✽001.

There are two ways to obtain blood: buy it or suck it.

The lingering air of intimacy had heated up the expensive hotel room. The woman, her long hair tousled, lay with a languid expression, her head buried in the white pillow. Kang Ju-wan, as if indulging her whims, had his left arm under her head as a pillow while his right hand repeatedly brushed her hair aside. The woman looked at him with affectionate eyes, admiring his sharp yet smooth jawline, pale irises, and the pronounced movement of his Adam’s apple. She spoke in a satisfied tone.

“Mi-nam, you’re really something else today.”

“Did you like it, noona?”

“Yeah, even that tacky necklace on your neck looks pretty right now.”

“I’m feeling so refreshed.”

The woman said, giggling as she tugged on the cross necklace hanging over Kang Ju-wan’s chest. In response, the “Mi-nam” or rather Kang Ju-wan, quickly wrapped his arm around her shoulder again and showered her with kisses. The woman’s long hair tickled Kang Ju-wan’s face as both of them burst into laughter.

“Where are you going? You need to hold me,” she teased.

“By the way, didn’t you take the herbal medicine I gave you last time? You’re so young, but your blood circulation seems off. Why are you so cold?”

He did take it. Well, not Ju-wan, but someone else did. Kang Ju-wan replied with a playful grin.

“So, do you not like it?”

“No, it’s just too cute.”

With that, Kang Ju-wan curled up like a child, resting the top of his head against the chest of the woman, who was at least 20 centimeters shorter than him. The softness of her body, the feeling of her arms tightly wrapped around him, the sound of her heartbeat beyond his ear, and her warm touch—all of it, Kang Ju-wan liked.

“If I’m cold, you can warm me up,” he said.

The woman pinched Kang Ju-wan’s soft cheek as he nestled against her chest and replied.

“Lately, I’ve seen guys less handsome than you lining up to be idols on TV.”

“Are you going to help me debut?” he teased.

“No. If you did, you wouldn’t be able to do things like this with me.”

The woman, with Kang Ju-wan clinging to her waist like a giant koala, wriggled to sit up. She reached out to grope the nightstand beside the bed, and soon found a cigarette, slipping one naturally between her lips. Looking lovingly at Kang Ju-wan, who was still latched onto her waist, she exhaled a puff of smoke and spoke.

“Oh, right. By the way, I won’t be reachable for about a month.”

“Is something going on?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m getting married next month. There’s a lot to prepare, and I’ll be going to Hawaii for the honeymoon. My soon-to-be husband’s business trip ended sooner than expected.”

For a moment, Kang Ju-wan’s face went blank. Blinking, he sat up on the bed.

“Marriage…?”

“Yeah. But you know, you’re the one I truly love, right?”

The elegant beauty, her slender figure still captivating, blew out another puff of smoke before playfully pinching Kang Ju-wan’s nose.

“Speaking of which, there’s a nice, new studio apartment in Yangjae with a great location. Move in there.”

Even though she was well past thirty, her immaculate upkeep made her look like she was in her twenties. From her expression, it was clear she didn’t for a second think Kang Ju-wan would refuse.

“My husband and I agreed not to interfere in each other’s private lives anyway. If you move in there, I’ll set you up with a café, so you don’t have to work at that shitty host bar anymore. I’ll pick a spot with great sunlight.”

“Aha.”

Kang Ju-wan let out a short, hollow laugh. If any other host had heard her offer, they’d have been so overwhelmed with joy they might have cried and sworn eternal love to her on the spot. But unfortunately, Kang Ju-wan was a little different from your average host.

‘So, this is as far as it goes again…’ he thought to himself.

Kang Ju-wan quickly put on a sorrowful expression and shook his head.

“How could I impose on you like that?”

The woman’s eyes widened, and she gave an innocent, admiring exclamation as if she was genuinely impressed.

“As expected of an ace. Even your charm game is on another level. Want me to do something else for you instead of a café?”

To her, Kang Ju-wan’s refusal must have seemed like a playful protest. But Kang Ju-wan only smiled awkwardly, not offering any further response. Slowly, the woman’s cheerful face began to turn cold. She stubbed out her cigarette in the ashtray and flicked her finger against Kang Ju-wan’s forehead. His lack of excitement at her generous offer displeased her.

Kang Ju-wan naturally slid off the bed, knelt on the floor, and looked up at her with an expression like a stray puppy abandoned in the rain.

“Charm game…? That’s not it at all…” he murmured.

Kang Ju-wan was well aware of how well his face worked for him. His light, translucent brown eyes sparkled like gemstones, and his almond-shaped, sharp, double-eyelid-free eyes stretched out horizontally, giving a refreshing yet piercing look. The proud, prominent nose at the center of his face added a masculine touch. Women adored the way his jawline subtly tensed when he clenched his teeth, the veins that stood out on his large hands, and the reddish-brown hue of his hair.

His full lips were a pale pink, and his skin was snow-white, almost devoid of pigment. This lack of color complemented his sharp features, giving Kang Ju-wan an androgynous beauty. He blinked his long, curtain-like lashes as he gazed up at the woman.

“I wouldn’t do that to you, noona. We’re in love, aren’t we?”

The woman was momentarily speechless. Habitually, she reached for another cigarette from the nightstand, lighting it with a slight nervousness. Acrid smoke quickly filled the hotel room. She smoked furiously in silence for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.

“Am I not enough for you? Are you going off to see other girls?”

“Are you jealous of me right now, noona?”

Kang Ju-wan smiled faintly, as if her jealousy pleased him. The woman let out an incredulous sigh, almost laughing at the absurdity.

“Don’t change the subject.”

She stubbed out the cigarette roughly in the ashtray, letting out a deep sigh. Then, she opened the wallet sitting next to the cigarette pack and tossed two 100,000-won checks at Kang Ju-wan. Pushing him aside lightly, she stood up from the bed, her tall, naked figure graceful.

“Take a taxi. Answer when I call.”

“Yes.”

But just then, as she draped a silk robe over her shoulders and started toward the bathroom, Kang Ju-wan gently grabbed her hand.

“…Noona, could you spare me just a moment?”

“Hm?”

She turned back, looking at him curiously. And in that instant, as she met his gaze, the previously light, translucent brown of Kang Ju-wan’s eyes shifted abruptly to a blood-red hue, as vivid as freshly spilled crimson.

“Just… stay right there for a moment.”

His voice hadn’t changed much from when he was playfully sweet-talking her earlier. Yet, the focus in the woman’s eyes was gradually fading. The sharp glint of jealousy and nervousness in her dark pupils dimmed, as though ink had spilled and blurred them. She spoke in a dreamy, dazed tone.

“Like this?”

“Yes, just like that. It’s nothing much… but I don’t meet married people. So, I think we won’t be able to see each other anymore.”

“What? I already told you my husband doesn’t mind…”

“People who say that always end up having problems.”

Kang Ju-wan genuinely looked regretful. He might have seemed even more so if not for the eerie crimson glow radiating from his light brown eyes, like the flash of a film camera capturing someone at midnight.

“That’s why, as a parting gift, I’d like to leave a little mark on your neck. Just a small one. Is that okay? Since it’s our last time.”

“…Okay.”

“I’ve been holding back because your scent is so irresistible… so instead of that studio apartment, I’ll take this as my gift.”

In an instant, the light in the woman’s eyes disappeared entirely. Even faced with such absurd words, she nodded obediently. In truth, she wasn’t fully comprehending what Kang Ju-wan was saying anymore.

Kang Ju-wan smiled softly, his expression kind.

“Then don’t go just yet. Come sit here for a moment.”

When Kang Ju-wan gently pulled on the woman’s hand, she naturally let herself be seated on the bed. The silk robe she had just thrown on slipped off again, revealing her bare skin. She mumbled softly,

“But we’re not breaking up….”

“This is advice from experience. It’s better to end things when someone gets married.”

Ju-wan responded calmly as he moved carefully behind her. Wrapping his arms tightly around her from behind, he brought her close. Her neck was right in front of his nose, and the sweet scent of her skin wafted over him. Gently, he swept her long hair over to her opposite shoulder, clearing the way, and spoke softly.

“And about the studio apartment—I told you before that I didn’t want it, remember? Though I suppose you don’t recall. Anyway, I can’t live with anyone. Let’s say you left me because of your marriage. And please stop coming to Eden after this.”

“But…”

“If, by chance, you break off the engagement and come back, I might reconsider.”

“Okay…” she murmured, her voice faint and compliant.

Kang Ju-wan’s crimson gaze deepened, and at the same time, his two canines extended sharply like a beast’s. Even though her back was turned, the woman suddenly felt a chilling sensation crawl up her spine and instinctively tried to twist her body away. But Ju-wan tightened his strong arms around her, holding her firmly from behind.

“Shh, it’ll feel good. Don’t scream,” he whispered.

Ju-wan didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he pressed a button on the watch strapped to his left wrist and, without hesitation, sank his teeth into the woman’s neck. She trembled violently, letting out a silent scream, just as he had promised. As Ju-wan bit down and drew deeply, the sweet, hot rush of blood filled his mouth. His sharp fangs injected a paralytic venom into his prey.

The tableau of the woman, her body limp and reclined, and the young man pressing his teeth into her neck from behind could have been mistaken for a moment of passionate intimacy between lovers. At first, she shivered uncontrollably, even in her subconscious. Then, her expression transformed into one of blissful ecstasy, as though intoxicated by some drug. She seemed entirely unaware that her life was slowly slipping away.

However, Ju-wan had no intention of killing her.

Bzzz—

Exactly three minutes later, the vibration alarm on his wristwatch went off. Ju-wan immediately withdrew his teeth, stepping back from her neck. With practiced ease, he wiped the trickling blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.