Chapter Sixteen: I Will Surely Conquer You

Returning to Dongshan Group, I parked the car in the garage but didn’t get out immediately. Instead, I first called Ling Xuan to check on her situation.

To my surprise, the call connected quickly, which meant Ling Xuan had unblocked my number.

“Miss, what are you doing?” she asked.

“In the office,” Ling Xuan replied indifferently.

“Oh!” I said with a cheerful grin. “Remember not to sit for too long. If you get tired, get up and stretch, maybe make yourself some tea.”

Ling Xuan didn’t respond right away. After a pause, she said coldly, “What do you want?”

“Nothing much! Just wanted to talk to you, hear your voice.”

Beep!

Damn, no respect at all!

Other heiresses tend to be quite cute, but mine is practically my nemesis—we can’t have a single decent conversation.

Later, I went to see Liu An. Throughout our talk, I kept an eye on his expression but noticed nothing unusual. His wife really had acute gastritis and was still hospitalized.

He had even gone to the hospital at noon to pay the surgery fee; I saw the hospital receipt still on his desk.

So far, it seemed he just happened to leave at that time.

Since that’s the case, I decided not to consider him for now, although I postponed his dinner invitation to another time.

Then I returned to Ling Xuan’s office.

It was around four in the afternoon. Ling Xuan was still deeply focused on her work.

I greeted her, sat on the sofa, brewed some tea, and pulled out my phone, where Qin Ruhua’s messages from the afternoon filled my WeChat.

After making the tea, I noticed a white porcelain cup on Ling Xuan’s desk, so I walked over and picked it up.

“What are you doing?” Ling Xuan lifted her head from behind the computer screen, staring at me coldly.

I smiled, “Pouring you a cup of tea!”

Ling Xuan said nothing more.

She wasn’t unwilling to speak; rather, she was utterly at a loss with me, especially over such trivial matters. Knowing that arguing was futile and harmless, she simply let me have my way.

I poured a steaming cup of clear tea and placed it in front of her, but she didn’t even glance up.

Just as I was about to return to the sofa, Ling Xuan let out a soft gasp, her eyes wide with terror.

“What’s wrong?” I hurried over to the screen.

An email was open, displaying a massive sniper rifle in the center, strikingly vivid. Below it was a bloodstain, as if real, with fresh drops dripping down. Beneath that was a small line of text: "You sent two of our organization’s top assassins to prison. If you don’t get them out soon, prepare to face the bloodbath we have prepared for you!"

In the lower right corner was a bright red rose emblem.

Ling Xuan’s face went pale as she stared blankly at the message.

I stared at the sniper rifle in the email, pondering aloud, “It looks like this time it’s not the client, but the assassin organization itself.”

I hadn’t expected the client to hire an entire assassin group, not just individual killers.

This meant I had to be extremely cautious now.

Ling Xuan seemed frightened, still sitting there dazed.

Seeing her so scared, I pushed down my own worries, patted her shoulder, and smiled, “Don’t be afraid. After all, you still have me!”

Ling Xuan bit her lip tightly, ignoring my gesture, and asked, “What do we do now?”

---

I gazed into her bright, gleaming eyes and smiled. “You keep doing what you’re supposed to do. The rest is my responsibility. But if you want to go anywhere, report to me first. From now on, you’ll follow my lead.”

Ling Xuan was momentarily stunned, a flash of anger flickering across her brow, but she quickly suppressed it. “Should we try to get them out?”

“I don’t think they’re that kind-hearted. Do you really think releasing them means forgiving and forgetting? Those two assassins have seen my skills; next time, they’ll hide in the shadows, more careful and harder to catch. So no, we can’t free them. Maybe even…” I trailed off, contemplating whether to eliminate those two assassins right inside prison.

Ling Xuan lowered her head, silent, her face full of worry and fear.

I patted her shoulder again, reassuring, “Don’t worry. As long as I’m alive, I’ll guarantee your safety.”

She looked up, her eyes fixed on me, shining bright. “Why are you doing this? Because of what happened back then? Or is it because you…”

I smiled cheekily, “Because I like you?”

Ling Xuan immediately turned her head away, closing the email and saying coldly, “I could never like you.”

I laughed, “Don’t be so absolute. What if you end up liking me someday?”

Her face flushed with anger. “After what you did back then, if I still liked you, that would be degrading! I just can’t!”

Smack!

A sudden surge of warmth rose in me. I slammed my hand on the desk and said seriously, “Fine! Just because of that sentence, I’m going to win you over!”

“You!” Ling Xuan glared fiercely, nearly bursting.

I met her gaze calmly, unafraid.

We locked eyes for a full ten seconds.

Her intensity waned and she looked away, speaking lightly, “I officially acknowledge you as my bodyguard, but don’t think about making a move on me.”

I smiled and suddenly took her hand.

Soft and smooth, like a warm ball of cotton.

“What are you doing?” Ling Xuan tried to shake it off.

But I held on, looking into her eyes with a smile. “What I said can never be undone.”

She stared angrily, but after a moment, her resistance weakened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“Alright, alright, stop it. You’re an adult now, behave!” I quickly released her hand, smiling gently. “I have a suggestion: I’ll live at your place and provide close protection. Who else lives with you?”

“Dream on!” Ling Xuan raised her head, still furious, but her eyes sparkled with a charming gleam.

“Remember that email,” I pointed at the screen and smiled. “This isn’t your decision anymore. I’m in charge.”

“You’re too much!” Ling Xuan exploded in anger, grabbing a file folder and throwing it at my head.

Sensing trouble, I quickly turned and fled, but tripped over the desk leg, pitching forward. In her fury, Ling Xuan pounced on me just like last night.

Bang!

I twisted mid-fall, lying on my back on the floor, with her straddling me, teeth clenched, furiously hitting my head with the file folder. After a few hits, she switched to fists, clearly not satisfied.

I shielded my face with my hands but peeked through my fingers, admiring the view beneath her skirt.

Just as I was about to react, the office door slammed open.

“Sis…” a young girl stood frozen at the doorway.

I was about to guess who dared to barge in when I heard her call “Sis” and paused. Ling Xuan has a younger sister?

“Ah!” Ling Xuan gasped and jumped up, retreating to her seat.

I stood, dusted off my clothes, and looked toward the door. The girl was probably seventeen or eighteen, wearing a pristine white casual top, black cropped skinny pants, and black flat casual shoes, her figure elegant and graceful. Her shoulder-length hair curled inward at the ends, with airy bangs framing her youthful, fashionable face. Her skin was fair, and her delicate features bore some resemblance to Ling Xuan.

---

Overall, the girl was both beautiful and stylish, radiating youthful energy.

I glanced back at Ling Xuan, who was pretending to focus seriously on her work, fingers tapping away at the keyboard, her expression calm—only her still-moist eyes betrayed her true feelings.

I smiled and walked toward the sofa, waving to the girl. “Hi, are you Ling Xuan’s sister?”

The girl closed the door, wide-eyed and curious as she studied Ling Xuan and me, then asked pointedly, “What are you two… doing?”

I smiled, “Nothing much, just playing a game…”

Ling Xuan interrupted, “Xi Xi, what are you doing here?”

“Xi Xi? Your name is Ling Xi?” I asked.

The girl tilted her head, smiling with curiosity. “Yeah! Who are you? I’ve never seen you before. Are you my sister’s…”

“Xi Xi, don’t say nonsense!” Ling Xuan scolded with a stern face. “What do you want from me?”

Ling Xi stuck out her tongue, ran over, and hugged Ling Xuan’s arm affectionately, flashing a charming, ingratiating smile. “Sis, my car broke down. Can I borrow yours for a bit?”

I was momentarily taken aback.

Ling Xuan shot me a cold glance and said, “What happened? Did you crash it?”

“No, it just got scratched and is being repainted now.”

Ling Xuan pointed at me. “The keys are with him. Ask him.”

“Thanks, sis!” Ling Xi cheered happily and ran toward me.

I took a sip of tea, feeling my mind barely able to keep up.

Ling Xi stood confidently before me, hands behind her back, scanning me up and down before smiling sweetly, “Mister, what’s your name? And what’s your relationship with my sister?”

Pft!

I almost spat out my tea.

“Mister?” I looked at her sideways, amused.

Ling Xi was briefly stunned, then grinned mysteriously, “Right, you should be called big brother since you’re with my sister. What’s your name? What’s your relationship with her?”

“Xi Xi!” Ling Xuan’s face darkened.

I smiled, “My name’s Chu Fan. I’m your sister’s driver and bodyguard.”

“Driver and bodyguard?” Ling Xi looked surprised but didn’t press further. She extended her right hand, wearing a warm, sweet smile. “Hand over the car keys!”

I didn’t respond. Things were getting complicated, and without the car, getting around would be inconvenient.

“How long do you need it?” I asked with a smile.

Ling Xi’s expression changed abruptly. She suddenly put her hands on her hips, looking down at me with no courtesy, scolding, “Why so many questions? Aren’t you my sister’s driver? She said yes, so why are you whining? Hand over the keys to me quickly!”

I was stunned. Her attitude flipped faster than a page turning. That sweet, obedient act was clearly a façade; her true nature was bratty and rude.

I looked back at Ling Xuan, who had lowered her head but seemed to be hiding a faint smile.

“Stop staring! You’re just a driver and you dare to ogle my sister? You’re shameless! No wonder my sister has to teach you a lesson!” Ling Xi was bratty, her voice clear and quick. “Hand over the keys now, or I’ll fire you!”