After sleeping soundly until daybreak, Ji Nanchan stretched lazily and stepped out of the small dark room, only to find the house enveloped in silence.
Assuming Leng Bingqin was still asleep, she tiptoed into the bedroom but found no one there.
The sound of clucking hens echoed from outside. Ji Nanchan pushed open the main door and hurried to the fence.
There stood the little nanny, clutching a nestful of eggs, her hair disheveled and her body covered in feathers, frozen fearfully in a corner.
The five “Golden Flowers” were more excited than if they were at a rave, flapping their wings and soaring through the air, screeching to prevent her from leaving.
“Shoo, shoo, shoo.” Ji Nanchan shooed the hens aside and turned to look at the nanny.
Leng Bingqin’s wide eyes were brimming with unshed tears, clearly terrified. She remained motionless, tightly clutching the eggs.
Her pitiful, helpless, and trembling appearance melted Ji Nanchan’s heart.
Striding forward to shield her, Ji Nanchan brushed off the feathers and carefully checked her hands. “Did they hurt you? Let me see.”
“It’s fine. They just wouldn’t let me leave, but they didn’t hurt me.” Leng Bingqin tried to sound composed, but her trembling voice betrayed her fear.
Ji Nanchan glanced at the eggs in her arms and suddenly burst into laughter, slapping the door frame.
Leng Bingqin tugged at her ear, like a feisty little kitten, growling, “You’re not comforting me, you’re laughing at me! I’m angry!”
Rubbing her sore ear, Ji Nanchan winced. “Ouch! No hitting allowed.”
“Then what are you laughing at?”
Ji Nanchan pointed at the emptied nest and retorted, “If someone ransacked our home, you’d be squawking louder than the Golden Flowers.”
Realizing she was in the wrong, Leng Bingqin pouted and fell silent. Acknowledging her mistake, she threw her arms around Ji Nanchan’s neck and burst into loud sobs.
This left Ji Nanchan utterly bewildered. Flustered, she tried to comfort her, “Why are you crying? I’m not blaming you. Please don’t cry!”
“I just wanted to carry more eggs at once. I was planning to return them later, but they blocked me, and I didn’t dare leave and I didn’t want to disturb your sleep. Waa!” The little nanny’s grievances poured out, and she cried even harder after explaining.
Touched by her innocent kindness, Ji Nanchan was at a loss for words.
She gently patted the nanny’s head, stroking it softly. “It’s okay, it’s okay. If you stop crying, I’ll bring you a little gift when I get off work today.”
Hearing about a gift, the nanny immediately stopped crying, though she still sniffled occasionally. “Really?”
“If I’m lying, I’m a dog.” Ji Nanchan promised, using her sleeve to wipe away the tears on the nanny’s face. “Aren’t you ashamed, crying like this at your age?”
Pinking her pinky finger, Leng Bingqin whispered, “Pinky promise.”
Before losing her memory, Leng Bingqin would have remained unshaken even if someone splashed tea on her. Now, she was crying over eggs the contrast was striking.
Ji Nanchan felt a pang of guilt, uneasy about the lies she had told.
She firmly hooked her pinky with the nanny’s and chanted playfully, “Pinky promise, sealed for a hundred years, no changes. There. When you make a mistake, you have to face it bravely. Return the Golden Flowers’ nest and apologize properly. They’ll forgive you.” Helping Leng Bingqin to her feet, she gestured for her to return the nest.
The nanny was still hesitant, frozen in fear.
Ji Nanchan took her hand and led her forward. “Don’t be afraid. I’m with you.”
With the reassurance of companionship, Leng Bingqin walked to the corner, gently set down the chicken coop, and nothing happened.
She let out a deep sigh and even apologized to the hen, “Sorry, Jinhua, don’t be mad at me.”
Ji Nanchan helped scatter the feed, watching quietly as Leng tucked the eggs into her pants pocket. She chuckled, “We’re having noodles tonight. Let’s poach a few extra eggs to celebrate.”
Leng Bingqin crouched in front of the chicken coop, raising both hands with two “OK” signs before placing them on her head to form a big heart.
Ji Nanchan was amused by her playful gesture. Brushing the feed off her hands, she pretended to grab at the air a few times, then secretly tucked the captured “heart” into her pocket.
Somehow, she found herself inexplicably enjoying the moment.
.
After breakfast, Ji Nanchan changed into her white uniform shirt, tucking it neatly into her ironed, crease-free trousers, which accentuated her waistline so slim it seemed half her torso could be hidden behind a gun.
She strapped on her leather weapon harness, tightening it to reveal her toned back and the inverted triangle silhouette of her broad shoulders and narrow waist, exuding an aura of fierce intensity.
As she put on her suit jacket, the little nanny adjusted her tie and asked curiously, “What exactly do you do, Chenchen? Do you always have to dress so formally for work?”
“I’m a bodyguard. You know, when danger strikes, I go ‘Hee-yah!’ to protect my clients.” Ji Nanchan mimicked a few martial arts moves, making the nanny giggle.
Noticing the nanny’s sleeves were bunched up oddly, Ji Nanchan reached out to feel her hands they were even colder than the name “Bingqin” suggested.
She immediately rummaged through the closet and pulled out a fleece-lined hoodie, muttering softly, “Your hands are freezing, why didn’t you tell me? It’s cold out; be careful not to catch a chill. Change into this.”
Leng Bingqin hugged the thick hoodie, inhaling the scent of lavender laundry detergent. She swiftly stripped off her clothes, revealing her slender waist, and pulled on the hoodie, shivering as she rubbed her arms.
Ji Nanchan was startled by the alluring sight, forcing a calm expression as she raised a hand to cover her nose, masking her embarrassment.
Seeing the outfit still hung loosely, she helped the nanny roll up the sleeves a few times. “Wait here nicely for me to come back. The house keys are on the coffee table. Remember to take Fugui out for a walk.”
“Leave it to me,” Leng Bingqin said, raising a fist in encouragement. “Stay safe at work, okay!”
“Promise I’ll be safe. I’m off now see you tonight.” Ji Nanchan smiled as she said goodbye, leaving the house in high spirits.
Ji Nanchan worked for a security company affiliated with the PA-40 Mercenary Corps.
The company specialized in high-end services, protecting key government officials and prominent wealthy elites in Xuancheng.
To provide training grounds for the bodyguards, the company was located in a remote, large industrial area.
Ji Nanchan sped off on her motorcycle but still ended up late.
The warehouse was fully equipped with fitness facilities, and as far as the eye could see, it was packed with burly, muscular men.
In stark contrast to the scene below, a woman stood leisurely on the second-floor corridor, her hands resting casually on the railing.
Beneath her sharp, straight eyebrows were willow-leaf eyes that barely concealed their sharpness, their depths hiding inscrutable thoughts.
She waved Ji Nanchan over, signaling for a chat in the office.
A short while later, Ji Nanchan trudged in and collapsed onto the sofa like a deflated balloon.
Lu Zhiming with legs just as long as Ji Nanchan’s crossed over her knees, spoke in a calm, lecturing tone, “Honestly, the way you show up late is just asking for a beating.”
Ji Nanchan didn’t mention the incident with the nanny, attributing her exhaustion to the recent mission instead. “Blame it on how draining the recent tasks have been.”
Ding! Payment received: 50,000 yuan. At the sound of the notification, Ji Nanchan instantly perked up, pulling out her phone to confirm the amount.
“This is the payment for the mission the day before yesterday. Still feeling tired now?” Lu Zhiming teased, scoffing at her money-obsessed demeanor. “Is there anything in your head besides money?”
“Money brings the greatest happiness to humanity. Don’t you know that?” Ji Nanchan crossed her arms, spouting her twisted logic with ease.
“Take a look at this file.” Getting back to business, Lu Zhiming tossed a dossier onto the coffee table.
Ji Nanchan eyed her suspiciously and began haggling. “How much? I won’t take it if it’s too little.”
“Read it first. We’ll talk after you’re done.”
Ji Nanchan tore open the seal, pulled out the documents, and skimmed through them. This mission was unusual, as if it couldn’t be handled by anyone but her.
“The Rage Horse Gang, the Xuan City police haven’t managed to take them down yet. The target you cleared out the day before yesterday was just a minor leader within the organization. They not only run underground casinos but are also involved in arms dealing and money laundering. This time, the police have proactively sought our cooperation to wipe them out entirely.”
Ji Nanchan set down the file and refused outright. “Working with the police has always been a losing deal. I’m not doing it.”
Lu Zhiming had anticipated this reaction and sweetened the offer. “All these years, have you found the person you’re looking for? Even with PA-40’s extensive connections, there’s been no trace. The police are different they can search through their systems. You might get an unexpected result.”
At the mention of the person she was searching for, Ji Nanchan clenched her fists, as if it were a sore spot. “You always use this to pressure me. That’s not fair.”
Lu Zhiming walked over to her and handed her a cup of hot tea, speaking gently. “Aside from you, I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this mission.”
“You always dump the toughest jobs on me. Aren’t you afraid I’ll die on a mission?” Ji Nanchan said it lightly, but missions like these, walking the edge of a blade, were far more dangerous than most could imagine.
Lu Zhiming shook her head helplessly. She had always regarded Ji Nanchan as a younger sister, how could she not worry about her safety? But as the person in charge, she had to set aside emotions and consider the bigger picture.
“Rumor has it in the company that you can go to heaven and earth, and there’s nothing you can’t handle. Who else but you?” Lu Zhiming patted Ji Nanchan’s shoulder and assigned the task. “The police are still in the preparation phase. The day before yesterday was just a test run. You’ll be responsible for the underground casino part. I’m giving you a long vacation. Rest up and recharge at home.”
“While the operation hasn’t started yet, I can take on other jobs. Don’t give me a vacation!” Ji Nanchan, ever the workaholic, dreaded the idea of not earning money.
Seeing right through her, Lu Zhiming retorted with disdain, “Please broaden your horizons. I’m talking about paid leave.”
“You should’ve said so earlier! With paid leave, I can vanish off the face of the earth. Don’t stop me! I’m about to disappear right now.” Ji Nanchan stood up to leave but suddenly turned back. “Let me ask you something.”
“Go ahead.”
“If someone loses their memory, how can they recover it?”
Lu Zhiming looked up at her, a playful smile on her lips. “What, did you lose your memory?”
“Yeah, I lost my memory.” Ji Nanchan joked, though she looked quite serious.
Lu Zhiming lowered his head to continue reading the file and replied lightly, “Well then, I don’t have to pay you back for the milk tea.”
“Tsk, you can’t just write off a debt like that. Even if it’s just one yuan, you have to pay it back. That’s hard-earned money,” Ji Nanchan immediately escalated the matter, being particularly stingy.
“As you can see, based on the traits before the memory loss, repeatedly stimulating through words and actions might prove effective.” Lu Zhiming offered a perfect demonstration, reasonably explaining how to restore memories.