Don't You like Little Dogs? Now that I'm Taking Liberties, You're Suddenly Reluctant? - Chapter 54

Jiang Si and Pei Ye drew attention nearly everywhere they went.

They scanned every shop in the mall, yet the shopping process was unexpectedly ordinary. Jiang Si pointed out what was needed while Pei Ye carefully selected and compared items. Occasionally, Pei Ye would hold something up for an opinion, and Jiang Si would usually just glance at it, offering a simple nod or a shake of his head. A silent understanding flowed between them.

By noon, the two were already carrying bags of all sizes.

“I cannot help it. I do not have much of a sense of proportion when it comes to this,” Jiang Si admitted, a rare confession of his own shortcomings.

To Pei Ye, this was not a problem at all. If Jiang Si saw something that felt right for the house or suitable for the other person, he simply bought it. The one thing he never lacked was money.

Pei Ye played the dual role of bodyguard and assistant throughout. Besides watching for anyone approaching with ill intent, he focused on providing references for Jiang Si.

“How about this?” Jiang Si asked, pointing to a dark-toned mug printed with a small dog pattern.

“It is very nice. I really like what you chose,” Pei Ye answered honestly.

Jiang Si looked at him, then held the mug up in front of Pei Ye as if comparing them.

“No,” he said.

Why? The mug was well-made, and the color fit Master’s style perfectly.

“It does not look like you.”

Pei Ye: “—”

He felt as though he might faint. He suddenly seemed to realize why Master liked items with dog patterns so much. Was it possible that Master did not simply like dogs, but rather, he liked him?

He was so happy.

As they passed a jewelry store, the bright window acted like a small stage, displaying several pairs of plain wedding bands. The platinum reflected a cold, pure light under the spotlights.

Pei Ye’s gaze was pulled toward them involuntarily. It lingered for perhaps only a fraction of a second before he jerked his eyes away as if burned, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

He noticed a seemingly ordinary couple leaning against the counter. The girl laughed as she slid a ring onto her ring finger, showing it to her boyfriend with a look of hidden happiness in her eyes.

Jiang Si did not stop walking, but the corner of his eye accurately captured Pei Ye’s momentary lapse. He said nothing until they reached the elevator, where he spoke casually. “Is there something you like?”

Pei Ye snapped back to reality, an undetectable heat rising in his ears as he shook his head. “No. I was just looking around.”

He did not dare admit that the simple circles symbolized a realm he felt was too extravagant to even hope for. Master was with him now, but what then? Being able to stay with Master every day, to look at him, and to touch him was already enough happiness.

He should not crave more. He could not, and should not, beg Master for a promise akin to eternity. He could not be too greedy. He could not.

But he wanted it so much.

With the day’s shopping finished, their date moved toward its final activity. They found a famous Western restaurant in New City and sat in a private booth on the top floor by a window.

After they ordered, the staff quietly withdrew, leaving only Jiang Si and Pei Ye in the independent space. Pei Ye’s gaze had not left Jiang Si all day. It was a look that was burning, lingering, cautious, and filled with excessive expectation. Jiang Si was all too familiar with it.

A “ding” sounded in the quiet room as Jiang Si’s phone rang again. Then came a series of continuous message alerts.

“Damn it,” Jiang Si cursed. He did not even look at the screen before turning the phone off and tossing it aside.

Pei Ye stared at him but said nothing. Since early this morning, Master’s phone had been ringing non-stop, whether it was messages from the organization or private content. Master was simply ignoring them.

“Master, am I getting in the way of your business?” Pei Ye asked softly, his tone carrying a faint, unnoticeable trace of testing.

Jiang Si looked up at him and frowned slightly. He seemed to find the question strange. “What business? The organization will not fall apart if I do not handle those messes for a day.”

Otherwise, what is the point of keeping the Adjutant and the others around?

It is fine not to handle organization business, but if I ignore you for a day, you will be miserable.

That was what Jiang Si thought, but he did not say it. He just looked straight at Pei Ye. Pei Ye lowered his head and remained silent.

Little dog, what does this mean?

Jiang Si’s frown deepened. Pei Ye’s eyes flickered in the shadows, his heart feeling as if it were blocked by a stone.

He knew Master was busy. Who was Master? He was the core of Skeleton, the center of the storm, and the figure at the top of New City’s gray areas. Every day, all sorts of people tried to get close to him. Even though those fools disappeared quickly, the moment he saw anyone else in contact with Master, a dark emotion nearly overflowed in his heart.

Those ordinary moments of intimacy and obvious belonging were like small needles, silently probing the most hidden insecurities in his heart. Master’s world was too big; there was a massive organization to control, enemies watching like tigers, and countless people longing to follow or replace him.

And no matter how special Pei Ye was, he was ultimately just a part of this grand picture: a possession allowed to be near the core. How long could this permission last? People of all kinds would pass through Master’s world, but his own world was very small, so small it could only fit Jiang Si.

If only Master would only look at me.

“What is wrong?” Jiang Si stared at him for a long time before finally asking.

Pei Ye immediately regained his composure, pulling back all those dark thoughts in an instant. He answered vaguely, “It is nothing. I was just thinking about other things.”

There was clearly something wrong. Based only on his expression, Jiang Si could practically guess what his little dog was thinking: the inner turmoil, the thousand-layered waves, and the hidden, dark thoughts that could not be spoken yet only he could read.

His insecure boy, friend.

“Pei Ye,” Jiang Si suddenly called his name. His tone held no specific emotion, but the content made Pei Ye freeze. “I do not like it when you lie to me.”

This sentence was like a bolt of lightning hitting the most shameful and deepest dark thoughts in Pei Ye’s heart. He felt an instinctive fear, a trembling that came only from Jiang Si, his one and only Master.

He subconsciously tried to deny it. “No, it is not.”

He heard his own voice shaking. “I just, I just wanted you to look at me more.”

Only at me.

Pei Ye could not tell a single lie to the person in front of him. Not even a single word. He could not do it. Pei Ye did not dare to look up. He was afraid of seeing a strange or scrutinizing look in Master’s eyes. At least not at a time like this.

He expected to hear a confused response, but instead, a very pleasant low laugh reached his ears. Pei Ye was stunned. Master was laughing.

“Pei Ye,” Jiang Si called out.

Suddenly, a hand reached across the table and pinched his chin. Pei Ye was forced to lift his head, meeting Jiang Si’s bottomless eyes, which were now filled with amusement.

“Listen, you are mine. My private property. You do not belong to any person or thing; you belong completely and solely to me.”

Master, what are you saying?

There was a sudden knock on the booth door. Pei Ye’s heart beat so fast it felt as if it would leap out, yet amidst the noise, he could only hear Jiang Si’s voice:

“Therefore, my gaze will naturally only fall on my little dog. Do you understand? Boy, friend.”