38. Grudges Between Brothers and Meow Meow

For a full three days, Qiu Rong received no news from Yan Ling.

Yan Ling had said, “Let’s not contact each other during this time,” and this “time” could be one day or even just one hour.

Puppy Qiu, left behind at home, felt that three days already fulfilled the criteria of “this time.” Restless, he paced around the house several times. Holding his phone, he contemplated and then halted his steps, settling at the dining table. He tilted his head back, finishing the remaining half can of beer in one gulp. Taking a deep breath, he raised his phone.

Since he had already made phone calls while having a fever, sending a message shouldn’t be a big deal, right?

Puppy Qiu racked his brains, tried to act cute, and bombarded Yan Ling with cute emojis and short messages… but all of them sank into oblivion.

In the cold dialogue box, only one side was putting in effort. Like a clumsy big dog wagging its tail and trying to get the attention of a cat, but the cat simply turned its head and curled up, as if entering hibernation.

The only consolation was that at least Yan Ling hadn’t blocked him.

On the morning of the fourth day, as Qiu Rong crawled out of the bed piled with clothes, he realized that if this separation continued, it would truly strain his relationship with Yan Ling.

Out of fear of exacerbating the situation, Qiu Rong didn’t dare to directly go to New Moon Media to find Yan Ling, nor did he want to contact Yan Ling through other people.

After thinking it over, he had a sudden inspiration and remembered that when he and Ruan Sijia went to the Special Administration Bureau before, little Ruan had managed to obtain the address and contact number of Prince Roy Kate through some means.

… At that time, Qiu Xiaogou was still grinding his teeth at the name of the vampire prince. If it weren’t for concerns about the regulations on ability control and fear of being caught by the vampires, Qiu Rong would have really wanted to go directly to his doorstep.

If he had gone, he would have discovered in advance that the leader of the family was his own wife!

…

Dialing the memorized phone number, the beep sounded, and Qiu Rong realized for the first time that the sound of a ringing phone could make him so nervous.

With his heart rate accelerating, Qiu Rong anxiously wondered if Yan Ling would recognize his number and choose not to answer.

Before he could dwell on it any longer, the beep stopped, and the call connected.

Qiu Rong’s heart skipped a beat.

Both sides remained strangely quiet for two seconds. Qiu Rong held his breath and softly spoke, “Is this Yan Ling?”

Another two seconds passed, and the reply came from the other side, “Young Master Qiu.”

The breath he had been holding in his throat dispersed instantly, and Qiu Rong slumped back onto the couch behind him. His brain felt a bit deprived of oxygen as he muttered, “Vincent.”

“Sorry, Master Qiu, His Highness is currently unavailable to take your call.” Vincent was as polite and formulaic as always.

Was it really inconvenient or was it just a refusal to answer?

Now Qiu Rong couldn’t even force a bitter smile.

He opened his mouth, but the words of explanation were stuck on his lips and involuntarily swallowed back in the presence of Vincent.

Conveying apologies always felt insincere to him. Qiu Rong had so much more he wanted to tell Yan Ling. He wanted to speak about their first meeting, their fate, and his unwavering affection for him.

After a moment of silence, Qiu Rong asked in a low voice, “Is he doing well?”

“His Highness is doing very well,” Vincent replied, pausing briefly before adding, “Master Qiu, there’s something I think I should inform you about. I have taken over His Highness’s phone recently, so any messages received are screened by me before being relayed.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

In other words, all those “clingy” messages Qiu Rong sent to Yan Ling in the past two days were seen by Vincent.

Qiu Rong: …

Before Qiu Rong could dig a hole to bury himself, Vincent added, “But please rest assured, as His Highness instructed, I haven’t opened any of the messages you sent.”

Qiu Rong: …

He wasn’t comforted by the reassurance.

Did his wife not want to know what he had said?!

Qiu Rong’s heart shattered into even smaller pieces.

Later, Vincent mentioned that he would inform Yan Ling about the phone call Qiu Rong made. As for whether the proud Prince would give a reply to the eagerly waiting leader of the Wolf Clan, that remained unknown.

Originally, Qiu Rong hadn’t fully grasped the reality of Yan Ling being a vampire prince, but hearing Vincent repeatedly refer to him as “His Highness” on the phone made him feel a bit unfamiliar.

Different from Yan Ling’s gentle and considerate nature, as a vampire prince, Yan Ling surely had a side that Qiu Rong was unfamiliar with.

Qiu Rong thought that the leader of the Wolf Clan, Gu Rong, and the vampire prince, Roy Kate, should perhaps get to know each other again.

After wallowing at home for a few days, indulging in smoking and drinking, which was quite out of character, since he couldn’t reach his wife at the moment, Qiu Rong had to pull himself together. He tidied up the house quickly and decided to go to the laboratory.

As he got into the car his wife had given him, a sense of sorrow washed over Qiu Rong, and he couldn’t help but consider the possibility of catching a cat at No. 309 Lanyin Royal Garden.

Just as he was in the middle of planning his cat-catching scheme, a phone call interrupted his train of thought.

Glancing at the caller ID, he answered the call via the car’s hands-free system.

Qiu Rong: “Senior Sister?”

“Xiao Qiu, are you coming to the school today?” It was his senior sister who had lent Qiu Rong and Yuan Shang umbrellas on a rainy day at the Bank of Zero Commerce.

Qiu Rong: “I’m on my way to the school right now.”

“That’s great.” His senior sister seemed relieved. “Can you go to the dormitory and check on Yuan Shang? I can’t reach him, and I’m a bit worried.”

Yuan Shang?

Recently, Qiu Rong had been solely focused on matters in the supernatural realm, and apart from going to the

 laboratory, he hadn’t contacted his estranged brother and emotional master in a long time. He asked, “What happened to Yuan Shang?”

“He hasn’t been feeling well these past few days. He didn’t come to the laboratory yesterday, and when I called him today, he didn’t answer. I’m afraid something might have happened to him alone in the dormitory.” His senior sister sounded concerned. “I can’t enter the boys’ dormitory either.”

Qiu Rong furrowed his brows upon hearing this. “Okay, Senior Sister, I understand. I’ll go over there right away.”

After hanging up the call, Qiu Rong immediately dialed Yuan Shang’s number but couldn’t get through.

A bad premonition surged from the bottom of his heart, and Qiu Rong sped up, quickly arriving at University A.

In general, the dormitory doors wouldn’t be locked when someone was inside. Qiu Rong knocked on the door, but there was no response. He tried the doorknob, and with a push, the door opened.

The curtains in the dormitory were drawn, and the lighting was dim. The air inside was heavy. On the messy desk, there were two empty takeout boxes, the computer was in sleep mode, and the cooling fan emitted a low humming sound.

Qiu Rong looked up and noticed a large package propped up on the bed without a bed curtain. He patted the side of the bed and called out, “Yuan Shang, wake up.”

Even after calling out twice, he couldn’t wake up the person buried in the blankets. Qiu Rong, with his keen ears, could hear Yuan Shang’s long breaths. He let out a sigh of relief, climbed over the railing at the side of the bed, and reached out to give Yuan Shang a push.

Yuan Shang, who was deeply asleep, finally woke up groggily. With a messy hairstyle, he sat up and rubbed his eyes, looking toward the bed, “Qiu Rong? Why are you here? Am I dreaming again?”

“What kind of dream? Senior Sister couldn’t reach you, so she called me.” Qiu Rong said impatiently.

“Ah!” Yuan Shang let out a miserable cry, picked up the phone by his pillow, and saw several missed calls. He let out another cry, “Why didn’t I hear anything? Damn it, I even promised Senior Sister to attend everything, now I’m completely screwed!”

Qiu Rong threw the takeout boxes on the desk into the trash bin and packed up, tying the package securely. “First, call Senior Sister back. She’s really worried about you.”

Yuan Shang yawned and slowly climbed down from the bed, giving himself two slaps to wake up. He dialed the phone with a bitter smile, then patted Qiu Rong’s shoulder and said, “Thanks, bro.”

Qiu Rong went downstairs to throw away the trash and came back up. Yuan Shang had finished freshening up and opened the curtains, allowing fresh air to circulate, but he slumped down in front of the computer again.

Qiu Rong approached, reached out and touched Yuan Shang’s forehead, pausing for a while. He lingered for so long that the exhausted Yuan Shang couldn’t help but poke at him, “You’ve touched enough, otherwise I’ll be put on your CEO’s blacklist.”

“You were already on the blacklist a long time ago.” Qiu Rong gave him a pat on the back of his head, then sat on the chair opposite him and asked, “You don’t have a fever, but what’s been going on with you lately?”

Yuan Shang turned around, leaning against the back of the chair, and said listlessly, “I don’t know, maybe writing the thesis has taken a toll on me. I’m especially exhausted.”

Qiu Rong casually asked, “So when you said ‘dreaming again,’ what’s that about? Have you been having a lot of dreams recently?”

“Yes, a lot of them, all jumbled up, and I even had dreams within dreams.” Yuan Shang rubbed his temples. “I guess my sleep quality has been poor, which is why I’ve been constantly feeling tired.”

Qiu Rong said, seemingly offhandedly, “What kind of dreams are they? Tell me, and

 I’ll analyze them for you.”

Yuan Shang chuckled, “When did Master Qiu start offering dream analysis services?”

Qiu Rong waved his hand, saying, “I have many skills.”

“Alright, let me think.” Under Qiu Rong’s urging, Yuan Shang furrowed his brows and thought for a moment. Then he clapped his hands and said, “There was a dream, quite amusing.”

“I dreamt of a very handsome boy asking me about my wishes. I said I wanted to sleep, but my thesis wasn’t finished yet. He said he would help me write it and even promised to accompany me all the way to the Ph.D., marry a beautiful and wealthy woman, and reach the pinnacle of life.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong: “And then you agreed?”

“How could I!” Yuan Shang said proudly, “Who’s your laozi? Laozi is the emissary of justice! I educated that boy on the spot, telling him not to think about taking the wrong path. Having someone write your thesis is a serious academic misconduct. If it’s discovered, I can forget about graduating from University A in this lifetime. Besides, even if I graduate with a thesis that I didn’t write, it would be like holding a hot potato.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong: “And then?”

“Then, the little kid was speechless after my scolding. He tried to tempt me a few times, but seeing that I firmly upheld justice, he got angry and sent a dog to bite me.” Yuan Shang sighed, “Although I don’t remember clearly, that dog must have been extremely ugly and smelly. It scared me awake instantly.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Yuan Shang looked at him and asked, “So, Master, have you analyzed anything?”

Qiu Rong furrowed his brows and pondered for a while, then asked, “When did you have this dream? Have you dreamt of this boy and the dog again?”

“About a week ago,” Yuan Shang replied with a pained expression. “After that, I didn’t dream of the handsome boy again. Instead, I dreamt of my advisor discovering that my graduation thesis was ghostwritten and I was expelled. And at my wedding with a beautiful and wealthy woman, I turned my head and saw the bride was a dog.”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Qiu Rong: “I can tell you’re under a lot of pressure.”

Yuan Shang suddenly became drowsy and mentioned that he was dreaming again. Qiu Rong instantly became concerned and wondered if it had something to do with Uriel.

There was no special aura in the dormitory, so Qiu Rong used a forehead thermometer to check, but there were no abnormal energy fluctuations on Yuan Shang’s body.

It’s still unknown how Uriel extracts energy from people’s bodies.

Based on historical records and the condition of the victims before their encounters, it can be inferred that Uriel can’t just target anyone at will. There should be a need for a wish to be the medium, forming some kind of contractual relationship.

And a contract requires the consent of both parties.

“You have managed to overcome the temptation to be lazy and insist on writing your own thesis. That kind of spirit is commendable,” Qiu Rong praised, giving Yuan Shang a thumbs-up. He then extended his arm to pat Yuan Shang’s shoulder and said in a serious tone, “Never respond to any wish like an Aladdin’s lamp. There are no free lunches in life, and fulfilling a wish comes with a price.”

“I know, I know,” Yuan Shang responded with a thumbs-up of his own. “I’ve been an alchemist for so many years, and I understand the law of equivalent exchange!”

Qiu Rong: “…”

Yuan Shang has always had a relaxed attitude, without particularly strong desires, and tends to go with the flow in life. Qiu Rong speculated that Yuan Shang had been busy with literature reviews and writing his thesis, spending his days in the dormitory and appearing lazy, which caught Uriel’s attention.

However, the result was that when Uriel approached him, this guy not only had no desires but also tried to teach the demon a lesson.

In any case, Yuan Shang didn’t agree to Uriel’s proposal, and a mutual contract wasn’t formed.

There was no abnormality in the dormitory or on Yuan Shang’s body, so Ulysses should have given up on this target. As for the reason why Yuan Shang couldn’t wake up, it should be a normal reaction after being invaded by the demon in his dream. Resting for a while would gradually help him recover.

Yuan Shang followed Qiu Rong’s advice and didn’t rush to the lab. He planned to take a comfortable rest for two days and immerse himself in academics once his spirits recovered.

It’s all about striking a balance between work and leisure.

Senior Sister granted Yuan Shang time off and told Qiu Rong not to go to the lab either, suggesting that they enjoy their summer break while they still had it.

University A was far away from Chunhe Road, so it’s unclear why Uriel targeted Yuan Shang, who rarely left the campus. Just to be safe, Qiu Rong reported the incident to Zhong Lishu.

Yuan Shang slept from last night until this afternoon when Qiu Rong woke him up. He ordered takeout and while eating, he saw Qiu Rong constantly messaging someone and teasingly remarked, “Is Mr. Yan slacking off during work hours to chat with you?”

Qiu Rong: “…”

*Why mention the pot that doesn’t boil?

*哪壶不开提哪壶 (idiom) – to mention somebody’s weak point/ sore spot.

Qiu Rong glanced at Yuan Shang with resentment and said, “You can’t even keep your mouth shut while eating.”

Yuan Shang, the Emotional Master, sensed something unusual and blinked his eyes cautiously. He said, “Another argument?”

Qiu Rong gritted his teeth and replied, “Don’t make it sound like we argue all the time!”

“Alright, alright,” Yuan Shang surrendered. “If that’s the case, you don’t have to accompany me. You better find a way to appease him. Arguments can’t be dragged on.”

Qiu Rong put down his phone and sighed, “I wanted to appease him, but all the messages I sent were received by his assistant.”

“Oh, so you’re at the point of separation?”

Seeing Qiu Rong nod, Yuan Shang was surprised and couldn’t figure out what could cause two lovers to separate. He sighed and said, “Why send messages at a time like this? Just go to his current residence and find him directly!”

Qiu Rong worriedly responded, “I’m afraid he’ll be even angrier.”

Yuan Shang was once again convinced by his brother’s love-struck mind. “Afraid? That’s nonsense!”

Yuan Shang earnestly advised, “Let me tell you, the worst thing during an argument is the silent treatment. If you keep giving each other the cold shoulder, the relationship will cool down completely! You must communicate face-to-face and resolve any misunderstandings before they escalate.”

Qiu Rong was about to say something more when his phone rang. It was a call from Zhong Lishu.

He showed his phone to Yuan Shang and stood up to leave the dormitory.

“Clan Leader Gu, I have already instructed the Violation Handling Department to send people to your school. They will conduct an investigation to put your mind at ease.”

Qiu Rong found a secluded corner and said, “It might be troublesome, but could you have them check my roommate’s dormitory as well? I didn’t sense Uriel’s presence, but I can’t be completely sure. It’s safer to double-check.”

“Alright, I will remind them.”

Zhong Lishu couldn’t possibly call for such a trivial matter. He cleared his throat and said, “There’s another matter I need to trouble Clan Leader Gu.”

Qiu Rong responded, “Go ahead.”

Zhong Lishu continued, “There’s a kid who went with you to the Special Management Bureau. It seems they have been hacking into the bureau’s network, and not just once.”

Qiu Rong remained silent for a while, and Zhong Lishu smiled and reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’m not seeking to hold anyone accountable.”

Then you shouldn’t speak in that tone.

Helplessly, Qiu Rong rubbed his forehead and admitted, “Yes.”

Zhong Lishu subtly conveyed his warning and then generously said, “The members of the Network Security Team mentioned that this kid has good skills and even helped strengthen the firewall. Is he a child from the Wolf Clan? Clan Leader Gu, please ask him if he has any intention of joining the Supernatural Control Center.”

Qiu Rong had no choice but to agree.

Zhong Lishu said gently, “Rest assured, Clan Leader Gu. If he doesn’t want to join, the center won’t force him. However, in the future, if there are any issues, the Wolf Clan can directly report to the center. The security team has new members now, so your kid from the clan should be careful when accessing the center’s internal network.”

Qiu Rong nodded understandingly, “Understood.”

After hanging up the phone, Qiu Rong contacted Ruan Sijia. He didn’t have classes this afternoon, and for some reason, he ended up going with Meng Baichuan again.

The two of them were in the school’s café, not far from the graduate dormitory.

“Are you leaving?” Qiu Rong returned to the dormitory, and Yuan Shang had already finished his lunch and was packing up the takeout boxes.

“Yeah. I’m going to find a junior.” Qiu Rong took the takeout trash that Yuan Shang handed over and said, “Take care of yourself, and call me if you need anything.”

“Got it. Thanks for your concern, my brother Qiu~” Yuan Shang waved his hand. “I hope you and President Yan reconcile soon. Listen to me, go straight to his place. Maybe President Yan is also thinking about how to come and find you but can’t muster the courage.”

Qiu Rong smiled helplessly, “Okay, I’ll take your advice.”

Qiu Rong didn’t use his car when he went downstairs. He walked slowly along the path, lost in his thoughts.

There was a stretch of Persian chrysanthemums planted along this path, and in July, the flowers were blooming vigorously. The pink and white chrysanthemums intertwined, competing to blossom.

The faint floral fragrance lingered as Qiu Rong absentmindedly gazed at the vibrant Persian chrysanthemums. Suddenly, a burst of white color intruded into his line of sight.

Qiu Rong was stopped in his tracks.

He paused and looked down at the white furball in front of him.

It was a snow-white cat with heterochromatic eyes.

A beautiful and elegant Turkish Angora cat.

Author’s Note:

(Meow Meow Poking Its Head.jpg)