Chapter 27 Chapter 026: That Girl Is Just Too Clueless

Being a bodyguard is actually quite dull work. Unless the company assigns a specific task, most of the time is spent lounging around in the bodyguard lounge: resting, sparring in the ring to keep combat skills sharp, or just squatting in a corner, shooting the breeze and boasting. But Ye Chen was never one for such boredom. With a quick glance around, he slipped out of the corridor and into the security room instead.

Compared to the bodyguards, the security staff were noticeably quieter. They’d long suffered under the bodyguards’ bullying, yet with the bodyguards’ status a notch above their own, even when wronged, they could only swallow their grievances. Who would dare oppose those burly men, all veterans fresh out of the army?

Inside the security room, the guards huddled together, evidently in the midst of a conversation. As Ye Chen entered, conversation ceased instantly and all eyes turned to him.

“Who... Who are you looking for?” The security team leader looked up at Ye Chen.

“Oh, I’m the new bodyguard. Just thought I’d come over and pay my respects!” Ye Chen grinned, fishing a pack of Red Double Happiness cigarettes from his pocket. “We’re all brothers here—come on, everyone, have one!”

The security guards were bewildered. Since when did bodyguards offer cigarettes to the security staff? They stared blankly, unsure how to react, eyes darting to their team leader. The leader was a middle-aged man named Li Iron Bull. Rumor had it he too was a discharged soldier, though supposedly dismissed for some misdeed. Fortunately, his superiors reinstated his identity, or he wouldn’t even have been able to get an ID card.

“Go ahead, everyone, take one. I don’t think this young man means any harm,” Li Iron Bull laughed. Just days ago, this fellow had thrashed the guard from across the hall; today, he’d knocked Captain Cao flat as soon as he arrived. Clearly, this wasn’t a man to take lightly. Since he’d come to pay his respects, it wouldn’t do to dampen the man’s spirits, would it? Li Iron Bull stood, accepted a cigarette, and soon everyone was following suit. After all, what man doesn’t smoke? Those who don’t are hardly men at all.

Nothing closes the distance between men like the offer of a cigarette. With one smoke, everyone became instant brothers.

Ye Chen, seeing everyone accept, grinned broadly and took a seat beside Li Iron Bull, who asked curiously, “So? You had a run-in with Captain Cao today?”

“I just can’t stand those guys throwing their weight around. So what if they’re bodyguards? Acting all high and mighty, do they think having the job makes them special?” Ye Chen snorted, taking a drag. “I much prefer the company of you fellows here.”

“What’s so good about it? We’re all just making a living,” Li Iron Bull said with a helpless shake of his head. “We get bullied to death by those guys, and our wages are less than half theirs. None of these brothers has any special skills, otherwise I’d have sent them off to better things long ago.”

“And you?” Ye Chen glanced at him. “You seem like a discharged soldier yourself.”

“Don’t remind me of those days,” Li Iron Bull replied with a bitter smile, exhaling smoke. “That’s all in the past. There’s nothing left to say. Now I’m nothing, just an ordinary security guard.”

From Li Iron Bull’s expression, Ye Chen saw not just a bitter smile, but a deep, helpless anger. Perhaps this man was far more complicated than he let on, but since he didn’t wish to talk further, Ye Chen didn’t press.

Suddenly, the sharp clicks of high heels echoed rapidly down the corridor—more than one person, by the sound. Ye Chen’s ears were especially keen after a year on the run, so he immediately knew who was coming.

“Damn, trouble’s here for me!” Ye Chen leaped from his chair, glanced around, and darted into the security locker room. Before leaving, he whispered to the others, “Don’t tell anyone I was here!”

At that moment, the security department door was thrown open by Lin Ziwen, and Li Ruo strode in behind, her face cold as ice. Li Cheng, who had been dozing in a chair, woke with a start, then smiled, “Director Li, you’re here?”

“Yes. Where’s Ye Chen?” Li Ruo’s brows drew together.

“He... I think he went to the security room!” Li Cheng, not knowing what Li Ruo wanted, pointed next door. “He must be chatting there.”

“Idiot!” Li Ruo snapped, striding towards the security room.

The security staff gasped when they saw who entered. The company’s Director Li almost never came to inspect the security room. All stared in shock, except Li Iron Bull, who’d seen a thing or two in his time. He stood and smiled, “Director Li, welcome!”

She nodded. “Where’s Ye Chen?”

Li Iron Bull froze. He didn’t know what to do. If it were anyone else, he’d have waved them off, but this was the company’s highest executive. He hesitated, then rolled his eyes and said, “He’s not here.”

Well, that was technically true; Ye Chen was in the locker room, not the security room. Li Iron Bull figured he wasn’t exactly lying. After speaking, he stood uncertainly, eyeing the so-called “ice queen.” That skin, that face, that figure—he’d never seen a woman more beautiful in all his years. How did she manage it? Was it really those legendary milk baths and a glass of pure red wine before bed? The thought alone was decadent.

“Really not here?” Li Ruo narrowed her eyes. Li Cheng had clearly said the man came in here, so why was Li Iron Bull denying it?

“Really, he’s not. Ask the others,” Iron Bull said, winking at the security guards.

“Yeah, really not here.”

“Must have gone out.”

Everyone chimed in. In the locker room, Ye Chen nodded smugly to himself. No doubt that girl was here to give him a hard time. It was only his third day on the job and he’d already put the bodyguard captain in the hospital. That kick—he’d held back, or the man would’ve been bedridden for a hundred days, as the saying goes.

“Hmph!” Li Ruo snorted coldly and strode further inside, Lin Ziwen following behind with an amused smile. This game of cat and mouse, happening to Li Ruo of all people—she was curious to see what would happen if the slippery rogue was caught.

Inside the locker room, Ye Chen heard Li Ruo’s footsteps and began to sweat. The space was cramped, lockers on all sides, and no windows. With nowhere to hide, he braced his fingertips on the lockers, pressed himself up, and wedged his back against the ceiling, hands and feet anchored to four points. It was difficult, but it was his only option; if Li Ruo found him, who knew what would happen.

Li Ruo pushed open the locker room door and swept her gaze around. The room was empty. The lockers were too small to hide anyone, and there were no windows. The only possibility was…

She smiled slightly and stepped inside. Suddenly, she spun and opened the door behind her, but found nothing. Frustrated, she wondered where the scoundrel could have gone. Li Cheng might lie to others, but never to her. Though a bit greedy, he never did anything out of line, and she trusted him completely—even his expense reports didn’t need her approval.

“Scoundrel, where have you gone?” Li Ruo muttered, a sly smile at her lips. She led Lin Ziwen out. Before leaving, Lin Ziwen curiously glanced back into the locker room, puzzled as to where Ye Chen could be hiding. Looking up, she was stunned to see him pressed to the ceiling like a bat. Her throat worked, and as she was about to speak, Ye Chen shot her a pitiful look. Lin Ziwen immediately shut her mouth, flashed him a knowing smile, and closed the door behind her.

Back in the lounge:

“Director Li...” Li Iron Bull was sweating with nerves. If Li Ruo caught Ye Chen now, they’d all be in trouble. He nervously said, “Ye Chen really isn’t here.”

Li Ruo smiled. “Very well. Carry on chatting, everyone. I’ll be on my way.”

“Goodbye, Director Li!” Li Iron Bull hurried to see her off.

But Li Ruo suddenly said coldly, “Just pretend I’m not here. Carry on as usual. Quickly!”

Li Iron Bull understood at once—so Director Li was trying to lure Ye Chen out. He grimaced. There was no escaping this. The others reluctantly obeyed, chatting about anything, all the while sneaking glances at the locker room door.

The locker room was tightly sealed, with only a narrow ventilation duct to the outside. Unless Ye Chen could squeeze through that, he’d never escape.

Sure enough, the trick worked. The locker room door creaked open and Ye Chen emerged, grinning, “Ha! That girl was far too naive. Catch me? Not a chance...”