1. 7. Built like a hulk yet appearing like a Barbie

All these years, like a dam that had been bombed, a surge of emotion rushed to resurface one at a time. Not only that, but he understood what he was feeling as if clouds covering the sun had been swept away.

From this point in time, he knew he wanted something more than anything in this seemingly boring world.

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Leaf lay calmly in bed, planning to adjust her body to its optimal form as permitted by the world level. With her current status, she could modify her body as she pleased. She began by healing her head injury, allowing the superficial cut to naturally heal over the course of four to five days without leaving any scars. Next, she focused on enhancing her current body's strength. Although she might not become the strongest person on the planet, she would certainly rank among the strongest. Completing these adjustments would take her two to three days. 

Aware that the transformation might result in a bulky figure, she made the decision to purchase a level A beautifying pill from the system mall, benefiting from its discounted price of 50 pbucks for first-time buyers. Ingesting it, she expects to have the strength equivalent to that of ten to twenty men while retaining an appearance as delicate as a vase.

While contemplating whether she needed to begin cultivation with the world's limited spiritual energy, a knock interrupted her thoughts. "Come in," Liu Aiden commanded. "Leah, if you're feeling alright, please get up. I need to introduce you to someone," he added.

"Sure," Leaf agreed, rising from the bed.

Leaf's gaze fell on the figure entering the room. It was the same guy she had seen earlier, with eyes resembling a galaxy. Zed entered, seeming to purposefully avoid making eye contact with Leaf.

It only took him two steps to reach Liu Aiden's side, where he nodded in acknowledgment.

He saw his new client gesturing for him to face his daughter and said, "Zed, this is my daughter, Leah." Liu Aiden then looked at his daughter and continued, "Leah, this is Zed, the new head of security. He will be under your command from now on, following all your orders except leaving your side."

"His sole responsibility is to protect you. Your mother and I will take no for an answer," he added firmly, aware that everyone in the room was already informed about this except his daughter.

"I understand," Leaf agreed without hesitation, her gaze fixed on the gruff man who was avoiding making eye contact with her.

Zed nodded at Leaf, confirming his agreement.

Both Father and Mother Liu were shocked but relieved at Leah's lack of defiance. To them, it wouldn't have mattered if their daughter had refused. They were terrified that she might drop dead tomorrow after what had happened. They were stunned that someone so close, especially her fiancé, would do such a thing. So, even without their daughter's permission, Zed was already contracted to stick close to Leah no matter what.

They were both aware of their daughter's small acts of revenge against her fiancé's mistress, ranging from verbal spats to pouring water over the girl's head. They allowed their daughter to express her frustrations through these small tantrums since she didn't want to dissolve the engagement and wasn't committing any serious crimes.

They had planted numerous moles in the male lead's company to ensure their daughter's safety, but only one managed to remain undiscovered. This individual promptly secured and forwarded a copy of the security video capturing the moment when their daughter's fiancé's mistress fell down the stairs. However, this mole was swiftly terminated from their position within the male lead's company soon after.

"That bastard," Liu Aiden thought, recalling how his supposed future son-in-law hadn't even investigated what happened before taking action. The idea that he would throw a heavy ashtray with the intent to injure their daughter seemed even more absurd than hearing fish falling from the sky.

"Mom, Dad, I know you guys are busy preparing to launch the new product. You don't have to keep coming here all the time," Leaf told her parents affectionately, but her request was promptly denied.

"No, you are more important to us," Liu Fang exclaimed.

"I agree with your mother," Liu Aiden seconded.

Leaf expressed her gratitude but remained resolute in trying to convince them otherwise. She knew that the success of this new product was crucial. Its failure could potentially cost them half of their net worth.

"I will dissolve the engagement between me and Wang Haoran," Leaf added firmly.

Everyone in the room stiffened, and Liu Fang gasped in surprise. Overcome with happiness, she sprinted to hug her daughter, who had opened her eyes.

"Alright, but we will call you every day, and we will come to take you home when you get discharged," Liu Aiden agreed, his concern evident in his tone.

"Hmmmm," Leaf murmured, nodding in acknowledgment.

Liu Fang glanced at her husband with disagreement but ultimately decided to follow his decision. "Do you need help?" Father Liu asked, understanding that his daughter would want to confront the situation and deal with the bastard herself.

Leaf knew that her behavior as Liu Leah is the same as her true self, so she didn't attempt to pretend in front of the Liu couple. With just one look from Leaf, Father Liu understood what his daughter was implying.

"No need. I will handle it myself," Leaf replied confidently.

"Dad, you can stop putting pressure on Wang Haoran's company. I will deal with him on my own," Leaf added.

Liu Aiden agreed, attempting to scrutinize his daughter for any signs of covering for the man, but all he could see in her eyes was her thirst for revenge.

Thirty minutes later, both parents and her father's assistant left the room after leaving some more repeated words of well wishes and pieces of advice while bad-mouthing the male lead. Leaf chuckled while thinking about the elderly figures in her new life in this level E world.

Hearing Leaf chuckle made Zed, who was sitting next to her on the other side of the bed, stiffen with a pleasurable shock. He immediately pinched his thigh to calm himself down.

After the door closed, leaving only the two of them inside, Zed gazed at Leaf longingly, with a hint of obsession. Sensing his gaze, Leaf returned the look to her new right-hand man. The nervousness and excitement of her pounding heart returned. She attempted to recite a calming sutra to soothe herself, as this sensation came from her soul rather than her rew acquired body.

"What's wrong with me?", she thought, gritting her teeth.

"Stop looking at me like that, or I'll poke your eyes," Leaf begrudgingly said in a low, grumbling voice.

The way Leaf looked at him as if she could devour him, made him feel even more elated. As he pondered the term to describe how he saw Leaf, he accidentally said, "Cute."

Leaf opened her mouth in surprise, her entire face and ears painted with a red blush. Despite being an ancient being, she appeared as if she were born yesterday when it came to relationships.

Seeing the woman's open mouth, Zed couldn't resist. He closed the gap between them, attempting to taste those glossy, reddish lips that looked so tempting he wondered what they tasted like.