Don't You like Little Dogs? Now that I'm Taking Liberties, You're Suddenly Reluctant? - Chapter 51

“We are dating.”

Jiang Si’s words were like a sudden clap of thunder, leaving the entire room in an instantaneous, dead silence.

Pei Ye’s heart pounded violently, slamming against his ribs as if it were about to burst out. Master just said it. He directly announced their relationship. In front of everyone, he had made it official, open, and undeniable.

Pei Ye’s mind went completely blank. Only Jiang Si’s declaration and the firm, warm touch of his hand continued to wash over his senses. Blood rushed to his head, making him dizzy, yet he felt a massive, unprecedented sense of happiness that threatened to tear him apart.

I love Master so much.

Cang Jun gave a slight nod and took a sip of water. Beside him, Feng Jun fell into a rare silence, staring intently at Pei Ye. The reactions of the others were more or less the same: a silent, knowing realization. The Adjutant nodded calmly, as if he had known all along, while a very faint smile touched the corners of his mouth.

“So,” Jiang Si paused, continuing to look at Feng Jun with a tone that bordered on playful, “is not the answer to your question obvious now?”

Feng Jun snapped back to reality and immediately dropped his joking demeanor. He became incredibly serious, even respectful. “Obvious! Very obvious! Fourth Brother is wise! Congratulations, Fourth Brother! Congratulations, Xiao Liu!”

The others also reacted, quickly raising their glasses.

“Let’s have a drink!” “A celebration!”

Congratulations rang out one after another. In this organization where strength was respected and emotions were usually cold, no one dared to question the leader’s private affairs, especially when Jiang Si had acknowledged the relationship himself.

Jiang Si accepted the congratulations calmly. He then turned his head to look at Pei Ye, who was still in a daze, and squeezed his palm.

“Wake up,” he said softly.

Pei Ye shuddered, finally recovering from the massive shock. He looked at Jiang Si’s face so close to his, saw their intertwined hands, and noticed the knowing and strangely relieved gazes of everyone around them. A surge of scalding heat rushed to his eyes.

He gripped Jiang Si’s hand back with all the strength he could muster. Then, he turned to the group and forced out a few words with absolute clarity:

“Thank you.”

His voice was raspy, but it carried a heavy weight.

The atmosphere of the gathering reached a strange climax following that explosive announcement. The games continued, but everyone silently agreed not to target the two of them anymore.

Jiang Si remained composed, drinking occasionally, but his fingers never let go of Pei Ye. Pei Ye also began to relax. Although he still spoke little, his body was no longer stiff. Occasionally, when Jiang Si whispered to him, he would nod slightly or respond with a word or two.

Outside, the night was deep, but the lounge area was filled with warmth. The candlelight flickered, reflecting off faces that might have been stained with blood but appeared genuine in this moment.

The party lasted until late at night. Many bottles were empty, and the dishes on the table had been finished. The atmosphere shifted from the initial excitement to a relaxed, post-drinking peacefulness.

Jiang Si was clearly tired. He put out his last cigarette and leaned back slightly. Pei Ye caught this subtle movement immediately and whispered, “Master, are you tired?”

“Yes,” Jiang Si replied. He did not deny it.

He glanced at the others, who were still talking quietly, and said flatly, “We are done.”

Those words were an order. Even in this private setting, his words carried absolute authority. Everyone stood up immediately.

“Fourth Brother, we will head out first.” “Get some rest, Fourth Brother.” “Night Brother, we are going.”

The goodbyes rang out. Everyone was tactful, moving efficiently to clean up and leave. No one was foolish enough to disturb the private time between Fourth Brother and the person who had just been officially confirmed.

Feng Jun had his arm around Blood Slaughter’s neck and was still mumbling something until Cang Jun slapped the back of his head to quiet him. Viper looked down at his phone, likely confirming a new shipment of weapons. Ghost, true to his name, quietly vanished into the shadows.

The Adjutant and Cang Jun were the last to leave. The Adjutant carefully pulled the door shut, isolating the space.

In the hallway, only the two of them remained. The scent of alcohol had not yet fully dissipated. The Adjutant pushed up his glasses, and the mildness he showed at the party quickly faded into his usual professional calm. However, his tone carried a hint of the teasing only found between old friends.

“It seems that when reporting work in the future, I will have to be even more mindful of my boundaries.”

He was referring to the relationship between Jiang Si and Pei Ye.

Cang Jun walked with his hands in his pockets, expressionless. “You knew all along?”

The Adjutant gave a light laugh, his gaze behind the lenses turning distant. “The way Fourth Brother looked at him has been different for a long time. I just did not expect him to be so direct.” He paused and added, “Still, it is good. Pei Ye is a good fit.”

This “fit” had a complex meaning. It referred to strength, loyalty, and that unique quality capable of touching the ice in Jiang Si’s heart.

Cang Jun gave a simple “Mhm” in agreement. He was not entirely unaware; he just was not as observant as the Adjutant. He was usually indifferent to emotional matters and felt that this was Fourth Brother’s private business, having nothing to do with him.

The Adjutant glanced at him and suddenly changed the subject playfully. “Speaking of which, Fourth Brother is officially taken now. What about you? Have you considered finding someone?”

Cang Jun’s footsteps paused. He glanced at the Adjutant with an expression that clearly said, “Are you okay?” and “How boring.”

For someone like him who lived by the blade and walked on the edge of life and death, emotions were an unnecessary burden and a weakness. Furthermore:

“Not interested,” he spat out coldly. He quickened his pace, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation.

The Adjutant watched his retreating back and shook his head helplessly, though a faint smile remained. He had known Cang Jun for a very long time, back since they were teenagers in another school that trained elites. He knew the stubbornness and the strange sort of purity hidden beneath his friend’s cold exterior.

Asking him to find a partner? That was likely harder than asking him to take down an entire reinforced squad alone.

At the end of the hallway, Cang Jun’s figure disappeared around the corner. The Adjutant also stopped smiling, regained his usual calm, and walked in the opposite direction while mentally planning the priorities for tomorrow’s work.

Inside the room, it was finally completely quiet. The candles were nearly burnt out, and the light grew dimmer.

Jiang Si remained leaning against the chair, his eyes closed. There was a hint of exhaustion on his brow, but he had not let go of Pei Ye’s hand. Pei Ye stayed by his side quietly, looking at the profile of his face outlined by the shadows. His heart was still filled with that massive, surreal sense of happiness. Master’s words were still echoing in his ears.

“Let us go back,” Jiang Si said, suddenly opening his eyes and standing up. The movement pulled at the wound on his abdomen, causing him to frown slightly.

Pei Ye immediately supported him anxiously. “Be careful.”

Jiang Si used his strength to steady himself. He looked at him but said nothing, allowing Pei Ye to support him as they walked slowly toward the private elevator.

The elevator doors closed, leaving only the two of them in the small space. The mirror reflected them leaning into each other. Pei Ye saw that Jiang Si’s hand was still tightly locked with his. This time, he did not look away.

Their relationship began in the abyss and became trapped in entanglement. Having witnessed so much bloodshed, they had finally found a quiet place to anchor themselves in each other’s presence.

“We are going home.”

“Yes.”