Chapter 21

The intense emotions of regaining what was lost couldn't be expressed in words. He could only constantly use his own body to feel the presence of the other person, to feel the unbreakable connection between them.

Oceania was exhausted from the turmoil and finally had to give in. "Don't you want to talk to me?" Their voice was hoarse, unrecognizable even to themselves.

Ansbillis pressed their lips tightly against the other's ear and refused to move even for a second. "Hmm? You said something, I'm listening." Their tongue skillfully traced the contours of their ear, imprinting its perfect shape deep in their mind when they closed their eyes.

"Beastification is Genghis's ability, but no one has ever interrupted the process of beastification."

Ansbillis froze.

Sensing their tension, Oceania turned their head and gently kissed their face. "Becoming two separate bodies was an accident. I can't sense the other part of my body now. Perhaps by breaking the seal, I can become whole again," Oceania explained.

The pain rooted in Ansbillis's heart made their limbs numb. The two bodies, which couldn't be inserted a moment ago, moved apart slightly due to their relaxation.

Oceania embraced them from behind and whispered, "I have many opportunities to leave."

Ansbillis remained silent. They were right. At first, apart from being strict with their own supervision, Ansbillis gave the black cat absolute freedom to come and go from the villa as long as it returned home for dinner every night. At that time, they entrusted the freedom and respect they had never given to Oceania to the black cat, but they never expected that, by a twist of fate, it would truly be given back to Oceania.

Oceania caressed their back and continued softly, "But I stayed." Stayed as an onlooker, watching you regret and feel guilty, watching your pain and struggle, watching all the things you did to make amends, and then, unable to leave anymore.

Ansbillis's limbs seemed to regain strength, and they held them in their arms again, but this time, they maintained a comfortable strength for both.

"I'm sorry." Finally, they lowered their proud head.

Oceania smiled and kissed their forehead. "I forgive you."

The lovers, who had resolved their internal conflicts, finally entered the honeymoon period that was hundreds of years overdue.

Although the lovers couldn't maintain their human forms and turned back into a black cat, Ansbillis strictly followed the menu prepared by their lover for dinner.

"Five-spice crayfish... Pickled fish... Boiled fish..." The bewildered chef put down the menu and looked helplessly at the black cat head supervisor squatting beside them. "At least tell me where I should search for the menu."

After finding the menu, the chef, with years of experience working in the kitchen, personalized the dishes.

"Don't look at me like that. I strictly followed the menu... Well, I added a little cream. Don't you think creamy shrimp tastes great? Since it's already five-spice, adding cream makes it six-spice, isn't that even better? Chinese athletes love to call it 'six-spice' too."

"..."

"It's not exactly sauerkraut, but this is Egypt! Where am I supposed to find Chinese sauerkraut here? Anyway, it's a sour dish. I soaked some greens in vinegar. The taste should be similar, right? I even soaked them twice... Why don't you try the boiled fish? I'm sure it's fine."

"..."

"If there's any issue, it might be due to the small amount of butter and curry powder."

"..."

That night, a black cat sat on the windowsill, gazing melancholically at the moon in the sky.

A figure busily worked in the kitchen, and after a while, a bat flew out and landed on the windowsill, cuddling up to the black cat.

The black cat glanced at it, extended its tail, and gently patted the bat's back, as if praising its hard work.

...

The bat spread its wings and patted the black cat in return.

Their days passed calmly and methodically, without any disturbance.

For a while, it was the blood kin with the blood kin, and then it was the black cat with the bat.

The scenery of the Red Sea was beautiful, and there were many places worth leaving their footprints.

Ansbillis bought a camera to capture their figures. They had been too arrogant before, thinking that being strong enough would create an impenetrable sanctuary, allowing them to live together forever, no matter if they were happy or resentful, delighted or disgusted. But now, they couldn't even produce decent souvenirs after parting.

In crowded places, one could often see a handsome man holding another handsome man, smiling at the camera. Sometimes the black cat would jump in to steal the spotlight, and other times it would be embraced by the handsome man, striking various strange poses—round eyes in a frightened expression, narrowed eyes in a contented smile, or kicking with a heroic stance...

Damn it! Is that still a cat?

The tourists would take out their cameras to capture the moment, but in the blink of an eye, both the men and the cat would disappear.

...

Indeed, it was like seeing a ghost.

Out of a sense of compensation and repentance, most of the time, Ansbillis accommodated Oceania.

However, there are some things in the world that cannot be accommodated.

For example—cheating.

Oceania unfolded the letter paper, but before he could start writing, he felt two scorching gazes burning holes into his newly bought wool sweater. He looked up in the mirror, and Ansbillis was approaching with big strides.

"What are you writing?" Ansbillis wrapped his arms around Oceania's neck from behind, slowly tightening his grip like a thick, strong scarf around Oceania's neck.

Oceania impatiently patted his arm. "You scared away my inspiration."

"Writing a love letter? Maybe I can give you some inspiration." Ansbillis lowered his head and started nibbling Oceania's neck, moving downward.

"Let me have some quiet for a moment," Oceania said.

Ansbillis lowered his gaze, his lips curved, revealing a glimpse of his fangs. He swallowed hard and suddenly buried his face in the crook of Oceania's shoulder, his arm trembling slightly.

Oceania twirled his pen but reluctantly set it down, stroking Ansbillis's hair. "Fine, let's think of some games we can play while wearing pants."

After a while, Ansbillis calmed down and lifted his head, casually saying, "Aren't you supposed to write a letter? I'll accompany you."

Oceania picked up a magazine nearby. "I just wanted to write a letter to the editor of this magazine, telling them that British food isn't as bad as they say. At least fish and chips are good."

Ansbillis took the magazine and flipped through it. "You can leave a comment on their official website."

Oceania said, "Do you really expect a cat to do that?"

Ansbillis leaned against Oceania's shoulder, absentmindedly caressing his Adam's apple with his index and middle fingers. "How about doing something that doesn't require pants?"

Oceania pulled his hand away, and as he held his own hand in his other hand, he kissed the back of Ansbillis's hand. "We should live a little healthier."

"Absolutely, like engaging in some physical and mental exercise," Ansbillis pulled him up and pressed his body against Oceania's.

"I want to sunbathe," Oceania said.

Ansbillis lifted his chin. "Is Genghis really a vampire? Maybe you can turn into any animal except bats?"

Oceania grinned. "You can tell by the standards I use to choose a partner, it's clearly blind."

"Oh," Ansbillis lowered his head, unconsciously playing with his fingers, remaining silent for a while.

Oceania felt something was off, a chilling sensation creeping up his spine. He crouched down, stealing a glance at Ansbillis from below, and locked eyes with a pair of jealousy-filled, manic, and confused crimson eyes.

Ansbillis lifted his chin and kissed him forcefully, fearing that his teeth might accidentally hurt him, channeling all his strength inward.

Oceania could clearly hear the cracking sound of the bones in the body holding him. He subtly leaned back, instantly igniting the flames of frenzy within Ansbillis. He swiftly took off his shirt and forcefully tore Oceania's, bringing their bodies together without any gap.

Oceania helplessly caressed the back of his neck. "At least let me know the reason."

Ansbillis's chest heaved unevenly, and after a while, he spoke, "Do you regret it?" "Regret what? Living in England all this time and only enjoying the food of fish and chips? Or choosing this hotel with stiff carpeting that's making me uncomfortable right now? Or not suggesting we go out and enjoy the sun as soon as we woke up, so now we're just sitting here in a strange position doing nothing?" "Not choosing Joseph Miller." "Uh." Suddenly, Ansbillis grabbed him and forcefully pushed him into the bathtub, towering over him and saying ominously, "It's too late for regrets now!" "Well, actually..." "Shut up!" Ansbillis kissed him irritably.

Oceania struggled symbolically for a moment and then gave up. Anyway, since he met Ansbillis, there had been many instances where he couldn't speak, and he had gotten used to giving up.

Until Oceania turned into a black cat, Ansbillis hadn't heard the answer from his mouth. He didn't regret it, though. If he couldn't hear the answer, he wouldn't hear the answers he didn't want to hear.

However, the next day, as soon as he opened his eyes, Ansbillis saw the hotel ceiling with a big message written on it: "I choose you! I choose you! You bastard, I choose you!"

Before he could fully explode with uncontrollable joy, Ansbillis noticed a note left by Oceania on the bedside table: "I went out to shut up."

Ansbillis, who had just been doused with cold water, said, "..."

No appetite for breakfast. Still not back for lunch. No appetite.

It wasn't until after eleven o'clock at night that there were rustling sounds coming from the balcony. The black cat returned, swaying with a hint of alcohol, taking light steps. Before it entered the room, the curtains were abruptly pulled open, and a tall, gloomy figure appeared by the window, looking down at it.

The black cat paused its paw in mid-air, then ingratiatingly extended it to scratch the figure's shoe, but seeing no response, it tiptoed to his leg and rubbed against his trousers.

Ansbillis bent down and picked it up, kissing its nose and lips, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

The black cat tilted its head, looking at him with some surprise, then nodded in satisfaction. It seemed that Ansbillis's years of cultivation had paid off; at least he knew how to apologize.

Ansbillis smiled and took out a quill pen, saying, "Now that I've apologized, it's time for your punishment."

The black cat: "..."

It couldn't escape the claws.

From then on, the black cat and Ansbillis settled down until they returned home.

The peaceful and contented life made Ansbillis feel as if he had returned from hell to heaven, a scene he had never dared to dream of. If there was one downside, it was that the black cat didn't stay human for long. Sometimes, when they fought too fiercely, the black cat would sulk and walk around in cat-like steps for three consecutive days, completely ignoring the famished, green-eyed bats around it.

Godwin, the Black Sorcerer, black magic... those seemed like things from a past life.

Sometimes Ansbillis would think that perhaps the cloaked figure from the witch clan had already taken care of him.

Until one day, a guest arrived at the little cabin.

Without opening the door, Ansbillis could sense the repugnant odor coming from outside. He picked up the black cat and placed it on the dining table by the living room, alongside Oceania.

Knock, knock, knock.

The knocking sound echoed calmly, three times.

Ansbillis had no doubt that if he continued to ignore the knocking, the other person would persist with the same rhythm until his composed exterior crumbled, revealing the irredeemable madness within.

The door automatically swung open inward.

Ansbillis crossed his arms and looked at him.

"Apologies for the interruption," Godwin greeted, removing his hat.

Ansbillis was surprised by the almost decaying appearance of the other person. During their first meeting, he appeared to be in his early fifties, with the marks of time etched on his face, but his every gesture exuded the charm of a mature man, the kind that inexperienced young girls liked. And now, his face was so wrinkled that even his features were indistinct.

Godwin leaned on his cane and entered the room slowly.

He wore a loose, black woolen coat with high shoulders that were symmetrical, forming a straight line, concealing his neck and making him look like a creature with a head attached to a black rectangular block. Under the coat, a pair of black leather shoes shone with an oily gleam, as if they hadn't touched a speck of dirt, even after stepping across a long beach.

He surveyed the living room like an old friend, his gaze lingering on the fake flowers on the windowsill for a moment before smiling, "You haven't changed. Enamored by the beauty of flowers, yet detesting their vibrant vitality."

Ansbillis responded, "I love the flowers, but I dislike taking care of them."

Godwin, wearing a self-satisfied smile that said, "I see through you, no need to conceal anymore," took a seat and said, "You are what you are."

Ansbillis remained silent.

It seemed that the other person's mental illness had worsened.

Are all mental illnesses this repulsive?

Was my past self the same?

Certainly not.

... He had beauty.