Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Dr.
Mei’s sharp gaze lingered on Su Jiyai, but she quickly dismissed her as a threat, though her tone was icy.
“Take your pet and leave, Jake.
We have work to do, and distractions are not welcome,” Dr.
Mei said calmly, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Jake, ever unbothered, nodded.
We’ll be out of your way.” Without further discussion, Jake carried Su Jiyai out of the lab, his grip still firm, though not painful.
Su Jiyai shot him a glare, but her tiny, furry form didn’t make her displeasure very intimidating.
The corridor outside the lab was narrow and dimly lit, the cold steel walls reflecting the soft, artificial lights that lined the ceiling.
Jake’s footsteps echoed softly as he walked, Su Jiyai still trapped in his arms, fuming silently.
As they moved farther away from the lab, Su Jiyai’s frustration boiled over, and she began squirming again, her claws flexing in an attempt to escape his grasp.
Jake seemed entirely unfazed by her struggles as if he had carried around unruly cats every day of his life.
Su Jiyai kept on muttering in her mind, ‘You are done for!
He is going to kill you!
Maybe he wants to kill you with his own hands and hence he saved you!’ Eventually, they reached a dark, secluded room.
Jake nudged the door open with his foot and stepped inside, the door closing behind them with a soft click.
The room was small and windowless, dimly lit by a single lamp on a table in the corner.
It had a slightly ominous vibe like something shady might be going on in here regularly.
As soon as they were inside, Su Jiyai doubled down on her efforts to free herself, wriggling and twisting in Jake’s arms.
“Would you stop that?” Jake muttered, his voice laced with amusement as he finally set her down on the floor.
Su Jiyai immediately bolted a few steps away, her fur bristling and her tail puffed up in annoyance.
But the moment she was on solid ground again, Jake turned toward her, his lips curling into a teasing grin.
“So,” Jake said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning casually against the wall.
“Mind telling me why exactly you were snooping around in there?” Su Jiyai, still glaring at him, remained silent.
Seeing her defiance, Jake sighed dramatically and crouched down to her level, reaching out and pinching her fluffy cheeks.
Su Jiyai let out an indignant hiss, batting his hand away with her paw.
“You’ve gotten even more uncute since the last time we met,” Jake said with a smirk, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“What happened to the feisty cat who wanted to kill me, hmm?” Su Jiyai rolled her eyes internally, her mind filling with a barrage of sarcastic thoughts that, unfortunately, she couldn’t voice in her current form.
Oh yes, I’ve been dying to see you again, Jake.
You’re just such a delight to be around.
She imagined her human self crossing her arms, tapping her foot, and raising a sarcastic eyebrow.
I missed you so much, you big bloodsucking jerk.
Please, take me back to your lair.
Jake chuckled, seemingly amused by her silent defiance.
I swear, if cats could roll their eyes any harder, you’d have given yourself a headache by now.” Su Jiyai narrowed her eyes at him, her tail flicking in irritation.
I’d roll my eyes even harder if I could, you annoying vampire.
I’d roll them right out of my head if it meant I didn’t have to look at your smug face.
Her mind raced as she evaluated the room.
Could she slip out while he was distracted?
Maybe dart past him the moment he turned his back?
She considered making a run for it, but her thoughts were interrupted when, without warning, Jake scooped her up again, holding her firmly in his arms.
“You’re thinking of escaping, aren’t you?” Jake’s voice was laced with amusement.
His dark eyes gleamed with a playful light as he held her close, his breath warm on her fur.
Su Jiyai wriggled, growling in protest, but Jake just chuckled, as if her struggle was nothing more than a feisty kitten’s tantrum.
“I’ve got to admit,” Jake began, his tone softer than before, “I have very complex feelings about you, little one.” Su Jiyai blinked, her ears perking up.
What was he on about now?
“As much as I want to kill you—and trust me, that’s crossed my mind plenty of times—I also can’t seem to bear the thought of seeing you in danger.” His words struck her like a bolt of lightning.
Su Jiyai stilled in his arms, stunned.
Jake wanted to kill her?
Of course, that wasn’t news, considering their tumultuous history.
But what did he mean by not wanting to see her in danger?
Was he actually concerned about her?
The thought was absurd.
Jake was a vampire with no sense of empathy, or so she thought.
Even Jake seemed confused by his own admission, shaking his head as if to clear away the thoughts.
“I don’t even understand why I feel this way,” he said, his tone perplexed.
His grip on her tightened ever so slightly, his fingers stroking the soft fur behind her ears.
Su Jiyai was speechless—not that she could speak in this form anyway—but she stared up at him in bewilderment, her mind whirling with questions.
Then, before she could process it any further, Jake’s lips curved into a smirk, his eyes twinkling with mischief again.
He let out a light chuckle and said, “What’s the matter, little kitty?
Did you fall for it?” For a split second, Su Jiyai’s thoughts froze.
The teasing tone in his voice.
The playful glint in his eyes.
He was toying with her!
Fury surged through her veins, hot and unrelenting.
How dare he mess with her like that!
She should have known better than to take anything Jake said seriously.