《My Sexy Female CEO》 Chapter 1 - 1 1 The Woman in the Blue Swimsuit ?1: Chapter 1: The Woman in the Blue Swimsuit 1: Chapter 1: The Woman in the Blue Swimsuit ¡°Splash!¡± Countless droplets fell like rain. Illuminated by the bright light, the water sparkled enchantingly. One after another, figures like mermaids emerged from the deep blue waters, breaking the surface and capturing hearts. Their skin white as jade, their wet hair, their dazzling eyes, and their slender waists caused Lin Yifan, who was sitting on the poolside chair, to swallow hard repeatedly. He was a lifeguard at an indoor women¡¯s swimming pool, mainly responsible for rescuing and aiding, and occasionally performing artificial respiration. Although he had dreamt of performing mouth-to-mouth on a sexy lady one day, reality always contradicted his wishes; because none of the beautiful women who came to swim couldn¡¯t swim. Sighing inwardly, he silently sat high up on his chair, day after day, faithfully holding his post. Not long after, a group of youthful girls in swimsuits arrived at the pool to swim. Each performed warm-up exercises on the poolside, clearly taking safety seriously. His throat tightened again, and then he slapped his thigh. ¡°Damn, as a soldier, how can I be so easily tempted? Where has all the self-control I painstakingly trained gone?¡± Indeed, he was a soldier, and a distinguished one at that. On the battlefield, there was no one who didn¡¯t recognize him. The reason he ended up as an obscure lifeguard was because of a momentary impulse, a grave mistake he made. The military couldn¡¯t accommodate him, and he had no choice but to silently leave the place that had nurtured him for ten years with his baggage. Back home, without any qualifications, he felt lost, unsure of what job could help his debt-ridden family out of hardship. Poor families easily accumulate debt; a sudden severe illness can plunge you from having something to owing a lot. The most unfortunate for Lin Yifan was that his parents were both laid up in the hospital; and as the eldest son in the family, he had to shoulder all responsibilities. Not going out to work was not an option! So, with a few hundred yuan borrowed from relatives, he traveled to the provincial capital, roaming the streets and alleys, constantly searching for a decent-paying job. His requirements were simple: a monthly salary of a few thousand would suffice, ideally with food and accommodation included. After a long search, he finally landed this high-paying job, which for someone without any qualifications, was really a pie from the sky. A monthly salary of nine thousand was above average among the working class. He initially thought it was an easy job that could earn him good money; little did he know it required considerable ¡°energy.¡± As a lifeguard, he could only sit high up on his chair every day, silently enduring the deadly temptations emanating from the pool. The youthful and sexy girls doing warm-ups had no sense of shame; they had long treated Lin Yifan as an object that didn¡¯t exist unless absolutely necessary. Later, these girls approached the poolside and, with a leap, jumped into the water for a swim. Lin Yifan watched closely, just then, a cold breeze suddenly blew in from the direction of the door. Out of instinct honed on the battlefield, he sensed something was amiss and quickly turned his head towards the door. He saw a woman with a troubled expression, wearing a deep blue one-piece dress, walking towards the pool with a heavy gaze. She seemed deeply troubled, as if she had a difficult issue constantly bothering her. ¡°Tap tap tap!¡± She quickly reached the poolside but, unlike other swimmers, she didn¡¯t warm up. Instead, she dived straight into the water and sank to the bottom. The corner where she picked was secluded with fewer people, quiet and serene. All her movements and behavior seemed to indicate she was looking to end her life. Lin Yifan¡¯s job was to ¡°save lives and aid the injured.¡± If this woman indeed sought death, he wouldn¡¯t ignore it. He carefully observed every move the woman made, trying to understand what she truly intended. As time ticked by, after a minute and a half, the motionless sexy woman still hadn¡¯t surfaced. Based on ordinary human breath-holding capacity, her life might already be in danger. As the only lifeguard in the pool, Lin Yifan didn¡¯t think twice. He immediately jumped from his high chair into the pool, over a meter deep. ¡°Splash!¡± Water splashed all around. Lin Yifan, not a professional diver, naturally couldn¡¯t minimize the splash. However, this didn¡¯t slow his rescue efforts at all. After jumping into the water, he quickly moved his body and swam towards the still woman at the bottom; then with his strong arms, he embraced the fair-skinned woman and surfaced together with her. ¡°Whoosh!!!¡± White water droplets fell like rain, ticking loudly. Lin Yifan successfully rescued the beautiful girl intent on dying, but she still had her eyes tightly closed, unaware if she was still alive. The woman in the deep-blue one-piece dress was beautiful, and upon close observation, Lin Yifan felt his heart stir. Chapter 2 - 2 2 No Pain No Gain ?2: Chapter 2: No Pain, No Gain 2: Chapter 2: No Pain, No Gain The sudden incident here had already attracted the attention of all the swimmers in the pool. They focused on this spot, eager to see what exactly had happened. Not long after surfacing, the sexy beauty in Lin Yifan¡¯s arms gradually opened her eyes. When she realized Lin Yifan¡¯s eyes were fixed directly on her, she couldn¡¯t help but become furious, ¡°What are you looking at? You perverted creep!¡± ¡°Uh... Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Lin Yifan quickly apologized, realizing how unethical and impolite his actions had been. ¡°Not intentional? I think it was very intentional!¡± the woman in the deep blue floral dress refuted, seething with anger. ¡°Miss, I really didn¡¯t mean it, please believe me.¡± Lin Yifan tried to explain, but even he didn¡¯t believe his own words. ¡°No need for excuses, I don¡¯t want to argue with a peeping Tom!¡± the woman in the deep blue floral dress demanded, ¡°Tell me, who allowed you to pick me up?¡± ¡°...¡± A line of frustration crossed Lin Yifan¡¯s mind, unsure of what the woman intended. Wasn¡¯t saving her a good thing? However, to someone who was intent on dying, naturally, they wouldn¡¯t accept such a selfless act of kindness. Even though he was being blamed, Lin Yifan, holding onto his professional ethics and humanitarian spirit, calmly and righteously replied, ¡°Saving people is my duty, I have no reason not to save someone who is suicidal.¡± ¡°Which eye of yours saw me attempting suicide? It¡¯s clearly you wanting to take advantage of me that you¡¯re looking for a noble excuse.¡± The woman in the deep blue floral dress was fuming, utterly convinced that Lin Yifan was an outright pervert. ¡°You were in a quiet corner, lurking underwater for more than a minute without moving, if that¡¯s not suicide, what is?¡± Lin Yifan questioned. ¡°Can¡¯t I just have a moment of quiet underwater?¡± the woman in the deep blue floral dress retorted. ¡°And that¡¯s a hobby?¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words, extremely embarrassed because this wasn¡¯t something he had considered. ¡°What, can¡¯t I have that?¡± the woman asked. ¡°You can, but doing so is too dangerous, people would assume you¡¯re no longer able or that you¡¯re suicidal,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°If I wanted to commit suicide, would I do it in a crowded and noisy place? Doesn¡¯t take a brainiac to figure that out.¡± The woman in the deep blue floral dress was irate, her mood already bad before this infuriating incident made things worse. ¡°Yes, yes, yes! It¡¯s all my fault, blame me for meddling!¡± Lin Yifan responded unenthusiastically, really wanting to just throw this hot-tempered woman away and be done with it. Doing a good deed out of kindness and being treated with such disdain, who wouldn¡¯t be angry? ¡°Put me down!¡± The woman in the deep blue floral dress didn¡¯t want to waste words with Lin Yifan and wished to leave the embrace of this self-righteous pervert as soon as possible. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll let go!¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s temper flared too, and he threw her off without any consideration. Even though she was pretty, giving up his dignity for a woman¡¯s beauty would be a true failure. With a ¡°splash,¡± the fiery-tempered beauty sank into the water, losing her balance. When she steadied herself, an indescribably terrifying rage swept up from the depths of her heart, pressing against her every orifice. She swam rapidly towards Lin Yifan, vowing to avenge the disrespect. ¡°Splish splash!¡± The next moment, she burst out of the water, and without a word, swung her small hand, slapping furiously. Reacting on professional reflex, Lin Yifan quickly raised his right hand and lightly caught the forcefully swinging pale hand, smirking, ¡°With your level of skill, you dream of hitting me, how delusional!¡± ¡°Let go! Pervert, let go of me this instant!¡± The woman, infuriated beyond measure, struggled violently but could not free herself from Lin Yifan¡¯s strong and large hand. ¡°You want me to let go just because you said so? Wouldn¡¯t I lose face that way?¡± Lin Yifan continued to mock, returning the trampled dignity he had just experienced, letting her feel what it¡¯s like to be disrespected. ¡°You... ¡± The woman in the blue swimsuit, unable to express her anger, yelled, ¡°Assistant Li! Get in here now!¡± No sooner had she spoken than a woman in a professional suit, wearing black-framed glasses, ran over from the entrance, looking prim and proper. She was the assistant of the woman in the blue swimsuit and was tasked with helping her. Seeing her boss fuming, she bent over and asked, ¡°Miss An, what would you like?¡± ¡°Get the boss of ¡®Royal Pool Number One¡¯ over here, I have words for her!¡± the woman in the blue swimsuit replied angrily. Today she was determined to make Lin Yifan pay. ¡°Yes!¡± With that, Assistant Li stepped out of the pool quickly to summon someone. The situation was urgent, as the general manager seemed to be harassed or subdued by a muscular man. Seeing her actions, Lin Yifan, tense and uneasy, called out loudly, ¡°Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing? Come back here!¡± But Assistant Li, dressed in a black professional suit, ignored his order and ran out, while making calls and looking for the office of the owner of ¡°Royal Pool Number One.¡± On the other hand, staring at the panicked face, the woman in the blue swimsuit viciously said, ¡°Offend me and you can forget about living in Guiyuan City!¡± ¡°What a vicious woman! Was it necessary to take it this far over a bit of meddling?¡± Lin Yifan questioned. The woman in the blue swimsuit replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be ruthless, but it was your rough attitude, your impolite actions that I found unbearable; so if you want to blame someone, blame yourself.¡± Chapter 3 - 3 3 Losing the Job ?3: Chapter 3 Losing the Job 3: Chapter 3 Losing the Job ¡°Ah!¡± Lin Yifan sighed again and again. He admitted that what he had done was somewhat wrong, but how could he control the pent-up frustration at that time? ¡°Let her sue! I believe my boss can understand that it was an unintentional act,¡± he said. ¡°Unintentional act? Ridiculous. It seems you don¡¯t even understand the meaning of ¡®unintentional¡¯,¡± the woman in the blue swimsuit mocked repeatedly, finding Lin Yifan¡¯s explanation laughable. ¡°Say what you will, but my intentions were good,¡± Lin Yifan responded. ¡°Then keep that explanation for your boss!¡± The woman in the blue swimsuit was unappreciative and very determined to file a complaint against Lin Yifan. A few minutes later, a woman dressed in blue and white led several security guards, who carried patrol batons, running hurriedly from the direction of the swimming hall¡¯s main door. Accompanying her was the assistant in black-rimmed glasses from before. Clearly, she was the boss of ¡°Imperial Pool No. 1¡± and had come to handle this unexpected incident. When she reached the poolside, she bent over respectfully and asked, ¡°Miss An! Are you hurt?¡± An Qi, the general manager of Antian Group in Guiyuan City, held significant stature. Offending Miss An wasn¡¯t something most could afford. ¡°I¡¯m not hurt, but your employee¡¯s poor service attitude has hurt me. How will you settle this account?¡± An Qi asked. ¡°Rest assured, Miss An, I will immediately fire him,¡± the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1 replied. She was but a minor figure, and surviving in the competitive environment of Guiyuan City wasn¡¯t easy; she dared not offend any powerful forces. Moreover, her upscale swimming hall thrived on connections, making it even more imperative not to offend top executives of big companies. Lin Yifan was utterly anxious and hurriedly tried to explain, ¡°No! Boss, please hear me out, the situation happened like this...¡± But before he could finish, the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1 raised her hand to stop him, angrily responding, ¡°No need to explain! Whether your point of departure was right or wrong, offending a guest means you have to pack up and leave!¡± ¡°Why? I really didn¡¯t mean to treat her that way,¡± he said. Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t believe it, not even given a chance to explain. ¡°Customer is king in the service industry, don¡¯t you understand that!¡± the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1 asked. ¡°I don¡¯t understand! I only understand that my efforts should at least be met with basic understanding and respect!¡± Lin Yifan fervently replied. What had he done wrong? Were it not for the adverse attitude on the other side, he wouldn¡¯t have made such a reckless move. ¡°Then get out! I don¡¯t need someone here who doesn¡¯t know how to show restraint,¡± she exploded. If it hadn¡¯t been for Lin Yifan¡¯s diligent work up till then, she would have had security throw him out much earlier. ¡°Fine, I¡¯m gone! I don¡¯t need this crappy job anyway!¡± With a ¡°snap,¡± Lin Yifan took off his work badge, leaving in anger. Watching his indignant departure partially soothed An Qi¡¯s mood. However, she no longer felt like swimming, so she headed to shore to change and leave. After changing his clothes in the locker room, Lin Yifan went to the boss¡¯s office, intending to ask the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1 to settle his wages for the past few days. After all, he had worked there for a few days; he deserved some form of compensation. After waiting at the office door for a while, the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1 returned. Seeing Lin Yifan waiting at her office door, the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1 asked in extreme dissatisfaction, ¡°What are you still doing here? Didn¡¯t I tell you to leave? Why haven¡¯t you gone yet?¡± This time, thankfully, no major disaster had occurred, or her indoor swimming hall might not have been able to continue, making her annoyed to see Lin Yifan. ¡°I can leave, but you need to settle my wages for these past few days first,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°Wages? Ridiculous! You haven¡¯t even worked here a month, where do you get the idea of having wages?¡± the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1 questioned. The contract clearly stated that no wages would be paid if the work period was less than a month; Lin Yifan should not have brought up such a request. ¡°What did you say? Believe it or not, one punch from my huge fist could kill you?¡± Lin Yifan, furious beyond measure, truly felt deeply wronged. Wasn¡¯t this blatant bullying? ¡°Ah! It seems you come looking for trouble. It looks like without a good lesson, you won¡¯t understand what death means!¡± the owner of Imperial Pool No. 1¡¯s face darkened as she immediately called the security over to beat Lin Yifan, ¡°Come on! Give this guy a thorough beating and throw him out!¡± The security nearby, upon receiving the order, immediately rushed over with their patrol batons to strike Lin Yifan. As danger loomed, Lin Yifan neither dodged nor fled. He quickly raised his right hand and grabbed the swiftly approaching patrol baton with force. ¡°Bang!¡± Just like that, he forcefully withstood the heavy blow with his own body. The owner of Imperial Pool No. 1¡¯s face turned pale from fright; she hadn¡¯t expected Lin Yifan¡¯s body to be so robust as to withstand a strong security guard¡¯s full-force strike. She suddenly realized a grave mistake had been made, having offended someone formidable and fearsome. Once Lin Yifan seized the patrol baton, it wasn¡¯t retrievable. The security guard holding the baton suddenly felt an unprecedented sense of shame. Was he really that weak? He was angry and wanted to prove something, yet he couldn¡¯t prove anything at all. ¡°With that kind of force, you want to beat me? Ridiculous!¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s expression darkened, and with one effort, he snatched the patrol baton away, effortlessly. Just as he was about to turn around and retaliate against the security guard, several more security guards, alerted by the noise, arrived at the scene. Chapter 4 - 4 4 Kneel and Call Me Grandpa ?4: Chapter 4 Kneel and Call Me Grandpa 4: Chapter 4 Kneel and Call Me Grandpa They exchanged no words, launching directly into a brutal attack, sparing no pleasantries. Lin Yifan was furious. Initially, he didn¡¯t want to engage in a fight, but since these people were courting death, he was left with no choice but to oblige them. So, he clenched his patrol stick, first dodging with a swift movement, then counterattacking from behind, knocking down a security guard. Shortly thereafter, he went head-to-head with another guard, knocking the weapon from the guard¡¯s hands with one strike, throwing him into disarray. A weaponless guard, lacking any significant fighting skills, could only be treated as a punching bag, brutally beaten. ¡°Bang bang!¡± After merely two strikes, this security guard lost his ability to fight, howling on the ground. In the blink of an eye, only the last stick-wielding guard remained. This guard, the most muscular of the four, could easily have been a muscle model. With two brothers down and another trembling in fear, as the eldest, he had to do something or lose face entirely. Thus, he stripped off his shirt, revealing his muscular torso. This was a show of force, signaling his determination to fight to the bitter end. Watching this, Lin Yifan smirked disdainfully, his expression one of utter contempt. If such a display could intimidate him, he wouldn¡¯t be worthy of the nickname War Leopard, a name that inspired fear in his enemies on the battlefield. The muscled guard furrowed his brow; usually, when someone saw his physique, they would either beg for mercy or retreat in fear. However, Lin Yifan remained unruffled and unaffected, seemingly unafraid. Why was this? Was he really that arrogant? Angered, the guard¡¯s chest muscles heaved as he exhaled roars of fury. ¡°Kid, today I will make you kneel and call me ¡®master¡¯!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a chilling aura swept around him, accompanied by a figure full of rage rushing forward. The final guard sprang into action, brandishing his patrol stick and bellowing, swearing to knock Lin Yifan to the ground. ¡°Hmph!¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s lips curled up once again in a sneer. Though the opponent was muscular, he was just a brute. With nimble movements, victory could be easily secured. However, Lin Yifan, known as the ¡®Little Superman,¡¯ wasn¡¯t interested in winning that way. He wanted his opponent to feel fear, to understand what real power was. Thus, he gripped his patrol stick firmly, calmly waiting for his opponent to make a move. The burly guard, carrying a tremendous force, soon confronted Lin Yifan. At that moment, he roared and fiercely swung his heavy patrol stick. It was then that Lin Yifan made his move. He swung his own patrol stick, clashing it with the muscled guard¡¯s incoming blow. Without any hesitation or dodging, he met the attack head-on. ¡°Bang!¡± After the two robust patrol sticks collided, both attackers felt their arms go numb. This was the result of the clash of force; neither could avoid it. The burly guard was taken aback. In terms of physique, he was much more robust than Lin Yifan, yet he couldn¡¯t defeat him, which was bewildering. However, this was just the beginning. Just because he could withstand the first blow didn¡¯t mean he could withstand subsequent attacks; therefore, he needed to keep attacking. Only by fighting to the end could the winner be determined. Thus, he once again gathered all his strength and continued to strike Lin Yifan with his patrol stick. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t just sit back and take it; he, too, exerted all his strength, fighting the muscular guard head-on. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± Each clash was full of rage and defiance; neither was willing to submit. This was no longer just a job for them, but a battle for personal honor. Lin Yifan¡¯s right hand throbbed with protruding veins, his power thunderous; the muscles he usually concealed were now in full display, matching those of the muscular guard. The muscular guard was shocked and couldn¡¯t calm down for a long time. He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Yifan to also be muscular, as it wasn¡¯t apparent normally. Lin Yifan¡¯s right hand was incredibly powerful, and seemed even firmer than his. Naturally, this was expected; a piece of steel tempered a thousand times was definitely much harder than a piece not often tempered. Lin Yifan¡¯s confidence stemmed from this fact. A man who only worked out in the gym or who only gained muscle through protein supplements couldn¡¯t possibly defeat a seasoned warrior. Each of his muscles had been forged through harsh battlefield conditions, embedded deep in his bones, unbreakable. Under successive, forceful impacts, the muscular guard¡¯s facial expression suddenly contorted, clearly in great discomfort. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore; Lin Yifan¡¯s attack was too fierce for him to handle at this stage; thus, he began to consider retreating. However, Lin Yifan hadn¡¯t shown any signs of letting up, forcing him to endure to the end. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± After dozens of consecutive collisions, the sturdy patrol sticks were bent out of shape, like uninterested caterpillars. The guard facing Lin Yifan felt his arm, which held the patrol stick, grow numb, as if it no longer belonged to him. Beyond that, he felt his bones about to break. Continuing this head-on conflict with Lin Yifan might lead to comminuted fractures or lifelong disability. Yet, he had no room for retreat now; it was either defeat the opponent or be defeated. ¡°Bang bang!¡± After enduring two more brutal clashes, he could no longer hold onto the patrol stick, which was knocked away by Lin Yifan¡¯s strike. Weaponless, he was at a disadvantage; seeing Lin Yifan¡¯s heavy stick about to strike down, he had no choice but to close his eyes and inwardly sigh. Ultimately, he was defeated; he was no match for Lin Yifan, truly. Chapter 5 - 5 5 The Trembling Boss ?5: Chapter 5: The Trembling Boss 5: Chapter 5: The Trembling Boss ¡°Bang!¡± A stick hit his thigh, and he only felt his thigh suddenly become numb, followed by an uncontrollable collapse to his knees. But after a few seconds, endless pain surged from the thigh, overtaking his mind, tormenting his soul, making him wail incessantly. ¡°You want me to kneel and call you ¡®Master¡¯? Now it¡¯s your turn to kneel and call me ¡®Master¡¯!¡± ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± After knocking the arrogant and overbearing muscular security guard to the ground, Lin Yifan panted heavily, holding the bent patrol stick, and pointed at the guard, saying, ¡°Call me ¡®Master¡¯!¡± The security guard, beaten to the ground and unable to move, felt an immense shame. Weren¡¯t these the words he had just confidently said to Lin Yifan? How come now it was the other way around, with his opponent pointing at his nose, commanding him to do something humiliating for a lifetime? What a slap in the face! Now that his life was in Lin Yifan¡¯s hands, he had no choice but to lower his stance and do as the other party wanted. Hence, through gritted teeth, he responded, ¡°Master! Please spare me!¡± ¡°Hmph! That¡¯s more like it.¡± Lin Yifan snorted coldly, tossed aside the bent patrol stick, and walked menacingly towards the boss of Royal Pool No. 1. The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 was so frightened that he panicked and ran. This was a real tough guy, and he absolutely couldn¡¯t let himself be caught. Watching this scene, Lin Yifan kicked up a stick with his foot and hurled it fiercely in the direction of the fleeing boss of Royal Pool No. 1. ¡°Swish!¡± The patrol stick drove deep into the grass ahead of the boss of Royal Pool No. 1, deterring the escaping boss. Following that, a cold voice came from behind the boss of Royal Pool No. 1, ¡°Dare to take another step, and your life is forfeit.¡± ¡°No! No! Big brother, let¡¯s talk this over nicely, don¡¯t resort to violence.¡± The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 lost all his earlier arrogance and became as scared as a frightened chick. This was because the weak could only speak humbly to the strong, and if roles were reversed, the injustice Lin Yifan received might have been even worse. ¡°Get back here!¡± Lin Yifan commanded coldly and mercilessly, without any trace of sentiment. The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 dared not delay and immediately rolled back. Coming before Lin Yifan, she trembled without daring to glance at Lin Yifan, frightened by his fierce gaze. ¡°Lift your head and look at me!¡± Lin Yifan ordered. The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 hesitated, unsure if she should lift her head; she was afraid that doing so would offend Lin Yifan¡¯s majestic presence. Now Lin Yifan was the strong one, and she was the weak; such an action was absolutely forbidden. ¡°I told you to lift your head and look at me! What¡¯s with the hesitation?¡± Lin Yifan questioned impatiently, fuming mad. This command terrified the boss of Royal Pool No. 1; she lifted her head while trembling and stammered, ¡°Lifting... lifting...¡± At this moment, her heart was pounding wildly, truly unable to bear any more shocks. Looking at the boss of Royal Pool No. 1¡¯s pale face, Lin Yifan asked expressionlessly, ¡°Do you know how to write the word ¡®death¡¯?¡± ¡°I know... I know...¡± The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 quickly replied. She understood that Lin Yifan was on the verge of rage, and if she didn¡¯t act promptly, she might actually get beaten. ¡°So do you know what to do now?¡± Lin Yifan pressed. ¡°I know! I know!¡± ¡°Then show me how you¡¯ll do it!¡± Lin Yifan folded his arms, with an expression of a director scrutinizing an actor¡¯s performance skills. The boss of Royal Pool No. 1, trembling with fear, pulled out the key and headed towards the office door. She understood that Lin Yifan was asking her to settle the salary; therefore, she hurried into the office to get money for Lin Yifan. However, she misunderstood, as Lin Yifan¡¯s demand was not merely for her to settle the salary, leading him to bellow, ¡°Get back here!¡± The boss of Royal Pool No. 1, startled, asked tremblingly, ¡°Handsome... handsome guy, what¡¯s... what¡¯s wrong? Did I do something incorrect?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think your initial behavior was very impolite? Kneel down and apologize to me at once!¡± Lin Yifan commanded loudly. The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 let out a sigh of relief, then immediately knelt down and apologized with her head lowered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry!¡± As long as Lin Yifan didn¡¯t kill her, she would do anything he asked, including such humiliating acts as kneeling to apologize. The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 had received her deserved lesson and punishment, and Lin Yifan didn¡¯t want to pursue anything further. In fact, if it weren¡¯t for the fact that she was a woman, he would have already struck severely to teach her a lesson. ¡°Stand up, and settle this ten days¡¯ wages for me!¡± Lin Yifan ordered indifferently. The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 dared not slack off and immediately got up with the key, opened the door to the office, and then settled the ten days¡¯ wages for Lin Yifan. Actually, she didn¡¯t even look at the attendance record and paid Lin Yifan three thousand yuan, calculating a daily wage of three hundred yuan. The contract clearly stated that if Lin Yifan worked for a full month, including overtime, he could earn up to nine thousand yuan. And these ten days, she had never seen Lin Yifan rest; so it wasn¡¯t a loss. Seeing that the boss of Royal Pool No. 1 was so sensible, Lin Yifan casually accepted the thick stack of bills and walked away. As he reached the entrance, he paused, slightly turned his head, and coldly warned, ¡°Be decent in the future, or you won¡¯t even know how you died.¡± Having said that, he left without looking back. Through the window, after seeing Lin Yifan walk far away, the boss of Royal Pool No. 1 finally breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily Lin Yifan only wanted money; if he had wanted her life, then today would have been her end. ¡°He seemed quite honest and straightforward on the surface, so why is he so frightening when enraged?¡± The boss of Royal Pool No. 1 was very puzzled. When she first interacted with Lin Yifan, she hadn¡¯t perceived any threat from him; but now, the angry Lin Yifan was a completely different person from before. Chapter 6 - 6 6 The Kidnapping at the Parking Lot ?6: Chapter 6: The Kidnapping at the Parking Lot 6: Chapter 6: The Kidnapping at the Parking Lot If she had known that Lin Yifan was such a madman, she would never have hired him. On the other hand, Lin Yifan, despite receiving a hefty salary, couldn¡¯t help but hang his head in dismay and gloom. Where could he find such a good job now? Standing at the gate of the Royal Pool No. 1 Aquatic Center, he felt regretful and at a loss. ¡°Sigh!¡± With a long sigh, he lifted his feet and left the Royal Pool No. 1 Aquatic Center. Life goes on¡ªwithout a job, just go find another one, no need to be sad over it. ¡°Tap tap!¡± Just a few steps out, a frantic call for help came from the road to the left of the main entrance. That direction seemed to be towards the underground parking lot of Royal Pool No. 1. Not knowing what had happened there, Lin Yifan grew curious and went to take a look. He came to the parking lot entrance, a slope in front of him, allowing vehicles from the road above to enter the underground parking lot. Due to the angle, Lin Yifan had to walk down the slope to see what was happening inside the parking lot. So he rushed down the slope quickly and took a glimpse inside the parking lot. To his surprise, he recognized a ¡°familiar face.¡± The person calling for help was the blue-swimsuited woman who had blamed him back in the pool. The woman was now dressed in her official attire and, at first glance, was still a long-haired, stunning beauty. Lin Yifan had a grudge against this woman, and his own job loss was indirectly caused by her; therefore, for a moment, he didn¡¯t know whether to help or not. As he hesitated, the sexy and tall female CEO cried out for help again, and this time she directed her plea to him: ¡°Save me! Help me!¡± Looking into those pleading eyes, hearing the desperate cry for help, Lin Yifan¡¯s conscience was under immense torment. On one side was hatred, on the other was conscience. Which should he abandon? Torn between the two, he suddenly remembered the sense of justice he had cultivated in ¡°that place.¡± Without that justice, his life wouldn¡¯t have been as meaningful. Moreover, his grudge against the female CEO wasn¡¯t that significant. The loss of his ¡°good job¡± was partly his own fault; in a service industry, his rough behavior and impoliteness really weren¡¯t appropriate. Having made up his mind, he dashed into the parking lot, pointed at the two black-clothed men dragging the victim, and yelled angrily, ¡°Let go of that woman!¡± The two men, about to shove the CEO into a sedan, wondered why another meddlesome fool had appeared in the parking lot. Curious, they looked back to see who it was. When they realized it was a young man they didn¡¯t recognize, they sneered, ¡°Kid, you think you can play the hero and save the dame all on your own? You¡¯re far from it!¡± Lin Yifan responded calmly, ¡°Many have looked down on me, but some have been tamed by me, some left crippled, and others have gone to Hell to meet King Yanluo; so, will you let her go, or not?¡± ¡°You arrogant little thing, who gave you the confidence to speak like that?¡± inquired one of the burly black-clothed men, bristling with anger. Lin Yifan proudly raised his fist and answered, ¡°My fists!¡± ¡°You think that ping-pong ball of a fist can do something? That¡¯s hilarious!¡± The two black-clothed men could hardly contain their laughter at the absurdity. ¡°Is it small? How about I show you its power then?¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, and his aura turned exceptionally cold. ¡°If you¡¯re brave enough, come at me! I¡¯m ready anytime.¡± The two black-clothed men shouted brashly. They didn¡¯t believe someone thinner and smaller than them could beat them. ¡°Very well, you¡¯ve lost your chance to regret.¡± With that, Lin Yifan¡¯s eyes turned icy with a deadly intent, and then he charged like an arrow released from its bow. Seeing this, the black-clothed men scoffed, ¡°What an incredibly arrogant guy.¡± Immediately, they reacted¡ªone stepping forward to engage, the other keeping An Qi detained. In terms of height, Lin Yifan had no advantage, nor did he in muscular strength; thus, he could only rely on his agile movement technique to outsmart them. When he reached the burly black-clothed man, he leapt into the air and kicked. Seeing this, the black-clothed man extended his huge, log-like arm to catch Lin Yifan¡¯s flying kick, then threw him towards a nearby concrete pillar, intending to kill this arrogant fool. Lin Yifan was shocked; he hadn¡¯t expected the man¡¯s arm to be so strong as to neutralize his powerful kick, nor the man¡¯s response to be so swift. He had thought a man with well-developed biceps would be slower, but he was mistaken. Now, like a flail, he was hurled away forcefully by the black-clothed man. What mattered most wasn¡¯t the hurl itself, but the fact that there was a concrete pillar not far ahead; if his soft body hit it hard, the consequences would be dire. Lin Yifan, with his extraordinary skills, certainly wasn¡¯t about to take such a substantial hit. He stretched out his arms, forcefully braced against the square concrete pillar, and then rhythmically recoiled with the momentum, acting as a shock absorber. Through his efforts, he steadied himself unharmed. Although his arms were somewhat sore from the residual force, he was okay. Seeing that Lin Yifan had actually deflected such a powerful attack, the muscular black-clothed man was taken aback and began to see Lin Yifan in a new light. Lin Yifan had some skill indeed; no wonder he dared to intervene. But that was all. Chapter 7 - 7 7 The Battle against the Kidnappers ?7: Chapter 7: The Battle against the Kidnappers 7: Chapter 7: The Battle against the Kidnappers An Qi, controlled by another man in black, suddenly realized how detestable she was. Lin Yifan came to rescue her without bearing grudges, a true good person; she shouldn¡¯t have taken out her frustrations on someone so kind. The fight had just begun, with the first move being a test of the opponent¡¯s strength; only after assessing strengths and weaknesses would the real attack commence. So, Lin Yifan charged once more, launching an attack on the muscular man in black. A cold smirk outlined the lips of the man in black; Lin Yifan was still just a greenhorn, and he would never be able to beat him. Afterward, he heightened his vigilance, preparing for the coming battle. When Lin Yifan was two meters away from the man in black, he raised his fist and clenched it tightly, ready to strike. The targeted area seemed to be the man¡¯s head. The man in black quickly reacted, raising his fists large as casserole pots and swinging along the anticipated trajectory with force. He wanted to clash directly with Lin Yifan, to make him feel the power of his punches; sadly for him, Lin Yifan didn¡¯t engage head-on but instead ducked low, evading the incoming fist and then landed a punch on the man¡¯s left side. ¡°Bang!¡± A powerful strike, yet it appeared to have little effect. Indeed, the muscular man in black was a true muscleman, with muscle development far surpassing the security guard they had encountered earlier at the entrance to the Emperor Pool No. 1 boss¡¯s office. The earlier security guard was just a young man, his body still somewhat unripe; this one, however, was a middle-aged powerhouse, every inch of his body honed to perfection; hence, their builds were not in the same league. In terms of brute strength, Lin Yifan, known as ¡®Little King Kong¡¯ among special forces, might not be a match for this man in black. However, true powerhouses are well-rounded; victories and defeats cannot be measured by mere one-sided strengths or weaknesses. After the sneak punch, Lin Yifan didn¡¯t halt his offensive momentum. He continued to circle the muscular man, pummeling away. Although Lin Yifan¡¯s attacks were just minor annoyances, over time, they could lead to serious injury; besides, he didn¡¯t feel that the power behind Lin Yifan¡¯s attacks was weak. The force was already above ninety percent of people, a high level of strength; therefore, he needed to deal with Lin Yifan swiftly. The muscular man in black kept striking back, but Lin Yifan was extremely agile, not only evading his attacks but also neutralizing his grappling and restraining moves. It was clear Lin Yifan had received professional training. To reach such proficiency, one was usually counted among champion fighters or boxers; yet looking at Lin Yifan¡¯s simple attire, he didn¡¯t seem like one of those well-known champions. ¡°Who exactly is he? What¡¯s his identity?¡± He really couldn¡¯t figure it out. As the fight dragged on, the body of the muscular man in black grew more and more painful, and he was struggling to endure. He was human, not stone, and repeated blows would hurt all the same. Now, he couldn¡¯t dare to look down on Lin Yifan with disdain any longer. Lin Yifan was not one of those arrogant young punks without real strength; he had to be taken seriously. Thus, he drew his pistol, intending to finish Lin Yifan with a single shot. Seeing this, Lin Yifan, standing before him, got a shock and quickly raised his foot and kicked the black pistol out of the man¡¯s hand. This action was very fast, kicking out almost the instant the man in black pulled out his pistol and aimed at him. With a ¡°clack,¡± the iron pistol fell onto the hard ground not far away and slid some distance before stopping. The man in black turned and tried to rush over to pick it up; unfortunately, Lin Yifan ambushed him from behind with a kick, sending him sprawling to the ground instantaneously. Just as Lin Yifan was about to follow up with another attack, the man in black holding the female CEO hostage suddenly pulled out a phone, cocked the slide, and chambered a round, ready to shoot Lin Yifan from behind. Seeing this, An Qi screamed in panic, ¡°Sir, be careful! There¡¯s a gun behind you!¡± Lin Yifan had already heard the sound of the pistol being cocked and a round chambered; so he immediately leaped toward the cars to seek cover. ¡°Bang!¡± The shot missed, and the man in black fired another. ¡°Bang!¡± This time, the man in black finally hit Lin Yifan; but due to inertia, Lin Yifan rolled into the gap between two cars. An Qi completely fell apart, an endless surge of guilt welling up inside her and overwhelming her mind. Lin Yifan had paid with his precious life to save her, yet she had unjustly blamed him earlier, which was truly detestable. If she could turn back time, she would never blame Lin Yifan again. The vehicles blocked the man in black¡¯s view, so he couldn¡¯t tell whether Lin Yifan was alive or dead. Anxious to solve the mystery, he let go of An Qi and ran over to investigate alone. An Qi was just a weak girl; even if she tried to run, she wouldn¡¯t outpace him in these few seconds. Moreover, he still had a pistol to threaten her with at any time, so he wasn¡¯t worried about her trying to escape. As he approached the gap where Lin Yifan had rolled after being shot, the man in black looked inside and was instantly taken aback. Because he didn¡¯t see Lin Yifan¡¯s figure; moreover, there wasn¡¯t a single drop of blood to be found, which was very strange indeed. Lin Yifan had been clearly shot, but how could he still walk? And even if walking were possible, why wasn¡¯t there a single drop of blood left? While he was still puzzled, Lin Yifan suddenly emerged from between two car spots behind him, tackling him to the ground and snatching the pistol from his hand. All of this happened in the blink of an eye, by the time the man in black realized what was happening, it was already too late. Chapter 8 - 8 8 A 180-Degree Turn in Attitude ?8: Chapter 8: A 180-Degree Turn in Attitude 8: Chapter 8: A 180-Degree Turn in Attitude An Qi stared blankly at the scene, completely dumbfounded; it completely overturned her understanding. She clearly saw Lin Yifan get shot, yet why was he unharmed and still so vigorous? ¡°Damn it, could this be a vengeful spirit from this world?¡± She was very frightened and dared not approach Lin Yifan. On the other side, although one man in black was subdued, the one who had been knocked down had stood up and had even picked up a handgun from the ground. He pointed the gun at Lin Yifan, demanding that Lin Yifan release his brother. Yet Lin Yifan was also holding a gun pointed at his brother, ordering him to put down the gun. Now it all depended on how deep the bond was between the two men in black. The man in black, who was at a standoff with Lin Yifan, eventually abandoned his own brother to complete the mission alone, thus saying, ¡°Brother! I¡¯m sorry!¡± The moment these words were spoken, the heart of the man in black controlled by Lin Yifan turned cold, filled with immense anger. He had just tried to save the other, but now, not only was he not repaid with gratitude, he was also being put in a deadly situation; such a ruthless and ungrateful brother, he truly had made a terrible mistake. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but curse under his breath. As soon as he heard the word ¡°sorry,¡± he felt that something was amiss; the man confronting him was willing to disregard his brother¡¯s life, even putting him in mortal peril. Thus, in a moment of danger, he could only dodge, so he immediately rolled to the side, moving a distance away. As soon as he had moved, the man in black fired his gun. ¡°Bang!¡± Fortunately, he had moved a few seconds earlier, or he would have been shot again. After stabilizing himself, he fired his handgun with one hand from a kneeling position, aiming at the right hand of the man with the gun, making it impossible for him to hold the pistol. ¡°Bang!¡± As the gunshot rang out, a bloody hole appeared in the man in black¡¯s right hand. Lin Yifan¡¯s marksmanship was extremely precise, hitting the target with a single shot; the accuracy was a result of his extensive battlefield experience. Shot in the wrist, the man with the gun felt his right hand lose control and he could no longer grip the pistol. The dark-colored pistol fell to the ground, becoming ownerless. Seizing the perfect opportunity, Lin Yifan immediately rushed forward, kicked the black pistol away, and then knocked down the man in black who had been shot. With this, he had taken control of the situation. Next, he stripped off the man in black¡¯s clothes, tied his hands, and then called An Qi to report to the police. An Qi stood there, motionless, completely stunned by Lin Yifan¡¯s bravery and his ability to adapt to emergencies. ¡°Told you to call the police, did you understand?¡± Lin Yifan asked impatiently. If it weren¡¯t for his conscience, he really wouldn¡¯t want to deal with this delusional woman. ¡°Ah? Call the police? I¡¯ll do it now! I¡¯ll do it now!¡± Having come to her senses, An Qi frantically searched for her purse. After finding her purse that had fallen to the ground, she immediately took out her cellphone and called the police. After watching her report to the police, Lin Yifan casually hooked his jacket with one hand, pocketed his hands, and stylishly walked towards the parking lot exit, not seeking any reward. Touched by such self-sacrifice and altruism, An Qi felt a warm surge within her, bringing tears to her eyes: ¡°Sir! Where are you going?¡± ¡°Going home. Where else can I go?¡± Lin Yifan rolled his eyes and replied impatiently, not knowing why she would ask such a foolish question. ¡°Can you wait a moment before leaving?¡± An Qi asked. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯m scared!¡± ¡°What are you scared of? Their hands are tied by me.¡± ¡°But they still have their legs!¡± An Qi voiced her fears. As a weak woman, she really couldn¡¯t handle two strong men, and her biggest fear was that once Lin Yifan left, the two men in black would break free and take control of her again; then, she would have no one to turn to. ¡°Can¡¯t you handle someone whose hands are tied?¡± Lin Yifan was truly speechless. ¡°I¡¯m just a weak woman, how do you expect me to fight?¡± An Qi felt utterly wronged, on the verge of tears. ¡°And you were so arrogant just now?¡± Lin Yifan challenged. He had thought she was capable, but outside, she was just a helpless woman. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do it at the pool earlier.¡± Bringing up the incident, An Qi suddenly felt a bit guilty and dared not look at Lin Yifan. ¡°Not intentional? Do you know how badly you hurt me just now, losing a job that paid well?¡± Lin Yifan exploded in anger. If the topic hadn¡¯t come up, it would have been alright, but mentioning it made him explode with anger; it was too frustrating to lose a good job for no reason. ¡°It¡¯s just a job. What¡¯s the big deal?¡± An Qi pouted, a look of grievance on her face as she retorted. ¡°For someone like you, a top executive of a large company, it indeed might not matter; but for someone like me, who scrapes by at the bottom, it¡¯s a huge deal; so don¡¯t judge my situation with your high and mighty attitude, OK? You might not find it disgusting, but it damn well disgusts me!¡± Lin Yifan furiously accused. If it were not for the fact that she was a weak woman, he would have slapped her by now. ¡°Alright, alright! Since you¡¯re so angry, then I¡¯ll pay out of my own pocket to hire you as my bodyguard, how about that?¡± An Qi asked. This was a win-win solution, both appeasing Lin Yifan¡¯s anger and recruiting a capable bodyguard to ensure her safety. However, Lin Yifan was not persuaded by this. ¡°To be your bodyguard? I spit! I¡¯d rather die than be the bodyguard of a shrew like you.¡± Chapter 9 - 9 9 The Black Bead ?9: Chapter 9: The Black Bead 9: Chapter 9: The Black Bead ¡°Sir, as a grown man, how can you be so petty? Don¡¯t you want a good job? Being my bodyguard is a good job, isn¡¯t it? Why won¡¯t you take it?¡± An Qi felt somewhat disappointed. She had thought he would be thrilled, over-the-moon even, given that the job she offered paid much higher than the lifeguard position at Royal Pool No.1¡ªmany times over, in fact. ¡°Even if I want a good job, I¡¯d prefer one with personal dignity, not one where I have to curry favor and bow to the powerful, becoming a lapdog for the elite, taking bullets for them.¡± Lin Yifan replied uprightly, full of integrity, refusing to bend for wealth. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just take a bullet for me?¡± An Qi asked with a smile. ¡°Which of your eyes saw me taking a bullet for you?¡± Lin Yifan retorted. ¡°Just now, you got shot because you tried to save me from the man in black who was holding me captive.¡± An Qi answered. ¡°I accidentally got shot, not taking a bullet for you. Please don¡¯t conflate the two, okay?¡± ¡°Okay! Okay! Even if you didn¡¯t take the bullet for me, it was indirectly caused by me, right?¡± An Qi asked. ¡°Indirect is indirect, direct is direct. Don¡¯t mix them up, okay?¡± ¡°By your logic, should those behind the scenes ordering a hit not be convicted?¡± ¡°Murder and taking bullets are two different things. Don¡¯t try to switch the concepts on me; in any case, I did not take a bullet for you.¡± Lin Yifan kept the conversation on track, not giving An Qi a chance to divert the topic. An Qi gave up trying to persuade him, responding with a sigh: ¡°Fine! Since you don¡¯t want a high-paying job, I won¡¯t force you.¡± Although she really wanted Lin Yifan, an exceptionally skilled bodyguard, she couldn¡¯t force someone uninterested. ¡°High-paying job?¡± Hearing these words, Lin Yifan¡¯s interest piqued, his eyes lit up, and he casually asked, ¡°How high-paying?¡± His eager expression had already betrayed his desire; An Qi couldn¡¯t help but smile openly and asked, ¡°Are you interested now?¡± ¡°Who said that! I, Lin Yifan, will definitely not bow to the powerful for money!¡± Lin Yifan immediately adjusted his stance, aloof and peerless. ¡°Hmph! Such an air of pride.¡± An Qi smirked, feeling that Lin Yifan, this straightforward man of steel, was somewhat endearing. Letting the matter rest, she changed the subject: ¡°By the way, I have a question I¡¯d like you to help me with.¡± ¡°What question?¡± Lin Yifan inquired. ¡°You were clearly shot just now, so how come you¡¯re unharmed?¡± ¡°Because I wasn¡¯t shot at all!¡± ¡°Really?¡± An Qi was skeptical unless she had been hallucinating or was out of her mind at the time. But she was certain she had been normal, so what she saw must have been real. ¡°Really!¡± Lin Yifan replied with certainty. In fact, he had indeed been shot, but a special reason had allowed him to dodge disaster. This special reason dated back to a jungle war several years prior. Back then, he had been seriously injured and crawled into a dense thicket to evade enemy sight. Soon after, the enemy passed by without noticing him, and he narrowly escaped danger. Just as he was thinking about crawling out, he felt his hand touch something round. In the primitive world of the jungle, round objects were rare, especially perfectly round ones, so it immediately caught his attention. He found the round object and held it in his hand. Upon examination, he discovered it was a black bead. The black bead was deep and lustrous, unlike ordinary stone, crystal, or glass beads; its material was unknown. Lin Yifan thought he had found a treasure and kept the black bead safe. Little did he know, miraculous things began to happen. The black bead possessed mysterious powers that protected him whenever his life was in danger. Although he felt the bead was to blame, in gratitude for saving him numerous times, he spared it from being cast away. Now, the black bead had once again demonstrated its prowess by stopping a bullet for him, increasing his gratitude and curiosity. He was very keen to find out what it truly was. Chapter 10 - 10 10 The Tyrant King ?10: Chapter 10: The Tyrant King 10: Chapter 10: The Tyrant King ¡°Could it be that my eyes are deceiving me?¡± An Qi wondered, Lin Yifan was unscathed, so she couldn¡¯t help but doubt herself. Even the man in black who shot at Lin Yifan felt the same; he too was questioning whether what he had just seen was real. ¡°It¡¯s not that your eyes are deceiving you, but they are overly dazzled,¡± Lin Yifan responded. An Qi was right to doubt herself, as long as she didn¡¯t suspect him. ¡°So you¡¯re the amazing one, huh? Enough already!¡± Seeing Lin Yifan¡¯s smug expression, An Qi felt a bit angry because that was mockery, mocking her for hallucinating in her panic. ¡°Whoa! Whoa! Whoa...¡± Soon after, the police arrived. As the female officer stepped out of the car and saw Lin Yifan leaning against a concrete pillar, she burst out furiously, ¡°Pervert! I¡¯m going to arrest you!¡± The sudden shout startled Lin Yifan. He quickly turned his head to look to the right and spotted a familiar figure: ¡°Eh? Isn¡¯t that the police officer? Why is she charging at me with such ferocity?¡± He knew this police officer; it all began with a misunderstanding at a ¡°Love Around the Corner.¡± At the time, he was coming out of a small alley in an urban village, rushing to work; he accidentally collided with her as she was chasing a robber around the corner. The police officer had wanted to hold him accountable, but, due to the urgency of continuing the chase, she reluctantly let him go. Since she didn¡¯t make a big deal out of it, he didn¡¯t either and went about his normal work routine. Little did he know that at their next encounter, she would make a big issue out of it. The next moment, he raised his hand and caught Lin Shanshan¡¯s small fist coming at him, asking coldly, ¡°Officer, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear clearly? I¡¯m going to slaughter this pervert!¡± she retorted. Lin Shanshan kicked towards Lin Yifan¡¯s groin without any preamble. This scared Lin Yifan enough to quickly reach out his other hand to catch Lin Shanshan¡¯s thin leg that was in mid-kick. Both her fist and foot being restrained, Lin Shanshan was very surprised; she was trained, and ordinary people shouldn¡¯t be able to catch her quickly thrown punches or raised kicks unless Lin Yifan was also trained. ¡°You think you can slaughter me with these fancy moves? Go back and train for a few more years!¡± Lin Yifan said disdainfully, then pushed Lin Shanshan away. ¡°Underestimate me, and I¡¯ll show you how formidable I am!¡± Saying this, Lin Shanshan clenched her fists and attacked again. This time, she changed her tactics, leading with a kick, then a punch, and adapting her strikes according to her opponent¡¯s state and position. It was a fierce combination of blows too much for ordinary people to withstand, but unfortunately, she was facing Lin Yifan, a ¡°fellow traveller¡± several levels above her, so she was destined to fail. Lin Shanshan threw everything she had, with more force than before, clearly serious this time. However, Lin Yifan remained unafraid; no matter how fierce the force or how fast the speed, he handled it with ease. In the end, Lin Shanshan was just an amateur compared to him, a battle-hardened special forces soldier. After letting her attack furiously for a while, Lin Yifan subdued Lin Shanshan again; this time, he criticized without reservation, ¡°You should go back and train for a few more years; you¡¯re no match for me now!¡± Lin Shanshan, released by her opponent, was incredibly frustrated. The enemy was too strong, and she was no match; moreover, he was very familiar with her moves, making her wonder whether he had also been in the police force or perhaps the military. Lin Yifan¡¯s identity was a mystery, but now the most important thing was to catch Lin Yifan and teach him a lesson, so she pulled out a handgun, cocked it, and pointed it at Lin Yifan, commanding, ¡°Pervert, put your hands up!¡± Seeing the round gun barrel aimed at his head, Lin Yifan was shocked and demanded, ¡°What are you doing? I warn you, a police officer deliberately shooting an innocent civilian to death is punishable by death.¡± ¡°Are you an innocent civilian? You¡¯re nothing but a big pervert, a major lecher! I¡¯m going to bring you to justice!¡± Lin Shanshan shouted with all her might, extremely mortified and angry. ¡°Can¡¯t you think before you speak? Was it necessary to make such a fuss about accidentally bumping into you at the corner, enough to take it to the police station and let everyone know?¡± ¡°I...¡± ¡°What ¡®I¡¯? Am I wrong?¡± Lin Yifan countered. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you!!¡± Unable to bear the humiliation any longer, Lin Shanshan immediately shut her eyes and prepared to pull the trigger. Chapter 11 - 11 11 Annoyance Turns to Rage ?11: Chapter 11 Annoyance Turns to Rage 11: Chapter 11 Annoyance Turns to Rage Seeing this scene, her colleague behind her shouted in panic, ¡°Captain Lin! Don¡¯t!¡± But she still pulled the trigger; because by then her body was ruled by anger, she could not tolerate Lin Yifan, a despicable man who dared to commit a crime but not face the consequences. ¡°Bang!¡± A bullet shot out quickly, heading straight towards the target. Lin Yifan had already sensed the impending danger and moved aside a second earlier. However, just as he moved his head, a bullet whizzed past his ear; he even heard a ghastly, howling sound of tearing through the air, which was extremely frightening. It was terrifying, truly terrifying, Lin Yifan never expected the other party to shoot; the other party was a ¡°tea server,¡± how could she do such a thing, it was too illegal. After firing the shot, Lin Shanshan realized she had made a grave mistake. But now, there was no turning back, she could only pray that Lin Yifan wasn¡¯t hit. ¡°Please don¡¯t get hit! Please don¡¯t get hit!¡± While praying tremblingly in her heart, she secretly opened her eyes a bit, to observe the situation ahead. Peering through the small slits of her eyes, she found no one in front and didn¡¯t know whether Lin Yifan had been taken down or had run somewhere else. Then, she opened her eyes completely, quickly scanned the ground, and after not finding Lin Yifan¡¯s body, she looked to the side and immediately saw a man with a terrified face. The man, with a face full of terror, roared at her when he saw her looking, ¡°Are you insane? Do you realize you¡¯ve broken the law?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you still alive? So I haven¡¯t broken the law.¡± Lin Shanshan felt extremely lucky at the moment, she had gotten quite a scare earlier and thought she had committed murder, ruining her life from then on, but unexpectedly, Lin Yifan, this incredible person, actually managed to dodge her bullet. It seemed his reflexes were terrifyingly fast. In her understanding, only a person constantly prepared for combat could possess such sharp reflexes, which made her even more curious about Lin Yifan¡¯s identity. ¡°Unreasonable.¡± Lin Yifan gave these four words to evaluate Lin Shanshan¡¯s current mindset and her words. Lin Shanshan, unconcerned, snorted, ¡°Hmph! Now you know what I¡¯m capable of, don¡¯t you? If you do, then surrender quietly.¡± ¡°If you have the guts, come and catch me! I¡¯ll see if an unintentional collision will land me in jail!¡± Lin Yifan, having a clear conscience, was not afraid of his shadow being crooked, for he really hadn¡¯t done it on purpose, no matter how the other party accused him or how harshly they tortured him, they couldn¡¯t send him to prison. ¡°Awen, handcuff him and bring him back to the police station.¡± Regardless of whether they could convict Lin Yifan or not, the first step was to arrest him and teach him a lesson, to show him her capabilities. ¡°Yes! Captain Lin!¡± The little Wen behind her breathed a sigh of relief, he really had been scared to death; if Lin Shanshan had committed murder, they couldn¡¯t have helped her. ¡°Click!¡± The handcuffs were locked on, and Lin Yifan hadn¡¯t expected he would become the first one to wear handcuffs. It was both ironic and speechless. Seeing Lin Yifan so pitiable, An Qi, holding no grudges, curiously asked, ¡°Mister, do you need a lawyer? I can get one for you.¡± ¡°Thanks, but I, Lin Yifan, have done nothing to hide, and I reckon this little woman can¡¯t press charges against me,¡± Lin Yifan replied. An Qi¡¯s kindness annoyed Lin Shanshan, who then questioned, ¡°Beauty, why would you defend such a pervert?¡± ¡°He saved me.¡± Although it was just a simple four-word response, it countered Lin Shanshan¡¯s question effectively. Lin Shanshan felt surprised and began to see Lin Yifan in a new light. ¡°Did he overpower these two men in black?¡± The two men in black lying on the ground with their hands bound were muscular and strong. She wasn¡¯t sure if she could overpower them one-on-one, let alone two of them, and furthermore, they had guns; so hearing that Lin Yifan had saved An Qi truly shocked her. ¡°Yes!¡± An Qi confirmed with conviction. ¡°Holy shit, who exactly are you? What¡¯s your identity?¡± Lin Shanshan, normally so high-browed, couldn¡¯t help but curse, thoroughly shocked. ¡°Do I need to tell you?¡± Lin Yifan rolled his eyes, not wanting to bother with Lin Shanshan, the brash and brainless police officer. ¡°You think I¡¯m dying to know? Hmph! Take him away! Take everyone away!¡± Lin Shanshan was furious, ordering her subordinates to take everyone present back with them. ¡°Tsk!¡± Lin Yifan scoffed, fearlessly defiant. After Lin Yifan and the two kidnappers were taken into the car, Lin Shanshan led her team back to the police station. Before leaving, she instructed An Qi to send the unconscious Assistant Li to the hospital for treatment and then come to the police station to provide a statement. An Qi knew what to do, and so they went their separate ways. Back at the police station, seeing that the light in her boss¡¯s office was still on, Lin Shanshan, fueled by curiosity, went upstairs, knocked gently on the door, and asked, ¡°Chief Zhao, are you in there?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, you are...¡± ¡°It¡¯s Shanshan!¡± Lin Shanshan identified herself. ¡°Ah, Shanshan! What brings you here?¡± ¡°Nothing much. I saw the light in your office was on, so I was curious to see what you were up to,¡± she explained. Lin Shanshan¡¯s heart raced with excitement, as there were few men who called her by her name, and it was too sweet. Upon hearing her reason for coming, the man in the office invited her, ¡°Come in then!¡± Without a second thought, Lin Shanshan opened the door and entered. She saw a man in a police uniform, illuminated by the bright light, poring earnestly over documents. His brows were furrowed, and he seemed displeased, as if he was facing some difficult problem. ¡°Chief Zhao! Why haven¡¯t you gone home at this late hour?¡± Lin Shanshan stepped forward, asking with curiosity. That time was well past working hours, so she was genuinely curious. ¡°There¡¯s a murder case that¡¯s been troubling me. I need to sort out my thoughts and solve it as quickly as possible to give the victim¡¯s family some justice,¡± Zhao Dabing answered, ¡°By the way, why are you still working?¡± Chapter 12 - 12 12 Brothers Meet ?12: Chapter 12 Brothers Meet 12: Chapter 12 Brothers Meet ¡°There was a gun-related kidnapping incident in the underground parking of Huangchi Number One. I received the report and went there right away,¡± Lin Shanshan replied. ¡°Did you catch the kidnapper?¡± Zhao Dabing asked earnestly while reviewing the documents. ¡°We did. But... I was harassed by a pervert. Chief Zhao, you must avenge me!¡± Lin Shanshan pouted coquettishly. Chief Zhao was her most admired person, and he was highly skilled, no less capable than any pervert. Hence, she believed that Chief Zhao would surely avenge her. ¡°Oh? Who dares to harass you, Officer Lin? Couldn¡¯t you have just kicked him in the groin?¡± Zhao Dabing asked with a laugh. Lin Shanshan was famously violent among the police, and no male officer dared to provoke her, not even him. ¡°Oh, Chief Zhao, stop teasing me. This pervert was extraordinary, not like ordinary people; he was skilled, as if he has trained, and he knew our moves,¡± Lin Shanshan explained seriously. Lin Yifan gave her an inexplicable feeling of mystery. ¡°Oh? That sounds like it¡¯s going to be quite the meeting,¡± he mused. Zhao Dabing became more interested as he listened and decided to help Lin Shanshan get her revenge, provided everything she said was true. Lin Shanshan was delighted that she had finally swayed her idol to her cause. In the precinct, if Chief Zhao took action, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t solve. The two hurried to the interrogation room to interrogate Lin Yifan. Meanwhile, Lin Yifan inside the interrogation room was speechless. He was doing good deeds, and here he was, inexplicably arrested and brought to the police station, which he found both absurd and amusing. The interrogation room had a window with the blinds open, allowing those in the corridor to see inside. Just as Zhao Dabing reached the door of the interrogation room, he glanced through the window and realized that the criminal he was about to interrogate seemed familiar, as if seen somewhere before. With confusion, he opened the door of the interrogation room and stepped in for a closer look. Unbeknownst to him, he was in for a shock. ¡°Leopard, is that you?¡± He exclaimed, completely stunned. Lin Yifan looked at Zhao Dabing¡¯s face, puzzled, and asked, ¡°Are you... Brother Zhao?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Are you Leopard?¡± ¡°Brother Zhao, I am, I am!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! Leopard, I never thought we¡¯d reunite here!¡± Zhao Dabing, excited, walked over and lifted Lin Yifan, who was sitting on a stool, and cheered joyfully. Behind him, Lin Shanshan was utterly bewildered. She never expected that her idol was acquainted with the pervert who bumped into her chest. How embarrassing. If she were to marry Zhao Dabing, how would she face this pervert then? No matter what the relationship was between Chief Zhao and this pervert, wearing the police uniform meant enforcing the law impartially. So, she called out, ¡°Chief Zhao! It¡¯s this pervert who harassed me, teach him a lesson quickly!¡± Reminded thus, Zhao Dabing suddenly remembered that his brother had been detained without clarification; he then let go and asked, ¡°Leopard, tell me the truth, did you use your Martial Arts skills to harass my junior sister here?¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s all a misunderstanding!¡± Lin Yifan explained the entire incident in detail, hoping Zhao Dabing would stand up for him. After hearing the explanation, Zhao Dabing realized it was all a misunderstanding and criticized Lin Shanshan, ¡°He didn¡¯t mean to bump into you, why make such a fuss about it?¡± ¡°But, Chief Zhao, do you know where he bumped into my body?¡± ¡°Where?¡± Zhao Dabing asked curiously. Lin Yifan hadn¡¯t told him this part; he only mentioned that he accidentally bumped into Lin Shanshan while chasing a robber at a corner. ¡°It was... it was...¡± Ultimately, Lin Shanshan didn¡¯t have the courage to say it out loud, fearing it might leave a bad impression on Zhao Dabing and hinder her chances of marrying him in the future. ¡°It was what? Just say it; how am I supposed to seek justice for you if you don¡¯t tell me?¡± Zhao Dabing grew anxious. One side was his brother, the other his junior sister; he couldn¡¯t be biased, so he needed to know the whole truth. ¡°Oh, never mind!¡± Lin Shanshan pouted and turned away, displaying a sullen face. ¡°Don¡¯t want to say, or is there simply no crime? Officer Lin, you¡¯re a police officer, remember always to enforce the law impartially and not to accuse innocents arbitrarily, okay?¡± Zhao Dabing patiently admonished. But this only elicited a temper from Lin Shanshan, ¡°Chief Zhao! You¡¯ve really disappointed me, hmph!¡± With a cold snort, Lin Shanshan turned and left the interrogation room, heading who knows where. Watching this unfold, a puzzled Zhao Dabing stuttered, ¡°What... What on earth just happened? What did I do wrong?¡± Lin Yifan shook his head, indicating he was also at a loss. Since it was all a misunderstanding, there was no need to keep Lin Yifan in handcuffs. So, Zhao Dabing took out the keys and unlocked Lin Yifan¡¯s handcuffs. It had been a while since the brothers had seen each other; it was time to catch up. Zhao Dabing began to inquire about Lin Yifan¡¯s recent circumstances and why he was in Guiyuan City. Lin Yifan told Zhao Dabing everything he had been through, letting his brother know about his bleak past. Upon learning that Lin Yifan had been discharged from the military, Zhao Dabing was shocked, as his situation was even worse than his. Despite being transferred out of the special forces, at least he was still part of the organization; Lin Yifan had nothing, going from a near-legendary figure to an unknown civilian, now struggling even to find a job. Zhao Dabing sighed continuously, deciding to do something for Lin Yifan. However, he had no significant connections in Guiyuan City; therefore, his desire to help was there, but his hands were tied. Chapter 13 - 13 13 Memories Like Smoke ?13: Chapter 13 Memories Like Smoke 13: Chapter 13 Memories Like Smoke Lin Yifan thanked Zhao Dabing for his kindness. He felt that one should have integrity and not depend on others for a living. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re a distinguished special forces soldier, with many military achievements. Why were you directly dismissed from the military?¡± Zhao Dabing was very puzzled, and he also disagreed with the military leadership¡¯s decision. ¡°No choice, military orders are like mountains. Being able to save my life and avoid prison is already fortunate.¡± Lin Yifan shook his head with a bitter smile, he had indeed committed an unforgivable mistake; thus, it was only right that he was punished. ¡°Ah! What plans do you have for the future?¡± Zhao Dabing asked. The incident had already happened, it was irreversible, and there was nothing he could do about it, so he could only sigh. ¡°What other plans can I have? Earn money to feed my family, get married, have children, and live an ordinary life.¡± Lin Yifan revealed a helpless look, his whole spirit had faded. Zhao Dabing, after hearing this, was somewhat surprised, as this was not characteristic of Lin Yifan¡¯s personality or ambitions. He remembered that while in the army, Lin Yifan had sworn to lead troops in battle, to charge through the battlefield, and to make the enemies flee in terror. ¡°Are you really content with this?¡± ¡°Otherwise, what do you think I should do? Go back to the military, beg the senior officers to grant me clemency, and give me a chance to reform, or re-enlist?¡± Lin Yifan retorted. He didn¡¯t want this either, but from the day his military status was revoked, his military career had completely ended; thus, his dreams had also been shattered. ¡°Ah!¡± Zhao Dabing left only a deep sigh. Lin Yifan was the most outstanding special forces soldier he had ever seen, topping almost every ability and recognized by the forces as the king of special forces. Moreover, the nickname ¡°Cheetah¡± was a resounding name both on the training ground and the battlefield, feared by everyone. Many times in deployment or on missions, as soon as the enemies heard ¡°Cheetah¡± was coming, they all fled in terror. Now, such a good soldier was dismissed just like that, it¡¯s hard to know whether it¡¯s a loss for the country or the people. ¡°Zhao brother, stop sighing. Everything is in the past, living well in the present is the most important thing for me,¡± Lin Yifan consoled. The past is like smoke, drifting away with the wind; it¡¯s good if you can see it that way, there¡¯s no need to be too concerned. ¡°It¡¯s rare that you see it that way. If it were me, I would definitely have argued with the senior officers a few times.¡± ¡°That¡¯s absolutely not possible. As the saying goes, without rules, there is no square. Managing an army of millions, if there aren¡¯t strict military regulations, then this army would become scattered, and when the formidable enemy presses in, it would collapse,¡± Lin Yifan hastily interrupted Zhao Dabing¡¯s words, earnestly advising him. ¡°Also true, also true!¡± Zhao Dabing agreed with this viewpoint, actually the senior officer¡¯s dismissal of Lin Yifan was also a kind of heartache. He had oversimplified the issue. The topic was a bit heavy, Lin Yifan had a sudden inspiration and changed the subject, ¡°By the way! Brother Zhao, how¡¯s your leg injury?¡± Two years ago, during a special mission, Zhao Dabing¡¯s left lower leg was injured by a heavy object, and later diagnosed as a comminuted fracture; although it could be treated, it would leave a lingering injury; thus, Zhao Dabing had since then said goodbye to the army and transferred to the cultural troupe. At the farewell, everyone was very reluctant, but reality is harsh, and the wounded are no longer suitable for battle; they could only watch as Zhao Dabing slowly drifted away. Now seeing Zhao Dabing again, he was very concerned about the state of Zhao Dabing¡¯s leg injury. ¡°It¡¯s the same old condition, although I can move, I can¡¯t do overly strenuous activities,¡± Zhao Dabing replied. This had always been a pain in his heart, but there are no what-ifs. What happened, had to be accepted. ¡°Brother Zhao, don¡¯t feel sad. With the advancement of modern medical techniques, your leg injury will definitely get better,¡± Lin Yifan consoled. ¡°Hopefully so!¡± The two brothers in misfortune talked with sorrow, but they were both full of confidence in the future, never having given up. Before saying goodbye, Zhao Dabing took the few hundred yuan in cash he had on him and gave it to Lin Yifan as a token of brotherhood; this was also the only thing he could do to help Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan hurriedly refused; he knew how hard it was to earn money, especially for someone like Zhao Dabing, a government agency employee; and Zhao Dabing had mortgage and car loans to pay off, his finances were tight, so how could he accept his money? ¡°Cheetah, if you refuse to accept it, you¡¯re not treating me as a brother,¡± Zhao Dabing said. ¡°Brother Zhao, I¡¯m not so poor that I can¡¯t afford food. Please take your money back.¡± ¡°Cheetah...¡± ¡°Brother Zhao...¡± After a persistent refusal, Lin Yifan accepted the few hundred yuan. Because if he did not accept it, Zhao Dabing would feel uncomfortable, and then they would keep pushing it back and forth; so to save everyone¡¯s time, he had to accept this token of brotherhood. Leaving the police station, it was late at night; Lin Yifan returned to his rented room and immediately collapsed on the bed and fell asleep. On the other hand, the police interrogating the two men in black had no results. The two men in black were very stubborn and refused to disclose their mastermind even in the face of death. An Qi, who came to record her statement, found out that Lin Yifan had been released without charges and was very annoyed. Such a good bodyguard, where would she find another? It truly was a missed opportunity. In the upcoming period, she would feel very insecure, it seemed necessary to deploy more personnel for her protection. The next morning, Lin Yifan got up early. After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he went to a roadside stall to buy soy milk and steamed buns. After filling his stomach, he took the bus to a nearby 24-hour self-service bank service hall, where he transferred all the three thousand yuan wage he had received the previous day to his parents in the countryside who urgently needed money for medical treatment. At the ATM, after a series of operations, he quickly transferred the three thousand yuan in cash to his father¡¯s bank account. After the transfer, Lin Yifan went to a roadside public phone booth, used an IC card to call his family to inform them of the transfer, and also asked about his parents¡¯ current situation. Chapter 14 - 14 14 Family Situation ?14: Chapter 14 Family Situation 14: Chapter 14 Family Situation ¡°Beep! Beep!¡± After a few beeps, someone answered the phone. Then, a gentle female voice came through, ¡°Hello! Who is it? Is it you, brother?¡± The caller was Lin Yifan¡¯s sister ¡ª Lin Yifei, 18 years old, who had just gone through the most important exam of her life ¡ª the college entrance examination, and was now in charge of taking care of her sick parents at home. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Yifan answered truthfully. Hearing a family member¡¯s voice, he felt very close and warm; this was a consolation for him, who worked far away from home. Knowing it was her brother, Lin Yifei opened up, asking with concern, ¡°Brother, how are you doing now?¡± Today, the entire family¡¯s burden fell on the elder brother and the eldest sister, whose whereabouts were unknown; therefore, as the younger sister, she was very concerned. ¡°I¡¯m fine. How about you? Are you doing well?¡± Lin Yifan asked with concern. ¡°I¡¯m okay, but mom and dad aren¡¯t doing well.¡± Lin Yifei was frowning, very upset. ¡°What happened to mom and dad?¡± Lin Yifan asked anxiously. ¡°Dad¡¯s leg worsened, and he just had surgery yesterday; and mom just had surgery for stones today, she¡¯s in a lot of pain.¡± While speaking, Lin Yifei started to cry over the phone. Originally, her father was the pillar of the household, but half a month ago, he was accidentally struck by a heavy steel pipe at the construction site, severely breaking his leg, and urgently needed hospitalization. Suddenly, the entire family collapsed and fell into debt. As a high school student fresh from her exams, she felt deeply helpless and at a loss; fortunately, her brother had come back at that time. Having only returned for two days, her brother was set to head to the provincial capital ¡ª Guiyuan City to work. Watching her elder brother with his luggage walking away alone, she cried. All the heavy burdens fell on her elder brother and sister, while she could only stay silently at the hospital looking after their parents, sometimes feeling very useless. The brother and sister sent money home every month, but the elder sister sent more. After all, a military salary is so little, the elder sister could do part-time jobs in society, earn extra money, naturally more than what her brother could provide. The brother and sister were people she greatly respected, especially her sister. To allow her the opportunity to study, after receiving her university acceptance letter, the elder sister resolutely gave up this rare opportunity, entered society, and worked to pay for her education. This favor, she would never forget in this lifetime. She always felt guilty; since leaving their hometown to enter society, her elder sister had never returned home. Even during the New Year, she hadn¡¯t come back. The elder sister only sent money home every month and occasionally called her; the family members didn¡¯t know how the elder sister was now doing. Although the elder sister said on the phone it was not because she despised the family that she didn¡¯t come back, Lin Yifei always deeply blamed herself. Thus, in order not to let down her elder sister¡¯s kindness, she studied hard and finally got into the most famous university in Shenzhou Country ¡ª Yanjing University. In just over two months, she would head north to study. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it will be all right.¡± On the other end of the phone, Lin Yifan first comforted, then asked, ¡°Is there enough money? Do you owe medical fees?¡± ¡°We do,¡± Lin Yifei answered straightforwardly, without any evasiveness. These days, the hospital had been pressing them hard, and she didn¡¯t know what to do. If in a few days there was no money for medical fees, the hospital would stop the treatment, and her parents would suffer. ¡°How much do you owe?¡± Lin Yifan asked anxiously, feeling his sister¡¯s helplessness. ¡°We owe more than ten thousand,¡± Lin Yifei sighed and answered. Ten thousand might not be much for the rich, but for a poor family, it was a huge sum; she had no idea where to find it. ¡°I just sent three thousand over, go take it out later, and pay some of the medical bills; for the rest, I¡¯ll think of something else.¡± Lin Yifan was also under immense pressure, but as the eldest son of the family, he had to bear it. ¡°Brother, where did you get so much money?¡± Lin Yifei curiously asked. As far as she knew, her elder brother had left home not even a fortnight ago; with his qualifications, he couldn¡¯t have earned so much money in such a short time, unless he had committed illegal acts, so she was a bit worried. ¡°That¡¯s the salary, settled daily. Don¡¯t worry, as a soldier, I will absolutely not engage in any criminal activities. You just stay in the hospital, take care of our parents. I¡¯ll find a way to handle the money,¡± Lin Yifan answered and instructed. With her brother¡¯s words, Lin Yifei felt much more stable. She believed in her brother, confident that he would find a way to resolve this urgent crisis. After chatting for a while, the two hung up the phone. Stepping out of the phone booth, Lin Yifan looked up to the sky and sighed deeply; with more than seven thousand in medical fees, where would he find the money? Work as a security guard? A waiter? Move bricks on a construction site? Wash dishes for others? Or work as a personal bodyguard? One idea after another flashed through his mind, but none could make big money quickly. After thinking for a long time, he still felt that he should find a day job to stabilize his situation first, then consider other jobs; after all, he was currently unemployed and in urgent need of money. After wandering the streets for most of the day, he finally saw a recruitment notice outside a large restaurant. It read: Urgently hiring a dishwasher, gender unimportant, as long as you¡¯re healthy, daily wage 100, interested parties please contact the staff at the front desk. ¡°Although the salary is a bit low, it¡¯s worth doing.¡± After thinking about it, Lin Yifan stepped into the large restaurant to apply for the dishwashing job. The staff at the restaurant didn¡¯t make it too difficult; after processing various procedures, Lin Yifan was hired. Just like that, he became a dishwasher. Chapter 15 - 15 15 Another Kidnapping Case ?15: Chapter 15: Another Kidnapping Case 15: Chapter 15: Another Kidnapping Case A week later, in the midst of a hectic shift in the restaurant kitchen, Lin Yifan suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps in the alley outside; immediately afterward, several dark figures flashed past the kitchen¡¯s back door. Although these figures moved quickly and hid themselves well, the sharp-eyed Lin Yifan still sensed something odd. He saw the figures carrying a wriggling sack, moving rapidly and looking very anxious. The experienced Lin Yifan realized in an instant that someone had been kidnapped. So, he immediately put down the dishes and dishcloth in his hands and gave chase. After exiting the kitchen, he spotted the figures and called out, ¡°What are you doing?¡± However, the figures in black didn¡¯t pay any attention to him and continued to run forward. Helpless, Lin Yifan had no choice but to rush over to stop them. As a special forces operative, he was agile and caught up to the dark figures in just a few seconds. Approaching them, he noticed there were four figures in black, all with their faces covered, making it impossible to see their true appearances. Sensing Lin Yifan¡¯s ill intentions, two of them split off to deal with him while the other two continued to run with the moving sack. The two left behind first pulled out a sharp dagger, then swiftly turned and stabbed at Lin Yifan, intending to take his life. Lin Yifan reacted quickly. First, he performed a wall run and injured one of the assailants; then he ducked low, evading the other¡¯s horizontal dagger thrust. After dodging the lethal strike, he swiftly got up, grabbed the assailant¡¯s dagger-wielding hand, and with a forceful twist, injured his arm, followed by a kick that sent him tumbling to the ground. The assailant, whose arm Lin Yifan had twisted, yelled out in pain, his entire face contorted, clearly in agony. All of this happened in the blink of an eye. After dealing with one assailant, the other, who had been injured earlier, came at Lin Yifan with a dagger. Lin Yifan remained calm and unafraid in the face of danger. One-on-one, he feared no black-clad figure. So, when the assailant nearly reached him, Lin Yifan kicked out his long leg, sending the assailant flying with a blow. ¡°Bang!¡± The rash assailant was sent airborne, tumbling backward; he never understood how he could have been attacked so quickly¡ªit was truly unimaginable. After falling to the ground, he couldn¡¯t rise due to severe injuries. Having quickly dealt with two assailants, Lin Yifan picked up a dagger from the ground and chased after the other two fleeing figures. Behind the large restaurant was a narrow alley, with a corner on the right side; beyond the corner was a larger alley, wide enough for a sedan to pass through. Lin Yifan guessed that the other two figures must have had a vehicle waiting for them; otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t dare head toward the larger alley¡ªafter all, emerging there would lead them onto a busy street, and even bold assailants wouldn¡¯t dare to walk openly on a busy street carrying a writhing sack. Rescuing the victim was of utmost importance, and Lin Yifan hoped that he could still catch the other two assailants. In three seconds, he rounded the corner and saw the two figures stealthily stuffing a moving sack into a white van. Without a doubt, that was the victim. He immediately threw the dagger in his hand, then quickly ran towards them. This was a race between man and dagger; Lin Yifan had to reach the white van right after the dagger hit one of the assailants and subdue the other masked figure. The dagger was light and met little resistance, making its speed extremely fast; Lin Yifan gave it his all, trying to keep pace with the dagger¡¯s trajectory. ¡°Shhh!¡± Three seconds later, the dagger pierced the thigh of one of the figures, causing him to howl in agony. The other assailant, seeing what had happened, hurriedly stuffed the hostage¡¯s feet into the van. Upon completion, when he attempted to jump into the van and flee, Lin Yifan caught him by the shoulder. With no other choice, the assailant closed the door, instructing the driver to take the victim away. But how could Lin Yifan let him succeed? He forcefully pulled back, dragging the assailant a short distance from the van. The white van¡¯s driver, seeing this, immediately drove off. Without a second thought, Lin Yifan jumped into the vehicle and began strangling the van¡¯s driver by the neck. Unable to see where he was going or discern the direction, the driver kept braking. He did this because he didn¡¯t want to risk his life in a crash. Once the van stopped, Lin Yifan immediately turned off the ignition, took out the keys, and then stepped out to properly deal with the kidnappers. Without a vehicle, the kidnappers couldn¡¯t take the hostage right under his nose¡ªLin Yifan was confident in that. As he stepped out, the masked figure he had pulled back brandished a sharp dagger, stabbing viciously towards him. In a dangerous moment, Lin Yifan leaped backward into the van, avoiding the strike. After dodging it, he sprang out and kicked the dagger-wielding assailant to the ground. The assailant got up immediately, but as he attempted to stab with the dagger again, Lin Yifan kicked the weapon away and then landed a kick on his head, knocking him unconscious on the spot. ¡°Whoosh!¡± Just as Lin Yifan thought he had settled the matter, a dagger quickly flew in from his left side, aimed straight at his body. The dagger was thrown by the assailant he had previously hit in the thigh. Although the assailant could hardly walk, he could still throw a weapon. Furthermore, he hoped to take a chance and kill Lin Yifan¡ªthat was his motive, to try his luck. But there isn¡¯t so much luck to count on in reality, and the dagger thrown by the assailant was swiftly dodged by the agile Lin Yifan. Despite the darkness of the alley, relying on the listening skills, Perception, and reaction ability honed through years of fighting on battlefields, Lin Yifan easily avoided the attack. Now, the assailant could only blame his bad luck for encountering such a formidable opponent. Chapter 16 - 16 16 Again This Unlucky Guy ?16: Chapter 16 Again, This Unlucky Guy 16: Chapter 16 Again, This Unlucky Guy After dodging the Dagger, an infuriated Lin Yifan walked step by step toward the man in black who had been stabbed in the thigh by the Dagger. Watching this towering figure approach, the man stabbed in the thigh resembled someone who had just seen a devil. He was utterly terrified and clueless about what to do. In the end, he could only admit his mistake and beg for mercy, ¡°Big brother! I was wrong! Please spare me! Spare me!¡± ¡°You realize your mistake now? Why didn¡¯t I see you realize it when you were throwing the Dagger trying to kill me?¡± Lin Yifan snorted coldly, then stepped on the Dagger that was inserted in the man¡¯s thigh. ¡°Hiss!¡± Instantly, the Dagger sank deeper, piercing to the bone. An incomparable pain surged to the man¡¯s heart, sweeping over his entire body, causing him to scream reflexively: ¡°Ahh!!!¡± The scream was piercingly sharp, attracting the attention of people passing through the alley on the main street. They all looked over, only to see people fighting, and the scene looked quite brutal. Seeing the situation was hopeless, the van driver attempted to flee, but Lin Yifan sternly stopped him, ¡°Dare to take another step, and it will cost you your life.¡± The van driver trembled, not daring to step forward any longer. Having witnessed Lin Yifan¡¯s ruthlessness, he didn¡¯t dare provoke this devil. After dealing with this group of men in black, Lin Yifan took a rope from the van, strung up each of the men, and tied them off to the side. The rope had been prepared by the men in black for the hostages in the burlap sacks, which Lin Yifan had noticed when getting on the van, so he took it and used it. After tying up the kidnappers, Lin Yifan then dealt with the hostages. At this point, the hostages were still moving and struggling, indicating they were not dead. He quickly opened the burlap sack, letting the hostages out. He hadn¡¯t expected to know them until he opened it, and got a shock; he had encountered someone familiar again. ¡°Why is it you again, you unlucky fellow?¡± The kidnapped person was An Qi, the General Manager of Antian Group, whom he had rescued a few days before in the underground parking lot of Royal Pool Number One. Whether it was fate or misfortune, you never know. An Qi stared with wide eyes, realizing the person who saved her was indeed the same remarkably skilled handsome man from the underground parking lot a few days before. Having heard the man¡¯s voice just now, she thought she was hallucinating, never expecting the world to be so small that she would meet him again. She felt it was meant to be by divine intervention, perhaps for Lin Yifan to be her bodyguard, to protect her; or even deeper protection, like becoming her husband to protect her for life. The first case was fine, but the second scenario made her feel slightly ashamed; she would never have thought she would marry a worker who fought hard from the grassroots level. No matter the scenario, getting Lin Yifan to be her personal bodyguard was the immediate priority so that she could at least ensure her personal safety, avoiding being kidnapped every day. Thus, she forcefully made a noise, signaling for Lin Yifan to remove the cloth from her mouth. Her mouth had been stuffed with a cloth by the kidnappers so she couldn¡¯t speak. Actually, seeing that the hostage was An Qi, Lin Yifan had initially not wanted to bother; but saving someone to the end and sending the Buddha to the west, along with seeing An Qi in such distress, he softened for a moment and then pulled the cloth from her mouth. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± After the cloth was removed from her mouth, An Qi felt she could breathe much more easily; just before in the burlap sack, she had really struggled to breathe. After helping An Qi remove the cloth from her mouth, Lin Yifan resolutely turned and left without lingering for another second. But, just as he turned around, An Qi stopped him, ¡°Sir, where are you going?¡± ¡°To report to the police, where else?¡± Lin Yifan replied irritatedly. ¡°Could you first untie the ropes on me? I have a phone; I can call the police.¡± An Qi fluttered her eyes, pleading pitifully. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t want to touch you,¡± Lin Yifan answered bluntly, expressionless. ¡°Sir, how can you be so petty? I have admitted I was wrong and apologized to you, can¡¯t you forgive me?¡± An Qi looked grievously wronged, feeling bullied by a man. ¡°It¡¯s not about forgiving, but I¡¯m afraid my good intentions to save you would once again be wrongly accused of meddling and taking advantage of you!¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°I was immature before and misunderstood you; I¡¯ll never think that way again,¡± An Qi responded. ¡°You sure? Can you swear to heaven?¡± ¡°I can!¡± An Qi answered with absolute firmness. If her hands were free to stretch out, she would definitely raise her finger to swear to the heavens. Seeing An Qi so sincere and not seeming to joke, Lin Yifan thought for a moment and forgave her. Maybe the other party really recognized her mistake and wanted to repent. Since that was the case, why not give her a chance to reform? He turned around and helped An Qi untie the tape from her hands and feet. After finishing, he called out in a more gentle tone, ¡°Call the police!¡± An Qi did so immediately, calling the police because she too wanted to bring these scoundrels to justice. Seeing An Qi had called the police, Lin Yifan also felt relieved and then went back to wash the dishes. However, he was stopped again by An Qi, ¡°Sir, where are you going?¡± Having just experienced a kidnapping, she was still frightened and desperately needed someone¡¯s company. Additionally, she really wanted to discuss a work matter with Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan had always managed to help her out of crises single-handedly, which sufficiently demonstrated his extraordinary abilities, surpassing most top bodyguards; so how could she let him slip away so easily? ¡°Back to work, where else?¡± Lin Yifan replied, irked. If it weren¡¯t for this woman¡¯s misunderstanding, he wouldn¡¯t have ended up washing dishes; thus mentioning anything about work agitated him. Chapter 17 - 17 17 Seeking Talent Desperately ?17: Chapter 17 Seeking Talent Desperately 17: Chapter 17 Seeking Talent Desperately ¡°Aren¡¯t you staying to protect me?¡± An Qi asked pitifully. ¡°Protect what? Everyone is tied up, no matter how fierce they are, they can¡¯t bite you anymore.¡± Lin Yifan replied indifferently and continued to walk forward. At this moment, An Qi became anxious and asked, ¡°Do you work at this restaurant? What do you do here?¡± ¡°Do I have to tell you?¡± Lin Yifan asked back with a cold face. ¡°Sir, if you can let bygones be bygones, I can introduce you to a high-paying job!¡± An Qi hastily expressed her request, afraid of losing a talent. She guessed that the position Lin Yifan held in this restaurant wouldn¡¯t be very high, perhaps a waiter, or someone who did odd jobs; even if Lin Yifan had a connection with the restaurant¡¯s owner, the salary would not be higher than at the swimming pool, otherwise, he would not work at the swimming pool. So she thought the salary she was offering would be enough to attract Lin Yifan. Hearing the words ¡°high salary,¡± Lin Yifan was again moved, for he was indeed in desperate need of money. These past few days, as he washed dishes, he never stopped looking for other work that paid more than dishwashing; but despite his efforts, he had found nothing. Now, as his parents¡¯ medical bills were piling up, and the hospital might stop treatment if he didn¡¯t pay soon, he was tempted when An Qi brought up the job again. ¡°Since this woman has realized her mistake and seems to have repented, and she doesn¡¯t look like a bad person, why not lower my pride a bit and reluctantly become her bodyguard? After all, it can¡¯t be worse than washing dishes or moving bricks.¡± After comforting himself, Lin Yifan had made his decision and curiously inquired, ¡°How high exactly is this high salary you mentioned?¡± ¡°Thirty thousand to start with, depending on your abilities!¡± An Qi made her offer directly, clear-cut and decisive. ¡°Thirty thousand?¡± When he heard the salary, Lin Yifan was truly startled because he had never had such a high salary before. ¡°I¡¯ve struck it rich, really struck it rich; no more worries about my parents¡¯ medical bills.¡± He was overjoyed, nearly letting his elation show, but luckily he managed to suppress it. Now that she was the one asking for his help, he couldn¡¯t show a satisfied smile, or else she might think he was easy to deal with and wouldn¡¯t offer him a raise, or might even offer less than thirty thousand. This situation was like bargaining in a shop. You must not be overpowered by the merchant¡¯s tough demeanor. You have to stick to your price and refuse anything over it to get a cheap deal. ¡°Ahem!¡± After coughing twice, Lin Yifan asked with feigned composure, ¡°What¡¯s the job? If it¡¯s murder or arson, I won¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t ask you to do anything illegal or criminal, just ensure my personal safety,¡± An Qi replied. She knew he was interested, even though he didn¡¯t show it, as his response had already revealed his eagerness. ¡°That simple?¡± Lin Yifan asked in astonishment. Making money this way seemed too easy. He had no special talents except for his strength. ¡°It¡¯s that simple!¡± An Qi confirmed firmly. Lin Yifan felt like he had taken a Calm Pill and then asked, ¡°You said thirty thousand to start with, depending on my ability; does that mean the salary could be even higher?¡± ¡°Yes! If you can take on ten alone, fifty thousand is not a problem,¡± An Qi nodded in affirmation. ¡°Damn! That works. Then I can responsibly tell you that I can take on ten.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you fifty thousand in salary,¡± An Qi responded, as usual, clear-cut and decisive since Lin Yifan was a rare and capable Samurai, and she was eager to secure talent. Lin Yifan felt this negotiation was almost like a joke, lacking reliability, so he asked, ¡°You¡¯re not playing me, are you?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried, we can sign a contract. Everything will be in black and white, and no one can back out,¡± An Qi replied with a face full of seriousness and sincerity, dispelling Lin Yifan¡¯s concerns. ¡°Really? Can you then pay me one month¡¯s salary in advance?¡± Lin Yifan asked tentatively. He urgently needed money now and might not be able to wait a full month, so he hoped An Qi would prepay the salary and then he would fulfil his duties, ensuring An Qi¡¯s safety within a month. ¡°Sure!¡± An Qi answered confidently, without any hesitation. She trusted Lin Yifan. Considering that Lin Yifan had saved her twice, she would deem the fifty thousand spent even if it went to waste. Lin Yifan had never expected her to be so forthright and trusting, to prepay him a month¡¯s salary. It seemed he had really met a good employer, and it could even be a turning point in his life, possibly entering the middle class. Hence, he replied with a grateful face, ¡°Thank you for trusting me so much. Within this month, I will do my utmost to ensure your safety.¡± ¡°One month? I don¡¯t want you just for a month. Here¡¯s a debit card with three hundred thousand in it. If you dare to take it, work for me as a bodyguard for half a year, how about that?¡± An Qi took out a bank card and inquired with a lot of scheming. ¡°Alright! No problem!¡± Lin Yifan felt like he had hit the jackpot. If he could get hold of the three hundred thousand, he could pay off all the debts the family owed. ¡°Then take it!¡± An Qi was extremely excited; she thought he would hesitate for a while, but he agreed so readily. Gazing at the bank card that seemed so light yet weighed so heavily, Lin Yifan had no resistance and promptly took it. Holding it in his hand and thoroughly checking to confirm it indeed was a bank card, he finally relaxed. Thereafter, he curiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s the password for the bank card?¡± He needed the password to withdraw money. ¡°900527,¡± An Qi told him the password without any concealment. Since she had given the card to Lin Yifan, it was of no use to her anymore. Chapter 18 - 18 18 Severe Torture To Extract Confessions ?18: Chapter 18 Severe Torture To Extract Confessions 18: Chapter 18 Severe Torture To Extract Confessions Reciting this sequence of numbers, Lin Yifan felt it was a string of birth dates, not knowing whether it was An Qi¡¯s birthday. No matter what, getting the password was what mattered; the next step was to verify whether the password was correct at the ATM. Having finished discussing work matters, Lin Yifan was now essentially An Qi¡¯s bodyguard, so it was only right that he learned about his employer¡¯s affairs in order to better protect her. Therefore, he curiously asked, ¡°Why are you always getting kidnapped? Have you been targeted by someone?¡± ¡°Lately, there¡¯s been a lot of trouble at the company, and many criminals are trying to get involved to take a slice of the pie,¡± An Qi answered. Truthfully, she didn¡¯t know who was targeting her; she just felt like there was always someone sabotaging things. ¡°Don¡¯t you have bodyguards with you when you go out?¡± Lin Yifan inquired. The boss of a big company shouldn¡¯t be without a single bodyguard, especially in times of company turmoil. ¡°I did, but those bodyguards were all flash and no substance. They¡¯d collapse to the ground after a few punches, wailing loudly, offering no protection whatsoever,¡± An Qi replied. At this, she was utterly infuriated. Her bodyguards, hired at great expense from a security company and touted as ¡°Gold Bodyguards,¡± turned out to be utterly useless, serving at best as mere decoration, completely failing to ensure her safety. ¡°...¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words. Were bodyguards really this useless nowadays? Regaining his composure, he continued to inquire, ¡°Why don¡¯t you eat at home instead of going to restaurants?¡± ¡°I was also there for business matters,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°It seems that the person who kidnapped you is either someone you met for business or someone who followed you in secret.¡± Lin Yifan pondered thoughtfully. An Qi was taken from the restaurant, so the initial crime scene was undoubtedly there; the people aware of her whereabouts were either those who asked her out for business or those who followed her secretly with ill intentions. ¡°Zhou Changcheng? As a battery supplier, he definitely doesn¡¯t have the guts; so, I think the person opposing me must be someone else,¡± An Qi responded. From the sudden crisis in the company to being kidnapped repeatedly, it was clear someone was at odds with her; otherwise, so many misfortunes would not have all happened at once. ¡°Do you want to know who the mastermind is?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°Do you have a way to let me find out?¡± An Qi¡¯s face showed surprise. If Lin Yifan had this capability, then spending a million to hire him wouldn¡¯t be a loss. ¡°As long as you make them talk,¡± Lin Yifan said, pointing to the kidnappers with their hands tied not far away. ¡°But they¡¯ve taken money from someone; they definitely won¡¯t easily reveal anything.¡± ¡°As long as they haven¡¯t sold their own lives, that¡¯s fine,¡± Lin Yifan said confidently, having his own methods for dealing with such ¡°falsely tough¡± people. ¡°What¡¯s your method?¡± An Qi curiously inquired, finding it more and more interesting. ¡°Torture to extract information!¡± Lin Yifan said, and immediately, his demeanor turned vicious and detached. An Qi, standing by his side, felt a chill sweeping over her, a fear taking hold. Seeing his stern face again, she knew Lin Yifan was about to get serious. Lin Yifan walked straight up to the kidnappers and asked coldly, ¡°Speak! Who sent you?¡± ¡°Nobody, we did this ourselves,¡± one of the kidnappers stubbornly replied, determined to protect the identity of their employer. ¡°Good! Very good! You¡¯re spirited, you have professional ethics, you¡¯re not wrong for being in this line of work,¡± Lin Yifan commented with biting sarcasm, then changed his tone to something more ferocious, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to willingly reveal your mastermind. What I¡¯m counting on is you begging to tell me.¡± Having said that, he picked up a Dagger from the ground and approached the stubborn kidnapper, then mercilessly stabbed the dagger into the kidnapper¡¯s thigh. ¡°Ahhh!!!¡± The stubborn kidnapper instantly bulged his veins, screaming endlessly. Witnessing such a cruel scene, An Qi was genuinely frightened, so she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°How can you be so cruel?¡± ¡°Being kind to an enemy is being cruel to oneself. If I weren¡¯t ruthless, how would I be able to deal with them?¡± Lin Yifan ignored An Qi¡¯s compassionate concern and continued his interrogation, ¡°Speak! Who told you to come?¡± ¡°Do you think stabbing me will make me talk? Ridiculous!¡± The kidnapper said with a sneer, enduring the pain. ¡°You just reminded me of something,¡± Lin Yifan said, feeling he wasn¡¯t being ruthless enough, so he proceeded to repeatedly stab the stubborn kidnapper¡¯s thigh three times. ¡°Shick! Shick! Shick!¡± With each stab, there was a cry of agony, perfectly rhythmical. An Qi couldn¡¯t bear to watch such cruelty and turned her delicate body, turning her back to Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan was working for her, so she couldn¡¯t let her sympathy stop him. After three stabs, Lin Yifan asked again with a cold face, ¡°Will you speak, or not?¡± ¡°No!¡± Even after four stabs, the kidnapper remained defiant, unwilling to talk. ¡°It seems a harsher approach is necessary before you¡¯ll give in.¡± After saying that, Lin Yifan positioned the Dagger at the crotch of the unyielding kidnapper, ready to castrate him with the weapon. Feeling an icy cold sensation at his crotch, along with a piercing pain, the stubborn kidnapper shivered with fear and anxiously asked, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°The knife is here already, what else could I do?¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s lips curled into a sinister smile, his intentions clear without words. The stubborn kidnapper quickly warned, ¡°Administering punishment privately is illegal; you can¡¯t do this.¡± He hoped to intimidate Lin Yifan with this; but could an experienced Lin Yifan be so easily frightened? The answer was obviously no. So, Lin Yifan mocked with a pertinent question, ¡°Don¡¯t you find it funny that you¡¯re the one saying this?¡± Chapter 19 - 19 19 Compromise ?19: Chapter 19 Compromise 19: Chapter 19 Compromise ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± the kidnapper asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you know your current status is that of a kidnapper? A criminal kidnapper, at that. What right do you have to talk to me about the law?¡± Lin Yifan asked with a cold laugh. The kidnapper was at a loss for words. What Lin Yifan said seemed to make sense, but that didn¡¯t mean Lin Yifan could disregard the law. So he responded, ¡°Although I have broken the law, if you dare to do this, it is also illegal!¡± ¡°I could tell the judge that you tried to kill me first, and I was forced into self-defense. Then I accidentally cut yours off, purely by accident.¡± ¡°Ridiculous. Don¡¯t I have brothers here to testify on my behalf?¡± The stubborn kidnapper sneered. Did Lin Yifan really take him for a fool, and the judge, too? ¡°Do you think a judge would believe a kidnapper or a good person? I must remind you, there are no surveillance cameras in this dark alley, meaning, there is no way for you to prove whatever I do here. But the good deeds you¡¯ve done have already been recorded by the surveillance camera in the kitchen, and you can¡¯t escape the charge of kidnapping.¡± He had a Zhang Liangji, and they had a wall ladder; he was fearless. ¡°You...¡± The stubborn kidnapper was speechless. They had evaded many cameras, but they hadn¡¯t considered that there would be one in the kitchen. Such an oversight. Now, if Lin Yifan really castrated him, the judge might actually be biased towards Lin Yifan¡¯s statement. ¡°What to do? Should I rat out the mastermind?¡± Seeing the kidnapper¡¯s panic and furrowed brow, Lin Yifan¡¯s lips curved upwards, finally breaking through the kidnapper¡¯s psychological defenses. Seizing the moment, Lin Yifan pressed, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one last chance. Are you going to talk or not?¡± The stubborn kidnapper gritted his teeth, struggling internally. Finally, he clenched his fist, ready to face death, and said, ¡°I won¡¯t tell!¡± Giving him courage was a potential reason: maybe Lin Yifan was just bluffing? Lin Yifan had never expected the steadfast stubborn kidnapper would remain so defiant at the end. So, he had to get real. So he threatened forcefully. Feeling the imminent danger, the stubborn kidnapper broke out in a cold sweat and quickly relented, ¡°Big brother, please! I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk!¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Lin Yifan to actually dare to follow through. If he were turned into a eunuch, he wouldn¡¯t be able to consummate anything anymore, which would be a major tragedy¨Cliving would have no meaning; so he had to compromise. ¡°I really thought you would have the resolve to part with what proves your manhood.¡± Lin Yifan continued to sneer before asking, ¡°Now tell me, who sent you?¡± ¡°Azheng, don¡¯t say it.¡± A crucial moment, another kidnapper spoke out to stop him. Because if the mastermind found out, Azheng could very likely be killed. They weren¡¯t dealing with an insignificant person as their mastermind, so it was better not to betray him. ¡°Not talking? Not talking, and I become a eunuch¡ªeasy for you to say, standing there without a care in the world.¡± The kidnapper Azheng ignored his brother¡¯s advice. A man has two things he cannot lose: one is courage, and the other is¡ª Without courage, a person can become very effeminate, which is close to being a eunuch, but you can still consummate a marriage. Without the other, you directly become a eunuch, incapable of even physical activity; hence, even if you lose courage, you can¡¯t lose the other. ¡°What¡¯s more important, your life or that?¡± This good brother tried again, hoping Azheng would come to his senses. After hearing this, kidnapper Azheng fell into deep thought. Their mastermind was indeed a ruthless murderer; if he revealed the mastermind¡¯s identity, he would surely be hunted down. But then again, why not testify against someone else? After all, Lin Yifan didn¡¯t know who the real mastermind was. Therefore, he answered his brother¡¯s question, ¡°Of course, that¡¯s more important!¡± Then he continued confessing to Lin Yifan, ¡°The mastermind behind the kidnapping of Antian Group¡¯s general manager is the chairman of Leibao Group¡ªLei Longtian.¡± The kidnapper who tried to stop Azheng from confessing their mastermind breathed a sigh of relief on hearing Azheng¡¯s confession. Thank goodness his brother was smart. Otherwise, they would have been doomed. ¡°Lei Longtian?¡± Hearing this name, Lin Yifan turned and asked An Qi, ¡°Do you have any feud with Lei Longtian, the chairman of Leibao Group?¡± An Qi turned back, puzzled, and replied, ¡°Lei Longtian is in the car business, while I¡¯m in the phone business. There¡¯s no business conflict, so it¡¯s unlikely there¡¯s a feud. However, Lei Longtian has always wanted to buy out Antian Group, but I¡¯ve consistently rejected him. I don¡¯t know if this is why he captured me.¡± ¡°Now, you need to beware of this person,¡± Lin Yifan warned. If Lei Longtian had made a move once, he would surely do it again, so it was essential to take precautions. ¡°Yeah, got it,¡± An Qi replied. The kidnapped Azheng¡¯s heart, which had been in suspense, could finally let go. He hadn¡¯t expected that by improvising, the other party would actually believe him. Nothing could be more exciting than this. A few minutes later, the police arrived. The person leading the team was still Officer Lin. Entering the dim alleyway and shining a flashlight, seeing that the victim was again An Qi and the rescuer was again Lin Yifan, Lin Shanshan was speechless. Why did it always involve these two people? Despite disliking Lin Yifan, acting with a heart of serving the people, she still patiently came over to inquire about the situation. Upon learning that there had been another kidnapping of An Qi, her face Solidified, and her brows furrowed. If it was one kidnapping, it could be explained; but frequent kidnappings indicated a problem; these two incidents were definitely orchestrated by someone. To ensure the safety of citizens, they needed to set up a special case team. All matters had to be discussed back at the police station, so Lin Shanshan ordered her subordinates to take the gang of kidnappers back. As the kidnapped victim and the rescuer, An Qi and Lin Yifan had to follow the police back for questioning because they were important witnesses. Chapter 20 - 20 20 Dragon God Special Forces King ?20: Chapter 20 Dragon God Special Forces King 20: Chapter 20 Dragon God Special Forces King A major incident like this in the alley next to the big restaurant naturally drew the attention of the diners; upon hearing the news, Zhou Changcheng, who had been waiting for An Qi to return from the restroom, immediately ran down to assess the situation. When he saw An Qi coming out of the alley, he hurried forward to explain, ¡°Boss An, this has nothing to do with me, you have to believe me!¡± It was about a major business deal, so he had to clarify things; otherwise, if An Qi misunderstood, it would be problematic. ¡°You go back first, let me think about it!¡± An Qi knew Zhou Changcheng didn¡¯t have the guts, after all, it was just a small company that needed to rely on their Antian Group for growth. Zhou Changcheng breathed a sigh of relief, as An Qi did not show a definite attitude, assuming the incident might not be related to him; as long as An Qi did not misunderstand him, all was good. The police cars left, and the kidnapping incident was settled, and the few onlookers dispersed as well. Back at the police station, Lin Yifan ran into his old friend Zhao Dabing once again. The two greeted each other with smiles; it truly was a quick reunion. Zhao Dabing pulled Lin Yifan aside and asked with a laugh, ¡°You kid, why are you always coming to the police station with this beautiful CEO? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve fallen for her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, it¡¯s all just a series of coincidences,¡± Lin Yifan explained. ¡°How could there be so many coincidences in the world? You must have taken a liking to her; but that lady does indeed look good, and she comes from a wealthy family, which suits your current needs,¡± Zhao Dabing said thoughtfully. ¡°Brother Zhao, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I, Lin Yifan, would stoop to deceitful tactics just to solve an urgent crisis?¡± Lin Yifan was extremely angry, really wanting to throw a few punches at Zhao Dabing. Zhao Dabing realized he had said something wrong and quickly apologized, ¡°Hey, Leopard, just kidding, don¡¯t take it seriously. I believe in your character; I believe it¡¯s all just a coincidence.¡± ¡°Good you understand, otherwise we could no longer be brothers.¡± Lin Yifan felt relieved; perhaps Zhao Dabing was just speaking casually without any malice. After the casual chat ended, Zhao Dabing returned to the main topic with a serious expression and asked, ¡°Leopard, with your many years of ruthless interrogation methods, have you got any valuable clues?¡± Lin Yifan was famously known in their team as an expert interrogator; with him around, even the hardest of enemies would break; hence his curiosity. Although Lin Yifan was not a policeman, from the wounds on the kidnapper¡¯s body, he could tell that the kidnapper had been interrogated by Lin Yifan; hence his question. Lin Yifan did not hide it and directly said, ¡°One of the kidnappers mentioned that the entire kidnapping was orchestrated by the chairman of the Thunder Leopard Group. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s true or not, but we need to observe and investigate the chairman of the Thunder Leopard Group; because he has a motive.¡± Perhaps handing over this interrogation result to Zhao Dabing, the policeman, was the best choice. ¡°How do you know he has a motive?¡± Zhao Dabing asked, puzzled. ¡°My boss said so.¡± ¡°Your boss? Do you mean the beautiful CEO?¡± Zhao Dabing glanced at An Qi, who was giving a statement, and asked. ¡°Mm!¡± Lin Yifan nodded in agreement. At that moment, Zhao Dabing looked accusing, ¡°You rascal, then why did you just say it was all coincidental?¡± ¡°Brother Zhao, listen to me explain. I only became her employee after helping her out of a crisis again. Seeing my extraordinary abilities, she offered a high price to hire me as her bodyguard. You know my current situation; I desperately need money, so I reluctantly agreed. After all, it¡¯s a job, and I won¡¯t pass it up,¡± ¡°I see,¡± Zhao Dabing suddenly realized, understanding Lin Yifan¡¯s choice. Meanwhile, seeing her Prince Charming chatting so animatedly with that letch, Lin Shanshan was quite jealous. Fearing that Zhao might be led astray by Lin Yifan, the letch, she walked over without a pleasant expression and called out, ¡°Hey! It¡¯s your turn, come over and give your statement.¡± Lin Yifan, with a face of bitter resentment, meaningfully said, ¡°Brother Zhao! Someone is jealous; aren¡¯t you going to go comfort her?¡± Through these reactions, he could tell Lin Shanshan¡¯s feelings for Zhao Dabing. ¡°Leopard, what are you saying? She and I are just colleagues,¡± Zhao Dabing answered with all seriousness. ¡°Right, right, just colleagues.¡± Lin Yifan did not want to point it out explicitly; after all, some things were obvious to the discerning eye, especially to the astute Zhao Dabing. Zhao Dabing also felt helpless; it wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t want to accept Lin Shanshan, but his current situation made it difficult to provide Lin Shanshan happiness, particularly concerning children. The aftereffects on his feet might be inherited by future children; hence, he really did not want to delay Lin Shanshan¡¯s precious youth. After a brief statement recording, Lin Yifan and An Qi could leave the police station. Zhao Dabing watched as Lin Yifan left, and before parting, he specifically urged, ¡°Brother, let¡¯s find some time to have a meal and catch up!¡± ¡°Sure thing!¡± Lin Yifan happily agreed, then turned and walked away. Watching Lin Yifan¡¯s departing figure, Zhao Dabing let out another sigh. Seeing this, Lin Shanshan asked curiously, ¡°Captain Zhao, what exactly is his identity? Why do I see admiration and sighs in your eyes?¡± She had always wanted to figure out Lin Yifan¡¯s identity, but had never had the time; now ¡°He¡¯s your idol in your heart¡ªthe Dragon God Special Forces King¡ªLeopard!¡± Chapter 21 - 21 21 Encounter on the Stairs ?21: Chapter 21: Encounter on the Stairs 21: Chapter 21: Encounter on the Stairs ¡°What?¡± Lin Shanshan¡¯s face was full of surprise, and she was completely dumbfounded. She then asked in disbelief, ¡°Is he really the legendary King Cheetah of the battlefield, the one who terrifies the enemy?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Zhao Dabing nodded in response. ¡°Then why has he fallen into such a state?¡± Lin Shanshan asked, puzzled. ¡°Military orders are like mountains, he committed an unforgivable military order, and was dismissed.¡± Zhao Dabing answered. ¡°What unforgivable military order did he commit that made the military heartlessly dismiss him?¡± Lin Shanshan pressed on. ¡°That, I cannot reveal. In any case, his skills might now be wasted in these ordinary years.¡± ¡°Ah, is it that heaven envies the talented?¡± Lin Shanshan couldn¡¯t help but sigh, feeling pity for Lin Yifan¡¯s plight. Although Lin Yifan was her idol in the past, she still cared a lot about that ¡°intense collision¡± with Lin Yifan at the corner. ¡°If the idol I always admired turned out to be a pervert, then I really was blind before.¡± On the other hand, after leaving the police station, An Qi curiously asked, ¡°Were you and Officer Zhao very close before?¡± ¡°He is one of those life-or-death, iron buddies.¡± Lin Yifan answered honestly. Some relationships are indelible, just like his close bond with Zhao Dabing from their troubled times. Even after so many years, it¡¯s still the same. ¡°Oh!¡± An Qi suddenly realized. At the stairway in front of the police station, she was about to bid farewell to Lin Yifan, ¡°Sir, thanks again for coming to my rescue.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, it was just a small effort.¡± ¡°Come to the company tomorrow to report for work. I will notify the HR department in advance.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the address of the company?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°It¡¯s 28 Jincan Road, Antian Group Building, in the main city district,¡± An Qi answered. ¡°What are the work hours, and, is food and accommodation included?¡± Lin Yifan continued to inquire. ¡°Since you¡¯re my personal bodyguard, there is no fixed working time. When I go out, you go to work; when I return home, you finish work. As for food and accommodation, you need to arrange that yourself. I believe these 300,000 yuan will be enough for you to live and eat well,¡± An Qi answered. ¡°If I have to go to work when you go out, doesn¡¯t that mean I should live near your home? Are there houses for rent near your home?¡± Lin Yifan curiously inquired. ¡°There should be nothing within a few kilometers,¡± An Qi responded. Her house was located in a villa area, and the surrounding area generally did not have apartment buildings, so there likely weren¡¯t any houses for rent. ¡°Uh... okay!¡± Lin Yifan, lost for words, then asked another question, ¡°What¡¯s your home address, and what time do you usually leave your house?¡± ¡°The address is Villa No. 8, Golden Sand Bay Sunshine Community, South City District; as for when I leave, it¡¯s usually around eight o¡¯clock,¡± An Qi answered. ¡°Alright, I will take a taxi to your place in advance to protect you, ensuring I won¡¯t be late,¡± Lin Yifan solemnly responded. Since she valued him so much, if he didn¡¯t perform well, he wouldn¡¯t deserve that 50,000 yuan a month. Hearing how pitiable Lin Yifan¡¯s story was, An Qi felt a bit sympathetic and then asked, ¡°Can you drive?¡± If Lin Yifan could drive, then she wouldn¡¯t need to bother Uncle Fu to drive her every day. ¡°Can I? Of course, I can!¡± Lin Yifan answered excitedly, feeling like she was about to give him a car orsomething, so how could he hesitate? ¡°Then, from now on, you¡¯ll be both my personal driver and my personal bodyguard.¡± As expected, this was big good news. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°If I do two jobs, will my salary increase?¡± It wasn¡¯t that he was greedy, but he really needed the money. An Qi thought for a moment, feeling that it would be tough for Lin Yifan to work two jobs, so she answered, ¡°Let¡¯s add another 5,000!¡± ¡°President An, thank you so much! Don¡¯t worry, I will definitely fulfill my duty diligently, both as a driver and in ensuring your personal safety,¡± Lin Yifan said, tears brimming in his eyes. He was extremely moved. It was like An Qi was providing timely help. Nothing could be more touching than this. ¡°Well then, I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me!¡± After saying this, An Qi walked down the stairs and said goodbye to Lin Yifan. Her assistant had already brought the car to the front of the police station. As soon as she descended these stairs, she could get in the car. However, just as she stepped down the first staircase, she encountered danger. She was wearing high heels, and while she was busy bidding farewell to Lin Yifan, her foot missed a step, causing her to lose her balance and start to fall. Seeing this, Lin Yifan instinctively reacted, rushed forward in a sprint, and caught the falling An Qi mid-air. This action was just like the final pose in a cha-cha dance, where the female dancer falls into the male dancer¡¯s arms. At this moment, the two looked into each other¡¯s eyes with deep emotion, each with their own thoughts. An Qi felt that at this moment, Lin Yifan looked extremely handsome, just like the Prince Charming in her heart. Meanwhile, Lin Yifan thought that An Qi was incredibly beautiful at this moment, so delicately made that he had never seen such a beautiful girl before. ¡°Beep beep!¡± The female assistant honked the horn a few times, breaking the awkward atmosphere. President An was like a phoenix perched on a branch, and she probably didn¡¯t want to stay in the arms of a man dressed simply with messy hair for too long; thus, the assistant took the initiative to honk the horn. Hearing the horn, An Qi and Lin Yifan snapped out of their daydreams. Seeing their posture, they felt it was extremely inappropriate, so they quickly reverted to their former selves. An Qi, her face blushing shyly, looked down, not daring to look at Lin Yifan. She stammered, ¡°Um... this... remember to report to the company on time tomorrow.¡± After saying this, she hurriedly walked down the stairs and left in the car. Her heart was pounding nonstop, not understanding why she felt this fluttering sensation; Lin Yifan was not handsome, and his family situation was not good, she didn¡¯t know why she felt this way. On the other side, Lin Yifan also experienced a moment of heart-flutter. However, he slapped himself and scolded himself, ¡°Stop dreaming, she is a rich girl, and you are just a worker dependent on her.¡± After getting in the car, the female assistant drove away. Watching the car disappear into the distance, Lin Yifan was lost in thought. Meanwhile, An Qi also looked through the car¡¯s rearview mirror at Lin Yifan behind her, her emotions taking a long time to calm down. Chapter 22 - 22 22 Bald Bandit ?22: Chapter 22 Bald Bandit 22: Chapter 22 Bald Bandit ¡°Director An, who was that guy? Do we need to report him for sexual harassment?¡± the female assistant asked while driving. This was a new assistant, temporarily replacing the injured Assistant Li for a few days, so she would return to her original job soon and didn¡¯t recognize Lin Yifan. ¡°No need, he¡¯s my lifesaver,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°Was it him who subdued those kidnappers?¡± The assistant¡¯s face showed surprise as she had heard about this incident; learning that Director An had been kidnapped again, she was angry and eager to see those bad guys get what they deserved. ¡°Yes! He¡¯s going to be my bodyguard from now on. You all should respect each other and not make things difficult, got it?¡± ¡°Oh!¡± The female assistant obediently drove, no longer distracted by questions. As An Qi¡¯s car drove away, Lin Yifan also needed to head back to the Grand Restaurant to wash the dishes from today. He had taken on today¡¯s work and felt it would be untrustworthy not to complete it; so, for his personal reputation, he decided to finish the job before doing anything else. After returning to the restaurant and finishing the dishwashing, he quit his job. The owner of the Grand Restaurant really wanted to retain him; it was hard to find such a good dishwasher, but when he learned that Lin Yifan had found a job paying tens of thousands, he kept silent. As the saying goes, the highest bidder wins; people always gravitate to higher-paying opportunities. If you offer a lot more money, naturally, they will follow you; a hundred plus a day is hardly worth their attention. Leaving the restaurant and walking on the street, Lin Yifan looked around as he searched for the 24-hour ATM of Secular World Bank, planning to deposit the money he got today into his father¡¯s account. It was past eleven at night, and the streets were eerily quiet with almost no pedestrians around. At this time of night, going to a 24-hour ATM alone could be quite dangerous. However, for Lin Yifan, who was extraordinarily skilled, the night was his domain; anyone who dared to provoke him was looking for trouble. After searching for half an hour, he finally found a 24-hour ATM of Secular World Bank on a dimly lit street. The shops on both sides of this street had long since closed, making it desolate and frightening. A normal person would never dare to transfer money or withdraw cash at an ATM like this alone at this hour, but Lin Yifan dared, because he was the nightmare of the bad guys; anyone who dared to mess with him was bound to be unlucky. Walking into this 24-hour ATM, Lin Yifan chose a machine and started to insert the bank card An Qi had given him. He entered the pin, clicked on balance inquiry; the account balance quickly displayed, exactly three hundred thousand, not a yuan more or less. Lin Yifan was extremely excited, it seemed An Qi hadn¡¯t lied to him. ¡°Great! My parents¡¯ medical expenses finally have a solution!¡± Looking at the six figures on the ATM screen, he was so moved that he teared up. These past few days, in order to earn more money to pay off debts, he had been hauling bricks on construction sites by day and washing dishes at the Grand Restaurant by night, to the point of exhaustion. But still, it wasn¡¯t enough to cover the growing medical expenses of his parents. So now, having this much money relaxed him a bit. ¡°¡±I must work hard from now on and repay that ¡®stinky woman¡¯. Oh no, I mean the beautiful CEO,¡±¡± he thought. Lin Yifan suddenly realized that An Qi wasn¡¯t as bad as he had imagined, so he no longer detested her, and even felt a trace of gratitude. This truly was a debt of gratitude, a favor that must be repaid with a spring of kindness. After the excitement, he hit the ¡°return¡± button, ready to transfer the money. However, just as he was entering his father¡¯s bank card number, a bald man with a black stocking over his head and a fruit knife in hand suddenly burst in, intending to rob him. Due to his professional instincts, Lin Yifan quickly reacted. He lifted his foot and kicked backward with force. The knife-wielding robber stepped back, quickly dodging. Lin Yifan turned around, his face cold as he stared at the bald robber and barked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Hand over the money or don¡¯t blame my knife for being merciless,¡± the bald robber didn¡¯t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. Knowing the other person was a robber, Lin Yifan retorted, ¡°Get lost, or don¡¯t blame my feet for being merciless.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid at all, for in this world, there was no one he, Cheetah, couldn¡¯t take down; hence, even with a knife in the other person¡¯s hand, he was unafraid. ¡°Fuck! So arrogant! Is everyone from the Secular World this conceited?¡± The bald robber with the black stocking was surprised; he never expected his first ¡°business¡± to encounter someone so tough. It seemed people of the Secular World were not to be messed with. Lin Yifan, indignant, challenged, ¡°What Secular World? There¡¯s only one world unless you¡¯re from another planet.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be bothered to argue with someone as ignorant as you.¡± The bald robber didn¡¯t want to waste time and threatened again, ¡°This is your last chance. Give me the money, or I¡¯ll have to get physical.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll also give you one last chance, get out, or you¡¯ll be beaten so badly even your parents won¡¯t recognize you!¡± Lin Yifan stood his ground, refusing to back down. The bald robber had never expected Lin Yifan to be so tough and figured he needed to teach Lin Yifan a lesson¡ªwithout it, Lin Yifan wouldn¡¯t realize how formidable he was. So, he tucked the fruit knife away; then clenched his fist and attacked Lin Yifan. Robbery wasn¡¯t his intent, he just wanted to quickly make money this way; hence he wouldn¡¯t use the knife unless absolutely necessary. Chapter 23 - 23 23 Copper Skin Iron Bones ?23: Chapter 23 Copper Skin Iron Bones 23: Chapter 23 Copper Skin Iron Bones Lin Yifan also noticed the bald thief¡¯s subtle move; although it was a minor gesture, it revealed a lot about one¡¯s character. Unlike other robbers, the bald thief was neither cold-blooded nor ruthless; he didn¡¯t want to hurt or kill anyone, suggesting he still had some conscience. Why he became a robber probably had to do with unknown, unwilling circumstances. Since the opponent wanted to conquer him with fists, Lin Yifan was about to show who had the harder punch. So, he clenched his fists and exchanged fierce blows with the bald thief. ¡°Bang!¡± The next moment, two fists as big as pots collided, generating a substantial recoil. Lin Yifan only felt his scalp go numb, in unbearable pain. The opponent¡¯s fist was too hard, like steel, making one wonder if it was even made of flesh. It was the hardest fist he had ever encountered, without exception. The bald thief did not use his full strength, as he was after money, not lives, so he always held back. All he needed was for the other party to feel his might, nothing else mattered. ¡°How about it? Do you want to hand over the money, or your life?¡± After inflicting pain on Lin Yifan, the bald thief asked again. ¡°I want both!¡± Lin Yifan stubbornly replied. ¡°Good! Then feel the power of my punch again!¡± As he finished talking, the bald thief attacked again, unleashing a fierce assault on Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan swiftly dodged and, with his agile movements, delivered a punch to the side of the bald thief. The bald thief didn¡¯t dodge or block, allowing Lin Yifan¡¯s attack to land. Using this moment, he forcefully threw a punch toward Lin Yifan¡¯s back. ¡°Bang!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Two muffled sounds erupted. Lin Yifan¡¯s punch landed on the bald thief¡¯s side waist first, but it felt as if he struck a hard steel plate, adding pain to the pain. This made him wonder, ¡°Is this even human flesh? Is this person really human?¡± He felt the other party was like a robot, impervious to thunder. Just as he was astonished, a heavy punch hit him on the back. Immediately, he felt a turmoil in his Blood Sea, a stifling sensation in his chest, an urge to vomit blood. Yet, just before it reached his throat, he forcefully suppressed it. After such a heavy blow, Lin Yifan was seriously drained and needed time to recover. Seeing that his face was pale, the bald thief knew he was seriously injured and therefore didn¡¯t continue attacking. He then pressed again, ¡°Hand over the money obediently, and you might suffer less pain.¡± Lin Yifan caught his breath and replied, ¡°I can give you the money, but I want to know why your body is so hard.¡± In fact, he was buying time while trying to resolve his doubts. ¡°Is that true?¡± The bald thief didn¡¯t expect such a straightforward answer this time, thinking Lin Yifan really tasted the bitterness of pain. ¡°Indeed!¡± Lin Yifan replied with conviction. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll tell you,¡± said the bald thief. ¡°The reason my body is so hard is that I¡¯ve practiced a martial art.¡± ¡°Martial Arts?¡± Hearing these words, Lin Yifan was a bit dumbstruck. Aren¡¯t the martial arts in TV shows all fake? Without any scientific basis? Why are there still Martial Arts? ¡°You can¡¯t be tricking me, right? Are Martial Arts even a thing in this world?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t understand. Just because something doesn¡¯t appear, doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist.¡± The bald thief was reluctant to reveal more, after all, it was a secret of the Cultivation World. Hearing such mysterious words, Lin Yifan assumed they might be true, so he inquired further, ¡°Since you have cultivated martial arts, what kind have you developed?¡± As a child, he had watched many martial arts TV dramas and read novels, knowing the variety of martial arts, so he wanted to know which kind the bald thief had cultivated. If it were Golden Bell Iron Cloth, that¡¯d be laughable; because in reality, there was no Golden Bell Shield or Iron Cloth Shirt. ¡°That¡¯s a secret, I won¡¯t tell,¡± the bald thief firmly refused, unwilling to answer. ¡°In fact, there¡¯s no such thing as martial arts, is there? The reason your side waist is so hard is that you¡¯ve implanted a steel plate there, right?¡± Lin Yifan challenged. With such advanced medical technology that allows for steel pins and plates to be implanted in the body, he suspected the thief might¡¯ve undergone surgery and had a steel plate inserted in his side waist. The bald thief was speechless, never expecting such a guess. Yet, his response remained the same, no comment, and he returned to the main point, ¡°I¡¯ve answered your question, it¡¯s time for you to keep your promise.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯ll just hand over the money for nothing? Do you think I¡¯m that stupid?¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s face was full of mockery, as this was the lifesaving money of his parents, which he would never hand over. ¡°A man of no integrity! I¡¯ll see how I deal with you!¡± The bald thief was enraged and would not let Lin Yifan off easily anymore. ¡°Robbing and still thinking you¡¯re right, if you don¡¯t back off, I¡¯ll also take care of you!¡± Lin Yifan shot back. And so, the infuriated duo battled once again. This time, Lin Yifan wouldn¡¯t make the same mistake. The bald thief, with fists as big as pots, pounded over furiously. Lin Yifan quickly dodged to the side, and countered with a punch. The bald thief bent low and used his head like a weapon to block Lin Yifan¡¯s strike. ¡°Bang!¡± Another heavy collision, and Lin Yifan felt as if his fist had hit a hard steel plate, causing immense pain. ¡°Damn it! Is there also a steel plate installed in his head?¡± He was utterly confused, still unable to understand the reason behind it. Chapter 24 - 24 24 Defeat at Every Turn ?24: Chapter 24: Defeat at Every Turn 24: Chapter 24: Defeat at Every Turn The battle was still ongoing, leaving him no time to think even for half a second. Soon, the bald robber, having blocked a strike, attacked again; Lin Yifan had no choice but to dodge. Having taken several punches from the bald robber, he had come to understand the man¡¯s strength; it was far superior to his own, perhaps by several times, so he definitely couldn¡¯t take another hit. With his head and flank off-limits, Lin Yifan had to try attacking other parts of the bald robber¡¯s body. After dodging a few attacks, he adjusted his stance, waited for the right moment, and immediately struck out, fiercely pounding the bald robber¡¯s chest. ¡°Bang!¡± Instantly, another deep sound echoed, and his hand transmitted a tremendous pain once again. ¡°Dammit, is his whole body lined with steel plates? Why doesn¡¯t he feel a thing?¡± Lin Yifan was extremely perplexed, failing to understand what was happening. This was the first time he had encountered such an opponent, truly feeling a bit helpless, not knowing where to begin. In the end, he returned to the earlier reply he had been given, ¡°Could it really be because of a certain martial arts technique that his body is so tough?¡± Although the idea seemed ridiculous, he couldn¡¯t come up with a better explanation, so he had to reluctantly believe it. If the other party had indeed practiced a martial art, Lin Yifan believed that ¡°Golden Bell Shield,¡± ¡°Iron Cloth Shirt,¡± ¡°Iron Head Skill,¡± and ¡°Vajra Fist¡± were all possibilities. The opponent was bald, making Lin Yifan wonder if he was a Shaolin disciple. On the other side, the bald robber swung fists and kicks one by one, continuously changing his maneuvers, relentlessly bombarding Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan kept dodging, constantly retreating. But the 24-hour self-service bank was quite small, only about twenty square meters, so there was no way he could keep retreating and dodging indefinitely. Therefore, seconds later, he found himself cornered against a wall. With no way out, Lin Yifan faced significant danger; however, with his years of combat experience, he was not afraid. Because a corner could have disadvantages, it naturally also had advantages; if used properly, it could turn waste into wealth, the perilous into the safe, and even lead to a counterattack. In military training, he had learned how to use corners to counterattack opponents and to climb up. So, he braced his hands and feet against the two walls of the corner, using friction, and the principles of action and reaction, he climbed upward. Once he reached a certain height, he leaped into the air, extending his foot to strike the incoming bald robber below. Seeing this, the bald robber quickly dodged to the side. Once Lin Yifan landed, the robber rushed up again, attacking Lin Yifan. After dodging an attack, Lin Yifan shifted from defense to offense, striking out fiercely at the bald robber. He refused to believe that the bald robber had no weakness, that every inch of his skin was cast in steel. It had to be said, when Lin Yifan got tough, no one could stop him. Each of the bald robber¡¯s attacks was easily dodged by Lin Yifan, who also landed frequent hits on him. If the robber hadn¡¯t cultivated the Golden Bell Shield to a modest degree of success to withstand some damage, he would have been beaten black and blue by Lin Yifan by now, covered in bruises and wounds. After attacking a dozen times in succession, Lin Yifan¡¯s hands were swollen and painful, and blood started to seep out, revealing just how tough the bald robber¡¯s body was. Having struck the bald robber all over his body, Lin Yifan found that every inch of the man¡¯s skin was as hard as steel, virtually impregnable. It couldn¡¯t be the result of surgical implantation of steel plates, otherwise, the bald robber would be completely immobilized; so he was increasingly inclined to the idea that the bald robber knew martial arts. ¡°Martial arts? Does this world truly have martial arts?¡± Lin Yifan was lost in thought, struggling to settle his emotions for a long time. On the other side, the bald robber leaned against the wall to rest. Constantly attacking with force, he was also extremely weary; therefore, he needed to catch his breath. Although his body was protected by the Golden Bell Shield, he still felt some pain since he had not fully mastered the technique. This minor pain and discomfort made him respect Lin Yifan more. He had the advantage of martial arts skills; yet, Lin Yifan, lacking any martial arts or cultivation powers, managed to harm him, something unheard of and unseen before. ¡°I never imagined that there could be such a formidable person in the Secular World, it¡¯s truly astonishing,¡± the bald robber couldn¡¯t help but be astounded. He had believed that no one in the Secular World could be his match, yet on his very first robbery, he had encountered such a tough character, which was beyond belief. After taking a few seconds to breathe and recover a bit of his energy, he began to plan his next move. Lin Yifan might not have been strong, but his agility was noteworthy, constantly suppressing him; the robber had to resort to the dumbest method, which for him was also the most effective¡ªforcing Lin Yifan to break his hands by striking, thus securing an easy victory without fighting. Lin Yifan¡¯s hands were bleeding, which to him was great news. So he seized the opportunity, quickly launching an attack on Lin Yifan. Seeing the bald robber rush over again, Lin Yifan felt a tingling on his scalp, unsure of what to do. If he chose to run away, the life-saving money in his bank card would be gone; the card was still in the ATM, with the password already entered, and the robber, if he knew a little about operations, could easily take both the money and the card. But to remain and grapple with the tough-bodied bald robber would mean that he, without a doubt, would be the one to lose in the end. Chapter 25 - 25 25 Turning Defeat into Victory ?25: Chapter 25: Turning Defeat into Victory 25: Chapter 25: Turning Defeat into Victory ¡°What should I do?¡± Lin Yifan hesitated, wavering between staying and fleeing. Struggling for a moment, he suddenly thought of something, the miraculous black bead that had saved his life several times. The black bead possessed mysterious powers, capable of resisting the lethality of bullets; would it be useful against this bald kidnapper skilled in Martial Arts? However, before using it, he suddenly realized a problem: the black bead seemed to only display its power when he was in extreme danger; it did not initiate attacks. ¡°Regardless, I¡¯ll try anything at this point!¡± Having made up his mind, Lin Yifan immediately took the black bead out of his trouser pocket and held it in his hand. When the bald kidnapper attacked, he punched fiercely, clashing with the kidnapper to see if it would work. When fists collided, if there was a huge disparity in strength, it would be like an egg striking a rock¡ª the weaker side would meet a brutal end; if the strength was comparable, it would result in both sides being injured, neither gaining any advantage. At this moment, both outcomes were uncertain. Lin Yifan hoped his fist would be like that hard stone, shattering the opponent¡¯s coming ¡°egg¡± to pieces. The bald kidnapper was surprised; Lin Yifan, who had forewarnings, still dared to confront him directly¡ªit seemed he truly tired of living. If that was the case, then he would make Lin Yifan realize his prowess, thus he exerted enough force to ensure breaking Lin¡¯s bones would suffice. ¡°Bang!¡± The next moment, two fists as large as clay pots collided heavily once again. This time, Lin Yifan¡¯s fist no longer felt pain but burst forth with a powerful force, injuring the bald kidnapper¡¯s fist and even sending him flying. The bald kidnapper lost his balance, flew backwards, and ultimately hit a wall before stopping. ¡°Puh!¡± Having barely steadied himself, he couldn¡¯t help but spit out a mouthful of fresh blood, obviously severely injured. Then, with a face full of shock, he uttered six words: ¡°Breaking Mortal Three Realm, Early Stage.¡± Originally, he thought there were no Cultivators in the Secular World; to his surprise, not only had he encountered one now, but the opponent¡¯s Realm was even higher than his, truly frightening him. ¡°With such a scarcity of Spiritual Energy in the Secular World, how did he Cultivate?¡± The bald kidnapper was extremely curious and very much wanted to know the answer. Now, he felt the urge to retreat; because a Cultivator of the Breaking Mortal Three Realm was not someone he could handle at this point. On the other hand, Lin Yifan was extremely surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected the black bead to exhibit its power; it seemed that taking a risk really could turn a bicycle into a motorcycle. ¡°Why did it suddenly begin to release power on its own?¡± With this question, he opened his fist to check the current state of the black bead. However, when he fully opened his fist, he found that the black bead had disappeared, leaving him utterly bewildered. ¡°Where did it go? I clearly held it in my hand just now?¡± Just as he was puzzled, he felt a faint pain in his chest, as if something had entered his heart. The pain came abruptly and left quickly, disappearing in a few seconds. ¡°What in the world is going on? Did the black bead really enter my heart? But... it¡¯s a physical object, how could it possibly have entered my body? This... this is too incredible.¡± Lin Yifan was dumbstruck, his whole being collapsed. Because this had overturned his understanding. With today¡¯s technology, it was simply impossible to explain this phenomenon clearly. The events of tonight truly broadened his horizons. First, there was his body as strong as steel, and then there was the black bead that could enter his body¡ªutterly bizarre, supremely fantastical. ¡°Could it be that there really is such a thing as Martial Arts in this world? Could it be that there really is a distinction between the Secular World and other worlds?¡± Lin Yifan was full of questions. Now, he started to believe in these things. Shortly after the black bead entered his heart, he felt a force burst forth from his heart, spreading through the meridians throughout his body. In an instant, his body was filled with a strange energy, immensely powerful. ¡°Such a powerful force! I wonder how many times stronger it is than my usual self.¡± Lin Yifan was astonished, truly startled. Now, even if there was a soccer ball-sized stone in front of him, he could shatter it as well. ¡°Could this be the legendary Inner Strength?¡± The more he thought about it, the happier he became. With this power, he could fear less about many things. Having calmed down, he turned his gaze toward the injured bald kidnapper. Now, having turned defeat into victory in a perilous situation, it was time to deal with this criminal. He walked over step by step, his face calm as still water. When he reached the severely injured bald kidnapper, he raised his foot, intending to end the kidnapper¡¯s life with one kick. The bald kidnapper was terrified, full of regret. He should not have taken risks and engaged in criminal activities; now facing such consequences, he only had himself to blame. He accepted his fate, so he closed his eyes, quietly awaiting the arrival of the Grim Reaper. However, just when he thought he would be kicked to death, he heard the sound of a heavy foot landing on the ground. He opened his eyes and saw Lin Yifan putting his raised foot back down¡ªwhy was this? He, so inconsiderate of others, had robbed and injured Lin Yifan; could it be Lin Yifan wasn¡¯t angry? Thus, he couldn¡¯t help but inquire, ¡°Why don¡¯t you kill me?¡± Chapter 26 - 26 26 Generous Contribution ?26: Chapter 26: Generous Contribution 26: Chapter 26: Generous Contribution ¡°Because you deserve mercy, and because of a small action you just took,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°What small action?¡± ¡°The action of putting away the knife,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Just such a simple little action made you drop your anger?¡± The bald robber looked confused and was incredibly surprised. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate that small action, because it can reflect a person¡¯s character,¡± Lin Yifan said. ¡°What character?¡± the bald robber pressed, really wanting to know. ¡°Kindness!¡± Lin Yifan replied, ¡°Honestly, you¡¯re not a qualified robber. A real robber would stop at nothing to seize their target; your fear of hurting the victims made you put away your weapon, and this behavior doomed your robbery attempt.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, soft-hearted people are indeed not cut out to be robbers.¡± The bald robber shook his head and laughed bitterly, mocking his own actions. ¡°Tell me! What drove you to this irreversible path of crime and illegal activities?¡± Lin Yifan curiously asked. He thought that a kind person must have been driven to desperate straits to make such an unwise decision. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. Oh well, today I was caught by you; it¡¯s my bad luck. Go ahead, call the police and arrest me, I am willing to accept the legal punishment.¡± The bald robber found relief, and his troubled heart seemed to be liberated. It¡¯s because robbing was something he had resisted for a long time before deciding to do. Even when he pulled out the knife and threatened Lin Yifan to hand over the money, he was still conflicted, unsure if it was the right thing to do. So now that he was subdued, he no longer had to struggle with that decision. ¡°I believe you are an honest and kind person, so I¡¯ll spare you the police. I¡¯m just curious, what drove you to this path of crime and law-breaking?¡± Earlier, he had a chance to kill him, but he didn¡¯t; thus he wanted to give him a chance too. Furthermore, kind people should remain in society to help those in need rather than waste away in prison.¡± The bald robber was touched by Lin Yifan¡¯s magnanimous spirit, truly appreciating the extent of tolerance he was showing toward someone who had attempted to harm him. In fact, he was quite afraid of Lin Yifan calling the police, and although he seemed resigned verbally, serious considerations had him worried. Because once in prison, there would be no one to care for his elderly, sick mother¡ªa tragic situation he desperately wanted to avoid. ¡°Brother, I really appreciate your generosity. To tell you the truth, I resorted to robbery because I desperately need money. My elderly mother is sick and it requires a significant amount of money that I can¡¯t generate quickly, hence the drastic measures,¡± he confessed. ¡°What illness?¡± Lin Yifan asked. The large amount of money needed made him guess it was a serious illness, though he was unsure which organ or tissue was affected. The bald robber sighed and replied, ¡°A brain tumor.¡± Although he was a cultivator with mana, his low cultivation realm meant he was utterly incapable of curing such a malignant disease. ¡°Another serious illness, we are both in a similar plight!¡± Lin Yifan lamented. He and the bald robber had similar fates, both driven by family illness to find ways to make money quickly. ¡°What? Does the brother also have a brain tumor?¡± the bald robber asked. Lin Yifan candidly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t, but my parents are severely ill; so my situation is similar to yours, both of us wracking our brains to make more money in a short time. However, unlike you, I haven¡¯t resorted to illegal activities.¡± ¡°Heh, it seems I really am not fit for this world.¡± The bald robber mocked himself harshly, feeling far inferior in comparison to Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan, sensing the undertones in the bald robber¡¯s words and seeing his self-deprecation, comforted him, ¡°You are much stronger than me. If someone like you isn¡¯t fit to exist in this world, many others aren¡¯t either. So cheer up. There are many roads to Rome. Think carefully, there¡¯s definitely a way to make money.¡± ¡°But I really need money now; there¡¯s no time to think,¡± the bald robber responded. If it weren¡¯t for this urgency, he wouldn¡¯t have resorted to buying weapons for robbery. Knowing hospital rules and that tumorous diseases really cannot be delayed, Lin Yifan thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°How much does your mother¡¯s surgery cost?¡± Being a kind person, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing. ¡°A lot, about sixty to seventy thousand,¡± the bald robber sighed and replied. Mentioning this cost, he felt helpless, unsure where to earn so much money. Lin Yifan weighed it in his mind, then said, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a hundred thousand. You¡¯ll have to figure out the treatment money after the surgery yourself; but you must not resolve it through illegal activities, understand?¡± Cancer treatments after surgery could involve various medical expenses, and severe cases might require regular radiotherapy and chemotherapy; that¡¯s why he gave an extra thirty to forty thousand. ¡°You¡¯re giving me so much money, but what about your parents?¡± the bald robber asked. He was both joyous and worried¡ªjoyous because he finally had the money for treatment, but worried because the donor¡¯s situation was similar to his, uncertain how much he would have left after this. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I made sure to set aside enough money for my parents¡¯ treatment before offering you the hundred thousand,¡± Lin Yifan answered. He wasn¡¯t a fool nor a dishonorable son. He certainly wouldn¡¯t neglect his parents¡¯ dire condition. Chapter 27 - 27 27 A Favor ?27: Chapter 27: A Favor 27: Chapter 27: A Favor The bald robber still thought a hundred thousand was too much, so he refused, ¡°Just lend me sixty thousand, I really don¡¯t need that much money.¡± ¡°You think you won¡¯t need to spend more money after the surgery is done? You still need to be hospitalized, undergo radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and take medicine; all these things cost money; so giving you an extra thirty or forty thousand might still not be enough,¡± Lin Yifan explained. Although he wasn¡¯t medically trained, he had some understanding from watching the news and television. People who had tumors usually had to spend a lot of money on treatment, and some even failed to get cured, losing everything. So, an extra thirty or forty thousand really wasn¡¯t much. ¡°No way, it costs that much? I thought it would be fine just to finish the surgery.¡± The bald robber was surprised, having never expected it to be so complicated. If it weren¡¯t for going against Sect rules and descending the mountain without permission, he would have taken his old mother up the mountain long ago and had his master or other elders treat her. This was because the Sect elders were extremely skilled in medicine, capable of curing many complex diseases, and they didn¡¯t need to perform surgery; a single elixir could resolve everything. ¡°Don¡¯t be so naive; treating a tumor is a long process. Just work hard to earn money,¡± Lin Yifan advised. Lin Yifan sighed. He could only help this much; the rest was up to the bald robber¡¯s ability. ¡°We¡¯re neither relatives nor friends; why do you want to help me?¡± The bald robber was puzzled and didn¡¯t know what Lin Yifan¡¯s intentions were. However, he was now filled with gratitude, so no matter what Lin Yifan¡¯s motives were, he wouldn¡¯t blame him. ¡°Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda; and besides, we¡¯re both people who have fallen on hard times. If I can help, then I should,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°You really are a good person!¡± The bald man praised, his words coming sincerely from his heart, without a shred of falsehood. ¡°Thanks for the compliment.¡± Lin Yifan responded modestly, then he asked, ¡°Do you have a bank card?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t laugh at me, but I haven¡¯t really adapted to this society yet; so I don¡¯t have such high-tech stuff.¡± The bald robber replied naively, obviously embarrassed. ¡°Looks like I can only give you cash,¡± Lin Yifan considered thoughtfully, then asked, ¡°Can you protect this hundred thousand safely?¡± ¡°With my skills, what do you think?¡± the bald robber retorted. Recalling that the other had Copper Skin Iron Bones which were superior to his previous abilities, Lin Yifan had no more worries and thus he instructed, ¡°Wait for me for a moment, I¡¯ll withdraw the hundred thousand for you.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± The bald robber¡¯s mood was incredibly excited, he never expected that there would be such a kind-hearted person in the world. It seemed that there was still some warmth in this world. In Shenzhou Country, an ATM could dispense a maximum of one hundred thousand in cash per day and transfer up to two hundred thousand, so Lin Yifan could just manage to withdraw one hundred thousand in cash for the bald robber. After a brief operation, he had the hundred thousand cash in hand. Next, he handed a thick stack of bills to the bald robber, urging him to be careful with it. The bald robber carefully took the hundred thousand, then, taking out a plastic bag he had prepared earlier from his pocket, he tucked the cash into it and tightly wrapped it into a brick shape, hiding it in his underwear. Seeing this, Lin Yifan was speechless, drunk with disbelief. With the money hidden there, who would dare to target him? Feeling Lin Yifan¡¯s unusual gaze, the bald robber chuckled, ¡°This hundred thousand is the lifesaving money for my mother; I have to hide it well.¡± ¡°I understand!¡± Lin Yifan responded. Had he been in his position, he might have done the same, because this money was incredibly hard to come by for the person involved. If it were lost, stolen, or robbed, it might never be recovered. After securing the money, the bald robber knelt on the ground and kowtowed in gratitude, ¡°Benefactor, your great kindness and great virtue will never be forgotten by Yi Chen. Please accept my bow.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, hey! No need for that; it was nothing, please get up, quickly, get up!¡± Lin Yifan hurriedly helped Yi Chen up, really unable to accept such a grand gesture. ¡°Benefactor, please give me your home address and contact information. Once I earn the money, I will surely come to thank you.¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s kindness, no matter what, had to be repaid, as showing gratitude was a virtue. Only by having a grateful heart could one be worthy of the world¡¯s kindness. ¡°No need, just consider this hundred thousand a piece of my goodwill.¡± Lin Yifan refused to provide them because he knew Yi Chen¡¯s plight; his mother might still need more medical expenses in the future, so this hundred thousand was like a bottomless pit for Yi Chen, which might take a long time to repay. ¡°How could it be? I can¡¯t just take your hundred thousand without giving something back; otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to live with myself. So, benefactor, please give me your address and contact information!¡± Yi Chen pleaded earnestly, his desire to show gratitude coming sincerely from his heart. Lin Yifan inwardly felt conflicted, unsure whether to give or not give. To give might increase Yi Chen¡¯s burden, but to refuse might cause Yi Chen to persist here. After a moment of distress, a sudden idea struck him: why not just give him a fake contact? After all, he wouldn¡¯t know if it was real or fake. So he responded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give you my phone number; when you¡¯ve earned the money, call me, and I¡¯ll arrange to meet you.¡± Yi Chen didn¡¯t hesitate and agreed, ¡°Alright!¡± For him, having a contact was enough; he really didn¡¯t care about the rest. Chapter 28 - 28 28 Cultivation World ?28: Chapter 28 Cultivation World 28: Chapter 28 Cultivation World Lin Yifan heaved a sigh of relief and then immediately made up a phone number to give to Yi Chen, instructing Yi Chen to remember it. The first three digits were typical of cell phone numbers, while the last eight digits were fabricated; thus, it could be a real phone number, but it definitely wasn¡¯t his. After giving out his contact information, Lin Yifan had a lingering question in his mind, which he hoped Yi Chen could help clarify, ¡°Does martial arts really exist in this world?¡± ¡°It really does!¡± Yi Chen responded affirmatively. ¡°Then, which martial arts do you practice?¡± Lin Yifan asked curiously. Yi Chen was somewhat hesitant, unsure if he should disclose it. The Sect had a rule that one must not teach Sect martial arts to ordinary people from the Secular World, nor disclose them to the public; violators would be pursued and killed by the Sect, or even the entire Cultivation World. ¡°I came down the mountain without permission, and it might be difficult to return to the Sect; the other party has done me a favor, so it¡¯s not impossible to reveal the name of the martial art; and it seems that the other party is also a cultivator, since we¡¯re all cultivators, it wouldn¡¯t matter to reveal it.¡± Thinking this, he answered, ¡°I practice the Golden Bell Shield martial art!¡± ¡°Golden Bell Shield? Does that martial art really exist?¡± Lin Yifan asked, astounded. He had thought such martial arts only existed in martial arts novels, but to think they were real. ¡°Yes!¡± Yi Chen nodded in response. ¡°No way! Really?¡± ¡°Your benefactor has already verified it, why would you doubt it?¡± ¡°This... This is too incredible!¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words, as Yi Chen¡¯s body was indeed as hard as steel, and he couldn¡¯t argue against it. With this question resolved, he continued to ask another question, ¡°You keep saying I am from the Secular World, then which world are you from?¡± ¡°The Cultivation World!¡± Yi Chen answered. ¡°What kind of world is that?¡± Lin Yifan asked with a face full of curiosity, having never heard of this world. ¡°Benefactor, do you really not know about the existence of the Cultivation World?¡± Yi Chen questioned in return. Logically, since Lin Yifan possessed cultivation power, he should be a cultivator; yet why didn¡¯t he know about the Cultivation World? Could it be that he was a Loose Cultivator who self-taught himself? ¡°Should I know about it?¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s face showed his confusion, not understanding the meaning behind Yi Chen¡¯s words. ¡°Of course! Because you are a cultivator, and no cultivators are unaware of the Cultivation World, unless you are a Loose Cultivator from the Secular World who self-taught and opened up your own Pill Sea,¡± Yi Chen replied. ¡°I¡¯m a cultivator? Since when did I become a cultivator?¡± The more Yi Chen explained, the more bewildered Lin Yifan became, genuinely confused. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that you possess cultivation power? The biggest difference between a cultivator and an ordinary person is whether they have cultivation power; now that you possess very strong cultivation power, and your realm has reached the Early Stage of Breaking Mortal Three Realm, how could you possibly not be a cultivator?¡± Yi Chen became increasingly sure that Lin Yifan was a Loose Cultivator from the Secular World. Being able to open up a Pill Sea in the aura-deficient Secular World was indeed very rare, and now he was somewhat in awe of Lin Yifan. ¡°Breaking Mortal Three Realm, Early Stage? So there are different levels to this strange power!¡± As Yi Chen gradually explained, Lin Yifan slowly unraveled the mysteries and began to understand the basics of the Cultivation World. Now that he knew his realm was at the Early Stage of Breaking Mortal Three Realm, he was curious to know where his strength ranked, so he asked, ¡°How many realms are there in the Cultivation World?¡± ¡°Benefactor, are you truly a Loose Cultivator?¡± Yi Chen asked. ¡°Never mind whether I am or not, just answer my question.¡± Lin Yifan did not want to disclose, as the matter with the black beads was too mysterious, and he still couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°To my knowledge, there are three Great Realms, which are Breaking Mortal Realm, Divinity Transformation Realm, and True Master Realm. These three Great Realms can be further divided into five smaller realms, and the five smaller realms can be further subdivided; so, it¡¯s a bit difficult to answer exactly how many realms there are right away. However, you only need to know about the fifteen realms from Breaking Mortal First Realm to Breaking Mortal Five Realm, Divinity Transformation First Realm to Divinity Transformation Five Realm, and True Master First Realm to True Master Fifth Realm,¡± Yi Chen replied. ¡°So there are fifteen levels! It seems my strength is quite low,¡± Lin Yifan murmured to himself, feeling somewhat disheartened. He thought he was very powerful, but little did he know, he ranked at the very bottom among many cultivators. ¡°Benefactor, now that I¡¯ve answered your question, can you tell me your identity?¡± Yi Chen eagerly wanted to know whether Lin Yifan was self-taught or had been trained by a Sect. Lin Yifan fell into contemplation, and since Yi Chen believed him to be a Loose Cultivator, he decided to accept that identity, and replied, ¡°Yes, I am indeed a Loose Cultivator.¡± ¡°Benefactor is truly a martial arts prodigy, I admire you greatly,¡± Yi Chen thought to himself in profound respect. A cultivator who trained in the spiritual-energy-deficient Secular World had achieved a higher realm than him, who had cultivated in the aura-rich Cultivation World, and he truly felt inadequate. ¡°You flatter me!¡± Lin Yifan responded modestly. Now that his doubts had been resolved, it was time to part ways. Thus, he replied, ¡°It¡¯s getting late; you should hurry back to take care of your mother.¡± ¡°Okay! Benefactor, then I will take my leave first.¡± Before departing, Yi Chen once again expressed his gratitude for Lin Yifan¡¯s generous benevolence. Afterwards, he left the self-service bank and disappeared at the end of the dark street. Chapter 29 - 29 29 Filled with Worry ?29: Chapter 29 Filled with Worry 29: Chapter 29 Filled with Worry Watching Yi Chen leave, Lin Yifan, feeling reflective, returned to the ATM to handle the money transfer. He transferred the remaining two hundred thousand from his card to his father¡¯s, leaving not a cent for himself. After finishing the transaction, he felt relieved and left the self-service bank to return to his rented room. After taking a shower, lying in bed, and thinking back on everything that happened that night, he found it all to be quite marvelous. First, saving the female CEO and resolving an urgent crisis; then encountering a bald Cultivator with mysterious powers; it seemed as though everything had been tailor-made for him. ¡°Opportunities are always so wonderful, I¡¯m really too lucky.¡± Lin Yifan was very happy. This could be a turning point in his life; bidding farewell to the battlefield and venturing into the business sea, he might even enter the Cultivation World. After meeting Yi Chen, he realized that the world wasn¡¯t as simple as he had imagined, and he was not the strongest out there. Clenching his fist, he felt the strange power within his body and was filled with anxiety. Although he could control this power at will, it wasn¡¯t truly his; so if one day the black bead left his body, then all the money, status, and love that he had gained through the black bead would vanish into thin air. ¡°Sigh! Now, I can only take it one step at a time!¡± Unable to expel the black bead, he could only continue to use its power to fulfill some needs for now. When his emotions settled, he soon fell asleep. The next morning, at six o¡¯clock. The sky was dim, and the streets were desolate and empty. At this time, everyone else was still hiding under their blankets, sleeping, but Lin Yifan was up. He had a lot to do today, so he had to get up early. Leaving the rented room, the first thing he did was go to the public phone booth on the street to make a call. He didn¡¯t want to disturb his sister last night because it was too late, and she might have been asleep. Now, at a little past six in the morning, Yi Fei should be up, so it was time to let her know about the money transfer from last night. Inserting his IC card and pressing a series of numbers, he made the call. ¡°Dudu! Dudu...¡± After a few rings, the call connected. Then, a sweet voice came from the other end of the line, ¡°Hello! Is it brother?¡± Seeing the incoming call display on her phone, Lin Yifei knew it was her brother calling, because nobody has a phone number with just a few digits. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Yifan answered truthfully. ¡°Why are you calling so early?¡± Lin Yifei asked with curiosity, this was not like her brother¡¯s style, as he usually called her at night. ¡°I transferred some money last night. Check the ATM later to see if it has arrived,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Brother, how much did you transfer?¡± Lin Yifei inquired, wanting to confirm the amount of remittance. ¡°Two hundred thousand!¡± Lin Yifan answered with unruffled calm, curious about his sister¡¯s reaction, since he had been overjoyed the night before. ¡°Two hundred thousand? Brother, where did you get so much money?¡± Lin Yifei¡¯s face was filled with shock, unable to understand how her brother, who had no money, suddenly had so much. Could it be that he had done something illegal? Lin Yifan knew his sister would react like this; after all, he did too at the time. After calming himself, he told her the truth, ¡°Last night, a female CEO appreciated me and hired me as her personal bodyguard, with a monthly salary of fifty thousand. I asked her to pay me one month¡¯s salary in advance, and surprisingly, she not only didn¡¯t refuse, but also directly gave me three hundred thousand, saying she wanted to sign me for half a year; that¡¯s why I have so much money now.¡± ¡°Really? There¡¯s such a thing as a free lunch in the world?¡± Lin Yifei couldn¡¯t believe it, as it seemed to defy common sense. Normally, an employer wouldn¡¯t pay wages in advance to prevent employees from running away with the money without fulfilling their verbal or contractual obligations. ¡°Really, please believe your brother!¡± ¡°Alright! Brother, I believe you.¡± For some reason, just because it was her caring brother on the other end, Lin Yifei believed his words. If there¡¯s no basic trust between family, what¡¯s the point of being relatives? Having clarified the money transfer, Lin Yifan instructed his sister to withdraw the money later, pay off the medical bills they owed to the hospital, and repay the debts they had at home. As an incoming university student with high academic achievements, Lin Yifei knew what to do. Next, Lin Yifan chatted with his sister Lin Yifei about family matters for a while and then hurriedly hung up the phone. He still had things to do, work to attend to, so he didn¡¯t want to waste time there. Leaving the phone booth, walking on the street, Lin Yifan found a shop that sold steamed buns, bought two buns and a cup of soy milk, then nibbled on the buns while heading to the nearby bus shelter. After a while, he arrived at the bus shelter closest to his place of residence. At this time, the bus shelter was overcrowded; he couldn¡¯t even check the bus route sign. Finally, after pushing and squeezing his way through, he reached the bus route sign. After checking the routes of the various buses, he knew which one to take. Lin Yifan was used to the crowded bus shelter in the morning. The place he rented was in an urban village, which attracted migrant workers from all over the country; they all had to get up early to work hard, earn money to support their families, marry, and have children. The lives of these grassroots workers were full of hardship, but no one else could be blamed for the path they chose. Chapter 30 - 30 30 The Long-Haired Beauty ?30: Chapter 30: The Long-Haired Beauty 30: Chapter 30: The Long-Haired Beauty After waiting for five minutes, the bus Lin Yifan planned to take finally arrived. However, this bus was in high demand and suddenly, the originally empty bus filled up with people. With no choice, Yifan had to wait for the next one. Another five minutes passed, and the bus came again; though there were still many people getting on, Yifan estimated that he could board this one, so he waited leisurely behind. Every morning, the race to get on the bus was incredibly intense; it was akin to going to war with every passenger aiming to conquer the fortress they had set in their minds. Hence, there was little order here¡ªeverything depended on skill or speed to gain victory. Facing the chaotic scene, Yifan felt a shudder in his scalp; it was so crowded that one might be squeezed until they pissed themselves. While everyone swarmed aboard the bus, it was rare to see a beautiful woman as calm as Yifan. The beauty was standing beside Yifan, with a few people between them. Yifan was first drawn by a delicate fragrance before he noticed the long-haired beauty. He sneakily glanced at the long-haired woman and found her figure to be slender, standing graceful and tall¡ªa top-quality beauty indeed. The fact that this top-quality beauty was waiting for the bus suggested she might be a tenant from the urban village, meaning she could be a working girl. It was Yifan¡¯s first time seeing such an attractive working girl; he was truly captivated. Yet, he firmly believed she wasn¡¯t an ordinary factory worker; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t dress so elegantly. The long-haired beauty noticed from the corner of her eye that a tall young man beside her was watching her. She didn¡¯t know what was on the man¡¯s mind, so she didn¡¯t pay much attention¡ªperhaps he was just another ordinary man entranced by her beauty, with nothing but admiration in his heart. Although the beauty was gorgeous, Yifan didn¡¯t go crazy over her, so he quickly retracted his gaze. He stood quietly, waiting for the right moment to board when the rush of passengers slowed down. Half a minute later, when most of the people had boarded, he tried to get on, only to be stopped by the driver, ¡°Don¡¯t get on, there¡¯s no more room. Wait for the next one.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t there still room for one more person?¡± Yifan pointed to a step near the door and asked. ¡°No more space; otherwise, we can¡¯t close the door,¡± the driver explained. ¡°Alright!¡± Yifan conceded and didn¡¯t waste the driver¡¯s time any further. It was all his fault; if he hadn¡¯t generously let the hurried people get on, he wouldn¡¯t have missed this bus. The bus soon closed its doors and drove away. By then, there were fewer and fewer people waiting. Yifan felt that he should be able to catch the next bus. With nothing better to do, he glanced at the long-haired beauty again, curious to see what her face looked like. Real life had taught him that women with great figures didn¡¯t necessarily have beautiful faces. ¡°Ru Hua¡± was the classic example, so to judge a woman¡¯s beauty, one shouldn¡¯t just look at her profile but also her facial features. He wanted to take a look, but the long-haired beauty was looking down at her phone, her hair covering her entire face, making it impossible to see clearly from the side unless he went around to the front. But that would be impolite, so he dismissed the idea of seeing the long-haired beauty¡¯s true face. After awhile, two tall men appeared next to the long-haired beauty. Both men had tattoos on their arms and looked like they were not to be messed with. The two tattooed men deliberately moved closer to the long-haired woman, their sleazy smiles revealing their intention to take advantage of her. As their lecherous hands extended, the long-haired woman, sensing the men¡¯s abnormal behavior, hurriedly moved a few places to the side. This move allowed her to dodge the groping hand of one of the tattooed men. The two tattooed men were extremely disappointed; they had missed their chance to cop a feel by a whisker. However, they were like cockroaches that couldn¡¯t be killed, refusing to give up until their goal was reached, so they followed the long-haired woman and closed in again. With no choice, the long-haired beauty had to move another step to the side. But as she did so, she bumped into Yifan, who stood there without a care in the world, waiting for the bus. Yifan first smelled the scent of gardenia and then saw the long-haired woman. Now that the long-haired beauty was close to him, he could clearly feel the warmth radiating from her arm. ¡°Why is this? Is it because I¡¯m radiantly handsome, irresistibly charming, and simply irresistible; thus, she¡¯s throwing herself into my arms?¡± Yifan¡¯s thoughts started to run wild. However, after seeing the sleazy men deliberately moving toward the long-haired beauty, he realized she had been forced to move because of the harassment and it wasn¡¯t because of his qualities or appearance. ¡°Ah! That really smacks of being brought back down to earth!¡± Yifan was falsely elated for a moment. As he sighed, the cornered long-haired beauty moved past him to stand to his left. She intended to use him as a shield against the two sleazy men who kept pestering her. When the long-haired woman passed him, Yifan saw her true face. She was undeniably a perfect beauty, flawless. Her looks were comparable to those of his beautiful boss. How could he allow such a beautiful woman to be defiled by sleazy men? So, as the two tattooed men tried to follow her, he stepped forward and blocked their path. ¡°Kid, what do you think you¡¯re doing? Looking to get yourself in trouble?¡± The two tattooed men looked fierce and even flaunted their tattoos, hoping to intimidate Yifan. But they had picked the wrong person to mess with. Yifan didn¡¯t take these two fools seriously and retorted, ¡°Am I in your way standing here?¡± Chapter 31 - 31 31 The Flower Protector Messenger ?31: Chapter 31: The Flower Protector Messenger 31: Chapter 31: The Flower Protector Messenger ¡°Yes! It¡¯s because you¡¯re in my way,¡± the man with the Azure Dragon tattoo on his arm answered viciously. ¡°I¡¯m curious, how exactly am I in your way?¡± Lin Yifan asked, his face calm as still water, not intimidated by the other¡¯s imposing presence at all. Watching this scene, the long-haired beauty standing to his left felt a ripple in her heart. Lin Yifan, a stranger to her, had boldly stepped forward to shield her from two aggressive ruffians, and she was deeply moved. She began to feel fond of Lin Yifan, thinking that perhaps his earlier gaze had been one of admiration. He was courteous, not harassing her. Such a man could win the heart of any girl. The two sleazy troublemakers, on the other hand, were destined to be disliked. If it weren¡¯t for their threatening and intimidating tactics, it¡¯s likely no one would take to them. ¡°You¡¯re in my way...¡± Just as the man with the Azure Dragon tattoo was about to answer, a public bus pulled into the station, stirring up a gust of wind. This was the bus Lin Yifan needed to catch, and it was also the one for the long-haired beauty. To avoid further harassment from the two thugs, the long-haired beauty pushed forward and boarded the bus. Seeing the long-haired beauty board, the two sleazy men with tattoos followed suit. However, just as they took their first step, Lin Yifan swiftly moved in front of them. ¡°Damn! You¡¯re looking for trouble, huh?¡± The man with the Azure Dragon tattoo could no longer contain his anger and was about to teach Lin Yifan a lesson. But the one with the White Tiger Tattoo beside him intervened, ¡°Haozi, let¡¯s get on the bus first!¡± They were pressed for time and needed to take this bus too, so they decided it was better to settle everything on the bus. Once aboard, they found that Lin Yifan had been squeezed towards the inside, and the long-haired beauty was on the outside, so they immediately changed their minds and started making unwelcome advances again. The long-haired beauty felt sad; she had wanted to board early and grab a seat, but now she had no choice but to stand in the aisle, clinging to a handrail, standing on her way to work. Lin Yifan was diagonally behind her, just a body¡¯s length away, relatively close. After paying their fares, the two sleazy men headed straight for the long-haired beauty. Normally, they couldn¡¯t have gotten close to her because the front was packed with people, but they showed their fierce demeanour and terrifying tattoos, and the passengers in front of them stepped aside, not daring to offend them. And so, unobstructed, they easily made their way to the side of the long-haired beauty. The long-haired beauty grew fearful, not expecting the two thugs to keep hounding her; now, she didn¡¯t know what to do. Lin Yifan was behind her, squeezed in and unable to move, while the passengers nearby were too afraid of the two men, leaving her helpless and at a loss. In fact, she wanted to call out for help, but since the sleazy men hadn¡¯t actually done anything to her, whining without cause would be useless. With a nervous heart, she remained vigilant of the two men beside her, trying to prevent them from taking advantage of her. On the other side, after closing in on the long-haired beauty, the two men with tattoos displayed sleazy and smug grins. In this society, the fist is always the ruler. Whoever has the strongest fist gets to dominate. Their fists were strong, and ordinary people dared not offend them, so they could easily get close to the long-haired beauty and take liberties with her. After waiting for a moment and realizing that the attention of the people around was elsewhere, they reached out their greasy hands, aiming to molest the long-haired beauty. The long-haired beauty already sensed the danger closing in, but at that moment, she truly had nowhere to turn, uncertain whether to endure silently, allowing them to take their liberties, or to cry out loud, seeking help from the other passengers on the bus. In her panic, Lin Yifan made his move again. Lin Yifan tightly grasped the Azure Dragon Tattoo man¡¯s lascivious hand, and then asked, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± His questioning voice caught the attention of the surrounding passengers, many of whom looked over, curious about what was happening. Under the public gaze, even if they had strong fists, the two sleazy men didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble, because with their abilities, they still couldn¡¯t take on the crowd. Thus, the response came, ¡°Not doing anything, just wanted to stretch my muscles a bit.¡± ¡°Stretch your muscles? I think you were trying to take advantage of the situation.¡± Lin Yifan looked at him with disdain, directly exposing the Azure Dragon Tattoo man¡¯s behavior, showing neither fear nor compromise. ¡°You can¡¯t just say that, whose skin did my hand touch? Do you have evidence to prove it? Without evidence, you shouldn¡¯t be accusing someone at will.¡± The Azure Dragon Tattoo man was an old hand at this; his skin was thick, and he wasn¡¯t afraid of Lin Yifan exposing him. ¡°Hmph! So you¡¯re saying that attempted rape isn¡¯t a crime then?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± the Azure Dragon Tattoo man replied. ¡°Your skin is really thick! I truly admire that to an extreme.¡± ¡°Say whatever you want, I haven¡¯t done anything illegal, please let go!¡± the Azure Dragon man snapped. The reason he didn¡¯t get angry in public was partly because no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t break free from Lin Yifan¡¯s grip; this puzzled him and made him wary. If someone¡¯s strength surpasses yours, you can¡¯t beat them. ¡°Hmph! Keep your hands to yourself. If there¡¯s a next time, I might just break them outright.¡± With a cold snort, Lin Yifan threw the Azure Dragon Tattoo man¡¯s hand back at him. Once Lin Yifan let go, the Azure Dragon Tattoo man immediately felt numbness in his wrist, followed by a faint pain. He didn¡¯t know what was wrong with his hand, so he looked curiously at it. He was shocked when he looked. For he saw a bruise-like indentation on his wrist, a startling sight. ¡°What is this? Could it be a bruise caused by the grip?¡± The Azure Dragon Tattoo man was stunned; the place where Lin Yifan had grasped was exactly where the bruise-like indentation was, so it must have been made by Lin Yifan¡¯s bare grip. ¡°How is that possible? What ordinary person has such strength? And I didn¡¯t feel any pain just now, how did this bruise appear?¡± The Azure Dragon Tattoo man was baffled. Looking back at Lin Yifan, he was filled with fear. Lin Yifan¡¯s physique was very robust, clearly someone who had been trained. Such a person was not to be messed with, really not to be messed with. He quickly moved his body away from Lin Yifan. Watching this scene, the White Tiger Tattoo man asked curiously, ¡°Haozi! What¡¯s wrong? Why are you afraid of him?¡± ¡°Jiang Ge! Look at my hand!¡± The Azure Dragon Tattoo man stretched out his hand with the bruise to the White Tiger Tattoo man, his face filled with shock. ¡°What is this? How did it get like this?¡± The White Tiger Tattoo man furrowed his brows tightly, asking in curiosity. Chapter 32 - 32 32 The Consequences of Insulting Laozi ?32: Chapter 32 The Consequences of Insulting Laozi 32: Chapter 32 The Consequences of Insulting Laozi ¡°This is a grip mark, made by that kid,¡± the man with the Azure Dragon tattoo responded. ¡°Made by hand? How is that possible? You must be joking!¡± The man with the White Tiger tattoo did not believe that the bruised indentations on Haozi¡¯s arm were made by Lin Yifan using just his hands; human arm strength couldn¡¯t possibly be that great unless it was a machine. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it either, but the facts are right before our eyes, so I have no choice but to believe it!¡± The man with the Azure Dragon tattoo struggled to endure the pain on his wrist, because as time passed, his hand hurt more and more. Seeing Haozi looking like this, he didn¡¯t seem to be lying, perhaps Lin Yifan really had some skills, not someone they could handle, so the man with the White Tiger tattoo chose to back off and stopped harassing the long-haired beauty. After the two sleazy men left, the long-haired beauty sighed in relief, finally free, and then expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°No need for thanks, it was just a small effort!¡± Lin Yifan responded. The long-haired beauty smiled in return and then didn¡¯t say another word, seeming not to be willing to interact with strangers. With the other party not speaking, Lin Yifan also did not want to disturb her, so he just quietly stood inside the bus, watching the scenery outside. At the seventh stop, the long-haired beauty got off. Since the stop was named Guiyuan City People¡¯s Hospital, Lin Yifan roughly guessed the identity of the long-haired beauty. The long-haired beauty was either a patient¡¯s family member, someone coming for a check-up, or a doctor or nurse at the Guiyuan City People¡¯s Hospital. However, all of this was none of his business; because he was just a passerby in the life of the long-haired beauty, fleeting and brief. After another six stops, he finally reached the Golden Splendor Business City. He immediately got off the bus and walked on the street, looking for Golden Splendor Road. After some inquiry, he learned where Golden Splendor Road was and also found out the location of Antian Group¡¯s headquarters. Following the direction indicated by the passersby, he soon saw the Antian Group building. The Antian Group building wasn¡¯t very tall, only a little over fifty floors. It stood among numerous company buildings and office towers, part of the Golden Splendor Business District. Walking on Golden Splendor Road, Lin Yifan felt the strong commercial atmosphere; because the buildings on both sides were all towering skyscrapers, densely packed and extremely prosperous. ¡°When can I stand at the summit of this business world?¡± Lin Yifan revealed his own ambition. In the battlefield, he was a cold-blooded killer, a victorious leopard who had never tasted defeat, standing at the summit of war; in the business capital, a place that relies on intellect, strategy, operations, technology, and science, could he also stand at the peak? He did not know and could only leave it to time to answer. It was seven in the morning, and there weren¡¯t many pedestrians on Golden Splendor Road; it was still rather quiet. After walking for a few minutes, Lin Yifan arrived at the Antian Group building. The doors of the building were open; however, there were four security guards standing at the entrance. Lin Yifan, unaware of Antian Group¡¯s regulations, walked straight in. When he tried to step into Antian Group, two security guards stopped him. ¡°Beggars and dogs are not allowed inside!¡± ¡°Who are you calling a beggar?¡± Lin Yifan asked angrily, tone laced with hostility. ¡°I¡¯m talking about you! Get lost! Otherwise, I won¡¯t be polite,¡± one guard threatened. ¡°Damn it, asking for trouble!¡± Lin Yifan was enraged, raised his fist, and threw a punch. The security guard saw him getting tough and immediately fought back. However, Lin Yifan was too fast, and before the guard could react, he was knocked to the ground with a punch. The remaining three security guards, alarmed by this, immediately drew their batons, ready for action. However, they didn¡¯t dare to forcefully attack Lin Yifan, because with his quick reflexes, he could easily take down any of them, definitely not a simple opponent. They were just common brothers to the one lying on the ground; there was no need to risk their lives for him. ¡°Hmph! Weren¡¯t you guys very arrogant just now? How come you are so scared now?¡± Lin Yifan asked with a cold sneer. Such haughty people, too disgusting, he was just here to work, to check in, yet he suffered such discrimination, such personal attacks, intolerable. ¡°Dongzi, call Brother Chen over!¡± ordered one security guard. In a situation like this, only the team leader could resolve it. ¡°Alright!¡± The security guard named Dongzi immediately picked up the walkie-talkie, called Brother Chen in the security room, and asked Brother Chen to bring people over to take down Lin Yifan, the troublemaker. Lin Yifan was not afraid of the wicked complaining first, because he was just, so he stood on the spot, quietly waiting for the Antian Group security to call their team leader over. Soon, the security team leader, Brother Chen, arrived with more than a dozen men. Chapter 33 - 33 33 Overestimating Oneself ?33: Chapter 33: Overestimating Oneself 33: Chapter 33: Overestimating Oneself They were still a distance from the main gate when Brother Chen burst out in anger, asking, ¡°Who wants to break into Antian Group? Is it him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Brother Chen, it¡¯s him. He tried to forcefully enter Antian Group and even injured our brothers. You must teach him a lesson!¡± There were four security guards at the door; Lin Yifan had knocked down one, and the remaining three didn¡¯t dare to approach. This suggested that Lin Yifan must have been skilled, or was armed, forcing Team Leader Chen to calm down and ask what happened. ¡°Why did you hit him?¡± ¡°Because he just insulted me!¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°How did he insult you?¡± Security Team Leader Chen pursued. ¡°Ask them!¡± Lin Yifan glanced at the three maliciously reporting security guards, indicating that the Team Leader should question his own men. ¡°Dongzi! How did you insult him just now?¡± ¡°Brother Chen, we didn¡¯t insult him. He blamed us for blocking his way and attacked us without any reason,¡± Dongzi answered. His reason for lying was the courage given by the dozen or so brothers around him. He didn¡¯t believe that with so many people, they couldn¡¯t handle Lin Yifan, this brat. ¡°Who gave you the audacity to twist the facts and distort the truth? Just because you have these few people?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°I¡¯m not distorting the truth; what happened is exactly as I said. You did hit our brothers,¡± Dongzi replied courageously. ¡°What a guard who twists the truth! If I don¡¯t cripple you today, my last name isn¡¯t Lin!¡± With that, Lin Yifan, furious, walked toward Dongzi. Seeing the ferocious look on Lin Yifan¡¯s face, Dongzi was instantly terrified and hurriedly cried to the Team Leader for help, ¡°Brother Chen! Save me! Save me!¡± The Security Team Leader hesitated for a moment but decided to save Dongzi. Dongzi was his subordinate; he couldn¡¯t just watch him being bullied by an outsider. He reached out his hand to stop Lin Yifan and asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Lin Yifan retorted. ¡°If you want to mess with my brother, you have to get past me first!¡± ¡°Alright, since you insist on playing the hero, I¡¯ll oblige you!¡± After speaking, Lin Yifan swung his fist and struck a blow. The Security Team Leader ducked his head to dodge and clenched his fist to retaliate. Lin Yifan stepped back to create distance, then delivered a kick. The Security Team Leader dodged to the side and quickly closed in on Lin Yifan, aiming a punch at Lin Yifan¡¯s temple. Lin Yifan immediately grabbed the Security Team Leader¡¯s wrist, neutralizing his attack, then forcefully twisted, causing the Security Team Leader¡¯s wrist to hurt. ¡°Ah!! Ah!! Ah!!¡± The Security Team Leader felt unbearable pain in his arm, as if it were about to break. This was an outcome nobody could have expected; he never imagined that the skinny Lin Yifan would be so strong, leaving him no chance to fight back. After teaching the Security Team Leader a lesson, Lin Yifan kicked him away, ending the mismatched fight. ¡°Brother Chen! Are you alright?¡± A group of underlings rushed over, helping the fallen Security Team Leader off the ground, their faces filled with concern. ¡°Damn it! All of you, get him!¡± Furious beyond measure, the Security Team Leader had originally intended to intimidate Lin Yifan. Yet, ironically, it was Lin Yifan who had shown him up, a major loss of face. Hearing their boss¡¯s command, a dozen security guards immediately grabbed their batons and charged out, swinging at Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan¡¯s lips curved into a smirk, his face full of disdain. Cool and collected, he stood his ground, raised his right leg, and sent the lead security guard flying with a kick. ¡°Bang!¡± Instantly, the five security guards behind the first one were knocked down as well. With one move, Lin Yifan had temporarily taken out six guards; the remaining nine were obviously no match for him. Next, he wielded Mana, using his left arm as a rod and his right fist to keep striking, continuously sending the attacking guards flying. The guards attacking Lin Yifan were continually shocked as he used his body to withstand their baton strikes, which was outrageously strong. It¡¯s known that normal people would be in severe pain after a single strike from a security baton; Lin Yifan suffered no less than ten strikes, yet he was unhurt and felt nothing, truly beyond belief. The five guards who had been knocked down quickly stood up and rejoined the battle, trying to overpower Lin Yifan. With Golden Body enhanced, Lin Yifan remained unchanging against all changes, using broad and powerful moves to defeat all comers. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± Soon, the ground was littered with guards moaning in pain. Seeing his men getting brutally beaten, the Security Team Leader was completely enraged. He suppressed his pain, stood up from the ground, and with faltering steps, swung his baton at Lin Yifan. ¡°Hmph! Overestimating your capabilities!¡± With a cold snort, Lin Yifan kicked the already incapacitated Security Team Leader away, showing no mercy whatsoever. ¡°Clang!¡± The black security baton fell from the air to the floor, making a sharp noise. Having dealt with the Security Team Leader, Lin Yifan picked up his baton and, with an expressionless face, walked toward Dongzi, who was far away. Seeing this, Dongzi, standing in the distance, trembled uncontrollably, terrified to the extreme. He had thought Brother Chen and the others could easily handle Lin Yifan; little did he know, they would be brutally beaten by him, and now he was at a loss about what to do. Chapter 34 - 34 34 Intimidation ?34: Chapter 34 Intimidation 34: Chapter 34 Intimidation ¡°Big brother, I was wrong! Please forgive me! I will never dare to slander you again.¡± Dongzi hastily begged for mercy, hoping that Lin Yifan would spare him. ¡°Hmph! It¡¯s too late now!¡± Lin Yifan raised the security baton in his hand and struck down fiercely. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± After hitting Dongzi many times, and not until he had broken one of Dongzi¡¯s legs and an arm did Lin Yifan stop. Dongzi screamed in pain, rolling on the ground in extreme discomfort. He dared not offend Lin Yifan again, for Lin Yifan was a freak of nature, capable of being hit without feeling pain, being hit without falling, surpassing that of a normal human being. ... After dealing with the group of arrogant security guards, Lin Yifan dusted off his hands and clothes, then sat down on the sofa in the lobby, quietly waiting for the HR manager to come to work. Soon after, employees began to arrive for work. Stepping through the main entrance and seeing a bunch of security guards groaning on the lobby floor, these employees sensed that something significant had happened and looked around cautiously to assess the situation. When they saw only a plainly dressed, robust man in the lobby, they couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°Could it have been him alone responsible for this? Who exactly is he? Why would he do this? An enemy of the Antian Group?¡± No matter what, they could only call the police first to help the company resolve the matter. They quickly finished reporting to the police. Now, they stood at the entrance, acting as monitors to prevent Lin Yifan from escaping. Lin Yifan heard some noisy voices but chose to ignore them, thinking these people could be trusted or not, as they wished. As time passed, more and more employees arrived for work. However, after seeing what had happened in the lobby, they dared not step inside, fearing they might get dragged into the mess. ¡°Who exactly is he?¡± ¡°Were all these security guards taken down by him?¡± ¡°Could he be a terrorist?¡± ... The discussions continued for a few minutes until finally, a person of managerial rank arrived at the company. HR Manager Wang Hong saw from a distance that a crowd had gathered at the group¡¯s main entrance. He didn¡¯t know what had transpired and had to go over to check. Seeing Manager Wang arriving, the ordinary employees watching at the door stepped aside to let Wang Hong in to handle the situation. Upon entering the main gate and taking a good look around, Wang Hong was baffled, not understanding why the security guards were lying on the ground, moaning in pain. ¡°Why is this happening?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know! When we got here, twenty security guards were already lying on the ground,¡± the surrounding ordinary employees answered. ¡°Who did this?¡± Wang Hong continued to ask. ¡°We don¡¯t know. However, there¡¯s a plainly dressed man inside the lobby; we think it must have been him.¡± Following the direction the employees pointed to, Wang Hong saw the plainly dressed man. The man sat on the lobby sofa with his arms crossed and legs propped up, calmly waiting for someone¡¯s arrival. ¡°Is he alone?¡± the manager asked. Actually, he couldn¡¯t believe that one person could take down twenty robust security guards; even if that person was highly skilled, it would have come at a cost; yet the man sitting on the sofa looked entirely unharmed, and it seemed unlikely that it was his doing. ¡°We don¡¯t know! When we got here, it was already like this,¡± the employees repeated. ¡°Could it really be the work of just one person? How is that possible?¡± Wang Hong was uncertain and dared not make any hasty conclusions. Just then, he suddenly recalled a statement: ¡°Tomorrow, a master will come to complete the hiring process; make sure it is well handled.¡± ¡°Could he be the personal bodyguard arranged by the general manager to handle the hiring process?¡± If that was the case, then there was nothing to fear; after all, he was one of us. To confirm the man¡¯s identity, Wang Hong mustered his courage and stepped into the lobby. He approached the man and politely asked, ¡°Excuse me, sir, are you the personal bodyguard newly hired by the general manager?¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s mouth curved slightly upward, then he stood up, extended his right hand, and with a smile said, ¡°HR Manager, I¡¯ve been waiting for you for quite a while!¡± ¡°So it really was you! Pleased to meet you! Pleased to meet you!¡± Manager Wang Hong breathed a sigh of relief; just a moment ago, he thought Lin Yifan would hit him as he stood up. This outcome left the employees standing outside the door speechless and shocked. The plainly dressed man turned out to be the personal bodyguard newly hired by the general manager, which was utterly surprising since they had never heard of one¡¯s own people fighting against their own before. And those security guards lying on the ground, howling in misery, were nearly spitting blood in anger. If only they had known he was the general manager¡¯s personal bodyguard, they certainly would not have sought trouble with him or even insulted him. ¡°Are these security guards on the ground all your handiwork?¡± Manager Wang asked curiously. ¡°Correct!¡± Lin Yifan answered with an impassive face, as it seemed to be nothing astonishing to him. Wang Hong was incredulous, his belief system completely overturned. How could one person take down twenty strong men and not sustain a single injury? He thought that it made sense for the general manager to hire just one person as his personal bodyguard because Lin Yifan alone was worth more than twenty men. ¡°What did they do to offend you, such that you had to knock them all down?¡± Wang Hong asked curiously. ¡°They spoke insolently, so I had no choice but to teach them a lesson,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°How did they speak to you insolently?¡± Wang Hong continued to ask, wanting to understand the full story. ¡°They called me a beggar because of my simple clothes and compared me to a dog; tell me, could I endure that?¡± Lin Yifan retorted. Chapter 35 - 35 35 Crowded Elevator ?35: Chapter 35: Crowded Elevator 35: Chapter 35: Crowded Elevator ¡°I can¡¯t tolerate this, I didn¡¯t expect them to say such things¡ªit seems we¡¯ve been too lenient,¡± Wang Hong contemplated thoughtfully. A while later, the police and ambulance arrived. Since all the security guards chose not to pursue the matter, Lin Yifan was not taken to the police station. The security guards were just trying to earn their livelihood and didn¡¯t want to lose their jobs over investigating the incident. After the incident, Lin Yifan followed Wang Hong to his office. After a simple signing, he completed his employment process. Now, he had officially become a personal bodyguard. ¡°The general manager¡¯s office is on the fiftieth floor, you can take the elevator up and wait for her there! She should arrive shortly,¡± said Wang Hong. ¡°Okay!¡± After that, Lin Yifan left the HR department, ready to take the elevator upstairs. Since the HR department was on the tenth floor at the lower levels of the building, Lin Yifan was destined to face a crowded elevator. Since Antian Group building had only three elevators, one of which was designated for the general manager and senior staff, other employees had only two elevators available. Considering the thousands of employees and peak office hours, these two elevators were certainly going to be crowded. Earlier, many employees were afraid of him and didn¡¯t share an elevator; but the employees who came later didn¡¯t know about the incident in the lobby, so they were bound to crowd in with Lin Yifan. Indeed, when the elevator doors opened, Lin Yifan was kept out by the crowd; there really was no room for one more person. Helplessly, he had to wait for another elevator to arrive. After a few minutes, another elevator came up; as the doors slowly opened, Lin Yifan could quickly see the situation inside. Although the elevator was still packed with people, at least there was just enough space to squeeze in, so he stepped inside. The employees in the elevator, seeing his plain clothes and assuming he was part of the property staff, moved aside, unwilling to get close to him. ¡°Wow! There are still class distinctions in this world! That¡¯s just ridiculous,¡± Lin Yifan was speechless. Then, he turned around, faced the elevator doors, and quietly rode the elevator. The employees gave him some space, allowing him room to stand comfortably¡ªmuch better than the others. ¡°It would be great to enjoy this kind of treatment every day.¡± Lin Yifan, rather than feeling put down, felt somewhat proud. By the thirtieth floor, all the employees had left the elevator. Now, only Lin Yifan continued the ride up alone. ¡°Phew! The ¡®elite¡¯ with their rolling eyes are finally gone. What a relief!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but exhale, feeling relaxed and very comfortable. However, the respite was short-lived. When the elevator reached the thirty-fifth floor, another group of employees entered. This group was likely heading to higher floors for work. Lin Yifan noticed that the new group consisted of female employees heavily made-up; moreover, each had a voluptuous figure. These elegantly dressed female employees, upon seeing him, also showed disdain, looking down on him greatly. ¡°More eye rollers,¡± Lin Yifan thought disgustedly. How could he encounter such people wherever he went? Was there really no warmth left in this world? ¡°With so many low-quality employees, it¡¯s no wonder Antian Group is troubled.¡± He truly felt sad for An Qi. But if the boss wasn¡¯t worried, he wasn¡¯t going to worry about it either; after all, it wasn¡¯t his place to do so. The elevator continued upwards, with more and more people getting on. Soon, the elevator was packed again. Those female employees, unwilling to get close to Lin Yifan, were compelled by necessity to stand next to him. Lin Yifan was squeezed into a corner, feeling quite uncomfortable. Due to the crowding, a female employee pressed against him, and the distance between them was virtually zero. Lin Yifan could distinctly feel the woman¡¯s ample body and body heat. This feeling was perilous; sometimes, he really couldn¡¯t control himself. The female employee also felt Lin Yifan¡¯s intense body heat, but there was nothing she could do since the elevator was just too crowded, and she had no choice but to stand pressed against him. Now, she was entirely repulsed, regretting her decision to take this elevator. The elevator climbed floor by floor, but it stopped nearly at every floor, greatly prolonging their ¡°interaction time.¡± Both Lin Yifan and the woman in front of him suffered tremendously. Two people who mutually repulsed each other and looked down upon each other were forced by circumstance to stand intimately close in an elevator¡ªjust the thought was distasteful. As time passed, Lin Yifan found it increasingly hard to control himself. At that moment, his body was flushed, his veins bulging with the effort to restrain himself, and his palms were nearly clenched bloody. ¡°Damn! Why won¡¯t they leave?¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words. If the voluptuous woman was heading to the same floor as him, then he was doomed. He could only hope that wasn¡¯t the case, otherwise he would lose control completely. Chapter 36 - 36 36 The Beautiful Assistant ?36: Chapter 36: The Beautiful Assistant 36: Chapter 36: The Beautiful Assistant The elevator jolted and began to ascend. This was forced, and whether there would be an end to it depended on his willpower now. ¡°Ding!¡± In less than five seconds, the elevator stopped once again. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± Lin Yifan breathed rapidly, adjusting his body and suppressing the excitement in his nerves. At this moment, he was sweating profusely, his skin flushed red, and he was extremely uncomfortable. If this happened again, he might just be finished. The sound of Lin Yifan¡¯s rapid breathing drew the attention of the nearby employees. The surrounding employees noticed his sweaty head and flushed face and thought he might have an issue, so they asked, ¡°Hey! Are you alright?¡± Lin Yifan did not respond, continuing to breathe rapidly. The one in front of him also sensed the unusual frequency of breathing. Just then, the elevator doors opened, and many people exited; thus, he could slightly move his body. She turned around, her face filled with confusion, looking at Lin Yifan, trying to understand what exactly had happened to him. Lin Yifan could not bear to look directly and quickly turned away, pressing against the elevator wall. ¡°Hey! Answer me! Are you okay?¡± The nearby employee asked anxiously. ¡°It¡¯s nothing! It¡¯s nothing! Just a bit of oxygen deprivation. Don¡¯t worry about me, just do what you need to do!¡± Lin Yifan hastily replied, casually handling the employees¡¯ concern for him. ¡°Oxygen deprivation and you don¡¯t leave, but cling to the elevator wall? Why?¡± The surrounding employees were confused, feeling that Lin Yifan was acting mysteriously and might have a problem with his mind. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry so much! I¡¯ll be fine after resting a bit.¡± Lin Yifan did not want to interact much with the employees in the elevator, fearing to expose some embarrassing problems. The employees in the elevator no longer paid attention to Lin Yifan, having already shown their concern; and since he did not accept their help, they felt too lazy to offer further assistance. The elevator doors closed and continued to ascend. When it reached the next floor, all the employees inside had exited, leaving only Lin Yifan alone. Lin Yifan was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief and slowly calm down. On the next stop, he went straight to the fiftieth floor without any further incidents. Stepping out of the elevator, he was ¡°severely shaken.¡± This trip in the elevator might just be the most unforgettable one of his life; it almost finished him. ¡°I never want to squeeze into an elevator again!¡± After uttering that phrase, he straightened his outfit and walked directly into the general manager¡¯s office suite. The doors to the office suite were already open, which meant someone had arrived to work. It was his first time working in such a formal place, and he was a bit uncomfortable. However, if the enemy approaches, block; if a flood comes, use earth to contain it¡ªnothing he couldn¡¯t handle. The design inside the office suite was simple, with a general manager¡¯s office, an assistant¡¯s desk, and a reception hall. The assistant¡¯s working area was in the reception hall, and both spaces were connected. There were not many employees here, only a few assistants working. In the reception hall, Lin Yifan saw sofas, a water dispenser, a TV, a coffee machine, a fruit machine, and other modern amenities. However, what attracted him most was a large plate of bananas on the coffee table. The number of bananas was somewhat excessive; he wondered if it was because the employees here loved eating bananas. Lin Yifan¡¯s sudden intrusion was noticed by a female assistant. This female assistant, seeing his plain outfit, thought he was a criminal and immediately became alert. However, without clarifying his identity and purpose, she would not rashly call the police or security. ¡°Sir, what are you here for?¡± Lin Yifan looked at the female assistant and realized she truly was an ¡°Enchantress.¡± Long hair down to her waist, luscious red lips, a form-fitting black mini skirt, a voluptuous figure, and a somewhat delicate face, everything about her was lovable. Actually, if he could marry a woman like that, his life would be considered blessed and complete. However, appearance is one thing, and inner refinement is another; Lin Yifan would not be immediately overwhelmed, because true understanding comes from long roads and seeing into someone¡¯s heart over time. Quickly clearing his mind and adjusting his attitude, he replied, ¡°I am the newly hired personal bodyguard of the general manager, named Lin Yifan, and I am here to report for duty!¡± The beautiful assistant relaxed, picked up the phone immediately, and consulted the general manager¡¯s secretary to verify this claim. After the call connected, the general manager¡¯s secretary confirmed this, so she went to warmly welcome this new personal bodyguard. ¡°Sir, please have a seat!¡± Lin Yifan wasted no time and promptly sat down on the sofa. ¡°Sir, please have some tea!¡± The beautiful assistant handed Lin Yifan a cup of hot tea, providing very attentive service. Lin Yifan looked up and saw something he shouldn¡¯t have seen. He instinctively shifted his gaze away, took the hot tea, and responded politely, ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± After saying this, the beautiful assistant left. Watching her move left and right like a piece of doufu, Lin Yifan found himself at a loss for words. This beautiful assistant was not only frontally endowed but also exceptionally curvaceous in the back, truly torturing him beyond words. Chapter 37 - 37 37 Buying a Suit ?37: Chapter 37 Buying a Suit 37: Chapter 37 Buying a Suit After several cups of tea and a trip to the restroom, the general manager finally arrived. An Qi was dressed in relatively conservative professional attire for women, exuding an aura of a strong career woman. For some reason, when Yifan saw An Qi again, he felt an unexpected flutter in his heart. This ¡°flutter¡± was a rapid heartbeat, quite perplexing. Logically, he didn¡¯t have much of a liking for An Qi, nor was it love at first sight, so why this heartbeat? ¡°Why are you dressed like this? Don¡¯t you have any decent clothes?¡± An Qi was somewhat dissatisfied, feeling that Lin Yifan¡¯s unpolished attire undermined her personal bodyguard image. ¡°This is already my best outfit,¡± Lin Yifan replied with a look of grievance. An Qi knew that Lin Yifan came from a poor family, so she had no choice but to suppress her emotions and ordered, ¡°Go out now and buy a suit to wear.¡± ¡°General manager, how much does a suit typically cost?¡± Lin Yifan asked curiously. ¡°Cheap ones are a few hundred; expensive ones can cost thousands or even tens of thousands.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your requirement? A few hundred, a few thousand, or tens of thousands?¡± Yifan pressed further. ¡°If the budget allows, go for the ones that cost thousands or tens of thousands, but if not, a few hundred will do,¡± An Qi answered. ¡°OK! I¡¯ve got it.¡± With that, Lin Yifan took off like an arrow from the office hall and went downstairs to buy clothes. Jincan Road was lined on both sides with various company buildings and office towers, with hardly any clothing stores, so he had to ask passersby. After inquiring, he learned that there was a commercial street about one kilometer to the west of Jincan Road; he then walked there. After about ten minutes, he arrived at the commercial street. By this time, the shops on both sides of the commercial street were open; however, since it was morning, there weren¡¯t too many pedestrians on the street. Lin Yifan kept looking around, searching for the shadow of a suit store. Soon after, he found a suit shop named ¡°Men¡¯s Help¡±. Curious, he entered the store. Upon entering, he was greeted with bows by the staff standing at the entrance, which made him quite uncomfortable. He had never been to such a high-end clothing store before, and suddenly he felt rather intimidated. While he was at a loss, a heavily made-up female sales associate approached him. Seeing his unsophisticated attire, the female associate originally did not want to serve him, but considering the existence of a group of people known as nouveau riche, she managed to keep her composure and politely inquired, ¡°Sir! What kind of suit are you looking to buy?¡± From that momentary look of disdain from the other party, Lin Yifan got a good sense of the shop¡¯s attitude toward service. To be honest, he didn¡¯t really want to spend money in a shop that looked down on its customers. But in order to get the chore done as soon as possible, he had to endure it. ¡°How much is the cheapest suit here?¡± Although he still had some money, if he could save, he would choose to do so. ¡°It seems he¡¯s not some nouveau riche, just a bumpkin,¡± the sales associate concluded internally. After forming an approximate judgment, she gave Lin Yifan a reality check, intending to dissuade this poor lad and send him on his way. ¡°Eight hundred yuan!¡± ¡°Eight hundred yuan?¡± Lin Yifan weighed his finances and realized he could afford it, so he responded, ¡°Give me one, please!¡± Hearing that Lin Yifan wanted one, the heavily made-up sales associate was slightly surprised, as she never expected this poor youngster could afford the price. She had thought that upon hearing the price, he would back down. Chapter 38 - 38 38 The Disgusting About-face ?38: Chapter 38: The Disgusting About-face 38: Chapter 38: The Disgusting About-face Carrying a hint of surprise, she politely responded, ¡°All right! Sir, what size do you wear? I¡¯ll go get you some clothes to try on.¡± ¡°XXL,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Okay, please wait a moment!¡± Having said that, the saleswoman went to fetch the clothes. However, before she could take more than a few steps, a loud voice came from outside the shop. ¡°Xiaocui! Hurry up and serve this young master. Today, I¡¯m going to bring you a big sale!¡± Hearing this familiar voice, the saleswoman immediately stopped in her tracks and turned around joyfully, asking, ¡°Is it Young Master Zhao?¡± ¡°Besides this young master, who else would treat Xiaocui so well?¡± The speaker¡¯s tone was filled with an air of dominance that brooked no argument. ¡°No! No! In this world, only Young Master Zhao treats Xiaocui the best.¡± The saleswoman, named Xiaocui, hurriedly explained, hoping the other party wouldn¡¯t misunderstand. ¡°Ugh!¡± Lin Yifan at the side felt nauseated by the conversation between the two. It was immediately apparent that they shared some special relationship unknown to others. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you coming out to welcome this young master?¡± At this moment, a gaudily dressed young man appeared at the entrance of the shop. He wore sunglasses, had a cigar in his mouth, and looked at the ceiling with an expression of lofty arrogance. Behind him stood two bodyguards, one thin and one fat, both dressed in suits and wearing black sunglasses. The two bodyguards, thin and fat, were very serious, expressionless, and seemed quite professional. ¡°All right!¡± Xiaocui walked out joyfully, completely disregarding Lin Yifan¡¯s suit matter. In her heart, a business deal worth ten thousand yuan was simply incomparable to one worth a few hundred yuan. She would rather offend Lin Yifan, the customer, than Zhao, the ¡°customer.¡± Throwing herself into Zhao¡¯s arms, her demeanor instantly changed to one of shy charm, her voice playful and coquettish, ¡°Young Master Zhao, why did it take you so long to come and see Xiaocui? I¡¯ve almost gone crazy missing you.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Lin Yifan gagged again. He had initially thought she was a well-dressed and well-behaved girl, but it turned out she harbored a flirtatious heart. He was speechless. ¡°Missing me? I think you¡¯re missing my money, aren¡¯t you, you little temptress?¡± Young Master Zhao pinched Xiaocui¡¯s cheek, thoroughly enjoying himself. ¡°Aren¡¯t they the same? The money belongs to Young Master Zhao. To miss the money is to miss Young Master Zhao, right?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Whatever you say is right!¡± Faced with the coquettish behavior of a somewhat attractive woman, the young man surnamed Zhao clearly had little resistance. Lin Yifan, who was not far away, didn¡¯t want to hear such nauseating talk anymore, and asked somewhat irritably, ¡°Hey! What about the clothes you mentioned?¡± Looking at Lin Yifan, the foolish bumpkin, Xiaocui suddenly wore a dark expression and spoke in disgust, ¡°Missy here doesn¡¯t want your business anymore. Go find another staff member.¡± From the beginning, she didn¡¯t like Lin Yifan. If it wasn¡¯t part of her job, she wouldn¡¯t want to deal with him at all. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s truly disgusting!¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but curse, genuinely disgusted. His words infuriated Young Master Zhao. Xiaocui was his woman, and now that someone was bullying her, how could he swallow such an insult? So he challenged, ¡°What did you say? Say it again if you dare!¡± ¡°Listen well then, truly damn disgusting! Extremely damn disgusting! Super damn disgusting!¡± Lin Yifan escalated his insults, not at all afraid to provoke Young Master Zhao. After all, he was a formidable Cultivator. Would he be afraid of a poser with black sunglasses? Obviously not! ¡°You¡¯re damn asking for a death wish!¡± Young Master Zhao was livid, as no one had ever dared to speak to him like this. Lin Yifan was the first, truly the first. ¡°Want to teach me a lesson? Come on then! See how I¡¯ll turn you into a dog!¡± Lin Yifan taunted, without a trace of fear. Young Master Zhao couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and ordered, ¡°Fat and Skinny! Teach this ignorant fool a lesson!¡± ¡°Yes, Young Master!¡± The fat and skinny bodyguards behind Zhao immediately made a move, launching an attack on Lin Yifan. ¡°Xiaocui! Let¡¯s watch the drama from the side!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Xiaocui happily linked arms with Young Master Zhao, heading to a sofa in the boutique. Just as they settled down to watch, a figure suddenly flew awkwardly from a distance. With a ¡°bang,¡± Young Master Zhao was immediately knocked to the ground. ¡°Ouch! That hurts! Who¡¯s the blind fool who dares to attack this young master?¡± ¡°Young Master! I¡¯m sorry! Did I hurt you?¡± The slim bodyguard quickly got up from Zhao and asked with concern. Hearing the other person address him as young master, Zhao¡¯s eyes snapped open, and upon realizing it was his skinny bodyguard who had knocked him over, he became furious, ¡°You bastard, weren¡¯t you supposed to deal with that insolent kid? What are you doing hitting me for?¡± ¡°Young Master, it¡¯s not that I didn¡¯t go, but I couldn¡¯t beat him!¡± the slim bodyguard replied with a look of grievance. Although he knew Martial Arts, he was not invincible. Therefore, against someone with superior Martial Arts, there was nothing he could do but get hit. ¡°What the hell, you claimed to be unbeatable before you were hired. Now, faced with a petty thief, you can¡¯t beat him. What good are you?¡± Young Master Zhao roared in anger. However, at that moment, another figure came crashing down. The figure was enormous. If struck, Young Master Zhao¡¯s life might have ended there. ¡°You useless lout! Aren¡¯t you gonna save me? Do you want to feel better by watching me die here?¡± The slim bodyguard, after being scolded, quickly came to his senses and dragged Young Master Zhao away, avoiding being hit by the fat bodyguard. Chapter 39 - 39 39 Lessons and Extortion ?39: Chapter 39 Lessons and Extortion 39: Chapter 39 Lessons and Extortion ¡°Boom!¡± With a heavy crash, the fat general shattered the porcelain tiles of the clothing store¡¯s floor, also causing a noticeable tremor. Witnessing this scene, Young Master Zhao was dumbfounded. If none of his personal bodyguards were a match for this bumpkin, what was he to do? As his panic grew, Lin Yifan approached him. Upon meeting Lin Yifan¡¯s lethal gaze, Young Master Zhao shuddered before hurriedly commanding, ¡°Thin General! Hurry up and take him down!¡± Heeding the order and knowing he was no match, the lean bodyguard still charged at Lin Yifan with abandon and struck out at him. His reasons for risking his life were twofold: professional duty, and the need to provide for his family. He needed to make money off this foolish rich heir, so he dared not disobey the fool¡¯s commands. Seeing the lean bodyguard attacking again, Lin Yifan coldly spat out two words, ¡°Seeking death!¡± Following his kick, the lean bodyguard was sent flying once more. He crashed against a wall, vomiting a lot of blood. Lin Yifan had only used thirty percent of his strength with that kick; otherwise, the lean bodyguard would have been on his way to the Netherworld. Having dealt with Zhao¡¯s left and right-hand men, Lin Yifan continued walking towards the young master, now seated on the ground. Seeing no way out, Young Master Zhao could only plead pitifully, ¡°Big brother! Everything¡¯s up for discussion! Please, no more violence!¡± ¡°Discuss my ass!¡± Lin Yifan stepped on Young Master Zhao¡¯s leg, which had been injured by the lean bodyguard, and then jeeringly asked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you really arrogant just now? How come you¡¯ve suddenly turned into a bootlicking dog?¡± ¡°Ah! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!¡± Young Master Zhao cried out in agony, never in his life having felt such pain, it was like death itself. ¡°Answer my question! Answer now!¡± Lin Yifan ignored Young Master Zhao¡¯s agony and increased the pressure. Young Master Zhao had no choice but to immediately answer Lin Yifan¡¯s question to alleviate the pain in his leg, ¡°Big brother, I was blind to Mount Tai earlier and offended you. You¡¯re a magnanimous man, please let me go!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± With a cold snort, Lin Yifan removed his foot and then glanced towards Xiao Cui next to Young Master Zhao. This contemptible woman had shown a terrible attitude and spoken harshly just previously; she was unforgivable. Frozen by a cold stare, Xiao Cui was terrified and quickly apologized, ¡°Handsome guy, I was wrong too! I shouldn¡¯t have spoken to you with that attitude, with those words.¡± ¡°As a service worker, you should properly serve every customer. Always hanging around the rich, you reek of money; it¡¯s just disgusting,¡± Lin Yifan rebutted. ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Everything big brother says is right!¡± Xiao Cui dared not express any discontent, for the man in front of her was not a kind soul. If he didn¡¯t even spare Young Master Zhao a glance, she was even less significant. ¡°Slap your face ten times!¡± Lin Yifan ordered unapologetically. Words of chastisement were futile; only by making the offender feel pain could she truly remember the lesson. Despite being a humiliating act, Xiao Cui had to comply as she had no other choice. As the saying goes, the victor becomes king and the loser an outlaw. She must bear the bitter fruit she had sown herself. So, she raised her hand and slapped her own fair cheeks. ¡°Smack! Smack! Smack!¡± Again and again, gradually the fair cheeks blazed with the fiery red marks of her palm, layered on top of each other, a shocking sight to see. The two receptionists at the door watched this scene indifferently; they had no sympathy because it was all brought on by Xiao Cui herself. Xiao Cui was humiliating herself by slapping her beautiful face in front of everyone. Next to her, Young Master Zhao was fuming with rage. Lin Yifan had not only hurt him but also made him lose face in front of his own woman. This was a debt of honor he must repay. Ten slaps passed in the blink of an eye, and then Lin Yifan asked, ¡°Can you change your mistakes?¡± ¡°I can!¡± Xiao Cui answered perfunctorily. Today was her unlucky day to encounter such a ruthless character; but not everyone in the world was a ruthless character, so she would still cling to the wealthy, still look at everything through tinted glasses; because in her heart, money surpassed everything. Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t perform Mind Reading Technique, and therefore had no idea what Xiao Cui was thinking at the moment. Seeing that she seemed sincerely remorseful, he decided to let her off the hook. The lesson that needed to be taught was over; now it was time to talk about compensation: ¡°Tell me, how will you compensate me for my mental distress?¡± ¡°Mental distress compensation? You weren¡¯t the one hurt, why should you be compensated?¡± Young Master Zhao felt that Lin Yifan was being unreasonable and clearly extorting him. ¡°You guys scared me just now, I¡¯m very fragile emotionally,¡± Lin Yifan answered, pretending to be frightened and distressed. ¡°Fragile emotions? Your spirit is many times stronger than ours, stop the big lies!¡± ¡°In a word, will you compensate or not?¡± Lin Yifan stopped pretending; after all, his goal was to have these people pay both in money and pride. Facing the threat, Young Master Zhao felt extremely uneasy, and given the current circumstances, he had no choice. After thinking for a moment, he decided to settle the matter peacefully with money. After all, a gentleman¡¯s revenge can wait ten years. After he went back, he could gather a large group of men, and then, he can certainly get his money back. ¡°How much compensation do you want?¡± Lin Yifan thought for a bit, then answered, ¡°One hundred thousand!¡± ¡°One hundred thousand? That¡¯s too much! You just have a little mental issue, it doesn¡¯t warrant so much compensation,¡± the man with the surname Zhao countered, unwilling to accept the compensation amount Lin Yifan proposed. In fact, he wasn¡¯t short of money, but it irked him to be fleeced like this. ¡°You think it¡¯s too much, huh? Want another foot?¡± Lin Yifan lifted his foot, intimidatingly asked. ¡°No, no! I¡¯ll pay! Isn¡¯t that fine?¡± The man with the surname Zhao quickly interjected, utterly speechless. Lin Yifan would resort to this whenever he was talked back to; what kind of man was he? ¡°Hmph! You know what¡¯s good for you. Had you dared to rebut further, I would have shown you no mercy,¡± Lin Yifan snorted coldly and then urged, ¡°Hurry up and hand over the compensation.¡± ¡°Big brother! I don¡¯t have that much cash on me, only a bank card; do you have a bank account number? I¡¯ll transfer it to you using my mobile phone.¡± ¡°You can transfer money with a mobile phone?¡± Lin Yifan only knew about ATM and bank teller transfers but was unaware that mobile phones could be used for transfers as well. ¡°As long as you have signed up for mobile banking services and downloaded the bank¡¯s APP on your phone, you can transfer money anytime, anywhere,¡± Young Master Zhao answered. Chapter 40 - 40 40 Transforming into a Tall Rich and Handsome Man ?40: Chapter 40: Transforming into a Tall, Rich, and Handsome Man 40: Chapter 40: Transforming into a Tall, Rich, and Handsome Man ¡°Is it really that convenient?¡± Lin Yifan was surprised. He had long been in the battlefield and among the troops and did not know that internet technology had advanced so much. ¡°It¡¯s really this convenient! Give me your bank account number quickly.¡± Young Master Zhao was even more anxious than Lin Yifan, as he was in so much pain, and wanted to settle the matter quickly so he could go to the hospital. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t waste words, and immediately took out a bank card from an old wallet, handing it to Young Master Zhao, ¡°Don¡¯t play tricks on me; if the money isn¡¯t received, I will break your legs.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the money will definitely be there!¡± To Young Master Zhao, one hundred thousand Yuan really wasn¡¯t much. He only wanted to leave as soon as possible, find someone to deal with Lin Yifan later, and take back the one hundred thousand Yuan. ¡°Xiaocui, use my phone to transfer one hundred thousand to him; or you can use your phone, and I¡¯ll reimburse you later.¡± His whole body was in pain, and he was too weak to move, so he handed the task of transferring the money to Xiaocui by his side. ¡°I¡¯ll use my phone then.¡± Xiaocui didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately took the bank card and transferred the money. Youg Master Zhao was a second-generation rich man, and he had already spent more than one hundred thousand on her, so she believed he would definitely reimburse her later. After a while, she transferred the money to Lin Yifan¡¯s bank card. Then, she handed the phone to Lin Yifan for him to see, saying, ¡°The transaction is successful, here¡¯s the text message. If your bank card has the mobile SMS notification service, you can also check it. If you still don¡¯t believe it, you can go to the bank to inquire; if the money isn¡¯t there, I¡¯ll pay back double.¡± Lin Yifan took the phone and bank card, compared the final digits, found no issues, and responded, ¡°Good! I believe you.¡± Suddenly having so much money, he definitely needed to spend it well; thus, he shouted loudly, declaring, ¡°Hey everyone! Get this handsome guy two suits worth five thousand each! This handsome guy is paying with a card!¡± The store employees didn¡¯t dare make a move because it was clear that Lin Yifan was embarrassing Young Master Zhao; if they acted rashly and Young Master Zhao blamed them later, their clothing store would have to close. Seeing that the clothing store¡¯s employees still hadn¡¯t moved after a while, Lin Yifan became impatient and barked, ¡°Do you still want to stay in business or not? If not, I can smash up your store right now.¡± ¡°Big boss, don¡¯t be rash! Don¡¯t be rash! I¡¯ll get it for you right now.¡± The owner of the clothing store didn¡¯t dare to delay, and immediately went to get the five-thousand-Yuan suit for Lin Yifan. Watching this scene, Young Master Zhao was extremely angry. Previously, he was the one who used to have his way around; unexpectedly, today he was upstaged, and what was most unbearable was that he was the victim, something he couldn¡¯t stand. ¡°Unforgivable! Unforgivable!¡± He roared in his heart, swearing to take revenge. Soon, two XXL suits, each priced at over five thousand, were brought out by the owner of the clothing store. ¡°Big boss! Here are the suits you wanted! Try them on; if they don¡¯t fit, we can exchange them for you.¡± Lin Yifan took a suit and then went into the fitting room to change. A few minutes later, he confidently emerged from the fitting room, reappearing in front of everyone. This time, everyone looked at him with new respect. The two receptionists at the door were gobsmacked; Lin Yifan in a suit looked incredibly handsome, a complete transformation from before. Now, Lin Yifan looked like a wealthy, dashing gentleman, emitting an overwhelming charm. On the other side, Xiaocui¡¯s shocked heart was overwhelming. She hadn¡¯t expected that a country bumpkin changing into a suit could look so handsome, so charming. Now, she was smitten with Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan ignored the astonished stares of those around him, earnestly posing in front of the mirror, checking if the clothes fit properly. Seeing himself in a suit for the first time, he was also a bit surprised; he could look so charming. If only his hairstyle were a bit better, it would be perfect. (Note: His current hairstyle is the standard military crew cut¡ªvery short, nearly bald.) After confirming everything was correct, he spoke to the store owner, ¡°It fits perfectly! Pack it up for me!¡± ¡°Big boss, you look almost perfect; however, you are missing a pair of shoes,¡± the owner said. Seeing a business opportunity, the owner didn¡¯t rush to pack up the clothes. ¡°Nonsense, am I not wearing a pair of shoes? Where am I missing any?¡± Lin Yifan challenged. ¡°You are wearing a pair of shoes, but those are sports shoes, which don¡¯t match the suit you are wearing,¡± the owner replied. ¡°What kind of shoes should be worn with a suit?¡± Lin Yifan asked curiously. He really didn¡¯t understand much about fashion coordination, so he had to ask for advice. ¡°Leather shoes!¡± the owner answered, ¡°The nobility of leather shoes matches the elegant demeanor of a suit perfectly, so big boss, would you like a pair?¡± ¡°Do you have them here?¡± ¡°Our ¡®Men¡¯s Club¡¯ suit store offers a comprehensive service; we have everything related to suits, including the shoes,¡± Xiaocui replied. ¡°Then get me two pairs,¡± Lin Yifan responded generously, since he now had the money and was not worried about affordability. ¡°Big boss, do you want the expensive ones or the cheaper ones?¡± the owner asked. ¡°How much are the expensive ones, and how much are the cheaper ones?¡± ¡°The cheaper ones are a few hundred, and the expensive ones can be a few thousand or even tens of thousands.¡± ¡°Then bring me two pairs around five thousand each,¡± Lin Yifan declared. ¡°Big boss, what size shoes do you wear?¡± ¡°Size 43.¡± ¡°Alright! Just a moment, I¡¯ll bring them to you right away.¡± With that, he went to get the leather shoes. A little later, two pairs of leather shoes appeared in front of Lin Yifan. After trying them on, he found that the leather shoes indeed matched the suit perfectly; at least now he looked more handsome and serious. ¡°Perfect! They are really perfect!¡± the store owner couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. Once Lin Yifan put on the leather shoes, he shed his ordinary air instantly and immediately looked like a noble gentleman. ¡°Really?¡± Lin Yifan inquired. ¡°Really! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask anyone else,¡± the owner confidently asserted, with not a trace of falsehood. Chapter 41 - 41 41 Various Pursuits ?41: Chapter 41 Various Pursuits 41: Chapter 41 Various Pursuits ¡°No need to ask! From your eyes, I¡¯ve already seen infinite adoration!¡± Lin Yifan was showing off his smooth talker skills, slick and charming. The shop owner blushed, after all, she was also an unmarried lady, suddenly teased by a handsome man, she couldn¡¯t help but be flustered. Not far away, Xiaocui was green with envy. In terms of looks and charm, she was so many times better than the shop owner, yet Lin Yifan chose to flirt with the shop owner, he was really blind. Sitting on the ground nearby, taking a rest, and waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Young Master Zhao noticed Xiaocui, this slutty woman, becoming infatuated with someone else. After all, he was Xiaocui¡¯s sugar daddy, couldn¡¯t she spare him a few more glances? In any case, he was definitely going to punish Xiaocui, this slutty woman, afterward, and let her know who her real master was. After teasing the shop owner for a bit, Lin Yifan immediately went back to being serious and said, ¡°The size fits perfectly, let¡¯s swipe the card!¡± ¡°Alrighty!¡± The shop owner didn¡¯t waste words and immediately settled the bill for Lin Yifan. The transaction was successful in no time, proving that Xiaocui hadn¡¯t lied to Lin Yifan; the money had indeed been transferred and was already in the account. Lin Yifan, overjoyed, took the shopping bag and strode out of the ¡°Men¡¯s Ally¡± suit store. However, when he reached the door, he noticed a pair of sunglasses on Young Master Zhao¡¯s chest and was tempted to take them. Young Master Zhao had no idea what Lin Yifan was planning to do next, filled with anxiety. Lin Yifan let out a devilish laugh, snatched the sunglasses, put them on, and mockingly thanked him, ¡°Thanks!¡± Young Master Zhao¡¯s face turned livid with rage, and he finally couldn¡¯t help but swear furiously, ¡°Damn it! This is outrageous!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Hahaha!¡± Lin Yifan laughed heartily, walked away tall and proud, ignoring the furiously embarrassed Young Master Zhao. Young Master Zhao hammered the floor furiously, vowing to tear Lin Yifan to pieces. The employees of the ¡°Men¡¯s Ally¡± suit store were all shocked; they couldn¡¯t believe that someone in Guiyuan City dared to humiliate the famous Young Master Zhao like this; it was simply unbelievable. They didn¡¯t know who Lin Yifan was, but they felt he was headed for trouble. ... After leaving the suit store and walking on the street, Lin Yifan quickly became the center of attention, especially among women, whether middle-aged or young girls, all deeply attracted by his handsome appearance. ¡°Come on! Am I really that handsome?¡± Seeing the surprised looks from people on the street, Lin Yifan was overwhelmed. Before, when he wore shabby clothes, passersby didn¡¯t even want to spare him a second glance. Now that he was wearing an expensive new suit, he garnered so much adoring attention; it seemed true what they say, ¡°clothes make the man, just as saddles make horses.¡± In this era, appearances need to be adorned; without a pretty facade, life would be bland and finding a way forward difficult. Lin Yifan stood tall and walked briskly away from the business street. What he hadn¡¯t expected was that a group of young women secretly followed him, constantly taking photos of him. What started as photos turned into striking up conversations, constantly asking for his contact information. Lin Yifan firmly replied with two words, ¡°Don¡¯t have!¡± He didn¡¯t even have a cell phone, so where could he get a phone number or chat tools? Even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t share it; because he didn¡¯t want to flirt around, deceive feelings, hurting others and himself. Lin Yifan¡¯s cold reply broke the hearts of these admiring young women. They soon dispersed and stopped crowding around Lin Yifan. After shaking off the fan-like harassment, Lin Yifan let out a sigh of relief and continued walking towards the company. Soon, he was back at the company. The moment he stepped into the company¡¯s entrance, he attracted the attention of a group of female employees. The female employees immediately started whispering and discussing among themselves, wondering who the handsome man wearing sunglasses and a suit was and what his purposes were for coming here. ¡°Hey! Who is this handsome guy? How come I¡¯ve never seen him before?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I¡¯ve never seen him either.¡± ¡°Such a handsome man, he might be some rich young master from Guiyuan City.¡± ¡°But we more or less know the rich young masters of Guiyuan City, I¡¯ve really never seen this man before.¡± ¡°Who cares if we¡¯ve seen him before, just go up and ask.¡± Another bunch of women crowded around, and Lin Yifan was, once again, truly astonished. ¡°Don¡¯t you have work to do?¡± In his memory, office work didn¡¯t allow for romance on company time. ¡°It¡¯s break time right now, so it doesn¡¯t affect making friends,¡± these female employees cheekily replied. Lin Yifan was speechless, then retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not any tall, rich, and handsome guy, I¡¯m just a bodyguard, so don¡¯t waste your time on me.¡± ¡°Bodyguard? I don¡¯t believe it, when was the last time you saw a bodyguard this good-looking?¡± ¡°Exactly! When was there ever such a good-looking bodyguard? You¡¯re just trying to brush us off, to make us give up. Well, I¡¯m telling you, that won¡¯t work on us.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you can follow me, I¡¯ll take you to find out the truth,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s go! I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re just a bodyguard.¡± The female employees were fearless, determined to uncover the truth. After a while, when the elevator arrived, a crowd of people excitedly surged in. However, when they saw the floor number Lin Yifan pressed was the fiftieth floor, the female employees¡¯ expressions suddenly became serious. That¡¯s because the fiftieth floor was the general manager¡¯s office. Entering rashly could lead at best to a serious scolding or at worst to immediate dismissal. Yet, they still couldn¡¯t believe Lin Yifan was a bodyguard, so they mustered up their courage and followed him. As they ascended, by the time the elevator reached the forty-ninth floor, the female employees¡¯ dreams were about to be shattered as they asked, ¡°Are you really a bodyguard?¡± Chapter 42 - 42 42 Mysterious Energy ?42: Chapter 42 Mysterious Energy 42: Chapter 42 Mysterious Energy ¡°Do I need to lie to you guys?¡± Lin Yifan asked with a wry smile. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it! Unless I see you enter the general manager¡¯s office with my own eyes, I won¡¯t give up!¡± The group of love-struck female employees were determined to fight to the end. If Lin Yifan dared to step into the general manager¡¯s office, they would accept it. ¡°Is it really necessary?¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but ask. Just because he looked good and seemed wealthy, they pursued him recklessly without considering whether he liked them back; what use was such unrequited love? ¡°It¡¯s necessary! Very necessary! You¡¯re the man who will decide our futures! How can we let you go easily?¡± They wouldn¡¯t let go of any tall, rich, and handsome man easily because it was about their future. ¡°Alas,¡± Lin Yifan shook his head and sighed, utterly speechless. How had girls¡¯ values changed to this? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to share both the good times and the bad and create a wonderful future together? Why did they insist on marrying into wealth? ¡°Ding!¡± The next second, the elevator reached the fiftieth floor. The love-struck female employees stood silently in the elevator, waiting for Lin Yifan to step out. ¡°I¡¯m off! Do you want to come with me?¡± Lin Yifan asked, looking back. ¡°No, thanks! We¡¯ll just watch you go in!¡± The group of female employees weren¡¯t foolish; they knew well the consequences of barging into the general manager¡¯s office unwarranted. ¡°Alright, then watch from here,¡± he said. After saying that, Lin Yifan stepped out of the elevator and strode confidently into the general manager¡¯s office. The moment Lin Yifan entered the general manager¡¯s office, the infatuated female employees finally gave up. As for a bodyguard, they still didn¡¯t have much of an interest in him, even though this bodyguard was handsome. Meanwhile, Lin Yifan heaved a sigh of relief; he was genuinely afraid that the love-struck female employees would be relentless, and then he wouldn¡¯t know how to explain it to Manager An. Hearing the clear footsteps at the door, the beautiful assistant on duty in the general manager¡¯s office turned her head curiously. When she saw a handsome man, dressed in a Black Knight shiny black suit, wearing Lontsi leather shoes, and donning Senmo sunglasses, striding in directly, she was instantly mesmerized. It was her first time seeing such a dashing man. She immediately straightened her posture and politely asked, ¡°Sir! May I ask who you are?¡± ¡°Come on! You don¡¯t recognize me already? Have I changed that much?¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words. But, this was good too. He could take advantage of the situation to introduce himself differently. ¡°Hello, I am a business partner of Manager An from the Antian Group. My last name is Lin. I¡¯m here for an important discussion with Manager An. Please let her know I¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Mr. Lin? The suit? Holding a shopping bag? Could he be the general manager¡¯s personal bodyguard who went out to buy clothes?¡± the beautiful assistant wondered. If Lin Yifan had not mentioned his last name, she wouldn¡¯t have paid any attention to what he was holding. But now, with all these coincidences, she couldn¡¯t help but suspect whether this handsome man in front of her was the general manager¡¯s personal bodyguard who had gone out to buy clothes. However, the stark difference between his before and after appearances made her uncertain, so with an attitude meant not to make a mistake, she still dialed the general manager¡¯s number and informed her about the matter. ¡°A Mr. Lin who is a business partner?¡± On the phone, An Qi was totally confused. In her memory, there didn¡¯t seem to be a business partner surnamed Lin. However, to avoid offending any business partner, she decided to meet the person herself. After all, the company was going through a critical period and couldn¡¯t afford to lose another partner. ¡°Ask him to wait a moment, I¡¯ll come out immediately.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± After hanging up the phone, the beautiful assistant politely said to Lin Yifan, ¡°Mr. Lin, please wait a moment, Manager An will be out shortly.¡± ¡°OK!¡± Lin Yifan gestured and then stood quietly at the entrance of the general manager¡¯s office, waiting for Manager An to come out. A few seconds later, with a creak, the door to the general manager¡¯s office opened. At that moment, a beautiful woman walked out. Seeing An Qi again, Lin Yifan¡¯s heart began to thump erratically for no apparent reason. ¡°Could it be the work of the black bead? Why does it like the woman in front of me?¡± The black bead resided in his heart, and since he didn¡¯t have much feeling for An Qi, it must be the black bead causing mischief. ¡°Ah! Stop worrying about it for now, just deal with the matter at hand first.¡± Calming himself down, he reached out his hand and greeted politely, ¡°Manager An! Hello!¡± ¡°Hello!¡± An Qi also reached out her hand, and they greeted each other. As their hands clasped, Lin Yifan felt a cool energy transferring from An Qi¡¯s hand into his body, traveling along his meridians to converge inside his heart. ¡°What is this power? Why is it so strange?¡± He was deeply puzzled and extremely astonished. To absorb energy just from a handshake, he could only blame these strange abilities on the black bead because it was after the black bead merged with his body that these weird events began to occur; nothing like this had ever happened before. ¡°Sir! May I ask which company you¡¯re with?¡± An Qi asked politely. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Ah! Report to Manager An! I am with Antian Group!¡± Lin Yifan snapped back to reality, then answered seriously, no longer playing around. ¡°Antian Group? But isn¡¯t that my company? Speak up! Who exactly are you?¡± An Qi¡¯s tone suddenly turned serious. Someone in the company dared to fool her; they must be tired of living. ¡°I am Lin Yifan, your personal bodyguard,¡± Lin Yifan answered solemnly. ¡°You? No way! You don¡¯t seem to be the same,¡± An Qi said with a face full of surprise. In her memory, Lin Yifan was just a simple migrant worker. How had he suddenly transformed into a high, rich, and handsome man? Even magic couldn¡¯t change someone so completely, could it? ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you! I am indeed your personal bodyguard!¡± The next moment, Lin Yifan took off his sunglasses, revealing his true face. An Qi gasped in shock, asking incredulously, ¡°It¡¯s really you? How did you change like this?¡± Chapter 43 - 43 43 The Proactive Beautiful Assistant ?43: Chapter 43: The Proactive Beautiful Assistant 43: Chapter 43: The Proactive Beautiful Assistant ¡°What have I turned into? It¡¯s just a new suit, a pair of leather shoes, and a pair of sunglasses,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°It seems clothes really do make the man; you look much more handsome now than before!¡± An Qi complimented. ¡°Thanks for the compliment, Boss An!¡± Lin Yifan was a little excited inside because he had never been praised by a beautiful woman before. ¡°By the way, you¡¯re wearing designer labels, must have cost quite a bit. Where did you get the money? And what about that transfer message earlier?¡± An Qi asked. The most important thing for her was that transfer message, which was really odd because there was no reason Lin Yifan could make a hundred thousand just by stepping out. If money were that easy to come by, Lin Yifan wouldn¡¯t have had to work as a bodyguard; she wanted to know the whole story. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t hide anything and simply recounted his suit buying experience: ¡°When I was buying the suit earlier, a rich second generation took a dislike to me and wanted to hit me; instead, I beat him up and extorted some money for emotional damages; that¡¯s when that transfer message came.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s how it was!¡± An Qi suddenly realized. She really felt sorry for that rich second generation, encountering such a skilled tough guy, well, it¡¯s said often enough¡ªif you stand by the river often, your shoes are bound to get wet. ¡°Just stay in the hall and don¡¯t let any suspicious people come in and disturb me.¡± An Qi calmed down, seeing that Lin Yifan did it mostly to surprise her rather than to upset her, so she let it slide. ¡°Sure!¡± Lin Yifan promptly responded. The next moment, An Qi turned and went back to work in her office, and Lin Yifan prepared to sit on the sofa in the hall to keep guard. However, as he turned around, he noticed his soul-stirring beautiful assistant. He waved his hand in front of the beautiful assistant and, seeing no reaction, called out, ¡°Hey! Wake up! Wake up!¡± The beautiful assistant immediately snapped out of it and asked somewhat flustered, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Why¡¯s he asking for my name? Does he want to chase after me?¡± The beautiful assistant¡¯s heart thumped uncontrollably, and her face flushed, unsure of what to do. Even though Lin Yifan was just a bodyguard, his prospects were limitless, apparent from An Qi¡¯s actions. In the past, An Qi¡¯s personal bodyguards had always numbered four or more, now just one, indicating that Lin Yifan must be capable of handling four at once. With such skills, his salary had to be much higher than that of ordinary bodyguards. So even if Lin Yifan wasn¡¯t truly wealthy and handsome, he was still a highly promising high-income individual. Therefore, why would she refuse the pursuit of such a high-income individual? So she replied, ¡°My name is Wang Xiaolin, you can call me Little Wang or Xiaolin.¡± Lin Yifan didn¡¯t use any nickname, merely addressed her politely: ¡°Hello! Assistant Wang!¡± This seemed to imply that he wasn¡¯t interested in pursuing Wang Xiaolin. Wang Xiaolin felt a little disappointed, but since Lin Yifan had extended his hand politely, she couldn¡¯t refuse and stretched out her hand too: ¡°Hello!¡± As their hands touched, Wang Xiaolin felt like she had been electrified, her body involuntarily shivered. This was Lin Yifan¡¯s hand, this was Lin Yifan¡¯s warmth, it felt so solid and comforting. She felt a great sense of security and charisma from him; this was the support she¡¯d been looking for her whole life. So even if Lin Yifan didn¡¯t like her, she was determined to make Lin Yifan fall for her. On the other hand, Lin Yifan furrowed his brows, feeling that something was amiss. When he shook hands with An Qi, he had felt a strange energy enter his heart; but when he shook hands with the beautiful assistant, he didn¡¯t feel it. The contrast indicated that not everyone possessed strange energy. Now, he finally understood why his heart pounded so wildly when he saw An Qi again; it turned out that An Qi possessed the power that the ¡°Black Bead¡± desired. He lost focus for a moment and then let go of her hand. Seeing Wang Xiaolin¡¯s face turn so red, he asked concerned, ¡°Assistant Wang, why is your face so red? Are you okay?¡± ¡°Ah? No, nothing! Nothing!¡± Wang Xiaolin hastily snapped out of her daze, trying to stay composed. ¡°Really, it¡¯s nothing?¡± ¡°Yes, really nothing.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s nothing, then I won¡¯t disturb you from working.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Lin Yifan turned and walked towards the sofa. However, soon after he turned, a scream came from behind him. ¡°Ah!¡± Wang Xiaolin, while turning back to her seat and off-balance due to her high heels and distraction, twisted her foot and fell. Lin Yifan quickly looked back to see Wang Xiaolin falling backward. Without a second thought, he rushed to her aid, catching her. Wang Xiaolin only felt herself supported by a broad arm, and suddenly the crisis was averted. She looked up at her rescuer and found it was Lin Yifan, whom she had just fallen for, and her heart blossomed with joy. She knew it was Lin Yifan; she knew Lin Yifan wouldn¡¯t leave her in peril. After saving her, Lin Yifan was both flushing and flustered. This was because he saw something he shouldn¡¯t have. Wang Xiaolin¡¯s bursting... was truly captivating, almost criminally so. Wang Xiaolin also gradually realized that Lin Yifan¡¯s gaze and expression were a bit off. She glanced down at her chest and suddenly understood why Lin Yifan was so embarrassed. She was not lacking in anything, except a good figure, which was her asset for ¡°revolution,¡± so since Lin Yifan liked it, she would use her assets to win him over and deliberately took a deep breath to catch his eye. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Yifan quickly closed his eyes, no longer daring to look. He then hurriedly helped Wang Xiaolin up, saying in a flustered voice, ¡°I... I¡¯m going to get a drink!¡± Chapter 44 - 44 44 Zhou Jiajia ?44: Chapter 44 Zhou Jiajia 44: Chapter 44 Zhou Jiajia ¡°Mr. Lin, would you like me to pour it for you?¡± ¡°No, I can manage it myself!¡± Lin Yifan left quickly, daring not to glance at Wang Xiaolin again. Wang Xiaolin¡¯s lips curled slightly, thinking that Lin Yifan was just an innocent boy. Such people, who had never experienced seduction, were the easiest to conquer. After pouring himself a cup of cold water, Lin Yifan gulped it down, drinking it all at once to extinguish the lust in his heart. Finding that it wasn¡¯t enough, he continued drinking cold water. Only when he had almost calmed down did he sit on the sofa, close his eyes, and concentrate, relaxing his mind. An hour passed by, and An Qi¡¯s secretary entered the General Manager¡¯s office hall. She was a young woman in her thirties, mature and composed, elegant and dignified, with a charming aura. After knocking lightly on the door and obtaining permission, the female secretary pushed the door and entered the General Manager¡¯s office. As a personal bodyguard, Lin Yifan immediately thought of An Qi¡¯s safety upon seeing this. However, since Wang Xiaolin didn¡¯t stop her, he assumed this person must be acquainted with An Qi. To avoid making a fool of himself, he asked, ¡°Assistant Wang, who is this person? Is it considered impolite for her to just enter the General Manager¡¯s office like this?¡± Wang Xiaolin smiled slightly, responding, ¡°Silly, she¡¯s An Qi¡¯s secretary. She¡¯s not a bad person.¡± ¡°Oh! So she¡¯s the secretary!¡± Lin Yifan lowered his guard, relieved that he had asked before taking action; otherwise, he really would have made a fool of himself. However, Wang Xiaolin¡¯s ¡°Silly¡± made his scalp tingle and gave him goosebumps all over. ¡°Pfft!¡± Wang Xiaolin covered her mouth to stifle her laughter, knowing that Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t stand it. Lin Yifan became serious and didn¡¯t look at Wang Xiaolin anymore, while Wang Xiaolin turned her head and continued to work diligently. Meanwhile, inside the General Manager¡¯s office, An Qi¡¯s secretary had come to ask An Qi to attend a press conference and meet with the reporters. Antian Group was facing a serious crisis and needed to hold a press conference to address the rumors. After finishing the last document on hand, An Qi left the office with the mature and steady female secretary. Soon after, she called Lin Yifan to take the elevator down together. In the elevator, the female secretary was somewhat worried, asking, ¡°An Qi, why are you only bringing one bodyguard? There might be troublemakers at the press conference.¡± ¡°He can handle twenty by himself, so don¡¯t worry,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°Really that impressive?¡± The secretary looked shocked. One against twenty was something she had never heard or seen before. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s that impressive. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have brought only him,¡± An Qi answered confidently. ¡°All right, you two are people I trust the most. Introduce yourselves to each other, so communication will be easier when working together in the future.¡± The female secretary didn¡¯t waste words and immediately stretched out her hand, as white as jade, introducing herself, ¡°Hello! My name is Zhou Jiajia, An Qi¡¯s new secretary.¡± ¡°Hello! My name is Lin Yifan, An Qi¡¯s new personal bodyguard,¡± Lin Yifan also extended his hand to introduce himself. Their hands clasped tightly, and for some reason, Zhou Jiajia felt a sense of warmth and security as if she was enveloped in strong arms; moreover, the other person seemed to be a strong and robust man, the kind she had always lacked in her life. Subconsciously, she started to feel an attraction to Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan, however, didn¡¯t have such feelings. He only thought of her as a mature, composed, and graceful female employee. Additionally, he noticed a curious phenomenon, that the female secretary didn¡¯t emit any special energy that flowed into his body. This made him even more certain that in the whole world, only An Qi possessed that mysterious power. After the introductions, Zhou Jiajia turned around, continuing to ride the elevator in silence, her mind a whirl of complex emotions. Lin Yifan, serious-faced, stuck to his duties and didn¡¯t entertain any inappropriate thoughts. Chapter 45 - 45 45 Someone is trying to assassinate An Qi! ?45: Chapter 45 Someone is trying to assassinate An Qi! 45: Chapter 45 Someone is trying to assassinate An Qi! The elevator quickly reached the first floor, where Secretary Zhou immediately took the lead, escorting President An to the press conference. In less than a minute, they arrived at the press conference. As they settled into their seats and posed gracefully, An Qi began answering questions from reporters from various media outlets. Lin Yifan stood behind President An, constantly protecting her personal safety, while Zhou Jiajia stepped down and stood aside to watch. ¡°Click! Click! Click!¡± The flashbulbs kept flickering, as media frenziedly photographed An Qi, gathering material. The questioning soon began. ¡°In recent days, more Tianyao V7 smartphone users have reported explosion incidents. What is Antian Group¡¯s response to these explosion events?¡± ¡°First, we sincerely apologize to the affected consumers. Moreover, we have opened multiple channels to recall all sold Tianyao V7 smartphones nationwide; both customers with and without exploded phones can receive a full refund. For those injured by the exploding phones, we will actively offer compensation and ensure they are taken care of.¡± ¡°Foreign media have reported that the Tianyao V7 could be used as a bomb; what is your comment on that?¡± Hearing this question, Lin Yifan, standing behind An Qi, was quite surprised. Since when could a phone turn into a bomb? That was terrifying. If someone was displeased with another, they could just throw a phone at them. ¡°That is an exaggeration! Although some Tianyao V7 phones have exploded, not all do, and the intensity of the explosions is not as severe as a bomb, so we hope that our customers won¡¯t be deceived,¡± An Qi answered. ¡°In the past few days, due to the ¡®explosion gate¡¯ incident, your company¡¯s stock has been consistently hitting the lower limit, and market value has evaporated by tens of billions. What remedial measures do you have?¡± ¡°We have urgently convened a shareholders¡¯ meeting to discuss our strategy, and we already have some plans in place; so please rest assured, we at Antian Group are confident in winning this tough battle!¡± ¡°The Tianlun Garden project has come to a halt. Does this mean your company is experiencing a liquidity problem?¡± ¡°Our Antian Group¡¯s liquidity is very sufficient; there¡¯s no truth in saying there¡¯s a problem. The reason for the temporary halt of the project is that we have diverted all our manpower and resources to resolve the ¡®explosion gate¡¯ incident. Once it is over, the project will naturally resume.¡± ¡°It was rumored that a large number of your company¡¯s senior technical personnel have left; is this true?¡± ¡°That is entirely media hype. None of Antian Group¡¯s technical personnel have left,¡± An Qi answered. ¡°It¡¯s said that your company will launch a new phone next month, is this true?¡± ¡°The news about the new phone is true, but it won¡¯t launch next month. The launch date will adhere to the timeline published on the official website,¡± An Qi answered. ... Reporters bombarded with questions, voicing their own doubts and the consumers¡¯ concerns, allowing Antian Group¡¯s acting CEO to respond. Antian Group¡¯s President An responded sincerely, hoping to soothe the public through the media¡¯s coverage. Thus, the press conference slowly ended amidst a series of questions and answers. Toward the end, a gang of hooligans suddenly burst through the back door of the venue. The gang, filled with fury, stormed in carrying objects like beverage bottles, shoes, and phones, seemingly intent on creating havoc. Seeing this, the company staff and temporary security guards immediately intervened to prevent the hooligans from disrupting the order. Unwilling to give up, the hooligans threw their objects, shouting, ¡°Heartless scoundrels! Go die! The sooner, the better!¡± Lin Yifan quickly acted to shield President An from the objects thrown by the hooligans. Faced with such a chaotic situation, An Qi was, of course, very frightened. But fortunately, she had an exceptionally skilled and reliable personal bodyguard by her side, and she remained unharmed. Jiajia, watching Lin Yifan standing firm against the onslaught below, finally believed what President An had said in the elevator earlier. Lin Yifan¡¯s skills were indeed remarkable; he managed to block all the objects aimed at President An. Had it been any other bodyguard, they would have been badly hit. And An Qi felt that spending over fifty thousand to hire Lin Yifan as her personal bodyguard was worthwhile. In such a situation, if it were any other bodyguard, they would have been looking out for themselves and fled. One wave ended, and another began, with objects like beverage bottles, shoes, and phones thrown in heaps, seemingly intent on burying An Qi alive. How deep was the hatred and public grievance to drive such behavior? Lin Yifan kept acting, even using his body to shield President An from these attacking objects. No matter whether President An was good or bad, a fine merchant or a ruthless businessman, he only knew that he was now a personal bodyguard, and as his boss was in trouble, he had to step up, fulfilling his duties as a qualified bodyguard. Lin Yifan¡¯s protective actions were touching, but what everyone at the scene wanted to know more was how Lin Yifan could stand unscathed amidst so many attacking objects. It didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Could his body be made of diamond? Not feeling pain or getting hurt?¡± While everyone was puzzled, a sharp knife mingled with the myriad objects thrown their way. It had only one target, and that was An Qi, standing behind Lin Yifan. Someone was seizing the opportunity to assassinate An Qi! Chapter 46 - 46 46 A Conspiracy ?46: Chapter 46 A Conspiracy 46: Chapter 46 A Conspiracy Lin Yifan, who was continuously fending off random objects flying through the air, suddenly felt a chill in his heart and realized that among the next wave of flying objects, there was something dangerous. He quickly pulled Director An behind him, then with a swift step, he moved in front of Director An, raised his hand, and caught something out of the air. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± The consequence of this action was that numerous attacking objects hit him. However, to resolve the danger for Director An was worth it. Many people did not understand why Lin Yifan would be so selflessly fearless, until they saw the sharp knife he had caught in his hand, then they understood the reason why. All the media were shocked, they hadn¡¯t expected that someone would attempt to assassinate the chairman of the Antian Group at such a time. It was terrifying. This was big news, they had to report it, so they risked their lives to take photos, not wanting to leave. Seeing this situation, the general manager¡¯s secretary, Zhou Jiajia, immediately shouted, ¡°There¡¯s an assassination attempt! Quickly get these people out of here!¡± Hearing the secretary give the command, the security and employees of the Antian Group joined the action, driving the frenzied crowd out. Others picked up their cell phones and called the police. Lin Yifan stood on the high podium, looking around. Suddenly, he spotted a strange figure. As people were fleeing in panic, this figure remained calm and composed, taking a turn and disappearing from sight. Instinct told him that this person was the assassin who was after Director An. ¡°Granny gray hair.¡± That was a distinguishing feature of the assassin, and he had firmly memorized it. An Qi, who had narrowly escaped the attack, was completely baffled. She had been wondering why Lin Yifan had so roughly pulled her behind him; after learning the reason, her heart filled with gratitude and warmth. Fortunately, Yifan was there to protect her, or she might not have survived the day. ¡°Hey! Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine! It¡¯s just a small knife, it can¡¯t harm me,¡± Lin Yifan replied while holding the knife, turning back to answer. ¡°Have you become so skilled that you can catch flying darts with your hands now?¡± ¡°What else did you think?¡± ¡°It seems my money was well spent.¡± ¡°To run into me, you are lucky.¡± ¡°Did you see who was behind it?¡± An Qi asked. ¡°No, but I suspect it was a young man with granny gray hair,¡± Lin Yifan answered, then asked with curiosity, ¡°Have you done so many unforgivable things that someone would want to hire an assassin against you?¡± ¡°If I were that evil, the police would have arrested me long ago. Besides, it¡¯s clear this is a targeted act; it has been going on for several months now,¡± An Qi replied with some agitation. ¡°So who exactly has a grudge against the Antian Group?¡± Lin Yifan pressed. ¡°I don¡¯t know, all I know is that everything is a mess right now, really a mess.¡± The consecutive incidents had thrown her mind into chaos and had left her extremely irritated, unable to think rationally anymore. Seeing her like this, Lin Yifan suggested based on his own experience, ¡°Actually, you might want to think in reverse. If you were out of the picture, who would be the biggest beneficiary in the company?¡± ¡°If I died, who would be the biggest beneficiary?¡± An Qi fell into thought, then responded, ¡°No one! I don¡¯t have any shares in the company. I¡¯m just helping my father with his work, so even if I died, the shares would still belong to my father. There aren¡¯t any beneficiaries, right?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your father¡¯s condition now? Why doesn¡¯t he come to the company to work?¡± Lin Yifan inquired. ¡°My father had a sudden heart attack and is currently being treated in the hospital, so I¡¯m temporarily managing the company¡¯s affairs,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°Is the condition serious?¡± Lin Yifan asked further. ¡°He can only lie in bed right now and can¡¯t be subjected to any major shocks,¡± An Qi answered, then questioned, ¡°Why are you asking this?¡± ¡°I think you should consider this more deeply; if your father died, who would be the biggest beneficiary?¡± Lin Yifan replied. This comment infuriated An Qi, who retorted, ¡°Are you cursing my father?¡± ¡°Be rational. You said your father can¡¯t handle much stress; so if you died, have you thought about how great of a shock that would be for him? What if he couldn¡¯t withstand such a shock, who then would be the biggest beneficiary?¡± Lin Yifan corrected Director An¡¯s way of thinking with a serious face, hoping she would not let her emotions cloud her judgment. Scolded by her bodyguard like this, An Qi suddenly became alert. She found the question deeply unsettling, growing more terrified the more she thought about it. Someone wanted to kill two birds with one stone, obtaining control over the company. It didn¡¯t take long for her to think of a prime suspect, ¡°Could it be him?¡± ¡°Who is ¡®him¡¯?¡± Lin Yifan asked curiously. ¡°It can¡¯t be! We are the closest of relatives; he has no reason to harm our family, right?¡± An Qi expressed her doubts, not believing this guess could be true. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that sometimes, people will betray even family members for the sake of interest?¡± Lin Yifan reminded her again. This was not just talk; it came from actual combat experience. During his time in the military, he had pursued terrorists. At the moment of crisis, these terrorists wouldn¡¯t hesitate to abandon everything, including their spouses and children, denouncing kinship, and even using family members as hostages. So to despicable villains, family affection isn¡¯t something important; it can be easily discarded. ¡°Can there really be such cruel-hearted people in the world?¡± An Qi grew more and more shocked and terrified as she pondered. ¡°How would you know about the harshness of the outside world when you¡¯ve grown up sheltered in a greenhouse?¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°What do we do now?¡± An Qi was panic-stricken and extremely scared. She really wasn¡¯t good at dealing with intrigue or coping with it; she could only rely on Lin Yifan. ¡°We watch and wait! If the person behind this wants to continue trying to kill you, they will strike again,¡± Lin Yifan answered. Now the enemy was hidden in the shadows, while they were in the open; they could only wait for the fish to bite. ¡°Then you need to ensure my personal safety, don¡¯t let anything happen to me,¡± An Qi requested. ¡°Rest assured, it¡¯s my duty, I won¡¯t let anything happen to you!¡± Lin Yifan assured her. Chapter 47 - 47 47 Business Marriage ?47: Chapter 47 Business Marriage 47: Chapter 47 Business Marriage Having received Lin Yifan¡¯s assurance, An Qi¡¯s anxious heart suddenly felt grounded. For some reason, she just trusted Lin Yifan; it was a strange feeling, difficult to articulate or explain. If she had to give a reason, it would be that Lin Yifan was too strong, strong enough to turn any danger into safety. In this extraordinary period, she had met an extraordinary person. She didn¡¯t know whether she was lucky or if it was an arrangement from heaven, but it seemed odd either way. ¡°Could he be the Prince on a white horse sent by heaven to protect me? But, can a man who relies on me for support save my marriage?¡± Thinking of this problem, her brows furrowed again, and her face turned displeased. Because she had an arranged business marriage. To save the company, to save the entire family, she had no choice but to agree to this marriage, which would sell her happiness. However, before agreeing, she had made a condition: if she could repay the huge loan with interest within a year, then the marriage would be declared invalid. But now, nearly three months had passed, and she hadn¡¯t paid back a penny; instead, her funds were dwindling. She really didn¡¯t know what to do. ¡°Ah, let¡¯s just take it one step at a time!¡± Now, she had no great expectations; all she wanted was for the company to smoothly get through this difficult time. Seeing An Qi¡¯s frowning and sighing again, Lin Yifan asked with concern, ¡°Director An, is something troubling you? Speak up, perhaps I can help you solve it.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have that capability yet. Talk to me when you have five billion,¡± An Qi replied. Hearing this astronomical figure, Lin Yifan immediately closed his mouth and didn¡¯t ask any further. Five billion! Where was he supposed to rob that from? Zhou Jiajia, who had just settled the riot incident, came to An Qi¡¯s side and asked with concern, ¡°Director An, are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± An Qi replied, and then inquired, ¡°How many reporters got injured?¡± ¡°Ten reporters, Director An.¡± ¡°Send all of them to the hospital for treatment. Antian Group will cover all the medical expenses,¡± An Qi ordered. The reporters had been invited by them, and now they had gotten hurt because of the riot. They couldn¡¯t just ignore them. ¡°Understood!¡± Having said this, Zhou Jiajia busied herself with this matter. When leaving, she looked meaningfully at Lin Yifan. From this man, she sensed a tremendous feeling of safety, a man worthy of entrusting her whole life to. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t understand what Zhou Jiajia¡¯s glance meant. Was it surprise? Admiration? Or something else? The press conference ended abruptly, out of necessity. After ensuring everything was in order, An Qi turned and left. It was midday, and Lin Yifan curiously asked, ¡°Director An, are you going home for lunch?¡± ¡°With all the work at the company, who has time to go home for lunch? I¡¯ll just order some takeout later,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°Director An! You eat boxed lunches?¡± Lin Yifan was somewhat surprised. In his opinion, big company bosses were out of touch with the mundane world, always pursuing expensive delicacies. So hearing that An Qi ate boxed lunches was quite a surprise to him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with eating a boxed lunch? Is it so strange?¡± An Qi retorted. ¡°Very strange. How can a big boss like you stomach such cheap and simple food?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± An Qi couldn¡¯t help but laugh, then seriously explained, ¡°Not every big boss is out of touch with the mundane world. In fact, I love street food the most; it has a unique flavor that some high-end restaurants can never replicate.¡± ¡°It seems that Director An, you truly are a bit special.¡± Lin Yifan suddenly felt An Qi was much more approachable, losing that aloof aura she had initially. And An Qi was gradually becoming less resistant to Lin Yifan; in fact, he was not as bad as she had imagined. She had misunderstood him before. ¡°Right! You don¡¯t have a cell phone, do you?¡± ¡°Hmm! No,¡± Lin Yifan nodded in reply. ¡°Now, follow me back to the office, and I¡¯ll give you a new phone.¡± ¡°I¡¯m truly grateful!¡± Lin Yifan felt a bit excited. A mobile phone was a wonderful thing, capable of making calls, sending messages, surfing the internet, chatting, watching videos, taking photos, listening to music, reading books, playing games, and so on; thus, a mobile phone was an essential device to have for whiling away the time. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. It¡¯s just for convenience when we need to contact each other in the future,¡± An Qi responded. ... Back in the office, An Qi started to get a mobile phone for Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan closely followed her inside. After entering the general manager¡¯s office, he found it was very spacious, almost a hundred square meters. The office contained a finely crafted desk, a leather sofa, a bookshelf, and several pots of flowers; though simple, it had everything necessary. However, what attracted him most was not the simple office but a door within the office. A door implied there was more space. Because the door was closed, Lin Yifan didn¡¯t know what was inside, so he asked curiously, ¡°Director An! What is this room for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for me to rest in when I¡¯m tired,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°For resting? So that means there¡¯s a bed inside?¡± The thought of a bed made Lin Yifan¡¯s imagination run wild. A bed is a great thing, not only for sleeping but also for sleeping. ¡°Holy smokes! That¡¯s a bit dirty!¡± Lin Yifan dared not let his thoughts wander anymore; otherwise, he would become aroused again. ¡°Hey! What are you spacing out for? Come over and get your phone!¡± An Qi urged. Lin Yifan quickly moved forward to An Qi. ¡°This is a Tianyao V6 smartphone. Buy a SIM card tonight, then add my phone number so we can contact each other in the future,¡± An Qi instructed. ¡°Alright! Got it!¡± ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, you should go out and try using the phone. Get familiar with all its functions as quickly as possible. Remember to bring in my takeout when it arrives,¡± An Qi continued, then returned to her work. ¡°Alright!¡± Having replied, Lin Yifan left the office and sat on the sofa outside, fiddling with the phone. By this time, the beautiful assistant Wang Xiaolin had already finished her work and left, so the reception hall was empty except for Lin Yifan. Chapter 48 - 48 48 The Beautiful Anchor ?48: Chapter 48 The Beautiful Anchor 48: Chapter 48 The Beautiful Anchor Unwrapping the package, a brand-new Tianyao V6 smartphone appeared in Lin Yifan¡¯s view. He followed the user manual, and started to play with it as he pleased. Connecting to Wi-Fi and entering the software store, he began to look for apps to download. Soon, an app called ¡°Live Show¡± caught his attention. After downloading the Live Show app, he tapped to enter it. Once inside, he saw various beautiful hosts¡¯ live rooms. The term ¡°beautiful host¡± was deeply etched in his mind at that moment. Browsing through the live rooms, he found many beautiful hosts, and one called ¡°Big Brother¡± drew his attention. Driven by curiosity, he clicked to enter this live room, to watch the live stream. As soon as he entered, he saw a coquettish and cute host with a fierce beauty. This fierce beauty had a figure even more explosive than Wang Xiaolin¡¯s, which was simply unbelievable. ¡°Damn! There is indeed always someone stronger out there, a mountain beyond every mountain!¡± Today, he truly broadened his horizons and agreed with the saying, ¡°The masters are among the people.¡± The beautiful host in the live room sang and interacted with the audience. Very soon, a rich fan sent her an excavator worth 666,666 beans and asked her to dance provocatively. Without a word, the fierce beauty changed the song, left her seat, and began to dance passionately. Before long, the screen was filled with comments shouting: ¡°Big Brother! Big Brother!¡± Seeing this term, Lin Yifan blurted out, ¡°As expected, a bunch of homebodies!¡± ¡°Big Brother¡± dominated the screen, and various gifts kept coming; to not disappoint the audience and prevent their money from going to waste, the beautiful host had to comply with the fans¡¯ requests. So, she changed into a fitness top and took a skipping rope from the table beside her, and started jumping rope. Watching this, Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, ¡°There¡¯s really only one who is truly fierce!¡± Shortly after, many interesting comments started popping up. For example, ¡°A big wave of Zombies is coming,¡± ¡°Big Brother is too fierce, making countless heroes bow,¡± ¡°Let¡¯s row the oars,¡± ¡°The most lethal weapon in history,¡± and so on; there was nothing they couldn¡¯t come up with. After jumping rope for a minute, the beautiful host stopped and demanded gifts from the fans to continue. At that moment, a rich fan sent over a ¡°Treasured Sword¡± worth 999,999 beans, demanding the host to jump for another minute. Seeing a fan send over a Treasured Sword, the beautiful host was overjoyed and immediately started jumping again. Lin Yifan was very curious about these virtual gifts and wondered what they were used for. He checked the rules and found out that 100 beans equaled one dollar, so a Treasured Sword worth 999,999 beans was priced at 9,999.99 yuan; the site and the host would split it fifty-fifty, which meant the host could get a gift share of nearly five thousand yuan. ¡°Damn! That¡¯s just too easy to make money!¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim. He couldn¡¯t earn that much money even after a month of hard work at the construction site, yet someone else easily made so much just by jumping rope for a minute, truly, without comparison there is no harm. ¡°Fierce assets really are valuable!¡± However, what he was more interested in was the profit model of the live-streaming platform. Operating with a fifty-fifty revenue-sharing model not only attracted more beautiful hosts to live stream but also made the fans more willing to spend. Because the fans¡¯ main reason for spending money was to give tips to the hosts, not to the platform; if the live-streaming platform took too much, the fans would not be willing to buy virtual gifts. ¡°Tsk, tsk! If only I had a live-streaming company, that would be great!¡± Lin Yifan thought to himself with delight. That way, not only could he make money while lying down, but he could also watch beautiful hosts live stream every day. However, this thought merely flashed through his mind; since he had a simple mind and a strong physique and didn¡¯t understand computer programming or how to run a company, it was better to stay in his own lane. ¡°Knock, knock, knock! Knock, knock, knock!¡± There came knocking at the door, followed by a male voice. ¡°Sir! Your takeaway has arrived, please come out to sign for it!¡± Although the voice wasn¡¯t loud, it still gave Lin Yifan quite a start since he was sneaking a peek at the live stream of beautiful hosts. If An Qi, the boss, saw him, that would be disastrous. Looking back, he saw a delivery person and took a breath of relief, then went over to sign for the delivery. After signing, with the boxed lunch in hand, he headed straight for An Qi¡¯s office door, ready to deliver her lunch. Gently knocking a few times and receiving permission, he entered An Qi¡¯s office. Pushing open the door, he found An Qi doing yoga, and her sportswear was identical to that of the fierce beauty in the live stream, both were pink and both tightly fitted, prompting him to marvel, ¡°What a fiery figure, so explosive!¡± After changing into the sportswear, An Qi revealed her confident beauty, looking utterly gorgeous. If An Qi could become his woman, he¡¯d be willing to die happy. Of course, this was merely a joke; he didn¡¯t fancy An Qi¡¯s bad temper. ¡°Just put the food on the table,¡± she said. As she spoke, An Qi continued her advanced yoga poses, without any shyness, as if she had accepted Lin Yifan or regarded him as a ¡°eunuch¡±-like figure. Taken aback, Lin Yifan immediately took the meals and placed them on An Qi¡¯s desk. As he passed by An Qi, he snuck a peek at her and discovered she was truly beautiful and was deeply attracted. Chapter 49 - 49 49 Eating Bananas ?49: Chapter 49 Eating Bananas 49: Chapter 49 Eating Bananas Back on the couch, Lin Yifan opened his takeout and began to eat, watching a livestream at the same time. At that moment, the ¡°Big Brother¡± livestream was incredibly popular, with the number of viewers reaching three hundred thousand. Barrages of comments flooded the screen nonstop, and gifts kept pouring in continuously. Through the gaps between the words, Lin Yifan could roughly make out what the beautiful host was doing. At this time, the beautiful host was eating fruit. Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t understand why eating fruit could attract so many viewers, so, with curiosity, he turned off the barrage of comments to watch intently. Then he saw. ¡°Damn! What does this mean?¡± Lin Yifan was speechless; no wonder there were so many onlookers. Just as he was about to delve deeper, the door to the General Manager¡¯s office suddenly opened, and An Qi came out. Lin Yifan was so startled, he quickly tossed his phone aside and pretended to focus on his meal. Noticing that his food was mostly untouched, An Qi couldn¡¯t help wondering, ¡°Is the food not tasty?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not bad, quite delicious!¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Then why haven¡¯t I seen you take a bite?¡± ¡°Oh! I was just trying out the phone and didn¡¯t get a chance to eat,¡± Lin Yifanie replied. An Qi thought this explanation seemed reasonable, and so she sat down on the couch opposite Lin Yifan, grabbing a banana from the fruit basket, she asked, ¡°Have you gotten the hang of the smartphone yet?¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s body shuddered, worried that she, unfamiliar with how to use it, would start instructing him on how to operate his smartphone. The phone was just on standby, and once turned on, the livestream would still be running; if An Qi saw the content of the livestream, she would surely scold him for being a pervert and kick him out again. To avoid this embarrassing situation, he answered calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve got the hang of it; it¡¯s much simpler than I¡¯d imagined.¡± ¡°Smartphones have many functions, but the basic operations are still quite easy to grasp,¡± An Qi said nonchalantly, peeling the banana. ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s true!¡± Lin Yifan agreed with that point. No sooner had he finished speaking than An Qi peeled the banana open. Seeing this, Lin Yifan: ¡°...¡± If it had been a few minutes before; but... ¡°An Qi, why are you eating a banana right now?¡± ¡°Eating a banana after a meal aids digestion. Didn¡¯t you know that?¡± An Qi retorted. ¡°Uh... I actually didn¡¯t know that.¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Now you know. Would you like one?¡± An Qi asked. Lin Yifan hastened to decline, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished my meal yet, so I¡¯ll eat one later.¡± ¡°Alright then, just remember this bit of common sense!¡± After finishing the banana, An Qi announced a schedule, asking Lin Yifan to be prepared: ¡°We¡¯re going to the factory at two o¡¯clock this afternoon, so rest up after you eat.¡± ¡°Mm! Got it!¡± Lin Yifan nodded in response. ... Once An Qi returned to her office, Lin Yifan turned on his phone and continued watching the livestream. By now, the ¡°Big Brother¡± livestream was even more sensational, with the viewer count reaching five hundred thousand! ¡°My goodness! What are they streaming now that¡¯s so interesting?¡± Lin Yifan, extremely curious, stared at the screen intently. ¡°I finished the ham today; how about a ham burger next?¡± the beautiful host asked seductively into the camera. The next moment, a flood of ¡°Yes¡± comments popped up. It was clear that viewers in front of their computers and phones were eagerly anticipating. ¡°Okay! Then let¡¯s get those gifts going! I¡¯m going all out today!¡± the beautiful host egged on. In an instant, all kinds of small and large gifts kept coming without a break, and one tycoon even gifted a sports car worth 10,000,000 beans. ¡°Damn! They really do have money!¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help exclaiming. A 100,000 sports car would net the host 50,000 in cash, which was equivalent to a month¡¯s hard-earned salary for him. Plus, given the gifts she had already received, this beautiful host was earning more in a few hours than he could in a month. Chapter 50 - 50 50 Wang Xiaolins Confession ?50: Chapter 50 Wang Xiaolin¡¯s Confession 50: Chapter 50 Wang Xiaolin¡¯s Confession ¡°Such a lucrative industry.¡± Lin Yifan lusted after it; however, it was not the career of a broadcaster he coveted, but that of a live-streaming company boss. Seeing fans showering so many gifts, the attractive female broadcaster began to fulfill her promise. She picked up a sausage from beside her and quickly stripped off the packaging; then she started her performance. The next moment, the screen was flooded with ** characters, dense and wildly exciting. Lin Yifan hastily turned off the barrage of comments, then held his breath and watched with widened eyes. However, just at that moment, there was noise again from the door of the general manager¡¯s office. He quickly turned off his phone, threw it aside, and began to eat his meal in big bites. ¡°Squeak!¡± The next moment, the door opened, and An Qi walked out with a water cup in her hand. Seeing Lin Yifan wolfing down his food, she asked with a smile, ¡°Why eat so fast? Are you in a hurry to be reincarnated?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we were going to the factory this afternoon? I am hurrying to finish my meal to build up my energy and be in the best of shape to ensure General Manager An¡¯s personal safety,¡± Lin Yifan replied with a look of righteousness. ¡°Do you have to eat that fast though?¡± ¡°Being punctual and following orders is my duty. That is something I definitely have to do well,¡± Lin Yifan answered seriously. An Qi smiled, finding the earnest Lin Yifan too cute, so she said, ¡°Well then, take your time eating. I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± After saying that, she went straight to the water cooler, filled a cup with hot water, and then returned to her office. Once An Qi had entered her office, Lin Yifan immediately put down his chopsticks, picked up his phone from beside him, quickly turned it on, and continued to watch the alluring broadcaster¡¯s live stream. But by the time he entered the live room, the stunning broadcaster¡¯s performance had already ended, and he could no longer watch it. ¡°Damn it! I missed such an exciting show; this is so frustrating!¡± Lin Yifan was greatly agitated, feeling a profound sense of regret. Yet, although he didn¡¯t witness it firsthand, his imagination filled in the blanks. ¡°That¡¯s all for today¡¯s live stream, see you tomorrow!¡± The attractive female broadcaster waved goodbye and then turned off the live stream. With no beautiful broadcaster to watch, Lin Yifan lost interest and went back to his meal contentedly. In less than half a minute, he finished all the remaining food, not leaving a single grain of rice, which showed just how fast he ate. After finishing his meal, he lay down on the couch to rest and drifted into a lovely dream... Time ticked away, and before long it was time to get back to work in the afternoon. At this point, Wang Xiaolin came to work. Seeing Lin Yifan sleeping on the couch, Wang Xiaolin tip-toed to the couch opposite him, then carefully sat down. She picked up a banana and started eating it while quietly observing Lin Yifan¡¯s handsome face. After a while, she couldn¡¯t help herself and whispered, ¡°So handsome!¡± Hearing someone speaking nearby, Lin Yifan opened his groggy eyes, then looked to the left and noticed a pair of soft lips and a banana, half-peeled. ¡°What the heck, is this a case of ¡®daydreams become night dreams¡¯? Is the voluptuous female broadcaster live-streaming eating a banana in my dream?¡± Lin Yifan wondered, full of confusion. To clear up the situation, he opened his eyes wide and looked intently, only to be shocked when he realized that the person eating a banana opposite him was not the seductive broadcaster, but the saucy beauty assistant, Wang Xiaolin: ¡°What the heck! How can it be her? Does she like bananas too?¡± Although Wang Xiaolin was not as ¡°fierce¡± as the beautiful anchor, she was lethal enough, so her eating a banana was quite charming, quite sexy. Watching, Lin Yifan felt an involuntary tightness below, then he quickly closed his eyes, daring not to look anymore. ¡°Haha!¡± Wang Xiaolin couldn¡¯t help but snicker, truly amused by Lin Yifan trying to suppress his desire. ¡°Hey! Get up and go to work, stop pretending to sleep.¡± Being called out like that, Lin Yifan realized this wasn¡¯t a dream but real life. Now, he was really embarrassed. To save face, he pretended to be unaware of what had happened, opened his blurry eyes, and asked, ¡°What time is it now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one fifty-three,¡± Wang Xiaolin answered. ¡°Oh!¡± After some pondering and looking around, knowing that some things couldn¡¯t be avoided, Lin Yifan made up his mind to resolve the doubt in his heart, ¡°Do you... really like bananas?¡± ¡°Love them! Super love them! The scent of bananas is so fragrant, and they¡¯re sweet and delectable, melt in your mouth; they¡¯re a delicious fruit,¡± Wang Xiaolin replied. ¡°Do you eat bananas every day?¡± ¡°Almost every day, unless there¡¯s a special circumstance,¡± Wang Xiaolin answered. ¡°It seems you¡¯re really a beauty who loves a healthy lifestyle; whoever marries you will be the happiest man in the world,¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but compliment. ¡°Really? Then would you like to be that happiest man in the world?¡± Wang Xiaolin asked with a meaningful tone. ¡°This...¡± Lin Yifan fell into thought; such a direct confession was a first for him. Truth be told, it would be a lie to say his heart wasn¡¯t moved; after all, Wang Xiaolin was beautiful, had a great figure, and such a seductive aura; marrying her would mean not a care in the world about happiness for the rest of his life. However, his acquaintance with Wang Xiaolin was still shallow, not knowing what her character was really like, so he couldn¡¯t agree too hastily. Yet, to directly refuse might hurt her delicate feelings, leaving him in a dilemma for the moment. Just then, his savior appeared. An Qi walked out of the office, waved at him and called out, ¡°Let¡¯s go! We¡¯re leaving!¡± Lin Yifan was ecstatic and immediately responded, ¡°Alright!¡± Seeing Lin Yifan rush off the sofa, Wang Xiaolin stomped her foot in frustration. Lin Yifan was deliberately avoiding his own feelings, disrespecting himself and, in turn, her; it was infuriating. ¡°You think you can avoid it for a moment, you can avoid it forever? Let me tell you, one day, I will make you willingly surrender under my pomegranate skirt,¡± she declared. Having escaped a close call, Lin Yifan finally felt relieved. He decided to avoid speaking with Wang Xiaolin as much as possible from now on. Entering the elevator, An Qi took out a set of keys from her bag and handed them to Lin Yifan: ¡°Here¡¯s the car key, take it! From now on, the task of picking me up for work is yours.¡± ¡°Got it! No problem!¡± Lin Yifan quickly took the car keys and then pocketed them. Downstairs at the company building¡¯s entrance, he ran into the mature Zhou Jiajia again. At that moment, Zhou Jiajia was patiently waiting for An Qi to come down. Not ten meters away from Zhou Jiajia, An Qi spoke up cheerfully, ¡°Jiajia sis! Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 51 - 51 51 Factory ?51: Chapter 51 Factory 51: Chapter 51 Factory Zhou Jiajia, who was standing at the doorway in a daze, came back to her senses, looked behind her, and smiled, ¡°Director An! You¡¯ve arrived!¡± ¡°Once we¡¯re out of the company, there¡¯s no need for titles; just relax.¡± ¡°But we haven¡¯t left the company yet!¡± Zhou Jiajia replied. Even though she and An Qi were close confidantes outside of work, they were still in the company, so a hierarchy had to be maintained. ¡°You¡¯re always the serious one!¡± With a slight reprimand, An Qi linked arms with Zhou Jiajia and walked out of the building. Watching this scene, Lin Yifan was rather surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected the two to be friends; he had thought Zhou Jiajia was just one of An Qi¡¯s subordinates. Following An Qi, he quickly located the car. It was a Maserati presidential model luxury sedan with a stunning exterior and exquisite interior. After taking out the key and unlocking the car, he opened the door for An Qi and Zhou Jiajia. Having seen both ladies into the car, he then opened the door to the driver¡¯s seat and drove off. ¡°Director An! What¡¯s the factory address?¡± He knew they were heading to an Antian Group factory, but he didn¡¯t know the precise location. ¡°Xicheng District, Xijiang Second Road, Antian Technology Industrial Park,¡± An Qi answered. Lin Yifan activated the navigation system and chose voice input to enter the location. Soon, the navigation system found the location and provided a route. With the route defined, Lin Yifan knew where to go and focused on driving. After about an hour, they finally arrived at the Antian Technology Industrial Park. The security guard at the gate, seeing Director An¡¯s car, quickly opened the barrier to let them through. Driving into the industrial park, Lin Yifan noticed that it was enormous, likely spanning thousands of square meters, larger than several middle schools combined. Making lefts and rights following An Qi¡¯s directions, he smoothly arrived in front of a large building. After parking the car, he got out along with An Qi and Zhou Jiajia. The leaders waiting in front of the building immediately welcomed Director An with smiling faces as she got out of the car. ¡°Sis! You finally made it! I was worried something might have happened to you,¡± one of them said. The speaker was a sleazy-looking man with tiny eyes. He was An Qi¡¯s cousin, An Huaixing. Thanks to his father and elder brother¡¯s recommendations, he had become the person in charge of the factory and its top leader. ¡°Do you really wish something had happened to me?¡± An Qi replied irritably. She had a strong dislike for this sleazy man and would have replaced An Huaixing if not for her uncle and cousin¡¯s influence. Moreover, ever since learning that her uncle could be among those who wronged her, she had grown even less fond of her uncle¡¯s family. ¡°Sis! I¡¯m just worried about you, nothing else,¡± An Huaixing responded, looking somewhat aggrieved. ¡°Stop babbling and take me inside,¡± An Qi commanded, not willing to engage in further conversation with An Huaixing. An Huaixing was upset by An Qi¡¯s cold demeanor, but since the company wasn¡¯t yet in his family¡¯s hands, he had to obey her. So he quickly scurried ahead to lead the way. Watching this sycophantic, sleazy man with a large mole at the corner of his mouth made Lin Yifan feel disgusted. How could such a person become a factory leader? Was it by mere flattery? Moreover, this sycophant kept leering at Zhou Jiajia, who was mature and attractive, standing next to An Qi, clearly harboring ill intentions. ¡°How¡¯s the production of the Tianyao V6 phone? Is the stock sufficient?¡± An Qi asked as she walked upstairs. The Tianyao V6 phone was a major source of income for their company, so nothing could go wrong. ¡°Production is going very smoothly, and we have plenty of stock,¡± An Huaixing replied. ¡°How much is in stock?¡± An Qi pressed. ¡°Five hundred thousand units!¡± ¡°Why so few?¡± An Qi¡¯s expression soured. With current sales volumes, five hundred thousand units would be sold out in less than a month, so she found the stock levels too low to meet demand. ¡°Sis! How can you say that¡¯s few? The workers have been working overtime for two months to produce them; we can¡¯t do any more,¡± An Huaixing said. ¡°Tianyao V6 phone sales are very strong; we must have large stockpiles. Try to increase production,¡± An Qi explained. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll urge the departments to coordinate their efforts later to boost production in the shortest time possible.¡± ¡°Yes! But be careful not to push them too hard, or it could backfire,¡± An Qi warned. ¡°Understood!¡± Upon reaching the third floor and turning left, the group arrived at a spacious production workshop. At that moment, the workshop was filled with people, each engrossed in their tasks. This workshop was dedicated to installing the processors in the smartphones, and it had to be a dust-free environment; thus, anyone entering had to wear specially made factory clothing and gloves. Once suited up, An Qi entered the dust-free workshop to conduct her inspection. As she walked, she carefully observed the production staff on both sides, noting that there were no significant issues and everything was proceeding well. Meanwhile, Lin Yifan curiously surveyed his surroundings, watching the production of the smartphones. He realized that despite their compact size, smartphones required incredibly high production standards; a single minor error could lead to complete failure. ¡°With so many phones, what¡¯s the cost of each one, and how much do they sell for?¡± Lin Yifan wondered, eager to understand this issue. Finding no issues with production, An Qi led the group out of the dust-free workshop. Once outside, she asked An Huaixing, ¡°How¡¯s the development of the new product going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still in the first phase, but it will be completed soon,¡± An Huaixing answered. ¡°Two months and still in the first phase of development? What¡¯s going on?¡± An Qi was angry and very dissatisfied with the pace of work. ¡°The waterproof feature has always been difficult to develop; even with some proposed solutions and research technology, it¡¯s impossible to make it happen quickly,¡± An Huaixing explained. He too was eager to obtain the waterproof technology. Chapter 52 - 52 52 Water Resistance Test ?52: Chapter 52 Water Resistance Test 52: Chapter 52 Water Resistance Test ¡°Take me to the R&D lab, I need to check things out myself!¡± An Qi seethed with rage; it was clear that she was truly angry. Looking at his cousin, who was in a full-blown rage, An Huaixing felt somewhat scared, not daring to offend her, so he immediately stepped forward to lead the way. As the production building and the R&D building were quite far apart and the sun was intense, Lin Yifan had no choice but to hold an umbrella over An Qi. Staring at the robust young bodyguard by An Qi¡¯s side, An Huaixing was a bit puzzled: ¡°Why is my cousin now only accompanied by one bodyguard? Could it be that this young bodyguard is particularly capable?¡± ¡°It seems that I have to report this matter back to my father!¡± One of his tasks in the factory was to supervise who was around his cousin so that he could plan his next move. Lin Yifan, with his keen eyes, noticed An Huaixin¡¯s ill-intended stares. He still didn¡¯t know An Huaixin¡¯s true identity, so he didn¡¯t know whose side he was on; however, through a series of events, he felt that this sycophant was definitely not on An Qi¡¯s side. ¡°Even the factory manager is an enemy; it seems like this Ms. An is about to be doomed.¡± He vaguely felt that the issue with the Tianyao V7 phone batteries was likely this man¡¯s doing; since he was in charge of the factory, he could secretly employ the Heaven Stealing Technique, swapping the good batteries with tampered ones behind the scenes. After walking for a few minutes, the group finally arrived at the R&D building. The R&D building had only three floors; it wasn¡¯t very tall or large. Surrounded by numerous trees, the air was fresh, making it a pleasant place to work. The R&D building was guarded by security, and only technical staff with credentials and senior company leaders were allowed to enter. Seeing the company¡¯s general manager arriving, the security guard immediately stood at the door and welcomed her with respect. An Qi headed straight into the building, made her way to the laboratory, and examined the experimental results to see what still needed improvement. As she entered through the door, she came upon a new phone model being tested for water resistance; she stopped to watch the experiment attentively. A brand-new Tianyao S7 phone lay silently submerged in a water tank. The phone was playing music; however, because the water was too deep, the sound was very soft. The experiment was ongoing, and the phone continued to resist. About fifteen minutes later, the phone screen suddenly went black, signaling the end of the experiment. At that moment, An Qi approached and asked the technician beside the water tank, ¡°How long has the experiment been running?¡± ¡°General Manager An, it has been twenty minutes,¡± the technician replied. ¡°Not bad, I wonder if it could last thirty minutes,¡± An Qi said, somewhat relieved that there had been some technical progress. As long as the phone could last thirty minutes, its water resistance level could reach level seven. This was a significant selling point and would trigger a buying frenzy once released. Lin Yifan stood by quietly watching, without much surprise. He had encountered water-resistant phones before; the phone he used during secret missions was a high-grade water-resistant model. This high-grade water-resistant phone had been specially developed by the state, with a water resistance level that reached ten; it could stay in much deeper water for a longer time. Therefore, seeing the Tianyao S7 playing songs in a one-meter deep tank did not strike him as anything extraordinary. There was still a need for improvement in technology. An Qi decided to stay in the building that day until the technical staff managed to raise the water resistance level to seven. The pressure on the technical department staff was immense. With the general manager right there, any slight lack of seriousness might cost them their jobs. However, having already achieved twenty minutes of water resistance, they were confident that with a few improvements, they could reach the half-hour mark. After earnestly refining the design for an hour, they finally produced a new Tianyao S7 phone. Coming back to the testing area, they were nervous. But some steps had to be taken, so with open hearts, they conducted the experiment. Time ticked by, second by second, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the final moment to arrive. Thirty minutes later, the mobile phone remained stationary in the tank, playing music, which meant that they had succeeded in their challenge. The technical staff in the R&D room were so excited they could finally breathe a sigh of relief. An Qi, too, revealed a splendid smile, filled with immense relief. The biggest hurdle had been overcome; the following technological development would be much simpler. ¡°Sis! We¡¯ve succeeded in development! We¡¯ve finally done it!¡± An Huaixing was incredibly excited, more than anyone else present, as if the technology were being developed for his own family. ¡°Calm down! Calm down! There are still many hurdles that haven¡¯t been overcome. Let¡¯s celebrate after everything is developed,¡± An Qi advised. ¡°The biggest hurdle has already been conquered, and the remaining ones will be easily overcome; so, Sis, there¡¯s no need to get sentimental here,¡± An Huaixing countered. ¡°The upcoming hurdles are neither hard nor easy, so until the results are out, don¡¯t get ahead of yourself with self-congratulation and complacency.¡± After lecturing An Huaixing, An Qi turned to the technical staff and exhorted, ¡°The waterproof feature has been developed successfully. Next, hurry up and develop the dustproof feature and ultra-narrow bezel, and remember not to leave any large black borders, otherwise losing your job will be on you.¡± ¡°Understood! Boss An!¡± The technical staff in the laboratory answered in unison. Leaving the R&D building, An Qi then proceeded to inspect the production of other mobile phones in different production buildings. The Antian Group wasn¡¯t only producing the Tianyao V6; they also had many basic phones and budget smartphones in production. These low-end phones had a significant market share and couldn¡¯t be overlooked. After inspecting for an entire afternoon, An Qi had finally visited every factory and department in the industrial park. Everything was operating normally; she could now take a ¡°Calm Pill¡± and be at ease. As it was getting late, she decided to return, concluding her inspection tour. Lin Yifan drove the car over, carrying the two women away. Watching his cousin¡¯s car fade into the distance, An Huaixing, who had seen off his cousin, abruptly stopped smiling and muttered to himself, ¡°Hmph! One day, I¡¯ll step on you!¡± Having left the industrial area, Lin Yifan curiously asked, ¡°Boss An! Who is that sleazy guy with a mole at the corner of his mouth? Why does he call you ¡®Sis¡¯?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my uncle¡¯s son, a few years younger than me, so he¡¯s my cousin,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°Is he the person in charge of the entire industrial park?¡± Lin Yifan inquired further. ¡°Yes!¡± An Qi answered. ¡°You really trust him to manage the whole factory by himself?¡± Lin Yifan asked curiously. ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to supervise him, and they will take office tomorrow,¡± An Qi answered. After finding out that her uncle might be the one trying to kill her, she could no longer trust anyone from her uncle¡¯s family. Therefore, wherever a family member from her uncle¡¯s side was in a position of authority, she would have her own people assist in the management. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear!¡± Reassured by An Qi¡¯s answer, Lin Yifan returned his focus to driving. Seeing An Qi and Lin Yifan talking, specifically about business matters, Zhou Jiajia in the car was quite puzzled. An Qi normally wouldn¡¯t speak to the bodyguard, let alone allow one to intervene in business affairs, so why did she permit it today? And the two clearly seemed to have some secrets and a seemingly good relationship. Unable to hold back her curiosity, Zhou Jiajia inquired, ¡°An Qi, are you and Lin the bodyguard well-acquainted?¡± ¡°He¡¯s saved me twice, so we¡¯ve had some interactions, but I wouldn¡¯t say we¡¯re very close,¡± An Qi replied, before asking, ¡°Jiajia, what¡¯s up? Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No, I was just really curious why the two of you suddenly started talking about business,¡± Zhou Jiajia answered. ¡°There was an assassination attempt today, and Lin the bodyguard gave me a little hint, so I guess you could say we share a secret,¡± An Qi replied. Chapter 53 - 53 53 Renting a House ?53: Chapter 53 Renting a House 53: Chapter 53 Renting a House She didn¡¯t have anything to hide, after all, Jiajia was someone she trusted. ¡°Oh! I see,¡± Zhou Jiajia suddenly realized, understanding why the bodyguard Lin and sister An Qi were discussing work matters. ¡°Boss An, where are we heading now?¡± From the driver¡¯s seat, Lin Yifan asked curiously. ¡°Home!¡± An Qi answered. ¡°Should we drop Secretary Zhou off at her home first?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°No need, Jiajia lives next door to me!¡± An Qi responded. ¡°What? You two are neighbors?¡± Lin Yifan was somewhat surprised; this was something he had never expected. ¡°Yeah! Jiajia and I have been close sisters since we were kids,¡± An Qi said. ¡°Her family is so wealthy, why does she work for you?¡± Yifan inquired with curiosity. An Qi lived in a neighborhood for the rich, where almost every family owned their own company. Therefore, he was very curious why Zhou Jiajia would work as An Qi¡¯s secretary, working for Antian Group. ¡°Jiajia¡¯s dad is one of our company¡¯s directors, so if she doesn¡¯t work for me, where else would she work?¡± An Qi retorted with a question. ¡°I see,¡± Yifan said as he came to a realization; he then asked, ¡°Boss An, your address is 8 Sunshine Community, Golden Sand Bay in South City District, right?¡± ¡°You have a good memory! That¡¯s the address,¡± An Qi replied cheerfully. ¡°Alright then, I will ensure you both get home safely.¡± After saying that, Lin Yifan entered the destination and began to drive following the navigation¡¯s directions. After an hour, he finally got the car to Sunshine Community in Golden Sand Bay. The community¡¯s security guard, seeing him as a stranger, inquired about his purpose there. Due to the strict rules of the community, An Qi had no choice but to roll down the window and explain Yifan¡¯s identity: ¡°Uncle Chen! This is my new driver, please allow him through.¡± Seeing An Qi, the guard named Chen asked curiously, ¡°Has Uncle Fu resigned?¡± Uncle Fu was the An family¡¯s butler and An Qi¡¯s father¡¯s personal driver; since An Qi¡¯s father was hospitalized, he had become An Qi¡¯s driver. ¡°No! I¡¯ve asked him to take care of my dad at the hospital,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°Oh! So that¡¯s the case,¡± Uncle Chen said, suddenly enlightened, and then asked with concern, ¡°Is Director An okay?¡± ¡°He¡¯s okay! He¡¯ll get better soon,¡± An Qi optimistically answered. In front of others, she didn¡¯t want to reveal too much about her father¡¯s health to avoid unnecessary speculation and trouble. ¡°Oh, then make sure you take care of yourself! Don¡¯t wear yourself out,¡± he said. After saying this, Uncle Chen lifted the barrier. ¡°Got it, Uncle Chen!¡± After replying, An Qi rolled up the car window and then told Lin Yifan to continue driving. Following the route An Qi pointed out, Yifan quickly drove the car to Villa No. 8. At that moment, a three-story exquisite villa came into Yifan¡¯s view. The villa covered a large area, several hundred square meters. Inside there were gardens, pavilions, lawns, and a swimming pool, with a comfortable and elegant environment. Most importantly, it faced the sea with a 180-degree unobstructed sea view from the second and third floors, which was extremely impressive. ¡°Rich people really live differently, such a fancy place to call home, truly knowing how to enjoy life,¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but lament. Where he lived in the city village was filled with garbage, the environment couldn¡¯t be worse; thus, he envied An Qi for living in such a comfortable setting. Upon arriving at the villa¡¯s gate, An Qi and Zhou Jiajia stepped out of the car together. Before turning back to the house, An Qi reminded Lin Yifan in the car, ¡°Tomorrow at eight, be here on time to pick both of us up for work, got it?¡± ¡°OK!¡± Lin Yifan responded with an OK gesture. Having given her instructions, An Qi split ways with Zhou Jiajia, and each returned to their respective homes. Lin Yifan, too, sped away. Standing at her doorstep, watching Lin Yifan¡¯s receding figure behind the wheel, Zhou Jiajia felt a complexity of emotions. Today, this man had entered the heart she hadn¡¯t opened for many years, making her feel secure once again, feeling the charm of a man once again. ¡°Is there a possibility between him and me?¡± She murmured softly to herself, without a clear answer in her heart. ... Having left Sunshine Community, Lin Yifan wandered around Golden Sand Bay. He was looking for a house nearby to facilitate picking up An Qi for work. After wandering around, just as An Qi had said, there were no houses for rent within several kilometers. With no other choice, he had to look farther away; the only precondition was that it shouldn¡¯t be too far from Golden Sand Bay. A little while later, two kilometers away from Golden Sand Bay, Lin Yifan finally found an eight-story building available for rent. The rental building was quite nicely decorated and appeared tidy from the outside, marking it as a high-rent property. Never mind how expensive the rent might be, contacting the landlord was the priority, as the price could always be negotiated. He called the rental number posted on the wall and soon got in touch with the landlord of the building. After chatting for a bit, Lin Yifan found out that the rent for the apartment was 2,000 yuan a month, which was about five times more expensive than his rental in the urban village, quite frightening indeed. If this had been a few days earlier, he would have hung up the phone without hesitation upon hearing such a steep rent; but now he had money in his pocket, and his salary was high, so 2,000 yuan was still affordable. After hesitating momentarily, he decided to first look at other rental properties in the area; if he really couldn¡¯t find a better one, he would come back and rent this one. After politely ending the call, he continued to drive around the area, searching for rental properties. Having looked around, he found himself back where he started. At this moment, he was set on renting the apartment in that building. It was because the rentals elsewhere were even more expensive, and the environments were just so-so; he really didn¡¯t understand where those landlords got the audacity to charge such high rents. Calling the landlord again, Lin Yifan insisted on inspecting the apartment. Not long after, an elderly lady, over seventy years old, came out of the house. Seeing Lin Yifan waiting quietly at the door, she curiously asked, ¡°Young man, are you the one looking to rent an apartment?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Yifan answered straightforwardly. ¡°Please come in!¡± the elderly landlady beckoned to Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t waste words and promptly followed. While walking, the landlady said, ¡°There¡¯s only one apartment left on the eighth floor, I will take you up to have a look; if you¡¯re satisfied with it, then we can sign the contract.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lin Yifan responded promptly. Entering the rental property, Lin Yifan discovered to his surprise that there was an elevator inside; moreover, the interior decoration of the apartment was in no way inferior to any hotel, exceedingly rare. Chapter 54 - 54 54 The Innocent Girl ?54: Chapter 54: The Innocent Girl 54: Chapter 54: The Innocent Girl As he rode the elevator up, Lin Yifan felt something strange. He detected a particular scent in the air, a sense of a special power that was very similar to his own. ¡°Could it be that the landlady is a cultivation master?¡± Lin Yifan wondered incredulously. Similarly, the old lady also noticed that the young man beside her was out of the ordinary; however, she couldn¡¯t put her finger on why, which was very odd. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m overthinking it,¡± she mused to herself and dismissed the thought. The elevator soon reached the eighth floor; at that moment, the landlady led Lin Yifan to view the apartment. There were two apartments on the eighth floor, one on the left and one on the right; the vacant one was on the left, so Lin Yifan followed the landlady to the left apartment. Upon entering the room, Lin Yifan found it to be very tidy and clean, with a hint of luxury in the decor. Beautiful tiles covered the entire room, and the ceiling was specially designed. Besides, there was a bathtub in the bathroom, and the sink was made of various ceramics; even the wardrobes and bed were branded. The overall decoration was certainly not done halfway. If you lived here, it would be just like staying in a hotel, with no discernible difference. ¡°Landlady, are you sure it¡¯s only 2,000 yuan a month?¡± Lin Yifan asked, somewhat astonished. He had just visited other rental properties, and even those with inferior decorations charged 2,500 yuan, so he wasn¡¯t quite sure about the price. ¡°Yes,¡± the landlady assured him with certainty. ¡°Why is such a beautiful apartment only 2,000 yuan a month?¡± Lin Yifan asked curiously. ¡°Money is an external possession, and at my age, there¡¯s not much use for too much of it; so I figured I might as well lower the price and let more young people live in better houses. It¡¯s a way to accumulate good fortune for myself,¡± the landlady replied. ¡°Landlady, you are so kind! I represent all the young people working away from home when I say thank you,¡± Lin Yifan said. He bowed politely, full of gratitude. ¡°No need to be so polite, no need to be so polite,¡± the landlady insisted. The landlady quickly helped the bowing Lin Yifan to stand up straight, feeling undeserving of such a grand gesture. After helping Lin Yifan upright, she looked at him with increased appreciation. Such a sunny and polite young man was indeed an excellent choice for a tenant. Lin Yifan had no idea that he had caught the eye of the landlady; he still thought that their relationship was merely that of tenant and landlord. Naively, he said, ¡°Landlady, I¡¯ll take the apartment. Let¡¯s sign the lease now.¡± This place was the closest rental to Golden Sand Bay, plus the facilities were good and the price was so low, he had no reason to refuse. ¡°Are you sure? Do you want to look around again?¡± the landlady inquired. ¡°No need, I¡¯ve seen everything very clearly,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s sign the lease now.¡± With that, the landlady took out a set of contracts from a bag; two copies for Lin Yifan to sign. After signing, Lin Yifan quickly took care of the lease, but he soon realized an embarrassing problem ¨C he didn¡¯t bring any cash. ¡°Landlady, I don¡¯t have any cash on me; could you wait for me? I¡¯ll go to the bank and get the money for you now,¡± Lin Yifan said. ¡°It¡¯s all right, no hurry. Whenever you get the money, you can give it to me,¡± the landlady answered kindly. ¡°Thank you, landlady. I¡¯ll go get the money for you in a bit.¡± Since the landlady trusted him so much, Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t drag the rent issue out for too long. Plus, he decided he would move in that very evening, so he would take out the money on the way. ¡°Suit yourself, I¡¯m not in a rush anyway.¡± ... After concluding the discussion about the rent, Lin Yifan immediately went downstairs, got into his car, and drove off. Seeing Lin Yifan drive a Maserati, the elderly grandmother was very puzzled, ¡°This kid is so rich, why does he want to stay at my place? Could he have some ulterior motives towards my treasure?¡± After thinking for a while, she decided to observe him more before coming to a conclusion, as it could be that she was misunderstanding the situation. Leaving the community, Lin Yifan drove to a popular street food stall to have dinner. He had been busy since noon and was both tired and hungry; he needed to eat something to fill his stomach. The street food stall was bustling, with hardly any empty seats. He chose a table close by, then scanned the menu; after spotting a few dishes, he called the waitress over. ¡°Waitress!¡± The moment he finished speaking, a fresh and simple girl came over to serve him. ¡°Sir, what would you like to order?¡± the innocent girl asked. Upon hearing this tender voice, Lin Yifan was taken aback, somewhat dazed. This was his first time hearing such a tender voice; it was like a direct hit to his soul. He was curious about what the waitress looked like, so he lifted his head and looked to the left. He saw a fresh and simple, charming girl standing before him. Although her dress was plain, it couldn¡¯t hide her youthful beauty. Lin Yifan was deeply attracted and then just stared blankly at the girl with an innocent face. Seeing Lin Yifan staring at her without saying a word, the innocent girl felt somewhat shy and asked, ¡°Sir, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Lin Yifan came to his senses, speaking with immense awkwardness, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, nothing.¡± ¡°Then, may I ask what you would like to order?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have a tomato and scrambled egg, and a portion of ¡®Twice-cooked pork with green peppers¡¯,¡± Lin Yifan replied, straightening up. ¡°Alright! Please wait a moment.¡± With that, the innocent girl took the menu to the kitchen to call for the chef to prepare the dishes. After a while, Lin Yifan¡¯s dishes were ready. At this time, the innocent girl brought over all the food politely saying, ¡°Sir, please enjoy your meal!¡± Even today, such service attitude at a street food stall was truly impressive. Lin Yifan was very pleased and began to eat. Soon, a group of rowdy youths with extravagant hairstyles arrived, laughing and joking loudly; they sat down rudely on the chairs and then shouted, ¡°Waitress, come here!¡± Hearing a customer calling, the innocent girl came out again with a pen and paper in hand. Approaching the table of the rowdy youths, she asked as politely as ever, ¡°Gentlemen, what would you like to order?¡± ¡°Gentlemen? Ha ha!¡± Hearing this word, the group of rowdy youths burst into loud laughter; clearly, they found it hilarious to be addressed as such. The innocent girl was confused, not understanding why this group of rowdy youths had such a big reaction, and then hesitantly asked, ¡°Gentlemen, did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing¡¯s wrong, ¡®Miss¡¯!¡± ¡°Ha ha!!¡± The group of rowdy youths laughed even louder, emphasizing the word ¡°Miss¡± with a tone that clearly suggested another meaning. Chapter 55 - 55 55 Hero Saves the Beauty ?55: Chapter 55: Hero Saves the Beauty 55: Chapter 55: Hero Saves the Beauty ¡°Why are you all laughing?¡± the innocent girl asked. ¡°Because we are gentlemen, and you are a ¡®miss¡¯!¡± ¡°Ahahaha!¡± ¡°Ahahaha!¡± ... ¡°Shameless!¡± The innocent girl finally understood the meaning behind the laughter of this group of social youths with eccentric hairstyles¡ªit was utterly despicable. She didn¡¯t want to deal with these troublemakers anymore and turned to leave. Seeing this, a youth with red hair immediately wrapped his arm around her, smirking lewdly, ¡°Thinking of leaving? That¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Let go! Release me!¡± The innocent girl screamed furiously, her heart filled with fear. This was the first time in her life she had been treated so roughly, completely overturning her values. Did these people not know that harassment was a crime? Did they always disregard the law and bully others so brazenly? ¡°Let go? That¡¯s impossible. The women I fancy cannot escape my grasp,¡± the red-haired youth declared. With that, he reached out to grab the innocent girl¡¯s ¡°peaks.¡± Seeing his intent, the innocent girl could no longer keep her composure and screamed, ¡°Ah!!! Help! Help!¡± This was her purity at stake, how could she let this red-haired thug defile her? ¡°Ahahaha! Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will be able to save you.¡± The red-haired youth laughed uproariously and then reached out without any hesitation. Just then, a dish swiftly flew from ahead, hitting him on his salty pig¡¯s hand, causing him immense pain. ¡°Owwwww!¡± ¡°It hurts! Who¡¯s the blind bastard that did this?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think what you are doing is very impolite?¡± Lin Yifan asked coldly while continuing to eat. The group of eccentric youths turned to look and saw a man in a suit dining at the table ahead. These social youths were never afraid of such refined people because, compared to real-life fighting experience, these businessmen did not stand a chance. Moreover, some high-interest loan sharks and some underworld forces often employed them as enforcers, so it was evident that they were not ones to mess with. And since there was only one of him, there was even less to fear. ¡°Polite? In our rules, it¡¯s the fist that speaks the truth. Better come over and kneel to apologize, or we can¡¯t guarantee whether you¡¯ll disappear today,¡± the red-haired youth scoffed. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°Obviously! What? You disagree? Come and fight me if you dare!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Lin Yifan pulled out a napkin, wiped his mouth, then swiftly grabbed a stool nearby and fiercely struck the arrogantly extreme red-haired youth with it. ¡°Bang!¡± Suddenly, the red-haired youth was severely injured and fell to the ground. The social youths were dumbfounded. They had not expected someone to disregard their boss¡¯s words, let alone take the initiative to attack; it was as if he was asking for trouble. ¡°Dammit! How dare you hit our brother Tiger, we¡¯re not done with you!¡± An imminent battle was triggered, and the eccentric youths pulled the stools they were sitting on and attacked Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan too grabbed a stool and clashed with them. ¡°Bang bang bang!¡± A melee ensued, plunging the food stall into chaos. Nearby diners fled to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. The innocent girl too escaped to the side, afraid of being hit by debris. At that moment, she felt both moved and deeply worried. She and Lin Yifan met by chance, but he stepped forward to help her, and his righteous behavior truly touched her. However, Lin Yifan was alone and it was difficult for him to face a group of desperate youths, so she was really afraid that Lin Yifan would lose his life because of her. In fact, she was worrying too much. Not only had Lin Yifan been through numerous battles, but he had also acquired Cultivation Power and was no longer the same person. He could easily resolve these murderous youths. As described, Lin Yifan dealt with a thug with a bench, easily taking out these eight murderous underlings. The physical strength of these social youths definitely couldn¡¯t compare to that of soldiers; hence, they only dared to bully ordinary people and were nothing in front of soldiers. The red-haired young man was utterly terrified. With so many minions unable to win, it indicated that this suited man was no ordinary businessman. He had indeed kicked a stone today. However, he would not surrender until the last moment. Thus, he pulled out a small knife from his clothes; then he activated his Qi Power, and harshly threw it toward Lin Yifan¡¯s forehead. ¡°Whoosh!¡± The sharp knife flew rapidly, bringing gusts of wind. If it struck someone, that person would likely be dead on the spot. ¡°Sir! Run!¡± the innocent girl shouted, her heart tensing up to the extreme. Lin Yifan heard the whistle of the Flying Knife, but he would not run, for he believed that he could catch it. Seeing Lin Yifan standing still, the red-haired thug mocked, ¡°Hmph! Show-off gets struck by lightning!¡± He knew very well how powerful his Flying Knife was. Even hard bowls and plates couldn¡¯t stop it from flying, so he didn¡¯t believe that Lin Yifan, without any protection, could catch his Flying Knife. In the blink of an eye, the knife reached Lin Yifan. Everyone tensed up for him. The innocent girl was speechless, baffled as to why Lin Yifan, knowing he was being attacked, didn¡¯t dodge. Playing the hero wasn¡¯t supposed to be like this. Lin Yifan paid no attention to the onlookers, focusing solely on his own actions. He had been targeting the Flying Knife coming toward him, waiting for the right moment. Once that moment arrived, he would swiftly intervene and resolve the crisis. As the Flying Knife sped forward, the moment also drew closer. When the Flying Knife was about thirty centimeters away from his forehead, he quickly extended two fingers, then gently pinched, catching the knife. Seeing this scene, everyone present was shocked. They had never expected Lin Yifan to be so incredible as to catch a Flying Knife with his bare hands¡ªit was truly unimaginable. The innocent beauty was also completely stunned, unable to believe such a thing could happen. And Red-haired thug Tiger Brother was even more stunned. This was his prideful killer move, and it had just been easily neutralized by Lin Yifan, leaving him shocked and helpless. Looking at Lin Yifan again, he felt more fear inside. This man had been exuding confidence all along, and he was not someone Tiger Brother could contend with. After catching the Flying Knife, Lin Yifan¡¯s expression turned cold, and he targeted the red-haired thug. Being stared at by Lin Yifan like this, the red-haired young man felt uncomfortable all over, unsure of what Lin Yifan intended to do. It was only when he saw Lin Yifan aiming the knife at his forehead that he realized Lin Yifan intended to reciprocate in kind. Now injured and barely able to move, he certainly didn¡¯t want to face that knife. So, he quickly begged, ¡°Big brother! I was wrong! Please let me go! Please!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too late to repent now?¡± Lin Yifan asked coldly. ¡°Not too late, not too late at all!¡± the red-haired young man answered. ¡°I say it¡¯s too late!¡± Lin Yifan responded unemotionally, and continued his revenge. Seeing begging was futile, the red-haired young man summoned his courage and threatened, ¡°If you dare kill me, just wait to be relentlessly pursued!¡± Lin Yifan was surprised. He had thought Guiyuan City was a secure and fortunate city nationally, unaware that such threats still existed. ¡°I wonder if Team Leader Zhao knows about this.¡± Zhao Dabing was the detective team leader of Guiyuan City. If Team Leader Zhao didn¡¯t know, then Lin Yifan could inform him, helping him make a meritorious case. Seeing Lin Yifan stunned, Red-haired thug Tiger Brother sensed an opportunity and continued to threaten, ¡°How about it? Scared, aren¡¯t you? If you dare kill me, it¡¯s not just you who¡¯s at risk; you better think thrice before acting.¡± ¡°Hmph! I really want to see how capable you are!¡± With that, Lin Yifan threw the small knife in his hand forcefully. He hated being threatened the most, especially when his family was used to threaten him, such people were truly unforgivable. Chapter 56 - 56 56 Interrogation ?56: Chapter 56 Interrogation 56: Chapter 56 Interrogation ¡°Whoosh!¡± The switchblade sped through the air, faster than a bullet. The onlookers had just seen Lin Yifan make his move, and then the knife was plunged into the palm of the red-haired youth, instantly provoking a terrible scream from him. ¡°Ahhhhhh!!!¡± The blade passed through the palm, dripping blood, a gruesome sight. If that wasn¡¯t painful, nothing was. Everyone was terrified by Lin Yifan¡¯s ruthlessness; the man who appeared gentle was far from gentle, his ferocity surpassed that of petty street thugs. After stabbing the red-haired youth, Lin Yifan walked up to him, squatted down, and curiously asked, ¡°Where is your gang¡¯s hideout? I¡¯d like to pay a visit.¡± ¡°Gasp!¡± The crowd was shocked, inhaling sharply. It took a lot of guts to say those words! Everyone knew that his gang was a group of ruthless killers who didn¡¯t even fear the police; going there alone was undoubtedly a suicide mission. They truly admired Lin Yifan¡¯s courage; they themselves could never do that. ¡°Thinking of rounding up all of us in one go? No chance!¡± The red-haired Hu Ge wasn¡¯t foolish and saw through the other¡¯s tactic. Actually, his gang had not been very afraid of the police, but since a cop named Zhao Dabing had become the head of Guiyuan City¡¯s Criminal Investigation Team, they had been targeted time and again. After several incidents, his gang had been severely weakened and had to fear Team Leader Zhao now. Lately, they had toned down their actions considerably; they no longer dared to overtly bully citizens or extort protection money. ¡°Not talking, are you? Then you¡¯ll taste my methods!¡± With that, Lin Yifan pulled the switchblade from the youth¡¯s palm and then stabbed it into one of his thighs. ¡°Ahhhhhh!!!¡± The red-haired youth screamed again, in unbearable pain. This was a bone-deep pain, even more so than the cold steel itself. A pure girl couldn¡¯t bear to see such a tragic scene and immediately turned her head away. The other citizens were fine, as they wanted to see the arrogant gang members punished, which brought them great satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ll ask one more time! Will you talk or not?¡± Lin Yifan interrogated sternly. ¡°I¡¯d rather die than betray them!¡± the youth defiantly answered. He knew very well that revealing the gang¡¯s headquarters meant death; so either way, his fate was sealed, and he¡¯d rather stand with his gang to protect their brothers. ¡°Brave, very brave! I admire that!¡± Lin Yifan kept praising, though everyone felt his admiration wasn¡¯t sincere. Sure enough, he pulled out the knife and stabbed the youth¡¯s thigh again. ¡°Ahhhhhh!!!¡± Once more, the red-haired youth endured a heart-wrenching pain, suffering immensely. If this continued, he might very well die from the pain¡ªwhich, of course, wasn¡¯t something he wanted to see happen. Thus, his internal defenses were falling apart bit by bit. ¡°Last chance, will you talk or not?¡± Lin Yifan questioned one final time. He wasn¡¯t afraid to kill the red-haired youth, believing that he had justice on his side and that the public would defend him; hence, if the youth didn¡¯t speak, he was indeed prepared to kill him. Staring into Lin Yifan¡¯s cold, merciless eyes, the red-haired youth was truly frightened and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll talk! I¡¯ll talk!¡± ¡°Where?¡± The youth paused for a moment, then decided to blurt out any location to mislead Lin Yifan. After all, he would never truly reveal the headquarters of his gang. ¡°The headquarters of our gang is in a derelict building on Yulin Road in the North City District.¡± Lin Yifan, who had interrogated numerous criminals, noticed a flicker in the youth¡¯s eyes and realized he might be lying. He swiftly yanked the knife out and stabbed the young man again, saying hatefully, ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± The red-haired youth clutched his leg and yelled, then, enduring the pain, said, ¡°I am telling the truth! If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask them!¡± Seeing how adamant the red-haired youth was, Lin Yifan decided to believe him this one time, since he was only guessing the youth was lying and didn¡¯t have solid proof. He then asked the other gang members nearby, ¡°Is what your boss said true?¡± These gang members actually didn¡¯t know where the headquarters was located. They only knew where meetings were held weekly; thus, they couldn¡¯t confirm whether Hu Ge¡¯s claim was true or false. However, having followed Hu Ge for so many years, they opted to consider Hu Ge¡¯s welfare over their own and unanimously confirmed, ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± Seeing the gang members so certain, Lin Yifan thought the red-haired youth might have indeed provided the real location of the gang¡¯s headquarters. He responded, ¡°Alright! I¡¯ll trust you this once, but if I find you¡¯ve lied, the next time we meet, I¡¯ll take your life!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Chapter 57 - 57 57 Gaining an Innocent Girl ?57: Chapter 57: Gaining an Innocent Girl 57: Chapter 57: Gaining an Innocent Girl Eight street ruffians with wild hairdos hurriedly helped the severely injured Brother Tiger up and scurried away in disgrace. Having dealt with this harmful bunch, Lin Yifan came over to the pure-looking girl and asked with concern, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine! Thank you!¡± With her head bowed, the pure-looking girl seemed afraid, not daring to look up at Lin Yifan. Seeing this, Lin Yifan chuckled and said, ¡°Why so scared? I¡¯m not going to eat you.¡± ¡°Your methods were too cruel, I was very scared,¡± the pure-looking girl replied honestly. ¡°To deal with evildoers, one must use the methods of evildoers; too kind-hearted and soft, and you cannot win against evil people.¡± Lin Yifan still felt that the pure-looking girl was too naive, not understanding the dangers of the world. Hearing him say that, the pure-looking girl felt there might be some truth to it. Someone polite and reasonable like her stood no chance against these hoodlums; thus, Lin Yifan¡¯s approach seemed theoretically correct. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to blame you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright! As you grow up and slowly interact with all kinds of people in society, you will understand the actions I took today,¡± Lin Yifan replied. As they spoke, the stir-fry stall owner came out with an urgent and worried look on his face, ¡°Young man, quickly leave Guiyuan City! The Knife Gang won¡¯t let you off.¡± Over the years, the locals in their street neighborhood knew too well the detestableness of the Knife Gang. Anyone who offended or crossed paths with the Knife Gang never ended well; which is why he couldn¡¯t bear to see the just and brave Lin Yifan suffer retaliation from the Knife Gang. ¡°Uncle! Don¡¯t worry! I will definitely eliminate the Knife Gang, eradicate this evil, and return to you all peaceful days,¡± Lin Yifan not only didn¡¯t feel afraid, but also optimistically replied. The stir-fry stall owner was nearly driven to his wits¡¯ end by Lin Yifan¡¯s attitude, ¡°Young man, why don¡¯t you understand? Ah!¡± ¡°Uncle! I appreciate your kindness. However, I have always believed that the world is full of light, and the forces of darkness will never overcome the forces of light,¡± Lin Yifan responded. In fact, he understood the stall owner¡¯s point of view, but as a soldier, he had always known nothing but death in battle, not retreat in the face of it; therefore, even if the Knife Gang hunted him down city-wide, he would not back down. Knowing he couldn¡¯t persuade Lin Yifan, the stall owner simply went off to clean up the chaotic scene. Meanwhile, the pure-looking girl was grateful to Lin Yifan but didn¡¯t know how to repay him, so she reluctantly offered money: ¡°Here¡¯s two hundred yuan, a small token of my sincerity. I¡¯m very thankful for your help today.¡± ¡°Girl! You¡¯re too polite! Being brave for a just cause is a virtue, and if I accepted money for it, that would sully this virtue; so, keep the money for yourself,¡± Lin Yifan said as he pushed the money back. ¡°How can that be! I caused you to offend the Knife Gang. If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn¡¯t know how to face my own conscience. So please, accept this token of my sincerity,¡± the pure-looking girl pleaded. ¡°Let me clarify two things for you. First, it wasn¡¯t you who caused me to offend the Knife Gang; I did that of my own volition. Second, my act of bravery isn¡¯t meant to be rewarded. You don¡¯t need to blame yourself or give me any kind of gift,¡± Lin Yifan explained. ¡°But I would feel uneasy not doing anything for you.¡± ¡°Your well-being is the greatest reward for me,¡± Lin Yifan replied. This statement threw Qingqing¡¯s heart into disarray: ¡°What does he mean? Is he confessing his feelings for me? Isn¡¯t this too sudden? I haven¡¯t even had time to think it through...¡± ¡°Hey! Girl, what¡¯s wrong? Why is your head hanging so low? And why is your face so red?¡± Lin Yifan was baffled; the conversation had been going smoothly when Qingqing suddenly lowered her head. Did he say something wrong? But he couldn¡¯t recall saying anything incorrect. ¡°Your well-being... um... indeed has a bit of that implication.¡± Lin Yifan broke into a sweat, feeling that what he had said was a bit ambiguous, and tried to clarify, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way; what I was trying to say is, if you live peacefully, that would be the best way to repay me. Not that, it¡¯s about living well... that¡¯s the best reward for me. Not that, not that, it¡¯s just... Ah! Why can¡¯t I explain this properly?¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words, no matter how he explained, it always seemed to carry that implication. ¡°Sir! There¡¯s no need to explain further, I understand what you mean. It¡¯s just that I¡¯m currently a university student and have yet to graduate. I don¡¯t want to date too early; I¡¯m sorry. However, if you come to confess to me a year from now, maybe I will accept,¡± Qingqing shyly replied. ¡°Ugh... this works too?¡± Lin Yifan was speechless. But upon further consideration, Qingqing really wasn¡¯t a bad person. Aside from being kind, simple, and hardworking, she was also cute, sweet, charming, and a good woman fit for a family life. So he responded, ¡°I will wait for you!¡± Though it was only a simple five-word response, it conveyed an attitude¡ªI like you, and no matter how long, I will wait. At that moment, Qingqing¡¯s heart raced in confusion, not sure what to make of it. Seeing Qingqing lower her head shyly again, Lin Yifan decided to change the subject and asked, ¡°Girl, what¡¯s your full name?¡± ¡°I... my name is Su Qingqing, with the ¡®bamboo¡¯ radical for ¡®Qingqing,''¡± Su Qingqing replied bashfully. ¡°Nice to meet you! My name is Lin Yifan, ¡®Lin¡¯ of the forest, ¡®Yi¡¯ of one day, and ¡®Fan¡¯ of ordinary.¡± Lin Yifan extended his hand in introduction. Chapter 58 - 58 58 The Tycoon Really Knows How to Play ?58: Chapter 58 The Tycoon Really Knows How to Play 58: Chapter 58 The Tycoon Really Knows How to Play Upon spotting the broad palm before her, Su Qingqing felt a twinge of apprehension mixed with an urge to touch it. Her inner pride was causing chaos, but at last, she gritted her teeth and decided to reach out her hand to grasp his. In that moment, she was overcome with a sensation akin to an electric shock, and her entire body tingled. Having never held hands with a strange man since she came of age, this peculiar feeling left her heart in disarray. On the other hand, Lin Yifan experienced three sensations. The first was that her hand felt small; the second was its softness; and the third was the presence of calluses. Such young hands with calluses indicated that the innocent girl was often engaged in hard work. ¡°Why does such a beautiful girl have to work at a food stall? Could this be her home?¡± Lin Yifan wondered, and asked, ¡°Is this your home?¡± ¡°No, this is where I work.¡± Mentioning this matter, Su Qingqing¡¯s expression suddenly turned somewhat despondent. The man before her, dressed in a suit and donning name-brand attire, was clearly wealthy, whereas she was just a working girl. So, feeling inferior was inevitable, and she feared that Lin Yifan would scorn her because of it. However, she worried needlessly. Lin Yifan, like her, was also a member of the working class and would never look down on her. ¡°Are you in need of money?¡± Lin Yifan asked. He intended to aid her to the best of his ability. ¡°Why do you ask that?¡± Su Qingqing was somewhat uncomfortable, then spoke plainly, ¡°To tell you the truth, I come from the countryside, from a poor family. If you can¡¯t accept that, then there¡¯s no need to force it.¡± ¡°I mean no disrespect. I only wish to offer whatever little help I can, to spare you from overtaxing yourself,¡± Lin Yifan explained. After hearing his explanation, Su Qingqing¡¯s displeasure melted away instantly. Only a caring and tender-hearted man would say such things! However, she was a girl with strong pride, not in need of pity, so she stubbornly responded, ¡°Mr. Lin, I appreciate your kindness. I have hands and feet of my own and don¡¯t need help from anyone.¡± ¡°Such stubbornness, really reminds me of myself!¡± Lin Yifan exclaimed to himself. Both hailing from poor rural families, he knew well the importance of such a tenacious spirit. No matter how tough life got, he would never bow to fate. ¡°That¡¯s excellent! I admire that!¡± Lin Yifan began with praise, then shifted his tone, ¡°But even the strongest people have their moments of exhaustion; should there come a day when you can¡¯t take it anymore, remember to find me. Perhaps I can be of assistance; my address is 36 Haicheng Garden in South City District.¡± ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll remember that. If I truly can¡¯t bear it anymore, I might come to find you,¡± Su Qingqing replied. She deliberately added ¡°might,¡± because she wouldn¡¯t seek help from others unless absolutely necessary. ¡°By the way, what¡¯s your contact information?¡± Lin Yifan inquired. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that. Because until I graduate, I am not going to date any man, including you, despite your chivalrous gesture; so, don¡¯t bother,¡± Su Qingqing declined flatly. Lin Yifan felt a chill in his heart, realizing she hadn¡¯t accepted him, and even after a year, she might choose someone else. ¡°Ah, well! Let nature take its course!¡± He decided not to insist any longer, as reluctance would not bring happiness. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be on my way. Remember, if you can¡¯t bear it anymore, come find me.¡± ¡°Certainly!¡± After issuing his reminder, Lin Yifan drove away. Seeing Lin Yifan getting into a luxurious car, Su Qingqing¡¯s sense of inferiority intensified further. ¡°With our different family backgrounds and lifestyles, could such a marriage ever be happy?¡± She didn¡¯t know, but was aware of too many cautionary tales, which made her fearful. ... Meanwhile, Lin Yifan was driving through the streets, searching for a bank in Shenzhou Country. He had to pay his rent tonight, no matter what. He couldn¡¯t let the landlady wait too long. Before long, he found a bank; so, he parked and went to withdraw money. He withdrew eight thousand yuan, as the new apartment required a deposit and two months¡¯ rent in advance, totaling around six thousand. Adding living expenses, he needed that much money. After withdrawing the money, he drove to his current dwelling place in West Side City Village. Half an hour later, he finally arrived at West Side City Village. The village was brightly lit and bustling at this hour. Come evening, the village always livened up as the working populace returned home from their jobs; and with their arrival, the nightlife began. West Side City Village was home to many from the working class, residing at the bottom rung of society, so the sight of a black Maserati President sedan driving in drew the attention of bystanders, who stopped to watch with curiosity and surprise, wondering when another nouveau riche had emerged from their midst. Basking in the envious glances of passersby, Lin Yifan felt somewhat elated; yet he knew the admiration wasn¡¯t for him, but for the luxurious car he drove. Thus, he shouldn¡¯t be too proud or forget his predicament. As he drove in, Lin Yifan stopped in front of a small restaurant. This restaurant was a place he used to frequent often, and he was well acquainted with its proprietress. Famished, he wanted to savor a meal here, perhaps for the last time, to relive the taste of this restaurant. After parking the car, he got out and ordered a bowl of mixed sauce noodles from the proprietress. The patrons inside, upon seeing him arrive in an extravagantly expensive car only to order a bowl of mixed sauce noodles, were rendered speechless. They couldn¡¯t fathom why someone would drive such a luxurious car from afar just for a bowl of noodles. It was beyond comprehension. ¡°That rich guy really knows how to play!¡± came a remark from one of the customers, a phrase that was particularly popular at the time. The proprietress recognized the ordering patron as someone familiar, but hesitated, unsure if it really was the person she was thinking of, so she swallowed her words. Seeing her hesitate, Lin Yifan chuckled and asked, ¡°Proprietress! Why not greet someone you know?¡± ¡°Are you really that Lin guy?¡± The proprietress was truly astonished. Recognizing his voice, she was utterly sure that the suit-wearing man in front of her was indeed the worker named Lin who frequently visited her restaurant. ¡°What, you don¡¯t recognize me after just one day?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°Your transformation is just too drastic, isn¡¯t it? Where did you get the money to buy all these fancy clothes? And that car outside, it¡¯s yours too? Where did you get it from?¡± The proprietress was intensely curious and eager to resolve the puzzles in her mind. Chapter 59 - 59 59 Moving out and Relocating ?59: Chapter 59 Moving out and Relocating 59: Chapter 59 Moving out and Relocating ¡°Finding a new job, everything just fell into place,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°What kind of job pays that well? Tell your old lady here, I might take it up myself!¡± the landlady joked. ¡°You can¡¯t do this one, it¡¯s a bodyguard plus driver,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Who says I can¡¯t do it! This bulk of mine can absorb impacts, serving as a human sandbag; and, for your information, I can drift 360 degrees, my driving skills are unbeatable.¡± The landlady boasted without any reservation, making everyone in the restaurant laugh. ¡°Blowhard! Keep it up!¡± Lin Yifan was speechless; when this sister started bragging, her rhetoric was truly something, making it hard not to laugh. ¡°Alright, enough teasing, your noodles will be ready in a jiffy!¡± Life and death are predestined, wealth is in the heavens, some things you just can¡¯t force, and besides, she had no idea how tough and dangerous Lin Yifan¡¯s job would be; hence, it was better for her to keep her feet on the ground and focus on her work. A few minutes later, a delicious and steaming bowl of mixed sauce noodles was served to Lin Yifan¡¯s table. Lin Yifan immediately picked up his chopsticks and started wolfing down the food. In no time at all, he finished the mixed sauce noodles. Then, he called out loudly, ¡°Landlady! Check, please!¡± ¡°Oh my, that was quick! Were you starving? Want another bowl? I¡¯ll charge you half-price for the second bowl!¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯m full!¡± Lin Yifan patted his round belly and replied. The landlady was a good person, but he had a lot to do tonight, so it wasn¡¯t wise to eat too much. Since Lin Yifan had finished eating, the landlady didn¡¯t press on and simply said, ¡°Same old price¡ªeight bucks.¡± Lin Yifan pulled out a hundred yuan from his wallet and handed it to the landlady, saying, ¡°Sister, here¡¯s a hundred, keep the change as thanks for your kindness these days.¡± ¡°How can I accept that! The amount I¡¯ve charged you lately hasn¡¯t even added up to a hundred; plus, I helped you willingly, so there¡¯s no need for repayment; you should keep it for yourself, or give it to your family.¡± The landlady pushed the money back. Seeing this, Lin Yifan had no choice but to quickly stuff the money back to the landlady and then made a hasty exit from the restaurant. ¡°Thank you, landlady!¡± The landlady wanted to chase after him, but Lin Yifan was already far away, about to get into the car. Helpless, she had to accept the hundred yuan. ¡°The kid¡¯s way too polite!¡± ... Leaving the restaurant and driving a hundred meters further, Lin Yifan stopped in front of a mobile service store. This afternoon, An Qi had asked him to buy a phone card in the evening to facilitate contact; therefore, this was one of his tasks, which he needed to get done early. After choosing a phone number and topping up a hundred yuan of credit, he left the mobile service store. After that, he continued driving to his rented apartment. Upon arrival, he went up to the fifth floor and called the landlord out to talk about terminating the lease. Since he was terminating the lease early, which constituted a breach of contract, he needed to pay a penalty; however, these were small expenses, not a problem for him now. A few minutes later, having settled the termination of the lease, he immediately started moving without delay. The landlord, curious about his late-night move, asked, ¡°Young man, where are you moving to?¡± ¡°South City District!¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°South City District? Seems like you¡¯re moving up in the world, young man,¡± the landlord remarked. The comment was grounded; in Guiyuan City, South City District is synonymous with affluence, a hub for the wealthy, with generally high salary levels. ¡°Not at all, still just a working man,¡± Lin Yifan humbly responded. ¡°Well, I won¡¯t keep you any longer. Just give me a shout when you¡¯re done moving, so I can lock up the room,¡± the landlord said. ¡°Sure thing!¡± In less than half an hour, Lin Yifan had packed up all his belongings. After loading his luggage into the car, he handed the keys to the landlord, then drove off. It took him about an hour to return to the renting residence in South City District. There, he called out the landlady; then he settled the rent and the deposit with her. The elderly landlady did not expect Lin Yifan to be so polite, seeing him as an honest and trustworthy young man. However, she had a doubt that needed clarifying from Lin Yifan, ¡°Young man, if you can afford a luxury car, why do you need to rent a place?¡± ¡°The luxury car isn¡¯t mine, I¡¯m just a driver and bodyguard for a CEO of a public company,¡± Lin Yifan answered, easing her concern. ¡°Where do you work now?¡± the old lady continued to inquire. She wanted to verify the truthfulness of Lin Yifan¡¯s words; for some reason, she felt that the young man might have multiple identities and needed to be cautious. Chapter 60 - 60 60 Am I beautiful today ?60: Chapter 60 Am I beautiful today? 60: Chapter 60 Am I beautiful today? Lin Yifan did not hesitate and answered, ¡°Antian Group.¡± The elderly landlady nodded in satisfaction, then let Lin Yifan get on with moving his things. Lin Yifan moved all the items from the car to his room and then arranged everything neatly. After finishing, he finally went to take a bath in the bathroom. Exhausted from the day, he decided to indulge in a bath in the bathtub. He had never bathed in a bathtub before, so he was curious about how it would feel. After filling the tub and testing the water temperature, which felt right, he lay down. In an instant, he felt as if his body was melting, the comfort was sublime, and the fatigue gradually disappeared. ¡°Ahh!!!¡± After sighing deeply, he lay quietly in the tub, eyes closed, calming his mind. As he reflected, his thoughts turned to the bold Wang Xiaolin and the brainless beauty vlogger. After daydreaming for a while, he shook his head bitterly, feeling that finding a gentle and virtuous woman would be somewhat better. After bathing and dressing, he lay in bed, quietly recounting the day¡¯s events. Today, he had truly seen the lengths Wang Xiaolin would go to. Not only did Wang Xiaolin try to seduce him, but she also teased him, truly enough was enough. Now, he was genuinely afraid that she would incessantly bother him. The impression left by the innocent girl was relatively good; marrying an innocent girl would indeed be a beautiful event in life. With mixed emotions, he gradually drifted off to sleep. The next morning, he got up early. After washing his face, brushing his teeth, and getting dressed, he quickly went downstairs to buy soy milk and fried dough sticks, then ate his breakfast while hurrying along. Having a ten-year military career, ¡°getting up on time¡± and ¡°eating and working quickly¡± were deeply embedded in his mind. He would, as always, wholeheartedly finish each task. After quickly eating his breakfast, he drove to pick up the beauties, An Qi and Zhou Jiajia. As he lived nearby, it took less than fifteen minutes for him to arrive at the Golden Sand Bay residential villas. Having introduced himself the day before, the guard recognized him; thus, seeing his car approach, he immediately allowed him entry. Following the route from yesterday, Lin Yifan smoothly drove to An Qi¡¯s doorstep. At that moment, it was 7:30 AM, a full half hour earlier than the agreed time. He had arrived so early because he wanted to make a good impression on his beautiful CEO. With nothing else to do, he opened his phone to watch a live stream. After searching, he could not find the ¡°Big Brother¡¯s¡± streaming room; apparently, the beauty vlogger had not woken up yet. He had no choice but to open another beauty¡¯s streaming room to see if there were any good-looking vloggers and interesting streaming content. After browsing, he found that the other beauty vloggers¡¯ streams involved either singing, dancing, gaming, or acting cute, none of which were exciting; what was crucial was that none had attractive figures. In addition, he discovered that just a short while of streaming gobbled up his gigabyte of data, which was horrifying; this frightened him into quickly exiting the streaming app and turning off his Wi-Fi. ¡°It seems, without Wi-Fi, I can only play some games, browse social media sites, or read a novel online.¡± Having learned his lesson, he dared not watch live streams recklessly again. Still with fifteen minutes until eight o¡¯clock, Lin Yifan, having nothing else to do, decided to get out of his car to get some fresh air and look out at the distant sea. The vast ocean, its surging waves, and the cool sea breeze refreshed his body and spirit, making him feel serene and blissful. No wonder this area was a haven for the wealthy; with such scenery, which tycoon wouldn¡¯t want to come here to enjoy and live out their days? As time passed minute by minute, ten minutes later, Zhou Jiajia was the first to come out of her house. Seeing Lin Yifan standing by the roadside looking out at the sea, Zhou Jiajia felt a stir in her heart. She had come out early solely because she wanted to spend more time with Lin Yifan. She wanted to see if this man was reliable, whether he had a sense of humor, and if his personality matched hers. Quietly approaching Lin Yifan, she suddenly asked softly, ¡°Is the sea beautiful?¡± The sudden voice startled Lin Yifan. He curiously turned to his left and spotted a beautiful figure. At that moment, Zhou Jiajia was dressed in a pink floral dress, her delicate hands holding a small pink purse, looking incredibly sweet and adorable. Her gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, so from the side, Lin Yifan was captivated by Zhou Jiajia¡¯s profile. Like an angel descended from heaven, Zhou Jiajia was breathtakingly beautiful. Unknowingly, he was drawn in, reluctant to look away. Feeling Lin Yifan¡¯s mesmerized gaze, Zhou Jiajia was quite pleased with herself. The one hour spent on her makeup had not been in vain. After a long silence, she asked again, ¡°Mr. Lin! Do I look beautiful today?¡± The sudden question startled Lin Yifan, leaving him confused as to her intentions. Regardless, he could not lie, so he honestly responded, ¡°Beautiful, very beautiful!¡± How beautiful?¡± Zhou Jiajia persisted. ¡°As beautiful as a Fairy.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhou Jiajia covered her mouth with her hand, secretly chuckling, utterly delighted. Lin Yifan, completely baffled, really could no longer understand what was happening. Do you like this kind of beauty?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked, blushing. Clearly, this question was very direct and could reveal her true feelings, but she wanted to know if Lin Yifan was interested in her. Erh... what does this mean? Is it a trap? Is it a test by CEO An to see if he¡¯s frivolous?¡± No, no matter what, he must not fall for it. But to say no directly would hurt Zhou Jiajia¡¯s pride, so what should he do?¡± Lin Yifan was extremely conflicted. Then, in a moment of quick thinking, he finally crafted a response that neither hurt her feelings nor made him fall into a trap. Chapter 61 - 61 61 Jiajia Zhous Thoughts ?61: Chapter 61 Jiajia Zhou¡¯s Thoughts 61: Chapter 61 Jiajia Zhou¡¯s Thoughts ¡°It depends on the setting; if it were now, I would like it; if it were at work, I wouldn¡¯t, because my mind is colorless.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Zhou Jiajia was amused again. Liking it is liking it; why differentiate based on setting? Really. However, from Lin Yifan¡¯s answer, she could tell that he was very cautious, thinking she was sent by An Qi¡¯s sister to test him. ¡°It seems that this job is very important to him.¡± Last night, during a video chat with An Qi¡¯s sister, she learned about some of Lin Yifan¡¯s circumstances. It turned out that Lin Yifan¡¯s family was not well-off, and both parents were hospitalized. Now they even owed a significant debt, so he truly cherished a high-paying job. ¡°Should I help him?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked herself. In fact, she already had an answer. From the moment she had carefully dressed for Lin Yifan, she had resolved to follow him. ¡°Do you still owe money now?¡± ¡°Why is she asking this? Does she know about my family¡¯s situation? Does she want to help me out?¡± Lin Yifan, unaware of Zhou Jiajia¡¯s thoughts, didn¡¯t want to lie to her, so he honestly replied, ¡°Not for the moment.¡± ¡°Oh, have your parents¡¯ conditions improved?¡± Zhou Jiajia continued to ask with concern. ¡°You know all about it?¡± Lin Yifan countered. ¡°Mm-hmm, An Qi¡¯s sister told me.¡± Zhou Jiajia answered truthfully. ¡°Why are you inquiring about my affairs?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I have no other intentions, I just wanted to know what kind of person you are,¡± Zhou Jiajia hurriedly explained, seemingly afraid that Lin Yifan would be angry. ¡°You know these things for what? Could it be that you...¡± Lin Yifan held back the rest of his sentence because he saw An Qi leaving the room. At first glance outside, seeing Lin Yifan and Jiajia standing too close, An Qi couldn¡¯t help feeling extremely irritated and burst out angrily, ¡°Bodyguard Lin, why are you so close to my Jiajia? Are you harboring indecent intentions towards her? Let me tell you, my Jiajia is a beautiful swan, and you, this toad, shouldn¡¯t even think about it.¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words and extremely embarrassed. The female CEO could really lose her temper without any sense of reason. To avoid losing his job, he quickly stepped away and maintained a proper distance from Zhou Jiajia. Seeing this, An Qi felt slightly less angry. However, Zhou Jiajia was displeased, as her carefully planned approach had been foiled by An Qi¡¯s sister. But, anger aside, some explanations still had to be made. Therefore, she said, ¡°Sister An Qi, don¡¯t blame Bodyguard Lin, it was my oversight, I got too close without realizing it.¡± ¡°Jiajia, there¡¯s no need to defend this playboy, I know what he¡¯s thinking,¡± An Qi responded. ¡°Mr. Lin is upright and kind, with respectable behavior, not at all as you described, Sister An Qi,¡± Zhou Jiajia didn¡¯t believe An Qi¡¯s slander against Lin Yifan. ¡°Jiajia, you don¡¯t know how disgusting his despicable behavior is; if you knew, you¡¯d understand me,¡± An Qi replied. Remembering the incident at the pool, she was unable to calm her anger, because Lin Yifan was so despicable, taking advantage of her and ogling her beautiful figure, truly unforgivable. ¡°If Mr. Lin is such a lecher, then why did Sister An Qi hire him as your personal bodyguard?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked. ¡°Because, because...¡± An Qi was momentarily at a loss for an answer. ¡°Because what?¡± Zhou Jiajia pressed. ¡°Because he has good self-control and can suppress his lascivious heart.¡± An Qi, lost for words, blurted out something that sounded plausible. ¡°So, you mean he is strict with himself and abides by his duties?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked. This was a commendable trait; not many could achieve this, so instead of tarnishing Lin Yifan¡¯s reputation, An Qi unintentionally highlighted his strengths. ¡°Oh, whatever, he¡¯s a big lecher; Jiajia, listen to me, you won¡¯t go wrong,¡± An Qi didn¡¯t want to elaborate, feeling conflicted. ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll listen to you, I¡¯ll listen to you,¡± Zhou Jiajia was exasperated and responded nonchalantly. ¡°I knew Jiajia would care for me the most.¡± An Qi was delighted and then took Zhou Jiajia¡¯s arm and got into the car. Lin Yifan shook his head and smiled bitterly, not understanding what there was for President An to be so cheerful about. After getting into the car, An Qi noticed that Jiajia¡¯s outfit today was different from usual and asked curiously, ¡°Jiajia, why are you wearing a skirt today? Don¡¯t you usually wear professional attire when you go to work?¡± ¡°The weather is nice today, so I wanted to wear it out and see,¡± Zhou Jiajia answered. After this explanation, Lin Yifan became even more suspicious that Zhou Jiajia might be interested in him. ¡°Could my charm really be that great? When I was in the army, why didn¡¯t I notice?¡± Receiving successive attention from beautiful women, Lin Yifan was truly taken aback and unsure of what to do. ¡°Was the weather bad before?¡± An Qi asked. ¡°Sister An Qi, don¡¯t you like me wearing skirts?¡± Zhou Jiajia countered. She no longer wanted to elaborate because the more she explained, the more she risked revealing her feelings. Chapter 62 - 62 62 Beauty Should Be Open to the Outside ?62: Chapter 62: Beauty Should Be Open to the Outside 62: Chapter 62: Beauty Should Be Open to the Outside ¡°No way! Jiajia looks best when she wears a skirt, just today is a bit unusual,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°What¡¯s unusual about it? Can¡¯t I wear it occasionally?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked. ¡°That¡¯s fine, but why choose today?¡± An Qi asked. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you? The weather is nice, I¡¯m in a good mood, so I just wore it. That¡¯s all there is to it, don¡¯t think too much, An Qi,¡± Zhou Jiajia reassured. ¡°Okay, okay! Jiajia, wear whatever you like!¡± An Qi didn¡¯t want to probe any further because it might affect the relationship between the sisters. Through the conversation between the two women, Lin Yifan became even more convinced that Zhou Jiajia had dressed up for him today, so he glanced at this beauty through the rearview mirror. Zhou Jiajia also peeked at him through the rearview mirror. In that moment, their eyes met and both their bodies were struck by an electric current. The next moment, their hearts fluttered wildly, pounding nonstop. ¡°Could she really be interested in me?¡± Lin Yifan wondered in surprise, unable to calm down for a long time. Zhou Jiajia was a beauty, very pretty, mature, and gentle¡ªa great candidate for a housewife. Such a beauty would be hard for him to reject if she confessed her feelings for him. However, just last night he had promised Su Qingqing that he would wait for her; what should he do now? ¡°I¡¯m done for! I¡¯m done for!¡± He was completely at a loss and could only take things one step at a time. Leaning on Zhou Jiajia¡¯s shoulder, An Qi could clearly feel Zhou Jiajia¡¯s rapidly beating heart. As she looked up at Zhou Jiajia, she saw her shyly lowering her head, unsure of what had happened. When she looked into the rearview mirror, she suddenly understood the situation. It was Lin Yifan, the big villain, who caused the trouble, so she scolded, ¡°You big pervert! Peeping at my beautiful Jiajia again, did you just ignore what I said earlier?¡± Lin Yifan was speechless. How did this mesh with that? Clearly, your Jiajia has a crush on me, right? However, he wouldn¡¯t say this out loud and pretended to be innocent as he explained, ¡°I was just checking to see if there were any cars following us, nothing else.¡± ¡°Humph! Just making excuses; if you want to peep at my beautiful Jiajia, just say so. Why put on an act? You don¡¯t even have the decency of a man.¡± An Qi snorted coldly, not giving Lin Yifan any good looks. Then, she advised Zhou Jiajia, ¡°Jiajia, don¡¯t dress so glamorously in the future, to keep this big pervert from peeping at you every day.¡± ¡°An Qi, don¡¯t misunderstand Mr. Lin; he might really have been checking for cars behind us,¡± Zhou Jiajia defended Lin Yifan. ¡°Jiajia, don¡¯t make excuses for him. I know him the best; he¡¯s peeping at you because you¡¯re pretty. All this talk about checking for cars behind us is just his excuse,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°Beauty should be shared with the world, not kept to oneself; if he truly appreciates my beauty, then it¡¯s a recognition I should be happy about,¡± Zhou Jiajia retorted. Such a response took Lin Yifan by surprise. Now, he could be one hundred percent sure that Zhou Jiajia was interested in him. He wasn¡¯t the only one surprised; An Qi was too. ¡°Jiajia! What¡¯s gotten into you today? How could you say such things, have such thoughts?¡± ¡°Every girl has vanity and wants to be acknowledged by the opposite sex; An Qi, were you wearing beautiful clothes just for yourself?¡± Zhou Jiajia countered. ¡°Are you saying that you dressed up so beautifully today just for this big pervert to see?¡± An Qi deduced this shocking conclusion through reverse reasoning. ¡°Not just for Mr. Lin, but for every man in the world to see,¡± Zhou Jiajia answered, very calmly. ¡°Is that really the case?¡± An Qi stared into Zhou Jiajia¡¯s eyes and asked, feeling Zhou Jiajia was lying. ¡°It really is!¡± Zhou Jiajia said with certainty. Seeing no evasion in Zhou Jiajia¡¯s eyes, An Qi might have glimpsed the truth. ¡°Now that Jiajia is over thirty, it¡¯s not surprising to have such thoughts,¡± she consoled and explained to herself, trying to understand Zhou Jiajia¡¯s shocking statement. However, she definitely had doubts about the subtext between Zhou Jiajia and Lin Yifan, and the fact that Zhou Jiajia had asked her about Lin Yifan last night only confirmed this. She was just confused as to why such a wonderful woman like Jiajia would fall for a poor boy. ... Meanwhile, Lin Yifan was feeling mixed emotions and couldn¡¯t really be happy. He had already made a commitment to a woman, and to change his feelings now would make him a scoundrel. ¡°Ah! Why can¡¯t I just hide my charm?¡± Lin Yifan felt troubled, unsure of what to do. After dropping the two beauties off at the company, the three of them alighted from the car and went to work together. Following the two women, Lin Yifan realized that Zhou Jiajia was indeed very beautiful, resembling a heavenly fairy¡ªgraceful, dignified, and charming. ¡°Such a beautiful woman, even if I could marry her, but could I afford her?¡± ¡°Ah! Stop daydreaming; life is always so cruel.¡± Being just a worker, he couldn¡¯t possibly afford a good life for her; thus, he shouldn¡¯t indulge in vain hopes. They took the elevator and soon arrived at their office. By then, the beautiful assistant Wang Xiaolin had already arrived at work. Seeing An Qi and Zhou Jiajia come in, Wang Xiaolin quickly stood up and greeted, ¡°Good morning, Director An! Good morning, Secretary Zhou!¡± ¡°Sit down and get to work.¡± With that, An Qi opened the door and entered her office, with Zhou Jiajia following closely behind. Thus, only Lin Yifan and Wang Xiaolin were left in the outer office area. Today, Wang Xiaolin dressed even more revealingly and sexily. The black stockings from yesterday were changed to nude ones. Yesterday¡¯s white tube top was swapped for a red one. The mid-thigh skirt from yesterday was switched to an ultra-short one; truly taking seduction to an extreme level. Chapter 63 - 63 63 Add Friends on WeChat ?63: Chapter 63: Add Friends on WeChat 63: Chapter 63: Add Friends on WeChat ¡°Gurgle! Gurgle!¡± Staring at Wang Xiaolin¡¯s enticing figure, Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but swallow, feeling a bit hungry and thirsty. Feeling Lin Yifan¡¯s fiery gaze, Wang Xiaolin happily squinted her eyes, ¡°You little rascal, I¡¯m going to reel you in today, and see how you¡¯ll escape from the palm of my hand.¡± With a plan in mind, she stood up from her seat and approached Lin Yifan, bending forward slightly as she asked, ¡°Mr. Lin, is there anything I can help you with?¡± ¡°Oh my god! What¡¯s this? Deliberately tempting me to commit a crime?¡± Lin Yifan found this woman too frightening, so he quickly replied and left, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I need help with, you go about your work.¡± Seeing Lin Yifan hurry off, the corners of Wang Xiaolin¡¯s mouth curved up slightly, thinking to herself, ¡°Hmph! Let¡¯s see how long you can hold out.¡± Having dodged a bullet, Lin Yifan calmed down and began to fiddle with his phone to distract himself. The dangerous beauty hostess was still offline, so he reluctantly found something else to occupy himself with. He downloaded a social networking app, filled in his basic information, and then searched for people nearby to see if there were any worthwhile friends to make. He noticed that almost everyone¡¯s nickname was not their real name and most of the profile pictures were images of various sceneries, making it difficult to distinguish who was who. This feeling was great because even if you messaged someone to strike up a conversation, they wouldn¡¯t know who you were. Within a 100-meter range, Lin Yifan saw Wang Xiaolin¡¯s WeChat account. This was because Wang Xiaolin¡¯s WeChat profile picture was her own, so he recognized her at a glance. He would never add someone like Wang Xiaolin, because he hadn¡¯t yet decided if he wanted to marry her, and so far, apart from seeing how flirtatious Wang Xiaolin was, he hadn¡¯t seen any other personality traits, so he decided to keep watching. Continuing to browse, a WeChat nickname ¡°Pursuing Yifan Girl¡± caught his attention, because his own nickname was Yifan; so ¡°Pursuing Yifan Girl,¡± wasn¡¯t that about pursuing him? Of course, this was just his guess, he didn¡¯t know if that was really her intention. However, this WeChat account had successfully piqued his curiosity. He would certainly get to the bottom of it. So he started to add her as a friend. He typed ¡°Hi¡± and clicked the ¡°Send Greeting¡± button, and the friend request was sent. The next thing to do was to wait for her response. ¡°Ding-dong!¡± Zhou Jiajia, who was hard at work, suddenly heard a sound from her phone and curiously picked it up to look. Lighting up the screen, she found a friend request and was a bit confused, not knowing who was trying to add her on WeChat. Normally, she would ignore this kind of message, but since her position was that of a general manager¡¯s secretary, it could be a manager from some department who had business with her, so she unlocked her phone to check. After checking, she found that the person¡¯s nickname was ¡°Ordinary World,¡± instantly drawing her attention. ¡°Could it be him?¡± She wondered, not quite sure, and then decided to add the person as a friend first to find out; if it wasn¡¯t him, she would delete him immediately. She clicked the ¡°Accept¡± button, completed the adding process, and curiously asked, ¡°Hello, may I ask what¡¯s your last name?¡± Lin Yifan, who was waiting for ¡°Pursuing Yifan Girl¡± to reply, saw the message come in and immediately checked it, then replied, ¡°Lin.¡± Zhou Jiajia was instantly shocked, thinking to herself, ¡°Could it really be such a coincidence? Could it actually be him?¡± With her heart pounding, she went on to ask, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Seeing the text, Lin Yifan fell into contemplation. If he told his real name, and if the person turned out to be an employee at the company, his job would be at risk because the company had a clear policy that employees were not allowed to play with their phones during work hours or date, and violators would be dismissed. But not replying felt somewhat impolite. After much thought, he decided to use his nickname to reply, so he wrote back, ¡°Yifan.¡± Although it wasn¡¯t the answer she hoped for, Zhou Jiajia thought it might be due to the company¡¯s policy that the person was afraid to reveal his true identity, so she decided to beat around the bush to find the real answer. ¡°Are you around 1.8 meters tall?¡± ¡°Why do you ask about height? Do girls nowadays all like tall guys?¡± Lin Yifan wondered. Fortunately, he happened to have long legs, so he didn¡¯t need to lie and replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Lin by surname, around 1.8 meters tall; she was getting closer to the answer in her heart, so Zhou Jiajia continued to ask, ¡°Is your hair long, or short?¡± ¡°Does the length of hair affect making friends?¡± Lin Yifan was speechless and very much wanted to delete this person. However, to find out if she knew him, if she was trying to pursue him, he tersely replied, ¡°Short.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your hairstyle? Crew cut, buzz cut, or some other style?¡± After asking about length, now inquiring about the hairstyle, Lin Yifan got a bit annoyed, so he replied, ¡°What exactly are you trying to do by asking all these questions?¡± ¡°This relates to whether we can become friends in the future, so please answer my questions truthfully,¡± Zhou Jiajia replied. ¡°Come on! If you¡¯re going to be so aggressive, then I¡¯m not interested in making friends with you,¡± Lin Yifan coolly retorted, ¡°Bye.¡± Seeing these two words, Zhou Jiajia was really frustrated. But now at a critical moment, she couldn¡¯t give up halfway, so she responded with a gentler tone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my attitude was a bit off just now. But I really do want to get to know you, that¡¯s why I was in such a hurry. So please don¡¯t delete me.¡± Lin Yifan, who was looking for the ¡°delete¡± button, saw that she had sent another message, so he curiously clicked to read it. Only after seeing her apology did his anger subside, and he replied, ¡°Be more careful about what you say in the future or nobody will want to be your friend.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re right, you¡¯re right,¡± Zhou Jiajia said, placating, then urgently asked, ¡°So, is your hairstyle a buzz cut, or something else?¡± ¡°Buzz cut!¡± Chapter 64 - 64 64 Rejected Confession ?64: Chapter 64 Rejected Confession 64: Chapter 64 Rejected Confession Getting this response, Zhou Jiajia was about 80% certain that the person was Lin Yifan; the hairstyle he had was quite rare among people nearby. ¡°Mr. Lin, are you a bodyguard?¡± Seeing this message, Lin Yifan was instantly bewildered. He didn¡¯t know why the other person knew he was a bodyguard. Could it be merely inferred from the few answers he gave? He felt that person must know him, potentially being nearby, likely a female employee of the company. The company had strict rules, and he didn¡¯t dare admit it, so he replied, ¡°No!¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying, aren¡¯t you Mr. Lin Yifan?¡± ¡°Um... how do you know who I am?¡± Lin Yifan was overwhelmed with panic, feeling that something serious was about to happen. He just prayed the other person wouldn¡¯t tattle on him; otherwise, he might lose his stable job. ¡°Because I am a girl chasing Fan, chasing after you.¡± Lin Yifan breathed a sigh of relief; someone who chased after him probably wouldn¡¯t betray him. Since he had changed his look yesterday, many female employees at the company took a liking to him. He didn¡¯t know even their names, so he asked, ¡°Who are you...?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Secretary Zhou.¡± Seeing these five words, Lin Yifan jumped in shock. The pretty girl, Secretary Zhou, really liked him; what was he supposed to do now? To be honest, Zhou Jiajia, this gentle and mature beauty, it would be a lie to say he didn¡¯t like her. However, considering his current economic situation, he simply couldn¡¯t make her happy; besides, he had already promised Su Qingqing that he would wait for her, so how could he easily accept Zhou Jiajia¡¯s pursuit? So he calmly replied, ¡°I know you like me, but given my current economic situation, I regretfully can¡¯t accept your confession. I know you¡¯ll say you don¡¯t mind, but I do, I don¡¯t want you to suffer and struggle with me, living a life of uncertainty.¡± After reading the whole message, Zhou Jiajia realized that Lin Yifan didn¡¯t dislike her. He was rejecting her confession due to objective reasons. Such a responsible man made her even more infatuated. He hadn¡¯t coveted her beauty or her wealth; this was rare and proved that he cared about her. However, she still wanted to clarify a fundamental concern, so she asked, ¡°Do you actually like me or not?¡± This question stumped Lin Yifan. He had met the pure girl Su Qingqing the night before. She had said she might accept his confession after a year. But what if she didn¡¯t? Besides, the events of last night had been a complete misunderstanding. Su Qingqing misinterpreted his intention, and he hadn¡¯t actually confessed to her. Now the question arose, what kind of feelings did he have towards Su Qingqing? Did she like him? Could something actually come of their relationship? ¡°Perhaps after a year, she would have long forgotten about me, right?¡± Lin Yifan also felt that he shouldn¡¯t delay the bright future of a college student. But was it any better to harm a rich girl? So he faced reality, ¡°I do like you a bit, but we¡¯re really not suitable.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to consider my feelings. If I choose you, I¡¯m not afraid of a life of hardship,¡± Zhou Jiajia replied. ¡°Miss Zhou, you haven¡¯t lived through such a life, you don¡¯t know its hardships; so I advise you to be more realistic.¡± ¡°Then what economic conditions do you feel you must reach before you can accept me?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked. Seeing this response, Lin Yifan knew she hadn¡¯t given up. Basing his calculation on his current salary, he figured it would take him several years to earn a few million; and Zhou Jiajia was not getting any younger, she probably couldn¡¯t wait that long. Furthermore, his job wasn¡¯t secure; he could lose it at any time. So he decided to be decisive and replied bluntly, ¡°At least ten million.¡± He hoped that after seeing this message, Zhou Jiajia would retreat, realizing the difficulty and stop wasting time on him. Indeed, upon seeing this amount, Zhou Jiajia¡¯s heart cooled. Based on Lin Yifan¡¯s current salary, it would take at least 20 years to earn ten million. In 20 years, she would have turned into an old and faded woman. Would he still want her then? No, that¡¯s not right; his intention was to make her back off. To have a stable life, you don¡¯t need that much money! Besides, with his current salary, he could provide her with a stable life. Perhaps his real concern was that without this job, he¡¯d have no income to support her. If she could assure that An Qi wouldn¡¯t fire him, maybe then he would accept her. After coming to an understanding, Zhou Jiajia felt relieved and replied competently, ¡°A stable life doesn¡¯t require wealth and luxury. You¡¯re afraid that this job isn¡¯t secure, which is why you dare not accept me, right? If that¡¯s the case, I assure you now that An Qi will definitely not fire you. Can you accept me now?¡± Chapter 65 - 65 65 Zhao Ritian ?65: Chapter 65 Zhao Ritian 65: Chapter 65 Zhao Ritian The reply struck a chord with Lin Yifan. In fact, his general sentiment was this: without a stable job, how could he dare to marry a heiress? However, even if Director An never fired him, he would not accept Zhou Jiajia because that would mean living off a woman, maintaining a job through her connections. He didn¡¯t want that and would never accept it. Afterward, he replied, ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but I think I should have a career of my own; when I am successful, may I then come to marry you?¡± Receiving such a reply, Zhou Jiajia realized Lin Yifan was a proud man who wouldn¡¯t easily accept charity from others. Since that was the case, she didn¡¯t want to force Lin Yifan to accept her using charity anymore. So she replied, ¡°What career do you want to pursue? I will help you in any way I can.¡± Zhou Jiajia wanted to struggle alongside Lin Yifan, to create a career that belonged to them both. Seeing these words, Lin Yifan, who was sitting on the office sofa, was stunned. Truthfully, he was moved. Zhou Jiajia truly liked him; it wasn¡¯t a rash decision. But the reality was that he had little education and no head for business. Thus, establishing his own career was very difficult. He didn¡¯t know when he would succeed, and Zhou Jiajia was already past thirty with few youthful years left. He didn¡¯t want to delay her prime years, so he set a timeline for himself: ¡°Give me one year. If I haven¡¯t established my own career by then, you should stop waiting.¡± Zhou Jiajia understood Lin Yifan¡¯s thoughts. Yet, she had already set her heart on Lin Yifan and would even wait until her hair turned white, if necessary. Thus, she replied, ¡°If you don¡¯t marry, then I shall never marry.¡± Looking at these words, Lin Yifan¡¯s emotions couldn¡¯t calm down for a long time. He hadn¡¯t expected the beautiful Zhou Jiajia to be so infatuated. This moved him, but also gave him immense pressure. Afterward, he replied, ¡°Why do you put yourself through this?¡± Zhou Jiajia replied, ¡°If I can¡¯t marry the man I love, what good is marriage?¡± ¡°You make me feel guilty.¡± Zhou Jiajia replied, ¡°I don¡¯t care. I just like you.¡± ¡°Our encounter was brief; I¡¯m curious, what about me attracted you so deeply that you love me like this?¡± Zhou Jiajia replied, ¡°When we shook hands in the elevator, I felt a tremendous sense of security. Moreover, your ability to stand firm against all odds makes me believe that you are a man worth entrusting my life to.¡± ¡°Are you gambling your lifelong happiness on a feeling? Is it worth it?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°It is worth it! At least I¡¯m sure of it now,¡± Zhou Jiajia replied. On the other side of the phone, Lin Yifan knew he couldn¡¯t drive away this infatuated young woman, so he replied, ¡°Alright! I won¡¯t make you wait too long. But until I succeed, can we maintain our current relationship as colleagues?¡± After thinking for a moment, Zhou Jiajia replied, ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°Good! Let¡¯s settle on that. You should go back to work; I won¡¯t keep you any longer.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± After the conversation, Lin Yifan lay on the sofa, blankly staring at the ceiling, unsure whether what he was doing was right or wrong. Seeing him lying on the sofa, the beautiful assistant Wang Xiaolin found an opportunity to seduce him. So she immediately walked over. She approached the sofa and then leaned over to ask, ¡°Mr. Lin, are you okay?¡± Lin Yifan immediately got angry, cursing inwardly: ¡°Damn it, trying to tempt me to commit a sin again. If you like me, can¡¯t you use a more normal method?¡± He quickly closed his eyes and replied coolly, ¡°I¡¯m fine! Go on with your work.¡± ¡°Hmph! All flushed and yet you say you¡¯re fine. I wonder how long you can last!¡± Feeling dejected, Wang Xiaolin went back to her desk to work. After Wang Xiaolin left, Lin Yifan felt he was in big trouble. One after another, these romantic entanglements left him frazzled, unsure of how to deal with them. Su Qingqing was pure and lovely, but too unfamiliar to talk of love. Wang Xiaolin was full of allure, with dishonest intentions, yet had a captivating figure. Zhou Jiajia was virtuous and charming, willing to marry no one else but him, though there was a large difference in their social statuses. All three had their own strengths and weaknesses. Choosing anyone would be a loss. However, forced to make a choice, he would choose Zhou Jiajia for she was excellent in many aspects and had made her intentions very clear, which gave him a sense of security. But Zhou Jiajia was a heiress; how would he afford to keep her? He thought about the career he had just discussed. But business, where would he find it? Where would he start it? After considering various industries, he thought he could start a chain gym business or open a bodyguard company. But all these required funds, and he clearly had no money at the moment. ¡°Money! Where am I supposed to get the money?¡± While he was lost in thought, someone entered the office. The visitor was a man in a wheelchair, his body almost entirely encased in a plaster cast. Behind him, four bodyguards followed, one of whom was pushing the wheelchair. Seeing the person in the wheelchair, Wang Xiaolin was astonished, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Zhao Ritian from the Zhao Group? How did he end up like this?¡± Curious as she was, she still needed to inquire. Therefore, she stood up and politely asked, ¡°Mr. Zhao, is there anything I can help with?¡± Staring at Wang Xiaolin¡¯s provocative body, Zhao Ritian couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva, obviously stimulated. ¡°What a stunner!¡± Seeing Zhao Ritian¡¯s lustful gaze, Wang Xiaolin knew that he was mesmerized by her. However, she felt no pride but rather disgust, as Zhao Ritian was engaged and yet harboring fantasies about other women, which was truly despicable. Now, she felt a bit sorry for Director An, who was about to marry such a lascivious fiance?. To break the awkward silence, she once again politely asked, ¡°Mr. Zhao, is there anything I can help with?¡± Chapter 66 - 66 66 Enemies Meet ?66: Chapter 66: Enemies Meet 66: Chapter 66: Enemies Meet Zhao Ritian finally regained his senses and hurriedly replied, ¡°Where is your boss An Qi? I need to see her!¡± ¡°An Qi is in her office, I¡¯ll let her know you¡¯re here.¡± After speaking, Wang Xiaolin sat down and made a phone call. Lin Yifan, who had been lying on the couch, now sat up. When he saw the side profile of the man sitting in the wheelchair, he felt a sense of de?ja? vu. After a moment¡¯s thought, he was startled. It was no other than Young Master Zhao, whom he had injured yesterday and extorted money from. ¡°What is he doing here? Could he be here to complain?¡± If that was the case, Yifan was fearless because he had done nothing wrong. If it was something else, he couldn¡¯t just ignore it. Bored, Zhao Ritian scanned his surroundings. When he saw Lin Yifan, he was instantly frightened. After all, this man was the God of Killing, the one who had caused the injuries on his body. Unaware of why Lin Yifan was here, Zhao decided he wanted nothing more to do with him and immediately turned his head away. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t expect that Zhao feared him so much; it seemed the lesson had really made him obedient. A minute later, An Qi walked out of her office. When she saw Zhao Ritian, she immediately lost her temper and asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°I heard you were attacked yesterday, so I wanted to come and see if you were alright,¡± Zhao Ritian replied. An Qi was his fiance?e, and importantly, she was also a great beauty; so how could he not worry when his beautiful fiance?e was attacked? ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine now, so you can leave,¡± An Qi replied coldly, showing no appreciation for his concern. ¡°No, I must stay here to protect you.¡± Zhao Ritian insisted, unwilling to leave since he didn¡¯t want any more mishaps to befall his gorgeous fiance?e. ¡°You can¡¯t even protect yourself in your current state, and you think you can stay and protect me? What a joke!¡± An Qi mocked and looked down on him. ¡°I may not be able to protect you, but I have bodyguards who can protect you on my behalf,¡± Zhao Ritian replied. ¡°No need, I already have a super powerful bodyguard protecting me; you better go home and take care of your injuries.¡± ¡°Where do you have a super powerful bodyguard? Don¡¯t lie to me, okay?¡± Zhao Ritian thought this was An Qi¡¯s excuse to drive him away, so he didn¡¯t believe her. ¡°He is my super powerful bodyguard,¡± An Qi said while pointing at Lin Yifan on the couch. ¡°He is your bodyguard?¡± Zhao Ritian was shocked. He had thought Lin Yifan was a businessman here to discuss deals, not a lowly bodyguard. This made him think there might be a chance for revenge later. ¡°The day I emerge from my cocoon, will be your doomsday.¡± He secretly vowed to personally kill Lin Yifan, the little rascal. Looking at the hatred-filled eyes of Zhao Ritian, Lin Yifan felt quite amused, ¡°Does he really want to seek revenge on me? Good, I¡¯m short of money right now and would quite welcome a major retaliation.¡± Wang Xiaolin, quietly observing all this, realized there was some bad blood between Lin Yifan and Zhao Ritian; moreover, it was very likely Lin Yifan was responsible for Zhao¡¯s injuries. ¡°My idol is so impressive that he even dares to beat up Young Master Zhao.¡± Wang Xiaolin grew more affectionate towards Lin Yifan; with such a fearless man around, what did she have to fear from anyone else? An Qi, oblivious to the details, proudly answered Zhao Ritian¡¯s question: ¡°Yes! He is my super powerful bodyguard! How about it? Want your bodyguards to try a round with him, see who¡¯s more powerful?¡± ¡°No thanks, since you already have super protection, I¡¯ll leave you to it,¡± Zhao Ritian replied. He knew full well how formidable Lin Yifan was, so he didn¡¯t want his bodyguards to embarrass themselves here. ¡°Then take care, I won¡¯t see you out!¡± Zhao Ritian didn¡¯t waste more words; he immediately had his bodyguards wheel him out. Seeing this, An Qi returned to her office to continue with her work. Now, only Lin Yifan and Wang Xiaolin were left in the office hall. No longer able to contain her curiosity, Wang Xiaolin walked over on Light Foot, and sat next to Lin Yifan, and asked, ¡°Was Young Master Zhao injured by you?¡± ¡°You could tell! You really have a sharp eye!¡± Lin Yifan praised immensely. ¡°How did you manage to injure him? What did he do to offend you?¡± Wang Xiaolin pressed on. ¡°That¡¯s not something you need to know,¡± Lin Yifan replied and then asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious, what is his relationship with An Qi?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t answer my question, I won¡¯t answer yours,¡± Wang Xiaolin retorted, feeling spiteful. ¡°Fine, don¡¯t answer. You think I don¡¯t have other ways to find out?¡± Lin Yifan scoffed. He was An Qi¡¯s private bodyguard and had private moments with her, so he could easily find out the truth; it was just a matter of finding out sooner or later. If he really couldn¡¯t wait, he could send a message to Zhou Jiajia, believing that An Qi¡¯s best friend would surely know more than Wang Xiaolin, an outsider. Chapter 67 - 67 67 Fiancée ?67: Chapter 67 Fiance?e? 67: Chapter 67 Fiance?e? ¡°You...¡± Wang Xiaolin was so annoyed she could only act coquettishly, ¡°Ouch! Just tell me, I really want to know.¡± Looking at Wang Xiaolin¡¯s coquettish face, Lin Yifan said sternly, ¡°Don¡¯t pull that act with me; I¡¯m not going to accept it.¡± Wang Xiaolin couldn¡¯t believe Lin Yifan could be so cold-hearted, so she tugged at his clothes and continued acting coquettishly, ¡°Ouch! Just tell me, please.¡± Glancing at Wang Xiaolin¡¯s fully developed breasts and her silky legs, Lin Yifan¡¯s body heated up for a moment. At that moment, if no one were around, he truly would have pushed Wang Xiaolin down and ¡°executed the law right there.¡± ¡°Damn, this seductive woman is trying to lure me into committing a crime at every moment, I must not fall for it.¡± Lin Yifan was fully aware of the importance of responsibility, if he were to ¡°execute the law¡± on Wang Xiaolin right there, he would have to take responsibility for her. He already had Zhou Jiajia so he absolutely could not do such a thing. So he threatened angrily, ¡°Keep this up, and I will make a complaint!¡± Wang Xiaolin immediately stopped acting coquettishly, then glared at Lin Yifan with a face full of rage, huffed angrily, and walked away. Watching Wang Xiaolin leave angrily, Lin Yifan wondered if he had been a bit too harsh? However, to deal with a woman like her, a stern approach was necessary. After Wang Xiaolin left, Lin Yifan immediately took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Jiajia, ¡°Jiajia, who is that Young Master Zhao to President An?¡± ¡°Ding dong!¡± Opening WeChat and seeing the intimate nickname ¡°Jiajia,¡± Zhou Jiajia¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but skip a beat, then she quickly replied, ¡°He is the son of the chairman of the Zhao Corporation in Guiyuan City, and also the fiance? of An Qi¡¯s sister.¡± Seeing this reply, Lin Yifan was dumbstruck. He hadn¡¯t expected that such a sleazy and lascivious man was actually President An¡¯s fiance?; it was like a flower set in cow dung! ¡°This domineering and willful female CEO isn¡¯t she known for being pure and noble? Why would she like such a lustful man? Was all her previous modesty and conservatism just for show?¡± However, if the two are fiance?s, why is their relationship so discordant? Could it be that President An is being forced? Lin Yifan felt there must be a problem, so he asked Zhou Jiajia, ¡°Does President An voluntarily like this Young Master Zhao?¡± ¡°You could say she is being forced. An Qi¡¯s sister, to save the company, was forced to sign a ¡®bond contract¡¯ and commit herself as Zhao Ritian¡¯s fiancee?,¡± Zhou Jiajia replied. Lin Yifan suddenly realized why An Qi was Zhao Ritian¡¯s fiancee?. ¡°It seems being a rich heiress is tough!¡± Being born into a rich family, one has to consider the whole family, the entire company; once a crisis occurs, even if it¡¯s something you are reluctant to do, you still have to force yourself to do it, otherwise, the entire family will fall into disaster. Zhao Ritian is President An¡¯s fiance?, which means, the future of Antian Group could very likely be in Zhao Ritian¡¯s hands; if that¡¯s the case, then he would definitely lose his job. ¡°Looks like I need to think of other options,¡± Lin Yifan muttered under his breath. Date was crucial, he wanted to know when President An would marry Zhao Ritian, so he inquired: ¡°When is President An getting married?¡± Seeing Lin Yifan¡¯s message, Zhou Jiajia felt a bit jealous and replied, ¡°Why are you asking? It¡¯s none of your business.¡± This was clearly a loaded comment, Lin Yifan knew that Zhou Jiajia, this little girl, was jealous and angry, so he explained, ¡°If it was none of my business, I wouldn¡¯t bother asking. To be honest with you, I have some issues with that Young Master Zhao, the injuries on his body were caused by me. So, if President An and Zhao Ritian get married, then I¡¯ll be fired, which leaves me jobless; that¡¯s why I want to know how long my high-paying job will last.¡± After reading Lin Yifan¡¯s explanation, Zhou Jiajia suddenly saw the light and her mood improved significantly; she then earnestly answered Lin Yifan¡¯s earlier question: ¡°An Qi¡¯s sister borrowed fifty billion from Zhao Ritian¡¯s father;if she can repay it with interest within one year, the marriage will be void; otherwise, she will have to marry Zhao Ritian after one year.¡± ¡°Fifty billion!¡± Seeing this figure, Lin Yifan felt as if he had heard it somewhere before. Recalling the past, he finally remembered where he had heard it. At yesterday¡¯s press conference, he had asked An Qi if there was anything he could do to help, and An Qi replied to him, ¡°Talk to me when you have fifty billion.¡± So, that was what fifty billion was all about. Lin Yifan now understood President An¡¯s worries. However, President An¡¯s worries were his greatest crisis, so he earnestly advised Zhou Jiajia, ¡°Jiajia, if you find the right man, marry him. I probably can¡¯t give you a happy life my whole life.¡± Zhou Jiajia understood what Lin Yifan meant, so she replied, ¡°Don¡¯t be so sad! As long as we help President An through this difficulty, we can still be happy together.¡± Lin Yifan agreed with her response and replied, ¡°Now, our only option is to fully support President An.¡± Now, the three of them were like grasshoppers on the same string, inseparable. Moreover, An Qi had shown immense kindness to him; the money to save his parents¡¯ lives was given by An Qi, so morally and emotionally, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch. But, with such a huge amount as fifty billion, where could he find it to help President An? ¡°Ah, take it one step at a time!¡± Lin Yifan decided not to think about this problem anymore and thus ended the chat. With nothing else to do, he opened his phone to check the news. Suddenly, he remembered something he hadn¡¯t done yet, so he immediately sent a text message to Zhao Dabing. Last night, he had coerced the address of the headquarters of the Little Knife Gang from a small-time punk. Because he was too tired last night, he forgot to tell Zhao Dabing about it. Moreover, he suspected that the person who attempted to assassinate President An yesterday was from the Little Knife Gang. Because the sharp knife used to attack An Qi and the knife used by the red-haired youth to attack him last night were identical, just different in color. However, he felt that the real mastermind was someone else. Chapter 68 - 68 68 An Huairen ?68: Chapter 68 An Huairen 68: Chapter 68 An Huairen After sending the message, Lin Yifan opened the APP to see if the beautiful anchor with the ¡°fierce¡± charm had started her live stream yet. The ¡°Big Brother¡± live room was open, but Lin Yifan hesitated about whether or not to go in and watch. After all, he was now someone with a girlfriend, and shouldn¡¯t be watching other women. But he was also quite bored right now, and if he didn¡¯t watch, he didn¡¯t know what else to do. In the end, he decided to respect Zhou Jiajia and not watch the live stream of the stunning beauty. With nothing else to do, he downloaded a music APP and started listening to music. The songs he listened to were all military songs, reminiscing about his days in the army. As he listened, half an hour passed by just like that. At this time, someone else entered the CEO¡¯s office suite. The newcomer was a man in his thirties, dressed in a suit, appearing like a white-collar worker at the company. ¡°Director An, hello!¡± the receptionist Wang Xiaolin immediately stood up and greeted him politely. From Wang Xiaolin¡¯s eyes, Lin Yifan saw a hint of respect, wondering if it was because the visitor held a senior leadership position. Director An handed Wang Xiaolin a document without expression, then instructed seriously, ¡°Take this quarter¡¯s financial statement to Director An!¡± Wang Xiaolin took the document and responded politely, ¡°Okay! Understood!¡± Director An didn¡¯t say anything further and left promptly. As he turned to leave, he made a point of glancing at Lin Yifan, seemingly with a particular hidden meaning. ¡°Looks like it must be someone from Uncle An¡¯s family,¡± Lin Yifan muttered to himself. As a bodyguard, there was nothing much about him that warranted attention, unless someone had a liking for him or was hostile towards him to take such a meaningful glance. From the man¡¯s look, he could sense a strong hostility; so, given the name An, a high position, and hostility towards him, it was almost ninety-nine percent certain that the person was from An Qi¡¯s uncle¡¯s family. ¡°The major positions in the company are all occupied by my uncle¡¯s family. It seems like Antian Group will soon change hands,¡± he reflected. The thought of this situation made Lin Yifan uneasy. With Zhao¡¯s Group glaring like a tiger eyeing its prey and relatives scheming for control and position, it looked like An Qi¡¯s support was on the verge of collapsing. Once he lost the support of this ¡°big tree¡± An Qi, he would have to go out and face the sun again. This feeling was not pleasant, so he hoped that the next time Director An was attacked, he would be able to gather some evidence. ... After a leisurely day had passed and he was heading home in the evening, Lin Yifan asked An Qi in the car, ¡°Do you have your people around Director An now?¡± ¡°I do,¡± An Qi replied simply. Hearing the two of them talk, Zhou Jiajia, who was nearby, always felt there was some secret between them and asked out of curiosity, ¡°Do you suspect that An Huairen is involved in something fishy?¡± ¡°Not just An Huairen, but my entire uncle¡¯s family,¡± An Qi answered. Zhou Jiajia was her best friend and most trusted older sister, so there was nothing to hide, and it didn¡¯t matter even if she knew. ¡°What do you suspect them of doing?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked curiously. ¡°I suspect they want to kill me and take over my dad¡¯s company,¡± An Qi replied. ¡°What? You mean you suspect that yesterday¡¯s assassination attempt was orchestrated by your uncle behind the scenes?¡± Zhou Jiajia looked astonished. This was a severe matter because being betrayed by one¡¯s closest relatives is an incredibly painful thing, and she believed that An Qi must be feeling terrible right now. ¡°Mhm! Yes.¡± An Qi nodded in reply. ¡°Then how did Mr. Lin find out? Did you tell him?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked. If that was the case, then she would feel there was something unusual about the relationship between An Qi and Lin Yifan; because An Qi hadn¡¯t even told her, her best friend, but had confided in someone she had just met. Such trust was definitely not something you¡¯d find in an ordinary relationship. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell him. We figured it out together; if it hadn¡¯t been for his reminder, I wouldn¡¯t have suspected there was a problem with my uncle.¡± An Qi answered. ¡°So it turns out Mr. Lin is quite clever!¡± As she spoke these words, Zhou Jiajia gave Lin Yifan a meaningful glance, seemingly indicating to others that the man she was interested in was indeed not ordinary. Seeing Zhou Jiajia¡¯s smug smile in the rearview mirror, Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help shaking his head, wondering what there was to be proud of, before politely responding, ¡°Thank you for the compliment, Secretary Zhou.¡± ¡°Aside from being a bit of a pervert, everything else about him is okay.¡± An Qi didn¡¯t refute but agreed with what Zhou Jiajia had said. ¡°An Qi, why do you always call him a pervert? Has he ever harassed you?¡± Zhou Jiajia was very curious. This was a big question, one she had to get to the bottom of. ¡°He¡¯s done more than just harass me; he¡¯s also indecently imagined me in his mind, utterly disgusting.¡± An Qi retorted, clearly angered as she recalled unhappy memories. Hearing An Qi¡¯s response, Zhou Jiajia glared at Lin Yifan, expecting a satisfactory explanation. Seeing her fiery gaze, Lin Yifan knew it was time to clarify things, so he cleared his throat twice and countered An Qi¡¯s accusation, ¡°Mind your words, I have never harassed you. I just had a nosebleed, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°If it was just a nosebleed, I wouldn¡¯t mind; but if you drool, then I have to suspect there¡¯s something wrong with your thoughts.¡± An Qi fought back. ¡°Anyway, I didn¡¯t harass you. Interpret it however you want.¡± Lin Yifan didn¡¯t want to dwell on this matter because it was pointless. ¡°You scoundrel, you dare to do it but don¡¯t dare to admit it. If it weren¡¯t for your skills, I wouldn¡¯t want you as my bodyguard.¡± An Qi was furious to the core and really wanted to give Lin Yifan a beating. ¡°Alright then, I admit it, you have a great figure; if you think I¡¯m not trustworthy, then go ahead and fire me.¡± Lin Yifan decided to lay it all out, hoping for a swift resolution. ¡°Humph! If I thought you had a bad character, would I have hired you as my bodyguard? I¡¯m just angry because you dare to act but won¡¯t admit it.¡± An Qi replied. ¡°It was just an instinctive reaction. Why should I admit guilt if you insist I¡¯m at fault?¡± Lin Yifan refused to confess because he didn¡¯t want to be wrongfully accused. ¡°Hmph! Who knows if you have improper thoughts about me in your head,¡± An Qi said scornfully before turning to Zhou Jiajia, ¡°Jiajia, have you seen his true colors now? Don¡¯t get too close to someone with impure thoughts, or he¡¯ll start lusting after your body.¡± Zhou Jiajia replied with a smile, ¡°If An Qi doesn¡¯t mind, then why should I care?¡± ¡°Who said I don¡¯t mind? I¡¯m only letting him get close for my personal safety,¡± An Qi countered. ¡°In the end, you still think Mr. Lin is of good character and trustworthy; so, if he¡¯s decent, why can¡¯t I get close to him?¡± Zhou Jiajia responded. ¡°Anyway, I just don¡¯t want to see Jiajia getting close to him,¡± An Qi became petulant. ¡°If I get close to Mr. Lin, will you get jealous, An Qi?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked curiously. She felt that An Qi might already have feelings for Lin Yifan. Chapter 69 - 69 69 The Beautiful Anchor ?69: Chapter 69: The Beautiful Anchor? 69: Chapter 69: The Beautiful Anchor? Hearing Zhou Jiajia say that, Lin Yifan was instantly startled, ¡°How... how is that possible?¡± On the other side, with such a question thrown at her, An Qi¡¯s heart immediately turned chaotic. She indeed had a good feeling about this big bad guy, but whether it was love, she was not sure. However, her behavior, seemingly intending to smear, certainly raised suspicions, so she explained, ¡°I just don¡¯t want to see the beautiful Jiajia being taken advantage of by this sleazy big bad guy.¡± ¡°If he dared to take advantage of me, he would have taken advantage of little sister An Qi long ago, especially since An Qi¡¯s figure is much better than Jiajia¡¯s!¡± Zhou Jiajia wore a mischievous smile as she scrutinized An Qi¡¯s body, the implication clear without words. With that said, Lin Yifan instantly became curious, so while driving, he couldn¡¯t help but sneak peeks in the rearview mirror at An Qi and Zhou Jiajia, trying to determine which of the two women had the best figure. Being scanned by Zhou Jiajia like this made An Qi extremely shy, and she protested sweetly, ¡°Jiajia, what are you talking about? There are others here, we can¡¯t talk about such sensitive things.¡± ¡°Anyone with eyes can see that little sister An Qi¡¯s figure is better than Jiajia¡¯s, what¡¯s there to hide?¡± Zhou Jiajia continued to tease An Qi. Actually, she had a purpose in doing this; it was to compete with An Qi and stir up jealousy. She believed her figure was no worse than An Qi¡¯s, and since Lin Yifan had a physical reaction to An Qi¡¯s figure, she wondered if he would have an even stronger reaction to hers. ¡°Where am I better than Jiajia? Jiajia is the most voluptuous woman I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± An Qi returned the favor, complimenting Zhou Jiajia, which indeed was a fact. Hearing this, Lin Yifan instantly took another couple of looks at Zhou Jiajia, and discovered her body indeed was quite voluptuous, which made him swallow his saliva several times. Having achieved her goal, Zhou Jiajia stopped teasing An Qi; she believed Lin Yifan would make his own judgment. A dozen minutes later, they arrived home. They said goodbye to each other and went their separate ways, and Lin Yifan also drove away. However, he hadn¡¯t driven fifty meters before he received a WeChat message, so he clicked to read it. This message was sent by Zhou Jiajia, and it read, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a surprise tomorrow.¡± Just a simple sentence like that set Lin Yifan¡¯s imagination running wild, ¡°What kind of surprise might it be?¡± ... Driving back to the neighborhood, it was already past seven in the evening. Finding a restaurant, Lin Yifan sat down for a meal. After the meal, he drove back to his residence, ready to head upstairs to rest. At this moment, Han Meiling, who was rushing over, saw a Maserati president series sedan parked beside the building she lived in and was suddenly stunned, thinking it was a wealthy fan coming to look for her. ¡°Who could it be?¡± Full of curiosity, she stealthily hid on one side, watching closely. Soon, a tall man dressed in a suit stepped out of the sedan; then, he walked toward the apartment¡¯s main entrance. ¡°So handsome! So domineering!¡± Catching sight of the Maserati¡¯s owner, Han Meiling was instantly attracted. Her emotions were running high; if he really was her fan, then she would accept his advances. She continued to observe from the shadows, and saw the dashing man approach the door, pull out a key, then open the door and go inside. ¡°He¡¯s a tenant here? How could there be such a wealthy tenant here? Could it be that he wants to get close to me?¡± After wildly speculating, Han Meiling decided to find out the truth by probing for herself. She ran over, then opened the door and burst into the room, yelling, ¡°Wait a second!¡± In the elevator, Lin Yifan turned at the sound and saw a familiar figure. ¡°Big Brother¡¯s beautiful broadcaster?¡± Although the person had changed clothes, the face was the same, so he recognized her immediately. ¡°How come she¡¯s here? Could she also be a tenant here? That can¡¯t be a coincidence, can it?¡± Lin Yifan was stunned, unable to believe the truth; if it really was the case, then he could watch live broadcasts in person every day. Han Meiling walked over with long strides, holding a bag of something in her hand. Staring at Han Meiling... Lin Yifan was dazed, ¡°This... this is even more fierce than on the livestream.¡± After being dumbfounded for a moment, he hurriedly pressed the elevator¡¯s door open button to prevent the doors from closing. A few seconds later, Han Meiling dashed into the elevator. She feigned a ladylike demeanor, lifted a strand of hair to her ear, shyly lowered her head and thanked him: ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± Lin Yifan responded, and then couldn¡¯t help but sneak a glance at Han Meiling and noticed she really was stunning. On the other side, Han Meiling also sneaked a peek at Lin Yifan and found that he really was handsome. Two people who admired each other stole glances back and forth in the elevator, seemingly addicted. However, in the end, it was Han Meiling who broke the awkward silence first, asking, ¡°Sir, do you usually watch live streams?¡± Hearing Han Meiling¡¯s question, Lin Yifan became even more certain she was the Big Brother¡¯s beautiful broadcaster and so he asked back, ¡°Are you the beautiful broadcaster from the live show?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes! I am, I am,¡± Han Meiling quickly responded, seeming very excited. ¡°Why is she so excited? Does she recognize me as one of the onlookers?¡± Lin Yifan wondered; wanting to clarify the situation, he curiously asked, ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°Sorry, I have too many fans, I can¡¯t remember all their names; may I know which wealthy fan you are?¡± ¡°Wealthy? When did I become wealthy?¡± Thinking about it, Lin Yifan figured she must have assumed him to be a wealthy fan chasing after her because he arrived in a Maserati, nicely dressed in a suit and brand-name clothes, and entered this place. Now, since he already had Zhou Jiajia, to avoid leading her on, he sincerely answered, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not any wealthy individual, nor am I any wealthy fan.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wealthy but you can afford a Maserati President sedan? I don¡¯t buy it.¡± Han Meiling felt that Lin Yifan seemed to be intentionally avoiding her and didn¡¯t know what he was afraid of; could it be that he was afraid she would devour him? That seemed overly timid. If he dared to come here, what was there to fear? However, there could be other reasons. To ascertain his identity, she pressed on with her questioning, ¡°Do you know me? Have you watched my livestreams?¡± This question did stump Lin Yifan; admitting he had watched would mean acknowledging he was the repressed type, which would make any future encounters extremely awkward. Moreover, he was afraid Han Meiling might tempt him into wrongdoing like Wang Xiaolin did. If he said he hadn¡¯t watched, it would feel insincere. For the moment, he didn¡¯t know what to do. Chapter 70 - 70 70 The Mysterious Egg ?70: Chapter 70: The Mysterious Egg 70: Chapter 70: The Mysterious Egg After some thought, he still felt it was better to say he hadn¡¯t seen it, so the other person wouldn¡¯t harbor any ulterior motives towards him, and so he answered, ¡°Don¡¯t know her, haven¡¯t seen her.¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t seen it yet you know I¡¯m the beautiful host of a live streaming show, who would believe that.¡± Han Meiling felt that Lin Yifan was lying to her all along, but she also didn¡¯t have any solid evidence to prove it. Even so, she wanted to chase after this handsome man near her because she didn¡¯t want to let go of any wealthy guy, especially one who was this handsome. Therefore, she introduced herself, ¡°Hello! My name is Han Meiling, a female host of a live streaming show.¡± ¡°Uh... Can¡¯t shake her off, huh?¡± Lin Yifan was speechless, not having expected the other person to actually introduce herself and take the initiative to get close to him. Since that was the case, he accepted it; he then introduced himself, ¡°Hello! My name is Lin Yifan; pleased to meet you.¡± ¡°Mr. Lin also lives on the eighth floor?¡± Han Meiling curiously asked; because she noticed that the elevator was going to the eighth floor, with only one number indicated. ¡°Yeah.¡± Lin Yifan nodded and then asked, ¡°You live on the eighth floor too, right?¡± ¡°Right! It seems we are really fated,¡± Han Meiling said with a wide grin, extremely excited. ¡°Indeed, quite fated!¡± Lin Yifan embarrassingly agreed. Just yesterday, he watched her live streaming, excitedly eating a banana, and today he had to face her in person, truly not knowing how to cope. Now, he began to feel anxious; if he were to be chased every day by a beauty with weapons even bigger than Wang Xiaolin¡¯s, what was he to do; and moreover, they lived on the same floor, a terrifying thought indeed. ¡°How old are you this year, Mr. Lin? Where do you work?¡± Han Meiling was extremely curious about Lin Yifan, drilling down to the basics. ¡°Why are you asking these questions?¡± Lin Yifan countered. ¡°No reason, just seeing that you¡¯re young and promising, just casually asked,¡± Han Meiling answered. Lin Yifan felt that he had become the target of her attention, so he hurriedly explained, trying to dissuade her, ¡°Oh! I see; actually, there¡¯s not much to say, I¡¯m just a wage earner.¡± ¡°A wage earner? Mr. Lin, are you joking with me?¡± Han Meiling asked with a face full of skepticism. Just then, the elevator reached the eighth floor, and the two of them walked out side by side. As Lin Yifan walked, he replied, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking? If I were a wealthy guy, why would I still be renting an apartment?¡± ¡°But... the car downstairs...¡± Han Meiling was somewhat puzzled, hoping for an explanation. ¡°That car isn¡¯t mine,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Is that so?¡± Han Meiling still didn¡¯t believe that Lin Yifan was just a wage earner. ¡°Do you think I need to lie to a stranger?¡± Lin Yifan retorted. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know about that,¡± Han Meiling responded. From the beginning until now, she felt as if he was hiding something, seemingly deliberately avoiding her. ¡°If you think so, then so be it, but I have no intention of deceiving you,¡± Lin Yifan no longer felt like explaining. ¡°What an untruthful young man, scared as if this old lady would eat him up,¡± Han Meiling thought to herself with a resigned chuckle. She was convinced that Lin Yifan must have seen her live stream, and his reluctance to admit it was because he didn¡¯t want to lose face; it very much fit the psyche of a homebody. For a homebody, she had ways to let him reveal his true nature, so she straightened her chest and seductively asked, ¡°Mr. Lin, have you had dinner yet? Why don¡¯t you come to my room, I¡¯ll make you a bowl of egg noodles?¡± Fixed on the large weapons in front of her chest, Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard. Han Meiling¡¯s figure was simply unscientific, with a slender waist, long legs, protruding front and a perky back, plus a big mouth¡ªshe was the spitting image of a Barbie doll, and it was quite incredible. He zoned out for a brief moment before snapping back to reality, hurriedly answering, ¡°No, I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± He definitely didn¡¯t want to fall into the ¡°tiger¡¯s den¡±; otherwise, there would be no return. Although the other party only paused for a short while, Han Meiling could see two words in their eyes, and those were ¡°excited.¡± ¡°Not bad self-control, better than the average otaku.¡± That was her initial evaluation of Lin Yifan. Because, typically, an otaku wouldn¡¯t refuse after seeing her imposing assets, followed by her invitation to come inside. ¡°What a pity for my eggs, there are so many, who knows when I¡¯ll be able to finish them?¡± Han Meiling opened the bag in her hands, took a look, and put on a pitiful expression. Seeing a bag full of eggs, Lin Yifan asked curiously, ¡°Why did you buy so many eggs? Knowing you can¡¯t eat that many, why still buy so much?¡± ¡°Eggs are not only good for beautifying but also for breast enhancement, and they¡¯re key for protein supplementation; there are so many benefits, so I had to buy more.¡± Han Meiling replied with a sly smile, unsure whether the other party could grasp her meaning. ¡°Eggs can beautify and enhance breasts? They have that function too? How come I didn¡¯t know?¡± Lin Yifan was completely bewildered, not understanding the underlying meaning. What confused him even more was why she sighed. So, he naively asked, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, what¡¯s there to pity?¡± ¡°Want to know the answer? Then lock into my live stream! My live-streaming room number is 90010, and the name is ¡®Big Brother.¡¯ I¡¯ll be streaming promptly from ten in the morning until one.¡± Han Meiling gave a seductive smile before turning around and walking back to her room. ¡°What does she mean? Is she going to live stream eating eggs? Or live stream...¡± As he pondered, Lin Yifan became more confused; in the end, he could only silently return to his room. Back in his room, he took out his mobile phone and called his younger sister. After chatting for a while and hearing that his parents¡¯ conditions were stable, he felt relieved; then, he gave his sister his mobile number to keep in touch in the future. After the call, he shopped online and bought all the living essentials he was missing. At eleven o¡¯clock at night, he went to bed on time and drifted off to sleep. Under the same sky, in a presidential suite at the Cloud Sea International Hotel, cries for mercy rang out; after a while, there was a sound of ¡°slap slap slap,¡± followed by Lin Yifan¡¯s figure appearing in someone¡¯s mind. The next morning, Lin Yifan did his usual routine: brushed his teeth, washed his face, had breakfast, and then drove to pick up An Qi and Zhou Jiajia for work. However, today he was a bit excited because Zhou Jiajia said yesterday that there would be a surprise for him today, and he couldn¡¯t wait to find out what it was. After a drive of about fifteen minutes, he arrived in front of An Qi¡¯s villa. Today, as usual, he arrived half an hour early. Now, with nothing else to do, he got out of the car, stood by the roadside, faced the sea breeze, and watched the distant sea. For some reason, looking at the sea always allowed him to cast aside all distractions. After about ten seconds, a beautiful figure appeared behind him. Zhou Jiajia tapped his shoulder and then, as he turned to look, suddenly shouted in an attempt to scare him. ¡°You can¡¯t scare me with such little tricks,¡± Lin Yifan said with a smile. ¡°No fun!¡± Zhou Jiajia pouted like a little girl. Chapter 71 - 71 71 A Surprise ?71: Chapter 71 A Surprise 71: Chapter 71 A Surprise In front of a man she liked, even if she was older and her thoughts more mature, she still wanted to become a little girl, because she wanted her lover¡¯s protection. ¡°Why did you come out so early today? And aren¡¯t you hot wearing such thick clothes?¡± Lin Yifan asked. Today, Zhou Jiajia wore a khaki overcoat. The coat covered everything above her knees, so he was curious why she dressed so oddly? ¡°Want to know the answer?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked with a brilliant smile. ¡°Yes!¡± Lin Yifan responded. ¡°Then come a little closer!¡± Zhou Jiajia made a mischievous request. This request was a bit sudden. Although Zhou Jiajia liked him, their statuses were different after all, if someone nearby, or Zhou Jiajia¡¯s family saw them, he would be doomed. After scanning the surroundings and finding no one around, Lin Yifan dared to move closer to Zhou Jiajia and asked curiously, ¡°Why all the secrecy?¡± ¡°Guess?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t guess!¡± Zhou Jiajia gave Lin Yifan a look... Suddenly, Lin Yifan¡¯s face turned red. ¡°How about that? Am I better than sister An Qi?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked proudly. Only then did Lin Yifan realize that she was jealous of An Qi. In fact, both women were stunning beauties, each with their own merits, but since Zhou Jiajia was his girlfriend, he of course liked his own girlfriend and replied, ¡°Much better.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Mm!¡± ¡°Do you like me?¡± ¡°Enough, stop being jealous. You are the most beautiful in my heart, irreplaceable.¡± Zhou Jiajia showed a radiant smile, utterly delighted. It was the response she wanted, very heartwarming and full of love. ¡°Thank you, my dearest future husband.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome, my dearest future wife,¡± Lin Yifan cooed back. Clearly, he was very fond of Zhou Jiajia, this sexy and shy young lady. Hearing the term ¡°future wife,¡± Zhou Jiajia¡¯s heart melted instantly, filled with sweetness. At that moment, she really wanted to snuggle into Lin Yifan¡¯s arms, feeling his body warmth and the scent of a mature man. ¡°Alright! Let¡¯s head back quickly so you don¡¯t catch a cold,¡± Lin Yifan said with concern. The sea breeze was strong, and it being morning, the air was cool; he was afraid Zhou Jiajia would catch cold. Considering Lin Yifan¡¯s current status, Zhou Jiajia had no choice but to comply. Afterward, she playfully asked, ¡°Has your future wife been good?¡± ¡°Good! Very good!¡± Lin Yifan pinched Zhou Jiajia¡¯s cute cheek and urged, ¡°While there¡¯s still time, hurry back and change into normal clothes.¡± ¡°Could it be that my future husband...¡± Zhou Jiajia asked somewhat dejectedly. ¡°No... it¡¯s just that I don¡¯t want other people to look at my future wife,¡± Lin Yifan answered. Zhou Jiajia¡¯s mood warmed instantly, and she quickly agreed, ¡°Okay! Your future wife will go and change right away.¡± Having said that, she happily bounced away. Seeing the mature Zhou Jiajia act so youthful and cute, Lin Yifan was very pleased. Having met such a wonderful woman, he wondered what good deeds he had done in his past life to have such luck. Ten minutes later, An Qi came out from the villa gate. Looking around and realizing that the always punctual Jiajia was yet to show, she curiously asked, ¡°Big perv, where¡¯s Jiajia?¡± While watching the ocean, Lin Yifan immediately turned around upon hearing An Qi¡¯s voice and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t know; she probably hasn¡¯t come out yet.¡± ¡°Really? It¡¯s already 8 o¡¯clock; she should be out by now. Could something have happened?¡± An Qi was somewhat worried and then went to Zhou Jiajia¡¯s house to look for her. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t stop her, knowing that the more he tried to interfere, the more likely their relationship would be exposed. Seconds later, An Qi reached Zhou Jiajia¡¯s front door, and just as she was about to enter, she saw Zhou Jiajia stepping out lightly. ¡°Jiajia, what¡¯s got you so happy?¡± Normally, Zhou Jiajia always carried herself with mature grace, and it was rare to see her in such a girlish state; thus she was curious about what could make Zhou Jiajia so joyful. Zhou Jiajia, who was humm... Chapter 72 - 72 72 Clamping the Egg ?72: Chapter 72: Clamping the Egg 72: Chapter 72: Clamping the Egg In her memory, Zhou Jiajia had stopped believing in love after being hurt once, and she was very curious about who had awakened Zhou Jiajia¡¯s love that had been dormant for years. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you!¡± Jiajia teased and then strode away. An Qi felt an itch in her heart, really wanting to know the answer, so she chased after her and asked, ¡°Hey, Sister Jiajia, don¡¯t keep me in suspense, can you tell your little sister? I promise to keep it a secret.¡± ¡°No means no, don¡¯t ask anymore, or I¡¯ll really get mad at you!¡± Zhou Jiajia threatened. ¡°Even if I don¡¯t ask, I know Sister Jiajia has a new boyfriend, I just don¡¯t know who it is.¡± Annoyed, An Qi shot back, but Zhou Jiajia simply ignored her. Helpless, she had no choice but to follow closely, and once they got into the car, she would interrogate her properly. Yifan, standing beside the sedan, saw Jiajia approaching and immediately opened the car door. As Jiajia arrived at the door, he placed a hand above her head to prevent her from bumping it as she got in. ¡°Thank you!¡± Jiajia smiled sweetly, very happy. This kind of affection was what she had always dreamed of. ¡°You¡¯re welcome!¡± Yifan flashed a radiant smile, exchanging a deep look with Jiajia who was now inside the car. The deep affection between them was known only to the two of them, hidden from everyone else. ¡°Big pervert! Get lost!¡± Feeling a constant itch in her heart, An Qi walked over, furious and intending to get into the car. Hearing the shouting, Yifan immediately put away his smile, wisely stepped aside, and let the fiery-tempered beauty CEO get into the car. An Qi stepped in and immediately started to hint and probe Jiajia about various things. Yifan closed the car door and then drove the two women to work. Approaching an intersection and waiting for a red light, Yifan stole a glance in the rearview mirror, wanting to check on the state of his future wife. However, this action was caught by An Qi, and she flew into a rage. ¡°Big pervert! What are you looking at? Always peeping at my beautiful Sister Jiajia; let me tell you, Sister Jiajia has a boyfriend now, so you can just give up that little fantasy of yours.¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Yifan broke into a sweat and was completely speechless. Was it such a big deal to sneak a glance? Was there really a need for this outburst? Besides, Sister Jiajia¡¯s boyfriend is me, hey, am I not allowed to look at my girlfriend, really. However, he only dared to think this in his heart and did not dare to say it out loud; otherwise, his relationship with Jiajia would be exposed. On the other side, hearing An Qi scold Yifan, Jiajia felt a twinge of heartache and spoke up to comfort her: ¡°Sister An Qi, don¡¯t be so harsh on Mr. Lin.¡± ¡°Sister Jiajia, there¡¯s no need to be nice to a peeping tom,¡± An Qi advised in return. ¡°If he¡¯s peeping at me, I¡¯m not losing a piece of flesh, why do you have to be so fierce with him? What if Mr. Lin gets angry and leaves, what would you do?¡± Jiajia chided. After hearing Jiajia¡¯s words, An Qi immediately let her guard down. To tell the truth, she was indeed afraid of Yifan resigning and leaving. Still, even so, she was fuming, muttering under her breath, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand his shifty-eyed look.¡± ¡°Alright, alright! Mr. Lin isn¡¯t as wicked as you imagine. Maybe he was looking in the rearview mirror to see if something was wrong with us.¡± Jiajia hugged An Qi, tenderly comforting this little woman whose heart had received a minor injury. ¡°That would be best. If not, I definitely won¡¯t let him off the hook, hmph!¡± With a cold snort, An Qi leaned on Zhou Jiajia¡¯s shoulder. After this lesson, Lin Yifan didn¡¯t dare to sneak glances at Zhou Jiajia anymore; unless An Qi was asleep or was concentrating on playing with other things; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t dare sneak a peek. They drove to the company and the three of them got out of the car and went to work. Entering the office, Lin Yifan, as usual, sat on the sofa. Today, Wang Xiaolin was unusually calm; not only did she not greet him, but she also didn¡¯t seduce him with her devilish figure; what puzzled him most was that today, Wang Xiaolin actually put on long clothes, no longer revealing and sexy. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Could she have given up?¡± Lin Yifan was puzzled; then, paying no more attention to these matters, he started playing with his cell phone. Half an hour later, seeing Wang Xiaolin come over with a cup to get water, Lin Yifan felt a bit strange; because Wang Xiaolin was walking with a limp, which looked extremely unnatural; he didn¡¯t know if she had hurt her foot or something. Out of concern for his colleague, he asked, ¡°Did you hurt your foot?¡± While getting water, Wang Xiaolin suddenly shuddered, clearly startled by Lin Yifan¡¯s question. After calming down a bit, she hastily replied, ¡°No, my stomach is a bit upset today, so walking is a bit uncomfortable.¡± ¡°Should you see a doctor, or should I help you take a sick leave?¡± Lin Yifan inquired. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll be fine with some rest.¡± Having said that, Wang Xiaolin hurried back to her seat in a flustered manner, obviously unable to face Lin Yifan. Seeing her like this, Lin Yifan was filled with questions. However, since she did not need help, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to care anymore. And so, it wasn¡¯t until ten o¡¯clock that he finally found something to do because Han Meiling had started a live stream. He watched the live stream, not to see Han Meiling¡¯s ample assets, but to see how Han Meiling played with eggs. The bag of eggs from last night had indeed piqued his curiosity. As the live stream started, Han Meiling sat in the chair, singing songs and interacting with her fans. He watched for half an hour and it continued just like that. Lin Yifan guessed that Han Meiling would probably start with the real ¡°main course¡± after midnight, so he turned off the live stream. After having lunch, when An Qi and Zhou Jiajia returned to the office to continue working, he took out his phone again and watched the live stream intently. Indeed, at this point, Han Meiling was no longer singing and dancing; instead, she started to tease the viewers with eggs. ¡°If you want to see the Egg Clamp, please swipe your gifts; reach one million beans and the hostess will clamp an egg; two million beans, two eggs; three million beans, three eggs, and so on, until no more can be clamped.¡± With her command, a bunch of dudes frantically swiped away on their computers and cell phones, sending gifts after gifts; the amount of one million beans was reached in less than half a minute. ¡°Good! One million beans has been reached, the hostess is going to clamp the first egg now.¡± Having said that, Han Meiling kept her promise, picked up an egg from the table, placed it between her legs, and clamped down hard. Chapter 73 - 73 73 Something Is Wrong ?73: Chapter 73 Something Is Wrong 73: Chapter 73 Something Is Wrong ¡°Alright! The first one¡¯s a success, has any viewer out there want to see the host do the second one? If so, start sending gifts now!¡± Han Meiling called out in front of the camera, urging her fans to send encouragement. This time, it took less than fifteen seconds to reach a total of two million beans, unbelievably fast. Han Meiling immediately kept her promise. ¡°The second one¡¯s complete; does any viewer want to see the host do the third one? Send your gifts fast!¡± Han Meiling continued to call out. Fans in front of computers and smartphones grew more and more enthusiastic, piling up gifts to three million beans in less than ten seconds. Seeing this result, Han Meiling excitedly did another somersault. At that moment, the screen exploded with comments, all saying, ¡°My sister is so awesome,¡± clearly finding it unbelievable. Doing two is already the limit for most, but Han Meiling managed to perform three somersaults; and it looked like she could do a fourth, or even a fifth, which was incredibly impressive. ¡°The third one¡¯s done; is there any wealthy fan who wants to see the host do a fourth one? Just get the gifts to four million beans, and the host will keep jumping!¡± Han Meiling kept shouting. Very quickly, a big-spending fan sent a Treasured Sword, worth 999999 beans, which instantly piled the bean count up to four million, with a sizeable excess. Seeing that the gift total had exceeded four million, Han Meiling couldn¡¯t close her smiling mouth and did another somersault right away. ¡°The host is better than dancers!¡± ¡°The host is awesome.¡± ¡°The host is sharp.¡± ... Her fans were all amazed. Lin Yifan thought Han Meiling was dancing very well. ¡°Han Meiling is really going all out for money.¡± It seemed that being a live streamer was not as easy and simple as he had imagined. ¡°Phew! Alright! The fourth dance is complete, any rich fans want to see the host challenge the limit and do the fifth one? If you do, start sending gifts now and get the total to five million beans.¡± Han Meiling took a deep breath and spoke with some difficulty; she was obviously tired. ¡°Oh my God! Still jumping? Does she really have to faint to be satisfied?¡± Lin Yifan was stunned, unable to comprehend why Han Meiling was pushing herself so hard. Afraid of missing out on chaos, the rich fans quickly sent enough gifts to reach five million beans. By then, the screen was full of comments praising her prowess, clearly showing the fans¡¯ anticipation for her to continue. Han Meiling didn¡¯t waste words and immediately performed a somersault. In the end, the fifth was a success! Lin Yifan watched this scene with wide-eyed shock, obviously astounded. ¡°This... this is too unbelievable, isn¡¯t it? Doesn¡¯t she get tired?¡± Lin Yifan found it difficult to imagine. As Han Meiling succeeded in her challenge, fans in front of the screen also exclaimed in admiration: ¡°My sister is so awesome!¡± In appreciation of her incredible performance, a wealthy fan directly sent her a Mansion gift worth a hundred million beans. Looking at the Mansion gift, Han Meiling was so moved that she shed tears; she then immediately said thanks, ¡°Thank you! I¡¯m very grateful to the fan ¡®Lonely Autumn¡¯ for the Mansion gift!¡± ... At two o¡¯clock in the afternoon, An Qi came out of the office and asked Lin Yifan to retrieve a document from An Huaixing. Without a word, Lin Yifan immediately went to do it. One hour later, he arrived at the factory and parked the car under the office building. Just as he was about to go upstairs, he was stopped by two security guards stationed at the staircase entrance. ¡°Stop! No one is allowed upstairs.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lin Yifan asked, puzzled. ¡°Because the leaders are in a meeting!¡± a security guard answered with a serious face. ¡°A meeting? Don¡¯t you just need one room for that? Why do you need to block the entire building?¡± Lin Yifan was perplexed and had a feeling that something was not right. Indeed, the next moment, a faint scream came down from the upstairs. ¡°Help! Help!¡± Though the voice was weak, Lin Yifan heard it very clearly¡ªsomeone was calling for help, someone was in danger! Instinctively, he stepped forward, wanting to rush up the stairs. However, the two security guards immediately intervened, holding him back and not allowing him to ascend. ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Lin Yifan chided sternly, his cold tone enough to kill. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you; keep it up, and we¡¯ll break your damn legs!¡± The two security guards were aggressive, not taking Lin Yifan seriously. ¡°I would like to see who¡¯s going to break whose legs!¡± No sooner had he spoken than Lin Yifan kicked both of the unseeing guards flying, not having to exert much effort at all. The two heavily injured guards lay on the ground, their faces filled with fear. Was the speed and strength of Lin Yifan¡¯s attack not too great? They were caught off guard and couldn¡¯t even stand their ground. Now, they dared not be arrogant anymore, for they knew too well that there were plenty more formidable people in this world than them! After dealing with the two ignorant guards, Lin Yifan quickly rushed upstairs to investigate. Following the sound, he made his way to the fourth floor, where he encountered six men. These six men were all dressed in work uniforms, appearing to be factory workers. At that moment, they were guarding the corridor on the fourth floor, preventing anyone from approaching the office at the end of the hallway. ¡°Help! Help!¡± The cries for help rose again, sounding panicked, helpless, and in desperate need of assistance. The screams belonged to a woman, indicating that a woman in the office at the end of the hallway was under some threat. Lin Yifan knew whose office was at the end of the hallway¡ªit was An Huaixing¡¯s. Chapter 74 - 74 74 Its you! ?74: Chapter 74: It¡¯s you! 74: Chapter 74: It¡¯s you! ¡°Fuck! This bastard dares to rape a woman in broad daylight, he¡¯s asking for death!¡± Lin Yifan was furious and decided to give An Huaixing a fierce lesson. ¡°Who the hell are you? Get the fuck down!¡± At that moment, a muscular young man pointed at Lin Yifan and bellowed. Lin Yifan reached out, grabbed the young man¡¯s hand, and with a forceful twist, broke the fingers of the muscular young man. He then fiercely responded, ¡°Fuck off!¡± ¡°Ahh!!!¡± A pig-slaughtering scream resonated as the muscular young man struggled to endure the pain, instantly losing the prestige he had a second earlier. The other five young men in the hallway, seeing their brother being bullied, rushed over to fight Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan handled these minions with ease, knocking them to the ground with punches and kicks. After dealing with the six laborers, he quickly charged towards the office at the end of the hallway to rescue the victimized woman. When he arrived at the door, he found it had been locked from the inside and couldn¡¯t be opened. At this point, he had no choice but to resort to violence. Lin Yifan stepped back, lifted his foot, then channeled his Cultivation Power, and with a powerful kick, sent the entire door flying. ¡°Bang!¡± After breaking open the door, he rushed into the room to save the victimized woman. At that moment, a woman in tattered clothes was cowering in a corner, being forcefully dragged out by An Huaixing. ¡°Fuck! You¡¯re dead!¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t stand by any longer. He immediately grabbed a chair from the side and charged towards An Huaixing. An Huaixing, startled by the loud crash of the door breaking, quickly abandoned what he was doing and looked towards the entrance. He shouldn¡¯t have looked, as the sight gave him a huge fright. For he saw a man holding a chair, raging like a tempest, charging right at him. It seemed like he intended to smash An Huaixing to death with it. Of course, An Huaixing wouldn¡¯t just wait to be killed, so he quickly let go of the victimized woman and also grabbed a chair from the side, preparing to fight it out with Lin Yifan. The victimized woman, upon seeing a familiar face, was incredibly moved and instantly started tearing up. With this man here, she could leave unscathed today. Lin Yifan approached An Huaixing, raised the chair in his hands, and savagely smashed it down on An Huaixing. An Huaixing too, lifted the chair in his hands to block, hoping to fend off the attack. But he didn¡¯t consider who he was facing; Lin Yifan, with his immense strength¡ªcould he truly be stopped by someone as flabby as An Huaixing? The answer was obviously no, and so the next moment, An Huaixing¡¯s arm was broken. ¡°Ahh!!!¡± He fell to the ground, rolling around, struggling with heart-piercing bone-penetrating pain. Despite An Huaixing¡¯s pitiful state, Lin Yifan had no intention of stopping the assault. He continued to lift the chair and smash it down, not ceasing until he had beaten An Huaixing to a bloody pulp. After dealing with An Huaixing, Lin Yifan approached the bullied woman, then took off his suit jacket and covered it over the woman crouching in the corner, who was constantly sobbing, and softly comforted her, ¡°It¡¯s okay! Everything¡¯s been taken care of.¡± This heartwarming consolation, this immense sense of security, warmed the injured soul of Su Qingqing in an instant. At that moment, she was like a lone ship ravaged by the storm, finding in despair the warm harbor where it could anchor. With a thud, she rushed into Lin Yifan¡¯s arms, then cried out loud, releasing all the fear and desperation she had just experienced. ¡°Wu!!! Wu!!!¡± Tears poured down like rain, she cried so painfully, so frightened. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t know what else to do, so he could only keep comforting her, ¡°There, there! Stop crying, all the bad guys have been defeated.¡± It took nearly ten minutes of comfort for the bullied woman to gradually calm down. The bullied woman wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and sincerely thanked him, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Lin.¡± ¡°How does she know my surname? Could it be someone I know?¡± Lin Yifan was puzzled. In this strange city, he knew very few people, which could be counted on one hand; therefore, he was very curious as to who the bullied woman actually was. Moreover, in his memory, none of the people he knew seemed to work in a factory, which made him even more curious. So he asked, ¡°Who are you? How do you know me?¡± Su Qingqing brushed her disheveled hair aside, then answered, ¡°I¡¯m Su Qingqing, the waitress you rescued from a gang of thugs the night before last.¡± ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Lin Yifan was taken aback. Why was it that every time he encountered Su Qingqing, she would be in some sort of trouble? ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me,¡± Su Qingqing replied. ¡°How come you are here? Weren¡¯t you working at the food stall?¡± Lin Yifan asked curiously. ¡°Those punk youths knew I worked at the food stall, they would definitely come to the stall to cause trouble often. For the sake of my safety, as well as his business, the stall owner persuaded me to leave. Desperate for a job, I searched all day yesterday; I went to many shops, but they weren¡¯t hiring temporary workers for the summer; eventually, I stumbled upon this factory hiring for the summer, and so I started working here,¡± Su Qingqing explained. ¡°I see,¡± Lin Yifan nodded in realization, then inquired, ¡°Why were you in An Huaixing¡¯s office, were you captured by him?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t captured, but tricked here. Not long after starting work this afternoon, I was called to the office building by the department manager, who said there were matters to discuss; and then...¡± While speaking, Su Qingqing started to choke up, evidently having lived through an unbearable experience. ¡°And then you just naively went?¡± Lin Yifan inquired. ¡°Mhm!¡± Su Qingqing nodded in response. ¡°So foolish, why didn¡¯t you look at the situation more clearly before you went in? Why didn¡¯t you think about the consequences of going there?¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but rebuke her. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was a trap, and I didn¡¯t know people could be so deceitful,¡± Su Qingqing answered sadly. Her spirit was already wounded, and now to be blamed by someone, she definitely felt awful. Lin Yifan gently wiped the tears from Su Qingqing¡¯s cheeks with his hand, changing his tone, he soothingly consoled her, ¡°There, there! Don¡¯t cry! I didn¡¯t mean to blame you.¡± Su Qingqing stopped her tears, no longer crying. There was really nothing to be angry about, after all, he was right in scolding her, she was indeed naive, and that¡¯s why she had been bullied by the bad people. Chapter 75 - 75 75 Compensate Eight Million ?75: Chapter 75 Compensate Eight Million 75: Chapter 75 Compensate Eight Million ¡°You killed him?¡± An Huaixing had already fallen to the ground, unable to move, so she thought An Huaixing was dead. ¡°No! However, if he had defiled you, I would have killed him,¡± Lin Yifan replied before asking, ¡°Did he succeed?¡± ¡°No! But if you had come a minute or two later, I might have...¡± As she spoke, Su Qingqing couldn¡¯t help but cry. What had just happened was truly terrifying, an absolute nightmare in her life; every time she thought about it, she would be scared and anxious, unable to find peace. ¡°This An Huaixing is really a son of a bitch, daring to lay his dirty hands on the factory girls, not to mention how many pretty and innocent girls¡¯ purity has been destroyed by him.¡± The more Lin Yifan thought about it, the angrier he became. Such scum truly didn¡¯t deserve to live in this world. Yet, the law hadn¡¯t granted him the right to take a life; reluctantly, he had to deliver a profound lesson instead. He walked over to An Huaixing, then kicked the lying, immobile An Huaixing before shouting, ¡°Stop playing dead, get up!¡± He knew best how much force he had used; at most, An Huaixing¡¯s bones would be broken, but that wouldn¡¯t kill or knock him out, so his inability to move was just a ploy to feign death and deceive everyone. An Huaixing ignored him and continued to play dead, trying to deceive his way out of this. ¡°Won¡¯t get up, is that it? Then I¡¯ll smash another chair down on you.¡± Lin Yifan instantly grabbed a chair, looking ready to strike again. At this, the feigning An Huaixing quickly opened his eyes and began to speak, ¡°Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t! Big brother, I was wrong. I¡¯ll stop pretending.¡± Seeing this scene, Su Qingqing was somewhat stunned. Just a moment ago she felt sorry for the person beaten to death, not realizing he was cunningly playing dead. ¡°Seems I am still too naive,¡± Su Qingqing muttered to herself. If it had been her, she might have let this pervert An Huaixing go; luckily, Lin Yifan was an ¡°old fox,¡± with everything under his control. ¡°Since you admit you were wrong, do you know how you should compensate?¡± Lin Yifan placed the chair down, then sat in front of An Huaixing and asked with an expressionless face. ¡°Compensate? What do you want to compensate? As long as I can afford it, I will definitely give it with both hands,¡± An Huaixing replied, somewhat excitedly. He had lots of money, and if he could resolve this issue with money, then nothing could be better. Since he wasn¡¯t the victim, Lin Yifan turned to Su Qingqing and asked, ¡°What compensation do you want?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want any compensation, I just want him to be punished by the law,¡± Su Qingqing answered. ¡°His act counts as attempted rape, at most he would get a three-year fixed-term imprisonment; and if he behaves well and pleads guilty, he might even get a lighter sentence; that would be a terrible loss for you, who has been mentally injured,¡± Lin Yifan explained. ¡°Then what do you think we should do?¡± Su Qingqing retorted. ¡°Let him pay eight million for emotional damages,¡± Lin Yifan replied with a sinister smile, staring at the lying An Huaixing. ¡°Eight million! Can he really pay that much?¡± Su Qingqing asked. If she could get that much money, she would consider settling the matter privately; because she was in great need of money. ¡°Compared to a few years in prison, I think he should know what to do,¡± Lin Yifan replied. An Huaixing¡¯s father was plotting against Antian Group; he wouldn¡¯t let An Huaixing, a chess piece with control over the factory¡¯s movements, be suddenly removed at this time; so the compensation of eight million, even if An Huaixing was unwilling to pay, his father would. ¡°Alright then, if he can compensate eight million, I will forgive him,¡± Su Qingqing answered. ¡°Did you hear that? Hurry up with the eight million, or else I¡¯ll send you to prison,¡± Lin Yifan threatened. ¡°Just let it go, but if you think I¡¯m going to pay you eight million, you¡¯re dreaming.¡± An Huaixing was no fool, either. Mental anguish compensation should top out at two or three million; eight million was outright extortion. Besides, he couldn¡¯t even make that much in a year, so how could he possibly hand over eight million so easily? ¡°You refuse to pay, huh? It seems the lesson wasn¡¯t harsh enough!¡± Having said that, Lin Yifan lifted his foot and stomped down hard on one of An Huaixing¡¯s fingers. Instantly, An Huaixing let out a terrible scream, extreme pain evident. Witnessing this incredibly cruel scene, Su Qingqing was so frightened that she dared not watch. ¡°Will you pay or not?¡± Lin Yifan asked as he continued to grind down on An Huaixing¡¯s finger. ¡°I¡¯ll pay! I¡¯ll pay! I¡¯ll pay!¡± An Huaixing was terrified and dared not offend his assailant any further. ¡°Then transfer the money over quickly,¡± Lin Yifan said, releasing his foot and speaking sternly. ¡°I don¡¯t have that much money on my card; can you give me a few days¡¯ grace? I¡¯ll transfer it to you once I¡¯ve raised the funds,¡± An Huaixing replied, his mind clearly harboring other intentions. Because once he escaped Lin Yifan¡¯s clutches, he would certainly do whatever it took, at any cost, to seek revenge on Lin Yifan. ¡°Do you think that¡¯s possible?¡± Lin Yifan countered. ¡°Big brother, I really don¡¯t have that much money. Even if you beat me to death today, I won¡¯t be able to produce eight million,¡± An Huaixing earnestly replied. Seeing the look on his face, which didn¡¯t seem deceitful, and considering eight million was no small sum; An Huaixing¡¯s father might have that much, but it wasn¡¯t certain An Huaixing did, so Lin Yifan inquired, ¡°How much do you have now?¡± ¡°Five hundred thousand!¡± An Huaixing answered without hesitation. ¡°Not being honest!¡± said Lin Yifan, and he stomped on An Huaixing¡¯s finger again. After all, An Huaixing was the manager of a large factory with a monthly salary of at least one hundred thousand, so it was impossible that after all this time, he had only five hundred thousand. The only explanation was that An Huaixing hoped to use this sum to send Lin Yifan away. ¡°Big brother, I was wrong! Please let me go,¡± An Huaixing begged pitifully, the pain unbearable. ¡°Speak! How much money do you have?¡± Lin Yifan demanded again. ¡°Two million!¡± An Huaixing replied evasively. This time, he was still underreporting to minimize his loss. ¡°Still not being honest!¡± After saying that, Lin Yifan stomped down again, furiously and without a hint of compassion. ¡°Ahhhh!!!¡± An Huaixing let out another agonized scream, trembling uncontrollably. The reason Lin Yifan was so sure he was lying was that An Huaixing had been in the job for three years and couldn¡¯t possibly have saved only two million. Moreover, as someone greedy and lecherous like An Huaixing, he must have used his position to embezzle a significant amount over those three years; thus, his assets had to be at least above five million. ¡°Big brother! I was wrong! Please let me go,¡± An Huaixing begged again, unable to endure the agony any longer. ¡°Hmph! For repeat offenders, my policy has always been to repay in double,¡± Lin Yifan said, continuing the relentless pressure on the finger without letting up. An Huaixing nearly fainted from the pain; it was truly unbearable. Seeing An Huaixing¡¯s face turn pale as death, Lin Yifan finally released his foot, then threatened, ¡°I¡¯ll give you one more chance. If you¡¯re not honest this time, I¡¯ll chop off your hand.¡± Chapter 76 - 76 76 An Huaixings Cell Phone ?76: Chapter 76 An Huaixing¡¯s Cell Phone 76: Chapter 76 An Huaixing¡¯s Cell Phone An Huaixing was terrified, trembling. The man in front of him was too cruel; he dared to speak like that, he might really do it. Not wanting to lose a hand over misreporting assets, he responded, ¡°More than six hundred thousand.¡± Having estimated, Lin Yifan guessed An Huaixing didn¡¯t have more money than that, so he ordered, ¡°Transfer the money to my account now!¡± ¡°Sorry, my hands are broken, I can¡¯t operate; take my phone and do it for me.¡± ¡°Where is your phone?¡± Lin Yifan asked. ¡°In the drawer,¡± An Huaixing answered. Lin Yifan approached An Huaixing¡¯s desk, pulled open the drawer, and looked for the phone. The instant the drawer was pulled open, he was shocked; because he saw a large pile of condoms. ¡°Damn! This lecherous An Huaixing is truly unmatched! Keeping so many condoms in the office, he must have harmed many innocent girls over the years.¡± Lin Yifan¡¯s anger lingered for a long time. Just thinking about those victims like Su Qingqing being forced by An Huaixing enraged him to the core. Does such a person even have humanity? Utterly despicable. And for such a beast, he was rarely lenient. Thus, he decided, once this was over, he would tell An Qi everything he had seen and heard today, letting An Qi dismiss An Huaixing from his position. From among the pile of condoms, he found a Tianyao V6 smartphone. Touching this phone, he felt his hand was tainted, very reluctant to hold it. However, for the sake of those hundreds of thousands of dollars, he endured it anyway. He then asked An Huaixing for the phone¡¯s power-on password. Even though it was a fingerprint unlocking phone, it could also be unlocked with a numeric password, so there was no need to bother the crippled An Huaixing to power it on. An Huaixing didn¡¯t waste words, immediately spoke out a four-digit password. After receiving the password, Lin Yifan pressed the power button and lit up the screen. The moment the screen lit up, he saw something he shouldn¡¯t have. Because An Huaixing¡¯s phone wallpaper was of an uncensored... ¡°Damn! What the hell is this, so vile?¡± Lin Yifan was exasperated; this An Huaixing was truly beastly, with erotic things everywhere. Unfortunately, this scene was seen by Su Qingqing. ¡°Ah!!! Turn it off, turn it off!¡± Clearly, she couldn¡¯t handle something so explicit. The sudden scream startled Lin Yifan; then, he quickly entered the numeric password and unlocked An Huaixing¡¯s phone. In less than two seconds, the screen was unlocked. Entering the main interface, Lin Yifan saw a sexy bombshell, absolutely not suitable for children. He immediately turned the phone away from Su Qingqing, not letting her see the screen wallpaper, otherwise, it would provoke another scream. He found the Guozi Bank APP and clicked to enter, beginning to ask An Huaixing for the password, ¡°What¡¯s the password?¡± ¡°wow222,¡± An Huaixing answered. Imagining the password he had keyed in, Lin Yifan felt more and more uneasy, sensing something vulgar. But then, a lightbulb went off, and he realized. This An Huaixing was really a thorough degenerate, not sparing even a password. It was sufficiently lecherous. Recalling how An Huaixing had leered at Zhou Jiajia a few days ago, his rage ignited. However, before getting the money, he still endured it for the moment. He entered the password, went to the personal center, and checked the account balance. He discovered that An Huaixing had over six hundred and thirty thousand, and he was thrilled. ¡°I¡¯m rich! I¡¯m rich!¡± Seeing Lin Yifan beaming with joy, Su Qingqing curiously asked, ¡°How much money is it?¡± ¡°Over six hundred and thirty thousand dollars!¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°Really that much?¡± Su Qingqing was astonished, unable to believe it was true. Because growing up, she had never seen so much money before. Over six hundred and thirty thousand dollars was an astronomical sum to her now. ¡°Really! If you don¡¯t believe me, come and see for yourself,¡± Lin Yifan replied. Su Qingqing walked over curiously, then glanced at the phone and indeed saw a string of digits displayed on it. ¡°This is great! With this money, my younger sister can study without any worries.¡± This money was the greatest solace for the emotional trauma she was experiencing; with it, she could at least reduce the burden on her family, and she wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard anymore. Lin Yifan was also very happy, with this money, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about his parents¡¯ medical bills or his sister¡¯s tuition fees anymore. Calming his emotions, he began to transfer the money. Confirming the transaction required a six-digit password, so he asked An Huaixing again for the password, ¡°What¡¯s the payment password?¡± ¡°222222,¡± An Huaixing responded without hesitation. ¡°Oh, come on! It¡¯s these sleazy numbers again.¡± Lin Yifan was really fed up. An Huaixing was a major pervert, everything from the interface to the password was undeniably sleazy. Hearing this, Su Qingqing also felt embarrassed. Such a person was truly lewd to the extreme. After entering the payment password and the verification code from the message, Lin Yifan transferred all the balance of over six hundred thousand dollars from An Huaixing¡¯s bank account into his own, leaving nothing behind. After the transaction, he quickly tossed the phone back to An Huaixing, then asked, ¡°When will you give the remaining one hundred sixty thousand?¡± ¡°Tomorrow,¡± An Huaixing answered tremblingly. ¡°You said it yourself, if I don¡¯t see the money tomorrow, prepare to pick up your corpse!¡± Lin Yifan threatened, and then picked up a nearby chair and smashed it down on An Huaixing three times. ¡°These three are for the women who were victims in the past.¡± Having said that, he threw down the chair and walked out, holding the raggedly dressed Su Qingqing. ¡°Damn it! Bastard!¡± Watching Lin Yifan strut away, An Huaixing, lying on the ground unable to move, was filled with rage. They had given him the money, yet he still beat them; it was unforgivable. ¡°If I don¡¯t avenge this insult, I swear I¡¯m not human!¡± He roared towards the sky, determined to fight Lin Yifan to the bitter end. Hearing the angry shouts coming from An Huaixing¡¯s office, Su Qingqing was filled with concern, ¡°Mr. Lin, what should we do?¡± She was just an ordinary person, no match for the wealthy and powerful An Huaixing. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, with me here, no one can hurt you,¡± Lin Yifan comforted. ¡°Will you protect me all the time?¡± ¡°If An Huaixing continues to harass you, I will always protect you until he is caught by the law,¡± Lin Yifan replied. Even though those weren¡¯t the words she had hoped to hear, Su Qingqing was still very touched. And for some reason, after this incident, looking at the handsome man by her side holding and protecting her, she felt her heart flutter. In the end, she drew this conclusion, ¡°A man like this is worth entrusting my life to!¡± Gradually, she leaned into Lin Yifan¡¯s embrace, not wanting to part. From An Huaixing¡¯s office to the ground floor of the building, Lin Yifan was no longer hindered; those underlings, having learned their lesson from his prowess, dared not trouble him any further. Chapter 77 - 77 77 Rejecting to the Face ?77: Chapter 77: Rejecting to the Face 77: Chapter 77: Rejecting to the Face After sending Su Qingqing to the car, Lin Yifan drank some water, then drove off. In the car, Su Qingqing shyly asked, ¡°Mr. Lin, do the words you said the other night stand?¡± ¡°Pfft!!!¡± Startled by the question, Lin Yifan spat out the water he was about to swallow. Some water got trapped between his windpipe and esophagus, forcing him into a violent cough. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± At this point, the car had already been brought to a stop. Seeing this, Su Qingqing patted Lin Yifan¡¯s back and asked with concern, ¡°Mr. Lin! Are you all right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, cough! Cough!¡± After coughing a few more times, Lin Yifan finally began to calm down. Su Qingqing started to feel disappointed and asked, ¡°Mr. Lin, why did you react so strongly? Was what you said that night just a joke?¡± How could he answer this question? If he said no, it meant being irresponsible to Zhou Jiajia; if he said yes, it meant being irresponsible to Su Qingqing. Lin Yifan thought this day would never come, but sometimes, things happen so suddenly, and you just can¡¯t block them. What¡¯s coming will come; what must be faced will be faced; decisions that must be made will be made. ¡°Ah!¡± With a sigh, Lin Yifan earnestly answered, ¡°No.¡± Before he knew Zhou Jiajia liked him, he indeed had feelings for Su Qingqing; the words he said that night were also sincere; so he couldn¡¯t bear to hurt Su Qingqing with a lie. However, now he had Zhou Jiajia, and so he had to make things clear to Su Qingqing. ¡°I need to be honest with you about something. Just yesterday, a girl who likes me confessed her feelings, and thinking that there was no possibility between you and me, I chose to accept. So I am sorry!¡± One moment, Su Qingqing was secretly delighted; the next, her mood plummeted as if facing the end of the world, utterly despairing. The atmosphere at the scene was extremely awkward, particularly for Su Qingqing; she had not expected her first confession to be rejected like this, and it was truly hard to bear. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I didn¡¯t take those words to heart anyway,¡± Su Qingqing replied with a smile. But that smile was very stiff, and anyone could tell it was forced. A powerful sense of guilt welled up inside Lin Yifan; such a beautiful and pure girl, and he had deeply hurt her, which really wasn¡¯t right; moreover, her heart had just been hurt, and his additional hurt made it even worse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I really am sorry!¡± Lin Yifan kept apologizing, filled with guilt. Now, aside from this, it seemed he could do nothing else. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apologize to me. Everyone has the right to pursue love. If I missed it, who else can I blame?¡± Su Qingqing felt somewhat self-reproachful. That night, she had rejected him upfront, and finally set a condition for him to wait a year, maybe then she could agree; it was normal for him to see no hope and for things to turn out this way, which was unquestionable. Happiness, like a gentle breeze, comes quickly and leaves just as swiftly; if one doesn¡¯t seize it well, the one left heartbroken and regretful will be oneself. Lin Yifan didn¡¯t want to discuss this topic further, so he changed the subject, asking, ¡°Where do you live? I¡¯ll take you back.¡± ¡°Xiguan Village in the city,¡± Su Qingqing answered, holding back tears. ¡°Do you also live there?¡± Lin Yifan was somewhat surprised, because he used to live in the Xiguan Village in the city, what a pity that the two had never met. ¡°Yeah, what about it? Did you live there too?¡± Su Qingqing asked. ¡°I used to live there, but moved away the day before yesterday,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Oh! It seems we really aren¡¯t fated to meet, to not have bumped into each other like this,¡± Su Qingqing said somewhat self-deprecatingly and despondently. ¡°As strangers to each other, who would pay attention to one another? Perhaps, we may have brushed past each other without even knowing,¡± Lin Yifan replied. Then he consoled her, ¡°Don¡¯t be disheartened, there are many men better than me in this world, and you will definitely find your happiness.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Su Qingqing asked back; in fact, she had already set her heart on Lin Yifan. ¡°Yes, you must have confidence in yourself,¡± Lin Yifan continued to comfort. ¡°I hope it¡¯s as you say,¡± Su Qingqing said, before turning to look out the window at the scenery. Throughout the journey, she was preoccupied with Lin Yifan¡¯s image, obviously infatuated. Lin Yifan drove with a guilty heart, focused on taking Su Qingqing to the Xiguan Village. Following the route directed by Su Qingqing, he pulled up at the building where she rented her apartment. That¡¯s when he noticed that Su Qingqing¡¯s residence was actually right across from his former rental, an extremely curious coincidence. ¡°It turns out that we were only separated by one window before!¡± Lin Yifan said with a bitter smile. ¡°You were the tenant on the fourth floor opposite?¡± Su Qingqing was astonished. If that was the case, their lack of encounter was really something; living so close yet not knowing each other. ¡°Yes! I used to be the tenant in Apartment 401 across the street,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°It seems we truly are fated but not destined,¡± Su Qingqing said, utterly disheartened. The atmosphere suddenly became awkward again. Lin Yifan changed the subject, ¡°Do you have a bank card? I¡¯ll transfer An Huaixing¡¯s money to you.¡± ¡°The reason you extorted so much money from that bad person, I think you must really need money, right? Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do, to repay you for saving my life, just give me half,¡± Su Qingqing answered. At that moment, although she was panicked and scared, she had guessed the reason why Lin Yifan did not want her to report An Huaixing. ¡°She actually guessed it right.¡± Undoubtedly, Lin Yifan did need the money; in order to give Zhou Jiajia a happy life, he had to find a way to gather a large sum of money for entrepreneurship. But that was only part of the reason; another part was indeed for Su Qingqing¡¯s sake. The An family was wealthy and influential, surely able to hire very good defense lawyers; if it came to trial, and Su Qingqing couldn¡¯t provide evidence, then An Huaixing would be acquitted; moreover, he could sue her for defamation, and then she would end up worse off than before. Even with evidence, with a defense lawyer¡¯s eloquence, they could ensure the sentence would be reduced to the minimum; so rather than that, why not extort several million to make oneself feel better? Having selfish intentions, indeed an apology was in order, so he confessed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I did have selfish intentions; but that¡¯s only part of the reason, another part was indeed for your sake.¡± ¡°I understand your actions, and I don¡¯t blame you,¡± Su Qingqing responded. ¡°Thank you for your understanding,¡± Lin Yifan was very grateful. ¡°Don¡¯t be so formal, if it weren¡¯t for you, I don¡¯t even know what kind of humiliation I¡¯d be suffering right now; so really, there¡¯s no need to blame yourself,¡± Su Qingqing persuaded. ¡°All right then! Give me your card number, and I¡¯ll transfer the money to you now.¡± Lin Yifan returned to the matter at hand, instructing Su Qingqing to give him her bank card number. Chapter 78 - 78 78 Holding a Board Meeting ?78: Chapter 78: Holding a Board Meeting 78: Chapter 78: Holding a Board Meeting Su Qingqing pulled out her own bank card and then handed it to Lin Yifan. Lin Yifan took the bank card and started operating the ATM. In the end, he discovered that he couldn¡¯t receive the SMS verification code; because it was not his card but An Qi¡¯s; the SMS verification code would only be sent to An Qi. Just as he felt helpless, An Qi called to inquire about the situation. ¡°Big pervert! What¡¯s with this 630,000? And what¡¯s with this transfer of 315,000?¡± An Qi asked on the other end of the phone. ¡°I¡¯ll explain when I get back, just tell me the verification code first,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Humph! Want a verification code? Come and get it yourself!¡± With a cold snort, An Qi on the other end hung up the phone. ¡°That was really careless of me,¡± Lin Yifan cursed to himself. Since the card was not his, he now had to seek An Qi¡¯s permission to transfer the 315,000 to Su Qingqing. Seeing Lin Yifan¡¯s anxious face, Su Qingqing asked, ¡°The card isn¡¯t yours?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not mine, it belongs to my boss,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°You¡¯re a businessperson and you don¡¯t have your own bank card?¡± Su Qingqing was somewhat surprised. Dressed in a suit, Lin Yifan looked proper and respectable, not like someone without a bank card. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh, but I¡¯m just an employee, and I¡¯ve just entered the workforce, so I really don¡¯t have a bank card,¡± Lin Yifan answered. ¡°You¡¯re an employee?¡± Su Qingqing was stunned, hardly believing what she heard. ¡°I was staying here just the day before yesterday; do I look like a rich man?¡± Lin Yifan countered. ¡°But this car...¡± Su Qingqing pointed at the Maserati they were sitting in, curiously asking. ¡°This car belongs to my boss, and I¡¯m her bodyguard and driver,¡± Lin Yifan responded. There was nothing to hide about his own job, revealing it might even lead the other person to back off. ¡°I see,¡± Su Qingqing suddenly realized. However, even though Lin Yifan was just an employee, she did not show any disdain; after all, their family backgrounds were similar. ¡°I will definitely transfer the 315,000 to you, please rest assured,¡± Lin Yifan solemnly promised. ¡°I¡¯m very confident, I believe in your integrity,¡± Su Qingqing responded extremely optimistically. ¡°Thank you!¡± Lin Yifan was very grateful. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Su Qingqing responded. Lin Yifan changed the subject, then said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you upstairs.¡± Su Qingqing was now in tattered clothes, easily attracting lecherous stares; and her mental state was also not very good, so in order to prevent another mishap, he decided to accompany her upstairs himself. ¡°No need, I can go up by myself,¡± Su Qingqing replied. ¡°Given your current situation, I¡¯m not at ease,¡± Lin Yifan expressed his concern. Looking at the suit jacket draped over her, Su Qingqing felt it was better to let Lin Yifan take her upstairs after all, since she needed to return the clothes to him, so she said, ¡°Okay! Thank you then.¡± After that, Lin Yifan carefully helped Su Qingqing out of the car. At that moment, the neighbors saw the two of them and began gossiping. ¡°How have girls¡¯ values changed these days? They love being kept by rich men every day.¡± ¡°Such a pretty girl being tarnished like this, it¡¯s truly a shame.¡± ¡°Rich men really know how to play around.¡± ¡°This girl is truly miserable, to be kept and still live in a place like this.¡± ... Upon hearing these ridiculous words, Lin Yifan was extremely angry; he then glared at the few neighbors gossiping and warned them not to spout nonsense anymore. Those gossiping neighbors, upon seeing Lin Yifan¡¯s cold gaze, were startled and quickly turned their heads away, no longer watching. After dealing with those gossiping neighbors, Lin Yifan escorted Su Qingqing upstairs. Arriving in front of room 401 on the fourth floor, Su Qingqing suddenly turned around, hugged Lin Yifan, and then whispered in his ear, ¡°If one day you break up, please remember to come find me. I will always be waiting for you at Guiyuan University.¡± After she spoke, she returned his jacket to Lin Yifan, then with tears in her eyes, she opened the door and entered the house. Lin Yifan stood outside the door, stunned, unable to calm down for a long time. ¡°Am I really that outstanding? Worthy of you waiting with your youth?¡± Today, he had indeed broken the heart of an innocent girl. After zoning out for a moment, he turned and went downstairs. Meanwhile, Su Qingqing leaned against the door, covering her mouth as she sobbed; such an excellent man had slipped through her fingers, how could she not be heartbroken. For the first time, she experienced the feeling of heartbreak. It was incredibly painful, even more so than her recent ordeal of rape. Driving away from Xiguan Village, Lin Yifan returned to Antian Group. At that moment, he went upstairs to find An Qi to explain the situation. Entering An Qi¡¯s office, Lin Yifan explained everything that had happened at the factory in detail to An Qi. When An Qi heard about An Huaixing raping a female employee, she was furious; hearing that the female employee was rescued by Lin Yifan, however, eased her feelings somewhat. ¡°An Huaixing, that scumbag, is utterly lawless. To dare rape a female employee in broad daylight is unforgivable.¡± ¡°Ms. An! I think it¡¯s time for you to take down An Huaixing and take control of the factory yourself. Only then will you stand a chance against your uncle,¡± Lin Yifan kindly suggested. An Qi found this sensible, so she said, ¡°Jiajia! Call a board meeting immediately. I want to dismiss An Huaixing from his position as head of the factory!¡± ¡°Okay, Ms. An!¡± After saying this, Zhou Jiajia went to contact the company¡¯s directors. Two hours later, at the board meeting, Lin Yifan saw An Qi¡¯s uncle. This was a very formidable old man. Although he wasn¡¯t sitting in the chairman¡¯s position, he still had the power to intimidate everyone around him. This was not a good sign because it meant that An Qi¡¯s uncle had gained the upper hand in the company. An Qi¡¯s uncle also glanced at Lin Yifan a few times, sensing a wolf-like quality emanating from him. This was a very fierce wolf, one to be wary of. ¡°Impressive indeed!¡± An Qi¡¯s uncle internally remarked. Although Lin Yifan was young, he was exceptionally skillful. However, for someone who repeatedly sabotaged his plans, he always found ways to eliminate them, no exception, even if they were strong. ¡°Ms. An, why have you urgently called us for a meeting?¡± a director asked. ¡°An Huaixing has disgracefully abused his power to rape a female employee; thus, I called everyone here to tell you that today I¡¯m firing An Huaixing,¡± An Qi replied. The position of factory head for An Huaixing was recommended by the directors; therefore, her dismissal of An Huaixing today required an explanation to the directors. ¡°Ms. An, do you have any evidence?¡± a director inquired. ¡°The witness is behind me; if you don¡¯t believe it, you can ask him,¡± An Qi pointed to Lin Yifan behind her and replied. ¡°With a witness but no evidence, it proves nothing; please present solid evidence, Ms. An!¡± a director leaning towards An Qi¡¯s uncle coolly responded. Chapter 79 - 79 79 Everyone Has Their Own Agenda ?79: Chapter 79 Everyone Has Their Own Agenda 79: Chapter 79 Everyone Has Their Own Agenda ¡°If you want evidence, go find it yourself at the factory. I believe my bodyguards wouldn¡¯t lie to me,¡± An Qi responded. ¡°President An, isn¡¯t it a bit arbitrary to take someone¡¯s word for it without verification?¡± a director questioned. ¡°The company belongs to my father, and I have the right to dismiss anyone. I called you here not to discuss, but to inform you, that¡¯s all. Understand?¡± An Qi answered commandingly. Suddenly, the room fell silent, every director¡¯s face solidified, daring not to rebuke. The largest shareholder of the company was still An Qi¡¯s father, hence she had the ultimate authority. ¡°It¡¯s my fault as a father for not disciplining my son properly; here, I would like to apologize to all the directors. My son has failed to meet your ¡®expectations¡¯!¡± An Gang, sensing the situation, stood up to apologize to everyone. His niece was already suspecting that he was scheming behind her back. If he didn¡¯t stand up to apologize now, it would only make him more suspicious, so he had no choice but to do so. Once An Gang stood up to apologize, the other directors immediately shut their mouths, not uttering a word more. In the conference room, Lin Yifan, upon hearing what An Gang had said, clearly felt there was a different meaning behind his words than what appeared on the surface. Failing to meet ¡°expectations,¡± this ¡°expectations¡± must mean controlling the factory¡¯s R&D information and production situation, right? ¡°It seems that this old fox must have already secretly colluded with most of the directors,¡± Lin Yifan thought to himself. An Qi felt that her uncle was sensible enough. Since that was the case, there was no need for a fallout yet, so she replied, ¡°After An Huaixing steps down, I will arrange for someone to take over his duties; if there¡¯s nothing else, then this meeting is adjourned!¡± The directors looked at each other, none having any objections. With this, An Qi had no reason to stay any longer, so she announced the adjournment of the meeting. After President An left, those directors quietly gathered around An Gang and asked, ¡°Director An, why didn¡¯t you argue back just now? We can¡¯t afford to lose control of the factory!¡± ¡°The lion is already alert, it¡¯s better for the pack of wolves to keep away for now, after all, it is the king of the mountains,¡± An Gang answered shrewdly. ¡°What about the factory then?¡± some directors inquired. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already planted my people there, I have someone in every department, no information can escape the palm of my hand,¡± An Gang replied. ¡°Director An is really wise!¡± some directors flattered him in unison. ... On the other hand, leaving the conference room and entering the elevator, An Qi finally let out a deep breath. Confronting these old foxes alone, she needed a great deal of courage to say what she had just said assertively. For some reason, ever since Lin Yifan was by her side, she no longer felt so afraid of those old foxes. ¡°It seems having a solid backbone is very important,¡± An Qi murmured to herself. In the elevator, Lin Yifan spoke up and asked, ¡°President An! The 630,000 is to be compensated to the female employee who was a victim; could you give me the mobile verification code so I can transfer the money to her?¡± ¡°That 630,000 should be what you extorted, right?¡± An Qi asked. ¡°It¡¯s not me who extorted it, I was helping that victimized female employee to extort,¡± Lin Yifan replied. ¡°Lies! Aside from helping that female employee, you definitely also took a cut for yourself,¡± An Qi responded. Hearing An Qi say this, Zhou Jiajia¡¯s body trembled; she hadn¡¯t expected Lin Yifan to make a move so quickly. ¡°It seems he really cares about me,¡± Zhou Jiajia thought sweetly, feeling more and more delighted the more she thought about it. She knew why Lin Yifan blackmailed that money because Lin Yifan wanted to give her a happy life and hoped to marry her sooner. ¡°That¡¯s right, I indeed blackmailed some money for myself; this is because An Huaixing, that lecherous scumbag, is too bad. Without giving him some punishment, he would never realize his wrongs,¡± Lin Yifan explained. ¡°Your actions were indeed satisfying to everyone. An Huaixing has been in charge of the factory for two or three years. It¡¯s hard to imagine how many innocent girls have suffered from his evil deeds during this time.¡± An Qi became angrier the more she thought about it. If it weren¡¯t for Lin Yifan catching An Huaixing, she would still be kept in the dark. ¡°Mr. An, I must keep my promise to the victimized female employee, please allow me to make the transfer,¡± Lin Yifan pleaded once more. ¡°She is the victim, you can¡¯t swindle so much money from her; if you transfer six million to her, I will give you the verification code,¡± An Qi responded. In doing this, she actually had a selfish motive; that was to prevent Lin Yifan from leaving. Because if Lin Yifan really had over three million, he might not be her bodyguard anymore, by which time she would be in trouble. Hearing An Qi say this, Zhou Jiajia next to her became unhappy; Lin Yifan had blackmailed An Huaixing for such a large sum of money just for her, and now only leaving three hundred thousand for Lin Yifan, she didn¡¯t know when she would be able to marry Lin Yifan. However, what An Qi said made sense; if she argued, she would only shame her own conscience. In the end, she chose to hold back. After thinking for a while, Lin Yifan felt that he could retrieve three million from Su Qingqing, and so he cheerfully replied, ¡°Okay! I will transfer six million to her.¡± Having said this, Lin Yifan took out his phone and operated it. An Qi and Zhou Jiajia did not expect Lin Yifan to be so decisive, giving three million without hesitation. ¡°Why would he do that? Can he really get the three million back?¡± Zhou Jiajia was full of doubts. Lin Yifan had already memorized Su Qingqing¡¯s bank account number; thus, the text message with the verification code was quickly sent over. Upon receiving the verification code, An Qi gave it to Lin Yifan. The next second, Lin Yifan successfully transferred out six million. Meanwhile, as Su Qingqing lay on her bed reminiscing about Lin Yifan, she suddenly heard her phone¡¯s message tone and curiously opened it to check. Shocked to discover that six million had been transferred into her account, she exclaimed, ¡°How come it¡¯s six million, wasn¡¯t it agreed to be three million and one hundred and fifty thousand?¡± Just as she thought about calling Lin Yifan to ask, he sent her a text message that read, ¡°I¡¯ll explain tonight.¡± Knowing Lin Yifan might be in some trouble, Su Qingqing decided not to disturb him and put down her phone. With the six million in hand, her first thought was of her family, so she immediately called home. ... Meanwhile, after returning to the office, Lin Yifan and Zhou Jiajia chatted about WeChat. After a thorough explanation, Zhou Jiajia finally felt at ease. Sitting on the sofa, Lin Yifan pondered over a question; how exactly should he use these three million plus? If it¡¯s starting a business, what industry should he choose? The bodyguard industry didn¡¯t seem to have much prospect for development. Chain fitness clubs looked promising, but they required a lot of money and couldn¡¯t make quick profits. Buying clothes on Taobao would need a bunch of sailors to manipulate orders through fake purchases, making it difficult to develop. Financial investment indeed could earn big money, yet the risk was also significant, and one could lose everything just like that; however, with a skilled trader or analyst, the risk could be greatly reduced. But where could he find such talented individuals? Chapter 80 - 80 80 If Life Were Just Like When We First Met ?80: Chapter 80 If Life Were Just Like When We First Met 80: Chapter 80 If Life Were Just Like When We First Met He thought and thought, and before he realized it, it was almost time to get off work. At this moment, Lin Yifan received a WeChat message. The WeChat was from Zhou Jiajia, and it read, ¡°Dear future husband, shall we go out and have fun together tomorrow?¡± Tomorrow was a weekend, and unless something special came up, he didn¡¯t have to work, so he replied, ¡°That depends on whether you can keep your little sister An Qi at home.¡± ¡°I will do my best,¡± Zhou Jiajia replied. At six in the evening, when work was over, Zhou Jiajia and An Qi walked out of the office together. While walking, Zhou Jiajia asked An Qi if she had any other plans for tomorrow. An Qi replied that she didn¡¯t, which filled Zhou Jiajia with joy. However, on the way to catch the bus, An Qi suddenly changed her mind and said she wanted to go out and have fun. ¡°Jiajia sister, where are we going to have fun this weekend?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go out. I just want to stay home and rest properly,¡± Zhou Jiajia answered. In order to go out and have fun with Lin Yifan, she broke her record of never lying to An Qi, which really showed her determination. ¡°Resting is so boring! We need to cherish our time and enjoy ourselves,¡± An Qi urged. ¡°I¡¯ve been really tired from work recently, I really need to rest a bit. Little sister An Qi, you should rest well too,¡± Zhou Jiajia persuaded An Qi in return. ¡°No way! The more tired we are, the more we need to relax; we must go out and have lots of fun tomorrow; if you¡¯re not going, Jiajia sister, I¡¯ll just go by myself!¡± An Qi responded. ¡°You¡¯re going by yourself?¡± Zhou Jiajia curiously asked. ¡°Yes! If Jiajia sister won¡¯t accompany me, then I¡¯ll go alone,¡± An Qi answered. ¡°Then is Mr. Lin going to accompany you?¡± Zhou Jiajia inquired. This answer was very important, as it concerned her sweet date with Lin Yifan. ¡°Of course! He is my bodyguard, after all! He definitely has to accompany me,¡± An Qi replied. Zhou Jiajia and Lin Yifan both felt a pang of disappointment upon hearing this news. It seemed that their date was going to be ruined. ¡°Little sister An Qi, what time are you going out to play tomorrow?¡± Zhou Jiajia asked. ¡°Is Jiajia sister coming too?¡± An Qi countered. ¡°In order not to disappoint little sister An Qi, Jiajia sister will have to sacrifice herself,¡± Zhou Jiajia replied. ¡°Oh yeah! That¡¯s great! I knew Jiajia sister loved me the most.¡± After saying that, An Qi hugged Zhou Jiajia and kissed her on her tender pink cheek. ¡°Damn it! Without my permission, you dare to take advantage of my future wife; you really deserve a beating,¡± Lin Yifan muttered to himself, feeling jealous and very angry inside. Seeing Lin Yifan¡¯s eyes in the rearview mirror, An Qi couldn¡¯t help but become furious, ¡°What are you looking at, you pervert! Haven¡¯t you ever seen lovey-dovey stuff before?¡± ¡°Come on! If you want to flaunt your affection, go find someone else! Why involve my future wife? And are you gay or what? Liking to show affection with another girl?¡± Lin Yifan was at a loss for words. But he only dared to curse like this in his heart. On the other side, seeing Lin Yifan¡¯s jealous demeanor pleased Zhou Jiajia, as it showed how much he cared about her. ¡°Little sister An Qi, you still haven¡¯t answered my question,¡± Zhou Jiajia changed the subject and asked. ¡°We leave at nine tomorrow morning. What do you think, Jiajia sister?¡± An Qi sought Zhou Jiajia¡¯s opinion. ¡°That¡¯s fine! The timing is just right, not too early and not too late,¡± Zhou Jiajia answered. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled!¡± After saying that, An Qi called out, ¡°Pervert! Make sure you¡¯re on duty at nine sharp tomorrow!¡± ¡°OK!¡± Lin Yifan responded briskly. After dropping An Qi and Zhou Jiajia off, Lin Yifan called Su Qingqing to go out for dinner and discuss the three-million issue. Upon hearing Lin Yifan wanted to ask her out for dinner, Su Qingqing¡¯s heart thumped wildly and relentlessly. Then she hurriedly took a shower, changed into a beautiful dress, and waited excitedly for Lin Yifan¡¯s arrival. An hour later, Lin Yifan drove to the building where Su Qingqing lived. At that moment, the old ladies in the neighborhood were gossiping again. Lin Yifan ignored their presence and called to ask Su Qingqing to come downstairs. A minute later, Su Qingqing walked out of the main entrance. Looking at the beautiful and pure Su Qingqing, Lin Yifan, who had been calmly waiting in the car, was instantly mesmerized. Su Qingqing possessed a kind of special beauty, like a lotus rising out of water, fresh and unsophisticated, purely beautiful. Especially with the light blue dress enhancing her charm, it was even more apparent. ¡°Click!¡± The car door opened, and only then did Lin Yifan come back to his senses. Watching the pure and beautiful Su Qingqing get into the car and sit beside him, he felt his heart stir. Where could he find such a beauty again? ¡°No, I already have Zhou Jiajia. I shouldn¡¯t flirt around,¡± Lin Yifan twisted his thigh, trying to snap himself out of it. Once in the car, Su Qingqing asked, ¡°Mr. Lin! Where are we going to eat?¡± ¡°The sound of nature, truly the sound of nature!¡± Lin Yifan sighed to himself. That voice made him recall the first time he met Su Qingqing; at that time, she had been plain and pure, charming and lovely, and very beautiful. ¡°If life were but as first meeting,¡± Lin Yifan couldn¡¯t help but utter this phrase. Even though he spoke softly, Su Qingqing still heard him. Su Qingqing felt pleased and then asked, ¡°Was our first meeting sweet and cozy?¡± ¡°Ah? I don¡¯t know, I didn¡¯t seem to feel it,¡± Lin Yifan responded hastily. ¡°Really?¡± Su Qingqing asked with a smile. ¡°Really! Really!¡± Lin Yifan answered in a flustered manner. However, the more he behaved like this, the more he exposed his true feelings. ¡°Alright! I got it. Let¡¯s drive! I¡¯m so hungry!¡± Su Qingqing said coquettishly. She knew that Lin Yifan was feeling embarrassed right now, so she changed the subject and did not press further. Lin Yifan quickly started the car and went in search of a restaurant. Soon, he found an upscale restaurant. The setting was elegant, and he decided to discuss matters with Su Qingqing there. As they entered the restaurant, Su Qingqing attracted a lot of attention from the opposite sex. Looking at this scene, Lin Yifan muttered under his breath, ¡°It seems, you really are beautiful!¡± ¡°Of course! How about that? Don¡¯t you feel proud at this very moment?¡± Su Qingqing asked cutely. ¡°Let¡¯s find a quiet place to sit,¡± Lin Yifan changed the subject, not wishing to answer that question. Su Qingqing didn¡¯t insist and thereafter, they found a seat by the window. After ordering some dishes, they began to talk. But just at this moment, a rude second-generation rich kid came to make trouble. ¡°Miss, could I have your phone number...¡± This scion thought he was handsomer and richer than Lin Yifan and believed that upon seeing him, Su Qingqing would be smitten. So, he boldly made his move. But this tactic only worked on gold diggers. Used on the down-to-earth and kind Su Qingqing, it would backfire.