Xu Ren looked up from the map. "I have not created any departments."
Tang Li Yue held his gaze.
He looked back down at the map.
"Yet," Chen Qiao muttered.
The chihuahua barked again. Tang Li Yue pointed at it. "You are also staying."
The dog's head snapped up, red eyes wide with betrayal.
"No. Do not look at me like that. You are recognizable, unhygienic, and one bad decision away from biting someone important. I am not taking you near a facility that may already be experimenting on infected tissue."
The dog gave a low whine.
Sir Edmund, who had been sitting on the windowsill through the entire discussion, flicked his tail.
Tang Li Yue looked at the cat. "You are also staying."
Sir Edmund blinked slowly. Then looked away. His disinterest was deeply insulting.
Lu Chengran, standing beside the table, hid a small smile behind his hand.
Tang Li Yue caught it. "You have something to say?"
"No," he answered.
She narrowed her eyes. "That was a suspiciously short answer."
