CHAPTER 58: CHAPTER 58: LOVED CLIMBING SINCE CHILDHOOD

The next day, Li Zishen woke up at five o’clock.

It had only been one day since he arrived at Mei Garden, and three things had already happened, leading him to sleep only after 2 a.m.

First, the renovation company had delivered a truckload of wood and stored it in the backyard warehouse, set to start construction on Monday. Next, Fang Yun was bitten by a snake.

It wasn’t unusual for there to be snakes in the mountains, but it had appeared right in her medicine box.

Fortunately, it was non-venomous, more startling than dangerous.

However, what truly troubled Li Zishen was the surveillance; despite the sophisticated hardware and software configurations, it had been invaded for as long as 20 minutes.

It was evident that the mastermind behind the scenes had never ceased their actions but rather stayed hidden in the dark, waiting for an opportunity.

Li Zishen’s eyes lowered as he fell into deep thought.

However, at that moment, his phone rang; it was Bai Long, who had stood guard outside Mei Garden the whole night.

Li Zishen’s brow furrowed, "What’s the matter?"

"Brother Shen, Cheng Shi is here."

"Which Cheng Shi, Xiao Wan’s bodyguard?"

"Yes, just him alone. He drove here and is now waiting at the main entrance of Mei Garden. He insists on entering; should we wait until daylight?"

"Let him in."

"Brother Shen, we haven’t cleared up last night’s attack yet, and Cheng Shi has been missing for so long. Shouldn’t we, for safety’s sake..."

"No need, just let him in."

"Yes, understood."

After hanging up, Li Zishen, lost in thought, dressed in a black suit, meticulously fastening the buttons of his dark gray shirt to the very top.

He paused for a moment outside Tang Xiaowan’s door, wanting to wake her.

His rough hand lifted twice and then fell back down; in the end, he only sent a message telling her that Cheng Shi had arrived before heading downstairs alone.

It’s still too early, she can sleep a little longer.

...

In the grand hall on the first floor.

Under the dazzling crystal chandelier, Li Zishen stood with his hands behind his back.

A tall man, around 180 cm, with a robust build and a face marked by firm angles swiftly approached.

This was the second time Li Zishen had seen Tang Xiaowan’s personal bodyguard, Cheng Shi; the last time was last year.

"Mr. Li, thank you for saving Lady Tang. I am deeply indebted, and if there is ever need for Cheng Shi, please command me."

Cheng Shi finished speaking and then thumped to his knees, knocking his head on the ground three times.

The gesture was so swift it allowed no time for reaction.

Li Zishen bent down, extending a hand, "Get up quickly, no need for this. If anything, I should be thanking you for calling in time."

Cheng Shi got up and bowed again, expressing his gratitude.

The scene left Bai Long stunned.

He had always firmly believed that no one could match his loyalty; however, now he saw a grown man kneeling for his master.

To fight for Li Zishen, he would not hesitate, but kneeling indeed required courage.

Minutes later, Tang Xiaowan came rushing in.

She had no memory whatsoever of her personal bodyguard.

"Lady Tang, I failed to protect you."

Before he could kneel, Tang Xiaowan stopped him, "Nonsense, look at me; I am perfectly fine!"

"Lady Tang..."

"Alright, alright, let’s go upstairs."

At this, Bai Long immediately looked towards Li Zishen, who responded with a slight shake of his head.

After Cheng Shi followed Tang Xiaowan upstairs, the hall suddenly felt much emptier; two men stood facing each other, each lost in their thoughts.

One contemplating the hidden mastermind, the other worrying whether his boss might feel jealous because of this.

After a brief pause, Li Zishen was the first to speak.

"His car?"

"It’s parked in the yard, didn’t enter the garage."

"It seems he anticipated we would check!"

Bai Long nodded approvingly, "Brother Shen, on the way here, I asked about the night attack and the car accident. Cheng Shi didn’t say anything, and he also knew nothing about the missing female bodyguard, Lin Xiaoxiao."

"Unwilling to talk, he naturally has his difficulties. Have the injuries from the car accident thoroughly healed?"

"They probably haven’t; it couldn’t have been that quick."

Li Zishen turned his head to glance at the staircase, his expression complex, "Let’s not withdraw just yet. We’ll discuss further upon returning to Jin City. He definitely can’t cope alone."

"Yes, then about Lin Xiaoxiao..."

"Let’s put that off for now. It’s been almost a month; if she was going to show up, she would have done so by now."

Bai Long nodded and then left.

...

Second-floor drawing room.

Tang Xiaowan kept looking at Cheng Shi from the left and then the right, truly both shocked and delighted.

The man stood straight, without moving.

After a pause, Uncle Cai came up with some food. There was beef, pork liver, spicy pancakes, lean meat porridge, a plate of chilled shredded radish Tang Xiaowan had to eat daily, and fried eggs.

"Lady Tang, do you think this is enough?"

"Thank you, Uncle Cai, it’s perfect."

"Mm, I’ll head downstairs then."

Uncle Cai walked past Cheng Shi, pausing deliberately.

Strong and upright with bold brows and large eyes, he seemed alright, not like a bad kid, just with darker skin—how could he be even darker than Chen Xin!

Throughout, Cheng Shi had not moved an inch, still standing strictly.

The door to the room was closed again.

Tang Xiaowan pursed her lips into a smile, tossed her shoes aside, and directly sat cross-legged on the wicker chair, "Cheng Shi, come on, sit down and join me for breakfast. You must be hungry too."

To say join was more like a deliberate preparation.

In fact, as soon as Li Zishen sent the message, Tang Xiaowan had already awakened.

She immediately called Uncle Cai and asked him to prepare breakfast for two, intending to eat in the bedroom today before she came downstairs.

"Miss, please take your time; I’ll stand."

"Don’t be so formal, come here quickly."

Under Tang Xiaowan’s urging, Cheng Shi could only sit opposite her, but still did not touch his chopsticks.

"How did you get back and forth? Did someone drive you?"

Tang Xiaowan’s implication was, who was the man who tampered with the surveillance? Were you brought back by him?

But she couldn’t ask outright, having already promised someone else.

"No, I drove back myself."

It seemed he didn’t want to talk about it. Could there be another hidden story?

"Oh, alright then, tell me, what skills do I possess?"

"Swimming, driving, fencing."

"Don’t I know Taekwondo or Sanda, like the legitimate defensive Martial Arts?"

"Actually, Miss..."

"Why are you stammering?"

"To be precise, Miss, you don’t know Martial Arts; you only know how to escape. However, your running speed is very fast, you have strong coordination, walking on a rope in mid-air or climbing over high walls is no problem at all."

"Oh, so that’s how it is!"

Right after her words fell, Tang Xiaowan’s eyes suddenly brightened; "What did you just say, rope walking and climbing walls?"

"Yes, Miss has always loved climbing from a young age."

Strange, hadn’t Li Zishen told me I was afraid of heights?

But Cheng Shi seemed honest and unlikely to lie; but then, Li Zishen had no reason to lie to me either!

Two people, two different stories. What’s going on?

Well, never mind that, I should first find out my real strength.

Tang Xiaowan pushed the beef and lean meat porridge towards Cheng Shi with a smile, "Eat this up. Then later, join me for a walk outside."

"Miss, the old lady had instructed before; I cannot dine with you at the same table as it amounts to disrespect."

"Just eat when I tell you to, hurry up."