Chapter 21: Returning to the Dormitory

"Shen, please have mercy!"

"We're all skin and bones, there's barely any meat on us. Don't eat me!"

"Ah, I hate bathing—my blood smells awful."

Their roommates, seeing Shen Xin blocking their way, were so frightened that their words tumbled over themselves.

At that moment, Shen Xin had already retracted his fangs, forcing a smile as he said, "Come on, I was just joking with you! I wore a fake set of teeth. Just look at how scared you all were! Haha, I can’t stop laughing."

Shen Xin doubled over with laughter.

"You brat, are you itching for a beating?" his roommates shouted, rushing forward to give him a good-natured thrashing. Of course, it was just horseplay.

Shen Xin howled in mock agony for a few moments, then reminded them, "Guys, shouldn’t we be buying some groceries now? There's a curfew, remember?"

Everyone agreed that he made sense, and quickly stopped roughhousing. The four of them hurried downstairs to the dormitory supermarket.

But they were already too late. Anything edible had long since been snatched up, and even daily necessities like soap, toothpaste, and body wash were all gone.

Unconvinced, the four tried several more supermarkets, only to find the same situation everywhere.

Shen Xin checked his phone—it was already six o’clock, with just an hour left before the seven o’clock curfew.

He quickly said, "Let’s go to my rental place—I still have a few boxes of instant noodles there."

"Godfather!" his roommates cried. Practically carrying Shen Xin, they dashed out of the dormitory area.

Arriving at Shen Xin’s rented apartment, Zhou Yuan and Zhou Min each carried a box of instant noodles, while Gao Shuai looked around and grabbed the electric kettle and induction cooker.

Shen Xin, seeing this, simply packed up his clothes, bedding, shoes, and whatever else he needed, bundling everything together.

By the time they were done, it was already past six.

The four of them raced back to the dorm, making it back just before seven.

Back in their room, the four exchanged grins; Zhou Yuan, Zhou Min, and Gao Shuai—these three lovable fools—were Shen Xin’s college roommates.

At this point, Gao Shuai had already filled the kettle with water and plugged it in, while Zhou Yuan and Zhou Min tore open the boxes of noodles, ready to make a meal.

They’d already eaten dinner around four, but after all that running about, their stomachs were rumbling again.

"Godfather, do you want some noodles?" Zhou Yuan asked.

Shen Xin waved him off—his appetite wasn’t what it used to be. Too many supplements had left him with little desire for food.

Once things were quiet, he messaged his landlord to end his lease.

After all, he planned to stay in the dorm from now on, or perhaps at the compound.

There was no need to keep that little apartment any longer.

It wasn’t that Shen Xin couldn’t afford the rent—in fact, just today, he’d earned a million in reward money for slaying a vampire on the subway.

If he rented again, he’d go for something bigger—at least a three-bedroom, two-living room place, a hundred and twenty square meters or more.

Otherwise, how could he live with Yu Yanan?

Checking the time, Shen Xin called Yu Yanan to remind her not to wander around at night.

His roommates didn’t bat an eye. Ever since their first year, Shen Xin and Yu Yanan had been inseparable. Their classmates had long since taken them for a couple.

The night passed peacefully.

Shen Xin slept soundly—he had no fear of vampires. When he awoke, the sun was already high in the sky. Looking out the window, he wondered how many in Ox City had lain awake through the night.

There were still many silently safeguarding Ox City, and just as many vampires scheming to destroy it.

To Shen Xin, aside from Yu Yanan, all other vampires were monsters.

Soon, his roommates began to stir, washing up in preparation for class.

Shen Xin finished his own morning routine and went to wait for Yu Yanan outside the girls’ dormitory. Though they hadn't made their relationship official, everyone else saw them as a couple. Their classmates would only tease them in passing.

He met up with Yu Yanan, and the two of them went to the cafeteria for breakfast. Yu Yanan still wasn’t used to eating regular food, but she managed a little; most of her fried dough sticks and soy milk went to Shen Xin.

After breakfast, they hurried to the teaching building. The streets were much quieter now—some businesses had given their employees time off during the curfew, and elementary and middle schools had started their summer break early.

It was already early July, and even Shen Xin and his friends were busy with final exams.

As they walked, Yu Yanan sighed, “Ox City is changing more and more.”

“Yes,” Shen Xin replied. “We may be facing unprecedented changes.”

As someone awakened with special abilities, Shen Xin had encountered far more strange events than most, so his feelings were understandable.

Yu Yanan watched two little birds playing carefreely in the trees, a touch of envy in her heart. She asked, “Shen Xin, during summer vacation, will you go home or stay in Ox City?”

Shen Xin thought for a moment and answered, “If there’s nothing at home, I’ll probably stay in Ox City. But my little sister just finished the college entrance exams—her results should come out in a few days. If all goes well, she’ll get into a top university.”

“Hee hee, then you’ll have no excuse not to let me join the celebration,” Yu Yanan said with a grin.

Shen Xin nodded, “Of course, I’ll bring you along.”

The following days were a blur of exams. As soon as he finished, Shen Xin received a call from his father, who couldn’t contain his joy—his sister Shen Lan had scored over seven hundred points, ranking in the top thirty in Yuancheng Province.

Shen Xin was overjoyed. This wasn’t just good luck—it was a stroke of incredible fortune!

He promised to return home the next day to help prepare for his sister’s celebration.

With a score like that, she could choose from any top-tier university; it was time to start planning the banquet.

Yu Yanan was full of praise for the little sister and went off in the middle of the day to prepare a gift.

Shen Xin proudly shared the news with his colleagues from the Compound Task Force.

Sister Dan immediately transferred a hundred thousand yuan, saying she’d cover the little sister’s tuition for all four years.

Chen Jiawang and Uncle Mo each gave a ten-thousand-yuan red envelope as congratulations.

Tang Ziran clamored to go along with him.

Shen Xin agreed right away. The exams were over, and even before the results were released, the school hurriedly declared the holidays.

No one quite knew where Yu Yanan had found a second-hand BMW, but she drove Shen Xin and Tang Ziran straight to Shen Xin’s hometown.

With Shen Xin directing, Yu Yanan parked right at his doorstep.

As soon as they got out, Shen Xin’s parents came out to greet them. Seeing Tang Ziran, they were overjoyed.

But when Yu Yanan stepped out, opened the trunk, and handed over a mountain of gifts to Shen Xin’s parents, the couple was momentarily stunned.

Shen Xin’s mother shot his father a glance, and he immediately caught on, accepting the gifts and welcoming Yu Yanan inside.

Once she was inside, Shen Xin’s mother tugged her son’s ear fiercely and demanded, “Boy, what’s going on? I told you to bring Ziran home and nurture your relationship, so why did you bring another girl?”

With his mother twisting his ear, Shen Xin yelped in pain, quickly explaining, “Mom, Yu Yanan has been my girlfriend for ages. You’re the ones always matchmaking, so how can you blame me?”

His mother turned her gaze to Tang Ziran, and seeing the girl’s confusion, was finally reassured. She released her grip and scolded, “You heartless boy! Ziran is such a good girl, and yet you still—”

Shen Xin hurried to explain, “I see Ziran as my little sister. I’ll find her a good match someday. Isn’t that right, Ziran?”

Tang Ziran nodded, “I’ll listen to whatever Brother Shen Xin says.”

“Oh, what a pity!” Shen Xin’s mother clapped her hands to her knees, nearly wailing aloud.

Shen Xin quickly covered her mouth and whispered, “Mom, Yu Yanan is from the county, her family’s well-off, and she treats me well. We were classmates in high school and university. There’s no one watching—no need to put on a show.”

She glanced around, saw there really was no one nearby, and, feigning tears, took Tang Ziran’s hand. “Ziran, you poor child.”

“Not at all. Brother Shen Xin is very good to me,” Tang Ziran replied, genuinely puzzled by Mrs. Shen’s excitement.