C9 Secretly Made a Bodyguard

Liu Hsing gave Kin Hu's shoulder a reassuring pat before clinking glasses with him. Taking a large swig of the potent white liquor, Liu Hsing felt a warm sensation in his stomach.

"Why don't you move away?" he asked.

Kin Hu shook his head, replying, "This is the only thing my parents left me, my only keepsake. I can't bear to lose it."

"You're only twenty-one. You have your whole life ahead of you. Do you really want to live like this forever?"

Kin Hu remained silent as Liu Hsing took another hearty gulp of white liquor.

"Brother, I'm not trying to criticize you, but do you think you're being filial by spending all your savings on a grave for your parents? You're mistaken! Your current despair and lack of drive are not what they would have wanted to see. I'm telling you, this is the height of unfilial behavior!"

Liu Hsing continued, undeterred by Kin Hu's reddening eyes.

"Brother, you need to let go of the past and start anew. You're a special forces soldier, the nation's elite. You can't keep living like this. Whether you move or not, it doesn't affect me. The developers aren't paying me; I'm here purely as a friend. But as your friend, I'm telling you earnestly: leave this place and begin a fresh chapter in your life."

"I..." Kin Hu's eyes were now brimming with tears, not from anger but from the pain he felt.

"Brother, I understand your pain. I nearly lost my job yesterday. It wasn't just a job at stake, but the money for my mother's medical bills—her very life! We have to look forward and not dwell in sorrow. When problems arise, we must solve them. When we face difficulties, we confront them. When we have scars, we must peel off the scabs so the new flesh can grow back faster."

"But... what can I do?" Kin Hu asked, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"What can you do? You're capable of anything! You... you..." Liu Hsing struggled to find a solution, anxious not to let Kin Hu's newly stirred emotions crumble.

"In a pinch, you could be my bodyguard. I'd pay you," he blurted out in desperation.

Kin Hu was taken aback before shaking his head.

"What good does it do to take care of me? Are you in any danger? Never mind..."

Noticing Kin Hu's dejected expression, Liu Hsing grew anxious. He was on the verge of success and couldn't afford to back out now.

"It's very useful! Extremely useful! You see, I have a colleague who's been stealing a lot of my clients. I've made a bet with him, and I'm pretty much winning, but I'm worried he'll deny it. With you by my side, that won't happen, right? We're talking about a commission of tens of thousands! And look here..."

Liu Hsing gestured to his bruised cheek.

"See this? I got beaten up. Doesn't that scream danger to you?"

Kin Hu followed Liu Hsing's pointing finger and took a closer look. The swelling was significant, but he hadn't noticed it earlier due to the dim light in the room.

With Kin Hu's keen eyesight, it wasn't difficult to discern that the injury was indeed from a beating.

"Do you really need me?"

Kin Hu remained doubtful. It wasn't that he thought Liu Hsing was poor; he simply didn't want to freeload.

"Damn, why would I lie to you? Plus, my place is in Liu Family Village. You can stay with me after the demolition, and we'll figure things out once the property is sold. Later on, you can even spend time with your folks."

Liu Hsing wasn't just acting on a whim. He genuinely believed in Kin Hu's character. Anyone willing to spend all their savings on their parents' funeral had to be honorable. Moreover, he couldn't stand to watch Kin Hu waste away in despair.

The fact that Kin Hu had been conned out of two hundred thousand yuan didn't mean he wasn't intelligent. Quite the opposite; a former special forces soldier is certainly not lacking in brains. He was simply blinded by his grief.

"Fine, I'll come with you. I'm aware you're not flush with cash right now. Let's go find that Liu Jian and recover the money. When you're in a position to pay me, then we can talk salary."

"Alright, dig in. No rush."

An hour later, Liu Hsing and Kin Hu emerged from the flat, having finished off two bottles of liquor. Kin Hu was unfazed, while Liu Hsing, the sales rep, sported only a slight flush.

"Are you sure you don't want to tidy up?"

"No need. There's nothing worth taking. Let's leave it all behind! Like you said, I'm starting a new life."

Basking in the sunlight, Kin Hu's smile grew.

It was only now that Liu Hsing got a good look at Kin Hu. He was undeniably handsome, with his dark brown skin and well-defined features, though the fierce scar lent him a touch of menace.

Amidst the incredulous stares of the workers, Liu Hsing departed the construction site and called Tang Xiaomin.

"Sister Xiaomin, all is taken care of. You can begin work anytime, but I'd like Kin Hu's compensation and the property settlement to be handled by the book."

"You actually convinced him to leave?"

"Absolutely."

"Okay, I'll take care of it. Could you stop by my office?"

"Sure, I'll be there shortly."

Liu Hsing left Kin Hu at the sales office and proceeded to Tang Xiaomin's office alone.

"Sister Xiaomin, is there anything else?"

Tang Xiaomin, catching Liu Hsing's sunny smile, blushed slightly.

"I don't know how to thank you enough. You've been a huge help. Here's the thing: I know you're in need of money right now. Here's fifty thousand yuan as a token of my gratitude for your assistance."

She presented a bulging black plastic bag.

Liu Hsing was in need of the cash, yet he declined.

"No, I can't accept this."

"But why?"

"Can't I just help a beautiful friend out? Plus, you're quite attractive. I might even pursue you one day!"

Tang Xiaomin paused, then her smile blossomed.

"Well then, thank you! And if you do decide to pursue me, give it a shot. I might just say yes!"

Their hands briefly met, but Liu Hsing quickly withdrew, the epitome of a gentleman, though the brief contact with her soft, smooth skin sent a wave of emotion through him.

Liu Hsing, with Kin Hu in tow, left the Hangda sales office and made a beeline for the company. He was determined to claim his commission and also settle a bet involving a trip to the casino.

Within twenty minutes, Liu Hsing strode into the company. In the span of a single day, he had secured the Hangda account. The contract wasn't signed yet, but with Tang Xiaomin on his side, he was confident that everything would fall into place.

"Why is this loser back? Wasn't he off dealing with Hangda's business? What's the matter? Did he run back here to grovel? Oh my! What happened to your face? Did Hangda's security give you the boot? Haha!"

The moment he walked in, a jarring voice hit Liu Hsing's ears. Kin Hu was ready to confront Zhang Qiang, but Liu Hsing stepped in front of him, gesturing to keep his cool.

"Hehe! We'll soon see who the real loser is. Let's head to Director Zheng's office and talk."

Liu Hsing, with Kin Hu following, quickly made their way to Director Zheng's office.

"Damn, putting on airs. You actually think you're somebody, especially with Hangda's business..."

Zhang Qiang's sarcasm trailed after Liu Hsing, yet he dutifully followed them inside.

"Liu, who is this gentleman?" Director Zheng greeted them warmly, clearly pleased to see Liu Hsing return.

"This is my brother. Have a seat."

The office boasted two luxurious sofas, and Liu Hsing and Kin Hu each claimed one. As they settled into the comfort, Liu Hsing passed a cigarette to Kin Hu and lit one for himself. He inhaled deeply, savoring the rush of relaxation.

Zhang Qiang entered the office, his eyes on Liu Hsing's confident demeanor. He was about to hurl an insult but was swiftly restrained by Director Zheng.

"Liu, didn't you say you wouldn't be back for ten days? What brings you here so early? Is there a new development with Hangda's business, or did you run into trouble? And your face..."

Liu Hsing took another drag from his cigarette, exhaling the smoke slowly before replying with a smile.

"You needn't feign concern for my face. As for my return, I'm here to honor the wager I made with Zhang Qiang. As for Hangda's business, I've already... secured it!"

"What?!"

Two voices rang out in surprise, followed by laughter that echoed in unison. Yet, the laughter carried different meanings: Director Zheng's was filled with joy, while Zhang Qiang's was laced with mockery.

"Little Liu! The company's investment in you wasn't in vain, and I wasn't wrong about you. You're truly outstanding, haha! Here, have a Chunghwa cigarette!"

Director Zheng was so elated that he lost himself in the moment, uttering words that nauseated Liu Hsing and doing things that Liu Hsing found repulsive.

"Director Zheng, you're overthinking it. Don't listen to this loser's tall tales. He doesn't even have a contract, yet he's here pretending to be something he's not!"

"Listen, kid, watch your words. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to ensure you spend your next life in a wheelchair."

Kin Hu fixed a furious gaze on Zhang Qiang. Had it not been for Liu Hsing's intervention, Kin Hu would have already dealt with Zhang Qiang, who hadn't said a single nice thing since joining the company.

Zhang Qiang scrutinized Kin Hu carefully. Despite the intimidating scar on Kin Hu's face, he didn't appear particularly muscular, yet he spoke with audacious confidence.

Director Zheng, noticing Zhang Qiang was about to speak again, quickly pulled him back, turning to Liu Hsing with a beaming smile.

"Indeed, the contract hasn't been signed yet, but that doesn't stop me from securing this business deal."

"You must be joking. Without a contract, how can you claim the business is yours? By that logic, I could say that this year's Hangda business is mine, that every year's business at Hangda is mine. Damn, that's just ridiculous..."

But before Zhang Qiang could finish his rant, he felt an overpowering grip on his neck, like a vice, lifting his toes off the ground. His face turned beet red, and his eyes began to darken.