A/N: Before I left this morning, I managed to write one more chapter. I just forgot to publish it. Haha

EGO POV Yibo

Although I kept my eyes open and observed Maxi number 17, as requested by Zhan, and compared her with the other homunculus, I noticed nothing unusual about her. Nothing, in fact. Which was easily explained after I heard from Zhan's father that Maxi number 17 was special because she carried the memories of her predecessors.

I don't even remember exactly how Xiao Liang and I came up with this. I seem to remember that he saw me watching Maxi as she went about her work. Xiao Liang said, "She is very special. I have always implanted in her and her predecessors' memories. Therefore, she not only has the knowledge since I created her 4 months ago. But the knowledge of about 30 years."

"I see." I replied.

"She is thirsty for knowledge. She is very curious. And when she's not working, she's often in the library reading or in my lab watching me work. I know Zhan doesn't trust her, I see the way he looks at her and avoids her. But just because she's different doesn't mean she's bad."

"Mhm. But she is unusual. And recently she disobeyed an order from Zhan, which upset him a lot."

"Well, I think they just don't like each other. And Zhan apparently forgets that the other homunculus are also thirsty for knowledge and curious. They just hide it very well. Still, I often see them going to the library. I also sometimes hear them talking about some things they have experienced. They tell each other stories. And Maxi often tells them about her memories."

"Still, is there a possibility that Zhan might be right in his suspicions? After all, she was supposed to follow your orders. Yet she disobeyed his order, provoking him even more to doubt her."

"Yibo, I can't answer that question for you. Likewise, I could also ask if she even realizes that she is provoking Zhan like this? She treats him the way he treats her."

"But that's not right either. If she's just a magical helper, shouldn't she listen to Zhan instead of irritating him like that and disobeying his orders?"

"That's why I said she's special. True, she is only a magical helper, and as a homunculus, she has no heart. But that doesn't mean she's not still able to live, have feelings, or even dream. Even she can feel hurt when Zhan rejects her so openly. But that doesn't mean she would do anything to hurt Zhan because of it. So don't worry about it." He said.

That same night, I talked to Zhan about my observations and that I didn't notice anything. I explained to him what his dad told me and then I also told him that it was my first time dealing with such magical helpers and so I couldn't tell if she was really different from others. And after what Zhan's dad said to me, I was even less able to judge.

Zhan did nod and tell me it was okay and that he was grateful to me for keeping my eyes open anyway. But I didn't like the look he had on his face either.

But maybe I should have waited a little longer to talk to Zhan about it. After all, he wasn't in a good mood anyway, because there had been an accident during training in the afternoon and I had suffered a deep cut on my thigh.

It had started when we were training with knives. Zhan transformed and I reminded him again that he has to be at peace with himself, his normal side and his dark side, in order to unleash his full power. The vampire grumbled that it wasn't his fault if Zhan still couldn't accept his dark side.

His dark side was right about that, of course. I nodded and promised that I would talk to Zhan again. We then continued to train and tried to attack each other with the knives and defend against the attacks. All was well. Until I got thirsty and had a drink. When I went back to the mats, I didn't notice that one of my shoelaces had come loose.

I stepped on the shoelace and was about to fall. Zhan jumped towards me to prevent my fall. But all this happened so fast that he still had the knife in his hand when I fell and he landed on my legs. He wasn't fast enough and since he still had the knife in his hand, it drilled a few inches into my thigh.

It had been a really stupid accident. Zhan blamed himself for it. His father, who stitched up my wound, didn't make it any better by angrily telling Zhan that he should have just let me fall, since the mats on the floor would have softened my fall anyway.

The two then got into a discussion that by then had nothing to do with my injury at all. Zhan's father angrily demanded that Zhan finally come to terms with the fact that he has a dark side and can only fight successfully if he finally accepts it and forgives himself for what had happened back then.

Zhan then became angry as well and reproached his father that he of all people had to say that, when after over 300 years he still hasn't accepted that he can no longer be human and will forever remain a vampire.

I could just sit there and say nothing. Because both of them were right in my eyes. And then when Zhan looked at me, something very unusual happened. He turned! But he was completely different from before. Instead of red eyes, he had black eyes! Although only his eyes changed during his transformation, his whole appearance was completely different.

Zhan squatted down in front of me and helped me stand up after Zhan's father took care of my wound. And then Zhan lifted me up in his arms and carried me to his room. He laid me down on his bed, covered me up and left.

Xiao Liang said nothing the whole time and just followed us. Only when Zhan left the room did I dare to ask him, "What was that?"

"Well, that was Zhan's true self. But, why did he transform so suddenly?" Replied Xiao Liang.

"That was Zhan's real self? With black eyes like that?"

"Mhm. The vampire that attacked Zhan's biological mother back then was a particularly strong and powerful vampire. True, we gave him our blood for the transformation. But the vampire's poison what is in his body is unique. We don't know much about the vampire. It was only said that he could summon the realm of the dead. He was said to be able to bring souls back to this world as spirits from the afterlife."

"Oh um what?"

"Oh yes, until now you didn't know that Zhan is not the biological child of my wife and me, did you? Zhan doesn't know so far. But, it's not possible for vampires..."

"Zhan knows and he told me. He just didn't tell you guys."

"Mhhh, it seems to me that we have really underestimated Zhan all these years."

"Seems like it. Zhan knows a lot more than he lets on. And again about earlier. That was just a stupid accident. There was no need to scold Zhan like that."

"I'd better go see where he is now."

"But not alone! I'll go with you! I promised him if he turned back into his true self, I'd stay by his side and keep watch."

"Yibo? Do you actually realize that even my wife and I are powerless against his true self?"

"That may be. But Zhan loves me. He carried me up here to bed! If he wanted to harm me, he could have just done it. But Zhan protects me and looks out for me. And I look out for him!" I said.

Xiao Liang nodded and then helped me stand up. He gave me a long pole to use as a support while I walked. Because of my wound on my thigh, which was quite painful, I was a bit handicapped.

To be honest, I was worried. Zhan really seemed like someone completely different. And yet, I had felt his concern for me. I felt inside that he would never hurt me. But, was that true for everyone else?

When we got downstairs, Maxi number 17 told us that Zhan was back in the training room. His father and I went there and saw Zhan training. He had two swords with him and moved incredibly fast, fluidly and easily. His hair blew gently with every movement. And then I knew, he was doing wushu! Zhan can do wushu!

https://youtu.be/NpRR3NwD_nQ

Even after all these years without the transformation into his true self, he could still remember it and move as if he had trained it every day. When he then took a long stick and continued to train with it, it looked even more impressive and powerful. Even Zhan's father could only stand there speechless watching him.

Then Zhan's mother came to the training room. And when she saw Zhan training, her eyes sparkled. She even had tears in her eyes and held both hands in front of her mouth. "Isn't he unique?" She whispered.

I nodded, not daring to take my eyes off Zhan. If only there hadn't been the pain in my leg. I was already about to just sit down on the floor when Zhan turned around to face me. As if he could sense that I was in pain, he came up to me and lifted me back up in his arms. "You should really take some rest my Yibo." He said and carried me back to the room. This time no one followed us.

After he put me on the bed and was about to leave again, I grabbed his wrist and asked him to stay. He sat down next to me and looked at the window. "How are you ZhanZhan?" I asked when he didn't say anything and just stared at the window.

"Mhhh, fine." He replied. He finally turned around to face me and leaned back. He rested his head on my chest and kissed my hand. "If you're fine, I'm fine." He finally explained to me.

I stroked Zhan's head and smiled. He was still himself, just a little stronger than I thought possible. I could literally feel how strong he really was. And yet he snuggled up to me and then lay down in my arms. He was still transformed and still sought my closeness!

"It's nice that despite your transformation, you still seem to be yourself."

"My transformation does not change my feelings for you Yibo. And it also doesn't change the fact that I feel comfortable and safe in your arms. And I continue to like it when it's you who makes love to me. I like to feel you inside me. Your warmth always runs through my whole body then."

"I also like to sleep with you Zhan. And I'm relieved that your feelings for me are the same."

"Oh yeah? Even though my eyes are completely black, like a demon's?"

"That doesn't change anything at all. I told you before, transformed or not, I still want to be with you."

"I'm glad Yibo." He replied. He lifted his head and gave me a kiss. Then he transformed back into the normal Zhan. He smiled and we kissed each other deeply. Afterwards he whispered in my ear: "I want you to hear it from my mouth at least once. I know we only have a friendship plus. But still I want to say it at least once. And I don't expect you to respond. So don't worry. I love you Yibo."

I wanted too much to tell him that I loved him too. But Zhan must have been afraid of what I might say, because he pressed his lips to mine and asked me not to say anything. Instead, he snuggled back up to me and eventually fell asleep. I stroked his head and back and whispered very softly, "I love you too my sweet dear ZhanZhan."

Later, when he was awake again, I told him about the conversation with his father about Maxi number 17. His mood was not the best. Because he still blamed himself for hurting me during training. Even if it was just a stupid accident.

But an hour later he smiled again and spoiled me. He is totally into kissing my nipples and abs. I like it very much, so he can continue to spoil me in this way with pleasure. And well, the other thing he did, I liked that a lot too, of course. I think it's fantastic what he can do to my body with his mouth and tongue.