Chapter 166 Blood Red Valentine’s Day (Part 1)
February 14th, Friday, the Western Valentine’s Day.
Most of the Western holidays that have survived to this day have a short history and are mostly related to religion. Even the older holidays that have been passed down from before the Dark Ages have essentially undergone religious transformations.
Unlike the sense of ritual in Eastern cultures that has accumulated over thousands of years and become more secularized, Western holidays, having been influenced and transformed by the culture of God, inevitably carry a sense of bloodshed and suffering, filled with the meanings of persistence and redemption found in Western religions.
Love, this romantic secular emotion, is no exception.
According to legend, during the Roman Empire, the devout Christian Valentine fell in love with the jailer’s daughter while in prison. On the night before his execution, he professed his love, forcibly linking the romance of humanity with martyrdom.
…
Last night, I received a call from Ni Yue, demanding that the Jiang sisters report to the Jinhe Club by noon today.
Actually, when Jiang Yan got up early this morning, she felt a bit off. The discomfort of her body feeling drafty had resurfaced—her menstrual period was approaching.
A few months ago, Jiang Yan would have long since adapted to this and thought nothing of it. But now, the situation had become subtly awkward to the point where it was hard to talk about.
There was nothing left to think about; Jiang Yan, prepared like facing a great enemy, hurriedly applied the full set of hormone suppressants and the little golden pill, while doing her best to maintain distance from Meng Huai and didn’t dare to get close.
Not only did she avoid Meng Huai during breakfast, but even on the way back to City C, Jiang Yan intentionally claimed the front passenger seat, leaving Meng Huai in the back seat, exchanging wide-eyed glances with Jiang Yao.
Xiao Ling, who was responsible for driving the three Jiang sisters back to City C, was sneaking laughs all the way, occasionally throwing subtle jabs, making Jiang Yan even more anxious, not daring to turn her head.
Upon arrival, Jiang Yao took the lead and entered the main gate, while Meng Huai unexpectedly turned around and headed towards the leisure garden green area across the street, forcing Jiang Yan to awkwardly follow.
Dazed, standing by the street’s greenery, Meng Huai looked around before finally turning his gaze to the entrance of the Jinhe Club across the street, wearing an expression of deep confusion.
“Do people just work here?” he asked, his eyes falling on a nearby greenbelt bench, “It feels so familiar; I think I’ve been here before…”
Unlike Meng Huai’s puzzled expression, Jiang Yan’s was somewhat subtle—this was where Meng Huai had first entangled himself with her.
Jiang Yan carefully took a couple of steps closer and said from behind him, “Uh, Meng Huai… You’ll be staying at the club tonight; we’ll go back tomorrow. Is that okay?”
“Uh-huh, you’re the boss,” Meng Huai replied casually, looking back at Jiang Yan, then nonchalantly turned away.
…
With more than an hour to go before officially opening, the Jinhe Club was already in disarray inside.
Meng Huai’s appearance created a frenzy even more intense than at the Hyacinth Manor, frozen all the Hyacinth girls in the lobby. Especially Xiao Dong and Xiao Ai, who rubbed their eyes several times before confirming they were not mistaken.
Even Liang Tai, who usually was a wallflower, appeared from nowhere, holding a pump-action shotgun, hiding in a dim corner, coldly eavesdropping.
Zhong Jing’s brother, reportedly Jiang Yan’s devoted admirer, was back, and he appeared to have changed slightly since before—more delicate and even more handsome.
Even though he had injected hormone suppressants, there remained a faint trace of impurity in his aura, telling a shocking truth—this person was of the Black Blood Clan.
Curiosity was rife, and anyone courageous enough would approach Meng Huai within a few meters only to rush by. Xiao Ai and Xiao Dong were no exception.
Did Sister Yan turn that military guy into a blood drinker?
Wow, now he’s a blood clan member, pulled down into the abyss—Sister Yan really has guts!
This is insane; how could he be a Black Blood knight!
Feels so surreal; he is Zhong Jing’s brother, someone from the Shadows…
No, romantics, don’t you see that the Black Blood Clan is the problem!?
From my years of experience… He should have been captured and made obedient by Sister Yan, right? Fine, I can’t keep making this up!
It all started with a face; everything else is made up. The corners were filled with bizarre gossip, essentially centered on common content, but the versions differed in horror and peculiarity.
But Meng Huai himself just quietly sat in the corner of the lobby, back straight, eyes straight ahead, completely ignoring the gossip.
On the second floor railing, Wan Yue watched with a mysterious smile, while Jiang Yan stood silently by, her expression tense and awkward, unsure of what to say. Behind Jiang Yan, Jiang Yao continually snickered and rolled her eyes, too lazy to glance at the lobby.
Look, indeed, life is quiet here; it’s way more relaxed than the Hyacinth Manor. They won’t even spare a Black Blood knight from gossip.
Wan Yue slightly tilted her head, teasingly said to Jiang Yan: “Alright, let Xiao Ai and Xiao Dong come up; it’s time to discuss serious matters.”
In the luxurious box, Wan Yue still sat in her favorite relaxation chair, surveying the four Hyacinth female knights present.
Last night, Zhong Jing brought an intriguing piece of news; it wasn’t just a scandal but also a warning bell for the Hyacinth… Xiao Ai, tell everyone what our Hyacinth’s brilliant girl has gotten into.
Probably already having vented her anger, or just as a habitual opening, Wan Yue surprisingly wore an indifferent smile, while her side-kick Xiao Ai appeared extremely awkward.
Here’s the thing: Xiao Ping’s ex-boyfriend got set up, developed a gambling addiction, and owes a massive debt to a loan shark…
Xiao Ai glanced at Jiang Yan and others, took a sip of water, stepped forward to recount how Zhong Jing had secretly recorded at Zhou Ping’s house and the final investigation results.
As she spoke, not only Jiang Yao, but even the usually composed Jiang Yan had her mouth agape.
Zhou Ping’s ex-boyfriend’s troubles turned out to be far more complicated and disgusting than everyone had previously imagined, to the point of being repugnant.
How about that? Pretty disgusting, right? A gambler, trying to win back money through loans, ends up entangled with a Black Blood hoodlum, and his collateral was videos and photos of himself and Zhou Ping in bed!
Wan Yue’s smile gradually faded, her tone increasing in volume.
We’re not kids anymore; love is natural. I don’t oppose you living with those you deeply care about, but can’t you at least protect yourselves?
Have you all turned into naive love-struck fools? How old are you? Do I have to teach you how to sleep with men?
Wan Yue slammed her palm onto the coffee table, her face flickering with anger, mockery, and concern.
What’s the use of scolding us? It’s not us…
Jiang Yao, her face reddening, couldn’t help but murmur next to Jiang Yan, quickly receiving a nudge from Jiang Yan.
Better to scold in advance, lest we see a second Zhou Ping! Especially you, Jiang Yao, who has no sense of boundaries when getting close to people, you better shape up!
The tone was getting harsher, and all four girls lowered their heads in silence.
It’s fine if that gambler meets a bad end, but Zhou Ping is being extorted, too—a vibrant and cheerful girl, a mid-level attendant at Hyacinth, forced to accompany drinks in nightclubs for several days to pay the gambler’s debts… Ugh, I thought only the Black Blood clan had such things happen.
Now I understand that saying in the wealthy circles of Europe and America: “As long as you have money, you can get a vampire woman to your bed.”
Wan Yue’s anger had subsided, but her teasing expression was growing more pronounced as she lit a cigarette, taking slow drags, her beautiful eyes darting between Jiang Yan and the other three girls.
The gaze was sharp and penetrating, making the four feel a chilling sensation at their scalps.
Thinking about how Zhou Ping engaged in such wild behavior while cohabiting with that ex-boyfriend left all four gasping, their faces flushing red. Especially Jiang Yao, her eyes darting around as if she had thoughts racing through her mind.
“Sister Wan, Xiao Ping has been on leave since last night, and her phone has been unreachable… so this matter must be resolved today, or Xiao Ping will sink deeper, and if it gets exposed here, it could be way more troublesome…”
As the temporary steward of Jinhe Club, Xiao Ai stepped up to express her opinion courageously.
Wan Yue nodded, looking towards Jiang Yan, shaking her head helplessly a few seconds later: “Your period is coming, right? You better not get too riled up; with this body leaking everywhere, half the block will smell… Sigh, being a woman is troublesome; even fighting requires you to count the days.”
With that, Wan Yue sighed, her gaze returning to Xiao Ai, pondering for a moment before deciding: “Xiao Ai, you’ll pair up with Liang Tai; Xiao Dong, you’ll team up with Xiao Ling. Using the addresses from our clues, you’ll run through the nightclubs.”
“Find Zhou Ping and pull those scoundrels out. Jiang Yao… you’ll stay to guard the club.”
“Then, I’ll go!”
Jiang Yao’s sense of justice couldn’t be contained any longer; seeing there was no place for her, she raised her hand, her face turning red.
Everyone knew that Jiang Yao was Zhou Ping’s close friend, having spent quite a few days living at Zhou Ping’s house. The intimacy she shared with Zhou Ping surpassed even Xiao Ling; naturally, she would step up first when such a matter arose.
Moreover, as a knowledgeable individual about what Zhong Jing had done at Zhou Ping’s place, she bore some responsibility.
Wan Yue stood up, walked to Jiang Yao, and gently tapped her forehead: “You actually kept it secret… You managed to hide what Zhong Jing installed at Zhou Ping’s house even from me. In terms of being a woman, that seems to be your rare advantage.”
“If you follow Zhong Jing’s advice, you might avoid major mistakes, but don’t imitate him. You lack his thoughtfulness and skills.”
“Well, does this count as Zhong Jing making achievements again? Uh, actually, it’s all to help Sister Xiao Ping…”
Jiang Yao evaded Wan Yue’s gaze, looking somewhat awkward, “Sister Wan, why don’t… let me handle Xiao Ping’s matter?”
Watching the eager expression on the young girl’s face, after a few seconds, Wan Yue nodded gently: “Alright, you can switch with Liang Tai. But you must listen to Xiao Ai on how to proceed, don’t act on your own.”
“Also, in places like nightclubs, with so many people and eyes, be careful not to hurt innocents. This is the iron rule of Hyacinth; learn to restrain your power, and once you spill inappropriate blood, you can get addicted…”
At this point, Wan Yue deliberately slowed her pace of speech.
“Mm-hmm! I will follow Sister Xiao Ai’s instructions!” Facing Wan Yue’s unusually serious advice, Jiang Yao quickly nodded.
“Additionally, Jiang Yao, don’t negotiate with me in the future! When I’m in a good mood, I can indulge you, but when I’m not, I can spank you!”
With that, Wan Yue lazily returned to her own seat.
Jiang Yao opened her mouth, looking absolutely unfazed, and Xiao Ai and Xiao Dong both laughed at the same time.
Jiang Yan, who had remained silent, felt a twinge of anxiety upon seeing Jiang Yao so determined.
If it weren’t for her body nearing her menstrual period and the wish to avoid affecting her mind and body, she would have been the most suitable person to take action. But the timing of the incident was simply too awkward.
Not knowing how long she had spaced out, when Jiang Yan lifted her head again, the atmosphere in the room was palpable.
Since her body was like this, she probably couldn’t continue exercising in the coming week; she should just stay here to accompany him, look around, maybe it would help him recover some memories faster.
While speaking, Wan Yue adjusted her dress, her expression softening considerably.
My current physical condition… might not be good to be with him.
Jiang Yan’s face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
He was almost addicted to drinking your blood, after all, you’ve held him countless times; why are you feeling shy?
Wan Yue burst into laughter, standing up to pat Jiang Yan’s shoulder: “I feel relatively assured with your character, but still pay attention to safety; don’t create any excessive issues, and he must return to the club tonight!”
Additionally, it’s Valentine’s Day today; accompany him to unwind and have a happy holiday.
As she was about to leave, Wan Yue suddenly turned back and mumbled softly.
Valentine’s Day, accompany him to cheer up… Jiang Yan was momentarily stunned, unable to regain her senses for a while.
…
After 7 PM, lights began to illuminate, and the streets of City C were bustling with people and traffic.
In fact, Jiang Yan hadn’t even eaten dinner at the club before taking Meng Huai out. There was no particular purpose, just not wanting him to stay in the club and be pointed at.
Tonight, the street is lively, and occasionally passing a flower shop or roadside vendor, there were stacks of roses of various sizes for sale, their fragrance sweet and intoxicating.
These beautiful flowers had experienced a roller coaster of price fluctuations in the past dozen hours, and barring any accidents, most would likely become vivid piles of discarded waste throughout the city by morning, useful only for some enthusiasts to exploit for fun.
The scent of roses seemed to drape the entire city in a charmingly ambiguous hue, with couples walking hand in hand everywhere.
Meng Huai and Jiang Yan were among them, ambling down the street aimlessly, maintaining a slightly pervasive distance from each other, their hands each holding a cone of ice cream.
At this moment, Meng Huai wore a brand-new suit that Jiang Yan had picked out for him earlier in the afternoon from a specialty store near the club. Jiang Yan’s beauty and Meng Huai’s tall, handsome frame had drawn the attention of many customers in the store.
To accompany Meng Huai today, or perhaps to address some hidden emotions, Jiang Yan had changed into the same dress she wore the first time they went to the movies, right when they left the club.
A formal suit collar, a three-quarter sleeve cinched black dress, and even her hairstyle matched—her smooth black long hair coiled into a floral bun at the back, with a pair of black-edged red-bottomed heels on her feet.
This outfit, along with that bloody night, opened the curtain for Meng Huai to fall in love; it has become unforgettable to this day.
Meng Huai suddenly stopped, and Jiang Yan, who had been a little lost in thought behind him, accidentally bumped into his back, nearly spilling her ice cream on him.
Meng Huai looked at the flower shop beside him, his gaze wandering among the piles of bright red roses.
Slowly reaching out, he took a bouquet wrapped in transparent glass paper and silently handed it to the girl behind him.
“Here, giving me flowers?” Jiang Yan shivered, staring at the roses, feeling flustered.
I’ve seen you like this now… No, no, there’s something different… your hair…
What differs in Meng Huai’s words was probably the decorative ribbon fixed in Jiang Yan’s hair bun, white the last time and now a light purple.
“Yeah, you’ve seen it; it clicked, didn’t it?”
Jiang Yan felt her ears getting hot and her gaze began to wander again.
Meng Huai continued holding the bouquet of roses, his eyes fixated on Jiang Yan’s face, moving slightly closer. Jiang Yan awkwardly turned to the side, avoiding his gaze.
Did I ever give you flowers before?
Meng Huai felt his throat dry, experiencing dizziness, his hand holding the bouquet slightly trembling.
Now so close, he could feel Meng Huai’s breath on the side of his face, making Jiang Yan’s heart race uncontrollably; she couldn’t help but turn away again, but Meng Huai clearly had no intention of letting her go, instead circling back in front of her.
From the moment they left, Meng Huai had dared not look Jiang Yan directly in the face or get too close, due to a peculiar, unfamiliar aura radiating from her.
More tempting than blood, it was like a silent call and attraction that stirred primal impulses within him.
At this moment, Meng Huai cared less about restraint, overwhelmed by a desire to pull the other person into his embrace and possess her entirely.
Meng Huai, don’t come so close; I might affect you in the next few days…
Jiang Yan retreated a few steps, her face alternating between red and white, her expression flustered, stuttering, “I… I need to make a call!”
With that, she began to frantically search her waist and skirt pockets, only to find nothing, because her phone was in the canvas shoulder bag in Meng Huai’s other hand!
Taking two steps forward, Meng Huai directly embraced Jiang Yan, and the pairs of men and women passing by, including the flower shop girl behind, gasped in surprise.
The bouquet of roses shifted from Meng Huai’s arms, spinning back around to Jiang Yan’s face; the rich floral fragrance left the black-haired girl somewhat dazed.
If he could never remember the past, how wonderful would that be… sigh, let it be…
Jiang Yan slightly tilted her head back, closing her eyes tightly, her body slowly relaxing from its initial tense rigidity, arms unconsciously wrapping around Meng Huai’s waist.
At this moment, a peculiar “let it go” emotion flooded Jiang Yan’s mind.
Or rather, what she wanted now wasn’t for Meng Huai to forget or remember anything, but to completely shatter and discard some of her own memories.
“Hey, handsome and beautiful, you haven’t paid yet!”
The voice of the flower shop girl behind them abruptly interrupted the moment between Meng Huai and Jiang Yan.
Jiang Yan suddenly opened her eyes as if waking from a dream, shoving Meng Huai away, her face slightly pale.
Meng Huai glanced back at the shopkeeper, smiled awkwardly, shook his head, loosening his embrace and taking several deep breaths to regain clarity, his expression becoming increasingly awkward.
The reason is simple: right now, Meng Huai is broke.
“Uh, how much is it?”
Jiang Yan hurried over, taking Meng Huai’s canvas shoulder bag, pulling out her phone to settle the payment, murmuring with her head down, “Thank you for the flowers.”
Meng Huai smiled with genuine happiness, something he had never experienced before.
“Meng Huai, let’s go watch a movie, um, at the Wanqueli Commercial Plaza, we’ve been there before.”
Jiang Yan sniffed the roses in her hand, a light smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with pure gem-like gleam.
Before 8 PM, Xiao Ai and Jiang Yao, after a long day of searching with no results, arrived at the Jiutian Commercial Plaza in Area G, the last stop on their list, the Jiutian Nightclub.
At this moment in City C, the temperature was still quite low. Jiang Yao wore a pale yellow knit top and a black short skirt, topped with a long beige coat with a fur collar, her face revealing a chilling wetness.
After glancing at the elevator’s directory, Jiang Yao pressed the button for the top floor.
“Xiao Yao, they say this is the Wang family’s territory; be sure to be cautious…”
The elevator was crowded, and Xiao Ai squeezed beside Jiang Yao, whispering.
Jiang Yao turned back to smile but remained silent, her eyes holding a deeper coldness.
In the past half a day, the two had struck out at several locations, and this was the last one on the list. The closer the elevator got to their destination, the more unsettled Jiang Yao felt, her mind swirling with some infuriating images.
