When Tang Xiaoman heard the name “Zhou Yichen,” her heart stirred.
Yesterday, at Tainai Villa, during Su Ke’s attack, a bodyguard named Zhou Yichen had helped her disarm the attacker and shoot the dog. And today, the bodyguard company had a Zhou Yichen who had just been dismissed by his employer?
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Seeing her reaction, Manager Zhang was not displeased—in fact, he was delighted. He immediately said to Tang Xiaoman:
“There just happens to be a bodyguard here who fits your requirements perfectly. Would Miss Tang like to meet him?”
The assistant called Zhou Yichen into the manager’s office.
Tang Xiaoman looked up at the tall, well-built man. Their eyes met—and he clearly froze for a moment.
She smiled.
It really was him.
Seeing her satisfied expression, Manager Zhang introduced him enthusiastically:
“Zhou Yichen is our Blazing Shield company’s ace bodyguard. A retired special forces soldier—his skills are excellent. Most importantly, he fully meets Miss Tang’s requirements: no immediate family, unmarried, and no girlfriend!”
Zhou Yichen paused slightly and glanced sharply at Manager Zhang.
The manager shrugged.
“You should really rein in your personality. Otherwise, even with top skills, you’ll keep getting fired by clients. So, tell me—what was it this time?”
In peaceful times, wealthy clients valued obedience most in bodyguards. Anyone rebellious, disobedient, or argumentative would usually be dismissed immediately.
Tang Xiaoman had already guessed something and turned to Zhou Yichen.
“Was your dismissal related to what happened yesterday?”
Zhou Yichen replied calmly, “It was for personal reasons.”
Manager Zhang was surprised. “You two know each other?”
Tang Xiaoman briefly explained what happened the day before.
“…If it weren’t for Mr. Zhou’s help, I might have been injured.”
Maybe the outcome wouldn’t have changed—but she wouldn’t have escaped unscathed.
Manager Zhang immediately smiled.
“Seems like you two are really fated!”
Then he added to Zhou Yichen:
“Miss Tang is offering a high salary—200,000 yuan a month for the first month, 300,000 for the second, and 500,000 for the third. You fit all the requirements: unmarried, no girlfriend, no immediate family.”
Seeing Zhou Yichen’s expression darken slightly, Tang Xiaoman quickly added:
“Mr. Zhou can be an exception.”
Rules were dead; people were alive.
For someone as skilled and reliable as him, it was fine to relax the conditions.
Manager Zhang smiled.
“Then it’s settled. Zhou Yichen will be the first hired bodyguard. We still need fifteen more.”
Zhou Yichen glanced at Tang Xiaoman and ultimately did not refuse.
He had been repeatedly dismissed from jobs. If he lost this opportunity too, he might really become unemployed.
Tang Xiaoman paid a one-million-yuan deposit, and Manager Zhang personally began recruiting the remaining fifteen bodyguards.
Zhou Yichen naturally stayed by Tang Xiaoman’s side as her personal protector.
She gestured for him to sit.
“You were fired because of me.”
It was a statement, not a question.
Zhou Yichen didn’t hide it.
“My employer thought I was too meddlesome. He said I offended the Su family and indirectly offended the Gu family. He wanted me to personally go to the Su family and apologize.”
“I refused.”
Tang Xiaoman looked at him more deeply, suddenly a little excited. She rubbed her hands together.
“Bodyguards like you—principled, upright, and with strong boundaries—are too rare. Your former employer really had poor judgment. That’s his loss.”
If he hadn’t been blind, she wouldn’t have had such an easy opportunity to recruit him.
Zhou Yichen looked at her slightly eager expression and twitched his mouth.
Why did it feel like she was looking at prey?
Tang Xiaoman didn’t have time to wait idly.
Since she had already secured Zhou Yichen—and was satisfied with his skills and character—she immediately left the manager’s office with him.
“Miss Tang, I’ve found five more qualified bodyguards for you. Please take a look!”
Manager Zhang hurried back, afraid she would leave.
Tang Xiaoman stopped and looked at the five men.
All of them were tall, strong, sharp-eyed, and had neat crew cuts. They looked solid.
She examined them briefly and nodded slightly.
Manager Zhang pressed the advantage.
“Take them all. I’ll continue recruiting the rest as quickly as possible.”
Tang Xiaoman then said:
“Besides daytime training, I want surveillance cameras installed in the dorm rooms at night. Can you accept that?”
The five bodyguards’ expressions changed immediately.
“What?! Cameras while we sleep?”
“That’s too much!”
“This violates our privacy!”
“Aren’t bodyguards people too? Don’t we have dignity or personal space?”
Even Zhou Yichen’s expression changed. He immediately refused:
“I don’t agree…”
“You’re exempt.”
Tang Xiaoman interrupted him quickly and blinked.
“You’re the team leader. You get a separate room. No surveillance needed.”
Zhou Yichen: “……”
The other five were even more upset.
“Why the double standard?! Are we not human?!”
“He has already passed the assessment and is officially hired.”
Tang Xiaoman raised her chin slightly.
“You haven’t passed yet. You can be eliminated at any time.”
Hearing the word “eliminated,” they immediately quieted down.
First month: 200,000 yuan.Second month: 300,000.Third month: 500,000.
Compared to their previous salaries of around ten thousand a month—sometimes twenty or thirty thousand at most for elite work—this was astronomical.
The offer was too good to refuse.
Fine… cameras it is. Losing privacy and dignity for this kind of pay was… acceptable.
Tang Xiaoman had only gone into the bodyguard company briefly, yet she successfully recruited six bodyguards—including Zhou Yichen, whom she had already set her eyes on the day before.
A very fruitful trip.
She exchanged contact information with Zhou Yichen and handed him a bank card.
Inside was one million yuan.
“Use this to rent a site for half a month. Preferably a warehouse or factory near Tainai Villa. It must be large enough for training, accommodation for sixteen bodyguards, and storage space.”
“Also arrange their food and lodging. Except for your room, all other dorms must have surveillance cameras. Equip them with full self-defense gear—use military standards as reference.”
“All expenses go through this card. Keep the receipts for accounting.”
“Oh, and rent a few vehicles—enough for at least sixteen people to travel together. Also prepare a separate bedroom for me. I’ll be staying there too.”
Zhou Yichen paused, focusing on one key point.
“Military-standard equipment?”
Tang Xiaoman smiled faintly.
“Buy whatever you can get your hands on. If you can’t get it now, we’ll deal with it later.”
Firearms were still strictly controlled in the present world.
But once natural disasters struck, she would find a way.
In the apocalypse, firearms would be essential for survival.