Shen Shen first took Ren Siyi to a high-end evening gown boutique.
The shop was tucked away at the end of a quiet alley, with no signboard—only a cold purple lamp above the doorframe, glowing faintly in the dark.
The entire door was matte black, its handle shaped like a crow with spread wings.
Pushing the door open, the interior was dimly lit, the walls bare dark-gray brick, and gown after gown hung from racks like shadows.
The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman—tall and slender, model-like, with a strikingly refined face. But her complexion was pale, and her eyeliner was drawn long and black.
When she saw Shen Shen, she lowered her head slightly, her demeanor humble, even a little fearful.
Shen Shen didn't need to change. He only asked the shopkeeper to find something for Ren Siyi.
The shopkeeper said little, made a "please" gesture to Ren Siyi, and walked toward the inner room.
Ren Siyi followed. As she opened the door, she accidentally brushed against the woman's hand—it was cold too.
The woman's hand flinched back sharply.
So… she's also a vampire!
A little frightened, Ren Siyi instinctively looked back at Shen Shen behind her.
Shen Shen said in a soothing tone, "Don't be afraid. I'll be right outside."
Ren Siyi let out a slow breath and nodded, thinking that with him there, nothing could go wrong.
The inner room had even more gowns than the front—packed tightly in wardrobes, mostly black, but also deep purple, ink blue, and wine red.
Ren Siyi was dazzled by the choices. She'd been somewhat influenced by the flashy aesthetic of online trendsetters and loved loud, eye-catching clothes. She picked up a bright purple gown and held it against herself.
Just then, the shopkeeper had already silently retrieved a set and handed it to her.
"Um, you recommend this one?" Ren Siyi asked.
The woman nodded.
Ren Siyi obediently took it and held it up in front of herself. It was a pure black evening gown, its skirt flaring out in layers upon layers of black feathers, like a crow's wings.
So beautiful!
Ren Siyi admired herself in the mirror.
At that moment, the shopkeeper finally spoke in a low, hoarse voice: "This is the first time Mr. Shen has brought a lady here. I matched it to his style."
Oh.
So she can talk—Ren Siyi had thought she was mute.
Though her voice wasn't pleasant to hear, very raspy.
"His style—you mean crows?"
"Mhm."
Ren Siyi took the gown into the fitting room. She'd never worn anything this extravagant before, so she was extremely careful, even pulling the zipper slowly for fear of damaging it.
She'd assumed the aloof shopkeeper would come help her, but she didn't. Instead, she said hoarsely, "Sorry, I need to use the restroom," and hurried upstairs with quick footsteps.
Ren Siyi was at a loss with the extremely ornate crow gown. It took considerable effort, but she finally managed to get it on.
However, once it was on, the open back exposed her smooth skin, and it needed to be laced up with ribbons—something she had no idea how to do.
"Um…" Ren Siyi carefully stepped out and called up the stairs where the shopkeeper had gone, "Excuse me, I've got it on. I need help tying the ribbons."
No response came.
Still in the restroom, huh? She couldn't very well rush her. Ren Siyi could only stand there waiting, clutching the heavy skirt to keep it from slipping.
It was a bit cold, and she couldn't help but sneeze, her arms growing sore.
Outside the curtain, Shen Shen seemed to be growing impatient as well. He checked his watch and asked, "Siyi, are you ready?"
"Um…" Ren Siyi hesitated, then said, "N-not yet. The shopkeeper went to the restroom, and the ribbons on my back aren't tied."
She sneezed again and sniffled.
Shen Shen heard and asked, "Would you like me to help?"
"Ah, well…"
Did she need it?
A little voice in her head raised the question, while another little voice nodded frantically like a woodpecker.
Not just needed—she kind of… wanted it.
Ah, Ren Siyi, you naughty girl.
Ren Siyi decided to follow her heart and said, "Then… if you wouldn't mind, Mr. Shen."
Shen Shen parted the curtain and stepped inside. The girl was holding up the strapless top of her black feathered gown, her cheeks slightly flushed. Too embarrassed to meet his eyes, she turned around, presenting her bare back to him.
Soon, she felt the touch of his slightly cool fingertips and couldn't help but shiver.
Stay calm, stay calm, Ren Siyi! Stay calm!
Ren Siyi took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and felt the man's practiced movements as he laced the ribbons.
In a moment, he finished tying them, then gave a firm tug—the girl was pulled into his arms, letting out an involuntary gasp.
Shen Shen said, "All tied."
Ren Siyi turned her head and saw the ribbons wrapped in layers around her back, ending in a bow at her waist.
"Mr. Shen, you're really good at this," she couldn't resist teasing. "Have you tied ribbons for girls before?"
"No," Shen Shen said. "But I've seen many ladies in evening gowns. No need to learn."
Ren Siyi thought that after living for so many years, there must have been plenty of girls coming and going around him.
At the thought, she felt a faint pang of something sour.
The shop assistant finally emerged from the restroom, apologizing profusely as she led Ren Siyi to the mirror and began applying her makeup.
Shen Shen stepped back outside.
The assistant worked with meticulous care, layering the makeup stroke by stroke, like crafting a work of art.
The makeup took over an hour, after which the assistant led her out.
Shen Shen sat on a single-seater sofa in the outer room, one hand resting on the armrest, his posture relaxed as he scrolled through his phone. He seemed to have grown drowsy from waiting and let out a yawn.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up.
The young woman wore that black feathered dress, her delicate collarbones exposed, her lines slender, her neck long and graceful.
The smoky-eye makeup lent her originally clear, innocent eyes a touch of coldness and allure.
She emerged gracefully from behind the shadowy curtain like a black swan just awakened.
Shen Shen was a man of extremely exacting aesthetic standards. He had never believed that any woman Shen Du fancied could be all that beautiful.
But at this moment, looking at the young woman before him,
he had to admit he was somewhat taken aback.
Perhaps it was because she was naturally suited to that black crow-feather attire.
"Mr. Shen, how is it?" Ren Siyi asked nervously.
"Fine. Very beautiful."
Ren Siyi hummed in response, lowering her head to pretend to adjust her skirt, feeling delighted and elated.
It was strange, too—before, when she was happy, she couldn't help but smile, but now her joy had become more secretive, hidden away in her heart, and she was even afraid it might show on her face and be noticed by him.
Why had she become so awkward?
Shen Shen was about to take her leave when the shop assistant hurried forward and blocked his way.
She said nothing, merely extending a hand to point at the clothes he was wearing.
Shen Shen understood her meaning and shook his head. "I won't change."
The assistant seemed insistent. She turned and picked up a pure white suit from the rack beside her, holding it up with both hands to show him.
Her meaning was: change into this, and you'll match the young lady better.
She appeared to be a perfectionist vampire—Ren Siyi had sensed it while the assistant was doing her makeup, like an artist pursuing absolute perfection. That was why she had mustered the courage to defy Shen Shen's reluctance to change.
Shen Shen glanced at the young woman beside him. Ren Siyi looked back at him with expectant eyes. "Mr. Shen, since it's a party, you don't have to wear something so formal and serious like work attire."
"Fine." Shen Shen conceded, but told the assistant, "Find a black one, to match hers."
He refused to wear the white suit.
The assistant strode quickly among the racks, her figure weaving back and forth under the dim lighting.
Soon, she retrieved a black suit with a crow feather pinned to the chest.
Shen Shen went in to change. When he came back out, he was adjusting his cuffs, head bowed.
His gaze swept over his reflection in the mirror, then drifted to Ren Siyi standing not far behind him.
Both of them were dressed in black.
Ren Siyi thought he looked incredibly handsome in a suit. His shoulders were broad, his legs long, and the black suit made him appear even more refined and aloof.
And she stood a step behind him, her black gown trailing on the floor, her makeup cold and striking.
There was an indescribable harmony between them.
Not like the deliberate contrast of black and white—the layering of black upon black was more ambiguous, more secretive, and more in sync.
As they left, Shen Shen paid for the outfits by scanning a code. Ren Siyi saw him input a string of zeros into his payment app.
Oh my god, she didn't dare imagine how expensive the clothes she was wearing were!
The trailing black crow feathers clearly weren't cheap.
She asked Shen Shen in a low voice, "Mr. Shen, can clothes be returned after being worn once?"
"Why would you return them? Not satisfied?"
"Ah, no, no—it's just that they're so expensive, and I probably won't have another chance to wear them. I can't exactly wear them out on a regular day."
"An evening gown—wearing it once is enough to justify its value."
Ren Siyi's worldview shattered.
Such an expensive dress, worn only once?
And that justifies its value?
She'd rather eat a thousand hotpot meals!
Or better yet, just give her the cash instead.
"I'm going to wear it more," Ren Siyi murmured. "From now on, at home, I'll wear this all the time. I have to get my money's worth."
Indeed, she looked stunning in it—so stunning that even he couldn't help but steal more glances.
"Fine, suit yourself."
The alley had puddles from the light rain, and the Maybach couldn't drive in, so it had to stop at the mouth of the alley. Ren Siyi didn't want to dirty such an expensive dress, so she gathered the hem in both hands and walked out.
But no matter how she arranged it, the enormous skirt seemed hard to manage.
"Need help?"
"Ah! Can you help me fix it—"
Before she could finish, Shen Shen scooped her up in his arms again.
Ren Siyi: !!
Seriously, again?
Hooked on carrying her, is he?
Shen Shen held her one-armed as usual, seating her in the crook of his arm, then picked up her black high heels.
His arm strength was terrifyingly impressive.
Afraid of losing her balance, Ren Siyi wrapped her arms around his neck.
Whether he was hooked on it, she didn't know.
But being this close, gazing at his sharp, handsome features, Ren Siyi felt that she might be getting a little hooked herself.
…
The car stopped at the entrance of the Blood bar.
This wasn't Ren Siyi's first time here, but now she was a hundred percent certain—this was a vampire bar, and every single person moving through it was a vampire.
The place was crowded, bathed in dim red light. Tonight's music wasn't the heavy metal chaos from that other day; instead, a lazy jazz melody drifted through the air.
The moment Shen Shen walked in, gazes from all around converged on him. The vampires scattered throughout the room simultaneously paused their conversations, looking at him with reverence, bowing their heads slightly in greeting.
Shen Shen kept his eyes straight ahead, guiding her through the crowd into a booth wrapped in layers of Lucifer's purple roses.
Someone was singing on stage.
It wasn't until Ren Siyi sat down that she could clearly see the face of the person on stage—and her eyes went wide in shock.
She recognized her. She was the most popular female singer in the Chinese music scene right now. She had a cool, aloof style with an ethereal, haunting voice.
Every single one of her songs dominated the top of every chart. She was absolutely on fire.
Ren Siyi stared at Shen Shen in astonishment.
She… is one too?!
Shen Shen smiled faintly, leaning back against the sofa, confirming it without a word.
Ren Siyi couldn't even bear to think about it—how many vampires were actually mixed into the human world?!
Shen Shen had said before that there weren't many, but… they lived completely intertwined with humans, eating together, working together, entertaining together… Every industry, every circle, they were there.
And humans had no idea at all.
Just then, someone made their way through the crowd and walked over. With a respectful bow, they lowered their voice to Shen Shen: "Mr. Shen, at this First Embrace Ceremony, the new one wishes to receive your blessing."
After hearing this, Shen Shen said to Ren Siyi, "I'll be right back."
"Huh? You're just leaving? You're not going to look after me?"
"Don't worry. Everyone saw you walk in with me. Nothing will happen to you," he said gently.
Fine then…
Ren Siyi stayed alone in the booth, picking up the cup on the table and taking a bored sip.
Soon, she noticed a woman sitting in the booth across from her.
The woman was extraordinarily beautiful—her features as delicate as porcelain, black hair draped seductively around her stunning face, revealing a long, slender neck.
She sat there alone, no companions around her. In front of her was a glass of dark red wine, her fingers slowly swirling the stem.
She had been staring at Ren Siyi the whole time, watching her so intently that it made her scalp tingle with unease.
A waitress who came over to deliver a snack box and fruit platter lowered her voice and said, "You'd better not provoke her. Don't get too close to her either. And don't look at her."
Ren Siyi quickly pulled her gaze away. "Why does she keep staring at me?"
"Because… she's probably the only one here who wants you dead."
Ren Siyi: !!
She nearly spilled the glass in her hand.
"Why?! I've never wronged her!"
The waitress explained, "In our Blood Clan, seniority is determined by generation. Mr. Shen is First Generation; the rest of us are twentieth generation or later. As for her," she pursed her lips, "she's the only woman here qualified to stand by Mr. Shen's side."
Ren Siyi: "Uh…"
She couldn't help sneaking another glance across the way. The woman was still staring at her—not with a look that said she wanted to eat her, but one that said she wanted to slice her to pieces!
"Is she First Generation too?" Ren Siyi asked.
"No, she's Third Generation." The bartender girl didn't dare look over there either, only whispering quietly, "Vampires within the First through Fifth Generations are already extremely rare—almost extinct. That's why I said she's the only woman worthy of standing beside Mr. Shen."
"Then why isn't she with Mr. Shen?"
The bartender girl laughed, raising one eyebrow at her. "What do you take Mr. Shen for? You think he'd just agree just because a woman wants to be with him? There are plenty of women in the Blood Clan who like Mr. Shen—and even more human women."
She drew out her words and switched to Cantonese, probably her native dialect: "Mr. Shen is very picky, you know!"
Ren Siyi stole another glance at the woman.
That woman sat in the dim red light like a flower blooming at the edge of the abyss—so beautiful.
And Shen Shen still didn't like her?
Good heavens, how picky could he possibly be? Unless he liked men.
The bartender girl seemed to read her thoughts, leaning in and adding, "Actually, humans are far more attractive to the Blood Clan. Your blood is so delicious—no wonder Mr. Shen likes you."
"Uh."
Ren Siyi thought to herself, He's never even bitten me.
Actually, she was pretty puzzled about that too. Shen Shen never drank her blood, yet he indulged her so much, protected her, and brought her along wherever he went.
Was it really just because of his responsibility as a leader—to uphold those so-called rules and keep others from taking her life?
Ren Siyi couldn't figure it out.
He couldn't actually like her, right? It didn't feel like it.
Just as her thoughts were spiraling, that Third Generation vampire woman stood up with her wine glass in hand. She seemed to have drunk quite a bit—her steps were a little unsteady.
She staggered over to Shen Shen's side, blocking his path. Her eyes were red, and tiny glistening traces of tears clung to her lashes.
She said a few words to him, her lips trembling slightly.
Shen Shen's expression was cold, restrained and polite. He only said a couple of words in response before stepping aside and walking past her.
The woman lowered her head and wiped away her tears, her figure looking withered and forlorn.
Ren Siyi couldn't help but sigh.
Loving someone like Shen Shen was truly a heartbreaking thing.
Shen Shen was indeed a very gentlemanly, very polite man, but Ren Siyi could also sense that aloofness buried deep in his bones—like the bright moon hanging at the edge of the sky.
The bright moon would illuminate every dark corner, but the humble creatures in those corners could only forever gaze up at it, never able to walk to its side.
So no matter how kind he was to her, or what jokes they shared in ordinary times, Ren Siyi remained clear-headed, knowing that he could never have any other thoughts about her.
At the thought of this, her heart ached a little too.
Shen Shen returned to the booth, and the waitress immediately handed him a blood-red cocktail before retreating tactfully with her tray.
"What were you talking about?" he asked her.
"About you."
"Oh? What did you find out?"
"I found out that you're very hard to win over." Ren Siyi propped her chin on her hand and tilted her head to look at him. "There's a beautiful lady from the third generation who's been chasing you for several hundred years."
Shen Shen gave her a sidelong glance. "You're quite nosy."
"Nosiness makes me happy. When I was little, I loved sitting at the village entrance listening to the elders gossip about other people—whose wife was cheating, whose husband got caught sneaking around."
Shen Shen smiled faintly and tilted his head back to drink.
Ren Siyi watched the crimson liquid in his glass and suddenly asked, "Mr. Shen, is that blood you're drinking?"
"No." Shen Shen said helplessly, "I wouldn't feed in front of a human."
"I don't believe you."
Shen Shen was about to say "believe it or not" when Ren Siyi suddenly took his glass, sniffed it, then pressed her lips to the rim where he had drunk and tilted her head back to take a sip.
"Cough, cough, cough.The spiciness of the strong liquor rushed up her throat, and she coughed so hard tears nearly came out.
His drink was so strong!
Shen Shen patted her on the back. "Believe me now?"
"Mm." Her cheeks flushed slightly. "I believe you. It's alcohol."
She handed the glass back to him, with about a third still left in it.
At that moment, the music stopped, and the Blood Clan members around them fell silent one by one, turning to look at the stage.
The First Embrace Ceremony was about to begin.
Shen Shen tilted his head back and drained the remaining liquor in one go, set down the empty glass, and asked her, "Want to watch?"
Ren Siyi's little thoughts were still on that glass. He didn't mind at all that she had drunk from it.
She remembered a sister from her village who had come back from university once saying that as long as a man was willing to share a cup with you, drink from the same straw, or eat your leftover ice cream, it meant you had a chance!
Ren Siyi had firmly memorized that saying and believed it like gospel, because that sister had dated several boyfriends and was very experienced.
Even though it was a baseless claim, she stubbornly believed it anyway.
"Are you watching or not?" Shen Shen saw that she was spacing out and snapped his fingers in front of her face. "If not, we're leaving."
Ren Siyi turned back around. "What is it?"
"The First Embrace."
"What's that?"
Shen Shen explained, "The ritual by which a human transforms into a Blood Clan member."
Ren Siyi: !!
She turned to look at the stage and saw a man and a woman standing on it.
They began to kiss and embrace affectionately.
Then, the girl tilted her head slightly, pressed her lips to the boy's neck, opened her mouth, bared her fangs, and bit down.
Ren Siyi had zero warning and screamed in fright.
Shen Shen moved with lightning speed, pulling her into his arms and clamping his hand over her mouth.
"Shh."
He whispered against her ear, like the gentlest murmur of a demon, "If you're scared, don't watch."
With that, he covered her eyes.