Now, besides Gwen herself, her family looked at Ye Hai with expressions full of disbelief and fear, as if he were a monster. The warmth they once shared was gone, leaving only distance and trepidation.
Ye Hai said calmly, "Mr. Stacey, let's handle the situation here first. We can discuss my matters later."
"Alright," George replied, regaining his composure. With Ye Hai's cover, he stepped out of the room, finally receiving a signal on the street. He promptly called the police.
Back at the villa, looking at the mangled bodies hanging on the walls, George still felt a shiver of fear.
Ye Hai reminded him, "Mr. Stacey, these vampires are incredibly resilient. Even though their bodies are completely shattered, they haven't lost their life force; as long as they receive fresh blood, they can regain their vitality. That's a vampire's ability."
"You seem to know quite a bit about vampires," George remarked warily, keeping a close watch on Ye Hai.
Ye Hai shrugged. "Don't forget my profession. I'm a scientist, and I've always been interested in long-lived species like vampires, so I have some understanding of them. However, I admit I don't know enough. If possible, I'd like to take these vampire bodies to the lab for study."
His eyes gleamed as he stared at the carcasses on the wall, as if they were a sumptuous feast.
"Always back to business, aren't you?" George thought, but finding this quirk endearing helped relax him. A smile crept onto his face as he shook his head at Ye Hai. "Sorry, Ye. I'm a police officer, and a police chief at that. Such a violent incident at my home must be fully reported to the police. But don't worry; I promise you won't get into trouble, and you may even receive a reward!"
The fact that George could joke meant he was feeling much more at ease. This had been a high-stress situation for him; witnessing a few vampires being shot had almost pushed him over the edge. He had nearly considered charging at those vampires, disregarding his safety. But now Ye Hai had miraculously survived, and his daughter seemed completely unfazed. It was evident that this couple was hiding something from him.
As Gwen's father, he felt entitled to know their secret, but he wasn't in a rush. He was waiting for either his daughter or her boyfriend to come clean.
At this moment, Gwen and her mother had calmed the three frightened children and taken them to an upstairs room where their mother was keeping them company. With that settled, Gwen felt relieved and descended the stairs to join Ye Hai.
George's gaze fell on Gwen, who flinched slightly and glanced towards Ye Hai as if seeking his guidance.
Ye Hai pondered for a moment and decided to be honest with George. He wrapped an arm around Gwen's shoulders and said, "Mr. Stacey, we are mutants!"
George's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, "We?"
"Yes, Dad. I'm also a mutant," Gwen said, cooperating with Ye Hai. She didn't say much, letting Ye Hai handle the explanations, curious about how much her boyfriend would reveal to her father. Would it be everything, or just a little? She hoped he would confess everything, so their family could all attain immortality like her.
But Ye Hai disappointed her; he didn't want to reveal everything because he couldn't be sure of George's character and methods. What if he learned the truth and decided to turn over his research to the government? So, Ye Hai chose to simply state that they were mutants, and this mutation was uncontrollable.
He continued, "My mutant ability is rapid healing; I can recover from wounds in a short time. I also possess great strength; I can easily lift a car."
Gwen anxiously watched George, fearing he might not accept mutants.
However, her father was much more accepting of mutants than she had anticipated; as police chief, he was no stranger to them.
"What incredible abilities! You're lucky, Ye. Your power saved your life," George said, then turned to his daughter. "So, my dear daughter, what's your mutant ability?"
"I have a similar ability, capable of rapid healing as well," Gwen replied with a forced smile, feeling a bit down about Ye Hai's choice not to disclose everything.
"That's a great ability," George said, patting Gwen on the shoulder. "There are many strange abilities among mutants, but some are truly enviable. Your regeneration abilities are maddening and jealousy-inducing. Just make sure not to mention it to anyone, or you might attract trouble." He paused before adding contemplatively, "It's a pity your brothers haven't awakened this ability."
Gwen was surprised; she hadn't expected her father to be so accepting of mutants. She had seen many mutant kids abandoned by their parents at the mutant school.
Ye Hai smiled. "Mr. Stacey, did you know? I've studied the genetic traits of mutants. Generally, mutant genes can be classified as recessive and dominant. Gwen exhibits dominant traits, while those who haven't awakened possess recessive genes. The mutant genes come from their ancestors, meaning either you or Mrs. Stacey carries the mutant gene. All four of your children also have mutant genes; they just haven't awakened yet, and it will require time."
Gwen smiled, realizing what Ye Hai meant: he was promising that her family could eventually receive the regeneration gene as well. However, to avoid raising her father's suspicions, their awakening would happen gradually.
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