Chapter 10

How are you?

Jia Hao read the message and smiled, feeling a strange warmth inside. He couldn't remember anyone ever worrying about him like that.

Good. Sending now. Thanks.

He looked at the screen. Was he getting sentimental?

He stood up with a wince. Besides his ribs, his leg, shoulder, and back also ached. He ran a hand over his face, then headed to the bathroom to take a shower. He removed the bandage, freeing his arm. He moved it—it felt numb but okay.

He took a waterproof plaster from the cabinet and covered the stitches on his leg, then stepped under the hot water. He sighed at the comforting warmth and felt much better after turning off the tap.

He called the mechanic and arranged to have the bike picked up, then checked the shift schedule for the evening. He was assigned to patrol downtown.

He went to the walk-in wardrobe and prepared his clothes and weapons.

---

The night was thankfully quiet, with no incidents. He felt exhausted, with nothing to do but walk; he wasn't sure how fast he'd react in an emergency.

When he reached the car, he slumped against the backrest, closing his eyes. He needed to feed on blood. His body couldn't regenerate otherwise.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and read the message.

What's up?

Jia Hao smiled. Good. You?

Just finished my shift at the hospital.

Can I buy you breakfast before you go to sleep? His fingers moved before his brain caught up. He wanted to see Mu Yang.

With pleasure. Where?

Jia Hao thought for a moment. There was a small place nearby that made excellent double chocolate muffins. He sent the directions to Mu Yang and set off.

---

He arrived first, went inside, and chose a more secluded table. After a few minutes, the werewolf came in, a tired smile on his handsome face.

"Was it a tough shift?" Jia Hao asked.

"No more than usual. Yours?"

Jia Hao smiled. They had only been dating a short while, but Mu Yang had already noticed he hadn't been staying home much. "No more than usual," he replied.

Mu Yang sat down. "What do you recommend?"

"The double chocolate muffins are great, and the cappuccino is very good too."

The werewolf nodded and ordered the same. His eyes scanned the vampire carefully. His posture was stiff from cracked ribs, and his left arm rested painfully on the table. He wondered about the condition of Jia Hao's leg. He wasn't the type to take care of himself, Mu Yang thought, and there was no one else to do it. He wanted to scold him for being careless, but feared offending him and pushing him away.

That thought hurt. He forced himself to stay quiet, and they had breakfast while chatting about food.

When they finished, Jia Hao glanced at his watch. "Unfortunately, I have to go — it's almost dawn."

Mu Yang nodded, and together they left and walked to their cars.

"Thanks for breakfast."

"Thank you. Get some rest—you look tired."

Mu Yang smiled. "See you soon."

---

He was almost home but couldn't stop thinking about Jia Hao and his injury. When they left the club, he had noticed Jia Hao limping slightly and worried some stitches might have come loose. He braked and turned around. He wouldn't forgive himself if it got worse.

---

Jia Hao was about to go to sleep. He was already in his shorts and a T-shirt when the intercom rang. He didn't answer — no one ever came by except his brother, who always warned him first.

Then the intercom rang again. He frowned and answered.

"It's Mu Yang. Please open up."

Worried, he opened the door. "What happened?" he asked as Mu Yang reached his balcony.

"Let me fix your stitches, and then if you want, I'll disappear from your life," Mu Yang said in one breath.

Jia Hao looked at him, surprised.

"I won't stand by and watch you risk infection or continue to bleed, weakening yourself," the werewolf continued without looking away.

The vampire stepped aside and let him enter the house. Mu Yang placed his bag on the floor and approached him. The determined frown revealed a side of his character Jia Hao did not yet know—but liked.

Having received no objections, Mu Yang relaxed. At that moment, Jia Hao's face came close, and his lips brushed against Mu Yang's.

Mu Yang's eyes widened in surprise as Jia Hao's hand gently caressed his face, and his tongue asked for permission.

The lycanthrope closed his eyes and opened his mouth.

They savored each other gently, almost hesitantly. When they pulled away, Mu Yang looked at Jia Hao—his features so perfect, those soft lips... He moved closer and kissed him again, both curious and hungry.

The lycanthrope pulled away with a short breath as the vampire watched him attentively. He had already wanted to kiss him when he had driven him home that night. When he saw Jia Hao's determination and care, he realized he could wait no longer.

"I don't want you to leave my life," Jia Hao said then.

Mu Yang smiled. "I was hoping you'd say that."

Jia Hao kissed him again—more slowly, more softly, more deeply. Then he let him go.

The werewolf straightened up. "Now let me take a look at you."

Jia Hao nodded and led him to the black glass table, moving two chairs aside and sitting on one.

Mu Yang put on sterile gloves and removed the bandage. As he had imagined, some of the stitches had come undone. He disinfected the area, then put the missing stitches back in place.

"The wound isn't healing. I don't know how long your healing process takes, but right now, it's as if you were human," he said, shifting his gaze to Jia Hao's face.

"I should feed on blood; that would speed up the healing a lot."

Mu Yang looked at him thoughtfully. "How long has it been since you last fed?"

Jia Hao shrugged. "A while. It will still heal, just more slowly."

"I'm not sure how this works... but if you want, you can drink from me."

The vampire looked at him. He wanted to feed from him—longed to taste him—but he couldn't. Not yet, at least. Drinking from him would mean much more than feeding, and he wasn't ready to burn out. He shook his head. "That's very kind of you, but it's not necessary."

Mu Yang nodded and didn't insist. He checked Jia Hao's ribs and shoulder. "You really should rest for a while."

Jia Hao said nothing. He didn't want to lie. They both knew he would be back on the streets the next night. Mu Yang had no right to stop him, even though he worried.

The werewolf stood up. "I'll go now. Rest and take care of yourself."

Jia Hao smiled and lightly kissed his lips. "You rest too. Don't worry about me."

Mu Yang left, thinking it would be hard not to worry.