Amber Mason never expected that, on the following day, the young Mr. Mabel would arrive at the editorial department.


    Alva introduced everyone with a smile,"Everyone, this is Mabel, who recently won a literary award, the most promising writer of the year!"


    Everyone couldn''t help but rise to their feet and applaud. Amber Mason also stood up, gazing at that handsome face adorned with a shy smile, and those eyes seemed to hold a clear spring.


    His good looks prompted many to ask,"Mr. Mabel, do you have a girlfriend yet?"


    "If not, would you consider someone in the industry?"


    Mabel blushed even more shyly, a faint pink tinting his cheeks. His eyes, as timid as a startled fawn, darted around nervously. In that instant, his gaze met Amber Mason''s.


    "Miss Amber!"


    Upon hearing this call, Amber Mason was taken aback. Her colleagues all turned their heads."Amber''s out of the question. She already has a boyfriend!"


    Mabel, standing there, was stunned. His cheeks seemed to redden even further."No, that''s not what I meant..."


    His bashful, fawn - like eyes turned towards her."Thank you for picking me up that day."


    Amber Mason raised the corners of her mouth."You''re welcome."


    "All right, you all get back to work. Come on, let''s talk over here."


    Mabel nodded to everyone and followed Alva into the office. The colleagues couldn''t help but chatter."Wow, he looks so cute!"


    "He clearly comes from a well - to - do family. With his looks, he could easily make it in the entertainment industry."


    "I think Alva has the same idea. Judging by how he reacted to seeing Mabel in person, it''s probably not just about signing a book deal."


    Amber Mason looked around the editing room. The air was still filled with the smell of blood. It seemed that the small wound she had suffered that day had not yet fully healed. Fortunately...she had already eaten blood yesterday, so there was not much reaction.


    Amber Mason rose and walked into the pantry. The kettle was boiling water. She opened the cabinet on the top shelf where the beverages were stored.


    The coffee was at the back. She stretched on her tiptoes several times but couldn''t reach it.


    "Is this what you need?"


    A figure appeared right behind her, so close that she could hear the rush of blood in his veins.


    "Here you are."


    A packet of coffee was handed to her. The person behind her looked down at her with a smile. Amber Mason was startled."Th - thank you."


    Mabel gave a soft laugh, closed the cabinet above, and took a half - step back."Could you make me a cup too?"


    The pantry wasn''t very large, and it felt a bit cramped with two people inside.


    "Have a seat over there. I''ll make it for you."


    "All right."


    Mabel sat on the small counter nearby. Amber Mason waited for the water to boil, her mind wandering. The faint scent of blood wafted through the air. Soon, the water boiled.


    "Here''s your coffee."


    She handed the coffee over as quickly as possible and then, with her own cup, quickly made her way out. Just then, there was a crashing sound.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "I''m so sorry!"


    Coffee spilled all over the floor from the broken cup, wisps of steam rising from it. Amber Mason turned around and saw his slender fingers reaching for the broken pieces.


    In the blink of an eye, the shattered shard sliced a gash in his finger.


    The scent bloomed like a flower in an instant, so sweet that Amber Mason stood there, transfixed, unable to tear her eyes away.


    So fragrant, so sweet, I want to...


    "Miss Amber..." A very shy call brought Amber Mason back to her senses. In front of her was a strikingly handsome face, blushing profusely. His eyelashes fluttered, and there seemed to be tears welling up in his eyes.


    The injured finger was right by her lips.


    What was she doing!


    Amber Mason instinctively reached for her lips. There was no blood. Thank goodness, thank goodness...


    "You''re hurt. Don''t move. I''ll get someone to come and bandage it." Amber Mason shot up, and in a rather flustered manner, pushed the door open and rushed out.


    She had clearly fed yesterday. Why was she on the verge of baring her fangs just now!


    Fangs, fangs... she had actually been thinking of biting him with her fangs!


    "Amber, you look so pale. What''s wrong?"


    "In the pantry, Mr. Mabel cut his finger. Could you..."


    "My goodness, got it! If you''re squeamish about blood, don''t go. Leave it to me."


    Amber Mason nodded. The door of the pantry opened, and the sweet scent that drove her wild once again rushed out.


    Amber Mason immediately asked for leave and fled back to her home as if her life depended on it.


    Was it because she hadn''t fed enough? Or had the interval between feedings been too long this time, so that even after having a meal, she still had such an intense craving...


    What on earth was wrong with her?


    Buzz——


    Amber Mason looked at the screen. It was a completely unfamiliar number. She answered it and heard a panicked, apologetic voice.


    "Miss Amber, I got your phone number from your colleague. I just found out you have hemophobia. I''m really sorry for scaring you just now."


    A flush of blood rushed to the bottom of Amber Mason''s eyes. Her throat felt unusually dry because of his voice."It''s okay. I took a leave to go home and rest."


    "It''s that serious? It''s all my fault. Do you need to go to the hospital for a check - up? What''s your home address? I''ll take you there right now..."


    "No need. There''s someone taking care of me."


    "Oh, right. Your boyfriend is there. Well, all right then. I''m truly sorry."


    "Thanks for your concern. I''m really fine. I''ll hang up now."


    Amber Mason hung up the phone, buried herself under the covers, and struggled to breathe. Her throat was getting drier and drier. Should she go to Beta? Should she have another blood - bag...


    She lay there, drowsy. She didn''t know when, but the maddening craving finally subsided a bit.


    Only then did Amber Mason stick her head out from under the covers. The sky outside had darkened.


    She should go to Beta. She probably hadn''t fed enough, and maybe another blood - bag would completely relieve her.


    Amber Mason pushed the door open and stepped out. A dark figure crouched by the door suddenly stirred. A pair of bright eyes appeared."Miss Amber, are you feeling better?"


    The figure in the shadows stood up. She could barely make out his expression in the dim light, only seeing those perpetually moist eyes and the faint shadows cast by his eyelashes on his cheeks.


    "What are you doing here? How do you know my address?"


    "I didn''t know you were so severely affected by hemophobia. I was worried about you, so Alva told me your address." Mabel looked into the dark room."Didn''t you say someone was taking care of you?"


    "He left earlier." Amber Mason looked at him."I''m really okay, as you can see." She gave a faint smile."It was just an unexpected situation during the day."


    "Unexpected situation..." Mabel smiled shyly."I''m glad you''re okay. Are you going out for dinner now?"


    Amber Mason took a deep breath. The scent of blood lingering around him was still there, but it wasn''t strong. It seemed the wound had been properly bandaged.


    "No, I''m planning to go out and buy some ingredients to cook at home."


    "That''s perfect. I bought some things too. Let me help you carry them in!"


    …………


    Amber Mason never expected he could respond like this. She could only give a stiff"um" and say,"You can just leave them at the door. I still need to go out and buy something."


    "All right."


    Mabel walked into the entrance hall with the things in his hands. His dark eyes fell on the men''s slippers placed below.


    His cheeks turned slightly red. The bandage on the wound of his finger had somehow disappeared.


    He forcefully squeezed the wound, and fresh blood oozed out again from the split wound.


    Mabel heard a distinct gasp from behind.


    He slowly turned around, still wearing that bashful look."Miss Amber, I''ve put the things away."


    The blood - stained finger, whether intentionally or not, swayed in front of Amber Mason.


    "Miss Amber?"


    Slap!


    His hand was suddenly grabbed by Amber Mason. Her hand was as cold as ice, and her eyes were fixed on his wound, unable to look away for a long time.


    The man''s lips curved slowly. He let her hold his palm, and with his other arm, he reached over and closed the door again.


    Her red lips were about to touch the split wound when her slender neck was suddenly clasped by him. Her small face, already somewhat lost in the sweet scent, was lifted up.


    The handsome face, which usually seemed harmless, now showed an inexplicable excitement.


    He moved his fingertips away and smeared the blood on his own lips.


    Slowly, he lowered his body and brought his thin lips closer.


    "Not the finger, but here."