Chapter 12: Jin Yuchuan’s Background, an Ancient Martial Artist as Her Bodyguard

Jin Yuchuan glanced at him sideways. "Are you that idle?"

"I am trying to advise you!" Ling Qiao replied indignantly. "Even if you are formidable and don't need the family's support, you can't just keep going on like this."

He felt a sense of injustice for him.

As soon as Jin Yuchuan came of age, he left Yanjing. With only a sum of startup capital provided by his grandfather, he carved out his own empire in Jincheng, a city filled with powerful elites.

Five years had passed. Now, not only were his companies leading the way in Jincheng, but they also held a significant position nationwide. Coupled with his formidable background, he earned the respectful title of "Master Jin."

Yet, behind the brilliance of his success lay the thin, strained ties to his family. Having known him since childhood, Ling Qiao understood the situation within the Jin household. Even after he left Yanjing, they had never truly let him be.

Jin Yuchuan’s brow furrowed slightly, a hint of impatience surfacing. Suppressing his irritation, he turned to Ye Chunxi. "You should head back first."

"Understood."

Ye Chunxi glanced at Ling Qiao, her eyes flickering for a moment before she turned to leave. She had looked into Jin Yuchuan’s background. The Jin family of Yanjing was an elite, top-tier powerhouse. In his youth, he had made quite a name for himself, capturing the hearts of countless noble heiresses. He had completed his studies early and returned home in triumph. At eighteen, he left the family to build a career in a strange city.

Some remarked that he didn't wait until eighteen because he only then possessed the capability, but because the law required one to be eighteen to serve as a company's legal representative. His talent and audacity were beyond the reach of ordinary people. Having been exposed to corporate affairs since the age of twelve, he had earned nothing but praise from Grandfather Jin. Consequently, he became the old man’s favorite grandson, receiving millions in funding with no strings attached—a gesture filled with both expectation and trust in his desire to forge his own path.

Ye Chunxi had been so dazzled by his aura that she had overlooked his family history. Otherwise, she wouldn't have only just learned that their parents had long since passed away. She pressed her red lips together, her hands tightening slightly.

...

Once the door was shut, the gentle, indifferent look in Jin Yuchuan’s eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, commanding gaze. "If you are truly that idle, I wouldn't mind asking the old man to find you something to do."

Ling Qiao felt a chill, his bravado instantly wilting.

"Don't do that, Master Jin! I just think your younger sister is pitiful and thought you should spend more time with her. That young girl looked so aggrieved earlier she was on the verge of tears; I truly couldn't bear it..."

"Couldn't bear it?" Jin Yuchuan interrupted.

"Exactly!" Thinking he had struck a chord, Ling Qiao continued to embellish. "Your sister isn't young anymore, and having finally found her family, she discovers her parents are gone, and you clearly won't let her back into the Jin family. The two of you are all each other has in Jincheng, and you just dump her in this wilderness and rarely visit..."

Jin Yuchuan closed his laptop, impatient. "Since you find it so unbearable, I leave the task of protecting her to you."

"What did you say?" Ling Qiao was dumbfounded. He was an heir to his family, a prestigious figure in the world of ancient martial arts; for Jin Yuchuan to ask him to guard a little girl was nothing short of an insult.

"What do you take me for? You want me to act as a bodyguard? Even if she is your sister, that’s out of the question!" Ling Qiao fumed. What a joke. Jin Yuchuan had countless bodyguards and was wealthy enough to hire a dozen martial artists from his grandfather's circle if he wanted to. Why would he need him? If he wanted to hire him, he at least needed to offer a reasonable price.

Jin Yuchuan leaned back, his head tilted slightly, his ink-dark eyes fixed on him as he said slowly, "What if I told you that she is Bai Lan?"

At these words, Ling Qiao’s eyes widened, his pupils constricting. "She is Bai Lan?!" he shouted in disbelief.

No wonder Jin Yuchuan was so obsessed with finding Bai Lan; she was his own flesh and blood. Did that mean all his fantasies about a CEO-romance trope were ruined? Ling Qiao’s expression suddenly fell.

Jin Yuchuan had no time for his musings and delivered an ultimatum. "Either protect her, or go back home."

Ling Qiao shuddered, his stance immediately softening as he offered a fawning smile. "No, no, I'll do it."

The old man back home was always complaining that he wasn't serious enough and wanted to put him through "special training" to temper his character. Given his unruly nature, that training was both physical and psychological torture. Luckily, he had been quick-witted enough to think of Jin Yuchuan. In the old man’s eyes, Jin Yuchuan was always serious, meticulous, and thoughtful, so he had claimed he was going down the mountain to learn from him and experience the world. It was embarrassing to admit the truth, so he had cut off the old man and contacted Jin Yuchuan himself, claiming he wanted to gain experience. Who knew that Jin Yuchuan would hit the nail on the head, correctly guessing he’d been kicked out. Ling Qiao felt a cold sweat, thinking to himself that Jin Yuchuan was indeed as sharp as ever at reading people.

...

"Still, it's quite surprising that Bai Lan, the rising star of the ancient medical world, is actually your sister."

This was the first time Ling Qiao had seen Bai Lan. Suddenly, he remembered something, his face changing instantly. "Does that mean the person who lost her memory is also your sister?"

"What a poor girl. Drifting for half a lifetime, only to find her brother and end up with amnesia..." Ling Qiao felt a surge of pity and let out a heavy sigh. He gripped Jin Yuchuan’s shoulder, his expression resolute. "Don't worry, as your good brother, I will definitely find a way to help you contact Master Qiao!"

Jin Yuchuan ruthlessly swiped his hand away. If Master Qiao were that easy to contact, he wouldn't have had to settle for searching for Bai Lan. Even Ling Qiao’s grandfather couldn't guarantee he could bring the man out of seclusion. By comparison, the upcoming Medical Alliance symposium offered Jin Yuchuan a better chance.

And tomorrow was Thursday.

...

Back at the Luyuan estate, Ye Chunxi ran into Butler Kong.

"Miss Ye, I wanted to ask what you would like for dinner so I can have the staff prepare it."

Ye Chunxi pondered for a moment before asking, "Will my brother be eating at home tonight?"

"This..." Butler Kong was unsure. "The young master will likely stay." He had asked Nan Sheng earlier; Jin Yuchuan’s schedule had been largely pushed back, and there were no further plans for the day. However, he knew the young master was a legendary workaholic who rarely spent time here.

Ye Chunxi sensed his hesitation. Jin Yuchuan was indeed busy, and she didn't want to force him. "I'd like hot pot. The food in the hospital was too bland." Such heavily flavored food had never appeared in Luyuan.

Butler Kong readily agreed. "I will have it arranged, but since you have just recovered from a serious illness, it is best not to eat anything too spicy."

Ye Chunxi nodded politely. "Thank you, Butler Kong."

The girl was beautiful and had a pleasant voice. Butler Kong smiled until the corners of his eyes crinkled. "You are too kind, Miss Ye."

After she left, he pulled out his phone and quietly sent a message: *[Grandfather, the young lady is quite wonderful in every way, though she does look a bit young.]*