Chapter 433: Clingy

Yi Nuo’s voice wasn’t loud, but it sounded exceptionally clear and grating in the empty hallway.

Ye Linyuan lifted his gaze, his eyes cold as he looked at him.

The atmosphere froze in an instant, becoming cold and heavy. The two males faced off in silence, their hostility palpable.

DING—

An electronic chime sounded as the elevator doors slid open.

Ye Linyuan stepped out first, his voice frigid.

He stopped in the middle of the hallway. His golden, slitted pupils narrowed slightly, his voice devoid of any emotion:

"It was just a bit of fun."

"You can give it a try. See if you can manage to do it a second time, right in front of me."

Yi Nuo’s expression stiffened.

Seeing his reaction, Ye Linyuan arched an eyebrow knowingly, the mockery in his voice undisguised. "You don’t even qualify to be toyed with, yet you dare to posture before me."

"Wishful thinking won’t make your fantasies come true."

A few seconds later, he walked away with slow, deliberate steps, carrying himself with the proud air of a victor.

Yi Nuo belatedly realized that Ye Linyuan’s demeanor seemed different than before.

Before his amnesia, Ye Linyuan’s response to provocations would have been far more scathing and incisive.

But back then, one could occasionally sense a faintly suppressed irritation and anxiety in him.

Now, however, his attacks were less aggressive, yet his words carried more conviction.

’Could it be that this accident... deepened their relationship?’

Yi Nuo pressed his lips together, his fists clenching at his sides.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and hurried to catch up.

-

When the research department learned Ye Linyuan was coming for a check-up, everyone was on edge.

As back-end researchers, they had never met Ye Linyuan, but they had heard from Chen Mi just how dangerous he was.

A product of an experiment from twenty years ago had not only survived re-entering a lab but had also effortlessly killed over a dozen other test subjects...

’A guy like that could crush our heads without breaking a sweat!’

The dozen or so terrified researchers made a special request to Xie Youchen for several military officers to be present for security.

Chen Mi was also there, on Xie Youchen’s orders.

Chen Mi, for his part, wasn’t afraid of Ye Linyuan. Beyond his official duties, he was actually curious. Just what kind of peerless man could have Miss Jiang so utterly smitten that their own Marshal would spare him, and even personally order a whole team of researchers to be on standby for his check-up?

’It feels a little treasonous,’ he thought, ’but I haven’t seen my female master back home in a while. I could really use a few tips to take back and please her...’

At one o’clock that afternoon, Ye Linyuan arrived at the research institute right on time.

Dressed head to toe in black, he had a chilling, grim aura that screamed "don’t mess with me."

The assembled group immediately went on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy.

But Ye Linyuan was surprisingly calm, allowing them to proceed with the examination.

His movements were efficient and decisive, and his level of cooperation was so high it was almost suspicious.

’Weren’t there stories about how violent and ferocious he was? How even Mutant Beasts for miles around would give him a wide berth? He just seems a little cold, but other than that, there’s no problem...’

The researchers, who had been holding their breath, began to relax slightly.

As several researchers drew Ye Linyuan’s blood, Chen Mi nudged Yi Nuo beside him with his shoulder. "He still has amnesia?"

"He’s recovered," Yi Nuo replied.

"That’s great news. So why the long face?" Unaware of Yi Nuo’s connection to Jiang Qingli, Chen Mi clapped him on the shoulder comfortingly. "Miss Jiang was so worried before. I’m sure she’s relieved now, so you can relax too..."

Yi Nuo was speechless.

Chen Mi glanced at Ye Linyuan again. "Tsk. His personality is so cold. Did he win her over with just his looks?"

Even though he was Xie Youchen’s subordinate, Chen Mi had to admit that Ye Linyuan had a face that, even as another man, he would have to call both cool and handsome.

Yi Nuo glanced over, his voice chilly. "He’s average."

Chen Mi caught on. "Right, average. No match for our Marshal! The Marshal and Miss Jiang are the ones who are a match made in heaven. They look perfect together!"

Yi Nuo fell silent.

On the other side of the room, the examination was halfway complete.

A male researcher approached with a device, speaking cautiously. "Excuse me, sir. Could you please lift your shirt? Just a couple of inches will do. We need to attach a sensor for the scan."

Since everyone present was male, Ye Linyuan had no reservations.

But as he lifted the hem of his shirt, everyone in the room froze for a second.

Chen Mi, with his sharp eyes, spotted a tattoo on Ye Linyuan’s side—a snake entwined with pear blossoms. "Holy shit," he blurted out.

The researcher noticed it too and stared for an extra moment.

Ye Linyuan glanced up. "What’s wrong? Will it interfere with the equipment?"

"No, not at all! I just thought the design was really unique, so I stared a bit," the researcher said, snapping out of it and quickly attaching the sensor. "Please sit in the center of the machine and grip the handles behind you. We’ll begin the scan now."

Chen Mi asked Yi Nuo, "That’s... a pear blossom, right? You don’t think Miss Jiang made him get it, do you?"

"I don’t know," Yi Nuo said, suppressing his fury.

When the scan was complete, the researcher came forward to remove the sensors. He couldn’t resist looking at the tattoo again. "Mr. Ye, could I ask who the artist was? It’s amazing. Could you share their contact info? I’ve been wanting to get one myself."

"You can’t," Ye Linyuan said, his gaze flicking toward Chen Mi and Yi Nuo, a smirk playing on his thin lips. "My female master drew it."

The room fell silent.

’Public displays of affection from a test subject? What has the world come to?’

-

After the examination, Ye Linyuan went to the Roaring Forest alone, not returning to the bedroom until late that night.

A single table lamp was lit in the room.

In its warm glow, Jiang Qingli was curled up on the sofa, reading through some files. A plate of washed cherries sat beside her.

Catching the faint scent of a male from the Fox Clan, Ye Linyuan’s brow furrowed slightly. "Was Baili Jing here?"

"You have the nerve to ask about him? You said you had to ’take care of something,’ and you’re only just getting back now." Jiang Qingli frowned, displeased. "Where were you?"

"The Roaring Forest," Ye Linyuan said. "Tying up loose ends."

"You went back there?" Jiang Qingli’s eyes widened, and her voice rose. "Hey, I’m not done with you yet."

"You didn’t tell me when you found that laboratory, you just went off on your own," Jiang Qingli said, listing his transgressions. "And now you’ve done it again. I’ll be seriously angry if you keep this up."

’It was precisely because he knew she’d be unhappy that he hadn’t told her.’

’There were still some Mutant Beasts in the Roaring Forest, ones that had been experimented on and fused with his genes.’

’The existence of these beasts was a huge liability that had to be eliminated.’

’There were people within the military who coveted this research; it would be a huge problem if they found out.’

’And it wasn’t something he could just dump on Jiang Qingli to handle.’

’So he had just gone himself.’

This time, however, Ye Linyuan had learned his lesson.

He briefly explained his reasoning, then admitted, "Yes. It was my fault."

Hearing him admit his mistake gave Jiang Qingli a sense of relief, like watching a rebellious child finally grow up. ’He’s teachable after all,’ she thought. She picked up a cherry and held it to his lips. "As long as you understand. Don’t let there be a next time."

Ye Linyuan lowered his gaze and took the cherry into his mouth.

’Ye Linyuan had never once felt "regret" in his entire life.’

’But after regaining his memories, he did feel a sliver of it.’

’Before he had left, his only thought was to quickly eliminate the lingering threats from his past, lest Jiang Qingli discover what he was and grow distant.’

’Looking back now, his only regret was not having acted sooner to eliminate the threat for good.’

Seeing he was unharmed, Jiang Qingli picked up a folder from beside her and handed it to him. "Your report came in."

"By the way," she added, "I had them run one more test."

"What?" Ye Linyuan asked.

Jiang Qingli said, "Our genetic Match Value."