Lan Yan was in a foul mood.
He hadn't eaten, the movie was abysmal, and the internet was so sluggish it made him want to smash his computer. Agitated, he tossed his headphones aside and muttered, "Let's go out for afternoon tea."
Yin Xiaodao promptly rose to her feet, as was her custom, offering no comment on his decision.
As they exited the office building, Lan Yan spotted Li Yonghua conversing with a foreman. Suddenly remembering something, he beckoned, "Director Li, could you come here for a moment?"
Li Yonghua quickly put on a smile and jogged over, "Hello, Director Lan."
Lan Yan narrowed his eyes against the glaring sunlight, his expression curt, "I just arrived today, and it's unbearably hot. Overseer Yin and I will be settling in this afternoon, so we won't be returning to work."
"Of course, of course," Li Yonghua nodded obligingly, "You both should take the time to rest. I'll brief you on the factory's operations tomorrow."
Lan Yan's interest in factory matters was minimal; his immediate concern was the quality of accommodation. "Where will Overseer Yin and I be staying during our stay here?"
Li Yonghua appeared momentarily surprised, "The higher-ups indicated that you would arrange your own lodgings."
Understanding that Lan Corporation had left them to manage their own affairs, Lan Yan swiftly passed the responsibility to Li Yonghua, "Then I'll leave it to you to organize our accommodations."
"I'll attend to it promptly. However..." Li Yonghua hesitated, his brow furrowing in thought, "Ideally, we would secure lodging nearby, but there might be limited availability at the moment. We do have temporary dormitories in the factory. Would you consider staying there temporarily?"
"I won't settle for that," Lan Yan replied decisively.
"In that case... should I arrange a hotel room for you?"
"Yes, please," Lan Yan's smile brightened, mirroring the intensity of the sunlight, "I prefer a room with a large bed."
Li Yonghua nodded in agreement. As he prepared to leave, he glanced briefly at Yin Xiaodao, pondering whether to arrange accommodation for her as well. However, since Lan Yan had not mentioned it, Li Yonghua opted not to broach the subject.
---
Lan Yan ambled out of the factory compound with an air of nonchalance. After scrutinizing the entrance area for a while, he expressed his dissatisfaction, "What kind of establishment is this? There isn't a taxi in sight."
After another five minutes of fruitless waiting, only trucks thundered past, kicking up billows of dust.
Lan Yan's countenance darkened further, and he commanded, "Overseer Yin, go and flag down a vehicle for me."
"I decline," Yin Xiaodao replied calmly.
Lan Yan's temple twitched, and he brandished his fist in front of her face, "What exactly are you here for? I'm your employer. Employer, understand? If I'm displeased, I won't pay you a single penny."
Disregarding the threatening gesture, Yin Xiaodao maintained her composure, "My responsibility is solely to ensure your safety for three months.
His anger flared, "Just wait, one day I'll make you regret this."
Lan Yan then turned back to Li Yonghua to arrange for a vehicle once more.
The factory's communal vehicle turned out to be a dilapidated minivan.
Upon seeing it, Lan Yan scrutinized it closely for a moment and queried, "Can this vehicle still operate?" He harbored doubts about its reliability, concerned it might break down midway.
"It can, it can," Li Yonghua reassured, patting the car door, "It's driven over five hundred thousand kilometers."
Lan Yan remained skeptical, "Over five hundred thousand kilometers and it's still operational?"
"It's well-maintained," Li Yonghua affirmed confidently, "We even use it for transporting goods."
Lan Yan smirked and turned to inquire, "Director Dao, are you proficient at driving?"
"I am."
"Excellent." Lan Yan finally felt a semblance of equilibrium, "You handle the driving, I'll catch some shut-eye. Perfect teamwork."
Yin Xiaodao nodded. Seeing how fatigued he seemed, she was reluctant to let him take the wheel.
Aware that they were heading out to eat, Li Yonghua provided directions.
Yin Xiaodao assumed the driver's seat, and just a kilometer down the road, Lan Yan's snoring reverberated through the car.
What roused him was an insistent phone call.
After repeated failed attempts to wake him, the caller persisted.
When Lan Yan finally opened his eyes, a cold gleam flashed in them. He grabbed the phone, his voice sharp and irritated, "Who is this? If you wake me up again, there'll be consequences!"
Upon hearing the caller's words, his impatience boiled over, "Who the hell do you think you are, old lady? When did I ever say I'd spend my life with you? Have you no shame?"
"I'm no longer a manager; please address me as the factory director."
"You now regard factory directors with such disdain?" His eyebrows arched. "Well, I must admit, I've lost my respect for you, old lady."
Lan Yan promptly ended the call.
Reflecting on the conversation, he turned abruptly to Yin Xiaodao. "Overseer Yin, you've been accompanying me these past few days, correct?"
"Yes," she replied, her gaze fixed on the serpentine road ahead.
The car hit a substantial pothole, jolting Lan Yan almost out of his seat. After steadying himself, he asked, "Did I drunkenly pledge my life to someone?"
She pondered briefly. "Not that im aware of."
He breathed a sigh of relief. "You've been with me practically every momentof everyday; it couldn't have happened."
"Except during your private moments—bathing, using the toilet, or... indulging yourself," she added calmly, stealing a glance at him.
Lan Yan choked, taken aback by her frank mention of such intimate matters. Intrigued, he leaned forward to scrutinize her. "Are you not afraid?"
She seemed unremarkable, with a modest figure. After a few glances, he looked away.
Yin Xiaodao kept her focus on the road ahead. "No."
"Why not?" Lan Yan wondered if this woman held unconventional principles or if she herself was simply unconventional. Even when he succumbed to his passions, she remained unfazed.
"You can't intimidate me."
He gritted his teeth at her assertion. Taking a deep breath, he resisted the urge to stoop to her level. After composing himself, he smiled, "You've been with me for days, yet I've yet to see you smile."
"If there's nothing funny, I see no reason to smile."
"Facial paralysis is a condition that requires attention."
"I'm perfectly healthy."
Lan Yan chose not to pursue the argument and instead gazed out the window.
The road ahead was rugged, and the minivan jostled and bumped, making for an uncomfortable ride.
He glanced at the distant mountains and hummed a few lines of a song.
Since Yin Xiaodao seemed unshakeable, he wondered how much longer she could endure accompanying him.
They arrived at a quaint restaurant nestled amidst the bustling street.
It resembled a humble street food stall.
Surveying the surroundings, Lan Yan discerned no trace of even a moderately refined dining establishment, prompting him to abandon all hope of finding one nearby.
Seated now, he perused the menu, "Overseer Yin, another bowl of rice, please." Observing her robust appetite over the past few days, he noted she often ate more than he did.
"Very well."
"I wasn't soliciting your opinion, it was more of a demand than a request."
Despite its unassuming appearance, the restaurant served remarkably flavorsome dishes.
After the meal, Lan Yan spotted a bank across the street and decided to withdraw cash. With funds running low and the impending need to cover Yin Xiaodao's living expenses for the next three months, it was imperative.
At the bank later, he erupted in frustration, drawing curious glances from bystanders. Even the lobby manager seemed taken aback.
"If I had known, I wouldn't have spent that 3,600," Lan Yan grumbled, infuriated by the freezing of his Lan Corporation card.
Yin Xiaodao looked perplexed. The circumstances surrounding the second young master were indeed peculiar. If the Lan Corporation cared so little for him, why had they hired her as his protector?
Exiting the bank, Lan Yan checked his wallet, "Overseer Yin, how much money do you have?"
"About three hundred and fifty."
He muttered, "You venture out with so little?"
She calmly responded, "As per our contract, my expenses are to be covered by you for the next three months."
Lan Yan chuckled bitterly, "They truly are despicable." After a moment, he fixed his gaze on Yin Xiaodao, "Doesn't it strike you as odd? Why the corporation would hire you as my bodyguard?"
"I don't know," she admitted frankly, "My father instructed me to come."
"You're quite naïve," Lan Yan sighed in defeat, "Regardless, just looking at that factory, it's clear the director isn't well-paid. Let's consider begging."
Yin Xiaodao looked up at him.
His lips tightened, eyes still clouded with lingering frustration, a deep shade of blue.
"Alright," she acquiesced. Whatever he proposed, she would dutifully follow.
In reality, Lan Yan didn't resort to begging. As they wandered aimlessly along the street, he noticed a flyer pinned to a bus stop sign and squinted at it.
Yin Xiaodao glanced over.
It advertised a vacancy for hotel PR staff, boldly proclaiming "Monthly Salary of 50,000."
A faint smile tugged at his lips, "Overseer Yin, I've heard you're quite capable."
"You flatter me," she replied modestly. In truth, her brother was the more promising one.
"Assuming conservatively, if we apply there, what are the odds we'd emerge unscathed?" Lan Yan hoped she lived up to her rumored skills.
"I can't say," she confessed, never having set foot in such an establishment and unable to predict the outcome.
Lan Yan asserted firmly, "For the sake of our finances, we must go all out. With just five hundred yuan between us, how will we survive three months?"
"I have no experience in PR," Yin Xiaodao admitted, unfamiliar with terms like "princess" and "butterfly" from the flyer.
He scrutinized her and remarked wryly, "You might even need a makeover before considering it."
"What's the plan then?"
"We'll resort to trickery and manipulation for money," Lan Yan declared boldly.
---
Yin Xiaodao found the hotel using the address on the flyer.
Inside, the hotel's decor was flamboyant and ostentatious.
Lan Yan sneered, "It's quite unusual for a place like this to offer 50,000."
They parked the car in the adjacent lot.
Before stepping out, Lan Yan cautioned her, "Stay composed, no matter what happens." He genuinely worried she might act rashly.
"Understood." Yin Xiaodao remained unfailingly composed.
"If my reactions during the performance surprise you, don't be startled." He anticipated seeing a range of responses from her.
"Sure." She typically remained unruffled by most situations.
Lan Yan added one more crucial instruction, "Our goal here is to earn money, not to stir up trouble. Maintaining peace is paramount. Remember that."
The hotel accommodated both regular and affluent clientele. Several familiar faces checked in at the reception.
Lan Yan and Yin Xiaodao settled onto a plush sofa in the lobby.
His gaze swept over the arriving guests.
Then, a tall, handsome young man entered with an elegantly dressed middle-aged woman.
Lan Yan grinned. On impulse, he addressed Yin Xiaodao differently, "Overseer Yin, let's proceed."