C8 First Bodyguard Mission

Ye Fan watched the car's trajectory with a hint of surprise, as it headed towards the suburbs. He knew this route all too well; it led to his home, the path he took every day.

The Golden Cup car came to a halt in front of a desolate warehouse on the outskirts, where neglect had allowed wild grass to thrive. The area was shrouded by a dense forest, its darkness amplified by the whispering leaves and nocturnal chirps of insects, casting an eerie shadow over the place.

The location was a good distance from the city center and even farther from where Ye Fan lived. The absence of streetlights meant the darkness was complete. In such a place, a murder could go unnoticed.

As the car door swung open, two stern-faced men in black dragged Su Yurou out. The pitch-black surroundings only heightened her sense of vulnerability and fear.

"Who sent you? Can you tell me now?" Su Yurou, though terrified, mustered her courage to speak.

"It's simple. We're hoping Miss Su will star in a film with us—the kind that's very intense and explicit. I'll be the leading man, and you, of course, will be our leading lady. But there are also the second, third, and fourth male leads. Just one leading lady, though," the man in black leered at Su Yurou.

The other three men in black chuckled as they brandished their cameras.

"I'll pay you—whatever amount you want. Please, just let me go," Su Yurou pleaded as she continued to back away.

"No rush. We'll discuss money later. Right now, the priority is to get the film rolling," the man in black said, his eyes fixed on Su Yurou with predatory anticipation.

Su Yurou was certain now—it had to be someone from the Su family behind this, using such vile tactics to coerce her into surrendering her shares.

And by doing this, the perpetrator would avoid a lot of complications. This way, her life wouldn't be in immediate danger, because if she were to die, the police would surely get involved. That would lead to a plummet in the family's stock value, and even if the family elders got their hands on some cash, it wouldn't be much.

"Don't come any closer, or I'll bite my tongue and end my own life." Su Yurou, having come to this grim conclusion, began to use the threat of death as leverage.

The man in black was visibly taken aback, clearly not expecting such intelligence and composure from her in this situation.

"Miss Su, I must admit you're quite clever. However, you should understand that we're simply carrying out a job for money. Even if you were to die, there are plenty of ways to explain it away. Who's to say what accidents might occur? It's unfortunate that you're just too beautiful for your own good," the man in black said as he lunged at Su Yurou.

Su Yurou closed her eyes in despair, wondering if this was where her life would end.

At her most vulnerable, she desperately wished for someone to come to her rescue.

But nothing changed; the man in black had already seized her arm.

A single tear traced her cheek before dropping to the ground, its splash scattering amidst the dust.

"Hey, you guys have no shame, bullying a woman who can't defend herself?"

Just as Su Yurou was about to bite her tongue, a confident voice suddenly echoed from the warehouse entrance.

"Who's there?"

All eyes turned to look.

A tall figure walked in slowly from the doorway.

"Ye Fan?" Su Yurou's heart leapt with both shock and relief upon recognizing him. She was relieved that someone had come to her aid, but shocked that he was alone against four armed men.

"Who are you? Kid, you'd better not stick your nose where it doesn't belong, or else..." The man in black eyed Ye Fan with suspicion, raising his hand and aiming his gun at him.

He couldn't fathom why anyone would show up here. Although there were people living in the suburbs, this warehouse was a good distance away from any homes, and it was unlikely for anyone to venture to such a place at night.

"Listen, pal, I'd think twice about pulling that trigger if I were you. I've already called the cops on my way here. They should be arriving in less than ten minutes, so you'd better start thinking about making a quick getaway," Ye Fan said, feigning confidence while his heart raced with fear. He worried that these men, being desperate, might not hesitate to shoot him and then flee.

Ye Fan was out of options. He couldn't stand by and watch Su Yurou perish, so he was forced to take a risk.

"Listen, I don't care who you are. Just go back and act like you're clueless. Do that, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, you're as good as dead today." The man in black was clearly reluctant to stir up trouble unless absolutely necessary. They had kidnapped no ordinary person; Su Yurou was well-known in Blaland, and if this incident blew up, they'd have no chance of escape.

Ye Fan realized his gamble had paid off when he heard the man's words.

"Look, I don't want to die, but you've taken my wife. I've got no choice but to fight you with everything I've got," Ye Fan said, spreading his hands in a gesture of resignation.

"Your wife? That's a load of crap. Save your lies for someone else," the man in black scoffed, looking at Ye Fan with contempt.

They had thoroughly researched Su Yurou before the kidnapping; she was scandal-free, so how could she suddenly have a husband?

When Ye Fan claimed Su Yurou as his wife, she wasn't angry. Instead, she admired his courage. It took a lot of guts to make such a claim under these circumstances, and Ye Fan continued to astonish her.

Suddenly, a cloud of dust cascaded from the warehouse ceiling, showering the other three men in black.

This was Ye Fan's handiwork. He had covertly spread lime on the roof before entering. He had intended to moisten it, but water was scarce in the wilderness, so he had resorted to urinating on it.

Now was the time to act!

Ye Fan charged at them, and in that moment, his mind was flooded with potential attack strategies.

"System, I love you!" Ye Fan yelled, accelerating even faster.

Su Yurou, who was nearby, heard Ye Fan's shout and wondered if 'System' was the name of his girlfriend. It was an odd name, but Ye Fan's passionate cry in such a dire situation indicated his deep attachment to 'System.' He must be a good man, she thought.

Her opinion of Ye Fan climbed another notch...

With the system's assistance, Ye Fan swiftly knocked out the three men in black. He then quickly ducked behind a column for cover.

Everything unfolded in a flash. The last man in black quickly raised his pistol, scanning for Ye Fan's silhouette.

Su Yurou was taken aback by Ye Fan's adeptness in combat. She paused, momentarily stunned, but then snapped to attention and dashed for the door.

Unable to spot Ye Fan, the man in black caught sight of Su Yurou attempting to escape and aimed his gun at her.

He knew that killing Su Yurou would complicate matters, but if she managed to get away, his own life was as good as forfeit. It was a desperate choice, but the only one he had.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed across the open field.

A streak of blood marked the moment. In the nick of time, Ye Fan shoved Su Yurou to safety, only to collapse himself.

Tears streamed down Su Yurou's face as she witnessed the all-too-familiar scene. Regret consumed her as she looked at Ye Fan lying motionless on the ground. It was Ye Fan who had come to her brother's rescue in his darkest hour, and Ye Fan who had been there for her in her moments of utter helplessness and fear. And now, he had paid the ultimate price for it.

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