Having to report his meetings to her made Ning Beichen’s head ache.
"Uh, well... Boss, she was asking for directions," Ning Beichen offered a weak excuse.
But it didn't work this time.
"Ning Beichen, do you take me for a fool? Asking for directions at the company's main entrance, and specifically asking for *you*?" Liu Yilin was so angry she was about to explode.
"Maybe she just thought I was handsome, so she came to ask me for... directions." Ning Beichen’s voice trailed off as he saw the murderous look in Liu Yilin’s eyes.
Liu Yilin just stared at him, silent. The longer she looked, the more unnerved Ning Beichen became.
"Alright, Boss, I’ll tell you the truth. She came to give me a challenge." Ning Beichen decided it was pointless to make up excuses. He was already scheduled to face the challenge tonight, so why bother finding a lie now?
"A challenge? What challenge? Why would she challenge you? When did this happen?" Seeing that Ning Beichen wasn't joking, Liu Yilin bombarded him with questions.
Ning Beichen recounted the entire incident, starting from when Zhou Ziru threw darts at him, all the way to what happened at the entrance just now.
"No, I absolutely do not agree!" Liu Yilin exclaimed, her anger boiling over. "Who does she think she is, coming to cause trouble for us? We haven't settled scores with them yet, and she dares to challenge you? She's utterly disrespectful!" She reached for her phone to call Shi Yong.
Ning Beichen quickly stopped her. "Boss, there's no need to be angry. She's no match for me."
"That doesn't matter! Just because she says she wants to challenge you, does that mean she can? Do you think I, Liu Yilin, am easily bullied?" Liu Yilin shouted.
"Uh, Boss, she wants to challenge *me*." Ning Beichen found it a little amusing. Anyone listening would think she was the one being challenged.
"Even if it's you, it's still a no. You're my person, so challenging you is challenging me." Liu Yilin placed her hands on her hips, her demeanor commanding.
"Boss, when did I become your person?" Ning Beichen was bewildered.
Liu Yilin suddenly realized her words could be easily misinterpreted. Her face flushed, and she said to Ning Beichen, "You're my bodyguard, so you're my person. Challenging you is naturally challenging me."
"Thank you for your concern, Boss. But I've already accepted her challenge. Boss, we martial artists must keep our promises. If we agree to something and then back out, people will look down on us." Ning Beichen patiently explained the concept of a martial artist's word being as heavy as gold. After all, the challenge was issued through proper channels and according to established rules, not some casual remark or the dubious "honor" of street thugs.
"Ning Beichen, do you absolutely have to accept this challenge? Can't you refuse?" Liu Yilin asked him with concern. If possible, she didn't want Ning Beichen to accept any challenge, let alone see him get hurt. The memory of her helping him remove shrapnel the last time was still vivid. Whether it was selfishness or some other reason, she didn't want him to be injured.
"I can't, Boss. I've already promised her. You wouldn't want me to be an untrustworthy person, would you?" Ning Beichen shook his head. If for no other reason, he had to accept it for the Dragon Spirit Root. It was a gift given freely; why wouldn't he take it?
"Are you really going?" Liu Yilin asked, still not giving up.
"I really am going." Ning Beichen nodded at her. There was no room for negotiation on this matter.
"Then I'm going with you." Liu Yilin conceded a step.
"Boss, I'm going to fight, not go on a trip. If you come, I won't be able to look after you." Ning Beichen felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"I don't care. I'm definitely going. Otherwise, you're not allowed to go either." Liu Yilin said somewhat stubbornly.
Ning Beichen looked at her and could only nod helplessly. He couldn't understand why this woman was suddenly showing so much concern for him, when before she seemed eager to stab him in the back at any given opportunity.
Since Liu Yilin insisted on going, Ning Beichen had Feng Wu follow them discreetly to protect her. While the Zhou family was generally trustworthy, one could never be too careful. It was better to be safe than sorry. If something unexpected happened, or if the situation became too chaotic, he might not be able to rescue her in time.
Not long after, Ning Beichen's car was stopped by another woman.
"Senior Sister, why are you joining the fun?" The woman who stopped him was Nangong Feiyan.
"Junior Brother, I heard someone challenged you. As your Senior Sister, I naturally have to come and cheer you on." Nangong Feiyan said with a sense of duty.
"Senior Sister, there's no need for that." Ning Beichen was starting to get a headache. He had no idea how Nangong Feiyan found out.
"There is a need. If something happens to you, how will I explain it to Master?" Nangong Feiyan used her title as Senior Sister to pressure him. Although she was only a nominal disciple, she was still Ning Beichen's Senior Sister.
"Fine, if you want to go, then go." Ning Beichen was resigned.
Soon, Nangong Feiyan got into Ning Beichen's car. She enthusiastically started chatting with Liu Yilin, looking at her as if she were a mother-in-law appraising her future daughter-in-law, despite being not much older than Liu Yilin. Liu Yilin, knowing Nangong Feiyan was Ning Beichen's Senior Sister, didn't feel any aversion towards her. Moreover, they were business partners, so the two women quickly struck up a warm conversation in the car.
Ning Beichen watched them, wiping sweat from his forehead, hoping nothing else would complicate matters.
However, just as this thought crossed his mind, he saw Ye Ya'er.
"Ye Ya'er, you've come to join the fun too?" Seeing her, Ning Beichen's headache escalated to a splitting migraine.
"Brother Beichen, I want to go too." Ye Ya'er said to Ning Beichen in a coquettish tone.
The gazes of the two women in the car turned to her. Liu Yilin's eyes were filled with a killing intent, while Nangong Feiyan's shone brightly, as if a proud in-law had found a good match.
"No." Ning Beichen refused outright. There were already two women in the car, and with Feng Wu following discreetly, that made three. If Ye Ya'er joined them, the four of them could form a mahjong table.
"Brother Beichen, please let me go. I promise to be good and not cause trouble." Ye Ya'er put on a sweet and innocent demeanor, her voice laced with a childish tone that made Ning Beichen’s hair stand on end.