Ken proceeded to test every edible and potable item available in his home, meticulously recording the outcomes in his document:
Solid Foods: Instant Noodles: X, Potato Chips: X, Oatmeal Biscuits: X, Oreo Cookies: X. Recalling his experience on July 14th, he added: Plain Congee: X, Stir-fried Bean Sprouts: X, Pickled Vegetables: X.
Liquid Consumables: Plain Water: √, Purified Water: √, Pure Milk: X, Red Bull: X.
After this self-examination and documentation, Ken noticed the time was already 1:30 AM. He washed up and prepared for bed, believing adequate rest was essential. However, after tossing and turning for nearly an hour, he found himself utterly devoid of drowsiness, likely a residual effect of his recent marathon sleep. He rose and reopened his laptop.
His previous searches using descriptors of his physical changes had predominantly yielded results pointing to "vampires." Consequently, Ken decided to pivot his research focus squarely onto "vampires" as a subject. His target, however, was not literary or cinematic works like Twilight, Interview with the Vampire, or The Vampire Diaries. He revisited the Zhihu question, "What is it like to become a vampire?" Beyond the obviously fictional answers, some responses offered serious research into the origins of vampire lore and potential scientific explanations.
Most explanations for vampire origins and their scientific basis were consistent, tracing the legends to 18th century Eastern and Central Europe . Individuals who became "vampires" were often those who had died suddenly from accidents or virulent illnesses. Subsequently, their relatives would either fall seriously ill or die from other misfortunes, often reporting dreams of the deceased returning as vampires to drink their blood before their own deaths. Essentially, when a series of calamities, infectious diseases, or other misfortunes struck, the blame was frequently placed on the deceased family member. The contemporary "treatment" typically involved exhuming the body, removing the heart, and burning it. Post-mortem bodily changes, like gas expulsion causing strange sounds or tissue desiccation making nails appear to have grown, further fueled the vampire mythos.
With medical advancements, these phenomena found explanations, and the "vampire" figure became increasingly romanticized in literature, adorned with new characteristics and even superpowers or immortality . Sometimes, individuals suffering from rabies, pica, or porphyria were cited as modern scientific explanations for "vampire" cases. Ken specifically sought out a National Geographic Channel program mentioned in several answers, Vampire Forensics, but found its content similarly unhelpful in explaining his condition. Ironically, some of the more fantastical descriptions from unreliable literary works seemed to align more closely with his own experience.
Dawn arrived unnoticed. Still feeling remarkably alert, Ken decided to venture out for supplies. After washing his face and examining his teeth in the mirror, he noted they had nearly fully regrown. A smile now appeared normal, albeit unusually white, with no signs of horrifying fangs, which came as a relief.
His first errand involved purchasing various foods—fried dough, soy milk, pancakes, bread—taking a single bite of each one by one. Without exception, all were subsequently vomited. However, consuming smaller quantities lessened the nausea and discomfort of vomiting. He then traveled by bus to a shopping mall, purchasing an array of food and beverages, an induction cooker with a small pot, cleaning supplies, a body scale, and a measuring tape.
Returning home around 10 AM, the sun was intense. Ken noticed a subconscious inclination to avoid the direct sunlight. Despite the sweltering July heat, he felt no sensation of warmth. Even after shopping, crowded bus rides, and carrying heavy bags weighing tens of kilograms, he had barely broken a sweat. While his instincts seemed to shy away from the light, upon conscious reflection, he deliberately stepped into the full glare of the sun. Yet, to his perception, standing in direct sunlight caused no significant discomfort—not even the expected burning sensation of being scorched. Looking skyward, the sun's brightness made him blink, but he reasoned that was normal for anyone.
The cause remained unclear, but he could still perceive his body's inherent aversion to bright light. According to the materials he reviewed the previous night, the photophobia associated with "vampires" was far more severe, causing rapid burning, oxidation, and charring of skin upon exposure. Conditions like porphyria, often cited as the closest medical analogue, involve symptoms like photosensitive dermatitis, itching, and blistering upon sun exposure. In contrast, while his body instinctively sought shade, exposure provoked no obvious symptoms or reactions; if anything, his tolerance for heat seemed enhanced.
Back home, Ken positioned a chair in the bathroom and began testing beverages. One sip of Coke was vomited roughly twenty seconds later. The same occurred with Sprite, orange juice, and others. However, after drinking coffee brewed from Nescafé Gold freeze-dried granules, several minutes passed without rejection. This hinted at a possible pattern, especially since Nescafé 3-in-1 instant coffee had been vomited promptly. What was the difference between the two, and between them and the other drinks? He then tried a plain boiled egg, which caused no issues. Similarly, plain boiled beef slices were tolerated. This led him to hypothesize a connection to sugar content. While black coffee, eggs, and beef contain minimal sugars, their levels are drastically lower compared to the other tested foods and drinks. But why sugar? His existing knowledge confirmed that the human body primarily derives energy from sugars.
Just as Ken began recording these thoughts on his laptop, a familiar stomach cramp seized him. He rushed to the bathroom, vomiting everything he had consumed, including the recently tolerated items. Wiping his mouth resignedly, he returned to his computer and added a crucial note to the document: Low-sugar foods and beverages can remain in the stomach for a longer period but are still vomited within 20 to 30 minutes.
He then stripped down to his briefs, stepping onto the new scale to record his weight. Using the measuring tape, he meticulously noted his chest, waist, and arm measurements. Setting up his phone for delayed shooting, he took full-body photographs. The systematic documentation of his physical transformation had begun.