Chapter 53: Baby Noah

In Noah’s 300-plus years, no one had ever made her such a promise.

“I want to be with you.”

Simple words, yet to Noah, they outshone any love poem.

Luoyao, once a timid girl, had shied away from their forbidden, cross-species love.

She’d even parted ways with Noah to avoid it.

Now, knowing the Well of Burning Sin’s cruelty, she vowed to face that pain with Noah.

Love wasn’t one-sided.

It needed both to nurture it for the long haul.

Mutual devotion was the world’s most romantic thing, wasn’t it?

Noah gently pulled the girl into her arms.

She closed her eyes, savoring the faint scent of her hair.

“You’re such a good girl, Luoyao… thank you.”

“And thank you for tricking me into opening the door back then.”

Noah chuckled. “It’s all worked out perfectly, hasn’t it?”

Luoyao pouted, ready to toss out more sappy words.

She sniffed suddenly, frowning. “Something’s burning.”

“It’s my heart, ablaze for you.”

“Stop being cheesy, babe. Your heart’s burning for me, but your dish is burning in the pan.”

“Huh?… Oh no! My dish!”

***

Though the tomato and egg stir-fry was slightly burnt, Noah’s cooking skills saved some flavor.

At the table, Noah propped her chin, grinning at Luoyao. “We’ve got lots of tomatoes at home. These were the last two eggs. I’ll have someone grab more groceries from the city tomorrow. You’ll have to make do for a couple days.”

“Okay.”

Luoyao ate in small bites, chewing quietly.

Her poised posture and blank expression made her look serious about her meal.

Like an adorable hamster.

Noah’s mind sparked. “I wanna eat too.”

“Don’t vampires avoid human food?”

“Cooked tomatoes are fine in small bits. Feed me, come on, ahh~”

Sometimes Noah got like this, acting childish, needing Luoyao to baby her.

Luoyao didn’t mind.

These rare moments showed Noah’s emotional world blooming.

The humanity buried deep in her soul was waking up.

A good relationship should do that—make each other better, brighter.

Luoyao picked up a piece of tomato, holding her left hand underneath.

She offered it to Noah’s mouth. “Here.”

“Not like that.”

“Then how?”

Noah grinned. “With your mouth.”

Luoyao sighed, helpless.

She popped the tomato in her mouth, leaning toward Noah.

Noah played along, inching closer, lips parted.

She took the tomato from Luoyao’s mouth.

Sweet-tangy tomato juice burst between their lips, trickling down their chins.

The soft, warm texture made Noah take an extra nibble.

Nibbling turned to devouring the tomato in Luoyao’s mouth.

And then…

“Is kissing me with tomato flavor that nice?”

“Corrupt, decadent vampires are like that.”

“You’re impossible.”

Luoyao muttered, raising a hand to wipe the juice from her lips.

Noah grabbed her wrist.

She looked up to see the silver-haired flirt lean in, licking the juice off her mouth.

“Even feeding you turns flirty…” Luoyao groaned.

“Anything with you, I can make flirty.”

“Fine, fine, I can’t win. I’m washing the dishes.”

“I’ll do it,” Noah said.

Luoyao gathered the plates, standing. “Sky’s getting light. Go rest.”

“Come cuddle with me after you’re done.”

Luoyao paused, turning to Noah with a complex look.

Noah blinked. “Why’re you staring?”

“Noah.”

“Hm?”

“Baby Noah.”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the weird nickname?”

“You’re over 300, yet clingy like a three-year-old. You weren’t like this when we met.”

Noah pouted. “Tch, annoyed with me? Find someone less clingy then. Xiaan’s not clingy, go to her.”

“No, no, I’m not annoyed. I’ll come cuddle after dishes, okay~”

“Hmph. Hurry up!”

“Mhm.”

Luoyao took the dishes to the kitchen.

Mid-wash, a knock came.

“I’ll get it~”

Noah, heading to the bedroom, heard and went to the door.

Opening it, she saw Xiaan.

“Well, speak of the devil.”

“L-Lady Noah, hi. I’m… looking for Luoyao.”

Xiaan’s voice was soft, still wary of vampires.

Girls were sensitive to emotional shifts.

Xiaan faintly sensed Noah’s… special “hostility.”

Not vampire-to-human or predator-to-prey.

Purely emotional: “You’re too close to my girlfriend, so I don’t like you.”

“It’s almost dawn, no classes, right? Why’re you here for Luoyao?” Noah asked.

“Uh, well… I…”

“Are you that scared of me? Why’s talking so hard?”

“No, no, I just… don’t know how to say it.”

“You—”

“Who’s here? Xiaan?”

Luoyao, wiping her hands on her apron, came from the kitchen to the entryway.

She saw Xiaan’s downcast eyes and Noah’s expression.

Luoyao frowned, tugging Noah’s wrist to pull her behind. “I told you not to be so gruff with her.”

“I wasn’t,” Noah said.

“Sure, sure, you weren’t. Be good now, okay?”

“Fine~”

After settling her big baby, Luoyao turned to Xiaan. “What’s up, Xiaan?”

“Something wrong?”

Xiaan clutched her sleeve, biting her lip, hesitant.

“It’s okay, just say it.”

“Need help or something?” Luoyao asked patiently.

“Um… Xiyue’s back.”

Xiyue.

Xiaan’s master.

In past chats, Xiaan mentioned Xiyue had been in the city for days.

Rumors swirled in the castle that Xiyue had abandoned her.

That’s why Feng Lili and others dared bully Xiaan recently.

If Xiyue didn’t return, Xiaan’s fate would’ve been worse than human bullying.

Other vampires had been eyeing her.

But now Xiyue was back, offering protection.

Good news.

So why… was Xiaan so glum?

Unless—

“Xiyue, she…”

Tears welled in Xiaan’s eyes.

Her voice broke, choking out, “Xiyue brought back a new blood s*ave…”

“She said she doesn’t need me anymore.”