Chapter 10 Chapter 009: One-on-One or a Free-for-All

When he left the hospital, it was already the next morning. He searched his pockets and was relieved to find his phone still there. Without delay, he called Liu Momo to assure her of his safety. Liu Momo had spent the entire night camped in front of the television, her face pale after seeing Ye Chen’s news. Unable to reach him all night, she was beside herself with worry and didn’t know what to do.

"Brother Chen!" Liu Momo answered his call, her voice urgent and trembling, "Are you... are you alright?"

"Silly girl, what could possibly happen to me?" Ye Chen chuckled, "I just caught two bad guys, that’s all."

"You’re the bad guy! How could you be so reckless yesterday?" Hearing his familiar voice, Liu Momo couldn’t help but burst into tears, her worries finally easing. She scolded through her sobs, "You troublemaker, what if something had happened to you?"

Ye Chen was at a loss in the face of her tears. He could only comfort her over the phone, "Don’t worry, nothing will happen to me. I’m not that easy to take down! Think about who I am!"

"Brother Chen, are you really okay?" Liu Momo’s anger finally subsided, but her concern for him was still deep.

"I’m fine. If you don’t believe me, come see for yourself. If you want, I’ll take off all my clothes for you to check!" Ye Chen laughed mischievously.

"Ugh, I wouldn’t want to see! Brother Chen, you’re so shameless!" Liu Momo sputtered, quickly hanging up. She never could win against Ye Chen in conversation; a few risqué jokes and she’d be utterly defeated, dropping the call in embarrassment.

Ye Chen whistled a rogue’s tune and walked out of the hospital toward South Gate Pedestrian Street, where his battered old Alto was still parked. After a whole day and night, the parking fee was enough to make anyone faint.

"Twenty!" The old man in the booth held up two fingers without ceremony.

"Uncle, didn’t you say it was ten a day? Why are you charging me twenty?" Ye Chen protested. Ten yuan was half a chunk of pork—he could eat well for several days on that. His funds were dangerously low, and he looked at the old man pleadingly, "I only have ten yuan left. Take it or leave it."

"Young man, I have good reason to charge you twenty," the old man sighed. "I know times are hard, but I’m just a parking attendant—I wouldn’t cheat you. You came in yesterday afternoon, and you’re leaving this morning. Midnight marked a new day, so twenty is exactly right!"

Ye Chen was dumbfounded. This old guy was sharp! He handed over the ten yuan and gave a thumbs up, "You really know your stuff!"

"Heh, how else could I work the booth?" The old man grinned, lowered the barrier, and let Ye Chen pass.

He drove a quick loop, went back to his apartment in Xinhai Community to freshen up, then headed to Tianya Group for his first official day at work. He wanted to make a good impression, but yesterday’s chase had worn holes in his pants, so he hurriedly patched them up before leaving.

"Ye Chen..."

"You?" Ye Chen turned around and saw the young man who’d asked him to photograph Mr. Li yesterday. Ye Chen grinned, "Liu Shang?!"

---

"You still remember me?" Liu Shang, holding a black briefcase, jogged over and smiled, "So, did you meet the legendary ice-cold beauty?"

"Damn, what a rip-off!" Ye Chen couldn’t help cursing.

"Huh?" Liu Shang didn’t quite catch the slang, looking confused. "What did you say?"

"Nothing, just that I met Mr. Li’s father! Anyway, off to work." Ye Chen laughed, heading inside. Liu Shang hurried after him, but soon they split up since they worked in different departments.

Ye Chen arrived at the security department, where the manager, Li Cheng, stood guard with a stick.

"Hey, kid, you’re late!" Li Cheng pointed his thick stick at Ye Chen, his tone icy. "You idiot, do you even know what time it is? How are you still showing up for work?"

Ye Chen was stunned and checked his phone—wasn’t there still a minute before start time? Why was he being called late? He protested, "Brother Fatty, come on, there’s still a minute left, isn’t there?"

"Idiot! Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘The early bird catches the worm’?" Li Cheng brandished his stick, his round face twisted into a fierce scowl, his tea-colored sunglasses glinting angrily. "Our security department is famous throughout the group for our rule—better to arrive an hour early than a minute late. So get to your post!"

"What?" Ye Chen was dumbfounded. He wasn’t even late! He pleaded, "Brother Fatty, can’t you cut me some slack?"

"Well... depends on whether you’ve got talent!" Li Cheng smirked.

"You want money again?" Ye Chen blinked.

"Then forget I said anything!"

"Fine!" Ye Chen surrendered, quickly pulling out a hundred-yuan note and handing it over. "Brother Fatty, please take care of me in the future!"

"Haha, you’re a smart kid!" Li Cheng snatched the bill and whispered in Ye Chen’s ear, "Don’t worry, you’ll see—I won’t treat you badly, never!"

Ye Chen didn’t believe a word of it. Li Cheng’s promises were like those of a bathhouse masseuse, who, while working below, softly assures, "Don’t worry, your two hundred yuan is well spent—I’m still a virgin!"

What nonsense!

---

Even Ye Chen couldn’t help but spit in disgust—who’d believe such idiocy? Still, he kept his feelings to himself; after all, he had to work under Brother Fatty, and it wouldn’t do to ruin their relationship now. He could only force a smile, "Yes, yes, I believe you, Brother Fatty!"

"Alright, kid, get to work!" Li Cheng tapped his shoulder with the stick.

Ye Chen had barely gotten into the company and already been extorted for a hundred yuan. He was thoroughly annoyed—damn it, if not for the ten-thousand-yuan monthly salary promised by Feng Zixiao, who would stick around? Money was tight, rent was due, and after paying, he’d barely be able to eat next month.

Being a bodyguard was a cut above—unlike security guards, they didn’t have to rotate shifts. The spacious lounge had over ten bodyguards, while Tianya Group had more than a hundred security guards. Yet the bodyguards’ lounge was just as big as the security guards’ room, perhaps even more comfortable.

Through the glass corridor, he could see the security guards slumped inside, gathered in small groups discussing something. Meanwhile, in the bodyguard lounge, the guards were strutting arrogantly, two of them suited up and sparring on the practice ring. Ye Chen watched their punches and kicks and felt sleepy.

"Hey, guys, look who’s here?" A sly, mocking voice sounded.

At once, everyone’s eyes locked onto Ye Chen, including Vice Captain Jin and several bodyguards Ye Chen had sent to the hospital. Those men were still bandaged and plastered.

"It’s him? Damn, brothers, here’s our chance for revenge!" Vice Captain Jin’s eyes flashed coldly as he glared at Ye Chen. "This is the kid—last time, we let him off easy, and he turned around and beat us up!"

Of course, Vice Captain Jin was lying, but as a vice captain, he had to maintain appearances. Claiming he let Ye Chen off was just a cover, but who would really believe it? Still, everyone played along and closed in, faces dark and menacing.

"What, planning a group beating?" Ye Chen wasn’t afraid. He’d already taken down four of them—would a crowd really scare him? Maybe he couldn’t win alone, but he had a secret weapon. Ye Chen grinned and called back, "Brother Fatty, they’re about to gang up—are you going to do anything?"

He turned, only to see that damned Brother Fatty squatting by the door, munching sunflower seeds and completely ignoring the situation. He pretended not to hear Ye Chen, occasionally glancing over and reminding them, "Just don’t kill anyone!"

Please remember: strive to provide the most exhilarating reading experience!