Dangerous Entity : Chapter 20

There are still more than ten days before the auction begins. During this time Ji Lianze and Jiang Ye have both been making their own preparations. Life seems calm and peaceful, yet subtle changes are quietly taking place.

Ji Lianze is twenty-six years old this year. Aside from his years as a minor living with his parents, he has spent most of his adult life alone.

His youth was uneventful. After joining the Alliance and becoming Chief Inspector, his daily routine grew even simpler and more monotonous.

Every day followed the same pattern. Work and training filled his schedule, with no entertainment at all. Even sitting for a while in Weiran’s tavern counted as relaxation.

Ji Lianze’s personality is cold, strict, and unsmiling. He has no close friends, no siblings, and no particular hobbies. Even his wardrobe contains only black, white, and gray. He is the very definition of dull and uninteresting.

When living alone, he never noticed these traits or thought them problematic. But after Jiang Ye moved in, under the guise of supervisor and supervised, they began a kind of cohabitation. At close range, their differences became more and more obvious.

While busy capturing Bai Zan, Ji Lianze didn’t feel it strongly. But over the past half month, as they spent more time together, he suddenly realized his private space was being freely shared by another person.

Jiang Ye is his complete opposite. From personality and hobbies down to daily habits, they are worlds apart.

Jiang Ye is witty and humorous, unpredictable in his actions. He can throw tantrums or act spoiled, often feigning innocence and grievance. He hides his true intentions behind a friendly mask, retreating to advance, pleasing and coaxing with ease.

Although Ji Lianze rarely falls for it, he occasionally gets drawn into Jiang Ye’s tricks. Jiang Ye is rebellious but harmless.

After the Bai Zan incident, Ji Lianze forbade him from going out. Jiang Ye obediently became a “househusband” and Ji Lianze’s personal assistant, adapting with astonishing speed.

Perhaps because he had too little entertainment, apart from watching melodramatic dramas, Jiang Ye became extremely diligent.

Sweeping, mopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning windows, taking out trash—he did everything himself. The house became spotless, even cleaner than professional workers could manage.

Ji Lianze, aside from personal hygiene, rarely did chores. His cooking was careless. He had lived mostly at the Alliance base, eating at the cafeteria or restaurants. At the mansion, cleaners came regularly.

So after Jiang Ye moved in, even food and cleaning expenses were greatly reduced.

Though Jiang Ye couldn’t go out freely, Ji Lianze didn’t isolate him completely. Whenever Jiang Ye needed something within reason, Ji Lianze would bring it back.

One day it was tablecloths and flowers, the next cushions and carpets. Within days, Ji Lianze realized the home had completely changed. From black and white it became colorful, from dull to lively.

All these changes happened gradually, unnoticed, like boiling a frog in warm water. Jiang Ye was the soothing warmth, Ji Lianze the frog whose senses were dulled.

Ji Lianze didn’t understand Jiang Ye’s purpose, but he didn’t reject it. He watched coldly, detached, letting Jiang Ye reshape his private space.

No matter what, Jiang Ye was still within his grasp.

Knock knock knock—

Three knocks suddenly broke Ji Lianze’s wandering thoughts.

Jiang Ye stood at the study door in gray-white loungewear, apron tied, looking like a “virtuous wife and mother.”

“There are no vegetables left, only some noodles. Do you want noodles or dumplings?”

Ji Lianze’s gaze lingered briefly before shifting back to his computer screen. “Whatever.”

“Alright.”

The figure disappeared. Ji Lianze sat a while longer, lost interest in work, and followed him out.

Though Jiang Ye had lived there for some time, Ji Lianze rarely saw him cook. Usually meals were ready when he returned, or Jiang Ye would call him once food was served.

Resting at home today, Ji Lianze suddenly wanted to watch him cook.

In the living room, he noticed a celadon vase on the dining table, filled with fresh white roses. Their fragrance drifted lightly, petals beaded with water, delicate and tender.

Two days ago the vase held balloon flowers. Yesterday Jiang Ye persuaded Ji Lianze for half an hour before he agreed to bring back the roses. Jiang Ye had already trimmed and arranged them today.

The kitchen had automatic doors. Through the frosted glass Ji Lianze saw Jiang Ye’s silhouette. His figure was excellent—broad shoulders, narrow waist—even blurred, it was attractive.

As Ji Lianze approached, the door opened automatically.

He leaned against the frame, watching as if it were a movie.

On the stove boiled a pot of water. On the counter lay rolled dumpling wrappers and prepared zucchini, egg, and shrimp filling. Jiang Ye had chosen dumplings for dinner.

But even skilled hands couldn’t prepare everything in minutes.

Ji Lianze said, “You already decided what to cook, so why ask me?”

The voice behind him didn’t startle Jiang Ye. He calmly wet the wrapper edge, scooped filling, folded it carefully.

Soon a plump dumpling rested in his palm, then slid into the pot.

His movements were steady and pleasing to watch, yet not slow.

“You’re the employer, the boss. Of course I should ask your opinion.” Jiang Ye joked. “Besides, I knew you’d say ‘whatever.’ Eight out of ten times, that’s your answer.”

Ji Lianze thought for a moment. It was true. He rarely cared what to eat, as long as it wasn’t inedible.

Within moments, several dumplings were in the pot. Jiang Ye stirred the broth and asked, “How many do you want, fifty enough?”

Ji Lianze said, “No, thirty is fine.”

Jiang Ye’s dumplings were large. Thirty equaled forty ordinary ones.

“Only thirty? That won’t do.” Jiang Ye teased. “What if someday you can’t beat me? Then our agreement won’t count.”

“Eating more or less won’t change the outcome.”

With nothing else to do, Ji Lianze chatted idly at the doorway.

Jiang Ye quickly finished half the wrappers. The water boiled, he added cold water again.

Watching his busy yet composed figure, Ji Lianze felt the scene unreal. He had never imagined calmly cooking and chatting under the same roof with Jiang Ye.

Though beyond this warmth lay countless crises and uncertainties, the deceptive comfort of the moment was strangely moving.

Jiang Ye’s voice carried a smile. “A ze, I’m really curious. Of all the people you’ve met, has anyone ever beaten you?”

Ji Lianze answered truthfully. “No.”

“Then does that mean… being with you is absolute safety?” Jiang Ye washed his hands, turned, eyes gleaming. “Will A ze protect me? Like you protect hostages, unconditionally?”

Ji Lianze met his half-true, half-false expectation. For a moment he wanted to avoid it, but suppressed the urge, staring straight back.

After a pause, Jiang Ye’s smile deepened. “You don’t want to…”

“Yes.” Ji Lianze interrupted calmly. “As long as you obey.”

Jiang Ye blinked. “I always listen to A ze.”

Ji Lianze said nothing, walked past him to another counter, opened a cabinet, and took out mint leaves. He placed a few in a teacup.

“Your water is boiling.” Ji Lianze reminded.

Jiang Ye returned to the dumplings, adding cold water again. “They’ll be ready soon. I want mint tea too.”

Hot water poured into the cup, steam rising, mint fragrance mingling with shrimp dumplings, creating a strange blend—like the atmosphere between them, indescribable.

Ji Lianze left the mint tin on the counter, carried his tea out. “Make it yourself.”

Jiang Ye complained behind him. “Cold and heartless, selfish, iron-hearted.”

Ji Lianze ignored him, sat in the living room, picked up the remote, and turned on the TV.

Jiang Ye immediately called, “Switch to channel 15. ‘Bride’s Diary’ is airing, two new episodes today. I can’t miss a minute!”

Ji Lianze refused to let melodramas pollute his ears. He switched to the musical channel, ignoring Jiang Ye’s protests.

After sipping tea, he set the cup down and walked to the balcony, gazing outside.

The sun sank. Gray clouds gathered, bright skies turned dark. Strong winds rose, heralding heavy rain.

Trees and flowers in the compound bent under the storm, helpless against the raging wind.

The gloomy sky reflected in Ji Lianze’s eyes, shrinking to a gray dot, rippling like a calm lake.

The peaceful day ended, sinking into a night full of danger.

Behind him were soft music, Jiang Ye’s voice, and the aroma of dumplings. Before him were roaring winds and surging clouds. Monsters lurking in the shadows watched greedily.

He sensed their restless presence.

Author’s note:

End of Volume One. Next chapter begins Volume Two, Jin’gang City arc.

Additional setting: In this story, the central government’s largest unit is called Bureau, the Alliance’s largest unit is called Department. The background is entirely fictional, distinct from reality.