Shen Binnan had told Fang Yi, "Tomorrow morning," to come into work on time, which meant that Fang Yi didn't have to work today. Therefore, Fang Yi left, preparing for what was coming next.
Walking out of the Longtu Building, Fang Yi hailed a taxi and had the driver take him directly to the west side of Moon City.
Already on the plane earlier, Fang Yi had used his mobile phone to check some rental information in Moon City. Fang Yi could have stayed at a hotel, but to him, staying in hotels every day wasn't very realistic.
Therefore, Fang Yi planned to find a regular apartment to save a lot of money because Fang Yi was really quite stingy. By some twist of fate, Fang Yi found a house he was satisfied with.
Being stingy is a bad habit, but for Fang Yi, he was genuinely afraid of being poor.
Fang Yi vividly remembered how he survived before he met the old man.
Back then, when Fang Yi was six years old, he was adopted by an elderly couple. Later, both of them died in a house fire. Fortunately, Fang Yi had been playing outside, so he wasn't burned to death. He hid in the crowd, watching fire engines, firefighters, and... some strangers.
That fire left a deep impression on Fang Yi, and he could never forget the kind faces of the elderly couple for the rest of his life.
At that time, the six-year-old Fang Yi began to wander. Yes, right in this city... Moon City. Fang Yi lived by scavenging and rummaging through trash bins. Of course, sometimes Fang Yi would also steal from children his age.
But sometimes when caught by adults, he would be severely beaten. At that time, Fang Yi learned what survival meant and what it entailed.
Fang Yi didn't know his own background, nor did he know where to go. He only knew there was a birthmark on his buttocks—yes, truly cliché.
About two months of wandering later, Fang Yi met the old man and escaped from the rootless and unpredictable life with sporadic meals. He deeply remembered a phrase the old man had once said,
"Kid, from now on you're my Fang Qingtian's son. With me here, no one dares to bully you."
Those words deeply touched Fang Yi. Although he often got scolded and beaten by the old man later, Fang Yi truly understood that it was for his own good.
"Hey, young man, we're here." Just then, the driver in front reminded him.
Fang Yi snapped out of his reverie, paid the driver, got out of the car, and stood at the entrance of the apartment complex. Memories surged because this was exactly where the six-year-old Fang Yi had started his wandering life.
Returning to this familiar place made Fang Yi deeply reflective. He sighed and hesitated for a long time before entering the apartment complex.
The complex was ordinary, not a luxurious one, and some of the buildings were old. Following his memory, Fang Yi walked towards the house he used to live in as a child. The apartment he was renting now was indeed the house of the elderly couple he had lived with.
Fang Yi called the landlord while standing downstairs, then walked up to the third floor. He had just arrived at the door when a middle-aged woman came up.
"I'm so sorry, I was just changing my granddaughter's diaper. I didn't mean to keep you waiting, young man."
"No worries, Auntie, I just arrived too."
"My surname is Wang. You can just call me Aunt Wang."
Aunt Wang said as she took out the keys to open the door and walked inside. Ye Qing also followed her in, familiar feelings washing over him.
The furniture had changed, the layout of the rooms had changed, but the memories remained unchanged!
"This house is a two-bedroom and one-living room apartment, and it's fully furnished. Although the house is a bit old, it's affordable…" Aunt Wang started to introduce the place to Fang Yi as soon as she entered.
Fang Yi remained calm. After Aunt Wang finished speaking, he took out the cash, "Aunt Wang, I'm very satisfied. Here is six months' rent, please count it."
Aunt Wang counted the money, handed the keys to Fang Yi, and then said her goodbye. Fang Yi saw Aunt Wang to the door and was just about to close the door when, suddenly, the door next door burst open.
A woman emerged from inside, looking rather unwell, dressed in plain clothes, approximately the same age as Fang Yi.
"Hello, I'm the new tenant here, my name is…" Fang Yi intended to greet her, as she was a neighbor after all.
However, before Fang Yi could finish, the woman, as if terribly afraid of Fang Yi, bowed her head and ran downstairs. Just then, Fang Yi heard a furious male voice coming from the woman's apartment:
"Motherfucker! I told you to eat, and you just cry, cry, cry. What the hell are you crying for? You believe I can beat you to death with a stool?"
A low sobbing sound came from inside the house.
Fang Yi was not one to meddle in other's business, and he couldn't manage everything. He closed the door and went into his room.
The next day, early in the morning before dawn, Fang Yi went outside for a few laps and did some boxing. When he returned to his room as the day was breaking, he heard angry voices and the clattering of tables and chairs from next door, but it didn't last long.
Fang Yi went back to his room, took a cold shower, then dressed in a deep blue shirt and black casual pants before leaving the house and taking a taxi to the Longtu Group.
After getting out of the taxi, Fang Yi entered the elevator. With a ding, the elevator doors opened, and Fang Yi stepped into the headquarters of Longtu Group.
Fang Yi didn't visit any of the operational departments but instead went straight to Shen Binan's executive office. However, standing at the doorway was a person, namely Feng Wenhua, whose wrist Fang Yi had broken.
Seeing Fang Yi, Feng Wenhua's gaze turned icy. He had developed a grudge against Fang Yi.
But in Fang Yi's eyes, Feng Wenhua was nothing. He went directly to the office door and was about to knock when Feng Wenhua suddenly blocked his way.
Fang Yi raised his eyebrows and said, "Move aside."
Feng Wenhua sneered, "I am Shen's bodyguard."
Fang Yi responded indifferently, "You don't need to spell it out, I know. But that doesn't stop me from being her personal bodyguard."
"You!"
"If you don't believe me, you can ask her yourself," Fang Yi added.
Feng Wenhua was momentarily stunned.
By then, Fang Yi had already grasped the doorknob, turned it, and pushed the door open, walking straight into the office. Startled, Feng Wenhua hurriedly followed.
At that time, Shen Binan was working, utterly focused. Hearing the noise, Shen Binan put down her pen and frowned, "Why didn't you knock before entering?"
Fang Yi gave a slight smile, "I'll remember next time."
"Shen, he..."
"Oh, Captain Feng, I need to tell you something. From now on, he is my personal bodyguard. From here on, you and your bodyguards will need to follow his orders."
Shen Binan had always been a woman of her word. Although she was reluctant to have Fang Yi as her bodyguard, now that he was, she would not make changes.
Hearing Shen Binan's words, Feng Wenhua's expression changed drastically. The word "why" almost slipped out, but he held back. He had some understanding of Shen Binan's character. Provoking her anger and potentially getting himself and his bodyguards fired would do him no good.
Feng Wenhua glared coldly at Fang Yi, turned around, and left, closing the door behind him.
After Feng Wenhua had left, Fang Yi casually sat down in the chair opposite Shen Binan. Shen Binan frowned again, saying, "Is this the kind of quality you have as my personal bodyguard?"
"Uh... I think as your personal bodyguard, I need to stay close to you at all times," Fang Yi replied.
"What if I go to the bathroom, will you follow too?"
"As long as you wish, no matter where you go, I will follow," Fang Yi said very seriously.
"..."
Shen Binan took a deep breath and said coldly, "I am currently in the company and not in any danger. Besides, I am the general manager here and need my own work time!"
Fang Yi shrugged, "So you want me to stand outside like that idiot?" In his words, the idiot was naturally Feng Wenhua.
Shen Binan's mouth twitched slightly, and after a moment of silence, he pressed a number on the office desk phone, saying, "Ding Miaoyan, come to my office."