Chu Ge stared at the contract, his eyebrows furrowing in disbelief. Even for a chairman's bodyguard, this salary was astronomical. He cleared his throat, "Boss, isn't this salary... excessive?"
As he handed the contract back, Liu Yanru's manicured fingers brushed against his palm. The touch sent an unexpected jolt through Chu Ge's body, like a cat's paw gently scratching his heart. Interesting, he thought, keeping his face neutral as he pulled his hand away.
Liu Yanru's lips curled into a slight smile. "It's worth the price to be my bodyguard," she said, her eyes gleaming with an unreadable emotion.
After carefully reviewing the terms, Chu Ge signed. Liu Yanru's sweet smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she said, "Excellent. From now on, you'll be responsible for my safety. Make yourself comfortable."
Throughout the afternoon, Chu Ge observed Liu Yanru from the sofa. She was a whirlwind of activity, barking orders into her phone without pause. He caught snippets about a difficult company acquisition and mounting pressure from various fronts. No wonder she needed a bodyguard, he mused.
As evening fell, Liu Yanru finally set down her phone with a deep sigh. "Yaoyao, you're not coming home tonight? Alright then." The pain in her voice was palpable as she hung up.
In the underground parking lot, Chu Ge took the wheel. Liu Yanru slipped off her heels and curled up in the passenger seat. "Just follow the GPS. I need to rest," she murmured, closing her eyes.
Chu Ge couldn't help but steal glances at her as he drove. Her vulnerability in sleep was a stark contrast to her daytime persona. As he shifted gears, his hand accidentally brushed against her foot. The silky smoothness made him gulp. Focus on driving, he chided himself.
Suddenly, Chu Ge's instincts flared. Something was off about the car behind them. Without hesitation, he veered off the prescribed route, taking a less populated street. The black car followed.
"More than one," he muttered, noticing multiple vehicles tailing them. Silently, he retrieved a pistol from a hidden compartment and placed it at his waist.
Liu Yanru stirred, her eyes widening as she took in their unfamiliar surroundings. "Why are we in the suburbs?"
"We've got company," Chu Ge replied grimly, nodding towards the rearview mirror.
Fear flashed across Liu Yanru's face as she spotted the black cars. "Should we call the police?"
Chu Ge's lips twitched into a half-smile as he revealed his gun. "As your bodyguard, I can handle this. Hold on tight, boss. Things are about to get interesting."
With a sudden jerk of the wheel, Chu Ge sent their car into a graceful drift, spinning to face their pursuers head-on. Liu Yanru yelped in surprise, her knuckles white as she gripped the seat belt.
"Wait, you have a gun?!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and... was that admiration?
Chu Ge's face was a mask of calm as he accelerated towards the oncoming vehicles. "Stay down and hold on," he instructed, his voice steady despite the chaos unfolding around them.
As their car hurtled towards the attackers, Liu Yanru found herself torn between terror and an odd sense of security. How could this man remain so composed in the face of danger? Her heart raced, and not entirely from fear. Perhaps, she thought, watching Chu Ge's determined profile, she had indeed found a rare gem in this unexpected bodyguard.