Chapter 125: Chapter 122: The Character Warden

"Ye Chen, come with me. The warden wants to see you," Zhang Dadan said with a faint smile before turning to leave.

Zhang Dadan was a dangerous man—at least that was Ye Chen's assessment. He was someone who knew how to turn the tables even when at a disadvantage. Not only had he subdued Liu Bawang, but he had also cultivated a close relationship with the warden. This spoke volumes about his capabilities.

As Ye Chen started to walk, Rat and Shrimp immediately stepped in to follow.

"Don't you two come along. The warden's temper is quite peculiar," Zhang Dadan said, suddenly turning back to glare at them.

"Stay back. I'll be right back," Ye Chen said, stopping them.

"Big brother..." the two looked at Ye Chen with concern.

Without hesitation, Ye Chen followed Zhang Dadan. Over a dozen prison guards wielding rifles had secured the area. The guards who had been beaten up were now scrambling to their feet, herding the prisoners back into their cells. Order had finally been restored.

Ye Chen followed Zhang Dadan through a labyrinth of corridors until they finally reached the warden's office.

Before even entering, the faint scent of tea wafted from the room. It seemed the warden was a person of some depth. Ye Chen formed a rough impression of the warden in his mind. However, upon entering, he was taken aback. The warden was a woman—and a remarkably sexy, alluring one at that. She wore black-rimmed glasses, and her wild, ample curves threatened to burst through her uniform.

"Hehe, didn't expect that, did you?" The woman stood up from her chair, her uniform fitting her perfectly. She glanced at Ye Chen and said, "Ye Chen, male, twenty-five. No criminal record until last year, when you were charged with intentional injury, which brought you into the public eye. Is that information correct?"

"What do you want?" Ye Chen asked coldly.

The woman leaned in, her red lips brushing against Ye Chen's ear as she whispered, "I'm very curious about you. I imagine you must have a fascinating past. Why not tell me in secret when you have the chance? I'll satisfy all your needs. What do you say?"

Ye Chen retreated several steps, mentally categorizing this woman as a dangerous creature.

"Warden, this guy is dangerous. He already has several lives on his hands. Be careful!" Zhang Dadan interjected immediately.

"Hmph, get out!" the woman snapped at him.

"Yes!" Zhang Dadan gritted his teeth, shot a vicious look at Ye Chen, and retreated.

The woman was Dian Ling, the warden of the prison. She was a formidable figure; after graduating from the police academy, she had used a systematic management plan to secure her position. In reality, her "management plan" was simply using prisoners to control other prisoners, which saved both manpower and vast sums of money.

Zhang Dadan was merely a pawn in Dian Ling’s hands, and Liu Bawang was under Zhang Dadan's control. Through this hierarchical management, the entire prison ran like clockwork. This method had earned her the approval of her superiors and was being implemented across the entire province.

With Zhang Dadan gone, Dian Ling began to tease Ye Chen even more brazenly, which infuriated him. She was too dangerous to be near, so he kept backing away. "What exactly do you want?" he demanded through gritted teeth.

"Hehe, I want to know what kind of man could make Tongtong so fascinated," Dian Ling said, watching him with a playful smile. "Zhang Yantong and I were classmates. We both graduated from the provincial advanced police academy. Later, we both came to Jianghuai City, though she became a police officer and I became a warden."

"You..." Ye Chen realized that the main reason she had taken notice of him was Zhang Yantong. Had Yantong already spoken to her?

Ye Chen was right. Just yesterday, Zhang Yantong had visited Dian Ling. As a former classmate, she had asked Dian Ling to look after Ye Chen in prison. The astute Dian Ling had picked up on the nuances; Yantong hadn't denied her feelings for Ye Chen. Instead, she had confessed that Ye Chen was a mysterious, heroic man with a past that made one want to uncover the truth.

This had piqued Dian Ling's interest. When the prison riot broke out—sparked by Ye Chen—her curiosity only deepened. Upon seeing Ye Chen walk in shirtless, she was captivated by the scars on his body. What kind of man was he? What kind of blood and fire had he waded through to earn those marks?

While it wasn't love at first sight, she was certainly intrigued. A bold plan formed in her mind. This open-minded and fiercely competitive woman decided to defeat Zhang Yantong in matters of the heart. Yantong had always been better than her—in studies, in combat, in everything. Wherever Yantong went, Dian Ling could never surpass her. Tired of living in Yantong's shadow, she decided to win Ye Chen over and then tell Yantong, "Tongtong, you may be better than me, but the man you love prefers me."

Standing before her, Ye Chen sensed something unsettling about her demeanor and kept his distance.

"Ye Chen, what do you think?" Dian Ling asked, leaning her hips against the desk and picking up a cup of tea.

"Think about what?" Ye Chen asked, startled.

"From now on, you're my man. I can satisfy any request you have. I can help you teach Zhang Dadan a lesson, beat Liu Bawang to a pulp, or even let you run this prison as you please..." She took a sip of tea. Ye Chen was stunned; this woman was truly something else. To satisfy her competitive nature, she was willing to abuse her authority.

*If you want to play, I'll play along,* Ye Chen thought. With a smirk, he stepped forward, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and laughed, "Being your man is fine, but I require much more than that!"

"You..." Dian Ling’s expression shifted. She hadn't expected Ye Chen to be so arrogant and bold. She was about to explode in anger but forced herself to stay calm. "What do you need?" she asked coldly.

Ye Chen flashed a sinister grin. His hand slid from her waist down to her firm, rounded buttocks. "A man in prison is always feeling empty, lonely, and cold. Do you understand now?"

This completely enraged Dian Ling. Clenching her fists, she swung at Ye Chen’s stomach, roaring, "You bastard! Who do you take me for? I'll kill you!"

Ye Chen caught her fist in his large hand and laughed, "It’s just you and me in this office, and you’re no match for me. Do you really believe I wouldn't rape you right now?"

"Scoundrel!" Dian Ling’s face flushed with shame. She screamed, "Watch how I finish you!"

"Hmph, you’re still too inexperienced," Ye Chen sneered. "Come back and challenge me when you've grown a bit more!"

With a swift motion, Ye Chen dodged her attack and lunged, pinning her onto the desk. He gripped her throat and laughed coldly, "Now is a perfect opportunity, isn't it?"

As he spoke, his hand slipped into her shirt, touching her smooth, delicate skin. Dian Ling panicked and tried to struggle, but she was no match for him. Her face turned bright red, and she let out incoherent sounds of distress. As his hand moved upward, her anxiety soared. *Was this bastard really going to do it?*

"Ugh..." Dian Ling’s eyes widened as she felt intense pressure on her chest. Ye Chen had grabbed her breast and was squeezing it ruthlessly. It was too much. "Ye Chen, I'm going to kill you!" she roared.

"I'll worry about that after I rape you!" Ye Chen gave a mocking laugh, climbed onto the desk, and squeezed her breast again before performing a 360-degree flip off the desk. Landing on his feet, he turned his back to her and said, "Too small. Not even half the size of Zhang Yantong's."

*Hiss...*

Dian Ling’s eyes widened in shock. For a woman, hearing such an insulting comparison was far worse than being assaulted. Ye Chen had exploited her competitive nature and her constant need to compare herself to Yantong. He knew the psychological blow would be far more painful than the physical threat. Having delivered the final insult, he walked out.

"Bastard! Ye Chen, you'll meet a miserable end!" Dian Ling shrieked in fury. Ye Chen ignored her and walked straight out of the office. Upon reaching the cell block, he saw Zhang Dadan posturing with two guards. Ye Chen approached him and sneered, "Zhang Dadan, let me leave you with this: whoever harms my brothers, I will kill them!"