Ye Feng, the young man seething with hatred for Liu Yanru, had a past as impressive as it was mysterious. A former captain in the nation's most elite special forces, he had abruptly retired at the peak of his career just a week ago, despite his superiors' attempts to persuade him otherwise.
His motivation was deeply personal. Ye Feng's father, the original controller of Moyu Group, had died unexpectedly on the very day he married Liu Yanru. Though his father had been frail, Ye Feng was convinced his death was far from natural. In his mind, Liu Yanru was a vicious murderer who had conspired to steal the Ye family's fortune, forcing his younger sister, Ye Yao, to seek refuge with friends.
"Find out who that man is," Ye Feng instructed his companion, referring to Chu Ge. "I thought a knife would be enough, but clearly, I underestimated the situation. He's skilled, but still no match for me."
A flicker of tenderness softened Ye Feng's hardened features as he thought of his sister. "Yaoyao doesn't know I'm back yet. I'll see her now, and tomorrow, we'll confront Liu Yanru together, openly and honestly."
His companion, Wang Shi, nodded solemnly. "The brothers can't wait to see you, boss. We should all get together soon."
As Ye Feng roared away on his motorcycle, Wang Shi's gaze lingered on an abandoned water plant nearby. He recalled Chu Ge's ruthless efficiency earlier. "Liu Yanru's new bodyguard is as merciless as she is," he mused. "The boss's enemy is our enemy, no matter who they are."
Meanwhile, in a luxurious duplex villa, Chu Ge was settling into his new role as Liu Yanru's live-in bodyguard. He'd just finished a security sweep when Liu Yanru descended the spiral staircase, now dressed in a pink pajama dress with lace trim and a girlish bow.
Chu Ge couldn't help but notice how the outfit softened her appearance, making her seem more approachable. "Boss, this place is huge. Do you live here alone?" he asked, trying to maintain a professional demeanor.
Liu Yanru handed him a cup of hot water and settled onto the sofa. "This was my husband's home," she said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.
Chu Ge felt a momentary panic, then remembered her husband was deceased. He chastised himself for his wandering thoughts. I'm just a bodyguard, he reminded himself sternly.
To distract himself, Chu Ge mentioned he was hungry. Liu Yanru laughed, a musical sound that caught him off guard. "You're young and must have burned a lot of energy earlier," she said, heading to the kitchen.
As they prepared a late dinner together, Chu Ge was impressed by Liu Yanru's cooking skills and increasingly aware of her as a woman, not just his employer. He repeatedly reminded himself of his professional role.
Over the meal, Liu Yanru seemed to relax, even sharing a bowl of chicken soup with Chu Ge. "Drink up," she urged. "I'll be relying on you to protect me from now on."
Chu Ge noticed the goji berries in the soup, traditionally used for vitality. His face grew warm, wondering if she had misunderstood his stamina or if there was some hidden meaning in the gesture.
As they ate, Chu Ge became hyper-aware of Liu Yanru's presence. He took an hour to finish half a bowl of rice, his appetite warring with his determination to maintain professional boundaries.
I'm really just a bodyguard, he repeated to himself like a mantra. I have no bad intentions!
And somewhere in the city, Ye Feng was planning his next move, unaware that his path was about to collide with the villain, Chu Ge's in ways neither of them could predict.