"Master Ryan, are you alright?" Ethan hurriedly helped me out of my predicament."Are you really Ethan?"“Yes, Master Ryan.”“Prove it.”"When you were a child, you mistook my poison for water and drank five bottles. You said it tasted great and asked me to brew more for you," Ethan quickly recounted something only the two of us knew."You really are Ethan.""You've suffered, my Master Ryan.""No, no."Finally freed, I stood up with Ethan's support. I initially wanted to kick that vampire a couple of times, but as soon as I saw him, my rage flared up again. However, a shred of sanity pulled me back because I remembered Neil. Neil was still in danger, and the phone used for the video call earlier showed Roy trying to take advantage of him. I didn't know if he had succeeded by now. What had happened to Neil?"Ethan, Neil... save him quickly!" I stammered anxiously."Master Ryan, are you referring to what Roy is doing to Neil?""Yes, quickly notify Harry to save Neil. No, wait, they were
"But?" I asked."The potion's preparation is complex," Maria explained. "It takes three days to make, and even then, we can only produce one bottle each time.""So that means...""When you use it, you must act swiftly and precisely. If you miss the opportunity, it will be difficult to rectify.""In other words, there's no room for failure.""Do you have that confidence?""No." I admitted honestly and directly.Maria, upon hearing my response, led me to the sofa and headed to her shelf to fetch a bottle of yellow potion. She walked back over and pressed the bottle into my hand. Without asking any questions, I instinctively unscrewed the cap and drank it down. The sensation was reminiscent of the light green drink Ethan had given me before, but this one left me feeling even more relaxed."This is a potion for replenishing energy and relaxing the body.""It tastes pretty good. How about a dozen more?" I joked, earning a playful punch from Maria."Kid, it's not your fault. You haven't enc
Maria hastened the process for us and had the potion ready by the early morning of the third day. She packed the bottle and handed it to me. Unable to contain my curiosity, I took it out for a closer look. It was a bottle of deep blue liquid, exuding an aura of formidable power even to the naked eye. I took a sniff and immediately regretted it; the stench was unbearable, far worse than the smell of decay. A potion like this, I thought, might just be lethal if consumed.Maria knew that my heart had already returned to Harry’s home, so she didn’t keep Ethan and me for long. She only asked that we finish breakfast before setting off. Words couldn't express the depth of my gratitude toward her. Just before we left, while Ethan wasn’t paying attention, I whispered a thank you and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She responded with a gentle smile, one that reminded me of my mother. And Maria had her first request to me, which was to watch over Ethan and Lisa.Perhaps it was my impatience
Yolanda was Roy's accomplice. If she was showing up, it meant she might be here to rescue him. Could it be that the miracle we deemed unlikely was actually happening? A sense of foreboding gripped me. I left the bar and hurried back to their side, urging Harry to act swiftly. If we waited until Yolanda arrived in person, it would be too late. Peter's warnings about the consequences would become a harsh reality."Harry, hurry up, do it now!"Seeing Ethan's anger and my anxiety, Harry realized that the situation demanded his utmost attention. He dropped the broken blade and grabbed Roy by the throat, ready to snap his neck. However, before he could exert any force, an invisible power flung Harry away. He was thrown several meters, crashing into a wall. This Yolanda not only shattered Ethan's protective shield but also effortlessly tossed aside a powerful vampire like Harry. I couldn't fathom the true extent of her strength.Ethan also attempted to cast a spell on Roy. He uttered the inc
Neil followed Lisa as she walked ahead, his posture unchanged, with only his head peeking out. Yet, his gaze remained as clear and pure as ever, brimming with simplicity and innocence."Is it really Ryan?" This question elicited laughter from everyone present."Do you think he's Ryan?" Harry teased the child."I think... he looks a bit like him," the child said, squinting his eyes adorably as he spoke."Which part?" Lisa pulled Neil out from behind."The feeling he gives off..." It was a vague explanation, one that seemed unlikely to yield a clearer answer. "And his eyes and actions.""His eyes?" Peter tilted his head to the side, giving me a mock scrutinizing look as if to study my gaze."Yes, this Ryan's eyes are very gentle, whereas the other Ryan's eyes...""How?" I asked."They give me goosebumps.""See? Neil felt it too. I told you that fake Ryan gave people the creeps, even though I never saw his eyes," Harry eagerly tried to validate his point."Don't make things up. Your feel
Upon hearing those words, none of us could fathom that they came from Peter. Even Neil put down his spoon and turned to look at Peter. The room fell into a hushed silence, everyone waiting for Peter to voice his reluctant request."My family has a patient suffering from severe headaches. Not only does he refuse to go to the hospital, but he also won't let any visiting doctors treat him. He's incredibly stubborn.""You want Neil to treat him?" I asked."Yes, but I think Lisa should go with him. It's not that I don't trust Lisa, but there's a good chance she won't be able to handle his bad temper.""It's not about trust," Lisa said, unbothered and perceptive. "I don't like dealing with stubborn people either. You want Neil to give it a try, don't you?""Yes," Peter admitted."What do you think?" I looked at Neil."I think I can, but...""Neil, I can vouch with my name that he won't harm you. He prefers women," Peter hurried to clarify, fearing Neil might misunderstand, and that we might
"It's hard to say. How about this: I'll wait for you. When the time comes and you find yourself wanting to see me when I'm not around, when being together makes you never want to part from me, you tell me. Then I'll confess my feelings again and ask if I can be your boyfriend. How does that sound?""Sounds good."He lowered his head, trying to hide his blush, but I noticed. I let go of his hand and gently ruffled his hair. He seemed accustomed to it, turning to smile at me. Once I was satisfied, I continued driving. Compared to Ethan and Harry’s journey, it felt like we were far behind."Ryan, thank you," Neil said, gripping his seatbelt with both hands but turning his body towards me."For what?""I used to think that in the city, everyone was really assertive. I thought someone like me just had to follow their lead and do what they told me. If I couldn't, I'd have to sneak away. But you, Ryan, you were the first person to ask me if things were okay, to ask for my opinion. It made me
"Then come find me after you finish eating.""Aren't you going to eat with us?" I thought we had the upper hand and could curb his arrogance a bit."Who wants to eat with you?""Don't you want to eat with us?" Neil looked disappointed. He glanced at Kim, then at me, and lowered his head."I...""I know, it's because of me, right? I'm not a big shot. Even Ryan, Peter, and Harry feel dragged down when they're with me.""That's not true." I grabbed his face and lifted his head."Neil, don't say that. We're not like some people who love to act all high and mighty," Harry said."Neil, it's okay. We'll go eat on our own," Peter comforted."Yeah, if he doesn't want to eat, then don't mind him," Lisa added, rolling her eyes."You young people, can you let someone speak?" Kim scolded everyone, then focused on Neil. "And you, you say you talk slowly, but am I slower? I haven't had a chance to speak.""What do you want to say? Aren't you the one who doesn't want to eat with us?" We all knew Neil
Harry stood in the shadows, a subtle smile playing on his lips, his eyes radiating calm confidence. “Of course,” he replied, raising an eyebrow with that trademark mix of humor and certainty, as though he had the situation effortlessly under control. Harry was always like this—composed, astute, unwavering—seemingly born with the spirit of a fighter who refused to bow to fate. I looked at him, filled with gratitude and relief. The bond between us had long surpassed life, death, and honor; no matter the crisis, he was always there.As he turned his gaze toward Ken Yimo, a ripple of relief ran through me. Yes, Ken Yimo had indeed gone to Harry rather than taking some darker course of action. Unable to contain myself, I asked, “Ken Yimo, I’ll admit, I’m glad you actually brought Harry. Now, what about Neil?” My voice betrayed a hint of urgency, a worry that was impossible to hide. Neil’s condition had been weighi
Ken Yimo simply gave a cold smile, completely dismissing my warnings. There was no trace of pity or warmth in his eyes as he turned and walked out of the cell. I stood there, helpless and furious, watching him leave, fully aware that I was trapped here and powerless to stop him. As the heavy door slowly closed behind him, a sense of helplessness overwhelmed me, and despair and anguish surged in my chest. I was locked in this cold, isolated cell, surrounded by thick stone walls that shut out even the faintest trace of light, leaving me in total darkness. There was no way to reach out, no phone, no tool to call for help. My thoughts began to be consumed by the shadows, yet Neil's face lingered in my mind, refusing to fade. Would he, once again, fall prey to Ken Yimo’s control and cruelty, triggering another episode of sleepwalking? The thought twisted my heart with an unshakable sense of dread and fear. As night fell, darkness engulfed
I stared at him, unwilling to waste words. Instead, I asked directly, “Where’s Neil?” The question was like a weight pressing on my chest, and this man before me was the only one who could answer it.Ken Yimo’s expression was one of indifference, as he replied coolly, “Neil? He’s resting. He’s very simple-minded. As long as I tell him to stay put, he won’t wander off. So, unlike with you, I don’t have to keep him chained up.” His words dripped with a detached cruelty, as though Neil were nothing more than a toy he could control at will. My fists clenched involuntarily, and a simmering anger began to burn within me.I knew then—Ken Yimo must have done something to manipulate Neil or force him into submission. I wanted to press him further, but Ken spoke first, a sly smile twisting across his face. “Ah, but it seems that when kids grow up, they’re not so easy to keep
“I’ve had enough.” Finally, my patience wore thin. Soft tactics weren’t working, so it was time to be firm. I stood up, bundled Neil up tightly in his blanket, ignoring his struggles or pleas. Before long, Neil was sitting at the small table, his head poking out from the blanket while the rest of his body was wrapped up snugly—held there by my bear hug, replacing any other form of restraint.I should have done it this way from the start. It saved time, kept the food warm, and, most importantly, even though he was wrapped in a blanket, I could still hold him close, care for him, protect him—letting him sit on my lap and lean against me.“Wow.” Seeing his eager expression, I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud. “I know you love these dishes, so I made them just for you. What do you want to eat?”"My favorite pasta.""My favorite pancakes."
I rambled on while watching the stars twinkle silently in the night sky. The breeze caressed the woods outside the tent, and the night was as gentle as a dream. Unconsciously, fatigue crept into my eyelids, and finally I fell into a deep sleep in the stillness of the night.I didn't know exactly how long I slept until a beam of morning light shone through the transparent tent roof and shone on my face, waking me up from my slumber. In a daze, I blinked, as if last night's worries and hesitations were still swirling in my mind. But the scene that came into my eyes next completely turned all my imaginations upside down.“Neil!!! what are you doing?!” I instantly came to my senses and sat up with a jolt. Right in front of me, Neil was kneeling beside me, head bowed, with a serious look on his face as he tried to help me with my natural morning reaction. He didn't look hesitant at all, as if it was a matter of course.
My heart sank, realizing that it wasn’t just innocent childish behavior—it was a desperate search for affection, a need to please, a struggle to win more care and love from Ken Yimo. In that moment, I suddenly understood that Harry's words might have been true—their relationship was far beyond a typical father-son bond.I struggled to steady the emotions stirring within me, and looked up at Neil’s innocent face. He probably didn’t recognize the true meaning behind those gestures—their intent was not simply familial love, but a deep, almost physical craving for attention, a kind of dependence on being favored. A quiet ache settled in my chest as I wished with all my heart that he would never be caught in that dark emotional whirlpool again.I smiled softly, gently steering the conversation back to where it had started. "So, to get back to the point, I am your one and only, aren't I?" On this quiet night, I
"Yes, every day." Neil nodded firmly, his tone pure, almost childlike."Then, is this kind of missing me something unique?" I pressed on, as though I were hoping to hear a one-of-a-kind answer from him."Unique?" He blinked, looking as though he didn’t quite understand the meaning of the word.I patiently explained, "What I mean is... is this something that only I experience? Like, the way you miss your dad—does it feel the same as the way I miss mine?"Neil shook his head slightly, his voice soft as he replied, "It's different. I miss Ryan more."A flicker of delight stirred within me, but I kept my expression neutral and asked, "What about compared to your elder brother and your little brother? Is it different with them too?"Neil thought for a moment before nodding with certainty. "Yeah, I miss Ryan the most.""So, only I,
As I processed Harry's bombshell, I turned to Ethan and asked, "Have you checked if Fred Yimo is really Ken Yimo's biological son?"Ethan's expression turned serious as he pulled out his phone. "I'll have someone look into it now."Peter furrowed his brow, clearly skeptical. "You suspect Fred Yimo might be adopted too?""I actually hope so," I replied firmly. "It's a lot less messy than the unethical theory.""Ken Yimo really isn't simple," Harry remarked on the phone, sounding almost impressed. "When I was around, Fred was a bit more relaxed. But the moment I left, he turned into a mouse—didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, but a little bit “sticky” though."I let out a cold laugh. "Doesn't that completely clash with the surveillance cameras he set up at home?"Peter nodded thoughtfully. "You’re right. Which of these sides is the r
As Peter and I sat off to the side, watching them laugh and chat, a tangle of emotions stirred within us. The scene was heartwarming, yet there was an undeniable sense of loss. Here we were, two grown men, holding our glasses, sitting on the fringes of this cozy gathering, as if the world had forgotten about us.Peter let out a heavy sigh. "Why does it feel like I'm drifting further away from my own precious one?" His gaze lingered on Nick and Neil, a hint of sadness in his eyes.I took a sip of my drink, my voice low. "It feels like everyone else is getting closer to Neil than I am." The words left a sting in my chest, as though something inside me had been pierced.Ethan, overhearing our conversation, smiled softly and leaned in to offer a quiet word of reassurance. "Don’t rush," he said gently. "You’ll grow closer in time." He set down his soup spoon, his demeanor calm and wise. "When the bond is strong, n