After that "sincere" apology and receiving Ethan Yan's "forgiveness," Dawn Xiang felt as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He no longer needed to skulk around like a thief.
He still religiously occupied his prime spot by the floor-to-ceiling window of "Sunrise" Bubble Tea Shop every day, steadfast as a sentinel, persistently watching the imposing entrance of Twilight Tower across the street. Whenever that sleek, imposing black luxury sedan glided near and came to a smooth stop, Dawn's heart would involuntarily race. Seeing Ethan Yan step out briskly, striding towards the building with his quick, assured gait, an indescribable surge of elation would instantly fill Dawn's chest, making the corners of his mouth lift unbidden.
What felt even more "encouraging" to Dawn was that Ethan Yan seemed to have noticed his presence. Several times, just before stepping into the revolving doors, that tall, imposing figure would abruptly halt his steps, then sharply turn around, his penetrating dark crimson gaze locking precisely onto the direction of the bubble tea shop!
Initially, Dawn would instinctively flinch like a startled rabbit, but he quickly overcame that reflexive fear. Replacing it was a secret thrill of being "noticed." He even began to try... responding.
Like now.
When Ethan's gaze pierced through the wide street and the bustling traffic once more, Dawn took a deep breath, trying to quell the tiny flutter in his heart. He plastered on an almost excessively bright smile, then raised his arm, waving vigorously and broadly towards the opposite side! The gesture held a touch of clumsy sincerity, like a puppy desperately trying to catch its owner's attention.
Across the street, Ethan Yan remained his usual iceberg self. He didn't nod in acknowledgment, showed no change in expression, not even a fractional pause in his stride, as if Dawn's wave was merely a ripple in the air, vanishing instantly. He turned, his figure swiftly swallowed by the revolving doors, disappearing into the depths of the building.
Yet, Dawn didn't mind this in the slightest! He lowered his arm with deep satisfaction, his amber eyes sparkling like they held a galaxy of stars. He stubbornly believed that the other had definitely seen him! That minuscule, almost imperceptible hesitation was his silent response! This one-sided "rapport" gave Dawn a strange sense of fulfillment.
"Boss, you seem to be in a really good mood lately?" Mia Yao commented as she passed by with a tray, unable to resist teasing him. She'd keenly noticed the change in their little manager. Previously often listless, occasionally hiding away muttering to himself, he now seemed like a different person – grinning foolishly by the window all day, waving at thin air.
"Mm!" Dawn nodded emphatically, his face unable to hide his smile. "Because I made a new friend!"
"A new friend?" Mia's interest was piqued. She set down the tray and leaned closer. "In the building across the street?"
"Yeah!" Dawn admitted freely this time, a hint of pride in his voice. "A really powerful person!"
Mia studied Dawn's expression carefully. Those clear eyes held only pure joy, without a trace of shadow or unease. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief internally. When she'd first applied for the job, Dawn's parents, Marcus Xiang and Eleanor Zhuang, had privately and earnestly asked her to take good care of this young master, doted on by his family and possessing a simple mind. Mia had always worried that their somewhat naive boss might be deceived or exploited by unscrupulous people in this big city. Now, it seemed she might have worried unnecessarily? This "friend" in the building opposite... should be alright?
However, as days passed, Dawn's "one-sided communication" seemed to hit a bottleneck.
He reported for duty punctually every day, waved enthusiastically, and Ethan Yan "punctually" returned his gaze, but beyond that, there was no progress. No anticipated nod of acknowledgment, no hoped-for invitation like "come over sometime." Ethan Yan remained a distant iceberg, Dawn's enthusiasm like waves crashing against a reef, leaving only a small, insignificant splash.
Dawn began to feel a little deflated again. He longed wistfully for Twilight Group to have another employee welfare day, so he could legitimately deliver bubble tea over there, maybe even have a chance "encounter." But the next welfare day seemed far off.
After much thought, Dawn's restless little mind hatched a bolder plan.
That afternoon, while the shop wasn't too busy, Dawn personally took his place behind the counter. His expression was focused, though his movements carried a hint of inexperienced clumsiness. He carefully selected the best tea leaves, precisely measured the milk and syrup ratios, performing each step with exceptional care. He was going to make a unique cup of bubble tea, one meant only for Ethan Yan.
"Mia, Kevin, I'm heading out for a bit!" Dawn announced, placing the meticulously crafted bubble tea into an insulated bag bearing the "Sunrise" logo. He bid farewell to his staff, then, clutching the bag and carrying a heart pounding with nervous excitement, he strode purposefully towards Twilight Tower across the street.
Security at the entrance performed their routine check. Dawn straightened his back, trying to appear natural. "Hello, I'm from Sunrise Bubble Tea across the street, here to deliver bubble tea to a client." The security guard glanced at the familiar bag in his hand, then at his youthful but earnest face, and didn't obstruct him further. While there was no company-wide order today, individual employee orders were common, and there was no need to hassle a delivery person.
Dawn navigated the familiar path into the building, taking the elevator straight up to the same floor as last time. The corridor was still empty and quiet, the polished floor reflecting the cold white light of the ceiling lamps. He took a deep breath and walked towards that heavy, austere door etched in his memory. He curled his fingers and knocked gently.
Tap. Tap.
He waited. A few seconds of silence stretched into what felt like an eternity. No response came from within, as if the room were empty.
Dawn refused to give up. He knocked again, harder this time.
Tap tap!
Still, utter silence.
Ethan Yan didn't appear behind him like a phantom this time either.
Dawn's pretty brows knitted together in frustration, his small face scrunching up. What should he do? Had he gotten the wrong place? Or was Ethan simply not in the office today? A wave of immense disappointment washed over him, threatening to drown him. Holding the bubble tea bag, he stood alone in the empty corridor, looking small and helpless.
"Who are you?"
A low, slightly cold voice cut through the silence abruptly from behind him.
Dawn jolted at the unexpected sound, whirling around.
A tall, extraordinarily handsome man stood a few paces away, scrutinizing him with a critical gaze. The man wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, exuding an air of aristocratic detachment. His deep-set eyes held a trace of sharpness, almost imperceptible.
A slight chill ran down Dawn's spine. Judging by appearance and aura alone, this was no ordinary human. The innate elegance and pressure radiating from him, though not as profound as Ethan Yan's, was certainly extraordinary. It seemed Twilight Group truly housed formidable figures within its walls.
Dawn quickly adjusted his expression, offering the newcomer a polite, slightly apologetic smile. "Hello, I'm here to deliver bubble tea."
River Jiang's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. The small vampire before him had a pure aura and clear eyes; he didn't seem to be lying. But delivering bubble tea? Here? He couldn't recall ordering such a... juvenile human beverage. Wasn't this stuff only popular with young human girls?
"I didn't order bubble tea," River stated coolly, his tone distant and dismissive.
Dawn's smile faltered slightly. "Ah, no, it's not for you," he hurriedly explained. "It's for Ethan Yan. But he seems... not here?" His voice held a note of uncertainty and disappointment.
When River Jiang heard "Ethan Yan" spoken so naturally from this unknown little vampire's lips, his pupils constricted sharply! A wave of absurdity washed over him. Was this kid... insane?! Daring to address the Master by name? And claiming to deliver bubble tea to him?!
"What nonsense are you spouting?" River's voice turned icy, laced with a clear warning. "This isn't his office. And," he swept a disdainful glance over Dawn, unable to completely mask his contempt, "why would he ever drink something like this?"
Dawn froze completely, as if petrified. Not his office? Impossible! He'd first met Ethan right here! Ethan had accepted his bubble tea last time! Panic flushed his pale face, words tumbling out incoherently. "I... I'm not lying! I really know him! The first time was right here! He really took my bubble tea last time! I..."
River Jiang watched Dawn's anxious, earnest expression. Those clear eyes brimmed with the hurt of being misunderstood and an urgent need to prove himself. It genuinely didn't seem like a lie. Suspicion churned within River. The Master could indeed appear anywhere in the corporate building, including his office; that wasn't unusual. But linking this seemingly clueless little creature with his supreme, god-like Master? River found the idea utterly ludicrous, impossible to reconcile.
He was about to speak, intending to use a harsher tone to order this presumptuous youngster to leave immediately, when a familiar, soul-chilling pressure descended without warning!
Simultaneously, Dawn felt it too! He snapped his head around, looking towards the end of the corridor with startled hope!
The air rippled with subtle distortions, like water disturbed. The next second, Ethan Yan's figure coalesced out of the void, appearing soundlessly there. He was still clad in his impeccably tailored black suit, posture straight as a pine, his expression coldly composed, his deep, dark crimson eyes sweeping over the scene with impassive calm.
"Ethan!" Dawn's eyes lit up with astonishing brilliance, like twin stars ignited! He almost instinctively ignored River Jiang's presence, darting around him like a homing bird, scurrying happily towards Ethan.
As Ethan manifested, the space behind him rippled successively!
Silas Nan materialized like a phantom half a step behind Ethan's left shoulder, tall and stern, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, radiating an aura of lethal detachment.
Julian Li appeared to the right and slightly behind, posture respectful yet edged with latent sharpness, like the most loyal guard. His eyes instantly locked onto the approaching Dawn, filled with scrutiny and wariness.
Luna Yue's figure also solidified. She stood slightly to the side, her face maintaining professional composure, but deep in her eyes swirled unconcealed shock and confusion. Her gaze flickered rapidly between Dawn and Ethan.
River Jiang, meanwhile, swiftly masked his astonishment, giving a slight bow and silently stepping aside, joining Julian and the others to form an intangible protective circle, centering Ethan Yan.
In that instant, the previously empty corridor transformed into an invisible stage. Ethan Yan stood like a king holding court, flanked by several high-ranking vampires radiating formidable power and status. Dawn Xiang, like a fawn naively stumbling into a predator's domain, obliviously breached that intangible barrier. Carrying his bag adorned with a cute logo, he ran straight to the center of the stage, towards the most dangerous and dazzling presence.
Faced with these suddenly appearing, pressure-radiating figures, Dawn only hesitated briefly, showing no significant fright. His attention was swiftly and completely captured by Ethan Yan directly ahead. He reined in his overly exuberant excitement, stopping a step away from Ethan. Tilting his delicate face upwards, he offered Ethan a brilliant smile mingling delight, hopefulness, and a touch of shyness.
Then, quietly, with an air of presenting a treasure, he shook the bubble tea bag in his hand – an object utterly incongruous with the scene's atmosphere. His voice, though not loud, rang clearly in the silent corridor:
"Ethan, I brought you bubble tea."