Chapter 24: Securing the Order

Xiao Wang clutched his chest, staring at the man in black before him in disbelief. Blood seeped through his fingers, staining his pristine white shirt.

The man in black, his gaze icy and devoid of hesitation, raised his dagger once more to strike at Duan Fei.

At the critical moment, a burly figure lunged in front of her.

"A-Qiang!" Duan Fei cried out.

With a sharp *clang*, the dagger struck metal, emitting a jarring sound. It was A-Qiang, who had arrived just in time to block the assassin’s blow with his personal self-defense spray.

"Ms. Duan, run!" A-Qiang roared, swinging the canister as he grappled with the killer.

The assassin was agile and his strikes were lethal. Though A-Qiang had undergone professional training, he struggled to keep up. The office was in chaos; documents were scattered everywhere, and computer screens flickered with blinding light.

Duan Fei hid behind her desk, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had never imagined she would face such danger. In the distance, the faint wail of sirens could be heard, but the assassin showed no intention of stopping. He glared at Duan Fei with ferocious intensity, clearly determined to see her dead.

"If you want to hurt my boss, you’ll have to go through me first!" A-Qiang shouted, charging forward again, using all his strength to shove the assailant back. "Ms. Duan, call the police!"

Duan Fei’s hands trembled as she pulled out her phone and dialed for help. Just then, the assassin feinted, bypassed A-Qiang, and lunged straight for her.

"Ah!" Duan Fei screamed, squeezing her eyes shut.

The pain she expected never came. Puzzled, she opened her eyes to see Bei Mo standing before her, his grip locked firmly around the assassin’s wrist.

"Bei Mo..." Duan Fei murmured, momentarily forgetting the peril they were in.

Bei Mo shot the assassin a cold glance and twisted his hand with force. A sickening *crack* echoed through the room as the man’s wrist snapped.

"Fei-fei, are you all right?" Bei Mo asked with concern.

Duan Fei shook her head, still reeling from the shock. Bei Mo scanned the room with icy eyes and said in a low voice, "It seems some people won't shed tears until they see their own coffin."

As the sirens drew closer, the assassin realized his mission had failed. He shot a vicious glare at Duan Fei and turned to flee. But how could Bei Mo let him escape so easily? With a swift roundhouse kick, he sent the assassin flying into the wall, knocking him unconscious.

"It's over now," Bei Mo said, gently patting Duan Fei’s shoulder to reassure her.

Duan Fei finally composed herself and nodded, though she remained shaken. At that moment, a groan from Xiao Wang reminded her of the injured man. She rushed over to check on him.

"Xiao Wang, how are you?" she asked anxiously.

"I’m fine, Ms. Duan, just... just a bit of pain," Xiao Wang said, his face pale as he held his wound.

"A-Qiang, take Xiao Wang to the hospital!" Duan Fei ordered. A-Qiang nodded and helped him leave.

Duan Fei looked at the wreckage of her office and took a deep breath. This sudden attack made her realize how dangerous her situation truly was.

"Fei-fei, have you offended anyone lately?" Bei Mo asked, standing by her side.

Duan Fei shook her head. She had been too busy with company affairs to make any enemies.

"It seems someone doesn't want you to have a peaceful life," Bei Mo said, his eyes deep and his tone chilling.

Duan Fei remained silent; she knew he was right. But she couldn't understand who would want her dead. Just then, her phone rang—it was a client. She glanced at Bei Mo, hesitated, and then answered.

"Ms. Duan, we’ve decided to partner with your company!" the client’s excited voice came through.

Duan Fei froze, then felt a surge of elation. This order was vital; it was the lifeline her company needed to survive this crisis. "Thank you! Thank you so much! We will do everything in our power to deliver our best!" she exclaimed.

After hanging up, she jumped for joy and hugged Bei Mo. "We did it! We actually did it!"

Caught off guard by the sudden embrace, Bei Mo was startled, then broke into a smile. He patted her back gently and said softly, "Congratulations, Fei-fei."

Realizing her lapse in decorum, Duan Fei pulled away, smiling awkwardly. "I'm sorry, I just got too excited."

"It's alright," Bei Mo watched her with tenderness.

"By the way, that assassin just now..." Duan Fei began, her mind returning to the harrowing scene.

"I've already called the police; they'll be here soon," Bei Mo replied.

Duan Fei nodded, yet an underlying sense of unease remained. She felt this matter was not so simple.

"Fei-fei, don't worry, I will protect you," Bei Mo said firmly, as if reading her thoughts.

Looking into his resolute eyes, a strange warmth bloomed in her chest. Perhaps with him by her side, she really could be fearless.

The sirens grew louder, their piercing wails shattering the silence of the night. As Duan Fei watched the flashing lights, an ominous premonition stirred within her. She turned to look at Bei Mo, inhaled deeply to steady her emotions, and once again transformed into the composed, powerful businesswoman.

She returned to the negotiation table, detailing her proposal with professional terminology and practical case studies, her tone brooking no doubt. The client was thoroughly moved by her sincerity and professionalism, signing the agreement on the spot.

"Yeah! We did it!" Xiao Wang was the first to jump up, pumping his fist in excitement. The other employees cheered, and a festive atmosphere filled the office.

"Ms. Duan, you're amazing!" "We finally landed the big contract!" The staff crowded around her, expressing their joy.

Duan Fei was swept up in the warmth, a brilliant smile breaking across her face. It felt as though all her hardships and sacrifices had finally paid off. Bei Mo stood to the side, watching her quietly. Her smile was so radiant, like a beam of winter sunlight, that it brought a flicker of warmth to his heart.

He took a step forward, wanting to join in her joy, but was repelled by the cold look in her eyes. Duan Fei merely glanced at him briefly before looking away, as if he were nothing more than a passing stranger.

A flash of imperceptible loss and sorrow crossed Bei Mo’s eyes. The distance between them seemed to have deepened. The air grew thick and bitter, suffocating.

Just as Duan Fei was basking in the celebration, the office door was kicked open with a thunderous *bang*.

A familiar figure appeared before them once again. It was the assassin Bei Mo had knocked unconscious. His eyes were colder now, filled with bloodthirsty intent. He locked his gaze onto Duan Fei like a beast waiting to pounce.

The atmosphere in the office froze instantly. The cheering ceased, replaced by a deathly silence. Duan Fei’s smile stiffened; she retreated instinctively until her back hit the wall. A-Qiang immediately stepped in front of her, assuming a defensive stance.

"All of you... you deserve to die!" the assassin rasped, his voice dripping with malice. He slowly drew a dagger from his waistband, the blade glinting coldly under the lights.

"Protect Ms. Duan!" A-Qiang shouted.

Duan Fei stared at the murderous man, a wave of intense dread washing over her. A chilling premonition took hold, and she clenched her fists, trembling.