"Su Yue! Is it really you, Su Yue?" Just as Su Yue wrestled with inner turmoil, a soft, sweet girl’s voice rang out in delight.

She looked up blankly, turning toward the sound.

A young girl stood gracefully. Her sailor-style uniform was black with white stripes trimming the cuffs and collar. A white triangular neckerchief rested at her chest, its collar embroidered with a cross and floral motifs. The matching short skirt ended mid-thigh, revealing slender yet shapely legs sheathed in opaque black tights. Glossy black low-heeled shoes completed the look.

Her silky black hair cascaded freely, brushing her swan-like neck. A fair, lovely face beamed with joy, crimson eyes sparkling with genuine surprise.

"Lucifer?" Su Yue hadn’t expected to see her here.

"It’s me, it’s me! You really haven’t forgotten me, Su Yue!" Lucifer jogged happily to Su Yue’s stall. "I hadn’t seen you for days—I thought you’d tricked me and didn’t actually live nearby!"

Bloodkin were incredibly rare. Meeting another was pure joy. Though she’d rushed home that day, Lucifer returned the next to search the pedestrian street—but never found her.

"Sorry, I’ve been busy," Su Yue murmured, guilt tugging at her.

"No worries! Little Su Yue just moved in—of course there’s a lot to handle," Lucifer chirped, already excusing her with cheerful understanding.

Her curious gaze swept Su Yue’s stall, then landed on Chen Yan nearby. "So… you must be Little Su Yue’s master?"

"Yes. I’m Chen Yan. Are you Su Yue’s new friend?" Chen Yan smiled warmly. *Two Vampire Princesses on this tiny Fantoo Garden Pedestrian Street? What a coincidence.*

"Wait—he’s *not* my master!" Su Yue protested, waving her hands.

"Come on. If I’m not your master, what am I?" Chen Yan ruffled her hair gently, eyes crinkling with affection.

Su Yue swatted his hand away, feigning cool detachment. "We’re strictly business partners. Please maintain professionalism, Mr. Chen Yan."

"But… Little Su Yue *reeks* of his scent! Only drinking your master’s blood leaves that mark," Lucifer piped up, big eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"N-no! The first time we met, I definitely didn’t smell like him!" Su Yue scrambled for defense, recalling their pre-contract meeting.

"Hmm? Actually, you did—just super faint. And your magic power was so low back then… I figured you’d been punished for mischief and starved of blood," Lucifer mused confidently. "That’s why the scent was barely there."

"Gah! Do you have dog-girl blood or something? This is hopeless!" Su Yue stamped her foot. *That scent was just from picking leaves… How could she still detect it after three days?!*

Chen Yan offered Lucifer an apologetic smile at Su Yue’s flustered state.

Lucifer tilted her head. "Brother Chen Yan, isn’t Little Su Yue going to school today?"

"School?" Su Yue blinked. *Wait—her sailor uniform isn’t cosplay?*

"Not today. We just moved; school isn’t arranged yet," Chen Yan replied casually.

"Hold on—do Bloodkin even go to school?" Su Yue waved a hand before Chen Yan.

"Of course! All supernatural beings must attend specialized high schools—it’s the law," Lucifer chirped, raising a hand like a model student.

"But last Friday was a weekday, and I saw you floating around the street!"

"Today’s opening day!" Lucifer clarified. "Everyone goes. It’d be weird if *you* didn’t."

"Do I *have* to? Ugh… I don’t wanna," Su Yue pleaded pitifully at Chen Yan.

"Legally required," Chen Yan mused, stroking his chin. "But… not yet."

*(Truth was, she couldn’t. No registration with the Supernatural Administration Bureau meant no school.)*

"Phew." Relief washed over Su Yue. As a hardcore shut-in, school sounded dreadfully boring. Better to laze at home. And—*a 2,500-year-old senior sitting with kids?* Mortifying. Stall now; skip later once stronger. Easy.

"Once you settle in, you *must* enroll at our school~" Lucifer hugged Su Yue’s arm. Her slightly softer curves made Su Yue’s cheeks flush. She nodded weakly.

*(Meh. I won’t go anyway. Agreeing is fine.)*

"Yay! Gotta run or I’ll miss the ceremony!" Lucifer released her, skipping down the street while glancing back with a cute wave. "Bye-bye, Little Su Yue!"

"Bye…" Su Yue waved limply.

"You *want* to go to school?" Chen Yan’s eyes twinkled.

"No. Not one bit." Su Yue slashed a firm "X" across her chest.

"School’s where you make friends."

"I don’t *want* friends."

"Seemed like you two got along great."

"Your eyes deceive you." Su Yue turned away, closing her eyes to shut him out.

Chen Yan fell silent, watching the thinning morning crowd.

After a pause, he glanced back. "Rush hour’s over. Keep the stall open?"

Su Yue jolted awake. The street was nearly empty. She stretched. "Nah. I’ll reopen after school."

"I’m starving—skipped breakfast." She shot Chen Yan a playful command. "Pack up for me? I’ll grab food… and bring yours too."

Before he could reply, she dashed off. Chen Yan sighed, tidying the stall with quiet resignation.

Su Yue hurried to the scallion pancake shop—the very spot of her first meal in this world, a memory she treasured.

"Hi! Two scallion pancakes, two soy milks, please." She beamed sweetly at the familiar young clerk. *Gotta keep up the cute regular-customer image.*