Chapter 33: Mom Will Get Angry

Noah walked toward the cinema counter.

Luoyao paused, then hurried after her.

She jogged to Noah’s side, whispering, “What’s up? Another Blood Hunt Church encounter?”

Noah shook her head, smiling. “Don’t overthink. Just ran into an acquaintance.”

“Acquaintance?”

“Mhm.”

In a few words, they reached the counter.

Noah stuffed her hands in her jeans pockets.

She silently watched the small figure behind the counter.

She wore the cinema’s blue-gray uniform, engrossed in an old mobile game—Angry Birds.

Anna was focused, her pink lips pursed.

Her index finger slid across the screen.

The phone occasionally chirped with bird and green pig noises.

Was this game that fun?

Noah and Luoyao stood there for a full minute.

Anna didn’t notice them.

Finally, Luoyao cleared her throat.

That got Anna’s attention.

She scrambled to pocket her phone and stood.

Without even looking, she stammered, “Uh… um… Welcome! W-what can I get you?”

Clearly, the gamer girl wasn’t great at her job yet.

Noah said nothing, just sighed softly.

She tilted her head, staring at Anna.

Anna, seeing the customer stay silent, cautiously lifted her cap’s brim.

She spotted Noah.

She gasped slightly. “Senior Noah? What’re you doing here?”

Noah nodded toward Luoyao. “Date.”

“Date?”

Anna’s gaze shifted to Luoyao.

After sizing up her appearance, Anna let out a long “Oh. Isn’t this the little blood s*ave you let go? Couldn’t stay away, huh?”

“Mind your business,” Noah said coolly.

She was about to ask more when Luoyao tugged her sleeve.

Noah turned, her tone instantly softening. “Hm? What’s up?”

“She’s… a vampire too?” Luoyao asked.

One hand clutched Noah’s sleeve, the other pointed hesitantly at Anna.

Ordinary humans couldn’t easily spot vampires.

Even the Blood Hunt Church hadn’t found a simple way to pick them out in a crowd.

Red eyes and fangs were the signs.

But colored contacts hid eyes, and fangs stayed retracted when not feeding.

Unless these nocturnal predators attacked, they seemed like harmless, pretty girls.

“Yup, she’s Anna, the castle’s blood vault keeper,” Noah said.

Luoyao shrank behind Noah, half-hiding.

She knew Noah was a kind vampire.

But other vampires? She wasn’t so sure.

Seeing Luoyao’s fear, Noah started to explain.

Before she could, Anna leaned over the counter, peeking at Luoyao with a grin. “Don’t be scared, human miss. I don’t bite.”

“Don’t bite?”

“Nope! Senior Noah’s never killed a human but…. I’m even more chill—I’ve never even bitten anyone!” Anna said, a bit proud.

Noah gently wrapped an arm around Luoyao’s waist, pulling her close for comfort.

“Anna’s telling the truth. She never attacks humans, just feeds from the vault’s stock.”

“Oh… sorry,” Luoyao mumbled.

“No worries, humans fearing vampires is normal,” Anna said.

Her warm, bubbly personality and lively face were hard not to like.

“Alright, serious talk,” Noah said. “Why’re you here as a server instead of watching the vault?”

“Huh? Senior Noah, you don’t know?”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “Know what?”

“The Blood Hunt Church is launching its big annual vampire hunt soon,” Anna said.

“The castle elders got word and sent me and other sisters familiar with human society to the city. We’re to quietly monitor the Church’s moves.”

The Blood Hunt Church held a grand vampire hunt every year for three reasons:

One, obviously, to hunt vampires in the city.

Two, to calm the public, showing the masses they weren’t just sitting around—they worked.

Three, to appease higher-ups.

Long ago, the Church was like bounty hunters, with loose rules and freedom.

But over centuries, it developed a strict hierarchy, like a large human corporation.

The big hunts were to prove to leaders that “ground-level” members fought vampires on the front lines.

Noah nodded lightly. “I see… But you, a shut-in, familiar with human society? You were just glued to a phone game. Who said that!” Anna protested.

“I’m infiltrating human society through mobile networks! Gathering intel on the Blood Hunt Church!”

Noah smirked. “Angry Birds giving you intel, or the green pigs?”

“I…” Anna faltered.

She scratched her forehead, glancing at Noah’s cold stare, then gave in.

“Okay, fine, I’m just here to goof off. Stuck in the castle watching the vault, I was bored out of my mind.”

“Goofing off’s fine, but be careful,” Noah said. “Don’t let the Church spot you.”

“Got it, got it, Senior Noah. Jeez, you’re starting to sound like Mom.”

“You’ve got the nerve to say that?”

“If Mom found out you snuck out to play, would she gently remind you like me?”

“Your butt would’ve bloomed red by now.”

“Alright, alright, Senior Noah’s the gentlest ever!” Anna flattered.

She paused, adding, “I was gonna work as a net café manager. That way, I could play games openly!”

Noah sighed, exasperated. “So why a cinema server?”

“Too many single guys at the café kept asking for my WeChat. So annoying, I don’t even like boys,” Anna pouted “But the cinema’s mostly couples, so no one bugs me.”

“The struggles of girls who like girls,” Noah mused.

Luoyao, silent until now, looked at Noah, then Anna, cautiously asking, “You vampires… use WeChat?”

“Yup,” Noah said. “Our kind can communicate telepathically, but come on, it’s the modern age.”

“WeChat’s way easier.”

Vampires were pretty tech-savvy.

Imagining Noah, who couldn’t order takeout, fumbling with WeChat’s chat interface… that had to be adorably awkward, right?

“Not just WeChat, we’ve got a group chat!” Anna said.

Luoyao, stunned, said, “A… group chat?”

“Yup, called Suck Suck Healthier. I’m the admin!” Anna puffed out her chest proudly.

Suck Suck Healthier… so down-to-earth.

“Enough chatter,” Noah said. “If you’re here spying on the Church, be extra careful, got it?”

“Roger!” Anna gave a goofy salute.

“We’re leaving.”

“Cool! Senior Noah, enjoy your date. I’ll hold the fort!”

“…You’re too much.”

Noah turned. “Let’s go, Luoyao.”

“Oh, right, coming.”

They strolled out of the cinema.

Behind the counter, Anna watched their fading figures, eyes lingering on Luoyao.

As they entered the elevator, she snapped out of it, murmuring, “Senior, don’t fall for a human… Mom will get angry.”