Ensnared by My Vampire Roommate

2

In the summer, the sun rises early. When Jiang Banxu woke up at seven in the morning, bright sunlight was already streaming through the curtains, filling the room with a warm, cozy glow. He had always slept well, and the fear from last night didn’t linger.

After getting dressed, Jiang pulled open the curtains, and the sunlight was so strong it almost hurt his eyes—but it brought an odd sense of reassurance. Today, he planned to visit his grandfather at the hospital. After getting ready quickly, he headed out the door, only to find his new roommate in the living room.

This was unusual. Jiang had rarely seen his roommate during the day. Ying Tiao was sitting on the sofa, with the TV on. The sunlight outside was getting stronger, casting a glare on the screen. The curtains in the living room were drawn tightly, leaving the room dim.

Ying heard the sound of Jiang opening the door and turned his head, glancing at him. Then, he stood up and walked over. It was the first time they had been this close to each other. Only now did Jiang realize that Ying was nearly half a head taller than him, with a much more solid build. The width of his shoulders exuded a slight sense of pressure, reminding Jiang of that unsettling look from the previous night. Without thinking, he took two steps back.

Ying, however, simply took out his phone and said, "I don’t have your contact info yet."

"..."

So, he just wanted to exchange WeChat info. Jiang let out a breath of relief, feeling a bit embarrassed by his earlier reaction. "Oh, right!" He quickly pulled out his phone and scanned Ying’s QR code. "Sorry about that, I totally forgot."

When Ying had first moved in, everything seemed rushed. He had communicated directly with the landlord and signed the lease without much fuss. Jiang had only been informed at the last minute that he was getting a new roommate.

The landlord hadn’t bothered to give Jiang Ying’s contact information, probably assuming they would sort it out themselves. When Ying first moved in, Jiang had considered asking for his number, but Ying’s cold demeanor quickly put him off.

After Jiang saved his roommate’s contact, he glanced up and found Ying staring at him. But this time, his gaze was much more normal, as though he was waiting.

"Sorry," Ying said as soon as Jiang finished saving his number. "I didn’t remember your name."

"..."

Though he apologized, there was no trace of awkwardness in his expression. He was as calm and collected as ever. Jiang didn’t mind. The fact that his aloof roommate was actively exchanging contact information with him felt like a huge step forward.

After inputting his name into Ying’s phone, Jiang handed it back, accidentally brushing against Ying’s fingers. They were ice cold, like a small snake sliding across his skin.

The strange sensation quickly passed, and Jiang, now in a lighter mood, didn’t give it much thought. He had been worrying about how to get along with his roommate, but now it seemed like things were starting to improve. Maybe the oddness from last night had just been in his head.

...

Jiang had gotten used to the trip from home to the hospital by now. He didn’t have any other family, having been raised by his grandfather since childhood. Five years ago, his grandfather had suffered a stroke. Luckily, it hadn’t been too severe, and after being discharged, his condition hadn’t drastically affected his daily life—though his physical strength had declined.

However, strokes are never truly curable. A year ago, right after Jiang had finished his college entrance exams, his grandfather had another stroke. Fortunately, he was treated in time, and his life wasn’t in danger. Jiang had stayed at the hospital for a month to care for him before bringing him home to continue his recovery.

Three months ago, his grandfather’s condition worsened again, and he was admitted to the hospital for long-term rehabilitation therapy. Jiang had moved to Jing City with his grandfather when he was fifteen. Their savings weren’t much, and at the time, Jiang still had to think about his high school education, so they hadn’t bought a house—they’d rented a decent apartment in a school district instead.

But with his grandfather’s frequent hospitalizations, the expenses piled up. The cost of rehabilitation and hiring a caregiver was no small sum. After realizing that his grandfather wouldn’t be discharged anytime soon, Jiang gave up their larger apartment and rented a smaller, older place that he shared with others.

His grandfather had long since handed over all the bankbooks and savings to Jiang, so he was well aware of their financial situation. They weren’t in dire straits yet, but the costs of his grandfather’s ongoing treatment and the potential for future complications meant that Jiang’s funds were thin.

Still, Jiang wasn’t without hope. He had a clear plan for the future. Although money was tight, he worked part-time and earned a decent amount. If he kept working hard, he could aim for top scholarships, which would help cover some of the medical bills.

In the best-case scenario, his grandfather’s health would improve, and they could return to a normal life. If his grandfather remained in the hospital, Jiang just had to hold on until he graduated. Once he started working at a hospital himself, his income would improve, and everything would get better.

Jiang arrived at the hospital early. As the elevator reached the neurology floor, the morning meeting had just ended. He happened to run into the head nurse coming out of her office, and Jiang smiled and greeted her.

The head nurse, a stern woman in her forties, usually kept a strict demeanor, but she smiled warmly at Jiang. "Banxu, you’re here! Your grandfather was asking for you this morning. He’s been in high spirits lately."

"Thank you for taking care of him," Jiang replied sincerely.

By now, the hospital staff were familiar with Jiang’s situation. His grandfather, Jiang Weirong, had been in the hospital for a long time, and the nurses knew all about the family’s struggles. Jiang himself was pale-skinned and had delicate, attractive features, always wearing a gentle smile. His friendly, outgoing nature made him well-liked among the older staff.

The head nurse called for one of the floor nurses to take Jiang to his grandfather’s room, but she couldn’t help glancing twice at the slender figure walking away. Jiang wasn’t even twenty yet—at an age when most kids were focused solely on their studies, he had already taken on the heavy responsibility of caring for his family.

Jiang Weirong’s condition had worsened with each hospital visit, and even the nurses were worried Jiang wouldn’t be able to cope. But Jiang himself had never once shown any sign of giving up. When things were bad, he would worry, but as soon as his grandfather’s condition improved, he’d return to his usual optimistic, lively self, as if nothing could ever break him.

After a short chat with his grandfather and helping him with his rehabilitation exercises, Jiang had to rush back to school for his 10 AM class.

Ever since that morning when they exchanged contact info, Jiang noticed that his roommate had been absent for three days. At first, he thought Ying was simply going out at night like usual, but after a while, he realized the slippers by the door hadn’t been touched.

Jiang began to worry slightly. Could something have happened? He thought about sending a message to check on him, but it didn’t feel like they were on that level of familiarity yet.

That evening, Jiang stayed at the library so late he missed the last bus and didn’t get off the bus stop until after 10 PM.

The old neighborhood was remote, mostly inhabited by elderly people, and the streets were nearly empty at night. The streetlights in the alley only turned on when someone walked past, to save energy. Jiang kept his head down and walked quickly, but soon he heard soft, deliberate footsteps behind him.

He paused for a moment, then quickened his pace. The footsteps behind him also picked up speed. When he slowed down again, so did they. Jiang quickly realized he was being followed—most likely by some petty thief.

This area wasn’t well-monitored, and crime wasn’t uncommon. Jiang had been followed once before, but that time it had just been a group of high school dropouts who, despite looking intimidating, had been scared off when Jiang knocked one of them down.

There wasn’t a soul in sight up ahead, but the footsteps behind him were getting closer. Jiang still had a good distance to cover before reaching home. He fumbled for his phone, preparing to call for help, while weighing his options: Should he try to run or turn around and face them?

He wasn’t carrying much cash, so the worst-case scenario was getting beaten up. But his phone and the tablet in his bag were worth something, and it would be a huge loss if they were stolen or damaged.

After considering his options, Jiang tightened his grip on his bag strap, took a deep breath, and prepared to make a run for it.

But just as he was about to take off, a cold hand gripped his shoulder from behind.

The fabric of his thin summer T-shirt offered no protection from the icy touch that quickly seeped through. Strangely, Jiang wasn’t as scared of the person following him—he was more rattled by the chilling sensation of the hand on his shoulder.

A shadow loomed over him, and Jiang turned his head, catching a glimpse of Ying Tiao’s pale neck and sharp jawline.

In the darkness, the cold aura surrounding Ying was even more intense. His bloodless skin and eerie, gloomy eyes made him look like a ghost crawling out from the depths of the underworld.

The ominous vibe he gave off was far scarier than the thugs who had been tailing Jiang.

Jiang turned around fully just in time to see the would-be attackers glance at each other nervously, then turn and flee without hesitation.

As their chaotic footsteps faded away, the hand on Jiang’s shoulder relaxed and let go.

Jiang’s palms were sweaty, though he didn’t know when that had started. As he adjusted his bag, he subtly wiped his hands on it and then glanced at his roommate, trying to act casual.

When he saw that Ying’s expression was normal, Jiang cleared his throat and said, "Thanks so much for that. I was about to call the police."

"No problem," Ying replied, his gaze fixed on Jiang’s trembling eyelashes. "You’re thirty minutes late today."

"I missed my bus," Jiang explained, still in a daze.

Ying nodded, as though satisfied with that answer. "Let’s head home."

Jiang nodded back, and they walked side by side in silence.

The alley was eerily quiet, with only Jiang’s footsteps echoing around them. His mind was racing, filled with a sudden question. There were no side paths along this alley, and Jiang was sure there had been no one ahead. If Ying had come from behind, those thugs would’ve seen him.

So, where exactly had his roommate come from?