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"Oh," I exclaimed.

Fang Rong looked quite nervous at this moment, as if she had returned to that dark castle.

I asked, "Then what about vampires?" This was undoubtedly what I was most concerned about.

"The collector was like a madman all night, and my mentor could only give him sleeping pills to sleep. Who knew that the next morning, the collector's living flesh was reduced to a pile of dried skin."

"Drained of blood by a vampire?" I exclaimed.

Fang Rong looked serious and did not deny it.

"So, have you seen any vampires?"

She stroked her hair, revealing her snow-white neck, and sighed softly, "If we really see a vampire, can we still survive? But my mentor is still extremely regretful. He has been studying vampires for twenty years. If we could really see a vampire, he would probably be willing to die for it."

"Hmm. I believe it." I don't know if I'd be afraid of dying if I actually encountered a vampire. But I do know that I've invested considerable passion and energy into the ancient world of vampires. Perhaps if this continues, I'll become the next "Indiana Jones."

I wholeheartedly believe the story Fang Rong told me. In medieval Europe, plague raged, torture was closely intertwined with religion, and court corruption plunged the entire continent into darkness and mystery. Vampire stories thus flourished during that era. Numerous murals, books, and instruments of torture all originated from vampires. People feared and hated vampires, yet many others, for their own personal desires, held them in high esteem and longed for their existence.

It can be said that vampires exist as a non-cultural phenomenon. You can't deny or vilify any story about vampires. In fact, many have tried, yet they all died at the hands of the vampires they so scorned.

Fang Rong agreed with my view. It didn't take long for us to establish a good working relationship.

---Bifengke

Reply [119]: White Teeth--2

Wednesday of the second week of working with Fang Rong.

The director invited Fang Rong and me to dinner, and of course, the topic of vampires came up during the meal.

"You two seem to be having a pleasant working relationship?" The director, dressed in a white t-shirt, was beaming, as if it were my and Fang Rong's wedding day. (Of course, if I could, I would be more than happy to do so. Fang Rong has left a very good impression on me.)

"Xiaobai is easy to get along with. Although our cooperation has just begun, I believe we can complete the year-long collaboration very well." Fang Rong's face was slightly flushed.

I quickly added, "Director, aren't you still worried? You didn't invite us to dinner today just to say this, did you?"

He straightened his expression and said, "You've all seen the recently released internal documents, haven't you?"

I knew what the director was referring to: "You mean the vampire murder cases that have occurred in this city, right?"

The director nodded and glanced at Fang Rong.

Fang Rong said, "I've reviewed the detailed information. The technical department's examination results show that there were three victims, all of whom died from excessive blood loss. To be precise, when the victims were found, there was no blood left in their bodies. The wounds were from the throats being bitten through by something resembling teeth. Because no fingerprints, footprints, or other traces left by the perpetrator could be found at the scene, it was treated internally as an unsolvable case. Considering that this case might cause public panic, all files were sealed. However, we were able to learn about the case due to special circumstances. But, is this really a case of vampires killing people?"

The director's expression indicated that he was deep in thought. As for me, needless to say, I had a very strong interest in these three cases.

Fang Rong said, "Was the murderer really a vampire? I think so." She paused, glanced at me, then at the director, "First, the victim's throat was severed by a tooth-like object. Second, all the blood in the victim's body was drained. There was no blood left at the scene. Third, no trace of the murderer was ever found at the scene. Think about it, would a normal person kill someone like that?"

The director frowned but remained silent.

Fang Rong looked at me for a moment, then said, "Intuitively, I believe that vampires have come to our side." As she said this, a hint of fear suddenly flashed in her eyes.

Seeing her gaze, I felt a sudden chill, for some reason, creep into my heart. Could it really be a vampire? Had the vampire I'd been researching really come to my side? At this moment, was the vampire hiding in some corner of the city, searching for his next target with his cold eyes?

The fear that Fang Rong showed was probably also reflected in my eyes at the same time.

The director coughed and said in a deep voice, "We can't just bring up vampires now. I know you study vampires all day long, but those are just symbols and legends. Do vampires exist in reality? Can you be 100% sure?"

Suddenly, I realized that all my years of researching vampires had been based solely on other people's records and rumors. I had never actually seen a vampire; I only believed in their existence because I was so captivated by their strange and mysterious nature. Do vampires really exist? Can those who suffer from diseases and crave blood be called vampires? This disease is probably extremely rare in modern medicine. Could the murderer in this case have suffered from such a disease?

I stated my hypothesis.

The director tapped the table: "You can ask the medical experts. Needless to say, you're all very interested in these three cases. But don't let your subjective opinions deviate from science. Xiaobai, Fang Rong, you can go to the police station to inquire about the details of the cases. We've already contacted them."

The director is always very meticulous.

He stretched his upper body, a smile spreading across his face, and called out loudly, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, let's serve the food."

He picked up the watermelon juice in front of him and poured it into his mouth. I saw his row of snow-white teeth again. The red watermelon juice flowed down between his teeth, and suddenly the hairs on my body stood on end.

After saying goodbye to the director, Fang Rong and I walked along a path not far from Research Institute 5017. This institute was supposedly conducting a rather secret project.

"Fang Rong, don't you think the director is acting a little strange today?" I asked hesitantly.

"Strange? What do you mean?" Fang Rong slowed down and asked me.

"I can't quite put my finger on it. It just feels weird. It's a little scary," I said.

As she pondered and recalled, she suddenly whispered, "The director drank a lot of watermelon juice today. And the way he drank it was a bit scary."

I looked at her beautiful face and nodded, feeling both helpless and certain.

"You mean—" She stared at me for a long time, her fear growing stronger and her face growing paler.

I didn't say anything more. In that instant, Fang Rong and I both realized that vampires were right beside us!

I feel like my heart has been overwhelmed in the last few days. Whether I'm sleeping or walking, I always feel extremely short of breath, and my head aches and my eyes are sore. I also have constant, intermittent pain in my chest.

I went to the hospital for a checkup, and the diagnosis was compression of my cardiovascular system and heart lobes; in short, I had heart disease. I haven't been to the director's office for several days. The director hasn't contacted me either. It's as if the director disappeared after that meal.

The director, of course, hadn't disappeared. I ran into him as I walked from the hospital to my lab. His face was smiling as if he were wearing a white smiling mask. His teeth were still as white as ever, but now they sent chills down my spine.

He walked up to me and patted me on the shoulder: "Xiaobai, another one died in the northern suburbs last night. His throat was bitten through and his blood was sucked dry." As he said this, the bloodshot in his eyes suddenly became more pronounced.

I forced a smile and said, "Director, I have something else to do."

"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?" the director asked, looking surprised.

"I need to see a doctor." I was eager to get away.

"Oh. You've been working too hard these days, take care of yourself. Come to my office with Fang Rong tomorrow." The director grinned at me, revealing dazzlingly white teeth, and I almost felt my heart leap out of my chest.

---Bifengke

Reply [120]: White Teeth--3

I didn't go to the research lab; I went directly to the police station to check the files. I was focused on the killer's motive and the teeth marks left behind, but I overlooked the timing of the crime.

I checked the files carefully and obtained the dates of the four cases. Then I started to recall whether the director was with me during those times. However, no matter how hard I racked my brains, I still couldn't find the answer. The more I couldn't find the answer, the more uneasy I became.

When I got to the phone booth, I called Fang Rong: "Hey, Fang Rong, can you help me remember some things?"

"What is it?" Fang Rong's voice sounded a little trembling.

"Was the director with us when those vampire-murder cases occurred?"

Fang Rong's voice trembled as she spoke into the phone: "Okay, let me think."

"What's wrong? Are you cold?" I asked.

“No, it’s not cold. Where are you now?” she asked me.

"I'm on my way to the lab. I'll be there in half an hour." I looked around and suddenly realized that it was pitch black all around me; the night had unknowingly enveloped the entire city.

"Xiaobai, I'll call you in a bit. Don't go away." Her voice trembled even more, making me feel like even the receiver in my hand was vibrating.

"What's wrong? Are you sick?" I asked urgently, but the call had already ended. All I could hear was the dial tone.

I hung up the phone, and there was complete silence all around. A terrifying, deathly silence.

I suddenly felt a chill. It was only late September, but my palms were sweating, and the hairs on my body were standing on end. I dared not linger any longer, so I quickly grabbed the phone booth and ran to the other side of the street—to my research lab.

As I ran, I felt someone closely following me from behind. The more afraid I became, the closer that person seemed to stay.

The building in front is my research lab.

There used to be three people living there, but now the other two have gone abroad for academic exchanges. The research lab now sits there low and crouching like a black monster, completely dark, as if it were dead.

I glanced back, but there was no one behind me. I swallowed hard, not even wanting to catch my breath, and focused all my strength into my legs, running as fast as I could.

I finally reached the door, found the key, but couldn't open it. I kept looking back, but there was no one there. The more I couldn't see anyone, the more my hair stood on end.

With a "click," the door opened. But my key wasn't in the lock, so how could the door have opened?

My heart was in my throat.

Is someone inside? Who could it be? Why aren't the lights on?

Should I go in?

I stood at the doorway, trying to peek inside, but I couldn't see anything. I reached for the light switch, but my hand just wouldn't go inside.

"noob!"

Suddenly, someone appeared behind me.

My legs went weak, and I hissed, "Who?"

"Xiaobai. I..."

I recognized the person; it was Fang Rong. My heart instantly jumped from my throat to the depths of my chest. "You scared me to death!"

Fang Rong blinked at me, her body trembling uncontrollably.

I took a step closer and asked, "Fang Rong, are you cold?"

Her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, her lips were red, and her eyes were slightly sunken, with the whites of her eyes almost entirely covered in bright red. Her entire face was as pale as the vampire depicted in a thick book I brought back from Yorkshire a few days ago.

I was immediately stunned!

Fang Rong bit her lip, trembling, and almost lunged forward: "Xiao Bai, I..."

I saw her teeth, so thin and white, so dazzling!