"Auntie, my surname is Xia."
"But you have half of the Zhang family's blood in you."
"It's fine, don't worry." Xia Yuan patted Zhang Shiting's hand. "We're still young. Besides, you can handle this task yourself."
"…" Zhang Shiting was truly at a loss for words.
…
Ying Sitong returned from the restroom and sat back down in her seat.
Xia Yuan had gained some new insights about vampires—
She could eat normal human food.
The Blood Clan also had normal excretory needs.
From what he could see so far, aside from being able to transform (True Form), having a low body temperature, and needing to drink blood, there wasn't much difference from normal humans.
From Xia Yuan's perspective—
When Ying Sitong bit into a pork rib, she gently held it with her two small fangs, fanning her mouth with her hand because it was hot, yet unwilling to put it down, diligently enjoying the delicious food.
Her eyes were misty, and her slender neck perfectly framed her profile.
This Blood Clan member was inexplicably a little bit cute.
"I'm relieved to see how affectionate you two are."
Right at that moment, Auntie interjected with a comment.
Xia Yuan turned back in surprise, his face stern.
Which eye of yours sees us being affectionate?
"Ah~~ I also want to experience that feeling where your eyes are only on me." Zhang Shiting made a crying gesture with her hands.
"Then go fall in love," Xia Yuan said irritably.
Zhang Shiting ignored his words, put down her chopsticks, and silently observed Ying Sitong.
"Sitong."
"Huh?" Ying Sitong had already finished 70% of her pork rib and reluctantly put down her chopsticks.
"What do you like about this big fool of mine?" Zhang Shiting asked.
"Huh?" Ying Sitong was a bit confused.
"You two couldn't possibly be in a marriage of convenience, could you? If you don't like each other?"
"Pfft, cough, cough…"
Xia Yuan, who was still drinking soup, choked.
"Ahaha, of course, of course not," Ying Sitong laughed awkwardly.
"Then what do you like about him?"
"Well, this…" Ying Sitong lowered her head, covering her mouth as she pondered silently.
"If I had to say what I like about him—
Xia Yuan tastes really good."
"Cough, cough…" This time, it was Auntie who nearly choked on her tea.
"She means his body scent, body scent," Xia Yuan quickly explained.
Ugh.
Zhang Shiting thought to herself, with your looks, body scent? Really?
"Yes, yes." Ying Sitong stuck out her tongue, almost accidentally saying it was the taste of his blood.
"He is a very, very important person in my life. Xia Yuan is the biggest motivation for me to keep living. Without him, my life would lack so many things, and I'd be no different from a beggar," Ying Sitong said.
Heh.
Xia Yuan thought to himself, isn't that right? I'm just your food.
"That's wonderful. This feeling of depending on each other for life and death." Zhang Shiting wiped the corner of her eye with a tissue, her eyes slightly teary.
Xia Yuan shot her a glare, thinking, do you have some misunderstanding about the phrase "depending on each other for life and death"?
"And what about you? What do you like about her?" Zhang Shiting looked at Xia Yuan.
"Me? I don't like her… hmph…"
Xia Yuan let out a light grunt as Ying Sitong stepped on his foot under the table.
"I just… I just can't live without her," Xia Yuan said expressionlessly, even a bit resentfully. "From the first time I met this person, we were destined to be inseparable. If anything happened to her, I would die too. I can't live without her in my life."
"If I had to say what I like about her," Xia Yuan searched his mind silently, "maybe it's—
She's actually quite cute, when she's not changing her face."
Ying Sitong glared at him fiercely, puffing her cheeks in anger.
What do you mean "actually"? What do you mean "not changing her face"?
"Wuwuwu…" Auntie couldn't help but wipe the corner of her eye. "This is the most touching love confession I've ever heard. Love isn't about so many reasons or justifications. When you both believe the other is the person who will accompany you for a lifetime, that's enough."
…
After chatting a bit more, Zhang Shiting gained some understanding of her future niece-in-law's family situation—
Ying Sitong was an orphan, raised in a welfare institution, so no parents were present today, making Zhang Shiting the only family representative for both sides.
She couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Both Ying Sitong and Xia Yuan were children with difficult fates; she hoped they would cherish each other.
Zhang Shiting asked—
"By the way, how are you planning to hold the wedding? Western-style or Chinese-style? Or maybe both? I can help arrange things."
"Actually…"
Xia Yuan put down his chopsticks and looked at her seriously.
Zhang Shiting's heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding enveloping her.
"You're not going to say…?"
"Sitong and I discussed it and decided not to have a wedding."
"What?!" Zhang Shiting stood up, slapping the table. "How can that be? It's a once-in-a-lifetime event, and we've given so many wedding gifts before."
Exactly.
Ying Sitong nodded seriously, fully agreeing with Zhang Shiting's words.
Xia Yuan shot her a glare.
A sham marriage and you still want to collect red envelopes? Where's your conscience?
"Ahem. What I mean is—" Zhang Shiting steadied her emotions and sat back down. "A wedding is very important. It's a major life event. It's best to have one, or you might regret it later."
"This is the result of our mutual discussion," Xia Yuan said earnestly. "Actually, having a wedding is just a formality. What matters most is our own happiness. Whether we receive others' blessings isn't that important.
We're thinking of keeping things simple—just one banquet table, inviting some important relatives and friends for a meal."
Zhang Shiting sat in her chair, thinking for a long time.
"Alright," she nodded. "Since it's your joint decision, I won't say much more. Your life event is up to you, and I respect your choice."
…
On the way back, Xia Yuan and Ying Sitong walked side by side.
The glow of the streetlights stretched their shadows long and slanted.
"Your aunt is really nice. I still envy you," Ying Sitong said.
"She's been good to me. She's just a bit unreliable sometimes."
After speaking, Xia Yuan glanced back at Ying Sitong and suddenly felt moved.
This vampire had no family; perhaps that was why she yearned so deeply for companionship and familial bonds.
"Your aunt smells really good," Ying Sitong took a deep breath.
"It's just a professional habit," Xia Yuan replied expressionlessly. "At her age, she's a bit bourgeois; it's normal for her to wear perfume."
Wait.
Xia Yuan suddenly turned back, alert.
"You don't mean that smell, do you?"
"It seems the blood of your whole family is top quality," Ying Sitong nodded with a fascinated expression. "But yours is still better."
Uh…
So that's what it was.
"Let me tell you, you better not set your sights on her." Xia Yuan stopped walking, placing both hands on Ying Sitong's shoulders.
He stared warily into Ying Sitong's eyes, "If you harm my family…"
Ying Sitong was slightly taken aback.
"Alright, alright. You're acting like we have some deep-seated grudge." She brushed his hands away, "I'm your savior, you know."
"I'm not threatening you, she's my only family." Xia Yuan said, "I treasure her dearly."
"Fine, I get it." Ying Sitong's tone softened a little.
"Besides, her scent is really strong, constantly drifting through the air. I've been restraining myself quite a bit, you know."
So vampires' sense of smell is that sharp? They can detect the scent of blood through skin?
Xia Yuan nodded, silently filing this information away in his mind, deepening his understanding of the Blood Clan.
"Your aunt's period has started."
"…"
New book period, very crucial. Seeking recommendation votes, collections, subscriptions, investments. Thank you.