My Vampire Boyfriend

Chapter 18: Fatal Temptation

The new apartment was too small to fit his gym equipment. Fortunately, there was a gym nearby, and Ethan had planned to get a membership and train after work—but that plan had fallen through.

Ever since he joined the fan group two nights ago, he had been relentlessly pestered by the clingy streamer. Lucien would call him “baby” over and over in the group chat, tagging him punctually at seven in the evening and sending a voice message:

“Baby, it’s seven o’clock! Get online and watch the stream—your Warlord is taking you to victory!”

Whether he was truly “carried to victory,” Ethan didn’t know; what he did know was that playing two roles at once was exhausting. He should never have made that promise. Never in his life had he done something so absurdly secretive.

If it were only online pestering, he might have endured it. The real trouble was that Lucien was equally clingy offline. When not streaming, the vampire would hover around him constantly, calling his name in that languid, teasing tone.

What truly drained Ethan’s willpower were the overly intimate gestures before bed—touches that could drive a saint mad. Several times he had resisted, claiming that his body was too cold because of his “vampiric condition.” Yet every morning, he would wake to find Lucien nestled in his arms, head pillowed on his arm, one leg draped possessively over his waist, sleeping soundly and sweetly.

Ethan didn’t like to admit it, but his own body wasn’t entirely obedient either. Each morning he woke up uncomfortably energized, which was starting to affect his work.

And the simple-minded ghost had no idea what was going on.

Early Saturday morning, Ethan left home with his laptop. He spent the morning training at the boxing gym and the afternoon at a quiet café writing his thesis, refusing to return home before half past five—as if punching a time clock.

Sunday followed the same pattern. The goal was simple: avoid being home.

In an effort to escape the clingy vampire, Ethan spent hours lurking in other livestreams, studying how successful streamers managed their fanbases. Perhaps, he thought, once Lucien gained enough popularity, he would stop pestering his so-called “caretaker.”

After watching several streams, Ethan discovered a shortcut—Lucien could easily become famous as a face-cam streamer. He could already imagine the fan group flooding with new “babies,” and the crazier ones shrieking “husband!” in the chat. The thought alone gave him a headache. Heaven forbid the kid get corrupted by his own fans.

As dusk fell, Ethan closed his laptop, ready to go home early and help Lucien boost his popularity. But just as he stepped out of the café, his phone rang.

The caller ID read “Rong Hu”—the mover who had helped him on moving day.

When Ethan answered, it was Liam’s voice. The man asked to meet, and that’s when Ethan remembered he was supposed to prepare Lucien’s blood bath that night.

“But there’s only a shower in the apartment,” Ethan said. “Where would he soak?”

“At your place. I’m downstairs,” Liam replied.

Ethan frowned. Lucien hadn’t contacted his brother, and Ethan had never given out the new address. The fact that Liam knew it made him uneasy, as though he were being watched.

“I don’t have a bathtub,” he said flatly. “It’s not possible.”

“What? I went through all that trouble collecting the blood, and you’re telling me it’s useless? Fine—I’ll give you another address. Bring him there. I’ll prepare everything and leave before you arrive. Just tell him I’m not around.”

Following Liam’s instructions, Ethan returned home. He had no choice—Lucien detested his brother, and someone had to take care of it.

Over the past few days, Lucien had grown more professional. He slept through the morning, streamed for three hours in the afternoon, and then spent his breaks secretly studying other streams, learning tricks of the trade. In the evening, he’d play ranked matches until ten.

As soon as Ethan got home, he showered to wash away the lingering scent of sweat and strangers, then gathered a fresh set of clothes for Lucien.

Seeing Lucien obediently watching another stream, Ethan said, “Finish this up and come with me. We’re going for a blood bath.”

“I’m not going,” Lucien replied without even turning his head.

“I said,” Ethan repeated patiently, “come with me for the blood bath.”

“I’m not taking a bath.”

“It’s blood,” Ethan clarified, “not water.”

That made Lucien turn his head, eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Are you insane? You don’t have enough blood for that.”

“It’s not mine,” Ethan said calmly. “Your brother prepared it. I’m just taking you there.”

Lucien’s expression soured at once. “He’s not my brother. I’m not going. He’s just a lowly servant—how dare he look down on me?”

Ethan couldn’t make sense of their strange vampire hierarchy. According to Liam, Lucien had been frail since childhood and needed regular blood baths to maintain his strength. He had begged Ethan to ensure his “little brother” was cared for, promising a generous reward.

Ethan hesitated before broaching the forbidden topic of their family, probing carefully while Lucien’s attention was still half on the stream. He guided the conversation step by step, offering flattery where needed, trying to coax information from the temperamental vampire.

Eventually, he learned that Lucien did have a brother—and that Liam had once been his brother’s blood donor.

“He seems to care about you,” Ethan ventured. “Maybe there’s a misunderstanding between you two?”

“Misunderstanding?” Lucien scoffed coldly. “He despises me, that’s all! So what if I’m not as strong as he is? He’ll never surpass me. He’s nothing but my brother’s blood donor. There are plenty like him in our clan, but there’s only one Prince Anthony. That’s why I despise you humans—you’re all the same.”

Ethan frowned. “You mean… he was human once?”

“Of course!” Lucien turned his chair toward him, brimming with indignation. “You have no idea how cunning he was—more cunning than you!”

Ethan: “…”

Lucien went on, “He slaughtered his entire family just to become one of us, offered all his wealth to our kind. My father, the fool, admired his ‘devotion’ and allowed it. And look at him now—still nothing but a dog at my brother’s side! I could kill him anytime I want.”

It sounded like a gothic tale told by moonlight—too wild, too tragic. Ethan found it hard to reconcile the composed Liam he knew with the monster in Lucien’s story.

According to Liam, the blood clans and humans had severed ties a century ago. The events Lucien described belonged to the last century—distant enough to feel like another lifetime.

“Blood baths are good for you,” Ethan said, steering the topic away. “He won’t be there. Go soak, and in return, I’ll teach you how to grow your audience.”

Lucien hesitated, torn between pride and dependence. After a moment, he muttered, “My health’s fine. Don’t listen to his nonsense. You’re my blood donor—you obey my orders. And I don’t need your lessons; I already figured it out myself. I got two new fans today—they said I’m really skilled.”

So much for being a responsible guardian. Once Lucien went live, Ethan texted Liam to explain the situation.

Half a minute later, a sweet, teasing voice rang out beside him.

“Baby, I’m streaming! Come online already.”

Ethan’s phone buzzed again—a notification from the fan group. The clingy little prince had tagged him.

Sighing, Ethan stepped into the bathroom, put on his headphones, and opened the stream.

If he couldn’t handle things offline, he’d manage them online.

Maintaining his place as the top supporter, Ethan began throwing money into the stream—activating raffles, sending expensive gifts, keeping the chat lively. The prizes—virtual diamonds—drew in random visitors who lingered for a chance to win. Slowly, the viewer count began to climb.

Chat:

“Support our Warlord Prince! Raffle runs until ten!”

User A: “Damn, top gifter’s a real whale. I’m staying!”

User B: “Top gifter, I’m your long-lost son!”

User C: “Wow, new streamer? Great gameplay and a sexy voice—followed!”

Lucien barely had time to read the chat. His Chinese reading speed was slow, and the viewer count skyrocketed from dozens to hundreds, still climbing fast enough to make his heart race.

“Thank you, baby, for your generous gifts and support! Good evening, my lovely new viewers—have you eaten? Type the character you want to see in chat! And if you think your Warlord’s doing well, don’t forget to hit that follow button!”

“Lovely viewers?” Ethan blinked. So that was the “localized” language he’d picked up? It sounded less absurd than “baby,” and surprisingly natural—he was adapting faster than expected.

Meanwhile, in the South District villa, Liam sat beside a blood-filled bath, gazing at the crimson surface as memories of his long-dead brother stirred.

These nights, he often circled the apartment building to ensure the young prince’s safety, though the ungrateful brat never appreciated it.

What was so fascinating about those games, anyway? Curious, he replied to Ethan’s message, asking how to enter the livestream. Following the instructions, he successfully joined Warlord Prince’s channel—only to be greeted by a sweet, saccharine voice:

“Welcome to the stream, my lovely viewers!”

“...?” Liam froze. Did he hear that right? The insolent brat who treated him as an enemy had just called him that? What in the world was a “lovely viewer”?

“If you like the Warlord, don’t forget to follow!”

Without hesitation, Liam hit “follow.” As colorful effects filled the screen, he realized they were gifts.

“Thank you to our number-one baby for the cars and rockets! You’re the best!”

The vampire he had once taken in now looked almost human. Ethan couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at his lips. For a fleeting moment, an impossible thought crossed his mind—what if Lucien were human?

Before he could linger on it, another user appeared—a big spender throwing gifts in rapid succession, ten cars, ten rockets, one after another. Within moments, Ethan’s top spot vanished, and the donations kept pouring in.

The chat exploded, the viewers and even Lucien himself stunned into silence.

Ethan wasn’t surprised. From the username alone, he knew exactly who it was. Only Lucien was naïve enough to think his new “speech style” was what had worked the magic.

“Thank you, Big Tiger, for the cars and rockets! Thank you for your support!”

Hearing that single “thank you” from the boy’s mouth, Liam felt something tighten in his chest. He was about to respond when footsteps sounded outside—it was Leo.

Liam immediately exited the stream, stood, and bowed deeply. “Your Highness Leo, I’ve prepared the blood bath for you. Please, relax.”

Leo’s jaw was tense, his expression cold. As his servant dressed him, he said icily, “Liam, Eastland’s half-blood surprised me. Guard Prince Anthony well. If anything happens to him, you die.”

Liam knelt and accepted the command.

Back at the apartment, Lucien was puzzled.

“Ethan! Come quick—something’s wrong with my stream! Where’s my top gifter, the Big Tiger? And the second one too? Why did they both disappear?”