Chapter 62: The Language of Platycodon Flowers

Luoyao leaned on the balcony.

A cool evening breeze gently brushed her bangs.

She silently gazed at the castle grounds.

An old-fashioned estate structure, surrounded by fences lined with lush flower beds full of various blooms.

Noah had just finished feeding and was now contentedly asleep in bed.

But Luoyao couldn’t sleep.

She felt something bad was coming.

Luoyao’s intuition, or sixth sense, was always spot on.

She remembered raising a cute orange cat as a child.

It was her only playmate, and she cherished that little life.

One night, she woke suddenly for no reason.

She wasn’t sure if it was a nightmare, but her gut kept telling her the cat was in danger soon.

From that night, Luoyao stuck to it like glue, even sleeping with it in her arms.

But tragedy struck anyway.

One morning, the cat’s body lay at her doorstep.

Gutted, blood drained dry.

Luoyao fainted at the sight.

Her granny rushed her to the hospital.

She didn’t know why her carefully cared-for cat met such a fate.

But since then, whenever that panic resurfaced, Luoyao lost sleep.

The most recent time was in college, a week before learning of her granny’s death.

She tossed and turned in the dorm.

By the time she rushed home, her granny was already buried.

She hadn’t even seen her one last time.

If every bout of panic, insomnia, and unease meant someone close to her faced misfortune, then this time…

Was it Noah?

Damn.

Luoyao buried her head in her arms.

She tried to push away the troubling thoughts, but her mind wouldn’t cooperate.

Closing her eyes brought visions of Noah suffering punishment.

How should she face this trial…

And keep going with Noah.

Such a headache.

In her musing, Luoyao’s peripheral vision caught a bunch of platycodon in the flower bed.

It bloomed quietly, its pure white petals contrasting the colorful surroundings.

Like a fairy untouched by the world.

The language of white platycodon was pure love, love without regret.

Unlike the bold rose, Luoyao preferred “without regret.”

She stood, leaving her room for the first-floor hall.

She wanted to pick that white platycodon for Noah—a touch of romance in life.

Exiting the castle gate, Luoyao jogged toward the blooming platycodon.

But someone approached from the front.

A tall girl with waist-length hair, in a pristine white dress.

Likely a beauty.

But at midnight in that outfit, with her stiff gait, she evoked Sadako vibes.

Up close, Luoyao recognized Xiyue’s new blood s*ave.

The girl’s steps were rigid, her eyes vacant.

She seemed unaware of Luoyao just steps ahead.

She held a phone playing soft music.

The monotonous tune… bell chimes.

Definitely horror-movie creepy.

Luoyao carefully sidestepped the odd girl, avoiding trouble.

But after a few steps, the girl called out.

“You’re Luoyao, right?”

The same clear voice from their stairwell encounter.

Luoyao stopped, turning. She nodded. “Yeah.”

“I’m Yu Xiao.”

“Oh… hi?”

Luoyao didn’t get why Xiyue’s blood s*ave was greeting her.

But she noticed Yu Xiao’s phone had stopped the bell music.

“Hi. Out for a walk?” Yu Xiao asked again.

“Not really. Just… picking a flower…”

Luoyao found her off.

But yesterday with Xiaan, she seemed smart.

Why this weird disconnect?

“Alright, won’t bother you. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Yu Xiao turned, heading for the castle gate.

Her steps now normal, no stiffness.

Luoyao scratched her head, muttering, “She’s not sick, is she… whatever, flower time.”

She turned back to the flower bed.

She found the white platycodon and picked it carefully.

Patrolling vampires spotted her mid-pick.

Luoyao froze, seeing their stares.

She smiled awkwardly. “Um… can I pick flowers for my master? Should be fine, right?”

One icy-faced vampire slowly raised a hand, pointing at Luoyao.

Her heart raced.

This huge castle garden, and you won’t let me pick a few flowers? Platycodon’s not rare…

She swallowed, about to explain, when the vampire drawled, “Don’t pick the lavender next to it. I’ve nurtured it for ages.”

“Oh, okay, just this platycodon.”

“Mm.”

They resumed patrol.

Luoyao exhaled, holding the platycodon.

“Mixed bag. Not all vampires are unreasonable.”

With the flower, she headed home.

Opening the door, she saw Noah emerging from the bedroom, hair tousled, yawning.

“Where’d you go?” Noah asked.

“Downstairs to pick flowers—for you.”

Luoyao, shoes off, handed over the platycodon.

Noah’s eyes widened, delighted.

She took it, sniffing. “Mm, so fragrant, like you.”

“Ugh. Got an empty bottle? I wanna vase it.”

Noah shook her head. “Nope.”

“Fine, I’ll dry it then.”

“Okay. Thanks, Yaoyao.”

Luoyao stiffened, raising a brow. “What’d you call me?”

“Yaoyao. What’s wrong? If you don’t like it, I’ll stick to Luoyao.”

“No, it’s… fine. Just…”

Luoyao scratched her head, smiling bitterly. “Granny’s the last one to call me that. Hearing it suddenly… nostalgic.”

Noah smiled, stepping forward to ruffle her hair. “Then I’ll call you Yaoyao from now on, okay?”

“Mm, okay…”

“Hmm, I call you Yaoyao, so what nickname for me?” Noah asked.

“Uh… Yaya?”

Noah grimaced. “Sounds awful.”

Luoyao stomped. “Then what?”

“Mommy.”

“…Shut up, you mommy-issue vampire.”

Luoyao took the platycodon to the living room for drying.

Noah sat beside her, watching her human miss fuss with the flowers.

“Oh, I ran into Xiyue’s new blood s*ave earlier,” Luoyao said.

“Mm, and?”

“She seemed off—dazed, stiff. But yesterday with Xiaan, she was fine.”

Luoyao shrugged. “Xiyue suck her brain out?”

“Pfft, haha, unlikely. Xiyue’s not a glutton. Probably just off her game.”

“Mm, who knows.”

“You two—”

Knock knock knock.

“I’ll get it.”

“Okay.”

Noah, in slippers, went to the door.

It was Huangwei.

“Good evening, Tail-chan,” Noah said cheerfully.

“Not for long.” Huangwei’s tone was low, her face shadowed.

Noah dropped the playfulness, serious. “What’s up?”

“Mother… is back. In the clock tower. Wants to see you. Now.”