Chapter 17

Seeing him with a stern face and not speaking, Qiao Antian smiled faintly and said, "Director Qiu, how about this: I'll have my daughter apologize to her privately, and you calm down Minister Dong. We can reinstate her tomorrow?"

Qiu Renzhan gave him a meaningful look, sneering inwardly. According to what you said, Qiao Yun is not at fault. Is it even possible for Qiao Yun to apologize to Dong Jiayun?

He knew that Qiao Antian was just putting on a show. If he really agreed, not only would Qiao Yun likely refuse, but he would also be seen as not knowing his place. If it came to a showdown, the prestigious Minghua Group, with its vast resources, would not fear a mere deputy director.

"No!" Qiu Renzhan waved his hand decisively. "We must handle this officially. Mistakes must be punished. I am well aware of my sister-in-law's capabilities. I cannot cause more trouble for Chairman Qiao."

Qiao Antian pondered for a moment and asked, "Then, Director Qiu, could you ask Minister Dong what she requires? We will do our best to meet her demands."

Qiu Renzhan hesitated. He had intended to hold the security guard accountable, but from Qiao Antian's words, it was clear that he was trying to plead for the guard. Otherwise, there would be no need to emphasize the importance of a mere guard.

Thinking that his woman was less important to the other party than a security guard, and seeing no signs of any favors being offered, Qiu Renzhan felt a surge of anger. However, this was clearly not the time to act. He could only wait for a better opportunity.

So, he waved his hand openly and said, "For her to have worked at Minghua Group for so long, it is already a great honor. What more could she ask for? We cannot indulge her." He stood up, extended his hand, and said, "Chairman Qiao, I just remembered I have an important meeting to attend. I'll take my leave."

"Hmm?" Qiao Antian raised an eyebrow, smiled, and stood up. He shook hands and said, "I won't disturb Director Qiu's official duties. I'll see you out!"

"No, no!" Qiu Renzhan waved his hand firmly, not even taking a sip of tea, and turned to leave. As he turned, his face darkened.

Just as he walked to the elevator with a dark face, he saw Qiao Antian's assistant in the elevator, who smiled at him, "Director Qiu, I'll see you out!"

Qiu Renzhan responded with a noncommittal "Hmm" and walked in. As soon as the elevator doors closed, Assistant Ning mysteriously pulled out a card, showed it to him briefly, and said, "Director Qiu, this seems to be the card you left in the elevator." He then slipped it into Qiu Renzhan's pocket.

Qiu Renzhan was taken aback but then understood. His dark face finally relaxed, and he nodded at Ning Lan with a smile. He pondered that the weight of the bank card in his pocket was not light, and it should be enough to calm Dong Jiayun. As for a job, he could find one anywhere with his connections.

Ning Lan saw him off to the parking lot, watched him leave, and then returned with a slight sneer on her face.

Back in the chairman's office, Qiao Antian was standing by the glass window, looking outside. Ning Lan walked up to him and whispered, "Chairman, he took it."

Qiao Antian nodded slightly and sighed, "Lin Zixian, Lin Zixian, who are you? I haven't personally handled such matters in a long time. I hope you are worth it."

He turned and walked back to his desk, sat down, and instructed, "Go see if the general manager has finished her meeting. Have her come to my office after the meeting." Ning Lan left as instructed...

Lin Zixian, who was sound asleep on the sofa in his office, suddenly heard the "ding" of his phone. He groggily fumbled for his phone and answered with a "Hello."

The lazy voice, anyone could tell, was from someone who was sleeping. The person on the other end was clearly taken aback and then responded with a bitter laugh, "Mr. Lin, are you free now? If it's convenient, could you come to my office?"

Lin Zixian had gotten his phone number from Ning Lan, mainly because it was hard to reach him through the office phone at the security department.

Lin Zixian groggily responded with a "Hmm" and hung up.

Upstairs, Qiao Antian stared at his phone, wondering if Lin Zixian was still asleep or if he had even heard what he said. A security guard sleeping on the job was unbelievable. If he hadn't seen Lin Zixian's skills firsthand, he would doubt his ability to be a bodyguard.

Fortunately, it didn't take long for Lin Zixian, wearing a tilted cap, to barge into his office without knocking, sit down opposite him, yawn, and ask, "What does the chairman need?"

Qiao Antian was taken aback by his demeanor. He seemed like a completely different person from yesterday. Indeed, the saying "a man is what he wears" held true. He knew Lin Zixian smoked and offered him a cigarette, lighting it for him across the table. "I've seen your skills. Ning Lan is looking for Qiao Yun. I hope you can cooperate and persuade Qiao Yun to accept your protection."

At the mention of Qiao Yun, Lin Zixian's drowsy eyes immediately cleared, and he sat up a bit straighter, smiling bitterly, "Your daughter seems to have a strong opinion about me. I doubt my cooperation will make a difference."

"If it doesn't work..." Qiao Antian hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "Could you consider covertly protecting her?"

Lin Zixian, holding the cigarette, shook his head slightly. "Covert protection is the most challenging and unpredictable. It's easy to make mistakes. It might work for a day or two, but long-term, even a god couldn't guarantee constant surveillance. I'd be exhausted. So, the best is close protection. Otherwise, I won't take on something I can't guarantee. If I fail, it will damage my reputation."

"Ah! Then I'll try to persuade her again," Qiao Antian sighed.

Soon, there was a knock on the door, and Qiao Yun's voice rang out, "Chairman!"

"Come in!" Qiao Antian called out.

The door opened, and the familiar sound of high heels echoed. Lin Zixian didn't turn around, continuing to smoke silently. He had no hope that this woman would accept him, and as for Qiao Antian's request for cooperation, how could he kneel and beg her to accept his protection? What a joke!

He prepared to remain silent. If it didn't work, he was ready to leave. He couldn't stay at Minghua Group as a security guard forever!

Qiao Yun glanced at the smoky office and frowned, "Chairman, what do you need?"

Qiao Antian, holding his head in frustration, smiled bitterly, "Xiao Yun, can you reconsider accepting Mr. Lin's protection? I saw his skills yesterday. He's much better than those bodyguards and can protect your safety."

"Is that why you called me here?" Qiao Yun glanced at Lin Zixian and said coldly, "Having someone with questionable character around is the most dangerous. Besides, you don't even know his background. Chairman, if there's nothing else, I'll get back to work." She turned to leave.

Lin Zixian smoked in silence, inwardly bitter. It seemed the trip back to the country had left a bad impression on this woman. She now treated him like a dangerous tiger. Where could he go to clear his name?

"Xiao Yun!" Qiao Antian shouted angrily, stepping out from behind his desk. "You must not speak to Mr. Lin like that. This time, you will agree, whether you like it or not. I'm doing this for your safety."

Qiao Yun turned around, her expression calm. "Chairman, violence never solves anything, especially in the domestic environment. For Minghua Group to develop, we cannot leave a bad impression. I've contacted the CEO of Shengqing Group to resolve our issues. Otherwise, it will not end well. Chairman, rest assured, I will handle it properly and ensure nothing like yesterday happens again."

With that, she left, leaving Qiao Antian in a daze.

Qiao Antian was silent for a long time, then smiled bitterly and shook his head. "My daughter has grown up and become capable. I can't control her anymore." His face showed a hint of bitterness.

Lin Zixian smirked, clearly not agreeing with Qiao Yun's assessment. He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, stood up, and smiled, "Since your daughter can handle it, I guess I'm not needed. Goodbye, Chairman Qiao!"

Qiao Antian waved his hand and sighed, "I admit she has a talent for business, better than me. But she is still inexperienced. This matter is more complicated than she thinks. If I don't let her try, she won't be satisfied. As her father, I can only support her from behind. I hope, for Master Lin's sake, you can bear with it for a while. You might need to help at a critical moment... I will be grateful and repay you."

Lin Zixian smiled noncommittally and turned to leave.

"Mr. Lin!" Qiao Antian called out again. Lin Zixian was already out the door, but a faint voice came back, "I know! I'm not one to break my word..."

Back at the security department, Lin Zixian wandered around, waiting until it was almost time to leave. Duan Jiye found him and mentioned having dinner with the two customer service girls.

Lin Zixian had lost interest in the girls and dismissed Duan casually, changed his clothes, and left.

As he walked out of the Minghua Group building, a car on the opposite street stopped. The dismissed Minister Dong Jiayun pointed at Lin Zixian and said, "Xiaoliang, that's the person."

Beside her sat a young man dressed in a haphazard manner, with dyed hair in various colors, and an exaggerated style. His ears were pierced, and he looked like a trendy youth, but perhaps a bit too trendy. He could scare people at night, looking more like a ghost than a human, but he was so fashionable that his peers with high aesthetic standards would drool with envy.