"I'm back!"

"You're back? Then be back. Don't be so loud."

An Li's voice drifted from the bathroom, accompanied by running water—she was probably washing her face. Feeling incredibly lucky, I tiptoed straight into the bedroom.

Short sleeves ruled summer and early autumn. Finding a long-sleeved shirt wasn't easy. I scrambled to locate one and slipped it on just before An Li emerged.

The sleeves covered the needle marks at my elbows. But it was my old shirt—the sleeves and hem hung way too long. Obvious.

An Li came out after washing up and started breakfast. Soy milk and steamed buns sat on the table, freshly bought downstairs. Between bites, she asked, "How'd it go?"

"Success." I placed the pouch on the table. "Eight vials. Twenty milliliters each."

"Good. Enough for twenty days."

Done with business, her gaze dropped to my shirt. "Why are you—"

"Oh! I've got a question," I cut in fast, dodging her words. "If I find someone to feed from later... will I inject them with some vampire virus when I bite?"

That's how *I* got infected. If that risk existed, even if a little loli offered herself, I couldn't do it.

"No." An Li took a bite of her steamed bun. "Only happens with impure bloodlines. The vampire virus is a low-grade infection. Like surgery in a shoddy clinic with a clumsy doctor—infection risk is real."

"I see."

My brain raced, scrambling for another topic. "Right—if racial consciousness purifies the last vampire... why didn't that older woman ascend *before* she bit me?"

After I was bitten, I became the last vampire. So before that... she must've been the last, right?

"She might've been," An Li said calmly. "But since she didn't ascend, she wasn't. Remember—the extermination was global. At that exact moment, vampires were hunted worldwide. In the minute between her death and your transformation? Countless died."

"Got it~"

An Li set down her breakfast, wiped her mouth, and locked eyes with me. "Honestly? I care more about why you're suddenly wearing your old clothes—and a long-sleeved shirt."

A chill shot down my spine. Two diversion topics... and she still saw through me. *Crap.* Scolding incoming. Gotta bluff.

"Well... It's summer, early autumn, kinda hot—but I'm a vampire, right? Cold blood. Extra layers keep me warm."

I peeked nervously at her face. Blank. Like my words vanished into air.

"You— Ah!"

In a flash, An Li grabbed my arm with one hand and yanked the whole men's shirt off with the other. Bare arms exposed. On my pale skin, the faint red needle mark stood clear.

Her eyelid twitched slightly. Utterly speechless.

"I—I told you to steal *others'* blood samples! Not get yourself drawn too!" She fumed. "Did you think your body had issues? Need to join the kids for a physical exam?!"

I shrank back. "Not intentional! Situation was urgent—I couldn't resist... I know I messed up, okay?"

"'Know you messed up' is enough?"

An Li ignored me, snatched the phone, and muttered something. After hanging up, she sat silently aside, radiating fury.

I inched closer, gently tapped her calf. "Don't be mad. I know. I'll be more careful next time."

"Not anger." She rubbed her temples, frustrated. "That blood sample proves a pureblood vampire exists. They can trace it to you. If *our* side finds it first, we can bury it."

She paused, shooting me a look that screamed *you brought this on yourself*.

"But if *others* get it first... better get your little butt ready for trouble."

I blinked, lost. "Huh? What does that mean?"

"The last vampire's existence—and proof—is worth a fortune to some," An Li sneered. "They're not united, but profit talks. Whoever gets it will happily sell it to the Queen of Night for a fat price... and collect a favor."

...

At Yaoye Elementary School, a one-eyed crow shattered a window, snatched the vacuum tube labeled "9", and vanished like lightning.

Only then did voices from the next room stir.

"Ah! What was that?!"

"Sounded like glass breaking."

"Phew—just the window, not equipment." An older female doctor stepped in to check.

"Probably some brat threw a rock," grumbled a doctor from next door.

Truth was, elementary school check-ups were rough. Kids acted up. You couldn't hit them. Hardly dared to scold.

"Brats are such a headache," the doctor sighed. "Still... that last silver-haired little girl today was perfect. No crying, no fussing, super... Wait. Where's *her* blood sample?"