Chapter 17

"I..."

Lin Xinyi's face stiffened.

Sexual harassment? And she went straight to my boss to file a complaint?

Damn it. Did I misjudge the original owner's relationship with this woman?

Lin Xinyi felt a slight headache coming on. Meanwhile, the man on the other end of the call continued speaking in his cold, oppressive voice:

"Lin, tell me what's going on."

"Boss, I..."

Lin Xinyi genuinely had no idea how to explain.

Miyano Shiho stood by the doorframe, arms crossed, a faint yet playful smile tugging at her lips.

She rather enjoyed watching Lin Xinyi squirm under Gin's scolding.

But unfortunately, just as she had expected, Gin didn't press too hard on this issue.

Hearing Lin Xinyi stumble over his words, Gin simply dropped the topic and, in a chilling tone, instructed:

"Remember, don't do anything unnecessary."

"Your only job is to keep an eye on her."

Without waiting for a response, this "tyrannical boss" in Lin Xinyi's eyes hung up the phone with his signature cool indifference.

Lin Xinyi was left standing there, looking awkward and dazed.

My job is to keep an eye on her?

Does that mean...

From this brief exchange, Lin Xinyi quickly pieced together his true relationship with Miyano Shiho.

It was obvious—this girl named Miyano Shiho had an impressive background and a high status within the company. She was probably the daughter of the corporation's top brass.

That would explain how she skyrocketed to the position of lead researcher at such a young age.

And as for himself, this so-called "head of security" wasn't actually responsible for protecting the lab...

His real job was to protect this icy young lady.

"No wonder my salary is so high..."

"So I'm actually some rich heiress's personal bodyguard."

"And the 'most important person' mentioned in the original owner's notes—was that actually referring to my primary protection target?"

Lin Xinyi was speechless. He realized he had made a huge misunderstanding.

Being accused of "sexual harassment" by his employer...

Would he even be able to keep this job?

Thinking about that still-unclaimed 890,000 monthly salary, Lin Xinyi couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Knock, knock, knock!

Miyano Shiho rapped lightly on the door, interrupting his thoughts.

But she didn't fire him.

Instead, she impatiently asked, "Can we go see my sister now?"

"Mm." Lin Xinyi nodded and got up.

Or at least, he tried to.

They were supposed to leave, but... where exactly were they going?

"I didn't drive today," Lin Xinyi said tentatively.

While searching his apartment earlier, he had found a Toyota key, so he knew he owned a car.

But since he was unfamiliar with the roads and needed to rely on a map, he decided not to drive to work today.

"Hmm?"

Miyano Shiho frowned slightly.

Strange. Lin Xinyi always drove to the lab.

But she was too eager to meet her sister to dwell on it. She quickly replied, "Then let's just walk."

"Alright." Lin Xinyi nodded, relieved.

So the meeting place was nearby—no need to drive.

That meant he could simply follow Miyano Shiho and naturally arrive at the destination he had no clue about.

"Let's go, then."

Lin Xinyi played the role of a professional bodyguard and agreed to accompany her.

But then, the young lady halted.

"Wait a moment."

She glanced down at her plain white lab coat, seemingly just realizing she hadn't changed out of her work attire.

"You stay here."

"I'm going to my room to change."

With that, Miyano Shiho turned on her heel and walked off briskly.

"Her room?"

"She lives in the company?"

Lin Xinyi furrowed his brows.

The more he observed her, the stranger she seemed.

She had a privileged background, a high position, and even a personal bodyguard assigned to her...

Yet she worked herself to the bone like an ordinary overworked employee?

She didn't even go home—she lived in the lab?

That was unusual, to say the least.

Unless...

Piecing together the clues, Lin Xinyi came to a realization.

Miyano Shiho must be...

One of those naturally work-obsessed career women.

The kind of "overachiever" motivational speakers talk about—the ones who are richer than you but also work harder.

"Truly impressive."

Lin Xinyi couldn't help but admire her.

Even a "boss's daughter" was pulling all-nighters like this—what excuse did regular people have?

Young people should learn from her. Work hard, cherish every second, and never waste a moment.

With that thought, Lin Xinyi estimated that Miyano Shiho would take some time to change.

So he sat back down at his desk, focused his gaze on the computer screen, and got back to business.

He'd heard that the world record for Beginner Minesweeper was one second.

He needed to try again.

---

Meanwhile, parked by the street, leaning casually against his Porsche 356A...

Gin let the wind tousle his silver hair beneath his black fedora.

The call had ended, but his teal eyes still gleamed with an icy sharpness.

"Boss."

Vodka, his ever-loyal underling, asked curiously,

"Was Sherry telling the truth?"

"Did that brat Lin Xinyi really...?"

"You can't take a woman's words at face value," Gin replied flatly.

"So she was framing Lin Xinyi?" Vodka was puzzled.

"Not necessarily."

"Sherry wouldn't file a false report for no reason."

"She barely even talks to me as it is."

"Maybe Lin Xinyi really has started developing an interest in her."

Gin exhaled smoke and said,

"That guy's thoughts are always complicated. It wouldn't be impossible."

"A shame. He used to have potential."

Lin Xinyi was one of the organization's carefully groomed talents. Skilled, highly intelligent, with a clean background—he was trustworthy.

And lately, the organization had been dealing with too many rats.

Traitors kept popping up like an endless infestation.

Gin, as the organization's top enforcer, was getting sick of eliminating them.

It was always the ones recruited midway through—on the surface, they seemed loyal, but dig deeper and...

Surprise! The place was crawling with spies from every intelligence agency imaginable.

That was why Gin preferred talents like Lin Xinyi—raised within the organization from the start, thoroughly vetted, and truly reliable.

He had even considered making Lin Xinyi his right-hand man someday.

But unfortunately, Lin Xinyi had been disappointing lately.

His psychological state was unstable, his personality had grown withdrawn, and his potential was fading.

And now, this ridiculous incident...

Could it be...

Had Lin Xinyi been spending so much time around Sherry that he'd fallen for her?

Gin found the idea absurd, but not impossible.

Young people working together day after day—catching feelings wasn't unheard of.

Being cold-shouldered by Sherry for so long might've frustrated him to the point of slipping up.

That said, Gin wasn't particularly interested in whether Lin Xinyi had actually harassed Sherry.

What really mattered was:

"He's just a guard dog assigned to watch over the prey."

"And if a guard dog gets too attached to its prey..."

"Then it's no longer trustworthy."

Gin's voice was as chilling as ever.

"Oh?"

Vodka raised a brow, itching to act.

"Boss, should we take him out?"

"..."

Gin didn't answer, but his meaning was clear.

Killing someone over this?

That would be a waste.

Lin Xinyi was a high-level asset, personally trained by the organization.

Dismissing him over some infatuation would be shortsighted.

Besides, he had been brought in by that troublesome woman—his loyalty was deeply rooted.

"Keep watching him," Gin finally said.

"If it's just a harmless crush, it doesn't matter."

"But if he forgets his duty because of it..."

"Then we take him out?" Vodka eagerly prompted.

Gin: "..."

This is why I need someone more competent...

After a long pause, Gin simply said, "We'll see."

"Got it, Boss!"

Vodka nodded enthusiastically.

Inside, he smirked.

Lin Xinyi, your promotion is doomed.

You'll never replace me as Boss's driver—er, I mean, partner!