The hair rope was deliberately left behind when Chu Ge was not paying attention as she got out of the car. At that moment, Feng Linlin was so angry; she believed Chu Ge to be Liu Yanru's sugar boy.
Liu Yanru hadn't spoken to Chu Ge all night. That bastard of a bodyguard had taken her car to pick up another woman. He had claimed it was "business," but she felt betrayed for trusting him so much. She foolishly waited for him, hungry and upset, while he dined with someone else.
Could it be that Chu Ge really didn't like her? Or was it because he despised her for being a married woman? Thinking about this, Liu Yanru lay on the bed, her mind spiraling into darker thoughts. She realized that she wasn't even qualified to question Chu Ge. After all, she was just his boss.
The next day, Chu Ge escorted Liu Yanru to the company as usual. Along the way, they talked and laughed as if nothing had happened the previous night.
"Your career has just started, and my safety concerns have been addressed," Liu Yanru remarked lightly. "Stay at the company. I'll be safe here, and you can attend to your other business."
In the office, Liu Yanru busied herself for a while. During a brief break, she noticed Chu Ge lounging on the sofa, looking bored. Feeling guilty for tethering such an ambitious and capable young man to her side, she couldn't help but speak up.
"It's too selfish of me to keep someone like you, full of energy and ambition, tied here," she said sincerely. "After all, with your ability, being just a bodyguard is beneath you."
Chu Ge raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her words.
"How about this?" Liu Yanru continued. "You'll still be my bodyguard, but you won't need to stay by my side every day. We'll keep your salary the same." [Author: Seriously !!!]
Her sweet smile, combined with the sparkle in her peach-blossom eyes, was breathtaking. Every frown and smile she displayed carried a unique charm. To her, this arrangement provided a perfect excuse to maintain contact with Chu Ge while giving him room to grow. She genuinely wanted to see how far this extraordinary man could go.
Just as Chu Ge was about to respond, the system popped up with a sudden notification, presenting three options:
[Ding !!!]
[ Option 1: Reject Liu Yanru's proposal, stay by her side, and prioritize a comfortable life over ambition. Reward: "Freeloader Title"]
[ Option 2: Be professional, avoid distractions. "Men should prioritize their career" mindset. Reward: Stock tips with a guaranteed 300% return]
[ Option 3: Accept Liu Yanru's proposal, balancing career and emotions while forging a strong partnership. Reward: News about the second city protagonist. ]
Among these, the first option was immediately discarded. Chu Ge valued his career too much to take that route. If he wanted an easy life, he could attract wealthy women with his good looks, like Feng Linlin.
The second option was tempting. A 300% stock return rate could give him substantial financial ground. However, the reward for the third option excited him the most. News about the second city protagonist could be invaluable, and Liu Yanru's kindness towards him made rejecting her feel heartless.
Without hesitation, Chu Ge chose the third option.
"I think it's a good idea, boss. I accept your proposal," Chu Ge said earnestly. "But I don't feel right just getting paid without contributing. How about this, I'll still handle your pick-ups and drop-offs, and you can call me anytime you need me."
"Okay!" Liu Yanru agreed, her tone bright with relief and happiness. This arrangement suited her perfectly; she no longer had to face danger alone.
Meanwhile, the Zhao Group's troubles continued to snowball. Authorities, likely tipped off, conducted frequent checks, uncovering issues such as fire safety violations and tax evasion. Scandals about the Zhao family surfaced online, further tarnishing their reputation.
Several chain companies under the Zhao Group were mired in contract disputes. Though the Zhao Group's strength allowed them to withstand these problems, their rivals saw an opportunity to strike. Enemies swarmed, hoping to exploit the situation.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Chu Ge had orchestrated some of these setbacks. He had provided key information to Li Lanyin, who discreetly leaked it. These tactics bought him time to strengthen his own position.
As Chu Ge reviewed the system's reward for his choice, knowledge about the second city protagonist flooded his mind. He muttered to himself, "As expected, the four great families are riddled with filth. And there's an insider involved? Interesting."
Just as Chu Ge was pondering how to deal with the second protagonist, his phone rang. It was his NPC subordinate.
"Boss, I've got news. Ye Feng was attacked, but he survived. Strangely, the assassin was taken away by Ye Feng himself."
Chu Ge chuckled, already anticipating the pattern. "Let me guess, the assassin was a woman?"
NPC's surprised voice came through the line. "Boss, you're incredible. How did you know?"
Chu Ge smirked. "That's just how it goes in urban novels. The male protagonist either defeats a male assassin or recruits a female one."
"Here's what you'll do," Chu Ge instructed. "Get a video of Ye Feng's girlfriend from Li Lanyin. Deliver it to him personally and play it in front of him. Make sure to capture his reaction on camera. I want to see his face when he watches it."
After ending the call, Chu Ge leaned back, imagining Ye Feng's reaction with amusement. Though enemies, he believed in striking while the iron was hot to destabilize his foes. Mercy had no place in his world; it was a luxury he couldn't afford.
On the other side, Li Lanyin handed the video to NPC subordinate. Then, she noticed Li Ruhai, who was meticulously directing his team.
"How's the boss's other project going?" she asked.
Li Ruhai, eyes shining with excitement, replied, "It's progressing perfectly, Secretary Li. Apex Venture's funds have been fully invested. If nothing unexpected happens, we're looking at a hundredfold profit."
Back at the Feng family estate, Wang Jing approached Feng Linlin. "Miss, we've received word that Ye Feng was attacked by a killer."
Feng Linlin's reaction surprised him. She merely raised an eyebrow and asked, "And then?"
"He's fine," Wang Jing replied, puzzled by her indifference.
Was this the same young lady who used to panic at any mention of Ye Feng's injuries?
-----
[ N.B; Wang Jing - Feng Linlin's buttler ]