What It's Like Being a Vampire

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: Guess Right and I’ll Admit Defeat October 4th, Tang Baona’s birthday.

She had to have lunch with her family and a birthday party with friends in the evening. Consequently, Xiang Kun didn’t get a chance to showcase his newly-researched recipes today.

Tang Baona had initially invited him to dinner with her friends, but Xiang Kun naturally declined.

She then invited him to go to karaoke after dinner. Xiang Kun thought about it and decided to go, mainly to deliver his gift before leaving.

At eight in the evening, Xiang Kun arrived, holding a wooden box wrapped in colorful gift paper, at the location mentioned by Tang Baona on WeChat.

Upon reaching their private room, Xiang Kun discovered seven other people besides Tang Baona and Yang Zhen Er, presumably the childhood friends and classmates Tang Baona had mentioned.

According to Tang Baona, these people were usually either running around different places, busy with work and business, or already married and usually accompanying their families and kids, so they rarely had a chance to meet. But today being Tang Baona’s birthday and a national holiday, they had a rare opportunity to gather.

“Wow, this box is so heavy, what gift is this? I’m very curious!” At the entrance of the room, Tang Baona received the box wrapped with colorful gift paper with curiosity.

“It’s something I made myself. You can open it when you get home. The box is kind of difficult to open and there’s a fixed item inside. If it falls out, it’ll be a hassle to put it back,” Xiang Kun said.

Seeing Tang Baona’s slightly flushed cheeks, probably from having a bit of alcohol during dinner, he worried that she might drop and damage the wood carving. A two-dimensional wood carving hand-made by a vampire was, at least for now, one-of-a-kind in the world. Moreover, if she unwrapped the gift now, it would certainly draw the attention of surrounding friends, who would then ask him many questions. He didn’t want to be the center of attention in front ot Tang Baona’s friends.

Having delivered the gift, Xiang Kun was looking for an excuse to leave. Not only because he was uncomfortable being around so many strangers, but also because today was his blood-drinking day. Based on the timing of his last feed, his hunger should start around 9 to 10 pm tonight.

However, seeing his arrival, Yang Zhen Er excitedly ran over and pushed him to enter the room. She then introduced him to the friends and introduced the friends to him.

In this case, Xiang Kun couldn’t just leave, so he reluctantly decided to stay for a while.

“Our Brother Xiang is a genius in the cooking world. He learned how to cook in less than two months and he is already better than some of the top restaurants…” Yang Zhen Er started to boast about Xiang Kun incessantly like an agent.

While talking, she took out her phone and showed her friends the popular photo of Xiang Kun’s back that had widely circulated on Weibo last month, saying, “This is our Brother Xiang, the real deal!”

Some of her friends, who had seen that picture or its edited versions on the internet, were surprised, repeatedly shifting their gaze between the picture on the phone and Xiang Kun.

“The bag he’s carrying in the picture, that’s the bow and arrow we gifted him. Our Brother Xiang is also a genius when it comes to archery. He beat the archery hall coach on his first visit. If he were born in ancient times, he would have been a formidable general!”

While talking, Yang Zhen Er showed a video on her phone to her friends, saying, “This was him too, kicking a knifeman away. Remember when I told you I witnessed a wanted criminal being caught? That was also done by Brother Xiang right in front of us!”

“And last month, we went horse riding with Old Xia and Brother Xiang. On our way home, we encountered human traffickers. Brother Xiang single-handedly took down two of the men, and Old Xia also dealt with the other two. Nana and I were cheering them on the side…”

Xiang Kun was a bit bewildered. The scene felt like a product manager introducing the excellent performance of their product to customers.

After Yang Zhen Er put away her phone, she pointed at a bottle of Rio and told her friends, “Now the presentation is over, let’s move on to the question. Guess: what is Brother Xiang’s real job? Whoever guesses correctly, I’ll finish this bottle. Whoever guesses wrong, go get a drink as punishment.”

Tang Baona, who was beside her, couldn’t help but laugh as she held her belly. She could already foresee her friends contemplating and then quietly taking a drink as punishment for incorrect guesses.

Who the hell could guess this?

As expected, after the friends exchanged looks, one of the girls asked in confusion, “Yang Lao San, haven’t you been calling Mr. Xiang, Brother Xiang the Chef? Isn’t he a chef then?”

Yang Zhen Er gave her a disdainful look, “Don’t call me Yang Lao San! Call me Sister San! Didn’t I just say that our Brother Xiang is the shining star in the field of cooking, a genius! He’s only been learning to cook for two months! Now you guessed wrong, drink!”

Another man with glasses and his hair tied in a small braid said uncertainly, “Is he a fitness coach?”

“Wrong! Drink!”

Another person guessed, “Stopping a knife-wielder and capturing a wanted criminal, could he be a police officer?”

“Wrong! Drink!”

“Could he be a martial arts teacher, or a boxing coach? Or a boxer?”

“Drink! ” “A physical education teacher?”

“Drink! ”

“Although Mr. Xiang seems quite skillful, he seems rather cultured and wears glasses. Hmm. I guess he’s into music. umm. or he could be a painter. Overall an artist!”

“Wrong, drink! That’s your third glass, right…”

The girl who had first guessed wrongly contemplated for a moment and then said, “Looking at Yang Lao San’s sneaky and cunning nature, it is certain that Mr. Xiang’s occupation has nothing to do with the things she said earlier. It is also likely to contrast with his appearance. I guess he is a makeup artist?” “Drink, drink!” Yang Zhen’er said proudly.

It was only after each of the seven friends had drunk at least three glasses that Yang Zhen’er let Tang Baona announce the answer, “Brother Xiang is a programmer…”

Such an episode made everyone feel much less strange towards Xiang Kun, even though he hadn’t spoken a word except for greeting Tang Baona’s friends when introduced.

Of the three men among these friends, all were either married or about to get married. Two of their wives were also in the room and were high school classmates with Tang Baona. Another one was also engaged. Hence, there was no jealousy or ill feeling towards Xiang Kun.

The man with glasses and braided hair came forward and started chatting with Xiang Kun. He was the art director at a game company and had plenty of common topics to discuss.

“Beer or wine?” The braided -haired man asked kindly..