Pseudo-Vampire World 1
During the rainy season of March in the southern hemisphere, the rain fell gently and ceaselessly.
The office door swung open, and a breeze carrying the cool, rain-drenched air rushed in, accompanied by my colleague Guo Mei, who entered breathlessly.
“Xu Yi, I just saw an incredibly beautiful girl!”
Guo Mei quickly returned to her seat and took a sip of water, her expression filled with amazement. “I heard she’s a new intern in the surgery department, and the rumor has it that she comes from a wealthy family and is the daughter of a prominent company’s chairman!”
“I happened to run into her directly. Xu Yi, I’m not exaggerating, but I’ve never seen such an exquisite and gorgeous girl in my entire life! I stood there in awe for several seconds before I could continue walking! However, she appeared distant and somewhat reserved, so I didn’t dare to approach her without caution. I heard that her health hasn’t been great in recent years; she has been studying and receiving treatment abroad. She only returned to the country recently, but she has been diligent in her studies, consistently attending prestigious schools…”
While others might have been unaware, Guo Mei knew about Song Xu Yi’s little penchant for admiring beautiful women, which is why she chose to share this news with her. However, Song Xu Yi seemed completely oblivious to her words as she continued to gaze at the screen. It wasn’t until Guo Mei called her name two or three times, saying, “Xu Yi,” that she finally snapped out of her reverie and responded, “Oh, that’s great!”
Song Xu Yi was clearly somewhat distracted.
Recalling the rumor she had heard, Guo Mei blinked and looked at the report title on Song Xu Yi’s computer. As expected, it matched her expectations.
“Hey, was that the girl you rescued yesterday?” Thinking about those victimized young girls, Guo Mei instantly lost her interest in gossip and sighed, “How many is it this month?”
“The third one,” Song Xu Yi replied, unconsciously biting her lip.
Lately, there have been frequent cases of women falling victim to crimes in the city, with many of them losing their lives. Some were found alive but couldn’t be saved after being rushed to the hospital.
These deceased women all shared a common trait: bite marks on their necks, and it seemed as if their bodies had been completely drained of blood. Their blood vessels had become extraordinarily stiff, making it impossible to transfuse blood, even with attempts.
Song Xu Yi was on duty in the outpatient department last night, and she was responsible for rescuing the third victim.
The appearance of the woman on the brink of death was extremely unusual. Her complexion was as pale as paper, her pupils were dilated, and there was even a faint, eerie smile at the corners of her lips. It seemed as though she had fallen into a beautiful dream and was no longer aware of the outside world…
The girl passed away with a smile on her face.
Song Xu Yi recollected the girl’s appearance at the time of her death and couldn’t help but find it spine-chilling, as every aspect of it seemed eerie—
However, the subsequent day offered Song Xu Yi no time for overthinking. Following the arrival of the department head, there were the customary hospital meetings, outpatient appointments, surgeries, and more.
The whole day went by in a blur of activities, leaving Song Xu Yi with hardly any time to eat. Naturally, neither of them had the mental bandwidth to delve into the matter of the new colleague or the cases of the victimized women.
By the time Song Xu Yi finished her shift, it was already well past 10 in the evening.
She began with a stroll through the wards; most of her patients were already asleep. As Song Xu Yi passed the hospital’s blood bank, she happened to spot someone exiting with their head bowed. It seemed to be a young woman of tall stature. Song Xu Yi gave the unfamiliar figure a brief glance but didn’t pay much attention. She was about to head home when she ran into Guo Mei once more.
Guo Mei was on the night shift today. Seeing Song Xu Yi holding a dual-purpose small sun umbrella, she didn’t hesitate to hand her a large rain umbrella and also slipped a bottle of anti-wolf spray into Song Xu Yi’s hand. She cautioned, “That assailant specifically targets young girls like you, Xu Yi. Please be extremely careful…”
Song Xu Yi resided in the hospital’s public rental housing, not far from the hospital itself. Due to her year-round busy schedule, she hadn’t had the opportunity to obtain her driver’s license, so she typically walked back home. It was about a little over ten minutes away on foot.
Song Xu Yi expressed her gratitude for Guo Mei’s kindness and confirmed their plan to leave.
Due to the heavy rain, there weren’t many pedestrians on the road. The few people she encountered were all hurrying along with umbrellas. The air was damp and cold, but there were streetlights all along the way. Song Xu Yi walked amidst them and didn’t feel particularly scared.
Song Xu Yi hadn’t eaten dinner, so she stopped at a convenience store on the street corner and purchased some Oden. As she glanced up unintentionally, through the transparent glass display, she happened to spot a girl in a black dress standing in the rain, entering a small alley behind the store.
The girl’s drenched, long hair clung to her cheeks. In the brief glance, Song Xu Yi couldn’t make out the girl’s face clearly but did notice her sharp chin and well-proportioned figure.
Song Xu Yi inexplicably felt that this silhouette appeared somewhat familiar. She subconsciously tightened her grip on the other small umbrella in her hand. However, before Song Xu Yi could offer the umbrella, the girl had already turned the corner.
Song Xu Yi hesitated for a moment, abandoned the thought of offering the umbrella, paid for the Oden, and when she looked up again, she saw another man passing by the storefront entrance.
The man held a black umbrella, walked briskly, had a tall stature, and wore a black flat cap. Similarly, Song Xu Yi couldn’t see his face, but she did notice the strikingly vibrant lips visible beneath the umbrella’s canopy…
Song Xu Yi was momentarily perplexed.
—The man also headed towards the small alley behind the store.
The alley was rarely frequented, with a dead-end at its rear and plans for demolition in the near future. There were no surveillance cameras around…
The timing of the two individuals was just too close…
Recalling the girl’s appearance when she had died the previous night, Song Xu Yi hesitated for a moment. She set aside the Oden, quickly bought a flashlight in the convenience store, and opened her phone’s call log to dial the emergency number.
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With her preparations complete, Song Xu Yi greeted the familiar store owner, holding an umbrella under her arm, clutching the anti-wolf spray in one hand, holding the flashlight in her mouth, and gripping her phone in the other. She pushed open the door and entered the alley.
There was only one dim streetlight left in the alley.
As Song Xu Yi continued down the path, it was eerily quiet, with only the sound of rain hitting the umbrella, “pitter-patter.”
The alley wasn’t very long, and after walking for a minute or two, Song Xu Yi saw the girl and the man at the end of it.
The man had already discarded his umbrella to the side. He was tall and obstructed the view of the girl leaning against the wall. Song Xu Yi could only see the girl’s black skirt hem and the slender, fair-skinned calves.
The man had lowered his head, and because he had his back turned, Song Xu Yi couldn’t determine whether he intended to kiss the girl or commit an act of violence…
But now, she had arrived here—
Song Xu Yi still gritted her teeth, raising the flashlight in her hand and waving it toward the two figures in the corner.
“Hey!” Song Xu Yi made a deliberate effort to speak harshly, putting on her most intimidating expression, and shouted, “On a rainy day like this, what are you two doing sneaking around in the alley? Don’t you know it’s unsafe in the city lately?”
Song Xu Yi had initially thought her voice was loud, but as the words left her mouth, she realized her voice sounded notably shaky, with even a slight tremor in the trailing notes, and it had broken slightly.
Feeling deeply embarrassed by her own lack of composure, Song Xu Yi couldn’t help but bite down on her lower lip, gripping her phone tightly.
Upon hearing Song Xu Yi’s voice, the man in the alley also turned his head.
The flashlight illuminated the man’s face, and Song Xu Yi wasn’t sure if it was an illusion caused by the intense light, but in that split second, the man’s face seemed excessively pale, and his eyes appeared to have turned red.
However, when she looked again, the man’s face had returned to normal.
It was a rather handsome face, one that could undoubtedly attract the attention of girls. It didn’t fit the image of a creepy man who would stalk girls, as Song Xu Yi had initially imagined.
After getting a clear look at his face, Song Xu Yi, who was already partial to good looks, couldn’t help but start to doubt herself: perhaps these two were a couple, and she had read too much into it…
With this thought, Song Xu Yi suddenly felt even more embarrassed, caught in a dilemma. She couldn’t help but avert her gaze, so she didn’t notice the movements of the two in the corner—
When the man looked at Song Xu Yi, his eyes instantly turned red, and tiny pointed teeth protruded from his lips. His whole body arched, like a poised predator ready to snatch Song Xu Yi’s life in an instant. However, just as he was about to strike, the girl who had been leaning against the wall, seemingly helpless and submissive, with her head lowered, suddenly raised her head…
“Sister, help me!”
The girl suddenly shouted towards Song Xu Yi!
The man was taken aback, furrowing his brows as he looked at the girl. In theory, the girl should have been under the influence of his mesmerizing spell, unable to speak at all. How could she suddenly regain her senses?
It was at this very moment that the man noticed a small red crystal pendant hanging around the girl’s neck.
He wasn’t sure what was peculiar about this pendant, but as soon as he saw it, he instinctively sensed an immense pressure, as if something had struck his chest suddenly, causing him pain. Unconsciously, he retracted his pointed teeth and bent over, finding himself unable to muster any strength at all!
This was—
He squinted slowly, subconsciously realizing that this exceptionally beautiful yet seemingly fragile girl had something eerie about her. He was about to kill her to eliminate any potential threat, but before he could act, Song Xu Yi had already rushed forward, wielding the anti-wolf spray in her hand, creating chaos…
The man instinctively grew furious, reaching out to strangle Song Xu Yi’s throat. However, as he raised his hand, he discovered that his strength was rapidly diminishing. He glanced fearfully at the red crystal pendant, thinking of a possible connection. His eyes flickered with a mixture of greed and fear. But feeling the power draining from his body, the man dared not linger any longer. He could only clench his lips and stumble out of the alley…
Song Xu Yi didn’t chase after him.
If the man was indeed a criminal, pursuing him would only be a futile endeavor. Song Xu Yi had already called the police when she activated the anti-wolf spray and quickly snapped a few photos of the man’s back as evidence.
Before the police arrived, the most important thing was to get out of the sparsely populated alley with the girl and prevent the man from returning.
Song Xu Yi hurriedly approached the drenched girl, using the umbrella to shield her from the rain. While helping her up and walking forward, she discreetly checked the girl’s condition. Although the girl seemed frightened and kept her head lowered, fortunately, there were no apparent signs of harm despite her clothes being soaked and her skin feeling cold from the rain.
“Are you okay?” Song Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief, tilting the umbrella mostly towards the girl’s side, gently soothing her while redirecting her attention. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have hesitated back there. I should have chased after him immediately…”
“I should be the one thanking you, Sister!”
The girl, who had kept her head lowered all this time, finally raised her head to look at Song Xu Yi. Her beautiful face was filled with gratitude, and her eyes, as if with a radiant halo, were so dazzling that it made one’s head spin. “Sister, you saved me…”
“You have no idea how scared I was at that moment. I don’t even know why, but suddenly, I couldn’t move, and I stumbled into this dark alley in a daze. I was so frightened, but fortunately, Sister appeared just in time…”
As Song Xu Yi listened to the girl’s words, she subconsciously paused, never expecting that this girl would be so beautiful. The girl’s face, wet from the rain and devoid of makeup, had a slight pallor, but in this situation, it only highlighted her stunning appearance. She was like a rose glistening with dew, vibrant and heart-stirring.
When she met the girl’s eyes, which were like deep pools of water, Song Xu Yi didn’t know what had come over her. Her heart raced at an unprecedented speed, almost threatening to burst out of her chest. It wasn’t until the girl stopped speaking that Song Xu Yi, blushing, spoke up, “I’m sorry, you’re just so beautiful that I got a bit lost in thought…”
The girl lowered her head and smiled.
“Sister saved me, but it’s Sister apologizing to me…”
She seemed to be in poor health, and after smiling, she let out a series of low coughs. Song Xu Yi was already supporting her, and with this cough, she seemed to lose strength, leaning most of her body against Song Xu Yi. Song Xu Yi looked at the girl’s slender, fair arms, felt the shallow breath sprayed on her ear, and blushed. She even forgot how she had carried the girl back to the convenience store.
Once inside the convenience store, Song Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief. In the bright light of the store, the girl looked even more beautiful, and Song Xu Yi had never seen anyone this good-looking in her entire life.
Especially the red mole at the corner of the girl’s eye, like the finishing touch, added a touch of obvious charm to her entire being.
She couldn’t help but steal several glances at the girl and noticed a deep mark on the side of her pants, which seemed to be a bloodstain. She thought about warning the girl but coincidentally met the girl’s gaze. The girl spoke openly, “This isn’t my blood; it’s probably from somewhere I brushed against.”
Song Xu Yi nodded, feeling a bit uneasy that the girl had noticed her scrutiny. She went to the counter and handed the previous order of oden to the girl, ordering another one for herself.
“You should eat something to warm up your stomach,” Song Xu Yi spoke softly, “Don’t be afraid when the police arrive. Remember what to say.”
The girl nodded with lowered eyes and began to eat the oden slowly. It seemed like she couldn’t handle spicy food, so she ate it in small bites. She resembled a lazy little cat. Sensing Song Xu Yi’s gaze, she lifted her head again and smiled at Song Xu Yi.
“Sister, my name is Rong Yu.”
Song Xu Yi’s heart skipped a beat, but she pretended to remain composed as she nodded and calmly continued eating the oden. She felt more collected after a while and then replied, “I’m Song Xu Yi.”
The police arrived promptly this time. Rong Yu hadn’t eaten much, and the police were at the door. The two of them went to the police station to give statements. Just like before, Rong Yu seemed unable to recall what had happened. She only remembered feeling dizzy while walking on the road and then waking up in the alley with an unfamiliar man in front of her.
Due to Rong Yu’s striking beauty, the lack of physical injuries, and her memory gaps about the incident, the police couldn’t determine if the man was related to the recent cases of girls’ deaths. They recorded Rong Yu’s statement, conducted blood tests, and checked for any signs of drug use. By the time they completed these procedures, it was nearing dawn.
Song Xu Yi had no intention of going back to sleep. She planned to go home, take a shower, and then head to work. Both of them had gone through a harrowing night, and finding a taxi at this hour was not easy. So, the police decided to drive them home. Rong Yu insisted on dropping Song Xu Yi off first.
When they reached the public housing complex where Song Xu Yi lived, Rong Yu smiled at Song Xu Yi, but Song Xu Yi didn’t notice her smile. Instead, she looked at the rain starting to fall outside and decided to lend Rong Yu her remaining small umbrella. She advised, “Remember to carry an umbrella when you go out in the future.”
Rong Yu cheerfully took the umbrella and then smiled again, saying, “I’ll find a chance to return it to you, sister.”
Song Xu Yi didn’t take it seriously. She didn’t like drawing attention to herself, and saving the girl had been an instinctual act. So, apart from exchanging names, Song Xu Yi didn’t leave any of her contact information, and she assumed that their paths would diverge after this encounter.
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However, Song Xu Yi didn’t anticipate that she would encounter the girl again shortly.
Afterward, Song Xu Yi returned to the hospital to continue her work. She was busy all morning, and due to her lack of appetite from staying up late the previous night, she decided to take a nap during the lunch break. While resting in the lounge, she heard a voice coming from ahead.
“Sister, it’s time to eat.”
Song Xu Yi thought it was Guo Mei returning with food and thanked her with closed eyes. It wasn’t until she stood up that she realized the woman in front of her wasn’t Guo Mei. She was also wearing the hospital’s standard white coat, significantly taller than Guo Mei. When Song Xu Yi looked into the beautiful eyes above the mask and noticed the red mole at the corner, she immediately understood the woman’s identity.
“You’re the new surgical intern?” Song Xu Yi spoke softly, recognizing that only someone with Rong Yu’s level of attractiveness could match Guo Mei’s description.
Rong Yu didn’t deny it. She casually took a seat next to Song Xu Yi and opened her lunchbox. “I wanted to thank you again for saving me yesterday. I know you don’t want any repayment, but I’m really grateful. I made this meal myself, and I hope you don’t mind.”
Since Rong Yu had spoken up, Song Xu Yi felt obliged to accept. She didn’t have the courage to meet Rong Yu’s gaze and pretended to be indifferent. Blushing, she sat down and took a bite of the meal Rong Yu had prepared.
Contrary to Song Xu Yi’s expectations, despite Guo Mei’s earlier comments about Rong Yu’s affluent family background, Rong Yu’s cooking was excellent. Even though she didn’t seem like someone who would be skilled in the kitchen, the food suited Song Xu Yi’s taste perfectly. She found herself eating a lot without realizing it.
Song Xu Yi had some doubts in her mind that this might not be cooked by Rong Yu herself, perhaps it was prepared by an auntie at home. However, she didn’t want to inquire directly.
When Guo Mei returned with the food, she saw Rong Yu sitting next to Song Xu Yi, chatting and laughing. Rong Yu’s smile appeared very pure, completely different from the cold intern Guo Mei had encountered the day before.
Seeing Guo Mei’s return, Song Xu Yi felt like she had found a savior after being stared at so warmly by Rong Yu. She couldn’t help but call Guo Mei over to discuss the newly admitted patients.
Song Xu Yi had always been a workaholic, and Guo Mei didn’t mind engaging in a discussion. They started talking about the new patients.
Rong Yu had been listening with a smile all this time. After a while, she coughed lightly with her head down. However, when her eyes met Song Xu Yi’s gaze, she gently replied, “I’m fine.”
Guo Mei suddenly had a feeling: the way Rong Yu was quietly coughing looked like a pitiable damsel, particularly endearing.
Even Guo Mei had this feeling, let alone Song Xu Yi, who exchanged glances with Rong Yu.
In Song Xu Yi’s eyes, Rong Yu at this moment was like a resilient little white flower, clearly not feeling well, but still putting on a brave smile.
When she thought about it, last night she got drenched in the rain for so long and narrowly avoided becoming a victim. Coming to work early in the morning, she must be feeling uncomfortable.
As a senior colleague, seeing a junior colleague in distress, she naturally couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
“What’s wrong with you? Did you get caught in the rain last night?” Song Xu Yi furrowed her brow. “Why didn’t you take a day off and rest today?”
Rong Yu, however, appeared accustomed to this and shook her head, her cheeks pale. “It’s nothing, just an old ailment.”
“You shouldn’t underestimate health issues!”
Song Xu Yi wouldn’t let her off with such a brush-off. She picked up her stethoscope and casually listened to Rong Yu’s heart and lung sounds. Rong Yu hadn’t lied; her heartbeat sounded very healthy, even a bit faster…
“Every time I see you, I feel so happy that my heart starts racing,” Rong Yu said, her eyes filled with dependence as she gazed at Song Xu Yi. “I couldn’t sleep well at all last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt scared. But now, seeing you, I don’t feel scared at all…”
Song Xu Yi hesitated for a moment. When she met Rong Yu’s dependent gaze, she couldn’t help but feel a bit worried. Although Rong Yu seemed fine, Song Xu Yi suspected that this might be a residual effect of the trauma, which was why she was so reliant on her.
On the other hand, Guo Mei seemed a bit puzzled at first, but after a brief explanation from Song Xu Yi, she quickly understood the situation. Her viewpoint appeared to be in line with Song Xu Yi’s as she looked at Rong Yu sympathetically. Guo Mei patted Song Xu Yi’s shoulder and spoke with a heartfelt tone, “You should take good care of Xiao Rong during this time and provide her with emotional support.”
Guo Mei also noticed something peculiar, or maybe it was just her imagination. After she expressed her concern, Rong Yu seemed to sense her care and instantly showed gratitude by looking at her and sweetly saying, “Thank you, Sister Guo Mei.”
When Rong Yu, with her extraordinarily beautiful face that outshone even the sun, uttered her gratitude, Guo Mei felt as though her soul was about to leave her body. She couldn’t help patting her chest and making a promise to Song Xu Yi, “Rest assured, Xu Yi is the kindest person. She will definitely help you overcome this shadow. In the future, when you have some free time, you can come and sit with us. My desk is right next to Xu Yi’s, and you can help yourself to the snacks and fruits on my desk. There’s no need to be polite with me…”
Song Xu Yi watched Guo Mei and Rong Yu chatting happily, feeling that something was a bit odd, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was strange at the moment.
However, the fact that Rong Yu often came to visit Song Xu Yi’s office was soon established.
So, with Guo Mei’s proactive accommodation and to showcase the concern of senior colleagues for their juniors, Rong Yu sat in the seat next to Song Xu Yi. She seemed a bit shy, just smiling at Song Xu Yi without saying much.
Song Xu Yi, feeling like the senior colleague in the hospital, took the initiative to start a conversation. She chatted with Rong Yu about her experiences at the hospital.
As a result, Song Xu Yi learned a lot about Rong Yu. For instance, Rong Yu had recently graduated and had no close friends or family in the city. She hadn’t even found a place to live yet…
Rong Yu didn’t mention her family, and Song Xu Yi didn’t inquire about the reasons for Rong Yu coming to this city, as their relationship was still in its early stages.
However, given Rong Yu’s remarkable beauty and her recent near-miss experience, Song Xu Yi was concerned about her unsettled living situation. At Song Xu Yi’s request, Rong Yu, who still looked a bit pale, decided to take an afternoon off and follow Song Xu Yi’s advice to find a place to rent.
Song Xu Yi didn’t think too much about it and continued working late, as usual, until around ten in the evening. Due to the previous incident, she didn’t dare to walk alone. She was about to call a taxi when a voice called out to her.
“Sister Xu Yi!”
Song Xu Yi looked over and saw Rong Yu standing by the door with a radiant smile. She wasn’t sure how long Rong Yu had been waiting, but it seemed like she was waiting for her.
“How about I accompany you home?”
“You were supposed to go rent a place, weren’t you? Why are you back at the hospital?” Song Xu Yi wondered aloud, unable to contain her curiosity.
Raising her head slightly, Rong Yu smiled gently and replied, “The place I’m staying isn’t far from here. I’ve pretty much settled in and thought of inviting you over to my place.”
Song Xu Yi had initially planned not to linger outside, but since Rong Yu had already brought it up, she hesitated for a moment and decided to accompany her out of the hospital.
Rong Yu’s route home was similar to Song Xu Yi’s, so she didn’t think much of it. Along the way, they passed by an elderly lady selling flowers who was dozing off while guarding her stall. Thinking that she should bring a small gift when visiting Rong Yu’s home for the first time, Song Xu Yi bought the remaining flowers from the old lady with the intention of offering them as a gift to Rong Yu.
Song Xu Yi didn’t explicitly mention that the flowers were for Rong Yu, but it seemed that Rong Yu understood her intention. She naturally extended her hand to accept the bouquet, which was bursting with vitality. This added a touch of rosy color to Rong Yu’s originally somewhat pale complexion, making her appear even more charming.
Song Xu Yi couldn’t help but admire Rong Yu’s beauty. She quickly averted her gaze, forcing her thoughts elsewhere. She contemplated whether she should buy a vase for Rong Yu, but along the way, she couldn’t find any stores selling vases. Soon, Song Xu Yi arrived at Rong Yu’s apartment building.
Upon seeing that Rong Yu had entered the same building and that the elevator stopped on the eighth floor where Song Xu Yi lived, she began to suspect.
“I really like you, Sister Xu Yi,” Rong Yu said, her voice sweet as honey. “Coincidentally, the director mentioned that the apartment opposite to yours is vacant, so I moved in. From now on, we can go home from work together!”
As Rong Yu opened the door to her new apartment, she smiled radiantly. She then casually shared the door lock code with Song Xu Yi, inviting her to visit whenever she had time.
Possibly because she had just moved in, Rong Yu’s apartment was nearly empty. Aside from a neatly made bed and a suitcase, there was no other furniture.
The more Song Xu Yi looked around, the more she furrowed her brow in concern. These public housing units were sparsely furnished, and tenants needed to provide their own furniture and appliances. Rong Yu’s room was lacking even a water heater, and upon seeing her pale complexion, Song Xu Yi couldn’t help but speak up.
“Maybe you should find another apartment or wait until you’ve purchased all the necessary appliances and furniture before moving in,” she suggested, genuinely concerned for Rong Yu’s well-being.
However, Rong Yu seemed to misunderstand Song Xu Yi’s intentions. Her beautiful eyes blinked as she lowered her head, sounding somewhat dejected. “Are you saying you don’t want me living across from you, Sister Xu Yi?” Rong Yu coughed a couple of times and continued, her voice tinged with sadness. “I don’t want to bother you, but I feel scared when I’m alone.”
Song Xu Yi hadn’t realized how much Rong Yu wanted her company, especially considering the recent traumatic experience. She quickly clarified her intentions and, understanding Rong Yu’s fear of being alone, sighed and made another suggestion.
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“I know you’ve been feeling afraid lately. If you don’t mind, you can stay at my place for a few days to make things more comfortable. We can go shopping for appliances in a few days together.”
Upon hearing this, Rong Yu grew quiet and agreed with a gentle “yes.” She followed Song Xu Yi inside her apartment. Since Rong Yu would be staying for a few days, Song Xu Yi shared her door lock code with her.
These public housing units all had one-bedroom and one-living-room layouts. Song Xu Yi had been too busy with work recently to tidy up her place, so her apartment was a bit messy. When she saw Rong Yu enter her bedroom, Song Xu Yi couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed. However, Rong Yu didn’t seem to notice Song Xu Yi’s discomfort at all. She casually headed to the bathroom, holding her pajamas.
Song Xu Yi hastily tidied up her cluttered home and thought about Rong Yu’s pale complexion. She decided to prepare a pot of red dates and chicken soup, which felt strangely poetic to her. She had never imagined that a girl she had met only today would be staying at her place.
Just as Song Xu Yi finished cleaning, Rong Yu had already finished her shower and stepped out of the bathroom. Song Xu Yi heard some movement and glanced over but quickly averted her gaze. The sensation of blushing and a racing heart crept over her once again.
Although there’s no need for girls to be overly modest around each other, Song Xu Yi had preconceived notions about Rong Yu’s health, thinking she might have a slender figure. She had never imagined that Rong Yu’s pajamas would appear so seductive when worn.
In truth, it wasn’t the pajamas themselves; they were just a simple camisole style. However, due to Rong Yu’s perfectly proportioned figure, it accentuated her curves, making her look incredibly alluring.
Song Xu Yi’s face grew increasingly flushed, and she lowered her gaze, using almost all her self-control to avoid showing any unusual expressions. She handed the flower vase she had just arranged to Rong Yu and invited her to come over later for some soup.
“It’s cold at night, and since you’re not feeling well, make sure to wear more layers,” Song Xu Yi advised while pretending to be composed, her head slightly lowered. “Be careful not to catch a cold.”
Above her head, Rong Yu let out a soft laugh.
Song Xu Yi wasn’t sure if Rong Yu was mocking her words, but fortunately, Rong Yu heeded her advice. When she returned again, she had put on a knitted cardigan.
Song Xu Yi began to feel a bit apprehensive about spending more time with Rong Yu, fearing that staring at her too much might come off as unwelcome. After handing Rong Yu the soup, she went into the bathroom to take a shower herself.
When Song Xu Yi emerged from the bathroom again, she found that Rong Yu had already finished washing the dishes and tidying up the place. Rong Yu was sitting obediently on the couch.
Looking at the well-behaved Rong Yu perched on the seat, Song Xu Yi suddenly had a strange feeling. It was as if Rong Yu was her own little wife at home…
“It’s getting late, and we both have work tomorrow. You should go back and rest,” Song Xu Yi shook her head as if to clear her mind, regaining her composure. She adopted a big sisterly attitude and looked at Rong Yu with concern.
However, Rong Yu bit her lip, her hands clutching her clothes, and she seemed a bit embarrassed as she twisted her garment. “Sister Xu Yi, can I sleep in your room tonight?” She glanced at Song Xu Yi’s bedroom and then lowered her head, continuing in a hesitant tone, “I mean, I can sleep on the sofa. My room is empty, and there’s no one there. I’m really scared…”
This request put Song Xu Yi in a genuine dilemma.
Song Xu Yi instinctively didn’t want Rong Yu in her room, fearing that she might make a mistake due to her attraction to Rong Yu’s beauty. But when Rong Yu softly pleaded with her…
With Rong Yu’s beautiful teary eyes fixed on her, Song Xu Yi found herself unable to refuse any of Rong Yu’s requests.
In the end, Song Xu Yi reluctantly nodded. However, she was determined not to let Rong Yu sleep on the sofa since she was not feeling well. She took out an extra blanket, and the two of them ended up sharing the same bed.
Rong Yu was overjoyed, her eyes sparkling. She buried her face in the pillow and, as if to express her happiness, she started showering Song Xu Yi with compliments, saying things like,
“Sister Xu Yi, you’re so kind!”
“Sister Xu Yi, you’re really cute!”
“Sister Xu Yi, I’m so happy to have met you…”
In the end, Rong Yu seemed a bit lost for words. Half of her face was tucked under the blanket, and after Song Xu Yi turned off the lights, she moved closer to Song Xu Yi. The two of them were very close, with only a centimeter between Song Xu Yi’s cheek and hers.
“Xu Yi, you’re really wonderful,” Rong Yu’s voice took on a husky tone, as if it carried some dangerous yet enticing emotions. It made Song Xu Yi’s cheeks flush, and a tingling sensation ran down her spine. She involuntarily clutched the blanket tightly. But then, Rong Yu’s voice returned to its previous tone, tinged with a hint of laughter. “Xu Yi, you smell really nice…”
Song Xu Yi’s cheeks were indeed crimson. For a moment, she felt her head spinning, unable to move. She was grateful that it was nighttime, hoping that Rong Yu hadn’t noticed her flushed face. The culprit responsible for disrupting Song Xu Yi’s thoughts, however, remained oblivious and quickly fell asleep on the other side, her breathing steady.
Song Xu Yi heaved a sigh of relief in the darkness, inwardly disgusted with herself for being swayed by her physical desires. At her age, she shouldn’t let a young girl like this make her blush and feel her heart race. It seemed like she was regressing.
Song Xu Yi engaged in a mental self-critique for quite some time. After a long day at work, she was exhausted. Listening to Rong Yu’s soft breathing, Song Xu Yi couldn’t remember when she had drifted off to sleep herself.
The next morning, when Song Xu Yi woke up, she was greeted by the flawless profile of Rong Yu. Even in the early morning light, Rong Yu’s face still appeared somewhat pale, which added to the immaculate quality of her beauty. When she had her eyes closed, her face even seemed to exude a sense of purity. Yet, once her eyes opened, revealing her captivating, luminous eyes, her face took on a more seductive allure, leaving people entranced.
In the next moment, Song Xu Yi realized that at some point, her blanket had fallen to the floor, and she and Rong Yu were sharing the same blanket. They were so close that Rong Yu was even embracing her!
Song Xu Yi’s cheeks reddened. She tried to slowly extract herself from Rong Yu’s embrace without waking her up, all the while keeping a close eye on Rong Yu’s reactions. She cautiously moved away like a cocooned caterpillar, with one arm suddenly brushing against something. Song Xu Yi then noticed a beautiful red crystal pendant hanging around Rong Yu’s neck.
Song Xu Yi couldn’t understand what was happening to her. When she looked at the pendant, her head began to spin, as if some strange force was pulling her in. Her mind slowly lost its ability to think, and her eyes remained fixed on the pendant, almost unable to move.
When she finally regained consciousness, Song Xu Yi found herself in Rong Yu’s embrace once again, and the scent of Rong Yu’s body was tantalizingly close. Rong Yu had covered Song Xu Yi’s eyes with her hands and let out a soft sigh. “Xu Yi, I don’t want you to be controlled by it,” she said with a hint of amusement in her voice. “But if you like it, I can make another one for you…”
Song Xu Yi knew she couldn’t just take something from Rong Yu, so she shook her head repeatedly. She didn’t think much of it, attributing her recent dizziness to her late nights. What made Song Xu Yi even more embarrassed was the situation she found herself in. With her eyes covered, her other senses became more acute, and she was surrounded by Rong Yu’s scent. She felt her entire body heating up.
“I’ll accompany you to look at furniture during my lunch break,” Song Xu Yi said softly, no longer concerned about maintaining her seniority. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to resist her desires if she stayed too close to her junior.
She managed to free herself from Rong Yu’s embrace and began straightening her clothes. She didn’t notice the clear dissatisfaction on Rong Yu’s face when she pulled away. Rong Yu responded in her usual gentle tone, “Of course, I’ll listen to Sister Xu Yi.” This response only deepened Song Xu Yi’s guilt. She couldn’t help but condemn herself internally: Rong Yu was so beautiful and delicate, and she should have been a better role model.