Beauty and the Bodyguard

Chapter 359 - Getting Beat Up For Nothing

But Lin Yi didn't know that Jianwen and Cihua knew each other, or that they were meeting tonight- he only planned for Jianwen and Taizao to get disabled by Cihua's men, if not killed.

After all, someone like Li Cihua wouldn't react well to someone busting his nose.

"Master An- I can only apologize for what happened, I hope you don't mind. But I myself am not too much better off!" Cihua pointed at his face with a shrug. The man backing him up was strong, but so was House An. There was Taizao's Su family, as well- there was no reason for revenge whatsoever, as things stood, nor was there anything to even avenge. They still planned to work together, after all, and it was Lin Yi who started everything in the first place.

"It's alright!" Jianwen waved his hand- he wasn't that petty a man. He couldn't blame Cihua for what had happened, too, it was that distasteful Lin Yi's fault.

Taizao, on the other hand, was still pretty pissed off. Even if it were Lin Yi who started everything the guy shouldn't have sent his men on them without clearing things up first! He'd never heard of the name Li Cihua, either- how was he supposed to know who the hell he was?

Jianwen was letting things go, however- he decided to just sit down on the side, irritated. His face was all swollen up, but fortunately for him the injuries weren't too severe.

"Snow, Rose! Go give Master Su some company." Cihua motioned for the two star girls after noticing Taizao's displeasure.

Snow and Rose were smart enough to understand that this man was a somebody, even with that swollen pig face- he was on the same level as Li Cihua, after all!

As swollen up his face was, the guy had come in the room a handsome man- providing him company wasn't a bad trade at all.

"Master Su…" The two girls moved in and surrounded Taizao, dissipating the anger left in him completely.

He wasn't the type of person who kept a grudge- his goal for coming to this room in the first place was to get the twins, after all, and now that he'd reached that goal he was no longer in a humiliating situation.

Taizao, naturally, wouldn't dwell on the misunderstanding any further, especially when Cihua had publicly given him respect. Satisfied, he went into the resting room with the two girls in his arms.

Cihua smiled faintly, evidently aware of Taizao's thought process.

But he wasn't interested in him at all- An Jianwen was the one who could bring him benefit.

"Master An, pardon me for asking, but why were you treating Lin Yi to dinner? Are you friends with him?" Cihua felt like he should understand the relationship between Jianwen and Lin Yi, before all else. Jianwen looked very pissed off after Lin Yi's little trick, but that was all on the surface- who knew how deep their relationship went?

Jianwan was now a potential partner, and him being friends with Lin Yi would unfortunately make that partnership impossible.

"Friend?" Jianwen smiled coldly. "More like love rivals."

"Oh?" Cihua narrowed his eyes- he'd learned something interesting here. "That's why- I was wondering why he'd do this to you!"

"I've underestimated that kid's intelligence- apparently he's known about my ill intentions from the start, setting me up for a counterattack!" Jianwen said angrily. "Cihua Bro, about you and Lin Yi…"

"Lin Yi is Chu Mengyao's bodyguard- we were planning on kidnapping Chu Mengyao to achieve something when he intervened and ruined our plans." Cihua said briefly, naturally unwilling to let loose such embarrassing information about his loss of his golden masters. Now that those plans were no longer in continuation, there was no longer any reason for him to bother Mengyao, especially so after Gubang lost his position against Pengzhan.

His revenge against Lin Yi, however, was non-negotiable.

"Oh? He really is her bodyguard?" Jianwen paused. He'd had his suspicions before, but if Lin Yi really was a bodyguard then he still had a shot!

"I thought that he had a bit of unconventional relationship with Mengyao before, but found that he actually seems closer to that Chen Yushu…" Cihua was thinking about how Lin Yi risked his life to jump down with Yushu, back at the park. It was a suspicious move.

"Chen Yushu? Ha, perfect!" Jianwen lost his composure for a second upon hearing the words. After all, he'd been plotting against Lin Yi simply because he'd heard that he was in a relationship with Mengyao… He felt liberated now that it was confirmed otherwise.

"What's wrong, Master An? Your love interest isn't Chu Mengyao, is it?" Cihua guessed.

"It's a bit embarrassing, but she's a childhood friend of mine- we grew up together." Jianwen nodded. "I came back to China recently to see him with Chu Mengyao, so I thought I'd bring him out and see if that was true."

"He's someone to take note of- he's just a bodyguard, but mind your step around him!" Cihua reminded. It'd benefit him to distance Jianwen's relationship with Lin Yi, even pit him against him.

"I will." Jianwen nodded. "Cihua Bro- are you guys plotting against Chu Mengyao?"

"That's all in the past- we've ended those plans, so don't you worry." Cihua smiled. "Even if it wasn't, there was no way I'd continue those operations with you here, Master An."

"Then you have my gratitude, Cihua Bro!" Jianwen was quite pleased with Cihua's attitude. They hadn't started off in the best of ways, but that was all due ot Lin Yi- now that things have been cleared up Jianwen saw no reason in changing his intentions to work with Cihua.

"Master An, we've started off with bad terms, but both you and I are open-minded people. Do mention anything that troubles you from now on." Cihua smiled as he poured Jianwen a cup of wine.

As a result of their misunderstanding, the two had skipped through all the initial courtesies and mind games they'd have played if they had met under normal circumstances.

Jianwen looked at the room Taizao was in, and turned his eyes to the people around Cihua.

Cihua smiled in understanding. He waved a dismissive hand. "You guys leave the room first."

"Yes!" The bodyguards left without saying another word- they closed the door tightly behind them and stood guard outside.

"This is my most trusted man!" Cihua pointed at Su Jiaonang. "Su Jiaonang.'

Chapter 360 - Kneel on a CPU

"Nice to meet you, Mister Su. That's quite a name you've got there…" Jianwen sweated a bit.

"Haha…" Jiaonang laughed at the comment. "The same name as Master Su in the other room. Rest assured, Master An, the walls here are soundproof- we can't hear anything else from beyond the walls as well, right?"

(check back later when I ask some friends from china about the name)

(so jiaonang means pill… and we don't have any idea why that's 'quite a name'...)

Jianwen nodded. "Cihua Bro, I understand that you're aware of our family trade- my elder brother used to be in charge of the business here in Songshan. I don't care how he operates, but I've always heard about your name, Cihua Bro, and the underground strength that comes along with it. I've specifically come to pay you a visit!"

Jianwen's words soothed Cihua. Naturally, he was also aware of exactly what that family trade was- the trafficking and trade of organs!

Yet Jianwen's brother never paid him a visit, that Jian Ande, not bothering with Cihua just because he had a golden class mid phase master under his command.

But Ande's business model was the type where goods were paid for as it was provided- it was still illegal, but had nothing much to do with the underground power he represented. Both parties were uninvolved with each other, and Cihua wasn't willing to have beef with him because of a reason like that.

A golden class mid phase master, after all, was a very formidable strength. Cihua's backer had stronger masters, but there was no reason for him to battle it out with Ande. Even if he'd ended him, Cihua still wouldn't be able to take over his business, since he had no experience in that field, lacking adequate channels and connections for the job.

Even so, it irritated Cihua- doing illegal trade in Songshan without paying some form of tribute to him? Albeit minor, it was still a humiliation. 

Even if Ande wasn't planning on giving some tribute, shouldn't he at least have met up with him and raised a wine cup?

For that reason, Jianwen's visit was quite satisfactory for Cihua.

"Haha, Master An, I'm delighted to hear that. Don't you worry, there's nothing in Songshan I can't settle, no one I can't handle! Just speak your mind if you need anything!" Cihua said proudly.

Although, that was just him boasting- he hadn't settled or handled Lin Yi, after all, even losing two golden class masters, of all things… It was an absolute disgrace.

"No, Cihua Bro… I'm here actually for something more than just a visit- I'm here to propose a partnership!" Jianwen waved a hand, smiling.

"Partnership?" Cihua wasn't expecting that- what could they possibly work together in?

"As you're aware, Cihua Bro, it's rarer and rarer these days for someone to offer his kidney on his own… People are getting smarter. In my brother's time, he'd say that cutting off a kidney had no effects on the body, but that wasn't the truth- people don't fall for that anymore." Jianwen said helplessly. "So I'm planning on making a move on the homeless and the beggars, but doing that in Songshan territory, I had to come to you first, Cihua Bro."

Cihua nodded- Jianwen was a pretty smart guy. Only selling organs wasn't something Cihua could intervene in, but kidnapping people on his turf? Doing that without running it through him first would be blatant disrespect.

"It's doable- no one would notice some missing beggars and hobos." Cihua nodded. "How do you want help? You want me to get you these people, or you want me to settle things down?"

"Haha, it'd be great if you could help with the kidnapping, but we can do that on our own." Jianwen nodded. "Of course, we'll give you a certain amount of benefits for you monthly, Cihua Bro. You won't be helping for nothing."

"Hm." Cihua nodded satisfactorily. Organ trade was a business full of potential- it was a pretty nice idea if benefits for him were included in the partnership.

"Of course. Also, if you anyone freshly dead on your end, do send them to me as well!" Jianwen added. "Naturally, you'll have benefits as well."

"No problem! It's a deal, then." Cihua nodded. He wouldn't have sealed the deal so straightforwardly if it were someone else, but he was aware of the An house and some of their methods. His elder brother had been in the business for years, undetected. This partnership with Jianwen shouldn't have much risk in it, too- the structure they'd formed was hard to expose.

"I love your energy, Cihua Bro!" Jianwen nodded with a smile. He raised his glass, his beaten up face very pleased now that the business deal had been done.

With Cihua's support, there was no doubt that his business would prosper. He'd also learned something critical today, as well- Lin Yi wasn't Mengyao's boyfriend, but her bodyguard!

That made everything easier, but he did need to change his approach now… If he really was just a bodyguard. Roping him in was a good idea, but it'd be pretty embarrassing if he didn't take them up on that offer. He had to go against him.

Mengyao and Yushu were on the sofa, watching TV as Yushu hung up her call with Lin Yi. "Shu, he's coming back already?"

"Yeah, Yao Yao. Shield Bro says he's on the way." Yushu nodded. "He said he didn't do anything bad! He didn't get with any sex workers."

"Hmph, you think a man's word is trustworthy at all?" Mengyao hmphed. "Shu, you're too gullible! Don't fall for Lin Yi's lies! My dad said that mom didn't run away because of him, but turns out that she left because dad upset her! I read the note she left myself!"

"Oh… What do I do then? You have to ask Shield Bro about it when he comes back then!" Yushu was suspicious as well- did Shield Bro really resist the temptation? "I heard that the best way to get a man to be honest is to make him kneel on a CPU! Yao Yao, maybe we should try that out?"

Mengyao sweated at the suggestion. "Kneel on a CPU? That's outdated, Shu. I hear that it's all kneeling on TV remotes now! The CPU's now don't have that many pointy things at the back anymore, so it's not a very good punishment now."

"Don't worry, Yao Yao, we can plug it in and take out the fan, and then make Shield Bro kneel on it!" Yushu raised her fist in the air.

"...You wanna burn him alive..?" Mengyao said, speechless.

"Burn who alive?" Lin Yi asked, troubled as he pushed open the door. What was Mengyao saying?