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Ye Jiang couldn't think of a second reason; what else could it be but this?

Her expression turned serious, and she prepared to argue her case in the upcoming negotiations. Even though she wasn't good with words, she was determined not to give back a single penny that had already been deposited into her account.

"Miss Ye."

"I don't."

"What? No what?"

"..."

Ye Jiang's expression was very serious, the kind of expression one would use to protect something important.

The branch director of the Ability Control Bureau was completely bewildered. He looked at his two subordinates and the guests from headquarters with questioning eyes, but they didn't give him an answer. They were just as confused as he was. In the silence, Xiao Pei clicked her tongue. She couldn't stand this slow pace. She got up and walked over to the distinguished guests they had invited, and sat down opposite them.

"Waiter, the Ability Control Bureau has asked you to come here today because it's very important."

As she said this, Xiao Pei glanced at the several entrances and exits of the conference room to make sure they were all closed before continuing.

She stared intently at Ye Jiang and said solemnly, "The boy with you is no ordinary person."

"No." Dissatisfied, she frowned and changed her wording, "He's not human."

Ye Jiang was mentally preparing herself, expecting to hear a large sum of money, but instead, she heard this completely unrelated topic. The seriousness in her eyes wavered, spreading like a broken egg yolk, followed by a sense of unexpected bewilderment.

A meaningless, emotionless "ah" escaped her throat.

Surprised?

It must be hard to accept this news, right?

Xiao Pei Peiyao recalled how shocked and shaken she was when she received the secret report about the monster.

Her expression softened slightly, afraid of startling the young man opposite her, and she described as calmly as possible. "That boy named Dong Zhen, he is neither human nor Polluted, but a creature that our Ability Control Bureau has labeled as a monster. Monsters descend from another world using human bodies. They possess strength far exceeding that of S-Rank Polluted, and also possess far greater, but controllable, Pollution. They are terrifyingly powerful."

Xiao Pei truthfully revealed the conditions for the monster's arrival, as well as its ambiguous stance. This was originally a secret belonging to the higher-ups of the Ability Control Bureau, and could not be divulged, however...

Xiao Pei recalled the scene she had witnessed not long ago: beneath a grand display of supernatural fireworks, an ordinary human girl and a monster boy stood facing each other, talking about something, an invisible bond flowing between them.

It's too deep.

As a human, Ye Jiang had been deeply entangled with monsters before the Bureau of the Ability Control Bureau intervened. Therefore, even though she was just an ordinary citizen, the Ability Control Bureau decided to inform her of the existence of monsters after an emergency meeting. She needed to know what kind of dangerous beings she was associating with.

Xiao Pei truthfully recounted the information about the monster, she said

I had to be serious, lest the person listening to these words harbor any romanticized notions about that creature.

"Ye Jiang, you should know now that the boy who's clinging to you isn't as harmless and innocent as he seems. If you want to sever ties with him..." Xiao Pei clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and the female warrior's eyes hardened. "Our Ability Control Bureau will fight to the death to help you."

This is what the Ability Control Bureau should do; even if it means fighting monsters, they must protect every citizen.

Ye Jiang: "..."

She blinked slowly, processing what she had just heard. Xiao Pei didn't rush her, nor did the leaders and colleagues from the Ability Control Bureau behind her. Everyone knew how terrifying this unknown information was, so Ye Jiang was able to sort out the questions in her mind in this quiet and comfortable environment.

"So..." Ye Jiang asked with a straight face, "We're not here to talk about the payment error?"

Silence.

The four members of the Ability Control Bureau simultaneously displayed blank expressions.

Ye Jiang seemed to understand something; it turned out there was no error in the payment.

A hint of relief appeared on her usually expressionless face.

She felt four pairs of eyes fixed on her, each with its own complex expression. Why were they looking at her like that? She tilted her head, then suddenly realized, oh, they were talking about some monster. Since it wasn't anything important, she had almost forgotten.

She remembered and responded politely, "I've remembered what you said, thank you for letting me know."

After saying that, he checked the time and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

She had arranged to go home after the celebration, by which time Yu Qingyi Yu Qingyi be off work.

Seeing that no one was stopping her, she stood up to leave, and four pairs of eyes followed her movements, raising their gazes simultaneously.

Just as Ye Jiang lifted her foot, Xiao Pei suddenly called out, "Wait!"

Ye Jiang looked down at her, Xiao Pei asked, "Where's the monster?!"

The Ability Control Bureau wasn't ignoring Ye Jiang; they just hadn't realized what she was actually thinking—talking to her about monsters and other terrifying events, and she was actually planning to make a payment?

The Ability Control Bureau couldn't keep up with someone's thought process, and that person couldn't keep up with the other's either. Ye Jiang: "?"

monster?

Didn't she say she knew?

Oh, the boss seemed to ask her if she wanted to cut off her ties with Dong Zhen, and even said he would help her.

Ye Jiang said, "No need to cut it off."

Xiao Pei said in a hoarse voice, "You know the truth... and you still want to associate with that boy?"

Ye Jiang asked, puzzled, "Is there a problem?"

What did the Ability Control Bureau say again?

Dong Zhen is not human.

Not Polluted.

He is a monster.

Ye Jiang was actually a little surprised; she hadn't realized monsters existed in this world. She'd learned something new. Aside from that, she didn't have many other feelings. The Ability Control Bureau of the Ability Control Bureau said monsters were extremely dangerous, and she tried to empathize with them and understand their danger, but Dong Zhen didn't give her that feeling of danger.

Since waking up in the hospital, she learned about the various dangerous creatures in the world— Polluted, human superhumans, monsters—through the words of different people. But she...

To be honest, she never felt any danger.

Her sensory system seems less sensitive than others.

If one had to categorize them according to her understanding, she would have another classification: the living, and those that appear to be alive but are actually dead.

The former includes humans, monsters, and some special Polluted, while the latter consists of ordinary Polluted.

Ye Jiang wasn't the kind of person who enjoyed challenging authority, so she didn't voice her thoughts, but she felt it was really unnecessary for her to part ways with Dong Zhen.

Moreover--

"Or does your Ability Control Bureau insist that we separate?" Ye Jiang asked, her face stern and displeased. "I just finalized a renovation contract with him, and I'm very interested in his quote."

She stared at the members of the Bureau of the Ability Control Bureau, her gaze containing a hint of accusation.

She just found a decorator who perfectly matches her taste, are you really going to break them up?

The four members of the Ability Control Bureau: "..."

What the heck is home renovation?

"Waiter, that boy..."

"That's enough." Shi Tao, the branch director of the Ability Control Bureau, suddenly spoke up, stopping Xiao Pei from continuing to persuade him.

Xiao Pei looked at Director Shi, Director Shi shook his head at her. Xiao Pei wanted to say something, but in the end, she fell silent under his gaze.

Shi Tao turned to Ye Jiang and said gently, "It seems that young people have their own way of interacting, and we old folks just don't understand their thinking."

He said, "Since Miss Ye thinks Dong Zhen is trustworthy, then let's proceed as you wish. However, if you change your mind, even slightly, please inform the Ability Control Bureau, Ability Control Bureau will do its utmost to help you get rid of this."

Ye Jiang looked at him, Shi Tao smiled at her. His smile told her that his promise was true. Ye Jiang's eyes sparkled.

"Miss Ye, aren't you in a hurry? Would you like us to drive you?" Shi Tao asked.

Ye Jiang's eyes flickered, a hint of joy appearing in her dark eyes. "Is that alright?"

"Of course, you are a distinguished guest of our bureau." Shi Tao instructed Qin Daichuan, "Little Qin, please escort Miss Ye."

Qin Daichuan glanced at Shi Tao, said nothing, and nodded.

Ye Jiang waved goodbye to Xiao Pei, beaming with joy.

She enjoys being a guest of the Ability Control Bureau.

Xiao Pei: "..."

Ye Jiang followed Qin Daichuan away. After they left, the conference room became empty, and the air grew a little colder.

Xiao Pei stared blankly at the conference room door as it opened and closed again. "Letting Ye Jiang continue her relationship with that monster... does Director Shi think this is a good thing?"

silence.

There was no response.

After a long silence, a reply finally came along with a sigh.

"I don't know..." The highest-ranking leader of the Bureau of the Ability Control Bureau still maintained a gentle demeanor, but exhaustion etched itself onto the wrinkles around his eyes. He said, "I just... can't think of a better way."

Is fighting monsters always better than letting things stay this way?

Everyone knows that the Ability Control Bureau was just putting on a brave front in the name of responsibility.

Even with the Ability Control Bureau ' top combat power present, they dared not claim that she could harm even a single finger of the monster.

Ultimately, we humans are simply too weak.

The branch chief of the Ability Control Bureau muttered to himself.

One minute after Ye Jiang rushed home, Yu Qingyi returned from work. Yu Qingyi didn't know that Ye Jiang had been to the Ability Control Bureau. She returned home covered in dust and grime, and without even sitting down to rest for a moment, she rushed into the kitchen to start cooking. Although she wasn't good at cooking, she used her best skills to make the most sumptuous meal ever to celebrate Ye Jiang winning first place in the competition.

The small apartment was filled with the aroma of food. The two sat down, eating and chatting about everyday things. It was a simple but warm atmosphere, although Yu Qingyi did most of the talking while Ye Jiang was just a listener.

Because of the special occasion, Yu Qingyi drank a little alcohol. Yu Qingyi claimed that she had a high alcohol tolerance, but Ye Jiang saw that she seemed to get drunk very quickly. By the end of the conversation, her face was red and she kept staring at Ye Jiang and grinning foolishly.