Beauty and the Bodyguard

Chapter 149 - Unwanted Result

In Haili, Zhang Yuchu sat gloomily in the chairman's office of Yuchu Industries.

He was the mastermind behind Mengyao's kidnapping, and he'd just gotten a scolding from his partner Jin Gubang for its failure. He wouldn't be taking that shit from Gubang if his boss didn't value Gubang more than him.

The thugs weren't even his responsibility- it was his boss who'd hired all of them! Jin Gubang pushing all the blame onto Yuchu's head was something he was extremely displeased about.

He had an epic name coupled with an epic company name, but Yuchu himself knew best- he was but a mere puppet of his boss… He was actually even less than that: he was just the puppet of one of his boss' representatives, Cihua Bro……

(theres like a 'galaxy' or 'universe' in his name)

There were some things he didn't have the power or authority to be making decisions for, and there wasn't much he could do but give Cihua Bro a call.

"Cihua Bro, it's Yuchu here……" Yuchu said with respect and humility.

(Yuchu says 'little Yuchu' in the greeting)

"Yeah, what do you need?" Cihua was in a bad mood these days- he'd been trying to make contact with Baldy for a while now, to no avail, when he'd heard that the police had located Baldy's corpse already… It gave him a little room to relax, since the guy was no longer his problem anymore.

Baldy's lackeys, on the other hand, only knew of his existence- they'd never had any direct contact with him before, and there wasn't much the police could do to Cihua even if they did manage to apprehend them.

Cihua had nothing to fear even if Baldy did turn out to have told the police about him. After all, the power supporting him was not someone just any person could mess with.

What Li Cihua was concerned over, however, was the failure of their plans. He wasn't in a very good position right now- he'd really underestimated the enemy this time around to have sent a common gangster for the job…

"Cihua Bro, that Jin Gubang's pushed all the blame onto me, saying that I got inadequate men for the assignment. He's basically looking down on you and calling you out……" Yuchu complained. It wasn't even his fault in the first place.

"I know!" Cihua said with a frown, evidently not expecting Yuchu to be yapping about useless stuff like that. "Jin Gubang isn't under the boss, we're just in a partnership with him. Don't mind him, let him say whatever he wants. You and I are in the same boat, I know how you feel so just tough it out and do what I do- remember the things that you have to endure."

"Alright, boss, I feel better already……" Yuchu said. He'd really only wanted some sort of acknowledgement, after all.

"Right, how's the investigation over there coming along? Who's that guy guarding Chu Mengyao?" Cihua asked.

"That Jin Gubang's looked into it already: On the surface, it's like Chu Pengzhan hired some farmer from somewhere and put him in the same school with Mengyao for bodyguard duties." Yuchu said. "As for which bodyguard agency he got him from… It's still an uncertainty. Jin Gubang doesn't know that yet."

"Then continue investigating." Cihua said. "The boss is really invested in this, he's sent a master from Golden Peak to handle the matter. There won't be any underestimating this time around… Hmph."

"Golden Peak……" Yuchu's heart jumped at the name- he'd heard from the boss of the type of power levels from there… they were tougher than even special ops, and Yuchu was quite surprised that they'd send someone of that caliber to deal with some bodyguard…

"Keep your mouth shut about this, and don't say anything." Cihua reminded.

"Rest assured, Cihua Bro. I won't." Yuchu promised.

Lin Yi got in Li Fu's Bentley swiftly before anyone noticed him.

He saw Mengyao with a displeased face and Yushu giggling on her own the moment he got in- evidently, the two were aware of the rumors going around about Tang Yin and him.

Lin Yi shook his head- Mengyao was obviously pissed, holding back only because Li Fu was in the car with them.

The three didn't say anything to each other the whole trip, with even Yushu keeping her mouth shut to avoid pissing off the on-edge Mengyao.

Lin Yi was about to go back to his room after reaching the villa when Mengyao stopped him.

"Stop right there, Lin Yi!!"

Lin Yi wanted to get away from the Miss as soon as possible- who'd dare mess with her in a situation like this? It turned out to be futile, after all… Lin Yi had little choice but to turn around and look at a Mengyao with a hand angrily on her hip.

"Um…… Is there anything you need, Miss Chu?" Lin Yi said with a dry smile.

"Not bad, Lin Yi, not bad at all. Just two days in school and the rumors are all out already! My dad didn't pay you to be messing with girls at school!!" Mengyao was genuinely pissed at this point- wasn't this Lin Yi a little too much..?

"Miss Chu, your father's made it quite clear when he gave me his salary, that I'm only obliged to help with your studies and life in general… All that other stuff isn't included in my paygrade at all." Lin YI wondered if he'd been too weak and easygoing the last few days. Men had to stand their ground on many occasions, after all, so as to show the Misses what they were made of.

"That……" Mengyao didn't quite know what to say to Lin Yi's retort- it was true, her father hired Lin Yi as an employee! She didn't really have the authority to be meddling with Lin Yi's private life, it seemed…

What was she even getting pissed off for- what did it matter if the guy was looking for a girlfriend? Yet Mengyao was in discomfort all the same- why was this guy messing with other girls when Yushu and her were living in the same house with him?! What was that supposed to mean, was their appeal not good enough for him?

It was a sort of humiliation she couldn't take- it was even worse than if Lin Yi had decided to murder the two of them!

Yet Mengyao was not one to say something like that… After all, where would she start? Ask Lin Yi why he was so blind as to go play with girls outside with two beauties right in front with him? They were living in the same freaking house with him, for god's sake!!!

"You… J-just keep yourself in check, have some control!! Don't ruin our reputation! We don't want our follower to be seen as that kind of person!" Mengyao said angrily.

"Oh, don't worry, Miss Chu. I'll make sure to keep my distance from you at school… I won't let anyone find out about us." Lin Yi said reassuringly.

"You…… I……" Lin Yi's words stunned Mengyao completely… She closed and open her mouth as she stared blankly at Lin Yi, not expecting the development to go down this way…… Was this truly the answer she wanted from him?

Mengyao wasn't aware of it, but a genuine disappointment and stress was building up inside her… It was like she had lost something really important that very instant…...

Chapter 150 - Really Bad Mood

Mengyao was on the verge of tearing up as she watched Lin Yi walk away from her and into his room…… She'd never been this frustrated before in her entire life!!

"Who do you think you are, Lin Yi!! Good riddance, keep your distance all you want!! Nobody wants you anyway!!" Mengyao yelled as Lin Yi disappeared into his room. "I… I'll never bother with you ever again!!"

With that, Mengyao dropped herself onto the sofa, drained, depressed, upset, and… she wept. Her tears dropped silently as she kept her mouth shut, afraid that Yushu would hear her.

"Yao Yao… what's wrong..?" Yushu stopped messing around upon seeing how Mengyao was acting. She held Mengyao's hands softly as she spoke. "Yao Yao…… Don't cry……"

"Who's' crying? I'm not crying, alright?!" Mengyao, naturally, wouldn't admit that she'd cry over some random dude- the guy had nothing to do with her!

What did he even do, save her? So what? Li Fu saved her before too!

Yet… Lin Yi and Uncle Fu…… Mengyao's heart always warmed up when she recalled that moment where Lin Yi threw himself in front of her… It was a moment that made her feel like she was a lucky girl, to have a man give his life to die with her……

But now……

"Yao Yao… I already know how you feel about Shield Bro…… I can talk to him about it if you want……" Yushu had figured out Mengyao's feelings at that point- she'd grown up with her, and she understood her better than anyone.

It was pretty much a fact that Mengyao was in love- the 'hero saves the damsel' scenario wasn't a pretty one, but it was classic, something that brought joy and warmth to the hearts of people. Yushu had noticed long ago Mengyao's change in attitude towards Lin Yi ever since he'd saved her……

These details probably went unnoticed by even Mengyao herself- it was commonplace for the person directly involved to be oblivious, after all. A bystanding observer, on the other hand, had little trouble seeing the little details that took place.

"S-Shu? What're you saying? Like him?!!" Mengyao started panicking- she jumped off the sofa in an intense fit to explain herself. "I said I don't like him, I said it a hundred times that I don't like him!! Don't say stuff like that!!"

Yushu wasn't expecting the intensity- she took a step back, startled. "Alright, I'll stop, I'll stop… we'll just not like him, Yao Yao… no big deal……"

"......" Mengyao was exhausted- she leaned forward and hugged Yushu, still a little upset. "You're the best, Yushu, always sticking by me……"

"Yeah, I'll always be there for you." Yushu nodded as she consoled Mengyao with pats on her shoulder.

Lin Yi, on the other hand, had heard everything, and he wasn't quite sure how to react or respond… His hand trembled a little as he let go of the door handle, and let out a soft sigh.

He wasn't very clear on what was going on with the Miss' feelings, but she did seem to be a little jealous judging by how she was acting today…… Could she actually have fallen for him?

Lin Yi was quite speechless- he'd always been on opposite sides with Mengyao since day one- surely that one-time rescue wasn't enough for her to fall in love with him..?

Even if that were the case, it was just an impossible relationship! It was a big taboo in the business- taking things to that point with the employer would just end up with him burning himself alive, it'd be playing with fire!

Lin Yi shook his head softly- he decided to avoid the Miss as much as possible that night, and remained in his room even after Li Fu delivered dinner.

Mengyao felt a little better after letting her pent-up frustrations out, and managed to put on a fresh face when Li Fu arrived. She was helping Li Fu with the food when he noticed Lin Yi's absence. "Is Mister Lin not around, Miss Chu?"

"Think he's dead." Mengyao said without any restraint, still uncomfortable about the whole thing- the guy watched her grow up, after all. He knew what she was like.

"...Dead?" Li Fu only smiled bitterly, assuming that some sort of misunderstanding between the Miss and Lin Yi had taken place again. It wasn't really his place to be asking about stuff like that, with him being a butler figure and everything, and especially so with how vague and ambiguous Pengzhan was being regarding the issue with Lin Yi and the Miss.

He helped set the table up for the two Misses, and left the villa so as to not intrude.

The spacious villa was left with just Yushu and Mengyao after that… Only this time, Lin Yi wasn't there.

It'd been gradual, but Mengyao had gotten used to Lin Yi helping to set the table up whenever Li Fu delivered their dinners, and how Lin Yi would return to his room only after the three of them finished the preparations together.

Mengyao wanted to invite Lin Yi to have dinner, but her pride was getting in the way once more, much like the other instances. Their relationship had gotten even more tense because of what had happened today, and it didn't seem like it'd be turning for the better anytime soon.

She looked at her favourite dishes on the table numbly- her appetite wasn't there at all. She put her chopsticks down after two mouthfuls.

"What's wrong, Yao Yao?" Yushu asked- Mengyao looked a little pale. "Maybe I should get Shield Bro to come eat with us?"

"Don't wanna eat. No appetite." Mengyao said, shaking her head. "Why would you do that? Just pretend he isn't here……"

Mengyao had started treating Lin Yi as a member of the villa- it was so gradual that she hadn't realized it herself.

"Oh." Yushu lowered her head and continued eating, thinking that the dishes tonight were quite good. There was even papaya rib soup, something known for its breast-enlarging effects. Her body was pretty ideal already, and she didn't need her chest getting too big… Who'd want boobs like Song Lingshan's? That freaking cow, heh heh……

Although, Yao Yao could probably use some enlargement- it didn't seem right that she'd be smaller than her when she was taller……

"What're you doing, Shu?" Mengyao asked as she looked at Yushu smiling and giggling by herself as she stuffed her mouth full- what was the girl so happy for?! "You're so inconsiderate, looking so happy when I'm down like this!"

"Oh… ugh……" Yushu said as she swallowed a piece of rib meat. "I… I'm just hungry, that's all…"

"We're not eating anymore! Come take a walk with me!" Mengyao said, still pissed- she wanted to take a break from staying home.

"Kay……" Yushu complied as she put her chopsticks down. She eyed the food on the table longingly as she stood up.

"There's good food outside too! We'll just go get some of those waste oil fried mushrooms you love so much!" Mengyao said, eyeing the silent Yushu.

"......" Yushu didn't know what to say… Waste oil? How am I supposed to put that stuff in my mouth when you say it like that…

"Let's move! Let's change our clothes first!" Mengyao said as she pulled Yushu up with her. They weren't in their school uniforms, but it didn't seem appropriate to be going out at night in student-looking clothes.