Chapter 41
Ye Xiyao ended up staying quiet and retreating into the house.
Initially, he had really wanted to invite Xing Xu in for a hot shower and wait until the rain stopped before leaving. After all, the main government building of the Alliance wasn’t in Lucheng, and flying there would take several hours. If Xing Xu went all the way there soaking wet, he’d likely catch a cold.
But in the end, Ye Xiyao didn’t invite him in.
First, the rain was heavy, and it might not stop even by morning. Lingering too long would delay Xing Xu’s journey.
Second, for some reason, Xing Xu suddenly kissed him with such intensity that it left his tongue numb and his lips swollen before Xing Xu finally let go.
Ye Xiyao couldn’t handle Xing Xu’s intense passion. He had a nagging feeling that if he let Xing Xu into the house tonight, he’d end up suffering for it, so he didn’t invite him in.
However, Ye Xiyao still couldn’t relax. Not long after entering the house, he remembered he should have given Xing Xu an umbrella, but by then Xing Xu was probably already out of the elevator. He rushed to the window, braving the wind and rain, and looked down.
He thought Xing Xu would have parked the car at the community gate. But after looking for a while, he didn’t see anyone downstairs, and the distant entrance remained pitch black, with no sign of car headlights.
After waiting for a dry, empty ten minutes, Ye Xiyao was freezing and finally pulled his head back in. He was sure Xing Xu hadn’t left through the main gate.
Could Xing Xu have parked in the underground garage?
Then why was he so soaked?
Ye Xiyao, who rarely had trouble sleeping, lay awake, his mind racing all night.
At times, he wondered what Xing Xu had been doing before coming to find him, and why he had suddenly come over.
At other times, he thought about tomorrow’s trip to the Alliance. Would Xing Xu report his situation properly? Would humanity band together to drive out an anomaly like him?
Even though Xing Xu said he hadn’t harmed anyone and that humans wouldn’t be afraid of him, Ye Xiyao felt that was just to comfort him. After all, even if he didn’t hurt anyone, he was still, in essence, a demon.
His thoughts continued, and before he knew it, dawn was breaking.
Ye Xiyao, not feeling sleepy at all, sat up straight in bed. He felt a bit lightheaded but didn’t think much of it. Before the alarm went off, he pulled out his phone and sent Xing Xu a message: [When are you leaving?]
Xing Xu replied quickly, saying he was getting ready to take off.
But Ye Xiyao still felt uneasy.
Technically, Xing Xu was going to report about him, so shouldn’t he take Ye Xiyao along?
If Xing Xu only explained with words, people might not believe him. What could be more efficient than having the mission target voluntarily turn himself in to the Alliance?
Ye Xiyao shared his thoughts with Xing Xu and asked him, [Should I come with you?]
Xing Xu only replied, [No need, you just need to stay home and wait for me.]
Ye Xiyao pouted, [I’m not waiting for you.]
Xing Xu: [Even if you don’t wait, I’ll find you.]
Ye Xiyao: [I’ll run.]
Xing Xu: [?]
Followed by a crying emoji.
Even though it was a meaningless conversation, Ye Xiyao couldn’t help but laugh, and his earlier worries quickly dissipated.
He put down his phone and glanced at the time; it was still early for work. So he went to take a shower.
The moment he looked in the mirror, Ye Xiyao was startled.
His demon markings had begun to stir again, silently crawling up to his collarbone, with signs they were about to spread to his face.
Although he knew the agitation of the markings wasn’t serious, it still made him a bit nervous. Fortunately, they appeared while he was still at home. If anyone saw them at work, it would be a disaster.
Ye Xiyao had now learned to use the energy provided by Xing Xu to maintain balance in his body, so upon noticing the markings, he immediately controlled their growth and made them retreat back to his abdomen.
He suspected it was because he had been getting too close to Xing Xu recently, absorbing too much of his energy. Perhaps he hadn’t fully assimilated it, which caused the markings to act up.
Since they had already receded, Ye Xiyao didn’t worry too much about it.
Before leaving the house, he checked himself in the mirror several times to make sure there were no issues, then headed off to work.
Fridays at the company are always a bit more relaxed.
Even if the workload is just as heavy as usual, the thought of the upcoming weekend puts everyone in a much better mood.
But today, Ye Xiyao’s feelings were a bit complicated.
Half of his thoughts were still lingering on Xing Xu, and he couldn’t shake off his anxiety and nervousness.
The rain stopped around ten in the morning. By that time, Xing Xu should have arrived at the Alliance government building.
As soon as the clouds dispersed, the sun came out. The damp and cold atmosphere finally lifted, and Ye Xiyao felt a little better.
During lunch, he took the opportunity to invite the whole department to a dinner on Saturday.
The reason was to thank everyone for their care now that last month’s bonuses had been distributed.
Everyone agreed.
Although there weren’t many people in their department, organizing a group event wasn’t always easy.
Adults have their own personal lives, and after leaving work, who wants to see their coworkers again?
But since it was Ye Xiyao who proposed the idea, everyone eagerly agreed, except for Qin Zai.
Qin Zai didn’t actually refuse, he just said, “I have a date on Saturday morning, not sure about the evening yet.”
Qiao Linchuan immediately exposed him: “Got it, you’re going on a date with a girl. If you hit it off, you’ll be together. If not, you’ll go your separate ways. So if you’re still single by the evening, you’ll join us for dinner, right?”
It wasn’t a secret that Qin Zai was keen on romance. To put it nicely, he was passionate; to put it bluntly, he was a flirt. His flaw was always losing interest quickly, but his strength was that he threw himself wholeheartedly into each new relationship, ready for a lifelong commitment — for a week or two.
“That’s basically it, but…” Qin Zai crossed his arms dramatically, “This time, it’s different.”
The room fell silent.
No one wanted to respond to him.
After all, everyone present was single, and they couldn’t stand Qin Zai flaunting his never-ending romances.
But Ye Xiyao had a habit of saving people from awkwardness, so he helped Qin Zai out by asking, “What’s different this time?”
Qin Zai gave him a look that said, You’re such a good person, and replied, “This time, it’s a serious arranged date set up by my family, with marriage in mind.”
Ye Xiyao paused when he heard the word ‘marriage,’ but before anyone could notice the change in his expression, he quickly said, “So if it works out, you’ll get married, and if not, you’ll join us for dinner.”
Qiao Linchuan laughed: “Haha!”
Lu Kou said, “Our little Bao has gotten smart, so quick to connect the dots.”
Xu Xingyang asked, “Does the civil affairs office even open on Saturdays?”
Qin Zai stared at Ye Xiyao and said, “Little Bao, you’ve gotten cheeky. That comment just now sounded like you were teasing me.”
Ye Xiyao replied, “I wasn’t.”
Seeing Ye Xiyao’s innocent expression, Qin Zai knew he wasn’t joking like the others, but was genuinely asking if he’d join for dinner, so he didn’t tease Ye Xiyao any further. Instead, he answered seriously, “Whether the date goes well or not, I’ll come for dinner. But if it does, I might bring someone along. Is that okay with you?”
Of course, Ye Xiyao didn’t mind, and he promptly said, “You two definitely have to come, and we’ll send you the location of the dinner.”
Qin Zai then asked if Ye Xiyao had picked a restaurant. After thinking it over, Ye Xiyao realized the places he usually went to weren’t suited for group dining, so he suggested getting everyone’s input.
Qin Zai proposed, “Why don’t we just go to where I’m having my date?”
Qiao Linchuan gave him a look of disdain. “You’re being lazy in the worst way possible! You want us all to tag along on your date?”
“It’s not like that. I’m meeting them at Wangxiang City Mall, and there’s not just one restaurant there. It’s the busiest commercial hub in Lucheng, perfect for a group dinner.” He then asked Ye Xiyao, “Little Bao, have you been there before?”
Ye Xiyao shook his head.
“Damn, Wangxiang City Mall?” Qiao Linchuan almost jumped up to smack Qin Zai. “Are you trying to make him spend all his money?”
Lu Kou also disagreed, “The prices at Wangxiang are way too high. Even though Xiao Bao’s bonus seems generous this time, one meal there with so many people would drain it all.”
Xu Xingyang didn’t say anything, but it was clear he was a bit interested in going to Wangxiang City Mall.
Qin Zai said, “It’s fine, put it on my card.”
Ye Xiyao quickly objected, “No, tomorrow’s my treat.”
Qin Zai smiled and said, “You can treat us to afternoon tea, and I’ll treat everyone to dinner and some drinks afterward. I go to Wangxiang City Mall often and have all kinds of membership cards there, so no need for you to spend too much.”
Wangxiang City is actually a massive entertainment and shopping complex, but unlike ordinary malls, it only hosts luxury brands. Every restaurant there has won some kind of award. Whether the food is good is another matter, but the prices are certainly high.
Qin Zai suggested going there not only because his date was there but also because it was rare for the department to gather like this. Last time, they planned to go to a bar, but because Xing Xu was there, no one really got to enjoy themselves. Qin Zai had a membership at a bar in Wangxiang and had quite a bit of alcohol stored there. He didn’t mind spending money and had mentally prepared himself to treat everyone to a fun night.
Little did he know, Ye Xiyao was even more determined to treat them.
Ye Xiyao cautiously asked, “How much does it cost to eat there?”
Qiao Linchuan tried to scare him: “Bao, let’s not go. You won’t get out of there without spending at least 100,000.”
Qin Zai pushed Qiao Linchuan aside: “Get lost. Why don’t you inflate that number even more? A simple dinner there is about 1,000 yuan per person. We just won’t order the really expensive dishes. If you don’t want to use my card, we can split the bill.”
Xu Xingyang, who was really curious about seeing the place, also felt a bit guilty about making a recent graduate spend so much money and nervously suggested, “Yeah, let’s split the bill.”
Ye Xiyao said, “No, I’ll treat. I’ve never been there, and I want to go at least once.”
He wasn’t trying to show off. Although 1,000 per person was a bit expensive for him, he was willing to spend it.
The others didn’t know this dinner was for his birthday and just thought he was happy because of his bonus, so they tried to save him some money.
But Ye Xiyao was thinking about how this was the first time in 22 years that he would be celebrating his birthday with friends, and he was willing to spend the money for the experience.
In the end, the decision was made to have dinner at Wangxiang City Mall, with Ye Xiyao treating everyone.
However, Qin Zai ended up getting playfully beaten up by Qiao Linchuan and Lu Kou.
Qin Zai could only sigh in defeat, as he didn’t expect Ye Xiyao to insist on treating. All he could say was, “It’s my fault, my fault. I’ll cover all the department’s meal expenses next month. And tomorrow night, drinks are on me — no one else pays.”
Seeing his sincere apology, everyone let him off the hook.
In the midst of their playful banter, Ye Xiyao silently took out his phone.
He really wanted to call Xing Xu.
He wanted to ask how the “report” went and whether Xing Xu would be back tomorrow.
But in the end, he did nothing and put his phone away.
–
Saturday came with clear blue skies, Ye Xiyao’s favorite kind of weather.
Xing Xu hadn’t contacted him.
Maybe the Alliance government still had reservations about Ye Xiyao, or maybe there was some other reason. Either way, Xing Xu hadn’t returned, nor had he updated him on the outcome.
Thankfully, Ye Xiyao was already prepared for this. He wasn’t the impatient type, and no matter what the Alliance government’s stance was, he was determined to enjoy his birthday.
He and the others met up around 4 PM.
Wangxiang City Mall, known for its exorbitant prices, was even busier than Ye Xiyao expected, with people coming and going.
“There sure are a lot of rich people,” Qiao Linchuan remarked, pointing at a huge storefront window of a brand. “I heard it costs seven figures to get a custom suit there.”
Ye Xiyao clicked his tongue, “That’s so expensive.”
Lu Kou pointed to another place: “That brand is even crazier. To become a member, they first check your assets. You can’t get in without at least a billion in net worth, and the annual membership fee is 500,000 yuan.”
Ye Xiyao asked, “Even if you don’t buy anything, you still have to pay?”
Lu Kou replied, “Yes.”
Ye Xiyao: “I don’t understand rich people.”
Qiao Linchuan: “I don’t understand either.”
Lu Kou: “Same here.”
Xu Xingyang: “Me neither.”
Qin Zai: “Do you guys want to go in and take a look? I’m a member.”
Everyone: “…”
Qin Zai’s date today didn’t go well, so he arrived early. However, there was no sign of disappointment on his face, and when asked why it didn’t work out, he simply said, “Just wasn’t meant to be.”
He played the role of a part-time tour guide, showing Ye Xiyao and the others around for quite a while. But Ye Xiyao had no interest in luxury brands and was constantly distracted by his phone.
Lu Kou noticed his absent-mindedness and came over with a smile, asking, “Did you make plans with someone else?”
Ye Xiyao shook his head. “No.”
But Lu Kou didn’t let it go, saying, “Why didn’t you invite Xing Xu today? Aren’t you two pretty close?”
Ye Xiyao replied, “He’s busy.”
Lu Kou: “Oh, so it’s not that you didn’t want to invite him, but that he couldn’t come?”
Ye Xiyao didn’t understand why Lu Kou was asking this, but he nodded. “Yeah.”
“I can tell by the way you’re all distracted — you want him to come, don’t you?” Lu Kou chuckled. “If you miss him, just give him a call. Even if you can’t meet, hearing his voice is still something.”
Ye Xiyao was taken aback. “I…”
Before he could finish, Lu Kou deliberately cut him off and ran off to find Qin Zai, saying, “Do you have a membership for that brand? I’ve been wanting to shop there for a while!”
Everyone excitedly followed Qin Zai into another luxury store.
Ye Xiyao stayed outside, unmoving. He had taken in what Lu Kou said.
He did want to see Xing Xu.
Ye Xiyao didn’t think of himself as someone who cared much about ceremonies. Even though he had invited everyone out for dinner, he hadn’t mentioned it was his birthday. Besides, he and Xing Xu had just seen each other not long ago, so missing one meetup shouldn’t have mattered.
But somehow, without Xing Xu, he felt a void inside.
Lu Kou was right — if they couldn’t meet, just hearing his voice would be nice.
So, he called Xing Xu.
Ye Xiyao had prepared himself for the possibility that Xing Xu wouldn’t answer. After all, he didn’t know what Xing Xu was busy with in another city, and it would make sense if he couldn’t take the call.
But Xing Xu answered, and he answered quickly.
“Hello?”
The moment Xing Xu’s voice came through, Ye Xiyao’s heart skipped a beat.
He pressed his lips together, suppressing a sudden rush of emotion, and softly asked, “Are you still busy?”
Xing Xu didn’t respond for a while, but his breathing was heavy, as if he had to adjust his breath before replying, “Yeah, a little.”
Ye Xiyao didn’t press further, afraid of hearing something he didn’t want to — like news that humans couldn’t accept the existence of a succubus and wanted to get rid of him or something along those lines.
If bad news could be delayed, he wanted to hear it as late as possible.
He only asked, “When are you coming back?”
Xing Xu paused briefly before saying, “Not sure yet. Why… are you in trouble?”
His tone suddenly became serious and urgent.
“No,” Ye Xiyao quickly replied, “I invited everyone out for dinner today. We’re at a place called Wangxiang City Mall. The restaurants here are really expensive.”
What Ye Xiyao really wanted to say wasn’t about the prices. He wanted to say that it was such a nice place, and he wished Xing Xu could be there with him.
Xing Xu asked, “Which restaurant?”
Ye Xiyao told him and then asked, “Do you want to come?”
“I can’t,” Xing Xu replied, his breathing still a bit labored. “I’d like to, but it’s too far.”
Ye Xiyao said, “Yeah, I figured.”
Xing Xu: “Did you call just to tell me that?”
Ye Xiyao: “Mm-hmm.”
Xing Xu naturally assumed Ye Xiyao was trying to subtly inquire about the Alliance government’s stance, but he had run into some minor issues himself and couldn’t give Ye Xiyao any good news. “As for the Alliance, just wait a few more days for me.”
Ye Xiyao felt a bit disappointed. “Still a few more days?”
He thought it would be like a work report, just a quick meeting and it would be done.
Xing Xu said, “I’ll be as fast as I can.”
“Xing Xu, I think I kind of…”
Ye Xiyao wanted to say something more, but suddenly, there was a loud thunderclap on the other end. The rumbling was so intense that it made Ye Xiyao’s ear go numb.
The next moment, the call was abruptly disconnected.
Before Ye Xiyao could finish his sentence, the call ended, and he saw the screen show the call had ended. Frowning, he tried to call back, but the phone was turned off.
A short while later, Lu Kou and the others came out.
“It’s about time for dinner, isn’t it? Let’s go, I’m starving!” Xu Xingyang hollered as he headed toward the restaurant.
Ye Xiyao had booked a table for 6:00 PM, and now it was 5:30, so it was about time. However, his mind was still elsewhere, and he kept trying to call Xing Xu, but no one answered. He asked Lu Kou, “Sister Kou, can a phone suddenly turn off because of thunder?”
Lu Kou glanced at him, then at his phone screen, her expression shifting slightly. She gave a vague answer: “During heavy rain, it’s possible the signal gets bad. Every time there’s thunder, I switch off the power just in case—it might not help, but it gives me peace of mind.”
Ye Xiyao was skeptical. “Hmm, maybe it’s the weather over there.”
Lu Kou smiled and nodded. “Let’s eat first. Maybe it’ll be fine later.”
Ye Xiyao said, “Okay, I’ll try again later.”
The dinner ended up being even better than anyone had expected. Whether it was the restaurant’s atmosphere, the freshness of the ingredients, or the quality of service, everything was perfect.
As he ate, Ye Xiyao couldn’t help but think about bringing Xing Xu here one day. Even if the food wasn’t the absolute best, dining in a place like this lifted your spirits.
Well, except for when it came time to pay the bill.
Ye Xiyao was prepared for it, so he swiped his card without blinking. However, Xu Xingyang and Qiao Linchuan were wide-eyed in shock.
“What?! What’s with this 15% service fee?!”
Ye Xiyao laughed, “As long as you had fun, that’s what matters.”
After all, he was feeling pretty happy.
Because he had just received a text from Xing Xu.
As he had guessed, Xing Xu’s phone had shut off because of the thunderstorm. He texted to say he had switched to a different phone and that Ye Xiyao shouldn’t worry.
Ye Xiyao replied: [Don’t get caught in the rain again.]
After a while, Xing Xu responded: [I’ll try my best.]
Ye Xiyao thought he was joking again. It’s not that hard to avoid getting wet—just find a place to take cover.
Not wanting to banter with Xing Xu, Ye Xiyao left it at that. But then, Xing Xu sent another message: [Have you finished dinner?]
Ye Xiyao: [Yes, but there’s none left for you.]
Xing Xu: [Next time, you’ll owe me.]
Ye Xiyao: [You won’t get the chance.]
Xing Xu: [I will. Baby, give me a chance.]
Before Ye Xiyao could respond, Xing Xu texted again: [Are you heading home now? I’ll call you a car.]
Ye Xiyao was in the middle of typing a reply when Lu Kou, standing beside him, noticed and could clearly see his expression, even though Ye Xiyao wasn’t aware of it himself.
Lu Kou asked, “What’s up, is he coming?”
Startled, Ye Xiyao paused, his hands stopped, and his ears turned red. “No, he’s not.”
Lu Kou shrugged. “You’re smiling so happily—I thought someone was rushing over here.”
Ye Xiyao replied, “He’s out of town.”
Lu Kou teased, “If he really wanted to, he could get back here even if he were in outer space.”
Ye Xiyao thought about it. “Nah, Xing Xu isn’t that eager.”
Lu Kou looked at him and shook her head. “Oh, my, oh my.”
She decided to stop dwelling on the issue of Xing Xu and glanced at the bill, beginning to gently lecture Ye Xiyao, “In the future, no matter how many bonuses you get, don’t splurge like this. This meal cost so much, it makes my heart ache.”
Ye Xiyao reassured her, “It’s okay, I think it was worth it. This was my first time coming to such a fancy restaurant with friends. I really enjoyed it.”
“Yeah, it was enjoyable, but the money feels like it went up in flames,” Qiao Linchuan chimed in, glaring at Qin Zai with resentment. “It’s all your fault for suggesting this place. Xiaobao just started working a month ago, and you know how hard it is for him to earn money!”
Qin Zai quickly smiled apologetically, “My bad, my bad. Come on, let’s go, drinks are on me to make up for it.”
Everyone seemed excited, so Ye Xiyao didn’t refuse. He knew he couldn’t afford the bar they were heading to, so when Qin Zai offered to pay, he accepted without hesitation.
Ye Xiyao casually sent a message to Xing Xu: [Brother Qin Zai is taking us to a fancy bar, so I’m not heading home just yet.]
This time, Xing Xu didn’t reply.
Maybe it was thunder again.
As they walked toward the bar, Qin Zai hyped them up even more. “The bar we’re going to is reservation-only for members, and there’s a limited number of people allowed in each day. When I booked, I snagged one of the last spots. No exaggeration, only celebrities go there—you might even run into a star.”
Xu Xingyang laughed, “Does that mean we’re celebrities too?”
Qiao Linchuan said, “We aren’t, but Xiaobao is.”
Ye Xiyao looked surprised, “Me?”
Qiao Linchuan explained, “Remember that live-streaming account we had? Most of the followers were there for you. You’re a top streamer with a million fans online—doesn’t that make you a celebrity? Who knows, you might even run into your fans at the bar.”
Ye Xiyao had long put the live-streaming days behind him. He didn’t consider himself a streamer at all. For him, it was just a job he completed back then. “There are no fans. I won’t run into anyone.”
Some things, it seems, should never be said.
When they arrived at the bar, they actually did run into a few of Ye Xiyao’s “fans.”
To be fair, they weren’t exactly fans—just a few wealthy young men who liked to watch live streams in their spare time. One day, they had happened to catch one of Ye Xiyao’s streams, where they were captivated by his stunning looks and had sent him some gifts. They had also remembered his face.
Meeting Ye Xiyao at the bar was a pleasant surprise for them.
Right away, they bought the most expensive bottle of wine for him.
At the same time, a moving camera turned toward Ye Xiyao.
Ye Xiyao stared dumbly at the camera aimed at him, having no idea what was happening.
This bar was different from the quieter one they had visited before. The vibrant lights and loud music made everyone’s faces light up with excitement.
Ye Xiyao hadn’t yet adjusted to the fast pace of this environment when, suddenly, he became the center of attention.
“This wine costs over 300,000 yuan a bottle. Whoever buys it becomes the star of the night,” Qin Zai explained, pointing to the giant screen, “They bought it for you. Now you’re the star.”
Ye Xiyao’s face appeared in full on the bar’s giant, high-definition screen.
The entire room suddenly fell silent for a moment.
The DJ, sensing the moment, cut the music.
It was as if the whole world was staring at the person on the screen.
Three seconds later, the bar exploded into cheers, and the music kicked back in.
Their booth, which had only a few people at first, was soon crowded with onlookers, all eager to get a glimpse of Ye Xiyao.
What was even more outrageous was that over the next half-hour, different people bought that same expensive bottle five more times—all just to put Ye Xiyao’s face back on the screen.
At first, Ye Xiyao found the attention novel, but soon, it started to weigh heavily on him. As more people crowded around him, he began to feel that this lively atmosphere wasn’t for him.
He kept glancing over at Qiao Linchuan and Lu Kou, trying to signal with his eyes that he wanted to leave.
But by then, everyone was already too caught up in the moment.
Lu Kou had jumped into the dance floor, completely oblivious to his silent plea for help.
So, Ye Xiyao made an excuse that he needed to go to the restroom and quietly slipped away.
As he made his way out, he could feel many eyes on him. He didn’t dare look back and wasn’t sure if anyone was following him. All he could do was push his way forward.
The bar was packed with people brushing past each other, leaving no room to breathe. Ye Xiyao was feeling increasingly warm, but this wasn’t the kind of warmth from rising temperatures or excitement—it was just an overwhelming heat.
Ye Xiyao hadn’t had much to drink and was still fully conscious, but as the warmth intensified, his head began to feel heavy. Just as he was nearing a long hallway that led to the restroom, someone suddenly caught up to him and whispered in his ear, “Do you need help?”
Qin Zai had mentioned that this bar, being members-only with real-name reservations, was not chaotic, which is why they felt comfortable bringing Ye Xiyao here. But “not chaotic” only meant that people wouldn’t engage in anything too shady. Flirting, however, was still common.
Ye Xiyao tried to keep his distance and politely declined, “No, thanks. I just want to wash my face.”
The person beside him gasped in surprise, “Your hair…”
Puzzled, Ye Xiyao blinked and thought there might be something in his hair. He raised his hand to touch it and was instantly shocked.
His hair was growing.
Yes, growing—at a visible rate.
The person, probably thinking they were seeing things because of too much alcohol, rubbed their eyes in disbelief. “It was black just now… how is it turning white?”
Ye Xiyao quickly grabbed his head and, with a burst of speed, dashed into the restroom.
Thankfully, the bar’s restroom was clean, spacious, and free of any unpleasant smells.
With a few curious glances from nearby men, Ye Xiyao hurried into a stall, locked the door, and didn’t dare to breathe.
How could his hair suddenly grow?
Ye Xiyao tried to suppress the transformation, but it was no use. He grasped the ends of his hair, watching helplessly as they draped over his shoulders. Within minutes, the black-dyed parts of his hair were replaced by shimmering silver strands.
The silver hair cascaded down like moonlight, stopping only when it reached past his waist. Ye Xiyao managed to halt the transformation, but he couldn’t change it back.
Worse yet, his tail had appeared too.
Something was terribly wrong.
He had carefully hidden his demonic aura and his succubus traits. With his energy still intact, why was this sudden loss of control happening?
Unless…
His energy was out of balance again?
But he hadn’t done anything!
Ye Xiyao’s mind was a complete mess, and he couldn’t think clearly. Panic gripped him, and he was consumed by a single thought: What now? What now?
He didn’t even know how to leave the stall.
On a normal day, Ye Xiyao could have slipped away unnoticed since most people didn’t recognize him.
But not here, not in this bar, and not after everyone had just seen his face!
If Ye Xiyao showed himself in this form, the secret that he wasn’t human would be exposed.
Ye Xiyao was terrified and lost, curling up in the corner with his head in his hands.
But he knew waiting here wasn’t a solution either—Qiao Linchuan and the others would eventually come looking for him.
Why today?
He just wanted to have a simple birthday, was that too much to ask?
Time passed slowly, and Ye Xiyao wasn’t sure how long he’d been hiding in the stall.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
Ye Xiyao held his breath, not daring to make a sound.
The knocking grew faster and louder, becoming more persistent.
Ye Xiyao clutched his hair tightly and yanked on it as if trying to tear it out, irrationally hoping that doing so might somehow help him escape this inevitable disaster.
“Open the door.”
The moment Ye Xiyao heard that voice, he thought he was hallucinating.
How could it be him?
Afraid he was mistaken, Ye Xiyao cautiously asked, “Xing Xu?”
When Xing Xu heard Ye Xiyao respond, he visibly relaxed. He had been searching for Ye Xiyao for a long time, and this stall was his last hope. If Ye Xiyao hadn’t been inside, Xing Xu might have torn the bar apart.
Thankfully, Ye Xiyao was safe.
“Sweetheart, open the door for me,” Xing Xu lowered his voice, suppressing his anxiety.
Obediently, Ye Xiyao cracked the door open just enough, and Xing Xu slipped inside. A few men at the sinks peeked over, curious, and then smirked lewdly as if they understood something.
The door was closed again.
The cramped stall, which fit Ye Xiyao comfortably on his own, became quite crowded with both of them inside. Neither said a word.
Xing Xu didn’t want to speak, and Ye Xiyao couldn’t.
Somehow, their lips met, and they stayed locked together for a long time before parting.
Ye Xiyao snapped out of his panic, realizing that Xing Xu was soaking wet again, just like last time.
Before he could ask about it, Xing Xu, still in shock, blurted out, “Your hair?”
Ye Xiyao, thinking that Xing Xu might have some kind of kissing addiction, caught his breath and explained, “I don’t know why, but it just happened like this.”
Xing Xu’s gaze fell on Ye Xiyao’s long silver hair. He twirled a lock between his fingers and brought it to his lips. “It’s beautiful.”
“It’s not! Now I can’t leave,” Ye Xiyao said, irritated.
Xing Xu didn’t seem concerned at all. “Then don’t. Just stay here.”
“This is a bathroom,” Ye Xiyao retorted, snatching his hair back.
Xing Xu leisurely wrapped his arm around Ye Xiyao’s back, his hand sliding down to the playful little tail. He whispered in a hoarse voice, “It’s clean enough.”
Ye Xiyao had initially been happy to see Xing Xu, but now he realized Xing Xu was just here to make things worse. “…Be serious.”
“I am serious. As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we are,” Xing Xu said, unfazed.
Ye Xiyao said nothing, taking back his tail and hair, sulking quietly.
“My bad. I’m sorry,” Xing Xu kissed him softly, coaxing him. “I’ll get you out of here.”
“How? There are people everywhere outside. They’ll definitely notice my hair,” Ye Xiyao muttered, feeling like Xing Xu didn’t understand the gravity of the situation.
Xing Xu brushed against Ye Xiyao’s soft belly and replied, “They won’t… if they can’t see it.”
“What?” Ye Xiyao asked, confused.
Xing Xu bit his ear and whispered, “If I give you enough demonic energy, you can pull it back in. No one will notice.”
“…”
Enough demonic energy? How?
Xing Xu’s hand slipped down to Ye Xiyao’s waist. “Shall we?”
Ye Xiyao bit his lip, considering the offer.
He wasn’t sure why his tail and hair had suddenly manifested today, but he knew that with enough demonic energy, he could definitely suppress them again. That much was certain.
But…
“There are people outside,” Ye Xiyao whispered nervously.
Xing Xu responded calmly, “Yeah, so we’ll just keep quiet.”
“…”
That’s not what he meant!
But Xing Xu didn’t care what Ye Xiyao meant. He kissed him again, roughly and passionately. Ye Xiyao, unable to resist, gave in, his body going soft.
He was nervous, and Xing Xu could feel it.
“Baby, relax.”
“I… can’t relax,” Ye Xiyao murmured, biting his lip.
Xing Xu thought for a moment and decided to distract him. “Earlier today, when you called me, there was something you didn’t finish saying, right?”
Ye Xiyao was taken aback, his mind drifting back to the call that had been cut short.
“You said, ‘I think I kinda…’ what?” Xing Xu prompted.
Ye Xiyao was just about to speak when Xing Xu took the opportunity to move. Ye Xiyao let out a soft gasp, “What are you doing!”
Xing Xu chuckled, “What am I doing?”
Ye Xiyao didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
Xing Xu continued, “I know what you wanted to say.”
Ye Xiyao stayed silent.
“You were going to say you’re a little hungry, right?”
Ye Xiyao squeezed his arm, her voice trembling, “No.”
Xing Xu, of course, knew that wasn’t it, but he kept teasing. “Don’t lie to me. You’re definitely hungry, that’s why your hair and tail are out.”
He gently stroked Ye Xiyao’s tail, kissing it slowly as he said, “If you’re hungry, you should eat your fill.”
“No, I’m really not hungry,” Ye Xiyao denied again.
Xing Xu’s expression softened, and he hugged him tightly.
Ye Xiyao added, “What I was going to say earlier was, I think I kinda miss you.”
Xing Xu’s body stiffened, and he straightened up immediately. “What?”
Ye Xiyao, unsteady from the sudden movement, almost lost his balance and had to step on Xing Xu’s feet to stay upright. “…Forget it if you didn’t hear.”
“I heard it. I heard it loud and clear. There’s no ‘forget it,’” Xing Xu said softly, slowing his movements and kissing the back of Ye Xiyao’s neck. “I missed you too. So much it’s driving me crazy.”
