Embrace That Vampire - Chapter 4

Pei Yun originally thought his lack of appetite was just an intermittent phase, but over the next few days, the situation didn’t improve; instead, it grew steadily worse.

He had asked Lu Que what he’d had for lunch that day and immediately went to the cafeteria to replicate the exact same meal. The result was nothing like he had imagined—the simple dishes didn’t spark a hint of appetite. After forcing a few bites, he threw the rest away.

It simply wasn’t the scent he had smelled on Lu Que that day.

So, Pei Yun tried a different path and ordered takeout from that seafood porridge shop.

Liquids were indeed easier to swallow, but it was also true that it tasted like chewing wax. It took him half an hour to finish a single portion; both the texture and the flavor were worlds apart from what he had eaten in the shop that day.

One moment, Pei Yun was eloquently condemning how modern takeout was becoming increasingly careless, and the next, he was dragging Du Jian to the physical shop, his actions betraying his words.

Then, to his surprise, he found it was no different from the takeout he’d had.

Looking at Du Jian across from him and then thinking back to Lu Que sitting in that same spot, Pei Yun bit his spoon, his mood complex.

Could it be that “beauty is a feast for the eyes” was actually a literal truth?

Thursday arrived. An Lan, who had taken leave to visit his grandfather in his hometown, finally returned. He fulfilled his mission by bringing back a massive jar of pickled radishes for Pei Yun.

The diced radishes, coated in chili, were vibrantly colored—the kind of sight that would normally make one’s mouth water.

Except for Pei Yun.

However, “never letting a brother’s kindness go to waste” was one of Pei Yun’s life mottos. For dinner, he forced down two entire bowls of porridge with the pickled radishes, leaving him so bloated he couldn’t fall asleep even half an hour after lights out.

Fortunately, he wasn’t the only one awake.

Du Jian, scrolling through his phone, found a new group notification and let out an “ah,” poking his head out from his mosquito net. “The new blood analyzers have arrived! The class monitor said for tomorrow afternoon’s Microbiology, we don’t have to go to the classroom—we’re going straight to the lab to check out the equipment.”

He sounded excited. “I heard this new blood analyzer is the same model used by the IUPR. Do you think it can also detect vampire blood?”

“It can’t.”

Compared to Du Jian, An Lan was much more level-headed. “Ours is just the basic model. Anything vampire-related can only be handled by the IUPR; otherwise, it’s illegal.”

Zeng Yichen wasn’t from the School of Biology and didn’t understand these things, so he could only listen quietly to their discussion.

Du Jian sighed in disappointment. “Sigh, I almost forgot. I got excited for nothing.”

Pei Yun turned over and rubbed his belly. “What are you so happy about? Even if it could detect vampires, so what? Could you actually go out and catch one to test it?”

“I just wanted to see the ‘pig run’ even if I haven’t eaten ‘pork’ before,” Du Jian chuckled. “But speaking of the IUPR, back when I was in a club, there was a senior in our major who actually got in.”

An Lan: “He entered the Modification Plant?”

Du Jian: “Not exactly. He just took a tour of the research building. I heard it’s incredibly grand inside.”

His tone sounded quite envious, so Zeng Yichen asked him, “Du Jian, do you want to work at the IUPR?”

“No,” Du Jian said without a second thought. “Looking is fine, but working there is a no-go. My dream is the Research Institute—firm and unwavering.”

“I don’t want to, either,” An Lan added. “I don’t really like the IUPR. I feel they aren’t humanitarian enough. The Research Institute is just fine.”

Du Jian praised him for being a kindred spirit and turned to ask Pei Yun: “What about you, Pei-bao? You’d probably want to enter the IUPR, right? After all, Professor Lu is also affiliated with them.”

“I don’t,” Pei Yun said, staring into the pitch-black dormitory with his hands pillowed behind his head. “I’m like An Lan; I don’t like the IUPR either.”

As they discussed casually, vampires and humans had coexisted peacefully for hundreds of years. Their existence was no longer anything new.

Vampires were extremely rare, with a population ratio to normal humans of about 1:10,000.

Without exception, they were strikingly beautiful. Upon awakening at the appropriate age, they would be guided by instinct to find their own unique type of blood donor. Their traits of beauty and loyalty made many humans more than willing to marry them.

The government had even established a specialized “Second Human Bureau”—commonly known as the Vampire Bureau—and formulated a set of laws applicable to them.

For a long time, everything was continuously developing in a positive direction.

However, over a decade ago, this seemingly perfect reality was ruthlessly shattered by a sudden, unforeseen accident.

Incidents of vampires suddenly losing their sanity and mauling their donors to death began appearing one after another. The social status and safety credibility of vampires plummeted; the once-beloved beauties became rats crossing the street overnight.

Taking various factors into account, the Bureau decided to establish the Second Human Research Institute—the IUPR—to implement a mandatory “Blood Modification Plan” for vampires.

From that moment on, vampires lost their right to walk in the sunlight. If they didn’t want to be forcibly sent to the IUPR, they could only hide in the shadows.

Everything inside the IUPR was highly confidential. No one knew exactly what “blood modification” entailed; there were only rumors that it was terrifying—the kind of pain that would make you roll on the floor in agony.

And they wouldn’t even let you roll.

Pei Yun didn’t understand. If some vampires killed people, then just catch those ones. Humans also committed theft, arson, and robbery; why paint them all with the same brush? Just because your population base was larger, you could decide their life and death like this?

But perhaps in their eyes, vampires weren’t considered human to begin with.

Hiss—can’t think about it, can’t think about it; it’ll only make me angry.

Pei Yun took two breaths to calm himself and turned to face the wall to sleep. Suddenly, his phone vibrated and the screen lit up. Upon opening it, he saw a message from his “Empress Mother,” telling him to go home for dinner tomorrow with Lu Que.

Pei Yun checked the time: 1:12 AM.

Beating Up Little Monsters: 【Mom, are you dragging Dad along to watch horror movies in the middle of the night again?】

Empress Mother: 【Why, are you interested? Want to join us? /smirk】

Pei Yun gasped and typed furiously:

Beating Up Little Monsters: 【I AM NOT INTERESTED!!! STOP RIGHT THERE!!! DON’T SCREENSHOT!!! DON’T SEND PICTURES!!!】

Empress Mother: 【Too late, already screenshotted. But okay, I won’t send them.】

Pei Yun rolled his eyes. He knew it.

Beating Up Little Monsters: 【Does my Small Uncle know about the dinner?】

Empress Mother: 【He does. I just told Xiao Que.】

Pei Yun was just about to say she was “mighty brave” for disturbing the Light of Ning University’s rest in the middle of the night, when the next second, he received a WeChat message from said Light:

. : 【Leave with me after class tomorrow.】

Wow, the Light of Ning University wasn’t asleep yet.

Pei Yun replied with a respectful 【Okay】. Before putting his phone down, he saw a red notification on his Moments. Knowing it might be that, he still couldn’t resist clicking it.

As expected, a massive, terrifying screenshot of a ghost’s head. Caption: Son, is it thrilling?

Pei Yun bared his teeth in a grimace, clutching his poor heart as he quickly shut off the phone and shoved it under his pillow.

Satisfied now? That’s what you get for having itchy hands!

The following afternoon.

Arriving at the lab entrance, they only then realized the teacher for this class had been changed.

“I think they said Professor Lu has something come up, so Professor Zheng is covering for one session.”

The forum drama had been fermenting for a few days, so everyone who should know, knew. After the girl finished speaking, she turned to look at Pei Yun and smiled. “You didn’t even know about your own Small Uncle?”

Pei Yun shook his head. “He didn’t tell me.”

As they walked into the lab one after another, the girl let out a long-drawn “oh” and added, “Then do you know how many girls want to be your ‘Small Aunt’?”

Pei Yun: “?” What the hell, I didn’t know!

Du Jian’s mouth fell open. “Monitor, you’re brave. Aren’t you guys afraid of Professor Lu?”

“Professor Lu is just a bit cold; he doesn’t scold or hit people. Why be afraid?” The class monitor shrugged. “Besides, haven’t you heard the saying? In the face of absolute beauty, everything else can be selectively ignored.”

Du Jian was speechless. “The world of ‘Visual Stan’ sounds so simple and happy. Then… then our Pei-bao is also good-looking; don’t you guys have any thoughts on that?”

The monitor’s eyes crinkled. “We do, of course we do. Everyone has talked it over—if being Professor Lu’s wife is too hard, we can choose to be Professor Lu’s niece-in-law. As long as we can become one family, it’s fine.”

Pei Yun: “Wow, that’s too sad. You guys are treating me as a backup.”

His tone made a bunch of girls in front of him, who were eavesdropping, burst into laughter.

The monitor laughed so hard she couldn’t stand straight, waving her hand at him. “Just kidding, just kidding. We aren’t that audacious; don’t be angry.”

Pei Yun also laughed, his dimples appearing. “Am I that petty of a person?”

The monitor wanted to say something else, but for some reason, her laughter suddenly stopped. She tilted her head and let out a surprised “huh” at him.

Pei Yun thought she didn’t believe him and said, “Who doesn’t like a handsome guy? If conditions allowed, I’d even want to be my own Small Aunt.”

As his voice fell, a bizarre silence settled over the surroundings.

The monitor stared at him with wide eyes, then looked behind him, the sound of her swallowing clearly audible.

Pei Yun only then realized the monitor might not be staring at him.

He turned his head stiffly. As expected, his Small Uncle was standing less than two paces behind him, looking at him with a chilling gaze.