Lin Chudong sat on the bed, lit a cigarette, looked at the message on his phone, and fell into deep thought.
"Lin Chudong, starting today you may retire. You are no longer responsible for the safety of these national treasures."
"In view of your contributions to the country over the past five years, you are hereby officially awarded the Dragon Country Special Class Merit Medal and the Dragon Country Highest-Level Pass."
Glancing at the message, Lin Chudong casually tossed his phone aside.
At this moment, the man holding the Dragon Country Special Class Merit Medal was worried sick in bed, because lying right beside him was an unfamiliar woman.
Though the woman's eyes were tightly closed, her face was breathtakingly beautiful.
Lin Chudong had met her last night at a bar. She had been very proactive, and since he was also looking to unwind, they ended up doing what consenting adults naturally do.
What left him speechless, however, was that upon waking up, he discovered the woman had been a virgin.
"Ahem..."
The smell of smoke startled the woman awake.
Qin Wei opened her eyes and gave a violent start.
Her physical discomfort immediately brought last night rushing back to her memory.
After being drugged at the bar, she had actually gone out of her way to seduce this man, spending the whole night making love with him, and now her entire body ached.
At the mere thought of last night, Qin Wei felt so embarrassed she wished the floor would open up and swallow her.
"Awake?"
The man's voice rang out.
Qin Wei was startled, hurriedly wrapped herself in the quilt, and glared furiously at him.
"You bastard!"
"Despicable!"
"Shameless!"
Lin Chudong blinked. "How am I a bastard, how am I despicable, and how am I shameless? You'd better make yourself clear. Yesterday it was entirely mutual; I didn't force you."
Qin Wei's face darkened as if it could drip ink, and she bit her lower lip so hard it turned white. The look she wore was a captivating blend of innocence and allure that made anyone who saw it swallow hard.
If Lin Chudong hadn't possessed extraordinary self-control, he really would have wanted to pick her up and relive last night's dream all over again.
Staring at the pool of blood on the bed, Qin Wei's eyes turned red.
She had guarded her chastity for twenty-five years, never expecting to have it taken by a total stranger. She was so aggrieved she could have cried.
Seeing Qin Wei's expression, Lin Chudong was at a loss for words.
"Don't cry. If worst comes to worst, I'll take responsibility for you."
Qin Wei said coldly, "Take responsibility for me? Do you even know who I am? As if you're worthy!"
Lin Chudong smiled awkwardly. "I should be pretty worthy of you..."
As the ninth person in Dragon Country's history to receive a Special Class Merit, and the only one still alive, surely he qualified as a hero worthy of a beauty?
Qin Wei sneered. "Don't dream. Let me tell you, you'd better forget about what happened last night, or it won't do you any good."
"If you try to use this to blackmail me, don't blame me for being ruthless."
With that, Qin Wei quickly threw on her clothes, slammed the door, and left.
Lin Chudong shrugged. This wasn't a bad outcome either. Last night had been amazing, and he didn't have to take responsibility—the best of both worlds.
He lit another cigarette and reflected on the thrilling experiences of the past few years.
Five years ago, Li Chunyang, a renowned command and control expert in Dragon Country and the chief designer of the combat command system, was involved in a car accident after attending an important meeting in the Capital.
It was Lin Chudong who had leapt forward and snatched Dr. Li out of harm's way.
Four years ago, Professor Feng Danian, a prominent scientist in the field of Dragon Country's genetically modified biosafety, encountered a major car accident on his way home.
It was Lin Chudong who anticipated the danger in advance, grabbed Professor Feng, and jumped out of the car ahead of time to escape disaster.
Three years ago, Professor Zhang Shunbin, creator of the world's first liquid oxygen-nitrogen pump cycle rocket, faced an assassination attempt in America.
It was Lin Chudong who took on three opponents alone, dropping all three assailants with three bullets to save Professor Zhang.
Two years ago...
Scene after scene flashed through Lin Chudong's mind.
Peerless national treasures—these high-tech talents had made immense contributions to the country.
And the only reason they remained safe and sound was because individuals like Lin Chudong existed.
He held no military rank, belonged to no official unit, had no personnel file, and his name didn't even appear in any database.
Yet time and time again, he had pulled these national treasures back from the gates of hell.
Until this year, when the anti-espionage organization was officially established, allowing him to finally retire with honor.
It was a pity he couldn't return home in glory.
Once his identity was exposed, it would likely invite endless revenge and assassination attempts.
He was Dragon Country's formidable bodyguard; in five years, he had never failed a single mission. Whenever these top-tier VIPs stood by his side, they possessed absolute peace of mind.
Now, he had finally shed that tense lifestyle.
However, before retiring, there was one final mission to complete. The assignment hadn't been sent over yet, and he had no idea which scientist he would be tasked with protecting.
Ding-dong.
Before Lin Chudong could even finish his cigarette, his phone rang.
He opened it to find a document sent directly to his device.
Mission: Provide close personal protection to the target for three years until completion.
Target: Qin Wei, Legal Representative of Starlight Pharmaceuticals, height 168...
Lin Chudong frowned slightly. Protect someone for three years?
Isn't this mission way too long?
The longest mission he had ever undertaken previously was just one week—protecting a top scientist for seven days had already pushed the work intensity to its limits.
Who on earth was this Qin Wei that she required three years of protection?
He scrolled down to the bottom of the file and saw Qin Wei's photograph.
Lin Chudong froze.
Wasn't this the beauty he had spent the entire night entangled with yesterday?
He had slept with his own employer?
***
On the way to Starlight Pharmaceuticals, Lin Chudong carefully reviewed Qin Wei's dossier.
Fortunately, Qin Wei was no national treasure, nor was she a government researcher.
Otherwise, sleeping with her would have been no small matter.
Qin Wei was a well-known female entrepreneur worth hundreds of millions, fair-skinned and beautiful, hailed as the undisputed beauty of Jiangcheng.
Even so, did that really warrant assigning him to provide close personal protection for three years?
What was this woman's background?
The file contained only so much information; this alone certainly wasn't enough to justify deploying Lin Chudong, let alone for such an extended period of close protection.
Therefore, behind Qin Wei, there must have been another identity.
Fortunately, Lin Chudong was planning to stay in Jiangcheng for a while anyway, making this final mission quite convenient.
Before long, he arrived at Starlight Pharmaceuticals.
Inside the company lobby, over a dozen core executives had gathered around an elderly man.
The old man was Dr. Zhao Xiguang, a renowned expert in the field of biotechnology.
Clutched in his hand was a patent that held the lifeblood of the entire medical industry.
Whichever company secured the authorization for this patent would experience explosive growth over the next few years.
Conversely, failing to secure the authorization meant tightening their belts just to get by.
Zhao Xiguang looked at Qin Wei and frowned. "President Qin, I've heard some unpleasant rumors. People say your private life is lacking in propriety, and that you even went to a hotel with a strange man last night."
"As a businessperson, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, personal character is paramount."
"I'm afraid I cannot hand this patent over to you."
Qin Wei's expression turned somewhat unsightly.
"Dr. Zhao, these are pure rumors! I have never done anything like that!"
***
A middle-aged man standing beside Dr. Zhao suddenly stepped forward.
"President Qin, you shouldn't deny it. Your one-night stand with a man at the bar yesterday was caught on camera."
With that, the middle-aged man produced his phone, zoomed in on a photograph, and displayed it to the crowd.
The photo clearly captured the exact moment Qin Wei and Lin Chudong were embracing in the bar the night before.
Qin Wei's expression turned grim. This middle-aged man was her competitor.
Shen Fenglin, CEO of Fenglin Pharmaceuticals!
How did he know about last night's events?
Could it be that he was the one who drugged her?
Was the client who asked to meet her at the bar yesterday also arranged by Shen Fenglin?
At that moment, Qin Wei finally understood that last night had been a trap set by Shen Fenglin!
He wanted to capture her in a compromising position so he could seize the patent authorization today.
She had negotiated with Dr. Zhao for a long time; Dr. Zhao was a rather rigid academic perfectionist, and Qin Wei had exerted a tremendous amount of effort just to win his approval.
They had agreed on the patent authorization for today, but she never expected Shen Fenglin to bring this up at the critical moment!
Qin Wei clenched her fists so tightly her teeth were nearly grinding to dust.
"Shen Fenglin! How despicable of you!"
Shen Fenglin sneered. "Where is President Qin getting that from? How am I despicable? What does your wild behavior with men at a bar have to do with me?"
"Dr. Zhao, this patent affects the livelihood of the common people. If it falls into the hands of someone like this, I'm afraid your lifelong reputation will be ruined here."
Zhao Xiguang fell silent. Although Qin Wei possessed genuine academic achievements, if her personal life was truly this dissolute—cavorting with men in bars on a whim and engaging in one-night stands—he could never allow his research to be exploited by such a person!
"President Qin, I suppose I will hand this patent over to President Shen instead."
Shen Fenglin had been his second choice, but now that Qin Wei's character had been exposed, he had no choice but to settle for the alternative.
"Dr. Zhao!"
Zhao Xiguang raised his hand to signal her to say no more.
"President Qin, you have deeply disappointed me. Let's leave it at that."
Right at that moment, a figure suddenly stepped out from the crowd.
"What nonsense are you people spouting? When did getting cozy with my girlfriend make her character improper?"
Everyone turned their heads to see Lin Chudong emerging from the crowd. He walked straight up to Qin Wei, reached out an arm, and pulled her straight into his embrace.
Qin Wei's body shuddered, and a flash of embarrassment and anger crossed her face.
However, upon seeing Lin Chudong's expression, she realized he was stepping in to rescue her from a tight spot.
How did this guy even know her identity?
And how had he found his way here?
At that moment, Lin Chudong's hand was boldly resting around her waist. Pressing her soft body against his, the subtle scent of male hormones reminded her of last night's humiliating memories, causing her breathing to grow shallow.
Yet she couldn't resist right now, allowing Lin Chudong to hold her close.
Zhao Xiguang blinked. "You are President Qin's boyfriend?"
If Qin Wei had been hugging and kissing a stranger in a bar, that would indeed reflect poorly on her character; but if the man was her boyfriend, then it was entirely normal behavior.
Shen Fenglin frowned deeply and interjected, "Rubbish! They obviously just met yesterday, what kind of boyfriend is he!"
Lin Chudong said calmly, "My girlfriend Qin Wei is twenty-five years old, born in the Year of the Dog, one hundred sixty-eight centimeters tall, and weighs fifty-two kilograms."
"She graduated from Capital University of Science and Technology, goes by the childhood nickname Weiwei, and her measurements are 36D..."
Hearing Lin Chudong rattle off Qin Wei's personal details like a living encyclopedia, everyone stared in astonishment.
Was this man really President Qin's boyfriend? How come nobody had ever heard of him?
Qin Wei's face flushed bright red instantly, and she hurriedly delivered a light punch to his chest with her small fist.
"Enough, stop talking!"
If he kept going, her entire file would be made public.
It was utterly bizarre—how on earth did this jerk know her details, and with such precise accuracy?
Because their bodies were pressed tightly together, Qin Wei's punch looked more like playful flirting between lovers.
The company employees were dumbfounded; they had never witnessed President Qin display such a demure, womanly demeanor. Just who on earth was this man, capable of taming their formidable boss?
Shen Fenglin narrowed his eyes, sensing something amiss. Where on earth did Qin Wei get a boyfriend?
The trap he had painstakingly set yesterday was originally meant for him and Qin Wei to spend the night together, but she had escaped midway, letting this punk reap the benefits instead.
After reviewing the bar's surveillance footage, he had only managed to secure that single photograph.
He had thought it would destroy Qin Wei's reputation, only to find out this fellow actually knew her?
A look of guilt washed over Zhao Xiguang's face.
"President Qin, I am truly sorry. I misunderstood you."
Qin Wei finally let out a breath. "It's fine, Dr. Zhao. As long as we don't let ourselves be manipulated by scheming villains."
Seeing that Zhao Xiguang seemed to be wavering again, Shen Fenglin clenched his fists and stepped forward.
"Dr. Zhao, my older brother Shen Jiancai is also a graduate of the University of Science and Technology, and he was one of your students. You even supervised his graduation thesis back then."
"Given our connection, won't you reconsider the matter of the patent?"
Zhao Xiguang hesitated, his brows furrowing slightly as he fell into a dilemma.
Right at that moment, his gaze drifted toward Lin Chudong.
Why did this man look so familiar?
Lin Chudong's face lacked any distinguishing features, yet those sharp eyes of his gave Zhao Xiguang a deep sense of familiarity.
Suddenly, Zhao Xiguang's pupils contracted as a specific memory surfaced in his mind.
It was him!
Mr. Lin, who had once shielded his teacher from a bullet!
His teacher had once said that Mr. Lin had saved him countless times, and that debt could never be repaid in a lifetime.
Without Mr. Lin, Dragon Country's technological progress would have been set back by at least twenty years!
People often spoke of peerless national treasures, but Mr. Lin's contributions were no less than theirs.
Zhao Xiguang quickly stepped forward and grasped Lin Chudong's hands with both of his own, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Mr. Lin, forgive me! My eyes were playing tricks on me—I didn't recognize you just now!"
"To think President Qin is your girlfriend; President Qin is truly blessed."
"We needn't discuss this patent any further. I am granting the authorization to President Qin."
A wave of excitement washed over Qin Wei's face; she hadn't expected Zhao Xiguang to agree so readily.
It seemed Dr. Zhao knew this man?
Who on earth was this fellow?
Having no time to ponder it now, Qin Wei quickly said, "Dr. Zhao, please, come upstairs."
Zhao Xiguang nodded and resolutely stepped into the elevator.
Lin Chudong glanced back at Shen Fenglin. Was he the one who drugged Qin Wei yesterday?
It seemed he was a threat to Qin Wei.
If necessary, he could be eliminated.
Lin Chudong's piercing gaze felt as though it could pierce through everything.
As their eyes met, Shen Fenglin shivered involuntarily.
Such intense killing intent!
***
Inside the elevator, Qin Wei turned back to look at Lin Chudong, gritting her teeth as she hissed in a low voice.
"Get your paws off me!"
Did he have to keep holding her forever?
***
Seeing Qin Wei's embarrassed and indignant expression, Zhao Xiguang chuckled.
"Youth is wonderful. Seeing how affectionate you two are is truly enviable."
Lin Chudong tightened his grip around Qin Wei's waist, pulling her soft body closer against him.
"Indeed. Weiwei is wonderful in every way, she's just a bit too clingy."
Qin Wei bit down hard, nearly cursing out loud in anger.
Clingy?
He could make up lies without even blinking!
Just because he helped her out of a tight spot didn't mean he could actually act like her boyfriend.
This jerk had been out hunting for women at a bar last night; he was clearly no good.
Qin Wei had a terrible impression of him, and if it weren't for securing this patent, she would never have let him take advantage of her a second time.
Upstairs, they signed the contract and saw Dr. Zhao off.
Back in the office, Qin Wei's expression darkened.
"Lin, who told you to come looking for me?"
As the premier female entrepreneur of Jiangcheng, it was hardly surprising that Lin Chudong recognized her.
Yet she had already warned him that very morning, and the scoundrel had still shamelessly shown up. Did he think he could use yesterday's incident to blackmail her?
Lin Chudong gave a faint smile. "I just returned to Jiangcheng and don't have a place to stay yet. How about you give me a job? How does being your bodyguard sound?"
Judging by Qin Wei's reaction, she apparently had no idea she was supposed to be protected, let alone what level of operative Lin Chudong belonged to.
Qin Wei let out a cold snort, exactly as she had anticipated.
"I figured you were just after money."
Suddenly, as if recalling something, Qin Wei's eyes rolled as an idea struck her.
"If it's money you want, I can give you a job. You played the role of my boyfriend quite smoothly earlier."
"How about you act as my contractual boyfriend for three months?"
"During these three months, you'll be responsible for chasing away all those suitors of mine, as well as the blind dates my dad keeps setting up for me."
"Complete this job, and I'll pay you three hundred thousand for the three months."
Hearing this, Lin Chudong immediately nodded.
A contractual boyfriend had pretty much the same nature as a close bodyguard; either way, his job was just to protect her.
The only drawback was that the timeframe was a bit short—Qin Wei only wanted three months, whereas his mission was for three years.
"Deal."
Qin Wei added, "Even though you're my contractual boyfriend, you don't get any boyfriend privileges. Without my permission, you are strictly forbidden from touching me inappropriately, or I won't hesitate to call the police."
"Also, during the contract period, I'll cover your living expenses, but if you throw money around carelessly, you'll have to pay out of your own pocket."
"When necessary, to put on a convincing display of affection, we... may have appropriate physical contact."
Hearing that, Lin Chudong grew interested.
"What does appropriate physical contact mean? Like just now, where I held your waist?"
Qin Wei's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded.
"I said when necessary. And I am the one who decides when it's necessary."
Lin Chudong nodded, sweeping his gaze over Qin Wei as if recalling the delightful scenes from yesterday.
Qin Wei glared fiercely at him, instinctively pulling her collar tighter.
"Alright, I have work to do. If there's nothing else, go hang out in the security room downstairs."