Chapter 34: Want to Drink
Duan Ke clutched the documents and walked toward the address given by the senior.
Thinking about annoying things, he walked somewhat absentmindedly, occasionally kicking small stones by his feet. His light-colored eyelashes trembled in the sunlight.
…Still so angry.
Duan Ke felt stifled inside. He couldn’t explain why he was so angry. The non-human constitution and thinking of a succubus always made it hard for Duan Ke to distinguish sudden emotions.
…Actually, if Qin Huai had just come to hug him, he would have calmed down immediately.
But Qin Huai just let him walk away! Wasn’t he afraid he would sulk?
Duan Ke looked solemn, scratching Qin Huai’s face viciously with a cat’s tail in his mind. He used a little bit of force and kicked a small stone by his foot flying.
A scream came instantly from the side. Startled, Duan Ke looked up to see a boy’s distorted face.
“Who is it? Treating stones like soccer balls?! Using so much force… Hm?”
The senior turned his head in rage to scan the surroundings, finding only a boy with a look of fear standing nearby. He walked over angrily, but upon seeing the boy’s appearance, his anger instantly died out.
Whether dyed or natural, the boy’s hair was a semi-transparent golden-brown under the sun. With a high, upturned nose tip like a mixed-race child and light-colored pupils, he looked fluffy in the warm sun. The whole person looked obedient and harmless, like an orange cat that wanted to get close to people but was afraid.
…Is some star model coming to their school for a shoot? He looks so awesome.
It probably wasn’t this boy who did it, right? Could someone looking like this do something bad??
The senior’s face changed from thunderous rage to pleasant geniality. He asked, “Hello, did you see who kicked that stone?”
Duan Ke: “…Senior, it was me. I was thinking about something just now, so… I’m really sorry!”
“…It’s okay, haha, no big deal. I’m not hurt, it’s fine.”
Except the knee under his long pants was probably scraped and bleeding. Damn, this pretty junior has quite a kick; you couldn’t tell at all!
After a brief conversation, Duan Ke realized this was the senior he was delivering the materials to.
He obediently handed over the materials: “Total thirteen pages, I counted. Please check if anything is missing, Senior.”
The senior confirmed everything was correct and accepted it, scratching his head apologetically. “Thank you, but I already cancelled the order just now, so the money might not go to your WeChat… How about you add me, and I’ll transfer it to you.”
Duan Ke took a small step back and waved his hands: “No need. I was going this way anyway, and I delivered it late.”
The senior tried to persuade him a few more times, but Duan Ke refused to accept the money. Finally, the senior sighed and pulled two tickets from his bag.
“If you won’t take the money, take this?”
The senior shook the items in his hand. “These are prizes from our department activityātickets to the Happy Valley next door. Their Halloween event in two days is quite fun, but I have a competition and can’t go.”
The senior handed the hard tickets printed with Halloween patterns to Duan Ke. “It’s a waste to leave them with me. You take them; go have fun with a friend or partner.”
Since the senior put it that way, it would be awkward not to accept.
Duan Ke had to take the tickets and wave goodbye.
These two tickets were exquisitely designed, with a matte, glittery finish. Duan Ke felt the sand-like comfortable texture with his fingers and couldn’t help wondering if Happy Valley was fun.
He didn’t like crowded environments much, so in the three years since taking human form, he hadn’t been to amusement parks, and rarely even went to supermarkets.
But he had a keeper now.
The event was on Sunday, and the time was suitable.
Duan Ke snapped a photo of the tickets and opened WeChat, wanting to send it to Qin Huai. Halfway through typing, he suddenly realized something and da-da-da deleted the text in the chat box.
…He was still angry! How could he reach out first!
Duan Ke’s face burned. He held the phone and spaced out like a broken little robot. He wondered when he had become so unwiseāit was all Brother Qin Huai’s fault!
Duan Ke sat on a bench by the lake, staring blankly at the chat box, which contained the text message Qin Huai sent ten minutes ago.
Duan Ke bit his thumb, debating whether to reply. But he felt that for his first time being angry, he should be tough, or else how could he win arguments in the future?
Before he could decide, someone suddenly patted his shoulder, scaring him so much he almost dropped his phone.
“…Lord Duan Ke!”
Xu Jueās hand was still suspended in mid-air, surprised. “Sorry, I scared you. I called you many times just now; I thought you heard me.”
“But why is your face so red?” Xu Jue leaned in to examine him. “Is the weather hot? You don’t feel unwell, do you?”
Duan Ke felt extremely guilty. He lowered his head and fiercely swiped away Qin Huai’s chat box. He mumbled that it was nothing and asked why Xu Jue suddenly came to his school.
“I was eating near A University and saw the message Little Black Ball sent in the group, so I came to find you.”
Xu Jue smiled brightly. “Little Black said you not only killed that monster but also collapsed the building? You’re amazing! We’ve never had a succubus with such strong attack power. Everyone is very happy and wants to ask if you’d like to come hang out with us tonight.”
“It’s okay if you’re not used to it and don’t come,” Xu Jue added considerately. “It’s just that there happens to be a gathering tonight, so everyone asked casually.”
Duan Ke fingered the tickets in his hand, hesitating.
…Although everyone was nice, he still preferred the feeling of being alone with Qin Huai.
For some reason, when he was alone with Qin Huai, there was always a familiar and reassuring feeling. The fear of not fully fitting into humanity and the uneasiness of facing non-kindred alone were temporarily smoothed over when he was alone with Qin Huai.
…He wanted Qin Huai to go with him. That way, he could play with everyone and not be afraid.
But Duan Ke was currently a succubus attempting to be tough. He stuffed the tickets into his pocket, took a light breath to encourage himself, and nodded to Xu Jue: “Then let’s go.”
Although Duan Ke was very apprehensive on the way there, he actually integrated smoothly.
Kindred were kindred after all; the magic from the same source gave them an innate intimacy, and they soon chatted happily.
The succubi sat in a circle, dining in the first floor of a villa with ambiguous lighting. Duan Ke sat in the middle, eating and chatting with everyone.
“Lord Duan Ke, you say you only have one keeper??”
A woman with striking beauty and exquisite makeup choked hard on her wine, her tone full of disbelief.
“How can that work! Can he feed you full?! Won’t you go hungry often?”
“Yeah, no wonder the King’s figure doesn’t match his superb strength; he looks like he hasn’t eaten well.”
The succubus next to him was heartbroken. “Did you listen to some slander from that human, Lord Duan Ke! We succubi need three to five keepers to be full!”
“Exactly, exactly…”
Duan Ke blushed at their questions. He lowered his head and drank two mouthfuls of juice to cover up, gripping the cup tightly.
“Actually, one is enough. I was so stuffed last night. I’m not used to eating other humans, so one is fine… You don’t need to recommend people to me! Really!”
Although Duan Ke had always lacked airs and everyone seemed to get along well, monsters were ultimately hierarchical creatures where strength was king.
Any order from a superior allowed no resistance, and voices of doubt vanished instantly. Since he said he wanted one-on-one, no one would suggest adding people to Duan Ke’s side.
“Lord Duan Ke, have you already marked him?”
A curious succubus leaned in. “I heard marked humans taste doubly good and are very obedient… Is it true?”
“Yes, Lord Duan Ke.” Another person approached. “With a body like yours, it’s impossible to be fully satisfied by one human. You must have marked him, right?”
“I heard the blood from a human’s neck is super, super fragrant. Is it true, Lord Duan Ke?”
“Is it more ******* to do it while biting the neck?”
“Yeah!! I really want to experience what it feels like to be * into the reproductive cavity after marking… Lord Duan Ke, can you describe it for me? Does it squirt a lot?”
Seeing the conversation sliding toward an adult channel, Duan Ke pulled on the reins urgently.
He blinked and asked, “Have none of you marked a human? So many people, and none?”
“No, how can we give that casually?? You can only mark once in a lifetime.”
“And after marking, you can’t eat other humans; forcing yourself to eat makes you sick… My appetite is great; I don’t want anorexia.”
“Right, and what use do succubi have for love! We don’t want this kind of one-on-one relationship…”
Duan Ke was completely stunned. Gradually, the noisy voices of the succubi and the clinking of glasses became a blurred background.
Duan Ke held his juice, staring at nothing, his thoughts drifting away.
Other succubi lived in groups and gathered often despite the Bureau’s ban.
But Duan Ke had stayed away from the clan since childhood. No one had taught him these basic physiological facts. He only knew how to feed instinctively and didn’t know that marking led to anorexia.
And his anorexia symptoms… had been very, very obvious since he could remember.
Duan Ke’s thoughts were in chaos. He frowned tightly; various clues finally connected into a complete line in his mind.
Little Black Ball saying it couldn’t smell Qin Huai’s scent, the deep bite scars on the back of Qin Huai’s neck, their overly compatible bodies, and his own anorexia.
…Had he really marked Qin Huai? When did it happen?
If he had marked him, how could he not remember?
Duan Ke suddenly stopped breathing, feeling chest tightness and inability to catch his breath. A very distant sadness made Duan Ke’s nose tingle.
So strange. Why is it suddenly so painful? It was like an instinctive reaction of this body; he felt like he was going to hurt all over.
“…”
“Lord Duan Ke?”
Xu Jue, who had been watching from a distance, quietly leaned over holding a selected cocktail.
“Are you in a bad mood?” Xu Jue whispered close to Duan Ke’s ear.
It was fine until he asked; once he did, Duan Ke couldn’t hold it back. The corners of his eyes turned red, he turned his head away and gave a soft “Mn”.
“Then want to drink some wine to cool off?”
Xu Jue handed over the cocktail, colored exquisitely like a blue ocean. “We succubi are very sensitive to alcohol… drinking some will make you feel much better, just like humans love eating sweets. My mixing skills are pretty good. Want to try?”
Duan Ke tilted his head to look down and his eyes widened.
The wine Xu Jue mixed was truly beautiful. Orange and transparent fluorescent blue interlaced; the ice cubes were translucent under the light, garnished with mint leaves.
Although Duan Ke was an adult, he had never drunk alcohol and didn’t know what his tolerance was.
He was a succubus… his tolerance shouldn’t be too bad, right?
The phone in his pocket vibrated buzz-buzz twice, as if someone had sent a message.
But Duan Ke’s attention was captivated by this pretty drink. Nature tempted him, inviting him to taste the flavor of alcohol, the flavor of sin.
“Okay.” Duan Ke took it. “Thank you, Brother Xu Jue. I’ll try it.”
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