You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

"Throw it away! Consider it my... thanks for the timely 'massage' just now, which prevented me from making an even bigger fool of myself!"

She emphasized the word "massage" and her gaze was fixed on Chen Yang's face like a nail.

Chen Yang's expression of struggle was extremely realistic for a moment, like a low-level employee who was both grateful and forced to give up his "survival tool" due to the demands of the important person in front of him. In the end, he gritted his teeth and reluctantly handed the blue potion to the butler who was waiting anxiously beside him.

"Miss asked you to throw it away... Well then... could you please take care of it?"

The butler immediately took it away as carefully as if it were a hot potato.

After doing all this, Chen Yang revealed a "simple and honest" smile that was both tired and respectful.

"Miss Lina, you've just regained consciousness, please take good care of yourself. I... I don't need the medicine anymore."

Then I won't disturb your rest any longer.

After saying that, he bowed again, then quickly left the room without lingering.

Behind him, blonde Lina leaned back on the sofa, her gaze deep and unfathomable, silently watching Chen Yang's departing figure until the door gently closed.

Her pale fingertips unconsciously stroked the inside of her wrist where Chen Yang had just held hers, feeling the vibrant Daoist energy that had almost dissipated, yet whose imprint seemed to be deeply etched into her soul.

That cannot be stimulated by any "courage-boosting" or "energizing" drugs!
"Massage?"

She murmured, a faint, cold smile curving her lips, a smile that carried deep doubt and a hint of hidden anger.

Deep within those heterochromatic, azure-gold pupils, on the surface of the frozen core of holy power, a crack seemed to have quietly appeared a little more.

……

Chen Yang drove back to the base smoothly, and the luxurious limousine returned to the dedicated washing and care area for logistics vehicles like a weary bird returning to its nest.

The "tense" and "fearful" expressions on his face had vanished without a trace, and he had returned to being the calm and capable leader of the third logistics team. The handover process was smooth and uneventful, as if it had just been an ordinary errand.

He immediately threw himself into the busy loading and unloading schedule that afternoon, directing forklifts, checking documents, and working methodically. He even exchanged casual jokes with his familiar coworkers, showing no sign of anything amiss.

As the sun completely sank below the horizon, the city lights replaced the sunlight. The bustling logistics warehouse gradually quieted down, and the day shift workers, having completed their final cleaning, were clocking out one after another.

"Team Leader Chen! Wait a moment!"

Just as Chen Yang changed into his coat and was about to leave, a familiar voice rang out at the door.

Chen Yang turned around and saw Xiao Wang, the assistant to his supervisor Zhao Wenbin, walking quickly toward him.

"Assistant Wang? Is something the matter?"

Chen Yang asked with a calm expression.

Xiao Wang approached with a mysterious yet matter-of-fact smile, lowering his voice.

"It's not that I have anything to say, it's just that the manager asked me to tell you."

Miss Lina just called the manager's office herself! She said she had a good impression of Mr. Chen, the driver who picked her up from the airport today, and was very grateful for his help in handling a minor incident at her residence this afternoon.

He paused for a moment, his eyes carrying a hint of ambiguity.

"I'm asking you to go to 'Yunding Yazhu' after you finish your shift today. I need help with a little personal matter."

Chen Yang's brows furrowed subconsciously.

"Personal matters? Xiao Wang, what's the procedure..."

"Oh dear! My dear Team Leader Chen!"

Xiao Wang gave him a "why don't you get it?" look, and his smile widened.

"This is an order personally given by the manager!"

That young lady's identity...tsk tsk, I heard she has incredibly powerful connections, an unfathomable background! They say she's related to the real big boss behind our vast empire..."

He gestured with his finger, making a very low mouth shape for "born out of wedlock".

"In short, the young lady appreciates your 'attentiveness and thoughtfulness' and specifically requested you to go; that's your good fortune! Don't ask why! The manager specifically instructed you to protect her and provide excellent service! Hurry up and go! The car is still in the same parking spot, and the tank is full!"

He patted Chen Yang's arm, handed him a new access card, and looked at him with envy and a hint of teasing.

"It might be an opportunity!"

An opportunity? A fleeting, unnoticed glint flashed in Chen Yang's eyes.

He took the magnetic card and nodded.

"Okay, I understand. Please tell the manager that I will complete the task properly."

Night had already enveloped the city, and neon lights flowed like a long river of light.

Chen Yang drove his car once again toward the luxurious courtyard hidden in the wetlands at night.

This time, my mood was more indescribably somber than in the afternoon, and even more so... a desire to explore.

The car was parked and turned off at the entrance of Courtyard No. 1.

Chen Yang had just gotten out of the car and hadn't even had a chance to approach the rosewood door when the heavy door was pulled open from the inside under the warm yellow light of the porch lamp.

The light outlined a tall, slender figure.

Her blonde hair shimmered in the night, and she still wore that well-tailored deep burgundy trench coat, which made her skin appear even whiter, though her complexion was slightly better than when she had just woken up in the afternoon. Lina Winston stood in the warm, dazzling light inside the doorway, her gaze calmly fixed on Chen Yang, who stood in the night. It was as if she had known he would arrive at this moment.

"Mr. Chen, you've arrived."

Her voice was no longer cold, but it also lacked warmth, as if stating a given fact, carrying a sense of entitlement.

"Yes, Miss Lina. What can I do for you?"

Chen Yang maintained a respectful demeanor.

"Nothing special is instructed."

Lina stepped out the door, and the night breeze ruffled a strand of her blonde hair at her temple.

"I just lay down for a while this afternoon, and now I want to go out for a walk and get some fresh air."

Her gaze passed over Chen Yang and looked towards the night sky in the distance, illuminated by the city lights.

"The nights here are...unique."

But I'm not familiar with the area, so I need a guide.

Her gaze returned to Chen Yang, with an air of self-righteousness.

"You look like you've lived here for quite a while and know the city very well. Would you like to show me around?" (Guide/Tourist?)

Chen Yang was momentarily taken aback, but his expression remained unchanged.

"It's my pleasure to serve you, Miss Lina. Where would you like to go for a stroll?"

Lina seemed to think for a moment, then simply mentioned a place.

"shopping mall."

"Ok."

Chen Yang had no objections and immediately turned around and opened the back door.

"Please go ahead."

The engine started again, this time heading towards the most dazzling skyscraper in the city center—Star Plaza Shopping Mall.

Stepping into the ten-story Star Plaza, which resembled a crystal palace, Lina's eyes, which seemed to contain a sea of ​​stars, were finally ignited by the dazzling array of lights and colors, igniting the curiosity that every human being should have.

She wasn't a country bumpkin visiting the Grand View Garden; her own demeanor and attire were quite valuable. However, she displayed a kind of...undisguised and extremely pure interest in those noisy and brightly lit consumer venues that represented the lifestyle of ordinary urban dwellers.

Chen Yang followed silently to the side, like a dutiful shadow guard, but also like a patient observer.

He watched her linger in a store that brought together the world's top jewelry brands, her slender fingers slowly gliding across the glass display cases, her gaze drawn to the dazzling diamonds and colored gemstones, her eyes as earnest as if she were appreciating works of art in a museum.

She ended up casually picking out an extremely small and exquisite diamond-encrusted platinum choker, the string of zeros on the price tag making even the well-trained sales assistant hold her breath.

Next up was the top-tier haute couture salon in the women's wear section.

Chen Yang was politely asked to wait in the VIP lounge. Through the huge frosted glass screen, he could only occasionally glimpse the slender blonde figure, surrounded by several top image consultants and service staff, gracefully strolling among the clouds of gorgeous clothes, like a queen inspecting her wardrobe.

She hesitated briefly between a richly colored, heavily embroidered long dress and a minimalist fringed cape, but ultimately chose an extremely fresh and simple sky-blue silk dress.

Then came the futuristic smart electronics flagship store, the beauty palace filled with various fragrances... Lina looked around with extreme focus, like a diligent student, but she was very restrained in her purchases, as if these bizarre items were more about helping her understand how the world works than satisfying some kind of material desire.

As dusk settles, neon lights intertwine.

"Have a meal."

Lina walked out of a cultural heritage experience hall full of local flavor, still carrying the faint fragrance of indigo-dyed fabrics.

She seemed to have finally been infected by the city's bustling atmosphere, and the scrutiny she once held for Chen Yang faded considerably, making it seem more like she was issuing a logical order.

"If you want to eat authentic local food, do you know where to go?"

A moment later, in a private room of "Yun Jin Ge," a renowned old-established private restaurant hidden in a bustling back alley.

Bamboo shadows sway outside the antique-style mahogany window frames. At the center of the nanmu wood eight-immortal table, a pot of rich, fragrant fish head casserole simmers in a purple clay charcoal stove, surrounded by several classic local dishes such as hand-peeled river shrimp, blanched bok choy, crab meat lion's head meatballs, and chilled plum-flavored cherry tomatoes. The enticing aroma of the food permeates the warm and elegant space.

Lina sat gracefully on an exquisitely crafted rosewood official's hat chair, her posture still resembling that of a noblewoman in a palace mural.

But her brows furrowed slightly, showing a hint of confusion and annoyance at the complex new toy.

She tried to pick up the pair of jade-colored ivory chopsticks, polished to a warm, lustrous sheen. The smooth, heavy feel made her fingers, accustomed to knives and forks, feel slightly clumsy.

With a flick of the fingers and a slight exertion, one end of the chopsticks defiantly tilted up and slid to both sides. A plump, glistening shrimp, in the instant it was picked up, cunningly slipped from the tip of the chopsticks and fell back into the white porcelain plate. It rolled a couple of times and landed on a bright green coriander leaf, like a silent mockery.

Undeterred, she tried again to pick up the small crab meat lion's head meatball. The lion's head meatball nimbly rolled between the two ivory chopsticks, slipped out of her grasp again, and gently fell into the small bone china dish with gold trim, playfully shaking twice.

The waitress standing beside him, dressed in a dark blue cheongsam, pursed her lips tightly, lowered her head, and dared not look up, though her shoulders trembled slightly.

Sitting opposite him, Chen Yang watched as this mysterious and noble "young lady," possessing astonishing dual-elemental power and an unfathomable background, found herself caught off guard by the two chopsticks. A faint, almost imperceptible blush of embarrassment spread across her usually stern and icy profile...

This starkly contrasting, almost absurd scene finally caused the tension in his heart to ease slightly, and the corners of his lips involuntarily curved upwards into a genuine, somewhat helpless smile.

He even had a slight urge to reach out and help her put the lion's head into the spoon.

"This one……"

Chen Yang coughed lightly, trying to suppress the slight chuckle in his throat, picked up the silver spoon in front of him, and cautiously made a suggestion.

"Miss Lina, how about... we try a different spoon?"

Lina raised her dark blue and gold eyes and gave him a cold glare.

That look made Chen Yang feel like he was on a beach swept by a polar wind, a chill rising up his spine.

Unexpectedly, she didn't get angry; instead, that extremely rare blush of embarrassment spread a little more, creeping from her ears to her cheeks.

As if she were determined to challenge those two inconspicuous sticks, she angrily put down her chopsticks, picked up the porcelain spoon beside her, and spoke with an unyielding tone.

"No need! I...I'll use this!"

Then, with slightly stiff movements, yet revealing a stubborn refusal to admit defeat, she used a porcelain spoon to scoop up the lion's head meatball that had caused her to repeatedly lose her grip...

The rest of the dinner was spent amidst Lina's somewhat clumsy but well-intentioned attempts and the occasional annoyed glances she gave Chen Yang.

Chen Yang simply maintained a perfectly appropriate smile, acting as a competent guide, and didn't mention the "minor accident" on the table at all, which finally allowed Lina's tense nerves to relax.

Where else would you like to go?

After paying the bill, Chen Yang looked at Lina, who was wiping her mouth and whose complexion had returned to normal, and asked her a question. The neon lights of the bar street shone through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows onto her face, revealing a touch of girlish playfulness.

"Of course it's not over!"

Lina's eyes lit up, her earlier embarrassment vanished, and she pointed to the shimmering, hazy area outside the window.

"I've heard the nightlife here is famous? I've never been to a bar in China before."

"Let's go then."

Chen Yang had no objection and readily agreed.

This is a crucial opportunity for him to get close to his target and gain a deeper understanding of their mindset and behavioral patterns.

The bar, named "Phantom," was far more chaotic inside than it appeared from the outside. Deafening electronic music bounced off the walls, and psychedelic lasers of various colors swept through the gaps between the crowded heads.

The air was thick with the mingled scents of expensive perfume, cheap tobacco, and the restless aroma of alcohol. Lina, like a fawn venturing into an unfamiliar jungle for the first time, looked around with curiosity, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement. She quickly pulled Chen Yang and squeezed into the most vibrant dance floor at the center.

Her unique blend of Western passion and Eastern refinement shone like a magical pearl under the dazzling lights, instantly attracting many covetous glances.

Especially when she saw that she was accompanied by a plain-looking, simply dressed Chinese man.

Soon, several shady-looking young men approached, carrying wine glasses and grinning. (End of Chapter)