Chapter 7 Reunion

After spending a peaceful Saturday at home, Han Qi woke up early on Sunday, for he was going to church for worship.

Han Qi was an orphan, adopted at a young age by a well-off family. He also had a younger sister. The Han couple had their daughter late in life, and so they doted on her exceedingly, raising her to be pampered and willful. They thought adopting a boy to be her elder brother might help temper her character, and thus, gentle and quiet Han Qi was chosen.

When the couple stood among the group of orphans, many children vied for their favor, each sweeter-tongued than the last. But Han Qi simply sat quietly in the corner, sketching in the faint light, so serene that nothing around him could disturb him, as if he did not truly belong to that space.

Mrs. Han pointed at Han Qi and whispered something to her husband, and soon after, Han Qi was taken home.

The Han family treated him well; otherwise, they would not have allowed him to study art. Yet, after entering the Academy of Arts, Han Qi took many part-time jobs, unwilling to spend so much of the family's money. Perhaps the Han family never minded, but he did.

The Hans were Christian, attending Sunday worship as a family. Han Qi loved the church's atmosphere: quiet and peaceful. Though as a child, he often daydreamed during the priest's prayers, his mind wandering to strange and fanciful things, he still cherished the tranquility of the place.

Gradually, this became Han Qi’s habit.

Generally, churches were the places vampires detested most; the lowborn dared not approach, and even nobles could not linger long. Han Qi, however, was unaware of this fact.

When Han Qi arrived at the Western Church, the vast prayer hall held only a few elderly women scattered among the pews.

He chose a seat by the window. Looking up, he could see the azure sky, and occasionally birds would pass by.

Leaning back quietly in his chair, Han Qi closed his eyes in contentment.

Ten minutes later, people began to filter into the church. Someone sat gently beside Han Qi, taking off his hat and placing it on his lap, hands folded.

Han Qi, a light sleeper, awoke immediately at the sound.

Opening his eyes, he saw a pair of strikingly beautiful hands. Secretly awed, Han Qi lifted his gaze to the man.

A flawless profile, vaguely familiar. Han Qi was dazed for half a second before realization struck, and he felt his heartbeat quicken. The man sensed his gaze and turned to look at him.

Han Qi instinctively smiled, flashing his teeth in a radiant grin.

The other simply looked at him quietly, but Han Qi felt there was a gentle smile in his eyes.

Soon, the prayer hall was filled, and the priest began his recitation.

Han Qi sat upright, though his eyes kept wandering to the man beside him. Several times, he found himself lost in thought as he watched.

The man listened intently, blinking occasionally.

Han Qi felt his heart beating too fast.

He had always been calm and unhurried, indifferent to events—even his transformation into a vampire hadn't shaken him much. So this sudden surge in heart rate and the heat in his palms unsettled him deeply.

He kept adjusting his posture, causing the chair to emit faint noises. He turned his gaze outside the window, but after a few minutes, couldn't help sneaking glances at the man again.

To his surprise, he found the other was watching him as well. Han Qi nearly fell off his chair but managed to compose himself just in time.

What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion.

The man gently placed his hand atop Han Qi's, leaned toward him, and a soft voice whispered in his ear.

"It's time to go."

He took Han Qi's hand and quietly led him out of the prayer hall.

They walked all the way outside the church before the man stopped and turned to face Han Qi.

Han Qi suspected that if the man hadn't stopped, he might have followed him endlessly.

Those deep eyes, with their pure, gentle gaze, were now fixed tenderly on him.

Under that gaze, Han Qi felt his heart gradually settle; the earlier tension seemed no more than a pebble cast into the lake of his soul, sending ripples that soon faded away.

Han Qi smiled, "Would you... be my model?"

Leaning against a tree in the park, Han Qi set his drawing board on his knees, and the man sat on the bench opposite.

Though he was right before him, Han Qi found himself unable to capture the spirit he sought. The excitement that had filled him now gave way to frustration.

He sighed as he finished the last stroke, brows furrowed.

The man quietly came over and sat beside him, leaning in to look at the drawing before Han Qi could react.

Han Qi hurriedly blocked it, "It's not finished, don't look!"

"Am I really not allowed to see?"

His voice was low and gentle, carrying a noble air and an alluring magnetism.

"I didn't do a good job, really, you shouldn't..." But the man gently moved his hand away, and Han Qi shyly turned his head aside.

The portrait was still beautiful. The features were deep and chiseled, blending masculine and feminine beauty, with a faint smile that was proud yet unruly, captivating to the soul.

Of course, that was not the main issue. The main issue was that the figure was nearly nude, long hair covering everything below the waist.

Han Qi coughed awkwardly, "It's a professional habit, really—when I see someone beautiful, I can’t help but..."

But the man took no offense. He turned to Han Qi, a gentle smile in his eyes.

"It's well done, but a few parts aren't quite right."

Han Qi paused at the reply.

That sentence seemed to be a key, unlocking some closed chamber in his heart.

His expression returned to normal, and he asked, "Do I know you?"

The man nodded.

"But why do I only remember fragments?"

"I’ll help you recall, little by little."

Then he covered Han Qi’s eyes with his hand, and gently pressed his lips to his own.

Just before the kiss, Han Qi whispered, "You are Su Ye."

A tangerine-hued kapok flower drifted onto his shoulder, carrying a shadowy fragrance that bewitched the heart.