Chapter 3: Urban Village

"Miss Yan, may I be so bold as to ask where you're going tonight?"

Qin Yu glanced at the rearview mirror and asked.

Because he was a security assistant, he had to be responsible for Yan Mingyu's safety. If the place Mingyu was going had a complex environment, he would need to prepare in advance for any emergencies that might arise.

"Hmm...."

Yan Mingyu looked down at her phone. Her grandfather had already sent the address of the apartment rented by that "husband": "West City District... Urban Village!"

"Miss Yan, is it absolutely necessary for you to go?"

Qin Yu's expression grew more serious.

He lived in the Urban Village himself, where alleyways crisscrossed like a maze, home to nearly tens of thousands of people, with a mixed bag of characters.

For someone like Yan Mingyu, rich and beautiful, appearing in the Urban Village meant facing risks that were self-evident.

"Not exactly...."

Yan Mingyu shook her head.

She wasn't foolish. Qin Yu's seriousness had instantly made her realize the Urban Village was a very dangerous place.

Marrying that "husband" was only a marriage of convenience.

She was far from being ready to leap through hoops of fire and dive into boiling water for him.

"In that case, Miss Yan. I think you could ask to meet the person elsewhere, maybe in places like a hotel or a café, where the safety rating is a bit higher!"

Qin Yu pondered for a moment before speaking.

His attention was all on driving. He was not aware of the content of Mingyu's conversation with her grandfather. As both driver and bodyguard, he wouldn't purposely listen in on his boss's phone calls.

"Miss Yan, Qin Yu is right, your safety comes first!"

Su Meng also chimed in.

"Alright, we'll talk about it later then!"

Yan Mingyu gently closed her eyes.

There were still too many things for her to deal with today. She couldn't afford to spare any extra thought for that husband.

Back at the company.

After a quick working lunch, Yan Mingyu once again busied herself with a management meeting.

Qin Yu, like her shadow, followed her every step.

In his heart, he held genuine respect for the attractive female boss. She was so successful, yet still so ambitious and hardworking.

Evening.

One by one, the company's employees clocked out for the day.

Qin Yu's tight nerves finally relaxed a bit.

A monthly salary of twenty thousand seemed alluring, but it was actually hard to earn, the mental stress even greater than when he was delivering food.

"Qin Yu, I'm off work now. See you tomorrow!"

Su Meng had finished her day's work and, waving at Qin Yu, she clocked out and left the assistant's office.

Mingyu's evening meeting with the "husband" was now not her secretary's concern.

"Yeah, goodbye!"

Qin Yu smiled slightly, having had a pleasant collaboration with Su Meng that day.

"Creak..."

At that moment, an exhausted Yan Mingyu pushed open the glass door and stepped out.

Glancing at her wristwatch, "Qin Yu, it's 6:10 now. Pick me up at Eastern Arbor Manor, at gate number three, on time at 7:40."

After a busy day, Yan Mingyu wanted to go home for a bath and relax a bit before thinking about meeting that "husband."

She knew Qin Yu was also tired today. People aren't machines; they all need rest.

So she gave him an hour off.

As for going home, she would let the on-duty A-grade security of the company take her.

"Alright, Miss Yan! Phew..."

Qin Yu watched Yan Mingyu enter the elevator before letting out a long sigh.

He went downstairs, rode his electric scooter back to the Urban Village.

No sooner had he entered the rental house than a grinning face approached him: "Boss, lend me five hundred bucks, I'm taking Lili out to dinner!"

Xu Peng, who used to deliver food with Qin Yu, was honest and timid.

Once when he was bullied, Qin Yu stepped in to defend him, and since then he's been calling Qin Yu "Boss." To save money, they decided to rent a place together.

He's been courting a girl lately, which has been quite costly.

"Go ahead and transfer it yourself; I'm going to take a shower!"

Qin Yu tossed his phone to Xu Peng. In a strange big city, finding a compatible friend wasn't easy. Although Qin Yu wasn't wealthy himself, he was still very generous when it came to his buddy Xu Peng.

"Hehe, thanks, Boss!"

Grinning, Xu Peng took the phone and transferred five hundred yuan to his own WeChat account.

He then wrote a note in the phone's memo: Total debt, owes Boss three thousand.

Wuu wuu...

At that moment, Qin Yu's phone vibrated with a message from an unknown number: Meet at Marriott Hotel, Room 08, at 8 p.m.

When Yan Mingyu and Qin Yu had hastily registered their marriage, she left in a hurry without even leaving her phone number.

It was only after he got home and called his grandfather that he obtained this "husband's" number.

"Hey, who is this, inviting the Boss to dine at the Marriott Hotel?"

Xu Peng glanced at Qin Yu's phone and looked puzzled. He had come across the Marriott Hotel when browsing short videos; it was a famous five-star hotel in East Sea.

He had even fantasized about taking his girlfriend there for a meal once he had the money.

"Boss, someone's inviting you to dine at a five-star hotel!"

Xu Peng shouted out to Qin Yu, who was in the bathroom taking a shower.

"What? Dinner at the hotel? Must be a scam text. Help me delete it!"

Qin Yu didn't hear clearly and wasn't inclined to think more about it.

He was just a security guard; he had no relatives or friends in East Sea. Who would invite him to a luxurious hotel?

"Okay!"

Xu Peng deleted the message that Yan Mingyu had sent.

After that, he prepared a pot of instant noodles for Qin Yu, placed it on the table, then whistled and went out the door.

7:30 p.m. ...

Qin Yu showed up on time at the entrance of No. 3 Mansion of Xiangzhang Royal Court.

Every single villa here was a standalone property, each worth over a hundred million.

Seeing the guard at the gate looking at him vigilantly, Qin Yu stood far away at the edge of the street, waiting.

A few minutes later.

Yan Mingyu came out wearing a black sweater, cashmere short skirt, and silk stockings that accentuated her long legs.

Her jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders like splashed ink.

She seemed less aloof and formidable than in the office, now exuding the enchanting, stylish vibe of a city beauty.

"Pop..."

After saluting the gate guard, his face took on a lecherous expression.

"To the Marriott Hotel!"

Yan Mingyu handed the car keys to Qin Yu.

"Mhm!"

Yan Mingyu's outfit that evening did make her seem more feminine and approachable.

However, Qin Yu was well aware of his status, just a little helper for a family.

During the drive, he focused on driving. Yan Mingyu didn't speak, and he also didn't attempt to start a conversation.

After they arrived at the hotel.

Yan Mingyu asked Qin Yu to wait in the car while she entered the opulent hotel alone.

Time slowly ticked away...

Inside the private room, Yan Mingyu's expression gradually turned frosty and impatient.

She kept glancing at her wristwatch.

When the hands pointed to half-past eight, she stood up and walked out of the room.

Being stood up on their first date irritated her considerably.

Moreover, the relationship between the two was almost like that of strangers, so naturally, she wasn't willing to waste any more time.

Exiting the hotel, she got into the car Qin Yu had been waiting in, her face expressionless: "Let's go home!"