Past

Almost two years had passed since the time the boys had started living their lives away from each other. YiJun had become braver and had started venturing out alone more often.

The king had gotten increasingly worried. 'He doesn't seem to want to live anymore. Why does he keep putting himself in danger? What is wrong with him?'

His worries had started eating him up from the inside. He didn't want his son to suffer the same fate as that of his mother. The royal physician had become busier, for the king's health had worsened.

So, instead of Xian's father, who was busy elsewhere, Xian was sent to help the aging physician.

Xian was a good student. His knowledge and skill both had improved by leaps and bounds under the royal physician's guidance over the years. Thus, the physician had requested Xian to assist him during night time as well. And Xian had started spending his nights at the palace once again. Despite this, however, the boys rarely saw each other.

On one such day, having spent the night assisting the physician, Xian had woken up feeling restless. Not only that, during the day, he had zoned out more than once and had made several mistakes while performing his duties as well. So much so that the physician had gotten worried and given Xian the rest of the day off.

As soon as he relieved of his duties, Xian had gone looking for YiJun. For YiJun's presence had always calmed the apprentice down. But when he had gone looking for the prince, he had not found YiJun in his chamber. Disappointed, Xian had retired to bed, thinking that he must be coming down with something.

A couple of hours before dawn, Xian's chest had begun to hurt. He had run towards the King's chamber. No one had stopped him. Everyone knew that the king had a soft spot for him. The apprentice had barged into the King's quarters, and woken him up, despite protests from the royal physician, and blurted out, "Your Majesty, I think something is wrong with Jun!"

The king knew better than to ignore the young boy's words. He had long since know that Xian had a sixth sense when it came to YiJun. He had at once ordered his brother and the royal guards to accompany Xian.

Xian had confidently guided them towards the boundaries of the kingdom, where they had found YiJun single-handedly defend himself against six or seven masked men.

Everyone had run to assist the prince.

Looking at the multiple small cuts all over YiJun's upper body had made Xian feel terrible. 'I should have gotten here sooner.'

Xian was young and unskilled; he knew he could not help. Thus he stood at the sidelines and watched the fight unfold. He wanted to help Jun, but he knew he was useless against swords. So he kept looking around to assess the situation. That is when his eyes had landed on another injured masked man; the man, standing up on shaky legs, had taken out a knife and thrown it at YiJun.

YiJun was busy defending himself against other masked men and had missed the dagger heading straight towards his back. Without any delay or hesitation, Xian had screamed, "Nooooooooooo!" and thrown himself between the oncoming knife and Jun's back, shielding the Prince with his body.

Present

*Lan Mansion*

Shen was pacing around the drawing-room with a confused yet amused look on his face, "Are you serious, YiJun?"

YiJun answers from the couch where he has buried his face in his hands, "Why would I lie to you, Uncle?... I tried, but... "

"Why is it happening? Since when?"

YiJun looks up. His face flushed with embarrassment. "Just after dawn, when I left Xian and walked out."

Shen chuckles. "Finally, you know how it feels to have no control...After decades, I have seen you display so many emotions. It's refreshing."

"Uncle, this is no laughing matter. What should I do now?"

Before Shen can answer, there is a knock at the door, and a man dressed in staff-uniform, walks in. "Master Lan, there is a police officer at the door, and he is asking for an audience."

"Bring him in, what are you waiting for?" Wangji orders.

"Master, I asked him, but he refused. He wants to see you outside."

"Why?"

"He says...." The man gulps before continuing, "He says that he doesn't want to get enchanted by you."

"What!?"

Shen walks towards the door, "I will take care of this matter. Till then, I think you should use this situation to your advantage."

Shen chuckles again before walking out, closing the door behind him.

YiJun walks to his room and sits next to his bed. "Xian, I am going to be gone for the whole day. I will see you at dusk." YiJun kisses the man in his bed and covers him with a blanket. Then something occurs to him, "Xian, is it you this time? Have you truly returned? Is what uncle has been telling me all these years, finally coming true?" YiJun asks the sleeping man in his bed. As always, the sleeping man doesn't respond or move.

YiJun continues to sit next to the bed for a few minutes; Like he is expecting the sleeping man to wake; to move; to answer him.

But as always, nothing happens, and YiJun finally leaves the room.

*Outside Lan Mansion*

Shen walks to the main gates and finds a man dressed in a black cardigan and muddy boots, waiting for him. The man has something in his mouth.

'Is that a lollipop?' Shen wonders, walking closer. It is indeed a lollipop that the man, the police officer, is sucking on. Shen shakes his head disapprovingly and wonders, 'How unprofessional! Is he really with the law enforcement?' Nonetheless, Shen walks out and greets the unprofessional man, "Good morning, officer... "

"Bai Zhau." The police officer smiles, extending his hand towards Shen and introducing himself.

"Officer Bai, how how can I help you?" Shen replies, taking the officer's hand and shaking it firmly.

The officer checks him out from head to toe before smiling cockily. He removes the offensive lolly from his mouth, "You look nothing like the pictures I have seen gracing the magazine covers."

"Mn?"

"The pictures.... they don't do justice to you, Mr. Lan." Bai Zhau says, before winking at Shen. Shen blinks several times, 'Is he flirting with me???' He gulps and corrects the man's error, "Officer, there seems to be a misunderstanding. I am Wangji's uncle, Zhu Shen. Wangji is busy and can't talk to you at the moment."

Bai Zhau gasps in mock surprise, "I am sorry, but I don't believe you. You are too good-looking, I mean, you look too young to be anyone's uncle."

'What the hell????' Shen doesn't understand what the officer is trying to get at.

"Officer- " Shen starts but, Bai Zhau cuts him off, "Please call me Zhau... Or Yunlan."

"Officer." Shen continues sternly, "I am a busy man, can you please tell me how I can help you?"

"Ah, yes... Sorry, your beautiful face distracted me." Zhau chuckles, and Shen's eyes widen; his eyebrows disappear into his hairline. Zhau continues, "Shen. Can I call you Shen? Well, Shen, I am here because a car, registered under Mr. Lan's name, was found at the scene of a murder."

Shen keeps a straight face, "Can I take a look at the car details, please?"

Bai Zhau walks towards Shen, and standing closer than necessary, hands over the documents to him.

Shen goes through the documents, "Officer, this is indeed our company car, but it had gone missing a couple of days ago."

Bai Zhau takes the documents back, "I know. But I would still like to look into the matter."

"Any particular reason?"

Bai Zhau smiles brightly, "Because you are cute, and this will give me a reason to see you again."

"Officer, please. The truth. Now."

Bai Zhau's expression changes, "We have witnesses that have confirmed Mr. Lan's presence at the scene of the crime a few minutes before the victim's estimated time of death."

"Wangji didn't do it. I can assure you." Shen says confidently.

Bai Zhau once again invades Shen's personal space and whispers in his ears, "I know. I looked into the matter, and the CCTV footage we found near the crime scene tells a different story. Shen, I like you; I will let you in on a secret." Bai Zhau pauses and looks at Shen's face, "Shen, do you believe in vampires?"

{Note:- Word Count 1399

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