Mabel had arrived at a mainstream publishing house that had brought out numerous renowned works. Amber was seated outside, waiting. The publishing house she was affiliated with merely had moderate achievements. Should this particular one engage in talks with Mabel... Alva likely stood no chance.

Someone tapped gently on the glass door. Amber turned her head to look. A tall and beautiful woman stood outside. Upon noticing Amber's gaze, she lightly pointed at her.

Amber arched her eyebrows and rose to her feet, then walked over.

"Mr. Beta wishes to see you. Follow me," said the woman. When she laid eyes on Amber, she first cast a bold, all-encompassing glance from head to toe. After sizing her up, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly."Miss Amber?"

Amber let out a sigh and stood up. She glanced back into the publishing house. Mabel would still require some time to conclude his discussion. Moreover, this was Gramps' domain.

None of their fellow clan members had the audacity to create a disturbance on Beta's territory, especially not with her as the target.

Stepping into the elevator, Amber tilted her head back slightly and took a look. The woman beside her was half a head taller.

She would indeed seem quite well-matched with Beta.

Her hair was arranged in a meticulously neat bun at the back, with not a single strand out of place.

Amber's gaze swept over the area just below the woman's neck. Through the collar, two faint red marks were discernible.

Gramps had changed his companion yet again.

The entire 55th floor was occupied by Beta's company. As a 300-year-old vampire, he had amassed a considerable amount of wealth in the human world and also held a certain level of social standing.

Amber trailed behind the tall woman and made her way to the innermost location.

"Mr. Beta has only fifteen minutes to spare. Go on in," the woman said.

Without further ado, Amber pushed open the door and stepped inside. The door closed behind her, and Beta's voice sounded from within."Kiddo, you're here."

This voice lacked the usual icy edge. The woman found it difficult to contain her emotions."Kiddo"... this was the "Kiddo" that Beta addressed so affectionately.

Holding a document in her hand, she scurried out on her high heels.

In the stairwell, the woman crouched down, nearly crumpling the document in her grasp. She suppressed her sobs, her mind filled with Beta's warm utterance of "Kiddo".

How could that short and unimpressive girl be worthy of Beta's favor!

"Miss, are you all right?"

A gentle and warm voice sounded. A graceful hand extended a tissue."Is there something bothering you? Why are you in such distress?"

The woman was taken aback, thanked the person, and accepted the tissue.

The man did not leave. Instead, he bent down and sat down. The baseball cap on his head obscured most of his features, revealing only his well-shaped, rounded chin and his slightly upturned thin lips.

"If you're willing, feel free to confide in me, a stranger, about what exactly transpired," he said.

In the stairwell, the woman who had been weeping just moments ago had already risen to her feet. She expressed her gratitude several times, then pushed open the door and went back.

The man, who was sitting there with his back against the wall, listened to the lively clicking of her high heels. He pressed down on the baseball cap on his head, and the corners of his mouth curved up even more."You're welcome."

When Amber returned, Mabel still did not appear to have finished his discussion. She once again sat outside, waiting in silence, pondering over the words that Beta had spoken to her earlier.

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"With your capabilities, protecting him is rather a stretch," Beta said.

Beta was seated in a chair, his fingers lightly tapping on the table. Despite his seemingly refined exterior, he inadvertently exuded the coldness and aggression characteristic of the vampire clan.

"It is somewhat challenging, considering I'm not yet 50 years old," Amber replied.

Amber plopped down unceremoniously in the chair opposite him."But you yourself said that you can't get involved in this matter."

"Amber, was jumping off a building your only option when you were fleeing?"

Amber, who was sitting there, was startled. Beta's eyes were as frigid as a winter's day."Do you have any idea how many humans witnessed that scene? And how much effort I have to exert to erase those memories?"

"How can you hold me accountable for that! They were the ones who chased after me! I knew I couldn't defeat them. What else was I supposed to do but run!"

Was jumping off a building the only choice? Is that what I taught you?"

Beta's gaze bore down on her, and Amber shrank back."Well, I just... didn't think of anything else."

"If I don't intervene, I'm afraid that within a few days, you'll be the headline news on every TV channel."

Amber remained seated there in silence. The vampire clan concealed themselves within human society, meticulously observing and emulating every action and behavior of the humans, all with the sole aim of becoming more adept at hunting their prey.

For the vampire clan, an individual under the age of 50 was but a mere "Kiddo" who could be bullied at will.

Yet, this very "Kiddo" had accomplished something that even Beta dared not do: she had entered into a blood contract with a human.

In Beta's perspective, if expressed in human terms, it was equivalent to a kindergarten child returning home and announcing, "I'm married."

"Would you care to join me here?" Beta let out a gentle sigh. "In the past, I refrained from interfering in your affairs. You were free to do as you pleased, but the situation is different now."

Amber was taken aback. She was on the verge of declining but forcibly held her tongue.

Beta regarded her with a mocking glint in his eye. "On your own, you are utterly incapable of protecting your 'food'. You should think this through carefully."

Amber, who was sitting there waiting, furrowed her brows tightly. Gramps had never meddled in her business before, and she truly had the freedom to do whatever she desired. However, his sudden offer now signified...

Those who intended to cause trouble harbored more than just mischievous intentions.

Beta's words resurfaced in Amber's mind once more: "Putting aside other considerations, his blood is of superior quality among humans. If he were not your 'food', I would not hesitate to try and take him for myself."

Amber's delicate features almost contorted with concern. Take him... As long as a vampire over a hundred years old showed up, she would have no choice but to watch helplessly as Mabel was snatched away.

Contemplating the blood contract between them, Amber's gaze dropped to the floor.

She had no wish to be forever imprisoned within the confines of a single contract.

Footsteps approached, and Amber looked up. Mabel emerged with a brisk and lively gait, accompanied by a highly renowned editor in the publishing world.

The two of them engaged in animated conversation. Mabel, with his youthful demeanor, smiled somewhat shyly.

"Very well, it's settled then. We'll be anticipating your new book."

"Thank you so much for your kind attention and support."

"You're being too modest. Talented individuals like you deserve all the attention they can get."

"Then I'll take my leave for now. I'll get in touch with you later regarding the selection of materials for the new book."

"Certainly, we can chat at any time later."

The editor personally escorted Mabel out. It seemed evident that Mabel's next book would be published by this company. Amber smiled helplessly. Alva really didn't stand a chance.

"Have you been waiting for a long time?" Mabel walked over, his black eyes brimming with tenderness. He felt extremely at ease, as if he were a soft and fluffy cloud.

"No, let's go."

Amber stood up, and the two of them entered the elevator together. As they chatted casually, the elevator came to a stop at one of the floors.

More than a dozen people entered, chatting and laughing merrily. The elevator was immediately filled to capacity.

Just as on the way in, Mabel positioned himself facing Amber, separating her from the others. Amber tilted her head slightly. Why was he blushing again?

"Ouch, I think I got scratched by something. There's blood."

"Let me have a look. It's nothing serious, just a small cut."

"Still, you should be more careful..."

For a human, this was a wound so trivial that it was almost insignificant. However, for Amber, even the faintest whiff of blood deeply stimulated her brain.

She lowered her head in a somewhat flustered manner, her fangs threatening to protrude uncontrollably.

His slender fingers found the fangs she was trying to hide and gently pried them out.

Unable to conceal them, her fangs sliced through the pad of his finger, and his blood flowed into her mouth.

The people in the elevator continued to chat and laugh, but Amber seemed oblivious to it all. All she could see was the man towering over her. Beneath the baseball cap, his handsome face was slightly flushed.

In his clear eyes, there seemed to be a swirling vortex of emotions. His fingers, without giving her a chance to refuse, pushed deeper into her mouth, even pressing down on her tongue.

Gulp.

Upon hearing the sound of her swallowing, Mabel raised the corners of his mouth. His bleeding finger caressed the inside of her mouth as he watched, captivated, as the red in her eyes grew more and more intense.

A few more people entered the elevator. Mabel's body pressed closer to hers, and he gently withdrew his finger from her mouth.

Breathing lightly, he leaned against Amber's shoulder.

Her cold hand once again found its way to his waist, and Mabel's body gave a slight tremor.

"Are you all right?"

Her voice sounded in his ear, and the red on Mabel's cheeks deepened even further.

How could he possibly be all right... He was in a state of bliss that was almost beyond description.