Blood-Infused Tea

Chapter 1

I worked at a tea house that sold a special kind of tea. This tea, when added to food, made it incredibly delicious and irresistible, almost like a culinary delight. Countless high-end restaurant owners came to us by reputation alone. But I knew that this tea was nourished with the blood of addicts.

1

I was a clerk at a tea house that didn't serve tea drinks but only sold tea leaves, and exclusively black tea. Among them, there was a special kind of black tea known for its irresistible flavor called craving tea. As the name suggested, this tea, when added to food, made people crave it and unable to stop.

Because of its unique properties, craving tea was limited in quantity and purchase every month. The price was also extraordinarily high. Those high-end restaurant owners had to make reservations several months or even a year in advance to buy just one gram of craving tea.

"Melany, are you busy?"

The visitor was Wilbur, a regular customer at our store.

"Please have a seat, Wilbur," I said with a smile, inviting him to sit down. "Are you here to buy tea leaves? I checked, and it seems you don't have a reservation this month."

Wilbur smiled awkwardly. "Well... Melany, can you make an exception this time?"

I hesitated and said, "I'm sorry, Wilbur, but you know the rules of our store."

Craving tea was limited to ten portions per month, one gram per portion, and each gram cost a hundred thousand dollars. Moreover, each person was limited to purchasing one portion per month. Our store's reservations were always full every month. If I made an exception for Wilbur, other customers with reservations wouldn't get their tea.

I had always been curious why the store manager didn't sell more of this exorbitantly priced tea. Who would mind making more money? I could only assume that Denise was creating an air of exclusivity.

"I really need this tea right now, Melany. Can you think of a way to help me?" Wilbur stood up from his chair anxiously. "I can pay extra! Please help me!"

I let out a deep breath. "I really can't help you. Please leave."

With that, I escorted Wilbur out of the store and quickly closed the door. Listening to Wilbur knocking on the door outside, I shook my head helplessly. There was really nothing I could do. I didn't dare to question Denise's decisions and could only follow them. After all, Denise had been kind to me.

2

I was a stray child picked up by Denise. From as far back as I could remember, I had been wandering the streets. I had no parents and survived on begging and the charity of kind-hearted people. Until one day, I met Denise at the door of this tea house. She took me in, saying the store happened to need a clerk, and I stayed.

Denise had always treated me well. At least, I never lacked food or clothing, and she even paid me a salary every month. In my heart, Denise had become like a mother to me. All I could do was help her manage this store well.

There had been many people like Wilbur who came to the store begging for tea. I had asked Denise if we should sell them some tea leaves. Denise just glanced at me coldly and said, "Just do your job."

At that time, I didn't know when to stop and asked, "Is the production of this tea really that low? What makes it so precious?"

Denise's expression changed immediately. She took me to the backyard and gave me a harsh punishment. The pain of the barbed whip cutting into my skin still seemed to linger when I thought about those wounds.

The next day, when the tea house opened, I saw Wilbur squatting at the door. He must have stayed all night, as there were many cigarette butts on the ground. When he saw me open the door, he rushed up excitedly and held onto my arm. "Melany, I know it's difficult for you, but please think of a way..."

Seeing him like this, I quickly pulled my arm away and closed the door again. Anyway, there were no customers scheduled to pick up their orders in the next two days, so I might as well keep the door closed to avoid him pestering me.

But in the following days, Wilbur stayed at the door, even setting up a bed and sleeping right at the entrance. This couldn't go on! I couldn't keep the store closed forever.

When Wilbur saw me open the door, he jumped up happily and grabbed me. "I know you have a kind heart. Just help me this once, even if it's just a single leaf!"

Seeing that I wasn't speaking, Wilbur hurriedly added, "I'll pay extra! Five times the price. How about that, Melany?"

Then he whispered in my ear, "All the money will go straight into your pocket! Think about it."

I felt tempted. Although Denise paid me a salary, it was just enough to get by. When I was first taken in, having enough to eat and wear, and a place to shelter from the wind and rain, was already more than enough for me. But now...

The salary that barely covered my living expenses no longer satisfied me. I wanted more. I looked at the shabby, old phone in my hand, which I had picked up from Kellan, and made up my mind. I nodded.

Actually, there was another reason I was hesitant to get craving tea... The tea was somewhat eerie. Every time Denise brought the tea to the store, it was secured in a heavy wooden box. The box was dark red, almost like it had been stained with blood, and the fresh craving tea always emitted a subtle scent of blood.

Chapter 2

1

Although I had promised Wilbur to get him the craving tea, the truth was, the shop had run out of stock. If he still wanted the tea, the only option was to sneak into the tea garden where Denise specifically grew the coveted tea and try to pick some secretly. However, to do that, I needed someone else's help-Kellan.

Kellan and I were both taken in by Denise. She said she loved children and had once had a child who later went missing. So, she took us in, but she clearly favored Kellan more. Denise assigned me to work in the tea room, and I could only stay in the rest area behind it, not allowed to go to the tea garden without permission. Kellan, on the other hand, lived directly in the tea garden, in Denise's small villa. He was supposed to be guarding the garden, but in reality, he had a lot of free time and could go wherever he wanted. Denise spoiled him, fulfilling his every request, and even gave him a generous monthly allowance.

But I was confident I could get Kellan to help me because I knew he had liked me for a long time. Denise spent most of her time in the tea garden, so if I went there, I might get in serious trouble. I could only sneak over when she wasn't around.

For the past two days, I had been keeping an eye on Denise's movements. Yesterday, when Gerald came to the shop to buy tea, I overheard him on the phone with Denise, saying he would introduce a new client to her the next day. I silently noted the time they agreed on and decided to go to the tea garden then.

I contacted Kellan in advance on my phone. At first, he refused. I had to play the damsel in distress and say, "Only you can help me, Kellan. Wilbur harasses me every day, and I really can't take it anymore..."

Before Kellan could respond, I continued, "If you can't help me, then... I'll just endure it for a few more days."

Kellan, being the pampered child he was, couldn't resist such a plea. As soon as I finished speaking, he agreed immediately.

"Don't worry! Just wait. Come to the tea garden tomorrow. I'll make sure you get the tea!" he said.

This fool, I thought after hanging up the phone. Why does Denise favor such an idiot?

2

The next day, I arrived at the tea garden right on time. Kellan was waiting for me at the entrance. Seeing me, he smiled and grabbed my hand.

I resisted the urge to shake off his hand and smiled, asking, "Kellan, are you ready?"

Kellan proudly lifted his head. "Of course, no problem. Let's go, I'll take you to pick the tea."

He then put his arm around my shoulder and led me towards the coveted tea area. The overpowering scent of his hair gel made me want to vomit. But thinking about the fivefold price I could get for this deal, I held back.

When I saw the 'greenhouse' from a distance, I was surprised. It wasn't just a greenhouse; it was more like a giant vault! It was square, with smooth, thick copper walls gleaming in the sunset, and several heavy locks on the door.

Kellan took out a bunch of keys and unlocked the locks one by one while I kept watch. When I heard the last lock click open and confirmed no one was around, I quickly turned and pushed Kellan into the greenhouse.

As soon as we entered, the heavy smell of blood and rot almost made me vomit. Under the faint light inside, ten short tea trees stood in a row. At first glance, they looked no different from other tea trees. But upon closer inspection, I noticed that the veins on each leaf were clearly visible, with deep crimson liquid flowing inside. The bark of the trees was also unnaturally smooth and delicate.

I reached out to touch one lightly, but the warm, smooth texture scared me, and I quickly pulled my hand back. It felt eerily like human skin.

With my heart still pounding, I hurriedly started picking the tea leaves with Kellan. Unlike regular tea picking, which required picking young buds, craving tea required fully matured leaves. The veins on the mature leaves were thicker, with deep crimson liquid flowing inside, and the smell was even stronger.

To avoid being discovered by Denise, we only picked one leaf from each tree. After we finished, I was about to leave when Kellan stopped me.

"Wait, Auntie Rong told me that after picking craving tea, you must water the trees, or the leaves won't grow back."

There was a watering can right by my feet, so I picked it up and started watering. But what came out was a thick, deep crimson liquid with a strong smell of blood. It was blood!

My hand holding the watering can trembled. After hurriedly watering all the trees, I ran towards the garden entrance without looking back. But as soon as I reached the entrance, I froze. I felt a chill run down my spine.

Denise had returned. Her car was parked at the entrance, and she was getting out with her bag, turning to meet my gaze.

Chapter 3

**1**

In that moment, I even wondered if Denise would beat me to death and use my blood to water the tea plants.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my waist, and Kellan's voice whispered in my ear, "Denise, I invited Melany over to hang out. Is that okay?"

Denise's cold gaze softened when she saw Kellan. "It's fine. You two have fun. I'm going home to rest."

As she walked past me, she shot me a sidelong glance. "Don't come here unless you have to." With that, she walked away.

I only relaxed after she was out of sight. I hadn't expected Kellan to cover for me.

Wiping the cold sweat from my forehead, I thanked him and prepared to leave for the tea room.

But the hand around my waist tightened instead of letting go.

Kellan's lips curled into a smile as he leaned closer to my ear. "Is a verbal thank you all I get for helping you?"

He looked me up and down, nodding in satisfaction. "Melany, you should know by now that I've liked you for a long time."

I remained silent.

He seemed displeased with my reaction. "If I tell Denise about you stealing tea..."

I would be in serious trouble, I thought.

Kellan moved even closer. "So, how will you repay me? How about being my girlfriend?"

I clenched my fists. If I didn't agree, Denise would surely punish me. And who knows, the blood used to water the craving tea might actually be human blood.

In a few days, the blood in that kettle could very well be mine...

"Okay," I agreed. After all, staying alive was more important than anything else.

Kellan's eyes lit up. "Since we're boyfriend and girlfriend now, we should do what couples do, right?"

I closed my eyes and nodded.

...

After he forced himself on me, Kellan held me contentedly while I fought back my nausea and hugged him in return.

Since things had come to this, I might as well use Kellan to earn more money.

I thought for a moment and said, "Kellan, we need to earn more money."

Kellan frowned. "Why? Denise gives me plenty of money every month."

I bit my lip and spoke gently, "Don't you want to marry me? Weddings are expensive. We should start saving."

Seeing his puzzled expression, I straddled his waist. "All you need to do is harvest more tea like you did today, and we'll have the money."

"Alright, I'll do as you say," Kellan agreed, flipping me over and resuming his movements.

**2**

Before asking Kellan for help, I had already guessed things would turn out like this.

He had always desired me physically, though he might have thought I didn't know.

But I remembered clearly what happened that night.

When I had just started high school, Denise called me to the cottage for dinner one evening, and I ended up sleeping there.

In the middle of the night, half-awake, I felt someone climb into my bed.

I was terrified and didn't dare make a sound, pretending to be asleep while that person groped me.

The next morning, I found Kellan's jacket left behind in my room.

I knew then that the person who had violated me the night before was Kellan.

I tearfully told Denise about it, afraid she wouldn't believe me, and even brought the jacket as evidence.

But Denise didn't listen to a word I said, nor did she call Kellan to question him.

She simply beat me with a whip without a second thought.

That was the first time she beat me with a whip.

But it was also then that I realized Denise was just Denise. She was Kellan's mother, not mine.

The next day, I went to work as usual, but Denise suddenly came to the shop.

I was worried Kellan had betrayed me and sold me out.

Denise walked straight to the sofa and sat down, ordering me to close the door.

I pretended nothing had happened, obediently closing the door and making her a cup of tea.

Denise took a sip from the cup. "You went to the tea garden to steal my tea yesterday, didn't you?"

Her words struck me like a complete shock. Had I been exposed after all?