Becoming the Runaway Little Wife of the Domineering CEO - Chapter 19

Yin Shuang stared at Qin Ke, trembling. The latter remained silent for a heartbeat after her chilling declaration, then shifted her posture casually. “I’m making clay pot rice with sausage for dinner. You want some?”

Yin Shuang: “…” At this point, she didn’t even have the courage to pick up a pair of chopsticks.

While her little bodyguard was on the verge of tears, Fu Mang was still at the cafe, deep in conversation with He Yuxuan.

After listening to the summary of recent events, He Yuxuan set down her coffee cup, processed the information for a few seconds, and said slowly, “So… essentially, this little bodyguard of yours has a crush on you?”

Fu Mang nodded silently. “Yes.”

Yuxuan studied her for a long time before putting her cup back on the table. “So, why are you telling me this? What exactly do you want me to say?”

Fu Mang looked at her. “I want you to help me figure out what to do.”

He Yuxuan gave her a strange look. “What do you mean ‘what to do’? Just fire her.”

Fu Mang didn’t answer. She stared back for two seconds until Yuxuan raised an eyebrow, her expression turning playful. “Wait… you don’t actually want to fire her, do you?”

“It took me a month to find a bodyguard that actually fit my requirements,” Fu Mang replied, her tone strictly professional. “Do you really think I want to start that search all over again?”

Yuxuan looked unconvinced. “That’s not like you. I thought you hated it when people developed feelings for you.”

“I don’t hate it,” Fu Mang corrected her earnestly. “I just find it creates a lot of pressure. I’m someone who avoids complications, so I’d prefer people didn’t take it upon themselves to like me.”

He Yuxuan sighed, losing patience. “Fine. Then what? Do you want to force her to back off?”

“Not ‘force,'” Fu Mang blinked. “I just want her to understand that liking me won’t lead anywhere. I want her to move on. I don’t want to make it awkward—she’s my bodyguard. My physical safety depends on her. If she’s in a bad mood or slacking off because of a broken heart, what then?”

Yuxuan looked away, speechless. After a moment, she turned back. “It’s simple. Just let her know your sexual orientation.”

Fu Mang looked thoughtful. He Yuxuan picked up her coffee again, then paused. “Actually, come to think of it, what is your orientation? I’ve never seen you show interest in anyone. Do you like men or women?”

No one had ever asked Fu Mang this directly. She stalled for a second before answering, “Men… I think.”

Fu Mang wasn’t entirely sure. She hadn’t liked anyone, ever. She didn’t even follow celebrities. The few people she liked were people she respected as friends or business partners. If Yuxuan hadn’t asked, she never would have thought about it. After a moment of hesitation, she decided: definitely men. She had never had “those” thoughts about a woman.

She forgot one thing—she had never had “those” thoughts about a man, either.

“Honestly, you should find someone,” Yuxuan said, shaking her head. “Being alone all the time… don’t you get lonely?”

Fu Mang shrugged with feigned indifference. “You’re alone too.”

“We’re different. I have my sister, and my parents are good to me.” Yuxuan leaned in closer. “If this Jin Xiaoyu is a good person, maybe you should give it a shot. Don’t feel pressured; it’s common. I have several friends who love women, and they’re very happy.”

Fu Mang gave her a flat look. “Worry about yourself. My parents don’t pressure me to marry, but yours… they’ve probably hounded you a thousand times.”

He Yuxuan looked helpless. “It doesn’t matter how much they pressure me. I’ve said a thousand times I don’t plan to marry or fall in love, but they won’t listen. They keep using ‘morality’ and ‘duty’ to crush me.”

It was a difficult situation. Yuxuan’s older sister was disabled and lived in a wheelchair; she was a cold person with zero interest in romance. Her parents, out of pity, left her alone. That meant all the pressure for a “healthy, marriageable” daughter fell squarely on Yuxuan.

“I’ve never understood that,” Fu Mang mused. “You don’t have some secret trauma. Most people around us have decent marriages. Why are you so hostile toward love?”

He Yuxuan took a sip of coffee and shook her head calmly. “I don’t know. Maybe I was born this way. The mere thought of physical intimacy with someone else… it makes me feel sick. If I think about it for too long, I might actually throw up.”

Fu Mang: “…Then definitely stop thinking about it.”

*****

After parting ways with Yuxuan, Fu Mang got into her car. She didn’t head home immediately; instead, she called Jin Xiaoyu.

A distant “Hello?” came through, followed by a cacophony of loud voices. Fu Mang frowned. “Where are you? It’s late. Why aren’t you home?”

Yin Shuang looked at the black-and-white clock in the shop. “President Fu, it’s only five-thirty.”

Fu Mang paused, ignoring the correction. “Where are you? Why is it so loud?”

“Oh,” Yin Shuang answered. “I’m at a hair salon. I was walking down the street and this girl ran out and brought me in. She said it was their grand opening and I could get a free hairstyle. I didn’t want to go, but she was so enthusiastic. I’m waiting for my turn, but…”

She lowered her voice. “I might not get it today. A lady in front is fighting with them. She says they’re scammers and that they tried to charge her 8,800 yuan for a haircut. I’ll wait a bit longer, and if it’s still busy, I’ll leave.”

Fu Mang: “…………”

It had been years since Fu Mang had heard of such a classic, obvious scam. Her temple throbbed. She covered her eyes and took a deep breath before finding her voice. “Get out of there! Now! Give me the address; I’m coming to get you!”

As Yin Shuang was talking, two men had already started eyeing her. They approached with practiced smiles. Yin Shuang quickly rattled off the address and hung up.

She looked at the men. “Sorry, I have to go home and eat with my boss. No haircut today. Maybe next time!”

One of the men, sporting a “visual kei” hairstyle and a thick out-of-town accent, laughed. “Don’t be like that! Come, sit. I’ll cut it for you right now. Tony, go get a clean towel for the lady!”

*****

Fu Mang arrived fifteen minutes later. Yin Shuang was currently arguing with the cashier. “You said the haircut was free! I didn’t even get a cut, I just got a blow-dry. Why do I have to pay five hundred?”

“The cut is free, but we gave you a scalp massage, root treatment, and a facial massage. Those cost money.”

Yin Shuang looked at the bill, then at the cashier’s heavily made-up face. Three men stood behind Yin Shuang; they weren’t moving, but their presence was a clear threat.

“I think I saw this on Weibo,” Yin Shuang said slowly. “Are you guys scammers?”

The cashier’s face darkened. “Watch your mouth! Could a scammer open a whole shop? This is a legitimate beauty chain. Either pay the 528 yuan, or you aren’t leaving. We work hard for our money; you can’t just enjoy the service and walk away.”

Fu Mang walked in and pushed through the men, grabbing Jin Xiaoyu and pulling her behind her. “Give me the receipt. I’ll pay for her.”

The cashier smiled and handed over a printed slip. “528. Cash or QR?”

Fu Mang took the receipt and tucked it into her bag. These shops were everywhere; they targeted women shopping alone, dragged them in, and performed unrequested services before demanding exorbitant fees. Fu Mang intended to take the receipt to her company’s legal department tomorrow to crush them. Right now, it was just her and Xiaoyu against a crowd; it was best to pay and leave.

As she reached for her wallet, Yin Shuang tugged at her sleeve. Fu Mang ignored her. How could she fall for something so obvious? Has she never watched a true crime show?

Yin Shuang: Actually, no.

Fu Mang shook her hand off, but Yin Shuang tugged again.

“What is it?!” Fu Mang snapped.

“These people are definitely scammers, right?” Yin Shuang asked.

She didn’t lower her voice. Everyone heard. Fu Mang, embarrassed, nodded. “Yes.”

The cashier opened her mouth to argue, but Yin Shuang nodded calmly. “Great. As long as they’re scammers, it’s fine.”

Fu Mang and the cashier were equally confused. Yin Shuang gently pulled Fu Mang behind her and looked at the cashier. “We aren’t paying. If you apologize right now, I might let you off easy.”

The shop fell silent for a few seconds. Then, everyone burst into laughter.

“You?” the cashier mocked. “Do you see how many of us are in here? How exactly are you going to ‘let us off easy’?”

Yin Shuang watched her silently. Fu Mang had a bad premonition. “Wait—”

Before she could finish, Yin Shuang’s hand moved. It started slow, almost lazy, but descended with the sharpness of a falling blade. Before the cashier could even see the movement, a heavy CRACK echoed. A deep fissure appeared right in the center of the wooden counter.

Yin Shuang took a calm step forward and pressed her palm down on the wood. CRUNCH.

The counter collapsed into a pile of splinters. The cheap composite wood was no match for her.

The room: “…!!!”

Everyone froze. The cashier’s legs began to shake. Yin Shuang reached down, picked up a small fragment of wood, and rolled it between her fingers, casually grinding it into fine sawdust. She looked up at the cashier.

“Apologize.”

The cashier scrambled back until she hit the wall, her face pale. “W-what are you doing?! Killing is illegal! You’ll go to jail!”

Yin Shuang had no intention of killing her. It wasn’t worth the divine punishment. She frowned with annoyance.

“Apologize!”

Her voice had dropped an octave. The cashier looked into Yin Shuang’s eyes and felt her courage vanish. “I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

Yin Shuang wanted to make her promise never to do it again, but she realized she wasn’t the boss here. She scanned the room, couldn’t tell who was in charge, and sighed. Dusting the wood powder off her hands, she turned and grabbed Fu Mang’s hand to lead her out.

Three tattooed men were blocking the path. Yin Shuang shot them a look that clearly said: Get out of the way.

The men shuddered and backed away in perfect unison, bowing slightly. “P-Please! After you!”

Yin Shuang glanced at them indifferently and led Fu Mang to the car.

Fu Mang: “…”

An old saying popped into her head. It wasn’t quite the right context, but it felt remarkably appropriate:

When a thug knows martial arts, nobody can stop them.

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