Chapter 27: The Bodyguard Arrives

He found himself struck by a nearly maddening attraction to Ruan Tang in this moment.

Reaching up to press a hand against his chest, he felt his heart racing; it beat rapidly now, solely for her. The atmosphere between them grew increasingly intimate. Ruan Tang looked up at Huo Yanshu as he leaned closer, her heart skipping a beat, her body involuntarily tensing. She swallowed hard, her hand instinctively coming to rest against his chest.

They were standing in the entryway, hidden from Huo Qingqing’s view by the closed door. Within the cramped space, the air thick with tension and the distance between them closing—

"Knock, knock."

A sharp intake of breath.

Ruan Tang’s face flushed a deep crimson. She immediately pushed Huo Yanshu away and flung the door open.

Standing outside was a middle-aged woman with gray hair tied in a high ponytail. She possessed a stoic, authoritative air and was dressed in a crisp black suit. Seeing Ruan Tang and Huo Yanshu—and noting the suspicious blush still lingering on Ruan Tang’s face—she paused in surprise.

Huo Yanshu lowered his gaze, his lips pressed thin, the depth and heat still smoldering in his eyes. He gathered his composure, hiding the emotional turbulence, and looked up at the visitor. Seeing a stranger, he frowned.

A cold breeze brushed against her face, bringing Ruan Tang back to her senses. She scanned the woman’s attire and, suddenly struck by a thought, felt a flash of inspiration. Her face lit up. "Are you the bodyguard recommended by Director Chu?"

The gray-haired woman nodded, a faint smile touching her features. "Yes. My name is Nie Rong. You may call me Sister Rong."

Ruan Tang let out a sigh of relief and quickly pulled Nie Rong inside to introduce her to Huo Yanshu. "This is the bodyguard introduced to me by Director Chu of the Public Security Bureau. She will be personally responsible for Qingqing’s safety."

Nie Rong extended a hand with a polite smile. "Employer."

Huo Yanshu recalled the events of the past few days and immediately realized that Ruan Tang must have hired a bodyguard out of fear that such things might happen again. However, Director Chu of the Public Security Bureau? He hesitated for a moment, shook Nie Rong’s hand briefly, then stepped aside to let them in.

As they entered, Huo Yanshu watched Ruan Tang’s back, a thoughtful look in his eyes. When had she become connected to the Public Security Bureau? He felt a sense of dissonance he couldn't quite name; ever since he had left and returned, it seemed as though Ruan Tang was veiled in a layer of mystery.

Ruan Tang led Nie Rong into the room and approached Huo Qingqing softly. "Qingqing."

Qingqing was engrossed in a popular cartoon, and it took several calls before she turned around. Upon seeing Ruan Tang, her eyes widened. She scrambled up, set down the remote, and reached out to be held. "Auntie Ruan."

Nie Rong observed Huo Yanshu, who was trailing a step behind. *This family seems rather complicated,* she thought.

Ruan Tang’s expression softened. She scooped up Huo Qingqing and sat her on a chair. "Auntie wants to introduce you to someone. Come, say hello to Auntie Rong."

Huo Qingqing turned to look at Nie Rong. She remained silent for a moment, lips pursed, before whispering, "Auntie Rong."

Her voice was sweet, soft, and milky, enough to melt Nie Rong’s heart. At forty-seven, having lost both her husband and child, she had grown indifferent to the idea of family. But upon learning that her sole task for the rest of her life would be to protect a six-year-old girl, she felt her resolve waver. If her own son were still alive, wouldn't his child be around this age?

She stepped forward, mimicking Ruan Tang’s gentle movements, and crouched down. Her gray hair stirred as she looked at the child with genuine warmth and a kindly smile. "Hello."

Huo Qingqing began to feel a sense of affinity toward her. With round, dark, curious eyes, she stole a glance at Nie Rong before looking up to whisper to Ruan Tang, "Is Auntie Rong a relative of yours?"

Ruan Tang chuckled. "No, dear. Auntie Rong is a bodyguard I hired for you. From now on, no matter where you go, there will be three people protecting you!"

Huo Qingqing’s eyes brightened, though only for a fleeting moment. She looked at Huo Yanshu, who smiled and nodded at her. Shyly, Huo Qingqing fidgeted, then clenched her little fist as if reaching a decision. She set her face seriously and whispered to Ruan Tang, "Thank you, Auntie Ruan."

Ruan Tang glanced at Huo Yanshu, then looked at Huo Qingqing with doting eyes, squeezing her little fist to acknowledge the thanks. "You’re very welcome."

Watching the harmonious scene, Huo Yanshu felt his heart soften. Happiness, in this moment, had become tangible.

Soon, Huo Qingqing’s stomach rumbled. She immediately hid in Ruan Tang’s arms, patting her belly. "Qingqing is hungry."

Nie Rong stood up immediately and asked Ruan Tang, "May I use the kitchen?" She wanted to let Huo Qingqing taste her cooking.

Ruan Tang was pleasantly surprised. "Of course." It felt a bit improper to make a guest cook the moment she arrived, but since she had offered, Ruan Tang felt slightly conflicted. Nie Rong simply smiled, naturally donned an apron, and went into the kitchen to busy herself.

Huo Yanshu took the opportunity to pull a stool over and sit before the mother and daughter. "When did you get connected with Director Chu?"

As far as he knew, Director Chu hadn't even been in town lately.

Ruan Tang grinned. "It’s simple. I invested in the cafeteria at his bureau, and in exchange, I got this treasure." A thousand yuan for Director Chu’s favor and a bodyguard—it was a bargain.

Huo Yanshu’s heart tightened with concern. "Won't that be classified as bribery?"

Ruan Tang waved her hand. "No. It’s a private transaction. Besides, I didn't say it was for Director Chu personally; it was for the cafeteria. No one can find fault with that."

Huo Yanshu felt a weight lift from his chest, marveling at how Ruan Tang’s spending was always so well-justified. It seemed he wouldn't need to worry about the family’s finances; Ruan Tang alone was worth ten of him, making him feel rather useless by comparison.

Huo Yanshu pondered for a moment and decided to return to his old profession: scientific research. He had originally aimed for a career in science, but the political climate had been unstable; those in research often met mysterious ends or simply vanished, a chilling prospect. If he hadn't seen such a tragedy with his own eyes, he wouldn't have changed his path to study literature. Recalling the past, he couldn't help but sigh.

Ruan Tang tilted her head in confusion. "What’s wrong? Why the sudden sigh?"

Huo Yanshu looked at her, charmed by her inquisitive expression. His gaze flickered, and he reached out to hold her hand, his voice deepening. "If I wanted to pursue scientific research, would you support me?"

Research often involved hardship and the signing of strict confidentiality agreements—he wouldn't be able to reveal a word to anyone. He could keep the secrets, but he couldn't bear to see Huo Qingqing suffer, and now, with Ruan Tang, he was even more reluctant.

Ruan Tang was surprised. Scientific research? Wasn't that the same path as Song Yu? She searched her memory of the plot; it hadn't mentioned Huo Yanshu at all, though in Song Yu’s perspective, there was a research colleague named Yan Xiusi—a man known for being expressionless and taciturn, yet a rare genius in his field.

Connecting the dots, Ruan Tang looked into Huo Yanshu’s focused, sincere eyes and seemed to understand why he wanted to return to research.

*Yan Xiusi... Yan Xiu-si...*

Was this proof that in the previous life, after learning of Ruan Tang’s death and Huo Qingqing’s loss, he had completely severed ties with his family and thrown himself into the very path he had once loved—the solitary bridge of scientific research?