Under the soft lights of the reception room, three people sat together in a circle, though the air was thick with an indescribable tension. Tang Hao's gaze kept drifting toward the woman opposite him. Her name was Jiang Wan, and her every subtle movement plucked at his heartstrings.
Bai Xiaoxi sensed the strange atmosphere, furrowing her brow in displeasure as she spoke: "Hey, what do you mean by staring at Xiaowan like that the whole time? Even if she is pretty, you need to show some restraint. Keep doing that and I'll really call security."
Jiang Wan gently patted the back of Bai Xiaoxi's hand to signal that she didn't need to be so nervous. Calmly, she addressed Tang Hao: "You're the one my dad hired to protect me, right?"
Tang Hao snapped out of his trance and nodded, looking somewhat dazed.
With a slight arch of her brow and a half-smile, Jiang Wan asked: "Then can you tell me why you've been staring at me like that this whole time? Didn't you know it's very impolite?"
Tang Hao took a deep breath, his voice deep and magnetic: "You... look a lot like someone I used to know."
Hearing this, the corners of Jiang Wan's lips curled into an amused smile, though she didn't reply immediately.
Bai Xiaoxi scoffed with utter disdain: "Hmph, that pickup line went out of style ages ago. If you actually have any designs on our CEO Jiang, just spit it out instead of beating around the bush."
Tang Hao smiled helplessly, slipping back into his memories.
Amidst the frozen wasteland of Northern Europe, Tang Hao had once crossed paths with a woman. Dressed in a flowing white gown and wielding a long sword that flickered with a chilling light, she looked like a celestial being descended into the snow.
She was Ye Lingxuan, a daughter of the Ye Family from China's Kunlun Mountains. On that occasion, she had come to eradicate a faction of evil entities that had fled from China.
That battle had been exceptionally grueling for Ye Lingxuan. She sustained severe injuries, and had Tang Hao not stepped in to rescue her just in time, she would likely have lost her life right there.
Ever since then, the two of them had forged a deep bond. They fought side by side, facing all kinds of hardships and dangers together.
Yet good times never last. A few months later, Ye Lingxuan's family sent people to summon her back. At the moment of parting, she told Tang Hao through tears: "Tang Hao, you must remember me!"
Tang Hao gripped her hands tightly, his voice trembling: "I will remember what you look like. No matter how time flows, I will remember you. When the time comes, I will definitely go to your family to find you!"
Ye Lingxuan's figure receded into the distance amid Tang Hao's calls, until she vanished completely.
Tang Hao's eyes grew hollow, as if swallowed by endless memories. Jiang Wan and Bai Xiaoxi looked at each other in dismay, exchanging a pair of bewildered glances.
It took several gentle calls to finally rouse Tang Hao from his distant memories.
"What is wrong with you?" Jiang Wan asked with concern. "Did you think of something? Does it have anything to do with me?" Looking into Tang Hao's affectionate eyes, a ripple stirred within her heart, though she immediately dismissed the thought, deciding she had nothing to do with this matter.
Tang Hao took a deep breath, fixed his gaze tightly on Jiang Wan's face, and exclaimed: "You and she look as though you were cast from the very same mold, down to the exact detail!" His eyes were drawn to the beauty mark between Jiang Wan's brows. In his memories, Ye Lingxuan had possessed a similar mark, albeit positioned slightly differently.
"Do you have an identical twin sister, or perhaps a younger sister?" Tang Hao's voice was laced with certainty. He believed this was no coincidence; some unfathomable connection must exist between Ye Lingxuan and Jiang Wan.
Jiang Wan frowned slightly, feeling perplexed by Tang Hao's abrupt question. She answered with absolute clarity: "I am the only daughter in my family; I have never heard of any twin sisters." Her tone exuded unquestionable firmness.
Bai Xiaoxi chimed in as well: "I've watched Xiaowan grow up. If she had a twin sister, how could I possibly not know about it? What kind of trick are you trying to pull to get close to our Xiaowan? Let me tell you, it's not going to be that easy!"
Tang Hao stood up, his expression dead serious: "I can assure you, if she doesn't have a twin sister, then she must have some kind of connection to Ye Lingxuan. I cannot be mistaken."
Watching Tang Hao act with such earnestness, the two women couldn't help but feel a lingering doubt. Could there truly be someone who looked identical to Jiang Wan?
"Since fate has bound you to her so deeply, I will do everything in my power to protect you." A flash of resolve crossed Tang Hao's eyes as he spoke slowly.
Listening to his words, Jiang Wan and Bai Xiaoxi experienced a whirlwind of mixed emotions. Tang Hao's phrasing seemed to place them in a position where they were begging him for help, rendering the power dynamic rather uneven.
Jiang Wan took a deep breath, trying to reclaim the initiative: "Mister, we did indeed hire you to protect me, but we also need to see your strength and confirm whether you are capable of handling this job." Her voice betrayed determination and confidence.
Tang Hao smiled faintly: "You can rest easy on that score. Although I've never taken on a bodyguard assignment before, my abilities are more than enough to guarantee your safety. In Jinghai City, no one is yet capable of posing a threat to me."
Bai Xiaoxi shook her head slightly, letting out a soft sigh: "You shouldn't speak with such absolute certainty, or you might end up eating your words." Her words carried a hint of defiance and stubbornness.
At this, Tang Hao turned his head, fixing his sharp gaze directly on Bai Xiaoxi. Meeting that look, Bai Xiaoxi felt a sudden shiver run through her heart and unconsciously took a few steps back.
The warning and deterrence packed into that gaze subjected her to an unprecedented level of pressure.
"Hmph, what's so great about it? Isn't it just being able to fight?" Though somewhat frightened, Bai Xiaoxi stubbornly hid behind Jiang Wan, using Jiang Wan's presence to bolster her courage. Her voice was slightly subdued, yet remained firm.
Jiang Wan gently grasped Bai Xiaoxi's hand and offered a soft reassurance: "Xiaooxi, stop bickering with him. From now on, we'll still need him to protect us." Her words brimmed with trust and expectation.
Right at that moment, a figure rushed in hurriedly—it was the young security guard Tang Hao had seen earlier. Gasping for breath, he blurted out: "This is bad, CEO! The young master of the Li Family is here to cause trouble again, and we can't stop him!"
Hearing this, Jiang Wan's expression shifted, and she said angrily: "Why does he keep running over here for no reason? Does he really think that having a good father gives him the right to do whatever he pleases?" Her voice overflowed with dissatisfaction and wrath.
Bai Xiaoxi chimed in just as vehemently: "Exactly! Just because his family has a little stinking money, he's forgotten his own name. Trying to cozy up to our Xiaowan—he's dreaming!" Her tone dripped with contempt and sarcasm.
Tang Hao listened quietly to their complaints, already formulating a plan in his mind. He understood that right now was his moment to shine.
At that very instant, a young man wearing a white hoodie walked in. A large gold chain hung around his neck, and sunglasses sat upon his eyes, giving off an arrogant and domineering aura.
Trailing behind him were two individuals in black suits, evidently his personal bodyguards.
"Xiaowan, have you made up your mind yet? Our business is going to happen sooner or later; my dad has already spoken with yours." The young man swaggered in and spoke with supreme confidence and arrogance.
Upon seeing him, Jiang Wan's expression turned ugly at once. She let out a cold huff: "Hmph, who has 'business' with you? My dad would never agree to such a thing, so stop spouting nonsense here!" Her voice was laden with scorn and fury.
Hearing those words, Li Shuo's expression shifted abruptly. Struck as though by a sharp thorn, he felt both a pang of pain and a wave of frustration. Glaring at Jiang Wan, he pressed on: "Jiang Wan, none of that matters. Our elders will take care of our affairs, and all I need to do is work on you!" His tone brimmed with arrogance and self-assurance.
Jiang Wan was so angry her teeth chattered; she never imagined Li Shuo could be so utterly shameless. She took a deep breath, wanting to retort but unsure how to begin.
Just then, Tang Hao stepped forward. He strode right up to Li Shuo, grabbed the front of Li Shuo's hoodie with one hand, looked him straight in the eyes, and declared: "Who do you think you're talking to? Did you know I'm standing right here?" His voice was filled with majesty and unquestionable authority.