Category: Bloodthirsty Countess’s Overbearing Love

Chapter 85

The next morning, they woke up early and prepared for the surgery. Once everything was ready, Song Ling wheeled Li Xinjun into the operating room. Li Xinjun looked at Song Ling and Mark, nodded, and then allowed Song Ling to administer the anesthetic. The surgery began.

The procedure went smoothly, taking less than an hour and a half. Mark and Song Ling’s surgical skills, combined with the fact that Li Xinjun wasn’t an ordinary human, made the surgery relatively straightforward.

After Mark extracted the arrowhead, Song Ling handed him the skull fragment they had removed the previous day. Mark carefully placed it back in its original position and then sutured the scalp closed. Song Ling then bandaged Li Xinjun’s head, and they wheeled her back to her room.

“Now we just have to wait and see,” Mark said, his voice laced with hope.

“Yes, I hope everything goes as planned.”

“Don’t worry, even if it doesn’t, at least the arrowhead is out, and she won’t lose control again. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“You’re right. It’s a step in the right direction.”

“Okay, I’ll leave you two alone. I’m going out.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going crazy being cooped up here with you two lovebirds! I’m going to take a break, relax for a couple of days, and then I’ll come back and check on her.”

“Okay, that’s a good idea. We wouldn’t want you to be a third wheel.”

“Is that how you repay me for helping you?”

Mark rolled his eyes at Song Ling, who smirked at him.

“Am I wrong? Hee hee hee.”

“I regret helping you, you ungrateful wretch! I’ve helped you time and time again, and you just keep hurting me! What did I do to you in a past life to deserve this torment?”

“Just accept your fate.”

“Tsk! I’m leaving!”

“Go, go, go! Get out of here!”

Mark, exasperated, stormed out of the room. Song Ling, watching him leave, smiled triumphantly and then went to sit beside Li Xinjun’s bed, her expression softening as she gazed at her sleeping face. She waited patiently for Li Xinjun to wake up.

Meanwhile, Mark, driving Song Ling’s silver Maserati, arrived at a bustling street in Shanghai, lined with nightclubs and bars. He parked in front of an upscale bar.

Fan Weiqi, who happened to be walking by, recognized Song Ling’s car and approached it, hoping to say hello and inquire about Li Mo’s condition. Since their sudden departure from the film set, the director had only told her that Li Mo was on a two-week medical leave due to an unspecified illness.

She walked up to the car and knocked on the driver’s side window. The tinted windows prevented her from seeing inside, so she didn’t realize it wasn’t Song Ling behind the wheel.

Mark, startled by the knocking, looked at Fan Weiqi curiously. He had met her on set and recognized her. He guessed that she was looking for Song Ling or Li Mo, so he rolled down the window and smiled politely.

“Hello, Miss Fan. Are you looking for Song Ling or Li Mo?”

“Huh? It’s you! I remember you! You’re Ms. Song’s friend! Isn’t this her car?”

“Yes, I’m Mark. And yes, this is her car. I’m just borrowing it today.”

“Oh, I see. Do you know where they are?”

“Yes, I do. Are you looking for them?”

“Yes, I’ve been trying to contact Mo Mo, but I haven’t been able to reach her.”

“Excuse me, sir, madam, are you waiting for someone?”

A valet from the bar approached them. He had been waiting for them to finish their conversation, but seeing that it might continue for a while, and noticing the growing line of cars behind them, he decided to interrupt.

Fan Weiqi stepped back apologetically, allowing Mark to speak to the valet. Mark, seeing the situation, turned to Fan Weiqi and asked politely,

“Miss Fan, would you like to join me for a drink inside? We can talk there.”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

“Okay, young man, I’ll leave my car with you.”

“No problem, sir. Just give me your keys, and here’s your claim ticket. Present this ticket at the counter when you leave.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Mark took the claim ticket, got out of the car, and smiled at Fan Weiqi, gesturing for her to precede him into the bar. Fan Weiqi smiled back and entered the bar.

It was a jazz bar, with soft, mellow music playing in the background. Mark followed Fan Weiqi to the counter and spoke to the bartender.

“A table for two, please.”

“Certainly. Would you prefer a private booth upstairs or a table near the stage?”

Mark glanced at Fan Weiqi.

“A booth, please.”

“Okay, one moment, please.”

“Thank you.”

“Alright, please follow the waiter to your booth.”

“Thank you.”

They followed the waiter to a booth on the second floor. It was a semi-private booth, with a large window overlooking the stage. It offered a good view of the performance while still providing some privacy for conversation.

Mark pulled out a chair for Fan Weiqi and then took a seat himself. The waiter brought them menus. Mark handed one to Fan Weiqi and then took one for himself.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Hmm… It’s my first time here. Do you have any recommendations?”

“Do you like red wine?”

“Yes, I do.”

“How about a bottle of 1982 Lafite? It’s quite good.”

“Okay, I’ll trust your judgment.”

“One bottle of 1982 Lafite, please.”

“Certainly, sir.”

“And could you also bring us some cheese?”

“Of course, sir.”

“Thank you.”

The waiter left, leaving them alone in the booth.

“Miss Fan, you said you were looking for Li Mo, right?”

“Yes, I was wondering if you could contact her.”

“I can. I’ve been with her and Song Ling this whole time. The reason you haven’t been able to reach her is that we left in a hurry and accidentally left her phone at the hotel.”

“Oh, I see. How is she doing? I heard she wasn’t feeling well.”

“She was, but we took her to see a doctor, and she’s doing much better now. You don’t have to worry.”

“Oh, that’s good to hear. I was worried about her.”

“I understand. We should have informed you before we left.”

“It’s okay, as long as she’s alright.”

A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Mark called out, “Come in,” and the waiter entered, carrying a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a plate of cheese.

He placed the items on the table, opened the wine bottle, poured a small amount into one of the glasses, and handed it to Mark. Mark offered the glass to Fan Weiqi for her to try. She took a sip, smiled, and nodded approvingly. Mark then nodded at the waiter.

The waiter filled both glasses with wine and then left.

“Miss Fan, I hope this wine is to your liking.”

“It’s delicious. You have good taste, Mr. Mark.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Mark raised his glass, and Fan Weiqi clinked her glass against his.

“Cheers.”

“Cheers.”

They each took a sip of their wine and then put down their glasses. Mark placed a piece of cheese on Fan Weiqi’s plate and then took one for himself.

“Try this.”

“Okay.”

Fan Weiqi took a bite of the cheese, savoring the rich flavor, which complemented the wine perfectly.

“It’s delicious! It goes well with the wine.”

“Have some more if you like it.”

“Thank you.”

They continued chatting, and soon, the live music began downstairs. They went to the window, each holding a glass of wine, enjoying the mellow jazz music.

Mark, watching as Fan Weiqi swayed to the music, her eyes closed, lost in the melody, put down his glass and extended his hand to her. Fan Weiqi, putting down her own glass, took his hand and joined him in a slow dance.

He held her hand in his, his other arm around her waist, leading her in a graceful waltz as the music filled the air.

Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars~
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars~

The music ended, and they stopped dancing. Mark smiled at Fan Weiqi, and she smiled back. They exchanged contact information, and then Mark escorted her home before finding a hotel for himself.

Chapter 84

After much deliberation, Mark and Song Ling decided that Mark would be the lead surgeon for the craniotomy, with Song Ling assisting. Although Song Ling was the more skilled surgeon, with more experience and qualifications, Mark was concerned that her emotions might cloud her judgment when operating on Li Xinjun. They agreed that it would be safer for Mark to lead the surgery, with Song Ling providing guidance if needed.

Mark took a deep breath, looking at Li Xinjun on the operating table, then glanced at Song Ling, who nodded reassuringly. He exhaled slowly and began the procedure.

They first shaved a portion of Li Xinjun’s hair and then sterilized the area with iodine before making an incision in her scalp. Song Ling monitored Mark’s every move, ensuring precision and safety, handing him instruments, and checking the vital signs on the monitors.

After about twenty minutes, Mark carefully removed a section of Li Xinjun’s skull and handed it to Song Ling, who placed it on a sterile tray. She then joined Mark, peering into the exposed brain.

A monitor displayed a live feed of the surgical field, revealing a dark gray object embedded deep within Li Xinjun’s brain. It looked like a piece of metal, but its exact nature was unclear.

“Mark, move the camera slightly to the left. I want a closer look.”

“Here?”

“Yes, stop there. Look, the color is different in this area. It looks like a branch.”

“Huh, you’re right.”

“Move it a bit more, and angle it downwards.”

“Like this?”

“Wait! Wait a minute! I think I know what it is! Look! Doesn’t that look like a broken arrowhead?”

“Really? Let me see. Oh! You’re right! Hold on, let me try to move the tissue aside. There! See? Now you can see it clearly. It’s definitely a broken arrowhead!”

“It’s embedded quite deep. The new tissue has grown around it. It won’t be easy to remove.”

“It’s okay. Let’s take some more images from different angles and then figure out the best approach.”

“Okay.”

Mark maneuvered the camera, exploring the depths of Li Xinjun’s brain, capturing images from various angles before closing the incision. The removed skull fragment wasn’t replaced, as they would need to access the brain again to remove the arrowhead. They carefully bandaged Li Xinjun’s head, ensuring proper sterilization to prevent infection.

After the surgery, they wheeled Li Xinjun back to her room. She remained unconscious, the anesthetic still in effect. Mark and Song Ling went downstairs to the living room, carrying the medical reports and images, their faces grim.

Mark picked up an image and compared it to a sheet of paper, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“Song Ling, I think removing it won’t be difficult, but because of its location, I’m not sure what kind of impact it will have on her.”

“Yes, I agree. If she were an ordinary human, I would say we shouldn’t remove it. The mortality rate is very high. It’s a miracle she’s even alive. But she’s a jiangshi, so she won’t die. However, I’m worried about potential brain damage.”

“But theoretically, our bodies should heal themselves. Even if there’s some damage, it should be temporary. We can’t apply human medical knowledge to our situation.”

“But then why is she still amnesiac? If I’m not mistaken, that arrowhead must be from the fire in the capital. I remember they said they used flaming arrows to ignite the kerosene. It’s been centuries! Her brain should have healed by now! But her memories haven’t returned.”

“Are you stupid? Didn’t you see that the arrowhead is still embedded in her brain? How is it supposed to heal with that thing stuck in there? The tissue has only grown around it, not over it!”

“You’re right.”

“I think if we remove the arrowhead, and the tissue heals properly, her memories might return.”

“Oh! I understand! That’s why she gets headaches whenever she tries to remember something! The arrowhead is disrupting the connections in her brain! When she tries to access those memories, her brain tries to reconnect the severed pathways, but the arrowhead is blocking the way, creating pressure and even damaging the new tissue! That’s why it hurts so much!”

“Exactly!”

“So, if we remove the arrowhead…”

“Her brain might be able to heal properly…”

“And she might regain her memories!”

Excited by their breakthrough, they high-fived each other.

“I’m going to tell Jun’er!”

“She’s still asleep.”

“It’s okay, I’ll wait until she wakes up.”

“Hehe, look at you! Where’s all your worry and despair now?”

“Gone!”

Song Ling rushed upstairs, eager to share the good news with Li Xinjun.

“Hahaha! Hey, aren’t you going to take a blood bag with you? She’ll be hungry when she wakes up.”

“Oh, right! Can you bring it up for me? You’re coming up anyway!”

Mark shook his head, smiling, as Song Ling disappeared up the stairs. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment. Since meeting these two women, his life had regained its color. He was no longer the lonely and aimless vampire he had been for centuries.

Perhaps he should follow their example and find someone to love, someone to spend his eternity with. But it was just a fleeting thought. How many people were willing to risk everything for love, like they had?

He sighed, pushing those thoughts aside, and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the two women upstairs.

Song Ling arrived in Li Xinjun’s room and found her still asleep. She sat down beside her, her gaze fixed on her sleeping face, waiting for her to wake up, eager to share the good news.

After about half an hour, Li Xinjun stirred, her eyelids fluttering. Song Ling leaned closer, taking her hand.

“Jun’er, are you awake?”

“Hmm…?”

Li Xinjun mumbled sleepily.

“Jun’er? Can you hear me?”

Li Xinjun slowly opened her eyes and looked at Song Ling. Her first reaction was a sweet smile.

“Did I sleep for long?”

“No, not long. How are you feeling?”

“Hmm… A bit tired…”

“That’s normal. The anesthetic is wearing off. You’ll feel better soon. I have good news!”

“What is it?”

“We know what that triangular object in your head is.”

“What is it?”

“It’s an arrowhead.”

“An arrowhead?”

“Yes, a broken arrowhead. We think you were accidentally shot during the fire in the capital, when you were saving those people. It must have been so chaotic that you didn’t even notice you had been hit, and it’s been embedded in your brain ever since. That might be why you’ve lost your memory.”

“I don’t remember any of that, but is this good news?”

“Yes! Because if we remove the arrowhead, you might regain your memories!”

“Really? That’s great!”

“Yes, although we can’t guarantee it, but it’s very likely.”

“So, are you going to operate on me again?”

“No, not today. We’ll wait until tomorrow. No rush. Get some rest tonight.”

“Okay.”

“Are you hungry? I had Mark prepare some blood for you. He’ll be up soon.”

“I’m okay.”

“Drink some anyway.”

Just then, Mark entered the room, carrying three glasses of warmed blood. Song Ling took one from him and handed it to Li Xinjun, helping her sit up in bed.

She then took another glass from Mark for herself. Mark, leaning against the wall, looked at Li Xinjun.

“Song Ling told you about your situation, right?”

“Yes.”

“We’re planning to remove the arrowhead tomorrow. If all goes well, you might regain your memories. And even if you don’t, at least it will stop your headaches, and you won’t lose control again. It’s a win-win situation.”

“Thank you. Thank you both for doing so much for me.”

“You don’t have to thank us.”

“But I want to.”

“Look how polite Xinjun is! Learn from her! You always act like it’s my duty to help you!” Mark couldn’t resist taking a jab at Song Ling.

Song Ling glared at him.

“Tsk.”

“What? Am I wrong?”

“You complain about everything! You’re like an old woman!”

“You! Put down that glass! And spit out that blood!”

Song Ling quickly finished her blood and handed the empty glass back to Mark, her expression defiant.

Mark wanted to strangle this ungrateful woman. If not for Li Xinjun, he would have already lost his temper.

“Just you wait! When Xinjun recovers, I’ll deal with you!”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Hee hee hee, you two are so cute.”

Li Xinjun laughed, watching their banter. Song Ling, seeing her smile, felt a surge of warmth. It was like old times.

Chapter 83

After a long and tiring day, the trio decided to perform a craniotomy on Li Xinjun to examine the object in her brain and determine the next course of action. Li Xinjun agreed to the procedure, but they lacked some necessary medical equipment, so the surgery was scheduled for three days later.

Mark left the villa to procure the missing equipment, while Song Ling stayed behind to care for Li Xinjun. Fearing that Li Xinjun might lose control again, they kept her restrained to the bed.

Song Ling attended to her daily needs, and the atmosphere between them was unusually quiet. They only spoke when necessary, their conversations brief and functional.

Li Xinjun lay in bed, watching as Song Ling bustled around, tending to her needs. When Song Ling finally finished her tasks, she sat down beside the bed, her gaze fixed on Li Xinjun.

Li Xinjun, feeling her intense stare, finally spoke.

“Sister Ling…”

“Yes?”

“What if… What if I never regain my memories?”

“… I don’t mind. I just want to be with you.”

“But that’s not fair to you.”

“Jun’er, as long as I can be with you, I don’t care about anything else. And I can feel that your feelings for me haven’t changed, right?”

“I… I don’t know. There are too many things between us, too many uncertainties. I don’t even know how I feel about you anymore.”

Song Ling didn’t reply. She leaned closer, her hand gently caressing Li Xinjun’s face. They were so close that they could smell each other’s scent. Song Ling slowly lowered her head and kissed Li Xinjun’s lips. Li Xinjun closed her eyes, accepting the kiss. Song Ling pulled away and looked at her.

“Your body never rejects my touch. Doesn’t that mean that deep down, you still remember me?”

“…”

“Stop hesitating, okay? Even if you’ve forgotten everything, even if you’re not sure who you are, even if there are obstacles between us, as long as you have even a sliver of feeling for me, just accept me. Let’s start over, as if we’re meeting for the first time.”

Li Xinjun looked at Song Ling, her heart touched by her heartfelt confession. She couldn’t deny her feelings for Song Ling. Despite her doubts and uncertainties, in this moment, she just wanted to love this woman, this powerful and domineering woman who was now pleading for her affection.

Unable to put her feelings into words, she pulled Song Ling closer and kissed her, her kiss conveying her answer.

She didn’t care what the future held. All that mattered was that she wanted this woman, she loved this woman, and she couldn’t bear to see her hurt or so vulnerable.

Their kiss deepened, their passion consuming them. Li Xinjun pulled Song Ling onto the bed, their lips never parting. Li Xinjun’s hands tangled in Song Ling’s hair, holding her close. Song Ling’s kisses trailed down Li Xinjun’s neck, eliciting a soft moan.

“Mmm…”

“Jun’er… I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“You’re mine!”

“Yes, yours alone.”

“Mine only!”

They spent a passionate night together, their love for each other rekindled. When they woke up the next day, it was already noon. Song Ling woke up first, realizing that she was still on top of Li Xinjun. She tried to get up, worried about crushing her, but Li Xinjun stirred.

Li Xinjun, opening her eyes and seeing Song Ling trying to move, pulled her closer, holding her tight.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m worried I’m crushing you. I need to get up.”

“You weren’t worried about crushing me last night! You saw that I was chained to the bed, but you didn’t untie me! You took me all night long! Don’t you think that was more uncomfortable than being pinned under you?”

“Hehe, I wasn’t thinking straight… And you were so passionate last night… I couldn’t resist… Hehe.”

“Hehe, you sound happy. So, you enjoyed that, huh?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant!”

“Then what did you mean?”

“I didn’t mean anything!”

“Ahem, you two seem to be having fun. I guess I came back too early?”

Mark’s voice startled them. They turned to see him standing at the doorway. Li Xinjun, blushing furiously, buried her face in Song Ling’s chest. Song Ling quickly covered them both with the sheet, her back to Mark.

“Seen enough? Now get out!”

“You left the door unlocked. I thought you wanted an audience.”

“Shut your trap and get out!”

“I’m not shutting up, and I’m coming in! Do you know how many cities I had to visit to find those medical supplies? And you two are here, all lovey-dovey… Blah, blah, blah…”

Song Ling rolled her eyes, ignoring Mark’s rambling. She quickly got out of bed, blocking Mark’s view, and then tucked the sheet around Li Xinjun before pushing the still-complaining Mark out of the room and locking the door.

Mark continued to grumble outside the door, but Song Ling ignored him. After making sure the door was locked, she helped Li Xinjun get dressed and freshened up. When Li Xinjun was ready, she opened the door, letting the still-grumbling Mark back in.

“You’re back early! I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow!”

“I knew you were anxious to operate on your Jun’er, so I rushed back! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble to find those supplies! Blah, blah, blah…”

“Mark! Enough! You’ve been complaining nonstop since you arrived! Do you have to be so dramatic?”

“Of course I’m dramatic! I was out there, working my butt off, thinking about how worried you were, and I rushed back as soon as I could, only to find you two in bed together! How can I not be upset?!”

“Okay, okay, I appreciate your hard work. I know you care about us. I was wrong. Please don’t be angry. So, are we doing the surgery today?”

“Hmph! Is that even a question? Of course! What else did you think I rushed back for? But if you want to delay it, I don’t mind. It’s not my lover. I don’t care what you do!”

Song Ling, exasperated by Mark’s petulant behavior, couldn’t help but laugh. She gave in, letting him vent his frustration.

She turned to Li Xinjun, who simply shrugged, her expression saying, “Not my problem. You deal with him.”

It took an hour for Mark to finally calm down. They then began preparing for the surgery. Once everything was ready, Song Ling wheeled Li Xinjun into the small operating room. She picked up a syringe, preparing to administer the anesthetic, but Li Xinjun, seeing her in her surgical gown, looked nervous. Song Ling put down the syringe and pulled down her mask.

“Are you scared?”

“Yes, a little.”

“What are you scared of? We’re just removing a piece of your skull to take a look inside. It’s a simple procedure.”

“It’s not that. I’m just worried that I might never regain my memories. I want to remember our past. I want to be with you as my complete self.”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about that. Just know that I’ll be by your side, no matter what.”

“Okay.”

Li Xinjun nodded, giving Song Ling a sweet smile. Song Ling smiled back and kissed her gently on the lips.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Go ahead.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll see me again when you wake up. Just get some sleep now.”

“Okay.”

Song Ling picked up the syringe and injected the anesthetic into the IV line in Li Xinjun’s hand. As the anesthetic flowed into her bloodstream, Li Xinjun’s eyelids felt heavy.

She slowly closed her eyes. She could vaguely hear Mark entering the operating room and talking to Song Ling. Then she felt someone placing an oxygen mask over her face. The mask had a faint medicinal smell that made her feel even drowsier. And then she lost consciousness.

Chapter 82

Song Ling felt a shift in Li Mo’s gaze. It was the same look Li Xinjun used to give her, especially when she heard Li Mo call her “Sister Ling.” All the familiar feelings rushed back, but after so many disappointments, she didn’t dare to believe it just yet.

“Jun’er, is that you? Have you remembered?”

“Are you… Sister Ling?”

“Yes! Yes, it’s me, Song Ling, your Sister Ling! Jun’er! It really is you, my Jun’er!”

Song Ling embraced her, tears of joy streaming down her face. Li Mo, still confused, allowed herself to be held. Her mind was a jumbled mess of fragmented memories and emotions. The images she had seen confirmed her identity: she, Li Mo, was indeed Li Xinjun, the woman Song Ling had been searching for. But why couldn’t she remember anything else?

The images had shown her happy moments with Song Ling, but she couldn’t recall the details. She desperately wanted to remember, to piece together her past, but only those fleeting glimpses remained. As she strained to remember, the excruciating pain returned, threatening to overwhelm her.

“Argh! My head! My head hurts! Sister Ling, my head hurts so much!”

She clutched her head, her temples throbbing, her veins bulging. Song Ling, seeing her agony, felt helpless. She was weak from blood loss and couldn’t restrain Li Mo, who was thrashing wildly.

Mark arrived at the doorway just then, witnessing the scene unfolding before him. He rushed over, grabbed a syringe filled with sedative from the bedside table, and injected it into Li Mo’s arm. Li Mo’s body went limp, collapsing against Song Ling.

Mark turned to Song Ling, noticing the bite marks on her neck and her pale face. He knew what had happened.

“Are you crazy?! You let her drink that much of your blood?! Do you know what could happen?!”

“I couldn’t stop her! She was too strong!”

“Excuses! You couldn’t bear to hurt her! If you really wanted to escape, you could have! Don’t you know that if she consumes too much of your blood, she could lose control? Do you think you’re helping her by doing this? You’re only making things worse! I can’t believe you!”

“… I didn’t mean to… What do we do now? Before you arrived, she seemed to remember something, but then she lost control again.”

“I told you we should keep her restrained! But you had to be soft-hearted and untie her! Now, while she’s still unconscious, help me chain her up again! And then we need to run those tests and figure out what’s wrong with her!”

“Okay…”

Mark gently moved Li Xinjun off Song Ling and laid her down on the bed, then secured her limbs with the iron chains. Song Ling, weak from blood loss, watched helplessly as Mark restrained Li Xinjun.

Once Li Xinjun was securely chained, Mark drew some blood from her arm and filled several vials, labeling them carefully. He then stood up and turned to Song Ling.

“How long are you planning to stand there? Don’t you need to replenish your blood? Do you expect me to do everything myself?”

“Oh, right, I’ll go now.”

“Sigh… You’re hopeless! They say pregnancy brain lasts for three years. You’ve been lovesick for centuries!”

Mark shook his head and left the room. Song Ling, watching him leave, quickly followed him downstairs. She retrieved two blood bags from the refrigerator, heated them in the microwave, and drank them. Her strength slowly returned.

Mark entered the kitchen, noticing that Song Ling’s color had improved. He took a blood bag from the refrigerator, sat down beside Song Ling, and drank it straight from the bag, without heating it.

“I’ve run some tests on her blood. We’ll have the results in two hours. When you’re feeling better, I need you to help me move her to another room. We need to run a full body scan.”

“Okay, whatever you say.”

“Sigh… You’re so distraught, I can’t rely on you for any suggestions. Just be my muscle and try not to cause any more trouble.”

“Okay, I’ll be careful.”

“Are you feeling better now? Let’s go upstairs.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

They went upstairs and, while Li Xinjun was still unconscious from the sedative, carefully moved her from the bed to a medical gurney, securing her with restraints for easy transport to other rooms for medical examinations.

They wheeled her into another room, equipped with various medical devices: an X-ray machine, a CT scanner, an MRI machine, an ultrasound machine, a surgical table, and other medical equipment.

Mark first took a full-body X-ray of Li Xinjun. When the images were developed, he placed them on a lightbox and examined them carefully with Song Ling. They both had extensive medical knowledge and experience, so these basic examinations posed no challenge for them.

“Mark, look! What’s that?” Song Ling exclaimed, pointing to one of the X-ray images.

“What?”

“There’s a strange shadow in her head!”

Mark frowned, studying the X-ray image. There was indeed an unusual shadow in Li Xinjun’s brain.

“What is that? What do you think it is, Mark?”

“I can’t tell. It’s not clear enough. No wonder she’s been complaining of headaches. Maybe this is the cause. We should do a CT scan and an MRI.”

“Yes, that will give us a clearer picture.”

They wheeled Li Xinjun to the CT scanner and the MRI machine, conducting more tests, and then returned her to her room. When Li Xinjun finally woke up, it was already afternoon.

She looked around the empty room and tried to get out of bed, but she was chained to the bedposts again, her limbs restrained. She sighed, giving up, and stared at the ceiling.

A while later, Mark and Song Ling entered the room, carrying a stack of papers and medical reports. Seeing that Li Xinjun was awake, Song Ling rushed to her side.

“Jun’er? How are you feeling?”

“Jun’er?” Li Xinjun looked at her, confused.

“You… You remembered earlier, didn’t you?”

“I… I don’t know… I saw some images, some memories of you and me… But I don’t know why I can’t remember them clearly. And I don’t know why I saw those images.”

“Believe me, you’re Jun’er. You saw those memories because they’re still in your mind. You just can’t access them yet.”

“I don’t know… I’m so confused… I… Whenever I try to remember, my head hurts… Ugh… Argh! It’s happening again!”

Mark, seeing her distress, grabbed Song Ling’s shoulder and shook his head. Song Ling, understanding, turned to Li Xinjun, her face filled with concern.

“Jun’er, relax. Don’t try to remember. It’s okay. We’re not in a hurry. Just relax. Shh, shh, it’s okay, it’s okay…”

Song Ling’s soothing voice calmed Li Xinjun down, and the pain subsided. She took a deep breath and looked at them.

“Am I really Li Xinjun? How can you be so sure?”

“We ran some tests while you were asleep. We found something unusual in your brain. These are the results. Take a look.”

Mark handed her the medical reports. Song Ling helped her sit up in bed.

Li Xinjun flipped through the pages, her brow furrowed in confusion. Song Ling sat beside her, pointing out the key findings.

“Look here, and here. The scans show a triangular object in your brain. See? Here too.”

“What is that? Why is there something in my brain?”

“We don’t know yet. We can only see that it’s a triangular object. We need to operate and examine it to determine what it is.”

“Mark is right. We’re just speculating, but this might be the cause of your amnesia and your headaches.”

“So, if you remove it, I’ll regain my memories?”

“We can’t be sure. We need to identify it first and then determine if it’s safe to remove. It’s quite large, and its apex seems to be embedded deep within your brain. We’ll need to open you up and take a look before we can decide.”

Chapter 81

“Mo Mo, please calm down. We’ll untie you as soon as you calm down. Shh, it’s okay, it’s okay… Shh…”

Song Ling, seeing Li Mo’s distress, approached her cautiously, trying to soothe her. Li Mo, feeling Song Ling’s warmth and gentle touch, gradually calmed down. Song Ling, noticing that Li Mo had stopped struggling and shouting, loosened her embrace and looked at her.

“How are you feeling now? If I untie you, will you promise to listen to our explanation?”

“Okay…”

“Alright, I’ll untie you now.”

“No, wait! It’s safer to keep her restrained for a bit longer,” Mark interjected.

“Shut up! Can’t you see she’s uncomfortable? She’s calm now. It will be fine.”

Ignoring Mark’s protests, Song Ling quickly unchained Li Mo. Li Mo, her limbs freed, curled up on the bed, hugging her knees, her eyes darting between Song Ling and Mark.

“Why did you bring me here? Where are we?”

“Do you remember what happened at the hotel?”

“Yes…”

“Do you remember attacking yourself?”

Li Mo frowned, her expression confused. Song Ling, realizing that Li Mo didn’t fully remember what had happened, recounted the events, explaining how Li Mo had suddenly lost control and attacked herself, how Mark had knocked her unconscious to prevent her from hurting herself further. Li Mo looked at them, skeptical, but their serious expressions convinced her that they weren’t joking.

“Did I really kick you across the room?” she asked, looking at Song Ling.

“Yes. Thankfully, Mark arrived just in time. Even with both of us holding you down, we couldn’t restrain you. Mark had to punch you in the chest to stop your heart momentarily. That’s how you lost consciousness.”

“How are you feeling now? Are you in any pain?” Mark asked, his voice gentle.

“My head hurts… and my chest…”

“Your chest is probably bruised from Mark’s punch. But your headache started before you lost control. Do you remember what happened? Why did you suddenly go berserk?” Song Ling asked, her voice laced with concern.

“I don’t know. I remember being angry at you, and then you kissed me. I tried to push you away, but I couldn’t. Then I smelled blood, and images flashed through my mind. They were chaotic, confusing… It made my head hurt. After that, I don’t remember anything.”

“Mo Mo, we think there might be something wrong with your body. Would you be willing to undergo some tests?” Mark asked.

“But I can’t go to a hospital, you know that.”

“Don’t worry about that. We have everything we need here.”

“Here?”

“Yes, I bought this villa years ago. Whenever I needed to disappear, to change my identity, I would stay here until it was safe to reappear. It has everything we need, and it’s completely private. You don’t have to worry.”

“Do you think I’m sick? But I’m a vampire, just like you.”

“We’re not sure, Mo Mo. That’s why we need to run some tests. Is that okay?”

“… Okay.”

“Thank you, Mo Mo.”

“… I’m tired. I need to rest.”

“We’ll leave you alone then. Get some rest.”

Mark and Song Ling left Li Mo’s room and went downstairs to the living room. Song Ling, her face etched with worry, rubbed her temples. Mark, seeing her distress, went to the kitchen, retrieved a bottle of wine and two glasses, and poured them each a glass.

“Here you go.”

“Thanks.”

“You don’t need to worry so much. We’ll run those tests on Li Mo first thing tomorrow morning. We’ll have some answers then. We need to get some rest. We have an early start tomorrow.”

“Mark, I’ve only ever asked you for one favor, and I’m asking you again now. Please, promise me that you’ll help her, no matter what.”

“Sigh… You’re always like this. Calm and collected, except when it comes to Li Xinjun. Then you lose all sense of reason.”

“Mark… You don’t understand how important Jun’er is to me. If I hadn’t seen her body, I would have gone with her. I wouldn’t have been able to live without her. I’ve been searching for her for centuries, never giving up hope. And now she’s finally here! How can I be calm?”

“I know, I know what you’ve been through for her. I’m telling you, I’ll do my best.”

“Thank you, Mark. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“Don’t worry. Now, finish your wine and go to bed. We need to get some sleep.”

“Okay, goodnight.”

The next morning, before dawn, Li Mo woke up. She stood by the window, pondering the previous night’s events. She vaguely remembered drinking with Fan Weiqi at the bar, then Song Ling arriving and taking her back to the hotel. They had argued, and then Song Ling had kissed her.

She touched her lips, remembering biting Song Ling in anger. She tasted blood, and as the metallic tang reached her throat, something stirred deep within her.

Images of Song Ling flashed through her mind, but Song Ling was dressed in ancient clothing. Despite the different attire, she recognized her. And in those memories, she was calling her “Sister Ling.” What was going on? Why was she having these memories?

She tried to remember more, but a sharp pain shot through her head, forcing her to her knees. She clutched her head, feeling like it was about to explode. She couldn’t help but scream.

“Argh!”

She collapsed to the floor, her body trembling. Her eyes shifted from amber to a pale green, her fangs elongating. Song Ling, hearing the commotion from the next room, jumped out of bed and rushed to Li Mo’s room.

She flung open the door and found Li Mo banging her head against the wall, her eyes wild with frenzy. Song Ling was horrified. She rushed over to stop her.

“Li Mo! Stop it! What are you doing?!”

She grabbed Li Mo from behind, trying to restrain her. Li Mo, feeling Song Ling’s arms around her, struggled to break free. She spun around and grabbed Song Ling’s throat, catching her off guard. Song Ling stumbled backward, falling onto the bed, Li Mo on top of her.

Li Mo tightened her grip on Song Ling’s throat. Song Ling struggled, but she couldn’t break free. She looked at Li Mo, her eyes wild with rage, devoid of any emotion, like a cornered animal.

“Mo… Mo… Mo Mo…”

Song Ling, losing strength, could only manage to gasp out Li Mo’s name, hoping to bring her back to her senses. But Li Mo didn’t seem to hear her. She continued to squeeze, her sharp fingernails digging into Song Ling’s flesh. Her face was contorted with rage, her veins bulging.

She opened her mouth, revealing her fangs, and sank them into Song Ling’s neck. As blood flowed from the wound, Song Ling felt her own strength fading, her vision blurring. Her blue eyes faded back to amber.

She looked at Li Mo with love and longing, her hand weakly reaching up to caress her face. Memories of their past together flashed through her mind, fragmented and hazy.

“Jun’er…”

Li Mo, hearing the name “Jun’er,” froze. An image flashed through her mind, a fragmented memory. She saw herself and Song Ling together: walking through a night market, treating the sick, fighting jiangshi, living in England. She stopped, realizing what she was doing, and released Song Ling’s throat, her eyes wide with confusion.

“Sister Ling?”

“Jun’er?”

Chapter 80

After bringing Li Mo back to the hotel, Song Ling helped her change into clean clothes and wiped her body with a damp cloth. The coolness of the cloth roused Li Mo from her drunken stupor. She opened her eyes blearily, looked at Song Ling, and burst into tears again.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to see me again? Why are you still here?”

“I’m sorry. I was wrong…”

“Didn’t you tell me to sleep with someone else? Why do you care so much about me? Why are you so concerned?”

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

“Waaah! Do you know how hurtful your words were? What do you think I am? There are some things you just don’t say! Don’t you understand?”

Song Ling pulled Li Mo into her arms. Li Mo pounded her fists against Song Ling’s chest, but Song Ling didn’t resist, letting her vent her anger. When Li Mo finally calmed down, she wrapped her arms around Song Ling’s waist and sobbed.

Song Ling released her, cupped her face in her hands, tilted her head up, and kissed her deeply. Li Mo tried to push her away but was no match for Song Ling’s strength. She bit down hard on Song Ling’s lip, hoping to make her let go.

Song Ling didn’t flinch. She deepened the kiss, ignoring the pain. Li Mo bit down harder, drawing blood. The taste of Song Ling’s blood filled her mouth, and suddenly, images flashed through her mind, fragmented memories of a distant past.

A sharp pain pierced her head, and she clutched her hair, screaming in agony. She pushed Song Ling away with all her might, her body trembling, her eyes glowing a pale green, her fangs elongating.

She pounded her fists against her head, her aura filling the room with a heavy demonic energy. Song Ling, alarmed, rushed to her side, trying to restrain her, but Li Mo, in her frenzy, kicked her away, sending her crashing into the wall.

A frantic knocking on the door startled them. Song Ling recognized Mark’s voice and quickly opened the door. Mark, seeing Li Mo thrashing on the bed, turned to Song Ling, his face pale with worry.

“What happened to her?”

“I don’t know! She suddenly went crazy! What are you doing here?”

“With that much demonic energy, how could I not come? Don’t just stand there! Help me restrain her! We have to prevent her from hurting herself!”

Mark rushed towards Li Mo and grabbed her arm. Song Ling joined him, grabbing her other arm, but they were struggling to hold her down.

Realizing that they couldn’t subdue her, Mark punched Li Mo hard in the chest, right above her heart.

Li Mo gasped, spitting out blood, and then collapsed, unconscious. Song Ling, covered in Li Mo’s blood, stared at Mark in horror.

“What did you do?!”

“What else could I do?! If I hadn’t done that, she would have hurt herself even more! And she might have even hurt us!”

“But you didn’t have to hit her so hard! Look, she’s coughing up blood!”

“Didn’t you see how out of control she was? We could barely hold her down! If I hadn’t knocked her unconscious, she might have gone completely berserk! It’s done now. There’s no point in arguing about it. What happened? Why did she suddenly lose control?”

“I don’t know! We had a fight this afternoon, and then she went to the bar with Fan Weiqi and got drunk. Fan Weiqi called me to pick her up. When I arrived, she was already passed out. I brought her back here, and then she woke up, and we argued again. I kissed her, and then… this happened. I don’t know why she suddenly lost control.”

Mark, listening intently, checked Li Mo’s pulse, closing his eyes to focus on the rhythm. He then opened his eyes and looked at Song Ling, noticing the blood on her lips.

“Did she bite you?”

“Yes, she didn’t want me to kiss her. She tried to push me away, and when she couldn’t, she bit my lip.”

“Tsk, why are you so rough? Have some compassion!”

“She bit me! I didn’t bite her! How is that not compassionate?!”

“Would she have bitten you if you hadn’t forced yourself on her?”

“…”

“Tsk, you’re more brutal than us men!”

“Are you done yet?!”

“If it weren’t for Li Mo’s situation, I’d lecture you for days!”

“Hmph! Just find a solution! What’s wrong with her? Why did she suddenly go crazy?!”

“How should I know? I wasn’t there! I didn’t upset her! I didn’t force myself on her! You should be asking yourself what you did to drive her to this state! You heartless woman!”

“You’re calling me heartless?! Do you want to die?!”

“What? You can treat Li Mo like this, but I can’t criticize you? Why don’t you fight me right now, in front of her? See if I’ll still help you find a cure for her!”

“… Fine! I won’t argue with you! Just help her!”

“Do you think I’m a miracle worker? I’m just a vampire!”

“You!!”

“What ‘you’? Why don’t you go and ask for a few days off for her? Let her stay somewhere else for a while. I’m worried she might lose control again when she wakes up. And she needs time to recover from this.”

“That’s your fault for hitting her so hard!”

“Do you want me to walk away and leave you to deal with this yourself?”

“Fine, you win! I’ll go talk to Huizi and explain the situation. I’ll have her ask for a few days off.”

Song Ling stormed out of the room and went to Huizi’s room, knocking on the door. Huizi, half asleep, opened the door and, seeing Song Ling, blinked in surprise, suddenly wide awake.

“Ms. Song? What’s wrong? It’s so late.”

“Li Mo is suddenly unwell. She needs to take a week off. Please inform Director Wang and the others in the morning.”

“Huh? Oh, okay. Is Sister Mo alright? Do you need any help?”

“No, thank you. I’ll be taking her away tonight. Please take care of everything here. You can contact me if anything comes up.”

“Okay, okay.”

“Alright, go back to sleep.”

“Okay, good night, Ms. Song.”

After informing Huizi, Song Ling returned to Li Mo’s room. She and Mark carried the unconscious Li Mo out of the hotel and drove her to a secluded villa on the outskirts of Shanghai. Song Ling had purchased the villa years ago, drawn to its privacy and serene surroundings. It was the perfect place for Li Mo to recover.

Song Ling carried Li Mo inside and laid her down on the bed in the upstairs bedroom. Mark went to the storage room and returned with two thick iron chains, thicker than his arms. Song Ling stared at him, surprised.

“What are you doing with those?!”

“Just in case.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Do you think you and I can hold her down if she wakes up and goes berserk again?”

“But this is too…”

“Stop arguing! If she wakes up and doesn’t lose control, we can just remove the chains. It’s not a big deal.”

“…”

“Help me secure the other side. Hurry! I’m worried she might wake up any minute.”

They chained Li Mo’s hands and feet to the bedposts, securing the chains tightly. Mark then went downstairs, while Song Ling sat by the bed, watching over Li Mo. She wiped the blood from Li Mo’s lips with a tissue, her heart filled with worry.

Mark returned with a medical kit. Song Ling recognized it as the one he had used when he was studying medicine. It contained various medications and medical instruments.

“What are you doing with that?”

“There’s a sedative in here. If she wakes up and loses control again, I’ll inject her with it.”

“Mark, what’s wrong with her? I’ve never seen her like that before. I was so scared. Do you think there’s something wrong with her body?”

“There’s definitely something wrong, but I don’t know what it is. Too many things about her situation don’t make sense. I need more time to figure it out. I think we should take her for a full medical examination, to see if there’s something physically wrong with her.”

“Do you think that will help?”

“I don’t know, but what else can we do? We have to try everything. If the tests come back normal, then we’ll have to explore other possibilities.”

A while later, Li Mo began to stir. She blinked slowly, her head throbbing. She tried to raise her hand to her head but found her limbs restrained. She opened her eyes and saw Mark and Song Ling standing beside her, then she noticed the chains binding her to the bed. Her heart pounded with fear.

“What are you doing?! Why am I chained up?! Where am I?! How did I get here?!”

“Mo Mo, calm down! We’re not going to hurt you! Do you remember what happened?”

“Let me go! Why am I chained up?! Untie me!”

Chapter 79

“Sister Ling… please say something… You’re scaring me…”

Song Ling finally looked down at Li Mo, her eyes still cold. Li Mo felt a chill run down her spine.

She was genuinely afraid of Song Ling’s anger. It was the second time she had seen this side of her, but the first time had been when Song Ling learned she wasn’t Li Xinjun. Back then, Song Ling hadn’t directed her anger at Li Mo directly.

But this time, her fury was palpable, and Li Mo couldn’t understand why she was so scared. They weren’t lovers, and she was just acting, not actually cheating on Song Ling with Fan Weiqi. Why did she feel like she had done something wrong?

Song Ling, seeing Li Mo’s fear, her face pale, felt her own anger subside. She suppressed her rage and spoke in a calmer tone.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the sex scene in your film?”

“I… I didn’t think you’d care, so I didn’t mention it.”

“You don’t know how much I hate it when you’re intimate with other people?”

“… I know.”

“Then why did you say you didn’t know?!”

“But… but it’s just acting… It’s not real…”

“But you did take off your clothes, and she did kiss you, right?”

“… Yes.”

“So?”

“Sister Ling… It’s just one scene. After that, there’s another kissing scene during the reunion, and that’s it.”

“One kiss isn’t enough? You need a second one? And what happens after that scene? Do you sleep together? Do you take off all your clothes?”

“… Yes.”

“No! I forbid it! I don’t care what you say! I won’t let you continue filming! I can’t stand the thought of other people seeing your naked body, touching you! I can’t bear it!”

“Sister Ling… I know you don’t like it, but it’s my job. And I love this script. I don’t want to give it up.”

“So you’d rather let that damn Fan Weiqi touch you? You won’t let me touch you, but you’ll let her touch you? Do you like her that much?!”

“Sister Ling, be reasonable! Those are two different things! Don’t mix them up!”

“So you’re not denying that you like her?”

“Think whatever you want! We’re not anything! Even if I did like her, it’s none of your business! I only promised not to date anyone else for a year! I didn’t say I couldn’t have feelings for someone!”

“Fine! You’re right! I was being delusional! Go ahead and let her touch you all she wants! And if she can’t satisfy you, I’ll gladly step in and fulfill your needs!”

Slap!

Li Mo slapped Song Ling across the face. Song Ling, stunned, fell silent. They both stood there, chests heaving, Li Mo’s hand trembling with anger, her eyes fixed on Song Ling. Song Ling, her head bowed, her hand covering her cheek, didn’t look at her.

“Get out! I don’t want to see you again!”

Li Mo finally spoke, her voice trembling with rage. Song Ling, hearing her harsh words, looked up at her, her eyes pleading. She bit her lip, then whispered,

“Fine! I’ll never appear before you again!”

Song Ling stormed out of the dressing room, slamming the door behind her with such force that it fell off its hinges. She didn’t look back as she left the studio.

Li Mo, watching her leave, collapsed to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. It was the first time she had cried so hard since regaining her memories. She hugged her knees, her head buried between them, her body wracked with sobs.

Fan Weiqi, hearing the commotion, rushed over, her eyes widening as she saw the broken door. She entered the dressing room and found Li Mo on the floor, crying. She didn’t ask any questions. She simply went to Li Mo and embraced her, offering comfort.

Li Mo, seeing Fan Weiqi, burst into tears, her body slumping against her. Fan Weiqi didn’t know what had happened, but she knew they couldn’t continue filming today. She held Li Mo close and sent a text message to Director Wang, informing him that they couldn’t continue filming.

She then had Wade prepare the car for their departure, continuing to hold Li Mo, letting her cry it out. She didn’t ask any questions, simply offering comfort and support.

When Li Mo finally calmed down, Fan Weiqi helped her up and retrieved her bag, taking out a pair of sunglasses for her to wear. They then left the studio.

Instead of taking Li Mo back to the hotel, Fan Weiqi drove her to the private club’s bar and ordered her a bottle of whiskey. Li Mo, opening the bottle, poured herself a glass and drank it in one gulp. She poured herself another glass and another, finishing half the bottle in minutes. Fan Weiqi didn’t stop her, letting her drink her fill.

After a while, Li Mo slowed down, taking a sip of her whiskey and then sighing heavily.

“Aren’t you going to ask me what happened?”

“If you want to talk, I’ll listen. If not, I won’t ask.”

“You’re so kind, Qiqi. I wish she were half as kind as you.”

Fan Weiqi knew that Li Mo needed someone to listen, so she didn’t interrupt, letting her vent.

“She keeps demanding this and that! I put up with it! But I was just doing my job! I didn’t do anything wrong! Why did she get so angry? Why did she say those awful things to me?!”

“I didn’t mean to slap her! I was just so angry! Why did she say she never wants to see me again?!”

“I wouldn’t have said I didn’t want to see her again if she hadn’t said those hurtful things! But I didn’t mean it! Qiqi, don’t you think she was being unreasonable?”

Fan Weiqi didn’t fully understand what Li Mo was saying. She was jumping from one thought to another, but Fan Weiqi knew that right now, Li Mo just needed someone to agree with her.

“Yes, she was being unreasonable.”

“You think so too, right? I told you she was unreasonable! She was!”

Li Mo finished her drink and poured herself another glass.

“Qiqi, I don’t want to see her again! She was so mean to me! Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, Mo Mo, you should never see her again.”

“Yes! Never again! Cheers!”

They clinked their glasses together, and Li Mo finished her drink, pouring herself another one. Perhaps she had had too much to drink, because she accidentally spilled some whiskey on herself. Fan Weiqi put down her glass and helped her clean up the spill with some tissues.

Li Mo, looking at Fan Weiqi, suddenly threw her arms around her and started crying again, but this time, it was a quiet sob, unlike her earlier outburst. Fan Weiqi put down the tissues and hugged her back, letting her cry.

Li Mo cried herself to sleep in Fan Weiqi’s arms. Fan Weiqi gently laid her down on the sofa and then retrieved Li Mo’s phone from her bag. She found Song Ling’s number and called her.

“Hello, Ms. Song? It’s Fan Weiqi.”

“Why are you calling me from Li Mo’s phone?”

“Li Mo is drunk. She’s with me. I don’t know what happened between you two, but she’s very upset. Do you want to come see her?”

“Where are you?”

“I’ll send you the address. Are you coming?”

“Yes, I’m on my way.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

After hanging up, Fan Weiqi sent Song Ling the address. A short while later, Song Ling arrived at the bar. She scanned the room and spotted Fan Weiqi waving to her from a corner table. She approached them.

“Why is she so drunk?”

“Because she had a fight with you.”

“She told you that?”

“She mumbled something about it when she was drunk. She’s heartbroken that you said you never want to see her again.”

“I didn’t say that. She said she didn’t want to see me again, and I just said okay.”

“Whatever happened between you two is none of my business. I just did what any friend would do. She kept repeating herself when she was drunk, but the main point was that she doesn’t want to lose you. I’ve said what I needed to say. Now I’m leaving her with you. It’s up to you to decide what to do with her. I just hope you’ll cherish her. She’s a good girl.”

“… Thank you, Sister Weiqi. You’re a true friend to her.”

“I do care about Mo Mo, so I hope I’m not making a mistake by entrusting her to you. Don’t disappoint me.”

“I know what to do. I won’t disappoint you.”

“Okay, I’ll leave her with you then. I’m going now.”

“Thank you, Sister Weiqi.”

“Oh, one more thing. I’m straight. So you don’t have to worry about anything happening between me and Mo Mo. She mentioned something about that earlier. I’ve done what I could. Bye.”

“Okay, I understand. Thank you. Bye.”

After Fan Weiqi left, Song Ling looked at Li Mo, who was passed out on the sofa. She suddenly felt guilty. Li Mo was just doing her job. Why had she gotten so angry? And Li Mo had apologized and explained herself repeatedly.

She had been unreasonable. She shouldn’t have said those hurtful things to Li Mo. That’s why Li Mo had slapped her. Realizing this, Song Ling felt a wave of remorse. She looked at Li Mo with tenderness and kissed her forehead.

Chapter 78

After their conversation, Song Ling and Mark stayed in Shanghai. They spent the next few days trying to unravel the mystery of Li Mo’s amnesia, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t find any answers.

They decided to shift their focus, hoping to trigger Li Mo’s lost memories instead of searching for the cause of her amnesia. Perhaps a familiar place, a familiar object, or a familiar experience could unlock the secrets of her past.

Song Ling behaved herself, mostly. She would visit the set occasionally, but she spent most of her time with Mark, discussing strategies and waiting for Li Mo to return to the hotel, so they could take her on memory-triggering outings.

Li Mo cooperated, spending all her free time with Song Ling. She gradually grew accustomed to Song Ling’s presence, finding comfort in their shared time together.

She had been attracted to Song Ling from the start, which was why she had so easily slept with her. However, after analyzing the situation, she concluded that Song Ling was only interested in her because she believed Li Mo to be Li Xinjun.

Li Mo didn’t want to be anyone’s replacement, nor did she want to be entangled in such a complicated relationship. Despite her initial attraction to Song Ling, the potential problems outweighed the benefits, so she had resisted getting too close.

However, having agreed to give Song Ling a year to find answers, she had no choice but to spend time with her. Having accepted that condition, she decided to stop worrying about the complexities of their situation and simply enjoy their time together.

She wholeheartedly cooperated with Song Ling, allowing her to lead the way, gradually letting down her guard. Song Ling, sensing her growing comfort, became more demanding, pushing the boundaries of their relationship. Apart from physical intimacy, they were practically a couple.

One day, Song Ling arrived at the set with a thermos of blood, only to find it unusually quiet. The usual hustle and bustle was absent. She asked a passing crew member about Li Mo’s filming location and learned that Li Mo and Fan Weiqi were filming in Studio B.

She went to Studio B and found the door locked. Using her enhanced senses, she confirmed that Li Mo was inside. Seeing no one around, she leaped onto the roof, entered through a skylight, and found a spot on the second-floor catwalk, overlooking the set.

The set was a bedroom. She saw Director Wang, screenwriter Yang Yichen, Li Mo, and Fan Weiqi inside. Even the lighting crew was absent. She sat down, curious, and watched the filming.

She watched as Director Wang spoke to Li Mo and Fan Weiqi. She knew that he always explained the scene and the characters’ emotions to the actors beforehand, ensuring they understood his vision.

She waited patiently, planning to give Li Mo the thermos after they finished filming. A few moments later, filming began.

Su Su, holding Yang Xiaoru’s hand, opened the bedroom door and led her inside. Yang Xiaoru sat down on a chair by the table, and Su Su closed the door behind them. She then approached Yang Xiaoru from behind and embraced her, burying her face in her neck.

Xiaoru didn’t resist, accepting Su Su’s embrace. She turned around to face her, and Su Su knelt down, their eyes meeting. Yang Xiaoru reached out and caressed Su Su’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Xiaoru, I’m scared…”

“Scared of what?”

“It’s chaos out there. We can’t open our stall every day. And if we don’t open our stall, we won’t have money for food. I heard the Japanese are getting closer. I’m worried about you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Don’t worry. As long as we’re together, I’m not afraid, even if the Japanese come here. We can hide and stop opening our stall. We can live on sweet potatoes. We’ll be fine.”

“But I heard that when Tianjin fell, the Japanese massacred the civilians. And they took many women as comfort women. Xiaoru, let’s escape!”

“But where can we go?”

“I don’t know… Xiaoru, I’m not afraid of dying. I’m only afraid of losing you.”

“Susu…”

Su Su gazed at Yang Xiaoru, her heart filled with emotion. She couldn’t describe her feelings for Yang Xiaoru. She only knew that Xiaoru was more important to her than her own life.

She looked into Yang Xiaoru’s eyes, her heart fluttering. She didn’t understand this feeling, this overwhelming desire to be with Xiaoru forever, never to be separated. Her gaze drifted down to Yang Xiaoru’s lips, full and inviting.

Unable to resist, she leaned in and kissed her. Yang Xiaoru was surprised. As women, they shouldn’t be doing this. But she didn’t feel any resistance, only a growing desire.

Su Su, sensing her response, deepened the kiss, their bodies pressing closer together. They explored each other’s bodies, their passion consuming them. They stumbled towards the bed, Su Su pushing Yang Xiaoru down, their hands fumbling with their clothes.

Yang Xiaoru pulled at Su Su’s clothes, eager to touch her, to feel her skin against hers. In the heat of the moment, instincts took over, guiding them even without experience.

As they were getting carried away, Li Mo suddenly felt a surge of murderous intent from somewhere nearby. She froze, startled, and in that moment of hesitation, Director Wang yelled,

“Cut!”

At the same time, several lights exploded with a loud bang, startling them both. They snapped out of character, their eyes wide with shock, looking at the shattered lights.

Director Wang and Yang Yichen were also shaken. Yang Yichen grabbed her walkie-talkie and contacted the crew waiting outside, while Director Wang, recovering from the shock, looked at Li Mo and Fan Weiqi.

“Li Mo! Why did you lose focus? You were doing so well! We were almost there! What happened?”

“I’m sorry, Director Wang. I was distracted. Let’s do it again.”

“Forget it! The lights exploded! We have to wait for the crew to replace them. Take a break! I’ll let you know when the lights are fixed.”

“Okay.”

Li Mo and Fan Weiqi got out of bed, Li Mo straightening her clothes. She looked up at the second floor, where she had sensed the murderous intent.

Sure enough, she saw Song Ling standing there, her eyes glowing blue, her aura still radiating anger. Li Mo froze, staring at her, a wave of fear washing over her.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. Fan Weiqi, seeing Li Mo standing there, frozen, walked over and tapped her on the shoulder.

Li Mo jumped, startled. Fan Weiqi, surprised by her reaction, withdrew her hand and looked at her, concerned.

“Are you… okay?”

“Oh… Yes, I’m fine. I was just startled by the explosion. I’m still a bit shaken.”

“Yeah, me too. I’ve never seen anything like that before. Light bulbs usually don’t explode like that. I wonder what happened. It’s a good thing those lights were far away from us. Otherwise, we would have been hit by the glass shards. That was dangerous.”

“Yes… it was.”

“You still seem shaken. You must have been really scared. Why don’t you go to the makeup room and rest for a bit? I’ll come get you when the director is ready. And if you’re still not feeling well, just tell him that you can’t film today and we’ll reschedule.”

“Okay, I’ll go rest for a bit.”

“Okay, go ahead.”

Fan Weiqi, of course, didn’t know that Li Mo wasn’t scared of the exploding lights but of Song Ling’s murderous aura. Li Mo, watching as Song Ling turned and walked away, guessed that she would be waiting for her in her dressing room. She hurried towards her dressing room.

As expected, she found Song Ling inside. Li Mo locked the door and then turned to face Song Ling, who had her back to her. She hesitated, unsure how to approach her, watching as Song Ling paced back and forth, her anger palpable.

After a moment, seeing that Song Ling wasn’t going to speak, Li Mo mustered her courage and reached out, taking Song Ling’s wrist. Song Ling remained silent, her face still a mask of anger. Li Mo gently shook her wrist, trying to get her attention.

Chapter 77

After negotiating their terms, Song Ling, contrary to Li Mo’s expectations, didn’t leave her room. Instead, she boldly moved in, claiming it was to prevent Li Mo from having any opportunities to sneak out with Fan Weiqi. Of course, Li Mo knew it was just an excuse, but she didn’t argue, letting Song Ling stay.

To prevent Li Mo from risking her safety by stealing blood from the hospital every day, Song Ling had a case of fresh blood, packaged in wine bottles, delivered to the room. She assured Li Mo that a new case would be delivered every week, so she wouldn’t have to worry about her “food” supply.

The next morning, Li Mo left for the film set before Song Ling woke up. When Song Ling finally emerged from her slumber, the room was empty. She got up, freshened up, and then went to Mark’s room, asking him to accompany her to the set. She also wanted to introduce him to Li Mo, hoping he might trigger some memories.

At the studio, Song Ling called Huizi, asking her to meet them at the entrance. Huizi, putting aside her work, rushed out to greet them and escort them inside.

They arrived at the set where Li Mo was filming but didn’t approach her, finding a place to sit and observe. Mark, watching Li Mo from a distance, extended his senses, focusing on her aura. He turned to Song Ling, his eyebrows raised, nodding vigorously.

“It’s her! I’m sure of it! It’s her!”

“I told you I couldn’t be mistaken.”

“But why has she lost her memory?”

“That’s what I don’t understand. That’s why I asked you to fly over from England, hoping you might have some insight.”

“We already considered all the possibilities in Beijing, but I’m stumped. This shouldn’t be happening.”

“But it is happening.”

“Did you ask her about it last night?”

“I did. She said she doesn’t know. And she even suggested that she might be Jun’er’s descendant.”

“Even if she were a descendant, her aura wouldn’t be identical. There would be some differences.”

“Exactly! Jun’er and I both have your blood in us. We carry a faint trace of your aura, but it’s very subtle. Her aura is exactly the same as Jun’er’s. It has to be her. No matter what you say, I’m convinced. And she’s admitted that she doesn’t know anything about her past, which means she’s definitely lost her memory. And if she’s lost her memory, then I’m even more certain that she’s Jun’er.”

“Hmm… You have a point. So, the most important thing now is to figure out why she’s lost her memory, what caused it. Then we can find a way to help her recover.”

“Yes.”

“What’s your relationship with her now? Does she trust you?”

“We’re not anything yet. She doesn’t want to have a relationship with me. She insists that she’s not Li Xinjun and doesn’t want to be a replacement. But she promised me that she wouldn’t date anyone else for a year, to give me time to find answers. She does trust me to some extent.”

“And if you don’t find any answers within a year? Will you let her go?”

“Do you think that’s possible?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Then why ask?”

“…”

“Cut! Okay, that’s a wrap! Take a break! We’ll resume filming in an hour!”

Director Wang called out to the crew. Huizi rushed over to Li Mo, handing her a bottle of water and a towel. She told Li Mo that Song Ling and Mark were on set. Li Mo looked in the direction Huizi was pointing and saw Song Ling and Mark sitting nearby. She smiled and nodded at them, then walked over to them.

“This is my friend Mark. Do you recognize him?”

Mark extended his hand politely. Li Mo shook it, looking at his bearded face and long hair. She didn’t recognize him. She shook her head at Song Ling, but she still politely introduced herself to Mark.

“Hello, I’m Li Mo.”

“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”

“Sister Ling, why are you here today?”

“To see you, of course. And to introduce you to Mark. See if you remember him.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“It’s okay. I know about your situation with Song Ling. I’m here to see if I can help you recover your memories.”

“Are you a doctor?”

“You could say that. But the important thing is that we knew each other a long time ago, so we know you well.”

“Do you also think I’m Li Xinjun?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Then, are you also…?”

“Yes, I am. And technically, you and Song Ling owe your abilities to me.”

Li Mo, confused, looked at Song Ling, who simply nodded.

“This isn’t a good place to talk. We’ll discuss this later when you’re done with work.”

“Okay, but I still have a lot of scenes to film today. Why don’t you two go back first? I’ll come find you at the hotel after work.”

“It’s fine. We’ll wait. We want to stay and watch you film. We’ll leave when we get tired. Don’t worry about us. And I brought you this. I noticed you haven’t touched the wine in the refrigerator. I was worried you might be hungry, so I filled this thermos with blood. It wouldn’t look good if people saw you drinking wine on set, right?”

Li Mo, recognizing the thermos as a container for blood, accepted it gratefully. Despite her overbearing personality, Song Ling was kind and thoughtful.

Song Ling, seeing Li Mo’s happy expression, felt a surge of warmth. Li Mo then went back to her dressing room with Huizi, and Song Ling and Mark continued to watch the filming.

It was their first time on a film set, so they weren’t bored. They watched the crew bustling around, the actors bringing the story to life. If not for the cameras, lights, and microphones, they would have felt like they were back in the Republican era.

Fan Weiqi emerged from her dressing room and entered Li Mo’s dressing room. Song Ling, unable to sit still any longer, got up and followed her.

Inside the dressing room, she saw Fan Weiqi kneeling beside Li Mo, her hands on Li Mo’s shoulders, talking to her reflection in the mirror. Song Ling felt a pang of jealousy.

She approached them, standing behind them, her reflection appearing in the mirror. Fan Weiqi, seeing Song Ling, stood up and turned to face her.

“Who are you? Why are you in Li Mo’s dressing room?”

Li Mo was about to introduce Song Ling, but Song Ling beat her to it, smiling sweetly at Fan Weiqi and extending her hand.

“Hello, Sister Weiqi, I’m Song Ling, the CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, and Li Mo’s girlfriend.”

Fan Weiqi, confused, looked at Li Mo, seeking confirmation. Li Mo, hearing Song Ling’s introduction, wanted to crawl under a rock. She wasn’t surprised, though.

She had only known Song Ling for a short time, but she had already experienced her domineering personality firsthand. She sighed, resigned, and nodded at Fan Weiqi, confirming Song Ling’s claim. Fan Weiqi, seeing her nod, shook Song Ling’s hand politely.

“Hello, Ms. Song. I didn’t know you and Mo Mo were in a relationship. I apologize for my intrusion.”

“Mo Mo is a celebrity. It’s not convenient for her to make our relationship public. But I know you’re close to her, Sister Weiqi, and I trust you to keep this a secret. So, there’s no need to hide it from you.”

“Of course! Mo Mo, you should have told me! You have such a beautiful girlfriend! And you asked me to pretend to be your girlfriend to get rid of that Xu Dao! You could have just told her that Ms. Song is your girlfriend! Why go through all that trouble?”

“Oh? Xu Dao hasn’t given up yet?”

Song Ling, intrigued, wanted to know more. Li Mo, watching as Fan Weiqi innocently spilled all the details, wanted to die. But she couldn’t confront Song Ling in front of Fan Weiqi, nor could she explain that they weren’t actually dating. She endured the headache, letting them talk.

Song Ling listened as Fan Weiqi excitedly recounted their encounters with Xu Dao, her mind filing away the information, planning to settle the score with Li Mo later. Li Mo, fearing for her life, quickly changed the subject.

“Qiqi, didn’t you say it was your turn to film? If you don’t go now, Director Wang might explode.”

“Oh, right! I almost forgot! Ms. Song, I have to get back to work. If you’re still here tonight, would you like to join Mo Mo and me for dinner? We can continue our chat.”

“Yes, of course!”

“Okay, I’ll go now. Bye!”

After Fan Weiqi left, Li Mo asked the makeup artist to leave as well. She then closed the door and turned to face Song Ling, who was scowling at her. She took a deep breath and approached her.

“Sister Ling, are you angry? Let me explain, okay? There’s nothing going on between Xu Jie and me. Qiqi misunderstood. Don’t listen to her. She was just worried that Xu Jie might bully me. Xu Jie isn’t that bad. She’s just a bit annoying. But I’ve already made it clear that I’m not interested, and I’m sure she’ll understand and leave me alone. Please don’t hurt her, okay?”

“Do you really think I’m that cruel? That I would kill Xu Dao just because Fan Weiqi said something?”

“That’s not what I meant! I was just worried that you might misunderstand and get angry, that you might try to protect me by punishing Xu Jie. You know we’re not ordinary people. Even a slight touch could seriously injure them.”

“I am angry, but I’m more angry that you think I’m a murderer.”

“Sister Ling, I’m sorry. Please don’t be angry.”

“Promise me that you’ll tell me everything from now on.”

“Okay.”

“And you’re not allowed to see that Xu Dao again. She has ulterior motives.”

“I’ll try to avoid being alone with her.”

“If she bothers you again, you have to tell me. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee that I won’t take care of her myself.”

“Okay, I promise. Please don’t hurt her.”

“Okay.”

Chapter 76

After the plane landed, Song Ling and Mark rushed to the hotel where the film crew was staying. Huizi, who had been informed of their arrival, was waiting for them in the lobby. She greeted Song Ling and handed her Li Mo’s room key, along with a key to another room they had booked for Song Ling and Mark.

Upon learning Li Mo’s room number, Song Ling, without waiting for Mark, immediately went upstairs. She found Li Mo’s room and swiped the keycard, entering without hesitation. However, the room was empty.

She saw Li Mo’s phone and room key on the table and noticed that the balcony door was open. She guessed that Li Mo had gone out through the balcony. She stepped onto the balcony and extended her senses, searching for Li Mo’s aura. Sensing it in the distance, she leaped off the balcony, following the trail.

She followed Li Mo’s aura to a nearby hospital. As she approached the blood bank, she saw Li Mo emerging from the door. Li Mo, startled, quickly grabbed Song Ling’s arm and pulled her into a nearby hallway, covering her mouth to prevent her from making a sound.

Song Ling, seeing Li Mo’s furtive behavior, cooperated, remaining silent. Li Mo pressed Song Ling against the wall, peering out of the hallway to make sure no one had seen them. After a moment, she released Song Ling.

“What are you doing here?”

Li Mo, confirming that they were alone, asked Song Ling why she was at the hospital. Song Ling didn’t answer. She grabbed Li Mo’s hand, spun her around, pressed her against the wall, and kissed her passionately. Li Mo, caught off guard, didn’t resist.

She closed her eyes, her hands instinctively resting on Song Ling’s chest. Song Ling, sensing her submission, moved her hand from Li Mo’s waist, her fingers tracing the curves of her body, attempting to slip inside her shirt. Li Mo, startled, pushed her away.

“What are you doing?!”

“I missed you.”

“Are you crazy? This is a hospital!”

Song Ling smirked, her eyes narrowing. She grabbed Li Mo’s hand and pulled her towards the hotel. Back in Li Mo’s room, Song Ling pushed her onto the bed and pinned her down, Li Mo struggling beneath her.

“Ms. Song! What are you doing?! Let me go!”

“I told you, I missed you.”

“What do you think I am? Just because we slept together doesn’t mean you can treat me like this whenever you want!”

“So you’re saying you would sleep with anyone? Is that it?”

“That’s not what I meant! Sigh… Ms. Song, I know you miss Li Xinjun, but I’ve already told you, I’m not her. I’m willing to be your friend, but I don’t want to be her replacement.”

“I’m not treating you as a replacement. I’m certain that you are Li Xinjun, my Jun’er.”

“Ms. Song, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m not Li Xinjun! I’m Li Mo!”

“Then explain why your aura is identical to Li Xinjun’s! Don’t tell me I’m mistaken! You’re a vampire too! You know how sensitive our senses are!”

“I don’t know! Maybe you’re remembering wrong? I don’t know this Li Xinjun you’re talking about! I can’t explain it! I thought about it after that night, and I wondered if maybe I’m a descendant of Li Xinjun. Maybe that’s why our auras are similar? If that’s true, then we definitely shouldn’t be doing this! You and Li Xinjun… Sigh, just get off me, please!”

“Do you think vampires can have children?”

“I can’t answer that for her. It was just a guess. Please, just get off me.”

“No, not unless you promise me something.”

“What is it? I’ll consider it, as long as it’s not unreasonable.”

“Promise me that you’ll help me figure out why you’ve lost your memory. And during this time, you’re not allowed to get close to anyone else, especially that Fan Weiqi.”

“Pfft, are you jealous of Qiqi? Is that why you flew all the way here from Beijing?”

Li Mo was surprised. This domineering woman had actually flown all the way to Shanghai because she was jealous of Fan Weiqi? Li Mo felt a surge of amusement and a strange sense of satisfaction.

“Are you enjoying this?”

“Heh, a little. I’ll agree to your terms, but I have one condition too.”

“What is it?”

“I’ll promise not to get too close to anyone else, but you have to promise me that you won’t touch me like this again until you’ve confirmed my identity.”

“No way! What if you never remember?”

“Aren’t you worried that I might actually be Li Xinjun’s descendant?”

“I’m certain that you’re Jun’er.”

“But what if I’m not?”

“Then we’ll set a deadline of one year. During this year, I won’t touch you unless we’ve confirmed your identity. But after a year, whether you admit it or not, I will keep you by my side, no matter what.”

“Ms. Song, I’m not your possession! If you can’t confirm my identity within a year, then we’re done. Don’t even think about touching me unless I give you permission.”

“Heh, you will.”

Song Ling leaned down and kissed Li Mo again, her kiss possessive and demanding. When she was satisfied, she finally released Li Mo. Li Mo, freed from her grasp, pushed her away. Song Ling let herself fall onto the bed, a triumphant smile on her lips.

Li Mo, annoyed by her smug expression, wanted to kick her out. She stood up, ready to tell her to leave, but Song Ling spoke again.

“Did you go to the hospital to steal blood?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you take more?”

“Do you think I didn’t want to? I was afraid Huizi would find out. It would be difficult to explain.”

“So you’ve been going back and forth to the hospital every day to steal blood?”

“What else could I do?”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“Call you to deliver blood bags?”

“Hehe, call me so I could help you.”

“We’re not that close. Why would I bother you? I can handle it myself.”

“Whether you’re Jun’er or not, we’re not just casual acquaintances anymore. We’ve slept together. How is that not close?”

“We’re not close! You’re just someone I had a one-night stand with.”

“Were you always so promiscuous? Who else have you slept with besides me? Did you sleep with that Fan Weiqi?”

“Hey, Ms. Song, I only promised not to get close to anyone else for a year. That doesn’t mean I have to report my entire sexual history to you! Whether I’ve slept with other people or not is none of your business!”

Song Ling’s jealousy flared again. She pounced on Li Mo, who tried to block her but was too slow. Song Ling pinned her against the wall, her eyes narrowed.

“So you did sleep with that Fan Weiqi?!”

“Hmph!” Li Mo, annoyed by her accusatory tone, turned away, refusing to answer.

“Answer me! Do you want me to go to her room and kill her right now? You know you can’t stop me.”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

“Don’t test my patience! Answer me!”

“You!”

“Fine, you won’t talk. I’m going to see her now.”

Song Ling turned to leave, but Li Mo, panicked, grabbed her arm, preventing her from leaving.

“No! Wait! Nothing happened between me and Qiqi! She’s just a friend!”

Song Ling smirked, releasing the doorknob and turning back to Li Mo. She pinned her against the wall again, her gaze cold. She lifted Li Mo’s chin with her finger, forcing her to meet her gaze.

“Qiqi? That’s quite intimate. Why do you call her ‘Qiqi’ but still call me ‘Ms. Song’? Do you have feelings for her? Is that why you don’t want me to hurt her?”

“I told you, she’s just a friend! It’s not like that! We just call each other by our nicknames because we’re working on a film together and trying to build chemistry. If you don’t believe me, then fine! Go ahead and kill her! I can’t stop you! But if you hurt her, don’t expect me to stay with you! I’ll leave this industry!”

Song Ling, seeing Li Mo’s anger rising, softened her tone, her gaze no longer cold. She looked at Li Mo sincerely.

“Okay, I believe you. I won’t hurt her. But I don’t like you being so close to her while being so distant with me.”

“Then what do you want?”

“I don’t want you to call me ‘Ms. Song’ anymore.”

“Then should I call you ‘Sister Ling’?”

Hearing the familiar address, “Sister Ling,” brought back memories of Jun’er, who had always called her that. However, Jun’er’s tone had never been so distant, so formal. Song Ling couldn’t help but pull Li Mo into her arms, her heart aching with longing.

Li Mo, seeing her vulnerability, softened, allowing herself to be embraced. Sometimes, she really thought she must have owed Song Ling a great debt in a past life, destined to be completely under her spell, unable to resist her charms.