C3 Confusion

The night swiftly faded into memory, and by noon the next day, Bai Shuang finally stirred from her slumber, groggily making her way to the living room.

"Honey, you're up?" Lin Yuan caught sight of her graceful silhouette and eagerly bounded over.

"What time is it?" Bai Shuang shot him a brief glance, inquiring.

"Just after 10," Lin Yuan replied truthfully.

"What? After 10 already?" Bai Shuang gasped, her eyes suddenly wide with alarm. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"You told me not to interrupt your sleep," Lin Yuan responded, his voice tinged with dejection.

"You!" Bai Shuang fumed, pointing at Lin Yuan, yet words failed her. Finally, all she could muster was a resentful eye roll.

Handing Lin Yuan a set of keys, Bai Shuang commanded, "Now, rush me to work! I'm already late!"

"Me, take you to work?" Lin Yuan was taken aback. Bai Shuang had always been too embarrassed by him to accept a ride, preferring to drive herself instead.

"Yes, you! Just take me to work!" Bai Shuang snapped, clearly frustrated by his sluggishness. He was hardly acting like a man.

Clad in her high heels, Bai Shuang strode out first. Lin Yuan, momentarily stunned, quickly scrambled after her. "Honey, you haven't had breakfast yet!"

"I'll skip it!" came Bai Shuang's icy reply from outside. Truth be told, the moment she awoke this morning, her thoughts had been consumed by the situation with Zhang's Corporation. Her mind was a whirlwind of chaos, and she had lost all desire to drive herself. That's why she needed Lin Yuan to take her.

...

Half an hour later, they arrived at Ruyu Corporation. "Honey, try not to worry. Perhaps everything has already been resolved," Lin Yuan offered in consolation.

"What? You think you know what's going on? We're talking about one of the largest groups in Xia City, Zhang's Corporation!" Bai Shuang shot him an exasperated look and marched into the building without a backward glance.

She was utterly at a loss for words with Lin Yuan. The man was all talk and no action. If only he had the slightest bit of competence, she wouldn't have to shoulder so much. After all, navigating the business world was perilous for a woman.

Lin Yuan watched Bai Shuang's retreating figure. He caressed the steering wheel absentmindedly and adjusted the seat behind him, reclining fully. He estimated that within half an hour, Zhang Demin would surely arrive to offer an apology.

"Ms. Bai! Trouble's brewing! Zhang Demin is back and he's already downstairs!" Bai Shuang had barely settled into her office for ten minutes when a frantic voice reached her ears.

"What? He's back?!" Bai Shuang's face hardened. Clenching her teeth, she declared, "I'll go see him!"

"Does he actually think Ruyu Corporation is a pushover?!" Bai Shuang seethed with anger. Powerless against his relentless harassment, it was a sorrowful testament to the survival of the fittest.

At the building's entrance, Zhang Demin and his entourage were standing, visibly shaking. Confronting them, Bai Shuang's expression was frosty. "Boss Zhang, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit to Ruyu Corporation today? If it's the same issue as before, I suggest you leave immediately. You're not welcome here!"

Bai Shuang's face was an icy mask. Zhang Demin's lecherous intentions towards her were intolerable. Had Ruyu Corporation been stronger, she would've already turned him away for good.

"Ms. Bai!" Zhang Demin approached in a fluster. Overcome with emotion, he stumbled and fell at Bai Shuang's feet.

"Boss Zhang, what is the meaning of this?" Bai Shuang's face showed a flicker of surprise as she stepped back.

"No, Ms. Bai, I've come to apologize!" Seeing her guarded look, Zhang Demin scrambled to his feet and hurried to explain.

"I've truly learned from my mistakes! I've been reprimanded, and I'm asking for your forgiveness. I've prepared a contract. I won't claim that land; I'll transfer it to Ruyu Corporation! Moreover, we've acquired that plot of land to the north of the city you were interested in. We'll have the contracts delivered to you this afternoon!" He finished, casting a covert glance outside. A Mercedes-Benz was parked, with Lin Yuan still inside.

Bai Shuang's eyes flickered with suspicion, then quickly filled with revulsion. "Boss Zhang, spare me the theatrics. I refuse to be coerced into a compromise!"

"No way!" Zhang Demin was on the verge of tears. "With him around, how could I even think of crossing you again? Please, you have to forgive us!"

Bai Shuang couldn't help but be puzzled by his words. He mentioned someone had come to her aid, seemingly resolving the issue. But she hadn't sought anyone's help!

"Well, if that's the case, I accept your apology. However, you should take back the items," Bai Shuang said, pausing briefly before continuing with caution.

"No, Director Bai!" Zhang Demin blurted out in a panic. "He made it clear—if my compensation doesn't satisfy him, he'll continue to cause problems for us!"

Hearing this, Bai Shuang's surprise was undeniable. Whoever this person was had instilled such fear in Zhang Demin! When had she ever crossed paths with someone of that caliber?

"Alright, I'll accept your compensation," Bai Shuang conceded with a reluctant nod. If she refused, Zhang Demin might very well camp out at her doorstep all day.

"Thank you, Director Bai, thank you!" Zhang Demin was ecstatic upon receiving her approval. To any onlooker unaware of the situation, his jubilation might seem like madness.

He had just handed over land worth hundreds of millions, yet he was smiling. If that wasn't madness, what was?

Bai Shuang observed Zhang Demin's demeanor, her curiosity deepening. The extent of his fear was a clear indicator of the helper's formidable power. But who could it be?

She didn't know anyone at that level. There were certainly individuals more powerful than Zhang's Corporation, but not to the extent that they would instill such dread. And those types of people were notoriously ruthless; they wouldn't lift a finger without a significant show of sincerity.

The more Bai Shuang thought about it, the more agitated she became. Being a woman in the cutthroat world of business, particularly a beautiful one, was exhausting. She had spent years working amongst men who behaved like wolves.

In that moment, she felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward the mysterious benefactor who had supported her from the shadows.

Then, her gaze landed on the white Mercedes-Benz parked downstairs, and she was taken aback. Wasn't that her car? Shouldn't Lin Yuan be inside? Why was he only leaving now?

A black car was tailing closely behind—it was Zhang Demin's vehicle!

Could this be mere coincidence? Bai Shuang pondered. Moments later, she exhaled a resigned sigh, recognizing the absurdity of her fanciful thoughts. He was nothing but a layabout, whiling away his days in idle pleasure. How could he possibly be the formidable figure that struck fear into Zhang Demin?

"Brother Yuan, how did I do? Are you pleased?" In the Green and Blue Hotel, Zhang Demin gazed at Lin Yuan with an obsequious smile. He hadn't even presumed to sit down, instead watching Lin Yuan with bated breath.

He had come to the realization that Lin Yuan was Bai Shuang's husband. How laughable it was that he had previously learned Lin Yuan was merely a live-in son-in-law, a good-for-nothing! And it was this belief that had led him to covet Bai Shuang!

But now, he understood his grave error. Was this the so-called useless son-in-law the world gossiped about? Clearly, he was a man of formidable power, capable of wiping out any force in Xia City in the blink of an eye!

"You did alright," Lin Yuan responded nonchalantly. "But make sure you remember, if anyone makes a move against my wife's company, you stop them immediately and report back to me!"

"Do I make myself clear?"

Zhang Demin got the message instantly. He grasped that Lin Yuan intended to appoint him as a business bodyguard for his exquisite wife—and he had stumbled upon this incredible opportunity!

"Absolutely! I'll give it my all!" Zhang Demin promised, while internally he couldn't help but think, If only you had sought such a bodyguard sooner, I wouldn't have lost over a billion yuan!

Indeed, just the previous night, in the span of two minutes, Zhang's Corporation had hemorrhaged over a billion yuan. A few minutes more, and they would have faced bankruptcy! Yet, he also recognized the enormous opportunity Lin Yuan had presented him. If he could forge a connection with Lin Yuan, the loss of those billions would be trivial in comparison.

"Fine, you may go now," Lin Yuan said with a sharp glance. He was aware there was a flaw in having everyone report to him. Bai Shuang, a woman of stunning beauty managing her own company, was bound to attract men who coveted both her and her wealth.

Not assigning her an invisible bodyguard would be asking for trouble. He couldn't always rely on the War God Shrine to intervene with those weaker than themselves. The fallout would be too significant, just like with today's incident involving Zhang Demin.

Suddenly, Lin Yuan's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Bai Shuang. A smile quickly spread across his face as he eagerly answered, "Hello? Honey, what's up?"

"Why did you just leave the office?" Bai Shuang's icy voice came through.

"Uh, I got a bit drowsy in the car and dozed off. I didn't really have anything pressing to do..." Lin Yuan replied, sheepishly.

"You!" Bai Shuang fumed on the other end. You're sleeping? While your wife is here, tirelessly navigating through negotiations? And you have the nerve to sleep?!

The more she dwelled on it, the angrier she became. Bai Shuang abruptly ended the call and stewed in her office.

Lin Yuan stared at his phone, a look of resignation on his face. Truth be told, he was in a bind. His identity had to remain a secret, and Bai Shuang was on the brink of facing a slew of dangers.

Three months earlier, he had discovered that someone had hired an international assassin to target Bai Shuang. In a rash act of excitement, he had eliminated all the adversaries, leaving him with no leads on who was behind the attempt on her life.

With no other options, he returned to Xia City to seek out Bai Shuang's father, who understood the gravity of the situation. They struck a covert deal. For eighteen months, he would pose as the dutiful son-in-law, when in reality, he was her dedicated bodyguard.

Yet, Bai Shuang was completely in the dark about this arrangement, believing her father had genuinely given her hand in marriage to Lin Yuan.

There was another secret unknown to even Bai Shuang's father. Decades ago, while on a mission abroad, Lin Yuan was critically injured and near death. By chance, he encountered three members of the Bai Family who were traveling overseas.

Bai Shuang was just a child then. Upon seeing Lin Yuan, she defied her parents' warnings and insisted on getting him to a hospital. Her parents, foreseeing the potential trouble, forcibly took her away. But within half an hour, the young Bai Shuang had stealthily returned...

Back then, Lin Yuan was merely thirteen, and Bai Shuang a year younger at twelve, yet their destinies were intertwined for a lifetime. However, throughout the years, Lin Yuan never found the opportunity to connect with her. His status and power were too significant, entangled in complexities far beyond what the Bai Family could embrace, let alone Bai Shuang.

So today marked the extraordinary occasion of Lin Yuan joining the Bai Family in marriage. The contract that once bound him had long been discarded. In this life, my commitment is to protect you, expecting no rewards. Eighteen months from now, the choice is yours—I'll either depart or remain by your side, as you wish.