Embrace That Vampire - Chapter 20.2

He hadn’t used headphones while gaming just now, and with that much noise, Lu Que hadn’t muted him? Pei Yun was shocked. “Uncle, are you this ‘bulletproof’ when you work?” Lu Que: “What?” Pei Yun: “You can work even with me being that loud?” Lu Que: “It was alright. I performed some manual ‘noise reduction’ on you.” “…”

He gave a sheepish “oh.” “I completely forgot the video was still on. Uncle, why didn’t you hang up on me?”

Only then did Lu Que briefly shift his gaze from the computer. He gave Pei Yun a faint glance, his tone carrying the cool air of the night: “Didn’t you say you wanted to see what I was doing while you weren’t home?”

Pei Yun blinked and suddenly burst into a smile. Man, what is this feeling of being overwhelmed by cuteness? Unfortunately, the smile pulled at the wound on his mouth. He quickly stopped and rolled over, wrapping himself up like a silkworm cocoon.

“Uncle, do you know what I want to do right now?” he asked. Lu Que: “What?” “I want to award you a big red flower!” He looked at the person in the lens with a grin. “Professor Lu, look at the time. It’s late; you should rest.” Lu Que: “Mhm, soon.” “Then I’m going to sleep.” He matched the quietness of the hour, speaking in a whisper—half-playful, half-obedient. “Goodnight, Professor Lu.”

Most junior-year classes are in the morning. After waking up early all week, Pei Yun just wanted to lie in bed all weekend. However, early the next morning, he was forcibly dug out of his quilt by Ms. Pei.

Five minutes later, Pei Yun sat at the dining table, questioning his life choices. “Why do I have to get up so early?” He directed a soul-searching question to his mother: “I don’t have to plow fields or crow like a rooster. Why do I have to get up this early?”

“Because you’re going shopping with your mom,” Pei Siyue said leisurely as she sipped hot soy milk. She glanced at him. “Why do you look so dazed? You didn’t punch yourself stupid, did you?” “…” Is this ever going to be over!

Wen Xingchuan’s voice came from the kitchen: “Xiao Yun, do you want deep-fried dough sticks or steamed buns?” Pei Yun yawned. “Thanks, Dad. I want both.” Wen Xingchuan (laughing): “Alright.”

While waiting, Pei Yun boredly poked at the vase on the table. Thinking of something, he asked Pei Siyue, “Mom, where did this vase come from?” Pei Siyue: “Why the sudden interest?” Pei Yun: “Just curious. It feels like it’s lived on our dining table for years.”

Pei Siyue glanced toward the kitchen and smiled. “It was a fifth-anniversary wedding gift from your dad. Do you think that’s long?”

It was a wedding anniversary gift? Pei Yun really hadn’t expected that; he’d thought his grandfather had picked it up at an antique market. “Why give a vase for a wedding anniversary? Was Dad trying to say you’re as beautiful as a ‘vase’?”

As soon as he said it, he got a smack on the head.

Wen Xingchuan came out with the food and explained with a smile, “Actually, I wanted to give flowers. But then I thought—giving a whole bouquet at once means they all bloom and wither together, and it’s over too fast. So I bought a vase. By giving one rose a day, your mother can receive flowers every single day.”

Pei Yun: “So the flowers are something you buy and put in there every day too, Dad?” Wen Xingchuan: “Mhm.” Pei Yun: “Then why pink roses and not red ones?” Wen Xingchuan: “Because pink roses represent a first love that flows like a gentle stream. And your mother prefers pink over red.”

Oh, I see. Pei Yun had a look of “I have gained knowledge.”

“Envious?” Pei Siyue looked at him. “Take notes. It’ll help you coax a wife in the future.”

Pei Yun bit into a dough stick, feeling an indescribably wonderful mood. He thought: But before I have a wife to coax, I’ve already been coaxed by someone using this exact trick.

After breakfast, Pei Siyue remembered something just as she was about to leave. She turned back to the garden, grabbed a watering can, and started watering the flowers. Pei Yun squatted on the steps watching for a while, then couldn’t resist the urge to start another video call with his uncle.

“Uncle, hello hello! I didn’t disturb your sleep, did I?” It was a redundant question because Lu Que was clearly already up and preparing breakfast.

Lu Que: “If I were sleeping, I would have been woken up by you now.”

Pei Yun chuckled twice. Remembering what he’d just learned, he asked mysteriously, “Uncle, do you know where that vase on our table came from?”

Lu Que said he didn’t. Pei Yun then patiently gave him a lesson on the wedding anniversary story. “Unexpected, right? I didn’t know my dad could be this romantic. Eye-opening.”

Lu Que thought for a moment on the other end, then asked, “What about you?” Pei Yun: “What?” Lu Que: “What kind of flowers do you like?”

Pei Yun narrowed his eyes, joking: “Why? Is Professor Lu going to give me one a day too?”

Lu Que hummed in affirmation. “Buying pink roses before was an oversight on my part. Tell me what you like, and I’ll change them in the future.”

Pei Yun’s smile faltered. He knew Lu Que meant that pink roses were inappropriate and he should switch to another kind, but hearing those words still made his heart skip a beat. “So this is how it feels,” he muttered. “No wonder girls love receiving flowers so much…” Lu Que: “What?” “Nothing.”

Pei Yun stood up and patted his pants. “I don’t know what kind of flowers I like either. How about I pick one from my mom’s garden!”

It was spring, the blooming season for many flowers, and the garden was filled with various kinds. Pei Yun turned the camera toward the flower beds and babbled incessantly behind Ms. Pei.

Eventually, even before Lu Que could react, Pei Siyue called for a stop. “Stop pestering your uncle with your ‘scriptures.’ I’m already annoyed. You’re only home for two days and you’re still this clingy. How can your uncle stand you?”

“Why wouldn’t he? My uncle can stand anything about me.” He turned the camera back to himself and asked with absolute confidence: “Right, Uncle?” Lu Que: “Mhm.”

Pei Siyue: “Xiao Que, don’t spoil him too much. He’s the type who’ll start acting out the moment you give him an inch. Watch out, he’ll be tearing the roof off next.” Pei Yun: “The apartment at Nanhu Jinyuan doesn’t have a tiled roof! Mom, don’t slander me!”

The car ride was twenty minutes, and the destination was the district’s largest shopping mall. Pei Yun knew he was just free labor and a shopping companion, so he didn’t offer any opinions (which are useless to “fairies” anyway) and dutifully carried bags for Ms. Pei.

After three floors and a mountain of dresses, accessories, and cosmetics, Ms. Pei finally remembered to reward her laborer. “What do you want? Mom’s in a good mood today; I’ll buy you anything.”

The mall was a bit warm. Pei Yun took off his baseball cap and fanned himself. He felt like he might really be lacking exercise lately; he felt exhausted after just this bit of shopping. Even after a bottle of water, his mouth was dry, and he felt dizzy just going up an escalator.

He was about to say he didn’t want anything when they walked past a men’s clothing store. His gaze caught a mannequin in the window, and he paused.

Pei Siyue followed his gaze. “Want to buy a suit?” Pei Yun said no, pointing at the tie around the mannequin’s neck. “Mom, don’t you think that tie is really nice?” Pei Siyue: “It is nice, but would you even use it?” Pei Yun: “I wouldn’t, but my uncle would.”

He walked into the store and studied the mannequin closely. The tie was very dark—black at first glance, but a closer look revealed a deep blue tone. It had irregular dark patterns resembling fine bamboo leaves. Overall, it looked steady and restrained, perfectly matching Lu Que’s temperament. And he’d noticed that his uncle’s formal wear was mostly standard black; a tie like this would go with any of them.

Pei Siyue stood beside him and asked with a smile, “Want to buy it for your uncle?” Pei Yun nodded. “I do.”

They’d lived together for so long, and it was always Lu Que taking care of him and buying him things. It was only right that he return the favor with a gift.

Pei Siyue: “Son, I asked what you wanted. Now you say you want this for Xiao Que—isn’t that using my money to do your own favor?” Pei Yun: “Of course I won’t use your money. That wouldn’t be sincere. I’ll buy this one myself.”

Several customers entered the store at once, and the staff were a bit overwhelmed. Once a clerk finished with another gentleman, she came over to assist them. Pei Siyue had the clerk take Pei Yun to the accessories area to look around while she stayed in the clothing section, intending to pick out a suit for Mr. Wen as well.

There were many styles, and Pei Yun couldn’t choose immediately, so he told the clerk to help others first and he’d call her if he needed assistance. Perhaps because the first impression was too strong, he felt that after seeing the one outside, all the ones inside were only “satisfactory.” After a full round, he hadn’t found anything he liked better.

Should I ask my mom to come in and help me look? She had been buying ties for his dad for years; she definitely had more experience.

Just as he turned to leave, a sudden weakness swept through his entire body. His legs gave way, and he stumbled, barely managing to stay upright. Besides him, there was a middle-aged couple in the accessories area. Seeing something was wrong, they hurried over. “Young man, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Pei Yun waited for the dizziness to pass. He wanted to say he was fine, but as soon as he opened his mouth, his stomach cramped again. He hissed and squatted on the floor, momentarily too pained to speak.

“Is it a stomach ache?!” “Young man, are you alone or is there a friend or parent nearby?” “If it’s serious, we shouldn’t delay. How about we take you to the hospital first?”

The couple were about to help him up, but Pei Yun stood up first, leaning against the wall. “Thanks, I’m fine, no need for the hospital!”

He pulled his cap down to hide his eyes and hurriedly ran out without even getting a chance to say goodbye to Pei Siyue. He blamed himself for being too stupid and careless. He should have realized when he felt so tired and sleepy earlier, and when drinking water didn’t help his dry mouth!

He caught a taxi at the mall entrance. He didn’t dare sit in the passenger seat; he huddled in the back, trying to stay out of the driver’s rearview mirror. “Yishan Lanyu Villa District, thank you.”

As time passed, the hunger became more and more intense. With the driver there, he didn’t dare call Lu Que directly. He wanted to send a message, but because of his dizziness, he couldn’t type a single coherent line.

His abnormal state was probably too obvious; the driver kept looking back at him. Finally, when they were two-thirds of the way there, the driver couldn’t help but speak: “Young man, the nearest hospital is only a few streets away. How about I just take you there? The extra distance is on me; I won’t charge you.”

Pei Yun squeezed out a deeply moved “No need.”

Pei Siyue soon called to ask why he’d left alone. Pei Yun could only vaguely tell her that his teacher had suddenly assigned an online task. Afraid of letting something slip, he cut the call short after a couple of lines.

He was ten minutes away from home, and he was so hungry he wanted to claw at the car window. Then, after only a few seconds, his phone vibrated again.

The caller ID showed “Uncle.” It was Lu Que. He didn’t know he’d accidentally sent that jumbled, incoherent message, and Lu Que, sensing something was wrong, had called immediately to confirm he was okay.

“Xiao Yun, what happened?”

The familiar voice came through the phone. The moment it hit his ears, Pei Yun’s mind went blank, and he felt a sudden, powerful urge to cry. He felt like a naughty kid who had fallen in a mud pit and bumped his head; he was afraid of being scolded so he didn’t dare call home, thinking it wasn’t a big deal and he could handle it.

But hearing the guardian’s voice, his mental defenses collapsed instantly. The grievance was enough to make a single straw break him. He gripped the phone and called out “Uncle.” His throat was painfully tight, and two of the three words carried a low, raspy sob.

He didn’t care about the driver, and he didn’t care about his pride. All he knew was that he desperately needed the person on the other end of the phone to be by his side right now.

“Can you come back for a bit?” “I’m starving to death!”