Chapter 24: The Missing Love

“I’m starving to death.”

“Seriously.”

“Huangwei, if I die, please protect Luoyao for me.”

“Oh, and the maid outfit’s in my closet.”

“If you like it, wear it yourself.”

“Burn a couple of your maid photos for me each year at my memorial.”

“I—”

Huangwei raised a hand. “Enough, enough, stop it. Vampires won’t die from three months without feeding.”

“But I’m suffering worse than death!”

Noah slumped in her chair, staring hopelessly at the ceiling.

Vampires were resilient.

As Huangwei said, three months without blood wouldn’t kill her.

But not dying didn’t mean not starving.

Today marked forty-five days since parting with Luoyao.

In that time, Noah consumed less than a liter of blood.

When the hunger became unbearable, she relied on Huangwei’s relief potion.

Now, the primal vampire hunger was driving her near madness.

“I’m telling you, go find Luoyao. Don’t keep torturing yourself.”

Huangwei flipped through an ancient vampire book, speaking slowly. “Your body’s built resistance to my potion. It barely works anymore.”

Noah groaned. “Your potion’s so useless…”

Smack—

Huangwei slammed the book shut, glaring kindly. “Say that again.”

“…Never mind, never mind.”

“Tch.”

Huangwei stood, carrying the heavy book to the shelf, placing it back.

“Listen to me, Noah. Go to Luoyao. Even if you don’t care about your health, aren’t you curious about her background?”

Huangwei continued, “Why does her blood mimic the volunteers from twenty years ago? Don’t you want to know?”

Noah pursed her lips.

Her crimson eyes, dulled by hunger, lacked their usual spark.

Staring at the ceiling, she saw flashes of her four days with Luoyao.

Could four days make someone fall in love?

Noah didn’t know.

She pressed her hand to her chest.

Since Luoyao left, it felt like something was missing.

If that missing piece was the luxury called “love,” then Noah was certain—

She loved Luoyao.

Losing her wasn’t just losing a blood s*ave.

She’d lost a love dormant for centuries.

Before Luoyao, Noah thought she’d live forever in darkness.

The moon her only companion, each hunt eroding her humanity and emotions.

But Luoyao, sweet as strawberry cotton candy, awakened kindness and beauty in her.

Parting with her felt like carving a piece from her heart.

Reluctance, resentment, unwillingness.

To respect Luoyao and avoid the taboo of human-vampire love, Noah had to leave.

Now… her body’s torment and the mystery of Luoyao’s blood forced her to face her again.

Maybe… their bond wasn’t over.

“When’s ‘Mom’ coming back?” Noah asked suddenly.

“Not for another six months,” Huangwei replied. “Do what you want without worry.”

“You’ll keep it secret?”

Huangwei smiled. “Of course.”

“The price isn’t me wearing that maid outfit for photos again, is it?”

“‘Again’? Please, little Noah, I made your potion for free.”

“That ‘again’ stings,” Huangwei said, feigning pity.

“Alright, alright, your sad act is nauseating. Flirty suits you better.”

“I’m charming!”

“Whatever.”

Huangwei raised an eyebrow. “Going to Luoyao makes you this happy?”

Noah gripped the chair’s armrest, flipping lightly to her feet.

She walked to the staircase, turned, and squinted with a smile. “Everything about her makes me happy.”

She jogged down the stairs.

Her footsteps faded.

Huangwei stared at the stairwell for a moment, then walked to the tower window, gazing at the night.

After a long pause, she murmured, “Doctor Luo, is she the legacy you left for humans and vampires…?”

***

Luoyao never napped in the afternoon.

Even as a freelancer and shut-in, she forced herself to stay awake.

No matter how tired, she powered through.

Imagine sleeping in the warm afternoon sun.

You wake to find it’s dark, your home silent, just you alone.

Loneliness amplifies tenfold.

Emptiness, helplessness, a need to vent—it clogs your throat, ready to burst.

Luoyao had felt this too many times.

No matter how she told herself “you’ll get used to it,” loneliness crushed her.

So she avoided afternoon naps.

She wanted to wake to a new day’s sunrise, not a lonely night.

At dusk, Luoyao finished work, shut off her computer, and dragged her tired body to the kitchen.

She opened the fridge.

Barely any ingredients for cooking.

A bundle of noodles remained, but no toppings or sauce.

Tonight’s dinner: plain boiled noodles, tasteless.

Solo life was like that.

Skimp when you could, sleep when you couldn’t.

No one cared, so no one nagged.

Luoyao boiled water, tossed in the noodles, stirring with chopsticks while yawning.

Click—

The living room window opened without warning.

Night breeze rushed in, swaying the curtains.

Luoyao’s heart tightened. “No way, again?”

She dropped the chopsticks, grabbed a kitchen knife, and aimed at the window, trembling. “I-I know you’re in my house, vampire, right? Stop with the creepy stuff. My neck’s got a kiss mark! Y-you can’t take me!”

She tugged her collar, revealing the prominent mark.

No response came.

That made her more nervous.

Biting her lip, she continued, “My master’s super strong, I’m telling you! She’s Noah, and we’re tight! You’d better leave, or—or else I’ll—”

Before she finished, a familiar, faint scent hit her.

Then, soft warmth pressed against her back, a warm embrace enveloping her.

Silver hair brushed her cheek.

Hot breath tickled her ear, tingly and teasing.

“Or else what, darling?”