CH 40.3

“Then, do prove yourself as best as you can.” The silvery glint has disappeared from Jiang Yiyi’s hand. The stiff mood loosens.

Jiang Yiyi then adds calmly, “if you don’t work hard enough, I will be looking to retrieve what is mine.”

What is his… as in, his life?

He sure said something horrible with a straight face.

Lin Yi is accustomed already. People don’t just develop a fear of Doctor just because he looks scary.

Obviously, it is because he is scary.

Jian Si’s reaction is quite mundane too——The most emotional outbursts already happened after they met each other. Now that he is standing here indifferently means he is beyond them.

Fear, anger, horror, worry, fright, hesitation…

Mere words.

Jiang Yiyi has finished explaining the state of affairs of him being in control of someone’s life——In other words, threatening him, and changes the topic abruptly again, “use the paper on the table.”

Jian Si understands, though, and walks over to start drawing.

Lin Yi, after watching Jian Si work for a while, looks at Jiang Yiyi to ask the question incessantly nagging his mind, “compared to how you treat him, you really are too…” Lin Yi pauses, looking for a suitable word, “lenient on me.”

“Why?” Lin Yi remembers what Ye Wang reminded him——That he should think about why Doctor wants to keep him around——And he wants an answer.

“Lenient? I would not use that word for someone who has done nothing wrong.”

Lin Yi is speechless for a second, then words it another way, “you treat me so nicely that I feel odd about it.”

He stares straight at Jiang Yiyi, the usual pressure associated with this action notwithstanding, for he is desperate for an answer, “if everything so far has simply been casual afterthoughts, then doing all this just to keep my alive…”

Jiang Yiyi raises his brow slightly, interrupting him, “by ‘all this,’ you mean?”

Lin Yi glances at Jian Si, believing it to be all the explanation needed.

A setup from the very beginning, until the eventual step where he fully intervenes and topples the entire chessboard——Such a grand scheme is enough to be called ‘all this,’ for sure.

“I feel like you’re misunderstanding.” Jiang Yiyi sighs, “I’m serious. Have you ever considered improving your mental acuity?”

Lin ‘the Cunning·Ten Steps Ahead·Legendary Spy of FedCom and Nianluo’ Yi is speechless for a few seconds, “Doctor, most people in the world are not Doctors.” So there really isn’t anything wrong with his intelligence.

“I admire you.”

Lin Yi is stunned.

“I admire people who walk a path of certain doom, in order to achieve their righteous objective.”

Jiang Yiyi puts his chin on his prayer hands, watching Lin Yi, “regardless of whether others see the same righteousness or not; what judgement others cast has always been meaningless, hasn’t it?”

Jian Si puts his pen down, then looking at Jiang Yiyi.

Lin Yi’s look returns to nothing. All the emotions and reactions he puts on is eliminated. He leaves no opening to be pried upon.

“Which is why, if you died, I would think it is quite the shame.” Jiang Yiyi extends his hand into the air.

Jian Si hands the paper with the code to Jiang Yiyi.

“If all they want is your death now, then…” Jiang Yiyi then moves the paper in front of Lin Yi, “offer me your life.”

Murmurs of the devil. An invitation of the abyss. A bait of the reaper.

Lin Yi knows exactly what this is. He even knows which is the more terrible of the two – between death and Jiang Yiyi.

There is no reason he should accept this invitation——This is his fate. What reason is there for him to walk a path more painful than death just to stay alive?

And yet, he is silent.

He is hesitant, not because of death. Not because of fear, either. He is hesitant because it is Jiang Yiyi.

The extreme aura from Jiang Yiyi exposes just how dangerous he is. Yet, if you are willing to approach yet, willing to accept the intimidation, or even… if you understand him enough, you realise that, in some sense, all the dangers he possesses is lethally attractive.

There is no question about it. Jiang Yiyi is special.

Lin Yi’s throat is dry. He knows he has not spoken for too long. He should have refused immediately, lest his hesitation be exposed.

Refuse now? Too late. He is clearly hesitant.

Jiang Yiyi, after waiting some patient moments, still does not receive a reply.

He puts the paper down, and pushes it in front of Lin Yi.

“Your answer.”

“There is no reason for me to accept.”

Jiang Yiyi chuckles, “ah, so you request a reason of me, so that your betrayal can be justified?”

Lin Yi looks up at Jiang Yiyi, sighing. He is always correct, and he admits it, “exactly.”

Jiang Yiyi replies instantly, “because I am the one inviting you.”

Lin Yi sighs deeply again, “Doctor, have you always been such a narcissist?”

Jiang Yiyi’s confusion is clear for all to hear, “are you trying to say that I was not the reason for your hesitation?”

Jiang Yiyi is not a narcissist, because he only tells the truth.

Author’s notes:

Your friend ‘Jian Si’ has joined your party. Note – Due to [UNINTELLIGIBLE], part of his biography is unknown.

Your friend ‘Lin Yi’ has joined your party. Note – Due to his Career, his Loyalty is hidden.

Your friend ‘Lunatic’ has temporarily joined your party. Biographies of temporary teammates are hidden.