C3 First Day of Work

Early the next morning, Nie Feng rose with the sun and made his way to Flourishing Age. Upon arrival, he noticed all the security guards huddled at the complex's entrance, listening intently to a lecture from a man in his fifties.

Not wanting to interrupt, Nie Feng stood to the side and waited. Eventually, the older man turned to him and inquired, "Young man, what brings you here?"

"Sir, my name is Nie Feng, and I'm here to apply for a position as a security guard," Nie Feng responded promptly, realizing the man must be the head of security—a person he definitely didn't want to cross.

"Aha, you're Yan Chun's brother, Nie Feng. She mentioned you—a former soldier, that's commendable," the man said, giving Nie Feng a firm pat on the chest. "I'm Wang San, the captain of the security team. You can call me Third Master."

"Understood, Third Master," Nie Feng replied, nodding, though internally he was sizing up the situation.

Flourishing Age wasn't the kind of place that just anyone could guard. Aside from Wang San, the other security personnel were all young men under thirty, each exuding a sense of capability. If Wang San had secured his position as captain without any significant connections, then he must be highly skilled.

"Hey, Little Monkey, come here. Take Nie Feng to get his uniform, then you two can patrol the North Garden," Wang San directed a spry, young fellow.

"Right away, Third Master. Feng, follow me," said Little Monkey, leading Nie Feng towards the security office.

As they talked, Nie Feng learned that Little Monkey was a fresh seventeen-year-old sports school graduate who, unable to land a better job, had joined the security staff.

"Feng, just a heads-up: don't get on Third Master's bad side. He may seem cheerful, but he's got a fierce temper, and none of us can hold a candle to him," Little Monkey confided with a hint of trepidation.

Nie Feng just smiled. It looked like Little Monkey had learned the hard way about Wang San's prowess. Nie Feng's hunch had been right—Wang San was indeed a master in his own right.

The security uniform had been ready for a while, and I have to say, it fit surprisingly well. The quality was a definite step up from the street-market stuff Nie Feng was wearing.

"Feng, you really do justice to that uniform, looking every bit the soldier," Little Monkey complimented. "Let's head out and patrol the North Garden!"

Flourishing Age was split into four gardens: East, West, South, and North, each housing fewer than ten families. These residents were all wealthy and distinguished, which meant the security team took their jobs seriously. They patrolled every fifteen minutes, putting in extra hours at night. If a burglary happened on their watch, the responsible guard faced a salary deduction. It was clear that the four thousand yuan salary wouldn't come easily.

But with over sixty guards on staff, there was no shortage of help, and the shifts were flexible. As long as you put in the required monthly hours, the rest of your time was your own.

Riding their electric scooter, Nie Feng and Little Monkey quickly made it to the Northern Garden. Just as Little Monkey secured the scooter, his walkie-talkie crackled to life.

"Got it, I'm on it," Little Monkey responded before turning to Nie Feng. "Brother Feng, there's a rat in building 07. You handle it, I'll keep patrolling. Meet up with me once you're done."

Nie Feng nodded, unfazed. Patrolling might be dull, but rat-catching was his forte. Without exaggeration, his rat-catching skills were second to none, even outshining a cat's.

With Little Monkey's map in hand, Nie Feng soon arrived at building 07 and knocked. "Security here, do you have a rat problem?"

"Why did it take you so long?" The villa's door swung open, revealing a striking girl in her late teens, her impatience evident. Upon seeing Nie Feng, her expression shifted to one of surprise. "It's you! There's a huge rat in my house. Please, come in and take care of it."

Her lovely brows furrowed lightly, betraying her concern. Her eyes, bright and clear as polished gems, sparkled with the light of countless stars. Her skin was porcelain, tinged with the softest blush, while her lips were as delicate as rose petals waiting to unfurl.

Nie Feng paused for a moment, taken aback. Wasn't this the same girl who had been harassed by Zhao Dahai last night? She actually lived here? Nie Feng possessed an exceptional talent for remembering everything he saw, whether it was faces or information. Even though the lighting had been poor and he hadn't seen her clearly, Nie Feng was confident this was the girl from the hotel the previous evening.

"Um... Hello, my name is Nie Feng. I'm the new security guard, and I..." Nie Feng began, following the little monkey's instructions, but before he could finish, the girl pulled him into the villa.

"I'm Zhang Menglin. I owe you my thanks for last night. If it weren't for you, that jerk would have taken advantage of me. Thank you," Zhang Menglin expressed with heartfelt gratitude.

"Miss, you must be mistaken. I'm just a security guard, and we've never met before," Nie Feng responded.

"Oh, come on, no need to play dumb. Relax, I won't breathe a word of it to anyone. This will be our little secret," Zhang Menglin assured him with a smile.

"Miss, where did you last see that mouse?" Nie Feng asked, steering the conversation away from her previous comment.

Zhang Menglin's mood soured when Nie Feng showed no interest in continuing their chat. She sulked, "It was in the kitchen a moment ago, but now I've no idea where it's scampered off to."

Nie Feng was momentarily taken aback. Searching for a mouse in such a sprawling villa was no small feat. And as a man in Zhang Menglin's personal space, with her living alone, it seemed inappropriate to be hunting for a mouse in her house.

"Miss, perhaps we should wait until the mouse shows up again, and then you can call me," Nie Feng suggested.

"No, you have to find that mouse today. Don't hold back on my account. As long as you get rid of the mouse, I won't mind anything else," the girl insisted urgently.

Nie Feng noticed a flicker of fear in her eyes and realized her genuine terror of the mouse. Left with no other option, he agreed to help.

As Nie Feng searched for the mouse, he made a startling discovery—over forty pinhole cameras and listening devices were hidden throughout the villa, with nearly every room under surveillance. It was clear that someone was deliberately spying on Zhang Menglin. And judging by her demeanor, she seemed oblivious to the fact that she was being watched.

As a security guard, Nie Feng knew that ensuring the safety of the residents was his duty. With his strong sense of responsibility, honed from his time as a soldier, he took this role seriously. Despite his suspicions about the true intent behind the installation of the surveillance equipment, Nie Feng refrained from jumping to conclusions. It was possible that Zhang Menglin's parents had installed the cameras out of concern for their daughter living alone.

Nie Feng's search soon led him to a massive mouse in the bathroom, almost the size of a cat. The rodent, far from intimidated, snarled at Nie Feng with a menacing glare. "Hey, you little monster, you're getting too bold," Nie Feng muttered as he pinned the mouse underfoot and hoisted it by its ears.

Zhang Menglin stood behind him, fists clenched in anxiety, watching the large mouse struggle in Nie Feng's grasp. The mouse squeaked incessantly, desperate to escape. With a slight smile, Nie Feng opened the window and tossed it outside.

Nie Feng had his own reasons for wanting the mouse gone. If it returned, Zhang Menglin would surely call him, giving him the perfect opportunity to investigate the cameras further. Now, Nie Feng was convinced that whoever had installed the cameras meant to harm Zhang Menglin, especially after discovering a miniature bomb in the bathtub.

Casually turning on the faucet to wash his hands, Nie Feng discreetly removed the bomb and discarded it out the window while Zhang Menglin was distracted.

"Miss Zhang, has anyone visited your home recently?" Nie Feng inquired.

Zhang Menglin shook her head. "My parents are away on business. Besides you, no one else has been here. And thank you again for dealing with that mouse."

"Don't mention it. If the mouse comes back, or if you notice anyone suspicious, just give me a call," Nie Feng offered, handing her a wrinkled piece of paper with his number scrawled across it.

Zhang Menglin treasured the number like a precious gem and showed Nie Feng to the door.

After making a full round of the villa, Nie Feng stopped outside the bathroom window, where the mouse had vanished. Retrieving the discarded bomb, he examined it closely and realized it was likely the newest high-tech explosive from the United States.

Despite its size being no larger than a grain of rice, the bomb was powerful enough to completely obliterate Zhang Menglin's bathroom. These folks were clearly not to be underestimated!

The bomb, which was remote-controlled, had yet to be activated. Nie Feng wasted no time in dismantling it and discarded the fragments into the community pond. The very fact that someone had planted a bomb in Zhang Menglin's bathtub was a clear sign they intended to kill her.

Nie Feng surmised that the perpetrators would likely strike tonight, meaning he had to intervene to save Zhang Menglin's life. It wasn't just about her safety; it was also about his own. If Zhang Menglin were to be murdered at home, it would spell disaster for both Nie Feng and his colleague, Little Monkey, since they were responsible for this district. What a way to start his first day on the job.

"Feng, is the rat situation handled?" Little Monkey pulled up on his electric scooter, breaking into Nie Feng's thoughts.

"Yeah, it's taken care of. Are we patrolling now?" Nie Feng inquired.

"I've already done a round. We'll head out again in fifteen minutes. For now, let me show you around our community. Hop on," Little Monkey offered with a grin.

Nie Feng climbed onto the back of the scooter and asked, "Little Monkey, do you know anything about the girl in apartment 07?"

"Zhang Menglin? What about her? Feng, you've got your eye on her too? She's our neighborhood goddess!" Little Monkey exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration.

"Cut the crap. What do you know about her?" Nie Feng pressed, irritation creeping into his voice.

Little Monkey laughed and shared, "Zhang Menglin's parents are big-time business owners in Farsummit. They're usually there and seldom come back unless it's for something significant. She's a medical student at Silkwick's college, living on her own most of the time. Feng, she's a genuine beauty, and icy to boot. We're just average Joes; we can only dream. I'd say forget about chasing after her. It's just not in the cards."