That afternoon, the security team Jiang Yuan had hired arrived.
The man leading them wore gold-rimmed glasses. As soon as the door opened, he handed over a business card and introduced himself. "Hello, Mr. Jiang. My name is Wang Zijian, and I am the manager in charge of your account. If you have any needs or concerns in the future, you can contact me directly."
Jiang Yuan took the card, glanced at it, and then stepped aside to invite them in.
The security team consisted of six people in total. Besides Wang Zijian, there was a technician and four bodyguards. When Jiang Yuan saw the captain of the bodyguards, he let out a small sound of surprise. "Wait, haven't we met somewhere before?"
The man, a towering figure standing over 1.9 meters tall, suddenly looked a bit constrained. He stammered, "I had the honor of meeting Mr. Jiang once before at Amoy..."
It clicked for Jiang Yuan. "I remember now. You’re Zhang Siyi’s friend."
The big man looked a bit embarrassed and nodded. "Yes. My name is Xiong Zhipeng."
Jiang Yuan couldn't help but look Xiong Zhipeng over a few more times.
This man had only appeared with Zhang Siyi once. After that, Zhang Siyi hadn't brought him—or anyone else—to their gatherings. For his cousin, who usually had a revolving door of flings, this was highly unusual.
Jiang Yuan arched an eyebrow. "In that case, Captain Xiong might not be the right fit to be my bodyguard."
Wang Zijian seemed to realize something and said apologetically, "I am very sorry, Mr. Jiang. This was an oversight on our part. Please wait a moment; I will contact another team immediately."
"Wait!" Xiong Zhipeng stepped forward to stop Wang Zijian from making the call. His tone carried a hint of desperation. "Mr. Jiang, I promise to fulfill my duties and protect your safety with the utmost dedication. I will absolutely not cause any trouble for the people around you. Please, you must hire me as your bodyguard..."
Wang Zijian glanced at him in surprise, clearly not expecting him to humble himself so much.
Jiang Yuan could see that Xiong Zhipeng genuinely wanted this job. After a moment of deliberation, he said, "Captain Xiong, I have a few questions for you."
"Please, ask." Xiong Zhipeng’s eyes lit up, clearly understanding that these questions would determine whether he stayed or stayed or went.
Jiang Yuan led him to the other side of the living room and asked bluntly, "Did you break up with my brother?"
Xiong Zhipeng tightened his jaw and nodded.
"Why?" Jiang Yuan asked, crossing his arms.
"I don't know..." Xiong Zhipeng gave a bitter smile. "He suddenly brought up breaking up that day. When I asked for a reason, he wouldn't say. He even blocked all my contact information..."
Jiang Yuan: "..." It looked like Zhang Siyi was the type to be heartless after getting what he wanted.
"How did you two meet?" Jiang Yuan was curious; these two didn't look like they belonged in the same social circles at all.
Xiong Zhipeng looked at him somewhat guiltily. "I was previously... Mr. Zhang Xinhua’s bodyguard..."
Jiang Yuan: "..." Rolling into bed with the employer's son? Brother, your professional ethics are a bit questionable.
Perhaps sensing what Jiang Yuan was thinking, Xiong Zhipeng’s face flushed. He explained, "That day, Siyi—Young Master Zhang—had a fight with Mr. Zhang over something. He had quite a bit to drink... and it just so happened that I was on the night shift..."
Jiang Yuan understood after looking Xiong Zhipeng up and down. Given Zhang Siyi’s character, if he ran into someone who suited his taste while drunk, he’d naturally take the opportunity to claim them. Xiong Zhipeng had likely been interested in him for a long time but hadn't dared to say anything, so he had simply gone with the flow that night. Otherwise, with Zhang Siyi’s slight build, how could he have possibly forced a 1.9-meter giant like Xiong Zhipeng?
Jiang Yuan was curious why Zhang Siyi had suddenly initiated the breakup. If he had found someone new, he would have been blabbing about it in Jiang Yuan’s ear long ago; keeping things hidden wasn't his style.
If he hadn't found someone new, his reasons for doing this were worth scrutinizing. Ever since his first failed attempt at coming out, he had never lacked bed partners. This whole situation felt off.
Looking at Xiong Zhipeng’s attitude, it was clear he was still hung up on the kid. Otherwise, he didn't seem like the type to beg for a job. Jiang Yuan had placed an A-level order, so the security company would have sent elites. People with talent usually had their pride; if one employer didn't want them, there was always another. There was no need to lower himself like this.
Jiang Yuan suddenly thought of something else. "Was it because my uncle found out about you two that you were fired?"
Xiong Zhipeng nodded with a face full of bitterness. "It was the same day I was fired that Siyi suddenly proposed the breakup..."
Jiang Yuan rubbed his chin, considering a possibility.
"What's wrong?" Xie Chengnan’s voice drifted down from above.
Jiang Yuan looked up to see him walking down the stairs while fastening his cufflinks. He tilted his head up and smiled. "This is my newly hired security captain."
Xiong Zhipeng looked pleasantly surprised, knowing he had passed the test. He bowed slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Jiang! I will work hard!"
President Xie, however, felt a bit of a sting. *Why is a security captain being so eager?*
Seeing his boyfriend’s suspicious expression, the young master guessed what he was thinking and couldn't help but turn his head to let out a short laugh.
Knowing he was being teased by his boyfriend, President Xie didn't get annoyed. He walked over and wrapped an arm around Jiang Yuan’s waist in a display of sovereignty, nodding to Xiong Zhipeng. "Hello."
Having been a bodyguard for the wealthy for years, Xiong Zhipeng was naturally very good at reading the room. He realized he was standing too close to his employer and had made the boyfriend jealous, so he immediately took a discreet half-step back to show his lack of intent.
Xie Chengnan arched an eyebrow. Seeing that the man was sensible, he didn't press the matter further.
The manager saw Xie Chengnan and walked over enthusiastically to introduce himself. "Hello, President Xie. I am the head of Mr. Jiang’s security team. My name is Wang Zijian."
Xie Chengnan greeted him politely. "Hello, Mr. Wang."
Wang Zijian handed over a checklist and explained, "Our company is also responsible for your company's security. Before I came, our technical department head instructed me to discuss the layout of the security equipment with you and listen to your suggestions."
The access control system Xie Chengnan had designed himself had clearly left a deep impression on that technical head.
Xie Chengnan looked at the equipment list in his hand and shook his head. "We don't need new security equipment. There are already enough cameras in the house."
"What about infrared sensors and the like?" Wang Zijian asked meticulously.
Xie Chengnan declined again. "No need. Our home's monitoring network relies on artificial intelligence for identification and screening. Infrared doesn't add much value."
Wang Zijian tucked the list away and nodded. "Alright, then I'll have the technician head back first."
In the end, Jiang Yuan only signed the security contracts for the four bodyguards.
When Xie Chengnan saw the "twenty-four-hour service" clause, he frowned. He looked at Jiang Yuan with pointed intent. "Our home only has two rooms." *So, let's not have unnecessary people hanging around the house getting in the way.*
Jiang Yuan pressed a fist to his lips and laughed softly, teasing him. "We could renovate the third floor; it could be turned into four rooms."
Xie Chengnan pursed his lips and squeezed his hand, clearly dissatisfied with such an arrangement.
Having teased his boyfriend enough, the young master waved his hand dismissively. "This development will be transferred to my name in a couple of days. When that happens, they can stay in the villa next door." This residential complex just happened to be a property under the real estate company Jiang Kunbo had given him.
President Xie: "..." *Suddenly, I feel so poor...*
***
This week was finals week. Monday morning was the English exam. Since it was a required course, almost every classroom in the Qinxue Building had been set up as an examination hall.
When Jiang Yuan stepped out of his newly replaced bulletproof luxury car with his bodyguards, the spectacle was so grand that nearly everyone in the building stopped to stare. Various "candid" photos were quickly uploaded to the internet.
Zhang Siyi froze when he saw the person standing next to Jiang Yuan. He looked startled at first, but soon lowered his eyes slightly, losing his usual boisterous demeanor.
Although Xiong Zhipeng’s expression didn't change, his eyes were clearly glued to Zhang Siyi. His gaze was both passionate and restrained; it took a long moment before he tightened his jaw and forced himself to look away.
Jiang Yuan found it amusing but didn't call them out. He left both bodyguards downstairs and headed toward the exam hall with Zhang Siyi.
"Brother..." As soon as they entered the teaching building, Zhang Siyi couldn't help but ask, "Why did you hire *him* as a bodyguard..."
"Him?" Jiang Yuan looked blank, feigning ignorance. "Who are you talking about?"
If he didn't know that his brother’s ability to recognize people was practically photographic, Zhang Siyi would have been fooled by his acting. Knowing Jiang Yuan was teasing him, he could only concede. "Xiong Zhipeng!"
"Oh, him~" Jiang Yuan intentionally elongated the last syllable. "I heard he’s a retired special forces soldier with great skills. I couldn't very well reject him just because he’s your ex-boyfriend, could I? That would be such a waste."
Zhang Siyi was speechless. Ultimately, he could only droop his head and mutter, "Just don't bring him in front of my dad. My dad would have someone beat him to death."
"Did you break up because your dad opposed it?" Jiang Yuan was curious.
"Not entirely." Zhang Siyi scratched his head. "He’s a really good guy. I just felt... I couldn't hold him back."
Jiang Yuan laughed out of sheer frustration. "What kind of bullshit logic is that? Because he’s good, you’re not? It’s not certain who’s holding back whom."
Zhang Siyi stopped in his tracks, looking utterly dejected. "The day my dad fired him, he said he wasn't my family's bodyguard anymore and that he wanted to be my real boyfriend. In a moment of panic, I brought up the breakup and blocked him..."
Jiang Yuan was somewhat speechless. "Do you not like him?"
"I don't know." Zhang Siyi turned to glance down at the base of the teaching building. He saw something and immediately snapped his head back.
Jiang Yuan followed his gaze and saw that Xiong Zhipeng’s eyes had been following them the whole time; he was standing under a tree, looking up.
Then he heard Zhang Siyi say self-mockingly, "I've spent so much time following my hormones that I don't know how to follow my heart anymore."
Jiang Yuan wanted to say more, but Zhang Siyi waved him off. "Brother, my exam room is here. I'm going in." With that, he slipped away nimbly.
Jiang Yuan clicked his tongue and slowly walked toward his own exam hall with his hands in his pockets, knowing that this time, Zhang Siyi had truly fallen hard.
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
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王子建 | Wang Zijian | Manager of the security team. (Note: Text later uses 张子健/Zhang Zijian, likely a typo).
熊志鹏 | Xiong Zhipeng | Bodyguard captain, former special forces, Zhang Siyi's ex.
张子健 | Zhang Zijian | Likely a typo for Wang Zijian in the source text.
张新华 | Zhang Xinhua | Zhang Siyi's father, Jiang Yuan's uncle.
勤学楼 | Qinxue Building | A teaching building on campus (lit. "Diligent Study Building").
走肾 | Following hormones | Slang; lit. "going by the kidneys," referring to casual sex or physical attraction.
走心 | Following the heart | Slang; lit. "going by the heart," referring to emotional connection or true love.
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