Chapter Text
Fluorescent lights of the city's central temp agency hummed with a monotonous, grating buzz, a sound that seemed to drill directly into Cheng xiaoshi's skull with the persistence of a dentist's drill.
He sat on a hard, plastic chair that had been molded for quantity, not comfort, its surface slick with the accumulated anxiety of a thousand other desperate souls who had passed through these doors before him.
The chair squeaked mournfully every time he shifted his weight, which was often, because sitting still had never been his strong suit, especially when his future was hanging by a thread thinner than the pen he was currently clutching.
In his hands, he held a clipboard with a half-finished application form, the paper already soft at the edges from his nervous fidgeting.
His handwriting, usually neat, or well readable at least, had devolved into a barely legible scrawl somewhere between the ‘Employment History’ section and the ‘Reason for Leaving Previous Position’ question, which was currently staring back at him with the accusatory blankness of a disappointed teacher who had expected better from a promising student.
The pen dangled limply from his fingers, a soldier who had given up the fight. Reason for leaving, he thought bitterly, the words swirling around in his head like leaves in a storm drain.
How about: I tried to do the right thing and got stabbed in the back for it? How about: I discovered that the people who were supposed to protect the innocent were the ones selling them out? How about: I asked one too many questions and suddenly I was the problem?
He scribbled something generic instead, the pen scratching against the paper like a cat trying to bury something unpleasant.
He went with ‘Seeking new opportunities.’ It was the kind of lie that everyone told and no one believed, a polite fiction designed to manipulate generations.
the ugly reality that lurked beneath. The truth was messier, uglier, and entirely unfit for a form that wanted him to check boxes and pretend his life hadn't fallen apart like a cheap umbrella in a hurricane.
Still, he couldn't help the tiny spark of hope that flickered in his chest, a stubborn little flame that refused to be extinguished no matter how many times the universe tried to drown it. He was here, wasn't he?
He was trying. That had to count for something. He'd always believed that he just had to hang on and keep moving on especially since the alternative, giving up, wasn't something he knew how to do.
So he filled out the form, answered the questions as honestly as he could without revealing too much, and smiled at the woman behind the desk even when his restlessness was through the roof.
His leg impatiently tapped the marble floor, as he awaited his turn. He was reminded of the day he'd been so nervous to receive his results for joining the police academy.
He had joined the police force to find answers, to uncover the truth about his parents' disappearance. Instead, he had found a nest of vipers, a corruption so deeply entrenched that his attempts to expose it had only resulted in his own swift and brutal expulsion.
The higher-ups, or he'd rather refer to them as insolent bastards, had smeared his name, threatened his few remaining friends, and left him with nothing but a burning, impotent rage that had long since settled into a cold, hard lump in his gut, a stone he carried with him everywhere he went.
But he was still doing his best to hang on, despite the hurdles they'd thrown his way to prevent him from ever getting back on his feet.
The temp agency was a purgatory of lost souls, a waystation for the disgraced and the desperate. The air smelled of stale coffee and desperation, a cocktail that clung to the back of his throat like a bad memory.
A woman two seats over was quietly crying into a tissue, her shoulders shaking with the kind of silent sobs that spoke of sleepless nights and empty cupboards.
A man in a stained tracksuit was arguing with himself under his breath, his hands gesturing wildly at some invisible adversary. Cheng Xiaoshi fit right in, though he refused to let himself sink into the same despondency.
He was twenty-three, for heaven's sake. He had time. He had hope. He had his parent's studio, and a stubborn streak a mile wide, and he was, absolutely not, going to let the bastards think that they've ruined his life.
He was about to fill in the next line, something about ‘Skills and Qualifications’ that would have required him to list things like ‘excellent marksmanship’ and ‘interrogation techniques’ that were hardly relevant to any job he was likely to get, when a door at the back of the room, opened and a man in a cheap suit with an earpiece gestured for him. "Mr. Cheng? This way, please."
Cheng Xiaoshi blinked, his pen hovering over the paper like a hummingbird uncertain of which flower to visit.
He hadn't even finished his form. He glanced around, half-expecting them to be calling someone else, some other Cheng xiaoshi who had actually managed to complete his application, but the man's eyes were fixed on him with the kind of patience that suggested he had been waiting for this moment all morning.
With a shrug that was half curiosity and half resignation, Cheng xiaoshi set down the clipboard and followed.
Did this mean that he got to skip the queue? Well, whatever got him out of this suffocating hallway faster.
The office, he was led into, was small and cluttered, the desk buried under stacks of paper that seemed to have been breeding in the dark when no one was looking.
A computer that looked old enough to have been used during the Cold war, sat in the corner, its screen flickering with the kind of tired persistence that spoke of decades of service.
The man, whose name tag identified him as ‘Kevin’ gestured for Cheng xiaoshi to sit on the worn-out sofa. He did so, his posture instinctively straightening, his hands resting on his knees. Old habits died hard.
"Mr. Cheng," Kevin began, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur, as if he were about to share a state secret rather than a job listing. "I'm going to be honest with you. We don't usually get requests like this."
"Requests?" Cheng xiaoshi echoed, confused. His mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario, a reflex honed by years of expecting the other shoe to drop.
Someone from the force had found him. They were going to make his life even more difficult, maybe run him out of the city entirely.
Or worse, someone had figured out he was still digging into his parents' case, still asking questions that certain people didn't want answered.
His fingers tightened on his knees, the fabric of his trousers bunching beneath his grip.
Did they plan to blacklist him from everywhere?
Kevin nodded, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and nervousness, like a man who had just realized he was holding a live grenade. "This job came in this morning. Specifically requested for you. By name."
A cold prickle of unease traced its way down Cheng xiaoshi's spine, a spider crawling over his skin. "By name? By who?"
Kevin glanced at his computer screen, as if the answer might have changed in the last few seconds, as if the letters might have rearranged themselves into something less improbable. "The Lu Corporation. A private security position. The client, Mr. Lu Danshan himself, asked for you specifically."
The name of this renowned estabilishment, left Cheng xiaoshi running the words in his head over and over again, to confirm whether he heard right or not.
The Lu Corporation.
Cheng xiaoshi's mind latched onto the name like a magnet finding metal.
He had heard of it, of course. Everyone had.
It was one of those monolithic entities that seemed to exist in a realm above mere mortals, a gleaming tower of glass and steel that dominated the city's skyline like a monument to wealth and power.
He had read the articles, the puff pieces about the CEO, Lu Danshan's philanthropy, his charitable donations, his support for the arts.
He had also heard the rumors, the whispers that floated around the station like smoke from a fire no one would admit to starting.
Interesting rumors.
The kind that made you pause mid-sentence and wonder if you had heard correctly. Rumors about business deals that had gone sour in the dead of night, about competitors who had mysteriously dropped out of the race, about connections to people whose names were spoken only in hushed tones and dark corners.
But those kinds of rumors floated about every famous company, didn't they?
Every successful businessman had skeletons in his closet, ghosts in his basement. It was the price of doing business at that level, or so he had been told.
Cheng xiaoshi had never paid much attention to the gossip. He had been too busy with his own investigations, his own demons, to worry about the skeletons in someone else's closet.
But now, sitting in this cramped office with Kevin's nervous eyes fixed on him, he found himself wondering.
Why him?
Why Cheng Xiaoshi, the disgraced cop, the man who had been blacklisted, the man who couldn't even get a job as a security guard at a shopping mall?
Why would a man like Lu danshan, a man who could have anyone, want specifically him? "I don't understand," Cheng xiaoshi began slowly, his voice careful, measured. "Why me? I'm not exactly the most desirable candidate. My record is… complicated."
Kevin shrugged helplessly, his hands spreading wide as if to say, ‘I’m just passing on the message.’ "I don't know, Mr. Cheng. I just take the requests. But the salary…" He paused, his eyes widening slightly, the number itself was too large to comprehend.
"The salary is more than generous. It's a live-in position. Private security, as a bodyguard for his son. Full benefits, room and board, the works. The interview is this afternoon. At the Lu Corporation headquarters. If you're interested, of course. It'd be crazy, if you weren't however."
Cheng xiaoshi's heart was pounding now, not with unease but with something that felt dangerously close to excitement. This was a lifeline. A real, honest-to-goodness lifeline thrown into the dark, churning waters of his life by a hand he didn't recognize and couldn't help but trust.
He could pay his rent, instead of freeloading off his best friend, Qiao ling. He could eat something other than instant noodles.
He could start rebuilding. And maybe, just maybe, he could even find a way to keep investigating his parents' case on the side.
A man like Lu danshan had connections. Dangerous connections, sure, but connections nonetheless.
The kind of connections that could reopen doors that had been slammed in Cheng xiaoshi's face.
But there was still that nagging doubt, that little voice in the back of his mind that sounded suspiciously like his partner Qiao Ling’s.
Why would he want you?
What did he know about you?
What did he want from you?
It was a valid question. A smart question. The kind of question that had kept him alive during his years on the force.
But it was also a question that he couldn't find the answer to right now. He needed this job. He needed the money.
He needed the chance to start all over, and move past this bleak, stagnant phase of his life. He was already on his feet, his decision made before he had even consciously made it. "I'm interested. I'm very interested."
Kevin smiled, relieved, as if he had been afraid Cheng xiaoshi would turn down the offer and leave him to deal with the consequences. "Great. I'll call ahead and let them know you're coming. Good luck, Mr. Cheng."
Cheng xiaoshi practically bounded out of the office, his earlier worries forgotten, replaced by a giddy sense of possibility.
He had a job interview. A real job interview. With the Lu Corporation.
It was a step forward. A big one. One that would get him back on the track
He could feel it in his bones, a warmth spreading through his chest like sunlight after a long winter.
This was going to work. It had to work.
~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~
The Lu corporation headquarters was a monument to behold, a cathedral of glass and steel that soared into the sky like a prayer to the gods of commerce and capital.
The lobby was a cavern of polished marble and soaring windows, the air so still and sterile it felt like a museum. Cheng xiaoshi, in his one good suit, felt like a stain on the pristine floor, a splotch of color in a world of monochrome.
He straightened his tie, squared his shoulders, and approached the reception desk with casual charm. "Hey there," He greeted, flashing a smile at the receptionist. Her name tag read ‘Mei Ling’ and she looked like she had been carved from the same polished marble as the rest of the building.
"I'm Cheng xiaoshi. I have an interview with Mr. Lu Danshan." Mei ling slowly nodded, her smile as polished as the floor, and made a call. Minutes later, a man in a sharp, dark suit with a face like a closed door led him to a private elevator
Seeing so many men in suits today reminded him of the ‘men in suits' show, which he never got to watch. That was the title...right? Well, moving past that, how funny, would it be if they never wore suits in it?
The slight lift from the elevator starting returned him back to real life. The ride was silent and swift, a wild contrast to his thoughts, a stomach-dropping ascent to the top floor.
Cheng xiaoshi watched the numbers climb, his excitement mounting with each passing floor.
This was it. This was his chance.
He wasn't going to mess it up.
The doors slid open to reveal an office that was less a room and more a penthouse, a space so vast and open it felt like standing at the edge of the world.
The entire wall was a single pane of glass, offering a breathtaking, almost god-like view of the city sprawled below. The sky was a bruised purple and orange as the sun began its descent, painting the clouds in watercolor strokes.
Cheng xiaoshi felt his excitement peak. Even if he didn't get the job, just this scenic view and being here, allotted him with the grateful feeling of experiencing the true extent of corporate beauty.
Lu danshan was not the man, Cheng xiaoshi expected him to be. He expected a prime older man with wrinkly grey hair, and a cold appearance.
Instead, he found a man in his early thirties, with a neat trim, dark black hair, which were nowhere close to greying, athletic build and a face that was carefully, almost surgically, pleasant.
His smile appeared to be warm, an expression so perfectly calibrated it felt like a weapon.
Lu danshan rose from the fancy, polished mahogany desk and extended a hand. "Mr. Cheng," he acknowledged, his voice a rich, measured baritone that filled the room like the notes of a cello. "Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please, have a seat."
Cheng xiaoshi shook his hand. The grip was firm, dry, and utterly devoid of warmth, like holding a stone that had been left in the shade.
He sat in a plush leather chair, the kind that seemed to swallow you whole, and tried not to look as intimidated as he felt.
He was a former cop. He had faced down armed criminals and corrupt captains. He could handle a job interview with a billionaire.
"Thank you for having me, Mr. Lu," he spoke his rehearsed lines, his voice steady. "I have to admit, I was surprised to get the call. I didn't think someone like me would be on your radar." Of course, he had to add in his own improvisations to the few lines he'd prepared, he had to internally facepalm.
Lu danshan's smile didn't falter. If anything, it widened, like a shark sensing blood in the water. "I make it my business to know about people, Mr. Cheng. Especially people with an exceptional background.”
“Ah…I'm really nothing special. Getting expelled from the force isn't any exceptional feat…” Cheng xiaoshi rubbed the back of his neck with a weak chuckle.
"You tried to expose corruption," Lu danshan suddenly brought up, his eyes glinting with something that might have been amusement. "Admirable to know that a man of your high morals still stood firmly, even at the risk of your own profession.” Lu danshan commented, his gestures openly inviting the surprised man to continue the conversation.
“Well, you win some, you lose some right?” Cheng xiaoshi regained his composure. Lu danshan let out a quiet chuckle, a warm rumble that seemed to come from somewhere deep in his chest.
"Well said. I appreciate a man who displays such strong loyalty and this position, specifically, demands it. The position is a personal bodyguard for my son, Lu guang, is my only heir. He is… precious to me. And, unfortunately, the world is full of people who would seek to do him harm. He's been receiving multiple threats, cars following him home and anonymous notes."
Lu danshan continued, while Cheng xiaoshi attentively listened. "I need someone capable, someone observant, and someone who is not afraid to act. Your background suggests you fit the bill. The salary is what was advertised, and your accommodations will be at my estate. You will be on call at all times. The man explained and after a minute pause, asked. "Is that up to your expectations?"
Cheng xiaoshi dipped his chin repeatedly. With so many perks, forget expectations, this wasn't even his wildest dreams!
"Now then," Lu danshan continued, reaching into his desk and pulling out a thick file, "let's discuss the details you'd need to know about my son, shall we?"
"Yes, sir.” Cheng xiaoshi resorted to the default title for his employer.
And oh boy...The file was…extensive, to say the least.
Cheng xiaoshi had expected a few pages of basic information; name, age, photograph, emergency contacts. What he got was something closer to a dossier, the kind of document that intelligence agencies might compile on a person of interest. "Lu Guang," Lu Danshan began, sliding the file across the desk.
"Twenty-two years old. Currently enrolled at the university, pursuing a dual degree in literature and photography. Top of his class, though he doesn't attend social functions or participate much in extracurricular activities."
Cheng xiaoshi flipped through the pages, his eyebrows rising while he listened. "This is…very thorough, sir."
Thorough, my ass! This looked like it compiled a test subject's entire portfolio!
"I believe in having all necessary information." Lu danshan's smile was thin. "Lu guang has always been a challenging child. Brilliant, but difficult. He requires a specific kind of care."
What specific care, other than life-saving, would a grown man need???
"His daily schedule is outlined on page three," Lu danshan relayed the information."He wakes at seven, has breakfast at eight, attends classes from nine to three, studies from four to seven, has dinner at eight, and retires to his room at nine. He doesn't deviate from this schedule. Ever."
Cheng xiaoshi found the schedule, his eyes scanning the meticulously detailed timetable.
Every hour was accounted for, every activity precisely slotted into place. There was no room for spontaneity, no space for anything resembling free time.
There was no way someone could follow something like this so dedicatedly…right?
"This is... quite structured, sir."
"Structure is important for Lu guang. He thrives on routine." Lu Danshan's voice was smooth, practiced. "Without it, he becomes... unfocused."
Unfocused? Okay, what was actually going on? Did this father coddle his child THAT MUCH? worrying about stuff like this was high-key overbearing.
Lu danshan kept on detailing points off the invasive dossier. "Page five outlines his dietary restrictions. He has a sensitive stomach, so certain foods must be avoided. Page seven details his exercise regimen, which is minimal due to his delicate constitution. Page nine covers his medical history, including the migraines he suffers from."
Cheng Xiaoshi's interest piqued as he went back and forth through the pages. "Migraines, sir?"
"Severe ones. They can be debilitating." Lu Danshan's expression was carefully neutral. "He needs someone who can recognize the signs and respond appropriately."
"What are the signs, if I may ask?"
"He becomes pale. His hands shake. Sometimes he loses focus, stares into space. When it gets bad, he needs to be in a dark, quiet room until the episode passes."
That sounds more like…anxiety or panic attacks than plain migraines, Cheng xiaoshi thought, but again, he didn't dare voice his opinions.
"Page twelve covers his behavioral patterns." Lu danshan leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Cheng xiaoshi. "Mr. Cheng. I need you to understand one thing. I'm hiring you for my son's security. You must stick with him, most of the time and not be affected by his...uncooperation. I believe that's why, you are the perfect person for the job. You stubbornly stick to your own morals"
That...was a compliment right?
"Thank you sir. i will try my utmost best" Cheng xiaoshi smoothened into his job address for his employer.
"See that you do. I've already replaced his bodyguards thrice. They all quit after having enough with bearing with his personality."
Thrice?? Was he really that unbearable?
"I see..." cheng xiaoshi mumbled, rather curious about the man, he was supposed to protect.
Lu danshan showed him a formal employment letter, handing him a pen over to sign his credentials.
Cheng xiaoshi accepted the pen, as he immersed himself on skimming through the terms and conditions.
Lu danshan leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, his eyes, a pale brown, seeming to see right through him. "There is one other thing. Your parents. They were the ones who'd dived in to respond to a hostile robbery, I believe? Truly, I respected them.” Lu danshan casually dropped the mention.
That came out of nowhere...
Cheng xiaoshi body language went rigid, his grip on the pen faltered, his blood turning to ice in his veins. The mention of his parents was a knife to a still-healing wound, a wound that had never really closed, a wound that he had learned to live with but never to forget.
"You knew them?" he managed to ask, his voice barely a whisper.
"Met them," Lu danshan corrected smoothly, his voice as smooth as silk, as smooth as a snake slithering through the jungle floor.
Lu danshan elaborated. "Our social circles overlapped. It was a great loss. Brilliant minds. It is a small world, isn't it, Mr. Cheng? A small, interconnected world." He leaned back, seemingly satisfied with the reaction he had caused, a cat who had just played with a mouse and was now ready to let it go.
Something...about how convenient mention of his parents made him feel like, this god-sent job offer was likely prompted due to his relation with his parents.
Well, good to know that he could have some value with it, he supposed.
"Well then. I believe that concludes our business. Thomas, my butler, will give you the details and take you to the estate. Welcome to the Lu family, Cheng xiaoshi." The dismissal was clear. Cheng xiaoshi stood, his legs feeling unsteady, his mind still reeling from the mention of his parents.
Just…like that? He barely asked anything about him though? Was this just the way rich people call in potential employees? Or perhaps, he was busy with matters, having already spent a gracious amount of time for plain Cheng xiaoshi.
Either way, he left the office as the assistant insistedly urged him out as if it cost her money.
Cheng xiaoshi never got the chance to delve into more possible information. It seemed that his wishful thoughts of gaining insider info related to his parents case, wasn't too out of reach.
He pushed the thought aside as he stepped into the elevator, forcing himself to focus on the present, on the here and now.
He had a job now. A real, actual, well-paying job. He was going to be a bodyguard. Him.
Cheng xiaoshi, the disgraced cop, the failure, the man who had lost everything. He was going to protect a billionaire's son.
Honestly, being a bodyguard sounded cool!
He'd escorted famous personalities before as well, so it wasn't that different. Probably.
A small, tentative smile grew on his face, that felt like the first ray of sunlight after a long, dark night.
It was a new chapter. A new beginning. He could feel it in his bones.
~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~
The next morning, at 7 a.m sharp, he caught a cab and loaded his belongings to head over to the estate.
The Lu estate was not a house, it'd be an insult to call it that. Rather; it was a sprawling, gothic mansion located on the outskirts of the city, a world away from the grit and noise of his former life.
It was surrounded by manicured gardens and a high stone wall that felt more like a prison barrier than a privacy fence.
The gate swung open with a sound that was almost silent, its massive hinges moving with the kind of precision that spoke of regular maintenance.
The taxi drove up a long driveway lined with perfectly tended hedges, past fountains that gushed water into ornamental pools, past gardens that had probably been designed by someone with a degree in landscape architecture.
The best was yet to come, the mansion finally came into view. "Whoa." Cheng xiaoshi's jaw dropped. "Whoa. Whoa. WHOA."
It was breathtaking. Massive, sprawling, with wings that seemed to stretch on forever and windows that caught the afternoon light like scattered jewels.
It was the kind of house that belonged in movies, the kind of house that was always shown from dramatic angles with sweeping orchestral music in the background. "I feel like I'm in a movie,"
Cheng xiaoshi muttered, fumbling with his wallet to pay the driver. "This is insane. This is so insane.”
An aging butler named Thomas, a man with a kind face and a formal demeanor, met him at the tall entrance door, thankfully, not caring about his muttering.
"Mr. Cheng, welcome. Mr. Danshan has informed me of your arrival. I will show you to your quarters."
“I'll bother you for now, then” Cheng xiaoshi impishly grinned, which went ignored by the butler.
Thomas led him through a labyrinth of hallways, past priceless paintings and antique furniture that looked like it belonged in a museum.
The air was cool and smelled faintly of lemon polish and old books, a scent that was oddly comforting, like the inside of a library on a rainy day.
It was silent, unnervingly so. Their footsteps were the only sound, echoing off the high ceilings like whispers in a cathedral.
His room was spacious and comfortable, far nicer than his entire studio had been. A large bed, a writing desk, a private bathroom, and a window that overlooked the sprawling back gardens.
It felt like he'd gone on vacation to a five-star hotel. He dropped his bag on the bed and grinned, a wide, genuine grin that felt like it might crack his face.
This was his room. His.
Thriving on the thrill of a new place, He rolled off the bed and started unpacking his bag, not that there was much to unpack.
A few changes of clothes. His old police badge, kept as a reminder of what he had lost. A photograph of his parents, faded and worn from years of handling.
He stared at the photograph for a long moment, something aching in his chest. His mother's smile, warm and bright. His father's eyes, kind and steady.
They had been good people. The best. I'm going to find out what happened to you.
I promise.
He tucked the photograph back into his bag and stood, stretching his arms above his head.
The sun was setting outside his window, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It was beautiful, in a way that felt almost unreal.
He fell asleep instantly, he'd spent the entire morning, with rapidly pacing energy. With his body collapsing over the incredibly soft bed, he drifted off to sleep with such suddenness, one would consider checking if he'd broken a world record for falling asleep the fastest.
~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~
After a long day of just enjoying in bed, it was finally time to meet the famous Lu guang. he was summoned to dinner after two hours, at least he snuck in a good nap.
The dining room was a vast, formal space dominated by a long, gleaming mahogany table that could have seated twenty.
Only two place settings were laid, at one end, a small island of intimacy in a sea of empty space. Lu danshan sat at the head, his smile still firmly in place, a mask that never seemed to slip. And at his right hand was a young man. Lu guang.
Cheng xiaoshi's first impression could be as ‘prolonged stillness’, a stillness so profound it was almost unsettling.
AND ALSO WHY THE HELL WAS HE SO UNFAIRLY HANDSOME??
Lu guang was twenty-two, but he possessed the unnerving composure of someone much older, someone who had seen too much and felt too little. He had sharp, aristocratic features, with pale skin and hair as white as snow.
It was not the white of old age, but a stark, startling white, like moonlight or fresh frost.. His eyes were the color of a winter sky, a pale, crystalline gray that was almost translucent, like windows into a room that had been emptied of everything but shadows.
UGHHHHHH
Some people really win the genetic lottery.
He was slender, almost fragile-looking, but there was a coiled tension in his shoulders, a stillness that was not peaceful but watchful, like he couldn't breath without assessing potential threats.
No wonder, this wary man needed protection, hm?
Lu guang did not look up when Cheng xiaoshi entered. He simply stared at his empty plate, a statue carved from ice, a painting of a boy who had forgotten how to be alive.
Cheng xiaoshi moved to stand near the wall, a few feet behind Lu guang's chair, his hands clasped loosely behind his back.
Despite how appetizing everything looked, he was not a guest here. He was an employee, a shadow, a silent guardian. He withheld the announcement of his hunger. He'd receive his meal in his room later, afterall.
He just had to do a simple task.
Watch.
And that he did, his eyes never leaving the room, his ears attuned to every sound.
It was a strange sensation, eating while watching others dine, but he was used to odd hours and odder circumstances. But, He had eaten plenty of meals standing in the precinct break room, shoveling food into his mouth while reviewing case files.
"Ah, Cheng xiaoshi," Lu danshan remembered to reach out, finally acknowledging his presence with a wave of his hand."I trust you are settling in well."
"It's been a smooth transition, sir" Cheng xiaoshi assured.
"I hope it was. Now, Lu guang, this is Cheng xiaoshi, your new bodyguard." Lu guang's gaze finally lifted, and Cheng xiaoshi felt the full force of it, a wave of cold that washed over him and left him breathless.
It was a flat, assessing look, devoid of any emotion. There was no curiosity, no welcome, no interest of any kind.
Cheng xiaoshi didn't feel like a person to him but rather, he felt like a new piece of furniture, a fixture in a room he was forced to inhabit.
"I see," Lu guang replied. His voice was soft, low, and utterly without inflection, a voice that had been stripped of everything but the bare essentials.
Cheng xiaoshi put on his charming smile, determined to make a good impression, to break through the ice. "It's nice to meet you, Lu guang. I look forward to working with you."
"If you last, that is." Lu guang threw a side glance at him.
"Lu guang" Lu danshan warned with a slight edge with his voice.
"No, it's totally fine, sir." Cheng xiaoshi didn't mind the quip. He'd had too many people underestimating him. "I'm sure, we will get alone, just fine."
"Of course." Lu guang looked away, his gaze returning to his plate, a door slamming shut in Cheng xiaoshi's face.
Way to hold a conversation, man.
Cheng xiaoshi's smile faltered, but he refused to be discouraged.
The man was probably just shy. Reserved. He'd warm up. Cheng xiaoshi had a way with people. He'd get through to him eventually. He always did.
Dinner was a boring affair, a meal that felt more like a performance than a gathering. Lu danshan did most of the talking, a monologue about business deals, political maneuvering, and the failures of his rivals.
Cheng xiaoshi had his attention divided between his employer and his employer's son.
Lu guang ate little, pushing his food around his plate with his fork. His mannerisms resembled so much like a cat's. He responded to most of his stepfather's questions with monosyllabic answers: "Yes." "No." "I understand."
He was the picture perfect description of what most parents called as the ‘perfect son’.
After dinner, Lu danshan excused himself, to take a call, leaving Cheng xiaoshi alone with Lu guang in the cavernous room.
The silence that descended was heavy, suffocating, a blanket that smothered all sound.
Cheng xiaoshi felt an uncharacteristic awkwardness, a man who had always known what to say suddenly finding himself at a loss for words.
He was a people person, or he had been. He could talk to anyone. But this man, was a fortress with the gates bolted shut.
He decided to try a different tactic. He would be professional.
He set his casual demeanour aside and approached the table, his posture respectful. "Young Master Lu," he began, using the formal title he had been told to use. "I hope we can be cooperative with each other as I'll be in charge of your safety from now on."
Lu guang rose to his feet, his movements fluid and silent, a ghost in human form. He was slightly shorter than Cheng xiaoshi, but his presence was immense, a cold wind that seemed to fill the room.
He finally observed Cheng Xiaoshi properly, and the emptiness in his eyes was chilling. It was like the emptiness of a starless sky, an abyss where something vital had been scooped out and discarded.
"Don't call me that," Lu guang rolled his eyes, somehow his voice managed to sound soft and cold at the same time? What voodoo magic was this!
"My name is Lu guang." He emphasised. Lu guang took a step closer, closing the distance between them, and Cheng xiaoshi, who had faced down armed criminals and corrupt captains, felt a prickle of unease.
"All I request from you, is the follow these three rules, Mr. Cheng," Lu guang ignored the lack of response. "One: stay out of my way. Two: do not speak to me unless it is absolutely necessary. Three: pretend you do not know me." Lu guang listed them out. "We are not friends. We are not companions. You are an employee. My stepfather hired you. I did not. Now, if you will excuse me." He hissed out his requests.
"Those sound rather...hard to fulfill with how my job is." Cheng xiaoshi muttered.
"Deal with it." Lu guang turned and quietly moved through the tiles, his footsteps making no sound on the polished floor.
The audacity to just leave!
Cheng xiaoshi stood alone in the vast dining room, a slow, frustrated breath escaping his lips. He had expected a spoiled, rich guy, maybe a bit arrogant or eccentric. He had not expected this. This was not arrogance; it was a wall of ice, a defense so impenetrable it felt like a physical force.
This might be…difficult.
A part of him, the former cop, was immediately suspicious. This level of emotional repression was not normal. It spoke of trauma, of a deep and profound pain, a wound that had been left to fester in the dark. It was a defense mechanism, a way of surviving something unimaginable.
But another part of him, the part that was tired and broke, was just annoyed. He was older, for heaven's sake. He had been through his own hell. He was trying to be polite, to do his job, and this guy was treating him like a plague.
He had to remind himself that this was Lu danshan's son, that he would be the one signing his paychecks.
He could not afford to be thinking like this. But he also couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Lu guang, something hidden beneath the ice, something that was waiting to be discovered.
As much as Cheng xiaoshi wished that he'd keep his nose in his own business. It was physically impossible for him to do so. Especially not, when this cold prince intrigued him so much.
It'd be fun to unveil the mask behind this youthful coconut!
~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~