Chapter 34: Incomplete Exposure

The half-finished bottle of lime soda on the table was still bubbling faintly. Ye Lian lounged against the soft cushion, his legs casually crossed, one hand lazily draped over the armrest of the sofa, looking perfectly at ease as if this were his own territory.

Jiang Xiaoyu said, “Um… thank you.”

Ye Lian gazed at his jet-black hair, asking with great interest, “What exactly are you thanking me for?”

“This house.” Jiang Xiaoyu pursed his lips. “Even if it’s for feng shui or whatever, two thousand yuan a month is a huge steal for me.”

“No need to mind it. It was just sitting idle anyway. I just didn’t expect you to have so many cats and dogs. Did you pick them all up?”

Jiang Xiaoyu nodded. “Most of them, yeah. Some came with their whole families to scam me into taking them.”

“Why do you like cats and dogs so much? You’ve saved so many.”

The atmosphere fell quiet for a moment. The Colorful Civet Old Cat mustered its courage and padded over to Jiang Xiaoyu’s leg, twitching its white whiskers as it meowed, “Baby, time for bed.” It was a bit afraid of Ye Lian beside Jiang Xiaoyu but still flattened its ears like airplane wings, staring at him warily.

Interrupted by the Colorful Civet Old Cat like this, Jiang Xiaoyu relaxed a little. He picked up the cat and set it on his knee, then answered Ye Lian’s question. “It looks like I saved them, but really, they saved me.”

Ye Lian uncrossed his legs and leaned forward slightly, focusing intently on Jiang Xiaoyu. “If it’s not too forward and you’re willing to share, I’d love to listen.”

Perhaps it was the man’s gaze that was too gentle and sincere, or maybe it was the inexplicable fondness from their days together. Jiang Xiaoyu silently stroked the cat on his knee for a while before finally speaking. “It’s nothing much, really. I went through some things when I was little.”

Setting aside his own mutation, he told Ye Lian about the little white dog from his life.

“Because it fed you, now you feed so many cats and dogs? Like repaying a debt of gratitude?” Ye Lian’s voice was soft, his tone revealing no strong emotions.

“That’s part of it.” Jiang Xiaoyu pinched the Colorful Civet Old Cat’s paw, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “Mostly, it’s because they deserve it.”

“They wake me up for work without an alarm, wait at the door no matter when I get off shift, huddle together for warmth when it’s cold, catch mice and birds, find flowers to give me—isn’t that adorable?”

Thinking of the Little Black Cat huddling with the other cats for warmth, the man chuckled softly. “Yeah, very adorable.”

“And…” Jiang Xiaoyu went on in one breath, listing a ton of things, only then noticing that the man had been quietly watching him the whole time. His gaze was like a pool of autumn water, calm and profound. Moonlight fell on the surface, casting long, cold reflections, but in his eyes, they were all warmly held.

“Sorry… I think I said too much.”

Ye Lian’s gaze was serene. “No need to apologize.” He watched Jiang Xiaoyu’s hand stroking the cat—long, even fingers that curled up quietly when he was nervous or at a loss. “And no need to thank me. Even if it seems like I’m taking a loss to you, it was my choice.” Not to mention, his choice wasn’t out of any kindness—he had his own motives, and he was dead set on achieving them.

Jiang Xiaoyu blinked blankly, seeming not to fully understand. But then he remembered the girl who said, ‘Just consider it me joining in on the rescue,’ and Ye Corporation’s charities. Suddenly inspired, he blurted, “Mr. Ye, you’re a really good person.”

Ye Lian: ^ ^?

He had no idea what the little guy was imagining, but seeing his face flush red again, Ye Lian couldn’t help smiling. He’d never met a policeman who blushed so easily. How did he interrogate suspects like this? By blushing to seduce confessions out of them?

What he didn’t know was that Jiang Xiaoyu found him interesting and special, and likewise, Jiang Xiaoyu was special to him.

He clearly didn’t want extra social ties, yet when facing Ye Lian alone, he couldn’t help drawing closer—like a freshly baked little cake, sweet and emitting an enticing aroma. The Little Black Cat circled around it helplessly because it was just too fragrant.

Jiang Xiaoyu’s eyes sparkled, his face flushed as he said, “Really, you’re the second-best person I’ve ever met!”

Ye Lian: ^ ^?

Second-best? Who’s first? Spill it.

Unfortunately, the little guy couldn’t pick up on Ye Lian’s brainwaves and was acting all ostrich-like. Once he’d labeled Ye Lian a ‘good person,’ it was like everything made sense. He held up the Colorful Civet Old Cat toward Ye Lian. “Wanna pet it? It’s really well-behaved and doesn’t bite.”

The Colorful Civet Old Cat went rigid. This kitten baby really needed re-education—his sense for danger was totally broken! It watched as Ye Lian raised a hand and slowly approached its forehead. He extended one finger to stroke its head. Terrified by his aura, it trembled but still let out a weak mew in response to Jiang Xiaoyu’s “Isn’t it so cute?”

The two sat closer on the sofa now. Ye Lian shifted to a more relaxed pose, legs slightly parted, his knee ‘accidentally’ brushing lightly against the side of Jiang Xiaoyu’s leg.

Jiang Xiaoyu had just showered and was only in shorts, his thighs fully exposed. The spot where they touched felt like it had been scalded, heat rapidly spreading from there through his limbs. His heart skipped a beat, and he couldn’t help looking up at Ye Lian.

Seeing Ye Lian seemingly oblivious to the effect he’d caused, still poking the Colorful Civet Old Cat’s ears with interest, Jiang Xiaoyu silently pressed his legs together and quietly scooted away from the heat source.

“Looks like it doesn’t bite.” Ye Lian withdrew his finger, eyes crinkling.

Jiang Xiaoyu set the Colorful Civet Old Cat down, puzzled by how stiff it was. He nudged its butt. “Go sleep now.” Then to Ye Lian: “Right? They’re sensitive to kindness and won’t bite just anyone.”

Ye Lian hummed. “Unlike my little guy. The one at my place is super fierce.”

Now it was Jiang Xiaoyu who stiffened. Little guy at home? The Husky? Or… me?

“Its fur curls just like Little Coal Ball’s. When it gets mad, it bites and kicks while clinging to people.”

…That description had to be him.

Ye Lian turned to face Jiang Xiaoyu, his handsome face showing some distress, tone a bit aggrieved. “Officer Jiang, don’t you think I should discipline the little guy?”

“H-Haha—if it’s too much, yeah, probably…” Jiang Xiaoyu laughed awkwardly, not realizing he was digging his own grave. Then Ye Lian added, “Speaking of which, that cat of yours looks so familiar.” He glanced at the Mandarin Duck-Eyed Little White Cat squatting in the corner. “I think I saw it in a livestream that day.”

“It was with my little guy. Oh, forgot to tell Officer Jiang—I’m the little guy’s second owner. It ditched me and ran back to its first owner.”

“Uncle’s a bit heartbroken. I raised it for so long, and it just up and left without a word.”

Ye Lian said he was heartbroken… Yeah, if one of the little guys in his yard went missing, he’d be sad too. Jiang Xiaoyu opened his mouth, half-lost: “Maybe… it just went out to play.”

Ye Lian hummed and leaned closer to Jiang Xiaoyu. “But is the cat at Officer Jiang’s place really the one I saw in the livestream? How’d it end up here?”

The man drew nearer and nearer. Jiang Xiaoyu shrank back, back rigid as he twisted his head away, not daring to meet Ye Lian’s eyes. His brain raced like never before. Panic turned to calm. Pretending nonchalance, he said, “That curly-furred little black cat, right? I rescued him before, so he comes by often to mooch food. But I’m not his owner.”

“Oh? Like this?”

“Yeah, exactly.” His tone was so convincing even he believed it.

But how could Ye Lian let him off? With feigned confusion, he asked, “So Officer Jiang is the owner of that livestream account?”

Jiang Xiaoyu’s head stiffened. “Yes… The Little Black Cat likes eating in front of the camera. He won’t perform, but he insists, so I started the stream for him.”

“Oh? Sounds not much like my little guy.” Ye Lian sighed. “Mine’s super shy.”

Jiang Xiaoyu was at a loss for words. Just as Ye Lian was about to press the advantage and teasingly see how he’d squirm, Jiang Xiaoyu suddenly straightened up. “On that note, Mr. Ye, your tips that day were way too much. I have to return them.”

Seeing him shrink back like an ostrich again, burrowing into his self-brainwashing defenses, Ye Lian felt helpless and smiled, straightening up to give him space. Following his excuse, he said, “Not much. After all, my little guy comes to mooch off you often, right? Next time he shows up, take good care of him. He doesn’t seem to like boiled meat much—use that money to get more stuff he loves.”

Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t dare meet his gentle gaze, head down. “Still too much… What cat could eat that much…”

Ye Lian shrugged nonchalantly. “A lot? Ji Wangan’s dog costs tens of thousands for one SPA session.”

Jiang Xiaoyu was dumbfounded. “Re-Really? One session costs tens of thousands?” Didn’t that mean the few SPA sessions he’d been dragged along to had also cost… He mentally counted on his fingers—over a hundred thousand?? These corrupt capitalists!!

Ye Lian chuckled lightly. “It’s getting late, so I won’t disturb you anymore.” He stood up and straightened his cuffs. “Officer Jiang, remember—if the little guy comes again, remind him to head home early.”

Jiang Xiaoyu stood up as well, a bit embarrassed. “Um, he might not come back, after all, I’ve moved… Pine City is so huge, he might not be able to find me.”

“No problem,” Ye Lian said airily. “Then just wait until the day he finds you.”

One lie requires countless more to cover it. Jiang Xiaoyu watched the tall figure vanish into the night, lowering his head in annoyance. He had no idea what nonsense he’d spouted tonight.

Ye Lian just seemed too pure, too easy to fool… He actually bought that lame excuse? Jiang Xiaoyu never imagined Ye Lian would notice his ability to turn into a cat. After all, the Archives Department had only about a hundred registered shapeshifters nationwide. Such a rare thing—how could an ordinary person possibly guess?

That brought Ye Lan’s actions to mind, which were particularly intriguing. She had promised not to tell Ye Lian about his matters, but he’d been missing for so long—what if she had said something…

And after Jiang Xiaoyu spent several days anxiously clutching his heart over it, he ran into Ye Lan again because of Ji Wangan’s case.