Chapter 37: A Rift?

Shen Ji gave a bitter laugh and shook his head as he explained, “Xiao Wan, I don’t have a choice.”

“But Brother, nothing ever forced you to choose. I only chose this because I wanted to live…”

Shen Ji’s thoughts drifted back to the night he met Ye Xi.

At that time, he didn’t understand what it meant to become a member of the Blood Race, and he had even entertained the idea of living a carefree life.

But looking back now, his thoughts were truly laughable.

Having experienced so much, he finally understood that becoming a member of the Blood Race meant more than just carrying the burden of a life spent in hiding; it also meant constantly guarding against moves from The Official.

In short, it wasn’t that circumstances were forcing his hand, but rather that he simply could not stop.

Shen Ji patted Xiao Wan’s head and said in a deep voice, “Xiao Wan, once everything is over, let’s leave this place, okay?”

Xiao Wan naturally didn’t know what “everything” referred to, so she could only nod obediently and look at Shen Ji with a serious gaze.

Suddenly, a hint of nostalgia appeared in her eyes as she spoke.

“Brother, I want to go home.”

In the past, she had to stay in the hospital constantly due to her health to avoid any emergencies.

Although she had turned into a Blood Race member, it was a blessing in disguise, as she no longer had to worry about her physical ailments.

“Your body?”

“Don’t worry, Brother. I’m fine now.”

“All right, I’ll take you home.”

Xiao Wan beamed with a smile, quickly threw on a black coat, and eagerly headed out the door.

Watching Xiao Wan’s back, Shen Ji felt a whirlwind of emotions.

How could her little schemes escape his eyes?

Moreover, for Xiao Wan, wasn’t this a form of rebirth?

What he had to do was not only make her understand the price of this so-called rebirth, but also ensure she remained filled with the hope of living.

—

In the Nanjiang Old District, a beautiful figure looked particularly lonely under the streetlights.

Not far away, a middle-aged man sat in a parked car, watching her anxiously.

Jiang Jianyue’s eyes frequently darted toward the end of the road.

Shen Ji hadn’t shown up for class all day, and she hadn’t seen him when she visited at noon.

Combined with the wounds she had seen on him before, it was hard not to overthink things.

Thus, she had decided to wait for him here.

Just then, two figures appeared before Jiang Jianyue, one behind the other.

Her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she couldn’t wait to run toward the person in the lead.

“Shen… Shen Ji, and Xiao… Xiao Wan, hello.”

“Why are you here?”

Jiang Jianyue nearly buried her head in her chest as she said in a low voice, “I… I saw that you didn’t come to school today, and I… I was worried about you.”

“I won’t be going back anymore.”

Jiang Jianyue suddenly looked up, her watery eyes staring at Shen Ji in disbelief.

“Brother, Sister Jiang, she…”

Shen Ji rubbed his temples in frustration and spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.

“This is no place for you to speak. Go upstairs first.”

Seeing Shen Ji’s stern expression, Xiao Wan could only nod.

She gave the two of them a deep look before turning to leave.

“Can… can you tell me why?”

“Why? How about the reason that I find school boring?”

Jiang Jianyue’s eyes grew red.

She couldn’t understand how he could be fine before, only to be like this now.

Was it really like the rumors at school said — that Shen Ji and Wang Kai had an irreconcilable conflict?

“Shen… Shen Ji, don’t worry. If Wang Kai causes you trouble again, I… I will protect you.”

“How did you know about that?”

Jiang Jianyue answered honestly, “Everyone at school is saying… saying that you and Wang Kai were fighting over a woman, so that’s why…”

Shen Ji chuckled and said without hesitation, “They’re right.”

“You… you’re lying. You aren’t that kind of person at all.”

Shen Ji approached Jiang Jianyue step by step, his hand landing improperly on her face, trying to make her feel like retreating.

But Jiang Jianyue remained unmoved.

Her eyes, so clean that not a speck of filth could be seen in them, just stared at him blankly.

At that moment, Jiang Jianyue moved.

Her hands gently grasped Shen Ji’s sleeve as she spoke in a tone that was almost a plea.

“Come… come back with me, okay?”

The moment those words were spoken, Shen Ji felt as if something buried deep in his heart had been touched.

A crack appeared in the icy exterior he was trying so hard to maintain.

“I can’t go back. You don’t understand.”

Jiang Jianyue clumsily bumped her head against Shen Ji’s chest and then threw her arms around him tightly, as if doing so could prevent him from leaving.

“Then take me with you, okay?”

“No. You don’t belong there, and I… I don’t belong there either.”

Although she didn’t understand what Shen Ji was saying, Jiang Jianyue could truly feel the bitterness deep within his heart.

She didn’t want him to bear that feeling alone.

Meanwhile, in a deserted corner, Ye Xi stood still, watching them with reddened eyes.

In the past, she had harbored doubts about Shen Ji’s identity as a Human.

But looking at it now, her emotions almost forced her to conclude that Shen Ji was indeed a Human.

There was no other reason than the fact that she seemed to witness a strange sense of belonging when she saw the two of them embracing.

Ye Xi gave a self-deprecating laugh.

‘If Shen Ji is a Human, then what am I? A blood-sucking monster.’

A chilling sensation rose from the depths of her heart.

—

Unit Three, second floor.

Xiao Wan took out the key and opened the dusty door.

Everything in the house remained unchanged; even the green plants in the corner appeared to be the same ones as before.

Not long after Xiao Wan sat down on the sofa, a knock came at the door.

She looked through the peephole suspiciously and saw Shen Ji pacing back and forth anxiously outside.

Xiao Wan hurriedly opened the door, only to see Shen Ji step inside and say urgently, “Xiao Wan, stay home and be good. I have to go out for a bit.”

“But you just got back…”

Shen Ji took a deep breath.

Yun Hai’s phone call was still ringing in his ears.

He had already scouted out the Midnight Society’s headquarters and had even discovered signs that they were about to relocate.

If he went any later, he wouldn’t find any useful clues.

“Xiao Wan, I’m going to find clues about you becoming a member of the Blood Race. Just stay home and rest easy.”

“Brother, actually, I don’t think being a member of the Blood Race is that bad. You don’t have to…”

Shen Ji frowned and interrupted her.

He knew exactly how dangerous it was to be a member of the Blood Race; there was no way he would let Xiao Wan take such a risk.

“Enough. I’m leaving. We can talk when I get back.”

“Brother…”

Ignoring Xiao Wan’s unfinished words, Shen Ji turned and headed downstairs, dialing Liu Yao’s number at the same time.

“Shen Ji?”

“I’ve tracked down the location of the Midnight Society’s headquarters. According to reliable information, there are signs they are about to relocate.”

“Where?”

“Beneath the Nanjiang Bio-pharmaceutical Factory.”

“Fine. We’ll send people over immediately.”

Just as Shen Ji was about to hang up, Liu Yao suddenly spoke.

“Is Ye Xi with you?”

“Shouldn’t she be with you?”

“She said she went to find you.”

“All right, I understand.”

“Shen Ji!”

Shen Ji frowned and asked impatiently, “What else?”

“There are some things I need to say to you as a friend.”

“Ye Xi is really good to you. Although I don’t know what you’re thinking, I still hope you two can have a proper talk.”

Shen Ji hung up the phone and shook his head, muttering to himself, ‘Bizarre.’

On the way to the bio-pharmaceutical factory in a taxi, Shen Ji felt uneasy.

He opened the dialing screen for Ye Xi multiple times but hesitated to press call.

He felt that there shouldn’t be any conflict between them.

He had simply refused her request to see Xiao Wan earlier, but Xiao Wan was a Human, and she was a Blood Race…

Wait, Shen Ji suddenly realized something was wrong.

Could those mindless words of his have provoked Ye Xi?

But Ye Xi didn’t seem like such a petty person.

Also, where was she now?

Could she still be waiting at the hospital because she hadn’t seen Xiao Wan?

Shen Ji scratched his head in frustration and finally dialed Ye Xi’s number.

“Hello?”

Ye Xi’s voice came through without a hint of emotion, yet Shen Ji still didn’t notice anything unusual.

“Miss Ye, are you just wandering around out there? The operation is about to begin.”

“Send the location. I’ll be there soon.”

“I’ll come find you.”

“No need. We’ll meet up there.”

Shen Ji’s eyes narrowed as he thought for a long time.

This didn’t fit Ye Xi’s personality!

Normally, if he took the initiative to make such a request, Ye Xi would most likely nod in agreement and urge him to hurry over.

But now, not only had she refused, she was being… she was being incredibly rational.

However, time was of the essence.

Unable to dwell on it, Shen Ji simply sent the location of the bio-pharmaceutical factory and hung up the phone.