The Vampire Tycoon Secretly Loves Me - Chapter 7

Dusk had already begun to settle by the time they reached the hotel. Ye Linghan followed Yin Chen back to the room; as a human blood bag, he was naturally required to stay close at his side.

“I have an online meeting tonight. If you’re hungry, you can call for room service. If it ends late, go to sleep first—don’t wait up for me,” Yin Chen said, uncharacteristically wordy for once.

As he spoke, Yin Chen emerged from the bathroom. A bath towel was wrapped loosely and carelessly around his waist, faintly revealing the lean lines of his hips. The muscles of his upper body were refined and powerful. He used a smaller towel to wipe away the water droplets sliding from the tips of his hair. The moment he stepped out, he saw Ye Linghan sitting on the soft, plush bed with his legs tucked in. Concealed by the towel he was using, Yin Chen’s Adam’s apple bobbed subconsciously.

Hearing the movement, Ye Linghan looked up. The scene before him was laid bare. It wasn’t that he hadn’t seen it before, but this time, a peculiar heat rose from deep within his heart. His gaze drifted uncontrollably toward the droplets of water sliding down Yin Chen’s neck, following them all the way down.

Such a perfect physique…

“Ahem…” Yin Chen noticed Ye Linghan’s stare and let out a light cough.

Ye Linghan quickly snapped his head up, feigning composure as he met Yin Chen’s gaze.

“Um… do you want anything to eat? I’ll order something and have them send it up for you, too,” Ye Linghan said, forcing himself to redirect his attention.

“No need.” Yin Chen paused for a moment. “Just bring mine in to me later.”

Ye Linghan nodded dully. “Um, okay.”

This isn’t right. This is very much not right!

Yin Chen seemed to have no intention of avoiding Ye Linghan. Right in front of him, with his back turned, he changed into a sharp, well-tailored suit. Then, under the young wolf’s burning gaze, he left the room with practiced composure.

After Yin Chen left, Ye Linghan went to the restaurant alone. It wasn’t because he was hungry—there had been a wide variety of food on the private jet, and he had tasted a bit of everything—he simply wanted an excuse to get out and clear his head.

The hotel had twenty floors in total. Their room was on the top floor, while the restaurant was on the first floor. Considering the height, Ye Linghan decided to take the elevator.

When the elevator reached the eighth floor, it came to a stop. Ye Linghan suffered from slight motion sickness in elevators, so he usually chose to lean against the corner by the door. At that moment, he kept his head down, and a pair of black, somewhat tattered canvas shoes entered his vision, paired with black pants that were washed thin and faded.

Everything about this person seemed completely out of place with the hotel’s luxury.

Ye Linghan was feeling unwell at the moment, his eyes half-lidded, so he didn’t look up.

Fortunately, the elevator ride remained smooth the rest of the way down to the first floor. Feeling stifled in the enclosed space and being close to the door, Ye Linghan moved to step out.

However, just as one leg crossed the threshold, he suddenly felt a gust of wind from behind. Before he could react, the person who had been standing behind him brushed past him at a run. As their shoulders collided, Ye Linghan was knocked off balance and stumbled.

“You—” Ye Linghan was about to snap a reprimand, but the moment he looked up, his eyes met the other man’s as he turned his head. That gloomy, terrifying gaze made the hairs on the back of Ye Linghan’s neck stand on end.

Before he could speak again, the man reached up to pull his baseball cap lower. Simultaneously, he whipped his head back around and hurried out of the lobby.

That person… how strange.

The coldest gaze Ye Linghan had ever seen belonged to Yin Chen, but Yin Chen’s eyes held the haughty disdain of a superior. This person, however, carried a gaze that was pure, raw killing intent.

A nearby waiter saw Ye Linghan standing dazed on the spot. Thinking he needed assistance, the waiter stepped forward and asked patiently, “Sir, do you require any help?”

Ye Linghan snapped out of it, looked at the waiter, and smiled. “Could you tell me where the restaurant is?”

“Please follow me.” The waiter made a gesturing motion and walked half a step ahead of Ye Linghan, leading him toward the dining area.

Since it wasn’t peak dining hours, the restaurant was nearly empty. The waiter left once they arrived. Ye Linghan selected several dishes that looked appetizing, packed three servings, and headed back to the room.

He placed his own portion on the bedroom table first, then took the other two to the study. He knocked softly. He expected to wait a while, but to his surprise, the door opened quickly. However, the person who opened it wasn’t Yin Chen, but his actual assistant—Sun Mao.

Sun Mao followed Yin Chen’s orders, but he had helped Ye Linghan many times, both openly and secretly. Out of gratitude, Ye Linghan would repay him whenever it was within his power.

Seeing it was Sun Mao, Ye Linghan breathed a sigh of relief and handed over the two packed meals. “Hello, could you please give one of these to President Yin and keep the other for yourself?”

“Thank you.” Sun Mao nodded and closed the door.

Having delivered the food, Ye Linghan turned and left.

When Ye Linghan woke up the next morning, there was no sign that Yin Chen had been in the bed next to him. Perhaps he hadn’t returned all night, but Ye Linghan was long accustomed to such things. He tidied himself up and changed into more formal attire.

Yin Chen didn’t show up all morning, and Ye Linghan had no idea what he was busy with. It wasn’t until the evening that the banquet was about to begin that Yin Chen finally appeared.

The two of them acted as they always did for the sake of appearances. At the banquet table, Ye Linghan helped Yin Chen deflect drinks and served him food. When they encountered “plasters”—those people who stubbornly insisted on sharing a drink with Yin Chen—Ye Linghan could only step in and drink on his behalf.

The person they were meeting this time was the regional head of South City, a man named Wang. He was reportedly a member of the Blood Clan as well, though only a mid-level vampire. Based on status alone, Yin Chen had no reason to meet him personally, yet for some reason, he had agreed to the meeting.

At the table, the conversation went smoothly at first. With nothing much to do, Ye Linghan occasionally observed Yin Chen’s expression. Though Yin Chen wasn’t smiling, his attitude was decent—at the very least, he wasn’t being cold-faced.

Once they had finished the main discussion, Wang De, seeing that Yin Chen wasn’t as ruthless as the rumors suggested, became increasingly bold. Combined with several rounds of high-proof liquor, he began to lose his filter.

Strangely enough, Ye Linghan usually had a high alcohol tolerance and had never been drunk before, but this time, he felt dizzy.

There were three people in the private room. Wang De, holding his glass, could have walked around the other side to reach Yin Chen, but he deliberately took the long way to pass by Ye Linghan. Whether it was a drunken stumble or intentional, he shoved Ye Linghan as he passed.

Ye Linghan already had a headache. Caught off guard, he reached out to steady himself against the table. “Hiss…” The moment his palm touched the table, a jolt of pain like an electric current surged through his body, though it did manage to clear his head slightly.

Beside him, Yin Chen looked up with cold eyes, staring at Wang De.

Ye Linghan was also feeling disgruntled. He shook his head and frowned at Wang De, but the man didn’t care. He stood directly in front of Yin Chen, raising his glass. “President Yin, you may be a High-Blood, but in terms of age, shouldn’t you be calling me ‘Big Brother’?”

Wang De was portly, and standing between the two of them, he completely blocked Ye Linghan from view.

He really has a death wish…

Ye Linghan had been angry because of Wang De’s rough behavior, but upon hearing those words, his eyes widened in shock. Having been by Yin Chen’s side for so long, everyone he met treated the man with nothing but absolute respect. Wang De was the first person brave enough—or stupid enough—to ask Yin Chen to call him “Brother.”

Ye Linghan peeked through the gap at Yin Chen. He saw that Yin Chen’s deep eyes were filled with displeasure, yet he was looking at Wang De with a chilling, half-smile.

The last person Yin Chen looked at with that expression probably had grass growing several feet high by now.

Sensing the atmosphere, Ye Linghan stood up and said to Yin Chen, “President Yin, I’m going to the restroom.” If not now, when! While the drama was exciting, he didn’t want to get caught in the crossfire.

When Yin Chen turned to look at Ye Linghan, a trace of tenderness entered his eyes, and he nodded in approval.

Just as Ye Linghan was about to leave, he caught a glimpse of Wang De’s arm, where his sleeve was rolled up. There was a deep scar there.

Ye Linghan narrowed his eyes, a cold flash of realization crossing his mind—

By the time he reached the restroom, the discomfort had become overwhelming. He had only had one drink, yet his entire body was burning with an agonizing heat, and his head throbbed. He clutched his stomach and crouched on the floor, leaning against the wall. Fortunately, the icy chill of the wall helped him retain a shred of his sanity.

Was the drink drugged? Ye Linghan felt a restless, inexplicable heat rising in his chest. It wasn’t just physical heat; his mind was filled with thoughts of Yin Chen.

He slumped against the wall, his eyelids growing heavy. His remaining logic told him he needed to get back to the private room to find Yin Chen immediately to avoid any unnecessary trouble.

Ye Linghan struggled to his feet, hunching over and leaning against the wall as he made his way out. Just as he stepped outside, he ran straight into Wang De. The man’s face was a mess of colors as he stumbled toward him. The moment he saw Ye Linghan, Wang De flew into a rage. He lunged forward, grabbed Ye Linghan by the collar, and roared through gritted teeth.

“What the hell are you? You’re nothing to President Yin—no title, no status. Why on earth does he care about you so much?”

In his agitated state, Wang De lost control. As he spoke, he threw a punch directly into Ye Linghan’s face.

Drugged and weakened, Ye Linghan had no strength to resist. He felt a searing, burning pain on his face as he was easily knocked back. His back slammed into the wall, and he slid to the floor.

A loud thud echoed in his ears. Ye Linghan’s head buzzed, and his internal organs felt as if they had been shifted out of place. The metallic taste of blood filled his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of bloody foam.

“Cough, cough…” Ye Linghan knelt on the ground, forcing himself to look up. Since it seemed Yin Chen had already dropped the act with this man, he saw no reason to hold back. “Are you out of your damn mind? Even if I have no status, so what? If you mess with me, you won’t get a single benefit out of it.”

His voice was hoarse. As he spoke, blood continued to drip from his nose and mouth, trailing down his chin and staining his snow-white shirt like blooming red flowers.

Wang De was seeing red. Having been provoked by Yin Chen earlier, he had completely lost his reason. “You’re looking for death!” He wound up his fist, preparing to strike Ye Linghan again.

Ye Linghan’s body felt like lead. He saw Wang De’s fist coming toward him as if in slow motion, but he lacked the power to dodge. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the impact.

But after a long moment, the expected pain never came. Ye Linghan slowly opened his eyes to see a figure standing in front of him. His vision was blurred, so he couldn’t make out the face.

“Have you gone mad?” The person caught Wang De’s fist and shoved him aside.

“I haven’t, he started it—” Wang De began to explain, but when he met the person’s gaze, he stopped speaking.

The deranged Wang De suddenly regained his senses upon seeing this individual. Surprisingly, he stood to the side with an air of respect.

“Ye Linghan, are you okay?” The person knelt in front of Ye Linghan, gently shaking his shoulder and asking with deep concern.

Only when the face drew closer did Ye Linghan realize who it was—Yin Chen’s brother, Yin Ste.

He shook his head with difficulty. The pain and the drugging heat were weaving together, ravaging his body. It was unbearable.

Just then, the sound of rapid footsteps approached. Before Ye Linghan could react, there was a muffled grunt, and a figure flew past him, crashing heavily onto the floor.

Ye Linghan felt a sudden tightening around his waist as he was pulled into someone’s embrace.

“You… you’re here?” Ye Linghan’s voice softened. He couldn’t open his eyes, but this scent was far too familiar. This was the only person he could trust right now.

“Yes. I’m sorry, I’m late.”

A warm, gentle voice sounded in Ye Linghan’s ear.

Yin Chen knelt on one knee, holding Ye Linghan’s limp body and pulling him tightly into his arms, allowing the blood to stain his expensive clothes.