You cannot do nothing about it
Zhang Jin took a gulp from his drink, his eyes never leaving hers. Her constant vigilance was suffocating him. Every move he made, every step he took, she was always there, observing, watching.
It felt like a heavy chain restricting his freedom. From the beginning, when his father introduced the idea of a bodyguard, he had been resistant. But he had hoped for someone discreet, someone who would blend into the background. Not her. She was always there, always present, shadowing his every move.
He understood the threats and the necessity for protection, but this felt extreme. His social life was dwindling, and he felt isolated. Every friend, every acquaintance was viewed with suspicion, every outing thoroughly vetted. The walls of his luxurious home felt more like the bars of a gilded cage with each passing day.
His father had always made decisions thinking of his best interests, but this? This was proving to be one of the most challenging adjustments Zhang Jin had ever had to make.
The whole situation was stifling. The very air around him felt denser since Lian Qiang entered his life. Sure, he expected protection, but not like this. Not from a woman, and certainly not someone as vigilant as her. He had imagined a towering, muscular figure who would merely shadow him from a distance, silently ensuring his safety.
Instead, he got Lian Qiang. Sharp, alert, and almost always in his space. She was nothing like the silent sentinel he had envisioned. Instead of fading into the background, she was often at the forefront, questioning his moves, scanning his visitors, and even controlling where he went.
Is there any other way to protect him? This is interrupting him to do his personal business!
He furiously thought.
He didn't particularly care about the threat. If they wanted money, he'd give it to them, but it seemed the group wanted more than just that. He was in the dark about their exact intentions, as everyone told him the details were "confidential." His father had insisted he simply allow her to do her job.
Yet, how could he fully trust this woman? So far, he only saw her as an obstacle to his personal pleasures.
As he chatted with a woman over drinks, he noticed Lian Qiang in the distance, deep in conversation with a man. This guy wasn't on his list of friends, but his father had mentioned that more officers might visit their mansion regarding the case.
I think this is his time to escape from her watchful gaze.
"Huan Zhao, come with me," he called out, raising his voice over the loud music to the woman he was conversing with.
Huan Zhao immediately followed him, her excitement evident. Making sure Lian Qiang didn't see them, Zhang Jin quickly wrapped his arm around Huan Zhao's waist and left the gathering. The two made their way to his room.
Zhang Jin, was ensuring Lian Qiang didn't followed them. He waited for how many minutes. He went to the refrigerator scanning his eyes through it and found a cola. He took two and went back to his lounge area of his own room where the woman, Huan Zhao was left.
She took one cola he gave to her.
"What are we doing here, Jin?" She said softly.
"I just wanted to check if my bodyguard wants to follow me." He said drinking his cola.
"I don't think she would follow us. We had been here for a while."
The woman, Huan Zhao, immediately wrapped her arms around his neck that startled him. Zhang Jin's eyes widened in surprise, clearly taken aback by Huan Zhao's forwardness. The suddenness of her embrace left him momentarily paralyzed. Her breath was warm against his neck, and her close proximity sent a jolt of unexpected tension through him.
His heart raced as the distance between their faces shortened. The lingering scent of her perfume was intoxicating, and he found himself drawn to the soft curve of her lips. Their eyes locked, each searching the other's for any hint of hesitation or uncertainty.
The moment felt suspended in time, each second dragging on, filled with anticipation. Just as their lips were about to meet, a sudden noise from the hallway interrupted them and the door in his room immediately opened, revealing Lian Qiang standing at the entrance with a stern expression on her face. The room was engulfed in an uncomfortable silence, the earlier intimacy disrupted by her sudden appearance.
Huan Zhao quickly disentangled herself from Zhang Jin, taking a step back, her face turning a shade of crimson. Zhang Jin cleared his throat, trying to find the right words, but was cut off by Lian's piercing gaze.
"You can't get away from me. You should ask first before leaving." Lian remarked dryly, her eyes moving between the two. Zhang Jin swallowed hard, realizing that escaping Lian Qiang's watchful eyes was not going to be as easy as he had thought.
Zhang Jin let out an exasperated sigh. "Can't I have a moment of privacy?"
Zhang Jin felt an undeniable intensity in that stare, like she could read every thought and feeling he had. "It's not about privacy, it's about safety. Remember why I'm here. You cannot do nothing about it." She said, smirking.
Zhang Jin was speechless, his eyes blazing with fury. "Aside from this case, your father also told me not to flirt with different women." she continued leaving him speechless again.
"What did she say? Are you saying she's cheating on me?!" She screams very skeptical.
"No-" Zhang Jin responded but Lian Qiang instantly responded as well.
"Did I hear it correctly? With different women... are you saying he was cheating on me?" Huan Zhao asked, ensuring the statement was true.
"Yes." She confidently said.
"Huan Zhao, no, I-I can explain-" He didn't finish his words. The shock was evident on his face when the strong hand of Huan Zhao suddenly flew on his face.
Lian Qiang remained poker-faced, unaffected by the scene she had witnessed. Mr. Zhang had already informed her about this young man's hobbies in life. She was no longer surprised.