“How do you feel?” Xue Yu asked kindly, standing beside the little Blood Clan girl.

In a bedroom smaller than ten square meters, a girl stood by the window. She wore a long-sleeved Gothic Lolita dress with twin tails. The setting sun bathed her in golden light.

Perhaps heightened by the sunset’s glow, her eyes—already brilliant like rubies—now shimmered with deeper crimson, as if a warm red light pulsed within.

She gazed at her “new self” in the mirror: a black-and-white short skirt, slender calves wrapped in milky-white over-the-knee socks.

Clothed in this subtly demonic-styled outfit, she radiated noble grace, like a princess born to elegance.

The little Blood Clan girl said nothing, but Xue Yu saw the upward curve of her lips. Overjoyed, she gave a tiny hop and leaped into his arms.

Tackled onto the bed, Xue Yu found himself tightly clung to.

“Oops, stop it, wait—” He froze as her face drew close. “Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?”

Remembering how she’d sipped just a drop of his blood earlier, Xue Yu swallowed hard. “D-don’t!”

He struggled—but before he could move, a cool, soft touch brushed his cheek. He blinked.

She hadn’t repeated her earlier actions. Instead, she’d simply pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Relieved it wasn’t what he feared, Xue Yu let out a quiet breath.

“By the way, I’m Xue Yu. What’s your name?” he asked curiously.

As before, the girl lying atop him simply shook her head.

“Ah, sorry! I forgot you can’t speak. Wait a sec.”

He gently set her on the bed, rummaged the bedside drawer, and handed her a book.

“Point to words here to tell me what you mean.”

Taking the book titled *Fallen Angel*, she flipped open a random page. After a pause, she calmly pointed to scattered characters.

Piece by piece, she formed a sentence: “I don’t know my own name.”

“You don’t know your name?” Xue Yu pondered. “Do you remember your parents?”

She shook her head again—no pointing this time.

Clearly, she remembered nothing. Only one possibility remained.

“Have you lost your memories? Forgetting yourself and your family… that’s truly sad,” he murmured.

Recalling she’d been a beggar wandering Gaelkani’s streets, sorrow swelled in his chest. He stroked her head comfortingly.

She leaned into the touch with a soft smile, then flipped more pages and pieced together new words:

“Thank you, Xue Yu. I like you.”

“Like… me?” Xue Yu didn’t blush deeply, but a faint pink tinged his cheeks.

First time being confessed to by a student—joyful for a perpetually single guy like him.

Yet… she was of the demon race, an enemy to his people, his nation.

Though harmless now, the thought left him uneasy.

Rustle, rustle~

She hid her lower face behind the book and pointed to a line:

“Please don’t leave me, okay? I’m scared.”

Her crimson eyes shimmered with pleading light, wide and impossibly cute.

Her cuteness struck Xue Yu like an arrow to the heart. His heart melted.

*So adorable… If only she weren’t a demon… and not so young…*

“Alright, I won’t leave you,” he promised gently. “But promise me: never harm humans. Or… I’ll have to let you go.”

At “let you go,” her pitiful eyes welled with corn kernel-sized teardrops, trembling on the brink.

She nodded vigorously—*I will keep my promise.*

Xue Yu sighed inwardly. He truly hoped the girl he’d taken in would never hurt his people.

“There, there, just teasing. Don’t cry.” He wiped her tears, then pulled a black cord from the drawer.

He threaded it through *Fallen Angel* and slung the book across her shoulder like a satchel.

“Carry this. Now we can talk.”

Unable to hold back, she buried herself in his arms again—like a newborn chick seeking safety.

Xue Yu didn’t stop her. Let her cling as long as she needed.

Though warmly dressed, her touch felt like ice against his stomach.

No surprise—Xue Yu knew Blood Clan bodies ran far colder than humans’.

*She needs a name.*

His gaze drifted to the sunset clinging to the horizon—a sliver of golden-red brilliance, far lovelier than dawn or noon.

Seeing that crimson glow, an idea sparked.

“I’ve got it! Since you have no name… how about ‘Tongxi’? What do you think?” he asked the girl in his arms.

Her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she nodded eagerly.

“Then it’s settled. Tongxi, I look forward to our time together.”

Tongxi’s eyes crinkled into upward crescents. She tilted her head slightly in acknowledgment.

Knock, knock, knock~

Heavy knocks echoed from downstairs. A voice called up:

“It’s me, Xia Mo! Open up!”

“Coming! Just a moment!” Xue Yu replied.

But Tongxi stiffened at the unfamiliar voice. She clung to him, trembling, burying her face in his chest.

“Scared of strangers? It’s okay. I’m here. Sister Xia Mo won’t hurt you.”

Xue Yu stepped toward the door—then a small figure lunged, wrapping tightly around his leg.

Her crimson eyes pleaded: *Don’t leave me.*

Xue Yu rolled his eyes. “Tongxi, I’ll be right back. You’re making it hard to walk.”

Knock, knock, knock—more impatient now.

“Coming, hold on!” he called.

This time, he gently pried her off and headed downstairs alone.

At the stairwell turn—she grabbed his leg again.

Whoops—thud! “Ahh!”

Xue Yu tumbled down and collapsed at the bottom.

“Master! What’s wrong? Hey!” Xia Mo’s voice rang from behind the door.

Hearing no reply, panic seized her. She kicked the door open and rushed in.

At the hall’s entrance, goosebumps rose on her skin. Cold sweat trickled down her back.

Xue Yu lay sprawled at the stairs’ base. A girl shook him gently—but Xia Mo’s eyes locked on *her*:

Sickly pale skin. Silvery-white hair. Crimson eyes. Tiny bat-like wings atop her head.

And behind her waist—large, unfolding demonic wings.

No doubt. A Blood Clan. A demon feared by all humanity.

“Let go of my master, demon!”

*Click!* Her sword flashed free, tracing a wide arc.

A fiery red magical energy shot forth—an arc aimed straight at the girl.

Tongxi yelped, threw herself flat. The blast slammed the wall, cracking plaster.

Arms wrapped around her head, she trembled on the floor, tears streaming from shut eyes.

Footsteps neared. She peeked—beige hair in a ponytail, sword raised.

Terrified, she scrambled away just before the blade fell.

Xia Mo leaped in front of Xue Yu, sword pointed at the sobbing girl curled on the floor.

“Demon! What have you done to my master!”