Chapter 5: This Isn’t How the Script Is Supposed to Go

Ye Aotian hadn’t spared Lin Li a single thought. Anyone who would associate with an idiot like Qin Lang couldn’t possibly be clever. That was why his punch came fast and without much technique. But soon, something unexpected happened: Lin Li didn’t dodge. By the time Ye Aotian realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

Lin Li stepped forward to meet him head-on. With a decisive opening move, he knocked Ye Aotian’s fist aside. At the same moment, a double elbow struck Ye Aotian squarely in the chest, completely undefended. Ye Aotian had never encountered anything like this before. In that instant, it felt as though he’d been hit by a speeding train.

With a heavy thud, he crashed to the ground, seeing stars, unable to believe he’d actually been sent flying. This was Bajiquan—the ultimate hard-fist style: if you advance, I advance; if you retreat, I still advance!

Ye Aotian had barely managed to get back on his feet when Lin Li charged in again, his movements swift as the wind, appearing before Ye Aotian in the blink of an eye. Lin Li spun and delivered a sharp upward elbow, like a fierce uppercut, smashing into Ye Aotian’s chin.

With a crack, blood trickled from the corner of Ye Aotian’s mouth, and a front tooth flew out. “Damn it, I’ll kill you!” he roared, staggering back several steps as he finally regained his senses and stopped holding back.

By then, Lin Li had already taken a forward stance, adapting to each attack fluidly. Within ten exchanges, Ye Aotian was sent flying again. This time, luck wasn’t on his side—he crashed straight into a pillar and passed out cold.

After all this, Lin Li calmly stood, brushing the dust from his clothes. Beside him, Qin Lang was utterly dumbfounded. Was this really his father’s old friend? He was terrifyingly strong. Even though Qin Lang was frail and lacked much skill himself, he could still recognize that what Lin Li had just displayed was far from ordinary.

Who was Ye Aotian? He was Leng Ningxue’s newly hired personal bodyguard, rumored to have defeated twenty-four men in a single day during his interview, flattening them all in ten minutes. And such a ruthless character couldn’t last ten minutes against Uncle Lin?

"Stinking security guard, I want to see how arrogant you are now. Today, I’ll break your leg!" Qin Lang snarled, grabbing a baseball bat and stepping forward.

Lin Li stopped him. "Enough. If you really cripple him, things will get complicated."

"Let’s go," Lin Li said with a hint of annoyance, without even glancing at Leng Ningxue. At that moment, Leng Ningxue was still in shock. She knew full well what Ye Aotian was capable of. She had thought he would rescue her, but instead, he’d been knocked out by a single flurry of blows.

Qin Lang stood there, dazed. "Uncle Lin… we’re just leaving like this?"

Lin Li looked at him with frustration. "What else do you want to do? Stay for Miss Leng’s hospitality?"

Only now did Qin Lang realize what was happening. He shot Leng Ningxue an awkward glance and hurried away without looking back.

Just as Lin Li was about to follow, Leng Ningxue suddenly called after him. Even she couldn’t quite understand why she did it. This man had very nearly taken everything from her just moments before. But seeing Lin Li effortlessly subdue Ye Aotian, she couldn’t help finding him attractive. That commanding presence was irresistible to her.

More than that, Lin Li radiated a kind of dangerous, captivating aura that made Leng Ningxue instinctively want to draw closer. She had always been surrounded by all sorts of admirers and would-be protectors, yet none of them, even combined, could compare to Lin Li. When he looked at her, she felt herself captivated as well.

Still, Leng Ningxue sensed that he had no intention of getting too close to her. What did that mean? Did she really have no charm in his eyes? If so, why had he tried to kiss her earlier?

"Miss Leng, is there something you need?" Lin Li smiled, seeing Leng Ningxue standing there, lost in thought.

She snapped out of it, her gaze flickering uncertainly. "Are you with Qin Lang?"

Lin Li shrugged, as if to say, does that even matter?

Leng Ningxue continued, "You know what kind of person Qin Lang is. There’s no future with him. If you’re willing, you can come work for me—I’ll make you head of my security division."

Ye Aotian had only ever been a personal bodyguard, but someone like Lin Li deserved a higher position—only the security chief would be fitting.

Just then, Ye Aotian began to regain consciousness. Hearing that Leng Ningxue intended to make Lin Li the head of security, he was immediately displeased. "Miss, absolutely not! This guy is cut from the same cloth as that scoundrel Qin Lang, he—"

Leng Ningxue shot him an icy glare. "Shut up! Who invited your opinion?"

Ye Aotian fell silent, casting a venomous look at Lin Li.

Lin Li only smiled. "Miss Leng, I apologize for today. Young Master Qin acted out of affection for you, that’s all. As for me, I have no plans to leave the Qin family for now. Goodbye."

With that, he turned and walked away without a hint of reluctance. Even Ye Aotian was left stunned. He’s just going to give up like that?

Before the thought had even finished crossing his mind, a wave of pain shot through him—Lin Li, whether by accident or on purpose, had just stepped on his hand.

Leng Ningxue watched Lin Li’s departing figure, her expression growing complicated. She hadn’t expected him to refuse her outright. He was the first man ever to do so.

Her competitive spirit flared. "So you’re unwilling, are you? Well then, I’ll see just what you’re made of. There’s nothing I’ve ever set my mind to that I haven’t achieved!"

Ye Aotian cried out in alarm, "Miss, that man—" But before he could finish, Leng Ningxue slapped him hard across the face. "Idiot! You can’t even manage the simple task of protecting me. No bonus for you this month!"

With that, she strode away, leaving Ye Aotian standing alone in the wind, utterly bewildered.

Was it really that he couldn’t protect her? Of course not. He knew the whole thing was orchestrated by Qin Lang, and had hoped to use the opportunity to impress Leng Ningxue, to play the hero and win her heart. But he hadn’t anticipated Lin Li’s overwhelming strength, which had thrown his plans into chaos and cost him face in front of Leng Ningxue.

What a disaster!