Qiao Chuchu staggered two steps, nearly knocked off her feet by his sudden impact, only to be swiftly pulled back into Shen Zhuoyan’s arms!
It felt like being enveloped by an unyielding wall from behind.
Shen Zhuoyan’s broad shoulders encircled her, as if he could lift her effortlessly with a single motion.
His breath brushed against her ear, carrying a barely detectable tremor, his voice firm yet unsteady as he buried her petite frame against his chest: “Why did you come after me?”
Qiao Chuchu: “?”
Puzzled, she tucked her phone away, peeled his arm off, and tilted her head to meet his gaze: “Why did you hug me?”
Shen Zhuoyan: “…”
She pocketed her phone, her expression utterly bewildered: “You’re acting weird, so I’m wondering if someone said something to you?”
A flicker of guilt crossed Shen Zhuoyan’s face: “No.”
Qiao Chuchu saw right through him: “Really? Can I check your phone then?”
Without hesitation, Shen Zhuoyan handed over his phone—only to abruptly snatch it back, his expression shifting: “No!”
Qiao Chuchu dodged his reach, powered on the device, and instinctively entered her own passcode.
A second later, she clicked her tongue in realization: “Oops, my bad. Why’d I use mine?”
Yet the phone unlocked.
Qiao Chuchu: “? Why is your passcode the same as mine?!”
Shen Zhuoyan froze, awkwardly rubbing his nose, at a loss for words.
Qiao Chuchu gave him a strange look but didn’t press further. She opened his call log and spotted Pei Yuan’s incoming call.
Her face darkened as she dialed Pei Yuan’s number.
Shen Zhuoyan opened his mouth to speak.
She pointed a warning finger at him.
*Stay quiet.*
Shen Zhuoyan: “…”
Pei Yuan answered almost immediately, his tone sharp: “What? Calling to demand money?”
Qiao Chuchu’s voice turned icy: “What money?”
Pei Yuan paused, clearly startled to hear her voice: “Chuchu?”
Furious, she snapped: “What did you say to Shen Zhuoyan behind my back? He took off in a cab and turned off his phone like some dramatic heroine fleeing the country! Meanwhile, I chased after him like an idiot on an electric scooter!”
Pei Yuan: “? Are you hurt? Where’s your driver?”
“Why would I be hurt?!” she fired back. “What exactly did you tell Shen Zhuoyan?”
After a weighted silence, Pei Yuan sighed, his voice measured: “Chuchu, I don’t believe Shen Zhuoyan is fit to be your bodyguard. Someone sent me a video earlier—his uncle, Shen Tuo, confronted him. A bodyguard who brings trouble with him is a liability. I was worried for your safety.”
Qiao Chuchu’s brows knitted together: “If you had concerns, you could’ve discussed them with me. Why just kick Shen Zhuoyan out unilaterally?”
Pei Yuan faltered, softening his tone: “You’re right. I acted rashly. I’m sorry. I should’ve talked to you first, but I was afraid you’d insist on keeping him.”
Her resolve was unshakable: “Exactly. I *am* keeping Shen Zhuoyan. I don’t want anyone else—he’s trustworthy, he aced the bodyguard competition, and I feel completely safe with him handling my schedule!”
Shen Zhuoyan’s breath hitched, stunned by her praise. He lowered his eyes to hide his delight.
But Pei Yuan seemed to short-circuit, firing off rapid questions: “And what about me? Am I not good enough? You’re praising someone else to my face? Do you *want* Shen Zhuoyan to stay or not?”
His threat was deceptively calm: “Qiao Chuchu, one more word of praise, and I’ll make sure he’s gone for good.”
Qiao Chuchu: “…I was only addressing his professional competence as a bodyguard.”
Pei Yuan backtracked, pleading: “But I did this because I care. Do you know how panicked I was watching that video?”
Her frown deepened as she zeroed in on the key detail: “Video? What video?”
“Footage of your car being surrounded.” Pei Yuan clarified: “I saw Shen Zhuoyan fighting them off. I’ll forward it to you.”
Qiao Chuchu opened the video.
The recording was crisp.
Yet oddly devoid of street noise.
As if the audio had been deliberately edited.
The angle felt staged—like a setup to manipulate Pei Yuan.
Pei Yuan added: “The sender was anonymous. I knew they had ill intentions, but Shen Zhuoyan *did* attract trouble. I couldn’t risk it. When I dismissed him, I’d already arranged a replacement.”
Qiao Chuchu bit her lip, scrutinizing the footage: “This is clearly meant to drive a wedge between us.”
Suddenly, it clicked. “I know who filmed this!”
She vaulted onto her scooter: “I’m going to confront him!”
Pei Yuan: “?”
Shen Zhuoyan: “?”
Hanging up, Qiao Chuchu slapped the seat and barked at Shen Zhuoyan: “Get on!”
Shen Zhuoyan blinked, then obediently climbed on behind her.
As the scooter roared to life, she lectured him sternly: “You’re *my* bodyguard. Your priority is *me*. Don’t let this happen again.”
He nodded meekly, still buzzing from the thrill of her chase. Shyly, he asked: “How did you figure it out?”
Qiao Chuchu smirked: “You said you were meeting a friend. Then I remembered—you don’t *have* friends. So you were lying.”
Shen Zhuoyan stiffened.
She glanced back: “I’m your only friend, right?”
His eyes sparkled as he tentatively gripped the hem of her jacket: “Yeah. You know me so well.”
She preened: “Obviously! My observational skills are top-tier. That’s why I noticed no one wanted to sit with you in class and claimed you as my desk mate.”
The memory made Shen Zhuoyan smile: “The second happiest moment of my life was becoming your deskmate.”
Qiao Chuchu teased: “And the first?”
His answer dissolved into traffic noise: “Being with you like this—24/7, no breaks—that’s my happiness.”
Unhearing, her expression hardened: “We’re almost there. Time to grill this Mr. Ji!”
Shen Zhuoyan snapped to attention: “Right.”
—
Ji Yanchuan checked his watch, bored.
*Ugh.*
He’d finally gotten rid of Shen Zhuoyan, only for Qiao Chuchu to chase after him.
What was so special about some bargain-bin bodyguard?
Then he spotted her—charging toward him on her scooter, Shen Zhuoyan clinging to her back.
Ji Yanchuan’s smile was instant: “Miss Qiao!”
She braked hard, dismounted, and stormed up to him: “Was it *you* who filmed that video for my brother?!”
Ji Yanchuan feigned innocence: “Me? Of course not!”
Her face darkened, and she pointed an accusing finger at him. "Ha! I knew I’d smoke you out! I didn’t even mention what video it was, and you’re already scrambling to deny it—as if that doesn’t prove it’s you!"
