Bodyguard

The sisters left Huang Lihua's office together.

As they walked down the corridor towards the waiting area, Assistant Xu approached them, handing some meeting materials to Huang Lihua. The two of them began discussing the upcoming meeting, lingering in the corridor. Emma felt it would be impolite to listen in, so she headed past them towards the waiting area where she had left Ying.

She spotted him instantly. His dazzling appearance made everybody else seem dull in comparison, making him stand out from the office workers passing by or lingering to catch another glimpse of the handsome visitor.

Ying rose to his feet as she approached, flashing her a warm smile, which made Emma feel like she was being drawn to him by some magnetic force. Every step closer to him, a warm feeling of comfort spread through her.

Their eyes met, and her heart skipped a beat.

Yet again her brain kept screaming at her that it was not normal and even dangerous to give in to these feelings of attraction, and Emma made another concerted effort to keep her flaming emotions in check.

Ying's smile widened as he heard her skipping heart, and his gaze flitted down to her chest for a moment. Those perfect eyebrows of his quirked in amusement, as his gaze lifted to hers again.

Emma blushed, and tried to distract him, as well as herself, by launching into an description of their conversation with her sister and the resulting agreement they had reached.

Before she could get more than a few sentences, he cut her off, saying, "I heard your conversation with her."

"Oh." Emma was dumbstruck for a few moments, until she remembered the boast about his extraordinary hearing. "And what do you think?"

"Although I don't understand all the particulars," he said smilingly, "I am glad that your sister is helping you."

His expression grew serious.

"Also, since there is so much I don't understand about the ways and customs of this strange abandoned world, there is only so much I can do to protect you. Although I certainly have the ability to protect you from direct threats, hidden ones are more difficult."

His expression darkened further. "Moreover, using my full powers comes with risks. And I don't want to draw the attention of other immortals."

Ying spoke this last sentence in a lowered voice, but it nonetheless caught Emma's attention. She wanted to ask what he had meant by it, but was interrupted by a voice from behind.

"Little sister?"

Emma turned to see Huang Lihua approaching them, her stilettos clicking on the polished floor.

"I have to leave for a meeting. Assistant Xu will take you to the accommodation he has arranged. Then tomorrow we can-" Huang Lihua stopped speaking abruptly as her eyes landed on the tall dark figure behind her sister. Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly for a second as she took in his handsome features, and otherworldly presence. Her eyes flashed with interest and desire.

"Aren't you going to introduce me?" Lihua asked smooth and seductive voice, flashing her drop dead gorgeous killer smile at Ying.

Emma instantly felt all the newfound goodwill towards her sister evaporate. Her stomach twisted into a resentful knot, as she saw her sister's eyes gleaming with appreciation as she took in Ying's appearance.

"Ah... yes. This is my bodyguard, Lang Ying," Emma said, forcing a stiff smile.

Luckily, Emma had the presence of mind earlier to mention to her sister that she had found someone to be her bodyguard and that hiring him to protect her should be part of their deal. How else was she going to explain him following her everywhere?

Ying gave Huang Lihua a polite nod, but staying true to rule number two, he kept resolutely silent.

"Right, you did mention a bodyguard. However, I didn't expect..." Lihua's voice trailed off as her gaze swept over Ying again.

"Lovely to meet you, Bodyguard Lang," Lihua said with another dazzling smile, stretching out her perfectly manicured hand for a handshake.

Ying acted as he didn't see the outstretched hand, and instead greeted Huang Lihua with a perfect martial bow. "Lang Ying greets Huang Lihua."

Emma had to fight hard to suppress a frustrated sigh. When she had introduced him as a bodyguard, who thought he would think to play the role of a noble worrier from some historical drama? She supposed that she should be glad he didn't kneel on the ground.

Lihua looked confused and cast Emma a questioning glance.

"Ah, Lang Ying is a bit eccentric," Emma said, shrugging. "But he is a very capable bodyguard." An image of two burly men being ripped to pieces flashed through her mind. "Very capable."

She could definitely not tell her sister the truth about Ying. Lihua would probably lock her up in a mental hospital, instead of helping her hide from Mr. Long.

Huang Lihua didn't seem quite convinced at this explanation. However, noticing her hovering staff's impatient looks, she brushed it off, and contented herself with flashing Ying a final smile.

"Right. Glad to make your acquaintance, Mr. Lang," Lihua drawled in a low seductive tone. Then she took a step closer, looking up at Ying through her long lashes. "If you ever need work in the future, I'd be happy to hire you as my PERSONAL bodyguard."

With that last address, Huang Lihua sauntered off to join her staff. But not before she flashed her sister a mischievous, almost smug grin.

Ying said nothing, taking a quick side long glance at Emma, who was trying her best not to visibly grit her teeth. He drew closer to her side, almost brushing her shoulder.

"Although I won't presume to know your sister as well as you do," he murmured, "there is one thing I can say with confidence."

"And what's that?" Emma replied, as they both watched Huang Lihua disappeared around a corner.

"She doesn't seem to hate you."

"No," Emma said in a subdued voice. "She doesn't."

Unbeknownst to her, her mouth formed into the ghost of a smile.

"Also I think she likes me a lot!" Ying added in a cheerful voice and a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Emma's face darkened, and she leveled Ying with a cold look that made her look impressively intimidating for her small size and naturally delicate facial features.

"Why don't you go be HER guardian spirit then?" she snapped, before storming off with an annoyed snort.

Ying chuckled to himself as she marched away from him to join Assistant Xu, who was waiting by the elevators.

"Silly girl," he sighed, shaking his head. "You need not be jealous of anything, as I have been yours since a long, long time ago..."

A sad smile appeared on his face, and his eyes glazed as he remembered distant memories. Then, shaking himself out the bittersweet reverie, he forced a cheerful smile on his face, and hurried after her.