Click—the front door shut. A man stepped inside, bag in hand.

Xue Yu returned to the house, peeked into the bag, and said confidently, "Hmm, I bet a girl like Tongxi would love these, right?" He set the bag on the dining table, recalling how he’d slipped out early that morning to buy breakfast without waking the sleeping Tongxi.

Today marked the start of Xue Yu’s journey: enrolling at Huangfeng Academy to become a mage and research a spell to lift his own "Succubus Curse." Though once a battlefield knight, he’d had to "start over" due to his condition—a frustrating yet accepted reality.

Cheerfully pushing open the bedroom door, Xue Yu called out, "Good morning, Tongxi! Time to wake up!"

"Huh?" The bed was a mess, the quilt tossed aside. The wardrobe and room were scattered chaotically, as if ransacked. *Again?* Xue Yu sighed, rolling his eyes before glancing toward the corner.

There she was—Tongxi, wrapped tightly in a quilt over her head, curled into a trembling ball. He walked over, accustomed to the scene, and gently poked the shivering white bundle.

Suddenly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, the figure inside jerked violently and swatted his hand away with flailing limbs.

"Tongxi, it’s me."

She resisted fiercely, pushing away all closeness—until that long-missed, familiar voice cut through her panic. Her crimson eyes flew open, tears of relief and fear welling up. In an instant, she lunged into Xue Yu’s arms, sobbing and pounding his stomach in tearful, pouting protest.

"There, there, don’t be scared," Xue Yu soothed, stroking her head. "I told you—this place is safe. No one can hurt you."

But Tongxi shot him a look brimming with anger and fear, tears clinging to her lashes, lips pouted. She wriggled stubbornly, stomped her foot, then grabbed the book hanging from her waist. Flipping to a marked page, she pointed firmly:

"You promised not to leave me! I was scared!"

"Don’t worry—I’m here! I brought sweet, delicious breakfast. Come on, let’s eat!" He kept stroking the spot between the two tiny bat-like wings atop her head.

Xue Yu simply wanted to calm her. He knew *she* had ransacked the room—again. Just like the past few days: whenever he left before she woke, Tongxi would wake in a frantic panic, tearing the room apart searching for him. Concerned, he hadn’t stayed idle.

---

A few days earlier, Xue Yu visited a clinic alone. He couldn’t bring Tongxi—her identity as a member of the Blood Clan had to stay hidden. He knew Blood Clan possessed such potent regenerative abilities that physical illness was impossible. Her strange behavior had to be psychological.

"Doctor, I took in a little girl," Xue Yu began carefully, "but she acts… off. Like her mind isn’t quite right."

"Her mind? You mean… cognitively?" the doctor asked pointedly, elbows on the desk, chin resting on clasped hands.

"Absolutely not! If it were that, I’d know which specialist to see."

"Fair. Describe her symptoms."

"She’s fine otherwise—just clings to me. The moment I step away, even briefly, she panics like someone’s chasing her with a knife. She’ll fling herself into my arms sobbing, saying she’s scared."

The doctor pressed fingers to his forehead, thoughtful. "You adopted her. Do you know her past?"

"Well… not much. She was a beggar. A few days ago, thugs were bullying her—I stepped in, brought her home."

"I see." The doctor’s gaze sharpened. "She likely suffers from trauma. Being bullied as a vulnerable child shattered her sense of safety. You became her sole anchor—the only one she trusts to protect her. So when you leave, even a step, fear floods back. Clinging to you is instinct."

Xue Yu listened, impressed. "How do I fix it?"

"Patience is key. And remember: only the one who tied the bell can untie it."

"Speak plainly, please," Xue Yu grumbled.

"Psychological wounds heal with time—and care. *You* are her medicine. Stay close. Make her feel safe and happy. Slowly, she’ll improve. But ultimately? She must face the root of her pain herself. Like a healed wound leaving a scar."

---

After that, the doctor offered no further advice. All Xue Yu knew was this: stay by her side. Keep her joyful. Shield her from fear. Help her grow less dependent.

As he stroked her head longer than usual, Tongxi’s trembling ceased. Not only calm—she seemed to enjoy it. The tiny bat wings atop her head twitched playfully, proof enough.

"Come on," Xue Yu said, lifting her. "Breakfast awaits. We’ve got academy enrollment today."

He unpacked the bag. "Here—cream cake from a new pastry shop! Supposedly amazing. Try it!" He handed her a fork with a warm laugh. *If Xia Mo were here, she’d nag me for serving dessert as breakfast,* he mused. *But hey—food’s food. If it tastes good, who cares?*

Tongxi, curious, forked a bite.

A vampire eating cream cake? Predictable.

*Ptooey!*

Her face twisted the moment the cream touched her tongue. She spat it out, shoving the plate away with clear disgust.

"Hm? Not good?" Xue Yu watched her shake her head wildly, then eyed his own fork suspiciously. *Bad batch?*

He took a bite.

Sweetness flooded his throat—so rich, so perfect, he nearly jumped for joy. *Wow. How have I never tasted anything this good?* He could tell it was ordinary cream… yet to him, it felt like a revelation.