Shen Ke Qin, usually chatty and busy with household matters or work, rarely had time to pause and admire the surrounding scenery.
The natural landscapes gifted by nature were of cosmic romance. She tilted her head, gazing at the colorful panorama in the sky, then turned to look at Jian Mu Bai.
Her gaze met Jian Mu Bai's dark, alluring eyes.
In that instant, it felt as if an invisible electric current passed between their gazes, and both averted their eyes simultaneously.
Shen Ke Qin took a deep breath. Today was a great opportunity, one she absolutely could not miss.
Thus, like a little snail, she shuffled step by step towards Jian Mu Bai.
Before she had even done anything, Shen Ke Qin noticed her heart pounding rapidly in her chest, as if she were guilty of a crime.
When they were half an arm's length apart, she stopped.
Jian Mu Bai had indeed noticed her subtle movements and sensed Shen Ke Qin's feelings for him. He called out to her, "Miss Qin Qin, there's something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I feel I should tell you."
Shen Ke Qin's heart leaped into her throat. What was happening?
Did Jian Mu Bai also like her and was about to confess?
But his expression was so serious, it didn't seem like a confession.
Then again, he always had this expression when doing anything. Perhaps his face was impassive, but his heart was racing.
Calm down!
She had to stay calm!
She couldn't just rush forward if he confessed.
Taking several deep breaths, Shen Ke Qin smiled and said, "Go ahead, I'm ready."
Jian Mu Bai clenched his fist, no longer looking at Shen Ke Qin's delicate, collagen-rich face. He lowered his head and said, "I want to resign."
"Ah?"
In that moment, Shen Ke Qin thought she was hallucinating.
Resign?
How did a confession turn into resignation?
"You've grown up now and don't need my protection anymore. Furthermore... I have my own things to attend to. Therefore, please grant me my resignation."
Shen Ke Qin was stunned for days before she finally processed it.
Jian Mu Bai didn't want to be her bodyguard anymore. He was leaving.
No wonder he had been absentminded and preoccupied these past few days; he had been contemplating this.
Shen Ke Qin suddenly felt ridiculous. While she was busy trying to figure out if she liked him, he had been planning to leave her.
Her once fluttering heart felt as if it had been thrown into an icy lake, chilling her to the bone and turning her face pale.
Shen Ke Qin, feigning calmness, asked, "What are you going to do?"
"I'm sorry, that's my business, and I cannot tell you!"
For the first time in her life, Shen Ke Qin experienced heartache.
Heh...
She had always believed their relationship was good. Although she was a pampered young lady and he was a hired bodyguard, she had never treated Jian Mu Bai as a subordinate.
Now, she realized that her perception of their close and intimate relationship was merely her own wishful thinking.
In Jian Mu Bai's eyes, she was just an employer who wouldn't even share her future plans.
She clenched her fist tightly, discovering for the first time how devastatingly sharp Jian Mu Bai's ruthlessness could be.
"My father... did you speak with him?"
"Yes, I have."
"Did he agree?"
"He said that as long as you agree, he has no objections."
Shen Ke Qin nodded. With her usual temper, she would have immediately told him to get lost. But now, she was suddenly afraid.
She feared that the moment she agreed, Jian Mu Bai would vanish from her world, and she would never see him again.
Jian Mu Bai remained silent, seemingly waiting for Shen Ke Qin's response.
Shen Ke Qin's mind was in utter disarray. The sun in the sky had been obscured by clouds again, having only shown itself for a brief moment before disappearing. It was uncannily like her own heart, which had leaped with joy only to turn instantly cold.
But he was leaving, and she had no reason to make him stay.
"Do... do you really have to resign?"
The moment Shen Ke Qin uttered these words, she realized how foolish they were. Jian Mu Bai had protected her since she was twelve, serving as her bodyguard for ten years.
He was now twenty-eight and should have his own career and family. How could he be content to be her bodyguard forever?
"I'm sorry..."
Shen Ke Qin, already heartbroken, felt her nose sting and almost burst into tears upon hearing this.
She held back her tears with great effort and forced a nonchalant smile, "You're just resigning, you haven't done anything to betray me, so why apologize?"
Jian Mu Bai lowered his head in silence, his face revealing nothing of his thoughts.
"Alright, since you've decided to resign, you must have thought about it for a long time. I won't hinder your progress. When do you plan to... leave?"
Over the years, Jian Mu Bai had been living at Shen Zheng Cheng's home. If he was resigning, he would naturally have to leave the Shen family.
"Tonight!"
Shen Ke Qin feigned a relaxed demeanor and nodded, "That's quite quick. Then... let me treat you to a meal? You protected me for ten years, let me repay you!"
Jian Mu Bai: "There's no need for repayment. After all, I've been receiving a salary from the Shen family for ten years."
Jian Mu Bai's words immediately drew a clear line between them.
It was as if, in his eyes, their relationship was purely one of employer and employee, with no personal sentiment whatsoever.
Shen Ke Qin's heart ached even more. "Alright, then drive me home. Consider it a final trip as my driver."
With that, Shen Ke Qin got into the car.
Jian Mu Bai watched Shen Ke Qin's retreating figure, closing his eyes tightly. After his emotions had stabilized slightly, he slowly opened his palms, which he had been clenching painfully, got into the car, and started the engine.
...
Song Qi Nian was painting when she received Shen Ke Qin's call.
Upon hearing Shen Ke Qin sobbing uncontrollably on the phone, she was startled. "Qin Qin, what's wrong? Where are you now?"
"Sister-in-law... I... I'm so sad... my heart hurts so much! *Wuwu*... Jian Mu Bai is a big jerk, I never want to see him again!"
Song Qi Nian's heart skipped a beat. Hadn't Qin Qin gone to confirm her feelings for Jian Mu Bai? Why was she crying?
Could it be... she confessed to Jian Mu Bai and was rejected?
"Tell me where you are, and I'll come find you."
"I'm at a bar. I feel awful, my whole body aches. Am I going to die soon?"
From her崩溃 voice, it was clear she had drunk too much.
"Then hand your phone to the server."
Soon, Song Qi Nian learned of Shen Ke Qin's location from the server. Without further thought, she immediately drove to find her.
When she found Shen Ke Qin, she was pouring alcohol into her mouth and then crying miserably while hugging the bottle.
"Qin Qin..."
Song Qi Nian rushed over, pulled up the person who was half slumped over the bar, and tidied her messy clothes and hair.
Shen Ke Qin, her eyes hazy with drink, saw Song Qi Nian and burst into a loud sob.