Chapter Eight: The True Face of Qin Ruhua

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Qin Ruhua sat upright on her bicycle, her long, black, straight hair flowing wildly in the breeze, exuding the aura of a goddess. She rode along the right side of the road at a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow. I followed behind, leisurely admiring her graceful figure.

Along the way, she would occasionally glance back at me with a gentle smile. Each time she looked back, her hair fluttered messily across her face, stirring a chaotic flutter in my heart.

Judging by appearance alone, she was as beautiful as Ling Xuan, though lacking Ling Xuan’s noble elegance.

Thinking of Ling Xuan, I tried calling her again but still couldn’t get through. She must have blocked me.

It seemed I’d have to go straight to the company after dropping Qin Ruhua off.

Tianhe City used to be an ordinary prefecture-level city. It developed rapidly and absorbed four nearby county-level cities, transforming into a mega-metropolis divided into five districts: East, South, West, North, and Central.

The South District was formerly Nanshui City, also known as Nanshui District.

Although the South District also experienced rapid development after integration, some backward areas remained.

Qin Ruhua turned into a one-way street lined with old buildings. The shops were simple, and the little restaurants outside were stained with thick, black grease.

Soon, Qin Ruhua stopped at the entrance of a narrow alley that didn’t allow vehicle access.

I pulled my bike alongside hers and rolled down the window.

“Chu Fan, thank you for giving me a ride home,” Qin Ruhua said, sitting on the scooter with the beige hem of her dress lightly draped over her snow-white long legs, accentuating their jade-like beauty and evoking an irresistible urge to trace upward along them. “I live just a short distance in here. You don’t have to see me all the way.”

I got off my bike and looked into the alley, seeing decades-old apartment buildings, some with exposed red brick walls.

Noticing my gaze, Qin Ruhua smiled and said, “That’s just how my place is — cheap, only five hundred yuan a month.”

I turned to her, seeing a pure and innocent smile on her face, tinged with a hint of playfulness and brightness, completely different from yesterday and just now.

This must be her true self. Usually, she was probably wary from being approached by too many people, so she was less friendly toward unfamiliar men.

She was truly a girl adept at protecting herself.

“Do you live alone, or with your grandmother?”

“I live with a university classmate. My grandmother stays with my eldest uncle in the countryside.”

I nodded. “I see your place is quite a distance from the company. Would you consider moving out? I can help cover the rent.”

Qin Ruhua smiled meaningfully. “My classmate works nearby, so no need.”

Judging by the smile on her face, she probably thought I was trying to flatter her.

“Do you know how I met your brother?” I pondered how to get her to spend freely.

“No, he never told me. Just that you’re a good friend of his,” Qin Ruhua said with some interest.

I responded seriously, “Your brother is loyal and brave. He once saved me. If not for him, I wouldn’t be here today. To me, what belongs to either of us belongs to both of us — money included. I’ve made some money doing business elsewhere over the years. Like I said, anything under a hundred thousand yuan, spend it freely. Don’t think I’m joking — I’m serious.”

I was determined to let her spend what was rightfully hers with peace of mind.

Qin Ruhua turned to look at me and suddenly burst out laughing, as if she had seen through some hidden intention. “Really, it’s unnecessary. I have a job now and can earn my own money, but thanks anyway.”

I sighed softly. “Do I not even get a chance to repay my debt of gratitude?”

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Qin Ruhua chuckled lightly, twisted the throttle, and the scooter shot forward. “I’m off now. Thanks, security uncle! Hee hee.”

I smiled faintly, watching her graceful figure.

After a few meters, Qin Ruhua turned back again and gave me a playful smile, her face pure and bright.

I smiled back and waved, thinking, “She’s quite a good girl!”

After she entered a five-story red brick building, I finally drove away.

At the company entrance, Liu An and two other security guards saw Ling Xuan’s car and hurried to the gate but didn’t salute.

Liu An stared at me in surprise and raised his hand to stop me.

I got out of the car and smiled, “Good morning!”

The three sized me up and glanced at Ling Xuan’s car.

“Why are you driving General Manager Ling’s car?” Liu An asked, puzzled, approaching me.

I handed each of them a cigarette and lit one myself, smiling, “General Ling told you everything about last night’s incident, right?”

“Yes. General Ling called us early this morning to have an electrician fix the circuits because thieves broke in last night. You were the hero.”

I chuckled inwardly. Ling Xuan hadn’t bad-mouthed me — though there was no chance to, since I was the only one there.

I said, “Because of last night, I’m now General Ling’s driver. We’ll need to hire a new security guard here.”

“Driver?” The three exclaimed.

“As far as I know, General Ling never hires a driver, and if she did, it would definitely be a female driver,” Liu An said incredulously, thinking I was boasting.

“Right, if she hires a driver, it would be a woman,” the other two guards agreed.

Well, their guesses were right — Ling Xuan didn’t hire me as a driver. I insisted on it myself.

“No, I’m not a driver. Do you think I can drive General Ling’s car?” I smiled. “By the way, has General Ling come to the company yet?”

Liu An looked at me skeptically. “General Ling just arrived in a friend’s car. If you were the driver, why aren’t you responsible for her pick-up and drop-off?”

Well, I couldn’t explain that.

“I’ll go see General Ling first. You’ll understand later.”

Just as I was about to get into the car, Liu An suddenly grabbed my arm, chuckled, and whispered, “Being a driver isn’t bad. You get close to General Ling and can leisurely drive a luxury car around. By the way, how much is she paying you?”

The other two guards looked at me with envy.

“General Ling hasn’t mentioned salary yet. She might even lower my pay,” I waved my hand and got into the car.

That was probably true — I expected to be working here unpaid from now on.

“Remember to have lunch with us this afternoon,” Liu An called after me loudly.

After parking, I entered the office building.

Two other security guards were downstairs. I greeted them and took the elevator straight to the ninth floor, pressing the button.

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It was nearly eleven in the morning, so few people were moving about; no employees got on the elevator along the way.

Upon reaching the ninth floor, the familiar scene reminded me of last night’s events.

What a bold assassin! I didn’t know if Ling Xuan had angered someone or if it was a rival’s doing.

I glanced at each office — all labeled as Operations Director, General Manager, and so on.

Apparently, this floor was reserved for the big shots.

Although it was Saturday, through the frosted glass walls, I could see people moving inside. These top executives didn’t have weekends off.

At the end of the northern corridor, I found the chairman’s office.

“Knock knock knock.”

“Come in,” came Ling Xuan’s voice.

I pushed open the door. The office was spacious, about forty to fifty square meters. Near the window stood a leather sofa and solid wood coffee table. At the back was Ling Xuan’s desk, where she was buried in writing.

“General Ling, still working hard!” I sat on the soft sofa and started boiling water for tea.

Ling Xuan suddenly looked up, staring at me blankly.

“Hi,” I waved and smiled, “General Ling, I’ve come to work.”

Her face darkened, and she said coldly, “Who told you to come here?”

I pressed the button on the electric kettle and walked over to her, taking in her appearance. She still wore her neat ponytail, subtle makeup enhancing her flawless beauty, radiant and energetic without a hint of fatigue. She wore a pristine white blouse, her chest noticeably full. Below... well, I couldn’t see.

“Miss, I told you, from now on I’m your driver and bodyguard. Of course, I have to provide close service,” I said cheerfully.

Ling Xuan’s expression was blank, her large eyes devoid of emotion or spirit. Her lashes drooped slightly as she stared ahead like a statue, her voice cold and emotionless: “Get out!”

That expression was the calm before the storm.

Recalling her reaction last night, I felt a flicker of hesitation, but as a man, I couldn’t be driven off by a single word. I smiled, “I won’t disturb you. I’ll just drink tea here.”

Ling Xuan raised her delicate brows, suddenly stood up, and shouted angrily, “Get out! Get out now!”

She grabbed a file folder from the desk and hurled it at me.

Damn! I was done for!

I covered my head and dashed for the sofa, but Ling Xuan chased after me, swinging something hard at my head.

Shit!

I swear, I’ve never met such a fierce woman.

I fled toward the door, and just as I opened it, I suddenly collided head-on with someone.