"You shouldn't just randomly hit on guys. I'm okay, but what if you ran into a scumbag?"

After saying his piece, Xia Liang turned and left. He left the girl behind, who watched him go with a dazed look on her face.

"That guy… he's so sweet."

「At the entrance of Room 2213, Nantang Garden.」

DING-DONG. DING-DONG.

"Hello, your delivery is here."

"Come in, the door's unlocked."

Xia Liang smiled, pushed the door open, and walked inside. He had run into this kind of situation plenty of times. The core of food delivery was simply to get the meal directly into the customer's hands.

He stepped into a lavish, opulently decorated living room. The owner had clearly spent a small fortune on it. On a high-end European-style sofa, an exquisite woman in silk pajamas was lounging. Lying on her side, she looked all the more seductive.

Hearing his footsteps, the woman looked toward Xia Liang, and her eyes instantly lit up. She sat up and greeted him warmly, "Just put the delivery over there. Thanks for the hard work. How about a cup of tea?"

Xia Liang placed the food on the table and shook his head with a smile. "No, thank you. I have more deliveries to make. I should be going."

The woman's warm smile never faded as she reached out and grabbed Xia Liang's arm. "What's the rush? It's not like I'm going to eat you. How much can you possibly make delivering food? Keep me company today, and you can have as much money as you want!" As she spoke, she provocatively stretched out her long legs.

Damn it, not this again? Is she trying to be my sugar mommy?

Unmoved, he easily broke free of her grasp and said flatly, "I'm just a delivery guy. I don't provide other services."

Without another moment's hesitation, he turned and left.

"Wait! Handsome, don't go!"

Xia Liang paid no mind to the calls behind him. What am I looking for? True love. Not women who are only after my looks.

After a few more deliveries, he successfully completed his work for the day. Xia Liang drove back to the villa.

Another night passed in a way that is best left undescribed.

「The next day」

Xia Liang got up early to make his deliveries.

「At six o'clock in the afternoon」

Yun Bing called. They agreed on a place to meet.

Yun Bing was already there waiting for him. She wasn't in her valiant Protectors uniform; instead, she looked stunning in her casual wear. She wore jeans and a white blouse that accentuated her dazzlingly beautiful curves.

Xia Liang pulled the car up in front of her. "Hop in, Yu Da Jinghua."

Hearing that familiar voice, Yun Bing's face lit up with joy as she got into the car.

Xia Liang glanced at her and offered a casual compliment. "You look very pretty today."

"Thank you." It wasn't the first time she had received such a compliment, but hearing it from Xia Liang made her especially happy.

"So, where are we going to eat?"

"Oh? Anywhere is fine... Since it's my treat, what would you like to have?"

"Let's have hotpot," Xia Liang said, not beating around the bush.

"I know a really good place. How does that sound?" he asked, looking over at Yun Bing.

Being looked at like that made Yun Bing blush. For some reason, she always felt a bit shy around Xia Liang. "Sure," she said softly.

"Great!" Xia Liang immediately drove off.

Silence fell inside the car. Yun Bing rarely interacted with men outside of work-related matters. She had never been in a situation like this before and had no idea what to say. Xia Liang, for his part, just assumed Yun Bing wasn't very talkative, so he remained silent as well.

After a long moment, Yun Bing finally couldn't take it anymore and broke the silence. "Um, have you eaten yet?"

Xia Liang couldn't help but let out a laugh.

Yun Bing immediately realized her blunder and felt her face burn with embarrassment. We're on our way to get hotpot right now! Why would I ask if he's eaten?

Xia Liang realized it wasn't kind to laugh and quickly composed himself. "Hey, you don't need to be so nervous. It's not our first time meeting..."

"Mm," Yun Bing replied, taking a deep breath and nodding.

Soon, they arrived at the hotpot restaurant.

"Two bottles of beer!"

It was Yun Bing who had shouted the order, which surprised Xia Liang a little. He had no idea what she was up to.

GULP. GULP. As soon as the beer arrived, Yun Bing tilted her head back and chugged it straight from the bottle. After finishing the whole thing, she seemed to feel much better and more relaxed than before.

After chatting for a while, Xia Liang discovered that although Yun Bing usually wore a cold expression, she was actually a very nice person and not nearly as cold as she seemed. She even smiled, especially when she was with him.

Xia Liang couldn't help but ask, "This is nice. Why do you always put on such a cold front?"

Yun Bing looked a little helpless. "I have to. People already think I'm just an embroidered pillow, all looks and no substance. Back when I joined the Protectors, everyone assumed I was only there for show. I decided then that I had to prove myself through my own abilities, and... I gradually became like this."

"That's admirable," Xia Liang said, nodding as he raised his glass. He found himself really liking Yun Bing. She wasn't flashy or pretentious, so much better than the girls who always tried to act cute. There were no ulterior motives, and the two of them found it easy to eat, drink, and chat together. "A toast, then! From now on, we're friends. If you ever need help, just message me."

After several rounds of drinks, Xia Liang walked Yun Bing back to her apartment building. Since he had been drinking, he didn't drive.

"Do you want me to walk you up?"

"No, it's fine." Yun Bing waved her hand. "You've already gone to the trouble of bringing me home. I'm right downstairs, and besides, I'm not some helpless girl."

"True," Xia Liang conceded with a wave. "Alright then, see you later."

"See you." Yun Bing waved back.

The moment she turned around, regret hit her. Why didn't I invite him in for a bit? He even offered to walk me up! Why on earth did I refuse? My refusal was just a subconscious reaction, not wanting to trouble him. But now I regret it. It's too late, though. I can't possibly go back and find him now.

Shaking her head, Yun Bing continued walking. She didn't live with her father; she rented her own place. It was in an old residential complex, one that didn't even have an elevator. After all, on a Protector's salary, if she rented a nicer place, there'd be no money left for food. Of course, her father, Yun Long, gave her an allowance, but Yun Bing never touched a cent of it.

Just as Yun Bing reached the second-floor landing, a figure in a military-style greatcoat, a hat pulled down low over his face, crept up quietly behind her. The next second, he pulled a gun from his pocket and pressed the cold barrel against her back.

"Officer Yun, I've finally found you," the man said, his voice laced with cruel, cold malice. "Let's go. It's time for us to settle our score."

"Alright." After the initial shock, Yun Bing quickly calmed herself. Her mind raced, planning a counterattack.

"Huh? Stay back!"

Yun Bing was about to create a diversion, but the moment she made the slightest move—

BANG!

The butt of the pistol smashed into her forehead.

In an instant, blood streamed down, staining her beautiful face.

The man's voice was filled with venom. "Don't even think about pulling any tricks on me."

However, he had barely finished speaking when he felt a piercing gust of wind from behind him. The man was stunned and tried to react, but it was too late. A sharp pain shot through his hand, and he instinctively let go.

The handgun clattered to the floor. The next moment, he felt his consciousness slip away.

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