After Mei opened the door, Viscount Matthews strode in. Hiding behind him was Lai La, with her fiery red hair.
She was still dressed the same as when they met in Campbell Territory, but her gaze toward Man En had softened, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Man En was also surprised to see Lai La.
“Father, this is…?”
“I have adopted her. From now on, she is your sister.”
Hearing this, Lai La shyly stepped out from behind Viscount Matthews.
“Um… Brother Man En, how is your body? Are you feeling better?”
She clasped her hands behind her back, not daring to meet Man En’s eyes.
Her voluptuous figure making such girlish gestures created a stark contrast.
Seeing her shy demeanor, Man En felt like teasing her.
“What’s this? You weren’t this shy when we first met, were you?”
“I… I’m really sorry…”
Mei walked over carrying fish soup and white bread, placing them beside Man En.
“Master Man En is really mischievous.”
She smiled at Lai La. “Miss Laira, the young master has changed a lot since he was little. Please don’t mind him.”
Man En looked at Mei and was startled.
‘Good grief, from the sound of it, she’s been by my side all along.’
‘Even though she says she’s thinking of others, she’s actually staking her claim.’
‘Is this a woman’s talent? How terrifying…’
Even Viscount Matthews on the side felt a bit awkward.
“Mei, take Lai La to rest first. I have something to discuss with Man En.”
Shortly after, the two women left.
The air seemed to freeze. Father and son both remained silent.
Finally, Viscount Matthews broke the silence.
“How is your body? Do you still feel anything wrong?”
“So far, I don’t feel any anomaly, Father.”
Man En deliberately concealed his condition. First, he didn’t want to worry his father; second, he didn’t want to arouse suspicion.
“I see… that’s good.”
Viscount Matthews’s eyes dimmed. He looked exhausted, a far cry from his former vigor. Now he seemed like someone just recovering from a serious illness.
No wonder. He had killed his own wife with his own hands, two of his three children had been sacrificed, and he had been powerless to save the many servants and territory residents dying before his eyes.
If anyone was the biggest victim of this incident, it was probably the convenient father standing before him.
Man En stood up. He staggered toward Viscount Matthews, using nearly all his remaining strength.
He gently embraced his father. This was all he could do now.
“I won’t spout hollow words like ‘the past is the past,’ but Father, we who are still alive must eventually move forward.”
“So please pull yourself together as soon as possible. If you lose your way, what are we supposed to do?”
Tears welled up in Viscount Matthews’s eyes. His hands trembled, but in the end, he hugged his child back.
“Thank you, my boy. You’re right.”
He helped Man En back to bed.
“Get some good rest. Recover quickly.”
“Father, how are the princess and the others?”
“They went back to the Imperial Palace to report. We lost some people, but overall, there’s no major problem.”
“I see… good that they’re fine.”
Even as he said that, she was the protagonist of this world. If something really happened to her, his plan to laze around would fall through.
Besides, she was a comrade who had fought alongside him. He didn’t want anything to go wrong on her end either.
“Alright. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go attend to matters.”
Viscount Matthews reached the door. Just as he was about to leave, Man En called out.
“Father, one more thing. I contacted a friend of mine. She said she would send people to help. Please arrange work for them when they arrive.”
Viscount Matthews felt a warmth in his heart. He was surprised by how considerate his son had become.
And at this critical moment when they were short-handed, it was a timely help indeed.
“Understood. Don’t worry.”
With the viscount’s departure, the room fell silent again.
Man En picked up a piece of white bread, dipped it in fish soup, and ate slowly.
—
Night fell.
The knock on Man En’s tent came again.
Strange. Who could it be at this hour?
“Master Man En, are you asleep?”
It was Mei. Did she have something urgent?
Despite his confusion, he couldn’t just let her wait outside.
“Come in.”
As soon as he spoke, the door was pushed open gently.
She lowered her head, holding a pillow, not daring to meet his eyes.
“Um… Master Man En, I haven’t been able to sleep well for days. Tonight… I’d like to sleep in your room, just for one night. Please…”
By the end, her voice was barely audible.
He felt like keeping quiet just to watch her flustered expression—it was cute. But then he remembered she was the one who had mostly taken care of him while he was unconscious, and he softened.
“That’s fine.”
Man En said gently.
“Then… excuse me.”
Mei carefully placed her pillow on the ground beside his bed.
“What are you doing? Why put it on the floor? There’s plenty of room on the bed.”
“Well… Huh? No, it’s not what you think!”
“Honestly…”
Man En looked at her with exasperation.
“We’ve been together since childhood. Do you think I don’t know what’s on your mind?”
“Busted, hehe.”
She stuck out her tongue, showing a side of herself he had never seen before.
She nimbly climbed onto the bed. They faced each other, and both of them blushed at the same time.
Mei reached out and gently touched Man En’s cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned in closer, until their lips pressed together.
But just as Man En lost himself in the soft sensation, she suddenly pulled back.
When she opened her eyes again, her pupils had turned blood red.
Her breathing grew heavier and faster.
“Master Man En… do you… love Mei?”
At some point, a strange fragrance filled the air.
Man En smelled it. His blood began to surge, his breathing rapid.
“I… I do!”
“Hold me…”
He looked into those captivating pupils. He felt his consciousness being slowly drawn away, like a frog slowly boiled in water. By the time he realized it, it was too late.
Now, even if the person before him took his life, he wouldn’t say a word.
“I’ll be digging in now, Maaaster Maan Eeen.”
Mei gently bent down and lightly bit into his neck.
As she sucked his blood, his consciousness became completely disconnected from his body. Yet every sense became several times more acute.
His instincts screamed danger, but his body wouldn’t move.
He was like a paralyzed prey ready for slaughter.
“Master Man En’s blood tastes so sweet… See? You really do love me.”
“Then I have to live up to that expectation.”
Mei lightly removed his clothes. Seeing his trembling body, she smiled with satisfaction.
“After all, you’re so outstanding. I have to make my move early.”
A soft moan entered Man En’s ears. Almost immediately, a pleasure strong enough to knock him unconscious eroded his already fragile mind.