Because that posture was simply too strange, Fu Hui unzipped his school uniform. The long down-filled uniform jacket was roomy enough to wrap Lan Xi up completely.
The bodyguard spotted them from a distance and hurried over. “Is he cold?”
Fu Hui gave a vague “Mm,” then bundled the little one in his arms into the car.
Once inside, Lan Xi finally lowered the left hand he’d been using to cover his face.
As for his right hand… he’d been clutching Fu Hui all this time, leaving both sleeves of Fu Hui’s shirt thoroughly crumpled.
Fu Hui lowered the partition and said, “Let me see. …Have your horns come out again?”
“Mm… no.” Lan Xi lifted his face.
A drop of blood plopped onto Fu Hui’s knee.
Startled, Fu Hui hurriedly cupped his chin. On closer inspection, Lan Xi had bitten right through his lower lip, and it was still bleeding.
Two long, pointed little fangs were digging into the flesh, making him look like a tiny vampire.
The instant he saw them clearly, Fu Hui felt his blood run cold.
“Does it hurt?”
“Mmph, mmph.” It had been better before he asked. Now Lan Xi’s eyes immediately brimmed with tears, no matter how many years older he’d gotten.
Fu Hui used tissues to wipe away his tears, then the blood on his chin.
The half-dried blood wouldn’t come off completely. Instead, it left a faint smudge that made Lan Xi look even prettier and more pitiful.
Fu Hui’s heart ached terribly for him.
After everything they’d been through with the horns and wings, Fu Hui could already guess what had happened. “They came out and won’t go back in?”
“Wuu.” Lan Xi nodded miserably.
They obviously couldn’t leave his fangs pressed into his lip like that. Wouldn’t they gouge two bloody holes straight through it?
In his anxiety, Fu Hui pulled out a fountain pen. “Bite on this?”
Lan Xi glared at him and protested awkwardly, “I… am not… a dog.”
Fu Hui pictured it.
He would make a very pretty puppy, though… All right, Lan Xi didn’t like that.
Fu Hui held his chin. “Open your mouth.”
“I shaid… I won’t… be a dog.”
“I know.” Fu Hui wiped his hand with a disinfecting wipe. “Here. Bite on this instead.”
Lan Xi hesitated. “Bite… Fu Hui?”
He didn’t hesitate for very long. Before Fu Hui even had time to open his mouth to persuade him, Lan Xi had already closed his lips around Fu Hui’s finger, as though his question had been a mere formality.
…So this was what being bitten felt like.
The thought flashed through Fu Hui’s mind.
Lan Xi’s teeth were extremely sharp.
Even the lightest pressure was enough to slice through Fu Hui’s skin.
Fu Hui abruptly recalled how, when he’d first picked Lan Xi up, he’d curiously touched his teeth and cut himself then, too. Back then, those teeth had been nothing but tiny little points…
Lan Xi turned his face toward him. “What are you… finking?”
“I was thinking that even when Lan Xi was smaller, his teeth were formidable.”
Lan Xi couldn’t be bothered to talk anymore. He simply gave Fu Hui a look that said, *Of course. Lan Xi has always been formidable.*
But a little while later, something else occurred to him. Still holding Fu Hui’s hand in his mouth, he stubbornly asked, “Whass that mean? Miss me when I wash little? I’m not good now?”
Fu Hui steadied his fidgeting head. “No. I just wanted Lan Xi to know that I remember so many things about you.”
Lan Xi settled down obediently. “Oh, oh.”
Only then did Lan Xi remember to be considerate and pat Fu Hui’s chest. “Dirty.”
That was where Lan Xi had left a stain when he buried his face against Fu Hui earlier.
Fu Hui naturally didn’t mind.
He merely asked out of curiosity, “Will Lan Xi wash it for me?”
Lan Xi said, “Silly… give it to the washing machine.”
Fu Hui: “…”
A demon’s sudden pang of conscience apparently extended only as far as a verbal acknowledgment.
The car drove back to the house where the two of them usually lived on their own.
This wasn’t like growing horns, when wearing a hat would do, or growing wings, when thicker clothing could hide them.
Lan Xi had to eat, and more than three meals a day at that. His mouth couldn’t stay hidden. After some thought, Fu Hui asked the others to keep away from the living quarters for the time being and had the bodyguards remain around the outside.
Leaving absolutely no one on guard was out of the question. After Fu Lin’s kidnapping, nobody dared take that risk.
Speaking of which, Lan Xi later wrote about that incident in a school essay.
He described in detail how he’d made his way through woods that drones had difficulty entering, eventually finding Dad in an abandoned underground building.
His teacher’s comment: *Such a vivid imagination. Keep it up!*
Lan Xi was deeply displeased. Apparently nobody could appreciate how extraordinary he was.
Fortunately, Fu Lin appreciated it. He had the essay framed and hung in his office, saying he would treasure it forever.
Such enthusiastic support earned Fu Lin a much kinder look from Lan Xi. Lan Xi no longer regarded him as some dreadful outsider who ought to stop intruding on his life with Fu Hui.
Now that they were back in their room, Fu Hui applied medicine to Lan Xi’s poor injured mouth.
Then Fu Hui, who had become a human teething ring, thought for a moment and called Fu Lin to ask him to arrange an absence from school.
Fu Lin asked, “What happened?”
Fu Hui said, “Lan Xi’s fangs came out and he can’t retract them for now.”
Fu Lin had seen his share of extraordinary things, but hearing his son say that in such a matter-of-fact tone still left him a little dizzy. Yes, Lan Xi wasn’t human, but Lan Xi was a good little boy. So what if he grew a couple of fangs? Even if he grew a whole mouthful, that was fine!
“You’re staying home to look after him?” Fu Lin asked again.
“Yes, Dad.”
Fu Lin suddenly remembered that, long ago, Fu Hui had taken several rather unusual absences from school.
He’d been so secretive about them. It must have been because something strange was happening to Lan Xi’s body, hadn’t it?
“Getting time off is easy. Is Lan Xi’s health all right? Does he need to go to the hospital?”
“No need.”
Only then did Fu Lin hang up, reassured.
After the phone call, Lan Xi was still delighted. Ever since humans had invented a thing called *school*, time spent with Fu Hui had become especially precious to him.
Clinging to Fu Hui, he said, “Fu Hui’s gotten taller…”
Fu Hui was just about to respond when Lan Xi continued, “More comf’table to lean on now.”
As soon as he’d said it, Lan Xi rolled right into Fu Hui’s embrace and stopped moving.
Fu Hui let out a quiet hiss. His hand hurt where Lan Xi had bitten it.
Fu Hui lowered his head and found himself looking straight into a pair of innocent, jewel-like eyes.
Of course he wasn’t angry. He just couldn’t resist giving Lan Xi’s cheek a little pinch.
Lan Xi whimpered softly in protest. “D’you know… how much my face is worf now?”
Absolute beauty was an argument that needed no further support.
Even though Lan Xi had an eccentric temper and wasn’t particularly cooperative, the posters from his magazine shoots and those few breathtaking shots in the film had made him a favorite with brands.
Lan Xi’s work as a little child laborer was flourishing.
That little face of his really was worth a great deal.
The talent agency had even taken out insurance on it.
Fu Hui smiled, gave the soft flesh one last gentle squeeze, and slowly withdrew his hand. “All right. No more pinching.”
Lan Xi leaned against him to watch television for a while. Then they reviewed vocabulary and read together before it was time to eat.
Fu Hui’s left hand hardly left Lan Xi’s mouth.
Only belatedly did Lan Xi reach out and touch Fu Hui’s hand.
Oh.
Fu Hui was bleeding too.
Lan Xi smacked his lips and sucked at what was in his mouth, only for Fu Hui to catch him by the cheeks again.
Fu Hui frowned. “What are you doing? You can’t just swallow anything you feel like!”
Perhaps rebellion was part of his nature.
The more Lan Xi was told not to do something, the more determined he became.
He insisted on sucking the blood from Fu Hui’s finger, and even made deliberately loud noises while doing it.
Fu Hui froze, a fine, numb chill creeping through every pore.
When he came back to himself, he felt intensely awkward, though he couldn’t have said why.
He pried Lan Xi’s mouth open and withdrew his hand. “I’d better find you a piece of gauze to bite on.”
Furious, Lan Xi sprang up from the sofa and jumped onto Fu Hui’s back. “No, no, no!”
Fu Hui let him ride there.
The adolescent Fu Hui was growing taller and stronger by the day. Carrying Lan Xi around on his back was effortless.
He hooked his arms back around Lan Xi’s legs, carried him on a couple of laps around the room, and ultimately found him a piece of gauze anyway.
After all, Lan Xi couldn’t keep Fu Hui’s hand in his mouth forever.
What was Fu Hui supposed to do when he needed the bathroom? Or a shower?
Biting on the gauze, Lan Xi stood off to the side, staring gloomily at Fu Hui.
Someone called his phone over and over, and he rejected every call.
Fu Hui picked up the large phone with its peeling paint. “Want me to answer it for you?”
Lan Xi pouted. “Mm.”
Fu Hui tapped the screen.
The oversized phone promptly froze.
Fu Hui said, “Lan Xi, you really do need a new phone.”
Lan Xi wasn’t listening at all. He suddenly leaned his face close to Fu Hui. “Touch it.”
Just like a kitten.
Pinch him and he’d kick at you. Turn away to do something else, and he’d insist on rubbing against you until you petted him.
Still just as adorable!
Fu Hui fought down the corners of his smile. “Lan Xi’s face is too expensive. I can’t afford to touch it.”
Lan Xi nudged him with his head. “You have money! You do, I know! You can touch it lots and lots of times! You can afford it!”
Fu Hui couldn’t hold back any longer. He caught Lan Xi’s cheeks and gave them two vigorous rubs.
Lan Xi was satisfied.
Of course! Fu Hui still couldn’t resist anything Lan Xi demanded!
“Lan Xi, you have to change your phone,” Fu Hui reminded him yet again. “You can’t even answer calls on it anymore.”
Lan Xi said scornfully, “New phones are all ugly.”
The gauze bobbed up and down in his mouth as he spoke.
This time, he really did look like a puppy.
Fu Hui asked, “What’s ugly about them?”
“They’re all teeny-tiny. Don’t want one.”
“…”
The phones currently in fashion really were all compact models.
But that was hardly an insurmountable problem. Fu Hui immediately said, “I’ll have a big one custom-made for you.”
“Mm? Mm!” Lan Xi spat out the gauze, turned, and threw his arms around Fu Hui’s neck. Just as he’d done when he was even smaller, he planted a loud kiss on Fu Hui’s cheek and declared, “Fu Hui, I wuv you!”
He smeared both saliva and blood all over Fu Hui’s face.
He even bumped the little exposed fangs in his own mouth.
Fortunately, he at least didn’t leave two holes in Fu Hui’s cheek.
Fu Hui wiped his face without changing his expression. He held back for a moment, then couldn’t help smiling. “Mm… I love Lan Xi too.”
Even if he still couldn’t understand Lan Xi’s fondness for enormous cell phones.
–
This time, the little fangs didn’t torment them for long.
When Lan Xi had grown horns, it had taken several months before he could retract them.
Now, after a single night’s sleep, the fangs had vanished.
Lan Xi got up in the morning and happily licked his lips in the mirror. One lick made the fangs appear; another made them retreat.
The little succubus, growing bit by bit, could already control his own body with much greater ease.
The wounds on his mouth healed quickly too. In three days, his lips were soft and smooth again.
In contrast, the wounds on Fu Hui’s hand developed very obvious scabs.
There were two little round marks, with one long scratch running from them, made when Lan Xi had moved around while biting him.
“Fu Hui asked for a whole week off, but I got better in three days.” Lan Xi touched his mouth. “Fu Hui, come film a movie with me!”
Lan Xi certainly hadn’t been idle during those two days.
He’d gotten in touch again with the director of his first film.
Lan Xi wanted to play a vampire.
He thought it would be an awful shame if more people didn’t get to admire his beautiful, pointed teeth!
Fu Hui also thought it was a rare opportunity. After considering it, he agreed. “All right.”
Secretary Li drove them both to the set.
Lan Xi still disliked memorizing lines. This time, the director knew exactly what to do and simply cast him as a mute.
“A mute vampire?” When Fu Hui first heard, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Secretary Li couldn’t help joining in. “Now that’s a novelty. Who’s ever heard of a vampire who can’t talk?”
Lan Xi was very proud. “Well, now you have!”
When they arrived at the set, Fu Hui put on a mask and followed quietly behind Lan Xi.
Fu Hui was fourteen that year, already impressively tall. The childishness was gradually leaving the contours of his face, revealing a handsomeness that was difficult to overlook.
Even the mask couldn’t conceal it.
Other people looked at him curiously. “A new actor?”
Lan Xi went off to have his makeup tested.
Fu Hui sat down in a corner.
Then everyone realized that he wasn’t an actor.
“Damn, someone that handsome working as an assistant?” somebody exclaimed.
Fu Hui pretended not to hear. He took out his phone and used the spare moment to review his study materials.
More and more people arrived on set, and the surroundings grew lively and noisy.
Fu Hui had to step somewhere quieter for a while. He also took a photograph and sent it to Lan Xi to show him where he was. Otherwise, when His Majesty Lan Xi came out and couldn’t find him, he’d certainly be angry.
“Is that Lan Xi?” someone was saying.
Fu Hui’s ears immediately pricked up.
“He’s really lucky. I heard he has some serious capital backing him.”
Fu Hui smiled a little when he heard that.
“Capital, my ass. He’s probably from a poor family. Maybe his parents are squeezing him for every penny. Look at the phone he uses. God, how many years old is that model? It’s huge and ugly, the paint’s peeling off, and he still hasn’t replaced it!”
“Then that must be a paid PR story his team planted to shape his image!”
Fu Hui frowned as he listened. As more and more people admired Lan Xi’s face…
…how much malice might be directed at him in private?
Just then, Lan Xi ran over in his costume. “Fu Hui! Look at me…”
The people chatting jumped and spun around, only then noticing Fu Hui standing in the shadows.
Fu Hui took a step forward. “Because I’m the one who bought it for him.”
The expressions on the other people’s faces immediately turned peculiar.
By the time Lan Xi reached him, Fu Hui finally realized they’d jumped to one of those sordid entertainment-industry fantasies about a rich patron.
He nearly threw up from disgust. His expression darkened, and he emphasized coldly, “I was only EIGHT that year!”