes, Luoyao felt her dull life was like a rigid computer program.

Input commands, execute step-by-step—

No ripples or changes to spice things up.

Living in a bustling city, her lonely voice drowned out all the noise.

Well, she couldn’t help but miss her days with Noah.

At least that vampire, with her intense desires and quirks, always found ways to make Luoyao blush and her heart race.

The computer was still booting, its black screen reflecting Luoyao’s image.

Messy hair, loose pajamas, dark circles from late-night drawing.

If not for her naturally striking face, she’d scare herself.

If Noah were here, that smug perfectionist would’ve dolled her up spotless.

“Argh! Fallen, Luoyao! Without Noah, you’ve turned into a shut-in!”

Bang—

She ruffled her messy hair and smacked her head on the desk.

Ow.

Too much force.

It hurt!

Rubbing her forehead, Luoyao started her day’s work.

Last week, she took a client’s commission, due today.

She opened the freelance platform; the client was online.

Luoyao organized the file, adjusted the quality for clarity, and sent it.

Moments later, the client replied excitedly: “Amazing work, artist! It’s exactly what I pictured!”

Luoyao smiled faintly.

Not just what you pictured… but the girl in my heart.

When sketching the draft and facial outline, she tried avoiding that face haunting her mind.

She wanted a character nothing like that smug vampire.

No way she’d design it based on Noah.

But as she drew, despite her efforts, it kept turning into Noah.

Fiery rose-like eyes, lush red lips, sharp fangs, near-perfect jawline and features—

Some unseen force seemed to drive her to draw the one she missed.

She revised the draft at least twenty times.

Every time, it ended up looking more like Noah.

Luoyao even doubted her professional skills.

“Damn vampire, so strikingly beautiful! Couldn’t you be uglier?”

She grumbled but gave in to her subconscious.

In the end, the final design was modeled after Noah.

She’d finished it yesterday.

An $800 commission, already good enough at that stage.

But Luoyao had a “selfish” motive.

She polished it repeatedly, adding countless details.

By the end, its value far exceeded $800.

Not that she planned to charge the client more.

Staring at that familiar face, she couldn’t help but want it prettier, more real.

Or rather… more like Noah herself.

It wasn’t her priciest work.

But it was her most heartfelt.

Client: “Your skills are amazing! Can you take another commission?”

Repeat clients were hard to refuse.

Luoyao: “Sure. What’s the brief?”

Client: “A black-haired girl, super cute, soft and sweet, the kind you can’t help but tease.”

Luoyao: “Got it.”

Client: “You can handle the other details, but make sure she has chemistry with the last drawing!”

Luoyao’s eye twitched.

C-Chemistry… (TN: Likely means explicit art here)

Good grief, you yuri-loving client!

I draw normal commissions, not erotica!

You want chemistry today, tomorrow you’ll ask for a family portrait!

Seeing no immediate reply, the client explained: “No, no, I’m not a yuri fan, not at all, definitely not. So… So please make it full of chemistry and romance, artist! QAQ”

You’re practically screaming “yuri fan”!

Luoyao hesitated to take the job.

Not because she couldn’t do it or lacked time.

She was afraid she’d draw herself into it!

Having chemistry with Noah’s image, falling in love… no way!

Uncontrollably drawing Noah was embarrassing enough.

Drawing herself too…

Ugh—

Absolutely not!

Client: “Is it too hard, artist?”

Luoyao lied: “Yeah, it’s tricky. I’m not great at chemistry designs.”

Client: “Really can’t do it? QUQ”

Luoyao: “Really… can’t.”

Client: “I’ll pay $2,000.”

Luoyao: “Draft in a week.”

Nobody says no to money.

If they do, the offer’s not high enough.

Embarrassment? Pfft, what’s that worth against $2,000?

She’d done way more embarrassing things with Noah in reality.

What’s a drawing of them together?

Hmph!

Let’s draw!

Sometimes, people can’t accept embarrassing things outright.

But when the reward outweighs the shame, it’s no big deal.

It’s like trying to sleep naked.

The first time is all nerves, anticipation, shyness, curiosity.

The blanket hugs your skin, every pore soaking in warmth—a total, unmatched comfort.

The second, third times? Addictive.

Luoyao had taken her first step past the shame.

If she could bear drawing Noah, why not go all in and draw herself?

Just chemistry!

Just romance!

Just closeness!

Stick together, no problem!

“Wait… why do I feel like a corrupted nun…”

From “No, no, this won’t do, vampire lady, please let me go!” to “Noah… hehe, my Noah… so close, my Noah.”

Tch.

So fallen! So corrupt!

While wrestling with these conflicted feelings, sketching the draft, her phone rang.

She glanced at it—a strange number.

“Hello?” Luoyao said politely.

“Hey, little Luoyao, it’s Suyue.”

Luoyao’s brow furrowed, her tone cooling. “Oh, hunter miss, what’s up?”

“I’m off today. Wanna hang out?”

Hang out?

Luoyao was puzzled.

They barely knew each other—one meeting, and now this bold invite?

She was about to refuse when her eyes caught the “Noah” drawing on her screen.

The sultry face was practically Noah’s twin.

“I won’t let her get away with hurting you like that.”

“What’d you say?” Suyue asked over the phone.

“Oh, nothing.” Luoyao cleared her throat. “I’m free today. Let’s hang.”

Suyue sounded thrilled. “Great, I’m almost at your place. Come down in ten.”

“Got it.”

Luoyao hung up, exhaling deeply.

She glared at Suyue’s number, muttering angrily,

“You beat Noah up so badly, and now you dare ask me out?”

“Hmph, you brought this on yourself.”

Pure, soft Luoyao logged off.

Scheming bad woman Luoyao connected!