Fortunately, Leo quickly left to convey the warden’s orders, thereby easing the awkwardness for Yan Chuan.
As he quietly moved his chair, trying not to look at the desserts on the table, Ariel spoke up. “I really dislike this…” The warden’s voice was cold, seeming to come from afar, laced with questioning: “How did he know?”
The Eastern thief, attempting to escape the situation, froze in place. He shrank his wrist, the chain of the handcuffs clinking against the chair’s backrest, producing a crisp sound.
The noise was somewhat jarring in the quiet office, startling the already nervous Eastern thief. His thick, curled lashes drooped, revealing a hint of bewilderment. His eyes glistened with potential tears, appearing lost and helpless.
The stern-faced warden merely stared at him. The sympathy act wasn’t working, so the dark-haired thief had to confess. He lightly tapped his wrist handcuffs and explained softly.
“Because Mr. Leo saved me when I first entered the prison…” He briefly outlined the events leading up to this moment: “I went to return his jacket and looked for him in the office.”
“I was being bullied in the prison, feeling scared… but I found Mr. Leo very reliable…”
The pretty Eastern boy lowered his head in embarrassment, biting his lip: “I sought his help, just asking if I could stay with him a bit longer and have some food…”
His long lashes fluttered like a small fan as he spoke in a faint, muffled tone, genuinely sounding like someone who could easily be bullied.
It wasn’t unusual for someone feeling helpless in a frightening prison to turn to a kind-hearted guard for assistance, especially when a slender and beautiful Eastern beauty blinked with slightly red eyes and a nose—a face that looked like it could burst into tears at any moment.
So helpless, he was only asking the guard to let him sit a little longer and give him a bite to eat—an easily fulfilled wish.
If it were someone compassionate, they wouldn’t even question it and would have unlocked the cuffs while soothingly saying sorry.
But the warden was not someone easily swayed.
On the contrary, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “Is that how you got someone to give you the office keys?”
The Eastern thief, still blinking, was taken aback, shaking his head hesitantly.
Ariel suddenly tugged up the corners of his mouth, revealing a vague smile.
“The guards in the prison, the prisoners…” the warden counted, “and who else?”
“In front of them, do you show such a pitiful expression, cooing to them to get what you want?”
Ariel spoke slowly, his eyes locked onto the other’s snow-white, beautiful face, watching as the visage colored with a similar expression of helplessness.
“They all seem to like you, don’t they?” the warden continued, “But to you, they’re dispensable; you only appear when you need something from them, using that pretty face to appeal to them?”
The color drained slightly from the Eastern beauty’s face.
He hesitated, wanting to retort but unsure of what to say.
Pretending to be pitiful in front of other men, then cooing to them to achieve his goals…
It seemed right to say so.
But he hadn’t cooed at all!
The Eastern thief labeled as “fond of acting cute” pressed his lips together.
“I’m not…” After a moment’s pause, he couldn’t hold back anymore and retorted: “I did not act cute…”
Why did people always say he was cooing? Wasn’t he diligently fulfilling his tasks?
The warden’s smile deepened.
“Why don’t you come directly to me for what you want?” the warden said, maintaining his serious and stern demeanor. “Is there anything besides the stamp that you want?”
Ariel fixed his gaze on him: “Or do you think there’s no need to act pitiful in front of me?”
“Little mouse?”
【Cooing wives have the best lives!】
【Beautiful treasures should know how to wield their charm! Our Yan Bao doesn’t deceive the body or heart, so what’s wrong with cooing to complete tasks?】
【Oh wow, weren’t you cold just a moment ago? Can’t help it now that I said a few words, right?】
【Don’t be jealous; seriously, I can smell the sourness through the screen (covers nose)】
【The cute little mouse in the live broadcast room has already been caught for a delicious stir-fry! No one can take them away!】
Another silence fell.
Yan Chuan’s earlobes were turning red, almost bleeding.
His small, pristine earlobes hidden beneath his hair vividly conveyed his emotions.
Yan Chuan was on the verge of embarrassment.
His face was flushed, confused about why Ariel called him “little mouse” again.
This person also mentioned Leo and the prisoners in the prison… was he talking about Hesse? When did he learn about Hesse’s existence?
He was also questioning whether everyone liked him, but he liked no one, only returning to them when he needed them.
Did Ariel think he was some heartless little villain?
Yan Chuan had no clue what the warden was thinking.
He went to find Leo just to return clothes and offer gratitude, coincidentally finding someone who could assist him in completing tasks, which was why he had hoped to gain help from Leo.
Hesse… it was Hesse who first approached him, asking if he wanted him as a backing—not the other way around.
What nonsense was Ariel saying, trying to attribute everything to him having bad intentions?
“Hm?” The warden seemed oblivious to how excessive his words were and continued asking, “Is there nothing here you want, little mouse?”
It was only upon hearing this term again that Yan Chuan regained his composure, retorting irritably, “I’m not a little mouse…”
Yet he couldn’t find any strong counterarguments, and his voice was quite small.
Fortunately, Ariel didn’t linger on how he addressed him but asked instead, “What do you want to do with the stamp? Is there anything else you want?”