I work as a security guard at a cemetery, and I overhear the dead chatting about getting rich quick.

The office was quiet.

The air conditioner was blowing down from above, and Lin Ye felt a little cool on the back of his neck.

Gu Wantang also looked at the message.

After a few seconds, she said, "Don't reply."

Lin Ye looked up.

"If you don't go back now, it'll seem like there's something wrong, won't it?"

Gu Wantang looked at him.

Lin Ye placed his phone face down on the table.

"We chatted the whole way on the high-speed train, and as soon as they arrived in Qingcheng, they messaged me, and I suddenly pretended to be dead. It was so obvious."

Gu Wantang remained silent.

That's the truth.

Lin Ye is the kind of person who usually has a sharp tongue.

It's abnormal if they suddenly stop replying to anything.

He picked up his phone, thought for a moment, and replied:

"Just arrived, haven't recovered yet. Will see tomorrow."

Su Tinglan replied quickly.

"Okay, you should rest first."

A smiley face followed.

Lin Ye felt a little uneasy looking at that expression.

It's not that I necessarily think there's something wrong with her.

Rather, he didn't want to think there was anything wrong with her.

Gu Wantang took the phone, glanced at it, and then handed it back to him.

"You can go tomorrow."

Lin Ye was stunned.

"I've arranged someone for you."

No sooner had he finished speaking than there was a knock on the office door.

It's very light.

Gu Wantang said, "Go in."

Lin Ye was stunned.

"Who?"

Gu Wantang did not explain.

Tao Shuang pushed open the door and came in, followed by a girl.

Lin Ye subconsciously looked over.

Short hair.

Black hoodie.

Black cargo pants.

He was wearing sneakers.

He was chewing gum.

She was not tall, carrying a small black bag, with narrow shoulders and a small but fair face. She wasn't wearing makeup, and her eyes were indifferent.

Like a little girl who can sit in front of a convenience store at night and drink two bottles of iced cola in one go.

After she entered the room, she didn't look at Gu Wantang first.

I glanced at the window first.

Then I looked at Lin Ye.

Lin Ye felt a slight stiffness in his back as she stared at him.

There was no hostility in his eyes.

But it felt like being targeted by a venomous snake.

Tao Shuang closed the door.

Gu Wantang said, "Xiaoman."

A short-haired girl chews on a mint.

With a click.

"exist."

Gu Wantang looked at Lin Ye.

"From today onwards, she will be with you."

Lin Ye remained silent for two seconds.

Then I looked at Xiaoman.

"Miss Gu, are you sure?"

Xiaoman also looked at him.

Lin Ye carefully considered his words.

"No, I didn't mean to look down on anyone. It's just that she looks like a college student who hasn't graduated yet."

Xiaoman said, "I am twenty-three."

"Oh." Lin Ye nodded. "Looks young."

Xiaoman glanced at him.

"You look poor."

Lin Ye: "..."

Tao Shuang, who was standing by the door, visibly suppressed her smile upon hearing this.

Lin Ye pointed to himself.

"She attacked the person she was protecting."

Xiaoman said, "I'm just stating the facts."

Gu Wantang said calmly, "She rarely talks nonsense."

Lin Ye: "Then I thank her for her precise strike."

Gu Wantang ignored him and pushed a temporary access card over.

Just as the card slid to the edge of the table, Xiaoman flicked her wrist and pressed it down with her fingertips.

Lin Ye didn't even see how she moved.

The card was lying right under her hand.

She looked down at the front of the card, then flipped it over to check the back, and only handed it to Lin Ye after confirming that there was nothing wrong with it.

Lin Ye took the card.

"You're even preventing access cards from being used?"

Xiaoman said, "You should take a look at anything that is near the protected object."

"So you'll watch me eat too?"

"look."

"Going to the toilet?"

Xiaoman looked at him.

"Watch the door."

Lin Ye was speechless.

Gu Wantang closed the other document.

"Don't tease her."

"I was teasing her?" Lin Ye pointed to himself. "Miss Gu, she just said I'm not smart."

Gu Wantang spoke calmly.

She was making a judgment.

Lin Ye: "..."

well.

Not a single person in the room was on his side.

Gu Wantang looked at Xiaoman.

"From now on, Lin Ye will be your second person to be protected."

Xiaoman nodded.

"clear."

Lin Ye raised his hand.

"Wait a minute, the second one?"

Xiaoman said, "The first one is Miss Gu."

"Then what am I? A copy protection object?"

Xiaoman thought about it.

"temporary."

Lin Ye looked at Gu Wantang.

Gu Wantang ignored him.

She told Xiaoman, "He is free to move around and see other people. You just need to protect his safety. There's no need to restrict him."

Xiaoman asked, "What if it's dangerous?"

"Take them away."

"What if he doesn't leave?"

"Forced".

Xiaoman nodded.

"Can you knock him out?"

Lin Ye suddenly looked up.

"No, the person involved is still here."

Gu Wantang glanced at Xiaoman.

"Don't hurt him."

Xiaoman gave a slightly regretful "oh".

Lin Ye's eyelids twitched as he watched.

Were you disappointed just now?

Xiaoman did not answer.

She took a piece of chewing gum out of her hoodie pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in her mouth.

Lin Ye suddenly felt a chill on his head.

Gu Wantang leaned back in her chair and said in a low voice, "Xiaoman is not an ordinary bodyguard."

Lin Ye looked at her.

Gu Wantang remained silent for two seconds.

It was as if he was carefully considering how to say it.

"Xiaoman used to work at Qingque Hall."

Lin Ye had never heard of this name.

But the word "堂" (tang) alone makes it sound like a legitimate training institution.

Gu Wantang continued, "That place isn't openly known. They specifically select children for training, teaching them close protection, tracking, counter-tracking, combat, first aid, and many other things you don't need to know."

Lin Ye slowly frowned.

"From childhood?"

"Um."

Lin Ye looked at Xiao Man.

Xiaoman didn't react much, and just lowered her head to chew her candy.

Gu Wantang was talking about someone else.

Gu Wantang said, "After they were bought, they became the ones who were in charge of the buyers."

The smile on Lin Ye's face slowly disappeared.

"Buy it?"

Gu Wantang looked at him.

"I bought her."

The office fell silent for a moment.

Lin Ye looked at Gu Wantang.

"Ms. Gu, this doesn't sound like a legal employment relationship."

Gu Wantang did not avoid his gaze.

"no."

"Then why are you saying it so calmly?"

"Because if I don't buy it, she'll be sold to someone else."

Lin Ye was momentarily speechless after hearing this.

Gu Wantang picked up the cup on the table, then put it down again.

The coffee in the cup had gone cold.

"After I bought her, I got her an identity card, a place to live, and a salary. She was free to leave; I never stopped her."

Xiaoman then spoke.

"I'm not leaving."

Lin Ye looked at her.

Xiaoman's expression was calm.

"Miss Gu has already paid."

She has always believed this since she was a child.

Lin Ye felt a little uncomfortable listening to this.

He frowned and said, "You're a person, not a thing."

Xiaoman looked at him.

It seemed like they didn't quite understand why he suddenly became serious.

"I know."

"You know that, yet you still say such things?"

Xiaoman chewed the candy and said calmly, "It's a habit."

Lin Ye was speechless for a moment.

He may be sarcastic or talkative at times.

But at times like this, he can't come up with anything.

Gu Wantang looked at Xiaoman with a calm expression, but not as cold as usual.

"Xiaoman, I've said it many times, you are not my possession."

Xiaoman nodded.

"Know."

"Then why do you still say that?"

"Because Miss Gu didn't like to hear it," Xiaoman said. "That's why I remember it so clearly."

Lin Ye: "..."

This logic doesn't sound quite right.

But it suits her perfectly.

Gu Wantang pinched the bridge of her nose.

"In short, she'll be with you for a while."

Lin Ye looked at Xiao Man.

"What are your plans?"

Xiaoman said, "Wherever you go, I'll go."

"I'm going to work the night shift at the cemetery?"

"I'll go."

"Should I go to Mancang for old artifacts?"

"I'll go."

"I'm sleeping?"

Xiaoman glanced at him.

"I'll go with you."

Lin Ye remained silent for two seconds.

"You're going to scare me so badly I'll develop a psychological trauma."

Xiaoman said, "As long as you're alive, that's enough."

Lin Ye was speechless.

Gu Wantang took out a photocopy of her ID card and pushed it to Lin Ye.

"Tell others that she is your cousin."

Lin Ye looked down.

Name: Jiang Man.

Age 23.

His ancestral home is a small county in another province.

Lin Ye glanced at her.

"cousin?"

Gu Wantang said, "It's convenient."

"My cousin?"

"Distant relatives".

"That's good." Lin Ye breathed a sigh of relief. "Otherwise, if my mom knew I suddenly had such a beautiful little sister, she might have to ask my dad first."

Xiaoman looked up at him.

"You talk too much."

Lin Ye said earnestly, "That's called being good at communication."

"There's no need."

"Do you usually chat like this?"

"We don't talk much."

"I can tell."

Xiaoman opened another candy.

Click.

Lin Ye looked at her.

How much sugar do you eat in a day?

Xiaoman thought about it.

"It depends on how many people are there."

"What do you mean?"

"Eat more if you're annoyed."

Lin Ye: "..."

Gu Wantang pushed a bank card to Xiaoman.

"Expenses for the past few days."

Xiaoman didn't answer.

"I have."

Gu Wantang looked at her.

Xiaoman then reached out and took it.

Looking at this scene, Lin Ye suddenly understood something.

Xiaoman is not incapable of refusing.

She simply couldn't refuse Gu Wantang.

Or rather, all her judgments were prefaced with a default clause—

Miss Gu, would you like some?

Miss Gu, do you agree?

Is Miss Gu happy or not?

Having someone like that around is safe.

It's just too abnormal.

Lin Ye looked at Gu Wantang.

"Are you sure it wouldn't be a waste to have her with me?"

Gu Wantang said, "It's better than something happening to you."

That's a very realistic statement.

"You like reality."

"When did I ever like reality?"

Gu Wantang glanced at him.

"When you collect the money."

Lin Ye shut up.

Xiaoman, standing to one side, suddenly asked, "Where are we going tonight?"

Lin Ye looked at her.

"You're asking me?"

"Um."

"I thought you would wait for Miss Gu's orders."

Xiaoman said, "She lets you decide."

Lin Ye paused slightly.

Gu Wantang remained silent.

The phrase "Xiaoman" is very simple.

But this shows that she did follow orders and did execute them in detail.

Gu Wantang told her not to restrict Lin Ye, so she didn't.

Even if she doesn't understand.

Lin Ye picked up his phone.

Su Tinglan's message was still on the screen.

The warehouse is full of old artifacts.

Special price for friends.

He thought about it for a moment, but didn't reply immediately.

"Let's go back to the cemetery tonight."

Xiaoman nodded.

"I'll go with you."

Where do you live?

"Outside the door."

Lin Ye suddenly looked up.

"No, cousin, this character setting of yours is a bit scary."

Xiaoman looked at Gu Wantang.

Gu Wantang said, "I've already asked Tao Shuang to arrange accommodation. There's a short-term rental near the cemetery, not far from your security booth."

Xiaoman said, "It's too far."

Gu Wantang looked at her.

The term "Xiaoman" was changed.

"Can."

Lin Ye felt a little uneasy watching how quickly she changed her tune.

He put his phone back in his pocket.

"Okay, then come back to the cemetery with me first."

Xiaoman nodded and picked up her small black bag.

That bag was really small.

Unlike luggage.

It's more like it's filled with several things that could kill someone at any moment.

Lin Ye glanced at it but didn't ask.

He felt it was pointless to ask.

She might not answer.

He might not want to know the answer.

The three of them walked outside.

Tao Shuang waited at the door and handed Lin Ye a car key.

"We'll take you back."

Lin Ye took the key and looked at it.

"Ms. Gu, the company is in such a state, and you're still providing me with a car?"

Tao Shuang said, "It's not for you, it's for Xiaoman."

Xiaoman took the key, glanced at it, and handed it back to Taoshuang.

"I won't open it."

Tao Shuang frowned.

Why?

"Go with him." Xiaoman pointed at Lin Ye, "He's more like a younger sister."

Lin Ye's lips twitched.

"Little sister, you're quite dedicated."

Xiaoman said, "It's required for the mission."

Lin Ye sighed.

"Okay, let's go. I'll help you get a taxi."

Xiaoman looked at him.

"Don't call me brother."

Why?

"I'm not used to it."

"Then what did you call me?"

"Linye."

"Doesn't this make us seem like siblings?"

Xiaoman thought about it.

"cousin."

Lin Ye was somewhat satisfied.

"Why."

Xiaoman looked at him expressionlessly.

"I was just testing the waters, I wasn't really calling you."

Tao Shuang finally couldn't help but turn her head and smile.

Lin Ye felt he had been injured quite a few times tonight.

When they went downstairs, Gu Wantang escorted them to the elevator.

As the elevator doors were about to close, she looked at Xiaoman.

"Remember, protect him."

Xiaoman nodded.

"Just make sure he doesn't die."

Gu Wantang: "Mm."

Lin Ye stood in the elevator, feeling a chill run down his spine.

"Could you please stop making me sound like a fragile object in front of me?"

Xiaoman glanced at him.

"You're more troublesome than fragile items."

The elevator doors closed.

Lin Ye stared at the reflection on the door.

He was in the middle.

Xiaoman stood half a step to his side.

Not far away.

It's not close either.

That way, I could pull him away immediately and also block the people at the elevator entrance.

This spot isn't just anyone's place.

Lin Ye figured it out.

He asked in a low voice, "Have you been standing like this the whole time?"

Xiaoman chewed on a mint.

"Um."

Are you tired?

"Not tired."

"You've been training since you were little?"

"Um."

Lin Ye didn't ask any more questions.

The elevator is descending.

The numbers jump down layer by layer.

As he approached the first floor, his phone vibrated again.

Su Tinglan sent a new message.

I'll be at the store tomorrow morning.

"Tell me before you come, and I'll ask my cousin to rip you off less."

Lin Ye looked at the message and smiled.

Xiaoman tilts her head.

"Who?"

"Someone who might try to sabotage me."

"Should we handle this?"

Lin Ye almost dropped his phone.

"What are you dealing with?"

Xiaoman spoke calmly.

"people."

Lin Ye looked at her.

She wasn't joking.

He took a breath and put his phone away.

"Don't deal with it. I'll see her tomorrow."

Xiaoman nodded.

"I'll go with you."

"Aren't you going to ask why?"

"I won't ask."

"Miss Gu said you wouldn't restrict me, you really won't?"

No restrictions.

Lin Ye just breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiaoman then said, "But you cannot die."

The elevator doors opened.

The lights from the lobby on the first floor shone in.

He sighed.

"Alright."

"Then let's go to Mancang Oldware tomorrow."

Xiaoman followed half a step behind him.

Black hoodie, short hair, mints.

The voice was so soft it sounded like it had no emotion.

"it is good."

"Wherever you go, I will go."