Don't You like Little Dogs? Now that I'm Taking Liberties, You're Suddenly Reluctant? - Chapter 49

Inside the top-floor conference room of Starry Biotech, the atmosphere was a masterclass in luxury and cutting-edge technology. Massive circular floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the New City, and every inch of the air was thick with the cold, calculated scent of wealth and power.

Jiang Yuan sat in the head seat, his expression dark. Jiang Yi, Jiang Er, and Jiang San sat on either side.

“That unfilial son!” Jiang Yuan’s voice was not loud, but it carried the oppressive weight of a gathering storm. “His life is certainly stubborn.”

The latest intelligence he received showed that Jiang Si had not only survived but, after a period of recovery, had already resumed handling the internal affairs of the Skeleton organization.

To his side, Jiang Yi pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm to the point of cruelty. “A new neurotoxin combined with biological inhibitors, paired with that level of physical trauma, his survival truly exceeded the laboratory projected data. His personal physique and willpower were the greatest variables.”

“Willpower?” Jiang San let out a soft laugh. Her makeup was exquisite, and her eyes held the savvy and detachment typical of a media mogul. “I say bad luck lingers for a thousand years. Is that mad dog of a subordinate of his not also incredibly insane?”

As she spoke, she pulled up some blurred screenshots of combat data from the scene, specifically focusing on Pei Ye. “His name is Pei Ye, right? To protect his master, that mad dog practically slaughtered the entire ambush site alone.”

The second brother, Jiang Er, coughed lightly. His politician’s caution made his tone more conservative. “The commotion was too large. Even if it was in the Rust Belt, the follow-up cleanup is a headache. Father, should we pull back for a moment? After all, there is no direct evidence linking us to it, but Skeleton’s retaliation”

“Retaliation?” Jiang Yuan sneered, his fingertip tapping heavily on the polished table. “Does he dare to retaliate against the Jiang family openly? This lesson was clearly not deep enough!”

The conference room fell into a brief silence. Almost everyone had assumed Jiang Si would die during this period, or at the very least, end up in a vegetative state. Instead, he had survived and was now steadily recovering after a period of recuperation. Internal security at Skeleton had also become much tighter because of this incident; the entire organization was in a state of high tension.

Finally, Jiang Yuan spoke slowly, reaching a decision. “Hold our positions for now. That brat suffered a huge loss; he is surely like a wounded beast right now, more vigilant and more crazed. There is no need to go head-to-head at this moment.”

He swept his gaze over his children, his voice chillingly cold. “Jiang Yi, thoroughly investigate every internal link that might have had contact with Scorpion or Fang. Dispose of all suspicious personnel; leave no future troubles. Jiang Er, handle the official channels; I do not want any unnecessary eyes falling on Starry. Jiang San, regarding public opinion, you know what to do.”

“Yes, Father,” the three replied in unison.

The Great Ship of the Jiang Family chose to change course temporarily when faced with the hard, foul rock that was Jiang Si. However, the killing intent beneath the dark currents had not dissipated; it was merely accumulating, waiting for the next, more fatal opportunity.

More than half a month later, at Skeleton Headquarters.

Jiang Si’s resilience was indeed staggering. The effects of the severe abdominal injury and the toxins had not fully vanished, but he had already returned to the top-floor office, spending most of his time overseeing core organizational affairs. Under the Adjutant’s efficient and cold-blooded reorganization, daily operations had not only returned to order but had become more precise and efficient than ever, like a killing machine that had been completely purged of impurities.

Within the organization, the biggest topic of late was the historic change in the overall rankings. The Adjutant, who had always sat firmly at Number One like a stabilizing anchor, had dropped to second place for the first time. The name that had leaped to the top was one everyone was familiar with, yet felt a trace of awe-inspired strangeness toward: Pei Ye.

“Night Crow, Pei Ye, is Number One on the overall list now.”

“No kidding. If you had seen him that night, he was like a vengeful ghost crawling out of hell.”

“I heard that for Fourth Brother, Brother Ye killed dozens of the enemy’s elites all by himself. He did not stop even when he was covered in blood.”

“The Adjutant accepted this ranking update as well. It seems it is well-deserved.”

Similar discussions frequently circulated in the training grounds, lounge areas, and outside mission briefing rooms. There was awe, admiration, and fear in equal measure. Strength was the only passport inside Skeleton, and Pei Ye had used the bloodiest, most direct method to prove his indisputable top-tier strength and his invaluable, crazed loyalty to the Leader.

The organization’s underground training ground.

Pei Ye received an internal communication from Jiang Si asking him to collect an important document from the Logistics Department. He walked through the noisy underground training area.

“Brother Ye!”

“Hello, Brother Ye!”

Wherever he passed, members who had been sweating through training or laughing loudly stopped what they were doing, respectfully clearing a path. Their tones carried unmistakable reverence. Pei Ye’s reaction was extremely flat. He merely nodded slightly, his gaze not lingering on anyone for even a second. He radiated a cold aura that warned others not to approach.

His footsteps clicked rhythmically on the cold floor. As his gaze brushed past familiar training equipment, voices from many years ago seemed to echo faintly in his ears.

“Look, that’s the kid Fourth Brother picked up.” “Skinny as a monkey. Can he even fight?” “I heard Fourth Brother found him in a pile of corpses? Talk about lucky.” “Hey, newbie, come over here and shine my shoes!”

Those curious, contemptuous, or malicious looks and words seemed to still linger in the air. And now, among those who had mocked or ignored him back then, some had long since become dry bones, others remained mediocre and stuck at the bottom, and many more were now forced to respectfully call him “Brother Ye” upon seeing him.

Things change; it was almost laughable. However, he felt little satisfaction in his heart, only a cold tranquility. Everything he had done was never to prove anything to these people. His gaze was always fixed solely on the person at the very top.

After turning two more corners past the training ground and taking the private elevator directly to the third floor, he arrived at the Logistics Department. The atmosphere in Logistics was relatively relaxed, but the moment Pei Ye stepped inside, the air seemed to stagnate.

“Brother Ye, what brings you here?” A man who appeared to be a supervisor immediately came forward to greet him.

“Picking up a document,” Pei Ye said succinctly, reciting the document ID.

The supervisor hurried off to find it. Pei Ye’s gaze swept casually across the room, landing on a figure counting supplies deep in the warehouse. That person also looked up, sensing his presence. Their eyes met, and both paused for a moment. It was Leopard.

He was the former captain of the Fourth Squad. Because of that mission in the Eastern District years ago, Jiang Si had personally ordered his dismissal and stripped him of his rank. He had been demoted to the Logistics Department to handle odd jobs ever since. He looked much older now; the sharpness and arrogance in his eyes had been ground away, leaving only exhaustion and numbness.

“Pei Ye,” Leopard called his name instinctively, then seemed to remember something and changed his address, his tone complex. “Brother Ye.”

Pei Ye looked at him without much expression, merely nodding curtly. “Leopard.”

Those two simple words, devoid of any emotion, caused a flash of embarrassment and daze to cross Leopard’s face. He was once Pei Ye’s superior and had personally witnessed the brief growth period of this taciturn man who knew nothing but desperate training. Who could have imagined that in just a few years, their circumstances would be worlds apart? One had reached the summit, while the other was stuck here like mud.

“Congratulations,” Leopard said dryly, though it was unclear if he was congratulating him on the ranking or something else. He looked away, seemingly unable to withstand Pei Ye’s calm yet incredibly oppressive gaze for long. “The document is over there in the third cabinet. I will take you there.”

“Mhm,” Pei Ye responded, following behind him.

The two walked in silence, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing in the cavernous warehouse. Time had passed, and they truly had nothing left to say to one another. Once he had the document, Pei Ye did not linger and turned to leave. Leopard watched his upright, cold back disappear through the doorway for a long time without moving. Finally, he let out a nearly inaudible sigh. It turned out everything had long since become different.

Pei Ye returned to the top-floor office with the document. Jiang Si was standing before a massive electronic screen, looking at the latest power distribution map with a cigarette between his fingers. Hearing the door open, he turned his head. His gaze landed on Pei Ye, scanning him from top to bottom as if confirming something, before finally settling on the document in his hand.

“Got it?” he asked flatly.

“Yes, Master.” Pei Ye stepped forward and handed the document over.

Jiang Si took it and set it casually on the desk without checking it immediately. Instead, he reached out and touched Pei Ye’s cheek with his fingertip. The movement was natural yet carried a sense of possessiveness. “Run into any trouble on the way?”

“No,” Pei Ye replied. Feeling that brief touch, the tips of his ears turned slightly red. Even though their relationship had changed, Jiang Si’s casual intimacy could still make his heart skip a beat.

Master is touching him. The cool sensation, he loved it so much.

“That is good.” Jiang Si withdrew his hand and took a puff of his cigarette. As if suddenly remembering something, he said casually, “The Adjutant organized a gathering tonight; a few from the First Squad will be there too. Come with me.”

This was not a discussion; it was a notification. It was a private gathering that would officially bring him into the innermost circle as one of their own. Pei Ye was slightly stunned, then nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Si looked at him, seemingly satisfied with this unhesitating obedience. The corner of his mouth hooked into an extremely faint curve, and he reached out to ruffle Pei Ye’s hair. “Mhm. Do not just sit there when the time comes.”

His tone was still flat, yet it carried an undetectable trace of indulgence and anticipation. Pei Ye lowered his head and looked at Jiang Si, appearing to think seriously about something.

In what capacity should he go? Bodyguard? Pet? Subordinate? Or lover? Is that allowed? To appear in a capacity that is absolutely close to Master?

“Significant other, boyfriend, pick one,” Jiang Si said flatly, as if reading his mind. His tone carried his customary refusal to be questioned.

“Master,” hearing Jiang Si speak so directly, Pei Ye’s face flushed completely red. It was not just the exposure of having his inner thoughts read so suddenly; more than that, it was a strange sense of happiness stemming from Master’s proactive acknowledgment.

Jiang Si also seemed slightly embarrassed. He silently and slowly averted his gaze, looking instead at a small dog model on his desk that the Adjutant had found for him long ago.

“Anyway, it is a lover relationship.”