Chapter 17: Encounter with Danger

As soon as Wang Hong asked, Hua Tianyu immediately shook his head and denied it. “I’m just a lowly security guard. I could never afford this meal.”

Wang Hong thought it over. Hua Tianyu had a point—these dishes were certainly not something a security guard could pay for. Could it really just be a stroke of incredible luck?

“I think maybe I’m just so handsome that the owner decided to waive the bill,” Hua Tianyu said, dead serious.

Wang Hong couldn’t help but laugh. She turned to look at Hua Tianyu’s sharp, well-defined profile and said softly, “You are rather handsome…”

“Mm, I’ve noticed you have a great eye for people,” Hua Tianyu replied with a playful smile. “By the way, did you hear how the lobby manager addressed us just now?”

Wang Hong’s cheeks flushed. She pretended not to understand. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

“He called us a virtuous couple. I’m not too well read—can you tell me what that means?” Hua Tianyu caught Wang Hong’s right hand in his, gazing at her with earnest curiosity.

“I’m not talking to you…” Wang Hong turned her head away, bashful, but she didn’t pull her hand back, letting him hold it in his palm.

He was just enjoying the softness of her hand when Wang Hong’s phone rang.

Seeing that it was Liang Hui’s number, Wang Hong answered, “Sister Liang, what is it?”

“The documents I gave you this afternoon—I need you to work overtime and have them ready for me first thing tomorrow. It’s urgent.”

“All right, I understand.”

“And… get home early. Be careful on the way.”

“Thank you, Sister Liang.”

Hua Tianyu shook his head and sighed. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. That Liang Hui really knows how to ruin the mood. Look at this—such a perfect evening, and she’s making you work overtime. Does she know we’re having dinner tonight and did it on purpose?”

Wang Hong shook her head. “No, don’t say that. Sister Liang is really a good person, she’s just concerned about me. Besides, the company truly is busy right now. I know she’s under a lot of pressure, too.”

“Do you know why she’s under so much pressure?” Hua Tianyu asked.

Wang Hong thought for a moment. “The specific reason, I’m not sure. I only know that President Wei’s father suddenly fell seriously ill a while ago and is still in the hospital. President Wei had to step up under immense pressure to take his place, so a lot of people in the group can feel that strain. They all want the company to get better and better.”

Hua Tianyu nodded. After Wang Hong’s explanation, he understood: No wonder Wei Xueying, so young, had to take on everything by herself. Her father’s sudden illness forced her to shoulder this heavy responsibility.

And when he’d accompanied Wei Xueying to negotiate with Qiu Jinghao from the Shangjiang Chamber of Commerce, he’d sensed that she was knowingly stepping into danger, which was why she brought him along as her bodyguard. It seemed now that, after her father fell ill, Wei Xueying truly had her hands tied.

Seeing Hua Tianyu silent for a while, Wang Hong knew he was thinking about the group’s situation. She smiled brightly. “Come on, you’ll understand the group’s situation in time. For now, come with me to the company to pick up some files. Sister Liang needs them tomorrow, so I’ll work on them tonight.”

As she spoke, she slipped her hand—previously withdrawn for the phone call—back into Hua Tianyu’s, as if by accident. A faint blush immediately rose to her cheeks.

The way back to the company was neither too far nor too close, but Wang Hong didn’t call a car. Being led by the hand back to the company by Hua Tianyu felt simply wonderful.

Swan International Tower stood tall against the night sky of Shangjiang City, with only a few scattered windows still glowing.

Wang Hong told Hua Tianyu to wait outside while she went up alone to the twentieth floor.

The office building was quiet at night. The corridor lights were off, and only the faint moonlight drifted in through the windows.

Wang Hong stepped out of the elevator, switched on the hallway lights with practiced ease, pulled out her key, and slipped it into the lock of the Human Resources office door.

“Hmm? Someone working late?” After turning the key, there was no familiar click of the lock opening. Wang Hong was puzzled. Who was still here so late? And if someone was working late, why were the hallway lights off?

She opened the door, only to find the office shrouded in darkness.

Oh, which careless person forgot to lock up when they left?

But then she thought, don’t the security guards patrol on the hour? During their rounds, they always check the offices, and if a door is unlocked, they lock it. So how could one be left unlocked? Swan Tower had several critical departments, and security always paid special attention to them during patrols—including Human Resources.

Was security slacking off again? Wang Hong was a little exasperated. Never mind, she’d mention it to Cheng Feng tomorrow, but not tell Sister Liang. If this got back to her, someone might lose their bonus.

She switched the lights on and made her way to her desk, searching for the documents she needed.

Work had been busy lately, so her desk was piled high with files. They were sorted by category, but finding the right one was still no easy task.

Clatter—a careless movement, and she knocked over a stack of folders, scattering a dozen documents on the floor.

Wang Hong hurried around the desk to pick them up.

Suddenly, squatting beneath her desk was a man dressed head to toe in black, his face concealed behind a mask. Their eyes met without warning.

“Ah!” Wang Hong shrieked, stumbling back several steps in terror.

The man in black was known as Thief Situ—a notorious lone wolf in the criminal underworld.

He sprang out from under the desk, his hand flashing to his waistband to produce a three-inch dagger, glinting menacingly under the office lights.

He glared at Wang Hong and threatened, “Don’t make a sound, or this knife will go in white and come out red!”

Then, noticing Wang Hong’s delicate features, he raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t expect you to be so pretty, girl.”

Wang Hong’s heart pounded as she demanded sternly, “Who are you? What do you want?”

“Heh, never mind who I am. As for what I want—tonight, I’m taking both money and pleasure! You brought this on yourself, so don’t blame me.” Thief Situ grinned wickedly, taking a step closer to Wang Hong.

“Bastard, try me if you dare!” Wang Hong gripped the files in her left hand, her right fist clenched at her waist, ready to strike at any moment.

But her instinctive retreat gave away her fear.

Seeing her anxiety, Thief Situ grew bolder. “I’m warning you—if you behave, maybe I’ll let you live. Otherwise, I’ll carve eighty-one cuts into your pretty face with this knife!”