C5 A Hero Saving a Beauty

Yang Wanwan had no idea she had become a thorn in someone else's side. For her, the most pressing issue was finding a new job as soon as possible. After three days of scouring job listings online, she armed herself with all the information she could gather and went from company to company. Strangely, each one turned her down after the interview.

"Why does everyone keep rejecting me? Is it because of how I'm dressed...?" Yang Wanwan wondered aloud as she walked home, scrutinizing her outfit. She wore a modest black business suit, her hair was perfectly styled, and her makeup was understated yet elegant. So, what was the problem?

Lost in thought, Yang Wanwan failed to notice two thugs trailing her—a lanky guy and one with bleached blond hair. They wore smug smiles and quickly closed in on her at a corner, grabbing her.

Startled, Yang Wanwan shivered, sensing danger. Just as she opened her mouth to scream for help, one of them clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Hey there, pretty girl, why don't you hang out with us for a bit?" the lanky thug sneered, his eyes gleaming with a sleazy light, like a rat spotting cheese in a sewer.

Not far away, across the street, Yeh Beijin was driving toward Yang Wanwan's home.

"I got it, Mom. You've said it three times already. I'll be home on time."

After hanging up, Beijin casually glanced at the nearby alleyway. It was just a quick look, but he caught a glimpse of a fleeting face.

"Screech!"

Beijin slammed on the brakes, yanked off his seatbelt, and practically leaped out of the car.

The two thugs had no idea trouble was coming their way. They were still grinning sleazily as they harassed Wanwan.

"Hey, let's just do it here. No one's watching anyway, and I can't wait any longer!" The thug with the yellow hair said impatiently, his hand already reaching for Wanwan.

Wanwan struggled in despair, fear crashing over her like waves. Her gaze fixed on the two leering faces in front of her, their eyes filled with a desire that made her shut her own.

"Bang!"

"Ouch!"

"Who the hell dares to mess with your old man’s fun?"

A series of sounds reached Wanwan's ears almost simultaneously.

She cautiously opened her eyes just a crack and was thrilled to see the two thugs clutching their heads and rolling on the ground. A tall man in a black trench coat stood beside them, his back to her.

Wanwan had never realized just how striking a person's silhouette could be.

Beijin turned around.

Their eyes met in the air.

Wanwan almost thought she was seeing things. She held her breath, trying to get a clearer look at that face.

Her stunned expression made Beijin think she was frightened.

He quickly furrowed his brow, walked over to Wanwan, and knelt down, opening his long coat to envelop her in his arms.

Inside the coat was his warm body heat, and the familiar, crisp scent of him filled her senses. Wanwan felt dazed, unsure of how to react.

“Did I scare you?” Beijin asked in a deep voice, gently rubbing her back. “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

Such a simple sentence, yet Wanwan felt as if something in her heart had been struck, and her eyes began to well up.

It had been a long time since she felt she could lean on someone else.

Ever since her dad had been in a car accident and left in a vegetative state, she stopped being a girl who relied on others. Instead, she became someone others depended on. No matter what happened, she constantly reminded herself not to fall, not to cry.

She had endured every hardship and never shed a tear.

But a simple word of comfort made her want to break down and cry.

She hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around Beijin's waist, finally holding him tightly.

Feeling the small figure in his embrace, Beijin's heart softened like cotton. He tightened his arms, pulling her closer.

Two troublemakers leaned against the wall, their groans gradually fading. The one with the yellow hair caught a glimpse of Beijin comforting Wanwan and signaled to the tall, skinny guy. They scrambled to their feet and ran off.

"They ran away. Aren't you going to chase them?" Wanwan asked, her voice muffled.

"No need," Beijin replied, patting her head. Suddenly remembering she was still sitting on the ground, he quickly helped her up. "The ground's cold."

The sudden separation left Wanwan momentarily unsettled, followed by an indescribable awkwardness.

"Thank you for saving me," she said, fiddling with her fingers and avoiding Beijin's gaze.

Beijin, with a calm expression, took her wrist. "I'll walk you home."

They walked in single file, with Wanwan trailing behind Beijin like a child being led by a parent.

"Why are you coming back so late?" Beijin broke the silence between them.

Yang Wanwan: "I got back late because I had a lot of job interviews today."

Yeh Beijin stopped in his tracks, surprised, and turned around. "Aren't you working at the grocery store?"

At the mention of this, Yang Wanwan's expression darkened slightly, and her tone became colder. "I went to deliver something to you that day... and never made it back. My boss got mad and fired me."

So it was because of him.

Yeh Beijin felt an inexplicable discomfort and changed the subject. "After all those interviews, did you get any offers?"

Yang Wanwan let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Do you think I have the luxury of choosing? I interviewed at over a dozen mid-sized companies, and not one of them hired me."

Yeh Beijin paused for a moment. "Do you remember the names of those companies?"

Yang Wanwan nodded and listed the names of the companies one by one.

She didn't notice that Yeh Beijin's expression grew increasingly grim, to the point where it seemed almost repellent.

"Are you upset?" Yang Wanwan asked tentatively at the entrance of the building. "Did I waste your time or say something that bothered you?"

"It's not about you," Yeh Beijin interrupted, slightly raising his arm. "Go on inside."

Watching Yang Wanwan enter the building, Yeh Beijin turned away with a stern face and drove off to the Yeh family estate.