Chapter 33: Forty-One Blossoms

The vampire tilted his head to dodge the spit that Qin Yue hurled at him, then hesitated before speaking cautiously, “Perhaps… my beloved is actually in your family?”

Luo Yu steeled himself and decided to be direct. “Are you trying to pursue me? Let me tell you, I’m already taken!” He patted Qin Yue’s shoulder, indicating to the vampire that they were a couple. “You should understand, love can’t be forced. We belong to different worlds—human and ghost, do you understand? There can be no outcome! You’d best go back!”

The vampire was stunned on the spot upon hearing this.

Luo Yu ignored him, dragged Qin Yue inside, but discovered that the vampire had followed and even blocked the door.

Luo Yu felt frustrated: Why was this vampire so persistent? Having such an unstoppable admirer was truly bothersome!

Half of the vampire’s body squeezed into the doorway, his face innocent and conflicted. “Oh, darling, how should I explain? Please believe me—I swear on Cain, I have no such intentions toward you… My affections lie elsewhere.”

Luo Yu rolled his eyes. “If your heart belongs elsewhere, why are you trying to come into our house?”

The vampire hesitated for a long while before replying, “I’d like to join you… I don’t dare enter alone.”

Luo Yu roared, “This isn’t about courage! The issue is whether I allow you in!”

At that moment, Father Chu heard the commotion and walked out from his studio. “What are you arguing about at the door?” He suddenly caught sight of the vampire, his expression froze, and the paintbrush in his hand fell to the floor with a snap.

Before Luo Yu could react, the vampire uttered a heartfelt, “Baby, I’ve finally found you!” With a blur, he appeared at Father Chu’s side, wrapped an arm around his waist, lifted Father Chu’s chin with practiced ease, and bestowed a passionate French kiss right then and there.

“……”

“……”

Luo Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief: That guy is kissing my dad, that guy is kissing my dad…

This thought spun in his mind, looping endlessly, causing his brain to completely freeze.

After a long moment, Father Chu’s body began to tremble. He shook for a bit, then suddenly shoved the vampire away, punctuating the action with a crisp slap that snapped Luo Yu back to consciousness.

Father Chu’s face was flushed crimson with rage. He looked around, grabbed a broom, and attacked the vampire furiously.

The vampire, clutching his face and ducking, cried out in grievance, “Forgive me, darling, please! I was too emotional just now! Darling? Oh, don’t be like this! I know you’ve missed me too… Your kiss told me everything…”

“Scoundrel, shut up!” Father Chu, out of breath and unable to land many hits, began transferring his fury to the innocent bystanders. “Where did you pick up this thing? Throw it out!”

Luo Yu had never seen his father so furious and felt a bit afraid, quickly explaining, “We didn’t bring him back, he followed… He found this place himself! We don’t know him, thought he was a thief!”

The vampire was aggrieved to the point of tears. “Oh heavens! Shameless humans! Darling, please believe me, I got along well with them, even helped them get rid of a scoundrel!”

Father Chu’s anger surged. “You killed someone again? Who asked you to meddle?”

The vampire protested, “That guy tried to steal your treasures and planned something unspeakable. How could I let that happen?”

Father Chu’s rage abated slightly, and he went over to kick the vampire a few more times, then shook out his sleeves and glanced at the three in the room. “Who can explain what’s going on?”

Luo Yu and Qin Yue exchanged glances, neither saying a word.

The vampire eagerly offered, “Darling, I’ll tell you everything, provided you stop using violence or cold shoulder tactics against me.”

Father Chu said, “Get out!” Then to the other two, “Throw him out!”

Qin Yue drooped his eyelids and replied blandly, “We can’t.”

Luo Yu added cautiously, “He’s much stronger than us.”

Father Chu fumed, “So what now? Let him stay in our house?”

Qin Yue suggested, “Uncle Luo, why don’t you throw him out?”

Uncle Luo was at a loss.

He brooded in frustration for a while, then tossed the broom aside and went back inside. The vampire trailed after him.

Luo Yu and Qin Yue stared at each other, bewildered.

Luo Yu was completely confused inside: What’s going on? The vampire’s beloved turns out to be my own dad? My dad has always been upright, never involved in any scandal… Wait?

Luo Yu wondered aloud, “Why didn’t Dad ever find me a stepmom?”

Qin Yue replied, “How should I know?”

Luo Yu grabbed Qin Yue’s shirt, nervous. “Could Dad have something with that guy? Huh? That guy’s from England—England! Dad studied in England too. Did they really have a fling?”

Qin Yue asked, “Does it bother you?”

Luo Yu nodded, “Who wouldn’t mind? Damn, he even asked us for those books! Two of them! If Dad finds out, you’re doomed!”

Qin Yue corrected, “Actually, ‘we’ are doomed.”

Luo Yu retorted, “You gave him the books, don’t drag me in!”

Qin Yue said, “You didn’t object at the time, so we gave them together.”

Luo Yu protested, “You can’t be so shameless!”

Qin Yue threatened, “If you push all the blame onto me, I’ll say you handed him the books.”

Just then, another crisp slap sounded from inside, followed by Father Chu’s furious voice, “What are you two dawdling out there for? Get in here immediately!”

The two quickly stopped their argument and entered the living room.

Father Chu sat in the center of the sofa, disheveled and flushed, radiating hostility. The vampire sat on another sofa, rubbing his face.

Luo Yu glared fiercely at the vampire, dragged Qin Yue to the remaining sofa, and barely sat down when Father Chu barked, “No holding hands!”

Luo Yu quickly let go of Qin Yue’s hand.

Father Chu thought for a moment, then declared, “From today on, Qin Yue will sleep in the guest room!”

Qin Yue protested, “Why? I won’t sleep in the guest room. Luo Yu and I aren’t involved that way—even if we were, Uncle Luo shouldn’t break us up.”

Uncle Luo was furious. “What did you say? I shouldn’t break you up?”

Qin Yue replied calmly, “Two men in love is only a bit shocking, but it doesn’t harm anyone, so what’s the problem? Besides, Luo Yu and I are cultivators—in the cultivation world, male couples are commonplace. Not only that, we complement each other, which benefits our practice. What’s there to criticize, Uncle Luo?”

Uncle Luo said, “That’s a dangerous idea! You must live apart from Xiao Yu!”

Qin Yue countered, “Uncle Luo, please calm down. Luo Yu and I aren’t involved that way, and I won’t stay in the guest room—the lighting is too dim.”

Uncle Luo was about to continue when the vampire spoke up, “I don’t mind staying in the guest room. I prefer places with dim lighting.”

This statement raised the tension; Uncle Luo’s attention shifted entirely to him. “Did I allow you to live in my house? You’d best leave before my father returns!”

The vampire gazed pitifully at Father Chu. “Darling, after you vanished, I searched for you every day. Please forgive my foolishness… My constant longing has tormented me, leaving me uninterested in others…”

“Shut up!” Father Chu’s face burned. “What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t say such misleading things!”

The vampire innocently asked, “Misleading how? Oh… heavens, please believe me, I didn’t mean it—this is a cultural difference! Our bloodline expresses loyalty this way. We believe physical desire is the deepest, most direct form of affection…”

“Enough!” Father Chu rubbed his temples. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

The vampire declared, “Even if you shatter my heart, I won’t leave. Losing you is more painful than losing my heart.”

Father Chu took a deep breath and said coldly, “Then stay in the guest room, but don’t upset my father, and don’t say anything inappropriate. Otherwise, I’ll drive a sturdy silver nail into your chest during the day.”

The vampire, far from saddened, was overjoyed. “Darling, please believe me! I will definitely win your father’s—our father’s—approval!”

Father Chu waved him off, unwilling to argue further. “Tell me about the scoundrel you killed—what did he do?”

The vampire immediately recounted all the details that Luo Yu and Qin Yue had concealed from Father Chu. Father Chu said nothing after hearing it, only asked Qin Yue, “Are you still hurting?”

Qin Yue replied coolly, “It’s almost healed.”

Father Chu glanced at Luo Yu, who lowered his head. “I’m fine too, with spiritual energy healing, recovery is quick—the scabs have already fallen off.”

The vampire chimed in, expressing loyalty, “Darling, whatever the problem, I’ll handle it for you. You can entrust anything to me—supervising the children, cleaning, revenge, arson, murder…”

Luo Yu had been quietly observing his father’s interaction with the vampire, searching for hints of affection. Hearing this, he brightened, “Then help us clean somewhere first!”

The vampire shot Luo Yu a look, remembering Luo Yu’s earlier badmouthing, still somewhat disgruntled. “What will you give me in return?”

Father Chu replied coldly, “You’re freeloading in my house, and you still expect payment for chores?”

The vampire instantly fell silent, switching attitudes at once and displaying a hundred percent friendly smile. “OK, no problem at all. Tell me, dear child, where would you like your father to clean?”

“Bang!” A pillow flew at the vampire, and Father Chu said icily, “Whose father are you? I’m his father!”

The vampire said, “Darling, I have a suggestion: Parents must present a united front in front of their children—arguing in their presence harms their emotional wellbeing.”

Qin Yue remarked coolly, “If you wish to bond, please do so out of the children’s sight—it’s bad for their psyche.”

Father Chu was completely stumped.

The vampire nodded and said to Luo Yu, “Alright, my child, take me to the place you want cleaned.”

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