17 – Picked Up a Treasure
The night was thick as ink.
Before the floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor, a man held a wine glass, his gaze languidly fixed on the scene below.
The piercing sound of an ambulance shattered the night sky, yet it was not for the person he had in mind.
“Your performance was truly unexpected.”
The man’s voice was lazy, like the elegant and melodious sound of a stringed instrument, yet it carried an inexplicable sense of dread.
As if those strings could slice through a person’s throat in the next moment.
Guan Yin’s eyelashes trembled with nervousness. “I’m sorry, I… I didn’t expect it to turn out like this either… It’s all because of that bodyguard.”
Under her instigation, Lin Zhihan had angrily called so many people. Who could have imagined that they would all be taken down by Xie Yurao’s bodyguard?
“Bodyguard?”
The man’s slender fingers tapped against the glass, and he glanced down, locking onto two figures amidst the chaos.
One tall and cold, the other enchanting and captivating.
The bandage wrapped around her arm stood out starkly in the night—clearly a wounded little fox, appearing fragile and vulnerable.
Yet, a tall, imposing, and cold man stood guard by her side, never leaving her for a moment.
“Tan Shen.”
Xie Jingchuan uttered the name with perfect accuracy.
Before he went abroad, he vaguely remembered that Qin Yun had hired a bodyguard for her precious daughter.
But could a bodyguard from an ordinary security company be so skilled in combat?
Xie Jingchuan watched silently as they walked away, then turned to his subordinate and instructed, “Go find out what this bodyguard’s background is.”
“Yes,” the subordinate replied.
After the person left, Guan Yin couldn’t help but ask, “Second Young Master, what about my invitation…?”
The ethereally beautiful woman, with eyes as clear as water, wept like pear blossoms in the rain, utterly pitiable.
Xie Jingchuan glanced at her, his lazy, long eyes curving slightly as he chuckled softly.
“Truly worthy of being the campus goddess. You do look beautiful when you cry.”
Guan Yin’s heart leaped with joy. Did this mean she still had a chance?
“But how do you still have the nerve to mention the invitation? Hmm?”
Guan Yin: “…”
With those words, she was plunged into despair, collapsing to the floor.
Though Xie Jingchuan appeared frivolous and unrestrained on the surface, his amorous eyes held only sinister schemes and interests.
A gentle, teasing glance, captivating and soul-stirring.
Yet it was telling her, “You’re useless now.”
“Get out.”
Xie Jingchuan turned away, leaving Guan Yin with only his tall, cold silhouette.
Guan Yin clenched her fists tightly and suddenly said, “Second Young Master, if you want to deal with Xie Yurao, I have another method.”
Xie Jingchuan remained silent, seemingly uninterested in her foolish idea.
Guan Yin took a deep breath, looked up, and said, “Xie Yurao and I ordered dance shoes from the same studio.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Jingchuan’s finger-tapping against the glass stopped.
He turned around, leaning casually against the floor-to-ceiling window with one leg slightly bent, the dazzling nightscape glowing behind him.
“Tell me more.”
Guan Yin said, “I can order a pair of shoes identical to hers but with a flaw. Before the performance, I can swap the two pairs, making her embarrass herself publicly at the celebration.”
The phrase “embarrass herself publicly” clearly pleased Xie Jingchuan.
If Xie Yurao became a laughingstock, not only would she miss out on Xie Zong’s rewards, but she would also lose all face.
It was a delightful scene, one he would enjoy.
But—
“Do you have the ability to pull it off?” Xie Jingchuan sneered, doubting her capabilities.
“I can, but on one condition—I must be able to attend the celebration.”
After finishing her words, Guan Yin looked at Xie Jingchuan nervously, after all, the Venus Festival was an opportunity many dance students dreamed of.
“Sure.” Xie Jingchuan said lightly.
It seemed this matter wasn’t difficult for him.
“I can easily break someone’s leg and push you up, but if this fails again…”
Xie Jingchuan smiled gently, “You won’t need your legs either.”
A cold sweat instantly covered Guan Yin’s back.
She suddenly realized.
She seemed to have made a deal with the devil.
After Guan Yin left, a subordinate returned to Xie Jingchuan’s side. “Second Young Master, do you trust her?”
“No.”
Xie Jingchuan never trusted anyone.
“Let her try and stir things up.” After all, anything harmful to Xie Yurao was beneficial to him.
Xie Jingchuan asked, “Have you found out Tan Shen’s background?”
The subordinate shook his head, seeming somewhat puzzled. “Tan Shen’s background is very clean. He seems to be just an ordinary person.”
Xie Jingchuan chuckled softly, “Is that so?”
The subordinate nodded.
According to the information, Tan Shen lost both parents at a young age and was taken in and adopted by the owner of a security company. To repay the kindness of being raised, he stayed to work there. Later, he was chosen by Qin Yun to become a bodyguard.
Everything seemed logical, with nothing strange.
The only odd thing was probably his exceptional physique and extraordinary combat ability.
Xie Jingchuan swirled his wine glass, his expression half-smiling.
“Then Xie Yurao really is lucky, picking up a treasure who can protect her.”
…
Xie Yurao also felt she had picked up a treasure.
She was now sitting on the soft couch in the hotel, her ankle wrapped in a fluffy circle of fox fur, as Qin Yun had instructed, fearing her foot injury would heal slowly if she caught a chill outside.
“How should I deal with him? Let me think.”
Xie Yurao’s beautiful eyes, smiling and playful, fell on the man opposite her.
Whether it was his looks or his figure, Tan Shen perfectly matched her aesthetic in every way. And now, she could deal with him however she pleased. Just thinking about it felt…
Interesting!
Tan Shen: “…”
Why did this little fox look so lustful?
Tan Shen didn’t need to guess to know what kind of messy thoughts were running through her mind.
So he reminded her in a helpless tone, “When I said ‘deal with,’ I meant you could punish me however you wanted.”
Xie Yurao propped her chin on her hand and looked at him, nodding. “It is a punishment.”
Tan Shen: “…”
Really? It didn’t seem like it.
Xie Yurao tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said to him excitedly, “I’ve decided.”
Tan Shen hummed in acknowledgment. “Go ahead.”
Whether it was running ten kilometers or doing a thousand push-ups, he could handle it.
However, the young lady clearly hadn’t considered anything like that. She waved at him eagerly.
“Come here, come here.”
Tan Shen helplessly strode over and stood in front of her, asking, “And then?”
Xie Yurao looked up at him with her slightly upturned, beautiful eyes, then said to him with full energy.
“Then take off your clothes!”
Tan Shen: “?”
Tan Shen turned and walked away without hesitation.
But she grabbed the hem of his clothes, and the young lady said fiercely, “Don’t run!”
“…”
Afraid she might be dragged off the soft couch and hurt, Tan Shen ultimately stopped.
His voice was helpless yet cold. “This isn’t allowed.”
Xie Yurao tugged on the hem of his suit jacket, pulling the cold and ruthless man back toward her.
“Why not? Didn’t you say anything goes?”
Tan Shen was almost amused by her audacity.
His tone turned slightly cold as he retorted, “Is that really the same thing?”
“What’s the difference? ‘Anything goes’ means exactly that, doesn’t it?”
Xie Yurao was all confidence, even when she had no ground to stand on.
She kept her small hand firmly on him to prevent his escape, all while tilting her head up and muttering complaints.
“You’re a grown man, yet you’re as conservative as a sheltered maiden…”