The Vampire Marquis

Chapter 2

He tugged at the corner of his mouth in a smile, looked ahead and said, "I remember just around the bend, there's a quiet park. We could take a moment to chat there, you will understand just how much I know about you."

She shot a glare at him, "Hah, you've been tailing me for two weeks, I'd say you know this area well now."

"Don't keep calling me a dimwit, don't forget you have your fair share of foreign bloodline too."

She pursed her lips, not bothering to refute.

"My name is Siska, the twelfth marquis of the Cannes family in France."

She glanced at him nonchalantly, "A marquis? Seems like quite an impressive lineage. However," she shrugged dismissively and said with cool indifference, "I'm still not interested in you. As a pole dancer, I'm hardly touched by the shameful family secrets. How much you know about me doesn't make a difference really. I am not going to the park with you."

His brows furrowed slightly, "So, you don't feel the slightest familiarity with my name?"

Chen Shanyi counter-questioned him, "Should I?"

Hearing this, a touch of disappointment crossed Siska's handsome face. Quickly he discarded it, telling himself that it was merely two weeks of acquaintance. Surely, she was supposed to find him a stranger.

"Stop following me. I really detest men, especially the kind that is overbearing and self-righteous like you."

She flagged down a taxi. Unexpectedly, he shamelessly climbed into the front seat. "Hey, you... "

He forced a smile, hoping to have an amicable conversation with her. "I heard that in Taiwan, the person sitting in the front seat should pay."

She threw her head back in annoyance, rolling her eyes. "I am not so poor that I need you to cover my cab fare."

He shook his head, a look of concern on his face, "For you, I reckon taking a taxi is a luxury."

She stared at him before acknowledging, "Indeed, if you weren't doggedly following me, I would rather take the bus home."

"And then have a bowl of ramen with extra braised eggs as your dinner and late-night snack, before changing into your school uniform and going home, right?"

She gritted her teeth, "That's my business."

"You're too frugal, it's unhealthy."

This man was really starting to bother her, "That's also my business."

"No, once you are out of income, your business becomes my business."

"If you are not forgetful, you should know that I have a day job."

"Doing clerical work for a meager wage?" Siska smirked.

She didn't miss the scorn in his words, "You..."

"Even that job you've lost."

She was taken back, "What are you talking about?"

"I submitted your resignation letter for you. Conveniently, your boss is a jealous spinster who was more than happy to accept your resignation." Damn it! Her boss was resentful of her and now this i***t was meddling in her life. "Who gave you the right to interfere with my life?" She said, outraged.

"I told you, if you want answers, we need to find somewhere quiet to have a conversation."

"I'm not going to be alone with a man!"

"Then let's find a park, or even somewhere public."

Chen Shanyi glared at the cool, handsome face before her. There was no denying that this Marquis wielded enormous wealth and power to have managed to lose her all five jobs within just two weeks!

If she didn't clear things up with him, and he continued to pester her, she wouldn't be able to manage her living expenses and her grandparents' medical bills… She pursed her lips tightly and said to the driver who had yet to start the vehicle due to lack of destination, "Take us to Daan Forest Park."

"Uh, okay." The driver nodded eagerly. He feared dealing with quarreling couples the most, as they could often jump out of the taxi halfway. But seeing the two seemingly reach an agreement, he let out a sigh of relief and hit the road.

A satisfied look dawned on Siska's face as he stole a glance at a grim-faced Chen Shanyi. Only then did he lean back comfortably into his seat.

It was already 8 p.m., and the street lamps lit up Daan Forest Park, where a considerable number of visitors were still walking around.

Siska and Chen Shanyi walked side by side until they arrived at a secluded bench. Only then did he voluntarily stop, sat down, and looked at her standing still.

She pursed her lips, paused for a moment, and then sat down next to him.

He admired her, at only eighteen, the simple fitting t-shirt and jeans made her stunning. If she wore designer dresses, she would be truly breath-taking.

Chen Shanyi felt an unusual discomfort under his concentrated gaze. A strange heat surged through her body.

She flicked her long hair and said impatiently, "Hurry up, I have things to do."

His gaze drifted towards a passionate couple kissing on the grass in front of them. He murmured, "We...we were once like that too..."

She frowned, her gaze following his to the couple in front, her lips immediately pursed in displeasure, "I feel like I'm with a man who is confused and delusional."

Seeing her stand up to leave, Siska quickly held her back, his face filled with regret, "I'm sorry, too many past events, I can't help it."

She withdrew her hand, "If you bring up the past, I'm not interested."

"I know, in this life you are an independent, cynical girl, your surroundings..."

"I've heard enough, what do you mean in this life? It's utter nonsense!"

"No, I need to tell you that we are lovers from many past lives."

He knew that such a sudden, out-of-the-blue statement would undoubtedly confuse her, but he couldn't hold back, he has been separated from her for two hundred years.

Chen Shanyi looked at him with an incredulous gaze, coldly stating, "You're sick, you should see a psychiatrist."

"I am sick. It's heartache, something you wouldn't understand." He forced a smile.

"I don't understand, and I do not intend to." She turned around to leave.

"Wait." Siska stopped her again, "At least after hearing a story, you can leave, okay?"

A story? She raised an eyebrow. Did she have time for that?

From her expression, he knew her answer, but he wanted her to stay, "Please."

She looked at him, and to her surprise, she saw a profound sense of sorrow in his deep black eyes?!

She didn’t understand why, but her heart told her to leave, yet her feet, as if they had a mind of their own, walked back to the bench and sat down.

Without having the time to sort out her thoughts, she curled her lips, "Alright, I'll listen. But, I hope that after this, you won't disturb me again. I don't know what you're thinking, but I have already made up my mind. I don't plan to marry, date, or even sleep with any man."

Surprisingly, he smiled, exposing his teeth. She narrowed her eyes, "What are you laughing at?"

"You are destined to be mine, whether in body or soul. That's why you decided not to accept any other man." Siska's gaze was filled with affection. His handsome face radiated an enchanting gentleness.

Under his passionate, affectionate gaze, her heart inexplicably began pounding vigorously.

Absurd! She silently cursed before opening her mouth, "If you don't start talking, I'm leaving."

He smiled gently, "Alright, I'll start. In the seventh century in France, a vampire and a woman..."

"Pfft!" Chen Shanyi burst out laughing, clutching her stomach, "Hahaha..."

"What are you laughing at!" Siska's face held a look of displeasure. This love story was sacred and solemn to him, yet she was laughing uproariously as if he had told a joke.