My Vampire Boyfriend

Chapter 21: Bastard

By Friday evening, the final workday before the New Year had come to an end.

Ethan was preparing to clock out when his team leader suddenly summoned him into the office. He assumed Wang Yuanshan wanted to discuss the company’s annual gala scheduled for tomorrow, so he politely declined in advance, explaining that he had already bought his train ticket home.

“I remember you’re from South City, right?” Wang Yuanshan asked, suddenly showing interest.

After more than a month of working together, Ethan’s impression of his supervisor remained unchanged: a kind man. Wang turned a blind eye to the team’s idleness, ignored the occasional late arrival or early departure, and exuded no real authority.

Yet such excessive kindness was its own burden. Ethan valued his personal boundaries and disliked dealing with overly affable people. Work was work—outside of that, he preferred distance.

“Yes, I’m from South City,” he replied. “Anything else, sir? I need to pack up—I haven’t been home in a year.”

The company hadn’t hired anyone new in nearly twelve months, and Wang was pleased with the new intern. Smiling warmly, he said, “Nothing urgent. I just wanted to ask about your plans after graduation. You’ve got potential. Have you thought about staying? Our benefits are great—you see, we even give a few extra days off for the holiday.”

“I’m still considering it,” Ethan answered.

“Really? That’s good to hear.” Wang rose, peeking out the door. “Ah, looks like everyone’s gone. You should get off work too, Chi.”

Ethan had applied to this company on a whim, hoping to earn enough to stay afloat. Ironically, his life had become anything but undisturbed. The vampire back home had become his only aid—at least improving his sleep quality, a meager consolation.

His talk with Ryan about inheriting the family business hadn’t been a joke. Once he graduated, he planned to return to South City. Naturally, staying here was out of the question—especially since his internship still had weeks to go, and Lucien’s departure date remained uncertain.

“Well, happy New Year in advance,” Wang said kindly. “Give it some thought, okay? There’s a new project coming up after the holiday. I’d like you to take charge of the programming side.”

“Alright. Thanks, sir.”

Ethan slung his bag over his shoulder. Just as he was leaving the building, a stranger appeared at the door—a young man in a black suit, his expression serious, perhaps trying too hard to appear mature.

Ethan recalled hearing colleagues mention the mysterious “President Li,” a figure rarely seen even a few times a year. After months of working here without crossing paths, he guessed this must be the man himself.

“Oh, President Li!” Wang hurried forward and waved Ethan over. “Come, Chi—this is our President Li. Say hello.”

Ethan despised such empty formalities, but given his position, he had no choice. The man was his superior, however young, and Ethan was merely an intern. So he greeted politely, “President Li.”

“This is the new intern?” Li Jing’an asked Wang, though his gaze fixed on Ethan—tall, composed, and strikingly self-possessed.

“That’s right,” Wang replied, patting Ethan’s shoulder proudly. “Top university student. Bright kid. I plan to groom him carefully.”

“Is that so? Impressive.” Li Jing’an nodded approvingly. Then, with casual generosity, he announced a raise on the spot and instructed Wang to issue an additional year-end bonus—“Let him enjoy a happy New Year.”

The hierarchy of power was on full display: the superior’s patronage, the subordinate’s submission—each playing their roles perfectly.

Listening to their well-rehearsed duet, Ethan felt his patience snap. “No need,” he said flatly. “I’m just an intern. Pay me what I’m due. I have something to do, so I’ll be leaving.”

“Ah—alright then, take care,” Wang called after him, smiling faintly once Ethan had gone. “Well? Good material, isn’t he? Walked right into our hands.”

“Good material?” Li Jing’an’s voice went cold. He raised his hand and, without warning, delivered a vicious slap that sent Wang flying two meters backward.

“—Pfft!” Blood sprayed from Wang’s mouth. He clutched a chair, forcing himself upright. His sycophantic grin vanished, replaced by a snarl. “This is still the company. Remember your place.”

“Thanks to you,” Li Jing’an replied, stepping closer, voice like a blade. “That one called Leo has been searching for us. Rather than waiting for the vampires to kill you, I’d rather do it myself.”

“You really think you’re the president?” Wang sneered, wiping blood from his lips, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t forget who found you first. Who saved you? I’m half your damn father, you ungrateful brat.”

Li Jing’an’s face hardened, his fury sharp. He kicked Wang squarely in the chest. Wang collapsed, clutching Li’s leg and wheezing, “Alright, alright—you win. I won’t argue, son. Enough already! That intern really is promising. The boss will like him. Just calm down.”

Outside, the New Year’s air had wrapped West City in festive warmth. Beneath the bright lights and laughter, however, darker currents stirred unseen.

Ethan knew none of this. He biked through the freezing wind, thoughts fixed on his “War God” streamer who would soon go live. Pedaling faster, he reached the apartment before seven.

Just as he locked his bike, his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, sighed, and answered. A gentle female voice came through the receiver.

“Ah-He, are you in love lately? Your father said you’ve started spending money. Good, good—my boy’s finally growing up.”

“...” Ethan pinched his brow. “Mom, can you not gossip like this? What’s the call for?”

“Just tell me—are you seeing someone? What kind of person?”

If only he were. Unfortunately, that i***t at home hadn’t the faintest clue—and even if he did, it wouldn’t work.

“No,” Ethan said curtly. “I’ve just been busy with my internship. Don’t ask.”

“Fine, fine. When are you coming home? I’ll send the driver.”

Spending the Spring Festival with a vampire—now that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. He’d already promised to take Lucien to the temple fair; he couldn’t back out now.

After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “In a few days. No need for a driver; I’ll take a cab. Oh—and I’m bringing a friend. He’s a junior from school, has nowhere to go for the holiday. Poor kid.”

“Oh dear, that pitiful? Then bring him along!”

They chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. Checking the time, Ethan frowned—no message from the “War God.”

Waiting for the elevator, he opened the streaming app. No unread flirty messages, though his fan group had exploded with 99+ notifications. His rank as “caretaker” was clearly gone.

Opening the streamer’s profile, he found no active broadcast. The maid outfit incident had already passed—he wondered what nonsense the fool was up to now.

When he finally reached home, Ethan nearly lost his mind. The fatherly wrath within him blazed.

Lucien stood stark naked amid a pile of black-and-white fabric that, on closer inspection, was unmistakably a maid costume.

Ethan slammed the door shut, crossed the room in three strides, grabbed a robe, and wrapped it around the vampire. His face darkened. “Where did you get this maid outfit?”

“A fan sent it,” Lucien said breezily, tugging the robe off again. “Can’t you see I’m trying it on? It’s complicated. Help me put it on.”

“...” Ethan snatched up the revealing outfit and began folding it. “It’s for girls. You’re not wearing it. And stop giving strangers your address.”

Lucien yanked it back. “Don’t fool me! I saw other male streamers wear it—and they gained tons of followers.”

“So that’s what you want—followers?”

“Of course. My goal is ten million!”

If Lucien had said even nine hundred thousand less, Ethan might have humored him. But a vampire in a skirt for internet fame? Absolutely not.

He lost patience and said sharply, “Do you even realize you’re pleasing humans?”

Lucien froze, his expression souring. “Pleasing humans? You’re joking.”

“Begging for their attention day after day—what else do you call it? And this maid outfit—who exactly are you trying to seduce?” The words came out harsher than he intended.

Lucien’s face went pale. He could never admit to pandering to foolish humans, yet the truth in Ethan’s accusation struck deep.

Humiliated and furious, he shouted back, “None of your damn business! Who gave you the right to talk to me like that?”

“Didn’t you want fans?” Ethan countered coolly. “You’d do better to please me than them. Who do you think your followers really are?”

Lucien blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

The sheer stupidity on that face exhausted Ethan. He sat on the bed, sighing. “i***t. Sometimes I really want to... punch you.”

It took a moment for the meaning to sink in—until Lucien’s eyes widened. “Wait... you’re the ‘keeper of the dumb ghost’? Then who’s the ‘Big Tiger’?”

After their last meeting, Liam had given Ethan the “Big Tiger” account credentials. Ethan occasionally logged in during the week to tip Lucien under both names, creating the illusion of a thriving fanbase.

Now, for the sake of clarity—and to rile him up a little—Ethan smirked. “Took you long enough to figure it out. So, do you understand whose money you’ve been earning? It was all just for fun—don’t take it too seriously.”

Lucien’s heart plummeted.

Other gaming streamers boasted hundreds of thousands, even millions of fans. He had barely seventy thousand. His inferiority burned; he had wanted to prove he could surpass humans, that vampires could be better, greater.

Yet now he realized it had all been a lie—a manipulation by a cunning human. His pride was a joke, his efforts meaningless. He had humbled himself before mortals, only to be laughed at by Ethan.

How unbearable.

Lucien’s fragile arrogance shattered. Memories of past humiliations surged back—the ridicule from Liam, the quiet disappointment of his family, his brother’s cold indulgence. He was a failed pureblood, a disgrace to his kind. Unloved, unwanted, a prince in name alone. He couldn’t even succeed as a mere streamer.

“You... you bastard,” he choked.

Ethan never expected the fierce little vampire to actually cry.

Lucien stood there naked, clutching the maid dress, his eyes reddening as tears welled up. His nose twitched; his tear-dimmed black eyes glared at Ethan, wounded and defiant all at once—so pitiful it made him ache.

And in that instant, Ethan realized—he really was the bastard here.