Chapter 61: Live Like Summer Flowers, At Peace Wherever You Are

“Of course you can.”

Anna paused, then added, “I’ll keep your blood in a separate area for Noah to find easily.”

“Great, thanks, Anna. Is there a knife or something here?”

Anna blinked, surprised. “What do you need a knife for…?”

Luoyao froze, not answering with words.

She made a “cutting” gesture on her wrist, her meaning clear.

Anna gave a wry smile, shaking her head. “No need for such a brutal method, Little Luoyao. The blood bank has proper blood collection equipment. Come with me.”

Anna led Luoyao to the collection area.

Xiaan followed closely.

At the collection area, Luoyao marveled at the sleek, organized equipment.

Vampires really kept up with the times.

These blood-drinking monster girls never skimped on themselves.

Or their food, when necessary.

Anna handled the equipment with ease.

As the keeper, she knew every inch of the blood bank.

She put on sterile gloves, gesturing for Luoyao to sit by the table.

Luoyao rolled up her sleeve, complying.

Anna placed Luoyao’s slender, pale arm on a cushion.

She tucked a small cotton ball into Luoyao’s hand. “Squeeze this during the draw. It keeps the blood flowing normally.”

“Mhm.”

Anna tied a tourniquet around Luoyao’s arm.

As the veins became visible, she carefully swabbed the skin twice with disinfectant.

“So professional, Anna,” Xiaan couldn’t help but praise.

She really was.

This little vampire could easily be a nurse in human society.

Anna smiled shyly at the compliment.

“I used to be too scared to feed directly from humans. I’d ask generous vampires to borrow their slaves for blood. They were okay with indirect methods. I got to eat well sometimes, so I got good at this.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Dizzy from blood, Luoyao?” Anna asked.

Luoyao shook her head.

She used to be.

But after so long with Noah, a day without blood drain felt incomplete.

Over time, her blood phobia faded—had to.

The sharp needle pierced her skin.

Blood flowed into the vacuum tube.

Luoyao stared at the needle, frowning slightly.

Human blood collection wasn’t like vampire feeding.

The needle didn’t release numbing fluid, so the puncture stung faintly.

“So, you see Noah every day. Why store your blood?” Anna asked, chatting to distract Luoyao from the pain.

“Just… in case of emergencies.”

Luoyao’s answer was absent-minded.

Not because she was lying.

Quite the opposite—she was storing blood for emergencies.

Specifically, the Well of Burning Sin.

Luoyao had her own plans.

She’d tell Anna only if things got as bad as she feared.

She also didn’t want to scare Anna with her and Noah’s issues.

Anna and Xiaan’s bond was just starting.

They seemed eager to deepen it.

No need to burden Anna with her worries.

She’d warn Anna and Xiaan when the time came.

Love required caution, unlike her reckless silver-haired goof.

Noah hid such big things from her lover.

They chatted lightly, and soon two tubes were full.

Anna placed them in a box with a cooling system, better than the blood bank’s storage.

“Done. I’ll give them to Noah when she needs them.”

“Thanks, Anna.”

“No trouble, it’s my job.”

Xiaan, silent until now, stepped forward. “Um, Anna… Can I store some of my blood for you?”

That “for you” was too flirty.

Paired with Xiaan’s frail, pitiable look, Anna’s face flushed red.

She fumbled with the equipment, accidentally shattering a tube.

“Ah!”

The broken glass cut Anna’s finger.

She yelped, jerking her hand back like she’d been shocked.

Xiaan grabbed Anna’s hand, worried. “You okay?”

“I-I’m fine…”

“How could you be so careless? Good thing the cut’s small.”

“Ugh… I’m kinda clumsy.”

Luoyao, watching the drama, felt like a walking lightbulb.

Pressing her fresh puncture wound, she thought, ‘Come on, you’re a vampire!’

‘Even if you’ve never had fresh blood and are weaker, you’ve got basic healing, right?’

‘A tiny cut’s nothing!’

‘And Xiaan, you were with Xiyue so long—don’t you know this?’

‘Back then, I whacked Noah’s head with a baseball bat, and she was fine!’

Hiss—

Not exactly something to brag about…

Luoyao shook her head, standing. “I’m heading back. Don’t wanna interrupt you two.”

“Wait, Luoyao, I-I…”

Xiaan racked her brain for an excuse to keep Luoyao.

But nothing came to mind.

She wasn’t scared to be alone with Anna.

She knew Anna wouldn’t hurt her.

Xiaan was just… a little… shy.

She feared an awkward silence, staring at Anna with nothing to say.

With a friend around, there’d always be something to talk about.

But Luoyao wasn’t here to eat dog food as a third wheel.

She smirked, humming. “You’ve been in love before. Scared to be alone with someone?”

“No, Little Luoyao, don’t get it wrong! Xiaan and I aren’t… like that,” Anna stammered.

“Yeah, we just met yesterday. No way we’re in love,” Xiaan chimed in.

Luoyao eyed their synchronized defense, stunned.

She huffed, turning toward the blood bank exit. “Stop shoving dog food in my mouth. See ya!”

“Wait, Luoyao! Luoyao!”

Xiaan watched her bestie march off, feeling shy and flustered.

What now, what now?

Talk about food?

The weather?

How noisy the wind is tonight?

Too awkward!

She recalled last night, back at Anna’s.

They chatted a bit, then tried Anna’s first feeding.

After, they both slept deeply, no real talk.

Now… no eating, no sleeping.

Were they really just gonna stare at each other?

“Little Luoyao’s off to be with Senior Noah,” Anna said.

“Yeah…”

“Oh, right, you mentioned storing your blood.”

Xiaan seized the topic. “Yup, what do you think?”

Anna thought for a moment. “I think… no need for now. I don’t need much blood. Plus, I should practice feeding directly from humans. Can’t always eat leftovers, right?”

“Okay, whatever you say, Lady Anna.”

Anna pouted. “I said don’t call me ‘Lady.’”

“Sorry, sorry, I’ll try to stop.”

Xiaan’s habit of calling vampires “Lady” came from her time as a blood s*ave.

Breaking it with Anna would take time.

But Anna’s kind nature made her willing to help Xiaan move past her painful past.

Looking at this cute, lively little vampire, Xiaan recalled her mother’s words about her name:

‘Live like summer flowers, at peace wherever you are.’

Maybe Anna was her true, peaceful haven.