Chapter 8: Still Not Satisfied

Qiu Jinghao was utterly bewildered. From where he sat, he hadn’t seen what had just happened in that flash of movement. He frowned, his mouth agape, and looked at Zhuang Wei as if to say: Is this that impressive bodyguard you were boasting about? More like a braggart than a bodyguard!

Zhuang Wei, meeting Qiu Jinghao’s gaze, could only shrug helplessly. He had no idea what had just transpired. As the eldest son of the Zhuang Group, he doubted his father would have deceived him about something like this.

The other young men at the table quietly retreated several paces, leaving Qiu Jinghao and Zhuang Wei alone. They feared getting caught in the crossfire, especially since they had joined in mocking earlier.

Hua Tianyu paid them no mind. Unlike his earlier lightning-quick movements, he now strolled over to Qiu Jinghao, hands in his pockets, and gently patted Qiu’s cheek. “Want to try me yourself?”

Qiu Jinghao had never been spoken to while having his cheek slapped. He clenched his fists, but glancing at the four bodyguards lying on the floor, he had no choice but to relax his grip and admit defeat.

Who was he kidding? Those bodyguards could each take on four of him, and now all four had been floored by this man alone. What chance did he have?

“N-no, I won’t,” Qiu Jinghao stammered, hastily shaking his head.

Hua Tianyu looked around the room once more. “Anyone else interested in giving it a go?”

“No, no, none of us!” The group shook their heads like rattles, terrified of hesitation being mistaken for defiance.

“No one?” Hua Tianyu clicked his tongue regretfully. “What a pity. I wasn’t even warmed up yet.”

The room fell silent.

Then, with a sudden twist of his wrists, the stainless steel spoon in his hand was bent into a spiral. Hua Tianyu raised the twisted spoon and flashed a smile at the young men. “Gentlemen, don’t let your little heads control your big ones. Stop using cheap tricks on the girl I’ve set my sights on. If you really think you’re tougher than this spoon, you’re welcome to come challenge me anytime.”

With that, Hua Tianyu tossed the spoon onto the table and sauntered out of the private room.

After he left, Qiu Jinghao cautiously picked up the spoon and tried to twist it himself. It didn’t budge an inch. His lips twitched involuntarily.

At the end of the corridor, Wei Xueying waited anxiously by the elevator doors. Only when Hua Tianyu appeared, looking perfectly fine, did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Hua Tianyu hurried over with a grin. “Xueying, were you waiting for me?”

Wei Xueying, ignoring the familiarity in his tone, resumed her cool and aloof demeanor. “I’m waiting for the elevator.”

“Do you know why it hasn’t come yet?” Hua Tianyu’s smile widened.

“Why?” she asked.

“Because you haven’t pressed the button.”

A flush of color swept across Wei Xueying’s cheeks, like a girl whose secret thoughts had suddenly been exposed. But she quickly recovered her composure, her eyes turning cold again as she ignored him.

The elevator arrived, and they stepped into the empty car together.

Alone again in the elevator, Wei Xueying couldn’t help but recall what had happened there the day before.

Suddenly, the lights flickered.

“Watch out!”

Hua Tianyu shouted, and in a blur, he scooped Wei Xueying into his arms and rolled them both onto the floor.

The lights flickered again, but the elevator continued its smooth descent.

Another flicker.

Wei Xueying stared blankly at the overhead light. So it was just a flickering fluorescent bulb—there was nothing wrong with the elevator after all.

Looking down, she saw Hua Tianyu grinning up at her.

They were still locked in a tight embrace, lying together on the floor.

“Let me up!” Wei Xueying gave him a hard shove, struggling to free herself.

“Xueying, the elevator is plummeting. I have to protect you!” Hua Tianyu said with mock seriousness.

“Plummeting, my foot! You…you bastard, let me go!” Wei Xueying tried to punch him, but in his arms, she felt so weak that her fists were useless.

“My mistake, my mistake… Turns out it was just the lights flickering. I was wondering, are all the elevators in River City this poorly made? Or am I just cursed when it comes to elevators?”

Wei Xueying glared at him, using both hands and feet to finally scramble to her feet. By then, the elevator had reached the ground floor. The lobby was crowded, but she had no way to vent her frustration.

She stamped her foot, bit her lip, and stormed off toward the parking garage in her high heels.

In the car, Wei Xueying’s expression remained icy.

Hua Tianyu glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Xueying, it really was just a misunderstanding. How about this to make it up to you?”

Wei Xueying looked at his reflection. At least he knows to apologize, she thought.

But then Hua Tianyu continued, “Later, I’ll let you roll with me on the floor, too. But the floor’s dirty and girls like things clean. How about we spread out a bedsheet? Once we’re done rolling on the bedsheet, we’ll be even, and you won’t have to be angry anymore.”

“Shut up and drive!” Wei Xueying thought to herself that she must have been out of her mind to expect a real apology.

“Though I’ve held beauty in my arms, I have yet to win her heart. One day, you’ll hold me and roll on a bedsheet willingly.”

Wei Xueying took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to explode. She shut her eyes, leaned back, and refused to say another word.

Back in her office, Wei Xueying buried her face in her hands and fell into deep thought. Today’s negotiation had failed, worsening Swan Group’s already precarious situation. There were still two months left, but she needed to raise two billion yuan—a daunting challenge. Still, no matter how slim the hope, she had to try; otherwise, Swan Group would face bankruptcy.

Looking up, she saw Hua Tianyu lounging on the sofa across from her, smiling at her.

“Why are you here again?” she asked.

Hua Tianyu spread his hands as if it were obvious. “I’m your personal bodyguard. If I’m not by your side, where else would I be?”

At this, Wei Xueying remembered she hadn’t yet arranged an office for him. She’d only brought him along today for the negotiation with Qiu Jinghao.

But he had infuriated her so thoroughly that she decided to send him to the security department for a few days of reflection. “Go find Liang Hui. She’ll handle your assignments.”

“I hope I’m not already out of a job. Xueying, I’m telling you—the world out there is dangerous. Without me, you won’t last a step.”

Wei Xueying pressed a hand to her forehead as a fresh wave of headache swept over her.