The Bodyguard from Hell

Unaware of Su Mengjia’s thoughts, Lin Xiao, who had already left the police station, took out his phone after departing. He hesitated for a moment, then dialed a number.

The call connected quickly, and a stern voice came from the other end. “Hello.”

“It’s me, Lin Xiao. I appreciate your handling of the recent incident.”

Lin Xiao knew that his file being accessed at the police station would inevitably stir up the military district. As the former captain of the Dragon Sword Squad, his file wasn’t something that just anyone could scrutinize, despite his retirement.

“Haha, there’s nothing to be troubled about. Whether in service or retired, you’ll always be my soldier. The Dragon Sword Squad will forever reserve a spot for you. You’re always welcome to return.”

The other end of the phone resounded with a hearty laugh and an extended invitation for Lin Xiao to return. On hearing this, Lin Xiao fell into a prolonged silence.

He too yearned to go back, but Yuan Yong’s sister and mother still required his care and protection, so he was unable to accept the invitation.

Sensing Lin Xiao’s predicament, the voice on the other end continued, “Lin Xiao, why have you ventured to Jinghai City? Are you aware that the young lady, Mo Ling from Mo Long Group, has been bending over backward, inquiring about your whereabouts? She mentioned that you had promised to safeguard her post-retirement.”

“Mo Ling?” Lin Xiao recalled the invitation he had received half a month prior. Mo Ling had asked him to become the Security Director of the Mo Long Group. He shook his head in surprise, realizing the young lady hadn’t given up. “Could you maintain my confidentiality? I’m not in a position to return to the capital right now.”

“Fine, fine, understood. I’ll certainly safeguard your secret. However, considering that young lady’s determination, I’m afraid she might uncover your location in a few months.”

“Delaying it by a few months will have to do.” Lin Xiao replied with a hint of resignation.

“You manage it as you see fit. If there’s nothing more, I’ll hang up now.”

“Affirmative. Over and out.”

After the call ended, Lin Xiao shook his head, slightly overwhelmed. He hadn’t expected that Mo Ling would remember his offhand comments so clearly.

“Let it be. I’ll tackle the problems as they come. For now, let’s deal with the immediate tasks at hand.”

With no further thought, Lin Xiao glanced at the time. It was already past six, and the sky was growing dark. He decided to return to his rented lodging. He arrived at the bus stop just in time to catch the bus.

Due to rush hour, however, the bus was packed. The crowded compartment was filled with a nauseating scent, but Lin Xiao was unfazed. He had endured environments far more hostile. After boarding the bus, he grasped a handrail, standing as unyielding as a marble statue.

Before long, they pulled to another stop. Only a handful of people disembarked, while a larger group boarded, rendering the already crowded bus even more packed.

Not far from Lin Xiao stood a captivating girl of about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a generously sized, sky-blue school uniform. Her oval face featured big eyes and two endearing dimples on her cheeks.

She was a real beauty and appeared to be a student from a nearby school, heading home after classes.

Initially, Lin Xiao paid her little mind, but unexpectedly, the girl leaned towards him. The bus was so packed that this action pressed her entire body against his. Her petite body was pressed into his arms, and though she wore a loose school uniform, the contours of her body and the enveloping fragrance made Lin Xiao’s heart skip a beat.

What on earth was going on?

Although Lin Xiao was not innocent, having been involved in his fair share of romantic escapades during undercover missions, this situation was uncharted territory for him. More so, as this girl seemed underage.

Before Lin Xiao could utter a word, he felt a subtle shudder run through the girl’s body. It was slight, but given their closeness, he noticed instantly.

Glancing down, he saw a mixture of shyness, fear, and a silent plea for help in the girl’s eyes.

Instantly, he caught on, and as he looked behind the girl, he saw a tall, thin man wearing glasses and a suit, the embodiment of a high-ranking executive, reaching towards the girl’s thigh.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

His anger flaring at this sight, Lin Xiao couldn’t believe such brazen indecency existed.

Without a moment’s hesitation, just as the man’s hand was inches away from the girl’s thigh, Lin Xiao swiftly pulled the girl behind him, and the crisp sound of his hand striking the man’s face echoed in the bus. A bright red handprint instantly marked the man’s face.

“I dare you to touch her again!”

“What the…? Why are you assaulting me?” The tall man was utterly dumbfounded by Lin Xiao’s sudden intervention. He clutched his face, glaring at Lin Xiao malevolently.

Lin Xiao’s actions had drawn the attention of the other passengers. However, as they were oblivious to the situation, no one dared comment.

“Assault you?” Lin Xiao scoffed, “I never assault people, only beasts. As for why I hit you, I’m sure you know exactly why.”

“Know what? I don’t know what you’re blabbing about. Listen here, this is illegal. I have friends who are lawyers. Apologize to me immediately, or you’ll find yourself in jail.”

Initially, the tall man was a bit apprehensive, but observing Lin Xiao’s modest attire, he seemed like a novice worker who’d just arrived in the city, which reassured him. He threatened Lin Xiao vindictively, thinking he could easily intimidate such a person into submission.

But to his surprise, Lin Xiao sneered, “Really? Then go ahead and sue me. Do you know the consequence for gropers in my neighborhood? Their hands get broken.”

Before the man could react, Lin Xiao slapped him again. “Remember this, if I ever see you acting inappropriately again, your hand might not be safe.”

By this point, everyone on the bus had understood the situation. They looked with contempt at the tall man, who despite his tidy appearance, was acting despicably.

“Who would’ve thought, he looks so refined but behaves like a beast.”

“Indeed, appearances can be deceiving.”

The tall man, a bully by nature, fell silent under Lin Xiao’s icy stare and the scornful glances from the crowd. With both cheeks red, he exited the bus at the next stop, humiliated.

After he left, everyone turned to look at Lin Xiao with admiration. They all wondered if they would have chosen to ignore the situation had they been in his place. In this day and age, everyone was busy dealing with their own problems, indifferent to others’ plight. Lin Xiao’s willingness to step in without a moment’s hesitation was commendable.

Lin Xiao, oblivious to the crowd’s admiration, turned to the girl he had protected. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, thank you, big brother,” the girl answered, her voice tinged with shyness and gratitude.

“As long as you’re okay,” Lin Xiao nodded.

“By the way, big brother, my name is Huang Caixing. What’s yours?”

“I’m Lin Xiao, Lin as in ‘double-wood’, Xiao as in ‘only ingenious,’ Lin Xiao.”

“Big Brother Lin, you’re very brave. You don’t look much older than me, but you’re incredibly strong. I wouldn’t have known what to do if it hadn’t been for you.” Huang Caixing admired Lin Xiao.

“It’s nothing. That guy was all talk and no action. If you stand up to him, he’ll back down,” Lin Xiao responded with a light smile.

Huang Caixing’s heart fluttered as she watched him smile. His features were average, but his smile made her weak in the knees. This was the man who had stepped in to protect her when she felt helpless and scared.

As she was about to speak, the bus pulled up to another stop.

“Caixing, this is my stop. See you around if fate allows,” Lin Xiao said. He nodded at Huang Caixing and alighted without any hesitation.

“Brother Lin, Brother Lin…” Huang Caixing tried to call out to him, but the crowded bus and the closing doors prevented her. She could only watch helplessly as Lin Xiao disappeared into the distance.

“Brother Lin, I don’t even know your WeChat ID.” Huang Caixing murmured to herself, watching his retreating figure.