The Vampire and Her Hunter

Chapter 1: Welcome Back

"Welcome home, Mistress." a gray-haired man in a suit said, standing at attention and bowing deeply.

"Ken, you look much older," Sophia Ye remarked.

"Indeed, over a century has passed. Mistress, please bathe and change first. Relevant materials about this era have been placed in your bedroom," the man replied.

"Alright, I feel like I stink to high heaven," Sophia Ye took the towel Ken had prepared and walked into the bathroom.

"Ken, do you know how I woke up this time?" Sophia Ye lay in the bathtub filled with roses, speaking to Ken outside the door.

"I sensed your imminent awakening and rushed over to the castle. I have the castle cleaned regularly, precisely in anticipation of this day."

"Well done." Sophia Ye picked up the stemmed glass beside her, filled with fresh blood.

"Mother must know I've awakened too," I murmured to myself with a smile.

"Master, the Glory Group you founded has grown into the largest tech and arms conglomerate in Country A. I'll announce you as the newly returned daughter and heiress, using your original name—Sophia Ye. Your flight to Country A tomorrow is already booked," Ken replied.

"You might have to endure some inconvenience first."

"It's fine, Ken. Don't be so formal." The Sophia clan was a centuries-old vampire lineage with one distinctive trait: they could never change their names, so she had to keep this one. A hundred years ago, when Sophia Ye was at her weakest, she had been sealed within her ancestral tomb by vampire hunters. Now, for reasons unknown, she had awakened. She would figure out the details later; for now, she intended to fully savor this beautiful new world.

"Glory Group Recalls Heir, Internal Crisis Looms?"

"Most Beautiful Tech Company Heiress Returns Home"......

I sat on the office sofa, swiping through my phone and reading the latest morning headlines.

"These media outlets are quite entertaining these days."

"Should I have these articles taken down?" Ken asked from beside me.

"No need. It's interesting."

"I was reviewing materials last night and noticed you're handling an acquisition case. Seems there might be an issue. What's the situation?"

"Yes. We've completed the acquisition of three department stores in Country A. Our plan is to directly secure control over the remaining nine stores in Country A by acquiring Three, the largest apparel brand."

"Directly?"

"Three has over a century of history, but the brand is struggling financially and nearly collapsing. These nine malls have signed leases with Three for at least 100 years, and each agreement grants Three the authority to decide which tenants occupy the spaces. Acquiring Three would effectively give us control over all the store leases in those nine malls."

"But the largest shareholder behind those nine malls is an arms dealer from Country M, who is obstructing our acquisition of Three."

"Get me the shareholder records for those malls. After sleeping for so long, it's time to get busy."

"Understood. There's an upcoming high-end business dinner in Country A. You've been invited. Will you be attending?"

"Who's attending?"

"Several long-term key partners of the Group and important government legislators will be present."

"I'll attend. Prepare a black evening gown for me."

"Yes, sir," Ken replied.

The evening of dinner.

"Ye, please convey my regards to your father."

"Certainly, Uncle." Such gatherings inevitably required exchanging unnecessary pleasantries. Sophia Ye felt no interest in the passing crowd, even finding it a waste of time.

"Good evening," a tall gentleman in a chocolate-brown suit approached, holding a wine glass. His tailored attire gave him a rather gentlemanly air.

"Mhm," Sophia Ye replied indifferently, politely clinking glasses with him.

"Would this lady care to dance?" He extended a gentlemanly invitation. Ye couldn't be bothered to engage, offering a polite refusal before turning away.

Unexpectedly, when Ye later went to the restroom, the man followed. He stepped forward to speak. "Miss, after the banquet concludes, would you grace me with another drink? The entire Deca Hotel is mine. I guarantee no one will disturb us."

Sophia Ye shot him a cold stare, brushing his hand away. "Sorry, I'm not interested in men," she said, opening the door and stepping into the ladies' restroom.

"Ingrate," the man muttered angrily behind her.

Sophia Ye turned on the bathroom faucet to wash her hands when a familiar scent wafted toward her—an alluring rose fragrance laced with a hint of that irresistibly intoxicating, deadly scent that made her nerves tense.

"Long time no see, my dear sister," the voice echoed as the sound of high heels grew closer.

"Long time no see, Dela." Ye glanced up at her reflection in the mirror. The woman before her wore a dark crimson lace gown, clutching the latest LV handbag. The sapphire necklace around her neck dazzled her eyes. She remained as noble and aloof as ever.

Sophia Ye took out the lipstick from her handbag and touched up her makeup in the mirror, with no intention of engaging in further conversation with Dela.

"Mother misses you," the woman finally got to the point. It was later than expected. Close blood relatives within the Sofia family could sense each other's presence.

"Thank you for remembering your daughter," Sofia Ye said sarcastically.

"You've sulked long enough. It's time to come home."

Sofia Ye stopped touching up her makeup, her expression blank, and put the items back in her purse.

"I'll never forgive her. She always takes away the people I love most. Delia, she's just using you. Stop living under her control," I said to Delia, controlling my emotions and expression.

"Don't try to defy Mother. No one ends up well," Delia said, looking at you tenderly.

Sofia Ye shot her sister a helpless glance, said nothing, and turned to leave. Her seemingly harmless older sister never understood how much pain their mother had caused her. Her suffocating control made Sofia Ye feel stifled. In Sofia Ye's heart, if not for her so-called noble mother, she wouldn't have lost the person she loved most. Only Delia foolishly continued to respect the woman Sofia Ye called her mother.

"Back to the apartment directly," Sofia Ye instructed the driver after stepping outside the hotel and getting into the car.

"Yes."

Today, Sofia Ye's good mood had been ruined by that damn dinner party.