Su Qing's face paled at the chaotic scene. "What should I do?" she asked nervously.
Xiao Chen chuckled, completely unfazed. "Relax, just sit tight."
With that, he pressed harder on the accelerator. The Maserati, which had been crawling forward, suddenly roared like a beast and lunged ahead.
"Ahhh!"
Ren Kun and his men froze in shock at the luxury car charging straight at them. In panic, they scrambled to the sides, yelling in fear.
Buzz—!
Without slowing, the Maserati shot through the gap and vanished into the distance.
Only once they left the company grounds did Xiao Chen ease off the gas. He glanced at Su Qing, whose face was still pale. "You alright?"
She exhaled deeply, her chest heaving. "That was terrifying! Were you not afraid of running them over?"
Xiao Chen grinned. "Relax, I know my limits."
It took her a moment to steady her nerves. "Honestly, I thought you'd jump out of the car and fight them."
He laughed softly. "Why use fists when I can use reason?"
Su Qing rolled her eyes. "Reason? Didn't look like it to me." After a pause, she asked, "That bodyguard Ren Kun brought along… is he really from Spike?"
"Spike?" Xiao Chen smirked. "That's just a fancy name from novels. The real elites stay hidden—you'll never see them paraded around."
"Oh? Like you, then?" she teased.
"Exactly." Xiao Chen smoothly changed the subject. "By the way, what's Qin Lan's background?"
"She's my best friend. Why?"
"Nothing. She just doesn't strike me as an ordinary assistant."
Su Qing smiled faintly. "She's an MBA from Harvard. With her ability, she could easily work for any big conglomerate. But when I started my company, I called her back. She agreed—on one condition. She wouldn't take an executive role, only stay by my side as an assistant."
Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow. "Quite the unusual woman. Are you two alumni? I recall your brother said you studied abroad too."
"I was at MIT," Su Qing replied.
Xiao Chen let out a low whistle. "Top-tier schools, both of you. Makes a slacker like me feel embarrassed."
She gave him a look. "Which 'slacker' can handle documents as quickly as you did today?"
He coughed lightly. "Didn't the poet say every person has their use? Even slackers have their strengths."
Su Qing fell silent. In her eyes, this man was like a heavy book—she'd only just opened the first page. It would take time to read him fully.
Half an hour later, the Maserati rolled into the Tulip Villa district and stopped inside one of the courtyards.
"My sister's probably back," Su Qing said as she unlocked the front door. "Come in."
As soon as Xiao Chen stepped inside, a crisp voice called from upstairs: "Sis, who's that?"
He looked up. A tall, slender girl stood on the staircase. She bore a resemblance to Su Qing, though her shoulder-length hair had streaks of fiery red that gave her a rebellious air. A tank top and hot pants showed off her long, pale legs.
"Xiaomeng, come down," Su Qing beckoned. "Let me introduce you."
The girl descended, eyeing Xiao Chen. "Sis, is this your boyfriend?"
Su Qing's cheeks flushed. "Nonsense! This is Xiao Chen. He was brother's comrade-in-arms, and he came to Longhai on his behalf to protect us."
"A bodyguard?"
"You could call it that," Xiao Chen said with a smile. "You must be Su Xiaomeng? Nice to meet you. Your brother spoke of you often."
"I don't have a brother," Xiaomeng replied coldly.
"Xiaomeng!" Su Qing scolded. "Say that again and I'll be angry!"
The younger girl pouted but fell silent.
"From now on, Xiao Chen will be staying with us," Su Qing continued.
"What? Living here?" Xiaomeng's eyes widened. "No way!"
"Why not? He's here to protect us. If you don't agree, I'll have him protect you directly—and accompany you to school!"
Both Xiao Chen and Xiaomeng froze.
Go to school… as her bodyguard? Seriously? Xiao Chen nearly cursed out loud.
"No! I don't want him tagging along. I can protect myself—I know martial arts! He might not even be as good as me!" Xiaomeng declared hotly.
Xiao Chen chuckled at her fiery reaction.
"What are you laughing at? Want to compete? If you lose, you leave!"
"Xiaomeng, enough!" Su Qing snapped, her face darkening.
The girl bit her lip and backed down.
"Don't mind her," Su Qing told Xiao Chen. "Make yourself at home. I'll go change."
When she went upstairs, Xiaomeng immediately pounced again. "Well? Do you dare to fight me?"
"I don't like bullying children," Xiao Chen teased.
Her face reddened. "What did you just say?! Where am I a child?"
His eyes flicked down deliberately. "Little buds just starting to sprout… like two poached eggs. Still small everywhere."
Her face turned crimson. Small chest—her greatest insecurity!
"You pervert!" she screamed, kicking at him in rage.
To his surprise, her moves were sharp and quick. "Taekwondo?" he asked, dodging.
"Third-degree black belt! Too late to be scared now!" Xiaomeng pressed forward, unleashing a flurry of kicks—front, side, spinning, even a 360° strike.
But Xiao Chen avoided them all with ease.
"Not bad," he commented. "But your toe push needs more explosive power. Try again."
Instinctively, she adjusted as he suggested—and her speed improved!
"Hmph!" she snorted, though secretly surprised.
She lashed out with a high kick aimed at his neck.
Snap.
Xiao Chen caught her ankle with one hand, his palm brushing over smooth skin. He couldn't resist giving it a squeeze. "Soft. Nice."
"Let go, you pervert!" she yelled, hopping on one foot.
"Stop attacking me and I'll let you go." He smirked, his eyes drifting upward.
"Are you letting go or not?"
"Bite me," he teased.
Furious, she used her other leg to strike again. Xiao Chen finally released her, stepping back as she landed gracefully.
"Enough. Fight's over," he said.
"You can't just say stop!" she snapped.
"Keep it up, and I'll tell your sister I should follow you to school for protection."
"You… shameless!" Xiaomeng fumed but didn't dare push further.
"Hahaha!" Xiao Chen laughed.
"What's so funny?" Su Qing reappeared, now in casual home clothes, looking stunning.
"Oh, just chatting about school," Xiao Chen said smoothly, throwing a meaningful glance at Xiaomeng. "I was saying I'd like to revisit campus life."
Xiaomeng nearly exploded. This guy was too brazen!
Su Qing, however, nodded thoughtfully. "Actually, that's not a bad idea. The business world is a battlefield—I can handle that. But Xiaomeng's safety always worries me."
"You're right," Xiao Chen agreed seriously. "These days, people will do anything for profit. Kidnapping loved ones isn't uncommon."
Xiaomeng glared at him, silently screaming: Bastard, what are you plotting?!
Su Qing turned to Xiao Chen. "Would you be willing to protect Xiaomeng at school?"
Xiaomeng panicked. If he agreed, her life would be ruined! She quickly clasped her hands together behind her back, silently begging him not to.
Seeing her gesture, Xiao Chen smiled faintly. "Actually, it's not so dangerous. The country's pretty safe. Plus, I tested Xiaomeng's skills just now—she's not bad. With a bit of training, she'll manage fine on her own."
Relieved, Xiaomeng jumped in: "Exactly, sis! Don't exaggerate. I'm a black belt, remember? Anyone who dares bother me, I'll beat them until they're picking their teeth off the floor!"
Su Qing looked reassured. "Alright then. Xiao Chen, thank you for everything."
He smiled. "Happy to help."
Xiaomeng clenched her fists behind her back, vowing silently: This hooligan won't get away with it. One day, I'll expose his true colors to my sister and drive him out of here!
With him, there's no place for me!