Lin Ting couldn't settle down in her studio today. She singled out Shen Yueji to accompany her out.
Over the next three hours, Shen Yueji went from a personal bodyguard who had been bored out of her mind the previous month to a walking rack hung with countless shopping bags.
Lin Ting went into one shop after another, tried on shoes, picked out clothes, bought a few ornaments, and chose a set of understated teaware in the home department.
Every time she made a purchase, she simply held a hand out behind her without looking back, and Shen Yueji obediently stepped forward to take the bag. By the time they finally left the mall, colorful paper bags hung from both her hands, their handles leaving red marks across her wrists.
She had reasonable grounds to suspect—and was privately absolutely certain—that this was Lin Ting's carefully targeted retaliation for her relentless pestering that morning, when she'd dragged her out of bed for a run.
Far away, in his office on the top floor of Shengshi Group headquarters, Sheng Zeyun's phone lit up. He picked it up and glanced at a message from Zhao: Madam left at ten this morning with Bodyguard Shen. They are still out.
Sheng Zeyun put down his phone, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smile. It didn't last long.
Lin Ting was willing to go out. That was good. But he lowered his head and gazed at the photograph of the two of them on his desk for a moment, then let out the softest sigh.
Lin Ting, what am I going to do with you?
After several days of shopping trips, Shen Yueji's form of address for Lin Ting changed from Madam to Young Miss.
A few days were enough to tire the young miss out.
That morning, Lin Ting went upstairs after breakfast and never came back down. Shen Yueji waited an hour in the living room, took a turn around the garden, and finally stood at the foot of the stairs looking up. What was wrong with the young miss? Had she slipped back into her old ways today?
She went upstairs and knocked. No answer came, so she opened the door a crack and peered inside.
Lin Ting lay slumped on the sofa in her room, a remote clutched in her hand. The television was on, but she wasn't watching it. Her unfocused gaze rested somewhere on the ceiling, and she had collapsed into the cushions as though all her bones had been removed.
Shen Yueji went in and crouched beside the sofa. “What's wrong, my young miss? No shopping trip today?”
Lin Ting didn't even lift her eyelids. “Boring. Browsing is just as boring as buying...”
Shen Yueji thought it over as she crouched there.
She understood. Shopping only gave you a brief dopamine hit. Swiping the card felt great, but once that rush wore off, it was over. Nothing meaningful gained, no real happiness found.
Time to broaden the young miss's life experience.
One eyebrow rose. Her mind raced, and an irrepressible trace of excitement appeared on her face. “Young Miss, want me to take you somewhere for a different kind of thrill?”
Lin Ting slanted a languid, slightly doubtful look at her. Still, she straightened, got to her feet, and extended a hand to Shen Yueji, chin tipped up in an air of aristocratic poise.
Shen Yueji promptly supported her hand. Once they reached the living room, she called out at full volume, “Zhao, bring the car around!”
The car took them all the way to the outskirts.
Wufan Camp lay tucked into a patch of woodland halfway up a hill. A brand-new wooden sign hung at the gate, the fence was neatly laid out, and a sign at the entrance read, “Invited Guests Only.”
As Shen Yueji led Lin Ting through the gate, the crack of gunfire came from inside. Several women in training fatigues were lined up on the firing range.
Some of her former comrades had pooled the resettlement allowances and discharge pay they'd received on leaving the military to open this tactical experience camp.
The camp mainly offered shooting instruction and tactical simulations, with the occasional team-building event. Its owner and head instructor, Jiang Shuyun, had been their squad leader. Her voice could carry through three range walls, and she had commanded Shen Yueji for three years in the service.
Spotting Shen Yueji from a distance, Jiang Shuyun strode over. Her eyes landed on Lin Ting behind her. “Oh? Brought someone along?”
“Yes. My esteemed employer's wife—and, more importantly, my young miss.” Shen Yueji stepped aside, raising her chin in a signal: your most respectful welcome, everyone, please.
Jiang Shuyun bent at the waist and extended a welcoming hand. Then she turned, fetched a small pistol from the equipment room, loaded the magazine, and led them to a shooting lane.
Lin Ting took her place and put on safety glasses and earmuffs. Her fingers were a little unpracticed as she lifted the gun, and Shen Yueji stood beside her, guiding her hands through the grip and explaining how to aim.
The first few shots went a little wide while she adjusted, but the next several struck the center in succession, alternating between nines and tens. Shen Yueji leaned in to inspect the target and opened her eyes wide. “Wow. You've been hiding your talents, Young Miss!”
Lin Ting removed her earmuffs and shook out her right wrist, numbed by the recoil. A touch of smugness curved her lips. “You think I spent those years overseas doing nothing? I was one of the top ten shooters.”
Shen Yueji gave her a thumbs-up. “All hail the young miss!”
From that day on, Lin Ting was at Wufan Camp every few days.
Shen Yueji had expected to serve as her guide and practice partner. Within days, however, she discovered that her own standing there had plummeted.
Jiang Shuyun was the eldest. The moment Lin Ting arrived, she ushered her into the best seat and brought her tea and water.
The second eldest, Yao Xin, was a woman of few words, but she kept everything spotless, specializing in quiet devotion.
Third in line, Zhong Fangming, was the best at cheering people up. She could make Lin Ting laugh several times in a single conversation.
The fourth, Ke Lanyi, earnestly drew Lin Ting into discussions of different firearms and explained the principles of ballistics.
And Shen Yueji?
“Little Flower, pour the young miss some tea,” Jiang Shuyun ordered without looking up.
“Little Flower, help the young miss practice on moving targets.” Smiling, Zhong Fangming pushed her toward a shooting lane.
“Little Flower, the young miss says her hand is sore. Put the equipment away.” Ke Lanyi handed her a key.
As she tidied up, Shen Yueji grumbled to herself. Fine. Fine! Before Lin Ting came, she'd at least been the youngest in the squad. Maybe she hadn't been everyone's darling, but she hadn't been everyone's punching bag either, had she? Now she ranked below the camp's watchdog.
Not only was Shen Yueji in danger of losing favor with the young miss, but she also had to face a warning from Mr. Sheng when she returned to the villa.
That evening, she had just changed out of her shoes and was about to get some water from the kitchen when Sheng Zeyun called her into the living room.
He stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows. When he turned to look at her, his gaze was colder than usual. “Bodyguard Shen, I assigned you to my wife because I wanted her to be happy. But you'd better not have any intentions that could harm her.”
Shen Yueji froze. It took a bewildered moment for his words to register. When had she ever wanted to harm Lin Ting? Every day she carried her bags, taught her to shoot, and got ordered around by everyone at the camp. Which of those things had anything to do with harm?
As for other intentions... she had indeed considered getting Sheng Zeyun to invest in Wufan Camp. None of them had much of a head for business. They were still relying on their original funds, and building a reputation, expanding the grounds, and addressing the shortage of shooting lanes all required ongoing investment.
But she hadn't even worked out how to invite Mr. Sheng over for a visit yet. He'd managed to uncover that already?
Standing in the living room, Shen Yueji looked at Sheng Zeyun's expressionless face and silently sighed.
Those wealthy-family romances hadn't lied. Bossy CEOs really did have eyes and ears everywhere.