The Cold Queen is My Exclusive Little Snack - Chapter 2

Over centuries, the Bl00d Clan had scattered across the world, each branch evolving independently.

By now, each clan had developed distinct characteristics. For Zuo Xingning’s lineage, food often carried a deeper meaning:

A mate.

The pain jolted her mind awake. Zuo Xingning gripped the door handle, bracing herself against it. Cold sweat dripped from her forehead into her eyes, stinging fiercely.

She could only lower her head and wait for the initial frenzy triggered by the scent of food to subside. Fortunately, the ordeal didn’t last long.

White, low-heeled leather shoes stopped before her. A pair of warm hands covered her icy forearms, sending shivers through her.

Perhaps having developed some “resistance” to the scent, Zuo Xingning didn’t lose her composure again. This allowed her to maintain some dignity and finally look up at the source of the intoxicating aroma.

The moment she met those eyes, all her strength drained away.

Like a traveler who had trekked all night, reaching the mountain peak utterly exhausted, she could only sit by the campfire and await the sunrise.

The flames burned hot, baking her face and ears until they glowed. Finally, the sun rose from the eastern horizon, bathing everything in golden radiance.

And then, she could see nothing else, think of nothing else. Her vision was filled only with that radiant sun, and her ears rang with the crackling of burning firewood.

Like a heartbeat, pounding like a drum.

No introduction was needed. Zuo Xingning recognized the source of the scent—someone she could never have imagined:

Chu Shiyin.

Discovered by a talent scout during her university years, she entered the entertainment industry and, over the past eight years, had swept up nearly every major award, both domestic and international.

“Workaholic” and “Daredevil” were once her nicknames, until two years ago, when she suddenly vanished without a trace.

The official explanation was that she was “taking time to recharge.” Fans waited anxiously, day and night, until early this year, when Chu Shiyin unexpectedly starred in an art film that had been shelved for years. Her comeback reignited her popularity, sending her back to the peak of her career.

Even during her absence, Chu Shiyin’s name remained a hot topic.

Every public appearance, even a candid photo or video taken by a passerby, would top the trending searches. Fans clung to these “chance encounters” for survival, while bitterly joking that Chu Shiyin was “abusing her beauty.”

And now, before Zuo Xingning, stood that very face.

A delicate nose, crimson lips, and frosty eyes radiated an aura of untouchable aloofness, like snow-capped mountains, pristine and cold.

Even after being helped to sit on the sofa, Zuo Xingning remained dazed, her mind fixated on two thoughts.

First, if she had known half a month ago that her Familiar was Chu Shiyin, she would have chartered a private jet and flown here immediately. Why had she delayed so long, only to arrive in such a disheveled state?

Second, why could she smell “food” on Chu Shiyin?

For a young vampire experiencing this scent for the first time, the allure of the “food” was lethal.

Zuo Xingning couldn’t fathom how she had managed to resist the urge to lean in and inhale deeply, to lightly touch, to bite, and finally sink her fangs into Chu Shiyin’s delicate, beautiful neck…

“Are you alright?”

“…Probably just low bl00d sugar. I’m fine now.”

The question snapped her out of her hazy reverie. Zuo Xingning realized someone else had entered the office unnoticed.

She lightly licked her teeth to confirm her fangs had retracted, then brushed her fingertip against the corner of her lip, using the pain from the pressed wound to clear her mind.

“You are…?”

Zuo Xingning looked at the woman across from her. With her sharp, short haircut and rose-gold glasses perched on her nose, the woman’s gaze, refracted through the lenses, was both probing and icy.

Zuo Xingning couldn’t be sure if it was her imagination, but she knew why—a strange person had suddenly barged in, acting suspiciously like an illegitimate child.

“Yu Siya,” the woman said, pushing up her glasses. “Chu Shiyin’s manager. Are you here for an audition?”

An audition? Had Chu Shiyin told her something?

Zuo Xingning instinctively glanced at Chu Shiyin, who caught her eye and raised an eyebrow in response.

“Zuo Xingning,” she replied, unsure if she had understood correctly. “Yes, I’m here for an audition. As an actress.”

Perhaps because her Familiar had already made arrangements, the contract negotiations went smoother than expected.

After finalizing the main terms, Yu Siya took her ID to the adjacent room to draft the contract, and Chu Shiyin followed.

Zuo Xingning guessed they probably had something to discuss—something about her.

She wondered if Madam Zuo Minglan had actually made prior arrangements. Chu Shiyin seemed completely unprepared for her sudden arrival.

Opening the window, a gust of wind swept in, carrying fine raindrops that pushed aside the lingering fragrance around her.

Zuo Xingning took a deep breath of fresh air and glanced at her empty right wrist.

The crest had vanished upon contact with her Familiar, its purpose fulfilled.

Chu Shiyin was indeed her Familiar.

But something still felt wrong.

When Madam Zuo Minglan had explained the “Vampire ABCs,” she had emphatically stressed that a Familiar could never become food!

In the chilly rain, Zuo Xingning crouched down, curling into a mushroom-like shape, radiating an indescribable aura of melancholy.

I knew that fortune-teller was a fraud! she thought. What “great fortune”? It’s all just ghost-fooling nonsense.

She wondered how her parents would react to this. I guess I’m destined to be single forever now.

Ha! Serves them right for tricking me into coming here in the first place!

That’s Chu Shiyin, for crying out loud!

…Chu Shiyin.

Damn it! That’s Chu Shiyin!

The little mushroom glanced in the direction Chu Shiyin had left, then buried her face in her knees, letting out a mournful, dog-like howl.

As Zuo Xingning had suspected, Chu Shiyin was indeed discussing signing Yu Siya.

Signing new talent had been part of their plan for a while. Although Zuo Xingning had formal training, her lack of practical experience meant developing her would require significant time and resources, making her less than ideal for their needs.

“So, what are your thoughts?” Chu Shiyin asked, resting her chin on her hand and gazing at Yu Siya with amusement. “We’ve scouted the Film Academy multiple times without finding anyone satisfactory. Yet this girl who suddenly barged in today has caught your eye?”

“If you’re worried about Zuo Xingning’s lack of experience, I don’t think it’s necessary,” Yu Siya replied, typing away at her computer without looking up.

“Experience can be gained, and skills can be learned. With her looks, breaking into the industry won’t be difficult. Besides, she seems quite obedient. I imagine… managing her will be far easier than managing you back in the day.”

Chu Shiyin remained noncommittal, tapping her foot lightly on the floor as she swiveled her chair away. “Do as you please.”

Yu Siya’s fingers paused on the keyboard. Finally, she lifted her gaze from the screen, determined not to miss any flicker of emotion on Chu Shiyin’s face.

They had met when both were nobodies, and it was she who had painstakingly molded the prickly, defensive Chu Shiyin into the “Shadow Queen” she was today.

No one knew better than Yu Siya just how difficult Chu Shiyin could be in private. Lingyin was their shared labor of love, and Chu Shiyin would never allow anyone to destroy it.

This was why Lingyin Studio, despite being established for over a year, had yet to sign a single artist. Getting Chu Shiyin to budge on anything was truly as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Looking back, Chu Shiyin had indeed agreed a little too easily. Only Yu Siya’s own poor state of mind today had almost made her overlook this anomaly.

Yu Siya narrowed her eyes, tossing out a guess: “You know him?”

Chu Shiyin’s fingers tapped at her side, her gaze shifting imperceptibly. Yu Siya knew exactly what that meant and cut her off.

“So you do know him.”

“…I suppose you could say that,” Chu Shiyin replied, her gaze drifting toward the misty rain outside the window. There was no point in denying it. She too had once endured a rain that lasted half a lifetime.

“We met once when we were children.”

Yu Siya didn’t press further, always knowing where to draw the line.

The clatter of the keyboard resumed. In an unnoticed corner, behind the closed blinds, a round head quietly slipped away.

Zuo Xingning realized something was wrong with her only when it was almost too late.

Seemingly affected by the fragrance, her emotions were amplified, and before long, her face was streaked with tears and snot.

Clearly, she couldn’t let anyone see her in this state. Zuo Xingning went to the bathroom to wash her face. As she returned, she faintly heard her name.

Perhaps it was just similar-sounding syllables, but before her rationality could kick in, she found herself crouching beneath the Venetian blinds.

There was no denying it: she was intensely curious.

Curious about Chu Shiyin’s impression of her, her opinions, and desperate to hear every word Chu Shiyin spoke about her. She yearned to know.

Zuo Xingning knew this was likely a side effect of the fragrance, fueling obsessive thoughts that surged through her heart like wildfire.

She held her breath, straining to catch every word that slipped from Chu Shiyin’s lips.

“You know her?”

It was Yu Siya’s voice.

The wall muffled the sound, making Chu Shiyin’s low reply indistinct, but it was enough to piece together her answer: no denial.

Zuo Xingning froze for a moment before remembering.

Of course, she and Chu Shiyin had met—at the full moon ceremony. How could I almost forget?

They were a vampire and her Familiar. That was all they could ever be.

The artist contract was readily available, requiring only minor adjustments before use.

When Yu Siya found Zuo Xingning again, she immediately noticed the young woman’s downcast mood.

At just over twenty years old, Zuo Xingning’s thoughts were written plainly on her face, especially when she stole furtive glances at Chu Shiyin, her eyes filled with a palpable sense of grievance.

Who upset her?

The thought flashed through Yu Siya’s mind as she handed over the still-warm contract, fresh from the printer. Zuo Xingning flipped through it quickly, signing her name with a flourish.

Yu Siya suspected she was merely looking for the signature line, barely glancing at the terms. A terrible habit.

While Yu Siya was still pondering this, Zuo Xingning had already handed back one of the signed copies.

With the contract now in effect, she was officially an artist with Lingyin Studio. But other pressing matters remained:

Accommodation.

She had already discussed this with Chu Shiyin.

“The studio’s regular staff are currently working at the cultural park in the suburbs. They’re scheduled to move here next month. The employee dormitories in the city center are the same—they’re not ready for occupancy yet.”

“Finding temporary housing takes time. I have a business trip tomorrow… cough, cough…”

Yu Siya turned her head and coughed a few times. “For the time being, would you prefer to stay with Shiyin? Or…”

…or squeeze in with me.

“Yes! I’m fine with that. Staying with Shiyin is no problem at all!”

Zuo Xingning cut her off before she could finish, or perhaps she simply didn’t want to hear the other option. She answered swiftly, as if afraid the opportunity would slip away.

“……”

As if I’m the one who wants to squeeze in with you.

It’s just that your expression earlier reminded me of how you dislike Chu Shiyin.

Yu Siya turned her head and coughed twice more.

Young girls’ minds are even harder to decipher than the virus I’ve contracted.