Chapter 31: A Brand-New Morning

The next morning.

“Yaaawn~~~!!!”

Wuming woke up from bed feeling completely refreshed and full of energy.

Even though last night’s massage had been abruptly interrupted by Serena, he had still managed to get a decent session in. 

Now his whole body felt reborn—like he had shed his old skin entirely.

In every possible sense of the phrase “reborn.”

Having his daughter-form discovered by Serena, there was no choice now but to come clean about his true identity.

He never imagined they would meet like this…

“…”

So embarrassing—!!

Wuming hurriedly shook his head, trying to toss yesterday’s mortifying incident out of his mind. Stop thinking about it.

It was just a massage! Nothing else! Why make it so awkward!?

He wasn’t cheating or anything!

She had simply caught him in his cute form, that’s all!

Since they were already living together, her finding out was probably only a matter of time anyway. Whatever—let it be discovered then.

Wuming silently persuaded himself like this.

Not having to hide from Serena anymore actually felt quite liberating. 

As long as she could keep her thirst for blood under control, he wouldn’t need to stay in male form all the time. 

Wasn’t that pretty great?

Wuming slipped on a pair of obviously oversized slippers and walked over to the mirror to check himself out.

He was wearing an adorable dress-style nightgown; for extra comfort he had also put on white pantyhose, and even his two little ghost horns were capped with tiny hats.

“Mhm, mhm.”

Wuming nodded at his reflection in satisfaction.

This old man is seriously adorable!

He wondered if Serena was awake yet. Maybe he should go wake her so they could have breakfast together.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered the way Serena had climbed onto his bed last night—those tender, murmuring whispers, the look in her eyes like she wanted to devour him whole.

A faint blush crept onto Wuming’s cheeks without him realizing.

When he opened the door and stepped outside, his peripheral vision caught something—Serena was crouched against the wall by the doorway, expression like someone going through withdrawal, gnawing furiously at her fingernails.

“Blood… Wuming’s blood…!”

“So… so want to drink…!!!”

Her words came out muffled; Wuming could barely make them out.

“Se—Serena?!”

He was startled by her appearance and instinctively moved closer.

Unaware that doing so was only tempting her more!

“Wu—Wuming!!!”

“What’s wrong with you!? What happened?!”

Wuming placed both hands on her shoulders, staring at her with deep concern.

“I… I’m enduring…”

“Trying my best not to think about your blood…”

Suppressing the restlessness inside, Serena answered him.

“…”

Wuming instantly understood.

She was… fighting back the urge to drink his blood…

“Maybe I should just change back then…”

The moment the words left his mouth, Serena quickly stopped him.

“I… I can do it!!!”

“I won’t pounce on you! And then sink my fangs gently into your neck and drink your sweet, unforgettable—”

Stop—! Stop—!

You just said your entire fantasy out loud!!!

Wuming could tell she was already hopelessly addicted.

Sure enough, his current identity was probably quite dangerous for her.

Suddenly, Serena struggled to her feet and shook her head violently, as if trying to drive away the whispers in her mind!

“I… I’m going to the balcony to get some air!”

With that, she dashed off toward the balcony.

Seeing her reaction, a small smile appeared on Wuming’s face.

She really was holding back, huh, Serena.

Even though all she had to do was let him revert to male form, she stubbornly refused—just so he could keep this appearance…

He couldn’t let that kind of consideration go to waste.

Wuming decided he would wait for Serena to ask him herself before changing back. 

During this time, he would let her slowly get used to it.

Of course, this only applied when it was just the two of them.

While Serena was getting some air, Wuming finished using the bathroom and washing up.

Now then.

He didn’t really feel like going out today…

Might as well make breakfast himself.

Because laziness had struck, Wuming decided to handle breakfast personally—and he already knew exactly what to make.

It had been ages since he last had old-friend rice noodles. You’re the one!

After tying on an apron, Wuming got to work.

As for Serena—after breathing some fresh air on the balcony, her eyes had cleared considerably.

“Wuming’s blood is way too ‘toxic’…”

Originally she had only gotten up because she needed the bathroom and planned to go right back to sleep. 

But the moment she passed by Wuming’s room, that irresistible fragrance stopped her in her tracks.

And then… she stayed frozen in that position until he opened the door.

So hard to endure…

She had almost lost control and gone for his blood…

At this point, Serena was seriously considering giving up and just asking him to change back.

But… the way Wuming looked right now… was just so cute…

If she made him change back… she wouldn’t get to see this adorable side of him anymore…

Yet… could she really control her own desires…?

Serena had no confidence. 

After some internal struggle, she decided it was better to let Wuming return to his original form.

For the sake of “harmonious” coexistence!

After taking a deep breath, Serena left the balcony. Hearing noises from the kitchen, she knew Wuming was inside.

When she reached the kitchen doorway, she saw it—that unforgettable little potato Wuming standing on a small step stool, wearing an apron, holding a little saucer and tasting something.

“Tsk, a bit bland…”

He hadn’t noticed Serena standing behind him yet, still fully focused on the breakfast in front of him.

Wuming…

The instant she saw him again, Serena fell into a daze once more.

When the door first opened earlier, her attention had been entirely on his blood—she hadn’t really registered his appearance. 

Now that her reason had returned a little, she finally took in how he looked.

That nightgown, those pantyhose, that impossibly pure and innocent image… it was as if everything Wuming was wearing had been deliberately chosen to seduce her!

That back view—cuter than hers by a factor of ten thousand—made Serena want to rush over right now, wrap her arms around him, and greedily claim everything.

Wuming’s cuteness had already broken every rule!

In front of Wuming, even Serena felt inferior.

There probably wasn’t a single lolita in this world more adorable and captivating than him.

And more importantly—

He was hers…

The thought that she was married to this version of Wuming suddenly gave Serena the overwhelming sensation of this must be paradise.

A cute little wife who could cook.

“Why are you here, Serena?”

Wuming had just turned to grab the noodles from the fridge when he noticed Serena standing there staring blankly for who-knows-how-long.

“Ah… I-I-I…!”

His voice snapped the dazed Serena back to reality. She stammered, completely at a loss for words.

“Since you’re here, help me out, Serena. Go grab the rice noodles from the fridge for me.”

He had no idea why she had appeared, but since she was here anyway, might as well put her to work.

“…Oh.”

She had originally come to tell him to change back into a man. But seeing him like this, the words died in her throat.

Sure enough…

She still wanted to see Wuming like this more.

After bustling about for a while, Wuming sat at the dining table savoring the fruits of his labor.

As expected!

Breakfast should always be a bowl of old-friend rice noodles!

Sour and spicy to whet the appetite, salty and rich in flavor! Breakfast demanded a bowl like this!

Representing Yongcheng—proudly!!

“I really want to try your cooking too…”

Sitting across from him, Serena suddenly spoke up after watching his blissful expression.

“What’s wrong?” Wuming asked, puzzled.

“Just… I just want to taste it, you know… But I’m blood clan—everything tastes bland to me…”

Serena said with visible regret. Even the blood bag in her hand seemed to have lost some of its appeal.

Watching Wuming make breakfast himself, Serena genuinely wanted to know how her husband (wife)’s cooking tasted. 

Judging from how Crosti raved about it nonstop, it had to be amazing.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t blessed with that sense of taste.

“How about you give it a try anyway?”

Wuming picked up a few strands of noodles and offered them to her, but Serena just stared at him speechlessly.

“Didn’t I just say I can’t taste anything? Even if you feed me, I won’t be able to tell how good it is.”

If she could taste, would she still be drinking blood right now?

“This…”

Wuming was momentarily at a loss. The gulf between their races really was like a mountain—impossible to cross so easily.

Unlike Crosti, Serena wasn’t a hybrid.

“What a shame.”

“Seriously. I can’t even smell what your food tastes like—otherwise I could at least judge your skill that way.”

Serena’s tone was full of regret.

After finishing breakfast and cleaning up, Wuming returned to his room, changed back into his usual attire, and reappeared before Serena in male form.

Time to start work.

He had been closed for two full days. 

Today the clinic was finally reopening, and Wuming would soon be diving back into his professional routine.

“Why did you change back into a guy again…”

Serena looked at him with visible disappointment. Now she wouldn’t get to see cute Wuming anymore.

“I have to work, don’t I? I can’t let other people see me like that. I still need to keep up this identity.”

“Also—about my other identity: this stays between you and me. Absolutely no third person can know, got it? Not even Crosti.”

Wuming spoke seriously, making it clear that Serena wasn’t to breathe a word to Crosti about his true lolita form.

“Why not?”

“No particular reason—just don’t let anyone else know. The fewer people who know, the better.”

Though she didn’t understand why Wuming was hiding it, Serena still agreed.

“Then I’ll head down first. You can tidy up the house, Serena.”

With that, Wuming went downstairs to the first floor and began the day’s work.